The Lockdown Gang - 🦞 Lobstars Unlocked 🦞

Fantastic to hear, Doodle. So, so relieved for you. Please sleep well now.🌻

Quietly saying 'Yessssss' and I think I'll have a drink to you 🍷 and once I've had that I'll recross my fingers till he's home. Sleep Doodle, sleep.

Just got home from hospital again. Sorry I’m not posting much I’m just so tired but tonight it’s a reasonably happy tired.
You are all such lovely people to be so caring.
Today, hopefully DH turned a corner. After 7 days on maximum medication and antibiotics his heart rate has started to come down to normal levels (the heart monitor attached to him has been on red alert for days, today for the first time it was mainly quiet)
Still undergoing tests, but all in all a much better day. Hoping and praying he’s in the way to recovery.
Thank you for all the healing vibes.
Love to you all 💕

Hello Everyone. Oh dear so many of us with problems at the moment but I’m sure our main concern is our Doodle and her very poorly Dude. Do hope there will be some better news soon.
Cherry oh dear hope your head is ok and that you’re feeling better today.
Grammaretto so pleased your cataract op went well. I was very pleased to have mine and remember how bright the colours seemed. Sure you will notice a difference very soon.
Nfk How exciting to hear you have your dog. Hope she’s settling in well. She sounds gorgeous.
Kaimoana Your new group sounds fun and bet they will enjoy doing crafts with you. It’s so good for our mental health to get out and about meeting up with friends and making new friends- well that’s what my GP tells me!
As to what happened to my knee I think it’s like me and just worn out. Had an MRI last Saturday so waiting for results. I think it’s one of the results of the stroke. Obviously my walking - or hobbling changed - after the stroke and this is the result. Well one of many unwanted side effects. I’ve got physio next week so will see what comes of that.
Anyway enough of me and hope everyone’s troubles are soon gone

Grammaretto I am SO glad you see such a difference. I was going to mention 'modern miracles' but this op goes back to the early 1700s.

The scarf, ixion , was a gift from my US friend Jayne. I'm sure she wouldn't think you were shallow and neither do I
I love it.

This year, in a fit of forgetfulness she sent the identical Xmas gift she bought in 2022 and is mortified.

Niue, the island on which Trevor landed is almost 3,000 km from where I live and takes 6 hours to fly there. Different culture, very different language. Popular wedding venue.

Went to the start-up of a new elder's group today. Still part of Waipareira and run by the same magical young people.

It had "that feeling" - everyone just bonded like superglue so I think it's going to be fun.

I may be doing crafts with them - simple things such as folded stars to decorate and glitter up for Xmas.

The dogs are coming on Saturday, that'll be good as well.

I suppose we are all doing they same - getting on with life but at the same holding Doodle & MrD on a parallel thread in our heart, like a constant prayer. Such precious people.

Jan what happened to your knee? It's so hard to find details in posts, though the Bold really helps, thank you all.
What doesn't help is when text undulates, doubles and blurs as I try to read it. So my apologies if I have missed your messages.

Mamissimo I hope Trevor does land near your nest eventually. I had a beautiful photo from a friend, of her 9 month old son entranced by the pictures, dear little thing.

One of the ladies in the group today has 17 children, 12 of her own and 5 whangai. She said she lost count of her grand-children when the number reached 56!

Gubbins was 3 yesterday. My son sent a most wonderful photo and I wish I could share, she is adorable.

Oops, Gremlins are out and about tonight. They have just eaten my post, so Plan B it is - long winded and enough to make a basic decent techie wince, but reliable.

I write this from the stance of the Worried Well. Well, cos I always am, worried cos there's so much pain, worry and sadness amongst us at the moment.

Doodle, thinking of you both and hoping that you are recharging your batteries overnight. Could you (perhaps you have?) nominate one close family member to brief each evening, or as necessary, and then they could cascade down the list to others? I found that extremely helpful when my mother was hospitalised. And it gave me more recovery time to myself when I got back each night.

So pleased you can see results already, Grammaretto. Don't worry about the dust - wait til your Christening decorations come down😉.
You will be staggered by the improvements post op Mamissimo. This from a bi-ocular(?) lens recipient. You don't realise what you'd been missing.

I hope Keira has settled now, Nfk, has put the experience behind her and that all will be well henceforth. How did she cope with the fireworks around? Not ideal for any pooch, yet alone a nervous newbie.

It was good to see you, Jan. Have you managed to catch up?

It was Petr Čech with the helmet, wasn't it, Cherry? I googled him to get the spelling right and see that he is now a semi-professional ice hockey player😱.Oh dear, I do hope he wears a neck guard☹️.

Kaimona, I was captivated by your link. In fact the whole ceremony was a fascinating insight into your local culture and your interview put a face and voice to the kindly lady who we talk with every day.

And, I loved your scarf. (How shallow😉)

That's great news except about the dust Grammaretto 😊

Evening lobStars

Lovely to see you posting Jan. Sorry to hear about your knee and that it's causing you such a problem. Have you been advised on any exercises that you could do that might help or do you have a knee brace? I have an ankle support thingy for my arthritic right ankle, it's not a complete solution but it helps a lot. I wasn't fitted with it, it's designed to help someone who's had a sports injury and I bought it myself but only after seeking advice that it was appropriate.

How's your DH been today Doodle?. I hope the antibiotics are helping and the Drs' concerns about his heart have been allayed. Have you managed to get any rest? I hope you have

How's Keira after her growth removal Nfk? I hope she's not uncomfortable. I do have a helmet, like the one that a previous goalkeeper for Chelsea used to wear. It's for wearing outdoors rather than in. I don't wear it at all 😬

That cataract operation was quick unlike your wait for it Grammaretto. It sounds like it went well. Yes, early days, a woman used to know said she didn't notice much benefit from hers for about three weeks whereas someone else I know was staggered by the vast difference it made within a matter of days.

I loved your little interview Kaimoana. You came across so well and I couldn't resist the temptation to watch it over again, so I didn't I watched it three times. It was wonderful 😊

Well ... my bumps and bruises are bumpy and bruisey 🙄 but apart from that I'm fine now. I even went on my walk today --it was comfier than sitting on my bruises-- 😱

Nice to see you popping in Doodle. You must be so tired.

So you're having the cataract surgery soon Nfk.
Today has been great. I looked in the mirror and could see every wrinkle clearly. must get rid of mirrors

Then there was the dust......
But I went outside and could see every blade of grass, number plates, everything in 3D. It is wonderful. Magical
I shall have to see when my right eye will be done
I even went to Gaelic class tonight.
* sucker for punishment *

Love to you all

Please don't worry about posting Doodle, you have enough on your plate. Just take care of yourself. Love to Mr D, I do hope the antibiotics kick in soon.

That was a very nice piece Kaimoana. I watched most of the clip as the lady presenter spoke so beautifully and it was so sunny and warm looking. I had to keep reminding myself that the breeze blowing probably wasn't very cold!

I'm pleased, very pleased to hear that your op went well Grammaretto, as I'm having my right eye done at the end of the month! The left to follow some time in the New Year.

I think, Cherry, it may be time you wore one of those helmets which some children who're prone to falls and head bangs have. That and a bubble wrap suit. I do hope it wasn't too hard a knock and you're feeling better now. (How do you get up again? I need at least two firemen.)

Lovely to see you back Jan, knee an' all. What a lot we are!

Oh dear Cherry I’m sorry you’ve bashed your head too. You and DH are a pair. Hope you’re being looked after properly.
Dear Kaimoana, DH would be the first to say that we all need lightness and a laugh as a break from anxiety.
Not able to access the clip from hospital but whatever it is it it’s fine. 😊
Grammaretto, glad things went well and you are safely home. Speedy recovery now.
Mamissimo thanks for those encouraging words.
Will let you know but may not post again today as I am so busy answering family at night I get quite tired. Bless you for caringx

Wow! Kaimoana that's great. Thanks for sharing it and I also hope that clip can be kept for Gubbins.

Dear Doodle. I hope today brings better news.
It shocks but doesn't surprise me that weekends in hospital are so sparsely staffed.

I had the cataract surgery yesterday. I think it took 5 minutes at most. I didn't feel a thing but there was an intense light I was supposed to look at and couldn't so the surgeon kept moving my head
I haven't noticed a huge difference yet but apparently it's early days. Meanwhile I am definitely cancelling all engagements this week and relaxing

Poor Cherry! Another head banging incident is just what you don't need.

Good to see Jan. How are you m'dear?

Good Morning Kaimoana! I watched and beamed with pride - Get someone to save that on their phone for Gubbins when she's older? Still trying to get my hands on a copy for Spud for Christmas 🎅

I do hate to post this, its seems so crass but it won't be up for long so if you want to see it.....

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vObIp4HoBB4

Start at 26.07, it's about 3 minutes long and I'm just a wee bit miffed that my praise of Nikki, the illustrator had to be cut.

I have not, by any means, forgotten Doodle & DH or now our poor *Cherry, in their distress.

Just a quick message from me as I'm a bit groggy from a fall and banging my head to say I'm thinking of you and your DH Doodle and hoping that the triple whammy antibiotics do the trick and your DH improves day by day x

Thank you, Mamissimo, for those words of comfort and support. You represent us all at this distressing time.

Hoping Grammaretto is back home and finding her way round, and that it all went well.

Kaimona, I'm sorry to have been so thick about time zones. Of course, I'd forgotten that NZ is, er, skinny and would fit into a single zone. I am more used to the multiplicity of state times in Australia, and Queensland, DS's state, doesn't change the hour at all when all the others do🤷‍♀️.

You sound wrung out Doodle. I have everything crossed for you both. I've had sepsis twice and the cocktail they drip into you knocks you for six for a bit. I know I felt worse before I felt better so hang on in there. Sleep as well as you can and if you can't sleep read - your brain needs some downtime to sort and sift so that you're functioning tomorrow. We're thinking of you.

Sorry again for short note. Just been for another 9 to 9 stint at the hospital. DH on 3 different intravenous antibiotics and has been moved to cardiology monitoring as his heart it playing up..
Mammissimo, you are quite right, not a doctor in sight Saturday or Sunday but today we had the lot. 5 doctors and the specialist outreach team who came to look after him and followed him around wherever he went.
He’s very poorly and not a happy bunny. Just hoping and praying the antibiotics kick in soon and start making some improvements. Thanks for your kind thoughts I will try and reply better tomorrow xx

Oh my goodness Doodle. Haven’t been on here for a bit and had no idea about your DH. What a worry for you. Hope he is continuing to make slow but good progress. I had a friend who had sepsis but she eventually made a good recovery and is back to her healthy self now.
I must apologise for not dropping in. Its been a stressful few weeks as I now have a very arthritic knee and can hardly walk. But that’s enough of me. Will now read everyones posts and catch up. I will be back. Love to you All

Oh Doodle, I fail to understand why NHS hospitals go to pot at the weekend. There was no reason at all why Mr D had to suffer so. My DH was kept as comfortable as possible for the last weeks of his life without a doctor in sight. Nurses and nursing sisters made all the decisions. (Perhaps there was a GP somewhere ticking the appropriate boxes). I do so hope things have improved for him today.

Thank you Kaimoana for your lovely description, it lifted my day. I've never understood the lure of of swimming in freezingly cold water and you managed to make it sound wonderful. I do like fresh water swimming though, the water feels so soft. But in the summer. When it's hot. Preferably from a boat so I don't have to paddle through mud or put my feet down on the bottom (that comes from swimming in the muddy Norfolk Broads!)

Hopefully the cataract op goes well today. Everyone I know says it's a doddle and nothing to worry about.

Now off to collect Little Dog from the vets. She had a little growth on her side which has been taken off. Next is her back teeth which are buried somewhere beneath layers of gunk. I hope she forgives me!

ixion as far as I know, when it's 10pm here, it's 9am in UK. Ask the AI on your phone, "what time is it in Auckland ?'(or New Zealand we only have one time zone).

It'll tell you - unless it's the Alexa system fitted for me by RNZ Blind Foundation, in which case it will answer gaily:
"I've found a recipe for strawberry sponge, is that what you're looking for?'

When I yell NO! it says, quite sadly, 'Thank you for your feedback'.
After which I feel horribly guilty all day

Good evening!

The NHS is barely fit for purpose at weekends Doodle - you'll see a dramatic uptick in pace and action tomorrow which should help. The Dude is going to need you rested and capable so do accept any help your children offer even if they're bossy or I'll come up there with the leg of lamb to encourage you to look after yourself a little.

Try to enjoy the weird experience tomorrow Grammaretto - it's marvellous a short time afterwards!

I've slipped a little something into the cocoa tonight to make sure you all sleep 🙂

So lovely Kaimoana. I love that song xxx
Also angry that DH was left in pain Doodle. Shocking
I can only hope and pray that tomorrow is better.
xxx

Kaimona, what's the time difference twixt thee and us?🤔

*Don't actually know where you live🤭*

Wouldn't you think that when doctors know they are not going to be available to prescribe for patients in pain, that responsibility could be handed to a senior nurse?

When we had Covid here (probably the same in UK), thousands of people who had never wielded a syringe in anger, were taught how to give intra-muscular injections.
So don't tell me an experienced nurse with all their training, is incapable of assessing patients and giving appropriate pain relief. Makes me livid to think of poor MrD in pain. He's not a wimp either but usually suffers in silence so it must not be easy for him.

Grammaretto the operation will be a breeze and I'm sending a special (if predictable) song just for you:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrHxhQPOO2c

Oh Doodle, I spluttered coffee all over my keyboard. How well you know me but even I wouldn't kick a dude when he's down.

Woke up to a sunny, chilly 9 degrees (48F) this morning, wonderful - so much easier to breathe.

Busy day for me too - if Karen turns up - so better go......

ka kite koutou