The Lockdown Gang - 🦞 Lobstars Unlocked 🦞

Grammaretto, oh no, Napoleon Solo was far too suave for me. Ilya was just so handsome and unattainable. I loved his character.
Your Gaelic teacher is from Wisconsin 😱. I don’t believe it. Glad it went well though as I know you weren’t sure. Was the journey ok? Hope you didn’t get back too late.
The first time I went to night classes was to learn how to use a computer (in the early days before they replaced typewriters in offices). I was never a very good typist but I did love the computer side of things. It’s what I spent the rest of my working life doing.
Seems lucky the Argentinians have cancelled. Are the sculptures yours or others who use your studio?
Sorry you’ve got the cough too. I think it’s going round. My neighbour has it as well. Hope you feel better soon. Jeeves is on his way with cough syrup and hot toddy.
Have a lovely time with your DD and family.
Kaimoana I’d forgotten Roger Moore was Ivanhoe. He wasn’t my thing either but Peter O’Toole and those eyes. Now you’re talking. My goodness you are bringing all sorts of memories back to me. I loved Adam Faith. Not so much for his singing but he was in a series. I’d forgotten the name of it until just now. My mind was thinking it might be Birdie or Burdies but that didn’t sound right, then it just came to me….Budgie 🤣🤣
Georgina Hale was in that too. She had the most unusual voice. That’s been a nice trip down memory lane thank you.
Sorry about your spider bite. Are you sure you don’t need it seeing to. Do you have any antihistamine cream? That might help or an ice cube. Now, as my mother would say, don’t scratch!
Cherry, what delight to have you back. CT scans are quick now aren’t they. DH had an MRI the other day. Only 7 minutes. Was it an open scanner, like a donut? Hope the results are ok.
Good you got out on your walk. Did you go somewhere nice? Hope your back won’t be sore tonight. 20 mile an hour is really slow but we have so many road works and traffic lights around here it’s hard to get up to 20 anyway.
ixion, hope Mr I is improving. Any news on him coming home?
DH had a successful consultation with his haematologist today, she is going to allow him to have another two iron transfusions as his body seems to be using it all somewhere. He will increase his meds to counteract the effect on his bone marrow.
He was pleased with the discussion and the consultant was very thorough. We went and had lunch in the cafe after and then came home and both of us promptly fell asleep in the armchairs. One up just in time for dinner. 😱

Another Adam Faith fan here. I went with a friend to see him in Norwich and spent the whole time screaming (as was required then). Spent ages waiting around the back of the theatre in case he made an appearance and got into trouble with my dad for being late!

Robert Horton in Wagon Train was another favourite from my yoof but David McCallum took some beating!

Is your spider bite not getting better yet Kaimoana? Perhaps you should get it checked out.

I'm pleased Mr D is getting further transfusions. They work wonders! DH was the other way around and his blood was somehow making too much iron. It's so complicated!

I hope Mr I is progressing.

Hi Cherry - nice to see you.

Ooh Nfk now you’ve got me going. Yes Wagon Train. I loved that. Do you remember when we used to go to the cinema and you turned up at any time, watched however much of the film that was left to run and then started from the beginning again.
I went to see Adam Faith too. Can’t really remember where but it would have been in London somewhere.
Yes it’s funny how all our bodies work in unique ways. We weren’t expecting the offer of iron transfusion but hope it will help.
I’ve got to start taking calcium tablets since I broke my wrists. I was on them for years after I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. Then someone decided that was a mistake and I didn’t have osteoporosis so was told to stop them. Now I’m back in them again. 🤔
We have had a caravan and a boat in the past. Both needed winterising. What a palaver. The boat (a small one) was usually put in dry dock but the caravan had to have antifreeze in it. We had trouble with both of them regarding protection from mould. Your camper bubble sounds ideal. Taking it out for a run every few weeks should help.
Grammaretto hope you’ve arrived safely with DD and are having a great time.
ixion, hope your DH is improving and on the road to recovery now
We’ve had a lazy day. DH doesn’t have much energy so is very sleepy most of the time. Tomorrow we are going to John Lewis to look around and have lunch. DGDs 21st in January so looking at what we might get her
take care all

Hello everybody,

I hope the scan results prove helpful Cherry

I'm home already from DD's. The logistics of getting me to the bus stop tomorrow combined with the attraction of own bed persuaded me to come back tonight.

We had a lovely day. Autumn in Perthshire is beautiful. We saw 2 red squirrels and the Birnam oak.
They have a new puppy. A spaniel

I was never a Napoleon Solo fan Doodle not Adam Faith but I fell for David McCallum's looks and his voice.

I'm looking forward to a long lie in tomorrow.

Hello all!
By the time I'm arriving back home these days, have eaten and downed a generous slug a wee dram of Baileys, I am fit for nothing!
Mr.I, once I found him in his new ward, is making steady progress, more checks and balances tomorrow.

^All human life is, indeed there^. We have Roy, curmudgeonly Roy, opposite. Doctor, in loud and slow voice, asks him who the Prime Minister is. How do I know? asks Roy. They change all the bluddy time, probably have done again, I've been here that long.

Then there is Fitness Boy in the next bed. Snorted derisively when told by DH who Our ⚽️ Team is. Not so smart this morning when he found out that the great Man U lost and our team won🤦‍♀️.

I hope Doodle and DH stand to benefit from this latest round of interventions and that Cherry finally gets good news from her scan. Grammaretto, back in your own bed🤙 but glad you had a lovely day. Nfk, hoping you get some good runs out in the Bubble this Autumn and Winter.

I can't 'place' Wagon Train atm, but I have developed an irksome ear worm for the theme music to Rawhide🤔

Did you ever find Jeeves? I wonder, 'cos my bottle of Bailey's is going down at an alarming rate.

Off to try and insert my **s in the appropriate places to make this ramble more legible🤞.

Sent a long post earlier and it’s vanished into the ether 😡. Sorry just off to bed and can’t re type it all. Just to say Grammaretto glad you’re home safely and Ixion pleased to hear things are improving. I will be back tomorrow all
Grammaretto, Jeeves on his way with a hot drink to welcome you home and a muzzle for your alarm clock
Ixion, sorry I forgot to warn you Jeeves loves a drop of Baileys in his morning coffee (and his lunchtime coffee….and his evening coffee…. Oops 😮)

Nice to see you posting Cherry not so nice your health issues. hope you feel better soon.

Nfk the trouble with any issue that may need medical attention immediately is you still have to wait so long (2 weeks average) for a GP appointment. If I had transport, I could risk a walk-in, but I don't and you know what taxis are like here. Better off treating such minor things myself.
Does your DH have haemochromatosis? My sister in law had that and my sons had to be tested as it’s a heritable thing.

Ooh yes, Doodle - Robert Horton, also Clint Eastwood as Rowdy Yates and then Richard Chamberlain as Dr Kildare and much later in The Thorn Birds. Michael Landon from Little House on the Prairie died quite young….and incredibly, people went mad for Patrick Wymark in The Power Game. That man had charisma.
Just reading that back – I used to get into trouble all the time for not wanting to watch TV with the family and yet it’s clear I picked up a lot

Yes, Doodle Georgina Hale had a very precise way of talking; I liked it too.
Grammaretto what a comfort to be in your own bed again.
On Wednesday, BLV are taking us all to Kiwi Valley where we hope to hold and pet various animals and have lunch together in their café. My dgs will love that.
www.kiwivalley.co.nz/about-us
We are hoping for good weather but with little chance we'll get it, or for the Family Fest the day before.

My neighbour Ray popped in for a long chat last night - it was lovely to see him and hear all his news. He was very admiring of the Trevor book.
As usual, wet, cold and very windy – and a mysterious notice that we should stay clear of beaches and the Harbour “very high risk of illness”

Police Memorial Day today. The sacred Huia feather is a symbol of leadership and mana (prestige)

How very annoying Doodle to lose a long post.

I thought I might use this extra morning to go into Edinburgh to buy some urgent necessities stuff but I may not.

At open studios at least 3 doctors came and bought pots I joked that it was easier to have a consultation that way.

Kaimoana like you I would use home remedies first
You must have been an avid TV watcher once upon a time

You do make me laugh Ixion. Those characters in the ward you describe so well.
Who is the prime/first minister these days!!

I have to try to find my DH family history research for a cousin of his who is coming from London to visit next week. (Sigh)

Hope everyone is alright?
It's quiet in Lobstar land

Kaimoana, continuing on the memory trail, someone on another thread mentioned instant mash which reminded me of the advertisements for Smash, the little metal aliens. Did you ever see that?
is it this weekend your DGS comes? Your visit with the BLV group sounds fun. I wonder what animals they have there.
pleased you seem to get on well with Ray. I’m sure he loved your book
I do Hope you’re not going to be blown away by storms. Been a mild day here, although we’ve spent most of it inside.
We went shopping for the first time in ages today. I went looking for a new winter coat. A black or blue one, longish and waterproof. Walked into the store, took one look at a burnt orange puffer coat and bought that instead. Couldn’t resist the colour 🤣
Grammaretto, I was really surprised. I typed my whole post, proof read it in preview, checked it was bold and was amazed when I looked later to see that it wasn’t there. I must have forgotten to press post 😡
That made me laugh about the three doctors. 😊 I wonder what they’re going to use the pots for 🤔. I Hope it’s all going well. Is your London cousin staying with you?
ixion, I too laughed at your description of life on the ward. There are always some characters aren’t there. Glad Mr I is getting on better.
DH and I are worn out by our shopping trip (and the enormous slices of cake we were forced to eat for lunch 😋). New coat for me, slippers for DH and a new bottle opener as our old one has worn out 😱
Time for bed now. Sleep well all

Crossed posts Grammaretto. I’m late in tonight as I’ve been asleep in my armchair watching a film.
Hope you’ve had a good day. Did you go to Edinburgh? I’ve never been but fancy a visit. It’s quite a long way from us. Did think about going by train. We will have to see.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKt-KR1TsRg
Smash advert.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202309/medium-545770-ward-bond.jfif https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202309/medium-61138-wagon-train.jpg

You may not want to waste your time reading my TV epic

ixion your stories are so funny. Here's a picture or two to remind you of Wagon Train.

Grammaretto I'm shocked by how much I do recall. We moved house just before my 13th birthday before which I’d seen only the Coronation in 1953 and the occasional Popeye or Felix cartoon, courtesy of our next-door neighbour who had a TV.

After the move, it took my parents a long time even to rent a TV and longer still to buy one which they did when colour became economically viable, though most shows were still in B&W.
Dad loved the westerns shown at weekends, so I watched with him. TV finished early evening, the picture fading slowly to a dot.

Because I preferred reading and painting (both of which my parents scorned) I couldn’t see the attraction of watching a screen. I was told off for, "treating this house like an hotel" . Odd phrase because to me hotels were places where you relaxed and did as you pleased. I was once unwise enough to say so and got my ears boxed.

I had no time for comedies, game shows or soaps, though I did watch a few episodes of Z Cars (Mainly for Fancy Smith) and to please my mother when Dad was working late, watched a few Coronation St, with her. Ena, Martha and Minnie were unlikely stars. I knew Violet Carson from Listen with Mother. As Ena Sharples she was totally different from my imagined, gentle storyteller.

Much later, I actually liked The Krypton Factor and University Challenge which in those early days had such easy questions, even I knew many of the answers.

My parents had no interest in those nor would they watch anything which might have reference to kissing or body parts and the appalling Benny Hill was anathema.

Should forbidden subjects or even a hint, come up unexpectedly, my father would leap from his chair to switch off while both parents muttered about the world being disgusting.

Some body parts were exempt, I watched (alone) Your Life in Their Hands - a spectator to various fascinating operations, presented by the brilliant Jonathan Miller.

So my parents loved television and found it relaxing whereas I found it an irritation.
I still do but now I’m told many more people share that opinion

When we moved to Cornwall, someone gave us a television, the screen of which rolled upwards at frequent intervals but as I had worked at the Baird factory, I could repair televisions, so that lasted us about a year.

Neither of my sons have ever found TV particularly interesting.
Once DS2 grew out of cartoons he was as indifferent as his brother. Both find it manipulative. They always had better things to do.

Only when I was babysitting for people, something I did often in those days to make a bit of extra cash (I was happy to sit from 5pm to the early hours if necessary and few were) did I switch on their TV as a break from whatever I was reading.
(I could easily finish a book in 2-3 hours).

Occasionally I hit on something good. Does anyone remember the beautifully designed House of Elliot?

www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbhP1pd_o3I

Sorry folks, the reminiscences ran away with me.

www.newshub.co.nz/home/shows/2023/07/newshub-nation-grassroots-organisation-repair-cafe-helps-new-zealanders-fix-their-belongings-as-government-works-on-right-to-repair.html?fbclid=IwAR3rctmtRiMCBhe9CVwGz_VrVuDqntnXMYlOsaAx02BLwMDOfW09IF4_P2g

I enjoyed your trip down memory lane Kaimoana.

It was the opposite in our house. DM loved opera and theatre. She refused to have a TV until colour brought tennis to life
She relented a bit because she allowed us to watch Quatermass, Maigret and spy thrillers with her. Wagon train and ofcourse the man from uncle.

Please come to Edinburgh Doodle. We could meet up or you could come down here.
Funny that you bought an orange puffer coat. I bought an orange body warmer in TK Max yesterday. I did go into Edinburgh but then had a problem coming home with the soldiers march closing the town for several hours

I'd better get my day started. Open studios again.

^For mash get Smash^ 🎵?
I think a meet up in Edinburgh for you both would be great - no need for the carnation in buttonhole and folded newspaper. The orange would make you both, er, distinctive.😁

Loved your reminiscences, Kaimona. Wasn't The Man From Laramie of a similar ilk? I recall my younger brother watching it, I think.

Mr.I wasn't so hot, as it were, yesterday. CT scans 'n' stuff. Rushed about to hit visiting, legged it down a mile-long corridor to the last ward at the end, only to see him being wheeled off i to the sunset for more investigations. We waved. Ships that pass in the night.
Not to worry. I crunched my way through his packet of hobnobs and got drawn into conversation chatted with Ray opposite. Have you rung your wife? Doctor asks. What, he says, on this? (📱). Worse than useless. All I get on the screen is a little aeroplane symbol ...

On DH's return, I perch on the offered naff plastic chair and we sit in companionable silence. 45 years practice in that!
Nurse comes along and says 'Let me draw that curtain so you get more privacy' 😱. Unsure what we were supposed to be missing out on otherwise😉.
Must put biccies on the shopping list before I go today.

Love to all, apologies to those I have missed. Off to source Figgy Rolls ( one of our rare divergences in taste!).
Thinking of everyone.

Fig rolls! Ah yes Ixion. I would eat them if pressed.
DH ward when his first tumour was discovered. Dr Tom, a young registrar with zero bedside manner, asked the poor old guy in the next bed, if he could spell LEMON backwards. He could, falteringly.
Next Q what are the dates of the 2nd world war?
Old chap sounding terrified "Backwards?"

The open studios were very busy again. I should have more stock.

Tonight another concert. I sent for a takeaway.

Here's a side of my front room

Kaimoana, nothing I like more than a trip down memory lane. I have an awful memory but once someone reminds me I can remember things. Love the picture. Wagon Train was a favorite. My dear dad loved westerns. Never went near a horse or cattle but I think it was his dream to ride the range. Hah., how funny, I’ve just read the bit where you said your dad like westerns too. 🤣
Unlike you, I loved the soaps, I used to watch them with my mum. Z cars was a favorite too. DH hardly ever watches TV. Only the news or some documentary. I watch all sorts of things but I hate game shows or “celebrity” things.
I do like my books though.
Yes I remember The House of Elliot. Did you watch The Forsyth Saga?
Grammaretto, it would be nice to visit but with Dh the way he is, everything has to be well thought out and planned so much.
Hope the studio opening went well. Did you make any more sales.
I remember Quatermass. I loved that programme. Sometime a year or so ago a couple of episodes were repeated. Might have been on the BBC archive channel. They were of course in black and white. It was really strange watching them. I remember being really scared watching the first time but seeing them years later you can see the sets were so flimsy and unreal
ixion, yes you wouldn’t miss my orange coat I can assure you.
Hope Mr I was feeling better today. Sounds as though he’s being thoroughly investigated. I remember those plastic chairs well. Not the most comfortable seats. Perhaps your DH wants figgy rolls so he gets to eat them himself……unlike the hobnobs.
I hate being behind those curtains. I enjoy seeing what’s going on in the ward. I wonder what they thought you were about to get up to. It’s funny really because normally they hate you having the curtains drawn. Hope you aren’t getting too worn out. Make sure you get some sleep yourself.
Grammaretto glad things are busy. Hope you make lots of sales. Enjoy the take away.

It's the International Day of Older Persons.

"Older persons are invaluable sources of knowledge and experience and have much to contribute towards peace, sustainable development, and protecting our planet."
UN Secretary-General António Guterres

I've got the Rawhide ear worm now! Wagon Train on the other hand is quite forgettable. I Googled it and my heart actually turned a little with pictures of R Horton.

So pleased to read that Mr I is recovering. I agree on the entertainment value of the ward (six to a bay in our hospital). In DH's ward there was a stubborn man who insisted on taking all his clothes off and dancing on the bed. The main concern was that he should bounce off. DH was moved so we never discovered what happened to him.

I seem to have caught a rather nasty cold/cough bug from somewhere and haven't done much except sleep. I do feel better tonight than I did last night but I'll have to see the surgery tomorrow to ask if I should move my Covid/flu vaccination date on Wednesday. I don't want to put it off as it doesn't give much recovery time before I go off to Rome with DD2. Rome!! I'm thinking I need to know what to take apart from my passport! I'm assuming I'll get an Italian passport stamp? I love collecting passport stamps!

Kaimoana, well this Older person is worn out. Accidentally washed tissue with my duvet cover. Spent ages dusting it with a toothbrush to get the bits off (can’t use a tumble dryer as I haven’t got one). What a fun occupation.
Long chat with DS1 tonight about poorly DGD (cold) happy DGD (part time work whilst at University). Made a diamond art coaster (one down 7 more to go).
NFK, you’ve got me going now. Head em up, move em out…or words to that effect 😊. I’d forgotten about Robert Horton till he was mentioned. Yes I liked him too.
Oh 😮 I bet that made hospital visits entertaining!
I think that cold is doing the rounds. As mentioned, my DGD has it. DH and I last week and now my neighbour has it too.
I Hope you’re ok to get your jab. You certainly don’t want that affecting your trip to Rome. How exciting. I’ve never been.
How soon are you going?
Grammaretto, hope you’ve had another successful day at the studio. Is that the end of it now?

Good evening Lobstars,

Here is another very tired old person.
I hope you are not badly affected by the jabs or the cold Nfk and get away safely to Rome

I haven't been there for over 50years but DGS wrote a blog when he was there last year so I feel knowledgeable now

The final day was good and very busy. We had a series of Raku firings and an endless stream of people wanting to have a go! There must have been 40 or 50 visitors.

The weather was perfect but I had trouble with my kiln and my car
. I tried to move my car out of the way but it wouldn't start so we had to push it.
Tomorrow I will try to get it going

Tonight 3 films were shown at the community cinema, all with a local connection.

I remember the music from Wagon Train, Wyatt Earp, Cheyenne and Rawhide but not much else. There were a lot of Westerns weren't there!

I hope Jeeves is doing his rounds.
Night night

You really did very well with your opening days, didn't you Grammaretto

Glad Mr ixion is doing well, even in not yet at the stage of dancing on the bed in his birthday suit.

Nfk When my son was in Rome, he was ascending some wide steps when a woman came walking down holding a baby. As she drew near, she threw the "baby" which he instinctive caught just as a man behind him cut the strap of his shoulder bag and ran off, followed by his accomplice who left baby (a bundle of rags only) behind.

The thieves had wasted their time; it was a freebie cotton bag, advertising their hostel and all it contained were info brochure on Rome. He learned a valuable lesson though.
The advice was to always to wear some sort of secure money belt under your clothing, never carry a bag and just have a few lire in your pocket. And never leave anything valuable in your hotel room.

DGS and I have had a good day. We welcomed Karen back after a month away, got a few geegaws from the $2 shop; bought a nice lunch at Noodle Canteen, who, for the price of one meal, give you enough for three. Picked up some treats to take away at the weekend (I'm spoiling my DS2) and had a great deal of fun and laughter together.

We’ve had a disaster in Auckland. One of several sinkholes caused by extensive flooding and continual rain for months, has led to a breakage in an 130 year old sewage pipe which is leaking 10,000 litres of raw sewage into the harbour and nearby bays, every few hours. Public notices forbid bathing, fishing and any other contact with water. Disastrous. Kai moana especially will be off the menu for a very long time.

The sewage is coming from an area called Parnell, where the wealthier mortals live, so at least the pollution will be higher quality
www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/498988/deluge-of-sewage-into-waitemata-harbour-nothing-new-iwi-says

The sewage leak sounds awful Kaimoana 😯
I hope the pipes can be fixed and you can resume bathing.
I think my cousins live in Mount Eden which always sounds posh but I have never visited them
You have had a good time with DGS and now Karen is back and Summer is coming. Yay! Plenty of good times ahead.

I didn't like the sound of your DS experience in Rome. A cautionary tale. DSis had her expensive camera stolen and mum lost her handbag but that may have been Barcelona. TBH it can happen anywhere they can spot a tourist and easy pickings.

I can tell a nice one though.
My df was in Madrid. He stopped to look at his map and walked off leaving his bag containing everything in the street in the most obvious place. Sometime later he missed it and ran back. it was gone so he went despairing to report it at the police station.
"Here it is" they said. "Someone handed it in"

I hope your cold isn't going to upset your jabs' schedule, Nfk, and your subsequent holiday. Do make sure you hang onto your valuables when you go - such salutary tales here about not being on your guard!
Did you get the car sorted, Grammaretto? Bravo for that hike back home😱?
Kaimona, you are certainly spoiling your men folk! So glad you are having a good time and that Karen is home. Such a sink hole😱. There are similar horror stories here too along those lines. I hope the one where the chap went down in his bed isn't really true ...

Mr.I goes up and down, as 'twere, not getting very much better.
On the good day, he ventured into the shower, where he had not previously met the joys of motion-sensitive taps.
He carefully places two large towels on the side of the handbasin, and then emerges clean from his shower, to find that the taps have been prompted into life by the towels' presence and have gaily - and copiously - been doing what taps do, all over them.
Hey ho.