The Lockdown Gang - 🦞 Lobstars Unlocked 🦞

Wow, your open studio sounds a great success Grammaretto. If I lived closer I would have come and had a go at your Raku firing. I think it’s a great idea for people to have a chance to experience new things. Did you make any more sales?
Is there a lot of tidying up to do now or does everyone lend a hand?
Did you go and see the films, or were you so tired you fell asleep?.
Hope Jeeves made it to you before bedtime
Your DF was lucky in getting his bag back. Just shows there are some good people in the world
Kaimoana, what a rotten thing to happen to your son in Rome. It never ceases to amaze me the lengths some will go to steal or con people. 🤣🤣 last laugh on them then
Really pleased you are having a great time with your DGS and Karen is back too. What are geegaws please? I bet there’s a lot of laughter going on with the two of you
That sewage leak is awful and a serious problem. Reminded me of one occasion when DH and I were moving house and there was a hitch. We had no option but to move into a caravan for 6 weeks till we got the keys to our new home. On the second day of our stay, we woke to the most awful smell. The drains had backed up and pumped the sewage out of the toilet into the bathroom. Someone else came to clean it up but we had no option other than to stay there…….with open windows and many perfume aerosol sprays. We have never forgotten it.
ixion, I was hoping for better news of Mr I. Hope he’s being well looked after.
A bit of a damp shower for him with the wet towels. DH and I both got soaked when he was in hospital by a funny tap in the ward toilet cubicle that instead of spraying water downwards sprayed it up and outwards at great speed. It happened to DH first but he forgot to tell me. When I eventually emerged back into the ward the nurse said oops sorry about the tap……I don’t think she was sniggering 🤔
How are you doing? Do you visit every day? It takes a lot out of you just sitting with someone. Hope Mr I starts to feel better soon. x

Doodle a gee-gaw (there are various spellings) are trinkets, unconsidered trifle - the sort of thing you pick up at a £ shop ($2 here).

Sometimes they are good value, especially craft supplies but DGS bough a small gun with a target and darts with sucker ends. The darts didn't hold fast to any surface unless he fired from 6 inches away and the trigger broke within 5 minutes.
I wonder why people bother to make things they know won't work - nonsensical. He did get some fun from an aerosol which sprayed string.
He can indulge his childish side when he's with me because I'm just as bad

I bought a scrapbook for Gubbins so she can draw at A Deer Cottage.
Karen bought incence.
Gee-gaws :-)

Oh, my goodness Kaimoana, that's an impressive sink hole! It easily beats the one in Norwich many years ago, which half swallowed a double decker bus. But that was only an old chalk working and not a sewer. Yuk!

I do hope Mr I has recovered himself enough to face the challenge of another shower now he knows how the taps work. Hopefully he'll be able to come home before long and relax in familiar surroundings.

I've not been to Rome before, but have been to Naples and remember the dire warnings there. I have a purse which I spend ages looking for, which has a long strap. It just has room for credit cards, small phone, passport and a bit of money. Worn under a shirt across the body it tucks away in my belt and hardly shows and all other stuff, hankies, sanitizer, water bottle, snacks, goes in the big, obvious bag. I will take my proper camera, it's really elderly and not worth a lot, but has an excellent telephoto lens - but even that is on a harness rather than just one strap. I was too clever at losing things in the past, so have got into the habit of attaching everything to my person, and my fear of long drop loos and other places where falling valuables would be lost and gone forever, has made me rather neurotic!

* All is safely gathered in *

Just a very one sided post to let you know that Mr.I is home, but I did insist on a fully documented service history prior to collection. Have yet to unhitch the trailer of meds and read the paperwork but plenty of time.

A message from a friend said he will do much better recovering at home with rest and good home cooking...
Moi?😱

Thank you to everyone here for your warm support and wishes. What Gransnet here does best!

Hoping MrIxion continues to improve.

Apparently there are multiple sinkholes like that Nfk it must be so scary when these things happen - and I don't know how they do.

Family Day was excellent and the boy and I had a great time. I'd requested smoked salmon for lunch and got it, which we all enjoyed.
The early morning was very cold but it brightened and we ended up in t-shirts, having shed multiple coats and jerseys.

My accrued 14 pairs of knitted slippers went into the free raffle and if I could upload a video, you would see that some kaumatua are agile and steady enough to boogey.

I am hoping to take Artoa and daughter Ngaia on Friday for the 2nd Family Day.

DGS goes home today after we've been to a farm park with the BlindLowVision group. It's been a good week.

Next Tuesday we are going to an 80th birthday party for Koro, the dear old soul who used to teach us ukulele. That should be fun.

And of course, this Friday DS and our cheeky Gubbins will be out in the country. I am SO looking forward to that.

How's your winter weather shaping up? A friend in New Jersey says thiers is predicted to be as wet as the one we are leaving behind. I hope this isn't true for the UK as well. It's caused so much damage and heartache.

Kaimoana ah now I understand. Those sort of things they have for kids to spend their money on. I agree sometimes they’re ok others not. Hope Gubbins likes her scrapbook.
So pleased you and your DGS had a lovely time at the Family Day. How proud you must have been to have such a handsome boy with you. I bet you’ve both had a lovely week.
Is it so soon you’re going to the cottage? Hope you all have a great time
Nfk I’ve seen pictures of sinkholes but never actually come across one. One that takes a double decker bus must have been huge.
Sounds as though you have everything in hand for your trip to Rome. So exciting. When are you going?
Hurrah Mr I is home. Now he can begin to recover properly.
Mind you, I hope you aren’t run off your feet too much, you need to look after yourself as well.
Is his breathing better now?
Your mention of the trailer of meds reminded me of when I brought DH home after 10 days in hospital when he broke his ribs. He came home Christmas Day night in the dark. We had a car full of walking frame, bags of medicines, his clothes, all the stuff you accumulate from a spell in hospital. Two giggling nurses rushed out to the car and piled it all in the boot (shame they didn’t come and help with the unpacking at the other end 🤔)

Grammaretto, hope you did your homework for Gaelic class tonight. I expect it’s been a long day for you what with the travelling to class and back. Did your cousin and friend both turn up. Is your cousin much into family history too?
Jeeves is on standby in case you need a restorative drink

Your mention of Gaelic Doodle just jogged my memory to ask Grammaretto if her tutor knows what "kybosh" means. I was listening to an audio in which someone said it was Irish Gaelic and meant the hat judges put on before sentencing. (various websites say "origins unknown - pish tush to that)
Could that be the origin of the phrase, “He put the kybosh on it" when something goes wrong?
Our trip to the farm park was excellent and DGS went round the petting zoo three times; was feeding a goat when an Alpaca snuck up and pinched the carton of food from his hand.
As soon as we arrived it was clear the place wasn't access-abled; had long, hazardous gravel paths, planters and tiny but lethal steps in unexpected places. Ironically, they provide walkers but disabled people can’t use walkers on rolly gravel and steps!
However, each BLV member had a helper as I had DGS. I moved at snail's pace, he advised what was at my feet, we took the dangerous rolly gravel very carefully and all was well.

The weather was splendid, so I stayed outside the café, adjacent to one of those steps over which several of the 30,000 children present, tripped. No harm done.
As we gathered to leave 3 hours later, Maggie needed escorting to the loo. She was guided by a BLV admin lady. Maggie never stops talking and the Admin didn't have the guiding experience to stop her and announce a hazard ahead - the tiny step.
Down Maggie went and that resulted in shock, embarrassment and panic from spectators.
Admin was all for hoisting her up immediately but Bossy Boots stopped that, suggested Maggie be left, well covered and reassured, with my warm jersey and borrowed shawls, until the lady herself had stopped shaking and recovered enough to decide she was ready to be helped.
The ambulance came quickly, paramedics confirmed the wisdom of leaving her prone and protected and it took them a very thorough 45 minutes to check, officially that Maggie was not seriously hurt.
Obvious to us much earlier as she’d talked incessantly throughout the drama, even when flat on her face.
Good old Maggie.

Kybosh comes from the Irish for the death cap mushroom according to google so it's literally to put an end to everything.

I'm having to miss the final foraging session on Saturday, another trip to Hemlock beach. Real name: Longniddry Bents.
I shall be at a conference in Leeds.

Gaelic was good though I had my knuckles rapped for using Google translate. Never again

The visit from the DH cousin and the old school friend went well. They got on perfectly had lots in common and the conversation flowed.

Maggie, who never stops talking, must be exhausting Kaimoana. I hope she wasn't badly hurt in the fall. It sounds like a good day out despite DGS losing his lunch to an alpaca.

How is the ixion household today? Are you getting any help?

learn something new every day on this thread 😊
I looked up kybosh too and got…. .Heavy duty insect spray from Amazon!
Kaimoana, you and your grandson have had a great time together. How lovely you found such fun things to do, the farm sounds a great experience.
Oh no, poor Maggie. Doesn’t sound as though she was unconscious at all with all that chatting. Hope she’s ok. That will give her something to talk about for the next few weeks
Grammaretto, what is your conference about? Shame you won’t make the foraging. I always look forward, with interest to pictures of your finds.
I got myself in a pickle this afternoon. I have had a bad knee for a few days. Not sure why but it’s felt a bit painful when I’m walking. This afternoon I decided to tackle the inside of the washing machine soap drawer which gets a bit of mould and the seal around the door. Bending down at such an angle was making me feel giddy so I decided to sit on my kitchen stool. A small one that I use for standing on to reach the top shelf of the cupboard. My rear end was about 5 inches from the sitting on the stool when I felt a burning fire in my knee and an agonising pain shoot up from the back of my knee. I was at the point of no return so had to continue the downward journey til I ended up sitting on the stool. The pain made me feel quite sick so I just stayed where I was for a while until it wore off a bit. Then came the problem of getting up again. I didn’t call DH (oblivious to all this in the other room) because he can’t balance enough to help me up and I’m too hefty for him to lift, so I rolled off the stool sideways, dragged myself across the kitchen floor into the lounge and finally made it up using the arm of the sofa. I won’t be doing that again.
ixion, I think were all wondering how you and Mr I are getting on. Is he a good patient..
Big day for us tomorrow. DH’s first appointment with his cardiologist since his heart problems kicked off in March. Not sure what he’s going to suggest but we’re going armed with notebooks, graphs, charts and a list of questions. DH likes to be prepared 🤣

I'm so sorry that I've been so lax in getting back to you all.
I stand prompted by Doodle's gentle nudge😩.
Don't know which is the more tiring, physical or mental activity, but today has been a day of finding our feet again. New meds regime, existing medical appointments to cancel and new ones to make. Catch up bulletins, discreet observations to make and the constant nagging (+++) to alter the habit of a lifetime of crossing feet and ankles. Clots, the medical kind, still hanging around where they shouldn't be.

I was very conscious of not making my posts all about us, but, although I have been reading avidly your doings, I just haven't yet had the time to comment, for which I am truly sorry.

Please know that I am very grateful for your support and that I will be back in harness (oooh, just like the Argy days😉) very soon.
Promise!

Bet you can't wait ...

Good luck for tomorrow, Doodles

Dear Ixion, I didn’t mean you to feel you had to respond. Just wanted to let you know we were thinking of you. I know only too well how exhausting life can be when someone has been in hospital and you have to try and get back to normal again.
Please don’t worry about replying to us all. That’s not a problem. You can make your posts about you because we want to know how you are
Hope Mr I behaves and doesn’t cross his legs (yes I nag DH about that too) and you both get some rest

💐

Ixion, I concur with Doodle. Look after yourselves. We all want you to use any spare energy getting better and resting.

Good luck for tomorrow Doodle.
Thinking of you as well.

I wonder if Nfk has left now for her Roman holiday
Do you remember that lovely film?

Just popped by for a catch up - wonderful that Mr I is home again. Even if he'll miss the entertainment of being on a ward, home is best for recovery.

I'll pop in again once this cold subsides. It's triggered The Cough which I get most autumns when the leaves start to turn. With a vengeance. I'm picking up a new inhaler tomorrow.

I second Doodle's post - we are more than happy to support you ixion & spouse , you're family now so long posts are unnecessary. One or two lines to update but ONLY if you're up to it.

Thanks Grammaretto and you are correct not to trust Google I think. An Irish Gaelic site states (with some authority) that kibosh was a candle snuffer, a name used well before the 19th century naming of Amanita phalloides Death Cap fungus.
Later, colloquially (please don't look this up) for a punishment used by the British against Irish "rebels" and the cap the notorious judges used to proclaim it. Interesting etymology all round.

Hope Doodle and Mr D have a good outcome with the cardiologist.
Oh Doodle the awful situation with knee and low stool went straight to my heart because it is exactly what happened to me a few years ago. Even down to the little stool I used to stand on to reach a high pantry shelf (I was cleaning the low shelf at the time).

As you know, my knee recovered enough to avoid the operation but each time I get out of a car, dicky left knee first, I wonder if it will let me down before I have the right foot grounded to stabilise me.

Did you once say MrD had a walker frame? I have, rarely use it but it's invaluable for sitting for such low tasks as it allows bending with stability.

DGS is away home now so my day began with a much overdue chat with a friend in Loughborough: 6am and 3 hours later we were finally ' all catched up'

Now I'm off to pack for our holiday

Evening all. Good day for us today. DH saw his cardiologist for the first time since he became so ill and things went well. Cardiologist thinks his heart is functioning well and has ruled out any consideration of operating or any further treatment. He has said he is happy for us too monitor things ourselves and go back if we have any concerns but he thinks DH is doing well. It’s a huge relief as the operation being proposed was not one DH wanted and had no guarantee of success. We celebrated with a toasted cheese sandwich in the cafe.🤣
Very tired tonight as we were up at 6am to get to the hospital in time and as DH had a second appointment this afternoon for an iron transfusion we just stayed there till 3pm.
Nfk sorry you’ve got The Cough. My friend has the same. She says her ribs ache so much . Hope you feel better soon. Just keep thinking about that holiday to cheer yourself up.
Kaimoana, that’s a nice thing to say to Ixion about her and Mr I being part of our little lockdown family, which of course they are (no one escapes the lobstar gang)
I have a similar feeling with my knee, not sure if it’s going to hold or not. It’s on the same side as my broken wrist and last night it was difficult to arrange a position where both knee and wrist were happy.
Yes, DH has a very snazzy walky frame (Rolly) who has sadly been locked in our outside cupboard for weeks. Poor thing must feel abandoned. We were talking about taking him out for a run! this coming weekend.
Thats a good idea about using the seat to do low tasks. Hadn’t thought of that. Certainly won’t be getting down on that stool again.
Hope your DGS is home safely now. You had such a lovely time together. Bet you’re looking forward to seeing your son and Gubbins now.
Grammaretto, yes I remember Roman Holiday too. On the subject of remembering westerns (which we were recently) I was thinking as I limped across the floor with my poorly knee that I was like Hop along Cassidy. Do you remember him?
Did you get your car fixed? I think you said you were going to lend it to a friend as you can’t drive at the moment. Any news from the hospital about your cataract op?

Good evening gang🙂
Mr M and I are back from a few days holding Spud visiting DD2. He is just so lush!

I think we're home till after the end of year festivities now so I'll be tackling a few cupboard clearances of my own. I've just booked the oven cleaning company as a treat - I love the way they make it like new!

Mr M has bought himself a new drone which he says is to take family group photos. I think that's the strangest reason for buying one but as he rarely buys himself new toys I'm not going to argue. Maybe Spud will like it!

We have the Covid booster and flu jab on Saturday - an d I've been offered a shingles as well! I think 3 in one session might be a bit much. Have any of you had all 3?

What a relief that must have been Doodle. I'll bet your cheese sandwich tasted wonderful!

No word from the eye clinic. I am not hopeful. Someone's mum waited 6 months after the assessment.

Ah yes Hop along Cassidy. How could I forget. 😅

All the talk of knees reminds me I spent my garden voucher raffle prize on a kneeler to aid weeding. It's been raining nonstop so I haven't had a try out yet.

I have been poring over architect drawings for a house in my garden, and getting excited, but as soon as I mention it to my DC they start pouring cold water on the idea!
Perhaps they'd prefer me to be in a care home

I hope you are fit for your holiday Nfk. I thought it was this week.

Lovely for you Mamissimo to have spud cuddles. I have had any number of vaccines. Flu, covid, shingles, tetanus, meningitis. Only the first 2 recently. It was when DH was being nursed at home that the nurses would stab him and then stab me while they were at it. 😯

I went shopping tonight and bought supplies of drinking chocolate so take what you'd like.

I'm off to catch a train in the morning. I hope my alarm goes off or I am really st.f.ed.

Yep, I had all 3 Mamissimo -no ill effects

I had similar cuddles with a friends 4 week old baby, her name Āniwaniwa (inevitably shortened to Ani) means Rainbow. I am knitting appropriate slipers for her.

Much relieved to read your good news Doodle but I wonder who was so sure your DH would need an op when it appears his heart is normal?
scaremongering?
Not so good your health problems - I wish you could get Koru FX cream in the UK, it has taken off here like wildwire as it beats all other analgesic creams, including Voltaren the current (expensive) market leader.

I can imagine you like Chester in Gunsmoke :
"I'z a-comin' Mr Dillon" - remember him? Played by Dennis Weaver to James Arness' Sheriff Matt Dillon.

My DH is hoping to be here about 2pm - meanwhile I am away to the 2nd Family Day with Artoa and her little daughter Ngaia

Oh, and of course its raining and is predicted to do so all weekend. Ho hum

Is it your Leeds foray tomorrow, Grammaretto? Hope you have a good break. Did I miss the reason? not that it's any of my business. There was a very uplifting Grand Designs programme last night, where a nice young man sold off his bungalow and built an amazing 'tree house' in the (extensive) back garden for himself snd visiting young children.

What fantastic news of Mr.D's appointment today, I'm so pleased. Mr.I has one 'specialty' where he now attends yearly for a progress report and a meds tweak if appropriate. It's a blessing to have one problem which can sit on the back burner.

I have everything that's going had all the jabs ever offered, Mamissimo, but never all together, simply so that I would know which one to blame if necessary. Dear Spud - is he still placid and contented? DS1 has a drone, provided by his Work, for 'aerial surveillance', it does have a tendency to, er, wander over their locale. He had to have special lessons to achieve competency.

How's that cold, Nfk? Are you winning? Hope so!

You always have such interesting outings, Kaimona when the taxis turn up. The Family Day and Park Farm sound great and you will have lovely memories of sharing that time with your GS. Plus the added drama of poor Maggie - tho I did smile (a little bit!)

Mr I has had a reasonable day, punctuated regularly by my nagging exhortations to uncross his legs and/or ankles. He is recovering sufficiently to feel capable enough to pass judgement on the performances in the World Athletics competition on the telly tonight. Not that I have ever known him ever even running for a bus ... Hey ho, in the time I have written this, he has nodded orf. I must away to align my stars for Kaimona. I live in dread of losing my missive in the process!.

Thank you all for being so kind.

Mamissimo, how lovely. Any recent photos of the young man? I bet you miss the cuddles already.
Ive used oven cleaning companies before and you’re right it’s so nice to see a sparkly oven. I don’t use them anymore as my oven and microwave are pyrotechnic …….oops no they’re not they’re pyro something else but the word escapes me. In other words, they clean themselves.
I have seen some drone photos of wedding groups . They are very good. Has Mr M had a drone before?
I had my shingles jab years ago as did DH. He’s had his Covid but I’m yet to book mine but we are both off for our flu jab tomorrow. Hoping for no bad side effects as we are going for lunch on Monday and don’t want to have to cancel
We have had flu and Covid together before but I wouldn’t add in shingles at the same time. I think you’d have to be brave to do that.

Grammaretto, a great relief indeed. Shame about the cataract. Have you tried phoning again?
Glad you got your garden kneeler. Hopefully you will be able to use it upside down and sit for a while too.
Nothing wrong with looking at architect designs and getting excited. It’s nice to have something different to think about and consider. Are your DC’s concerns valid?
I think I read on GM that you are off to Yorkshire. Hope the journey goes well and you have a good time. How long are you going for? Just read ixion’s post and got reminded about your conference. Is that it?
Thank you. A nice hot chocolate will go down well…..I might just add a little something to it? 😊

Kaimoana, what a lovely name for a baby. I bet you enjoyed those cuddles. Those slippers will be really tiny.
When DH was diagnosed with heart failure back in March his heart was beating at a furious rate and he had atrial tachycardia. His heart is not normal (does function pretty well until this problem occurred) but it was the abnormal speed that concerned them. They said he would need two procedures. Firstly something to put his heart back into normal rhythm as soon as possible (cardioversion) and then a move invasive procedure (catheter ablation) which might (if successful) keep it in normal sinus rhythm after
Luckily, DHs heart put itself back in normal rhythm and has remained so ever since. DH and I think the medication he was on caused the problem in the first place but that’s not the official line. Whatever the reason, things are looking better and for that we are grateful
Ah, thank you. I’ve been thinking about Mr Dillons sidekick for a few days and I couldn’t remember what he was called. Chester, that’s it. 😊
Surprisingly my knee seems better today and not nearly so painful.
Have a lovely day with Artoa and her daughter at the family day. Hope you have a wonderful time at the cottage with your son and Gubbins

ixion, lovely to hear from you. I may well look for that programme I like watching Grand Designs. No chance of me getting up into a tree house with my knees…..not unless he installs some kind of tree lift
Thanks for your kind thoughts. Yes the annual reviews aren’t such a problem are they.
Pleased to hear Mr I is feeling a bit better. Hope he continues to improve. My DH has long since gone to bed. He got fed up falling asleep in his chair and being prodded by me to wake up “or you won’t sleep tonight”😊. Hope you’re sleeping ok and coping with the demands of the patient. I’m sure Mamissimo still has the frozen leg of lamb if he’s not behaving himself 🤣

If I don't write anything, we will drop off the bottom of the Last Day thread list!
Hope Grammaretto has landed successfully, that the Doodles are simply having a little snooze, that Nfk is losing her snuffles, that Kaimona had a lovely revisit to the Family Day.

Flu jab for me tomorrow, wondering whether I can play the Invalid for the rest of the day. Will let you know!

X-ed posts, Doodle. We can compare our health statuses (stati?) tomorrow post jab.
Bonne chance!