🦞 Locked down no longer but still firm friends 🦞

Plumbago is very pretty.

I don't like its name which is too like lumbago.

Its common name is leadwort.
Seemingly Pliny, the Roman, likened it to lead by its blue colour and thought it was a cure for lead poisoning. Sadly it isn't. So there we go!

Great photos of your hotpool trip Kaimoana. I'm so glad you got to go.

The flat we lived in in Westminster had bomb damage and was not at all grand at the time of my birth but I have seen it since and it's gone upmarket. T E Lawrence was only there for a short time many years before. My DM told me the story.

I hope Doodle is installed now and being well cared for. 🤞❤️

Just a quick post to tell you I’m ok. Still groggy but think all went well. Take care all xx

Really lovely to hear from you Doodle.
I am amazed that you can post on here so soon after your op!
You are amazing 👏

Sleep tight Doodle! Time to heal now. 😍

Wonderful to hear from you and know that you're okay Doodle 💕. I echo Grammaretto's statement - you are one incredible woman 💪👏

Wow.
Have a good night's rest of mind and body.
Delighted to have heard from you,
Take care x

Great news Doodle. Wonderful to hear from you. Have a good rest and a good nights sleep xxx

Dear, unsinkable Doodle, rest now and please let others take the strain whilst you heal. To fit your cunning plan of all and any future hospital avoidance, for yourself and The Dude, please take the time to get strong before returning to your post. Sunny days will be coming and you and he must be well enough to take advantage of every sunbeam. You so deserve some happy times now!
Sending you 💐💐, love and hugs. Sleep well. x

Dil to my cheeky grandchild: Who would you like to pick you up from day-care today?

Gubbins: (noding at Dad) The big guy.

What a hoot that girl is, Kaimoana! So pleased you got your swim in, despite accessibility limitations. Maybe you'll get the posh place next time.

Hope the cold is on its way out, Mamissimo. Happy planting.

How's the filming going, Grammaretto? Can you disguise or make a feature of the buckets? Tell me again what the schedule is and when we can view!🎥. Popcorn at the ready🍿.

Welcome to Purplepixie. Aha, a seasoned knitter in our midst. I love your recent 'Elvis' cardi. That'll really raise the spirits! Kaimona does nifty slippers which I haven't got round to doing yet.

Hope Doodle had a good night (home or away?) and has faced the day with increasing optimism. I bet the Blokes Night In overcame any challenges that may have arisen.
Hurry back, my choccy bunny is looking lonesome.

My cousin arrives shortly for a few days. Joy. not her name, more an expression of my emotions🥴. Must meal plan and dig out the table cloths.

Off to limber up for The Match later. We will cheer, against all the odds and report back idc.

SMS from me - tablet's playing up 🙄.

I'm pleased that you managed to get a swim Kaimoana 👍😊.

Hope your cough is easing Grammaretto. How's the filming going?

Thinking of our Doodle X

Gubbins 🤣😂😅 you are wonderful!

I hope you are resting Doodle and not worrying.

Enjoy Joy ixion. 😊 and the match
I arrived home from yoga to find a man on my roof. I hope 3rd time lucky
An actor and soundman in my kitchen and
3 big black dogs chasing eachother around my garden * 2 rottweilers and a lab belonging to the roofer *

I hid in the pottery studio but my Czech helper arrived early and soon we were in trouble with the director for talking.

She had decided to film in the back room where the tools and bikes are kept because she loves the antiquated electric fuse boxes.

The best thing was warm sunshine 🌞

hello all. I’m doing ok but being made to rest a lot by sons. Now it seems DH may be admitted to hospital next week for his op. All a bit chaotic but I can’t do much to help.
I will let you know how we get on (when I get some wifi access)
Hope everyone is ok and be back with you soon. Love Doodle xx

Then rest you must Doodle, very sensible. Your DSs want to look after you and give you the time you need to recover.
Don't go worrying about Mr D possibly having his own op next week, if it does go ahead. He'll be taken good care of.
I'm sure things are not as chaotic as you think. It's also clear to me that your DSs are very capable, they love you both. As for you not being able to do much, you are doing a great deal, you're doing what's important and that's resting and giving yourself time to heal 💕 X.

I echo Cherry's words! As I am sure you also would Doodle if you were giving the advice.

Please rest and allow yourself to be nursed back to health.

I'm listening to the drip drip drip. Very frustrating but it's just a ceiling, just a roof.

I have been out most of the day so I have hardly noticed the filming

I took the Czech girl to Peebles to deliver books to a book sale and I showed her a few places. What a pretty town it is.

She cleaned out the fridge while I was working this morning.

It's my/our wedding anniversary today but I don't feel much like celebrating. Shall I open the champagne 🍾?
I will if you'll join me but I don't think the girl drinks so I'd have to drink it all by myself.

Friday friend is still in London.

Any news of Lobstars?

Hugs, Doodle 😍
Xx

Doodle. So pleased to hear you are being told to rest. Hopefully if DH gets his op next week you will both be fit and well by the summer - if it ever comes! x

Thank you all
Ixion 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Rest is best. Doodle

NotS belated congratulations to your daughter. Sorry, I don't always pick up on everything when text is jumping around all the time and has bits missing.

In the midst of all this unhappiness and pain, valuable lessons are still being learned for future use; nothing is ever wasted.

You may remember that last April I saw the cardiologist who referred me for more tests and I was advised I may have to wait 4 months for these. I have so far waited a year but at last have my date: Tuesday 25th February 2025.
No doubt they are hoping I'll cark it before then.

I am going to take your advice Grammareto and seek out my wheat bag - no idea where it is - as my back is very much worse. In case it's sciatica, I am touching my toes every 10 minutes!

Kaimoana hope the wheat bag helps and eases the pain. Sending gentle hug and love ❤️

Hello Lobstars,

Lovely to see you popping in last night Doodle!
I hope that means you are feeling OK and not that you can't sleep.
With DH about to go in for his op too, it is certainly all happening at once for you. You can convalescent together.
Big Hugs for you.
XXXX

I got a big hug yesterday at the store from a lovely customer. I told her it was my wedding anniversary. She knew DH and that set me off! 😢

The filming is over now apart from some outdoor scenes later on.

Unfortunately the leaky roof is as bad as ever. I don't know what to do now.
Should I sack the roofer and try to find another?
Ground hog day here.

On that depressing note, I shall make a wish list of jobs I want my helper to do while she's here.

Oh Grammaretto, I would have joined you, virtually, as I don't drink alcohol irl, if I'd come back yesterday, if that would have helped. I would have given you a hug or in my case cwtch too but certainly wouldn't have wanted to set you off 🌻🌻🌻.
😤 about your roof, 😕. I don't know what to suggest. We need to get someone back for ours, I feel fortunate that ours isn't half as bad as yours. Why are these jobs so difficult 🤨? I don't know what to suggest but maybe another roofer is the right way to go 🤷.
When does the film maker plan to release her film, do you know, I'm hoping to get the 🍿 out like we did last night - watching Oppenheimer.

I hope you found your wheat bag Kaimoana and that it helped. As I said, it helps me when I have a flair up and my WP (a bit) with his CPS.
Crikey! Your appointment is almost a year away and you've waited a year already 😕. It's ridiculous. I'd suggest that you push to get on a cancellation list if it weren't for the fact that transport is so unreliable for you.
I think I'm playing catch up - Gubbins 🤣.

I hope you're getting on with your cousin's visit ixion 😉.

I hope you slept well last night Doodle and are still resting and giving yourself time to heal.

Df invited me to stay with her and leave this damp house for a while. I may do that when Czech girl leaves. My friends think my cough and the damp are connected.

The roofer will give it one last go.

But it's been April showers today and more buckets.

How did you like Oppenheimer Cherry? I thought it compelling and well done.
Thanks mucho for the cwtch.

I asked DGD aged 6 who is learning both Gaelic and French at school.
Ciamar a tha thu? (How are you?)
She replied:
Comme çi comme ça (so so)

The film here should be released about September. There's more to do at other locations.

I was shocked at the long wait for Kaimoana's appointment 🙄 it's cardiac too which makes it urgent.

I hope Doodle is healing well and bossing everyone about again.

Good evening - I'm flopped out with a restorative after my dog walk. Such a lovely sunny afternoon so I took to the hills and the view was ALIVE WITH RABBITS!

Aoife took off at such speed that I think I flew. We were hurtling down hill when my neighbour drove his pickup across our path and successfully interrupted the furious persuit. He spoiled his kind gesture by telling it me it looked hilarious from his viewpoint .....that I have no style when flying running down a steep hill.....

I'm just glad it stopped before I had to jump the ditch!

Spud has had his first haircut ☹️ but he's still gorgeous!

Mr M took me to B&Q this morning to collect a load of paint samples. My favourite kind of shopping! He treated me to a roll of tropical jungle for the bottom of the folding bunk beds. I've been waiting for that for two years - so how long will it take before the job is done? Place your bets!

Delighted that the knive throwers have done their stuff Doodle - now it's time to sharpen your skills in being patient and doing nothing. The hardest bit!

I found a box of Bendick's Bittermints that I mislaid st Christmas - anyone want one?

Gubbins has sheepskin covers on the straps of her car seat Mamissimo as the edge rubbed her neck.

Definitely go for a new roofer *Grammaratto:, 'tis you who pays the piper, they should be dancing to your tune.

Unless he told you the porky on 1st April, that nonesense about spiders means he's a smooch artist - or very dim.
Of course you find cobwebs and spiders in damp places: garden sheds, the bush - and my bedroom !

There's even a spider (Argyroneta aquatica) which, despite being an air-breaher, uses a bubble of air to live under water.

Wheatbag is definitely helping

Thanks Doodle I send hugs to you and DH as well. May we all lurch move into a new season of recovery.

Apart from the new handyman, it's been a quiet weekend here which I very much value.

He's in his 70's sweet and kind. He brought his equally nice wife and it soon became evident why - she's the powerhouse, he just wields the screwdriver.
Nevertheless, the one job he did was wrong: he put up a roller blind thermal side inwards. He's coming back next week.

I don't care, at least he isn't the odious, smelly patronising jerk the Sallies used to send.