🦞 Locked down no longer but still firm friends 🦞

Woman down here too 😷 Now entering day 10 of the barking cough. GP says if no improvement in three weeks to get back to them.....with my car crash of an immune system I think I'll get back to them before that because I get pneumonia too easily.

It's like the original locked down gang on here at the moment! His lordship has today received his invitation to receive his next Covid booster!

Yesterday the `Hot Gardener sowed the container grown veg - and carefully covered the soil with chicken wire to stop Aoife digging in them. By bedtime I was ordering fresh seed and Aoife was looking for a new home .

Today I shall take her to the Vet to have her glands cleared - that'll teach her to tamper with the veg! 😁

Yes, me too Kaimoana2 - really bad with fluid in one lung and... you really don't want to know. Horrible.
Last tablet today. Was super rigid with timing, no alcohol and no "difficult" foods as upset stomach was high on the list of potential problems. SO pleased we do still have some antibiotics that work though.

Thank you all for kind words.
*Get well soon everyone!*

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202404/medium-111115-blloms.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202404/medium-98564-blossom.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202404/medium-665195-spring-flowers.jpg

Oh dear NotS - you too. Are any of us entirely well at the moment? They do say that at the end of winter, the health bugs take a final poke at us!

Winter can't be blamed here: Karen arrived unexpectedly yesterday, very obviously far too sick to work. She immediately puked so I sent her straight home, groaning.
She blames Norflex.

Hoping Springtime brings a new lease of life to us afflicted persons some pretty pictures may help lift spirits.

The Marae sent some delicious food down after they'd had a hui (meeting) spinach quiche and herby chicken. Lucky us (me and Ray)


And a joke - a passenger asked a flight attendant, 'How about a quicke?' Outraged she went to her senior who reprimanded him.

The passenger said, 'I don't understand what I did wrong' and producing the menu list, added, 'I was just asking about this'.

The senior attendant said, 'That word is pronounched "kweesh" sir, not quickie.'

I'm pleased that you're sleeping Doodle; if you are going to be awake in the middle of the night a snack is obligatory 😄.
My hair is mid length too, and thick to boot, so I know what you mean about drying it. You can hardly go 7 weeks without washing it either. Seven weeks sounds a long time but the weeks pass by quicker than you think wasn't New Year's Day only a week or two ago.

What a lovely unexpected treat Grammaretto, I'd have been as proud as Punch 😊
I'm pleased you've had your chest x-ray. You've had so many coughs this winter - a week or so to wait for the result is, whilst frustrating, not long to wait if it means you get some idea of what might be the cause which may or may not include the damp.
Oh, I forgot to answer yesterday - I too found Oppenheimer fascinating, sad too. Did you enjoy Wonka, I haven't seen that.
Well done on getting some decluttering done. We had a rummage under the stairs on the weekend 😬🤦. We found an old metal box we had totally forgotten about. My WP was quite excited, thinking it was going to contain some tools that have gone walkabout. Sadly no, just another box of papers 😱.
Enjoy your trip to the theatre tomorrow.

Your DMiL's 100th birthday celebration sounds perfect NotSpaghetti but I'm sorry to hear that you've had such a horrible infection. It's good to know that you've got such an accessible GP practice and that the antibiotics you were prescribed have done their job.
I love your idea of a photobook, I'm sure your DMiL will love it too.

My WP has almost finished decorating the hall and landings. He bought a very handy, strong and sturdy tool so good he even avoided using any ladders, but I'm putting my foot down - he's not doing the ceiling!

Try to get some sleep Doodle - I'm sure you need it!

Posting a quick message while I’m still awake. DH snoring quietly in his chair. Been a long and tiring day of hospital visits for us today. Didn’t get home till 5.30
Grammaretto I’m home. Been home for a few days now. Not doing too badly just aching shoulder and very tired.
I have heard a number of people say they enjoyed Wonka. Hope that leak is sorted soon. Must be a constant worry for you. Is your new helper good company?
Hope the X-ray results are ok and showing improvement.
Notsoaghetti, the 100th birthday sounds like it was a very lovely family get together enjoyed by all. Bet the photos are fun.
Oh not you with chest infection too. 😮let’s hope those antibiotics work their magic soon and you feel better.
I think the photo book is a wonderful idea. We have several done over the years and it’s lovely to have a nostalgic look back.
Grammaretto what a treat to see your DD in the theatre.
Hope you and your helper enjoy the show and the interval ice-creams.
Im doing ok thanks. Bit of a sore shoulder. I expect it got pushed about a bit during my operation and is now retaliating.
DHs legs are now weeping a lot. It is worrying so I’m hoping his operation goes ahead on Wednesday but we won’t know till we turn up there.
Both sons doing a wonderful job of ferrying us around (I’m not allowed to drive yet) wish it was to somewhere exciting rather than the doctors or hospital.
Your roofer isn’t related to Sparky by any chance? He doesn’t seem to be around much. Hope it gets fixed soon.
Sleep well all. Like DH i keep nodding off. Jeeves, two coffees and some chocolate cake please.

I'm glad NotSpag 😊

No joy with the roof but a satisfying day:
X-ray = done
Pottery = some done
Decluttering = some done

I've booked for the theatre tomorrow night. My df DD is the leading lady in girls of slender means and it will be Czech girl's last night. She told me her favourite memory, from when she was here before, was the theatre and especially the icecreams in the interval! The epitome of decadence 😂 🤣

I would love to hear from Doodle that she is doing well..
I would love to hear from any or all of you

*I did manage to stay well whilst they were here and basically collapsed the evening that they left in the morning...
Just hope they haven't caught it!*

Oh no, NotSpag you too. 😢 I am glad the antibiotics have worked but such bad timing when your family were staying.

Your photo book sounds a very nice idea. I would love something like that

I don't get the X-ray results for over a week.

Grammaretto hope the x-ray starts to shed light on what is/is not the problem.

Goodnight all.

One of the nicest thing was seeing my husband's cousins in a jolly context. Funerals seem to be where we catch up these days unfortunately as we are geographically very spread out - from the South Coast to Cumbria here in the UK and then family from abroad including my son and daughter-in-law who came 30 hours for just a few days.

They did have the pleasure of the newly decorated bedroom though and we decided to put a new bed in there so they had a king size instead of two singles pushed together. 👍

....sadly I immediately went down with a terrible lung infection with a cough so horrible that I thought I was coughing up my insides. I had 2 days in bed and then, luckily, got an immediate appointment with my GP as apparently they have a policy of seeing chest and lung problems straight away and in person. So now I've had 6 days of antibiotics and am at last feeling more human. We are SO lucky that we have drugs that can help us like this.

I did ask if there was anything we can do to try to save my husband from this and it was said, with a laugh "you could move out" 🤔🤣 he does have a cough but it's mild and I'm keeping my fingers crossed for him.

My job now is to put together a collection of photos for my mother-in-law- I thought I'd have a small photobook made up. I know she's having a clear-out but think it would be nice.

I haven't yet read back carefully as I should have as I've been so weak and ill but will catch up soon.

I'm sorry so many people seem to be struggling- Grammaretto's damp, Doodle's incapacity (and your husband too Doodle), Kaimoana's very long wait... thank goodness we seem to be having some small joys in-between.

Next time I'll catch up better. Sending positive thoughts to you all
Thank you for your good wishes for our celebration. It was truly lovely.

NotSpag that sounds perfectly wonderful! It almost makes you want to reach 100 😂 you had good weather too.

more to come...

Thought I'd better just say hello or you will think I've dropped off the earth!

Thank you everyone for all your kind wishes for my decorating challenges (!) and for my mother-in-law's 100th birthday. The main thing is she had a truly lovely day with us all. We had an excellent meal in a restaurant which normally only opens in the evening on a Thursday but where the staff came in early especially for our little group. And best of all the sun came out so we had a lovely hour or so in the restaurant gardens where the children made friends with the chickens!

We enlisted the help of a photographer to mark the occasion but so much chatting was going on it was a bit like hearding cats - but we have plenty of nice group pics to choose from.

It was a close family only event - her nieces and nephews and their spouses, her son (my husband) and I, her remaining brother-in-law (sadly her three siblings have died), her stepdaughter and then our five children with their wives/husbands/parners and their children.
My adult children don't have wives/husbands and partners!! by the way

7 weeks Doodle!! That sounds ages but it will go quickly. When do you come home from hospital? Or perhaps you are home?
I'm easily confused 😕

*Well done with washing your hair
💆 🛀 🧖‍♀️ 🛌*
* not sure what the symbols mean but they are rather fun *

Thanks for the advice re my damp house. I may stay with someone but I will need to make sure the roof is water-tight first. The dehumidifier is on constantly.

I had an unexpected treat today and watched DGD in the Edinburgh youth orchestra concert playing her flute.

Then the helper and I watched Wonka at the community cinema.
We wanted hot chocolate afterwards but I've run out of milk!

I have an early start tomorrow as I'm having my chest X-ray.

Night night Lobstars xxxx

Thanks both of you. It’s certainly worth a thought I will ask.
i am sleeping Cherry but when DH wakes up he’s often in pain so we have a coffee and a shortbread biscuit together while I wait to see if he falls asleep again…….like he is now 🤣.
washing my hair wasn’t too difficult but is mid length so not something that can be dried with a quick blast of the hairdryer. It involves bending my head down towards my elbow to do the left side of my hair …….but then I can’t see what I’m doing as it all falls in my face 🤣. Only 7 more weeks to go before I can move again.

Doodle I'm pleased you're still resting (even if you did wash your hair). I couldn't help but notice however, from your post on BD, that you were awake into the small hours. Trouble sleeping, worrying, uncomfortable? It can't be easy when you shouldn't move your arm and we know you're worrying about Mr D's upcoming operation and stay in hospital 💐
In the A&E of our main hospital they have trolleys which convert from chairs, with padded footrests, into beds. Surely they have something like that in the hospital Mr D is due to have his surgery in. It would be worth asking and stressing his need for it wouldn't it.

I hope that rainbow is a good omen Grammaretto. I agree with Doodle, staying with a friend is a good idea -not only from a health pov but for your sanity.

Your new handyman sounds an infinite improvement on the last one Kaimoana, even if he gets things back to front 🤦.
I can confirm spiders like damp places - they always seem to appear in my downstairs cloakroom and are not averse to the bathroom either 🙄

I didn't sleep well last night so I'll have a hot chocolate please Jeeves.

Night night lobStars

Doodle - surely it's not beyond the wit of man ward managers to pinch from somewhere else an easy chair with adjustable foot rest as a bed option for DH? Could your District Nurse not make representations on your behalf?

As for the football, just don't ask ...

Grammaretto I’m so sorry that you’re still having roof problems. Maybe a new chap might be better. I agree the damp can’t be doing you any good.
Thank you for the rainbow. Hopefully there’ll be a pot of gold at the end of it to help pay for your roof. I would go and stay wiht df for a bit. I think you need to be somewhere dry (apart from the odd 🥃 that is. Medicinal only of course.)
Grandmafrench how lovely to hear from you. So kind of you to care.
Kaimoana I can’t believe you can have to wait so long for an appointment. Do try and hurry them up. It’s crazy. I love the sayings of Gubbins 🤣. That girl is going to be a wonderful storyteller just like her Grandma
Mamissimo, love Spuds curls. What lovely hair he’s got. Such a sweetheart. Have you chosen your paint colours yet. I can never make up my mind.
ixion and Cherry, how are our team doing? I am being good and resting. Everyone checking up on me. I did manage to wash my hair today and dry it. No mean feat. I had to tie my arm to my side to make sure I didn’t inadvertently raise it too far.
Jan and Nfk wondering how both of you are doing plus cats and dogs.
NotSpaghetti hope the 100th birthday party went well. What an achievement.
Sorry I’ve not caught up with everyone’s doings. Im quite anxious about DHs hospital trip. Worried they won’t operate as his leg is so bad and also worried that they will keep him in for a while as he hates it so. Because he can’t sleep in a bed it makes it a nightmare for him. Between a rock and a hard place as they say. Take care all. And thanks for all your caring messages and support. xx

I hadn't realised ixion! I use my phone for everything so don't know what desktop looks like.

With a FOMO, I searched, to no avail, for Grammaretto's three little dots for PMing.

For we desktop viewers, it's 'go to orange Inbox, top right, click on it and then send new message'.

Crikey, Kaimoana. That was an impassioned résumé of your previous service providers😱. Gosh😉. Got me spluttering over my cornflakes🤭

Spud continues to delight. Our pinup boy. I wonder if mums still collect 'Baby's First Curls' and have a little card to display them? I have some dating back to the mid 1920s of my mother and some siblings. Better, I guess, than those found in mourning pendants. That jogs a memory - my mother telling me that she and her sisters were never allowed jet jewellery 'cos of its connotations.

I am pleased that you are being offered a dry roof over your head, Grammaretto.
I always feel that roofing is one of the most imprecise of the trades we have to deal with. We've have lots to do with them over the years, sadly. You could never actually inspect their work and you have to take their word for it that the job is done fit for purpose. We now have a posh chap (as reflected in his prices) who inspects with his own drone, sends stills of the problem and of the finished article. I can 'do' (ie understand, not repair!) lead flashing and slipping slates, but otherwise you have to hand it over to the professionals with a wing and a prayer.

Must away to tend to the needs of our visitor. Has the annoying tendency (inter al.) of responding to any conversation with 'Well, of course'🤦‍♀️.
Our Team play if that's what you call it this afternoon. Bet she won't twirl a baton.

Lovely weather here, hope it is the same for you.
(What is it that makes rainbows so uplifting?)

Sending best wishes to Kaimoana too. I can see you would be very annoyed by my roofer and his tall tales. 😁
I'm glad you are pleased with your new handyman

Thanks Kim. To pm you click on the 3 square dots in the corner which gives you an option to pm.
Just send your roofer round!

Spud has star quality Mamissimo, (swoon)
You were lucky to survive being pulled down that hill by Aoife. Take care now! We Lobstars need you.

Another df has offered me her spare room when the Czech girl leaves.

Czech girl is off to visit Rosslyn Chapel today where there's to be a meeting and tour for Czech people.

That building has become so popular since the Da Vinci Code book and film, it's had more than a new roof.
Now what if someone could write a book and make a film in my house....... 🤣😂

Sending healing vibes to Doodle.
and the rainbow I saw yesterday

Grammaretto, I'd like to pm you but he e forgotten how. Help please?