🦞 Locked down no longer but still firm friends 🦞

I couldn't help laughing Doodle, sorry.
The picture of you struggling to break into the wrong car!

Ofcourse it was raining and yours was the furthest car from the hospital.

You'll surely sleep well tonight.

I haven't opened my kiln yet. It's still cooling.

I went to ceilidh dancing tonight which was fun. Some dances are brain gyms. Postie's jig for one.

Better have a cuppa and go to bed.
Sleep well everyone.

youtu.be/91t7SEH6dEg?si=0bQpsFGKntmqFmen

*Gramaretto that’s a real test of memory. What a fantastic jig.
I enjoyed that, 😊

Naturally, Nosey Poke here had to go see why Postie's jig was a brain gym. It certainly is. you must have had your wits about you Grammaretto.
www.scottish-country-dancing-dictionary.com/video/posties-jig.html

Wow Doodle it’s a good job that key didn’t fit. “Theft of a motor vehicle, up to one year imprisonment. Unlawfully getting into a motor vehicle: up to 2 years imprisonment. Unlawfully taking motor vehicle: up to 7 years imprisonment.” We may never have seen you again
Odd that getting into a car has a higher sentence than theft but I suppose it means hi-jacking.

All tangi are different but this was the full blown version with the Challenge at the gate by a 'warrior' in national dress - SIX kaikaranga (the women who call visitors onto the Marae.)

The whole kura (school) assembled to do the 'Toia mai' welcome chant we spoke about a couple of weeks ago when I was so pleased I hadn't forgot the chant or actions.

And of course all his family and friends and very many they were too. The place really was sardined this morning, I’ve never seen the whare so full.

Although this man was part of our group, it's not the one I go to now and apparently he always sat at the back. Not that I could have recognised him anyway, it's years since I could see faces (not even Gubbins').

So it was quite spectacular but I seriously feared for my hearing when all 400 children from 7-18 did an amazingly energetic haka of respect, giving it all they’d got – and only 2 metres away from my ears.

But spectaclar and very hīnawanawa - goosepimpling.

After that, the rest of the day was a bit anti-climactic: doing the laundry, cleaning the kitchen and trying to work out why the device on which I listen to audio books, has stopped working.

tinyurl.com/4drb3hbs

This isn't the haka done by our students today but for a highly respected Samoan leader, Fa'anānā Efeso Collins at his funeral a few days ago.
In addition to these powerful young men, we had yoinger children, with loud, high-pitched voices but no less passionate in their emotional delivery.

You will note that some of the boys wear lavalava as part of the uniform.

The word say (approximately) 'This was a good man, a man of God who refused to fit into the narrow mould; he was independent, wouldn't be stopped by racist death threats, attacks and insults but was full of concern for everyone, even his enemies. He worked hard for everyone. A man to praise and emulate.'

Oh, Doodle, I am so very pleased that I'm not the only one to do things like that. My last try at getting into someone else's car was only about six months ago. I put it down to stress... of which you have plenty in overload. More concerning was a few years ago when I was just getting used to a new car and zapped the key fob about twenty feet away - and a different car responded as well! Fortunately it was a brand new car (we use that lease agreement thing whose initials I can never remember) so it was only inconvenient to get the lock changed.

I love the dancing Grammaretto, and I have a feeling I know the Postie's jig, or one very similar. Our Scottish PE teacher at school had to teach dancing as well. Teaching eleven and twelve year old Sec Mod country boys to skip and actually hold hands with girls was her first challenge. We started off with waltzes, polkas, etc and quickly progressed to country dancing and thus to the Gay Gordon's and Scottish dance which we actually enjoyed! The thinking involved in Scottish dances kept everyone on their toes (!) and rebellion at bay. Unfortunately, anything that energetic is beyond me now, although I can do line dancing which only requires an occasional little jump.

Your link didn't work on my 'puter Kaimoana, but Grammaretto's jig was followed by Stan Walker. Quite a contrast and I'm having to wrench myself away to walk the dog and paint a bit more of the kitchen.

No. I couldn't opening either.
Sorry!

Doodle one evening, many many moons ago, aftera long day at the beach with the DDs we decided to stop for fish and chips. There was a lovely big lay-by in front of the shop so we parked up and I went into the shop while Mr M waited outside with the girls.

As I was leaving the shop the heavens opened so I ran to the car - threw 2 parcels of fish and chips into the back seat and thrust a third at Mr M, got in and shook the rain off myself turned to Mr M and......screamed.

It didn't occur to me in that split second that I was in the wrong car - my mind decided on all its own that this man had dragged Mr M and the girls from the car while I was buying supper and he was stealing both the car and me.

This scenario had a shelf life of half a second before I spotted Mr M getting out of the car in front. I fled.....Mr M apologised to the somewhat shaken driver and we drove off with my blushes matching the paintwork......and leaving four portions of cod and chips in a strangers car.

Oh, Mamissimo, that's priceless!

Your descriptions are so detailed, Kaimona. You always present such a lovely picture tho I'm not up to the vocabulary as yet!. And I intend to promote the use of sardining as a verb - love it!.

Watching the Postie Jig suddenly made me really nostalgic. Primary school Scottish Country Dancing, mid 1950s. We were a large East London Victorian school, with those rolling partitions so that rooms could be re-jigged. As a consequence, the hall was vast (or so it seemed) and had a highly polished parquet floor. We used to learn reels, the sort where you lined up boys on one side, girls on the other, all shuffling along so that the leading couple would grasp hands and spin down the line while the rest clapped. It took a lot of calculation to work out which boy you would meet and hold hands with at the head of the queue when your turn came. Much jiggling and negotiating to avoid meeting with the ghastly boy or to get to dance with the boy of your dreams. We had a record player accompaniment and would often be berated by Miss if heavy footwork made the record jump.

There was also a hole in the middle of the floor for our maypole. Talk about rus in urbe.
(I also remember, in early Infants, huge open coal fires).

I think that Barney, for that is he, is a feline version of Honey Beagle, IIRC.
He is a silent and proficient jumper, in the prowl for anything edible. Much clomping about yesterday evening in the laundry. He had scaled a tall broom cupboard, hoinked the new pack of cat biscuits to the floor and was busy chewing his way through a corner of the box. The same make as his foster mum had fed him, so clearly has recognised the box.

He also has a heightened FOMO and a tendency to blithely emit disgusting pongs..

For Cherry.
Happy St.David's Day!!

Thinking of you x

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 Gŵyl Dewi Hapus 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Another Stan Walker song - to be played at my funeral if my son decides to have one.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ2gC9kwAdc

Looking at these images makes me wish, yet again that I wasn't trapped in the suburbs for life. Did you also watch 'I AM' from the film 'Origins'? also by Stan W on YouTube.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IK8OOpeYHC4

Barney looks adorable ixion and your school experiences are close to mine. Black Nag was my favourite and easy to remember.
'Now boys and girls line up, boys on the left, girls on the right'
'Good, now hold hands. No Jane, not with Veronica, with the boy opposite.'
'Please Miss, Derek won't hold my hand.'
'No, a won't, and yer can tell me Dad if yer like, he says only jessies hold hands.'
'Huh, my Auntie Jessie would nivver 'old ;ands wi YOU, I saw you pickin' yer sneck wi it.'
'Now children, don't be silly. This is Country Dancing..
'That settles it, I'm off 'ome to tell me Dad...'
'Derek, come back! Derek....

Mamissimo what a terrible shock!
Even leaving one portion of F&C behind was bad enough but 4 !!
How did you ever recover? I don't wonder you screamed.

I though Luka was coming over for the weekend but he has to work - v.disappoited.

Happy St David's Day - I do have a leek in my fridge at the moment, so I'll make Leek & Potato soup to celebrate.

I'm seeing my doctor on 12th (earliest appointment); a few strange incident lead me to suspect I may be in the early stages of dementia. Mind you, I've always been a bit demented from my yoof. Maybe it was all that country dancing with a Mixed Infant?

Kaimoana, I managed to open your link. That was amazing. I can only imagine something similar with all those 400 children, wow I expect you could feel the ground move.
What a wonderful send off for the elder.
Hope you can fix your audio book player soon. You must rely on that a lot
Nfk so silly really, I kept pressing the car fob wondering why the button door locks didn’t pop up. Meanwhile our car sitting quietly one space up had all its doors and boot open but I was quite oblivious.
I used to do Scottish dancing at school too but sadly only in the early years. Now walking without falling over myself is a challenge let alone dancing. I would never remember half those steps.
Oh Mamissimo that really made me laugh I wonder what the poor man in the other car thought when you chucked fish and chips at him. 🤣🤣. At least he had a free supper.
ixion, you too can tell a tale. I can just picture you in your huge hall trying to make sure you caught up with the boy who captured your attention.
Ooh Barney is a very clever cat it seems. Fancy him finding the biscuits. What a gorgeous cream colour his front is. Is he like that all over (if it’s not too personal a question for him 😊)
Happy St David’s day from me too Cherry

Barney has a lovely smile ixion, if a slightly smug one.

Happy St David's Day, Cherry. No dragon smiley, didn't we used to have dragon smiley's?

Kaimoana. When we went to New Zealand several years ago we went somewhere- no idea where! - where not only did we rub noses with our hosts but the men got called up on stage to do the Haka. Somewhere I have a photo of a very embarrassed DH attempting the Haka!
When I was in the Brownies we used to dance round a maypole at fetes! Used to weave in and out making patterns with the different coloured strands!
As for Scottish country dancing I used to go to a U3A group that had a Scottish dancing group and I loved it! Unfortunately I can’t do it anymore since I had this b….y (sorry) stroke and will never be able to again. Takes me all my time to walk a short distance.
Ixion Barney looks very content! Love his smile. Think he knows how lucky he is to be in such a loving home!

Evening all.
I am struggling to stay awake. We do not get much sleep these days and DH is awake every night for an hour or so which means I am too.
Went to opticians today for an eye test. Had to have all sorts of tests first be fore seeing the optician including the one where they puff air in your eye. Having had 5 goes at doing this in one eye I told the assistant to stop as my eye was hurting. She wasn’t best pleased but I think her technique was a bit lacking. Apparently I have cataracts developing in both eyes but early stage. I need new glasses for driving and for the first time reading glasses as my range of vision has changed.
That’s all my exciting news for the day. Oh nearly forgot, DH received his waterproof cape for wearing in his wheelchair today. My very own Batman 🤣
Sleep well all

Doodle, I hope Batman and you had a better night? My eyesight is so good now I've had my cataract done. I hope yours is too.

I'm home from myexhausting weekend. It was good but non stop including a fancy dress ceilidh last night. It was to mark 50years of the Scottish Potters so anything to do with 50. I wore a 50yr old dress and poncho from my dressing up box.
My favourite costume was a Half Century in the guise of a half Roman Centurian.

We watched fab demonstrations and ate enormous stodgy meals.

Its good to be home

.

It's been a glorious day here. Decided to go for a power walk leisurely stroll to get the paper, but via a detour which took me through the park. Wistful memories of our brood in the children's play area and the 'big boys' slide, where DC 1 often needed to clamber up, slope side, to rescue a small who wouldn't leave the top step for the descent.

I remembered that a special feature for Oldies had recently been installed, courtesy of a modest grant from the Parish Council. Yes, we will vote you back in, worry not. Tucked clearly (or maybe not so) into the corner next to the Crown Green Bowls Club (and the Public Conveniences, long since closed permanently, much to the bowlers' distress, due to unsavoury practices taking place therein, apparently). An amazing array of contraptions - wheels, pedals, roundabout-y things, static 'walkers'... All called, somewhat coyly I feel, an Outdoor Gym.
Most of the pieces of equipment presented a mystery to me. What did you do with them? How did they work?

Should I inspect them more closely? Try them out? Oh no. I had visions of uber-helpful preschoolers coming to show me how, watched with amusement by their parents.
In the end, I sauntered past nonchalantly, eating my choccie bar in deep concentration.

Grammaretto I must admit I’m not aware of the cataracts at all at the moment. DH is pleased with his eyesight now he’s had his done too.
Your weekend away sounds great. The half centurion made me laugh 😊 Food good and good company. Just what you need. Glad you’re home safely
Cherry wondering how you’re getting on. Think of you often 💕
Another early start tomorrow for hospital appointment. Hope I can get the wheelchair in the car ok. *

Evening 🦞s 💐
You lovely lot are wonderful, thank you all so much for caring 💕😍🥰 and thank you all for wishing me a Happy St David's Day and the flowers.

It's been hard going, I won't lie to you. I've been able to do b*##@r all very little for myself with both hands almost completely out of action 😤. My right arm iis out of its sling now, yay 😁, and my left hand is improving a ot and things are looking up even the home food is starting to improve 😉.

I'm glad you enjoyed your busy weekend Grammaretto rest and recover now maybe .😊

I'm pleased that you enjoyed your walk ixion, I dare you to try out the Outdoor Gym next time you venture that way 😁.

I hope you manage to get the wheelchair in the car and the hospital appointment goes well tomorrow Doodle.

Oh, before I forget, hello and welcome NotSpaghetti, it's lovely to have you join us lobStars 😊. I love your name, I'm with your dgc as given the choice of pasta I wouldn't pick spaghetti either 🤫

I've typed as much as I'm able atm but I have to ask if anyone has seen Jeeves, if you have can you send him my way with a strong cup of coffee as I don't want to fall asleep before I watch a programme I want to see.😁

Yeah Cherry 🍒! Lovely to have you back. You’ve been through a tough time. Glad your arm and hand are improving
I will send Jeeves over straight away but be warned he has a new coffee machine in the kitchen……..I’m not sure he’s mastered it yet. 🙄

Cherry - thank you for your welcome. So sorry you are struggling - I hope you continue to improve.

What I want to know, Grammaretto, is this:
Was the half Roman Centurion top-half or bottom-half or a side-to-side sort of Centurion? Basically I'm imaging them chopped in half someway... but I'm aware that he/she may have been half-Roman rather than half Centurion? He could have been Centurion with (say) a top hat and frock-coat???
Please tell me... was he a Centurion in a swimsuit I wonder??

NotSpag, she, the Centurian wore a Roman helmet and cape over one shoulder but only one sandal. I couldn't work out the exact division a bit too subtle for me

Cherry, welcome back! I hope your arm and hand are healing now.

Good luck at the hospital carpark today Doodle.

Last term I blame the dark a car drove up to where I was waiting for a lift to Gaelic. I opened the door and started to climb in but saw my friend had become a pizza delivery driver!

My Trevor has arrived. Yippee! Thank you Kaimoana and for the lovely words inside. I will treasure my book.
Notspaghetti that’s exactly what I was wondering too. 😊
I remember see a man dressed as a centurion when we went to the Roman baths in Bath. It was dusk and he walked in carrying a lit torch (not a battery one) gave me chills down my spine.
Gramaretto I thought the idea was a good one. It’s so easily done isn’t it. I was waiting by our front gates for someone to drop something off for DH. Every car that slowed down, I was leaning in to see the driver. Some of them must have wondered what I was up to.
Well we had a surprise today. Want to hospital to see the nurse and they have decided they would like DH in in Friday for a few days for some pre op treatment. We weren’t expecting that so I’m now panic packing trying to sort out what we both need (I’m staying in a hotel nearby as the hospital is not local) for a couple of weeks stay (don’t know how long it will be but packing a few ‘just in case items’)
I may well be out of communication as I won’t have any wifi in the hotel but will catch up with you as and when I can.