🦞 Locked down no longer but still firm friends 🦞

I hope you have a special day with your lovely family NotSpaghetti

I'm invited to DS1 for lunch. DDiL will cook which seems mean on Mother's day but she's rather like DMiL and does it seamlessly.
I am taking some strange cheese and chocolate.

Perhaps DH will be home again with you today or tomorrow Doodle
Do patients get discharged at weekends?
Hope your DSs will help look after you both.

I love strange cheese and we will be taking chocolate to my 99 year old mother-in-law's this afternoon. I'm acutely aware that there will not be very many more mother's days for her. Thinking about the short time left is sad, but my own precious parents died thirty years ago in their early 70s and the love is always there.

I have just been told by MrSpaghetti to get dressed... I'm swanning about in my dressing gown but apparently my middle daughter and family are on the way - I did send out a "stay with your own little families today" missive very early today with a view to having a lazy morning

Hello and Happy Mother’s Day to All. Very quiet here which is just as well as I keep falling asleep after a hectic few days! Youngest daughter turned up yesterday. Why? No idea! Eldest is 85 miles away but will be coming here for part of Easter. By the way this is my third attempt at posting the last two efforts joined the many other lost Gransnet posts in the great unknown. Grrrrrr!
After an amazingly sunny and warm day yesterday today has reverted to the usual dismal grey skies. Come on Spring.
Kaomoana Hope you are ok and managed to get your GP appointment and hope all went well.
Not Spaghetti Love the name but be prepared for several different spellings! You and I have one thing in common. I had a stroke 16 months ago. Improvement is very slow. Hobbling around with a stick is as far as I’ve got at the moment but am trying to do without the stick inside the house.
Hi Cherry lovely to hear from you and hope your hand soon improves. Know how difficult it is to manage with only one working properly. Hope the neighbour from hell is still behaving - fingers crossed!
Doodle should think you are tearing your hair out. Poor Mr D. He must be so fed up and depressed. There seems to be end to his problems.

You were indeed the early bird poster this morning, NotS (if I may)! I hope you got dressed and ready in time for your visitors.
I wonder where the Doodles are in their discharge plans? Home or away? You have proved, should there have been any doubt, that you are indeed, a very special mum.

We had a chilly and none-too-exciting afternoon on the terraces supporting Our Team⚽️. My match buddy ramped up the proceedings by giving encouragement (or that's what she said it was) in Welsh which rallied the troops to a draw.
Could do better. Never mind, we remain Big In Europe.

Jan, you will have a staggered Mothering Sunday celebration. I get three, thanks to having offspring in different countries.

Tonight, my DS 'still here' is cooking dinner as we speak. It will be 'interesting', he reckons.
--As will the state of the kitchen be afterwards--

Hope you had a lovely family meal, Grammaretto, and that Spud did his Mum proud on her special day.

Waiting to hear that Kaimona's problems are resolved. Whatever the outcome of the 🩺, we will all be right behind you🌻. (The stethoscope emoji, for that's what it is, may be a bit indiscernible Kaimona. In fact it looks like a flying insect to me. Apologies).

It is two weeks since we brought the cat home. He is delightful, eating anything, as we found to our cost.
Here is today's fresh (was wrapped) farmhouse loaf ...

I thought it was mice who leave loaves like that ixion. I am glad to hear your cat has settled in nicely.

You must be frozen if you were on the terraces for hours.

Lunch was very nice as was the cheese and chocolate. I'm home again and about to try the film. It's about asylum seekers in a remote part of Scotland. Its called Limbo Sounds cheery.

I wonder how the Doodles got on today.

We cut that end off, Grammaretto, and fed it to Cheryl and Russell (crow).
We tackled the rest ourselves😳.
🤞

No gremlins, no infection.

Mamisimo I think you have the wrong address. You will see I'm Kaimoana2 because Kaimoana was locked out by GN and I had to join again very many thanks for your love.

Gosh ixion, I looked at your photo on a small screen and thought it was a bad tooth! A cat that eats bread? He must have been very hungry at times during his life. I have something equally peculiar - a very picky spaniel! Although yesterday she did blot her copybook by chewing a couple of bits of Lego. She may have thought she was helping as I was trying to sort out DGS's room. (And according to DGS, apparently failing!)

We had such a lovely spring day yesterday, and today its all change again and back to cold, damp and grey days. It did dry up enough to take a posy of flowers to my parent's grave and go for a bit of a walk. Not a long one though, the church is on the top of a Norfolk hill and a bit exposed to the north!

I was so sorry to read that Mr Dude's op is probably cancelled after being psyched up for it. Hopefully it's just postponed for a short while until he's stronger. It's such a frustrating roller coaster. Comforting virtual hugs for both of you. I wish they could be real ones.

GP appointment cancelled - about par for the course in my life at the moment. Now for the 19th.

ixion looks to me like a wall phone off the hook. 🩺, I'm trying to read post but can't always take in the words. There seems to be times when my brain just stops or switches off. Like a waking blackout if you see what I mean.
Appreciate your support very much.

Karen's son still has his finger but the sepsis is now in his bone marrow. Karen has had a terrible report after a much delayed smear test and will be in hospital soonest.

And much more unfortunately, I feel like Job.

The good bits: I saw Gubbins on Saturday and we an Easter Egg Hunt. She had to look for bunny flags which had small plastic eggs neaby containing a wee chicken and 2 tiny chocolate eggs. 6 flags in all.
She loved it and dashed about all over the house finding them, then wanted to tell Mummy.
Like dear little Spud, she is an absolute joy.

Waving 2 identical flags, 'Daddy, choose a flag.'
'That one.'
'No that's mine.'

'Daddy, can I brush my hair with that brush ?' (mine)
Father with no sense of hygiene, 'Yes darling.'
'No, it looks like it's meant for cats.'

Out of the mouths of babes.....

No telling when I'll be back but I'll try.

Oh Kaimoana2, what a terrible time you are having!

...but what a blessing to have little Gubbins shining their light in the darkness🌞

Kaimoana I love the directness and confidence of Gubbins - I hope that one day she and Spud, the dog loving gourmand and man of great inner calm, will meet and create a future together.....

As for Drs - they are clever people who apply their brains to trying to help us but who can't organise their way out of a paper bag. The Doodles and you and Jan and Cherry need the directive voice of Gubbins to apply her wisdom to the situation!

Yesterday the entire family came for lunch and for the first time Spud sat beside Mr M in his high chair oops Mr M was not in his high chair🤣 and partook of a roast lunch. He also provided the entertainment as he has discovered he can whistle like his dad but not so tunefully . Aoife was constantly at his side.

Onward troops!

What a shame Kaimoana your appointment has been cancelled or rather postponed. But what a delight young Gubbins is.

I'm writing this on a very bumpy bus going home after a meeting in Edinburgh. It will be potholes. 😞

The Canadian girls are great. They moved a mountain of logs today and tomorrow they'll begin decluttering. There is a curry waiting for me when I get home.

What a honey your Spud is Mamissimo.

Talking of honey, the girls asked if I had maple syrup. I said I did and showed them the bottle. Oh, they said, ours comes in the same bottle but its 10 x the size.

I am thinking of the Doodles tonight.

I've got a blinding headache so excuse me everyone I don't mean to ignore you all. I just have to respond to Kaimoana.

I'm trying to read post but can't always take in words. There seems to be times when my brain just stops or switches off. Like a waking blackout

I know this experience well Kaimoana. In my case, not just taking in words but responding with coherence, expressing what I need to in writing. I switch off as I read, my mind loses the meaning of a sentence before I've even finished reading it. It's not because I have dementia, it's not even because I've had a seizure and my brain hasn't fully recovered. In my case it is, to a small extent, what epilepsy has done to my brain, but more significantly also the epilepsy medication and the fact that I have vitamin and mineral deficiencies/borderline anaemia.

How's your blood count? How are your vitamin & minerals absorption levels Kaimoana? It's such a shame your appointment has been postponed. I hope you get some way towards answers on the 19th. In the meantime I'm sending you my warmest heartfelt cwtches x.

Thinking of all lobStars, the Doodles especially.

Jeeves, if you're around, may I have a cup of tea please.

Night night all 🌌

Dear, dear Cherry that describes it exactly.

After a shower, I sat on my bed, wrapped in a towel and my brain wouldn't tell me what to do next - so I couldn't.
Then about 10mins later the hole seemed to fill with little grey cells again and I reached for me knickers

I am very sure indeed that all iron and vitains are present and correct.

Years back, a GP did a blood test which indicated I wasn't anaemic, despite my wanting to sleep half the day and being unable to focus.

I ignored it and bought some iron tablets which put me right immediately.

I long ago realised that science, which everyone believes flawless (scientists especially) must be applied to individuals - one size doesn't fit, or suit, all.

You may remember I had a slight stroke 43 years ago which led to aphasia - so I keep on top of that with Vitamn B's as well.

If I run out, I forget simple, everyday nouns.
, 'Would you please pass me my ....er...that thing with coffee in it?'
Son: 'Mug?'
Me: I know I am but I'd still like my coffee.'

Then there are days like today which, so far, hasn't had a single blank in it.

Last week I walked into my bathroom (in 15 years, how many times must I have done that?) and jumped as you do when you see something or someone unexpected.

The thought was but a nano second but articulated it would have been, 'What's that huge glass box doing in my bathroom?' It was, of course, the shower cubicle which I see every time I enter that room.

Just a small sampled of what's going on. I am still prepared to believe it is stress and pressure which has been beating me down for some time - not least because I care so much for the people here and when they cannot get proper care they so desperately need, it hurts me too.

I'm going to a Sallie lunch on Thursday and if anyone says, 'The Lord never gives you more than you can bear,' they will severaly shorten their life span.

Tomorrow is another day, eh?

Kamoana Poor you. You must feel very anxious about everything. Do you think there is any chance you’ve had an another small stroke as that can mess with your brain as you know. Just hope you get to see your GP very soon and he can solve your problems. I’m still having problems with my heavy head which feels full of cotton wool. No one seems able to solve that either. Bless you hope things improve very soon.
Hope the Doodles get some more encouraging news very soon. Such a worry for them

I hope that kindly words from Cherry and Jan will be of comfort and support, Kaimoana.
Thinking of you and the Doodles in these difficult times.

Your comments about the size of our maple syrup bottles made me smile, Grammaretto. I recall our Spanish au-pair's look of incredulity when faced with fresh peaches bought in England. OK, so yours were the size of grapefruit🤷‍♀️. Think climate ...

Barney 🐈 had his 'meet and greet' session with our vet this afternoon, plus jabs and once over inspection. He charmed our lovely lady vet, was totally chilled but showed his appreciation, as usual, by yawning and giving forth grotty smells from, er, both ends.
He has also put on 0.5kg in two weeks😳.

More delights from the Family Tree.
A rellie who, in 1939, was a horizontal borer.
I've known a few of those in the olden days..

Ixion Barney sounds like our Theo. Loves his food and any human food he can scrounge! Does Barney like Dreamies? Theo adores them we just have to rattle the packet and he’s there!!

Hello Lobstars, partners, offspring and pets
.
I spent an emotional but interesting morning going through boxes of old paper stuff.
The girls did all the heavy work and we whittled about 10 boxes into one or 2.
Our mantra was: are you going to take this to your new house when you move.?
Another incentive is a newly opened charity shop which will take furniture.
The girls have already checked that out.
I feel I can trust them too.

Over dinner they cooked we laughed about how we were both warned considered batty to stay with or to host total strangers.

Lovely to see most of you posting despite all the difficulties you face.
Nice to hear the new pets are settling in.
I hope we hear some better news from the Doodles soon.
Enjoy the Sallies' lunch Kaimoana.

Oh yes, Jan! Barney can recognise the silent packet and trots over to sit by the box containing his evening treats. Meltdown today on an epic scale as he mistook the rustle and weighing out of a packet of pine nuts while dinner was being prepared.

I don't suppose your house deeds emerged following your three-pronged approach to paper sorting I suppose, Grammaretto? That's a mark of your trust in your new helpers - you will miss them, by the sounds of it.

I went to town this morning to get my hair cut - which guaranteed rain as I left the shop, as always. Then I called at a new-to-me Building Society to take advantage of extremely good rates on a two year ISA. As we have lost all our banks there, I felt it was incumbent on me to support one of the several B.Societies on a use it or lose it basis. It was a vast, modern floor space, hardly any punters in, but a very nice, helpful lady on the help desk. Up I trotted, explained what I wanted to do and stressed the importance -to me, at least- of seeking an 'in-store' option to support the local High Street for those who didn't 'do' on-line.

Well actually, she explained, we would rather you opened it online. It's much easier, otherwise here you have to make an appointment and watch a video.🤷‍♀️

Hope that you have a lovely meal with the Sallies, Kaimoana and that you can put your worries aside for a little while to enjoy it.

Waving, too, at the Doodles and hoping fervently that life is looking up for them.
Baby steps🌻

Sorry all can’t write much. We are ok but struggling. I have chest infection and breathless and nauseous. DH is coping but not feeling great.
Dont have the energy to read or type but I’m thinking of you all and sending my love 💕

Sending love to you Doodle ❤️

My mind still isn’t fully with it at the moment so not caught up on all the news. Forgive me if I miss something.
Kaimoana dear friend what a worry for you. I hope you get another appointment soon. I think some of the things you describe we all get as getting older but you know yourself best and is you feel somethings not right then it’s worth getting checked out,
What fun you had with Gubbins. I bet she enjoyed the Easter egg hunt
Hope you have a good time at the Sallies lunch.
Notspaghetti hope you had a nice time with your family on Mother’s Day.
Grammaretto sounds like the two girls (Canadians ?) are proving to be good company and good at sorting out things.
Thanks for your kind thoughts. Hope things are going better for your family.
Jan nice your daughter popped over for Mother’s Day. Be lovely to see the other one at Easter too. Theo looks like he just has to sit there looking handsome and he gets all the treats he wants. 😊
Cherry hope your headache is much better now. What a lovely and supportive post to Kaimoana
Ixion, I see Barney has settled in well 🤣. Well wouldn’t you know it. Try to do your bit to support local services and they want you to do it online.
Mamissimo I can see that lovely Spud has brought such joy to the family. What a character. 😊
Sorry I’ve not caught up with all the news, . I’m still feeling a bit nauseous but managed a few mouthfuls of dinner tonight. My back is so painful I can’t stand up for long and I feel very ancient. Thanks so much for all your kind thoughts and good wishes. Love to all 💕💕

Back at ya Doodle. We'll all keep so hunker down and rest - you need to if you're going to restore. Just yell if we can do anything at all - we're a mighty formidable bunch and we're here for you. 💝

I echo the above Doodle, we are all here for you. Sending cwtches x