🦞 Locked down no longer but still firm friends 🦞

My mornings always start with coffee, a search for Kaimoana's overnight post and an enjoyable read. So pleased to read you had what seems to be an almost idyllic meeting. I must confess I had to look up Rescue Remedy gummies. I think they would suit me nicely. Would they make me a nicer more chilled person?🤞.

I always admire the local folk who hold open days and their beautiful gardens. Do you have help routinely, Nfk? No wonder you were exhausted. Pleased that both you and Doodle have been tenderly cared for on what must be a difficult day for all the family.

I am relieved your ABs are kicking in and doing the job, NotS. I think toothache and earache are two of the worst one can suffer.

Cherry- in the wars again?🤦‍♀️ At least you should be safe in the garden! A bu**er, Crocosmia. You never seem to eradicate the corms- unless you sift the soil as you lift. Yawn. Couldn't you choose a different job? Bit of dead heading, maybe?

Doodle, you are welcome to join us. Sadly you missed the Cheese and Onion Pringles on Sunday. Salt and Vinegar for Thursday - we will budge up and I will distract Cherry from chomping her way through the whole tub.

Met with friend for coffee and cake this morning. Plenty of talkies but no walkies, Food and company for the soul.

Kaimoana so pleased you were able to enjoy a much quieter session with the Elders. What a relief there was no Zumba.
A good lunch and good company 😊
Hope everything at the eye clinic goes well. What a good grandma you are 😊
NotSpaghetti what a clever idea your MiL had. Her broach sounds lovely and full of memories.
Antibiotics so often cause stomach upsets, have you spoken to the doctor to see if there’s an alternative that might help?
Nfk sorry your grandson has meltdowns. Not fun for anyone in the family especially the person suffering them. My DGS is on the autistic spectrum too. He had an awful time during his school years.
When you’ve found your hearing aid, please will you come and clean the inside of my car and see if you can find my missing glasses.
Oh dear Cherry, sorry you are suffering again. Your poor head. Hope the seizures have stopped now and you get a chance to recover.
ooh I’d love to join you and Ixion on the sofa. I could squash down in the middle and you could both feed me crisps. Any flavour will do
I would love to have a go at being a cheerleader with the Pom Poms as long as it doesn’t include doing the splits or standing on a field in the rain 🤣
Goodness what is this crocodile in the garden that’s so lethal 😱
Grammaretto hope you are having a wonderful time. Have you been to Skagen yet?

Good Evening lobStars

I'm a bit brain fogged and unsociable , with a battered and bruised head, after having a cluster of bad seizures so will keep this short and sweet. So annoying 😤 because, apart from injuring my foot a couple of weeks ago I haven't been too bad lately. Ah well, I'll recover.

I hope you are recovering well now Kaimoana 🤞
I'm pleased you ^ girded your loins^ 😁. No Zumba class, no thumping noise, lovely weather and a surplus of food to take home. Yay, what's not to like 😁.
Even better, you have an appointment at the Eye Clinic 😊. Good on you writing to them and pointing them to the Patients Rights Charter. Good for you 👍

Poor you, NotSpaghetti 😟. I've had a lot of dental issues recently but no infections, I feel for you, Sorry to hear that you're having ^ unpleasant^ sise effects from the antibiotics 😬, I hope they're dealing with the infection too!

There is a Patients Charter in the NHS Nfk. There are 7 key rights I believe.
Well done you with your fund raising event 👍. Well done too with all that gardening you had to do in advance of it, no wonder you fell asleep after lunch yesterday!

I'm pleased you had such a good day on Sunday Doodle x
You're more than welcome to join me and ixion on the sofa to watch the footie, what's your favourite flavour/brand of crisps? I'll make sure we have them for you 😁. Don't worry, you don't have e to shake pom-poms unless you want to 🤣.

I hope Mr I is feelingokay and is resting, ixion.
Well, Our man did get some game time in the 3nd on Sunday. Very nearly, but for a neat save by the goalie, mad3 an immediate impact too, didn't he 😁.

I hope you're enjoying north Denmark Grammaretto 😊

Despite the bruises, I have been making the most of the fine weather and have done some gardening today. A nightmare task, however, as we have been trying to tackle crocosmia 😬. Does anyone know how to crack it without poisoning the garden? I fear it may be the only way 🫤.

NfkDumpling... Have the antibiotics started to kick in? Oh yes! My stomach is getting a good kicking😂😂. I might as well move into the loo I think!

Thank you though! Not in pain - just in incredible discomfort!

I'm confident it will pass - and by Friday, 🤞 it will be over.

Sorry. Forgot the *. Again.* !!

It sounds as if you weren't the only person discombobulated by the noise at your meeting Kaimoana. It's a good thing you gave it another try, I wonder if others will now return.

And congratulations on your appointment! Well done! I wonder if we have such a charter in the UK?

I had assummed Rescue Remedy gummies couldn't be given to children. I wonder if they'd help my DGS who is just on the autistic spectrum and still has terrible melt downs sometimes which he hates having but can't always stop.

Have the antibiotics started to kick in yet NotSpag? I do hope so. Teeth troubles are awful, I think it's because the pain is so near the brain, it can't be ignored!

I'm putting off cleaning the car. I have to vacuum the inside. A chore I hate and it hasn't been done since last autumn, but I've lost a hearing aid so live in hopes that it's in there somewhere!

Doodle, my mother-in-law had most of her "too fragile" jewellery made into a beautiful brooch which she wears to all special occasions. It has the stones from many different pieces going back several generations and is very lovely. They have made sort-of irregular twigs out of the various broken and different coloured gold jewellery pieces and intertwined the various gold twigs into a sort-of sun shape. There are different stones, diamonds,rubies, sapphire etc dotted around.

She says it makes her feel close to everyone - to her forefathers, and wears it to family events.

I'm not sure I'm ready to do this kind of thing with mums rings yet but maybe my aunts and the family pieces I'm not so emotionally attached to.

Nfk you were heroic in getting your garden straight for visitors.
Had it been me I think I'd have told them I was spearheading a re-wilding movement to support bees, birds and butterflies.

I once asked if I could have a strip of my rather large lawn left wild but the Sallies and the mega-fusspot at No.7 were not in favour.

I feel so sad for your boys and their families Doodle.
I'm glad you are all there for one another.

I decided it was foolish to isolate myself again so found the earplugs, girded up me loins and went to the Elders Group.
E hika! I didn't need earplugs.
There were only half the number of people there and, best of all, no thumping Zumba class.

The sun was warm so we had all doors open; the grass had been mowed so the aroma was lovely too. I even sat outside in the sun for a while.
Lunch was over-catered so we all had a good feed then took enough fruits and chicken home to keep us full for days.

You'll remember the Eye Clinic at the hospital (or one person who has often given me a hard time), refused to issue an appointment even though I was in pain?

I felt so low at the time, so decided not to take issue but after 4 weeks on this 5-HTP stuff, I'm a new woman.
So last week I wrote again, politely requesting an appointment but including a copy of the Patients Rights Charter in my email.
They fast-tracked it and I go tomorrow.

Gubbins had a melt-down morning and Ddil gave her a Rescue Remedy gummie. They worked like a dream.

Gubbins: Are these the ones Grandma bought?
Daddy: They are.
Gubbins: I love Grandma.


I don't suppose she likes the feelings which cause meltdowns, poor wee soul.

Had a nice meal with DS2 yesterday then popped round to see DS1 . Lots of hugs and thoughts of missing their Dad.
Cherry hope you and Ixion are enjoying all the football.
Yes it’s easy for the spouse to be the centre of attention when someone dies but it can affect so many in different ways.
Ooh I love Pringles. Budge up on the sofa and I’ll watch the footie but only if I have crisps. 😋
Notspaghetti, it seemed just the right time to give them. Both sons were sad and pleased at the same time.
so sorry about your tooth. That’s rotten luck. It’s bad enough having it out anyway without getting an infection. Hope you feel better soon
Kaimoana I have my mother’s ring but it is so fragile I keep it safe in my jewellery box. I think it’s nice for things to be passed down.
Why did I read that two gorgeous men pruned the trees I wonder 😊
I hate them being chopped down too
Nfk you must have a lovely garden. Nice to do something for a fundraising event. Hope it all went well.
Always good to have something to occupy the mind on difficult days isn’t it? Glad the family all got in touch. I’m not surprised you needed a rest after all that gardening

Afternoon All

I've just woken up! I must have been tired!

At the weekend I joined 14 others and opened up my garden for fund raising. I figured, way back when the year was new, that it would get me outside and give me a bit of impetus to keep on top of things. Annoying the soil is very therapeutic, but stirring from the sofa when the black dog is upon you and the weather dull is a different matter. Anyway, it worked and the garden didn't look too bad (though I say it myself) when I left for Scotland in the Camperbubble. It was a different matter when I returned to a lush meadow and lots of weeds only a fortnight later with only just over a week to mow the said meadow and find the plants which were supposed to be there. But, it didn't look too bad in the end.

Considering the weather an amazing number of people came. Aren't folk wonderful? Despite rain showers it all went beautifully. Except for one especially bad storm which hit full on and dead centre above us. It's amazing how many people can cram under a car port. It's amazing how driving rain can come under said car port from four different directions at once. Except the hail, which came in at the front and drove out at the back. The grass at the bottom of my garden still looks like the day after a very wet County Show. But, it actually looks more level than it did. The mud has levelled it and already, the next day, green shoots are pushing through!

At least it stopped me thinking too much about Father's Day. Although DH didn't believe in "All that nonsense". "Just another money making scheme." It didn't stop the DC from sending cards to annoy him. They all got in touch last evening.

This morning I had coffee with friends and put everything back to where it was and after lunch sat down. And I've just woken up!

How lovely for the boys to have Dad's ring Doodle very special and doubtless passed on for generations.
My grandmother's 22ct gold wedding ring will be passed on to Gubbins. It's surprisingly heavy but she was a stout lady

So sorry to hear about your difficulties NotS, 'ordinary difficulties' are the worst because you tend to think you should just sail through them - how can we? They trouble us just as much as the big stuff.
I hope your tooth infection calms down soon. Be kind to yourself.

The Big Sulk ixion? Then you need a boudoir.

The trees around my home have been pruned by two young men from Gorgeous Gardens today. I was able to negotiate a more sensiive remedy than the slash, saw & poison technique employed by the Council, so it was done well.

It still upset me to see a self-seeded ordyline removed but as it planned to grow 20m it might have chosen a better site than the narrow trough under my window.

You sound to be having a wonderful family time in Denmark Grammaretto.

Doodle - just the perfect day to give your dear "boys" their father's rings. It makes me quite weepy thinking of it.
I'm sure we all know how precious these rings of our parents become. More so the older we get.

I have had a difficult week - but only an "ordinary sort of difficulty" - my tooth was taken out and then the socket became infected! 🙁 I had no idea that age and other conditions - autoimmune problems etc make infections so much more likely. I learned that young people hardly ever get infections after extractions.
So now I'm on antibiotics and have had to go in to the hospital where it was done to have it washed out (again) and re-packed. The drugs don't agree with me so I an feeling pretty rough. At least it's only a week and I am going to endure it if I can!

So pleased you are enjoying this time with your family Grammaretto - the kind words at birthdays seems like a good idea to me.
Lovely!

I hope you've been able to draw support from being together on this difficult day, Doodle. A lovely gesture of yours to give away DH's rings, but tinged, I am sure, with much sadness on your part.
I remember how, after my dear father died, it was really hard, too, on Mr.I to travel down to see Mum. I had taken for granted the relationship the two chaps had: I then realised it had developed over the years into a sort of mutual appreciation society. Shared sofa viewing of snooker, MOTD, midnight toastie snacks, single malts ...

What is the weather like, Grammaretto?
You and yours certainly know how to party! Is your hip(?knee?🤔) holding up.?
Safe trip for the next leg of your journey.

Barney is fine now, thank you Nfk. Not sure that a fur-ball was the culprit.. As with many young lads, grooming isn't high on his agenda😡.

I am in for the Big Sulk, Cherry. Our Man is not starting, so who knows which direction our fortunes will take.
But there again, ^we may be keeping our powder dry^.

One tub of Pringles only - will it be enough?

I hope you are having a good day seeing both of your DS' Doodle, I know this Father's Day won't be easy for you all. I'm sure you can take heart from the fact it is their Father's Day too x. I think it's a wonderful thing you're doing in giving each of your DS' one of their father's rings, particularly today, really special.

The birthday party sounds great Grammaretto. The tributes to your DB is a great idea. It's a great celebration of a life during that person's own lifetime. My DSiL arranged the same sort of thing for my DB' 50th birthday, I'm glad she did it then as he died a couple of years later. Six courses of food sounds ^ pretty epic^ 😋 😁.
What? Just 20 of you today - a tiny gathering then 😅. I hope you have a lovely day before venturing north tomorrow.

Such a shame you and your sister weren't supported when your father died Kaimoana. As you know I was very young when mine died and I was fortunate in that respect. Things like that leave everlasting scars, don't they 💐
😱 I didn't know that about that song! How shocking, in the sober period in which it was written too 😉 😅.

I've spent far too much time in the last couple of days watching the Euros 🤣 and tonight will be a traitor to my Nation by watching the England match) 😉. I watched the Scotland match too Grammaretto, it's a shame they didn't do well. I will be cheering them on and I've got my fingers crossed that one of Our team be be playing 😁.

Kaimoana our sons both loved their dad very much. Today, Father’s Day, I am going to give one each of their father’s two rings that he wore. I am having a meal it’s one but will pop in and see the other as well. How lucky I am that they live close to me and each other.
What a shame the children’s fun was ruined by the rain. I think of that happening more here than in NZ.
Grammaretto what a lovely birthday celebration. Did you have (I can’t spell it) smorgasbord?
What a joy to have family together
Hope you enjoy the rest of your trip

Just catching up with you all. Such warm supportive posts.

The birthday party went very well yesterday. About 6 delicious courses interspersed with tributes in words and song to my brother
I think it's a custom we should copy, rather than leaving eulogies for funerals.

For our turn My DSis and I told tales from when he was a naughty small child, which greatly amused the gathering. My DGS thought were like twins!

Today just 20 of us are hoping to be eating and chatting in his beautiful garden. Both DB and DSiL are absolute perfectionists. I couldn't live up to their high standards for any length of time.

We are still in Copenhagen. We leave for the far north tomorrow.

I'm so glad that you and your family can support eachother Doodle after your great loss.

It's wonderful that you are there and supportive of your sons Doodle. Comforting for you all, especially the grand-children.

When my father died everyone flocked to help Mum. Expected of course and great support for her but we two girls who'd just lost their Dad were totally ignored. My sister wouldn't even go to the funeral as a result.

I'm just reading about your cold, wet weather and thinking SNAP!

Local Board brought in tons of snow for a Snow in the Park event on Saturdat which dawned bright and sunny.

The moment the park opened there was a downpour which lasted all afternoon. I felt sorry for the children.

Gubbins now goes to ballet classe and judging by the photos, loves it.

You know the old WW1 song, 'Bless 'em all"?
I just read it was written by an unknown member of the military in the late 1880's.

When it became popular, during WW1, a man called Fred Godfrey claimed he cleaned up the lyrics so it could be recorded.
Gracie Fields and later Vera Lynn both popularised it but I can't see The Forces Sweetheart singing the original version in which the word 'Bless' was actually a very naughty one beginning with an F.


Which reminds me of -- feeble-- joke, also in a book I just finished:
'He didn't say 'Damn.'
'What did he say then?'
'I'm not going to say the word but it begins with an F and ends with a k.'
(Long pause)
'Firetruck'

If music be the food of love....... I'd rather starve.

Jan I am hopeless at art. By far the worst in the class but it keeps my mind busy for a few hours.
I was choosing which of my winter jumpers to wear today. It’s been pouring most of the day here.
Kaimoana I hope you find a way of enjoying your group again. Background noise is so disturbing. I think my hearing isn’t as good as it was I struggle if there’s too much noise.
Cherry they weren’t actually playing music at the art class just that the teacher was playing a song she liked to some in the group. It was just one song but unfortunately it was a love song and that was enough to tip me over the edge. . 😢
Been out with a friend for coffee today. Going to sons tomorrow. They both miss having their dad to talk to.
Hope Grammaretto having a good trip

Oh dear Ixion I need laugh at Mr I having a catheter in his arm!! Poor Mr J has a catheter but in the right place I might add and every so often the District Nurse - or whatever you call them nowadays - turns up to change it. Always think it must be so embarrassing laying on the bed with all your lower half exposed etc etc. Don’t think I had better carry on with that story!!
So it’s the middle of June. Everyone got soaked at Trooping the Colour, we are sitting in the house with the heating on and it’s now started raining here too. Where is SUMMER? No wonder all the ladies clothes shops have sales on but what is the point of buying T-shirts etc? It will soon be Autumn. Meanwhile my stepdaughter who lives in Cyprus is suffering with extreme heat. Temperatures in the high 30s, lack of rain and a huge fire raging not so very far from where they live. Scary.

Kaimoana2 well done on fixing your Tablet clever girl. Like you I can never understand this obsession with loud music played everywhere. There is a small cafe where we meet friends most weeks and they insist on having a huge TV on blaring out what I assume is pop music! No one watches the TV or listens to the music as we are too busy trying to hear what each other is saying. Asking them to turn it down means it’s quieter for a bit but then next time we go it’s back to noise. Unfortunately it’s the only coffee shop convenient to us all. So sorry you can’t attend your book launch Kaimoana. That’s so disappointing for you. Must admit I’m one of the few people I know who never plays music in the car - and don’t you cringe when you get stopped at traffic lights and the boy racer next door is sitting there with windows wide open tapping his fingers to the raucous noise coming from his cars stereo. Grrrrrr!
Doodle so pleased you are enjoying your Art Class. I joined one a few years ago. I was pretty useless while others produced such amazing work. Unfortunately it’s closed now and nothing else around.
Think it’s time for a cup of tea. DH is doing a jigsaw on the dining room table and once he’s immersed in doing that he’s in a world of his own! Have a good weekend all

Nfk your post was amazing.

Until a few months ago, when I met the new Salvation Army Chaplain who has all my 'quirks' plus more it had never occurred to me that I too may be on the spectrum. I knew I had ADHD though.

When he described what he goes through - it was exactly what I have battled all my life. He has a mission to persuade the Sallies to accept neurodiversity.
Good luck with that one Mate. The word ‘Army’ is a clue here.
And glory be, you even mentioned Bright Eyes. My DH used to sing it to our wee son and even now, writing these words, I'm tearified.

ixion You are right and nowadays there is a whole swag of evidence to show that the rapid-change viewpoint (do most people even notice it nowadays?) used in ALL tv programmes has contributed to the way our children's brains are programmed, almost from birth to not concentrate.

When you compare this to how children need to look at and concentrate on books and need time to absorb and learn slowly, it is no wonder there are now problems with brain which can’t.

Although IT has changed radically over the years, in the old days and until my eyes went, I used to repair and reprogram computers.
I couldn’t now but it did give me the confidence to go into the innards and most of all, persevere until I got it right.

I couldn’t have fixed the Tablet without the large-monitor PC, magnifier and a great deal of motivating anger.

Your 'canular/catheter' reminds me of the time I heard someone say, 'She has a memory like a coriander'.
We've used it ever since


Isn't life interesting.

I'm going to try earplugs on Tuesday and if that doesn't work I'll ask if I can sit in the car and wait.

I'll take me knitting.

I can understand both reasons why you won't be attending your book launch Kaimoana, 'tis a shame though. Well doneon sorting your tablet out, I think you can now add IT technician to your CV 😁.
What a ridiculous place & time to hold the Elders group. Who on earth thought that was a good idea 🤔. I think it's unfair, too, that loud music is played on the journey there and back, it should be what the passengers want surely and if they don't want loud music it shouldn't be thrust upon them.

I think we virtually have a full house when it comes to disliking what is now the obligatory background noise on everything and the general cocophony that surrounds in various venues (including many shops) these days. I love music but it has to be the music I love, iykwim, and it has to be when I want to listen to it. I'm happy to sit in the quiet at home and would be happier if there wasn't so much noise, it seems, everywhere.

I'm a little surprised that someone is allowed to play music in your art class Doodle. If they want to listen they should have headphones/ear buds surely. Or is there a music in the background generally and the person chose a song? If the latter, it comes back to my what I was saying earlier - that obligatory noise 🙁.

I'm glad Mr I's scans seem to be okay ixion, best that he was checked out though. I hope he's taking it easy.
What a conversation on your way home 😳, I must say they seem to be putting catheters in some strange places these days 🤣.
Killing two birds with one stone ixion 😂.
Poor Barney, I hope he gets well soon.

From now on I shall make a point of confusing cannula and catheter. It's just too wonderful to ignore! I'm so pleased Mr I's tests came back clear. It must be a great relief to you both.

Court Barney have a fur ball or such? It is the moulting season.

ixion trust you to do your dusting as you exercise 🤣.
poor Barney, Hope he improves soon ……boiled cod wouldn’t be tempting to me but then I’m not a cat 🐈‍⬛
i really laughed at your conversation with DH about the catheter 🤣.
Hope Mr I isn’t feeling too unwell. Good to get him checked out though

What lovely words of support to Doodle from Nfk, one who knows the pain of loss.

Life is never straightforward for you, Kaimoana🥰. I'm sorry you won't get to the book launch, but sympathise with you about the increasingly prevalent presence of unwanted noise. I think it must be a sign of getting old. We have it here as background interference to documentaries, travelogues, nature programmes...
Even (BBC) tv programmes for little ones and small children seem to rely on busyness of eye and ear. Someone once said it was the ever-decreasing attention span of little ones which meant that their attention had to be grabbed in the most invasive way. Bring back the gentle Picture Book (Patricia Driscoll, Mondays in the Watch With Mother series. Yes?).

Bon voyage to Grammaretto on her family visit. I hope you have arrived safely and that you negotiated the ranks of the Tartan Army en route. There were certainly lots of them and in fine spirits!

Mr.I was instructed by the GP on Wednesday to progress straight to A and E following increasing unwellness. Fortunately, no evidence of thrombi or emboli this time and, in view of the assistance of Volunteers who were wheelchair -competent (where are all the 'Porters' these days?), my car escaped a battering this time and my dodgy shoulder was not put through its paces. (Duster, Jan, is a shortened version of the broom handle which is a tad unwieldy in confined spaces. During periods of frequent rest, I can do arm extensions and dust under nearby furniture).

Bearing in mind all yesterday's investigations were involved in the thoracic region, the conversation in the car home went as follows -

Him: Bu**er. I've still got my catheter in.
Me: After a pause. In where? 😳
Him: In my arm. Where they put the dye through.
Me: A cannula?
Him: Ah yes, that's it

To top it all, Barney is off his oats.
Having ensconced himself on DS's fleece for 12 hours, DS is very worried that I carry out my intention to put a little bowl of tempting boiled cod on the bed for him.

No heart 😡.

Nfk your post was comforting. Thank you. I had to escape to the loo during my art class too. Someone played a song that set the tears coming . These days I can cry at the drop of a hat.
Skagen is famous for its watches. DH had a Skagen watch.
*Kaimoana well done on fixing your tablet. I’m another not keen on noise. I did try having the TV on for background noise but found it too irritating. Sorry you’re missing out on your meetings with the elders,
Hope Mepa got your veg for you. Glad you can listen while you knit again.