Not Locked Down but may need to be locked up

I have been trying to get rid of a still-in-production IKEA highchair and after a couple of weeks on freecycle.org and nobody wanting it I took it yesterday to a charity shop. They wouldn't take it as they "couldn't see the CE mark". The staff were my age and spent some minutes squinting at it! It does say things on it but in tiny writing.. it's less than 3 and in perfect condition. How annoying!

Will have to find a magnifying glass and a strong light!

Decluttering without wasting is very time consuming! Grammaretto
Nice to have an press to borrow! Excellent!

How are you feeling, Grammaretto? I hope your symptoms have dissipated.
The community press sounds such a good idea - you should tell the Countryfile producers for a visit!.
I worry if Jeeves really is up there with you. Being a bit of a self-styled oenophile, you'll have him divesting himself of his socks - not a pretty sight- and trampling those apples in no time.
Exciting times on the house front - wow. Are you getting through any remotely suitable properties for sale?

Progress for you too, Kaimoana. So pleased to hear of your positive experiences at the surgery and of your supportive Elders group. Happy to retain the bold type for you.

Hoping Doodle has had a better day with sufficient company and distractions to make it through. When does your DGD start college?

Thinking of NS, quietly 🍏 stewing away.

Cherry, are you any closer to new(er) 🛞🛞🛞🛞?

Must get a new supply of Pringles in for tomorrow incase our recent signing joins us again tomorrow. We'll need all the positivity we can muster. Playing the biggest of the Big Boys🥴.

Lots of lovely positive news for you and your family Kaimoana, Trevor travelling to China, your lovely new medical centre providing quality treatment and your DS's concrete job offer not 11,500 miles away 😊. Positive news indeed.

Trying for planning permission then, Grammaretto. That makes sense in more ways than one, you'll know if a build is viable, if granted you could go ahead but you still have the option to move, if you do move and you have planning permission that's an asset for any would be buyer.
Sorry to hear that you feeling unwell, you certainly seem to pick these colds and viruses up 🙁. Perhaps you need a good dose of vitamin C, some of that lovely sounding apple juice perhaps. Take it easy x.

Thems a lot of apples NotSpaghetti! Ours are not ready yet and neither are our pears, weirdly we've still got strawberries though. Considering that your MiL has another two trees so there'll be even more is there any way you can do swaps for other fruit/veg with? When we've got too many for just the two of us we sometimes swap with a couple of neighbours.
It has to be a case of the small print with the highchair hasn't it, there's surely no way it wouldn't have the CE mark. I hope you can find it with a magnifier but it's pretty ridiculous that it's that small.

It wasn't the cafe that was closed on my walk Doodle, it was the bridge we have to cross to avoid a longer walk. It'll probably be closed for a few weeks the entire winter now so if we have our walk in the same area we'll define getting our steps in 😁.
I hope today has been a better day for you x.

We've been to the garden centre today to buy even more short fencing to rein in some unruly raised beds 😏. It was either that or dig up then divide established plants #lazygardening. It's probable that we've got too many plants but my WP keeps buying more 🤣.

Crossed posts ixion. Simple answer to your question - No, haven't got round to looking at yet 😆.

Kaimoana so lovely things are working out for your son.
Ive had a better day today thank you. Quite upset this morning but got better as the day went on. Been busy and met up with two friends. Lunch with friend tomorrow and then lunch with two friends on Sunday. I am lucky.
Like the others I am happy to be bold if it helps
Thats a lot of apples Notspaghetti. What will you do with them? If the answer involves pie or crumble please invite me 🤣
Grammaretto what an interesting idea about the Apple press. *sorry you’re not feeling so good. Hope you had nothing special planned. My DGS has just been on holiday, he wasn’t well either which spoilt things a bit. He only went for 4 days.
Notspaghetti I have bought myself a set of magnifying spectacles that come with 5 different lenses. There is also a light which helps. I use it for doing jigsaws and some craft as I can’t see clearly enough for what I want to do.
ixion I have had a better day thank you. I think college starts in two weeks. That’s when I’m going back to art class too.
Did I hear the word Pringles? I’ll be there I’ll bring my trusty rolling pin in case any of the Big Boys need taking out

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202408/medium-468612-1-korowai-005.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202408/medium-80886-1-korowai-007.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202408/medium-700175-professional-korowai.jpg

Oh Grammaretto, poor you, just when you need to feel well and energetic. More Floradix perhaps?

My friend did exactly what you’ve been thinking about. She had a huge house and a garden divided by a little stream over which was a bridge.
She removed the bridge, then had a much smaller 2-bedroomed house built for her retirement.
It was all glass and polished wood and had a spiral staircase.

DS journey, from first leavving Aotearoa to landing at Sydney airport was close to 32,000 km. It's only, 40,000 round the whole world.
I hope he remembered to register his airpoints.

I finally finished my miniature feather cloak (Whatu kākahu) ixion – and what a Herculean task it’s been but very well worth it.

Feathers look a bit messy but they're fine when the cloak is upright!

Mamissimo how are the Bored Beans?

Wishing you all a happier and healthier weekend.

Final picture is of a professionally made adult cloak, currently sold for close on $1,000. Mine, for Gubbins, is like the wee girl herself, pricless.

Thanks for commiserations. I don't know why I get every bug going. 😕 it's so boring being ill.
I must have picked it up at the Ruby Wedding last weekend.

Amazing feathered cloak Kaimoana!
What a lot of miles DS has travelled.
I don't envy him. I can hardly believe how I managed all that travel in January and February. But it was worth it.

The Kiwi Helper managed to sell one old swivel chair yesterday. No takers for any of the other items.

I was wondering how Mamissimo's garden was doing too.

Kaimoana I love your little cloak and I’m sure Gubbins will too. My goodness your son must be exhausted with all those hours flying. Hope all is going well for him.
Grammaretto sorry you’re feeling poorly again. That’s rotten luck if you have to cancel your plans. Hope you manage to sell more of the things you want to dispose of. How long is this helper with you?
Mamissimo yes how are you and the gorgeous Spud
Ive had a busy day but it’s been so gloomy outside it’s hard to lift my spirits. If DH was here it wouldn’t worry me at all we were quite content in our own little bubble.
i have been invited out for lunch with three friends tomorrow. We will be going after church which will be nice. I’m quite tired tonight so am planning an early night. Sleep well all

Father's Day here and I am immensely grateful DS is not in London. He seems full of hope and plans and I couldn't ask for a better miracle.

It's also the first day of Spring and gloriously sunny after crashing thunder storms last night.

My day has been wildly exciting.
Laundry, washing up (what joy); making carrot soup, then paté; knitting a pair of purple slippers, splashing extremely noisome liquid fertiliser on my roses and Black Eyed Susan; inadvertently pulling a poor, blooming Freesia out by its roots. and listening to lawn mowers, dogs barking and the the BBCs' 'Just William' audio books read by Martin Jarvis.
So funny, poor William he means well. Richmal Crompton showed amazing insight into a child's thought processes to say she never had any of her own. (children, not thought processes)
Then, as if the day wasn’t spellbinding enough, I wrote to a penfriend of over 30 years after which I had my regular Sunday chat with another very good friend in New Jersey.

I bet you’re wondering how I stand the pace.

Seriously, it's been a lovely weekend, no dramas, no upsets.



I hope you are all having as happy a weekend as I.

I bet you’re wondering how I stand the pace.

Yes, frankly, I do!
I'm exhausted from doing a few small jobs and taking my mother-in-law to choose some secateurs!

Kaimoana so pleased for your son and all the family. That will cheer you no doubt as you’re bound to have been worried about him.
Wow it actually sounds really busy. So pleased you had a good weekend
Notspaghetti 🤣🤣
ive had a busy day too. Church this morning then a lovely lunch with friends. Hope to some tears then busy sorting out some lighting for the coming winter months. Going to get some dinner soon (yes I know I’ve had lunch out but I’m still hungry 🤣) Son will be phoning soon I expect.
Grammaretto how have you been today? Are you feeling any better?

That sounds like a good day Doodle.

And Kaimoana you sound really happy after a time of uncertainty.

I'm fine again. It was a strange bug & completely knocked me out for 2 days and now gone. Good riddence

17 people came to the Quaker meeting - very unusual but it was nice. Luckily I had made a big pot of soup for lunch. Then Taizé singing in the church DH always loved and where I had the stone carved.

The Frenchmen came and sang too which was beautiful as they are both musicians. They are staying here tonight and for a few nights.

I don't even need Jeeves with all these young people around. 🤣😂

.

👍 Grammaretto, I'm pleased that you're well again 😊.
That's a good turn out for your Quaker meeting, I hope you had enough soup to go around.
I must have missed something. I don't recall you mentioning the Frenchmen before 🤔. Never mind my memory isn't up to much, Taize singing in your DH's favourite church with talented singers sounds divine.
You say the Frenchmen are staying a few nights - could you load them up with some vintage things you want to get rid of chic when they leave 😄.

^Full of hope and plans^ sounds like a wonderful position to be in Kaimoana, I'm happy for him. you and the rest of your family. You can take a breath now I think, I know how unsettling it has been for you. It's great to hear you sounding so happy 😊.
Like NotSpaghetti, I too am really wondering how you stand the pace. I washed the floors of the extension and the kitchen yesterday was worn out 🤫😆.
Gubbins will really love that cloak 😍.

And -- I was told never to start a sentence with and but I like to flout the rules sometimes-- you dear Doodle sound as if you've had a pretty good day. I'm pleased about that; being hungry after a lunch out is a good sign of improving wellbeing I think 😊. I hope, though I'msure you did, had a lovely phone call with your son.

It's been a warm sunny day apart from the morning in Cherry Cove but Cherry has done very little, except put last night's washing on the line, a bit of non art pick the last of surely that's the end of them now the strawberries and make and eat a chicken pie 🤭 🤣.

What a beautiful cape, Kaimoana. Where do you source the feathers from and do different colourings have any special significance?
Thrilling news from your son for all the family- I can almost feel the spring in your step as you write!

Glad you are feeling better, Grammaretto. Lucky that you were fighting fit to feed the masses at lunchtime! Enjoy your evening(s) with the young folk, hopefully more music will be generated. Is Jeeves musical too?

Doodle, I guess that any homecoming is going to be tough. The busier the distraction, the more pointed the anti-climax of that closing front door must be. I am pleased that friends, as well as family, are looking after you so well. I hope your SAD lamp will be of help - I'm sure it will be

Was it Mr.M who was listed for surgery around September time - or have I got person/time/date completely wrong? Hoping to hear from her soon.

New dishwasher arrived this afternoon. I think all our white goods had a pact to all pack up around the same time. Usual modern day story that it is cheaper to buy new than get a man in to buy new - rapidly being hard to find, we're told - parts and fit.

Aye, getting a man in. This is my unilateral decision making.

A first for Mr. I, who can't yet come to terms with passing the toolkit baton to younger and fitter chaps, after 50 years of DIY.
I paid through the nose for 'installation', along with removal of old appliance and packaging. Slightly nostalgic about all those years we had dragged old appliances to the car boot, scooted off to the tip and offloaded same with impunity.
A few minutes silence, and DH re-emerges from his workshop, whizzy screwdriver in hand.
*I thought they might need this*...🙄

X-ed posts, 🍒.

Golly, our Doodle can bash out a tune, can't she? Only person who can turn 2 half empty Pringles tubs into a pair of maraccas.

Mind you, the crowd loved it🤣.

You can’t beat me when I get my maracas out Ixion 😉
Grammaretto…Frenchmen…….staying the night….you’ve been keeping that secret. Young Frenchmen too. Cherry and I are on our way over to keep an eye on you 🤣
Glad you’re feeling better
Thank you Cherry I did have a good day. Tears when I got home but that’s normal
How is your non art coming along? I’d love to know what you are working on
Ixion I’m not always bad when coming home. Sometimes it’s just that I’ve been holding it together for a while and it all floods out when I get home but other times it can be hours later. Depends what triggers it I suppose
Hope you don’t need to replace any more white goods
ive heard Jeeves is good with a spanner

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202409/medium-550746-brai.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202409/medium-444809-sunset.jpg

Excellent news that you’re feeling well again grammaretto and able to enjoy the meeting and Taize singing.
The apple press idea sounds wonderful as well. Does the local pig farmer take the mush?

You are so right Doodle I’m certainly much more settled now he’s working with JG. Also, strangely enough, it’s an advantage that the area he's in at the moment looks rather English.
They enjoyed a Brai last night (pictures) – one of DS’s favourites.
And speaking of food, I completely agree with our dear *Cherry8 – having an appetite is a good sign.

Cherry Yep, I’m breathing again.
Does the weather affect your wellbeing? Good to see you posting regularly; I hope you’ll soon be dusting off your tigger tail

Most of the feathers for this ixion were provided by Waipareira from a specialist craft shop. There will certainly be significance for Maori but that’s when a Kakahu is made from scratch by a Kaiwhatu (weaver of cloaks), who will gather the flax, prepare it with special chants and prayers.
Each individual feather will then be woven into the cloak. I took a shortcut and sewed my feathers onto cream cambric by putting my thumbnail on the fabric and running the needle down it into the cloth 2,000 times

The feather’s on Gubbins’ look brown but are actually multi-coloured, possibly cockerel tail. I bought the white (poor quality) ones at a local $2 shop. I may replace them because having seen Gubbins' kakahu, my other grand-daughter wants one, so I will have to source these for myself.
Good to push myself out of my comfort zone as making it was by no means easy but immensely satisfying.
Whiteware: looked up planned obsolescnce on Wikipedia. Once a rare thing, now fairly standard. However, if you can replace the relevant chip........

My new doctor wanted me to have an X-ray on my left leg, still bruised and painful from the fall in early May.
Radiology wanted $40, way out of my pocket. So Karen took me to WaiHealth where I asked if they knew a cheaper centre. Doctor Charlotte came out to tell me they would make an appointment at the hospital’s X-ray department, which is free and provide free transport there and back
It took me a while to realise I wasn't dreaming.

Your white goods do seem to have conspired against you ixion. I think the producers of these said goods conspire as well in that parts are only available if you buy cover from them (including using their licenced repair service) and then only for about 5 years. Buying parts on the open market to do repair yourself has become virtually impossible. As for paying through the nose for installation, yep, been there done that. It seems that it's either that or they dump it on the pavement outside your home lugging a dishwasher or washing machine down a full flight of steps to our house doesn't have the thrill it used to 😒. I'm pretty sure it didn't used to be like this 🧐. I hope you getting on well with your new machine 😁.

Crikey Kaimoana, pain and bruising after all this time is not good. It's good that your Dr wants to take action so that it's looked at properly. I'm pleased that youvfound a way to have it x-rayed at no cost and free transport too 👍.
You may have taken shortcuts making the cloak for Gubbins butyou still put in a lot of work. Making one for your other DGD 😬 will take some doing ... knowing what a determined character you are I know you will, as you say, push yourself out of your comfort zone to complete it.
I couldn't help but notice that that is one big long sausage on that barbecue your DS had 🤣.

Doodle, I do think you that the periods when you are out, that hold things together. is a step I don't think you were able to do that a few weeks ago. It's still early days.
I'd also like to know what I'm working on Doodle, my non art has a mind of it's own 🤣.

kaimoana I’m glad things are looking up for your son. Is the place he’ll be working in NZ or Australia? When do the family fly out to join him?
Not surprised your other granddaughter wants her own kakahu . Gubbins one is lovely
Brilliant news about your x Ray. Glad you are getting better care
Cherry, thank you. In some ways I am coping better. Able to meet and be with people without feeling so strange. Other things are becoming more difficult as time goes on. I have to keep myself really busy and it’s exhausting. I’m hoping as time goes on I will feel more comfortable in myself and be able to relax a bit.
Sorry with all you have to cope with you don’t need me and my self pity
Need to pull up my big girl knickers as they say

Oh dear, dear Doodle - it is NOT 'self-pity' - it's devastating grief and a totally understandable grief at that.
You have suffered what amounts to an amputation of half your life.
You simply cannot shrug that off and 'get over it' .
Your whole world has changed and you are learning how to live in a completely different one.
You are a brave and caring person and I am sure you would not think the ladies in your group are self-pitying if they wept or said how hard it all is now.
Why is it any different for you, dear friend?

I think DS will be living and working in Australia. He and Dil want to leave NZ for sure. As do thousands of others it seems. I may eventually be the only person here.

I don't know when the family (sans moi) are flying over but there's a school holiday coming up at the end of Sept for 2 weeks, so it's likely to be then.

Cherry I believe that sausage on the Braai is a South African speciality, you naughty girl!

I must be very dense or naive because when three of us sang that children's song from aeons ago, 'Do your ears hang low, can you swing 'em to and fro....'
Whaea Huia said to me, 'And we always thought you were such a lady!'
And I didn't understand. I thought the kaumatua were in stitches because it's a silly, funny song. Duh.
The penny soon dropped however. All these years and I never realised.

Although I did look it up later and the 'ears' version we sang was originally innocent but as with so many popular ditties, pressed into military service in WW1, with saltier lyrics.

Now now, Doodle. Of course we need you, self pity doesn't come into it. 😡.
You are special and we are here for you.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202409/medium-736672-1000017264.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202409/medium-823086-1000017318.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202409/medium-901754-1000017312.jpg

Doodle please know how important you are. No one thinks you are self pitying but if you need to feel sorry for yourself occasionally, that's ok too.

* is self pitying and feeling sorry for oneself the same thing? *

I am enjoying having the young people around. The Frenchman came here as a helper back in 2018 i think. He came for 2 weeks and stayed a year. He was assistant to DH with getting the community store and café project off the ground. He made many friends here and enjoyed concerts. He misses DH ofcourse but still visits me. He has brought a friend this time. They've spent some days in the Highlands climbing and finding great weather. These are photos he sent me from Ullapool.

I set them to work finishing a DIY job and they cooked a fabulous lunch at 4pm!
They will need to fly home to Toulouse on Wednesday, alas. I will miss them.

I am awake in the middle of the night which is boring but at least I don't have to go to work. There are advantages aren't there.

See you later.

What beautiful photos Grammaretto
I love the lake... assume it's a lake)
SO serene!

Notspag It's Ullapool so Loch Broom which is a sea loch.

Well it's glorious anyway!
Thanks for telling me.
We had friends who lived for many years overlooking Loch Torridon - one on a croft on the north side and one on the south. You could look across thewater and wave (on a good day (!) but it seemed to take ages to travel round! - That was such a beautiful area too