Yes, all the best, Doodle.
Have anyone ever hesitated to get help at home because of not much reassurance
Times article claim that Waspi women are tone deaf and should read the room
Yes, all the best, Doodle.
ixion writes, "Did I know which was your trip to Auckland?🤔
Was it the end of the month one to your new GP practice you waxed lyrical about?
Yes to the first bit, no to the 2nd
My appointment on 30th is at Auckland Hospital (a city in itself), a round trip of almost 50miles.
There’s a shuttle serving 3 major hospitals, so at the beginning of the month, I tried to book it.
It was then I encountered a person for whom artificial intelligence was invented because clearly she is devoid of the natural kind.
After 3 weeks of her moronic daily babbling, I gave up, told my new and local GP, who is part of Waipareira’s wellbeing system and it was she who arranged the taxi voucher.
Grammaretto If clergy came to commission your pottery, would you be taking holy orders? Yes, moronic babbling from me too.
One of the things extreme emotion (grief included) seems to do is prevent the brain from concentrating and settling easily into anything.
You don’t want to sit, you don’t want to walk, you can’t focus to read or knit or do anything at all to mitigate what’s suddenly central and persistently in your mind.
It really is as if the easy business of doing normal things, has been suspended.
There’s no remedy – at least not this side of drugs or the bottle. Only time… and that takes its own not-so-sweet time.
The only thing I miss when it's gone is money.
I was interested to hear that photography was one of Mr.D's hobbies. Maybe, in due course, you might find a connection there - it sounds very scenic where you live, judging by your description of your walks.
Kaimoana, thank you for outlining your medical schedule🫢. Fortune seems to smiling on you currently with appointments about time too. I hope things continue to improve.
How are you, Cherry? Getting there?
A revamp of my 'home gym' was necessary after a visit to physio his morning and the lovely Grace Kelly's successor. If you liked Grace, the girl on reception said, you'll really love Lucy. Grace has been spirited back to the Big Branch in town.
Lots of gyms = sports injuries, bright young things and a diversity of injuries I don't think she was getting in our quiet rural backwater. (Elective hips and knees ++). Can't blame the girl, really, leaving Brisbane for some excitement and missing her own 'kind'. Not a lot to see here if you want the bright lights.
Lucy is lovely, I have ditched the tin of artichoke hearts et al, replaced by a kilo weight and generous length of elastic. Three exercises, working up to one minute each, per day. My kind of workout 🏋️♀️.
Thinking of all Lobstars and feeling that I have bored you all enough anyway🫣.
A bientôt.
Thanks for all your good wishes. Arrived at hospital in plenty of time to be told that despite my appointment being for 8.50 the X-ray department didn’t open till 9.30. 😡
Then they said they didn’t know why I was there so I showed them the text on my phone telling me I had an appointment. They then said they had to talk to the Radiologist who wouldn’t be there till 10.00 😡😡. Fortunately he arrived a little earlier and said he would do the X-ray but still didn’t know why I was there. Hopefully someone will connect the dots and sort out my follow up consultation
Being back in the hospital environment really upset me. I was glad to have one of our sons with me
Phone call from Cruise this afternoon offering me counselling. Hope it helps
Notspaghetti what a brilliant idea to take photographs of things you don’t want to keep but that have a memory attached to them. I think that’s a great idea and looking through a photobook can bring back so many memories
Ixion DH loved taking photos. We have thousands of them but they’re nice to look through. I plan to go through them all this winter as something to do
Kaimoana 🤣🤣🤣 holy orders.
You are quite right, I cannot settle to anything. My mind is on a constant wander except I try to calm down in the evenings and not think just rest. Really tired today. Lots of emotional triggers today.
Grammaretto is the studio still open? How have things been today?
When my son was 12, ixion - NEVER boring and told he couldn't join the local gym until he was 14 "but we prefer you at leas 16 as you are still growing" - he was already over 6ft, so he rigged up his own system.
We get our milk in 2 litre plastic bottles with handles, so he fastened 2, now full of water to ropes which ran over the bar in his wardrobe.
He could either pull them down by hand, or with a towel-padded loop, use his feet.
Bottles were added until he was pulling 5 or 6 in each hand (more by leg) with ease. Then he went to heavier sand.
This sufficed until he was 16 when he could join a real gym - where the personal trainer advised him to begin with a 1 kilo weight 
I sympathise entirely with you Doodle as even booking the taxi to get me to hospital on Monday has been a bit of a hurdle.
Is it that the left hand doesn't know (or care) what the right is doing or are they all now so woefully overworked they can't think straight?
I'm so glad your DS was with you.
I'm not looking forward to negotiating the vast, strange complex which is Auckland City Hospital alone but one thing I never lack is the ability to open my mouth and ask.
Even strangers are not safe
I'll accost whomesoever I need to.
I've always been a very keen photographer and in my salad days had a (quite small-time) exhibition. I liked black and white because it made me think more about texture, shadow and composition, which taught me a lot.
Poor you Doodle having to run the gauntlet of the hospital and with noone knowing why you were there!
I hope the xray was clear.
I'm not opening the pottery again until Saturday.
I took Helper to buy paint to finish the kitchen and then to some local beauty spots. She took me out for tea and a scone in a nice hotel.
We'd already packed the kiln and taken a car load of "rubbish " to the recycle centre.
I had come across a few treasures in the attic including this broken sign which I shall keep for one of my DC.
Goodnight Lobstars.
Doodle you certainly have had a taxing time at the hospital! I hope today is a better day fof you.
There is plenty of confusion in the system - you are not alone with curious appointments... Mr NS is waiting for an operation (day surgery) and on Monday got an appointment letter for a nearby hospital. It said it was on a particular ward and gave directions and parking info.
It was not from the consultant he was expecting for his surgery and didn't say what the appointment was for - not even if it was a "clinic" or "surgery" appointment giving only a ward name.
It took most of the day on and off trying to find out if this was the operation he was waiting for or or not - nobody knew. It turns out it wasn't the operation but was instead a first appointment for a clinic to which he'd been referred when his condition was presumed to be something else. It took three different staff members to try to sort out something that would have been obvious if they hadn't sent just a generic letter covering several clinics and day surgery.
It really ought to say on hospital letters what they are for in my opinion
*
I am still hoping for a few figs and hoping the squirrels find something else to enjoy. So annoying
And you had mysterious messages from the NHS too NotSpaghetti!
There must be mischievous elves running the admin departments.
Love the fungal photo. I took one yesterday too. It's a shaggy spiny cap. I don't think it's edible.
I'm off to view a sensible bungalow for sale this afternoon. It's not quite in the right place but it is smaller and all on one floor.
Good Afternoon All
I love the idea to take a photo of things which really need to go. Today, having nothing else to do and reading of all your clearings outs, I stirred myself to empty the old shed in the bottom corner of the garden. The large leaved ivy from next door has jumped the three foot gap between, squirmed under the roof, grown all the way across to the window on the other side (only about eight feet admittedly), and made its way out the other side. Spreading side shoots as it went. I don't have cause to go in there often and it was a bit of a fight to get through the jungle of leaves. I've sorted half of it. I found four decent garden chairs, and the window cleaner has just rehomed two of them, several miscellaneous gadgets for spreading grass fertiliser/weed killer, cans of goodness knows what, a pink canoe paddle, two beach wind breaks, a rusty machete, three (three!!) old saws (there's four more in the work shed) and all DH's fishing gear. That's the first half of the shed done. Some stuff can go out by the front gate with a 'Free' sign on it and most to the tip, but what do I do with his fishing gear? I can't put it in the tip. I just can't. I fear it'll end up at the back of one of the next shed after I've cleared it out. Still, I've made a start! I may have just rearranged the Stuff but it is a start. I shall take a photo of the side I haven't done to remind me of my achievement.
I'm really glad your son was able to come with you to the hospital Doodle. It's a big, big hurdle. And then to have had all that mix up. No wonder your mind has been overactive today. I'm not sure many hospital staff have any idea of what they're doing to people's brains. I feel sure they have the training but it all seems to go out of the window along with any sense of urgency. Perhaps it's overload. DH had a mystery appointment too. Worryingly, it turned out to be for someone else completely.
I hope the viewing went well Grammaretto. I love looking at plans and bungalows as it rather looms in my future too. But they all seem too small. Perhaps when I've finished the decluttering I'll be able to visualise fitting in better. What will happen with your studio and pottery? Is it separate? Can you keep that bit?
Kaimoana your son is a big chap not surprised he could pull all those weights. Also not surprised that being your son he created his own gym 😊
Hope all goes well Monday for your appointment
What a nice day you had Grammaretto. You’ll miss this helper. Sounds like a nice girl.
How did the visit to the bungalow go? Please don’t be pressured to move somewhere you don’t want to go just because people want you to move. Feeling comfortable where you live is very important
*Notspaghetti I totally agree with you hospital letters these days are so misleading they don’t give you a clue about what they’re for. Glad you got it sorted out in the end.
Nfk I do hope you put the Free items on your land. There was an article in the papers recently about someone who was charged with fly tipping because they’d put an IKEA set of drawers on the pavement free to anyone who wanted them!
Its hard to declutter, some things have sentimental attachements or the usual thought of “ I’m sure that will come in useful sometime
Grammaretto I agree with Doodle, being comfortable with your home is vital.
When Mum and I were househunting, she had very set ideas of what & where she wanted - often opposite to what the agents showed her
.
When she walked into the last house, she was hardly through the door before she said, 'This is the one.' 
It was larger than she wanted, not in the position she'd insisted and yet they just fell in love.
NotS talking of fig trees, it's about now (in NZ) I used to drape very fine mesh netting on my fig tree so I might get a few ripe fruits in summer before the birds got them.
Now I don't even dare try to negotiate the lawn lest I fall again. But I don't begrudge the birds the full crop as they sing for their supper all day and give me much pleasure.
Do squirrels sing?
It never put me off the figs, which I LOVE, to know that inside each one is a dead and deliquesent wasp.
These mix ups with appointments don't foster much assurance there'll be efficiency when you are finally under the knife, do they? 
I should be seeing the grandchildren this Sunday and was looking forward to it but a text from DiL says probably not.
How was the bungalow Grammaretto?
...it must be a shaggy mane/inkcap/spiny cap time!
Nfk - I also heard the "fly-tipping" story on the radio. It was an enormous fine.
I think on your own land it is different but please label it well as "free item - please help yourself".
Kaimoana2 I'm nearly certain it's not just the original female wasp that dies in the fig it's all her male offspring too! - I just don't think about it! Figs are totally scrumptious!
I've just been sent some photos from two of my daughters - taken yesterday - more signs of Autumn!
I love the photos NotSpag! A hedgehog! How cute is that.
I haven't seen hedgehogs here for years. My DSiL, he who is a wildlife expert, tells me it's because we have badgers who skin hedgehogs. 😲
The bungalow was very nice and had a lovely garden but the position is wrong. It's on the main road with traffic noise all the time.
I know what I don't want.
It's busy busy busy here with the homeless family living with me and glazing pots, packing kilns, cooking for 5 instead of just me.
The family are cooking tonight I hope
I've given up on bold because my posts keep disappearing when I go back and do the asterisks.
I have worries about 2 DGC at the moment. One because he is doing far too much in his final year at school and we think heading for a breakdown.
The other is the wee one who was supposed to see an eye specialist but she has waited far too long and DD is worried her sight is deteriorating.
I feel helpless.
Golly, Grammaretto, you have a massive burden on your shoulders at the moment, both physical and emotional. I do hope your DGCs' health issues can be readily sorted. And that you don't have to cook for 5 for too long.
I'm sorry the bungalow viewing was a disappointment, but it reinforces what you don't want from a move, as you say.
On the rare occasion we watch 'Escape to the Country' or similar, my DS says it's a relief the presenters don't have me on the show, otherwise the programme would last only for a few minutes. Most of them I wouldn't even get out of the car for🤭.
Not that I'm difficult but ...
We have a hedgehog pair who, last year, brought their little family (hoglets?) with them. Not that we could provide any inter-garden hedgehog highways as we have a high-walled Victorian garden. They manage to burrow under the side gate by tunnelling through the gravel to create the requisite depth. I love their waddle!
We had an evolving home gym in the garage, Kaimoana, when the boys were young. I did recently stagger out there round all the tut and came across a pair of timber uprights sunk into two hefty plastic tubs of concrete, both immoveable.
That'll give House Clearance something to get stuck into when I'm gone.
Not, you understand, that I'm planning on going anywhere yet.
Kaimoana I’m sorry if you miss out on seeing your grandchildren. I know how much you enjoy being with each other.
Is it true about the wasp in the figs? I never knew that.
Art class for me today. I enjoy it and do feel I am learning a little. Some of the others are so good. Nice people all of them
Been knitting in church too. We had a thunderstorm while I was there and the roof started leaking 😮 Grammaretto, do you know a good roofer?
Notspaghetti, male wasps too 😱. Not sure I can face figs again
Love the autumnal photos.
Grammaretto it’s good you’re looking at places. It’s just as valuable to find out what you don’t want as it clarifies what is important to you in a new home
Im so sorry to hear of your worries re your DGC. I do hope your granddaughter is seen soon. Surely she should be seen as an urgent case. It is a worry about your grandson too. Can the school help in any way?
Ixion whilst I imagine it would be lovely to live in the countryside I do worry about all the retired couples who seem to want to move somewhere isolated with great views but no neighbours. You reach an age when it’s good to have others round and what happens if they can’t drive any more
Oh Grammaretto I am so very sorry to read that things are not easy right now. It's true that we hurt more for our children and grandchildren than we do for ourselves. I hope some gliimer of hope comes soon.
I am hoping my dgs will be stayong for some part of next week. If so, he'll be able to come with me to the hospital and be my eyes through the vast sprawl. My taxi voucher will cover 2 passengers as easily as one, thank goodness.
I also hope he will be with me for our Kaumatua group as many of them know him and ask how he is.
I doubt they'll recognise him as the little boy who shared afternoon tea with them last time he was with me.
He's now 6ft - but still has that amazing smile, guaranteed to charm, especially elderly ladies.
The clocks go forward here on Sunday. It won't make much difference because its the Tui who wake me.
I'm listening to an Anthony Trollope book.
I've come late to this author and am finding his portraits of life in the Victorian era interesting.
He didn't have an easy life, even as a little boy but yet managed to inject his semi-autobiographical stories with humour.
During his time working for the Post Office, he instituted the ubiquitous red pillar boxes and the wall-based ones, still carrying the VR logo during my childhood.
In the immortal words of Gavin and Stacey apparently, 'cos I've never watched it - what's occurrin' lobStars?
🤔
I see Grammaretto has a busy houseful 😬 - it's so good of you to provide refuge to your homeless friends - and viewed a bungalow don't know why but I'm a little surprised. Sounds like it was worth seeing if only to confirm that you don't want something located on a busy road I wouldn't either.
NotSpaghetti is collating the advent of Autumn with some glorious photos and Grammaretto is right - that hedgehog is So Cute 😍. That hospital letter for your DH is very confusing! Is he or isn't he going to get the right appointment in the right department? I darn well hope so 🤞.
Sound like Nfk has been venturing into a jungle 😬. Ivy's a nightmare init. Well done you for tackling half of that shed!
Ixion's revamped her gym 💪 and has upgraded equipment 👍 and is practicing cartwheels just in case our team ever win again. Is your shoulder improving?
Kaimoana's is soon to be negotiating her way round Auckland City hospital - I'm pleased that you've got your transport covered.
Our Doodle has had a hospital appointment of her own (sorry I didn't realise you had the appointment through). What a nightmare Doodle 😤, I'm glad you had your son with you. I hope your follow up comes through pdq with no hiccups 🤞.
I'm still coughing, still fed up - but not so bad. We have managed to get out and about in the last couple of days ... and we've bought our car. Should be able to collect it next week 😁.
Grammaretto - what a lot of family worries. It's SO long getting appointments these days. Could they maybe do something at short notice?
I know that there's often a list of people who can do this - suggest they call the consultant's secretary and ask to please be put on a "cancellation" list.
Your other grandchild is obviously too diligent for their own good. I think schools seem to imply that GCSEs etc are "one shot or you're out". It's a pity children have no time to grow and develop these days as everything seems to be tested.
Oh, Grammaretto, I just realised that I missed your post about your DGC, not an easy situation for either of them but especially the little one. Any wait is intolerable! So wrong. I hope your DD gets that appointment for her soon 🤞🤞.
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