Not Locked Down but may need to be locked up

I'm glad you laughed Grammaretto, you were meant to.
Yes, indeed, who IS looking after whom but she's a good lass and although mad as a box of frogs these days, is very kind and willing.

To tell the truth I doubt weight loss in a fat person worries any medical professional these days, programmed as they are by misinformation.
Well, there you go NotS I am short and fat already - hee hee.

The only drawback at the moment is that I'm always cold but sumer is icumen in, even if I'm the lhude cuckoo.

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Recently lost two more dear, long-time friends.

Dame June Mariu
Reverend Judy Cooper.

Both very dear ladies, full of caring and with a lifetime of unstinting service in their community.

Cherry yes I’ve made some really nice friends. Most of whom I knew before but have got to know better recently. I do keep myself pretty busy but have been feeling decidedly odd since the dark weather arrived.
I hope you survived the wind and rain. It’s been raining all day here today. Of course it’s my day for the hairdressers ☔️
So have you got your new car? Are you pleased, what colour is it?
Kaimoana what a good job you had that handsome young man helping you in the hospital. It sounds so complicated.
Ive certainly lost some height but I hope you’re not losing too much weight. Are you eating enough?
Karen sounds like me. Can’t remember anything at the moment
Grammaretto I loved the Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. Maggie Smith was one of my favourite actresses (or are we supposed to say actors these days) . Glad you enjoyed The Piano. I’ve never watched it but have heard about it before.
Notspaghetti please don’t turn into a puddle 🤣🤣
Ixion did you have a lovely time in your happy place. Hope the weather was better than here.

To be honest Doodle winter's shorter days, longer nights and inclement weather, affects me too (maybe everyone?).

So many social occasions depend on better weather as many people are reluctant to leave cosy homes on cold, wet days.

I know the only thing I wanted to do during September when weather was awful was stay at home and make soup.

My sleep and appetite hasn't been too good I confess, due to all these family troubles (still not settled),. As a diabetuc I should eat regularly so I make a nourishing vegetable soup and serve a tablespoonful - and my tummy rebels before I've even tasted it.
But I'm not wasting away.

My spirit-lifting kaumatua group was cancelled at the very last minute yesterday due to illness. Sadly, many people turned up to an empty room.

And I have my Lime & Chocolate cheesecake contribution to our shared lunch still sitting in the fridge and I can't eat it because of the sugar content.

But staying home meant I did get all my laundry out and dry yesterday

Yes Doodle, we picked up our new car and my WP drove home in rush hour traffic not nice to drive in at the best of times but especially when it's a new car you're not completely used to 😬. Unusually for us it's not blue and it's not red nor is it purple, it's charcoal grey -we must remember that when we park it when we're out and about or else we'll never find it again 😂.
Lovely that you saw both your DS' yesterday.

It's felt like a long day today, my WP had a Dr's appointment this morning, then we went shopping, went out for lunch and picked up the car. Not a great deal really but very tired now, so I'll just say take are all, night night lobStars 🌃

It seems the combined Genies of the Lobstars impelled Aatoa to buy two pork/vegetable pasties hot from the oven and put one in my lap, lest I should starve.

I sent her home with the Lime & Chocolate cheesecake.

I watched the Bake-off last night with my 14yr old house guest. He loves it and has promised to make us some delicacy. Yesterday on the TV it was chocolate covered shortcake biscuit with minty cream filling. Like the Viking biscuits. Do you still get those?

Your lime and chocolate cheesecake reminded me Kaimoana

I try not to bake as I try to avoid temptation. I make the same lemon drizzle cake each week for the community café and that's it.

GH loved to bake and made some delicious goodies while she was here.

My next Helper is due on 15th but before that I am going to Newcastle for an overnight trip. I've just booked myself into a rather nice looking hotel room with a good view.
I hope to see my DGD whilst there.

Such a long but exciting day Cherry. I hope your new car proves a good 'un.

My little Toyota is dark grey like so many others. I often lose it in carparks.
What are all our gang up to today?

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Hello friends
Just checking in with you. I've lost a long post (about nothing much to be truthful) and have no time to write again now. Sorry.
I was pleased to hear that things (for most of us) are ok-ish at least, that we have trips and helpers, satisfactory hospital visits and pastry treats ()... I've had a week of more antibiotics after some more dental treatment so am glad that the last tablet is gone now!
Onwards and upwards
Hope today is a good day
Here's another pot of plants outside our front door, mushrooms found in our tomato pots! and, if you squint, some remaining figs!

Shaggy ink caps NotSpag !
They are delicious by the way.
Your remaining figs look good 👍

Yes! I know... my daughter says cook in cream!

I detected a certain curtain of gloom and/or sadness enveloping some in our little Gang over the last couple of days. I trust this is lifting🌻.

Aha, Viscount biscuits, Grammaretto, takes me back. Well, to memories rather than to taste. They were always the posh biscuits other people had in their biscuit barrels, not us. We went for - but not always, I stress - the broken biscuits at the grocer's in big metal tins. These we could tuck into with impunity.
Talking of tins, does anyone remember the huge tins of pineapple jam which needed a tin opener to get into? I think, tho' I could be wrong, that they hailed from South Africa? Took forever to get through in various guises.

Lovely time spent darn sarf on Monday, a late running return journey meaning that, thanks to the Delay Repay scheme, I have a hefty down payment on the next trip. Didn't get to Liberty's in the end, but am factoring same into my Christmas shopping spree when everywhere will be suitably festive.

I found a lovely church, squashed right up against the Walkie Talkie building, and, to my surprise it was open, dark, warm and silent. A Wren church, built around 1685 with its original organ of 1749 and bell pre-dating the Great Fire of London, it is now the Guild church of St. Margaret Pattens. The Worshipful Company of Pattenmakers have been based in the City since the 15th Century, a patten being a type of 'undershoe', a wooden sole fitted with leather straps and mounted on a large metal ring to lift the wearer from the muddy roads. Lots of interesting exhibits, but would have been no good for my ankles.
Fascinating stuff well, to me at least. 😴

Back ready for birthday Facetiming with elder GS, now 9.
Look what I did, Nana. Holds up a heavily plastered thumb. I cut myself with a craft knife while I was whittling.
He wouldn't have got that with an app, but nice try from DS. I have contributed by sending him Tangrams, anything really that doesn't plug into a socket at some stage ...

PS
Here's a tigger tail for Cherry, to help her recognise her new wheels.
🚗

Kaimoana I have all my lounge lights set to bright white and on days when it’s dark I put them on for a bit and it does help.
Yes I used to enjoy meeting up with friends for coffee and sitting in the sunshine now it’s likely to be wet and gloomy.
So sorry your group was cancelled. I bet they would have enjoyed your lime and chocolate cheesecake it sounds delicious. Will they reschedule soon do you think?
I’ve just read your follow up post and see you’ve traded the cheesecake for a lovely looking pastie. I do hope you were able to eat it.
Cherry I frequently lose our black car. I have spent ages searching rows to find it. Hope you are pleased with your new one and find it comfortable and a good drive.
Sleep well
Grammaretto that sounds a nice recipe. I’ve never heard of Viking biscuits,
I hope you have a lovely time in Newcastle
Im beginning to see the advantage of having something to look forward to. Be nice to catch up with your DGD.
What have I been up to? Well church this morning with coffee and a good chat after. Home for lunch then crafting with friend this afternoon. Nothing very clever just making a hot air balloon picture with buttons. Then a coffeee and as I stayed so late a Sherry too.
Notspaghetti glad you’ve finished the antibiotics. Hope the teeth are not causing trouble now.
The pot outside your door looks lovely. Those mushrooms are quite peculiar I’ve not seen any like that before.
Ixion Vicount biscuits…..I haven’t heard of them either, where are you people hiding these biscuits I’ve not heard of. I had some chocolate fingers this afternoon. Not had any for years, probably because I like them so much I’d eat the whole packet.
Glad you had a good time down our neck of the woods. The church sounds peaceful. What an interesting visit

www.sainsburys.co.uk/gol-ui/product/lyons-viscounts-98g

It's like Chinese Whispers - Vikings turned into Viscount in just a few messages.

Never heard of either

Is there much Monkeypox (Mpox) in UK? 60 cases here and the usual hype and panic but though uncomfortable, doesn't sound deadly for people in the developed world.

Perhaps a small but colourfull sticker in the back window of your cars Cherry & Doodle would help you locate them.

🤔 Vicount biscuits, lime & chocolate cheesecake, lemon drizzle cake, shaggy ink caps cooked in cream, vegetable soup or pork/vegetable pasties - choices, choices. I do love a cheesecake but then again those pasties look nice 😋. The last time I had a viscount biscuit it set my teeth on edge so I've ruled that out 😁.

Shame your group was cancelled Kaimoana I hope whoever was ill makes a quick recovery. When is the next group meet meant to be?

More antibiotics NotSpaghetti 🙁. Did you have an abscess after treatment then? The last time I had antibiotics from the dentist was because I had an abscess. I hope any infection has cleared up now.

I squinted - I hope you manage to save those figs!

How lovely to be having an overnight trip to Newcastle Grammaretto., staying in a lovely hotel by the sounds of things too. My WP used to live there but I haven't been there for years. I do hope you get to see your DGD.

Aww thanks for the Tigger tail ixion you didn't rescue it from our old red car did you 😁.
I'm trying to work out/remember if I've ever seen the Wren building you visited, does it have an incredibly tall spire? If it does I think I know the building but I don't think I've ever been inside. It sounds like it was a delightful place to visit.
A happy belated birthday to your DGS. I hope his thumb isn't too sore my WP cut his thumb badly once when he was whittling, but he wasn't 9 at the time 😆.

It sounds like today was a good day Doodle, I know the church is a place of peace and comfort to you. Spending the afternoon crafting with a friend sounds lovely too. Nothing too clever you say 🤔, making a picture of a hot air balloon with buttons sounds pretty clever to me 🙂.

As for moi, after the excitement of yesterday, today I have been batch cooking with the ingredients we bought when out shopping yesterday. Chilli or chicken soup, anyone?

Do watch out for your thumb Doodle when you are crafting. The knife could burst the hot air balloon.
I'm sorry about ixion's DGS. Happy birthday to him.

What a great time you had in London! Those old churches are wonderful places, those that survived the Blitz. One ancestor of mine was married at St Mary's in the Wall from memory
My memory isn't up to much as I have invented viking biscuits but I'm impressed by your immediate realisation that it was those ones in the green foil. called viscount.

More excitement yesterday. I had a call from NHS Lothian offering me a new hip at the golden jubilee hospital in Clydebank in the next 3 or 4 months. Having waited 2 years I assumed my turn would never come.
My lodger immediately said she would transport me back afterwards.
People are so kind.

Thank you CherryCezzy I'm OK now. The antibiotics were preventative given that I had terrible problems after the previous procedure!
These were prescribed to be taken four times a day. I had to set an alarm for them. Four times a day is a lot it seems to me.

Suddenly appreciate only taking my medication once a day! Sorry for those people who must take medication 4 times a day (or more), forever.
Very grateful.

Ah that's good NotSpag 👍
I hate taking tablets daily but now needs must. In my case it's the antacids for the hiatus hernia and I have a cocktail of vitamins and turmeric for good measure

youtu.be/FOKKPJzr-4w?si=1-DAy3ob1oCUwSc7

An awful spoof about minty biscuits

Grammaretto - I know I may have missed this but can your hernia be treated? I know some are not suitable and some can be better managed with antacids... It would be nice to have it settled.

I love the sound of your London trip ixion. It's my kind of trip - just need a few galleries thrown in -
the V&A is my favourite but Tate Modern is somewhere I like meeting up with people and they usually have something interesting on.
it does feel like a long time since I went to London for pleasure.

How nice, Doodle to spend a crafting afternoon with a friend. I have a friend who I craft with long-distance occasionally. She works with glass, stained and leaded so needs to be in her studio and I can't lug my enormous loom around.
We just put WhatsApp on and chat as we work.
*Obviously it only works when we are both doing repetitive or straightforward sections! Otherwise it would be chaos!*

Ixion don’t remember seeing those at all. Mind you they look nice
Ive got a green sticker in the from of my car supporting the local hospice Kaimoana. What I really need is a big flag on to or a neon sign saying Hello I’m here
Cherry yes I’ll have both of those please. 😊. Ben to art class agin today. Still hopeless but it occupies the mind and the people there are lovely. Went for hearing test this afternoon. Seems I could have NHS hearing aids if I wanted or could wait a year and see how I get on. Think I’ll wait.
Grammaretto I think my button balloon will survive. Whether the basket (made out of ribbon) is stable enough remains to be seen.
Oh good news about the hip. That’s wonderful and help from your lodger too even better.
Notspaghetti, taking antibiotics four times a day is difficult. I found that too. There don’t seem enough hours in the day for that amount and you have to carry them around with you if you go out
What a lovely idea to craft with your friend via WhatsApp. You both sound very talented to me.
Im growing to Bracknell shopping with friend tomorrow. I think M&S might take a battering. I’m in need of some new jumpers.

Not entirely sure Kaimoana, I think I read there were two cases, both individuals just arrived back in the UK from an African country (the article didn't say which one) but they were immediately quarantined or I might have dreamt it. It's certainly an ugly and uncomfortable looking disease and whilst I know little about it would be horrible for a child to contract it.
So far so good locating the car in a car park it's the bright pink Tigger tail, courtesy of ixion, that helps it stand out 🙂.

Excellent news Grammaretto. I know it's not the closest to you but you've waited long enough and can't be waiting time doomsday so it's really good of your lodger to ferry you back home afterwards.
I know you missed the concert where your DGC were playing but am I think I read on the GM thread that there's a video for you to enjoy? I know you would have liked to be there so hope so.

I hate being prescribed tablets that have to be taken 4 time in 24 hours NotSpaghetti, I sleep for 7-8 of them 😉.

Did I hear you correctly Doodle sorry could help myself that you've decided to wait a year before deciding to get hearing aids or not? My WP was tested 3 years ago after an infection and told to have another in two years time but I think he's got selective hearing as he hasn made an appointment 🤔 😉.
I'm pleased you're still enjoying your art class 🙂.

It has been a glorious Autumn day here, quite warm really, so we've made the most of it,... by washing anything and everything in sight and my WP has been hanging nice thick winter curtains, we know how to have a good time 🤣.