Not Locked Down but may need to be locked up

our ink caps were 😋 by the way, NfkDumpling.

Kaimoana, Miss. I did my essay, honest but Barney ate it. He is a bit like that, I'm sorry. But we do love him.

Are you all jabbed up now, Doodle and not too incapacitated?

Did your hospital trip (as it were) go OK, Cherry?

Thinking of you, NotS, and the worry accompanying your son. Our worries about our children never leave, do they? They just change😟.

Harvest festivals in Church seem to be a mixed bag these days.
Call me old-fashioned (Yes, I know- I sound like my mother) - but
I do like the traditional church service, both in terms of proper seasonal hymns and offerings of nature's bounty. Non-perishable food bank donations seem a tad basic and far removed from the spirit of offering fruit and veg from the land. I grew up in an impoverished inner city in a vast Victorian school. Yet, somehow, the displays were always breathtaking to small children who were awestruck by the beauty of it all. Chrysanths, dahlias, a huge wheat sheaf bread centrepiece.
My DM, once widowed, (in her seventies, not in her dotage) was non-plussed to open the door to a clutch of local primary school children with a box of goodies, proudly announcing that they were delivering harvest gifts to all the old people in the parish.

I am pleased that Miss's roll call has had the desired effect.*Still a few laggards, tho'.
Looking forward to the rest of the gang signing in.

Cherry I hope the hospital appointment went ok. Yes our church is a lovely place. Very welcoming to all
Grammaretto your soup sounds lovely. I do like coconut. Hope your car gets fixed soon without a big hole in your pocket
Kaimoana that’s so funny. Thank you 🤣
Notspaghetti I’m sorry to hear about your son. Hope it’s nothing untoward,
Well done your grandson. Bet he’s proud of the trophy.
So what are you doing with all that fruit? Are you making us all jam?
NFK my you have been busy. Good the family are round to help with the heavy lifting etc. Lovely picture of Kira and the ink caps.
Shame about the tree. I expect you’ll be sad to see it go.
Ixion naughty Barney I don’t think so……he’s too angelic. Our harvest festival was all non perishable. Not quite the same but as it was all going to Foodshare I suppose they had to make sure it could be stored.
Yes I’m incapacitated in both arms now. Flu in one and covid in the other. Actually not too bad but they both ache a bit.
Take care all x

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I always think of the children singing
Cauliflowers fluffy when harvest time comes around.

I went to see a fungi exhibition at the Botanics today.
Somebody has sewn fungi!

The car is still at the garage. Exhaust has been fixed but some problem with tyres and wheel rims.....

Poor Doodle both arms out of action!

What a worry about your DS NotSpag I hope he is OK.

Thanks for the roll call Kaimoana

How did you cook your Inkycaps NotSpag? I read about cooking them in milk. I'm not a fungus fan as they don't seem to have much flavour for my taste buds. Are they worth it?

The nice lady decorator who's going to paint my 'best' front room didn't come yesterday as she had a menopause migraine. Still not good today so I doubt I'll see her. I do wish she'd give in and see her doctor as it must be affecting her business quite a lot.

I hope your arms are feeling better today Doodle, I mislaid my covid, etc jabs appointment yesterday afternoon. I think I muddled the 24 hour clock as I thought it was at two minutes past six, not two minutes past five. Senility has arrived. Hopefully I'll get the next one right!

I agree wholeheartedly about traditional harvest festivals Ixion. I'd forgotten until your description brought it all wonderfully back. A table loaded with cans to be wheeled off to the local food bank may be efficient and practical but somewhat loses the meaning of harvest celebration and gratitude.

It's a day for learning here, Grammaretto🙂.
I had never come across Cauliflowers Fluffy. Not in the 50s or 60s, nor with my DC in the 80s. Anyone else?

I tried to find out more about what appears to be exquisite sewing of fungi, which look amazing from your pictures. Can you tell us more, please?
Thank you.

Off to physio soon. The can of artichoke hearts (probably puréed by now with all the exercise activity) has now been replaced, as I progress, falteringly, through the steps to success, by one of Mr.I's brass kilo weights. Just the one bruised toe where I dropped it thus far.
A long and £££ journey.

www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/lifestyle-buzz/artist-creates-incredible-life-like-embroidered-mushrooms/ar-AA1oVmvH?ocid=BingNewsVerp&apiversion=v2&noservercache=1&domshim=1&renderwebcomponents=1&wcseo=1&batchservertelemetry=1&noservertelemetry=1

Here's a link to an article about Amanda Cobbett's work ixion
I have read it but am still not sure how she does it.

The cauliflower song was popular when DD was at primary school in the 1990s.
The school invited old scholars to the harvest service assembly and from the day centre so there was a huge collection of food given out to the visitors. I ferried the old people home afterwards and they said they would have preferred tins! What to do with a turnip!

NfkDumpling - just sliced longways in half - we only ate young ones before they opened - we cooked them in little butter in a frying pan on the hob. We had them on toast for lunch. We thought it best to try them plain so we knew what they wete like before we "messed about" with them.

They were quite mild as mushrooms go - but delicious and very "creamy" in texture.

I'd say, flavour wise, a bit like oyster mushrooms

Evening all. Just popping in to say hello. I’m feeling really rough tonight. I had my covid and flu yesterday and last night developed a really sore throat which has continued today and now I’ve a really upset stomach too. Not feeling great so off to bed soon. I’m hoping to sleep tonight as last night with the sore throat I was awake a lot.
Hope everyone’s ok. Back tomorrow

Gosh, you have been busy Nfk. When you told us about your shed I remember thinking tackling that sounded daunting but my your home's having a makeover too. Go girl! Shame you have to lose your tree but it sounds like by the end of it all your home & garden will look fabulous. Well done you.

I am sorry to hear about your son NotSpaghetti, that must have been quite a shock. I hope he's feeling alright now.
Well done to your DGS scoring not once but twice on his debut 😊.

Your boy racer was down to an iffy exhaust then Grammaretto, that makes sense. Is it home now or is it still unfit to leave its hospital because of the wheels and tyres funny how garages always find more than one problem.
I love the sewn fungi you saw at the Botanic Gardens. The local Science Museum often has similar various and interesting exhibitions, the last one I saw had a knitted tank 😳.

How are your arms now after your jabs Doodle? Some years I find I have a worse reaction than others --and am looking for a heads up. I haven't had mine yet hut will do on Saturday.

Ouch, ixion 😬. Don't go breaking any toes I'm not sure if there's any physio for that. 🤔 I wonder what you can do with pureed artichokes 😁.

Miss Kaimoana, NotSpaghetti is telling tales, I didn't eat the notes she passed me --oops, I didn't mean to own up to passing notes back and forth.

My hospital appointment went well yesterday. A hour to get there, a five minute appointment, 50 minute return home less traffic and it looks like I'll be back there again in two weeks time to do that all over again 🤦‍♀️🤣.

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New leaves on trees - bedroom window

I fell head first into this thread about 2 hours ago...whilst procrastinating about which exciting (not) activity I should do first this morning. I just want to say what a lovely group of people you all are....and with a wicked sense of humour too....I will definitely be lurking at the back of the classroom from now on....if that's ok?

Small but perfectly formed, Naughtyneine, that's us!
Welcome.

Hello Naughtyneine

CherryCezzy - artichokes (even bashed around ones) are nice with pasta and something green as an easy dinner. Green beans, or wilt in some spinach, a good grind of pepper, olive oil or butter. A few shavings of salty cheese on the top and you have a 10 minute meal.
If you have a salad and a few olives too that would go down nicely....

And a nice glass of chilled pecorino please Jeeves!

Hello Naughtyneine welcome. Please don’t lurk at the back, come on in and join us. We don’t bite (not even Kira the dog)
Grammaretto I think I sang Cauliflower fluffy at church in Sunday for our harvest festival. I’ve never heard it before.
Hope your car is fixed now and back on the road
Nfk I had both my jabs together and haven’t felt well since.
My throat is really sore. I suppose it could be coincidence but I haven’t had a sore throat for ages and this one started less than 24 hours after the jab. I think it’s the flu one that’s got me.
I’ve done a covid test and that’s all clear.
Ixion oh dear your poor toe. Perhaps you should have a knitted tin of artichoke hearts to exercise with so it won’t hurt if you drop it in your foot
Notspaghetti I don’t like artichokes or mushrooms much to be honest. I have simple tastes and peas are my favourite veg. (I have them most nights with mint sauce regardless of what else I’m eating) . Any news of your son, is he being seen by anyone?*Cherry my arms are ok. A bit sore but not to bad. As mentioned earlier is an awful sore throat that’s troubling me now. Hot drinks and paracetamol don’t seem to help yet.
Glad your appointment went well. Such a lot of travelling for such a short consultation
Nice views Kaimoana, I take it it’s getting warmer.
ive got my thermal vest on 🤣

Doodle - my son says I'm "not to worry". 🙄
No news as yet
😕
....but thank you for asking.

Welcome, Naughty! Please don't lurk, you're welcome to join in, you know you want to. I promise Kira doesn't bite - she's rather short of teeth.

Silly Son, NotSpag. Of course you worry! Although I'm sure he's right after all, he's not worrying, is he!!

* Oh, Doodles, I do hope you feel better soon. It makes you wonder if these vaccinations are really worth it when they seem nearly as bad as catching the disease! I'm dreading having my jabs. I don't react well either, but escaped the last two calls as I had a bad cough both times. (Tree pollen and the changing, dying leaves in autumn). I think it must have been my sub-conscious which muddled the times of my jabs last week so I was an hour late and missed them! A good thing anyways, as I've been a bit busy this week and am tapping away here now as I don't feel like going into the garden. Everything is dying off and needs cutting back so I can spread compost.*

Ixion - is there a gap in the market for knitted tin covers? Use as weights is their secondary use after all. Especially tinned artichokes. And mixed vegetables. Or carrots. (if you haven't guessed, I don't care for veggies, especially in tins.) Dropped tins on toes must be a common injury, or was it the posh brass weight you dropped?

I do however, like salad. Potatoes. And mushrooms on toast, very much. I may try picking a couple of ink caps if no one is looking. Thank you for the serving instructions NotSpag

It's maddening how long it can take to get to the hospital and the wait once you get there, just for a few minutes. And then the same return journey. But, if it's a good appointment it helps! I hope your next one is even better Cherry, with a smoother journey time and that you don't feel you should have taken sandwiches.

Evening all. I am feeling quite rough tonight. My sore throat is very painful and I’m feeling nauseous and have stomach upset too. I feel quite ill (like I’ve got flu 🤒) did covid test and that was ok. Back tomorrow

Dear Doodle, I have just returned from my Covid jab with a dire warning from the Pharmacist that as this is my first Moderna one, I could feel pretty rough for a couple of days.
When pressed, she said flu-like symptoms, shivers, sore throat... A sprightly 83 year old turned up on spec as her local centre wouldn't offer Covid and flu at the same time.
Tuck up warm and drink plenty. 💐

I echo ixion, Doodle, tuck up warm and drink plenty, maybe including a warm 🥃 or two 😉.

Not feeling great myself this evening, felt the same all day to be honest after another fall out of bed. Must have been a heavy one as I managed to completely smash up the bedside unit 😬 🤦‍♀️. Fingers🤞I'll come through tonight completely intact.

I hope everyone has a good night 💐 and I hope I'm up to chatting tomorrow. Night night lobStars.

Kia ora Naughtyneine, you're welcome to sit anywhere in class as long as you hand in your homework on time ixion is being kind when she says we are small but perfectly formed. She, dear girl, may well be, I am neither.

If ever there was justification for not having jabs (non-compulsory in this country, so I can refuse) it's what I've just read here.
I did have my Covid jabs in 2019+ as the press made us feel like mass murderers if we didn't but now, when it's just to prevent me getting flu, not a hope.

The only year I actually did get flu and very badly was the first year I had the jab. Never again.

I'm not at all nervous of injections, had far too many for that - I just don't see why I should be made ill by a jab when, left alone, I'm fine.

I'm sorry you're so sick Doodle - rest and take care of yourself Sweetie.

And Cherry another fall poor lass, perhaps WP isn't tucking you in firmly enough when he kisses you goodnight after your bedtime story

I miss seeing Spud and hearing about his antics, I hope all is well.

Unrelenting, heavy rain all night and so far today and it doesn't look like stopping. Temperature is 13 celsius Doodle and probably won't go much higher.

The Sallies lunch I was looking forward to today has been cancelled as well. So as I'll be stuck in the house for the next five days, I'll probably get on with the Whatu Kākahu for my eldest moko.

You may recall, some time ago, a chap coming briefly back into my life with amorous propositions? He went back, unrequited to Australia. He's now gone to glory I hear.

I'm raising my hand tentatively at the back of the class...just to check...being slightly whacky is a pre requisite to being in this class?

Naughtyneine Goes without saying
Have a gold star for a good question.

A woman approached me in the cafe and said can you tell me something. You look a bit hippy.
I thought she was referring to my hip width.
She actually thought I might be able to point her towards alternative groups, non religious as she'd recently arrived in the area 🤣😂

Welc

According to figures from Statistics New Zealand, 131,200 people left New Zealand in the year to June 2024, the highest number on record.

Not including holidaymakers or those Kiwis visiting families and will come back; these are people leaving permanently
because the country is falling apart