Not Locked Down but may need to be locked up

NfkDumpling - ^Everything has a memory attached. And each memory has to be taken out and dusted off.^
This is so perfectly true
...and what makes the task so perfectly draining

This is why I make so little progress
I MUST do it though - or my poor family will be at their wits end (especially one daughter who I know will want to do justice to me By looking at everything!

One of the boys would hire a skip though!

My friend, who's staying with me, quoted the forward to Edward de Waal's book, the Hare with the Amber eyes.
I can't recite it but it says how the objects with their memories are in you/ in us and not in the objects themselves.

What I can't understand is why I have my DM's notes from her own student days. She travelled to and from Burma, NZ, moved house several times and yet still hung on to her notes!

Grammaretto, I have notes here too....
And books full of shorthand that belonged to a dear aunt

Can you read shorthand NotSpag? (It's Pitman's I assume and not the Teeline which I learnt. And forgot). I wonder if it's a steamy romance. I have a book of childhood memories which my DM wrote for my DC which she passed to me with instructions that I should do the same for my DGC. I've done quite a bit. It has to be hand written. But want to do a bit more before I pass it to one of my DDs. I think they should both write in it, but I think only eldest will. DH has written his own 'memoire' and I will pass that to our DS. But I don't think he'll be able to read it yet. He's a big softie.

I can't believe it's nearly four years Grammaretto. It seems more recent, remembering your courage and your coping helped me so much. I'm forever grateful. And Maori thinking is right Kaimoana. When the time is right it will happen. Although I do wonder who decides. Today, I put Best Beloved's ashes scatter tube in the bin. It's been in the corner over a year, (I mean, what do you do with an empty ashes tube?), and suddenly, today, I just picked it up and put it in the bin. Why today? I hadn't even been thinking about it. I just walked into the room, picked it up and took it outside. I think Himself had decided enough was enough and it was time.

"*The biggest spotty dog you ever did see*."
I am curious as to how many of the Gang are too young to know the Woodentops and friends. Stand up and be counted😉

I'm a relative newbie to this class, NN. For that you can thank Cherry, whose weekly ⚽️ reports during Lockdown led me, tentatively, to connect as a supporter too of that special team⚒️.
They are a lively lovely bunch of friends, as you have seen for yourself.

I hope the Tum has settled, Doodle and that Church and follow up provided that all important support which serves you so well.

How did the Consultation go, Grammaretto? Were you suitably downcast about your plight to make it onto The List pronto? Did you make it in time? So frustrating but at least you didn't have to fight with parking.

Cherry - more seizures? I'm so sorry, but good that there have been no injuries this time🤕. Bonne chance for The Match this weekend.
I think I must be a foodie heathen. To me, all pasta shapes taste the same unless I don't buy posh enough .

Kaimoana - you must be preparing for your student if it is Thursday with you now.
Enjoy. Is the quiet younger sibling a potential candidate too?

We have had a pleasant day, limiting our activities to stuff we can do in fairly sedentary scenarios. There has been a dramatic fall in analgesia intake and strength for the first time in many months, the odd paracetamol instead of over-frequent, prescription-only, painkillers. I feel quite positive .

This togetherness includes washing up and drying, unheard of for the last 45 years, so quite a novelty. In additional to the burglar alarm, the pump on the dishwasher (new on 28th September) has packed up, so having sent requested photos of various bits of the fittings, we await action. Fortunately, it was the start of my insistence on getting a man in, using their own installation company, so it's a case of ^not me, guv^ 🤷‍♀️.

Are pasta shapes supposed to taste different Ixion? And of course I remember the Wooden Tops - but only in black and white. Great that Mr I has weaned himself off the hard stuff and is down to the odd Paracetamol. Already! He's only been home a couple of days hasn't he? Or is time flying again.

I await news of the dishwasher pump.

My goodness so many posts to catch up on .
Cherry, thank you, yes I’m feeling better today (just as well because I had sausage and mash for lunch 😋)
I had a hospital appointment this afternoon which they phoned to cancel this morning . That left me with a free afternoon on my own which I didn’t fancy really so I invited myself to join my DIL and her mum for lunch. We had a lovely time and really nice meal. I am so lucky with our family
I hope things have been better for you too.
Grammaretto I hope all went well for your hospital visit. The journey doesn’t sound too great.
Good news your kiwi girl is coming back. You must treat everyone so well the fact that so many of them keep coming back
Ixion so pleased things went well for Mr I. It is so tiring isn’t it. Just the hanging around and worrying is exhausting
Notspaghetti your MIL sounds quite a character. I love the idea of her as a glam person. I hate it when you can’t get back to sleep. Hope tonight is a better one for you.
Nfk what a lovely post and such kindness in your words. I too feel that DH is somehow still sitting in his chair. I suppose if you spend many years sitting side by side then that image sets itself into your mind.
Glad you had a nice weekend with your DD. Nice to see family
I find the clocks going back unsettling too
Kaimoana I’m so sorry you’re not feeling well. I do hope you’ll see the Doctor if this continues. Lack of sleep or being awake for hours at night is not good. Worries seem to get hold of us at night. Hope things improve soon
Naughtyneine, I’m not keen on people being sick either.
Thank you for your lovely post it made me laugh with your vivid description of your aqua aerobics 🤣
Thank you for your prayers and kind thoughts. My church has become even more important to me now. I go twice a week (Wednesday and Sunday) and sometimes Thursdays too.
I Light a candle for DH and sit and have some peace
Jan, like everyone else I’m sending best wishes for a good recovery for your DD. Hope things are improving
Grammaretto, that’s an interesting quote. I hope you are safely home now and hope all went well with your hospital visit
Nfk what a wonderful idea to write down memories for future generations. My mum had stories to tell of her childhood and rather sad early life and then happier days after she married my dad. I wish I had written them down as sadly with my poor memory I can’t remember mush of them now.
Ixion I can certainly remember the Woodentops. I loved them, especially Spot the dog and his funny bouncy walk.
Really good news about Mr I cutting back on the painkillers. *Great progress
Im always amazed when we start another thread having reached 1000 posts. I can’t think how many new threads we’ve had now but it’s wonderful. Such a lovely bunch of supportive, funny, caring people. You’ve been such a support to me and I’m very grateful. 💕💕

SMS from me tonight as I'm feeling a bit worn out

I'm standing up, ixion ... to remembering too easily for my liking the Woodentops, including Mrs Scrubbitt 😳 and Buttercup the cow. One of the Watch with Mother offerings including the androgynous Andy Pandy, Bill and Ben with their friend Weed and the Herbs 😉 🤣.
Sorry to hear about your dishwasher pump and your burglar alarm 😤. I hope you get both sorted asap 🤞.
It's really good to hear that Mr I is doing so well so quickly 👍 😊.

I hope your journey on the black hole of Calcutta led to a great outcome from your appointment Grammaretto 🤞.

How has your day been Doodle? Better I hope.

My Siciilian uncle would have been astonished by the suggestion that all pasta tastes the same, Nfk and ixion 😉 😂. They more than likely do but I do think some shapes cook differently to others and my uncle would have insisted that some pastas be preserved for use for specific dishes 🤷‍♀️.

Very tired now so if Jeeves is about I'll have one of his special hot chocolate's please

Night night 🌙 all.

I don't understand how people know how many posts we have!
I hope this one doesn't kill it off...

Notspaghetti, if you look at the title of the thread on the main page, in the second column along it says “replies”. That is the number of posts on a thread. I think we are at 765 or 755 something like that. When it gets to 1000. The thread is forced to stop and we have to start a new one.
Cherry surely Andy Pandy and Teddy were both boys and the girl was Loopy Lou. Teddy was my favorite, 🤣
Sorry you’re feeling so tired, Jeeves is on the way with hot chocolate and marshmallows if you like.
Yes thank you I had a better day
Sleep tight all

Thanks Doodle
I can see that now!

Very pleased you had a better day today - I drove Mr Spaghetti to visit his mother who was truly delighted to see "her boy" recovering. She didn't say that of course but you can tell.

Hugs everyone. Goodnight

Not only do I remember the Wooden tops, Weeeeed and Looby Lou, I even remember Uncle Mac ("Goodnight children, goodnight").
Larry the Lamb "Oh, Mr Maaaayor, I'm only a little laaaamb"

Shirley Abicair (now 94) who talked about Australian aboriginal boys, Tumbarumba, Teacup and Clothespeg in a way we find patronising and racist today (did adults see that then?)

In the past few years, indigenous tribal leaders have requested they not be referred to as 'aborigines' as, shortened to "Abos" it's become as derogatory as the N word.

Thanks for your good wishes but I'm still crook and seem to have swollen glands and immense tiredness, so was glad when my student didn't turn up - her grandma forgot.

DS and I have decided that Gubbins can have 2 birthday celebrations: one at her house and another at mine.

"What's your favourite food?" I asked.
"Bacon."
"Do you want that for your birthday party?"
"As long as there's cake as well."

Anyone got a good recipe for a Bacon Birthday Cake?

I do not have a recipe for a bacon cake though I know meat and sweetness are often combined.

I missed out on TV until I was a teenager. NZ , when I was a child didn't have TV. We listened to the Goon show . I can't remember any children's programmes. Our entertainment when at DGM in the South Island was the week

....Ly matinee. Cowboy films and Old Mother Riley at the Kaikoura cinema.

Sorry I must have accidentally posted.

That is a big decision Nfk so well done. I have still got the ashes!

The hip appraisal process took most of yesterday and I need to go back to have an echocardiogram before the operation itself which should be in January. I must measure the heights of my bed, chair and loo but there wasn't any surprise that I am on my own and no suggestion of getting help.

I hope you feel better soon Kaimoana and can enjoy the parties!

I hope the DHs are both recovering well. ixion and NotSpag

I hope you Doodle are in a good better place and Cherry and Jan ofcourse.

Fortunately, I only ever remembered Shirley Abicair for her zither playing, which enthralled me. Then only reheard on the radio for Harry Lime.
Such was my enthusiasm and curiosity that I acquired a couple of battered and depleted zithers for restoration via e**y auctions when I retired, with a view to adding to my retirement bucket list. Needless to say, not much progress as yet, except that Mr.I has ordered the removal of one of the 3, as, apparently, it was ^riddled with woodworm^ ...

Just back from physio, where ultrasound has been applied to both shoulders.
Any port in a storm...

Reports today in the Press that the Scottish Book Trust has changed the title of the Drunken Sailor (What shall we do with?)🎶.
It has now been changed to 'What shall we do with a Grumpy Pirate?', with the line 'Put him in a long boat till he's sober' changed to 'tickle him till he starts to giggle'.
I can't believe this is for real but I am intrigued to know how the while thing now flows.
Plus the fact that this surely gives Pirates a bad press?

How was the hospital trip, Grammaretto?

And how about Bacon Muffins, NZ style, Kaimoana?

www.pork.co.nz/recipes/savoury-muffins-with-new-zealand-bacon

Kaimoana , two birthday parties must be better than one. I’m sure Gubbins will love it no matter what you give her.
Sorry you’re still feeling poorly. Have you seen a Doctor? I hope your helpers are coming this week.
Notspaghetti I’m sure it did his mum good to see her boy. We never stop being mums.
Hope Mr Spaghetti doing well
Grammaretto glad you have a date for your hip replacement. Will you not need someone at home to help when you get back. Can the family help out?
Have you truly never seen the Woodentops? I will have to try and find a video for you.
Ixion, I had completely forgotten about zithers. You must have a very interesting bucket list.
Hope Mr I is still making progress. Have a relaxing weekend.
Cherry, is there a match this weekend. Do I need to put my frilly knickers on? Hope you’ve been feeling a bit better
I’m going to a memorial service at church this Sunday. DH’s name will be read out along with others. Our sons are both coming. I’m hoping we get through it ok.
Have a good weekend all

Those muffins will definitely be on the birthday table ixion thankyou.
It will be the first time I've made gluten free ones (because I want to scoff them too )

No Doodle dear, I don't bother the doctor for anything I or time can cure.
Copious fresh water, iron tablets, sleeping beyond 3am and with only little worries will put me right... eventually.

When you go to the Memorial on Sunday, Doodle hard as it will be, I hope you have no hesitation in crying. You won't be the only one and those beloved lost ones are worth it.

Mepa, my dear old faithful friend made me laugh today talking about a lady we'll call Jean. I know her quite well and she's also Mepa's client.

Apparently the old duck, in her 90's has been asked out by a much younger man.
Mepa and I both suspect a scam but Mepa cautioned Jean not to respond because, "If you get fond of him and your feelings run away with you, you might get pregnant.'

It loses a lot in translation when you can't hear Mepa's hilarious Pasifika delivery and our unseemly screeches of mirth.
This same lady asked Mepa to deliver a bottle of wine to me a few weeks before Christmas 2023.
Mepa forgot it but the following week saw the empty bottle in the recycling.
Jean said she'd buy another - Mepa forgot that too and so, apprently did Jean - and drank my wine. We gave up.

Jean swears she watched a news report about 2 Chinese women who landed on the dark side of the moon where they found cities and 'people just like us.'

As in Maori mythology, China has a legendary Woman in the Moon, Chang-e.
Ours is Rona. They both have difficult husbands.
Tells you all you need to know, doesn't it?

Thus do my homecare ladies keep me entertained.

Doodle...let the tears go....it won't always hurt as much as it does just now but in the meantime be kind to yourself and don't try and be strong. ♥️
Oooh why oh why did I say yes to taking the cancellation place at yesterday's aqua aerobics? I thought Tuesdays (led by a sadist...I mean ex army officer) was bad enough...but yesterday's class was led by a Jane Fonda lookalike on speed. It's my own fault I know... I'm not fit...it all went a bit down hill after the fall that eventually led to a THR that was not done properly and I'm now on the list to have a revision done so I'm trying to be as fit as I can beforehand so as to recover as quickly as possible. Grammaretto...glad all went well with your appointment and you've got a date. ( Very quickly). That thread on sex after a THR that you've read too has made me wince ( at just how 'restricted' some grans are) and laugh out loud in equal measure. Kaimoana...a birthday party with Nanna sounds just perfect... It's the memories that last. I always tried to make memories with my Grandchildren....I hope they remember them and me.
The mention of Kaikoura brought back vivid memories of driving from Hamner Springs to Kaikoura. I stupidly decided that I wasn't going to hand back the hire car with excess fuel still in it so I drove through what felt and looked like the Highlands of Scotland following the only other mad person to be on that stretch of road on a Sunday Afternoon...he looked like Hagrids brother and was probably terrified at being followed by a wild eyed ditsy looking blonde who was muttering profanities in between offering to sell her soul to the devil if he just let her get to civilisation. I drove into Kaikoura on fumes!!!. I think it was also there that I got up close and personal with a very large seal..we eye balled one another from about 2 foot apart and it a only on my way back up to the car that I read the board that said do not get too close to the seals!!! It was also there that having left the car in the car park to walk to the shore I returned to find I wasn't the only one to visit that early in the morning and parked alongside me was a campervan ( hired) that had the following message on the back of it.
'All I want is world peace and a bl.w job.'
I left at speed!
Re Jean and her younger man.... I've got one of those and it's certainly put a sparkle in my eye!.
Frilly knickers threw me a bit....I was wondering if it was a compulsory class subject...and then I realised you meant cheer leaders ( well I think you did). I may have to hand in a excuse note on the grounds that
a. I can hardly walk after this week's exercise and
b. If I were to attempt to jump and wave my fluffy balls I would be in very serious danger of giving myself 2 black eyes as my lallies have a will of their own and despite trying to constrain them in a bra that now resembles two hanging baskets ( in another life they were 32AA)... they bounce happily out of time with whatever the rest of me is doing.... I'll leave you with that mental picture.

I hope, Doodle, that the All Souls service brings you peace and the warmth of others. I return annually to our family church for ours. It's combined with Evensong and Fauré's Requiem, by candlelight: it's a "shared experience" and one from which I gain a lot of strength. I hope it will do that for you too.
I actually found the invitation and mention in the Parish Magazine more upsetting than the service itself.

So pleased the bacon muffins 'fit the bill', Kaimoana and hope that you will be feeling on top of things very soon.

I think someone needs to tell Doodle that her frilly knickers are best put away for the winter now as Cherry, me and the boys are now into leg warmers.
We are playing tomorrow but need more than a rousing baton twirl and a couple of empty Pringles tubs to give us the edge over one of the Big Boys.

Off to M and S to return Mr.I's online order. How long has it been since he was in trousers of those sleek dimensions?
Dream on!

In view of ixion's advice, perhaps I should add knitted knicks to my range of woolly essentials?

Hope everyone has an enjoyable weekend.

Kaimoana I've got a lousy memory so I've completely forgotten exactly when Gubbin's birthday but I know she'll enjoy her two celebrations, especially her one with Grandma. I was going to suggest making a Bacon Biscoff Toffee cake but I've seen ixion's Bacon Muffins and think they're just the ticket.
Not too sure about knitted knickers for cheerleading, some of the moves are pretty enthusiastic and we cheerlead in if it's sunny and if it rains. 🫣 🤣
*I hope you're feeling a bit better.*💐

👍 Grammaretto, January is just around the corner really. I'm wondering the same thing as Doodle though, you're going to need a bit of help for a little while afterwards aren't you?

Can you play the Drunken Sailor on a zither, ixion. 🤔 When I was learning to play the guitar no, I have very basic skills the Drunken Sailor was the first song in the book because the rhythm is very simple and it only has 2 chords -- I can still play that, even if my skills have dipped somewhat--. 😉
So you had Ultrasound at physio, eh. I can't remind they did when I dislocated mine but they might have done. I hope all is as it should be 🤞.

Your aqua aerobics instructor sounds 😬, Naughtyneine. I have the feeling that the people that become instructors believe everyone simply must be super fit, athletic and toned. A number of years ago I had physio after being in bed on traction for 2 weeks. On my first session the male physio told me I was a bit flabby and that ^ it looks like you haven't done any exercise for a while, join a gym, get on a rowing machine^. Total charmer. 🙄

I'm not saying the Memorial Service on Sunday is going to be easy Doodle but you will have your boys with you so you can all support one another. When my DB died my DSiL said the service she went to provided a sense of solidarity (her words) with the others at the Service, with the common understanding that lives shared with the one they loved was a gift, the sorrow of loss is not a price to pay for the gift but a knowledge that love never ceases (her words) but a lady there also reminded everyone else then in turn that means you are still loved. 💐

Kaimoana I love the tales of Jean.🤣 I do hope you feel better soon and your worries are resolved a bit. Hope you get some good nights sleep too
Thanks Naughtyneine for the encouraging words. I have never done aqua aerobics but your description of the leaders made me laugh. Jane Fonda on speed. 🤣 I hope you didn’t do yourself an injury. Hope your revision hip replacement is more successful than the first one. Do you have a date yet?
You are excused from cheer leading duties as we certainly don’t want you doing yourself and injury or sustaining black eyes. Cherry and Ixion have a very impressive if somewhat risqué routing but I occasionally join them to add a touch of elegance to the routine……well I would if my frillies didn’t keep sliding down and my Pom poms didn’t keep falling off.
Ixion it’s ok I wear my thermal long johns under my frilly knickers and thermal top under my sparkly crop top so I won’t get cold. Substitute the tubs of Pringles for tubs of baked beans and we’ll handicap the opposition either by making them eat them or throwing them at them. One way or another they’ll be winded.
Cherry you’re right. The service will be with a lot of others in the same situation and you do get comfort from talking to others who have the same experiences. I think it may be a comfort to our sons too.
Ive been to Windsor today and had a long walk by the river. Nice lunch and then fell asleep on the bus going home 🤣
Have a good weekend all

Lunch at Windsor and a sleep on the bus. That sounds delightful Doodle 😊

Although I hope you weren't wearing your frilly/thermal cheerleader outfit at the time.

Poor Naughtyneine having to undergo more surgery. I am scared of that happening. You must be very brave.
A close encounter with a seal at Kaikoura! That's my hometown. My dad's family came from there and I stayed with my gran there and went to school for a while.

Your home care ladies sound like good company Kaimoana and very funny.

I'm up late waiting for my kiln to reach temperature. I've watched a Tom Hanks film, written a review for my Cornishman, cooked, eaten and washed up, folded the sheets, played various games on my phone, read messages, chatted to df until she went to bed. I'll read my book and then check again.

Can you send Jeeves round please to keep me company and tell him mines a hot chocolate.

Had a much better/longer sleep last night as a result of including carbohydrates at tea-time.

Usually my only carb is one slice of gluten-free bread with my poached egg at breakfastime. I feel livelier with no or low carbs, so I suppose it goes without saying the opposute is true

I've just heard a Pīpīwharauroa calling; a summer migrant which spells doom for some unfortunate Grey Warbler chicks as the English name for this bird is Shining Cuckoo.
(pippi-far-row-roa)

Gubbins is 4 this year, her uncle my DS1, is 54.
Time's wingèd chariot is hurrying near.... (from a Marvel comic, I think )

Someone suggested we dress up spooky for our kaumatua meeting on Tuesday. I'm scary enough without horror makeup but shall borrow Gubbins' face paints just in case.