🦞Lockdown friends still together🦞

our last sentence was so sad Kaimoana. I do hope you get to see Gubbins soon. Has there been any follow up planned? They surely can't just leave things like that...can they?.

I'm going to have work backwards with all that's happened as I've been other wise engaged since last Tuesday. My friend of over 50 years has been bereaved but it's very complicated...she wasn't married to him...she and he were both married to other people ( she still is).

They had been 'friends' for over 17 years. Her step sister and I wished many times that she would be able to see the wood through the trees about him.

Her step sister was very voluable about her feelings about their relationship and made it quite clear that she thought she was wasting her life on someone who was never going to leave his wife ( I must admit I felt he had the best of both worlds!!!!).

But she has a very sheltered upbringing...married the first man who paid her any attention and had low self worth until she met C. He had quite a past shall we say and to a certain extent played on her vulnerability and nativity and now 17 years on she is bereft.

The funeral is close friends and family only ( she was planning to go with her husband....he has known about the affair for many years).

I have persuaded her to remember him as she saw him last and not see him at the chapel of rest after the ravages of cancer had taken the toll.

I've found the whole situation very painful to be honest. I've taken her out and about and cooked food and poured wine and gin a plenty and am hoping she will be ok.

Thank you for letting me offload. If it wasn't Ash Wednesday I'd be having a very large glass of wine.

Another scary event occured too...one one of our forays out to keep her mind off what's happened we weren't to one of those garden centres that sell everything....and I came away with a new make up mirror....it magnifies 10x and when I looked in it at the garden centre fully made up it was a sort of ok face that looked back.....

Cut to 18 hours later and I picked it up to do my make up and I proper screamed at what looked back at me... The dogs fled in fear in all directions and I nearly passed out as I realised it wasn't someone looking over my shoulder but me...

.not exactly warts and all but a fair few stray eyebrows and a couple of what I hoped were dog hairs on my chin but turned out to be attached....if I wasn't traumatised enough by events that nearly finished me off.

Today there is not a stray hair to be seen....mind you I look like I've been stabbed with a weeny pitchfork.

Evening all. I am very full and sleepy. Went out for late lunch with friend and had fish and chips and ice cream and a large glass of wine. For once I was not driving. I’m now struggling to stay awake.
Grammaretto is good to hear your friend is being well looked after and has her family with her. Hope you hear about your planning permission soon. Is there a reason for the holdup ?
Kaimoana is there no end to the trials and tribulations you are suffering. It’s bad enough being so poorly without your ads being so far away. Wish we could help.
Im wondering how you’ve been today and whether things are a bit better.
Im amazed you’re considering teaching someone new but on reflection, no I’m not. You are Wonder Woman
Sending you loads of love 🥰
Ixion I hope your son and family are ok and no damage done from the cyclone.
Im wondering if you’ve heard from Cherry
*Please send love and instructions to keep safe.
Grammaretto the workings of the body are truly amazing aren’t they.

That's awful Kaimoana
Sickening in fact
Have they ruled out everything?

I was admitted to hospital once because of severe stomach pain, I spent a week there having every test under the sun and it turned out, when blood tests arrived back, to be my parathyroid gland in my neck!

One of the glands was the size of a plum when it should have been the size of a lentil and *it was sending messages to my brain to give me more calcium so calcium was being taken from my bones and then I had too much
I still don't know if it explains the tummy pains, but they went away as soon as my gland was removed

Oh Kaimoana, my heart goes out to you❤️.
You are so troubled, both in body and spirit.
I wish there was more we could do for you.

DS has been forwarding photos of his house clearance - 3 days of shifting anything which isn't pinned down up to his new (constructed after the last floods) attic, in anticipation of Cyclone Alfred due to hit tomorrow/Friday.
The boys are proper excited, unlike, it seems, a large swathe of the local populace who don't seem terribly bothered.

We are making plans for Full Fibre (sic) internet/phone installation. Mr.I isn't terribly struck by the advance notice that they will need to drill holes from the outside to the inside and place boxes on both faces, plus two to 'hold the ladders in place'. Happy with our existing copper wire set up, a change to our current, but expiring, plan means that we must move to fibre and digital landline.

It will do everything, apparently, at lightening speed - gaming😱, uploads, downloads ...

I tell Mr.I he will need to type faster to keep up.

Quick update:
Yes, I am indeed glad to be home.
Nope, tests have come up with no diagnosis so no solution or remedies.

My hands are slightly less painful, for which I am grateful but I still have the appearance of a spotted dick pudding. (can you say spotted dick on GN?)

In addition, to add insult to injury, I seem to have picked up 2 separate infections in hospital which are proving challenging to say the least and adding to my general feeling of low mood malaise.

And I'm supposed to start teaching a new student on Saturday who doesn't use FB Messenger, so had to puzzle through a complicated website I could hardly see.

I'm SICK of myself !!

And I miss my son and Gubbins.

Looking forward to hearing from Kaimoana again soon Thanks for sending her our love Doodle

I hope I can hear the girls sing this time Nfk I would love to

I went to see my friend who was perky and sitting up in bed. It's hard to believe her prognosis. *Her DS was working from his sister's home downstairs and brought us cups of
tea*

More house things going on but no word yet about planning permission for my new build.

Isn't a shame that there are no photos
I too like to see views, dogs, cats, flowers and beaches, all together if possible!

Kaimoana I was so relieved to hear from you. I’m surprised you’re allowed home without them having found the cause for your rash. Hope it’s not so bad now and you feel better soon.
Notspaghetti, glad your son in law is feeling better. I hope your DD hears something soon. I wonder what an air flow test is. Could it be like a spirometry test do you think?
Wow. 101 is a great age. How many of you will be going for a meal?
yes Grammaretto, considering DH’s numerous serious medical problems we were so lucky to have him with us as long as we did. I do miss him so.
*It must be very hard for you seeing your DF so ill. Is she aware that you are visiting? Must be a comfort for her if she is?
You have every right to be a proud gran. Will you be going to see your DGDs sing.
Glad your purse was returned to you.
How strange that you should have those two phone calls today.
Nfk not it’s not just you. The ability to post photos has been removed due to a problem on mumsnet I think
Shame as I’d have liked to see the photo of Kira
Ive been to sit fit today. Really enjoying it and feeling as though I’m having a good workout without overdoing it. Lots of creaking joints as none of us are that young.

I just typed a long catch up post and went to add a photo I took of Kira on the much-colder-than-it-looks beach at Gt Yarmouth today and pressed the wrong X and lost it. Then I found there's no facility to add a photo now. Is it just my 'puter?

Anyway, welcome back Kaimoana. It great to see you and I'm very impressed that your rash is such an important rash to warrant six days in hospital and all those tests and isolation! Not just a boring 'calamine lotion will clear it up in a couple of days' rash. An important one!

Back later - friend calling round shortly!

Glad you managed to escape Kaimoana. I hope the stay wasn't too bad. Has there been a prognosis?

I hope you are getting better

I visited my poorly friend. She is being rather bombarded with visitors. I hope I didn't outstay.

2 odd things today. A letter from the AA to DH telling him he'd been overcharged but to do nothing as the money would be returned. But to where?

Then a few minutes ago a call on the landline from the Council asking to speak to DH!!
When I told her he died 4 years ago she was most apologetic and I was able to direct her to someone who could answer her questions

Weird that both came today

I've just made myself a pancake before I head off to my Gaelic class.
Not Garlic, and not a garlic pancake. Just lemon and sugar 😂

Kaimoana Hurrah you’re back! Hope all those tests find a solution to your problems. Bless you and hope to hear from you again very soon. Take care!

Yay🥳

You're back with us.
You've been missed💐

Kaimoana, I do hope that the stay in the testing lab proves to be worth it in the end! SIX days! Wow!
🥼👨‍🔬🧪🔬👩‍🔬
....bet you are pleased to be home!

Dishcharged (like effluent?) from hospital after 6 days of tests, biopsies and different creams (not with fruit, alas) in an isolation room.

Still feel pretty grim but will try to write at the weekend.

Thank for writing on behalf of these lovely Lobstars, Doodle can't tell you how much it's appreciated xxxx

You grew up together Doodle!

Such a lovely long life together. You were really very lucky

Has anyone heard from Kaimoana?
Did we hear she would be away?

I hope it's something nice and not that she's in hospital with her dreadful rash

I've been busy with house things, pottery things and ofcourse visits to my df who is having palliative care at home

I shall go again tomorrow

It was good seeing DD and the DGC yesterday Both girls have been selected to sing Gaelic songs at the provincial Mòd in June.

@proudgran

I haven't used my gym membership yet ixion, I'm ashamed to say!
I thought just having it was enough

I accidentally left my purse at the community café on Saturday and someone returned it to me intact apart from the notes were missing. I thought long and hard about how whoever took the money must have needed it more than me.

A while later I wondered if perhaps that person was me and that there were no notes left!

How amazing to reach 101 NotSpaghetti. I hope that someone offers to bake

Just squeeze 101 candles onto an enormous sponge cake and try to light them - or perhaps not

I'm thinking of your lovely Norfolk weather Jan it's still cold here

Good night Lobstars

Dear Doodle, having such a long (life-)time with Mr Doodle is a true blessing.
No wonder you are bereft, you have been together all your adult life
💐

Nice to see you pop up Jan - and that the weather was good. A ray of sunshine 🌞 really does lift the spirits.

I'm also wondering about our not-so-well friends... hope there's an improvement. 🙏

Nothing yet about my daughter but my son-in-law was back in his home-office this afternoon - just catching up ahead of being "fully back" in the company's office tomorrow.

Hoping your sorting and swimming are both going OK Grammaretto - I hope you don't have too much help! 😬

It's my mother-in-law's 101st birthday early next month. I'm hoping one of my children will offer to bake a cake... feeling pretty lazy about making a cake to be honest. It would need to be fairly big... We have booked a meal out on the day - not a wildly fancy or expensive place - a jolly little Italian run by two (Italian) friends. It's very much a "family" restaurant.

Meanwhile I'm still waiting (3 months now) for an air-flow test after my terrible chest infection last autumn. I'm not sure how much longer I will wait but I've been told today that the machine is now awaiting a repair! 😩

Ixion, yes both our sons are good cooks although one of my DILs cooks too. No we went out for a steak meal. DH and DS2 and DIL2 and grandson are all steak fans. Me too but since Dh died I havent and can’t eat it. I had a burger but that was nice too. We had a lovely evening and I finished with my usual ice cream.
DH and I were together when I was 16 and he was 18. One of the reasons it’s so hard to be without him here now
I am getting concerned about Kaimoana. I do hope she’s ok
Jan yes I am very busy. I find it helps. There are obviously times when I’m on my own but getting out and about does help. Glad you’ve got some sunshine. Long May it last

Hi. Just popping in to see if we have any news of Kaimoana and Cherry. So worrying when friends are poorly. Hope we hear from them both very soon.
On a happier note the weather in good old Norfolk is amazing! Wall to wall sun and it’s actually been warm. Somehow this winter has gone on far too long. Roll on summer!
DH has a cold or maybe man flu! Why do men cough and sneeze so loudly?! Makes me jump every time he has an enormous sneeze - bless!
Pleased Doodle had a great meal with her family. You sound very busy Doodle but that’s brilliant.
Fingers crossed for everyone with problems and good luck to Grammaretto with all the sorting out. It’s a big upheaval but hopefully it will all be for the best.
Love and best wishes to everyone

I'm so glad you had a nice family meal, Doodle. At their home, or did you eat out?
Am I right in thinking that both your boys are good and, - importantly, - enthusiastic cooks?

DS1, from quite a young age, had the ability to look in my fridge, assess the odds and ends and leftovers and come up with a perfectly passable, even interesting family meal. Me, I'm more procedural, if that's the right word, needing to follow something written down. DS2 is the same. Perhaps it's just sheer tedium which has robbed me of any enthusiasm for being inventive over the decades.

It was good to read that you had spent an hour with your memory box, too. That is progress, isn't it? Baby steps. Were you and Mr. Doodle together at 21? Golly😊.

I have been following your various house moves posts, Grammaretto. Clearly a time for stress, uncertainty and worry
. Everything crossed for a smooth passage!
Will the arrival of DD, with her clearance hat on, prove stressful too?
*Can you rescue stuff after they've gone?*

Still hoping fervently to hear from Kaimoana toot sweet.
I think we are all concerned for you💐
I think I have said it before, but one of my first morning steps is to log on and look for a post from you, usually around 03.00, so easily spottable in the 'Last Day' list of posts.
Then I think 'excellent, that's my day started'.

Cherry, did you have a happy St. David's Day?
Hope you had daffs, not leeks, to celebrate.

Hoping NS's poorlies are receiving decent prognoses and doing well.

Thinking, of course, of absent friends who remain in our thoughts, as always.

I have lost one too ixion

Kaimoana, how are doing?

Give up.
Have just lost a great long screed in my attempt to copy and paste it to note form to preserve it.
Oh, the irony.

Back later when BP normalised😡

Evening all. Had a lovely meal with family last night. Such a good chat and catch up. Been to church today and stayed for AGM. Then did Waitrose shop. Cleaned bathroom. And spent an hour going through a box of memories.
Mostly cards from our children when they were young. My 21st, DH’s 21st. Our wedding, school reports. And a tiny battered card that seemed to be an invitation to my grandmothers wedding. So interesting it was a lovely way to spend an hour.
Yes I’m worried about Kaimoana too.
Hope all is well.
*Grammaretto have you made any firm decisions about selling up or moving?
Sorry can hardly keep my eyes open tonight. I’ve had a large glass of wine too Grammaretto

You always have to have something toworry about, don't you?
Or is it just me?.

Calling Kaimoana 📣...

Enjoy your meal with the family Doodle

What a difference a sunny day makes

I've been indoors most of the day. A church meeting on zoom

Then I walked up to look at a house for sale
It's very tiny in reality and the garden is small and faces North 😞

DD and DSiL are coming to do some more clearing out tomorrow
It's starting to feel real!

Great to hear from our Cherry 🍒

But I'm now seriously worried about Kaimoana

I'm watching a film about an alcoholic, as I drink my second glass of wine 😟

Hope you have a lovely meal Doodle - and great to have company too.

*Flying visit from me tonight. I’m off out for a meal with DS2 and family. Been out in the sunshine all afternoon. Hope all the poorly people are on the mend. Catch up tomorrow.
Xx*