🦞Lockdown friends still together🦞

Lovely to hear about your grandchildren playing hockey in the living room, Grammaretto. What fun you must have had.

I am so sorry to hear you are not feeling too great Doodle; it's a slow process but take heart my dear friend…one day at a time.
Do you have Spring bulbs on your little veranda?

Despite our sweet Doodle saying I don’t complain, it seems to me I do little else.

I haven't been well for a while and my doctor sent me for numerous tests when my back was so bad but it’s down to a dull ache now.

So today I was seeing Dr Zarah only for test results.

However, my skin has broken out (avoid the next bit if squeamish) in a million nasty pustules from head to toe, so painful I couldn't bear anything against me, not clothing or sheets; I even had to remove my wedding ring.

Good job the weather is warm although you may be relieved to hear I didn't go naked to the doctor's

Zarah had never seen anything like it and took photos, saying 'Jeeze Louise!' all the time.
She also said, 'I think we'll ask the specialist Acute Team to look at you,' and asked if Karen could take me to the hospital.

Karen will gladly go over her time if needed but I don't like to take advantage so I explained she could but I wouldn't ask her to wait for what might be hours, to take me home.

Zarah said, 'She won't be taking you home, I want you in hospital right now, you'll be admitted.'

Of course I had no nightclothes with me; food was defrosting in my kitchen; and I'd have to cancel Aatoa, Mepa and a dental appointment.
None of that could be arranged from a hospital bed by a blind woman who doesn't have a phone.

So much as I want this awful problem settled and to feel well again, I simply could not agree to be rushed off to hospitl at a moment's notice, without any idea when I'd be back.

What I did agree to was another appointment with her on Thursday, this time well prepared in case she still thinks I need hospital care.

Life eh?

🌞 we need more.
How lovely Jan

That flower is winter honeysuckle ixion. Most fragrant

I'm shattered after a weekend with my "helpers"

It was nice but I'm aching all over.
*While their mum tackled her old
bedroom, the girls took me to the
swing park, played hockey in my
sitting room using my grabber as a
hockey stick and ofcourse did
pottery*. I shall miss them

Their dad took car loads to the recycle centre it's hardly touched the surface 😒

*Wow sunshine Jan that’s amazing. Glad the snow didn’t settle.
What a lovely way to spend a Sunday having lunch with friends. *
I had lunch at church today. It was really nice and well catered.
Hope all the lobstars are ok. I’m not in a good place tonight so going to head for bed soon
Take care all

Well today we have had ☀️☀️☀️!! Amazing wat a difference it makes. Still very cold but apparently it should warm up later in the week. Yes Doodle it did snow yesterday but it was the wet snow so luckily it didn’t settle!
We went out for lunch today with 5 other friends. It was lovely sitting for ages catching up on everyone’s news and putting the world to rights! Hope you have all enjoyed the weekend

Grammaretto I’m so sorry to hear about your friend. What sad news.
Your flowers are lovely.
Wow you have a houseful at the moment. Must be nice for you to have them with you for a while. Your DD might think differently about your having your own build if she sees what else is available
Notzspaghetti that’s an interesting dress. Not sure it’s for me though.
Jan is it really snowing? It’s cold here but not that cold. I can understand why you and Theo want to stay indoors.
Sorry you lost your post. That’s so annoying isn’t it.
Naughtyneine that made me laugh so much 🤣. You are very brave to have tried the cold shower. I wouldn’t dream of it. No wonder your system went into shock mode
Ixion I am so sorry about your mother’s grave. I hope it’s restored as you would like it soon.
Nfk that made me laugh too. Does it smell?

To make a sentence bold you need an asterisk at the beginning. No space between the asterisk and the first letter and then an asterisk at the end of the sentence
That should work
Im off to bed now. Hope all have a peaceful night

Is that mock orange too, Grammaretto?
The smell must be lovely😍.

It's good to read your messages. They are funny, sad, informative and interesting

I have been busy. *The family
finally arrived today, dog and all*.
* DD and I viewed the house I had seen before*. *She liked it but thinks
it's overpriced*

*I haven't heard yet if I have planning permission to build but I am still
keen to do the private sale so looking
at houses just to see what's out there and imagining living somewhere else*.

*Sad for me is discovering that a lovely close friend has been having hospital scans and probably has
cancer*. *She's being so brave and
stoical*

I was given a beautiful bunch of Spring flowers today by a friend who had heard I had broken my hip rather than having a hip replacement.
Here they are.

(I was trying to get my head around why anyone would want to paint on used tea bags, when I remembered that I have, in the downstairs loo, a picture of an elephant painted on paper - made from elephant poo.)

Thank you NN for having the courage and step up to take the challenge for the wimps amongst us and confirming that cold water plunges are for those of a disposition which I for one don't have. I think you were very brave. Even if you did scare the neighbours.

I don't even have the courage to take the Camperbubble for a jaunt. And she has a very efficient heating system. And hot water. And a lovely snug little loo/shower with wonderfully hot water. She does need a run however to keep all her electricals ticking over, but I'm waiting for the sun to shine. It did yesterday for at least two hours. It looked lovely from indoors and I did take Kira for a very short beach walk before she decided to round me up and turn tail and go back to the car - it was freezing! So my face had a cold blast, if not of water. It didn't help my complexion.

Why on earth would rubble etc have been heaped onto any grave ixion? Was there any explanation? It must have been quite upsetting for you. Your Have a Day homily is very apt for such times.

I don't know how you manage to peer around that blob permanently in front of your eyes Kaimoana. Is it both eyes? Is there nothing to be done?

Thanks Ixion. I like that. Today has been better. Church breakfast this morning then church service tomorrow morning followed by church lunch…….i might take a sleeping bag with me I’m there so much.
Kaimoana are you still feeling unwell? Hope your tum settles soon. I can’t imagine how it must be to live with just peripheral vision. You never complain. You’re an amazing lady and I’m so glad you have such a vivid imagination. I’ve spent two hours today trying to draw pansies. They are not difficult but mine don’t look right.
*

Came across this recently.
For Doodle, and anyone else having ^one of those days^🌻.

Oh, I hadn't realised they were emptied teabags🤦‍♀️.

Oh, NN, you are indeed a welcome addition to our merry band- would that we could bottle your funniness and save it for when it is needed like now.
Thank you so much for your lovely stories❤️

Matrons of Honour garb, NS? You did ask.
I think, regrettably, that the Schiaparelli dress will have to be reserved for the size 10s (or less) among us you. As for the rest, I think the outfit I propose will be more seemly for those of us of more generous proportions.
Actually, the photo (attached) seemed to be a garment hiding a multitude of sins, as my mother would have put it. I then read more closely, only to find that the end result is achieved by a self inflating pump. 😱
Crikey

Thank you for your kind words, which have been a comfort after my shock finding.
It is a quintessentially English churchyard and the last thing I expected to see, our family (and plot) being woven into the history of the church over many, many years in many tangible ways. We had arranged for the physical plot to be finally grassed over, with some sadness, as none of the family (=me) lived close enough to be able to cope with planting, weeding and general upkeep. Investigations are taking place, but it is thought the resident grave digger may have felt he was doing us a favour by adding height to our section. Hmmm. I would have minded less had we been gifted proper soil, not the deep subterranean stuff.
It will 'be removed'.

Where does the time go each day? I am failing miserably to find time for myself (and the Gang) at the mo.
I almost envy the lady whose hobby is painting teabags...

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c134kx4py0jo

🤷‍♀️

I'll be back when I've recovered from....well read on and all will be explained

It was one of those days yesterday....spurred on by my lovely friend ...I thought I'd copy her idea of finishing my shower with a 30 second blast of cold water which apparently boosts your immune system.

I should have thought this through more clearly but more of that in a bit. It was a lush shower... You know the kind... where you make noises like that girl in the shampoo advert....ooohs and aaahs abounding as blisteringly hot water cascades over every aching bit of you.

After 5 minutes of bliss I twisted the temperature control backwards to zero....now this is where some forward thinking would have been VERY wise. I can't tell you the shock that rattled through every fibre of my body.

The screams are still ricocheting around the fields outside and all three dogs ran for places of safety...my nip...s were like organ stops. I don't know about boosting my immune system but my goodness it certainly upped my sprinting ability.

I must have beaten my own personal best at how quickly I can move when I need to..... (It's normally reserved for when Aldi is about to close and I've run out of Chenin Blanc). I threw myself up against the heated towel rail and waited for my body to defrost and my heart to start beating normally again. ( I swear it stopped briefly).

To try and get my face looking like riga mortis hadn't set in I decided to do some face exercises but this was mistake no 2 as in the midst of doing that one that I think Rosemary Connelly swore that doing it twice a day would leave you with a chin and cheekbones of a 20 year old I caught sight of myself in the mirror. I'd have been grateful for looking 50...

instead what looked back at me can only be likened to....you know those David Attenborough specials where he is in the middle of a group of gorillas and there's always a large male one with what looks like a huge smile on its face but in fact it's his way of saying he's thoroughly and seriously piddled off....yep that was me to a T.

24 hours later and my body has sort of forgiven me for assaulting it....my face however feels like it's been encased in some sort of silence of the lambs contraption for several weeks and any untoward moment results in excruciating pain but on checking further I think my chin and cheekbones may...no they definitely do look more defined..maybe not a 20 year old but certainly a 60 year old. 🤣.

Oh and I had a message from my immune system too....it said try that again b..ch and I'll shut down completely.

As Ned Kelly said as he was about to be hung....." Such is Life".

Help! I have just penned a long post and it’s vanished! And it’s now snowing! Grrrrr. Think I’m going to bed!
How are all you lovely people and where is Cherry? Hope she’s ok. Now cant remember what I said in the original post! Know big knickers came into it and some sort of ritual!!
We haven’t set foot outside today. Theo stamped his paw and refused to go out earlier and I don’t blame him. If we don’t get some sun soon I shall take to me bed. It’s been grey, dark and freezing for far too long. Alledgedly we are promised some sun next week although I’m sure the forecast will change before then. It’s very wet snow at the moment thank goodness.
Ixion so sorry to hear about your mums grave. What a shock for you. I hope they get it sorted very soon.
Kaimoana so pleased your favourite carers are back. It’s so much nicer to be with people you know and trust. So sorry about your sight and I know I’m not helping by not putting this in bold type but I just can’t get the hang of it. Sorry.
You no make me laugh Naughtyneine with your big knickers! I definitely need them after stuffing far too many biscuits!
If my neighbour Nfk is away in her camperbubble I hope she’s got plenty of thick blankets!
Oh dear I will have to stop now as my eyes are getting so tired after all this typing!
Hope everyone is ok

I have found another alternative outfit Naughtyneine

...more 🦞 , less wedding maybe?

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202502/medium-689249-1000028732.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202502/medium-274151-1000028736.jpg

Naughtyneine - I have been casually musing on the ideas mooted about your nuptials- specifically the outfits we may be required to wear.
I suddenly remembered that Elsa Schiaparelli created a lobster dress. I couldn't think what it looked like though and imagined it might be a big red thing with a tight fitted body... well, it wasn't at all. It was actually quite bridesmaid-y

I know I'd look pretty er hmm "odd" in one - but maybe better than some of the suggested alternatives (involving frilly knickers)

Here's a link in case that's easier:
www.philamuseum.org/collection/object/65327?

What do others think?

Ixion what on earth was going on at your mum's grave?
That must have been quite a shock. I do hope something "not-so-dreadful" is behind it.
Was it the only one in that state?

The shipping container house looks pretty smart... I wonder how old his mum is if she believes that it will attract a wife?
Maybe it's the new "Pemberley"?

I'm appalled to read about your mother's grave ixion.

We suffered a Council policy here of no headstones (removed if in situ) no stone borders, flowers, baby toys and no crosses.
This so the Council mowing machines could just plough over everyone. Utter disrespect.

As dawn that was emerging somewhat groggy and grey through my bedroom window this morning, I was cleaning my fridge. Would that such ante meridiem bursts of energy lasted all day.

Following advice (a rare occurrence, wonder at it while you may) from a low-carb website, I decided to use all the vegetables to make easily available snack food.

This, the website opined was to prevent one impulsively grabbing and scoffing a pie if one became dangerously ravenous. Clearly aimed at people who could leave their homes at will.
And who like pies.

So I made a frittata; a baked aubergine with pesto and sesame seeds; courgettes with herbs and garlic and after I'd cleaned the oven, it was almost time for breakfast. But the sight and smell of all that food convinced my tummy it wasn't ready. No even for a pie
I settled for a strong decaf.
Then stoned some fresh, ripe cherries and submerged them in a jar of fizzy and fermenting honey liquid which I shall later pour over dessert in winter.
If it does not explode in a cherry bomb first.

ixion I very much appreciated the link and followed it but alas, there's no escaping the Black Blob of Doom which obscures my vision these days but my imagination still works and as I used to study interior design years ago, especially small-space design, I can see it in my mind's eye at least.

Another milestone weathered, Doodle.
It can't have been easy. ❤️

Oh Ixion I’m sorry to hear about your mother’s grave. I wonder what happened there.
Your wedding outfit sounds lovely. I had carnations I think. Hard to remember now.
Cherry and Grammaretto hope you’re both ok
Sorry for such a short post tonight,. It’s been an emotional day for me and my eyes and head are tired. I keep falling asleep. I think I need to go to bed now, take care all xx

Kaimoana I loved Morph. What a character. Tony Hart wasn’t it that we first saw Morph. So clever.
There were quite a few prefab estates around when I was a child but not any more. Where I live they are building more and more blocks of flats. No schools or doctors and no increase in transport so where all these people are going to go I don’t know.

Actually, try this instead.
Less Daily Mail, more Architect!

pb-architects.com/projects/grillagh-water-house

*Oops, shipping container link*-

www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2768293/I-m-desperate-gorgeous-girl-I-just-want-happy-explains-Channel-4-Grand-Designs-team-turn-cover-project.html

I too remember prefabs. There was a little enclave of them we used to pass on the way to the park - I was enchanted by their almost fairytale appearance.

Shipping containers, and their potential for housing, have been gaining momentum here.
I recall an extremely attractive and functional home on an episode of Grand Designs a while back.
I am attaching a link so that Kaimoana need not struggle with photo attachments (Been there, done that, worn the haircloth t-shirt😉).

It was a garland, NN, of cream, blousy (no comments, please) tea roses and pale gerbera, as I was married in cream. Say no more ...

Sadly, my trip darn sarf yesterday to visit the family plot on the 7th anniversary of my mother's death was marred by the unexpected sight of the grave covered no longer in grass but in a layer of clay, stones and rubble.
To say I was devastated was an understatement - it was like being in a cruel time warp. I have since contacted the churchyard caretaker who tends the land and she will look into it. Not a minute too soon, if you ask me.

Hoping poorlies are getting better by the day, there's too many around!