🦞Lockdown friends still together🦞

Kaimoana interesting that the surgeon didn't think you need a replacement knee. Did you tell him or her or they tell you?
At my original assessment 2 years ago I was asked if I wanted the new hip.
I said "I don't know what would you do if you were me". "Oh I'd have it" said he. So I agreed.

2 years later, a new xray showed further deterioration.

The plasterers, 3 of them, are all over the house today finishing what they began yesterday.
This house is going to look so smart, at least the walls, that I'll want to stay.

The big old BROWN mahogany furniture will probably not be easily sold. Ixion I'm going to ask family members if they want any but as our house is the only one large enough to take Uncle Willie's bookcase, it's doubtful. The magnificent sideboard too and mirror and the 3 part wardrobe.

Doodle, one of my friends has spent two afternoons trying to fill in her tax stuff online.
She has been locked out and phoned them only to be cut off after over 50 mins wait, she got a friend who's pretty techy to come over and ge managed to "reset" something.
She has been driven mad and now sent a letter in case she still can't get on ahead of the deadline.
Last year she said it took less than 15 minutes to do the whole thing!

You are not alone with the frustration of doing (some) things online.

Just thoughts I'd share with you my first effort at Portokalopita - a very sticky Greek orange "desert" which is often referred to as a cake or a pie but iss really a sort of orange egg custard with filo dough inside!
It was totally yummy
😂
I must NOT make more puddingy things!

Mmm 😋 yummy NotSpag. Was it hard to do?
Could be one of your 5 a day!

No. I think it's quite easy actually.

It probably would only take 15-20 minutes once you've boiled an orange!

I admit I was a bit mean with the filo pastry as didn't want to open another packet - so next time might use more which will make it more on the cake side of "pudding"... I watched a half dozen people making it in slightly different ways and then made it up!

These are the two videos I liked best. - I love Dimitria's dishes since I first discovered her fab and easy spanakopita ages ago - and the other has a well known cook with her grandmother (rolling her eyes).

youtu.be/S8g6kIL7za0?si=OOESoVCw5Fidfux4

youtu.be/qVj5Z90oiEk?si=J1CRKQTmLXSOwvdU

Great News! 🎉🎉
My Christmas parcel to my son and daughter-in-law has arrived with them in the Philippines. Hooray!
They had to pay import taxes on it though 😕

Fantastic news NotSpag how long did it take?
I think I should send something to NZ for DGS birthday, end of Feb, but maybe it's already too late.

DS birthday today. I'm afraid he's just had a WhatsApp message 😔

@badmother.com

From 3rd December. It was stuck in customs from 10th December until now!

I think Royal Mail said it would take 7-10 days... so I've already sent a parcel for my daughter-in-law for the end of next month.

I would expect the infrastructure to be better in NZ. It got to the country pretty quickly - it was the Philippines "end" that was the issue for us

Ha ha Grammaretto- I don't think the "badmother" is really you!

Please put a piece of orange cake into a bag and send it to NZ NotS Looks gorgeous.
You are right about the video contact.

Here's how it went originally Grammaretto.
Surgeon: The X-rays show there's no cartilage at all, it's bone on bone, does it hurt very much?
Me: Not as much as it did when I was first referred for the X-ray 6 months ago but I've been taking MSM and it's made a huge difference.'
Surgeon: Good, so the pain levels are what, from 1-10?
Me: 3 or 4 on a bad day.
Surgeon: Shall we go by the symptoms then and not the Xray? You can always come back to me if it gets worse.
And I agreed.

Since then I've had two falls involving that knee, one of them very bad and still causing pain 10 months down the track hence the most recent X-ray in case there were bone fragments milling about.
There are none and ever-so-slowly the pain is decreasing.
I can walk and bend it, if not entirely comfortably, then all I need on bad days is paracetamol, nothing heavy-duty.

The bone on bone issue must be worse than it was a decade ago of course but this new surgeon was still happy to give me the option.
So no action until pain or a complete collapse of the knee forces me into it. I was glad to have the choice.

I had a lovely Happy Birthday video from Gubbins yesterday which makes me hope my son's partner has re-thunk her harsh words.

I made gluten free, sugar free bluberry pancakes for breakfast and they were crisp and yummy.
Then to spoil myself even more I bought two new cushions in the sales.

Kaimoana glad you had the chance to see your DS new place. Are Gubnins and the rest of the family back home now? Shame Gubbins won’t get to see your lovely sunflower
I hope you get the appointments you want with eyes and cardio. I’m glad you’re knee feels a bit better but obviously needs treatment at some point

Happy birthday for yesterday Kaimoana
You're my DS's twin. Well kind of.
I hope you both enjoyed the day.

Gorgeous blueberry pancakes!
What with that Greek orange cake, I feel I'm missing out.

Grammaretto I’m sure you will miss your lovely home it sounds so full of character but I also think maybe something smaller that doesn’t need so much work would be better for you. Hope you can find just the right thing for you.
Notspaghetti I’m not alone with my tax problems then.
That cake/pudding does look and sound delicious. I don’t bake anything anymore. I did wonder at the other dish you mentioned, my dyslexia brain read spankatopia which I thought was some sort of sex game using tapioca!
Wow your parcel has eventually arrived!
Oh Kaimoana did I miss your birthday 😱. I’m so sorry. I do hope you had a lovely day. The video from Gubbins would have made your day. Did your DIL send it herself? I do hope so and I do hope that shows an improvement in the relationship..
I will have everything crossed for you

Oh, I'm so sorry I missed your Day, Kaimoana.

Never fear, we shall descend upon you for a Lobstars' Day Out😉.

Sorry, Kaimoana, I missed your birthday too... How lovely though to receive a video from Gubbins - I do hope this is the beginning of a happier time with your son's partner. Presumably she facilitated the jolly message. ❤️🎂🥳

I really wish you could descend on me for a birthday jolly. Wouldn't we have fun? [grin[Thanks for all your good wishes.

Evening all
As our dear lovely friend in NZ is struggling with her eyesight at the moment I wonder if, as much as possible, we could use bold text.
I often miss bits and must make more effort. I know Kaimoana loves being here and it would be a shame if she can’t read all the lovely comments going her way.
Kaimoana I do hope your DIL is reconsidering her position and making an effort as far as you are concerned
Wouldnt it be an amazing party if we were all together 😊
Hope all is well with everyone
Im tired tonight. Had a long walk with my friend and then an afternoon crafting.

I shall try to write in bold Doodle.

Hello!

I've just had a long chat to NZ family. DGS has just begun High school. He seems to like it so far

I went into Edinburgh on the bus today, met a friend for coffee and then tried to find books by an
obscure Scottish 19th century writer,
in a second hand bookshop, without success

Then when I got home, I found the one I already had!

I am going to give a very short talk about him for the next U3A history group.

I'm going to try and see how to write in bold but fit now

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY KAIMOANA....

Good Morning All

I'm floundering rather as squinting through one eye which has gone on blurry strike in sympathy with the one which is now cataract free. That one is still all milky and pretty useless.. Both are done now. They've given me the long distance option so I will just need to wear reading glasses. Eventually.

I'm glad I can touch type as it means I can at least wish Kaimoana a very HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY! I'll catch up with what I've missed when my focus is better! My respect for you Kaimoana is greater than ever, as I'm already finding peering through one part of one specs lens most frustrating. You're a marvel.

Oh dear Nfk, I'm sorry to hear that - has the eye clinic said they can do anything to help?

Thank you to those people who are already Bold and those who are hoping to be - now you have two of us

Naughtyneine , to type in bold you put an asterisk at the beginning and end of a sentence or paragraph. As long as you don’t create a break
Like this
Then your writing should be in bold

Nfk oh I’m sorry your poor eyes. Hope they both clear up soon and you can see properly again.
Grammaretto I’m glad your DGS is getting on well in school. It makes such a difference if they’re happy
Id love to go to Edinburgh. I’ve seen photos and it looks a lovely place. Very interesting buildings. Maybe one day.
How funny you should find that book 😊
Ive been to the hospice today for coffee and a toasted tea cake. Sat and did some knitting for a while. So peaceful there
Church for me tomorrow twice, morning service at 10 am then back at 6 for another service the name of which has just gone from my mind. Grammaretto you will know it, I believe your husband used to sing it and I think maybe you too. It will com back to me later. Take care all

Very belated Happy Birthday wishes from me to Kaimoana. Mmm, looks like you kept that important date to yourself. I hope you won't mind the birthday card which I think sets the tone for a fun gathering, along with Ixion's photos of wild wimmin in big pants. The card is sent with a small warning.

You mention what fun it would be if you could have an NZ get together with all your Lobstar chums. Well, some years ago (and I know she won't mind me referring to this), dear Doodle became involved in the management of a rather rough tavern, with rather rough clientele in an even rougher area. But, Oh what fun they had down in the docks!!

However, because of a possibly ill-advised friendship with an Admiral, Miss D came up with the brilliant idea of using his boat to bring GN friends (and hangers-on) to French France, to enjoy the benefits of my pool and lots of food and wine.

I should say that all was going terribly well - Doodle does know how to put an excellent tour together - until extra space was needed on the boat, not just for Jeeves but also a bunch of seriously drunken sailors and a number of uncooperative Llamas (don't ask!). I know that the authorities here would have been very jumpy about the correct paperwork needed for such exotic animals landing on our beach, so unfortunately the tour had to be postponed.

Of course, should there be an opportunity to visit you in NZ, for tea, delicious cakes and genteel conversation, (no Llamas) I'd be the thrilled to offer my humble home as a stopover, though suspect that it might be a lot easier to fly. Now I don't fly so it might be better to limit my input to just keeping an eye on Doodle and any seagoing extravaganza she may be considering for all the Ho Ho me hearties Lobstar members!

Almost forgot to say that I intend to ignore all references to Tapioca Sex Games and I'm going to try out those super Greek recipes that NotSpag mentioned. Take care, Kaimoana,, and all you lovely peeps.

I think my eyes are going too - or maybe my mind - I really don't remember offering any Tapioca Sex Games to you Doodle
🤔