🦞Lockdown friends still together🦞

I totally agree NotS but when did politicians ever "get on with" anything really useful to those in dire need?

UK MP salary in 2024 = £91,346, tax free I read, not including all the various expenses and perquisites.

Does that tell you anything?

Kaimoana, WE need new fast housing here. Some of the modern prefabs are fabulous and energy efficient. I've been looking at them recently. If you can build a house offsite and erect swiftly I honestly think we should get on with it.

I'm not writing all I want to as am in bed and need to sleep now. Luckily I have been steadily improving - though not much stamina as yet
Lovely to see you Jan
Keep well all.
Goodnight

lumohouses.com/learn/the-best-modern-prefab-homes-under-100k-euros/

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I had a friend in Liverpool who lived with his family in a prefab. I also remember a lot about not wanting to move out (many years later).. so they presumably loved it there. I think there was a great community spirit - maybe because everyone moved in at once...

It was picture perfect like a little country cottage with a pretty garden at the front and a lawn and big vegetable plot at the back - and his grandmother must have lived there too as i remember her looking after the roses at the front. It was exceptionally well cared for and seemed very comfy.
The colour photo is very much the way I remember theirs in my mind's eye - it just needs roses blooming all round the door.

Here's an enormous amount of info about prefabs - probably more than you could ever want to know!
I've just spent a happy half hour with this - who knew there was a "Prefab Museum":

www.prefabmuseum.uk/content/tag/prefab

Morph is 48 today!

NN clearly you woke up just in the knickers of Time to avoid being snatched from the cliff top by heliparamedics!

Retreating to the retreat, arm outstretched was a wise move although at first when you said you were in retreat, I thought perhaps you'd mustered a Welsh army and were marching on the English to teached them how to sing properly - like Rob Bryden

I applaud and envy your creativity Grammaretto but I have always disliked the restriction of pyjamas. The last pair I was forced to wear were winceyette when I was about 10. I've worn silky nightgowns ever since.

Prefabs! I've been trying to remember what they were called - thanks Doodle.
People still live in them and wouldn't swap for anything.

I am hoping we no longer have a housing crisis as thousands and thousands of dwellings (mainly in blocks of town houses or flats) have been thrown up over the past few years.
Developers were offered a massive subsidy by the government but what was built were boxes with no gardens where children might play, no trees, no parking spaces. I'm told the rooms are tiny too but rents are not. Figures released in 2024 say rents now account for 3/4 of the avergage wage with overtime.

Grammaretto making your own pyjamas sounds fun. I would imagine the top is quite difficult.
Have you given up on the idea of having a house built in your garden?
I hope wherever you end up it’s somewhere where you are comfortable and happy.

I am making pyjamas in my sewing class and I tried on the bottoms today. not started on the top yet

They only just fit over my behind!
I assumed they'd be baggy but alas no.

DD isn't well. I spoke to her today but she had a migraine and felt wretched. She hopes to come at the weekend

I viewed another house for sale
It's very nice and will sell quickly but I'm not yet in a position to buy

Naughtyneine, what adventures you have. Almost being airlifted!
amazing

I am glad to hear Jan is getting better 😊

Sending cwtches to all who need them and also a nightcap via Jeeves

Kaimoana what lovely photos. Nice to go out and celebrate. Aatoa looks nice and jolly too
Your son will missing being with Gubbins for his birthday but sounds like the job is going well
Yes we have porta cabins here too. In schools and other places.
After the war a lot of people were housed in prefabs which I suppose were something similar.
Notspaghetti I’m really hoping it is now all resolved. I posted my forms back yesterday so with any luck that should be the end of the matter.
Naughtyneine glad all the tests are going well and I hope your joint pain stops now you’ve stopped the medication.
Big knickers are only required if one’s posterior needs them and in my case it does. Gone are the days of my youth when I frequented the bikini or mini section in ladies undergarments. I now head straight for the furthest corner of the shop where the put the big girls knickers for the fuller figure. Mind you, I have to say they are more comfortable than those thong things look.
Grammaretto hope you’ve had a good day and no more laying down in the grass. Is it this weekend your daughters coming
Ixion and Cherry I’m hoping you’re both ok. If you’re practicing your cheerleaders routine I hope you’ve got your thermal knickers on

Oh my goodness.... I've been a very remiss lobster and only lurked at the back of class mainly because I don't want to be manhandled into big knickers...we'll that's not strictly true... It's been a week of bits being prodded, scanned and blood letting.
Apparently I have a very nice pancreas, liver and gall bladder....who knew!!!!!. Anyway so far so good. If it is a gastric ulcer it's settled down and the GP just called and told me to stop taking the Omneprazole after I contacted them to ask if the new all encompassing joint pain could be caused by it. It would seem it well maybe.

I refrained from telling her that I need to be in tip top form as I've made friends with a group of nutters oops I mean girls who want me to perform some sort of joining ritual involving big knickers and pom poms.

Ixion....I laughed out loud at the gerbils.... What did you actually have in your headdress? ....my family on my Dad's side are all very tall. He was 6'5"... I was 9 when he died aged 42. Still remembered and loved.
I so agree with the giving of gifts in advance.... Let the pleasure be had I say.

Notspag...I hope you are feeling better... There are some grotty bugs doing the rounds. We really need Spring to come...

I completely understood your comment re the sudden overwhelm....It happens to me all too often...a memory..a smell , a song, a baby being born on Call the Midwife and I'm awash wth sadness at not seeing my daughters or Grandchildren...as Ned Kelly said as they were about to hang him....
"Such is Life"

I've downloaded the Greek lady and her bit fierce looking Mum and am going to try to make the hankyspanky dish. Watch this space.

Jan.... Lovely to read that you are getting more mobile...baby steps are just fine until the stairs don't seem so daunting. I still do them sometimes going down the steep stairs in our cottage... especially if I'm in competition with naughty puppy and the dark destroyer to see who gets down first!!!!!

Kaimoana...I hope your sons first day went well. Grosvenor Square is one of the best nicest parts of London to be working in.... and close to Victoria Station... Let's hope the commute becomes easier.
It's sad that you are losing your lovely help later in the year but lovely that they are taking the plunge and moving to where they long to be.

It's a big leap of faith to upsticks and move away from all you've known but my measure was ...in 25 years time do I still want to be living this life here...I didn't and so we moved 200 miles away...to the South West of England just over the border from my beloved Wales and I haven't looked back.

Are you feeling better now? That's a horrible feeling when that utter fatigue comes over you...it happens to me when I eat a carbohydrate loaded lunch sometimes...it's like being drugged.

Grammaretto... Now talking of sticks...are you sure it was a walking pole that feel in the pond... I'm thinking actually you were practicing your cheerleading routine and it was your twirly stick you dropped...I can understand you covering your embarrassment by saying it was a walking pole to the young couple. Quick thinking😄

Seriously though...well done on getting down and getting up again too. I'm glad the whatever it was with your daughter has gone away. Girls are soooo temperamental at times and that's before you factor in PMT or Peri Menopausal too.

Doodle. Nothing wrong with a nap...I had a similar experience to your Dad. I was in a retreat on Caldey Island in West Wales and I'd torn a muscle in my shoulder...
The emergency doctor prescribed me pain meds and I'd managed to walk up to the lighthouse and as it was a beautiful sunny day and no one else was around I last down on the grass and fell asleep with my arm outstretched to ease the pain...
I was woken up by the sound of the air sea rescue helicopter hovering above me... obviously thinking I'd collapsed. What they must have thought when I scrambled to my feet arm still outstretched and took off back down the path to the Abbey.

Right I'm now off to collect whatever it is the GP has prescribed for me. My friend says I need an MOT. I replied
A facelift = a respray
An upper arm lift = new Universal joints
And a Tummy Tuck = a new chassis
I think she might be right.

What a mess with NS&I Doodle!
We spend so long trying to resolve things- it's really exhausting having to correct the corrections!

Yes we do have them Kaimoana- not sure I could bake one though

I wish it was possible to use them to help with the housing crisis- obviously not a long-term solution but I know I'd rather live in one of these than in a hotel room for years on end.

Some years ago a council here (can't remember which) had a housing scheme that allowed occupants of council houses to "request" a mobile home in the garden. Lots of oder people did this and it seems to have been quite a success at the time. I've no idea if it's still running

NotS Having just read that you made another yummy portokalopita, I'm afraid a combination of eye fatigue and lack of alertness, caused me to follow ^Doodle's* relatives and skim over it as 'portocabin'.

In case you don't have them in UK (although surely they are too useful?) They are used at all outdoor events here as portable toilets.

Bigger ones can be anything from extra classrroms at schools to voting booth. They were also used after the Christchurch earthquake as emergency homes.

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'Pon my soul Doodle what a pickle with the bank. Glad it was resolved.

Happy to hear Grammaretto's child is more reasonable.

Mine is certainly missing his wee girl but is philosophical about it and has a new job to look forward to - and yes Doodle they will pay for his suit.

Aatoa and I, having celebrated her birthday 2 weeks ago, went out for mine today. A local cafe we sometimes patronise gave me a '2 free drinks' voucher so we lived it up on tea and gluten free cake! With my tummy being so rebellious atm, I brought most of mine home (the cake not the cuppa tea)


Next week it's my DS birthday, so we have yet another excuse for a jolly. Not that we need an excuse.
Here we are being happy.

Oh how I wish people got married with gerbils in their hair.....

Kaimoana glad all your support workers are back. It would be a shame to lose Aatoa but if it means she can live near her family you can understand why.
My your son is a big chap. I hope they reimburse him for his clothes. They should do. I hope the new job works well for him. I know he’s hoping to move on to a new position soon so hope it works out for him.
How is he managing without Gubbins? At least now she’s old enough to talk to him in Face time
Im sorry you felt so exhausted. You must have been desperate to get home but typically you were thinking of others and not wanting to spoil their fun. I’m glad you’re feeling a bit better now
Grammaretto so pleased things are ok again with your daughter and that she’s going to come and visit.
Glad the physio went well. No don’t over do it. I expect you understand only too well how his family feel back home in Australia
Oh Ixion how I would love to see a picture of your wedding outfit with the little creatures peeking out from the flowers on your headdress. Could have been worse you could have had Guinea pigs. 🤣🤣
I too remember we Willie winkie. All those nursery rhymes we learnt as children. I doubt today’s children are taught them which is a shame.
Joy of joys today I was treated to another hour long phone call with NS&I over the matter which I thought we had resolved yesterday. They sent me an email saying they had closed my account as instructed. However, my instruction wasn’t to close the account but to put it in my name. Turns out someone closed the account in error the money went out the interest went out then they realised their mistake and put them both back in again but forgot to cancel the posting of the letter
Church tomorrow morning then perhaps a trip to the hospice for a toasted tea cake

ixion - I really love your non-Christmas Christmas gifts idea. I may even steal it... Why wait if you've found something perfect!.

Unfortunately I've had two days of cold/flu. I've been in bed all day today and half of yesterday. I've been shivery and dizzy but finally have just got up. My dear husband has been bringing me herby teas and lemon and honey drinks. It really brought home to me how very lucky I am.

Last week my daughter invited everyone over for supper and football on the TV. I made another Portokalopita to take with me and at the last minute a mixed berry crumble - both went down well. I made the crumble using the M&S frozen mixed berries as a last minute pudding as one of my grandsons is not great with egg. The berry mix was excellent and just needed sweating to release the juices ready for sweetening and thickening. I've obviously used my own berries before but these were really bought for overnight muesli. They worked really well

Anyway, my daughter had friends visiting the next day and one of them is of Greek heritage. My daughter saved her some of the portokalopita. She said it was what her mother and grandmother made for her when she was a girl and then burst into tears. It reminded me how we can suddenly feel very vulnerable and overwhelmed and how it comes on "out of the blue". It happens when we really don't expect it.
I'm sure all you lovely ladies who no longer have your soul mate with you must have this feeling take your legs out all the time - how brave you all are. 💐

Wee Willie Winkie, Grammaretto!
You have just stirred up a memory for me, some 70 years old.
At primary school, we had to come dressed as someone or something from a nursery rhyme. I've no idea what I went as, but I do remember staff taking great trouble to make sure no child was left out, either through forgetfulness, or lack of money or commitment from home.
That is how Geoffrey C, a shy and clearly disadvantaged 5 year old, emerged from the back of the stage as Wee Willie Winkie.
A large white sheet with a hole for the head, à la poncho, a candle in a candlestick holder and a rather silly, we thought, white nightcap with bobble.

My brother is 6'7", taking after my father. He used, in his smarter days, to frequent branches of High and Mighty - my poor mother trying to kit him out! Both he and Dad excelled at badminton, not unsurprisingly.

I am sorry that you might be losing Aatoa in the future, Kaimoana, but I know you will happy for her, despite real sadness on your part. When do your tutorial lessons start?

A duty FT catch up with one of my Malaprop family- the one who 'likes to see your face' and checks that your eyes aren't wandering towards the mantlepiece clock ....., thereby removing any hope of some multitasking
I struggled gamely in a conversation extolling the health virtues of calamine tea,
but what finished me off was her memory of my wedding, '^you wore that lovely floral crown with gerbils'^

Yes, honestly.

Hello Lobstars,
DD seems to have forgiven me for whatever I had said or done so is coming tomorrow if the youngest is well enough She's on half term and has swollen tonsils.
Now I must look out clean sheets, food they like etc.

I had my first physio appointment today which went well. I am doing well.
I rather liked to be told I shouldn't have any vigorous exercise for another 6 weeks no danger of that

The physio is a burly Aussie so I had to ask him what brought him here. Perhaps it was love?
After he'd joked it was for the weather and the midges he said he loved to travel in Europe and so Australia was too far away. He also agreed that as cities go, Edinburgh is hard to beat.
He had met his wife here and now with 2 children, they are staying put.
I didn't enquire how his parents might be sad at his leaving.

Sorry you may be losing Aatoa, Kaimoana

I gave my short talk yesterday on an obscure but local author and stood up all the while. Some of the other talks were really interesting. Did you know Wee Willie Winkie was written by a Scots author? and has versions in many other languages including Lancastrian !

Here's the first verse in Scots.

Wee Willie Winkie
Rins through the toun,
Up stairs and doun stairs
In his nicht-gown,
Tirling at the window,
Crying at the lock,
“Are the weans in their bed,
For it’s now ten o’clock?

It was later altered to past 8 oclock to spare the parents

Grammaretto Do you know why your DD is having a hissy fit?
My elder son is a bit like that and times without number he's gone off me and I have no idea why.

Mind you, my mother, his grandma used to say to me, 'And you can take that look off your face as well!' and I had NO idea what she was talking about, so maybe its in the genes to take offence at the slightest thing?

Yes, Doodle my regular, reliable and lovely support workers are all back now, so no worries about shopping. Often these days I don't feel like going out but I trust all 3 with cash, so they are happy to do the shopping for me. Bless them.

What I'd really like though is a trip out into the countryside to just listen to birds, rather than the shops. I've never really settled in the suburbs but I try to see the advantages.

I went to the kaumatua group today and was having a lovely time until about 12:30 and then I was hit with a massive fatigue and almost fell off my chair with this sudden exhaustion.
Then felt really ill and had to hide it because everyone was having such a good time, singing and kanikani.

Finally got home at 2:30 and straight into bed; slept until nearly 4pm and feel a bit better. Glad I live alone.
I'd had a good night's sleep previously so not sure why this happened. I felt like a clockwork Kaimoana who'd run right down

The company my son is working for supplies all their staff with smart suits, shirts/blouses and ties but they don't have any big enough to fit his 6ft 7ins, weight-lifting frame.

However, he's hoping they'll agree to reimburse him if he buys his own.
So he's off to Big & Tall for suits and overcoat

Aatoa, my Wednesday girl, gave me a big hug after coming back from her holiday in Australia.
She and her husband have always wanted to live there near the rest of the family but hitherto their 5 children have never been keen.
Now, after enjoying the many delights of Sydney for 3 weeks, they are.
So it looks as if I may lose her this year.

Ixion I like your thinking and I’m sure your friends will enjoy their gifts. I’ve heard of forward planning but you’ve got it nailed 🤣
At first I thought the sadness would drive me insane. Now I know I can keep on living. I laugh and enjoy times with friends but I still long for that contentment that will never come again in this lifetime. And I miss DH with every part of me but you can keep on living as long as you don’t expect too much I think
Grammaretto I’m sorry about your DD. Misunderstands can happen so easily, I hope all is resolved soon. Glad you got your shiny new walking pole back. Do you find they help? I’m sure they are good for walking over rough ground.
i think your bold isn’t working because you have pressed the return key or enter key e.g.
*Im glad you had Such a busy but
Pleasant day Doodle*
*if you typed in in one continuous sentence
Im glad you had such a busy but pleasant dayDoodle
Then it would work
You need to have an asterisk at the very beginning and very end of each sentence or paragraph without breaks
Jan nice to hear from you. Your walking is improving especially with the stairs. I can understand how coming down can be daunting
I think you’re right. I know I’m tired because I’m out and about a lot and so have to get up early in the morning rather than having a lie in but I think being busy helps me so I keep going at the moment.
Im glad you have people to meet up with. Does us good I think
Kaimoana the weather here is miserable at the moment
Hope it picks up soon. I wish him good luck in his new job and hope it all works out well for him
are you having regular helpers at the moment? I hope you’re getting out and being able to shop and meet up with people.

DS begins his new job today (Monday in UK) and has been out buying clothing appropriate for the current 3 degree, rainy climate.
Not that he'll be working outside but he has a long, long commute from home to Grosvenor Square....and back at 1 am.

*Hello All.Ive been a bit lazy recently on here but I have been reading all your posts. *Just havent summoned up the energy to type. Sorry. Also can’t get the hang of this bold type - think it’s my age!
Grammaretto What a scare when your pole entered the river. How lucky you didn’t fall in too. Bet you were embarrassed
Im just back from seeing a friend who I hadn’t seen for ages. Caught up on all the gossip plus sadly several people who weren’t with us anymore
Bit of progress here. Can now walk up the stairs properly! By which I mean one foot on each step not 2 feet on the same step if you see what I mean! Coming down is not so easy. Think it’s because I can see the bottom of the stairs and it’s a long way down! Just trying not to use the stairlift. Also I’m doing wobbly walking round the house without my stick!*
Thinking of Doodle being so tired all the time. I am the same and beginning to wonder if it’s just too much socialising! DH and I are out a lot and I have friends calling in and although I love being with people it does make me so tired. But a bit like Doodle if I stay at home I get miserable and think too much - obviously not for so the same reason as our Doodle - so out I go but I am beginning to wonder. I’m sure we will all be much happier when we get some warm sunshine.

What a good idea about the presents ixion!

I was determined not to lose my shiny new walking pole. They were a Christmas present and this only their 2nd outing. I used the 2nd one's handle loop to fish for the first in the murky water - it was the duck pond part of the river - *but it
involved my lying down on my front*.

*I allowed the nice couple to haul me up and made my way to the Storehouse cafe where I was given a
free latte*

I am sorry you have radio silence Kaimoana. *My DD seems to have
fallen out with me so is not coming to stay this week after all which is
disappointing*.

*Sometimes I don't know what I have
said or done wrong 😞 *

Anyone else find girls a mystery?
Boys seem much more direct.

*I am glad you had such a busy but
pleasant day Doodle*.

Today I am giving a short talk at the history group but it won't be about the Peterborough Chronicle, Nfk. I'll save that one for you!

My bold isn't working 😕. Is this a sign?

No ixion, all is silence.

However did you cope, Grammaretto, with your shiny new hip?😳
I'm sure it didn't involve replicating any exercises you might have found on your Helpful Hints instruction sheet.
Was your pole rescued in tact?

Good that you found hymns that you knew and liked, Doodle. My (family) church is pretty dyed in the wool formal, so we don't seem to have much modernisation anywhere - I like that.🫣

I very much like your pronouncement that, as for sadness, you can live round that.
I'm sure that is the way forward.🌻

Today, I have wrapped and packed two Christmas presents - along with explanatory, non festive, cards!
I found two excellent gifts, 100% appropriate and fun to boot, for a pair of dear friends in their early 80s.
About to put them in my cupboard for another 10 months until December, I suddenly thought why not gift them now, to give an extra 10 months of pleasure to look at on the wall?

I made it abundantly clear that I was NOT anticipating the demise of any of us before the festive season began. I know them well, they will have a good chuckle at the disclaimer.

Any news from the family, Kaimoana?
I do hope so, and that it proves reassuring.

Grammaretto I’m sorry I shouldn't laugh but it did make me smile. What a nice couple trying to help you. 🤣
Thanks for the ducks
That story reminded me of the time my dad was painting the front of our house. He had been up the ladder painting the pebbledash then (leaving the ladder where it was) he starting painting the cement between the bricks on the bay window.
Getting near the end of the job he lay on the floor to paint the final layer at ground height. Our neighbour came dashing over in a panic. He had seen dad up the ladder earlier and then seeing him on the floor he had though dad had fallen off the ladder. 🤣
I went to church this morning. For a change we had some hymns that I’d actually heard of before, we celebrated a couple of birthdays the. I did my Waitrose shop got home and fell asleep in the armchair. Too many busy days but it keeps me occupied.
Hope all are doing ok. Quiet in here tonight,