🦞Lockdown friends still together🦞

I too am sorry you missed the concert Kaimoana but I can understand why. With temperatures high and no shade I wouldn’t be able to cope either. Shame new rules have been introduced which spoil it for people
How lovely to have an unexpected visit from friends, worth staying home for.
Grammaretto, sorry you weren’t able to have a good valuation for your things. I would have thought there would be a market for your mahogany furniture in some bigger houses. Will you get a second opinion?
Please book your course, You should take every opportunity to get some pleasure out of life and if you would like to go, please do it.
I will post some paintings for you soon
So tired tonight. I seem to be tired every day. Not having the slow lazy days I used to have with DH, now I’m up and out and about. It’s what I need at the moment but I am tired.
Another hour on the phone to yet another bank today. Why do they insist you do everything online.
I filled out their complicated for a s requested but had to phone them up when I came to the section that required me to “ write your signature here”. Apparently it was a mistake on the form and it should have said enter your name here. 😡
Im no IT whizz kid but I’m not bad at things on the iPad. I’d hate to think how those with lesser skills would cope.

I'm so sorry you missed the concert Kaimoana but I do get it. A long day in discomfort would not be any fun at all

I had the valuer visit today. He was so charming. He was very nice about all my rubbish treasures but would say things like. "I can see how much that means to you, you should hang on to it!" 😃

He put a high value on some benches we saved from a skip about 40 years ago. He decided they would be in demand
Unlike the many massive Victorian mahogany linen chests and bookcases 😔

Apparently antiques are Out
Mid 20th century design classics are In

My Gaelic teacher is going to be teaching one of the short courses on the Isle of Skye. I am sorely tempted to book! She's a great teacher

I'm glad you are going to the group counselling Doodle. That sounds much more your thing

I'd love to see your artwork

Has anyone seen Jeeves?
I need a drink

The children in the picture are Ngawai and Pipi, Stan Walker's cousins.
He wasn't featured as the final act, so once the crowd had seen him, many left.

Still, record breaking numbers proved me wrong by flocking to Parrs for the free concert courtesy of Waipareira.

Thank you, Kaimoana. He's a lovely man!

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Nfk Especially for you

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I decided not to go to the Waitangi Concert.

Had I been able get there without relying on the help of others, I would have loved to spend time in the kaumatua tent with my friends and good food for a while.

The official van could have collected me with the others, about 10am and come back after 5pm but I don't think I could have managed all that time on a plastic chair in a hot marquee, as my back is still a bit dodgy.

The music was not so loud this year but the Council had imposed stupid (and to my mind, dangerous) rules which probably kept a lot of people away.

There's no shade, no trees in the park so all the little ones would have to sit out, unprotected from the hot sun.

New rules prohibited 'portable shade' other than umbrellas.

Waipareira provide gazebos on the periphery, first aid, lost child tents as well as free water at several stations around the park but with so many people expected and the temps at 26 degrees, it's still hard to avoid that sun.

All Waipareira events are always smoke, alcohol, drug and vape free and this year, a bag search at all entrances is in place.

I had some friends drop by as they were stuck in snail traffic at the end of my road and decided to turn off and catch up. We haven't seen each other for many months. That was a lovely visit.

They could already tell parking (despite the big meadow set aside) was going to be an issue, so I suggested they might leave their car in my drive.

I shall be sorry to miss Stan Walker who should be taking the stage about now.

Wow Kaimoana that’s quite a gathering. Will you enjoy it or be trying to avoid the noise. It sounds a popular event
Just when I thought I’d finished with the bank, I got a letter from them today saying I needed to fill in a form to transfer my money. I phoned up and eventually got through to a very nice lady with poor English. I had to keep saying sorry can you talk a little slower I can’t understand you. I eventually gathered that she told me I had to fill in the form and sign it because my electronic form had no signature. I explained that there was nowhere on the electronic form where it asked for a signature and even if it did how was I going to sign a form on my iPad. We were on the phone for an hour and half when I got cut off. I phoned back and got through to a different person who sorted out the problem (there was no problem) in 10 minutes, All in all about 3 hours over two days to transfer my money from one account to another account in my name, phew!
Grammaretto my friend had the same experience in her bank. She was trying to pay money into her granddaughters account towards buying a car. The bank refused to let her do it until she had phoned her so and got him to confirm the bank details and that it was all legitimate. Mind you with so many scams around these days it’s good they are being more cautious,
Goodness that photo is positively scary. Not surprised you went out,
I had a nice morning in church. The coffee and chat after is always lovely. Such interesting conversation. This afternoon I went for my counselling session at the hospice. Tomorrow is art class. I am not expecting good results, I’ve got to draw a horse, 🤣🤣
Ixion I have stopped the counselling today and joining a group instead, It’s what I asked for initially but they said I couldn’t join a group unless I’d been for individual counselling first. The lady I’ve had two sessions with says she has no problem referring me for the group so I won’t go again until the group is set up
Top down knitting. 🧶 not heard of that do tell what you are doing
Be pleased to have you down south again

Wow, Grammaretto. That is some tree! I think you were wise to disappear and leave him to it. Can you use the wood yourself as fuel?

Hoping you enjoy the concert, Kaimoana, if only in drifts.
Karen sounds a treasure!

Is your counselling session proving helpful now, Doodle? Are you better/easier in your understanding of each other? I do hope so.

Nice coffee(s) out with a friend today- she is introducing me to the intricacies of top down knitting🤔. Not so much intricacy, I think, more how to transfer the logic of 'normal' knitting ingrained over the decades.

Hairdresser tomorrow and pick up of tickets for Big Smoke travel on Wednesday.
No e-tickets for me --unless I click the wrong box on line, which has been known--.
I tell myself it goes hand in hand with the granny OAP rail card.

That's huge Kaimoana!

I had to visit my bank last week. It's in Edinburgh so a long bus journey. I was immediately asked if I had an appointment. Since when did you require an appointment to move money from your own account?

I was seen and managed to pay a large bill. Do you know the recipient?
Yes I do.
I suggest you phone them to check it's not fraud. They seem obsessed with fraud.
I was glad I suppose

At last the tree surgeon came. He was in such an impossible position, on his phone, up a tree that I decided as a lame old woman I couldn't be a lot of help to him so I went out for most of the day.

Tomorrow a furniture valuer is coming. I have also talked to a man who organises the annual charity book fair and can take any books I want to part with. He says nothing will go to landfill.

How are Lobstars doing?

Well dear Doodle your bank is there to serve you and while they may want everything done on line, I think they should know that you don't always get what you want and they are making things difficult for many.

If we don't tell them, how will they know?

I'm sure it's the same here but I simply cannot fill in forms I can't see (or understand) but people are always kind.

There is a pre-concert concert up the road so the amplified music and Maori waiata has been drifting down all day - not unpleasantly.

Tomorrow the whole place will be rocking from 9am to goodness knows when. More than 50,000 expected.

Kaimoana banks seem to want everything done online today. I will battle on with it but had a break from it today. Went to my sit fit class and moved my body in ways it didn’t know it could. It was good though and I’m enjoying it. Getting to know the others and it’s good for me to exercise.
I love your game sounds like fun. A nice group to be involved with.
Church tomorrow then counselling at the hospice.

Doodle can you go into the bank's nearest branch and ask them for help with the forms? This is what I have to do in so many situations but always meet with help and kindness.

NN Oh yes, you are wise to be wary of us lot. You'll be wearing big knicks and ogling sexy men in no time and the wrath of Narrow-Minded will descend upon you! )

Back with my kaumatua today and we played a daft but comical game. On a piece of paper we each wrote a "What if....?" question, eg: "What if I wore big, frilly knickers? "

Folded, the paper was passed on several times.
Then on the reverse of the one we ended up with, we had to write an answer - not knowing the question inside the fold.

So today, for instance, "What if I wore big, frilly knickers?" the answer could be, "I'd be elected Prime Minister and meet the King."
The sillier the better - as you can tell .
Grandchildren find it fun too.

It's always good to have a bit of nonsense in your life.

Grammaretto I really enjoyed the Taize. I just hummed along with most of it,
Thank you for trying the bold. It seems to work some of the time for you. If you don’t press the return/enter key it should be ok but thank you anyway
Im glad you got to see the film you have been waiting for for such a long time. Did it have subtitles?
Sorry to hear your hand still hurts. Hope you feel better soon
Kaimoana oh dear I don’t like the sound of those two. The one who didn’t do much cleaning is just taking advantage. As for insisting you go to church with her it sounds as though she’s trying to take you over.
Naughtyneine I would love to see you limboing across the floor SAS style. 🤣 Hope you’re having a good time. Don’t get any splinters in your nether regions hike you’re sliding.
NFK are you away on your travels in the camper bubble at the moment? Where abouts are you? Is it with your group of friends again? Do you manage to keep warm, it’s mighty cold outside.
Kaimoana hat beautiful flowers how lovely of Karen
I spent the afternoon doing unsuccessful painting. I looked at my emails tonight to discover the bank has sent me three complicated forms to fill in to transfer DH’s accounts to me. I have decided to leave them till tomorrow, I’m too tired tonight.
Sleep well all

Dear Karen. That's so nice Kaimoana
Beautiful roses.

I hope you like the film Nfk 😊

I'm tired. My hand is still aching. The hip is fine!

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Birthday bouquet from Karen, my friend andhomecare lady.

Having just read that description NN, I'm quite pleased to be in my little camperbubble with just one dog. It's supposed to be a two berth but there'd be no room for sliding along the floor. I'd get wedged. Even wearing a thong.

It looks like I can download 'My Little Sister' onto my iPad so I can watch it on camps sites with no tv reception. Just need to sort out the computer first, I seem to be running out of memory!

Fit.....not got...

I'm now seriously worried about having joined ranks with a group of grain abusing girls who want to dress up at every available opportunity....the latest being in big knickers....dressed as a bird. Get your smelling salts ready...you have been warned. I don't have any big knickers!!!!!. So if we are going to do a calender I will have to be a Thrush in a Thong. NO not thongs give you thrush for the dyslexic prone amongst us.

I'll be back later...we are away in Wales in Henrietta Moho ...it's only 6am and I need to use the cupboard...oops toilet but so as to not activate the motion detecting light and waken DH and 3 dogs I have to either limbo move or slide SAS style across the floor.
Actually having just reread that ....I think I got in very well with you lot.

I've had two relief (it was a relief when they left) workers (a misnomer for the 2nd one) since Aatoa was away.

The first, sent to do my kitche/bathrom cleaning and shopping was fine until I mentioned I needed to go up the road for fresh vegetables. 'Oh, I don't take people in my car.' she said.
As I use a cash card with a secret PIN and didn't know this dame, I had to go without but t'was not the end of the world as I had frozen ones to tide me over.

She complained that she'd had to come all the way from Te Atatu, her usually work base and was quite cross about it.

The second woman, a grinning fool who talked incessantly and told me her life story within minutes of arriving, ran the shower for literally 2 seconds then squeezed Toilet Duck round the rim of the loo and that was how she 'cleaned' the bathroom. It must have taken all of 3 minutes.

My few dirty pots were held under cold running tap and put, still dirty as I later discovered, on the draining rack.
She seemed to clean the workbenches but I suspect just ran her hands a couple of inches above and prayed for a miracle as it was still sticky when I made a cuppa after she'd gone.

She peered at me from 6 inches away and asked 'Do you know Jesus?'
I'm not usually facetious about such things but was so tempted, after two hours of her boring, interminable self-absorbed monologue that I almost said, 'Yes. he's the bloke who walked across the Waitemata Harbour when he missed the Waiheke Ferry.'


She told me (not asked) she was going to come to my house every Sunday to take me to her church. Undaunted, I told her she wasn't.

I was actually quite unwell that day and it must have been obvious. I just wanted her to go so I could slink back to my bed.
I suppose she meant well and I was genuinely grateful that she offered to put me on her prayer list.

I am tempted to welcome Aatoa back on Wednesday with a fanfare of trumpets and perhaps Doodle in her cheerleading gear.

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I went to Taizé singing this afternoon too Doodle.
DH loved it and I do too only he was a good singer and I'm not.

*Luckily the acoustic in the church
makes even my voice sound reasonable*

*It was freezing though and one lady
was really shivering.*

I went looking for a heater but just found 3 mouse traps with one dead mouse. 😞

So we left early to get her back to the warmth.

Tonight the film was one I've been asking for for about 10 years and at last they have managed to get a licence to show it.

It was a favourite of DH

* Our little Sister a Japanese
film , gentle , beautiful and profound
just like us Lobstars *

I must try the spankytapioca recipe.
🤣

I can't seem to manage bold sorry.
I think it's because I use my phone.

Well Grandmafrench fancy you telling everyone about my dubious past. I did, as you rightly say, for many years co-host a very usual GN tavern. I’m not alone though, Ixion was a frequent member and worker there. Best not mention the llamas 🤣
Notspaghetti. It was your spanakopita that my dyselexia mind read as spank a tapioca. 🤣
Nfk that’s good news. So pleased it’s worked for you. I suppose you have to let your eyes settle before you can have your sight tested for glasses. I love the idea of your calendar . I wonder who would buy it 🤣
Grammaretto it was a Taize service I went to tonight. My first one. I really liked it. I think I’m right that your husband used to go to Taize often.
Kaimoan, hope you’ve had a better day. So pleased Gubbins wished you happy birthday. I do so hope it’s a mellowing on your DILs part
Really tired tonight. Church twice in on day is a lot for me but I love being there. Sleep well all. Cherry I hope you’re doing ok. I’m sending Jeeves to check you over

You will notice a tremendous difference, Nfk.
Like you, I went for the all-seeing long distance option - thought it better to be driving glasses-free incase I ever mislaid or forgot them (not that I ever had done).
Got DS to accompany me on my first trip out. Made him pace out 20 metres from a number plate (barely concealed sigh) in the car park to see how marvellous it was that I could read it without artificial aids. Joy! Hadn't been able to do that for decades.
Only snag was breaking the habit of 'handbrake on, ignition off, glasses off' - much to the family's amusement.

I am sorry Kaimoana couldn't see my attachment - I did wonder, I must admit. Also for the lapses into non-bold. Sometimes when Gransnet is messing about and I'm not cutting and pasting, I tend to press the 'send' button pdq, in case I lose the lot.
Not doing awfully well, am I? ...

Grammaretto, there's no way we would use you as a stopover - you must come with us. Part of the Gang and all that. I miss the Argy a lot.
Autre temps, autre moeurs, as they say across the Channel.

Waving to NN who, I read elsewhere, is apparently falling apart at the seams 😱.
Sympathies💐.

And, of course, thinking of everyone here, hoping you are all ticking over or better!

I am cataract free! Tests done, op done, vision back and now wearing large dark glasses as it's wonderfully, blue sky sunny here today and I've been told to avoid bright lights. But I can see pretty much perfectly - except for really near sight so I can't read through both eyes. Need new specs now, but have to wait four weeks before I can see an optician so I'm using the old ones and shutting one eye. Isn't modern medicine wonderful?!

Where is the photo of ixion in Big Knickers? Did I miss it? When we were at school we would haul our big PE knickers up above our boobs. Perhaps we could do a calendar next year ... a Game Birds in Big Knickers calendar to compete with those boring Firemen ones.

ixion I would have loved to see the photo of you in Big Knickers and GFrench's warning card but alas, I can't see either. I don't mean you didn't post them, I'm sure you did but such things are just a blur now.

Doodle you are a dark horse aren't you?