🦞Lockdown friends still together🦞

I love the Peter Kay clip. I could never make out the Jet2 advert which I was convinced started with her singing "Standing on my head".

Wonderful news that Cherry is doing well and will be home for Christmas. I believe they do try to send as many people home as possible so fingers crossed.

Thank you so much Kaimoana for researching my walnut trees chances of rising from the proverbial ashes. I hope my old friend manages it. I too loved your beautiful description of your morning awakening. On a freezingly cold windy night it was uplifting.

As was the photo of Spud. Not so good hearing that Aoife's eye was bigger than her tummy (or rather intestine). Whatever did she eat? Thank goodness for insurance!

Kira and I had a good walk in the dunes today, the beach being occupied by grey seal mums and their pups and out of bounds. It was to say the least very bracing with staggeringly strong gusts coming through. It was a brisk walk. It would have been more enjoyable if I hadn't been a responsible citizen and picked up a white carrier bag which had been used as a poo bag. (I already had a Kira one.) When I got back to the car and no poo bin in sight, dog on lead, gloves and two poo bags in one hand to unlock the door with the other, I dropped the white bag as a strong gust caught the door. And when I picked it up, discovered it wasn't properly tied - and the poo fell out. White bag ballooning and scaring 'brave' Kira. Managed to get back door undone with dog at the far end of a very taut lead. Dog shot into the safety of the car, catching the door with the lead which shut behind her shaving her tail (it has had beautifully long hair). I then had to persuade another poo bag to open resisting the urge to lick my fingers to separate the layers, with the white bag still ballooning in the wind. I eventually after some time ended up with one bag containing two other bags and poo. I'm unconvinced of how environmentally friendly all these plastic bags are. I nearly outstayed the welcome allowed by the car park ticket machine.

Did you have a lovely Carol Service without too many tears Doodle? (The Coventry Carol always catches me out at the best of times.) It's a difficult time of year for so many, we are so fortunate to have the support of our families and good friends. Mine are keeping me so busy I have a time table!

Tomorrow I am cooking for Boxing Day.

I giggled at the Peter Kay clip.
😂🤣😅

PS: The Peter Kay clip is a bit rude.

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How nice to start the morning with a glowing, optimistic report on Cherry

ixion we couldn't enjoy my deck today, strong winds and the heavy night rain has persisted into the day.

Doodle & Grammaretto
This is what came to mind when you mentioned the piano. A plummy 1950's voice for a tea advert!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=73QtwAOq8LA

Super Spud! bless his heart, having fun. How he's growing, Mamissimo.

Oh my, silly old Aoife, what a relief you had insurance.
The Glow looks lovely, despite the crush.
My DS and Gubbins went to something similar.

Now they are in Northumberland Doodle looking at Norman churches amongst other things.

I very much fear, though nothing has been said outright, that the stones of destiny have been cast.

Tomorrow they move on to Scotland.

Meanwhile, I have a full morning with Karen, collecting various pre-ordered things. Only a few fresh items to pick up: milk, cream and a Basil plant.

A late order came in - bedding for Gubbins' doll's cot (I will make a mattress and pillow).

Grammaretto I'm adding something I know I've posted before, but it has given me a wee boost when I have felt very down. I hope it can do the same for you. Much love xx
www.youtube.com/watch?v=7my5baoCVv8

Ah 🍒 Cherry! So good to hear you could get out on Christmas day. Thanks ixion for keeping us updated.

I'm one who also enjoyed sharing Kaimoana's morning.

Good to see Spud again Mamissimo He has such presence!

I share your sadness Doodle when the cards arrive addressed to just you.
I hope your church and friends are a comfort.

No, the piano wasn't moved. The strong team couldn't be gathered. Instead he brought an electric piano which I can keep for the holidays.
I sang "right said fred" as I helped manoeuvre it through the house.
where are all those strong men??

Update from 🍒.
*Hospital food is vile😄
*Nurses say she is doing really well and could be ready for discharge on Christmas Day, but she reckons they are being kind and upbeat.
*Her faulty tablet is back from the repairers but she hasn't got it with her so doesn't know if its mended.
Finally -
Let the gang know how I'm doing won't you and tell them that I'm thinking of them all and sending love back to them, they're all being so lovely.

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Good Evening!
Well that was a week! Aoife scavenged something grim and it blocked her system so it was three days in the lap of luxury veterinary hospital for her. She's home today as right as nine pence but with many bald patches from drips and scans. Mr M says his wallet now has several bald patches too but he only had to pay the excess!

Spud is bringing his parents to stay tomorrow so I've been getting the kitchen stuffed stocked for the festivities. I think we will be free of guests on the 2nd January. Our hopeless but obliging arranger of dust cleaner is coming every few days to mop and change beds so the load should be manageable.

We went to Wisley to see the Glow lights on Monday. Some pretty effects but far too many people so that it was a bit of a shuffle around the laid out route. Lots of bored and tired toddlers. I wish they did a members only night; I find as I grow older that I don't like crowds - or possibly people?

The snowdrops are showing their shoulders now and I have some daffodils and bluebells pushing up too - and one shrub rose, Claire, still blooming away. The other garden news is that the retired sheep lawnmowers in the back field have acquired some younger cousins and there will be lambs in February.

The photo is of course young Spud surveying his handiwork with pride.

Ixion
And I mean it if you need a hand for a certain time , I can fly easily and take care of you . At least cook and tidy 😊 I work from home so I can plan it. I am very serious. 🌺
This made me weep.
How loving is that- if ever you doubt yourself, here is proof of what you give to others

Another one who was positively transfixed by your morning's garden arranging, Kaimoana. Your writings are so descriptive- how I wish we could be sitting there with you having a good natter. At the very least, we would avoid the back-to-back hail storms we are experiencing today.

Another here suffering the fall out (as it were) from the felling of Beautiful Trees.
Beautiful, clearly, only to me as new neighbours felled a magnificent silver birch which, presumably, might drop its leaves all over their lean-to orangery roof and patio terrace. It was my bellwether tree. Every day when I opened the curtains, it would be there in all its majesty, year on year, heralding the change in the seasons and, obviously, hiding the eyesore of now very visible houses behind. There was a certain irony to the felling - DS informed me as he collected us from the station after a day at the Chelsea Flower Show. 'You won't to hear this, Mum, but' ...
I wept.

How has your piano move gone, Grammaretto? I am minded of the Bernard Cribbins song and hope yours was less stressful. Interestingly, most people, apparently, believe that the song refers to a piano - I always have done - but nowhere is this mentioned.
www.towncommonsongs.org/songs/rightsaidfred.html

We received a newsy email today from our Istanbul au pair - you may recall (😴) it was she with whom I was unable to meet up in London when DH was having surgery. Here was her offer, bless her 😳
And I mean it if you need a hand for a certain time , I can fly easily and take care of you . At least cook and tidy 😊 I work from home so I can plan it. I am very serious. 🌺

I hope you can enjoy tonight's Carols, Doodle.

I wonder if Cherry's been frog-marched up and down hospital corridors today by her physios?
And whether they are working on kicking her out discharging her for Christmas?

I am writing this, and others, in a room deliberately distanced from the new tub of Quality Street😇.
Not for long now ...

Kaimoana how beautifully you describe the start to your day. I love the idea of a look out bird poised ready to pass on the word as soon as you open the door. 🤣
You wouldn’t be sitting outside if your were here . It’s very cold and windy. I wonder how your son and family are coping with this weather. What are they doing for Christmas?
Grammaretto the moment you mentioned men, piano and stairs, my mind immediately visualised a scenario with Eric Sykes and others trying to manoeuvre said instrument. I take it that your piano is an upright one and not a grand piano.
I hope the men and the piano make it safely
I think it would be a good idea to ask around for a few quotes too. Tree surgeons are so expensive. Glad your DH’s brother came by to cheer you up.
Notspaghetti I love the idea of the gifts your DH gave, how original. I’m not good at wrapping presents in fact this afternoon I have been getting myself stuck up with sellotape and making a hash of everything.
Had a nice time at church this morning and a chat with friends. Came home and found some cards on the mat that were understandably addressed to only me. I just sat and cried that he wasn’t here to enjoy the Christmas festivities.
Im back at church tonight for the carol service. Might not be a good idea because I’m a bit emotional but I’m going with friends so hope it will be ok
Hope you’re making good progress Cherry
Take care all

Grammaretto, when my husband was teaching there was a very small but dedicated support team who were never properly thanked it seemed to him. They made the work of the lecturers so much easier, helped implement the various new directives meted out from on high and were the face of the section to troubled students.

Well each year for Christmas he would find small gifts that were on the "quirky" side so we both kept our eyes peeled pretty much all year. Mainly they involved edibles

Your Christmas gift story made me remember that one year it was Oxfam hens. Each received the Oxfam hen gift card, half a dozen free range eggs and pair of those brightly coloured silicone egg poachers. I always wrapped them beautifully for him (wrapping being one of my few "special skills") so that they looked much grander than they were. I always sighed as it took so long to make them all look different, still like a "set" but not the same. They did look beautiful and gave me a real sense of achievement as thet were usually odd shapes. I wish we had photos of them as they were by far the most glorious gifts I've ever wrapped! One year it was a pineapple and a pineapple corer/slicer - and that really did tax my wrapping skills!

The Christmas after he had retired he sent a big box of fancy Fortnum and Mason teas and a "goodbye and thank you" note. At that same Christmas he received the most beautiful highly sculptural bouquet of flowers from them.
😍

Dear Doodle. I rather like the idea of a lucky dip. A variation on the secret santa theme. I think it's been thought of before but it would need too much organising!

Another idea I once had was to buy the same present for everyone.
If you find something good then why not! One year it was a strong sellotape dispenser, another an oxfam voucher.

I have just read the good news on Cherry. Isn't that good. Well done girl! 🥰😄🤩 you'll be dancing round the ward in no time 💃

Your council and ours Kaimoana must be related. The landscape services were very quick to issue permission to fell this tree in a conservation area without coming anywhere near.
However due to the development being allowed in the first place, so near the woodland, the death knoll for these trees was sounded long ago, I fear.
Yesterday I collected my Christmas tree from the community woodland who sell small trees and branches for charity. I told my friends there about my woes and another tree surgeon was suggested. Infact I was told to get 4 quotes.
Hey well, skip over this stuff dear reader. I wish I could!

DH brother called unexpectedly
yesterday evening which was a nice surprise as I was feeling rather low and forgotten about. He's spending Christmas with his sister and her family in England.

Next year, I will have lived in
Scotland for 50years and I won't move away now, but I still feel like an incomer at times.

The pianoman is coming today to move the piano, currently being used as a shelf in the flat, into my newly plastered sitting room. He says he'll bring some strong bodies with him, as stairs are involved. If all goes well
he'll tune it before Wednesday and I can be treated to a concert/blasted with loud noise when my family come.

Nfk I've been reading about coppicing and it seems both sycamore and walnut can be successfully deal with this way, each with a high chance of coming back vigorosuly, even in trees 80-100 years old.

Our moronic Council won't even consider this as an option as they are in the pockets of developers, so even rare and heritage trees are bulldozed. despite widespread protests.

I spent a contented dawn hour on my north-facing deck this morning after finalising its re-organisation.

The tomato plants are all clustered together gossiping about the nearby marigolds, where they will all get the early light and a full-day's brightness as the sun moves across the sky.

The sunflowers are a little more aloof, already tall enough to tower above everything at the western end. They too will watch the ecliptic, finally getting the last of the sunset to ripen the seeds.

Everything was fed and watered, including the local birds who flock to nearby trees the instant I open the ranchslider.

Maori talk about a manutaki, a bird whose job it is to keep watch while the flock is feeding. I think mine just sits in a tree and shout as soon as I come into view

So it being a mild morning and the deck sheltered from the cool, southerly breeze, I felt I'd earned my time of peace before beginning my day

Notspaghetti I think the lucky dip idea could be quite interesting although whether our grandson would be happy with the bobble hat I’ve bought his mum remains to be seen 🤣
What amazing luck to find the tiles that you needed for the shed roof. I can’t wait to see a picture when in and your patio are finished.
Grammaretto I love book shops too. Few and far between these days. Most of the big stores are missing from towns these days. We are clinging on to our M&S, it’s the only store worth going to our town for. The rest are cafes or pound shops.
I too find it a shame too when trees are cut down.
I imagine it will be quite expensive to add insult to injury if you see what I mean.
Ixion great news about Cherry. Glad she managed to stand up. Hope she’s back with us soon please give her our love and to you too
Nfk I used to love tackling the paving with a jet washer and seeing the clean stones appear from under the grime. Living in a flat now, we have a man that does it for us
Kaimoana any more news of the exploits and travels of young Gubbins and co?
Ive been trying to do some more Christmas shopping today. My mind is so muddled I keep forgetting what I’ve bought. Managed to get all the family their favorite chocolates i think so that’s one job done. Bought myself a handbag for Christmas

Evening All

Brilliant news that Cherry has had a successful operation and that she's upright again. I hope your recovery continues apace Cherry.

It hurts when a tree falls or has to be felled. I keep looking at the gap where my lovely old walnut tree was and regretting having it taken down, I was very fond of that tree. But with the winds we're getting these days, it is rather a relief. It was far too big for this garden. There was always the fear that a branch would fall off and go through the roof of next door's greenhouse or worse still through their roof. I still have other big trees in too small a garden and too near houses and a lane, but they have preservation orders on. No chance here of even having a branch taken off without going to appeal so I have a report done each year to show that I've taken all the precautions I can. Helps with my home insurance too.

It's a shame the shops in Princes Street have changed so. Ive only been to Edinburgh three times and both times, although summer, it was cold and very wet. And very grey. But there's blue sky in Grammaretto's photo, so it must look nice sometimes!

My new pressure washer came yesterday and today I put it together and just finished cleaning the patio and paths before it got dark. It seems to glow out there now. They really were filthy.

Happy Solstice to all, spring is on the way!

Hello Gang,
Brilliant news from Cherry, who hopes to be back with us soon.
Here is her update, which she has asked me to share.

Had surgery yesterday teatime/early evening.

It's been a difficult day but I feel a lot better than I did two hours ago when the physios came and got me standing up 😲
I didn't think I could do it as I hadn't been able to move so I surprised myself 😁
More advanced physio tomorrow 🤯

We have a Waterstones in our nearest town Grammaretto which has some decent cards and games etc but I do miss the little independent bookshops which have long since disappeared.
I too miss the department stores- locally it was only House of Fraser but further afield there were lots of others.
Now I have to travel a quite a long way for not so great ones.

You are not alone in spending money that is "available" but not sensible. I need to pay the builders for the work so far... maybe it's a good thing that the tiles can't come until January! - it gives me a couple of weeks grace!

I'm truly sorry about your tree. Our next door neighbour has taken down two mature trees because of houses built too close behind. One, admittedly "only" a sycamore was truly huge and magnificent (and it had the added benefit of blocking the view of the ugly properties behind)

Hello lovely Lobstars 😍
Happy Solstice everyone.

It's blowing a hoolie outside and I am
I'm just checking in before starting a marathon of tasks which mainly involve spending money I don't have.

The tree surgeon will make the tree safe for at least over the holidays. He applied for and got emergency planning consent to cut it down. It seems sad to chop down a mighty tree which hasn't fallen but is a threat.
The house developers built far too near the my woodland 30 years ago and this is their legacy.

Well done NotSpag on your tile finds. I hope your building comes together nicely, soon.
After my hospital appointment I had some time in Edinburgh to spend money in the only shop I can bear which is the bookshop.
It also sells board games, art materials has a café and a loo and has helpful staff.
I miss the department stores in Princes St at this time of year. We had Jenners, Forsyths, Binns, Debenhams, C&A and more. Now there's M&S and that's it. The German Market in the gardens and funfair.
What a grumpy old woman I am!

I hope to go to a carol concert tonight after the zillion things to do today. At least I've made a list.

The photo is the Scott monument plus bungee swing ? through the dirty window of the bus.

Today I've been to the "reclaim" yard and bought 8 square metres of old "Loughborough" tiles for my shed roof. I had 190 of them alteady so was delighted I found some to match..

I also found some perfect ridge tiles- the sort with a little lip - and they are exactly the right angle for the gable so will sit beautifully snug.
I thought of you Grammaretto and your annoying leaks. I hope my builder can at least get the felt on as they can't deliver the tiles until 2nd January 😬

Yesterday was my fourth trip to the dentist this month. This time I had crunched off a chunk of old filling somehow and had to have something put back to protect the spikey bit of tooth still left there! I really fancied a toffee this evening... but sat on my hands instead of unwrapping the tempting little treat...

only a sleep now and at least the days will be lengthening and the world will start to brighten. I have a single azalea bloom - what is that doing out?
*Thinking of you all.*🌼🌸🌼🌸🌼

"I’m hoping I can get away with stuffing everything in a big bag and putting tissue paper on top." - well the alternative is to have a lucky dip maybe?

Jan I can understand about needing someone you feel you can rely on when exercising.
You don’t need to have a fall.
Glad you are pleased with your new lady.
Im not sure how I feel about Christmas now
Ive been so busy I wonder if I will feel totally flat after Christmas
Grammaretto hope you got to the hospital ok. Shame you missed the concert. It was bitterly cold here today. Hope you’re keeping yourself warm.
Cherry we’re sending you good vibes and hope you’re in the mend soon.
Been to the hospice again today then a bit of shopping. Tomorrow I will probably be taking back the things I bought 🤣
My mind is all over the place at the moment. I keep finding things I’ve bought for people that I’d completely forgotten about.
As for wrapping things, I’m hoping I can get away with stuffing everything in a big bag and putting tissue paper on top.

Ixion. The story of my physio could fill 3 pages! Briefly I had an amazing physio who really pushed me hard and got the best out of me - not that the best is very good! Then we found another job to far away to come to me. He recommended a very nice lady who was a physio helper but I just didn’t feel safe with her when walking. I wasn’t convinced that she could catch me if I fell. I now have a great lady who is doing 6 free sessions courtesy of the County Council and where I go after that is anyone’s guess!
Oh dear so many of us with problems and worries.
Think it’s just me but I can’t wait for Christmas to be over so we can look forward to longer days and fingers crossed for a calmer and less stressful New Year! I know I’m a miserable old woman!! But I’m allowed to be because I’m OLD!!!

While I'm trekking across Scotland to my hospital appointment, I am missing a carol concert in St Mary's cathedral this morning. My DGS will be playing the organ.
I know where I'd rather be.
Hopefully DS will record it but it's not the same.

Poor Cherry though. She's stuck in hospital. Sending cwtches xxx