Doodle - how lovely. What variety of tree?
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It was a lovely day
Your DH's tree sound a marvellous idea Doodle and something you can watch growing over the years. 
Look after yourself with that sore throat and don't risk going anywhere if you have a temperature.
My doctor has just given me those very same (quite strict) instructions as well,due to my damaged foot. If I felt hot or 'other-worldly' I had to contact her or, worst case, hospital.
She sent a nurse to dress my toes yesterday and she'll come back on Monday to do the same.
Meanwhile, I have to keep my foot dry, so no showering.
I'm not expecting visitors this weekend so I can be as stinky as I like 
Jan16 How's your daughter?
Photos from Dubai show Gubbins with life-size ceramic camels in an hotel which looks like a sheik's palace. Gold, marble, crystal chandeliers everywhere.
They fly to London in 6 hours, DS is already there and will meet them at Heathrow.
Although the connection of penguins to Christmas is a bit vague (at least to me), I think I'm going to try and make these cuties for Tuesday, our last kaumatua group meeting until next year.
Evening All
I'm still here but I have been in the doldrums as happens at this time of year and after That Cold has left me with a hacking cough. And my shoulders, neck and back hurt. I think it's not been helped by sunset being around 4.00 pm. I've also had my beloved walnut tree chopped down. It's not flourishing since we had it crowned a few years back, and has been on the list for four or five years but Covid and DH becoming increasingly poorly put things off. But, there is a tiny shoot in the trunk about four feet above the ground which my incredible tree surgeons think will grow.
(I was going to say, having watched the main man swinging through the branches in all his gear with a large chain saw hanging from his belt, that they should consider making a calendar similar to the firemen. But having found our new home and read through so far, perhaps I'd better not!! )
Anyway, a good Christmas lunch with friends yesterday and a 'blow it, we're going out' walk to the sea at Titchwell today and I'm feeling much better and more positive. It was my first birding expedition on my own and was much better than I expected. We spent many happy times there. I thought I should make the most of a good day before the wind gets up. Kira has had a good walk, milk is bought, candles found and at least I don't have to worry about branches falling from the walnut tree! I hope everyone else in the Yellow Zone and especially any of you in the Red and Amber are all well battened down. And that your roof holds out Grammaretto!
Brilliant that the weather was good for you too Doodles for your tree planting. It was obviously meant to be. A lovely, lovely idea.
So pleased that your DD is home and close by Jan. Recovery is so much better when in your own nest. Especially with mum and dad close by.
Thank you for the photo of my favourite man Kaimoana. It's a lovely one. I'm wondering if I can manage to get him singing as a screen saver on the telly, he lifts my spirits. And your Gubbins is really grown so much and looks so confident. What happened to your DS with that perfect job is so cruel, but better he finds out now than later when they've all moved home.
And, Jeeves, please know we all love you. Plus Doodle and I really need your special hot chocolate to soothe our throats and help us sleep. With your magic powers I'm sure you can whip from one side of the country to the other in a blink of an eye, before the wind gets up. If you take Doodle hers first you'll have the wind behind you when you head Norfolk-wards. But I'm off to bed now so please don't leave it too late!
Good Morning 🫢
I've been down a rabbit hole of stuff that ended when Mr M and I returned to the UK on Friday from Latvia and we could finally warm up chill down.
A brief (!) resume of the last few months...best friend died tragically and suddenly after 65 years of friendship and I fell apart....and I didn't have the words to post. I then accepted a vast commission from Ancestry to help behind the scenes with a forthcoming DNA series. Mr M and I have been living out of suitcases for months and have been to some very off the beaten track places. My dusty documents and his lovely care have bolstered me and I am facing front again
Picture 1 is the unique and moving Hill of Crosses in Lithuania which we visited last week. It brought me peace and probably chillblains
I also attach a photo of Spud, the all singing, dancing talking genius who.......is moving to live near us! It seems likely that he will be an only child so his parents have decided that living amongst his wider family would give him a stronger bond with his cousins.
Kaimoana - This is the time when Gubbins will unknowingly pass Spud on the crowed UK streets.....in years to come they will meet properly and obv. marry......😍
the bored beans are getting a battering, looks set to be a good onion crop next year...and I have new gardening lady to help me. Much to Mr M's disappointment I still have the same cleaning lady who can't move things to dust - and who can't see dust - but she's reliable and never surprises me
I need to get my big Christmas pants on now as we're hosting the tribe again - it's great to be home!
Welcome home Mamissimo! What adventures you've had, as well as heartache; none of it easy.
Gosh, Spud is quite grown up and gorgeous and like Gubbins, seems keen on cooking.
Nice to have him back as well.
I am trying not to be anxious but all is not going smoothly with the flight(s) Gubbins is on.
To begin with, the flight (and thus the number and time) DS gave me, so I could track it, was changed.
So I was watching UAE 01 take off and Gubbins wasn't on it.
Overnight (my night) DS found out there were mechanical problems, so they deplaned and caught the next flight DBX to LHR which delayed them over 9 hours 
Then 3 aborted landings in London; DS is not sure why but speculates windspeed across the runway.
Now Gubbins an co are stuck in Frankfurt and waiting to be told how and when they can get to London.
They are with Emirates, so we are hoping well looked after.
DS of course was at Heathrow but now back at their hotel, having been awake since 2am. He'll have 2 hours notice when they eventually get a flight - but it may divert to Manchester even then.
I'm telling myself all will be well and this is why planes don't have accidents because no one takes chances.
And on a totally unrelated note to cheer myself up a bit.
The remarkable Hikoi had, at its culmination 42,000 people in Wellington say the police but it's estimated another 20,000 took part, walking all downt he North Island and from the South for whatever time they could, to show their support.
Only one action by police was necessary over the whole 10 days: a redivist inebriate in Wellington tried to grope someone.
Doodle you really should look after yourself, especially considering there's still a lot of Covid about.
NN when I was a young whippersnapper in my 20's and 30s, my husband and I used to go camping.
Basic stuff : walking miles, carrying packs and an often-smelly baby but we had a fantastic Swedish stove, a Trangia - wind and weather proof, totally safe.
I brough it to NZ when I came back and have used it so many times since, as we had power cuts too. I've cooked many a full family meal on it.
I think your washing machine has been talking to mine Grammaretto - that is exactly what mine did.
A mixed day for me.
Woke up feeling glum and groggy but was hoping to get the pension sorted on my visit to WINZ. Not a hope. It seems the $50 deduction is 'normal'. 
I was lucky to get a very patient person, rather than the usual Taniwha, who explained why. Nothing to do with my supposed earnings from Trevor (a vast fortune, $NZ400 = £183 over 3 years) and a great deal to do with the current regime's determination to make life difficult, even for the elderly.
I am luckier than most, not least because when Ange the Advocate arrived it was with a letter from thr Sallies saying I'd been approved for an Xmas food bag. Every little helps, especially as they too have had cuts which meant laying off hundreds of staff, including social workers across NZ and the Pacific. <sigh>
.
At WINZ I was offered the services of a budgeting expert and was able to say, 'I was a budgetter for many years for Baptist Social Services and the CAB.' I didn’t smirk, the man was tryng to be helpful but I do wonder how families manager without my experinece of finances ¬and a love of cooking. I can make a little go a long way.,
So I'm counting my blessings and there was another nice thing too on this rather dull, depressing day.
Ange told her Mum about Trevor the Daring Duck and was asked to buy a copy which she did. Now the dear old lady wants to meet me and take me out for coffee, isn't that lovely? ♥♥
♥♥ - and I just learned how to do this Alt+3
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I've just gone AWOL to read Soup's thread. I do hope your spirits are lifting NN. It's horrible that bad memories are brought back to the fore on what should be a happy day (the 70's are ok - it's an age for saying b****r it, and doing what you want).
Grammaretto is right to say that two birthdays are a good idea. The Queen had two and I assume King Charles is continuing the tradition. I would suggest June 8th as then it won't interfere with His Maj's. 
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