🦞🦂 Lobstars 🌟 still shining bright 🦞🦂

Gramaretto mixed fortunes for you this week. Did the physion warn you that strains in that area can take a very long time to heal? Last time I fell, my Sittupon was sore for months, despite physion (which seemed to make it worse) :-(

As for the power cut - I got up early, got the laundry done, had a good breakast, filled a flask for a coffee later and made sure the house was warm by keeping all the blinds down - and I wore a hat

When the power goes off my St John Alarm unit warns me, as if I didn’t know, every 12 seconds, ‘NO POWER. Please check your power source.’

As there is no way of switching this off, due to its fail-safe integral batteries, I tolerated a few minutes of this hysteria before grabbing the unit and marching it into the garage, then smothering it in a bag containing a duvet. Unable to hear it from the main room I went back to relax with my knitting but but 45 minutes later there was an urgent knock on my door and an ambulance crew stood there. Somehow
I’d inadvertently pressed a button to alert them.

When Mepa arrived to change my bed, we decided, as no vaccing or other power-based activities could be done, to go out.
We had a lovely meal in a very good Indian restaurant nearby. Thoroughly enjoyed both the company and food.

Then a nice surprise email when the power came on: DiL will bring my little grand-daughter on Sunday as her brother has an event in this area. I have seen her only once since November so I am so looking forward to that. They are even staying for brunch.

A week full of treats.

Kaimoana oh no. I Hope you’ve got some way of keeping warm. That’s a long time without power.
Still no leaves that’s so disappointing
Grammaretto i have never heard of anyone tearing a muscle in their bum. It sounds painful. Can you sit down ok?
Glad you enjoyed the craft exhibition.
I had coffee with two friends today. Hospice tomorrow.

How did you survive without electricity on such a cold day Kaimoana?

No I'm not diabetic but I have been referred to the hospital and another physio. The physio I saw today thinks I may have torn a muscle in my bum.

She was very thorough. At least it's not my new hip.

I went to a craft exhibition today with both my helpers. It was very high quality with prices to match, at Dalkeith Palace, the home of the Duke of Buccleuch. He used to be the biggest landowner in Scotland but that is now Anders Polson the Danish clothing millionaire. His Palace looked good.

Tomorrow I'm foraging in the morning and having posh tea in the afternoon. What a treat. Mushrooms 🍄 🍄 🍄 🍄
I hope you has a nice day Doodle with not too many wobbles.

In a rush today as electricity will be turned off (yes, in this cold weather!) from 9am to 3pm.

orry about your sore legs Gram I know how that feels - are you diabetic? That's whats finished mine off.

Funnily enough Doodle it's the new firm I've ordered my leaves from who posted the 'slow\ mesage !!


I'm jinxed ha ha ha.

It's not a new school but new teachers Doodle. It will probably be fine.

My girls went out today and left me to cook. . I had almost forgotten how.
I picked lettuce leaves but noticed the kale has been totally destroyed by cabbage white caterpillars. I think they're beyond hope
Do you remember the very hungry caterpillar? well he's here with all his relations.
Are you still having very hot weather?
It's odd here. Overcast and thundery but no rain yet. Some parts of Scotland have had huge hail stones and flash floods.

Grammaretto is it a new class for your girls. Have they been to the same school before? Hope they settle back well.
I hated school and couldn’t wait to leave.
Sounds like they’ve had a lovely time with you doing the sort of things they’ll remember in years to come.
Kaimoana the things they come up with for not delivering in time. 🤣
Had a nice day. Afternoon tea at the church hall. Little wobble tonight. Still miss DH so much. Sleep well all.

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At least it made you smile and not howl Kaimoana

Any news of those magic herbs?

I have developed a painful leg on the new hip side and am hobbling about like a very old person. I'm seeing a physio tomorrow so I am hoping for a instant cure.

The wee girls were a delight again yesterday. I've discovered their love of gardening extends only to harvesting, planting and spotting butterflies. Weeding and digging out roots, no.
A comma butterfly and a wood? and a hairstreak were spotted.

Then they got very creative in the pottery. Afterwards we peeled and chopped a lot of windfall apples and made a crumble. They go home today and are not looking forward to school next week.
I hope it will be better than they think. It's a small school with composite classes.

The Shakespeare play was actually a ballet with no words at all. I should read before I book. I enjoyed it though my head nodded a couple of times. 😴 and the journey home was complicated by my inability to walk properly.

I hope other Lobstars are faring well.

This notice from an online retailer made me smile.

"Try not to worry if its taking a bit longer to reach you than normal the whole worlds new normal is slow"

No doubt the consequences of cost-cutting by expecting one person to do what formerly 3 managed.

Kaimoana it’s hard for me to think of you wrapped up to keep warm whilst I’m here with all the windows and doors open and the fan on at 9.30pm
Afternoon teas do seem ridiculously expensive. I’m sure the single components can’t cost that much to prepare. I did enjoy it though.
Grammaretto hope you enjoy your tea too. Church afternoon tea for me tomorrow. No charge. Homemade cakes, tea and scones and good company.
Notspaghetti lovely photo and beach. Hope you’re enjoying it

It feels a bit more mellow here with the Lobstars these last few days - with some nicer things going, a little less worry and some birthday treats. I believe that most oc us have enjoyed some simple pleasures this week too - maybe visits from (or to) old and new friends - good food and good company.

...what we need now is Kaimoana's herbs.... 🤞

Your day sounds perfectly lovely Doodle.
A bit cooler on the river too, I guess.

The tea will be expensive but it's not as though we do this often. The hotel is at the seaside so I may take my togs.

It's been warm here too but nothing like you seem to be experiencing in the South of England.

I'm having the wee girls again tomorrow morning.
Thanks for the birthday greetings. It's a few days yet!
Nice to see you posting Cherry.
Wonderful beach photo NotSpag

I too hope you have a wonderful birthday on Saturday Grammaretto .

Unless you live near central Auckland, Afternoon Tea or High Tea as it's called here, is not something Kiwis do.

A couple of the big hotels put it on but at £39 per person, mainly for affluent tourists.

Very chilly this morning so I am wearing several layers and britches to keep warm.


The Police helicopter is circling overhead, so someone is in for a bad time.

Tonight we went swimming at sunset.
It was horrendously cold because the tide was right out.
Brrr!

Thank you both, yes a lovely day. xx

A bit late in the day but Happy Birthday dearest Doodle 💐. It sounds like you've had the kind of birthday that is right up my street and I'm pleased you've had such a lovely time 😊 xx.

Happy-belated- birthday greetings, Doodle.
Sounds like you had a splendiferous day!
🎂

Great minds Grammaretto . Yes it is my birthday today and my friend and I went to Windsor and had afternoon tea in a posh hotel by the river. Had a lovely day and decided to come home by boat. Really nice. Took an hour and a half and stops close to where we live. Done a lot of walking and eating. Been out for 8 hours so very tired now. Hope you have a good day Saturday.
Kaimoana that pottery day sounds a fun thing to do.
Thank you Notspaghetti. My feet are grateful to be up on a stool and resting. It’s been a long but lovely day.

Birthday Greetings Doodle and Grammaretto

One of the things planned for our elders group is another pottery day.

This time it will be 'things to hang'.

Various shapes will be offered : leaves, circles, jandals, triangle, teapots etc bisque fired with a hole for string or fancy cord.

We will paint these,as we did before with the dishes and mugs and they'll go off to be glazed and fired again.
Inspiration Grammaretto?

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Is it your birthday tomorrow Doodle?
It's mine on Saturday. How will you spend yours?
I've booked afternoon tea at a hotel with my friend. She's the one who stayed here when her house was flooded.

Today I had the DGD for gardening, pottery and some drawing.
The gardening consisted of finding potatoes and filling every container we could find. The younger one kept accidentally cutting tatties in half with the spade and saying "never mind they can be chips!"

Pottery consisted of painting the pots they made last time and making new ones on the wheel.

I have them again on Wednesday so not sure what we'll do. I've also bought a couple of tickets to Romeo and Juliet at the Fringe.

Such a nice description of your friend NotSpag. I'll bet she was pleased to see you.
Great photos.

I hope your health problems are getting better Kaimoana. It's all bound to get you down. Enjoy the Sallies lunch.

I think my Helper is cooking tea so I can slump in front of the telly.
📺

Another deer after the plums.

Notspaghetti what a lovely story about the lady and her driving. 😊
Grammaretto. Hope the new lodgers have been a bit more friendly today,
I’ve been out for a pre birthday lunch with my art class. So lovely of them to make the time to be with me. Such a nice group. Lots of chat, cards and presents. Hope I’ve got room left tomorrow for afternoon tea.

Dear Kaimoana i do wish life was easier for you. Glad you are seeing the doctor. Hope they can help and your leaves come soon. Wish I could source some and send them to you but they all come from NZ,
Have a nice time at the Sallies lunch and I do hope you are collected for your group tomorrow, with or without cheesecake.
Notspaghetti i love your photos. What a beautiful place. I would love to be there with you.

And yes, a sundowner was taken... but well after the sun set!

Lobstar friends.
Just off to visit a 90-something lady who was close to my mum when I was a girl.
She was afraid to drive with 3 small girls and was rather stranded in a (then) rather remote area.

My mum persuaded her to learn- and over the course of one summer she taught her by driving with her through her farm fields and up the off-road tracks.

I'll never forget her frog hopping the car about over the field in front of her farm house.
She was so kind - often letting me find an egg under one of her hens and taking me in to eat it with toasty soldiers.

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And here are some rocks, pools and seaweed!
Goodnight all.