🦞🦂 Lobstars 🌟 still shining bright 🦞🦂

What will become of the land when your community centre is demolished Kaimoana? Will there be an alternative?
I do hope so. This will have been a lifeline for so many people.

I noticed it was 14° both here and in Wellington NZ. My DS was very excited to have seen 🐋 humpback whales in the harbour.
They swam to the ferry terminal and left!

I now have 6 viewings for the flat arranged for Friday afternoon as well as the arrival of 2 new helpers, from different countries who've not met eachother or me. It's going to be a busy weekend. I'd better prepare now with a strong coffee.

That's lovely news Naughtyneine a new baby expected.
I like babies but 2 of the viewers are young women with babies so I am not sure that will work for me. Soundproofing is lacking in this house.

How are you Doodle? I hope things are looking up xx

Doodle thank you but you are praising me for something I don't deserve.
I have some birthday on my calendar (mainly from the old days) which remind me.

It's just as well, with my memory worsening as time goes by !!

News from Fortress Finn

Torrential and unreleting rain today but when I got to our kaumatua group at 11am we learned there were many huge boxes of free veg and fruit going begging just across the courtyard.

By the time I'd hobbled slowly there and back, I was literally soaked to the skin and still uncomfortably damp when I got home at 2pm.
A small brandy and ginger warmed my insides and I got into my nightie and cosy dressing gown for the outside.

It was a historic day: the last time we (or indeed anyone) would meet in that building which will be demolished soon.

Some of us old Waipareira hands have been meeting there for 30+ years, so reminisced about times and people long gone.

As usual, we had a wonderful lunch and after a generous helping, I brought home salad, chicken, mushroom sauce and rice for tomorrow.
There were some wonderful desserts too but I stuck to just one mini pancake with jam and cream.

Kaimoana i never cease to be amazed that with all you’ve got going on in your life you remember others birthdays and events. You’re such a caring person xx

Goodness me Spud can’t be 2 can he really. Many happy returns Spud hope all is well Mamissimo
Grammaretto it is the best Turkish delight. Delicious in fact . 😊
Neine how sad you can’t get to be with your grandchildren. Must be so hard for you. Sending hugs.

I'm still here.... Just caught up with all your news. I'm in the middle of a big Neuro Market Research project that I'll be supervising over the next 3 weeks.... It's been taking up a lot of my time...Endoscopy all went well last week...sedation worked so I wasn't too stressed. By chance I saw my DGS 7,9 and 10 and SIL3 last week..( They didn't see me). And then I saw DD4 ( again she didn't see me) and it looks like a I'm going to be a Neine again...this will be DGC no 11. I wonder if it might be girl this time. I did want to leap out of the car and give her a hug. She looked weary and was walking very stiffly. She and the baby are in my prayers.

Happy birthday Spud! And well done remembering the date Kaimoana1

We'd love a photo Mamissimo if you're reading.

A very HAPPY BIRTHDAY (28th) to Mamissimo's Spud. Bet he's more than 7lb 2oz now Have a wonderful day!

I still want your Turkish delight! Doodle
I'm knitting myself a green sweater for the winter. I've nearly finished the first sleeve so only one sleeve to go.

I'm a slow knitter.

Grammaretto i recently watched the Forsyte Saga. The new version having watched the old one years ago. I was convinced it was called the Forsyth Saga. I enjoyed it.
What are you knitting? Any news of lodger or helpers?
What a delightful afternoon you had and a surprise trip to a play. Glad you enjoyed your day.
Kaimoana i don’t think this Turkish delight has anything to do with rose water. It is most unusual. One square is like a three course meal, each piece different coating and differnt colours. Wish I’d thought to photograph it before I ate most of it. Hope your son gets the job. At least your DIL replied. Hopefully she might try and make the effort soon.
ixion I too was the proud mum with a bouncy silver cross pram but what is a pram basket? Never heard of that before. Did you put it in the pram then put the baby in it?
Oh er ixion hope you don’t start hearing things that go bump in the night. 👻
I’ve had a lovely day too. Been to lunch in the vicarage garden. It remained dry and we enjoyed a variety of food provided by all those who attended.

I lost my post.
I was going to tell you what an interesting day it turned out to be.
The village gardens were lovely but better still I met an old friend who told me about a play which was being previewed in the village hall, free at 4pm.

I took my friends and we thoroughly enjoyed it. It is going to be on for a run in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe next week.

Meanwhile Sparky was at my house PAT testing all the appliances. He's now buying me a new kettle to save me shopping.

I am seriously sad. I get excited by such simple things.
I forgot to take photos of the fabulous gardens except one.

👍

I'll need to pm you my phone number and you can WhatsApp me?

I would love to see those photos

Sadly, the photos she sent me make her too readily identifiable to post here.

*and lovely too!

ixion what a truly lively story.

Talking of recycling - or should that now be upcycling? - Grammaretto, I was having a clear out and came across an old wicker pram basket as you do.
I had been the proud owner of a large secondhand coach built Silver Cross pram, my mother insisted that it should have a pram basket like the one I had for you 🤷‍♀️

Actually, it was really nice, bespoke willow from the Somerset Levels where she had lived during evacuation in the War.

With some sadness, I offered it on our local Freecycle site.
It was snapped up by a lovely young lady who was the proud owner of a reconditioned sit up and beg bike and a particularly cute Border Terrier.
Thus, the dog was proudly transported round the village in style and they became well known locally.

My DM would have had a pink fit.

We sat, this afternoon, like Darby and Joan, in the sitting room in companionable silence doing our own thing.
All of a sudden, the tv started up completely of its own accord and set us to Channel 666 👿.

I fear we may need exercising exorcising.

Ixion 🤣😂

Mind you, jobs do get "promised" to people but then have to be advertised which really seems unfair to everyone.
One of my DS had to reapply for his own job after restructuring. He got it but was pretty stressed by the process.
He's left that bank now.

Crikey!

I interviewed a young man once who, when asked if he had any questions, said 'can you tell me if this job has already been promised to somebody else?'.
😱

My husband used to be on interview panels quite often.

It was sometimes obvious but sometimes a choice between two people with "good" or "great" most things but one failing...

Then you had to choose the one who had the least-worst problem!
He did once threaten to resign if they took the "best" (on the surface of it) candidate as he had witnessed the way this arrogant man had treated the office staff in the 15 minutes he was waiting for the interview.
One of them was actually in tears.

How that was even possible in 15 minutes I have no idea!

My old tin bath was gratefully received by a house restorer and a hairdresser who are going to fill it with flowers and send me photos.
They also want to come to my open studios in September and took my card.

I hope your DiL recovers from her v vein operation and can bring you Gubbins, Kaimoana fingers 🤞

I agree it's weird how interviews are done. So glad I'm beyond that stage though my df has to be on interview panels frequently and between you and me, I feel I could do a better job.
They choose people for the wrong attributes IMO!!

If the rain stops I shall drive my car-less friends to visit a village of open gardens this afternoon.

Sparky may come while I'm gone to PAT test the electrical gadgets in the flat.

So today has turned out far busier than expected .

My life is not unlike yours Grammareto only the tin bath was given away 30 years ago. I believe it's full of Spring bulbs in someone's garden (or was).

I'm knitting shark slippers for my grand-daughter. I risked writing to her Mama asking if they could visit but N has just had an operation for varicose veins so not up to driving yet.

My son in UK has just completed the 3rd of 3 interviews (why so many ???) and will know by Wednesday if he has the IT Manager job.
He was told by the interviewer (who, weirdly doesn't decide who is hired), that he was the best of the candidates but they must interview 2 other applicants. What would they do if 50 applied? Business is so odd these days.

A relatively warm 13 degrees when I sprang out of bed this morning. I am dreaming of Springtime.

A lady I once worked with used to bring home-made Turkish Delight to distribute in the office. She said it was very easy to make but a I don't like the taste or aroma of Rosewater, I never tried it.
You can make it without, according to Google.

Oh, do keep practising Gramaretto the Gaelic needs you or it will be lost :-(

Hello Lobstars 👋
That Turkish delight sounds wonderful Doodle. Send Jeeves round with a taste, please. 😋

I was at the Gaelic café today though I seem to have lost the ability to speak that difficult language..
I've also been selling and giving away various bits cluttering the house.
I have someone coming to take a tin bath away tomorrow.

Now I'm watching the Forsyte saga and getting on with knitting.
It's really a very quiet life.

How are all of you?