🦞🦂 Lobstars 🌟 still shining bright 🦞🦂

Dear Doodle, it IS sad being reminded of all the things which went to make up a beloved spouse.

Just last night I shed tears, recalling how my DH used to make me laugh by extending his first and little fingers, keeping the others bent under his thumb and singing, "I'm an old cow hand...."

But I'd rather have those memories than not.

Oh Doodle, that is so very sad - it must have been a terrible shock 🥀.

I hope your weekend is going well, Grammaretto in the balmy south.

As with so much bureaucracy, Kaimoana, it seems there is always another hurdle to cross. I'm sorry it's an uphill struggle but you will be strong enough to overcome such obstacles, especially with DGD's support.

Terribly tired tonight, forgive me, so will returned, refreshed🤞, tomorrow.

Oh Doodle the slipper!
❤️

Wow Grammaretto no one’s ever offered me a glass of wine on a train before. Mind you I did get given a shot of vodka hen going into a shop in Russia.

Kaimoana why are all these things made so difficult for people to fill in. I’m having trouble with DVLA here too. Glad your DGD is going to help that’s great.

I’ve been busy tidying up today and started emptying our hall cupboard. It’s not been touched for ages. I came across DH’s one slipper high he must have been wearing on his good foot when he went into hospital. I stood looking at this much worn single slipper and cried. There is always something that makes you remember what you’ve lost.

I have Homecare on Fridays for 2 hours; this to do shopping and domestic work for the weekend.

However, I needed forms from the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) so Mepa took me there first.

Ninety minutes wait later we were handed the forms but when I asked for help filling in, I was told it wasn't allowed. I couldn't see it and my Pasifika supporter had so much trouble with "Wilkinson" even when it was spelled out, we retired defeated.

Of course no shopping or housework was done :-(

But onwards and upwards. One form was to appoint DGD as my Agent (0077) and she suggested I just sign the final page and send it digitally, empowering her to fill in the rest of the form herself in Tauranga.

So aftera bit of tutuing about with camera, transferring to PC etc I managed that and felt I needed a stiff drink afterwards.
Tea of course - naughty lobstars

There's always something to deal with 🙄 Doodle see you soon.
I'm still on the train to London and beyond.
I am hopeless. I got out my phone to show my ticket and discovered I was supposed to collect it at the station before boarding. I shall have to do it at King's Cross.
Meanwhile I've shared a seat with the loudest group of young men ever.
They were already fairly drunk when I got on. One was sitting in my reserved seat. They got off at Newcastle - Stag and hen Night city.

Then a woman sat next to me and offered a glass of wine, which I accepted. 😂🤣

How good to have a beloved DGD to help you now Kaimoana. She sounds very special.

Internet problems engineer coming tomorrow. Be in touch then. Take care all x

"Right!" said Fred
I loved that song.

(cont)

Your DGD's positivity shines through, Kaimoana. I am so pleased she is supporting you, you deserve it🌻.

I have been reluctantly digging this afternoon, removing from my dolly tubs two large viburnums and replanting them in a repurposed flower bed. The holes needed were disappointingly large, and Mr. I retreated to his innermost sanctum after I had reminded him of the fate of the bloke in the bowler hat.

www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/Bernard-Cribbins/The-Hole-in-the-Ground

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202510/medium-65eu8u-img-4300.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202510/medium-emleu1-img-4301.jpeg

What a beautiful bank, Grammaretto.

It reminds me of the most wonderful long vacation job I secured at the former British Museum Reading Room.

A cathedral- like haven of peace and industrious study (and hard work trundling the trolleys of books from the upper stacks to waiting readers).

I hope you (and your house!) will escape the predicted ravages of Storm Amy and that the trains will run🤞

Thank you Doodle I am trying not to be negative but its not easy for my DGD when she is so far away and with a busy life of her own. I feel I am burdening her.

I've reassured her (and myself) that once the move is accomplished, I won't be expecting her daily attendance or assistance

When I was single and living in Bradford, I made a record of every single bank ceiling, all of them ornately beautiful. Sadly, I had to leave all my slides and photos behind when my DH and I parted. I suppose they were just thrown away - but I still remember the glory of those places.

Nowadays, my socialist soul would rebel at such a profligate use of our money

Grammaretto Im amazed your bank allows you to keep an account in your DH’s name. I had to close down DHs and have all the money transferred to mine. I hated taking his name off everything. By the way, your bank is amazing. So beautiful
Kaimoana don’t thing of the difficulties or the planning just take it slowly one step at a time. This could be a wonderful thing for you. I do so hope it works out well.

I like the sound of that accessible community housing due to be ready next year Kaimoana. It could be perfect. What a clever DGD!

I managed to be in Edinburgh yesterday determined to buy myself some new clothes and realised I'd left my purse at home. 😂🤣

My bus pass doesn't work as a bank card. 😒

I did succeed in spending 10 minutes with my solicitor who helped by filling in a form and endorsing my signature. Then to my bank where I waited a long time to see an assistant who has told me what I have to do next. This is to transfer funds from DHs account into mine!

I feel as though I'm in a Dickens novel. Is it Gt Expectations or Bleak House where the lawyers take the lot?

I pronounce Gaelic, Gallic ixion not garlic nor gaylic 😅
The Irish is Gaylic but they prefer Irish.
I have a 10yr old DGD too! Happy birthday 🎂 to yours

I'm going to London tomorrow for the weekend so had better get organised. not leave purse behind
There will be people here while I'm away so need to be sure the heating is accessible, fire set, bathroom clean, milk in fridge, coffee, biscuits etc.

It must be coffee time.

I hope you are all having a lovely 😍 day.

The photo is my bank!

Spoke o my grand-daughter this morning and I have to get forms from the MSd, something I can do tomorrow.

I swing from negative to positive. When I look at all the hard things to do between now and next year, it all seems too hard.
Then she'll call and it all sounds like a breeze with her so organised and already talking to Accessible Community Housing projcts which will be complete in 2026.

Takes my breath away!

ixion try a timer - when it rings, the other child has a chat time. and thanks VERY much, the spacing did help xxx

Ixion sadly our church isn’t in an area where it can be left unlocked so no it’s not open all day but it is open a lot.
You made me laugh talking about your Ft session with your DGC how lovely they both want to talk to you.
I’ve been to church today then the hospice for lunch again. Met some friends there and had a nice time. Bit sad tonight but doing ok. Early night I think

P.S.
This looks a humungously long post😱

I was trying to space it out should Kaimoana attempt to read it!

A busy set of 🦞s here currently.

Well done NS on the walking regime and to Kaimoana on the ongoing decluttering. I hope you are extricated from your resin session and have something craft-y to show for it. Any update on how Trevor 🦆 is faring (no, predictive, not fa*ting) in his distant climes?

I'm not sure what to make of your church rota, Doodle , for 24th December.

I hope it won't be too hard a time for you before, during and after. Is your church open usually during the day? I always find it sad when churches are locked during the day, although of course I understand the reasoning.

Lovely to be able to pop in when the need is there, rather than having to go knocking elsewhere for the key.

Are you settling back down now that your family bas gone, Grammaretto?

Always interesting to hear how the Gaelic classes are going.
Why do you suppose it is -erroneously- pronounced Gay-lic when it should be Gar-lic?

Hope your leg is on the mend, NN. 💐

DGD1 is 10 today and the on-screen FT session was, as ever, combative between him and DCS2 (7).

Papa, the younger wailed, he's totally monopolising Nana.

Lovely to be fought over at my age.

Notspaghetti you’re doing really well with your walking. Just be careful tjr police don’t arrest you for suspicious behaviour walking past the same houses every day they’ll think your planning a burglary.
Kaimoana i love the fact that despite all you’re going through your sense of humour is very much intact. 🤣🤣
Have fun with the resin.
Grammaretto i bet it’s quiet there now without your visitors. Sounds like you all got on well and had a good time.
I went to sitfit this morning then followed it up by lunch and cake with a friend so all the calories went back on again.
Church tomorrow. I’ve just got the next church rota. I appear to be on duty at the church on Christmas Eve from 5 till midnight. I don’t mind as long as I can stay awake.

I'm trying to walk a little further each day. Managed 0.4miles today.
Pleased with myself but weary.

...however one beautiful blue silk chiffon with lots of fabulous pleating did fit my youngest daughter - and she wore it to my oldest son's fancy wedding last year. It was so lovely (but did make me unnecessarily weepy) - I sort of felt her presence there.

Strange really as my parents died before any of our children got married and I didn't feel the loss so acutely before. Their absence was enormous last year. I don't really know why. It can't have just been the dress.

I was an ugly sister too with my mother's shoes, Grammaretto!
My girls all have wider feet than even mine so this was an easy Oxfam trip

My mum had lots of cocktail and evening gowns... that was harder - and I still have quite a few that I know fit nobody at all!

Kaimoana Will your next accommodation be roughly the same size as your present place?

Because if so, can't you take it all?
Apart from those scarves and other things you aren't too attached to.

When my niece left yesterday she took several pots of mine and some dresses belonging to my mother, her DGM. She'll be able to fit into them too as she's slim and small. Unlike me.
I wanted to keep some of my DM shoes, she had beautiful Italian ones, hardly worn. I was like an ugly sister trying to squeeze my feet into them.

Doodle enjoy your busy day.

NN No, no dear girl, that wasn't a hint, just an observation. You write exactly what you want.

I am finding it hard to declutter what is, essentailly a small, two bedroom unit so your efforts, especially when you are unwell, are heroic.


But it's Kaumatua Group today so the work will have to wait while I have fun with resin.
And you are probably asking who in their right mind would let a blind lady loose with such a dangerously sticky product

Ixion i can barely stand up on to feet let alone do a high kick. I think the team will just have to cope with me shaking my maracas. 😉
Kaimoana what a good idea to commemorate the police. Don’t ever remember having anything like that here.
Grammaretto what a lovely house and garden. Beautiful photos. Your family have enjoyed their stay, something for everyone, hope your cold gets better soon.
Notspaghetti good your MIl is improving but I can understand the frustration at not getting out much. You seem to have struck lucky with the carer.
NN so sorry for all those aches and pains and you feeling so unwell. Hope that cut starts healing properly are you sure it’s ok. Take care of yourself.
Busy day for me today doing odd jobs round the house, tomorrow is my sit fit in the morning then lunch with friend at the hospice then my cleaner is coming. I just hope I manage to arrive in time for all of them.

I'm going to try and be brief ( Kaimoana I will try hard).
Grammaretto, get well soon and beautiful pictures especially the shell house
NotSpag what an amazing spirit you DMil has, it's so good she has good carer now
Ixion I love maps and while apps like Wayz are really useful I love all the extra info you get on a proper map
I have decluttered the dining room, half of the basement, the sitting room cupboards and rehomed various china, at this stage though only in my head as I've been feeling very unwell the last few days and the pain from the cut has joined forces with the pain from my hip and invited my back to join the party so I've done not very much at all
I'm working away from Wednesday so may not be posting but will be thinking of you all