🦞🦂 Lobstars 🌟 still shining bright 🦞🦂

Poor Doodle the slipper. I'd have been in pieces too 😔

It's been an intense day at the conference but lots of excellent conversations about anything and everything.
After the epilogue we repaired to the bar where some of us had a glass of wine.

I go home again tomorrow but it has been good . The food has been very good and a bit too plentiful.

Safe trip back, Grammaretto. I hope there have been no ravages from Storm Amy when you arrive home🤞.
Good to be looked after occasionally!

I have had a relatively restful day. Having passed on most of my individual A.A. Milne books to the grandchildren in the past, I have now acquired a large and glossy volume ('As new') of his complete works, and what a joy it is. But, sadly, it is too heavy to treat as bedtime reading!
Heavy, as in hold, not content🤣.

I have also been industrious in booking my Waitrose Click and Collect Christmas slot, these slots being 'snapped up fast', I was assured.
This feeling of smugness was eclipsed last week by the receipt of our annual Christmas parcel from my D - and horribly well organised - F.

I shall now start dropping the perennial hint about getting a wind up artificial tree (baubles attached) that comes in its own storage bag for the remaining 11 months of the year.

But no, tradition dictates that we troop in the rain/mud/ snow/winds to the local seasonal Tree Farm, finally select 'a nice one', get it home then have to chop off at least a foot (= £10) to give clearance to the ceiling.

Pearls before swine ...

The SAME tradition dictates here as well Ixion!

Why oh why???

We don't have a second enormous one outside any more though so that saves some cash! We just Jazz up our dainty Amelanchier with some tiny lights

I do the same... it's in aid of the community woodland. I collect one near Christmas.
I may not have one this year depending on whether I'll be alone.
😔

Nearly back now. Pulling into Alnmouth. I spent most of the journey chatting to a very nice young woman from Darlington.
She drives a forklift in a warehouse and had spent the weekend with her boyfriend in London who she'd met on holiday this summer in Lanzarotte.

She has been going to church for the last few years. Just out of curiosity at first but now she goes regularly including a pilgrimage to Walsingham. I told her about Quakers. I don’t think she'd like that . She likes the hymns.

While I was away DD called on me. They're fed up with have no electricity or water. It won't come on again until tomorrow night.

Kaimoana oh you’re so right. I love my memories and if they make me cry it just shows how precious they are. That slipper brought back so many thoughts as I held it in my hand.
Ixion Notspaghetti 💕😉

Grammaretto your message brought back a childhood memory for me. When I was quite young and learning to read I was asked to read out what was on television that evening. I did ok till I came to the end. . I told the family that the last programme of the night was the “eploooge”. They fell about laughing. Id never heard of epilogue.
Safe journey home. Glad you had a good time and nice company on the return trip.
Ixion i too want a pre prepared tree that goes in and out of a box at Christmas. Being in a flat we have little room for a big tree or storage.
We haven’t had a real tree for years, I do like them though.

Unpopular opinion alert!

For as long as I can remember, the sight of hundreds of dead and dying trees languishing on grass verges waiting for the rubbish cart after New Year, has upset me.

Why do we stick slavishly to a (mostly) German tradion which has nothing to do with Christmas except habit?

Why not consider not being being part of the 50 million tree killing spree this Christmas?

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A real tree is the perfect backdrop to my lovely baubles, Kaimoana
When we had a bigger garden we had 3 and rotated them - two years break then the next year they got to be the 🌟 of the show.

I love real Christmas trees, the happy/sad memories of my parents, my children growing up and our first tree as a couple are relived each year as our old (and handmade) baubles, angels and salt dough shapes come out of summer hibernation

These sparkling, fragile, precious and tacky little joys speak to the continuity of family, the "love and peace" message of the season and, although I'm aware it's a new custom here (only just over two centuries) it's a heartwarming tradition, full of expectation and quiet waiting that has been a part of my life, for all of my life.

Our beautiful tree (and the enormous effort of choosing, transporting and erecting and then the time it takes to decorate it carefully, with care and intent, is something precious - and not something I'm ready to give up just yet

Here are two mouse angels waiting for new wings. The white one was made when I was a first year student and the bulgy-eyed one is my youngest son's - made with help when he was about 5. They were mended last year.

The baubles start from about 1920, the ones with indents came back from London in the 1950s and 60s - thre were anlot from the 1950s as my father had a shop and had a tree there too. I have now divided up the oldest and most meaningful baubles so that my daughters each have a "share" of this family history now

I love seeing something of my grandparents and my parents and my childhood on their trees along with their own little family treasures. Like Doodle, I love my memories - and if they make me cry a little (which they do) it just shows how precious they were and are. I always have a little weep dressing the tree. It is a perfect indulgence and act of gratitude it seems to me.

Ah yes, Kaimoana. I should have remembered similar discussions last year.

Our living tree brings all the good things that NS has so eloquently outlined.

We buy from a working farm which clearly benefits from an additional and guaranteed income stream, so important in these times when farming remains a beleaguered and uncertain industry.

We donate our tree, along with others, to a collection run entirely by (300+) volunteers in support of our local hospice. Last year, the sum raised was £120,000, the total since inception of this scheme being approximately £2million, all of which has benefitted directly the work of the hospice, its staff, patients and their families.

It would be interesting to find out how many skeletal trees are, sadly, left to fester at the kerbside. For sure, no council refuse collection these days would pick them up. You need a green (or equivalent) bin, a paid up subscription service and the ability - and desire - to chop your tree into little pieces to fit in.

We do still have a recycling - of the "chipping" sort that comes round after Christmas.
Unfortunately it's often too soon for me as we leave the tree up till 12th night, having usually put it up only on Christmas eve

Mine is like yours NotSpaghetti . I think I could take my tree to the tip but at the risk of leaving all the needles in the car.
I usually chop it for firewood. I still have my open fire.
I'm expecting my next Helper tomorrow. I must make my wish list of jobs for her to tackle.

I'm on the bus to Edinburgh to see my lawyer again hoping that he understands what needs to be done to release my DH investments.
It's like trying to get blood from a stone. I have said all this before

Here's my view out of the bus window.

DD has water and power again. Thankfully.
But in Dublin my DS says his favourite book shop has burned down. 😔

What a lovely view, Grammaretto!

How long is the journey?

Kaimoana since being married I have only had one real tree. It dropped loads of needles on the floor, was threadbare by Christmas and from that point it’s been artificial.
Having said that Notspaghetti i love the sound of your tree and its precious ornaments. How lovely each one holds memories.
I have a small metal foil red rose held together by glue which has been on every Christmas tree top we have had. It’s most precious to me.
Grammaretto a new helper. How exciting. Where is this one from?
Oh now I really am jealous. What a lovely view. I miss countryside and seaside. I’m lucky I overlook the river but it’s not the same.
What a shame about the bookshop. There are so few about these days.
I’ve spent hours trying to sort out my renewal for my driving licence. Blocked at every turn and every option of press 1 for this and 2 for that. Finally found I could do it online and having spent a long time filling in all the details with my passport and driving licence number it told me I couldn’t proceed because I didn’t have a driving licence 😡

Your driving licence fiasco sounds very annoying Doodle.

The lawyer was reassuring but he had to ask for a second opinion, which pleased me as I thought it was just my stupidity.

The bookshop, Books Upstairs, is not too badly damaged but it was arson which makes me very sad.

I like the countryside too. When we first moved here there were cows and sheep nearby but now the fields are full of houses. The bus I took today was quick so less than an hour but it can take much longer.

My Helper is from Australia.

Grammaretto spent another one and a half hours in the phone to DVLA again today. Gave up in the end because the music was driving me mad. Never got through to anyone. In the end I sent an email but no idea if I’ll get a reply.

Hope the lawyer can sort things out. It’s been quite a while now. I was lucky I managed to sort out things without needing probate as most things were in joint names.

Ohh Australia that sounds like fun. Hope all works out well

Been to sit fit today, who would have thought so many middle (old) aged ladies could have so much laughter playing catch the tennis ball,
Church in the morning.

Sit fit sounds like a lot of fun. Doodle
Phone call to DVLA no fun at all. 😔

I went to exercise class today. It's a circuit of the gym hall under instruction from a physio/sport therapist.
We are mostly old crocks like me.
One poor lass fell and broke her ankle ages ago. It's still so swollen she can't wear shoes.

The Australian Helper arrived. She seems nice. I'd made a vegetable and lentil stew but she couldn't eat it because she can't eat lentils.
Now wouldn't it have been a good idea to tell me beforehand!

Incidentally, in Gaelic there's a word for afterhand as well as beforehand.

Gaelic was fun tonight. We had the first of 11 presentations. We are all to give a short talk about something that excites us.
Tonight the bar was high. A Hungarian student gave a talk with a PowerPoint about video games which have been made in Gaelic.

Mine is next....but not for 2 weeks as it's half term.

How are all our lovely Lobstars?

Good Grief Lobsters...I thought I'd lost 2 months rather than a week being unwell .....all that talk about Christmas trees, I knew I'd been a bit away with the fairies for a couple of days but to suddenly be in the midst of a serious conversation re real or not trees came as a big surprise Thankfully DH who thinks I'm away with the fairies most of the time told me to carry on reading your posts until all became clear Phew

I'm now bandaged from knee to ankle... despite all my best efforts the wound became infected, I think the GP is regretting not prescribing antibiotics sooner, and so am I as the ones they have had to give me are very strong and made me feel dreadful. 5 days later and the side effects are starting to get less and I'm able to do more. The nausea and well let's just say another side effect have meant a weight loss so I should see that as a plus🤣

I am totally unable to comment on a Christmas tree as I'm still in my summer shoes and the heating isn't on yet I always seem to miss out on wearing Autumn clothes as I cling onto Summer for so long and tip straight into Winter stuff come November.

It's been lovely to read all your posts,
Doodle I so felt for you and the slipper, just the other day who's searching for something else I came across Jogging Bunny who I thought had been lost in the move, he's over 40 years old and used to sit on the bed and somewhere they is a picture of DD3 aged less than a year sitting propped up on the pillows holding him. All I could say was oh jogging bunny I thought you were lost forever. I didn't cry because DH hates to see me upset about not seeing my children and Grandchildren Jogging Bunny probably needs to go to the Repair Shop but for now he is back on the blanket box at the bottom of the bed.

Kaimoana all these hurdles will be so worth it when you are resettled near your DGD, we will all be here spurring you on and sharing your excitement.

Grammaretto, I can't do lentils either, I have never been the same since my best friend won a week's stay at Springs Health Resort, we ate nothing but raw food and pulses and very very al dente vegetables, we escaped one afternoon and staggered into a tea room in Ashby de la Zouche and devoured a huge cream tea. We crept back in and spent 30 minutes in the gym trying to undo the damage At the end of the week I hadn't lost even a pound but my insides never recovered, I could have been a standby for a fog warning at Dover Docks for weeks to come if you get my meaning!!!!!

Anyway on that unsavoury memory I will depart and try and persuade myself that this weekend away in Henrietta MoHo is going to be fun.... It's not happening so far

Grammaretto what is your talk going to be about.
I had a reply from DVLA today about the email I sent yesterday.

In my email I explained that the form they said they would send hadn’t arrived. That I have repeatedly tried phoning but am unable to get through. I have waited for long periods on hold including and hour and a half.

Their response “we cannot deal with this by email. Please phone us” 😡. If it wasn’t my driving licence I’d give up.

Hope your Australian helper doesn’t have lots of things she can’t eat.

NN I’m so sorry your wound became infected. Yes being bandaged from toe to knee is the usual way to prevent swelling.
Sorry you’ve been feeling so bad I do hope after going through all this the antibiotics work.

Oh dear Jogging bunny. I can understand how that would hurt.
Things must be so hard for you. Something that brings back memories like that can knock you for six.

Hmm I’ve been eating lentil crisps thinking they were better than potato ones. I felt so bloated today I wonder if it could be that.

I went to church this morning then had afternoon tea at the hospice. Lovely afternoon

Kaimoana hugs for you, hoping the spacing makes it easier to read. X

That's awful Doodle. Is there someone who could help you?
Perhaps you could ask DVLA to phone you?

I find most things very complicated these days. I posted a form online this evening and had several attempts before I managed all the steps. I hope it doesn't get returned 😕

My talk is to be about Help Exchange, the site I use to find my volunteers.
www.helpx.net
So far I have written it in English. Now to translate into Gaelic.....

Glad you had a lovely day.

Poor Naughtyneine your leg must be very sore. I hope the antiBs work soon.

Hoping Kaimoana, NotSpaghetti, ixion and Cherry are alright.

What's happened to Jeeves? Has he put us on diets? I miss my night caps and hot chocolate 😉

Well Grammaretto i finally managed to get through to DVLA this morning. I rang as the clock hit 8am and only had a 2 minute wait to get through. Spoke to a lovely Welsh lady who said the required for would be posted to me today. Maybe I’m getting somewhere.
What a good idea for your talk. Something you know a lot about that would be of interest to others,
Jeeves has been on sabbatical and has just got back (I forgot about him 😱)
He’s brewing special hot chocolate tonight with a little added chocolate sprinkles.
Love and hugs to all the lobstars. We miss you 💕

I am sorry to read of your admin frustrations, Doodle.

I am having similar - a quote and a promise of an email follow up 'within 30 minutes' last week came to nothing.

Another telephone call (lovely calming music at least) yesterday confirmed that there was no record whatsoever of my previous contact and discussion.

Was I sure that I had rung the right company? I was asked🙇‍♀️.
Luckily I had checked my telephone records and could point out date, time and length of call and (their own) phone number.

All sorted swiftly and efficiently- but how much time and energy is wasted 'hanging on the telephone'.

Trip to dentist today to review previously abscessed tooth led to impressions being made: sat on the bus home with a small choccy bar and rescued what turned out to be half a tooth. The other half is still in there, so back for more work in the morning.

I hope that your helper is settling in, Grammaretto, and that you have found common ground in the food department.

How's the leg, NN? Thinking of you💐

Hello Grammaretto, Doodle and all the lobStars 🧡. I am here but lurking. I do care about my lobStar friends and I do miss chatting with you all but I think you can guess why I'm not.

It was good to see Jeeves again after his extended sabbatical, his hot chocolate was yummy tonight. Night 🌙 lobStars.

Sending love and cwtches xx

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Hello!!!
I am pleased that the DVLA are acting, that Jeeves is back, that Grammaretto has her talk materials lined up - - but not so pleased to hear about half-teeth and bandaged legs!

I have managed nearly all day to waddle about crutch-free so Hooray🩼

And I've supervised the fitting of my mother-in-law's lovely new stairlift... (which I think she is suddenly nervous about!)
I think she will get used to this soon but she is apparently "waiting for her physio to give advice regarding upstairs maneuvering". He is due on Wednesday and has already asked for some new "upstairs" equipment for the shower and WC so 🤞

Oh dear Ixion that sounds expensive. I’ve just finished a series of treatment at the dentist.my credit card will be relieved.

Dear Cherry how we miss you. So good to hear you’re there . Glad you enjoyed Jeeves contributions last night. I hope you and WP are keeping as well as you can . Cwtches and love 💕

Notspaghetti that looks like a very snazzy stair lift. It like a helter skelter. I’m sure your MiL will wonder how she managed without it once she’s got used to it.

I’ve had my flu and covid jabs today. Hoping I’m not I’ll like last year.

Kaimoana hope you’re ok too. 💕