🦞🦂 Lobstars 🌟 still shining bright 🦞🦂

When Sparky has sorted your window, Grammaretto, could you please ask him to nip sarf and fix our bedroom Velux window which fell to pieces this morning?
It is, in fairness, a vintage model which needs to be opened and closed with an even older vintage hook on a pole, à la Victorian school sash windows of my childhood.
Truth to tell, I am hoping that we've to buy a modern replacement: I fancy one with a remote control and whizzy blinds which roll down on request.

I do hope your nursing treasure is a success with your MIL, NS. Or at least more acceptable than one we found for my DM. Unsuitable, regrettably, as she proferred an afternoon tea tray with elevenses 'thick' coffee mugs and not the requisite bone china tea service.
Hope you are managing to get around successfully🌻

I'm sorry your Monday was Miserable, Doodle.
Mine was good.
In fact, excellent, in that one area of my body 🫁 has been declared fit and healthy, despite what the doctor at the hospital had decided. I knew I was right.
Tomorrow, another day, another body part.
We'll get to the bottom of it eventually, eliminating (so to speak) as we go.
Yippee.

The winds and squalls have finally died down here, having been quite scary at times.
I was bothered for Barney's safety at times, lest he be blown away.
Cue rudeness from family members pointing out his greatly increased girth, weight and overall size since we got him.🙄

Sorry it's been miserable Monday Doodle or is that just a reference to the weather?.

Yes MM is very much in the picture. He's determined to raise the money but glad I have let the flat for 6 months so am not pressing him and am resigned to another winter here. Still no proper news from planning re self build.

I've alerted Sparky to help me work my Central heating. It's freezing. 🥶
I'm also going to ask him to shut my
bedroom window. That sounds a bit cheeky 😜

DD & co are camping in the North of Scotland this weekend. They are made of tough stuff.

I hope you all have a good night's sleep xxxx

Evening all.
Kaimoana we are all thinking of you and missing you. Hope you are able to see Gubbins again soon.
Cherry a delight to hear from you again.
Grammaretto so music man is still interested. Wish he’d get a move on. Glad you made some good purchases. Sadly our local Hobbycraft is closing soon. Like many shops, not enough trade I suppose.
Ixion i Hope you pass your MOT. My car is hoping to do the same tomorrow. Sorry you have so many hospital appointments. I know what that is like. Take care of yourself please we need a little ixion around to keep our Pom Poms up.
Notspaghetti good you are making progress. I do hope the new carer for your MiL works out well and doesn’t require sacking.
Been one of those miserable Mondays today. Tomorrow is terrible Tuesday. Things are getting easier though and by midweek I pick up a bit. Take care all lobstars. Love and cwtches to all

Oooh Cherry - not too much cake!!
I won't be able to mobilise if I eat much cake!!

Mmmn ...am I very bothered about that today?

So good that you are home NotSpaghetti. Slow and steady now 🍰☕️ x
I hope the testing & MOT goes well today ixion x

Thinking of you all x

They only give you a tiny staircase in the hospital don't they. I was not dancing immediately at all but because it was mid winter and snowing there was no pressure to do anything apart from sleep, watch films, chat to friends and eat chocolate.

I managed to buy some lovely art stuff at Hobbycraft today. I was like a child in a sweet shop. Then having wrapped the parcel discovered today is some sort of holiday and the PO was shut!

Music man brought some people to look over the house. He is a sound recordist so was testing my rooms for sound, echo, insulation, wiring. He didn't seem as impressed as MM.

I now must begin an order for pasta dishes.

I am hopeful for you and the new Carers NotSpag. 🤞 fingers firmly crossed

Before the operation, Grammaretto my left foot stability wasn't great so I thought of it as my "bad" foot!
Now I have a not-so-terrific foot and a dubious leg!
I have remembered the up/down thing though!

It was very confusing in the hospital to be fair though!

NN come back with more mobility news please... I know you were dancing in about a day and a half Grammaretto!
💃🏿🕺🏼👯‍♀️

Hello friends.
Feeling chirpier today as have secured someone who is an ex-nurse to come and look after my mother-in-law for three weeks... hooray! She will come next Monday - the day from which my mother-in-law "sacked" her care agency!

We now have 3 weeks to find a "follow-on" person.
Phew!

Don't forget it's up to heaven, down to hell when negotiating stairs NotSpag. Good leg leads going up and bad leg leads going down so it never has to bend.

I'm sure you'll recover quickly though so won't need aids. You'll be skipping again!

Littlest DGC will be 8 this week and I'm looking for a painting set for her.
They grow up too quickly.
I hope Kaimoana has seen her Gubbins again.

Your day sounded great fun NN 😁
I hope your medical appointments are all good ixion and you pass muster.

Sending good wishes to all.

Good luck ixion for your analytics, service and MOT. I hope a full and proper repair gets you motoring along smoothly again - or at least as smoothly as is possible!

It is gratifying to read that my pearls of wisdom have been missed. Apologies.
I have not, recently, been firing on all cylinders and, as a consequence, get very tired, very easily.
Never mind, testing and - hopefully - a full service and MOT - start tomorrow.
Never has my diary been so chock a block with engagements, but this time of the medical and not the social type.
Better times, hopefully, just around the corner ...

I am enjoying reading of everyone's doings, but missing Kaimoana and hoping that there has been an opportunity to see dear Gubbins again. Any news on DS' job hunt?

Hoping that NS isn't having to get used to life upstairs. I recall that hospital physios' trial stairs are pretty far removed from the real thing. I hope your pain is well controlled.

NN, You had good day out, you and your inner child! Old fashioned arcades are such fun, aren't they? We used to get through so many pennies on an afternoon out - very more-ish! I remember you could go to a booth and get small coin exchanges for the machines.
Knowing when to call it a day was the secret.

Interesting history, Grammaretto - thank you. I do enjoy reading of life in your town.

I'm afraid the Team pompoms, Doodle, are most dreadfully droopy.
Sometimes after the ritual trouncing we wonder if they will ever perk up again.

Grammaretto thanks for the explanation. Not as interesting a building as I’d originally thought. Very smart and tidy now but as you say just a sort of shed. I’m with you on putting the heating on. It’s chilly.
I too would like to hear from Cherry Kaimoana and Ixion Hope all are ok.
Noatspaghettig so pleased you’re home. Sounds like an interesting journey.
NN I loved the witty story of your day. How nice to have a walk along the esplanade. Did you have ice cream?
Hope you get more use out of your coatigan than I have mine. I keep forgetting I’ve got it.
Had a nice time in church today then went to see our grandson . Had a lovely price of his birthday cake and a lovely chat.
Been pouring here. Looks so dismal.

Welcome Home NotSpag...onwards and upwards now. I do love this thread, you learn so many things that you would never hear about unless you were local to the area. ( Hearse House details duly noted).
Costco good intentions all went West...and a beautiful coatigan fell into the trolley...it was DH's fault...he told me to treat myself...I needed no second bidding . It's beautifully soft and perfect for the approaching (still not accepting it's actually here) changing season. Several other items fell in too... Including a taco tray already to assemble and eat....cooked spicy chicken, coleslaw, cheese, sauces etc... We had them last night with something called dirty fries ( potato wedges with melted cheese and chillies)
The gym will have to be visited several times this week methinks. On the way home we stopped at a place we hadn't been to before...the sun was out and we had a little walk along the esplanade...my hip isn't allowing much walking at the moment. Grrrrr. But we did have fun spending 50p ( big spenders us 🤣) playing shove halfpenny (2ps) in the tiny arcade. We were definitely the oldest in there and the tickets that we won were accepted by a little girl of no more than 8 who definitely knew what she was doing. It's the little things sometimes isn't it...we walked out of there hand in hand and laughing

Today I have attacked the freezers, emptied cleaned and repacked...and now I can't move....who on earth needs 8 packets of pastry? filo, short and puff, apparently I do but at least I now know where they are...
I was going to make green tomato and apple chutney today too but I've booted Domestic Goddess back in her box and slutty housewife is going to have a glass of Chenin Blanc at 6pm...it maybe even earlier
Love to you all

The building was in such a sorry state it was more or less rebuilt. Youngsters, under supervision, helped and learned how to use lime mortar. I found a picture of the inside before but can't find one without people in it, restored.
It does look stark but will mellow.

That looks very smart Grammaretto!
- I don't quite understand why the (new?) beam hasn't got any "trim" at the top though (like the old one) - which presumably was there to deflect rain from the top of the doors?

Maybe this was the original construction?

It's certainly very tidy.
The gravel is rather stark at the moment but will quickly "weather in" I think.

(I know I'm a bit odd so this isn't really a criticism- just me!)
It is really lovely bringing old buildings into new life.
I hope the community will get some good use out of it now is is sound again.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202509/medium-11fkat-1000033221.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202509/medium-enzn58-1000033223.jpg

Here are before and after photos of the hh. for anyone who really wants to know

Welcome home NotSpag!!
I hope you are being waited on hand and foot.

The car journey didn't sound comfortable but at least it's over now.

You are quite right about the Hearse House. It was on the buildings at risk register for as long as I can remember so eventually its turn came and a pot of money was found. At the same time the churchyard wall was repaired and currently there is scaffolding around the old, derelict church tower. The new church was built in 18th century.

Your new black hoodie sounds perfect Doodle

Any news from Cherry and Kaimoana?
More from ixion and NN would be good.
I'm thinking of putting the heating
on. Brrr. That's my news.

Cherry Kaimoana...hope you are (at least) muddling through OK.
And Ixion - how annoying to lose another post! - but thank you for the good wishes.

Hello from home to everyone else!
Hooe you are well.
X

I suppose, once a hearse house has gone it's not coming back.
I think there are lots of humanitarian needs really but 'twas ever thus.

Yes, the stairs were scary NN but it was OK really - going down may be trickier.. not looking forward to that!
Hope you are doing OK too...

New "big" items of clothing are such a treat Doodle - I hope your coat is just exactly what you need.

Hello!
Well here I an!
At home.
I came back yesterday but was exhausted - the journey is an hour.
After a long discussion my husband brought my mother-in-law's Honda which has upright seats and the front seat moves way back.

We spent ten minutes trying to get me comfortable in it but I had to get out in the end because the seat belt holder thingy was pressing horribly into the wound.
Luckily my oldest daughter had ignored my promises that I would be perfectly fine and followed him in to the hospital in her big car.
She thought the big car would be easier to get in and out of - well of course it wasn't - but because the front seats are much wider than the little one, the seat belt was less uncomfortable.

Who knew the biggest problem would be the seat belt!
Nevertheless we had to wodge the fluorescent nylon padded jacket from the boot between my leg and the clip.
I hung onto the "strap" at the side of the car all the way back!

Later my son said "why didn't you sit the other side in the back"?
🙄🤔🤕
Who knows???!
I think that would have been very clever - assuming the front seat/back seat gap was enough!
Why didn't I think of that?

A Hearse House is basically a garage for the horse-drawn hearse.
This one built about 1800 had fallen into disrepair and after a large cash injection has been restored but it's still just a cold shed. It has information boards inside which tell the history of the town.
Many locals felt the money should have been spent on something more worthwhile.

NN my coat is black. I thought it easier to get a black coat as then I can wear any colour underneath it. I’ve got black jeans and black boots too. It’s a lovely coat. So lightweight but waterproof and wind proof, just the right length and with a big hood. I’m very pleased with it.
I did wear a warmer top today. When the suns out it’s quite warm but when the wind picks up it’s cold.
I think I’d rather have droopy Pom Poms than have them ironed. They get deposited in a suitable size container and hitched up as far as is comfortable until I get home and then they happily relax into droop mode.
Notspaghetti hope all is well with you and you are improving.
Grammaretto what is Hearse House? Sounds interesting.
Your friends project sounds nice will it be near you?
Glad your lodgers are ok. Quiet but nice to have them around I imagine.

Hope your days went well Lobstars.
Did you come home NotSpag?
Are you feeling better?

Did you survive the drive NN? I hope your pain subsided.
I am glad you gave that dodgy message a wide berth.
Assume a scam unless proved otherwise is my advice.

I had an "engineer" to see why my TV is only receiving BBC currently and has a pixilated picture. He diagnosed a faulty aerial and quoted £200 for a new one. When I suggested he look at the aerial, which is in the attic, he declined muttering that he had 17 yrs experience and knew that was the problem.

I am going to get another opinion. I can't believe the aerial can suddenly stop working or that it costs as much as a television.
He may be correct but he lacked charm. 😅🤣
DH would re-tune it if he were here. 😔

Today I minded the newly renovated Hearse House in the churchyard nearby. I was with a nice chap who turned 90 this week and has lived in the town since he was 4. It's Doors Open Day but ironically the Open House which is open every Saturday was closed. Apparently it's a public holiday here.

I was wearing boots
How is the new coat Doodle?

My friend came to tea and told me of her latest project which is very exciting. She wants to rent a former village school and use it as artists' workshops. It's in a very scenic village
I hope her dream comes true.

My own house project has gone very quiet with no news at all. Luckily my new lodgers seem nice and quiet. I am hardly aware of them.

I am watching the Last night of the Proms. At least I can enjoy that!

NotSpag....I hope you feel strong enough to get home today.... I know what you mean about stairs, we had only lived here in the cottage for 13 days before the op and the stairs are very steep. I had to stop using the crutches as I couldn't manage them on the stairs so I held onto the wall either side instead You'll gain your confidence more each day**I hope your pain is kept under control too....sending you a gentle cwtch ♥️.
Grammaretto I hope that poor lady managed to get some money eventually for her weekend away...the DWP phoned me the other day and I must admit even though the number came up as Department of Works and Pensions I was very reluctant to give the woman any details
Doodle what colour is your new coat? I am fighting the slip into Autumn...as I hate saying goodbye to Summer and I actually winced when I saw someone wearing boots yesterday I'm still in my Birkenstocks ( well the Deichman version at a quarter of the price) and my winter clothes are still firmly packed away.
We are off to Costco today to order our contact lenses ( some other bits are bound to fall into the trolley too), the nearest is in Bristol and hours drive away and DH didn't want me to drive it while I'm in pain hence we are braving the M5 on a Saturday 😱
Sending love to you all
Re droopy pom poms....I think mine are like the rest of me...in need of starching and ironing🤣