🦞🦂 *What are we up to?*🦂🦞

I’ve never heard of fish and chip babies either Grammaretto. What a good charity to support.
Kaimoana I’m sure your slippers are welcomed wherever they go.
My friend and I supported a church member who collected undergarments to go to a third world country. We bought up loads of pairs of knickers and bras in the M&S sale where they were selling them in bulk. The people on the tills must have thought we were mad buying bras from 32 to 38 DD and small to big girl knickers.

Doodle

I had a lovely visit with Gubbins and her Mummy yesterday and she phoned DS in London so we had a very special virtual family reunion (if a bit teary).

Gubbins hair, the most beautiful, wavy auburn, is very long now, almost to her waist. She doesn't like it being combed or brushed - I think Mum waits until she's asleep to tackle it!
Funily enough, her Daddy had a thing about having his hair washed until we found ways round it.

Only 7 days to go before DS is home. He's set up a few interviews so warns it might be a few days before he can get over here to visit. Just knowing he's' back in Aotearoa will be good.

I'm afraid my nigling hip is now givingme more pain than is comfortable so I've made an appt with the doc who will no doubt send me for an X-ray. Then, if results warrant it, I'll go on the list for a replacement.

It's Labour (long) Weekend here when we celebrate the day in 1840 that Samuel Parnell, a carpenter persuaded the govt to agree to no more than an 80 hour working week without consultation.

Ironically, the area of Auckland now named Parnell for him is where all the high-flying millionaire types live.


Traditionally, at least until global warming became a factor, this was also the weekend the weather got better but not this year. It's wild, windy and wet.
(a bit like some of our politicians)

Aroha mai
Blame my eyesight again. "an 8 hour working day"

NZ workers were among the first in the world to achieve this.

Kaimoana your visit with the clearly gorgeous Gubbins and your virtual reunion sounds magical. It has brought a tear to my eyes too, but ones of joy for you 🥰 X

kaimoana I’m so pleased you had a lovely visit with Gubbins. I do hope her mum was nice and it was an enjoyable afternoon. I bet you can’t wait to see your son. Hope his interviews go well. Sorry about your hip. Hope you get to see the doc.
Cherry nice to know you’re still hovering in the background.
I’ve been to church this morning and got a bit teary but ok now. Our son came round this afternoon to do a few jobs for me and we went to the hospice for lunch which was nice.
Grammaretto has your helper gone? Are we waiting for another? Anything exciting happening round you,
We had our half marathon today and some of the main roads were closed. That’s about as exciting as it gets, 😊

I'm sorry to hear about that bit of Sunday sadness Doodle but it does gladden my heart that you saw your DS and were able to have lunch in the place of great comfort to you 🌻 X

Thanks Cherry I don’t mind the sadness so much now.. The early anguish has diminished and I accept feeling that the sadness will comes in waves at times. I some way I’m glad it still hurts because it means I’m remembering and missing.

So pleased you had a good time with Gubbins, Kaimoana. I wish your DS good fortune with his job hunting and really hope that there is a happy outcome for everyone from this. How long do you suppose that you may have to wait for a new hip? Good luck with your consultation.

Thank you Doodle for explaining about prayer shawls. I like the idea of simple knitting which enables me to knit and watch the box at the same time multitask, but 5' long? That's a lorra lorra knitting, but I can see how comforting that would make it to wrap round oneself❤️.

You have been busy, as ever, Grammaretto. DS has just returned from a holiday in the Highlands, in and around Glen Affric. He brought back several maps of the area, all with Gaelic place names, naturally, but with the English translation underneath and, helpfully, a phonetic guide.
For a few minutes, one could be forgiven for speaking like a native😉.
I thought of you!

I know that feeling so well Doodle it's like they slip further away as you gradually learn to live with the loss.
I find old friends who knew him so comforting but now I've become friends with people who didn't know him and that is strange.

I made some more bowls today to replace the last ones which warped in the kiln.

I'm glad you had that time with Gubbins Kaimoana such joy 😊

I'm expecting one more Helper before Christmas. Another Aussie girl.

Lovely to see you posting Cherry hope you are well dear girl.
I also hope the angst over the neighbour with mental health issues has calmed.

Not much happening here as I too sit, knit and listen to 'cosy mysteries'.

I've been trying to find mystery audio books which are not about murder - far, far harder than it sounds - we are obsessed it seems.

I thought this new genre 'cosy' was introduced because so many readers wanted excitement in their stories without grim death. It seems not.

I am open to recommendations.

You'll just have to write one Kaimoana 😂
Or try teenage books? I'll ask my avid reader teenage DGS for suggestions.

I hope Naughtyneine is serious about joining the Glasgow meetup. another thread
They are fun. One joins from Inverness and another often comes when she visits her DD, though she's from the South of England.

Always good to see Cherry

Grammaretto I so am....just waiting for a date to be set..✈️ to book as soon as it is....

ixion yes it takes a while to knit 5ft but the idea is it can completely wrap around you. The fringe on the end makes it look really nice.

At the moment I’m knitting one with two balls of different multicolour. They are the leftovers from previous shawls. I wasn’t sure at first what it would look like but I’m quite pleased with the effect so far.

Grammaretto I’m lucky in that my neighbour and close friend also knew DH and DH and I both knew her husband too so the four of us knew each other which is lovely because we can talk about them both and know we understand.
Glad you’re getting another helper soon.

NN how lovely if you and Grammaretto get to meet up. I bet that will be a lovely meeting.

Kaimoana must be soon your son is home. I bet you can’t wait to see him. I do hope he is successful in his job search soon

Ah, there you are - I was on the point of sending out the bloodhounds, Doodle.

Thank you for telling us more about your shawls.I love the idea❤️.
Good that your son is around to do those little jobs that many of us take for granted.

Bet Kaimoana is counting down the days til DS is back. Busy he may be, but at least he's on the same continent this time! Let us know how. you get on with your hip consultation.

You will be in good company hip-wise with at least 🦞🦞🦞 gang members here that I know of!

I would have loved to purchase your wonky bowls, Grammaretto. Just what I need to free up some of the family cereal bowls which double up as plant pot holders.

Have a good night (day) all!

I loved the wonky bowls too Grammaretto. I'm a bit out of the loop, Kaimoana is your son coming back for good?
Ixion you are so right about the hips..I went for my 3rd pre op assessment yesterday, still waiting for this special scan, it feels like it's dislocating slightly ( if that is possible) every time I stand up.*I'm a bit fed up of I'm honest.
Doodle can you post a picture of the latest shawl?
Hope everyone else is ok...I'm a bit of a misog today...pain does that to you sometimes doesn't it. I'll be back when I've given myself a kick up the btm.

I hope we do meet up NN but we still dont have a date for Glasgow and I would also like to visit my pal on the Western Isles, and there's your leg/hip pain to think of.

My pasta bowls are too crooked ixion so have gone but I finished turning another 6 this morning. I now have to make some mustard jars. My friend who's a wood fettler will make some tiny spoons.

I had a busy day in Edinburgh yesterday. I ate my picnic in the Archivist's garden behind Register House, before going to the storytelling centre to watch a film about Tim Stead. I never met him but love his furniture.

That's so nice Doodle that you have a close friend who understands what you are going through.

My chilly picnic spot

Ixion i am lucky that both our sons live close by. One is more practical than the other but out other so. Is good at picking his mum up off the floor and sitting with her for hours in A&E when she breaks her wrist. 🤣 They are both lovely as are their families.
Kaimoana hope you are coping ok. I’m wondering how much of a shock it will be to your son as to how things are for you now. I do hope he comes to visit soon.
NN don’t go kicking yourself too hard. You can’t help being miserable when you’re ill or in pain. Hope you get news about your op soon. Photo as requested.
Well Grammaretto I’ve learnt a new word today. I have never heard of a fettler. Must be nice to go to Edinburgh when you want. I’ve never been but imagine it’s a beautiful historic place with lovely architecture.
Went to sit fit this morning so now aching in unusual places. We certainly get a good work out, church tomorrow

Wow Doodle, that is proper snuggly. Love it! Are all your shawls destined for your congregationers? I hope your aches in unusual places are easing. Are these the sitting ones still?

My cousin's son fettles, Grammaretto. He also fettles spurtles😉
I love hearing about your trips too. What does impress me is what appears to be the frequency and late running of your buses. That really creates opportunities for evening entertainment in the capital.

I'm sorry you are misog. NN. Not that I know what that is.
Pain is a bu**er, isn't it? I really hope you can get things moving for a speedy op date.

I have spent a lovely afternoon in the warmth of the garden. Panic following emails from my bulb company saying things like 'your wait is nearly over' and 'keep an eye out for our exciting delivery'.
Cue prepare tubs and create anti-squirrel mesh over the top.

I brought out the rebel in me, by wearing my fingerless gardening gloves.
Could hear a sharp intake of breath from on high, my DM sighing 'Oh no. Fingerless gloves are only for clippies'.

'Oh no. Fingerless gloves are only for clippies'.

Isn't it funny how previous generatios had their funny little prejudices? Do we do the same?

My Mum told me dangling earrings were the mark of a 'common' woman - common translated as having sliding morals.
Smoking in the street was another one - women only, men were exempt, they being beyond the pale anyway!

And in Yorkshire, 'fettle' meant two things: to work hard and to be healthy, as in 'he's in fine fettle' applied to person or animal.

'He's a reight champion fettler' = he's a good worker.

Indeed, Kaimoana.

It took me until my 40th birthday to be brave enough to get my ears pierced.
🤦‍♀️

I've never had my ears pierced. When my sister's ear went septic I made up my mind.

Fettling is a term used in pottery. I used it to describe what my friend does with his knife and wood.

I am lucky to have a choice of 4 buses all going to Edinburgh. One is a night bus which runs all night.
Another reason I wouldn't want to live any further out.
I arranged to view a flat but today I had a call 📞 from the agent saying it was under offer!

Doodle, that's beautiful, I love the colours. That will surely bring peace and comfort.
I hope the achy bits are less so today.

Ixion I am so jealous of you preparing tubs for bulbs. I carefully lifted last year's back in early summer and they are still in the greenhouse. Our garden is my happy place normally but not even that is lifting my spirits just now.

Grammaretto... Have you made a decision about appealing yet? I hope this all resolves itself for you soon and in the meantime keep us with you virtually on your trips out

I have my ears pierced ( 2 in each ear) and as a gift to myself aged 63 I had my nose pierced too. And wait for it I'm getting a tattoo for my 71st birthday in December. A very delicate butterfly on my foot.

My Mother will be spinning in her grave or maybe just giving in and accepting the words of Kahil Gibran when he says " your children are arrows that fly from your bow, let them live the life they want to live not the life you want them to live"

She would still say it was common though 🤣

An 8 hour working day in 1840 is an amazing achievement, Kaimoana
No wonder he is celebrated

Doodle, this time of year, traditionally our churches pay special attention to "those who have gone before" - I think all our loved ones will be in our hearts always but especially this time if year. All Saints and All Souls were important dates in our Church calendar.
You said I’m glad it still hurts - I can totally understand why you might feel like this. That "precious" grief is yours and yours alone and is now an important part of you.

Just sending all my lobstar friends who have no longer got their loved ones by their side day to day some extra love.
🧡
Thinking of you all

*What about the "Marcus Didius Falco Series" if you are looking for something investigative but still "cozy"? Kaimoana?"
I confess I haven't read any but they are "on my list"