🦞🦂 *What are we up to?*🦂🦞

There used to be dial phones with extra big numbers but I suppose noone uses those anymore.

I'm glad you'll see your DS this weekend.
Kaimoana. Will he take you out somewhere nice for your birthday?

My DS says there's a big storm coming to NZ. I hope there's not much damage in its wake.

The weather here turned cold and wet. So disappointing after such a great start to the week.

I have been photographing more things I still want to go to auction.

I was told today that the 2 long upholstered Quaker benches which left last week are going to a Yorkshire publican! I wonder what the 19th century Quakers would make of that 😯

Night night Lobstars. Sleep well xxx

Kaimoana it looks like there is Age Concern in NZ, I'm not sure where abouts you are but there do seem to be lots of branches. Do you think they might be able to help you? Could your son maybe get in touch with them if it's difficult for you.

Grammaretto as they say life goes on and so it seems for your benches too.
🙂

Kaimoana I’m pleased you’re going to talk to your son. I hope you can get the help you need. Is it possible to have your phone device always unlocked so you just have to answer it?
Thanks for the info. I’m ok with HMRC I’ve looked up. And know what they’re doing. What I can’t understand is that they give you money and then say now you have to pay it back. Apparently I can stop them paying it to me in the future to save this pay it back hassle so I will do that.
Grammaretto how did the TV viewing at your house go? Any further news from music man.
I had a nice walk with the group this morning then a long chat after. Going to lunch at the garden centre tomorrow.

Hello Lobstars.
I've just said goodbye to my friends who came for dinner. My usual friend plus my recently bereaved friend. I made fish pie.

It was like last Friday and DS phoned from NZ so "joined" us at the table. DGS read one of his poems which he'll be reciting at the grand new reopening of Wellington library today.
Central library has been closed for years for some reason but will be all shiny and new from now on.

Music man came to meet the 2nd TV crew. It was an obscure satellite channel I've never heard of. The one on Tuesday was STV.

He then chatted to me in the garden. I'm not really sure what he said but I told him it was getting urgent and I think he understood.

Another auction house said they weren't interested in any of my things but if any friends or family have collections of watches, jewellery, bank notes or coins, even vintage whisky then he could be interested!

There used to be dial phones with extra big numbers but I suppose noone uses those anymore.

The estimate I was given, ages ago now, for one unit was $200, not sure for how long but my son speculated that Telecom were deliberately pricing high to get rid of subscribers and responsibility for units.

I'm glad you'll see your DS this weekend.

Me too

Kaimoana. Will he take you out somewhere nice for your birthday?

My preference is to have DS cook for us in the comfort of our own homes(s) - I find that more relaxing than a restaurant. He is a 1st class cook.
The other drawback is that I can no longer see the food on my plae or what's on the table. Scrabling for condiments and dropping them is not a good look in public.


My DS says there's a big storm coming to NZ. I hope there's not much damage in its wake.

Cyclone Vianu is on its way.
I've just closed all the windows and tied the plastic chair on my deck to a rail

We get cyclones and hurricanes every year but my house faces North whereas the other 14 in the road face east, so mine is fairly well protected.

Mmmmm fish pie, my favourite.

Yes, we do have Age Concern and several other agencies alleged supporters of elderly. I've approached them all.
“What’s your phone number?”
I don’t have a phone just the email.
“Can you come into the office?”
I can’t go anywhere alone , so I have to say no.
They won't visit.
Here endeth the lesson.

My son could take time off work to drive me, I won't ask.

Helping someone who is not only disabled but blind and housebound is, as I have found - not within anyone’s remit.

One must be fit, energitic and with your own transport (or a driver) to deserve help.
Pesky old wimmin who won’t conform to the rules can go to Niflheim.

l can understand it though, they must restrict themselves as to what they can do.

Researching for help on the Internet is also almost impossible now. As I1 write this, I can see my keyboard but not what I have just put on screen.

Reading your posts, or a sample of them, is a long, laborious process of cut and paste. But we’re old friends, so I owe it to you

Don't worry, I haven't given up yet.
The bad thing about being knocked down is if you don't get up again - right?

I hope you enjoy your family get together for your birthday meal, Kaimoana and that you get proper time to talk to your son about your difficulties and pray that he may be able to help resolve some of the pressing issues that you have🌻.

Jan, how is your husband? Is the assistance with hospital travel working out OK?
One less thing to worry about, which must be a big relief.

Grammaretto, I read elsewhere that a prospective buyer is interested in exploring a potential use for your home as a community arts centre. Is that Music Man or do you have a two horse race? Either way, a lovely legacy for your family home for the future.

NN, my mum had a special way of folding socks, allegedly so that the ribbing was not over-stretched when putting them on ...
They were somehow turned inside out so you put your feet in to them like slippers and pulled the leg bits up over your foot and up into place.

No, my dad didn't 'get it' either, when they were first married and needed a demonstration.

Hope you enjoyed your lunch out, Doodle. Does the walking help your knees and hips?

My dad did socks like that ixion
As a child I remember him helping me with them.
I was very fortunate in that my bed was over the Aga cooker so my room stayed warmish overnight and in the morning I came down to vest and pants toasty warm on the Aga cooker bar

Music man is the community arts . He has extended his plans to include dance as well as music and has ambitious ideas for looking after peoples mental health through the above.

The other people interested want it to become flatlets for the elderly.

Meanwhile I am planning to put the house on the open market soon, though I'd rather not but needs must.

I can only wear one type of sock. The ones I buy have a soft top so they don't dig into my fat/swollen ankles.

We have our own storm here with strong winds and rain. I don't suppose it's as bad as all that but I sit here listening to it and hope no trees fall.

I wish life was easier for you Kaimoana.
I hate to think your pride gets in the way of common sense. 😊
I feel sure your DS would help if you asked.

Jan how are things with you?

Night night Lobstars. Sleep tight

Kaimoana such a predicament. You seem t be hampered no matter which way you turn.

I hope you have a lovely time with your son and I do hope he finds there’s a way he can help you.

You’ve got your chair tied to a railing and I’ve got my rocker tied to my balcony. Hope we both get to keep our furniture.

ixion I am trying to do some stairs. I need to exercise more. Trouble is I seem to have developed a problem with my left foot. It doesn’t like to bend as it should with walking.

So my right knee doesn’t like supporting my weight (and I don’t blame it but I’m still eating the chocolate 😳) and my left foot doesn’t like holding me up either so I end up doing a sort of shuffle.

Grammarettois music man seeking sponsorship for his plans? Is that why it’s taking him so long. If someone else is going to turn your home into flats could you have one of them to live in or would that not appeal to you?

The socks....and my little finger to show how small I can get them....I really do need to get out more.

With picture this time.

Are you a tai Marie Kwondo aficionado, NN?

I don't know how, or why, I came across her knicker folding guide, and I have to say it was jolly useful in terms of storage space.

The other option, I suppose, would be to drop a few pounds and buy smaller 'smalls'.
Mine have never been 'smalls'.

Mind you, I shouldn't think thongs would take up much space 😉

I'm afraid so Doodle MM has applied for grant funding only just and also has a crowdfunding page. When I eventually found it I was asked to be the first to donate!

Hence I am reluctantly going to advertise my house now.

My DM wore long wide silk knickers which I didn't understand anymore than I understand thongs.🤔

I'm sitting drinking coffee in our community café listening to the clunk of cups and chatter of kitchen staff. I was about to hang the washing out when it began to rain heavily so it's on the pulley.

It is or would have been our 57th wedding anniversary today. DD sent me good wishes.
She's so thoughtful. I had missed her 13th WA last week.

Talk of taking up little space reminded me of the time DH and I travelled to NZ with only carry-on luggage.
I packed as if I was going for a week and used a zipper plastic bag which I knelt on to extract some air.
We wore our outdoor clothes as it was snowing when we left and ofcourse we melted on arrival in Singapore.

The family were very pleased we didn't have much luggage as we were travelling around in their small campervan. They had brought tent and sleeping bags.
It was fun!
We stayed about a month altogether and bought a bag for bringing all our stuff home.

Hello this lovely sunny evening! I have ti say Im really worried about all this talk of sock folding and as for knicker folding - oh dear you all really need to get out more! Mind you if you saw my knicker drawer you would all probably be appalled. Wash em dry em and bung them in a drawer unlike DH who spreads each pair of knickers out carefully and lays them neatly one on top of the other!
Sensible talk now. Doodle so sorry to hear about your mobility problems. I too have a bad knee which together with the stroke effects isnt too good. No idea whether or not I need a new knee but will fight hard against it unless I start to get lots of pain. Im struggling to walk as it is and the idea of a painful new knee just doesn’t appeal. Not impressed by this getting old business!
Ixion yes the hospital transport is proving excellent although DH has only had 2 trips so far so maybe its too early to comment! So far he has been the only passenger in the car and fingers crossed it continues!
Hope the cyclone isnt too powerful Kaiomona sounds really scary and please talk to your son to see if he can help. There definitely comes a time when we have to stop “ mothering” our offspyand accept any help they can offer. Its worth a try anyway.
Talking of chocolate Doodle I have eaten so much over Easter you wouldn’t believe. Im ok until I start with one little piece but then I cant stop! DH is so annoying that he has just one small piece and thats it. And he is the one who bought the Easter eggs in the first place! Grrrrr!

Jan you’re a girl after my own heart. I’m with you. Wash them, dry them bung them in a drawer. Bras get washed and hung on the shower taps till the morning when they are usually dry. Clothes get hun on the airer and then hung up. I only plug in the iron if absolutely necessary. For years I roped everything. DH always wore shirts. Never T-shirts or polos so I hard at least one shirt a day to iron. Never minded that.
Geammaretto I think you’re wise to put your house in the market. I think music man is full of ideas but maybe not very practical,
Ok NN I’m impressed with your folding skills but I’d like to see origami style folding. Sho me when you’ve managed to make a stork out of your DH’s underpants. 🤣

Mr.I has never worn t-shirts or polo shirts either, Doodle.
🤷‍♀️
Luckily, our Team cheer leading outfit, you will have noticed, is pure bri-nylon, so iron free.

And the feathers and pompoms only need a quick shake at the end of the season. and moths balls.

Hoping happy memories have helped you through your special day, Grammaretto 💐

Thinking of you Gramaretto every day must be a challenge as it is for most bereaved Lobstars.

Directoire knickers' usually pink and sometimes coming down to or below the knee, were worn by most women over 50 in the old days. You could often see the hem when someone sat down and their skirt rode up a bit

I have very limited storage space, so I have to fold my not-directoire knicks. Usually into a neat rectangle.
As for socks: I put one on my hand, grab the other sock with it and fold down.
I roll my nighties up, also the cami tops I wear on hot days and under jerseys in winter.

In fact my wardrobe hardly changes with perhaps the addition of polo necks in the coldest weather.

By coincidence, the driver on the Health Shuttle which took me to the podiatrist today was telling me how successful MSM has been for her and her older sister (60) Both had bad knees and were in line for ops until they started taking it.
I wonder why surgeons don't tell patients about it.
Only once have I know it 'fail' and I wasn't entirely convinced the chap had taken any as he'd laughed when I suggested it.

You mentioned the dreaded M word ixion !

Yesterday my friend told me of her new hobby of selling clothes on line and even buying on line to sell for a profit. I asked if she wanted some of my better garments which I don't wear, to sell. Ok she said, show me . I produced a lined cotton coat which I only recall wearing once and noticed a vital button was missing. The next a beautiful Avoca lined soft woollen skirt. You guessed. Riddled with moth holes 😟
So that was that.
😂😅

Oh Grammaretto what a shame. Those dreaded Ms get everywhere.
Hope you had some happy memories of your anniversaries to help you smile a little.
Kaimoana i remember those now sort of. Would they have been called bloomers? Did they have elastic round the legs or am I thinking of something completely different.
I think I must look at MSM. My knees are pretty bad.

Grammaretto....I hope that yesterday was filled with wonderful memories that made you smile and pushed away the sadness. ♥️
I didn't expect such a reaction to my confession of my new folding addiction Go clutch your pearls again ladies I do wear thongs and can now reduce them to the size of a lipstick and they get neatly placed into the matching equally sized reduced bra. What on earth have I been reduced to..it will pass hopefully *and soon.

My bras are like breakfast bowls Naughtyneine, and although I can fold socks successfully the underwires make the folding of said architectural battening rather primitive!

My undies are all bamboo.

Apologies to any hungry pandas 😢

I have a drawerful of underwired bras which I cant't wear and have hardly worn. Do I just chuck them out or is there a charity somewhere? They're not even bamboo so I can't donate to the zoo.

Anyway Edinburgh zoo returned their pandas.

I enjoyed yesterday. This man, a writer and film editor for programmes such as the Antiques road trip, who came to look at and value the books in the "library" got excited several times and spent the entire day sorting, reading and explaining to me and his cousin -- my potter friend-- how to recognise an important book!

I have some important books but not always the ones I suspected.
I wanted to know if the sale of books would pay for my new house. The answer ofcourse was negative.

However by evening and a Quaker business meeting on zoom, I was able to read through some nice little books I didn't know I had.

Getting rid of those benches helped as they were obscuring some bookcases.

I was able to tell DS that he should take away his stamp albums, left to him when he was a boy, before I sell them for £££. 😂🤣

I have a new helper arriving tomorrow, I think. He's Spanish and has little English so I hope he's not a twin of Manuel.

Because it's not raining, I may suss out that walk avoiding the field of bulls.

Thank you dearly for your good wishes for my anniversary. Such kind and thoughtful Lobstars.

https://www.againstbreastcancer.org.uk/recycling/bra-recycling

Bra recycling, Grammaretto.