🦞 The Lockdown Gang still chatting 🦞

Morning Lobstars. Grammaretto I do feel for you...we looked at so many places that were right in some ways but not in others.
Our cottage on paper was not what I thought I wanted, 2 bedrooms after 5 etc but it's everything I didn't know I wanted, in the countryside but within less than 2 miles of a small town with everything we need. Shops, Doctors, Catholic Church ( And an Aldi coming soon too).
I really hope your maybe forever home comes soon.
Notspag and Doodle I go to something called the Wellness Suite at the gym, it's a series of machines that you can work with or sit/lie and let the machines move you.
I put on a few pounds when I was inactive leading up to the op and the GP changing my HRT hasn't helped either. It's quite shocking that I weigh the same now as when I went in to have my 3rd DD.
I'm sure the extra weight is my very ample bosom..in fact I know it is as I've weighed them on the kitchen scales. It was quite a challenge admittedly and the Ddogs took to their beds when I shouted out I knew they weighed loads.
DH's response to said information was to merely smirk and say Ding Dong.

DF is going home today so Domestic Goddess will make a very brief appearance to strip the bed and generally flick dust around and if I can be bothered I'll get the stair carpets attacked with the tool thingy that removes dog hair very effectively.

The ex lodger (DD3 brother in law) is coming for the weekend and actually won't notice if the hoovering and polishing have been done but I'll do it anyway and that will count as today's exercise
Tomorrow I'm going to do a new class something called seated aerobics, my mind has boggled at what it involves, how fast can you get your heart rate on a chair? DH suggested a few ways non of which are printable here ( There is no hope for him but it did make me laugh). I will keep you posted.

Well done NotSpaghetti and Doodle. with the exercises to keep you as fit as possible.

I wish I could say the same. The cold just makes me hungry and doesn't tempt me to be active.

The surveyor came to do a home report and I viewed yet another house for sale.
It has a lovely walled south facing garden but the house itself isn't quite right.

Night night Lobstars. Sleep tight.

Notsaghetti me too. I do dit fit and am trying exercises to improve my knees which are very bad. The creaks and groans are unbelievable when I bend them., Good for you trying new things.

I have been trying to take more seriously my own health and physical improvement.

I have been to yoga twice (not good at this as not very bendy tbh) and to one pilates session and tomorrow I'm going to aquarobics. I've noticed that my left (stroke affected) foot is getting stiffer again... I really have to prevent that happening again if I possibly can.

Grammaretto I was pleased to hear it was a "good" funeral. I think there is something very healing about a good funeral. Still very sad but also happy memories

Mothers Day must be a different day there Kaimoana - but whenever it is it sounds like you had a lovely time with your son.
Sometimes it's really nice to have your offspring totally alone- as you can really chat without distraction.
I do hope you got a good chance to chat.

Kaimoana it was Peter O’Tool’s blue eyes for me. I loved that film.

So pleased you had a lovely time with your son. Hope he brings Gubbins to see you soon.

Grammaretto what a wonderful place to be born. Hope you’re safely home now. Good the funeral was well attended.

I’ve made a return visit to the sculpture gardens with two other friends. We had a wonderful afternoon lots of chat and discussion about the various pieces and a huge piece of delicious chocolate cake as well

I don't know if there was a garden. There will have been a place to dry the nappies I guess. My DF was a master at Westminster school who owned the building but in those days from my DM description, it was cold and very shabby divided into small flats. Rationing was at its height and with a baby and a toddler and no washing machine, DM found life hard and was keen to start a new life in NZ so we left less than a year later.

Those houses are very upmarket now, mainly occupied by MPs.

What a lovely townhouse house Grammaretto
I wonder if it had a garden?

14 Barton Street – T. E. Lawrence Society telsociety.co.uk/about-lawrence/places-to-visit/london/14-barton-street/

Ah the emergence of Omar Sharif! I think I was a bit older when DH took me to see it in Leicester Square.

Did I already tell you I was born (or we lived in) the house in London where T E Lawrence wrote Seven Pillars of Wisdom ?
There's a blue plaque and it's not for me
😂

I'm on the home journey now. The funeral was good in the good funeral sense.
Standing room only and the important people in his life, spoke. Including his mum who gave an Irish blessing.

We then removed to their local where a feast awaited us. It was nice to see my DC , their cousins, meet his friends and to talk about the good times.

Mothers Day was lovely. My son came to spend time with me.
I’d made chocolate brownies with fudge frosting but of course couldn't eat more than a teaspoonful

He took that and some double choc muffins home and I know they would fall on them as if starving

At first I was sad my granddaughter hadn't come with Daddy but like me, she is such a chatterbox, that you can never get a word in - so it was good to have my darling son to myself.

Goodness, camels and deserts, I wonder if Jeeves went off to join the Beduin?

I remeber that spectacular scene in Lawrence of Arabia when Omar Sharif came riding through a mirage.
I was 15 and thought he was the most beautifil man I had ever seen.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ud1zpHW3ito

Wasn't it 3 lots of one penny for Press Button A, Press Button B for your money back if the call went unanswered?

We had 2 of the old fashioned Bakelite domestic phones rigged up as intercoms when the children were small, then teenagers with loud music and closed bedroom doors.
No longer shouting up 2 floors, just pick up the phone and send your instructions message 😁

I hope your sad day passed off reasonably well, Grammaretto, and that you were left with some happy memories.

I read, Kaimoana, on another thread (can't remember which) about tips from the our RNIB, most of which I am sure you know already, but what struck me was the suggestion of white print on a black screen.

Would this help? Could someone set it up for you, if so?

I hate to hear of you struggling ❤️

Look after yourselves, Jan x

Always lovely to hear from new Gransnetters. Welcome

Grammaretto Hope today went as well as it could.
I’ve been to a funeral this morning of one of our older members of the congregation. So sad that sometimes you only learn what interesting lives people have led at funeral services.
NN I love the description of your greenhouse as a giant meccano set. 🤣
How lovely of you to help out with that little man. I bet he enjoys his time with you.
Jan I hope your husbands treatment helps. Good he has someone to chat to in the journey.
Hearsay I remember the old police boxes (Tardis style) and my mum telling me if ever I had any trouble to go and phone the policeman.

Kaimoana I’m another that misses your lovely chats and funny stories. Sending love and hugs.

THINKING OF YOU TODAY GRAMMARETTO AND HOPING IT GOES AS WELL AS IT CAN. I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHERE THE WEEK HAS GONE

DF IS DOWN FOR 9 DAYS. DH SAYS SHE IS THE ONLY PERSON HE KNOWS WHO HAS AT LEAST A WEEKS ALL INCLUSIVE ONCE A MONTH.

WE HAVEN'T BEEN GALLIVANTING AS MUCH THIS TIME THOUGH BASICALLY AS I HAVE BEEN IN A LOT OF DISCOMFORT FROM TENDONITIS AND SCIATIC PAIN
BOTH WERE POSSIBLE COMPLICATIONS FROM THE OP AND I'M HOPING THEY WILL SETTLE WITH TIME

I HAVE GARDENED THOUGH AND DF WHO HAS NO INTEREST IN GARDENING AT ALL HAS BEEN INSPIRED TO PLANT UP A CONTAINER, WHETHER IT ACTUALLY HAPPENS IS ANOTHER MATTER.

I NEED MY HANDS TYING BEHIND MY BACK IF I AM EVEN IN THE VICINITY OF PLANTS FOR SALE BUT I NOW HAVE THE BARGAIN GREENHOUSE ERECTED ( MALE TESTOSTERONE WAS ABOUNDING YESTERDAY AS 3 MEN JUGGLED WITH A GIANT MECCANO SET) SO I NOW HAVE THE PERFECT EXCUSE TO BUY MORE.

JAN GOOD NEWS THAT THE HOSPITAL TRIPS ARE GOING WELL AND FINGERS CROSSED THE TREATMENT IS WORKING.

A LOT OF THE RED PHONE BOXES IN RURAL AREAS AROUND HERE ARE NOW LITTLE BOOK SWAPS ( OR HOLD DEFIBRILLATORS) ITS LOVELY TO SEE THEM BEING USED STILL

HELLO HEARSAY AND JANET.

DDOG 2 IS HAVING A NEW TREATMENT TOMORROW AS THE FIRST ONE IS NO LONGER WORKING, SHE IS STILL EATING AND HAPPY SO WE WILL STILL KEEP FIGHTING THE FIGHT AND GIVE HER AS LONG AS WE CAN.

I HAD MY CLOSING MEETING WITH MY LITTLE FAMILY IN FRIDAY, IT MEANS I NO LONGER SUPPORT THEM VIA THE CHARITY BUT HAVE THE OPTION TO REMAIN FRIENDS WITH THEM WHICH OF COURSE I WILL.

WE HAVE TAKEN THE LITTLE BOY WHO DIVIDES HIS TIME BETWEEN HIS DAD ( NOT THE FATHER OF THE 2 GIRLS) AND HIS MUM. HE IS PROBABLY ON THE SPECTRUM BUT ALSO JUST WANTS ATTENTION, HIS DAD SPENDS A LOT OF HIS TIME PLAYING VIDEO GAMES AND HIS MUM IS OBVIOUSLY BUSY WITH A 16 MONTH AND A 5 MONTH OLD.

NEEDLESS TO SAY HE PLAYS UP SO WE'VE BEEN TAKING HIM OUT FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS WHEN HE IS WITH HIS MUM (EVERY OTHER WEEKEND).

YESTERDAY THE LAMBS WERE BEING MOVED FROM THE BARN TO THE FIELD BESIDE US AND HE LOVED HELPING TO SHEPHERD THEM OVER THE RIVER VIA A LITTLE BRIDGE.

BLESS HIM, HE WONT KNOW IT BUT HE IS FILLING A GAP IN MY LIFE TOO. IT STILL CATCHES ME OFF GUARD NOW AND AGAIN.

Hello All. Sorry to be so vague and slow at answering. No idea why I dont get round to doing things nowadays! Think Im losing it - musnt joke! ixion for asking about my DH. Yes hes fine and quite honestly I think he is enjoying his trips to hospital! So far he has been lucky in that hes been the only person in the hospital car/taxi and my husband loves to talk! Sure the drivers had enough well before they get home! Whether the treatment is working who knows?!
KaiomanaNot sure you will be able to read this but sending you all my love. I cannot imagine what it must be like to be unable to see properly. If you would rather I typed in capitals please tell me. xx

Thinking of you and your family on this most difficult day, Grammaretto 🕯️ x

I remember a holiday camping in a field near Oxford . The caretaker of the field were a couple with 11 children. One of the 11 would be positioned near the phone box outside their 3 bedroomed cottage to take bookings for the "campsite".
They even had a pony we could ride in the next field.

Hello Hearsay
I think the phone box was important for lots of us in the days when having a phone in our homes was too expensive for most ordinary people.
It was very exciting when we got a phone line inside our home, that's certain.

Have just found this thread interesting posts about old red phone boxes . For long while when we got married never had one . So they were vital part of the day to day life for most people.

Hello Janetashbolt
Welcome

Oh Doodle, My husband was once trying to negotiate a piece of work with someone and if he was busy in the study upstairs I'd run out to answer it to give him time to get downstairs and out, and I'd say, "Just hold the line please, Jeremy (or whoever) and I'll just find him for you" - by then he might be rushing out with notes and a pen having been alerted by me shouting "phone, phone" as I ran out

It was quite the highlight of the day for our children, and they still talk about it sometimes

EE has not called me back today by the way. Grrrr!

I remember using the phone box when we were in holiday so I could phone my mum and see how she was. DH would stand outside with our two dogs who weren’t happy that I was somewhere they couldn’t get in to. The yapping sometimes overpowered the conversation.
Grammaretto i Hope all goes as well as it can for your BIL funeral. I expect it will be quite sad. Thinking of you.
Notspaghetti what a wonderful tale. That made me laugh.

Hello Janet. Are you joining us Lobstars?
If so you are welcome.
Sorry you had to clear all those cuttings yourself. That wouldn't be my favourite job.

I've left a lot of my lawn uncut because I like a meadow and am excited to see what grows in the grass.
Some simple red tulips have appeared among the bluebells!

I live in a council house and they own the front garden. They are responsible for cutting the grass they have only just done it, left all the cuttings, I went over it to clear all that, 6 bin liners, but it looks so much neater

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202605/medium-46qhgu-1000023293.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202605/medium-7h0abv-1000023299.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202605/medium-a2amts-1000023221.jpg

Aw that sounds so romantic NotSpag !
Having the phone box just outside the house sounds pretty perfect too although I would have been anxious in an emergency.
I remember the queues outside and opening the door and begging them to be quick!
Things have improved in some respects.

Foraging was good but rather cold despite being wrapped up. We reached some woods where the grass was the greenest I've ever seen. We then came across a marshland covered with samphire but it was too small to harvest just enough to have crunchy, salty bites.
The 4 children spent the whole time on the rocky shore, appearing occasionally to show off their finds, including some amber.

I bought a grow bag yesterday to transplant some lettuce seedlings. I can't get used to the fact that I may not be in this house much longer.

My NZ son has just wished me a happy mother's day 😂. Isn't that lovely 😍. I don't mind having two!

I hope your family remembered you Kaimoana and I am wishing you the same.

Tomorrow is DBiL's funeral. It's going to be very sad.