🦞 The Lockdown Gang still chatting 🦞

NFK....we bought 2 soft collapsible crates for the dogs to travel in the motor home. The 2 smaller dogs were used to going in a crate...we have one permanently up at home so they have somewhere to retreat to if needed....so we had no real problems with them. The Cane Corso had never been created and made that very known by ripping the front out of it within 30 mins!!!! Kira sounds much better behaved so it might work for her. We are going to Ireland next year and hoping that the pet passports have been reinstated. We are hoping to book a pet cabin.
Not Spag.... I'd have given up by now and put the picture somewhere under a pile of other things to be attended to....at sometime in the future. IKEA do a fair range of frames...if you can steel yourself for a trip.
Grammaretto...that sounds all a bit tricky re the new helper and I'm not sure you need all of that just now. How long is she staying? I hope you made it to the wedding without getting drowned!!!
Doodle ...good luck in your new role.

Travelling abroad with pets does sound complicated so well done to those of you who do!

When I returned from the wedding last night, through wild winds, the kitchen was spotless and my Helper has left a note on the table asking me to write a reference for her for a live in job she has applied for.

I am in a quandary! I hardly know her. Surely she must have someone else to ask who knows her better? I can't help but be suspicious that she's hiding something or running away from someone - she did allude to a bad situation with her family or a partner back in Ireland. Oh dear. What should I do.
Anyway I don't expect she'll be up for a while so I have time to think 🤔

The wedding was really lovely. I sat at a table with people I know including Music man and his wife. I danced most dances and was introduced to a cocktail called a Hugo Spritz 😲

I hope all you lovely Lobstars have a great day and you make a good decision about the picture NotSpaghetti 😊

How long is she staying for, Grammaretto?

I would say that I have been asked before for references from my helpers and that I feel I am never in a good position to write one until they had been with me for 4 weeks, to get a fairer picture 🫣.

Hopefully she wasn't booked in with you for a month!

I only take people for 2 weeks max. Ixion
She knows that.
I have written a reference. It's a volunteer job. I didn't say much about her just told them how keen she is to come to help at the Buddhist centre! She made a good job of cleaning my kitchen and the apple pressing.

I hope they reply.

It's still wild outside. How is it with you?

Jaxjacky

Excuse me gatecrashing, ixion I would be very grateful if you could send love to Cherry from me. She was so very helpful hand holding me when our granddaughter was diagnosed with epilepsy. I have no other way of contacting her, Imogen is doing so well now and my support for her and her family were directly influenced by Cherry.
Thank you.

The continuing saga of disappearing messages ...
I think the storm outside has a lot to do with dodgy connections. Apologies.

I have passed on to Cherry your message of gratitude and love, Jax.
I am sure she will be thrilled to hear that you are thinking of her.

Gatecrashing, Jax?
Certainly not- it is always lovely to 'see' a different face.
You're more than welcome here😀

Thank you ixion I’m grateful 🌻

ixion a grim day for a funeral. So sorry. Was it someone you knew well?
NN wow what a story. I bet you were glad to be home after such a nightmare 24 hours.
Grammaretto oh dear it doesn’t sound like your new helper is helping much. In fact she might be bringing you down. Is she with you long?
Jax nice to hear from you. Hope you’re ok.

NN , Cane Corso !! Wow. I met one last year at the hospice. Like sitting next to a pit pony. The biggest dog I’d ever seen. I have to say it was extremely well behaved but I was slightly worried as the very slight lady at the other end of the lead told me she’d only had it a month from rescue. I did wonder if a month was long enough to judge the character of such a huge dog when there is no way in the world she could have controlled it if it took flight.
ixion please give my love and a big hug to our friend and to you too of course,
Jax you are always welcome here as is anyone who wants to pop in. Lovely to hear from you.

I just looked up cane corso. NN . Blimey! They are huge but the puppies look like the sweetest, huggable softies.
I think I would like a photo of them but not the real thing. 😃

What made you choose such a large dog?

My apple tree has fallen down in the storms. 😩

Oh dear Grammaretto.
Sorry to hear that - how long has it been there and was it a standard one?

I love to make a fuss of our local very dark brown (almost black) cane corso, "Rocky". He's still a puppy - well really an adolescent I suppose - and he loves a good rub and making a fuss of. He does get fed up if we chat too long with his person though and is keen to get off.
We have a local Cane Corso breeder here so I'm surprised we don't see more of them around.
I did read ages ago that there were strong ties with Puglia - but I think I only ever saw one there. They are really gorgeous dogs - I love their huge "paddy" feet!

The apple is a Bramley and very productive. My Helper has now collected several carrier bags full, made 5 bottles of juice (delicious) and peeled and chopped more for the freezer. I hope to be able to somehow save it. It's still attached to the roots. The tree surgeon is a regular visitor here.

DD in the Highlands has been without power since yesterday morning and their school is closed today so that's a pity. I think and hope they can cope now that the family are growing up. It was a worry when they were babies.

The man from Shelter is coming again today and my Helper has been told to show him what to take. However since she's not up yet and I have a class to go to, l shall just hope for the best.

Have you used your extra hour wisely?

Today it is 4 years since my stroke. I look back on the 4 years - which feel more like 44 - snd wonder how far I have come. Not very far is the answer! So I walk round the house with a stick - manage to walk outside very badly also with a stick and and only short distances. My left hand and arm are still pretty useless! I am permanently tired doing virtually nothing having coffee with a friend for instance wears me out but its worth it!
I will shut up in a bit - promise! This is despite paying physios a small fortune and also doing exercises on my own admittedly not as often as I should! My poor husband does all the cooking and washing and runs around after me!
Sorry folks for being such a miserable old lady and I will stop moaning now! Somehow 4 years seems a long time for very little. And its pouring with rain!!!

Oh "mo chreach" Jan. as they say in Gaelic.
Please don't apologise. This is what we are here for to listen to eachothers' woes and offer sympathy or advice if we can.

It must seem a long and lonely road without much let up. The rain does not help.

I hope you can plan a nice holiday for both of you so he doesn't have to cook and you don't have to feel guilty for being unable to.

I hope that there has been some improvement but it must be so frustrating for an active person like yourself to have to give up so many things.

Sending 🤗 hugs

Hi. This is to apologise for the self pittying earlier post.i have tried to delete it with no success. Thank you Grammaretto for your reply.

Dear Jan, please don't apologise, nor seek to have your post removed.
We are here for each other, the good times and the bad, small but perfectly formed. You know we are, and whenever you post, it is good to hear from you.

Not making what you think of as 'adequate progress' must be deeply frustrating, nay devastating, and milestones, such as today's, must be hard.

Perhaps, as Grammaretto suggests, you could arrange a small break away to give you both a change of scenery and routine.

I guess that writing might be tiring but we do love hearing from you.

Xx

Note, too, to Mamissimo if you are passing through-
do pop in!

Oh Grmmaretto your poor apple tree. What a shame. Sounds like a very prolific tree. I love apple juice.
Hope all went well with the man from the shelter and he took only what he was supposed to.
notspaghetti I think all dogs are lovely if well behaved and with the right handling. Our grandsons German shepherd is the sweetest thing going but has been known to make people drop their shopping and run at the mere sight of her.
Jan is it really four years. I won’t pretend to know what it’s like as I have no idea. I know for the short period when I broke my right wrist and had to do everything left handed that I was so frustrated with every little thing. It is hard when you lose the ability to do the things you take for granted. I know my DH got very down when he wasn’t able to walk anymore. I hope there is still improvement to come. I’m sure your Dh is happy to do all he does.
Glad you didn’t delete your post it’s lovely to hear from you. As ixion says, good times and bad.

Just popping by (on Grand son duty) to say I was quite impressed by how well you do Jan. It took me a while to actually notice that your hand wasn't right. You manage very well and have obvioulsy achieved more than you realise. Please don't do yourself down. XX

Thanks to you all and special thanks to those who took the time to encourage me to carry on. I will keep going but sometimes it just gets too much. Its not helped by the fact that DH is still receiving immunotherapy every three weeks 40 miles away. He does get hospital transport but it just makes the day longer for both of us. Im lucky in that my friends and sometimes youngest daughter spend the day with me which goes against my independent nature but I have to swallow my pride! Thanks again everyone xx

Jan take all the company and help you can. Sometimes others like to feel that they are helping out. It is a long trip to the hospital for your Dh.
Nfk any more trips out in the camper bubble.?
Grammaretto i wonder if your home is getting more and more empty as things get taken or sold. I hope you keep some pieces that mean a lot to you.
I’ve been to the hairdressers today. Might as well not have bothered coming out into torrential rain and gale force winds but at least it’s a bit shorter so easier to handle.

I hope your apple tree can be rescued, Grammaretto. Could you graft a cutting and take it with you in a pot?
How's 's your interesting helper today?

Thank you for your kind thoughts, Doodle, about last week's funeral. It was very squelchy but beautiful and moving.
Except that I assumed the elderly, white haired lady mourner was his mother.
How sad for her, I thought.
Then I realised that the deceased was 82, and this was his sister.

We are all roughly of the same age, the same generation.
We are all The Elderly these days.
😢

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Jan that must be so hard having your DH undergoing immunotherapy 40 miles away and away from you. 😟

As Doodle says, accept all the help you can.

I hope the weather improves. A tree surgeon was supposed to come today but didn't. He must be too busy.

My Irish helper is beginning to settle in. Tonight while I was at my evening class, she cooked a very nice vegetable soup and she lit the fire. She continued to process apples.

I had a dentist appointment this morning and Gaelic tonight. Both were fine. Our teacher adores Halloween and even brought her freshly baked pumpkin and chocolate muffins to share with us. She was in costume. The moon was very atmospheric tonight.

ixion I often talk about meeting elderly people and realise I should include myself in that 🤣🤣
* Grammaretto* glad the dentist and Gaelic all went well. Lovely photo.
Church for me this morning then art tomorrow. Sleep well all

Here is a message from Kaimoana who replied to me:

I am still alive, if not exactly ķicking! Now only using Tablet not pc, so very, very hard to xee. Am in a rest home... in Auckland. Have own room opening onto sunny veranda, good food and cari g staff. Still, my mind is saying all the time "I want to go home". Impossible of course. Would love to hear from you all. Much loves

Thanks. NotSpaghetti. I'm so glad Kaimoana is comfortable and has good people around her even if she doesn't feel at home and probably never can.
Sad that her eyesight is not improving.

It is hard counting ourselves in the aged parent category.

DD had to correct and rephrase the letter I sent my solicitor yesterday. Having your child correct your spelling is sobering. 😟

It's good to see the sun again and so many birds who must have been hiding from the storms.

I hope you enjoy art today Doodle.

My friend from the north is coming to stay in a week or two which I am looking forward to.

Ceilidh dancing tonight if I have the energy.