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🦞 The Lockdown Gang still chatting 🦞

(303 Posts)
Doodle Sun 03-May-26 19:56:19

Yes another new thread. A gentle chat for old friends and new

NotSpaghetti Sat 20-Jun-26 00:27:32

There IS a way to record audio files to send as a Web link exactly as you might link to something else such as an article.

Maybe they could be sent by PM?
I will look tomorrow to see if I can find the info

Doodle Fri 19-Jun-26 22:05:35

Oh Kaimoana what a shame, I wonder how we could cope with this. I wonder if I could copy them and post them in an email to you. I don’t think you have to sort of phone we can leave messages on although you might.
So difficult. Anyone got any ideas what we can do. Big love and hugs from us all.
I sympathise with Theo. That’s how I feel too.

Jan16 Fri 19-Jun-26 15:02:22

Doodle im sure your artwork is better than you admit although saying that I went to art class and my work was horrendous!
Yes it was great to catch up either way NFK. Another get together planned for September and who knows what inbetween! Would be so much easier if I could actually walk properly as at the moment its so difficult.
What can we do about Kaimoana? Its so difficult and so sad. We need somehow to change are writing into Braille but no idea how. Only other idea is to speak to Kiamoana out loud instead of writing but how?
Well its really hot today and looks like staying the same for quite a few days. Enjoy the warm everyone- this was Theos thoughts on how weather last evening

Kaimoana2 Fri 19-Jun-26 07:04:36

Ì am still her e but unable to see your posts. 🥲Listeni g to Natalie Haynes on Greek myths, excellent. No date yet for heart op. 🤔

Doodle Thu 18-Jun-26 21:54:39

Wow what lovely news. 😊. How lovely to think that two of the lobstars have met up in real life. Your little boat trips sounds great. Wish we could all have been with you. So nice to hear from your both NFK and Jan
Sorry the weather was wet Jan but an exciting time none the less.
I’ve been to art today. Hopeless as usual but the company was great. Church with friends this afternoon which was nice then walking group tomorrow. It’s all go here
Sleep well all

NfkDumpling Thu 18-Jun-26 16:05:41

Well, hello! Thank you for remembering me ixion! It’s been a busy winter and I’ve still got the Open Gardens before life settles a bit but here I am. The house has been just about re-arranged and I’m now sleeping downstairs in what was the utility room. It does make sense - honest! I’ve just been fighting twitch/couch grass along the overgrown hedge. Bent double for too long and was frozen into place. I had to haul myself upright using the hedge. The garden will never be presentable in time. Pull weeds out in one bed and they’ve grown again in another.

Last week (I think - time flies) the incredible happened and Mrs and Mr Jan actually came to the museum and came for a chug up the river with us!! It was lovely to meet up at last if only for a short while - and the sun shone just for the day. Hopefully we can do it again some time.

I’ve speed read through half of this ‘new’ thread to catch up. Found two new gang members (Hello, pleased to meet you, I’m Nfk), got sidetracked by Omar Sharif (thank you Kaimoana, he had the same effect on me at 15 too), learned that Grammaretto is actually getting serious about moving (the house really is on the market?) although I’m not at all sure I believe it, and got confused with all the various body parts on all of you which are no longer functioning as they should. I’m so sorry NN that Luna is no longer with you apart from in spirit. It’s the hardest part. I also took a moment to reflect on how you all manage to stay so positive despite all that life has thrown at you and wonder at how well we all cope and have coped with all the losses and tragedies our lives have thrown at us. I think we’re all bloody marvellous! I’ll catch up with the rest later, there’s still a long way to go. I’m waiting for some stick-on mirrors to arrive. I can’t manage to get drill bits into a drill now but have discovered No More Nails. It’s wonderful stuff but I daren’t risk it with a mirror - It might give way and I don’t want the seven years bad luck!

NotSpaghetti Thu 18-Jun-26 11:58:55

Have a lovely day Jan!
🛥

Jan16 Thu 18-Jun-26 11:52:28

Ixion Yay - you are the winner! Shame theres no prize!! Yes NfkD! She says she will be in touch soon! Such a lovely lady and we had a lovely peaceful cruise along the Norfolk Broads!

ixion Thu 18-Jun-26 10:46:09

NfkD, Jan?
🤞

Jan16 Thu 18-Jun-26 10:39:09

Good for you NotSpaghetti. Im up but still in pjs messing around on here and waiting for someone to guess my mystery friend! Think they are all still in bed! Lazy Lobstars!

NotSpaghetti Thu 18-Jun-26 08:48:56

ME.
Awake at 7 but STILL in bed!
Ha ha ha!
🤸‍♀️💃🏿🎉

Jan16 Thu 18-Jun-26 08:44:23

Good Morning to all. Im up very early this morning and wonder who is still in bed?!
Think everyone knows by now that DH and I had a very wet week at the Norfolk Broads. However I have news! Guess who I found on a boat with her beautiful dog? Well it was actually all planned! Right who is first? And it wasn’t Father Christmas!!

NotSpaghetti Thu 18-Jun-26 01:45:26

Yes dogs are great company. We were happy to have them really but the too early starts really knocks me about!.

I think that because they weren't ours but were in our care it was inevitably harder... and the little rescue is startled easily by loud noises (maybe from the bombing?)

Kaimoana and Doodle, my parents had a court cabinet which was a dark oak reproduction type and I was really pleased when one of my "girls" took it as they really thought it was gorgeous.

Other pieces that they loved have had to go though... 😕 ... and some of ours too when we moved here

Doodle Wed 17-Jun-26 21:37:49

Grammaretto Im so sorry you have to leave your home and garden. Your garden is lovely. I suppose there isn’t any alternative?
I am helping a friend declutter. I take things out to the bin (or charity shop box) and she brings them back in 🤣
Notspaghetti i can understand you not missing the early start but dogs are such good company aren’t they.
Kaimoana my parents had a huge dresser with a big marble top on it. When it was decided it really needed to go, my father broke the marble top up in the garden and used it to make crazy paving.
Been to church this morning and coffee with friends this afternoon which was nice. One was a midwife long ago and she had us in stitches with some of her tales.

Grammaretto Wed 17-Jun-26 21:19:02

Enjoy your well deserved rest from early morning doggy alarms! NotSpaghetti

I've been to the chiropractor and have more appointments booked. Hopefully my aching back will ease. My DF gets stress headaches so we discussed which was worse 😕
Tomorrow I'm going on a coach trip. It's not far and there'll be a beautiful garden to walk around.

My own garden is very pretty today and so I am torn to be leaving it.

NotSpaghetti Wed 17-Jun-26 08:01:37

Well today is a happy day! 🤞as the exhausting dogs we have "on loan" from my daughter and partner (whilst they were away for eight days) are going home!
Hooray!
They are actually easy dogs but wake super-early if the dawn chorus is loud. We have had them up and woofing happily from 4am 😫...
Today it was 6.42 so not so bad but still too early for me as I'm an owl really
I think it was later because it's raining steadily and that muffles a lot of outside sound.
At home they sleep in a much more "internal" space - their kitchen is separated from outside by a conservatory (with a door you can close). My daughter says the used to sleep in the conservatory where the door to the back garden could be wedged open but they discovered that putting them in the kitchen overnight meant they woke up later
Mr Spaghetti and I feel like we have had newborn twins for eight days!

...and now, having got us up, dashed and boinged with joy into the new day, at exactly 8am they are both fast asleep!
grin
🙄

I've been very conscious of noise as we have neighbours either side. Admittedly we only have a kitchen attached but nevertheless...

The male is a real old boy, totally chilled out, gentle and loving. The other is a youngster - rescued with her young mum and puppy siblings from a bombed out factory in Ukraine. She is much more highly strung. Still nervous, won't eat if you look at her but such a dear little soul.
She is a jumping jack - "boinging" on all four legs when excited like you see in old cartoons!

The truth is, we will probably miss them - but not the 5am starts!

NotSpaghetti Wed 17-Jun-26 07:31:28

By the way, ixion, I forgot to say - I laughed outlook re your Swiss army knife gadget!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Near miss there! You may have had to clean windows!

Kaimoana2 Wed 17-Jun-26 03:08:07

In my case I had no choice. I was forced to move from a large-ish house where my parents' Silver Wedding furniture (they saved for years to buy it) was part of our daily life.
I was particularly fond of a Dutch dresser which was part of the set along with table, chairs, writing desk and Bureau.
A solid elm.

Grammaretto Tue 16-Jun-26 15:49:27

A bookshop owner collected a number of books today. Instead of being relieved I feel like buying them back!

I'm hopeless at this decluttering lark.
He's promised to send me some money but I shall miss some of them.

In a wee while, I am expecting a viewing but I am really not in the mood to sell my lovely house.

How do or did you feel selling and moving?

NotSpaghetti Tue 16-Jun-26 07:29:14

Grammaretto I lost three posts yesterday.
All long. Should have written them elsewhere and pasted here afterwards.
I gave up.
😫

Doodle Mon 15-Jun-26 22:15:42

Thanks Ixion i had a lovely time. Good weather so we were outside all afternoon. Had a restful day today. Hospital phoned and said they wanted me to take the bandage off my arm . I was a bit concerned but the dressing is still underneath. It looks disgusting do I have put a simple cover over it. Dressing comes off in another 10 days I think.
Wow what a handy gadget that could have been. Your Dh could have spent all his time swapping attachments 🤣
Grammaretto i do envy your beautiful places to walk. I’m never far from a road and vehicles. Must be nice to walk somewhere peaceful. Good luck with the viewings.

Grammaretto Mon 15-Jun-26 21:17:13

Another disappearing post! I must have pressed preview and not send.

I was thinking how your posts make me laugh. ixion 😂🤣

I went on the walk today. It was sunny and only 4 miles over the Border hills. The organisers treated us all to a strawberry and cream tea in their garden afterwards.

I have someone coming to look at the books tomorrow and later a second viewing of this house. I mustn't get too excited but I may have to miss my Gaelic class!

How's the party girl today? And how are the bruised ribs?
Did the family weekend go well Kaimoana

ixion Mon 15-Jun-26 19:50:16

How's our very own Party Animal this evening? 💃
Hope you had a lovely time, Doodle.

Apologies to Kaimoana for missing your wedding anniversary. I am pleased that your family helped mark the day, which must have be one of mixed emotions as ever .💐

How're the #ribs, NN? My DM when elderly and fragile broke hers when leaning over the arm of a garden chair to retrieve something on the patio. Being upright, even when sleeping, was less painful for her than lying down.

Enjoyed a pleasant day doing stuff in the garden as the weather was quite decent. This was until Mr. I decided on a Monty Don rôle and decided to help.
He couldn't 'get on' with my swan neck hoe (my trusty for at least 40 years) and I suggested he locate a Dutch hoe which could arrive tomorrow, to maintain the momentum.

Luckily, I was party to the proposed purchase.
The one selected was the equivalent of the Swiss Army knife.
Umpteen interchangeable gadgets, all of which we already had, apart from the screw-on window cleaning tool.

Nah.

No wonder my decluttering is a one sided project.

Doodle Sun 14-Jun-26 21:19:51

Evening all. I’m sitting here yawning my head off, been to a party this afternoon (thank goodness it wasn’t an evening event). Very nice and enjoyable but I’m exhausted. Will catch up tomorrow. X

Grammaretto Sun 14-Jun-26 12:22:07

My friend has just given me a memory stick with 2 favourite CDs on it which I can play in my new car since it has no CD player. I should add that he copied them first. All too technical for my old brain.

My DGD (the 11 yr old) has acquired a radio cassette player recently.
Add that to your Christmas present list for Santa Ixion

I was pleased to be helping DGS. I spoke to him this morning and he says what I've done is just fine.
His remit was to interview someone from a different generation. 😅 I'm certainly that about how they came to live in Wellington.