🦞 The Lockdown Gang still chatting 🦞

I will try ixion to take it easy.... maybe enough for a 2 bed flat with a garage... and a garden 😂

I'm actually going tomorrow to look at a 4 bed 3 bath house very nearby. I'm going with another neighbour who's offered to chum me and to have a nosey.

The do-er upper is still an option although I have decided to dismiss it as it would be a year and unknown expense to bring it up to a good standard.

Oh gosh, Grammaretto.
Do take it easy with your 'letting go'.
💐

Happy birthday spud 🎈🤩🍰🍦🍨

Thanks. Kaimoana and Doodle for being so thoughtful.

My eldest DGD will be 20 soon. 😯 How did that happen!

I phoned a house clearance company yesterday whose card I was given by the auction house 😊 . The boss is coming this afternoon.
I was assured that they are good and sensitive. They sell the best stuff, then it's to charity or recycling. Nothing to landfill.
It'll be pricy but after how many years of trying and failing to declutter, I think this is the best way forward.

I'll keep enough to fill a one bedroom flat. The rest can go. 😟😉

It's cold and pouring down with rain 🌧️ here.
My DSis is still going to France camping despite dire warnings of heat and fires.
My French helpers are back in Brittany and say it's cooler than it was so hopefully DSis plans aren't as stupid as they sound.

I am rabbiting on. Sorry. 🐰 🐇

Just popping in with a quick message for Mamissimo from our dear friend Kaimoana. She cant see to post now but wants me to wish Spud happy birthday today.

Dear Kaimoana one of the most caring people I know. Do wish you could read our comments.

My (lovely ❤️) lady GP today said 'aw Bless' three times.
Another sign of looking old, Doodle.

Grammaretto pleased about the kitten. Sounds like a lovely day with your DGD
I’ve been to coffee morning at the Christian fellowship this morning. Nice group meets near my church. Then home for another go at tackling my wardrobe. Ended up going to the dump with loads of coat hangers and bits. Nice young man offered to carry all the stuff for me. So kind. I must be looking old now, 🤣

I think I can divine that there are no springs in my garden. It definitely free draining - although there is a bottom corner where things are quite healthy looking. I wonder ....

I definitely think you need to keep the pond levels up Nfk

Years ago we stayed in a caravan on a farm in west Wales - near Aberaeron.
A drought had been declared and all the farms looked dry and parched apart from "ours". The farmer was a drain expert and water diviner and truly his fields looked lush and his little herd of Jersey cows fat and happy. He had made a reservoir from which he and his son hoisted great bowsers? of water each day.

One of our jobs was to drink as much Jersey milk as we could because quotas had been introduced and his farm was too small to have one. It was 1983 I think.

The trouble is with a couple of goldfish ixion, is that the little b***ers breed! That's where the one I think I saw came from. The little breeders are all black and nigh on invisible. I've just filled Camperbubble's water tank and put a bit in the pond on the grounds that I saw one (if only a tail) so there must be more.

I thought it an unusual turn of phrase Doodle 🤣🤣 but perhaps has more to do with the worry about the dog's health than the weather.

So glad the dog is better. Such a relief despite needing crowd funding to pay the vet 😕

Some years ago a young friend's kitten was hit by a car. She took him to the vet school and asked if she could work for them for free instead of paying.
She was allowed to clean out the cages for a few weeks to pay the bills. The kitten made it. 🐈

My day went well. The other DGP brought the DGD here for a meal and we all enjoyed it. My lodgers had a barbeque in the garden with a few friends. It rained a bit.
I don't possess a hose. This year I could have done with one. It's been so dry.
My poor potatoes 😢 They'll be the size of peas.

Good night Lobstars xx

Well how did that happen. I typed really long dry patch and what came up but really loud grey patch. You must have wondered what on Earth I was on about,

Thank you all, I am pleased to report that the woofer (German shepherd) is home as of late this afternoon. Lots of TLC required but that won’t be a problem.
Ah now I understand about the RSV , Ixion
That’s not a bad job for £10. Hope they get more customers.
Grammaretto good for you, stick to your price. Quite often people use these reports to try and get the price reduced.
Edinburgh sounds a wonderful place how lucky for you it’s not far away.
NFK I think it’s hard to keep a distance from our pets. They give such unconditional love it’s impossible not to respond. dGSs dog is about 7. The most gentle creature .
It’s been a really loud gray patch hasn’t it.

Nearby Aquatics Centre, NfkD?
A couple of goldfish and voilà, you can use your hosepipe?

Afternoon All

`I hope the little dog is holding on and showing signs of recovery Doodle. They are a worry. What do the vets say now? I do wish their life expectancies were longer. I nearly didnt' get a dog for fear of attachment. Persuaded myself that having an older dog, she wouldn't be 'mine' as much and I could retain a bit of distance. I failed.

It's a positive sign of seriousness Grammaretto that you prospective buyers are having such in depth surveys done. It sounds like they really like your place but need to know exactly what buying would entail to do whatever it is they have in mind - or live with what's there now without surprises!

My poor garden is just frizzled now. Norfolk is under a hose pipe ban and I'm even wondering if I can use the hose to fill Camperbubble's water tank. (And maybe spill a little around the dead looking climbing hydrangea on the way past!). The not very big pond is eight inches down now and I pulled a muscle trying to add an inch or so ferrying watering cans down to it. We're only supposed to fill cans from the tap. Any hose use is forbidden unless it's for veggies or newly planted trees (I wonder if the two I put in last autumn will count as newly planted?), and ponds with fish in. I think there may be one, I saw a tail swishing under a lily pad the day before the wildlife garden competition. Perhaps if I wait until dark .....

Do hope the dog is getting better now Doodle and that you've had a good day.

I have not seen the results of the survey ixion if they offer less as a result I don't think I'll accept it. The price takes the condition into account. After all I've had 3 valuations and a home report.
I can stay here or put it back on the market.

I decided to go into Edinburgh today. It was the last day of an exhibition I wanted to see.
We are so lucky to have art galleries, museums and botanic gardens all free.

The city is already busy though the Festival hasn't yet begun. Perhaps people are coming away from the heat.

The DGD were excellent company yesterday. They will come tomorrow too and bring the other GP and stay to tea.

Sorry, Doodle, my poor phraseology. I meant that it was the first one I have ever had, passing recently that 75 year milestone. 🎶Young at Heart🎶

Thinking still of Dear 🐕 and his dad.
What breed is he? The woofer, not your DGS

Are you happy with the results of the survey, Grammaretto? I don't think we would get away as lightly. Do you feel they might want a little negotiation now?
Hopefully not.
Will renting locally be feasible? It would give you breathing space.

I too would love to see your wildlife garden, NfkD.
I think we have seen photos years back too?

A knock at the door yesterday revealed two extremely polite young men, aged about 9 and 11, with a couple of large buckets, assorted cloths and 'products'.
Would we like our car cleaned?

All we provided was a garden hose and two cans of Diet Coke and they were at it for around half an hour. £10 shared for 30 minutes labour- and, on enquiry, the younger one had come two stops on the train! What profits could they hope for?
We were 'the first that day'. Hopefully, more to follow.
Such enterprise.

The car was certainly gleaming, all, that is, apart from a long unwashed strip along the centre of the roof which they were too short to reach!

Do we have more than one RSV jab Ixion? I had thought it was like the pneumonia jab a one off.
DGSs woofer is a little better. Fingers crossed.
I missed the opening ceremony too.. I gather it was good.
Grammaretto shame the frenchies have gone, You got on really well with them and they seemed to be very helpful,
You do not moan and groan., back pain is awful and curtails a lot of what you have pleasure in doing. Have a lovely time with your grandchildren

I didn't realise that the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony was on. ixion
Good for Glasgow slimming it all down though and taking over.

How's the poor dog doing Doodle?

The Frenchies have left. They were great. My next helper is to be an older Australian woman, coming next week.

The surveyor (damp and woodworm) is coming this afternoon as are my DGD who are staying with the other DGP nearby. I love to have them here. They were at the beach yesterday.

I managed a very short walk down to the river before turning round and coming home. I am so fed up with this sciatica.

How is everyone else doing? I am the only Lobstars who moans and groans. You are all such stoics.

Thinking of DGS's woofer. Your poor boy must be beside himself with worry❤️

Have you been napping, Grammaretto? Good luck for a decent night's sleep.
I hope you are not in too much pain.

My first RSV jab today - another rite of passage to old(er) age.
I am pondering whether I might get convenient referred pain in my legs to avoid the weekly 🏋️‍♀️🤸🏼‍♀️🧘‍♀️ class tomorrow.
No pain at all, anywhere, as yet.

Watched, in parts, the opening of the Commonwealth Games.
My, such pride in Scotland by the Scots - and a bit of Gaelic in the speeches inserted for good measure. Much applause.

NFK I’m glad to hear you’re still enjoying trips in the camper bubble. Sounds lovely to be with friends at the coast.
Grammaretto DGSs dog is showing little signs of improving but is still in intensive care. They’ll need intensive care for their pockets when the bill comes.

I hope DGS dog pulls through Doodle 🙏🤞

I'd love to see your wildlife gardens NfkD
I seem to have a lot of wildlife in mine but I don't think it would win any prizes. 😅😆😂

You're right Doodle. There are classes nearby but the hospital pool was so warm and the sessions run by a physiotherapist.
I was reminiscing.......

My house purchasers are having 3 in-depth surveys done so it isn't a done deal until the missives are signed.

There's very little on the market in mid summer so I am just enjoying living here.
Rain expected on Sunday.

I wish I could sleep 💤

Evening All

I've been away in the Camperbubble for a few days with the gang at the coast. Luckily it was close by as I had to come back on Sunday for the judging for the best Wildlife Garden in town. I had to admit mine is really wildlife friendly through my laziness. I only went in for it as a friend asked me to, being placed isn't expected!

At least at the moment, with a hose pipe ban I don't have to think of cutting the brown area which was grass or lugging watering cans to precious plants. The weather has been overcast a lot of the time and the wind is from the north so I actually needed to wear a jacket on the boat this week. No rain but at least very little more sun scorching.

Anyway, I'm really pleased to have read Grammaretto, that you've accepted an offer! How exciting! Hopefully the right place will now pop into view now the time is right. It is hard to find the right balance of compromise and how alterations needed will affect the cost, and also be ruthless enough when it comes to putting in an offer. I fear it's one reason why I went down the house alteration route rather than face a move. The Pros of staying here outweighed the Cons. I did a list! We're very good at lists in my family!

I don't envy you NN having to do the To Retire or Not Retire list. I remember DH and I sitting outside a holiday let in Corsica with paper and pen and being surprised how much the new life we wanted would cost compared with the one we wanted to abandon. Everything went on that list, from the "investment" of buying a Campervan, to the savings made from not working - buying work clothes, car parking and that sort of thing. Even my husband's tendency to browse the music shops in his lunch break and buy cds went on that list! The cons were as long as we could make it!

DGS dog has had to have emergency surgery and is in a specialist hospital. Got everything crossed for her. She is so lovely. Hoping she pulls through.

Grammaretto Aqua aerobics is quite popular these days it might be worth checking if you can find somewhere more local.
Sorry your back causes you such problems. Sitting with an icepack can’t be much fun.
So nice you get in well with DH’s siblings.

I went to aqua aerobics some time ago when my back was giving me pain.
It was held in a very warm hydrotherapy pool at the hospital dealing with orthopedic and stroke recovering patients.

However the journey to get there; it was in Edinburgh; did no favours to my back at all.

There are or were Turkish baths and what was called an Aerotone bath, a forerunner of a jacuzzi. You climbed a ladder into a deep round bath, and were sprayed with strong jets of water. It was like being in a washing machine.
A towel and recovery bed were provided.