🦞 The Lockdown Gang still chatting 🦞

I can't lend my car to the French boy. He's too young! My insurers won't give me cover so they are going by 3 buses tomorrow to the Museum of Flight.
It's less than half an hour by car.

My cousin arrived today from Boston. She speaks some French and we talked about French beaches. The Frenchies are lifeguards and surfers and have worked all around the coast.

Meanwhile DD sent photos of the scene from her camping holiday in the north of Scotland. 😦

The roofer came to find the leak in my ceiling. He can't do the repairs until August!

That looks appetising Grammaretto i expect it was very welcome after a busy day. The Frenchies sound good fun and hard workers. The gardens look good too. Glad you’ve got some good company.

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Nfk. is it really 3 years ❤️ . So good that your DC are rallying around you.

You make the oldies exercise class sound fun ixion. I did something similar last year - it was circuit training - a fancy name for trying all the apparatus in the gym hall.

I cooked last night Doodle. Frenchies were tired. They worked so hard clearing a large area of jungle behind my house and the cellar steps .

In the afternoon we were driven to see some gardens open for one day only .
The first one only 6 years old but already lush and productive. (See pic) One was a sculpture garden, another belongs to the stone carver who inscribed DH gravestone.

I'm going to lend the French my car. I told them about the Museum of Flight and now it's a 'must do' for him at least.

They are also going to volunteer at the Store café to get more experience to speak English.

Today I have a roofer coming to see if he can find the source of the latest ceiling leak and wet wall.

I also have the chiropractor again. I must be a little bit better. I haven't seen that mobiliser yet but it sounds exciting Nfk

I'd love to see your watercolours Doodle
Has DH tried an icepack yet Jan? It must be horrid for him.

I love mine to numb my back and am lying on it right now. 😅
Photo of their leek pie.

NfK is it really three years? Glad the family are thinking of you and popping round. Good to have things to do to keep you occupied. Shame your camper is scratched. Some of these narrow roads have very overhanging branches.
Ixion i have visions of lots of unconscious bodies on the floor of your exercise class having been felled by flying ankle weights. Well done you for going though. I’ve missed a few weeks of mine due to the wrist problems.
Grammaretto i wonder if your helpers have cooked again tonight. Did they enjoy the French conversation class.?
I’ve had a busy day with my watercolour project and as usual have overworked it. Will I never learn when it’s time to stop,

Evening All

It was good to hear from Kaimoana and she's probably in the right place for now and she sounds as if she's trying to be positive.

Grammaretto I have a Mobiliser (from Back in Action) to keep my back straight, stretched and in order. It cost what seems like a small fortune when I first bought it, but it works and keeps me mobile. I did just check and it costs a bigger fortune now so I'm pleased I did buy it when I did! Perhaps if you make a goodly profit in your move ....!

I can remember making stuffed tomatoes in cookery class at school. We all thought it was really posh.

How long is it estimated that Mr Jan will have to stay on immunotherapy, Jan? I hope the itching is a sign that it's working its magic.

And, yes, ixion I do still have a camper. I had it cleaned professionally last week - the roof was turning green and the pigeons were trying to nest on it. And it came back with the polishing having exposed a long deep scratch down one side. It's the side which is parked against the hedge and the grime was disguising it. I can only think it was a branch I must have hit while in Cornwall in the spring. My wing mirrors were hitting the foliage on both sides at once on more than one occasion. I'm a rather miffed about it!

I'm expecting a call from DD1 for a chat. The other two offspring have already been round today to keep me company. Tomorrow is the anniversary of DH's death. They of course will all be at work but they felt they should keep me company today. I can't believe it's three years already. I've got a busy day tomorrow too so all will be well.

How many more sessions does your DH have, Jan?
Those hospital transports must relieve much of the stress.
I do hope you see some improvement.

Is your back any better, Grammaretto? It looks like you have very capable helpers who will ease your path.

Exercise class went fine, thank you.
I have found a rest opportunity since there is no break for tea and biccies. By declining the selection of ankle weights situated on a table at the end of the room, I can rest up while the more keen participants fetch their chosen pair.
Sometimes this results in people not picking up the 'correct' weights, finding they are struggling until it is pointed out that they are wearing 2kg ones instead of 0.5kg.
I think our dear young leader has found the measure of an oldies class.
Don't worry if they fly off, she tells us.
😳

Glad to hear you have been signed off at your follow up appointment, Doodle.
Always good to remove one medical item from the list, I find.

Oh good idea Doodle except I can already hear DH complaining cause its too cold but will give it a go - Thanks

Dinner looks delicious Grammaretto they sound really good helpers. Are they staying long?
Jan how annoying. I suppose the more he scratches the more he want to. Shame the antihistamines don’t help. Have you tried a cold pack. When Dh had restless body syndrome and his nerves were all on edge I used to wrap a cold sheet round them which help elevate it a bit.

Doodle. No luckily the immunotherapy doesnt make DH feel ill but what it does do is make him itch! He scratches like mad day and night. Has tried lots of antihistamines prescribed by Drs and different sorts of ointments but none seem to have any effect. Do feel sorry for him but it drives me mad when he’s scratching especially in bed!
Grammaretto Luckily DH gets free hospital transport which so far has been very good. Pleased your helpers are being so helpful. So windy today but good for drying washing! Our next door neighbour has been laying a patio today and the noise has been something else. Theo hasnt been out all day and I dont blame him.

The cost of the alarm does sound a lot Jan but I guess it's worth it for peace of mind. How kind your DD is to "babysit" you.

I hope your DH is doing well on the immunotherapy. It certainly is a long way away. How does he travel?

Doodle I'm glad you were given the all clear at the hospital.

I hope Kaimoana is recovering well from her surgery.

I continue to enjoy my French couple. They worked in the garden today while I did my volunteer shift on the till at our community store. That took my mind off my pains.

When I came home I saw the Helpers had trimmed and shaped the willow bower -something I can't do - involving a tall ladder and long clippers. This evening they cooked a delicious tomato farcie (stuffed tomatoes) yummy.
We then played Boggle and I introduced them to some English words they haven't heard of 😂

Tomorrow they will go to the French conversation class where everyone loves to have Native speakers.

How was your exercise class Ixion

Jan it’s good to have the alarm for help if you need it. Hope your DH is coping well with the immunotherapy. I don’t know a lot about it. Does it make him feel ill at all?
Grammaretto so pleased the new help are nice people. Spag Bol would go down well with me too. Hope they get lots done.
ixion hope you got through the exercise class ok. Good practice for the cheerleading.
I went to the hospital today and have been discharged now, they are happy with my scar so no more visits necessary.

Hello Kaimoana great to hear from you. You do sound very cheerful which is great. When I was in hospital I spent a few days on a ward with a lady with dementia. As soon as the lights went out she woould start banging in the bedhead and showing. Im sure the more the lovely nurses told her to stop the more she banged!
Your lunch sounds great. My DH has gone off to hospital 50 miles away for his immunotherapy session and my daughter is here babysitting her mother! Its just in case I fall! Getting a Careline alarm soon so I can press a button if I need help. Must admit Im horrified by the cost £400 a year!
Once again great to hear from you. Jan xxx

ixion I found watching the young Fearnley a tad painful but he did well.

So good to hear from Kaimoana. Thanks Doodle for sharing.

My Frenchies arrived and are lovely as I knew they would be. I almost forgot my pain. They are eager to start attacking the jungle and cooking for me.
I cooked some Spag Bol which went down well.

The charity bookman took away another 20 boxes of books.

How nice to have the time away with your old friends NotSpag

Night night Lobstars. I am very tired 😴

Meant to say, Grammaretto.
Well played Master Fearnley - the final score doesn't reflect how well he played!

Well , Kaimoana seems quite chipper in her news to you Doodle, doesn't she?
I hope it's for real and not to allay fears.

Have your French assistantes arrived, Grammaretto? Helpful and willing hands, hopefully, to give you a lift one way or another🤪.
How are you feeling today? More mobile? But no heavy book lifting just yet!

Old dears' exercise class tomorrow - weary just thinking about it and wishing, most sincerely, that I'd done, as gently suggested, a few of the manoeuvres our lovely girl lady suggested. I'm still ready for a cuppa and a lie down after the first 15 minutes warm up.

Never mind, I shall be positively skipping about in the end - one to watch when the cheerleaders strut their stuff when the season starts. 👯

Well dear lobstars I have news.
Kaimoana has been in touch and said I could share her news with you. So here it is in her own words.

I think the day is not too far distant when I have to give up my PC but I shall battle on as long as I can.
Beautifully sunny day here so not so bitingly cold as it was all last week when I was in hospital.

I sm just back from a community lunch (chicken in sauce, noodle and broc and choc pud and tinned peaches for afters).
I enjoy the company too.

Hospital was a series of misunderstanding and people panicking without any cause but it was because they cared about me.
Thus, once you are in The System ther is A Process and it is very, very slow.
I lay in a ward of 4 people two of whom had dementia and shouted day and most of the night .
Ah well, at least I was warm, safe and had free food (far too much of it actually) 3 times a day - and extras. 🙂
I hope this is readable, please feel free to use any of it to keep my lovely friends updated.

So good to hear from Kaimoana again.
Hope all are ok x

We have been away for a night to see The Spooky Men's Chorale with some (old) friends

We see them rarely but it's always as though we haven't been apart
Every time we say "let's not leave it another six, seven, ten months this time.
We all laugh like drains. They are such a joy - and we are all so very lucky to still have each other
🥰

spookymen.com/

It was, Doodle.
Now I am catching up with everything that didn't get done today😉.

Moving house is so difficult Grammaretto. Everyone has their idea of what’s best. Stick to your guns and choose a place that’s right for you,

Is tennis on ixion. 🤣

Suggest DD finds you something, then point out the pitfalls.

Hey ho, back to the tennis🎾 .

You're right Doodle. I don't want to be stranded.
You should hear my DD on the subject. She thinks I am very foolish even looking at these unsuitable houses.
I have another viewing for yet another unsuitable house booked in. No harm in looking.... 😅

Doesn’t sound the sort of place for your Grammaretto . You need somewhere with more space. You’re used to big rooms and high ceilings. Something too small will be claustrophobic.
Please don’t get anywhere that isn’t close to other people or easy to get to local shops. The older we get it’s easy to become isolated if you can’t drive anymore. Sorry it’s not my business and you know all this anyway. I would love you to get somewhere you’ll be comfortable and happy.
Glad you’ve got a new helper coming.
Ixion we’ve had rain here today too. I was sorely tempted to go and dance barefoot on the grass……..but for the neighbours I might. 🤣

Being a tight fisted Scot albeit an adopted one I make my own slug beer.
A couple of spoons of dried yeast, some sugar stirred into water. I pour it into jam jars and plant them near the most vulnerable ones. It works well especially if I remember to check them often.

I tried the tens machine. It was tricky to set it up but I did and it pulsated as it was supposed to. I can't say I felt any improvement after an hour or so. The heated wheat bag is very comforting.

It isn't very warm here. I've just warned my French Helpers, who arrive on Thursday. I've told them to bring warm clothes and waterproofs.😟

I'm not sure how MM's crowdfunding is going. I know he's on holiday.🏖️

I've been watching the tennis. My old neighbour's DGS is Jacob Fearnley who is through to the second round. 😊

Oh poor Grammaretto☹️.
Has your TENS machine arrived? (Any problems, I will send you mine pdq. Just say). I'm not sure if or how they work, but the tingling sensation, if you ramp up the dials, provides a definite distraction from the initial source of pain!
Take your time over decision making if you are not 100% well in mind or body😉

Do you know how Music Man's crowdfunding is going? Is he a viable bidder/purchaser yet?

I was wondering, NfkD, whether you would be opening up your gardens again this year - it's every two years, isn't it? You have posted some lovely photos in the past!
And Kira continues to live the full and contented life she deserves❤️. Is she over her initial 'clinginess'?
Do you still have your camper van?

It's been raining quite heavily here since late afternoon- joy!
All doors and windows open at the same time but the smell of the damp on soil was indicator enough that rain was on the way.

It would be good if the puddles deterred a hidden brigade of slugs or snails which have forged a nocturnal path to my tall galvanised planter of finally planted delphiniums. Unlikely.
No beer for traps. Plenty of Scotch if they'd like that. Or sitting up all night waiting on target practice.

Can't believe I just wrote that. Joke, dear reader, joke

Well remembered Doodle about the cornice. It was indeed the same person and this time I met her lovely DH.

How interesting NotSpaghetti to watch the craftsman at work.

The wretched pain is getting me down. I feel for all you who are suffering too.

I think I will need to cancel today's viewing.
Not made a decision yet on the offer.

The cottage we saw yesterday (my pal who loves houses came too) would fit in one of my rooms. Also it was 2k along a country lane from the nearest village/shop/bus stop.

May I join in please with thanks ixion for sending our love and get well wishes to Kaimoana

And prayers🙏

Yesterday my kind friends, the book team came and tirelessly spent most of the day sorting and disposing of another swathe of books, papers and ephemera.