The Lockdown Gang - Keep Calm and Carry On

If you have any doubts Mamissimo please send them to us as neighbours..................and as for your fears of them thinking it time to keep an eye on you,may I suggest that is simply because you have already done much for them,a sort of payback perhaps.....certainly nothing to do with age...........you are as young as you feel,and my guess that is pretty young!!!!!!

You too having had similar caring thouhts by MrG`s parents back 15 years ago Grammaretto...........................you are all very blessed indeed......but in your case now I suspect having them near is a bonus indeed.

Holding on determindly,the lovely bright sunshine helps!!
Take good care my gangster friends all.

Hi Missedout good to hear your DH is driving again and signs of improvement in your hand.
Goodness that’s a task you taken on. I would have no idea where to start. It’s kind of you to help.
That’s not good having your credit card used fraudulently. It happened to my son and his wife and others living locally once and was traced to someone at the local garage service station.
Our COVID restrictions put us in tier two for Christmas so no meeting up with any of the family indoors. We will have to do present exchange in the garden.
Hope you get your accounts sorted out ok. Will the bank refund the money?
Bradfordlass good to hear you had a nice time with the elders. I would have enjoyed the ham salad but not the eel ?
I’m sure the singing and dancing made it a fun event and a lift after all the lockdown.
It’s kind of you to agree to helping Hanna’s nephew but it sounds as though it’s more her wish than his. That’s good, keep calm and carry on.........I would be fuming ? ?
Grammaretto so pleased to hear the careers have been helpful and efficient. I always felt with my SIL that it was better when the careers took over washing and dressing my brother so that when done she and my brother could relax together. It was a bit of a battle with my brother as he had Alzheimer’s and it took two carers to get him up and dressed in the morning.
I expect you have a mountain of photos. I know we have. I think it’s something people do when someone is seriously ill. The need to look for photos for memories of happier times.
Hope you and MrM have a peaceful night.
Mamissimo hope it’s as bright and sunny with you today as it is here then you should have a good day for planting.
I’m sorry about your DD’s cat. Sad time for them.
Wow so your other DD may be moving closer to you. That will be nice for you both. Just watch out if she buys a long range pair of binoculars so she can keep an eye on you in the garden. ?
Panache good to hear you’re still hanging on in there. It is true the sunshine helps a lot. Any news on those steroids yet?
Cherry and Dragonfly hope you are both ok.
Take care all.

Izabella I hope you do get back to Aotearoa.
Backpacking here is relatively easy for people of all ages and abilities, as there are so many Backpacker Hostels all over.
Around £6 buys a night's stay and often a free breakfast. For a little more, you can have a private room, rather than sharing a bunkroom.
I backpacked all round this country for many years and met wonderful people, of all ages, from all corners of the world.
If you ever seriously plan it, do drop me a line and I'll help if I can

Missedout Glad your DH is driving again, that's a very hopeful sign. Do you go to the water in winter or are the boats dry docked?

Grammaretto I was so glad to see you have good carers. It will make all the difference.
Sometimes, impersonal, professional help, rather than family, can ease everyone's day.

How poignant that your DS is looking for photos, bless him. Doodle is right - we often go to a happier past when the present is sad.
And your DD singing to Dad....another very touching and emotional gesture. They must be heartbroken, poor things.

Never forget though, dear Grammaretto we are thinking about you as well.
As a fairly stoical, down-to-earth person myself, I know how a brave face and well-covered grief can be misconstrued.

Mamissimo you obviously love your garden and what utter joy to be planting roses. What kind are they?

I feel so sorry for your DD2, having to lose her cat. My New York friend is facing the same issue with her much adored Ryan (13).

I do understand how it may be a bit awkward now to have caring children 2 fields away, especially as you are hale and hearty enough to deal with an extensive garden (and much more) but they will be there when you need them.

My own son would love to have a house with a granny annexe for me, and that was the plan, but world-wide, houses have become a commodity, rather than homes, so that's out of the question.
It upsets him deeply, especially if he finds out I'm ill (or have been) so, like we all do, I cover up and put on a cheery face.

Panache such wise, wise words from you today and brave too when you are 'holding on' in exceptionally difficult circumstances. Hope the sunshine continues

Doodle I've just been reading about Tier Two on the UK Govt website. Families can't associate but 1,000 people can?

"public attendance at outdoor and indoor events is permitted, limited to whichever is lower: 50% capacity, or either 2,000 people outdoors or 1000 people indoors

That doesn't really make sense - or have I got it wrong -which wouldn't surprise me one bit.

Maybe you should all go to a permitted 'indoor event' with your families for Christmas

You may remember when my son came over during our strict lockdown, we were able to obey all the rules by me at one end of the garage and him at the other!
We both wore masks but were at least 8 metres apart.
We even 'shared' a meal: he brought his and I'd prepared mine.
It wasn't ideal but it was certainly better than not meeting at all.
I'm not, by any means, encouraging anyone to flout rules, just wondering if in the UK, within the existing law, this would be allowed?

Yes, it did cross my mind that Hanna may have imposed her will on the genius boy. Being thousands of miles away, he resisted.
No matter, she'll be here soon and I'll play it down as my irritation of last night has gone.

NfkDumpling I miss you, is everything all right ?

Nortsat I'd love to hear more about your Scandi cruise.

dragonfly You can rest easy now with no daily dashes to be zapped but look after yourself nevertheless.
Are you in an area which allows your family to visit for Christmas?

I shall do the last of the gift wrapping this weekend and write clues for my dgs Treasure Hunt - then I can begin to look at what to serve on The Day.
So many things are already unavailable in the shops but we certainly won't starve.

Love to you all.

Noswaith dda

My WP spent today somewhere he was reluctant to be ... A&E. Yesterday at around 9pm his hand slipped when he was using a very sharp knife ?. He sliced the through fleshy part of his palm close to his thumb! There was quite a bit of blood and he doesn't cope well with the sight of blood ?. It doesn't bother me but could I calm him down and get him to listen to me ?. No. Somehow or other, between his faffing and shock I managed to attend to his wound. I knew he needed to go to A&E to have stitches but I knew he couldn't drive there and of course I can't. I did manage to stop the bleeding, clean the area and dress it, phew! He was definitely in shock, but in the end, surprisingly, slept well last night. I, on the other hand.... ? Nhs Direct were pretty useless this morning, apart from telling him to go to A&E. Off to A&E we went. In the end he had to have 8 stitches, I knew it'd be around that many. They dressed his hand and he's got an appointment to return to have it examined and the stitches removed.
What a pair we are ?

Feeling very tired this evening and planning an early night, I hope I can sleep ?

I'm thinking of you all, especially our Panache and Mr P and our Grammaretto and Mr G ?

I hope to return chattier tomorrow, now I just need rest. Sleep well my gangster friends?

Bradfordlass apparently the rules here are due to be reviewed on 16th December. We will see our family over the Christmas periods I hope but may just talk from the garden. DH is keen to keep safe until the vaccine is available.
I bet your DGS loves visiting you. We used to do treasure hunts too. I wonder what happened to Hanna’s nephew. ?
Cherry oh no. My son did the same thing a while ago but closer to his thumb, he doesn’t cope with blood either.
8 stitches. That was a bad cut. I hope he’s ok. What a pair you are indeed. ?. Not surprised you are tired tonight and get no sleep last night. Sleep well. ?

Dear Gangsters. This is part two of my saga in search of the Northern Lights. I am sorry there is a part three to come if you can cope.?

Again please don’t bother to read it if you don’t want to. I will not be offended.

In search of the northern lights - part two.

Being somewhat older and wiser after our first northern light experience, we decided our next attempt would be more comfortable and appropriate for a couple of oldies - we booked a cruise.

Our cruise was due to depart from Portsmouth in late February.
The day before our departure from home to the docks, it started snowing in the UK. We were picked up by car and managed despite the slow traffic and heavy snow to get to the docks before the worst of the weather arrived. The same night many people were stranded on icy roads so we were lucky to have made it.

Our cruise line was one we had used before so we knew we were in for some really delicious food and the company of people of similar age, mostly from the UK.

The start of the cruise was two days at sea crossing to Bergen.
It wasn’t the most pleasant of crossings as we were buffeted from all sides by the Beast from the East storm but we survived.

We arrived in Bergen on a lovely morning and enjoyed a walk round the beautiful harbour and old town.

From Bergen we sailed to Molde and then to Tromso. Neither of us can remember what we did in Molde but in Tromso, we were booked on a coach excursion around the town and then across the bridge to visit the Arctic Cathedral.

For this cruise we had been supplied with Arctic jackets and stretchy rubber shoes with studs that fitted over our boots to prevent slipping. The jackets were warm and cosy and well padded. So well padded it was almost impossible to bend in them.
Having completed our coach trip around Tromso, we arrived at the Arctic Cathedral and our coach stopped a little way from the main road on the side of a hill. Snow grips were not allowed in the Cathedral due to the damage the studs would do to the floor, so wearing our ordinary boots, our group of oldies made our way crocodile style down the hill to the Cathedral entrance in a series of balletic moves, stylish slides and windmilling arms in an effort to keep upright.

The Cathedral was smaller inside than expected but with a beautiful stained glass window. We then had the job of climbing back up the hill to the coach.

Back on board, we were enjoying our usual sumptuous meal when someone mentioned they had seen some lights in the sky from the deck.
Most people (the sensible ones) stayed in the warm and enjoyed their evening. A handful of others, keen photographers mainly, made their way outside to the open upper decks. My DH, one of the photographers, was accompanied by his trusty assistant.

It was freezing. Literally. I had on thermal long johns, waterproof trousers, my Arctic jacket, Norwegian bobble hat, scarves, thick gloves and had two blankets tied, one round my shoulders and one round my waist while we stood like lost souls in the night searching the skies for any sign of colour.
We were finally rewarded by a sliver of green arching over the bridge in front of us from one side of the fjord to the other. It wasn’t much and was gone in an instant but it was something. A photo was captured but apart from that the sky clouded over and that was it for the rest of the night.

Our next stop was Alta where we were staying overnight. During the morning we had an excursion to the Ice Hotel. The owner (builder) informed us that Joanna Lumley had visited before and proclaimed it ‘Absolutely Fabulous’
It was indeed very beautiful inside. We were welcomed with a shot of blue vodka in an ice glass, severed by a lovely (and well wrapped up) young lady, from the ice bar. The ice sculptures were wonderful and the little ice chapel a peaceful and quiet space.

That night we were off on our late evening excursion to a remote place where there would be no light pollution and if we were lucky we would see the northern lights. Our destination was an hour away from the ship and very remote. At the camp site was a tent complete with a large fire pit in the middle, where we could pop in to warm up and be served with a mug of hot chocolate (much needed as it was minus 22 outdoors!) Despite being there for a couple of hours, nothing other than a few hazy green coloured clouds were seen. It was not to be this time for us unfortunately.

We enjoyed the remaining few days of the cruise stopping in the picturesque port of Alesund. The sun was shining and we enjoyed a lovely walk round the harbour looking at all the coloured houses.

Our final stop was the tiny village of Flam. The innermost point off a branch of Sognefjord. Covered in snow it was such a pretty place. Our final excursion was on the little Flam railway passing lots of snow covered hamlets on our way. We arrived back at the ship’s mooring site about 15 minutes before we were due to leave but I was enticed by a shop full of lovely glass ornaments and sculptures. I couldn’t resist popping in, not intending to buy anything at all but then my eye caught sight of a lovely glass sculpture of The tree of Life (Norwegian style). DH correctly interpreted my longing look and said we could buy it. As he was keen to take a final couple of photos, he went back outside and I was left in the shop to make the purchase. I was just completing the transaction when I heard the ships whistle blowing. I came out of the shop with my purchase and hurried back towards the ship being ushered along by some of the crew who were shepherding in all the late comers. I couldn’t see DH anywhere and was in a complete panic. What should I do, was he already on board, should I get on without him, was he still taking photos? I had just reached the bottom of the gangway when I caught sight of him hurrying along the path towards me. What a relief!
That night we had a lovely sail away party on deck as we slowly made our way out of the fjord. We relaxed and enjoyed our evening.

It would have been a perfect cruise (apart from not really seeing the northern lights) if it wasn’t for the fact that when we left the shelter of the Norwegian coast we found ourselves at sea during the Beast from the East part two.

We were rocked both port and starboard and up and down at the same time. We made it up to breakfast in the morning only to find the plates and cutlery flying across the floor as the stewards did their best to serve us.

A little later, feeling quite queasy, we decided to go back to our cabin and there we stayed for the next 26 hours while our little ship was tossed and battered. The restaurants were closed and food, if you wanted it, was delivered to the cabin. Chairs were tied down and one of the large windows in the library cracked. In our cabin our possessions were flung all over the floor. I wasn’t unduly worried until I heard the captain make an announcement saying we were experiencing unusually strong storm conditions but not to worry because “she was a sturdy little ship”.

We and what was left of our stomachs finally made it back to port. An enjoyable, in the most part, cruise but still not a real view of the lights

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Bergen
Arctic Cathedral
A glimpse of green sky at night in Tromso

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A shot of blue vodka in ice glasses at the Ice Hotel
The little chapel in the Ice Hotel
The lovely town of Alesund

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From the train at Flam

Leaving Flam and sailing Aurlandsfjord

Wonderful, really evocative, Doodle and beautifully written (I'm not being kind, I'm telling the truth )

I hope you put this wonderful narrative with your photos. It's a real treasure for your family to read.

I was on the edge of my chair after you bought the Tree of Life, sure you were going to say it got smashed in the rough-weather. I'm glad it wasn't. Do you have a photo?
Those phots taken by your DH are magnificent -love the one of he colourful houses on the water.
It would make a lovely 'muriel' (Coro fans may remember!)
Has your DH ever considered selling to calendar and postcards companies?

Cherry dramas and tragedies in your house! Shock is as dangerous a thing as a bad cut, so glad you got him to A&E - did they send an ambulance. If ever there was a need for swift, official help it was then.
Looking forward to Part Three of the Saga.

Sorry gangsters, I wrote a really long post after catching up on everyone’s news and it has disappeared.
Sending good wishes to everyone, especially my thoughts are with Grammaretto and Panache. Hoping Doodle, Mammissimo, Missedout, Bradfordlass, Nfkdumpling are all well and wishing everyone a pleasant evening.

I am
Sitting beholding the most magnificent sunset imaginable. Such things bring joy

Chocolate does too so for all those in need a just completed cake. Enjoy

Bradfordlass you are kind. Thank you. I promise part three is really short ?
Yes I do remember Hilda Ogden and her muriel ?
Hope things are ok with you. Any more meals from Hanna?
Nortsat it’s so annoying when that happens isn’t it. Not surprised you don’t have the energy to do it again.
How are you feeling today?
Izabella that is one delicious looking cake. How lovely. Thank you for sharing it with us. Your sunset sounds beautiful.
Back later. Got to dry my hair before it goes even more curly.

Yummy Izabella the only chocolate cake I can enjoy - a virtual one thank you.

Yes Doodle She brought a packet of 'cream soup', and some biscuits.
Korean sweet stuff tends to be far less sweet than the things we buy (or in my case - don't) in the supermarket, so I may try one.
As for the cream soup...'cream of chicken, mushroom?' I queried.
'No, just cream but you can add vegetables.'
I'll have to experiment.

So many of us write long posts which then disappear, so I wonder if writing in Word or Notepad, if you have them, or some other program like those, and then transferring to GN, would work?
At least then, if it flew off into the ether, you have a copy and can repeat the process.
Hope you all are well and have a peaceful night.

Ah I wonder if she is learning Bradfordlass. That sounds more reasonable that her previous offerings. Cream soup? Really? I’ve never heard of such a thing. Let us know what it tastes like.
I will post a photo of my tree tomorrow when it’s daylight...if you see what I mean.
Hope all the gang are ok or have you’ve all fallen asleep reading my long story. Sorry ?

Good morning!
Doodle you are a master of suspense! Like Bradfordlass I foresaw the tree of life flying through the air, firstly as you looked for DH on skiddy ground and rushing.....then I saw it coming again on the rough seas.....I too need to see a picture of it!

Poor DD's cat was put to sleep last night. It was the only thing they could do for her except an operation with no hope of a return to a good quality of life and a daily form of dialysis. They felt that was being offered to give them more time with her rather than for her quality of life.

I was aghast at the charges for the cat hospital.....her vet doesn't have overnight accommodation so the animals have to be taken, by their owners, to a pet hospital for night care. £350 a night! That's more expensive than private patient care for humans and similar to a night's sleep at Le Manoir Aux Quatre Saisons! Our own vet has a small onsite hospital and we are charged £30 per 24 hrs, including food.

We will wait a little while and then suggest that they find another vet. I fume at people being exploited at any time but particularly during times of emotional duress.

DS took advantage of the Black Friday sales and bought the bed of his dreams at 35% off......and has arranged to have it delivered here next week......it's a super king sized, not flat packed....and his house purchase is not complete.....I asked him where he thought we could put it ......."in the hall " he said hopefully. Reader, I marmetised him. ?

Wishing calm days to all

Good morning gangsters I am sitting comfortably (thank you Doodle)and am going to try again to engage with you all ...
Panache, did you sleep any better last night? I hope you both have a pleasant and peaceful day together.
Grammaretto, I was thinking of you both yesterday and reflecting how lovely it was that your DD was singing to her dad. The doctor has praised the quality of care you are giving to your DH. I am certain it’s a comfort to you all, that he’s at home and I am glad the carers can take over some of the tasks.
Lovely to hear your clever DGS did so well in his Grade 6 exam ... he must be playing some lovely pieces now. ??
Cherry did you have a decent night’s sleep after your visit to A&E? How is your WP doing today?
I have spent many, many hours of my life sitting in A&E and always find it exhausting...
Dragonfly, how has the rest of your week been, now that your treatment is finished? Are you tired? How are your spirits?
Missedout I was pleased to read that you have a modicum of movement in your thumb. Also your DH is back to driving. Good news on both counts. Sorry to hear about your credit card ... it’s an uneasy feeling. My partner dropped his card in the summer and realised about an hour later. In that time it had been picked up and used at 4 different supermarkets buying alcohol and cigarettes. The thief was caught in the 5th supermarket trying to do the same.
Of course the Bank sorted it out, but it’s an uncomfortable feeling, when it happens to you.
Bradfordlass your Christmas jollities with the Elders sounded lovely ... good food, dancing and singing ... what more can you ask for?
I am not going to say anything about Hanna ...
Lovely to know Baby Gubbins is thriving.
Mammissimo, sorry to hear about Bellaboo.
It’s interesting that your daughter wants to move near to you ... perhaps the current circumstances have caused us all to review our priorities and want to be close to family.
Izabella what a beautiful cake ... I am sorry that we can only have a virtual slice.
Doodle another lovely chapter in your Scandinavian Saga and accompanied by beautiful photographs. Thank you for sharing it.
I have added a photograph that I took at the top of Mount Floyen, overlooking Bergen. We went up on the funicular railway and it was really beautiful.
Good morning Nfkdumpling hope all is well with you and yours.

I am going to post this ASAP gangsters and then get out in the garden. We are on the ‘big tidy up’ before winter sets in any further. Have a good day, all. ?

Morning all.
Mamissimo sorry I had you all worrying about my glass ornament. It was firmly in my grip don’t worry. Apart from being very heavy, it cost a lot! ?
Sorry about your DDs cat. They must be sad losing her. That is quite a cost for an overnight stay. Must have been luxurious accommodation.
Sounds like your hallway will be blocked by a very large bed.
Also sounds like your son may be ‘flat packed’ by you for buying it.?
Nortsat sounds as though you are feeling a bit better today.
Thank you for sharing your photos too. Although we have been to Bergen many times we have never made it up the funicular so it’s lovely to see what the view is like from your photo. I’ve just shown it to DH ......he wants to go there now ?

For those who asked, this is a picture of my tree. It is actually called Yggdrasil the sacred Norse tree. I just loved the colour.

Good afternoon gang ?

Quiet yesterday Doodle and BradfordLass. I hope our missing friends, especially Grammaretto and Mr G and Panache and Mr P, are fairing as well as they can be. I send gentle cwtches your way.

On the contrary, Doodle, I didn't fall asleep reading the second episode of your In search of the Northern Lights saga, I enjoyed it immensely. I thought Hitchcock was the master of suspense but I think you are, all the more so because it's not fiction!
It could be said that your trip "started as it it was meant to go on' ?, inhospitable weather, a buffeted crossing, a memorable trip to Molde, wearing cosy padded suits ... you couldn't bend in, a hairy walk down a hill to a Cathedral and a difficult climb back up, a hurried trip back to the ship where you thought you had lost one another and one or both of you would be stranded ? and a distinctly rocky journey back which made you queasy and cutlery, probably including knives ? flying about.
Yet ... that is not the sum of the saga is it?! The sum of the saga as I see it is that it would have been the perfect cruise (apart from not really seeing the northern lights). You did see something though, just maybe not the lights in all their glory. I still think Mr D has captured a beautiful photo ?. As your photos attest you went to some wonderful places and saw some amazing sights, beautiful memories and no wonder you fell in love with the glass sculpture of the Norse tree, it's stunning ?. Thank you for sharing your saga Doodle, a wonderful adventure indeed ?

Good afternoon everyone. I am still around, I just keep getting side-tracked, which is a lifelong problem for me. Usually things do all get done in the end, but not necessarily in any order or all at once.

Here’s a picture of my bears made from left over wool and buttons from the button box and a large bag of stuffing inherited from my mum which has been under the spare room bed ever since. Goodness knows how old the stuffing is but it was still in the bag it was bought in! I think I’m improving since my first effort on the right which looks more like a dog.

Last time the family came to stay it was obvious that the girls were finding the little box room where they had to sleep was too cramped, soooo, its now restored to its original purpose of Dumpling’s toy room. My own indoor shed. In future the DGDs will stay in there and DD1 and DSiL will sleep at the Air B&B just up the road. I’ve also started typing up more of my childhood memories for the DGC. I’ve done my bit of the book my DM started on our childhoods and what it was like, but I find I can type much quicker than writing by hand nowadays so I’ve typed it all up and keep adding to it. How things have changed in a couple of generations. I got really carried away this morning and spent nearly two hours absorbed in it. They say old people can remember their childhoods easier than what happened yesterday. I’ve also kept a journal for about ten years now. Just a short piece every day or so. And remembering what happened two days ago is a real problem! Somehow though, I haven’t got around to looking at GN for a day or several.

I’ve now caught up with all your comings and goings. I do hope Dragonfly that you’re not too washed out after all those hospital trips. Even with weekends off it must seem strange not to be going in each day. And Missedout, having someone, a stranger, invade you privacy and using your credit card is horrid. It hurts that someone can do such a thing. But great news that your thumb is at last showing signs of recovery. It must have been rather badly damaged, far more than you let on in the beginning. And then Mr Cherry goes and tries to outdo you! I hope he’s happier today Cherry. I bet it did bleed something awful! Mamissimo, two fields away is quite the perfect distance. Far enough to have privacy from each other, but near enough to be of use! Could it be Bradford, that Hanna’s nephew is shy of approaching you? Sometimes genius’ (geni?) are quite introverted.

And Doodle. Your wonderful tale in search of the Northern Lights and that beautiful tree (of course it was expensive, its Norway). I do hope the third instalment includes a good sighting. I have been fortunate enough to have seen them. Not a perfect, like on telly sighting but wonderful. We went with three friends to celebrate a 60th birthday a couple of years ago. In mid January. On the Hurtigruten ferry Nordnorge. It’s a super way to go as it’s quite a new ship, has stabilisers and hugs the shore line, mostly staying inside the islands where it’s calm. Being a post ferry as well as a passenger ship she often calls in to remote places just for fifteen minutes, but in other places it can be several hours leaving plenty of time to walk around the town or go on a trip. The trips all timed to match ferry times. We could only afford a one way south to north trip and on the last night, the very last night, we got a call to say the lights were dancing. Being so far north the ship was right under them and everywhere was glowing a very pale green with streaks of green above and around us. Because everywhere was green there wasn’t enough contrast to give the best photos but it was the most amazing feeling. We were so very lucky!

I’d better press the post button before this turns into a book!

Cherry thank you for saying you’re enjoying my story. When I first mentioned it I had no idea it would turn into such a big piece. Part 3 is very short I promise..
How is your WP’s hand doing. Is he managing to work around it? Hope you are both doing ok.
Nfk I love those bears. They are really sweet. I couldn’t make anything like that. What a lovely way to use up scraps. What is nice is that each one had its own personality. ?
I do so wish I had written things down when I was younger. Not just of my own life but the tales my mother told me too. I wonder, if I’d known at the time that I was going to have such a bad memory, whether I would have made more of an effort. I am very fortunate in that DH has a fantastic memory and not only remembers things that have happened to us but things about my mum and dad and the rest of the family too.
Isn’t Norway a beautiful place. I have heard of several people who have had a wonderful trip with Hurtigruten. We have considered it before but it would entail flying out so we went on a cruise from this country so that we didn’t have to fly.
The lights are lovely aren’t they. What I enjoyed was the night sky. Living where we do it is never truly dark at night and with street lights etc you can’t see all the stars. I couldnt believe how many stars there were in the night sky in Norway.
Gramaretto and Panache I hope things are going as well as they can for you all. We are thinking of you.
Take care gangsters and sleep well.

Evening, me again ?

What a horrid thing to happen Missedout. A similar thing happened to me eons ago when I was a student. I went a small Sainsbury's store near to where I was living. It was late afternoon and there were only two other shoppers I could see, a casually dressed man who came nowhere near me and a very well dressed woman who did. When I came to pay for my groceries I discovered my purse had gone. Security were great, but the woman was nowhere to be seen. They rang ahead to the police station up the road to let them know what had happened and that I was coming and they let me have my groceries , despite not having the means to pay. Between that time and the time I made my way to the station and my card being cancelled the thief had visited three clothing outlets and spent most of my money. Of course I had all the money back but the incident didn't half make me panic.
I'm pleased that your DH is recovered enough to drive now and there are signs that your hand is improving ?. My WP, of course, has now joined the damaged hand "club", though I don't think his injury is as severe as yours and shouldn't take as long to heal.
By the way, the number of times it has been suggested that I sleep on a mattress on the floor ... if I'd have put a bet on more than a dozen .... wonder what my winnings would be ?. On the face of it, though, it seems a reasonable and sensible idea, however it wouldn't be good for my stenosis and my WP would have to help me get up each time I needed to, including every time I need the loo (usually at least twice every night) ?.

Mmm, yummy looking cake Izabella ?. I could do with a real slice of that with the cuppa I have beside me.

What beautiful teddies Nflk, and all made with left over wool too, you're really talented! I love the one you say looks like a dog, I don't think it does so if it's going spare .... ?.
What a lovely thing to do to carry on from your own mother and bring history "up to date". I hope one of your DD's continue it. These things are lovely heirlooms and, over time, valuable social history too.

Sorry that you DD's cat did have to go to the great cattery in the sky Mamissimo, horrible to say it but it was the right thing to do. As for the cost of one night's accommodation for the cat ?. I've had holidays that have costed less!

Nortsat, love the photo ?. What happened to your partner sounds a bit more like what happened to me when my purse and card were stolen - the products of choice by the thief being the main difference.

Cream soup BradfordLass . It sounds a bit like the white soup "favoured" by the Victorians ?. That's how I envision it anyway. I actually have a recipe book tucked away with a recipe for white soup contained therein, it never has occurred to me to make it ?
How is/has the clue writing for the treasure hunt com(e) ing?

My WP seems to be coping well with his bad hand, all things considered. My dishwasher has broken down now though ? ?.

Crossed posts Doodle. I'm looking forward to part three of your saga, short or long. See above re. my WP ☝️?
Night all ?

My darling DH died yesterday morning at home, peacefully, surrounded by the family.
I may not be writing for a while but I am still dropping in to read your stories.

I am so very, vey sorry to hear of your sad loss.
Heartfelt sympathy and love ???