The Lockdown Gang still chatting

Affect not effect. 😲

Some beautiful photos Kaimoana
Happy days.
DS has sent some flood and cyclone photos and told us about their earthquake. They have survived, thankfully.

BJ what an extraordinary scene. Those brave cows! Are you all ok?

Our leader resigned today. I wonder if Jacinda standing down had anything to do with it.
Who will take over? It's a poisoned chalice.

I brought the in-laws to our community meal which they enjoyed. But it will be at least another week before they can get back into their house.
The painter was busy today tarting up the house they are going to sell. 50 sprouting flower bulbs have been purchased too.

I'm getting excited about my trip to stay with my DSis and DBiL in Cambridge on Friday.

Doodle I hope you and DH have some more nice things to look forward to.
Love to all our Gang xxx

What cows? Where's the picture?
Who is your leader?

I'm just back from a community meal as well - very nice indeed.
Ham on the bone, salad and a delicious mixed fruit trifle with fresh cream for dessert.

Our kaumatua hui was cancelled which left me free to attend.
So no nerve-wracking speech for me after all. Phew!

I hope you have a good journey tomorrow Grammaretto and enjoy your break in beautiful Cambridge.

Weather forecast for Cambridge is rain but it will be nice to see it again as well as both my siblings and their spouses. or is it spice?
My DM retired to Cambridge so I was often there until she died. It has grown hugely in recent years with lots of high-rise offices.

Nicola Sturgeon, Scotland's First Minister has resigned/retired so she's the leader I meant as in Scottish leader. Sorry I didn't mean we as in you and I have a leader. Unless we count Jeeves ...

Wandering thoughts.

Doodle, I didwonder whether the natural remedy discussed on the RLS would be suitable for your DH considering he has blood cancer, whether there'd be contraindications with his condition or the medication he's on. I think I hoped that something others had found beneficial might also be beneficial for your DH.
It's bizarre, because like you I would have thought my virtual appointment would be via something like Facetime but no. They're calling it a virtual appointment but it is actually just a 'phone appointment 😏.

I'm glad your in-laws enjoyed the community meal with you Grammaretto. Do you think they'd join you for another one?
The kerb appeal project for your MiL's old house sounds like it's coming on nicely. Perhaps by the time it's finished they can move back in their house 🤞
I hope you have a good journey down to Cambridge and a wonderful time with your DSis & DBiL.

I see you too have been to a community meal Kaimoana. The food you were served is just down my street 😋.

Talking about food, I had a bit of a 'mare today. I was making a simple, straightforward meal - baby potatoes, salmon and greens, all done in the steamer. Nothing can possibly go wrong, right? Then, why or why did I forget to put the 'divider' on before I put the top tier on 🤦. I'm claiming it as a lapse in concentration rather than labeling it as a senior moment because I was rushing as I didn't want to miss the footie but our team weren't even playing 😉

Grammaretto good to hear your son and family are ok.
Some lovely flowering bulbs will certainly add kerb appeal to your MIl house although from what you’ve said before it’s in a desirable place and a nice house. Hopefully she won’t have any trouble getting a buyer.
Ooh Jeeves give that red carpet a good clean. Grammaretto’s coming south again. 🥳
We do have a trip to Tenby booked in April. Not sure if we’ll be going. Depends on how DH is. If we go Rolly will get his first trip to the seaside.
Kaimoana on the link Boadicea posted was a video of a herd of cows swimming to safety from the flood water. They all seemed to reach dry land ok.
Meal sounds nice. Ham on the bone is always the tastiest.
Glad you enjoyed it.
Grammaretto are your siblings both brothers or sisters or one of each? If they are one of each you could call their other halves mixed spice. 😊 have a lovely time in Cambridge.
Please don’t go giving Jeeves ideas. Scotland’s First Minister is a bit beyond his capabilities I think.
Cherry it was kind of you to think of DH. We were up again last night. I found that rubbing a bag of frozen broad beans on his legs did relieve the irritation a bit. Sitting clutching a frozen bag of broad beans for 20 minutes wasn’t fun so I order a cold wrap from Amazon (DH thinks it’s a wast of money but I’ll try anything if it helps) it’s now sitting in the freezer waiting to leap into action later if needed.
I’m sure your meal was perfectly cooked…..
Unlike the time we had a lovely meal with roast potatoes…..or would have done if I’d turned the oven on 😲

I have a bad habit of leaving a dish (usually a vegetable) to keep warm in oven or microwave - and forgetting it until after my family have gone home.

Couldn't see any link here on GN from BJ but thanks Doodle those brave cows are quite famous now so I watched it online.

You learn something new every day.

Being keen on cowboy stories and film in my callow youth, I knew denim fabric is named from is from de Nîmes, the French city.
Today I learned gauze is from Gaza, muslin from Mosul and worsted from a Norfolk town of.....Worstead.

DS sent more terrifying videos from cyclone stricken areas. I think they are only now realising what a lucky escape they had by leaving the campsite a day early.

I should be getting packed but my train isn't until midday so there's lots of time

On another thread someone is recommending a homeopathic remedy for RLS. Doodle Rhus Tox I think she said

I daresay you'll have tried everything by now but I will think of it if I go on a long journey again.
DD found help at the homeopathic hospital in Glasgow when nothing else stopped her migraines.

How are all the gang today?

I'm on a train but not the right one
Due to the weather many trains were cancelled. There was an hour and a half queue in Edinburgh. An hour in York and I'm heading to London where I hope to get a train to Cambridge. I' have met some lovely people on the way.

♬"Oh Mr Porter, what shall I do? ♩ ♪ I want to go to Birmingham and they've took me on to Crewe..." ♪ ♫

I hope you've arrived safely in Cambridge by now Grammaretto after your detour/circumnavigation through/of GB. I hope you're not too worn out by the journey and can enjoy the evening with your DSis & DBiL.
Oh, and snap - I wondered the same thing as you about the homeopathic remedy mentioned on the RLS thread and have already asked Doodle if it's something that her DH could take but sadly it isn't. I, like you (I'm sure all ^us gangStars) so much want to help don't we, I wish our collective concentration of minds alone could help.

Has the cold wrap been used yet Doodle? More importantly, if so, has it helped? I'm 🤞 is has/will. If it helps it is most definitely not a waste of money!
Yes, yesterday's food was cooked okay and we did get to eat it .... when we managed to prise the 'hermetically' sealed plastic steamers from one another 😳.

It's a worrying habit keeping something warm in the oven and forgetting about it Kaimoana but one we've probably all been guilty of at some time. I once in a moment of sheer blank mindedness put precooked vegetables in a plastic container but instead of reheating them in the microwave I put them in the oven 😱. Fortunately I realised but only after a couple of minutes and retrieved the container before it got all melty, phew!

I went to pick up my new glasses today, feeling strangely excited at the prospect because my old ones require daily surgery. I put them on ... I couldn't see properly 😠. They just weren't right at all. Now I've got to have another eye test on Monday and another wait for new glasses. Drat! I'm most seriously displeased 😉

Kaimoana don’t know where I found the cow video then but glad you managed to get to see it.
How are you coping with the aftermath of all that flooding. Is it receding yet?
To add to your list (well slightly) Brentford…nylons.
Grammaretto I saw a video of the area your son was camping in. It was completely flooded. Looked awful.
Thank you for mentioning the other thread about RLS. I’ve been watching with interest. Have to watch what DH takes because of his blood cancer. For example he can’t have iron or magnesium which are the two most commonly suggested things.
Well I wonder where you are now. You’re certainly seeing the countryside. Hope you are safely at your destination and can relax a bit now.
Cherry. You are all so kind trying to help DH. This RLS seems such a strange thing. It’s completely taken over our lives. Limits how long we can sit in restaurants, travel, sleep ! . Just a case of keeping going till we find the right dose of medication that works. I did use the cold wrap last night and it might have helped. On the other hand perhaps DH was just too tired to stay awake. It’s in the freezer waiting to see if it’s needed tonight.
How annoying about your glasses. That’s happened to me and DH. You wait so long for them and it’s such a disappointment.
Hope you get the new pair soon. Can’t have you miss seeing out team on the TV…………they might win ⚽️😲

My brain has obviously taken the weekend off because what I meant was the name of the city gave itself to the fabric name.
Gaza (or Gauza - Gauze) Mosul (or Mosulin - Muslin) and de Nîmes is De-nim, denim.

No Doodle Ray hasn't lived here long at all, just a few months but we struck up an immediate friendship. He not only has a very sad history and was re-housed here after being made homeless but he suffers badly from Parkinson's Disease.
However, he has an absolutley devoted family, including a cheeky little 5 year old grand-daugher, who visit several times a week.

He has joined my Maori elders group (he's Nga Puhi) but until we get rid of the arrogant, useless chairman, I doubt we'll impress him. We're a shambles at the moment.

DS2 isn't a shambles and says he very much appreciates your birthday wishes - it was a workday for him but he had a birthday tea.

Cherry I think virtual appointments are going to be the thing of the future and I can see many advantages, not least the miserable winter trail to the surgery and then sitting damply in a waiting room full of infectious patients {shock]

BJ you sound perkier, thank goodness

Hope our Scottish Kiwi explorer is safely cuddled up with something warming and good company.

I finally arrived! There was a welcoming committee and a delicious meal. Cambridge has changed a lot since I was last here. There are high rise office blocks and hotels by the station and taxis circling. It used to be just a little town in the Fens. It's unrecognisable to me.
I have been offered a partial refund for my journey.

I thought as much Doodle, that you and DH would be experts on his condition.

I think I will try to get back to sleep. It's a big day today with party preparation.

*Grammaretto. We live 40 miles from Cambridge. Have a great time!

Kaimona no it wasn’t you. I knew exactly what you meant. I should have put a 🤣 at the end of my post so you knew I was joking. It was a local sort of joke when I was growing up. Everyone down south knows about Brentford nylons.
I’m so pleased you have made another friend locally. Ray sounds nice and it must be good for him to find someone he gets on with too.
So many consultants these days do virtual (telephone appointments). It’s better than not seeing them at all and in many cases it doesn’t make a difference but it is harder to talk about your problems if you can’t actually see how the other person is responding.
Grammaretto well done you. It certainly was a complicated journey. I’m glad they are refunding you some money.
You must have been cheered by your welcome.
Was the party today? We’re you involved in helping get things ready? Hope it went well and you all had a good time.
DH has upped his dose of tablets in the Hope that we both get a chance to sleep tonight. As luck would have it his legs weren’t too bad last night. Instead it was his shoulders giving him trouble after doing the exercises for his balance. 😳

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A local lady makes tote bags, adult and child sized, so I have ordered matching ones, with purses for my DiL and Gubbins as 'Easter Eggs'.
Pink for them and the dark-background one for me.

Better than chocolate, though I doubt Gubbins will think so.

Where are you Mamissimo ? Is that garden keeping you dug in?

Cherry How are you Sweetie?

Grammaretto glad you arrived relatively safely. Enjoy your party and being spoiled

The past is another country; they do things differently there.

It began raining quite heavily again last night and I felt really anxious. Goodness knows how the poor, flooded homeless felt.

It's warm and sunny again today though.

Can't have you miss seeing our team on the TV ..... They might win . No, they Lost (again) Doodle. This season we're a shadow of what we've been, our best, it seems, is getting a draw because we can't seem to score 😤. We've got some great players but they're all useless so it's not easy to put your finger on why -- we're so dreadful-- it's gone wrong, but it has. Don't think either me or ixion feel like cheerleading 😟

I agree with what you say about telephone consultations Doodle, as they're not always appropriate when complex matters need to be discussed. They're fine and definitely a good idea if it's something straightforward but it's not always easy to know that it's going to be straightforward, something seemingly straightforward might not be. I've had telephone appointments with my GP and they've been fine but I'm not really happy with the fact I've been on with my neurologist. I don't think it's going to be straightforward and I think I might end up having to have an actual face to face appointment.

How was your DH last night Doodle? I hope he (and you) had another good night 🤞

Your friend Ray sounds like a man who's faced quite a bit of adversity in his life Kaimoana. Homelessness, and the fear of it, is a horrifying experience! Some people have no idea how it can happen to ordinary decent people; stigma still exists. I hope he feels settled where he is now, even if because of the chairman of your Maori elders group he isn't impressed with that, obviously he has a lovely neighbour and clearly a loving family so I'm sure that helps.
Nice totes who needs chocolate anyway 🙂

I hope you're having a fabulous time in Cambridge Grammaretto and thoroughly enjoyed the party 😊

I stood at my East-facing window this morning as dawn was glimmering the sky and thought how amazing it was that the sun wasn't coming up - but rather I, on this revolving ball, was slowly dipping towards it.

Kaimoana I love those bags. I’m sure Gubbins will be happy. I hope the rain keeps at bay and the sun continues.
DH is off for his physio again tomorrow. The exercises are quit gentle but I suppose he uses muscles he doesn’t usually use. We went out for a walk today and both of us were aching.
I’m crocheting (or trying to) little baskets to put a couple of small foil wrapped eggs in for Easter. Saw them on Pinterest and thought it was something I could do that wouldn’t take too long.
We lost again Cherry. Oh dear. Perhaps I need to send Jeeves over to give them the benefit of his expert advice.
Last night we were only up once which is an improvement.
We walk round the lounge hand in hand chatting about this that and the other. DH with his eyes almost shut and me with big red eyes because my havefever season has suddenly kicked in. I’m allergic to tree pollen. We must look a right pair if either of us could see properly 🤣
I agree with you. Something are appropriate to be dealt with by phone but others the consultant needs to see how you’re doing. DH used to have all sorts of writing tests and walking tests when he went to see his neurologist. You can’t do that over the phone.
Grammaretto hope you are having a lovely time and the party was a success.
Hoping for a peaceful night for us all.

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My bags

The one being held will go to Gubbins.

And there just possibly (shsssh) be a solution to my having a dog. More later.

Not a knitted pooch I guess, Kaimoana?
Sorry to be silly but I'm awake far too early.
The party went very well.DBiL looked so happy to have his family and friends noisily chatting all evening night.

Yesterday I went off on my own. It was like Summer here. Can't believe it's February. I walked miles. I went to the Quaker meeting where I used to go when visiting mum. Noone I spoke to could remember her but they were kind to me .
I went on a punt on the river and an art gallery or 2 and walked to DM's old flat which looked empty and uncared for.
My niece had invited us all 7 oldies to tea and scones. It was so nice to properly meet her DC .

Cherry It s a shame your team sorry, our team is not on a winning streak.
You wait, their time will come.
Have you had the neurologist appointment?

How are you Jan? I hope you are improving each day. NFKs too?

The bags are very pretty and useful Kaimoana Gubbins will love hers. Small people love small things.

You make your and the Dude's plight sound so funny Doodle. Hand in hand around the room. I'm sure it isn't ☺️ but you always manage to see the funny side.

Sending hugs and a photo of the bridge of sighs.

I haven't read all the comments here, so apologies if it's a repeat. I noticed a mention of the film Mrs Harris Goes to Paris and I agree with you, Grammaretto, that it's a very nice and enjoyable one.

I would add, though, that the book is even lovelier. I found it as an audiobook on Libby (the free app from public libraries), brilliantly read by Juliet Stevenson. It was really fun to listen to while cross stitching before Christmas.

The recording also includes a sequel, Mrs Harris Goes to New York, written in the same style and with a plot that's possibly even more fantastic.

Thankyou Firdaus for the tips. Several of the audience were saying how much better the book was

I always like recommendations for films and books