The Lockdown Gang - Just chatting ⭐️

Dearest Panache. The love never dies. Believe me. I feel for you so much at this hard time. We all do.
The lockdown and lack of visiting make it impossible to care for him as you would want but you are doing the best you can..
A day at a time. An hour at a time. You are stronger than you think.
You have shown this over and over again.
It was pointed out to me that in each happy couple, one will be left alone to mourn the other.
xxxxx

My heart goes out to you Panache.
Under the circumstances I hope visiting would be flexible and unrestricted - when you reach “end of life care” one hopes for humanity and generosity of spirit towards next of kin as well as to the patient.
Sadly it is true it is unlikely that there can be any “happy ending” in the sense of a cure, but for your DH to know you are there and hopefully for him to pass peacefully should not be underrated. I think this is why hospices are such warm, even “happy” places because they have given up on a cure, but focus on the best quality of life which can be achieved under the circumstances.
Fearing the worst is, believe me, worse than facing it.
Very much in my thoughts

Oh Panache there are no words I can offer but my thoughts and prayers are with you both.

Greetings to you all,sincerely hoping that overall life is being kind and generally you have some pleasant times planned up ahead.

Sadly my news never gets better,in fact the past two weeks have seen a dramatic twist again.
My dearest was rushed back into Hospital for the 5th time,it was a suspected stroke.
However it actually was a paralysis of eye,ears,facial and throat muscles,not only leaving him disfigured to an extent, but he is now totally deaf,vision badly impaired and choking is now a new worry.
It is something I have faced with great fear several times previously at home alone.

The Medics now wonder how I have coped mainly alone for all this time.
On Tuesday in Conference it maybe suggested he is moved into another Hospital that offers only 4 cancer patient beds

Visiting remains strictly by appointment only whilst my dear man has been reduced to this very sadly pitiful, helpless state
I am little better I have to admit,the toll on both my health and mental status is tremendous.

There can be no happy ending and of course that says it all.

Good morning - how dismal it is here after yesterday. I looks like it should rain but it isn't.

I too am jealous of the hedgehogs. We have foxes and badgers which come out at night. We also have two robins which are very feisty.
My gooseberries also look quite healthy but unfortunately no beans. I used to grow them as my parents loved them but now they are no longer with us it doesn't seem worth the effort.

What a lovely friend you have Kaimoana. So good you can connect with your friend in New Jersey. It was how our DS showed us round his new house when he moved in.

Lovely to spend time with family Doodle. I miss mine now but have spent a few days from recovering. I am not sure how we managed running after little children in our youth. We must have had more energy - or less weight!

Pleased you got the journey to radiotherapy over for this week. I remember it was the travelling there and back although I had mine in lockdown and at least it gave me somewhere to go every day!

I hope Cherry and the Panaches are okay.

Hello Lobstars,

Is that what those tuckaway bunks are called - Murphy Bunks. Mamissimo
That figures. We were allowed into my grandfather's Sligo cottage by a cousin who showed us how the bed was in a cupboard, a range took up the rest of the room and the boys - there were 7- slept in the loft space.
It's all been converted now with an upstairs and a proper kitchen. What DH used to call modrenised

I love my minikitchen in the spare room despite the fact it has hardly been used because we have had no visitors. It's so cute.

So glad you have managed the technology Kaimoana and been able to read your adventure book in lashing, atmospheric rain.

Nice to hear about your busy garden Mamissimo Mine is a bit behind yours but it was noticeable on last night's quiz that for us Scots it was still bright daylight at 10.30pm whereas the Englanders had darkness. Anyway I picked chard (last year's) and rhubarb for my dinner yesterday and was happy to see that the no-dig tatties are all through.

I hope the Panaches are both alright. Sending cwtches

Good morning ?

I'm here! I've been doing my bit as traffic controller at a vaccination centre......I had a clipboard and a yellow vest. ?

I quite like the fact that our lives are being gently reopened - it's like putting on a new raincoat at the start of autumn term....the cuts the same, it's a bit big, not quite as comfy but will get better as we abuse it a bit.

We have finished the decorating and now begin construction of the horizontal Murphy bunks. We wanted a splendid set from Italy but they were nearly £4K! I spotted the mechanism and base frames on eBay for £130 ??? so now we have to build the giant cupboard that they go in. Once finished you won't know they're there......unless the DGDs are in residence.

The goosegogs are filling out nicely, all beans are present and correct....it's a great time of year!

It's Father's Day in a couple of weeks and DS has bought a watch winder for Mr Ms collection of automatic watches......the kind that wind themselves.....there's useful!

The week ahead is Mr M maintenance week....we're collecting Mr Ms hormone moment car from the distant garage where it's had it's MOT, picking up his new hearing aids, getting his feet done.....so much to look forward to!

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Grammaretto the men on your adjacent building site sound very jolly - I hope you join in.

I liked the brown Kendal mint cake in tiny quantities but not the white. Haven't had either since I was 15 years old. Just reading the recipe for Tablet makes my teeths ache.

It's lovely to read about your happy time with family Doodle, so much more consciously precious to us all now, after being denied those hugs and cheeky smiles for so long.

Remember Swan Vestas from the days when everyone smoked?
'Have you got a light?'
Vesta was goddess of the hearth and the Vestal Virgins were keepers of the eternal flame.
Flame, fire, light, lamp. Vesta. Tilley Lamp.
Vesta Tilley.

I am pleased to report I successfully negotiated the text on my new Galaxy so was able to read a Walt Longmire adventure last night as rain lashed the windows as I was tucked up cosily.
Anyone else a Longmire fan?

I was also able to show my New Jersey friend round my wee cottage and into my garden.
We were both delighted with the miracle of technology which allowed her to be in my NZ home.

Where's Mamissimo these days? Anyone heard from Panache I do hope all is well in both camps.

I made a quiche this morning, so a slice of that is lunch along with Punkin Soop.
Stay well everyone.

Evening all.
Just returned home from a lovely afternoon with DS2 and family. Such different weather from yesterday. Sunny and hot for our BBQ. Lovely to see them all and have some hugs.
Finger is fine now thanks Kaimoana and little Gubbins did indeed cheer me up. ?
Wow that’s nice of your friend. Hope you are comfy in your comfy chair ?
Grammaretto I must confess that I didn’t understand Vesta Tilley either. Please Miss Kaimoana could you explain for those at the back of the class?
It was worth a cut finger to be able to present DGS with his favourite brownies. ?. It’s much better today.
Psst. Don’t tell anyone, I don’t actually like Kendal mint cake but it is the done thing to buy while you are there.
Coming from down south, I have never heard of tablet before until Maydoll mentioned it on the GM thread. Made with condensed milk I think.
Roads seem to be full of traffic and roadworks wherever we go round here.
Hope everyone has a good weekend.

what a cheering, uplifting post Kaimoana

Vesta Tilley? I am v e r y s l o w and still don't get the joke
The men on the building site next door sing music hall and songs from musicals which quickly become earworms

Sorry you have cut yourself Doodle. making brownies too.
I didn't see any Kendal mintcake or I would have chosen it ofcourse. It was the same when DMiL asked for tablet (she's addicted) and all I could find was chewy rum n raisin fudge!

I am glad that the first week of chemo journeys went OK Jan . Good luck with the next batch.

The roads are busy everywhere although if you are prepared to walk off the beaten track you can still find a deserted beach in Scotland - at least we used to be able to.

sorry about the badgers. I was shocked when I was told too

It's amazing isn't it how familiar words and names just slide by us without our realising their meanings?

I have know the name Vesta Tilley - star of music hall, who died in 1952, all my life and yet, only this week has it struck me her name is a pun.

Oh Doodle I'm so sorry you're hurt. Washing up duties for DH then? I’ve sent you a Gubbins clip to cheer you up.

Grammaretto - welcome home
I've gone off badgers as well. Yuk.
It may be your flatworm is from New Zealand. University of Aberdeen started a survey of them in 2015.

Jan16 When my son went into the army as a teenager, he wrote to tell us he was the only one in his barracks who knew how to iron his uniform properly.

Cherry are you on the upward slope to Tiggerishness? Hope so.
Your house sounds incredible now, all you need is a little railway to scoot you from room to room. I take it you already have a gold-plated lift?

Nfk Ironing is the only household chore I like. I don’t even count cooking, that’s not a chore it’s a pleasure.
And I understand completely the satisfaction of dashing away with a smoothing iron. In fact, it’s made me want to get out the board and deal to the 2 cushion covers and the duvet cover and the iron-on butterfly for my t-shirt which have been languishing as they waited for me to get my act together.

It’s lovely to see so many of our wanderers back with us

dragonfly What a lovely time you had with yourdgchs.
As mine are 12 and 7 months, neither of them are exhausting but I know for sure would even bet money on it that Gubbins is going to be the kind of child you can’t take your eye off for an instant.

I have a little video of her sitting next to the kitchen workbench and the instant her Mum turned away, she grabbed the metal plate-rack and was chortling at her cleverness. Good job it was empty.

A Good Thing happened to me yesterday (about b-time) I emailed a friend about the relative benefits of iPad or Tablet and 15 mins later he was at my door with a flash Samsung.
He bought it a few months ago and it developed a very fine red line (which I can't see) right at the top of the screen.
So he bought another.
I can now download audio books into it and listen whilst sitting in my comfy chair.

All together now…NOT THE COMFY CHAIR!!!

I’ve cut my finger ?. Ouch. Making chocolate brownies for DGS and the baking foil bit me. I am now off washing up duties for a while ?
Grammaretto I didn’t know that about badgers. I’ve gone off them a bit now ?
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a flat worm ....or heard of one for that matter. Your garden seems to be full of predators. You haven’t got a bear in the tree or a lion in the potting she’d have you?
I’m sorry your community group didn’t win an award. It’s a nice idea to recognise groups who help others though.
Jan it seems traffic is bad everywhere at the moment. Living by a river the only means from one side to the other is a bridge and the hold up every day is dreadful.
Ok I want NfK to visit and clean and tidy my house and please could you drop your DH off here Jan to do my ironing.
Hope you rest up a bit this weekend. Is your DH coping well with the treatment?
Nfk your NT place sounds nice. Our local one is Cliveden which has beautiful grounds and a lovely hotel (too expensive for us I’m afraid) . Actually I don’t think I’ve ever seen a live badger either. We have had foxes and hedgehogs.
Not surprised Cherry . Probably too busy enjoying them ?
Panache hope you are ok. Is MrP home from hospital yet?

Grammaretto I haven't actually taken any photos of either room yet

We don't go near the coast Jan! Its heaving apparently. And Norwich has a lot more people walking round with cameras and admiring the architecture! I was on duty at our local NT stately pile on Wednesday which luckily has plenty of space and it was lovely. People sitting on the lawns eating ice creams and enjoying the sun. Today - its raining!

I'm jealous of your badgers Grammaretto. I've never seen a live one. They were quite rare in my bit of Norfolk until recently and we only know they're here now as we occasionally see a dead one on the side of the road. I'll put up with hedgehogs until then. I suspect they'd find flat worms quite tasty!

Hello Nfk. Wondered where you had gone?! How’s the traffic your end of the County? It’s horrendous here. Really can’t imagine why people queue to get to the beach then have to crawl home again at a snails pace. Still it is half term.
Talking of hedgehogs we have a lady not far from here who cares for injured hogs or babies. She is amazing. Has an incubator for them and feeds then with a syringe.
Afraid I’m in the lazy ironed group! Do as little as possible. DH loves ironing and is an expert. Apparently taught in the Army but even he doesn’t do as much as he used too.
Lovely to hear from Cherry. Bet you’re thrilled with your new kitchen. Hope your hands are soon feeling better. Norstat you do make me laugh! Really fancy being part of a Decadent Gang!
Well that’s the first week of Radiotherapy over. We’ve done 4 lots only another 11 to go!
Happy weekend All!!

I am jealous of your hedgehog NfkD. We have badgers which skin hedgehogs so it's unlikely we have any.
We have flatworms! I had never seen one so didn't believe it when told they are in all the gardens, eat earthworms and have no predators. A friend showed me one. It didn't look as I expected. It was quite pretty with a frilly edge.

The zoom meeting was an award ceremony. Our community group was nominated but didn't get a prize. The winners were all for the wonderful people who looked after the frail and vulnerable throughout lockdown and to a breastfeeding support group who continued to support new mums - online.

I thought the images were going to show the new wet-room and kitchen Cherry. I am mightily disappointed - but will order a croque madame - please - for second breakfast.

Nfk please come and visit me as soon as possible. You would be a most welcome guest. Plenty of ironing to do, lots of washing up......and as for the cleaning
Oh yes a little hedgehog. It’s a good photo.
Grammaretto hope your dressed up zoom meeting. Oh yes and a glass of Merlot for me too Jeeves.
Hope you have a good evening.

It probably was us you saw in the campervan Grammaretto, we were the only ones heading south! I couldn't believe the crawl of traffic heading north nose to tail along the A1M!

I would love to join you non-ironers. DD2 doesn't possess an iron and wonders at my need to make everything flat and smooth. But I do like ironing really. And cleaning dirty houses. And washing up. I think I must be weird. Either that or its my lowly ancestry showing.

I will add some pictures when I've deleted enough on the computer to be able to download the new ones from the camera! We're both snap happy and I usually have several hundred (or even thousand) to wade through. In the meantime have a hedgehog to be going on with. We think we may have three living around the garden. One under the wood pile, one under the shed and one in the nice new hedgehog house! Dead chuffed we are too. But I had to invest in a tall cat feeder for their dried food to keep them going while we were away!

We have missed you Cherry. I hope your injuries which I must have missed hearing about are healing.
I hope you like the reconfigured living space?

Great to see you too Dragonfly and that the trip went alright. It is bound to be exhausting when you are suddenly back in the throes of family life.

Nortsat is back too and the moggies.

I'll go off to my zoom meeting now and think of Doodle with her toes crossed. We are supposed to dress up . Really? How do you dress up for zoom? It's enough to make me want to switch off the camera. I have a nice glass of merlot... with my sandwich please.
No knickerbocker glories here

Oh it’s our wonderful Tigger with lots of cwtchs. Cheese and pickle please. No one gives sandwiches like you ?
So pleased you now have your kitchen and wet room. We have missed you so. I will cross all my fingers and toes for you (no mean feat as I can’t really touch my toes ?)
I hope you are feeling a bit better and things are going well for you x

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I am still about and am really thinking of you all ?
What with one thing and another two gammy hands doesn't help it's been a tricky time. I know we all have them, some of you have more to contend with than I do.

On the good news front ... the kitchen and (yes and) the wet room are finished! Ta Da ?
I hope to be back Tiggering about tomorrow ?? if my hand will let me cross those fingers then I will be ?
Lovely to see our missng gangStars Nortsat and Nfk and that goes for you too dragonfly ?

Panache please have the first pick of sandwiches x

dragonfly how lovely to see you too. Hope our dear Dexter is doing better since his op.
Sounds like your DGC have kept you on your toes. Nice to be with them though. ?
Yes I wish I could give up ironing but DH wears a clean cotton shirt every day not polos or T shirts. They don’t look so good if they aren’t ironed, the only thing I don’t iron is my underwear and socks.
Waitrose have just been. No chicken..... but strangely, someone seems to have ordered scones and cream ?. I wonder who that was.

Good morning everyone.
Sorry I have been AWOL but it has taken me a couple of days to recover from the weekend. We had a lovely time with the GC but it is exhausting as it is non-stop from 6 in the morning when they woke us until 8 at night!
Nevertheless it was really lovely to be with them all.

Pleased you had a good time away Grammaretto and the weather was good - what a bonus for us all!

Pleased to see Panache posting although it is not good news and I hope Cherry' hand is better.

Doodle I stopped ironing ages ago. When we used to camp for 3 weeks in France I realised it wasn't necessary after watching the French lady next door carefully folding her washing!

Nortsat lovely to have you with us. Hope the Molls are behaving.
I hope things are going ok for you and you are feeling a bit better.
Kaimoana how right you are. Whatever worries or problems we may have can always seem trivial when compared with others but that’s not the point. We can always find someone worse off. The point of having friendships like out little thread is that we can mention our woes without being criticised or thought badly of. We care for each other and want to offer whatever support we can to each other.
Ooh that knickerbocker glory. Lovely ?. I ordered one in a restaurant a while ago and was so disappointed with what arrived. A small glass with a bit of fruit at the bottom, a couple of chunks of brownie and two scoops of ice cream. Nothing like the real thing at all. ?
How strange that your feet have been allocated to another practice. What if they didn’t want to go ?. Still the fact that the new place is nearer will be a big help. Hope they do a good job and your feets are pleased with them.
That’s a lovely photo. You were up early ?
Nfk lovely to hear from you too ?. Don’t worry about catching up with the news it’s just so nice to hear from you.
It sounds as though you had a lovely trip to Scotland. I can just picture you being all snug and cosy in Margo. Having your own loo wherever you go would be a big plus in my book too.
It would be lovely to see some of your photos if you can share them with us.
You are wise to be cautious about what you mention in GN. Being burgled is awful. It has happened to both my sons and very upsetting. Have a nice cup of something and a GN catchup ?
Grammaretto lovely to have you back too. Sounds like a wonderful trip with your family. We in Englandshire liked having you with us ?
We have driven the same route as you and it is beautiful.
Cafe with pain au chocolat! Wot no Kendal mint cake ? ?
Glad you got home safely and made it on your own.

I had an early start today for me. Been out watering the hanging baskets (arrived last week) and the new shrubs.
Now a mammoth ironing session (amazing how wrinkled these mammoths ? get) Waitrose delivery this afternoon (so glad I’ve stopped washing it all) and a walk later.
Panache and Cherry thinking of you both with love and cwtchs x