The Lockdown Gang - Just chatting ⭐️

Good morning ?
Happy Boxing Day.......--said the daft woman who cooked full Christmas lunch yesterday--. We had a lovely time together and took enough photos to fill an album. There were hugs and tears, and lots of giggles too.....including a spectacular battle with bubble guns. We've always loved bubbles and DD2's German shepherds both chase them and snap them so it was manic....

This week we are moving location to look after my oldest SiL who is having a hysterectomy this morning. She's been waiting for two years and they will only keep her in hospital for one night. I understand the desire of the NHS to chop through their waiting lists at pace but she's in her mid 80's, is deaf, has macular issues and had a stroke last year. She won't be springing back to robust health in 24 hours so we are going to keep an eye on her and try to stop her from overdoing it entertain her. ?

The bored beans are nearly over and I've revelled in them. You never get small youthful bored beans in the shops and they are a completely different vegetable to the grey wrinkly skinned jobs. I love them cooked for just 3 minutes, then a handful of baby spinach wilted in, drain, toss in a garlicky French dressing, shave over some lemon zest and a generous grating of Parmesan........stir.....and start gobbling immediately serve!

We too have stressless chairs Doodle and Mr M finds his hard to get out of too.....--because he's usually asleep in it-- maybe I'll get him an ejector seat too......?

Hello all.
Grammaretto glad to hear your chiropractor visits are making a difference. I have made two purchases one yesterday of an iPad stand floor version for DHs iPad while he’s reading and now this morning for a table stand for when he’s typing. He sits with his head bent down so much of the time I am sure this isn’t aiding his posture. The ibuprofen seems to be helping his back more than the paracetamol and codeine which makes me think it’s muscular.
I quite like writing little rhymes but apart from the fact that they have to rhyme, mine are just funny little things. I’m no good at serious writing. Hope you enjoyed your poetry session.
Mamissimo happy Boxing Day to you too. Are you having Turkey and crackers ?
That’s a lovely photo. Mine always liked playing with bubbles too.
That’s kind of you to help your SIL. I’m sure she will appreciate it. When I had mine (hysterectomy that is) I think I was in for 7 days. Hope she makes a good recovery.
Ooh I want some of your bored beans. That sounds delicious,
I have recently started eating broad beans again (unfortunately mine are the frozen kind) having not eaten any for many years.
The stressless chairs are good aren’t they. We are on our second lot. The last ones we had for over 20 years but when we decorated our lounge we decided to have new ones in a different colour.
If you’ve already seen the photo, you might be wondering what it is. Any guesses? ?. It’s my little toe cosy or cushion. It’s a bit long (I can cut it if I want) so I roll the end up and so far it has stayed on my toe. Success!!
Out for a meal tonight with DS1 and family. Looking forward seeing them all.

I was wondering what that photo was of Doodle. A toe cosy certainly wasn't what came to my mind!

No more talk please about bored beans. My mouth is watering too much. I love young ones too, nearly raw. Wonderful. With butter. Can't buy them and I can't grow them. They just don't 'do' in our garden. I shall go and eat chocolate to take my mind off them.

Your photo just loaded Mamissimo. It's delightful. June is just the best month to have Christmas!

How cheering to read Mammissimo's Boxing Day post. My son loved bubble right up into his 20's - now he blows them for Gubbins who seems entranced

Not so cheering are the 'bad back' contributions to which I fear I must add.

It came on suddenly with my hip, so painful I couldn't walk, probably an arthritic attack which are mercifully rare but severe.
.
Now it's spread across my pelvis and up my spine and despite paracetmol and, last night, an anti-inflammatroy tablet, it had not abated.

I'm told lying in bed is not good for bad backs but frankly, I'm no good for anything vertical at the moment.

I'll be back (haha) when my back is.

I miss Missedout, Nortsat, Cherry and Panache but it's so good to see our lovely NFKdumpling here and I just love all our regulars of course.

Nfk naughty ?
Hope you are ok and doing well.
Kaimoana I’m a grown woman (well sometimes) and I love bubbles too. I think they bring out the child in us all.
I’m so sorry to hear your back is causing you problems. Backs are tricky. Difficult to be comfortable whatever you do.
Not that DHs back is anywhere near as bad as yours but he found the anti inflammatory tablets helped more than other meds.

I am in shock at the moment. I’ve just had a PM from another GNetter to say that one of my ‘friends’ on another thread has died. I don’t know if any of you have come across Grandmajet. She hadn’t been on GN that long but was due to have cancer surgery. I can’t quite get my head round it at the moment. Very sad for her family. ?

Hello Lobstar friends,

That is sad news about grandmajet. I had followed her posts.
Oh dear.

My df has been borrowed by another friend to look after her house, cat and garden when he leaves here so today we are going to hers to meet the cat.

I suppose it depends on the reason for your back pain but I am finding the chiropractor makes a difference to mine. I was going to an osteopath before. It is expensive though.
He will refer me for Xray if it doesn't improve.

My little DGC love bubbles too. I agree that June is a good time to have Christmas or any party for that matter. I love the photo Mamissimo

When I was a child in NZ , Christmas was often a big picnic on the lawn at my uncle's farm and boxing day was an excuse to go to the beach.

Mind you, we need some celebrations to brighten those dark winter days.

My dear friends;

After what I can best describe as a very uplifting afternoon midweek with my dear man still in Hospital,there fore afterwards, sadly apart from greetings he slept most of the time.
I was fortunate enough to spend most of the weekend with him,when he started haemorhaging yet again on Sunday I decided to stay overnight.
The night nurse drew up a recliner chair allowing me to rest alongside his bed.
Whenever he called my name I was able to quickly respond,giving us both the desperate contact we needed.
Monday was a very long,difficult day,our Pastor came around 6pm and early evening my beloved slipped away.
After all the many hardships and difficulties experienced along the way,the care and compassion showed us in this place was admirable,second to none.

Our anguish is over and now I have a new kind of tomorrows to tread.
It has been gruelling,immensley painful at times,but I am so glad I was given the strength to see it through.
We squeezed even extra time.

Dear Panache
My thoughts and prayers are with you
Much love and strength for the new tomorrows
I am very glad to hear that you were together.

So sorry to hear your news Panache. Will be thinking about you as you face your new tomorrows

Dear Panache my heart goes out to you and I send my sincerest sympathies.
To be with him was a great blessing and I have often thought to slip away in the arms of the one who loves you and whom you love best, is indeed the perfect end to a life together.
No other words, my dear , but thinking of you and your dear man, at peace at last.
“ Say not in grief , He is no more
But live in thankfulness that he was “

Panache, my thoughts are also with you. You have battled so hard to take care of your dear one. I hope you will soon find time to look after yourself and rest.

Panache as always my most sincere thoughts and hugs. I feel that we have lost a friend. What a gentle, brave and lovely man he was.

Oh Panache. It's so very, very good to hear that you were able to stay with him during those last hours. I can only join the others in sending gentle virtual (((hugs))). Look after yourself. XX

Dear Panache I am so sorry for your loss, I have PMd you.
Much love as always x

Panache you have battled so bravely for everything over these past years and to be with your beloved was what we all hoped for.
When the end came you were there, as always, comforting.
How proud you must be of him, the man who was beloved not just by you but by the hospital staff on whom he smiled so courageously.

With much love

As I said elsewhere I am so sorry to hear your news but sending you hugs.

Dear Panache I don’t have words to comfort you ... except to say that your dear one is now at peace.
Your precious love will sustain you.
RIP Mr P
Sending you my dearest thoughts.
Love from N x

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When do you get your borrowed friend back Grammaretto?

Having become a seasoned drug addict, I popped the pain-killers and went for the last session of our 8 week Wahine Connection course, followed by lunch at Gengis Mongolian Restaurant.
This features every raw vegetable, salad and meat currently available, plus extras such as soups, chips, spring rolls, pickles, sauces, nuts, seeds and rice.

The idea is to assemble your own lunch according to taste. You place what you want in a bowl and take it to the chef who cooks it on a gigantic circular barbecue, as you watch.

The chef will make a sweet pancake for dessert if you request - to which you can add various ice creams with sauces.

I kept my lunch simple with mixed seafood and salad.

We were like parrots, all talking at once (except, astonishingly, my usually loquacious self as I am still unwell and didn’t feel like prattling) but it was interesting to listen.
Most of these women have had hard lives.

Then we were all presented with a cosy blanket, a frame and a choice of pictures by a local Maori artist,Nicole Johnson, a beautifully painted bottle, a Vanilla & Caramel candle (its aroma uncannily like the pancakes ) and a mug with the motto Never stop Growing which I thought singularly appropriate as several ladies went up for 3rd and 4th helpings.

Today it's our last waiata rehearsal before our group appears on TV. We won't be in the studio, the fottage was shot at rehearsals.

Friday I'm going with friends to the opening of Nicole's exhibition, then for coffee at a neaby non-profit-fundraising cafe.

I cancelled the long-awaited swim as I doubt I could get in and out of the pool at the moment...but I'll try again after the school holidays. And so my very socail week comes to an end and I shall be lazy and solitary at the weekend.

Another book to recommend, especially for gardeners. Seed to Dust by Marc Hamer. An interesting book written in poetically romantic
prose.

Stay well everyone

Dear Panache hope you are having a peaceful day today.

Been a busy day for me. Spent the afternoon cleaning our balcony. What a job. The floor is paved so have to clean between the slabs, wash the ceiling (the underneath of upstairs balcony). Wash the glass panes and all the railings, scrub off the mildew. By the time I was finished I was just ready to collapse in the chair.
Kaimoana what a fascinating place to go for lunch. With all that choice it must be fun to watch what everyone has.
The pictures are amazing. I have never seen anything like that before. I must confess I may have just gone straight for the sweet pancakes with ice cream and sauce. Lovely
Sorry to hear you are still feeling unwell. I hope you start picking up soon.
Ooh and presents too. How nice.
Friday sounds good. I hope you are feeling better by then and enjoy the exhibition and the cafe after.
I think after a busy week a lazy weekend is called for.
Hope everyone is ok. Take care all.

I hope Panache has her good friends around her to support her.
That restaurant looks amazing Kaimoana
I think the nearest thing to that here would be the China Red restaurants in Edinburgh where the food is cooked while you watch and you can eat as much as you like.
My df/helper is still here. He goes to house/cat sit for my df next week while I am away on my hols. He cooked a tasty supper tonight. A vegetarian curry and rice. I could get used to this!
The weather has been beautiful these last few days but I keep hearing about the terrible heat in British Columbia. Several people I know have family over there and they are worried about them..

I've asked Jeeves for a bedtime drink. Chocolate please

I’m heading off to bed soon too Grammaretto so make that two please Jeeves.
We’ve finally heard today that our cruise is going ahead and we (fingers crossed) will be on it. Have to be tested before we go. We will be at sea at lot of the time as not allowed to stop in Scotland or Isle of Man. Don’t mind really happy just to be on board.
Sleep well all

Yes, Grammaretto I'm hoping the same. Too often friends are embarrassed or fearful what to say to the newly widowed, so stay away.

Good news about the cruise Doodle.

We have a spray here (and probably you do too) which de-mildews, de-funguses in minutes and all it takes afer that is either a quicke wipe over or another spray from a clean water bottle.
Might save you all that hard balcony work next time.

More about Seed to Dust it's a year in the life of a 12 acre Welsh garden and in audio is beautifully read by Owen Teale the Welsh actor.

It also mentions the authors often difficult early life and his transition from homless and hopeless to a 30 year job as a gardener and a blissfully marriage to fellow writer, Kate 'Peggy" Hamer.

It's an ideal gift, especially for anyone who loves nature and the lyrical poetry of the seasons.

Doodle. You are one step ahead of us. We still aren’t 100% certain our cruise will go ahead. It’s on the Southampton list of ships to sail on Sept 25 but still haven’t heard officially.
Been a funny few days since DH stopped his treatment. Don’t know why but it just has! The patch on his forehead is a bit of a nightmare as it will suddenly decide to bleed for no apparent reason but we are told that’s normal. Not good if we are out though.
We are off to Horning for a few days on Sunday - Nfk will know where that is! On the Norfolk Broads which we love. Have some friends there so will meet up with them for a meal on Monday and spend the rest of the 5 days just wandering around the Broads eating and drinking too much! Weather forecast has gone from wall to wall sunshine to decidedly damp! What a dreadful summer.
I do hope Panache is coping and as everyone says has some good friends around. When my first husband died I remember seeing a friend of ours deliberately cross over the road to avoid me. I understand people don’t know what to say to bereaved friends but just a “sorry” and a hug is enough.
I’m off out to lunch with a friend later - so good to be able to socialise again - just hope it lasts!

jan it is hard to know what to say to people who have lost a loved one. Everyone has a different way of coping. I tend to think a hug and a sorry is the best way.
We have had to wait till this last moment to find out about our cruise. Precautions are being taken. We will be picked up by car. Given fresh masks to wear, on arrival at the docks we will have to stay in the car until the results of our COVID test comes back. We will be given clean masks before going on the ship. Everyone has to have proof of two vaccinations. Masks must be worn at all times in the ship except when drinking or eating.
No books in the library, no self service, no one can leave the ship except on escorted tours. It will be a different type of cruise but we are still looking forward to a change of scene.
Hope you have an enjoyable time in Horning. Hope the weather improves for you.
Where is the one you are booked on going?
Kaimoana I must confess that I haven’t cleaned my balcony for such a long time that it needed heavy duty (a good scrubbing) cleaning . Normally I do it much more frequently and we have the window cleaner every 6 weeks to clean all the glass panels and the big patio doors. Of course the window cleaner hasn’t been for over a year. We hope he will come when we come back from the cruise. Nice to be able to see out of the windows again ?
As you know, I am no gardener but your book sounds intriguing. I wonder if it’s in our library.
Thinking of Panache and Cherry. Take care all.