We’re starting another thread of continued friendship and support.
Although many of us have been chatting since the start of lockdown, thanks to Doodle and Cherry, we’ve been lucky to welcome others who have joined in more recently.
Anyone who wants to pop in for a chat is very welcome. 
From me too Nfk. I know you'll treasure every moment together, whatever happens.
I support what everyone here has said, you WILL be in our thoughts and if you need to rant or moan (even via PM) please do.
Much love to you and DH. 
Missedout has your injured thumb completely recovered now? Please take it easy on the narrowboat trip - I hope you have good weather.
Oh Doodle, Mark 8....if only your grand-daughter knew what you were going through Top marks 
for perseverance though.
Wee dramas in my family.
Blind Low Vision offered 50% subsided tickets for the Sunday performance of an hilarious play, The Made which both Dil & I wanted to see, she coming as my 'blind, subsidised assistant/companion'
There's a Touch Tour, as there was prior to the ballet, so we booked.
As you know, dgs has been in New Caledonia all week and due to fly home today, Friday.
The plane broke down.
Teachers and airlines now scrabbling to find ways of getting them all home. Meanwhile the kids are more than happy to head back to the hotel and go snorkeling for another day.
Dil is afeared the new arrangements will have dgs landing at exactly the same time as our play. 
As I write this, it's 2:15 pm in New Caledonia, so I imagine frantic re-arrangements are still being made but so far there is no news.
We can only hope......
www.atc.co.nz/auckland-theatre-company/2022/the-made
It sounds as if our GangStars all need a quiet day of doing nothing but resting. Look after yourselves.
As I dribble from one complicated event to another, I wonder why my life is hardly ever simple.
There are 500 flights a day landing at Auckland airport but the only plane to get dgs back to Aotearoa lands right in the middle of our arrangements to attend the theatre.
So of course I lost my driver and for most of yesterday thought I wasn't going to get to see The Made at all.
Then I had the bright idea of calling the co-ordinator of our BLV support group, offering the spare ticket in exchange for a lift into the city.
He and his wife had every intentions of going through Auckland to visit family and have agreed to drop me there at 1:15 - a mite early but that's a mere bagatelle.
I shall sit over a cuppa in the cafe thanking my stars until the Touch Tour and performance at 4pm.
I don't know Auckland at all so getting home will be something of a scary mission but then I moan about being stuck in the house and bored. No pleasing me is there?
My DS will go absolutely ballistic if he knew I was in Auckland alone at night, so I won't tell him until I'm home safe. 
Dil will miss The Made as well but I won a $50 voucher for a theatre ticket and will pass that on as compensation for missing out. This play is on all week.
As Summer approaches, there are lots of good things coming up.
Diwali is the next local celebration, a Festival of Light and I'm going to try and get to it.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diwali
I wonder what will go wrong this time?
Doodle I meant to ask after Mark 8.
Does he look like a cat now? I realise he has no body but we won't hold that against him
Kaimoana had a quiet day today. Yesterdays leftovers for dinner so apart from a walk not done much else.
So I hope your DGS got back from his trip ok and you got to see the show. Was it good? I hope you got home safely without any misadventures.
Grammaretto I can’t help but feel you have provided a nice home from home for Hans. I would have thought after being ill so much of his trip he would have done something useful today. Hope he and Gerda get to work this week.
You must miss your family so much when they go back to NZ.
Hope you enjoy the film. I do hope you can make the trip to visit them in NZ soon.
Well Mark 8 is progressing. Pic shows his slightly misshapen head and his nose. Not sure it’s in straight but I did the best I could. I’m doing his ears next then will try and embroider his eyes and nose. I am not good at that sort of thing. He is supposed to be a sleeping cat but we shall see.
Cherry I love you popping in now and again. It’s so nice to have you around. x
I am glad you told us it was a nose Doodle the crochet is perfect!
I forgot to ask about your DiL and DGS Kaimoana Did they get back ok?
DS2 arrived safely in England to be reunited with his family.
Hans and Gerda are nice enough and I am glad they get on well. Maybe tomorrow they will get helping although it's due to rain. Gerda is leaving on Tuesday.
Great to see Cherry ?
I wonder how Missedout is and the Nfks
Nightie night pals
Gosh Doodle you work fast! Mark 8 is looking good. I hope the body works as well. "I ain't got nobody….."
Grammaretto what did you see at the cinema?
I plan to see/hear, "Mrs Harris Goes to Paris" showing locally from 20th. I'm a Paul Gallico fan and I cried over the Snow Goose.
I remember a B&W version with the marvellous Kathleen Harrison, the perfect Mrs Harris.
Cherry, how lovely to see you popping by 
Cheers, m'dear.
Yes, I had a safe and splendid time at the theatre.
My friends dropped me at, and hammered on the locked back door, as the theatre was closed.
From there I was escorted on the arms of wonderfully helpful guys who brought me drinks and Waffle Chips (never heard of them before, they were yummy).
Kevin, brought the earphone for the audio description; Fraser took me to the Touch Tour and thence to my seat. Josh brought ice cream and water in the interval and Fraser ordered a taxi at the end and walked me to it.
You'd think I was their favourite Auntie they looked after me so well.
As for the play 
I was not alone in being confused. It didn't seem to know where it was going and while there were laughs it was by no means as hilarious as the blurb stated. Applause at the end was polite rather than enthusiastic.
Sadly this was also reflected in ticket sales. The first week was a sell-out but they are struggling to get Bums On Seats for next. My fingers itched to edit and refine it
I'm assuming dgs is back safe - haven't heard.
Hans & Gerda - didn't they get lost in a wood and find an old house..... ?
That discovery sounds wonderful Doodle what lovely memories.
Yes I had the decision on my home yesterday afternoon.
I can stay (apparently it was touch and go but I'm not going ) and my rent will be reduced by 2/3rds, to the ethical 25% of income the government states.
As you may imagine, I am not the SA poster girl right now, although individuals have been kind.
Policies have been quickly changed so no other tenant can do the same. Well, they can but they'll be asked to move. 
I'm an exception only because of my poor eyesight.
At the BLV support group today, I learned how dogs are taught to poop into a bag - they have a special harness.
I wonder if Gubbins would wear one?
ixion & Cherry - footie season is upon you, could we please have more of those wonderful descriptions? So exciting.
Mepa is so funny. She intends taking me to another Whanau (Family) Day on Friday, where, as you might remember, all the food is free.
She said, 'We go, eat, eat, eat everything and then I bring home okay?'
Wow! What a result Kaimoana. A rent reduction like that must be rare. Well done you.
I am also glad the theatre trip went so well despite the weird play.
The VAD lesson sounds interesting too.
Hansel and Gretel are going into Edinburgh today. It's her last day.
They finished painting the kitchen ceiling yesterday so I am very happy.
My news is that the plumber has given me a start date for the new boiler!
I have an appointment for my vaccinations too after a couple of phonecalls.
Finding that treasure under the bed must have been lovely Doodle
Hope our Lobstars are safe and as well as possible.
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