The Lockdown GangSTARS still going

I would be about Grammaretto but I'm not if you discount this brief message because I've gone down with something too. Feeling yucky 🤮. Hope it's brief! May lose weight if I'm lucky though 😁

Missing my match buddy with her trusty hip flask on the terraces tonight.
Shouting obscenities encouragement on your own is, well, a bit naff.

Good Evenung 🤕

My DD has just confessed that she forgot to let you all know that Mr M and I were rather broken by a large lorry that crushed our car a month ago. We are both ok now but Mr M was only released back to me today. Too many nasties to list and we are suffering flash backs. We're hunkered down, getting lots of support and given some more time are expected to make full recovery. DD is very sorry and is typing for me. while I give her what for She has been reading your most recent posts to me this afternoon. New glasses on their way so I'll be far better then!

Goodness Mamissimo what a shock. I’m glad you are both ok now but it must have been a nasty accident. Thank you for being in touch. Don’t be too hard on your DD I expect all your family have been through a really anxious and worrying time and far too concerned to worry about GN. Do hope you both make a good recovery soon. Glad MrM is back with you now. That must be such a relief. Take good care of yourselves.

Grammaretto you have had a busy day. Hope the tooth extraction wasn’t too painful. You liked your last tenants I think so that must have been a nice visit. Hope you are beginning to feel a bit better.
Cherry now you are feeling poorly too. Jeeves will be rushed off his feet running between you and Grammaretto . He is on his way to you with a restorative cwtch from me to make you well soon.
Ixion I hope our team did well.

Oh goodness me!! Mamissimo. How awful. No wonder you are having flashbacks. I can only imagine how hurt you must be and DH.
How frightening for your DC too.
Get well soon 🤞

Cherry so you have a horrid virus too.
It's no fun is it.
I hope Jeeves is looking after you.
Get well soon.
Sparky was here this evening and has made the doorbell work. He's also fixed the front door. He is forgiven.
Americans are out again.

Grammaretto I think you are really run down now and need a complete rest.

Mamissimo you were run down too! Glad to hear you're recovering well with lots of support.

Cherry & ixion Obscenities from the terraces? Surely not from two sedate ladies like you?
Blimey Cherry winter's only just started and you have the lurgy already! Sending cwtches xxx

Oh Doodle I do hope you and DH get rid of this persistent cough, it must be both irritating and worrying.

My visit to the doc this morning went well. She's arranged for me to see the cardiologist and the wait could take 4 months. I hope I live that long .

Then on to the Old Codgers Lunch where we had fish, chips and coleslaw (referred to as 'cold slaw' by the lady on my left.
This was followed by rice pudding with nutmeg and peaches. Delicious.

And finally, finally after almost 3 years, the UV filter has been placed over my kitchen window. Time will tell if it's effective but I bless the chap who spent ages fitting it.

My St John alarm is missing from my wrist. Assumed it had come of in the bed, it sometimes does but no. Subsequent hunt high and low turned up nothing. I wish it had a locator.
It's in the house so I'm reluctant to ask for another.
I'm a buffoon.

You are not a buffoon Kaimoana
Not on this thread anyway where you are wise and witty in equal measure.

Sparky was here last night. He fixed the doorbell and the door.
He may be the twin of your UV filter fitter. They believe in keeping us waiting but we are so relieved to see them, we forgive them.

If you ever hear me bragging about HelpX again, remind me how I feel today!
I am finding these Americans really stressful.
They have no sense of history and have been chucking out things (not just the green shield stamps) which is making me nervous.
They are really kind people but as house guests it isn't working out. They are only here for a few days more. They leave on Tuesday.
Tonight they are back to the pub - he needs meat - he can't stand my vegetarian diet.

Apart from that..... all is well.
I had a great time at my history of Scottish Pottery class today. We all brought in pieces to have them identified.
My piece turned out not to be Scottish at all but interesting none the less.

DGD is spending her 14th birthday watching England under 23s football at Walsall. Each to their own

You are very kind Grammaretto but I seem to misplace so much these days and without the eye-power to find them.
However I have found my alarm.

I move the bed.
I'd had castors fitted to its little legs ages ago to make things easier for Mepa who changes it, so don't worry Doodle this wasn't heavy duty shifting.
And there it was.
My relief was unbounded. now I can fall down in peace



Cherry I've been meaning to send you a photo of another commercial building I loved. The Hawkins Shoe factory in Northampton which starred in 'Kinky Boots'. So beautiful.

The nice chap who put up the UV filter is not the same dolt who has kept me waiting years. If I never see (or smell) him again I shall be 'appy.

It's rained almost non-stop and heavily for 2 days and nights; should I begin on an ark?

Grammaretto how are you feeling today?
So Sparky has finally fixed the doorbell and the front door. You can have visitors again 🤣.
Sorry the Americans are being a bit of an issue. Hate to think what they could throw out by Tuesday……..do they know what the deeds look like? A bit of light relief at the Scottish pottery class for you (although I read it first as Scottish poetry and thought you were presenting a piece you had written 😊)
Happy birthday to your DGD. Hope she enjoyed the match.
Do you know any good shepherds? I am just finishing my 4th knitted sheep. My flock is growing. (Don’t ask about Mark, he is sulking)
Cherry I’m wondering how you are feeling. Hope you had a good sleep last night and are a bit better today. DH has been better.
Kaimoana hope you don’t have to wait that long for the cardiologist but perhaps if the GP thought it was urgent they would arrange it sooner?
Old Codgers lunch sounds nice …..well apart from the rice pudding. ☹️ You are certainly not a buffoon. Anyone can lose something. I do hope your alarm turns up soon I don’t like to think of you without it. Aah just read your second post and I see you have found it. Hurrah but please don’t fall down. We can both sleep easy tonight now.
Went for a walk today after we’d had a Waitrose delivery. By the time we got back it was really quite dark. Don’t like these winter evenings.
Jan Mamissimo and *Nfk thinking of you all

Good evening 🙂
I have glasses so can do my own tryping!

Our lovely ACs have decided they will stay with us on a rota basis until they're sure we are safe to be left to get on with it. We are going to let them do one night each so that we don't look ungrateful and then we will take their keys off them reassure them that we're fine.

We both need Physio as a priority for our mobility and have decided to buy this in as NHS says a min of 6 week wait! They'll come to the house every day and we're hoping it will restore the flexibility we're both lacking. Too much lying down in hospital! We're lucky to be able to put our money where our need is.

The collar bones and ribs are healing, the bruises are fading and we're both lacking a spleen.....but how we got away with no limb breakages and our lives is amazing.

The foreign lorry driver is being prosecuted for driving for too long, and without care. We think he fell asleep at the wheel.

We will recover well physically and I'm going to get some help with the dreams so that I don't store up problems.

We're booked to go to Iceland at the end of the month for my birthday and we're darned well going! despite being banned by the children

Grammaretto the Americans haven't thrown out the deeds have they?

Tomorrow Mr M and I are being coerced into strengthening our legs......oh lummy!

Mamissimo it must have been a shocking accident. You were lucky you weren’t more seriously hurt but you obviously had some bad internal injuries and bruising.
Good idea to get going with the physio. I’m sure your children will boss you around look after you well.

Hello Lobstars,

What a dreadful accident Mamissimo to both end up losing your spleens and being so badly battered.
I'm glad you are able to fast forward the physio. Let's hope it's gentle.
Your poor DC. They so easily could have lost you both.

Doodle you must send us a photo of your sheep. Remind me, why are you making a flock? Poor Mark. He must feel neglected.

I began to mutter about missing deeds but was assured the only large papers thrown out were catalogues. I just don't trust him not to discard something else valuable.
I found the parts of the new cooker and hood on the firepit yesterday. She defends him too ofcourse she does so when I broach the subject, she gets upset
Roll on Tuesday!
My NZ family are in the air on their final leg returning home. What a phenomenal trip they have had.

How are Jan, Cherry, NFK and Kaimoana today?

I'm still here! So much has been going on with the Lobstars, I haven't posted because it's all pretty quiet here in the Redoubt.

I'm horrified by the awful accident and injuries sustained by Mamissimo and her DH. It's amazing how cheerful your posts are. I'm also glad that Kaimoana2 can now fall down again when she likes and call for help! It is lovely to see Cherry posting too, I hope you feel better soon. Oh, and Jan, too - struggling to recover, I hope you get all the help you need. I follow all the Lobstar's posts.

Last week, DH and I went away for a few days and stayed in a luxury hotel in Cornwall. After camping and narrowboat holidays, I dug my heels in and said I just want a few days of being waited on! So we booked a hotel (that kept emailing us special offers), just packed a small suitcase and spent 3 days exploring and enjoying good service and cream teas. We had mixed weather but it didn't spoil anything.

DH and I have had some lovely outings in our vintage car lately too. After 50+ years of driving the car, DH was offered some advice by a fellow owner and suddenly, the car starts first 'pull'! I haven't had to bump start it at all - deep joy (I'll probably regret being so optimistic though.)

I believe DH and I are seeing the beginnings of a thaw in the relationship between two of our AS - they haven't been talking but their wives (DILs) have! I'm so pleased with both of them.

I'm still struggling a bit with fatigue, I believe that I have long Covid and am learning that I need to pace myself. I can do what I want to but need to make sure I give myself some recovery time too. I take my hat off to Grammaretto, you seem to be so busy. You will miss sparky when you no longer need him.

My thoughts are also still with NfkDumpling and of course, thanks as usual go to Doodle for keeping us together still - and providing chuckles about home knitted/crocheted sheep and cat!

What a horrendous experience Mamissimo I thought you'd just gone to Brazil. Hope the physio knocks you both back into shape works out well and you get to go to Iceland as planned.

Talking of physio .... I hope you're receiving all the physio you are meant to now Jan and are getting stronger 🤞. I hope you are feeling more at ease now too and perhaps have better companions around you.

How's the cough Grammaretto, are you feeling any better? If it's not gone and hasn't by Tuesday perhaps it'll leave with the Americans by way of a parting gift 🤫.

I'm pleased the Dude is feeling better*Doodle*. You're making a flock of sheep now I see ☺️. I don't know any shepherds anymore but I know someone who makes wonderful mint sauce 😲. Thank you for the cwtches and the ones from you Kaimoana, they along with Jeeves'help, thanks for sparing him Grammaretto, I think they have helped. I'm feeling much better, despite the fact that my neighbour kept me awake until the small hours she was literally barking and I've been able to eat a bit today 🙂.

That is another amazing building Kaimoana, thanks for the picture. Maybe there's a theme developing here ... I do admire the architecture of an industrial/commercial nature or is it architecture of the late 19th - early 20th century I admire 🤔. I don't know whether you know this but apparently that Hawkins Shoe factory building is to undergo a restoration and be turned into apartments. It's grade II listed I believe so it should be done sympathetically 🙂

Sounds like you and your DH had a lovely break in Cornwall Missedout 😊. Sorry to hear that you're still suffering from fatigue - it does sound like long covid. Do what you can is what seems to be the advice and don't force things. I'm really pleased for you that your DILs are talking to each other, it does sound like it could well be the start of a thaw between your DS', I hope so.

Nfk we're all still thinking of you 💐

Grammaretto I am knitting sheep for the church nativity (goodness knows what they need so many sheep for …….or even why they need sheep at all 🤔) I will take a picture of the next one when I’ve finished it to show you.
The more I hear of your American visitors the more I think Tuesday can’t come soon enough. You’ll need a rest when they’ve gone. Hope your family get home to NZ safely. How long have they been away altogether?
Missedout lovely to hear from you. I love the idea of your trip to Cornwall. It’s nice to have a bit of pampering to say nothing of the cream teas. 😊
Glad you car is still taking you on some fun trips. I do hope things resolve between your sons. Must be upsetting for you. Let’s hope their wives can bring them round.
Sorry about the long Covid. I have heard of others who are so exhausted by the after effects. You are wise to take things at your own pace. So nice to hear your news.
Cherry 🤣🤣🤣 you always make me laugh (I wonder if Grammaretto’s lurgy will be passed on )
Really!! My poor sheep. I had to cover their ears. Mint sauce indeed 😊
So, so pleased to hear you are feeling a bit better and starting to eat a bit more.
There seem to be many industrial or commercial premises being turned into flats now. Where we used to live was a huge brewery complex. All the buildings there have been adapted to apartments leaving some of the original fittings on display.
Mamissimo how did the leg strengthening go? Hope you are being good patients for your AC otherwise they’ll be looking for that frozen leg of lamb.
Kaimoana hope you had a peaceful night after finding your alarm.
Boadicea thinking of you and MrBJ hope you are getting on well.
Nfk and Jan thinking of you both.
Take care all. Im off to round up the sheep before bedtime………wonder if I should knit a sheepdog too 🤔

♩ ♬ As Doodle knits her flock by night, all seated in the lounge, dear Grammaretto grits her teeth, her guests are on the scrounge.

Mamissimo is heard to squeal, her DH roundly swear
But we know if they're going to heal, it is their cross to bear. ♪ ♫

Missedout in luxury abides and Cherry cheerful stays, as muse her finished home admires all set for winter days.

And in our thoughts are Nfk and other poorly friends and not forgetting ixion - and here my story ends. ♪ ♫

The bard Kaimoana excels herself.
Thankyou for the poetry.

Did I tell you the Americans found 4 toilets and washbasins in the cellar? No deeds yet but they met a man in the pub who works in the archives who told them where they would be. Not sure I like my business being talked about in the pub.


The family arrived safely in Orcland so I can sleep in peace. But not just now .

What breed are your sheep Doodle ?

DB is coming for lunch and maybe some of my DC. I'd better get a move on

Dear gang,
I have had a PM from Nfk who asked me to let you know she is still here and surviving and will return at some point.
Mr *NfK has been having some very painful chemo and treatments and isn’t feeling too good with bad side effects.
He may not continue with the treatment. They are finding it difficult to pin down a Doctor for details of MrNfk’s options.
I have of course passed on love and best wishes from the gang and the fact that we will be thinking of them both.

Wonderful Kaimoana. Thank you so much.
Grammaretto 😱 I am a little shocked at your American guests to put it mildly. To have someone in your home who then discusses your business with others is most upsetting. What a cheek .
Roll on Tuesday. If you can wait that long I will send Jeeves round with the boys. Rolling pins at dawn. 🥖 (ok it’s a French baguette but just as effective if left to harden 😊)
What breed are my sheep you ask……. they are grey faced, short fleece woolly jumpers. Quite famous in their own right.
I know it’s your brother coming for lunch but to serve him up your dear children … really 🤣

Thanks for passing on our love and best wishes to the NFKs. I hope they get the help they need.
We were lucky to find an inspiring oncologist who would explain all the options for DH. He was only once a bit short with us and that was when there really were no more options. He must have felt uncomfortable breaking the difficult news.
After DH died, I wrote him a thankyou letter and he phoned me.

DD, DB, DSiL, DGC and Df came for lunch.
Afterwards I took them into the cellar. I think they are all out now.

Mrs America was very helpful while Mr America lit a bonfire. I hope the deeds aren't on the fire perhaps Jeeves and a baguette won't be necessary.

I'm glad the dear little flock are growing happily together. You are very clever Doodle

I'm watching the Crown but not really concentrating. It's rather gloomy.

Aww Kaimoana that song for the LobStar gang is wonderful

🤔, how did that send without the rest of my message? Now I seem to have lost the rest of my post 🙄.

You have left someone very important out of your song though Kaimoana - You! I'm definitely no bard so I'm not going to attempt to write the missing lines, don't think a chant from the football terraces will do but ... 🎶 There's only One Kaimoana, there's only One .. 🎶.

Sounds like you've had a wonderful day Grammaretto and it's good to know that Mr & Mrs America were helpful, at last as long as they haven't burnt the deeds.

Thank you for letting us know how the Nfk's are fairing Doodle, I only wish things were not the way they are for them both. Thank you so much too for passing on our love and best wishes too x

I'm feeling much much better but am fuming okay, that might be an exaggeration as our team has lost again 😤. Last game before the World Cup and they couldn't give us something to cheer. Charming!