The Lockdown Gang still chatting

It's official - Mr M and I are eejits 😁

We went out to lunch with friends, slept it off had a nap and since it got dark we have made marmite sausage rolls, 6 show stopper rolls are rising nicely - and a coffee and walnut cake.

It's the village show tomorrow and we are entering loTs of classes......DD1 is popping over to bring the DGDs' entries for the Childrens classes. I will pick the Hellebores, daffodils and spring stems in the morning.......

And once it's all in the village hall I will get ready for Mr M's Christmas feast - mince pies and all.

Mr M wants to win the Challenge cup for once in his life so we're throwing everything, at it!

On Monday I shall sleep 😴

Kind thoughts to all x

It sounds like the wild west! Kaimoana
I hope no-one died.

Any joy on the trail of the barking dog owners? and I mean barking mad

So sorry about the theatre with your DS.
Let's hope something else will turn up.

I am ofcourse the only one in the photos with wine Doodle. I drank a toast to absent friends.

My fish and chip friend is coming over tonight. I've not seen him for ages so there'll be catching up to do.

The Brazilian helpers have called off. I had a list of jobs for them but apparently 2 weeks isn't long enough to make the trip to Scotland worth their while. I wish they had thought of that before.
Never mind, the Chinese girl with DIY boyfriend is coming still and the Germans in May.
My lodger has her family staying this weekend and has taken over the spare room and baby chair etc. I'm looking forward to meeting them.

Meanwhile I have been sowing seeds, raking and weeding now the ground isn't frozen solid.
And the roofer is coming tomorrow morning to take a look at the broken gutter and the bit he mended temporarily with boat glue 2 years ago.
How are the broken bones?
How is the Dude?
A parcel has arrived for me. It is Mother's Day this weekend. I wonder what's in it.
Well done footie supporters on the success!
Happy St Paddy's Day everyone but especially Mamissimo
I'm wearing green 💚 today and we found a little green hairstreak butterfly. I hope she'll be ok outside.

Link doesn't work

If you're interested:

www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/armed-police-swarm-west-aucklands-henderson-locals-report-hearing-gunshots/UBEYJSIDSBHR7CX4ZWW7RAQJRU/

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https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202303/medium-671944-pani-popo.jfif%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/202303/medium-220155-taste-of-samoa.jpg%3C/span%3E

Jan I'd be with you on the 'skip to 2024' idea but it could be frying pan into fire.

Hurrah for Our Team

Dear Doodle it seems as if you and I are having the week from You-know-Where'. Is it sun spots or solar flares or just the trolls under the bridge do you think? I’ll be glad when this week is over.

However, St Patrick's Day began beautifully.

Artoa took me to breakfast at a Samoan café, adjacent to a petrol station, where we sat outside and ate panipopo: coconut buns warm from the oven.

When they are cooked, a little coconut cream is poured into the pan and the hot bread soaks it up.

You pull apart the bun and dip it in the sauce. Heavenly.

I also bought fa’lai maukegi, which is a stir-fry mix of diced pumpkin and lamb, to take home.
Easily enough for 2 or 3 meals but far less in price than the cost of one.

We then got caught in a bit of a drama.
We heard a bang. Artoa said, ‘Was that a gunshot?’

Multiple police cars arrived; helicopter overhead. It seemed someone had tried to hold up the gas station.

We managed to sneak away and get home but not before seeing a whole mob of armed police, who later shot the offender.

We live in interesting times.

Report: tinyurl.com/a3uh8hv9

You are correct Cherry these rules apply only to new residents or visitors, as is only right as the fees jump from $22 per appointment for NZ citizens, to $80 if you're not entitled to an NHS subsidy.

They don't apply to someone who's been here and receiving medical care for nigh on 50 years on and off, and has a long established NHI number.

But try telling know-all young Receptionists that.

I thought I could hear the cheering from here ixion
Well done our team.

We did win tonight Doodle - and handsomely 🤦‍♀️
I think maybe Cherry has gone for a lie down in a darkened room
Mind you, she did a lot of hollering from the stands

Kaimona sorry you had another fall. Were you hurt apart from your toe?
So sad you can no longer go swimming. I know you love it so much. What an unusual name for a swimming club 😊 glad you had a nice lunch with interesting company.
Dogs, power washing. Mowers, will you ever get any peace?
I’m sorry you won’t get the theatre trip. A get together with your son would be nice though. You sound a bit down in the dumps and I feel the same to be honest. Wish we could all get together and have a cosy chat and put the world to rights.
Grammaretto hope you had a lovely time with the Gnetter get together. Nice photos on the thread. Which one is you?
Yes I think I can see why the cheerleaders got your badminton slot. You’d think they would be more considerate given how long you’ve been going. Will you join the cheerleading class instead. Got any Pom Poms?
I’m sure your teapot will be much admired. Where did the archives go? Did you find someone appreciative to take them?
Jan it shakes you up when you have a fall even if you don’t break any bones. DH has never been the same since he fell down the stairs and broke his ribs.
Hope it heals soon. You’re bound to be cautious.
Cherry I watch QI too. I must have missed that episode I don’t think it’s something I’m likely to forget 🤣
I like the sound of your walking group. Having a nice day out with lunch and a good chat is nice. Not surprising you are increasing your numbers.
Ooh Cherry did we win 😲
I fell a bit frayed round the edges today. Had another good night’s sleep but then I woke up early and had too much on my mind to sleep again. Phone call from surgery about referring DH to a specialist nurse. I do hope it happens soon as we are both really worried about his legs,
Had to go and collect balloons for DS s birthday. On way home, who should be standing at the side of the road but my son. I waved at him and drove on quickly before he could see the balloons in the back of the car,
Then a lengthy phone call from cruise insurers who have lost all the paperwork we filled in for our next cruise. Took another hour to go through it agin with them in the phone.
I decided to get things ready to take to my son so I packed his little cakes and card and the cans for his beer cake (Guinness in his case) then I discovered I've lost the candles for his cakes. I bought a special pack of star shaped candles. DH can remuer me showing them to him in the kitchen. I have searched everywhere but no trace. I suddenly thought they might have got in my craft box when I was tidying yesterday. I had to move several other boxes to get to it. Opened the carefully packed box of numerous bits of crafty stuff but sadly no candles. I was packing the box up when I discover a hole in the bag of sequins which allowed many of them to escape and fall in the bottom of the craft box (everything out again) and over the floor. They are almost impossible to pick up. Got them rounded up and packed away again when I picked up a bag of tiny foil squares and promptly dropped it showering the floor again. I won’t tell you what I said but DH wisely kept out of the way. After all that I was really tired hot and grumpy.
I’m going to bed soon to try and sleep it off.
Hope you all have a good night.

Poor little toe and poor you Kaimoana. Ych a pych! It must be so sore and uncomfortable, I hope it heals quickly
Good on you for writing letter to your MP about the dogs, I hope it prompts the council to do something about it 🤞.
Ridiculous policy by your former GP's medical practice! They obviously didn't have that policy in place when you were originally a patient there, why change that eh and why apply it to a former patient? It doesn't make sense to make former patients subject to their ridiculous rule. There shouldn't be one rule for you and a different one for your neighbour either, not in my book!
I'm not sure I understand vis a vis not being able to use the theatre tickets and your son getting a refund if the performance isn't until May, I'm genuinely confused .
I'm sorry it's not the best of times for you at the moment a gentle cwtch is on its way x
Btw, I knew about the Water Boatman, something I learnt by watching the TV programme QI.

Doodle, I am so pleased that you and your DH have managed to have a decent night's sleep and weren't weren't wearing the carpet out in the middle of the night 😊. I hope it was the same last night for you.

I can imagine that it was nice to see your DH's old friend again, and to pass the archives on to him 🙂
That's charming (to lose your Badminton evening place)! It couldn't possibly be because of money could it 🤔. Was the venue booked up in advance by the Badminton group, if so then surely they can't just cancel the bookings without opening themselves up to challenge. There must be guidance rules they have to follow 🤔

You mean you walk up hills with your U3A Grammaretto 😬! My walkie talkie group doesn't do that yet. We've only done walks around the docks and along parts the seafront so far as we're all novices 😁. We start mid morning, break for lunch and then walk some of the lunch off. When the group started there were only 4 of us but now we're up to 9 Doodle. I do really enjoy the walking and being that there's enough of us there's different people to chat to without anyone feeling left out.

Footie tonight, 2nd leg of the last 16 European competition match, 🤞 we'll make it into the quarter finals.

Oh dear Kaimoana - we are the “Broken Bone Twins”. Everything seems to be going wrong recently. Think Ill skip the rest of 2023 and jump to 2024! Doodle pleased to hear youve had some better nights and that you have hopes for help from the new neurologist. Fingers crossed Mr D can soon be feeling better. No my wrist isnt really painful- touch wood - just hurts a bit if I move my arm. Only fell on carpet so heaven knows how I managed to break it. Its terrified me now and Im very scared of walking on concrete outside.
Thanks for telling me about comfrey oil everyone. However as my arm is in plaster I cant use it yet but will certainly try it when the plaster comes off. Grammaretto bet the Glesco Grans made a lot of noise. Pleased you had a good time but fancy nearly spilling your soup!
Cherry. your walks sound fun! Is there more talkies than walkies!!!

I'd never heard of the Nig-Nog club Kaimoana
I daresay the vocabulary would not be considered PC at least outside Yorkshire.
A shame you don't swim anymore.
I am indignant on your behalf about the change of doctor.
Are you going to persevere?

I think I told you our badminton group have lost our Wednesday evening place in favour of a cheerleading class. We've been playing there for the past 18 years but missed 3 weeks.
The other group pay £20. We pay £8.
Could be a connection?

I am very happy to hear that the Doodles had some sleep at last. I hope it stays this way.

Sorry about the broken bones both Kai and Jan no wonder you aren't feeling your best.
I enjoyed my adventure to Glasgow in a blizzard for the meetup. People came from far and wide.
I must order clay and other materials today. I will fire the teapot Doodle but make a spare lid just in case not everyone wants a hare at their tea party.

I managed to give away the pile of archives yesterday. It was so nice to see DHs old friend who along with DH rediscovered and then restored and publicised the Great Polish Map of Scotland.

I am SO glad things are looking up for you both, Doodle I do hope the good nights continue.
As for the toe, I fell again and it sort of got trapped.

Your walkie talkies always sound so jolly Cherry and it must do you the world of good.

I'm not allowed to swim now and that's had an adverse effect. I've been a regularly swimmer since I was 6 years old and a member of the NigNog swimming club (dialect for boy & girl) run by the local newspaper.

Had a pleasant lunch at the Sallies today and met a fellow writer, a lady from Enfield, although she sounded like an East-ender and talked fondly about hop picking in Kent in her youth.
Many years ago she wrote a series of little books on wildlife, to be read in schools.

Especially good to escape (at noon) from the noise of a power-wash generator parked outside my house and roaring since 8am.
At least that and the pounding of water on walls and windows, masked the dog barking.

I was looking forward to a quiet afternoon, assuming all the pressure washing of our homes would be over. But as soon as the houses were done, the lawn mowing team took over with hugely noisy machines: trimmers and leaf blowers-until 5.30.

You remember I intended to change to my former doctor, Micheline? It's not happening.

My neighbour, Ray (who brought me some fresh, soft bread he'd just made in his new, bread-maker, bless him) has just transferred to a new surgery.
No hassles, no problems. No proofs needed.

I don't have the official proofs required and a 37 year history of documented medical notes as a New Zealand Citizen is apparently not enough for their Receptionist. <sigh>

Actually, the whole thing has been a catalogue of mistakes and changes on their part so perhaps The Universe is trying to tell me something.

Details of amazing Water Boatman here:
tinyurl.com/3t9tzt5z

You may remember I was delighted to receive a gift from my family of a theatre ticket. I would have been accompanied by my son. That's not going to happen either.
They will get a refund (performance not until May) but lose out on the deal.

Instead, my vDS and I will go somewhere for tea and a chat.
That's the theory anyway.

Not feeling the best at the moment, nor sleeping well and all these mini catastrophies haven't helped so maybe it all looks grimmeer than it should.

Fingers crossed for a better week for all of us.

Evening all.
Last night was the first time in 5 weeks we didn’t have to go walking around it the middle of the night. Be nice to think that would happen again.
Cherry glad you enjoyed yourself today. It was bitterly cold here. How many are there in your group now?
Grammaretto at least you can get up hills. I’d be sitting at the bottom waiting for you to come back.
Kaimoana poor you and poor dog. That sounds dreadful,
What are the owners thinking of.
How on Earth did you break your little toe? There’s hardly enough of it to break. I broke my big toe once and had a mini plaster cast on it. When it rained I had to put a plastic bag over my sandals to keep my toe dry. Sorry it’s so painful. Hope it eases soon.
What 😲. I have never heard about a waterboatman. You have the most amazing facts at your fingertips 🤣🤣
Sleep well all

Very good indeed to hear from Jan of the Broken Wrist and Nfk with such excellent news about DHs transfusion. I hope you both progress well.

I have written to my local MP to see if she can force Council to do something about the dog which barked from 7am today until 6.30pm, as far as I know, without ceasing. I'm wearing very effective earplugs so have been able to concentrate on the book.

I wonder what the immediate neighbours feel about that poor dog? I hope someone doesn't poison it.

Jan I'm not trying to compete with you my friend but I now have a broken and very painful little toe.


Just finished a remarkable (and funny) book
'Extraordinary Insects'. By Anne Sverdrup-Thygeson.

Measure for measure the Water Boatman is the loudest creature on Earth at 99.2 decibels or louder than a freight train.

It produces this strident sound by playing a tune on its willie.

I am also very pleased that Mr Doodle likes his consultant. You will both be pleased that he trusts and has confidence in him.

Your walkie talkie must be lovely Cherry. I enjoy the walks with U3A but we go strangely quiet when we climb up hills 😀

DH's friend is coming to lunch tomorrow and will take away some of DH's archives. I have told him there isn't much. why do I lie?
Off to bed now. It's been a long day
Sleep well gang.

I'm glad your DH's appointment went well Doodle. I'm pleased he likes his consultant too, it helps communication doesn't it and that's so important. I've got my fingers crossed 🤞 that the increase in his medication helps your DH more at night but if not it's good to know that there are other options.

Oh Jan, that's just not cricket. I bet you feel like you're having nothing but bad luck, I feel for you, I honestly do. Grammaretto is right, comfrey oil is great for helping the healing process as is a compress made from fresh comfrey. I hope it heals quickly for you. In the meantime I'm sending you the gentlest of cwtches x

It's lovely to hear positive news from you Nfk after such a difficult time for you and your DH.. It must have felt so good for your DH to be well enough for you to take off to Walcott in the Camper bubble. Long may the period of near normality continue for you both 🤞

The cake you made for your DMiL looks like a perfectly acceptable cake to me Grammaretto but I must say your mad March hare teapot is infinitely better fabulous. I'm glad you didn't inappropriately share your soup had a lovely meet up with the Glesgo Grans today 😁

I enjoyed my walkie talkie today, it wasn't particularly cold and the rain only started after I got home. Our little group is increasing in numbers slowly but surely which is great and I think not sure if it's the talking or the walking we're picking up the pace 😁

Hi Cherry. Yes our appointment with the consultant neurologist went well. DH liked him straight off. He was very thorough and considered in his approach and talked through a couple of options with us. DH will increase his meds in the Hope it helps him get through the night better but if not other options are available.
Your poor brother and the antiseptic cream. Just as well it wasn’t haemorrhoid cream 😲
It’s good to be looking round at places. Something might come up that you like the look of.
Grammaretto the cake looked fine and it was homemade which makes it extra special. I bet your MIL enjoyed it.
I love your teapot. You are so clever. Will you glaze it ?
Mamissimo wow will be a very special meal for MrM.
Wish we were all coming.
Glad Honey beagle is keeping comfortable and ok. She obviously likes her gourmet meals as well as MrM
We would love to come and eat your freezer bare assist in your trouser shortening. I’m not very good at it we may have to stretch you instead.
What a lovely idea a commemorative plate. Makes us sound quite regal 🤣
NFK lovely to hear from you. So pleased after the disappointment that the last transfusion had such benefits for your DH. I’m sure the outings and the fish and chips did a lot to lift your spirits. Long May it continue.
Oh Jan that’s bad news. Here we were hoping that things were getting easier for you. Must have been a nasty fall. Is it very painful? Yes, as my dear mum used to say, old age doesn’t come without its trials. Hope you are having plenty of help coping with your wrist. No washing up for you then. Does your DH do any cooking?
Grammaretto I read on the GM thread that you were meeting up. Hope you had a really good time. Shame Marydoll wasn’t able to join you.

Oh no poor Jan. It does sound as though the fates are conspiring against you.
I hope it heals quickly. Arnica helps and comfrey oil, aka knitbone really helps the healing process .

I'm glad things are picking up somewhat for you NfkD. Nice to see you.

That dog of yours Mamissimo has a better balanced diet than most of us. Maybe not the freshly caught rodents

I could have a go at a commemorative plate.
I made one for DPiL platinum wedding.

I went through to Glasgow today in the snow to have lunch with the Glesgo Grans. It was very nice though I spilled my soup which just missed landing on a lovely gran's lap.

Hello Everyone. What hreay news *Nfk•. So pleased youve been able to get out and about and enjoying the camper van for a bit.
Good news from Doodle too. So pleased your DH seems to be on the road to recovery. Its been a long and challenging few weeks for hom. Oh the joys of getting old!
Mamissimo your holiday to South Africa souns amazing and how wonderful to see some sun too! Honey Beagle is amazing isnt she? Bless her. She’s certainly enjoying her food!
As for me Ive broken my wrist! Fell Sat ev . Thought I was ok until I looked at my wrist the next day! Had it pulled back into place Sun ev - not an occasion I want to repeat! Just hope it stays in position. Really feel everything is against me at the moment.

NFK that's a smile of a post - I've got everything crossed for you ☀️

Good Morning All!

Found you!

I didn't realise it'd been so long since I popped in - eight pages - EIGHT! Time flies when you're having 'fun'! I didn't realise it was so long since I'd called in on GN. I shall read back and catch up anon.

The latest DH report:

We're having a good week so far after the last transfusion. The one before didn't really seem to have much effect. Haemoglobin levels were ok but he still felt awful, so we only got one nearly good day during the month cycle. And the previous one wasn't much better. So much so that he announced that was it and he was throwing in the towel and would refuse the next chemo treatment.

BUT! He crashed out all dizzy in the middle of the last chemo cycle and the nurses took him in hand. A top up of fluid followed by an emergency transfusion and it's been the best yet! We've had nearly a whole week of near normality! Out and about most days (apart from a couple of hours sleep in the afternoon). We even took Camperbubble for a run to Walcott for fish and chips watching the tide and the little turnstones running on the sea wall. It's much as the consultant said it should be - but hasn't been. Hopefully he'll last another week which is when they've put him down for the next transfusion.

Will be back when I've caught up a bit on the gossip. Things feel a lot more normal at the moment and I'm not running around like a blue a**ed fly!

Good morning 🙂

Up early today to place the meat order for Mr M's birthday Christmas festival......got the turkey, pigs in blankets and stuffing....then was seduced into offal land so added kidneys, calves liver.....and all the other bits you can't buy in supermarkets. Then came the blandishments....spend another £17 for free delivery.....so I added poultry and pork.....Free delivery secured the site then offered me a special deal on game....so now I'm looking for a spare freezer! Honestly, this was supposed to be cheaper than popping to Waitrose and ordering a giant sirloin of beef! 🙄

H Beagle is doing well with no great change. I've got her diet sorted now and only have to cook her food every five meals. I've learned that she prefers brown rice, Aldi chicken breasts, one sachet of winalot, a little gravy and left over veg a scoop of prebiotics and a multivitamin. She is still topping up with whatever she can half inch or get Fergal to catch for her Today I'm taking her to get her claws trimmed as she is struggling to get a grip on the kitchen floor when standing on her hind legs .

If The Dude fancies it I could prepare batches of chicken and rice and winalot for him? In fact Doodle come for a holiday- The Dude and H Beagle could snooze in rotation on all the sofas and stress relieving dog beds as the sun moves round the house.....they could both watch the wildlife, dine early and possibly a gentle perambulation with `Mr M. And for you, dear friend, I have a treat.....three pairs of trousers that need shortening.....and your choice of cake from M&S 🙂

Oh - a random thought that came to me last night....maybe Grammaretto could make a commemorative plate or bowl with all our pseudonyms on it to commemorate our group. I'd buy one! 😁

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That sounds much better 😀Doodle giving the poor Dude a rest from the drugs which make him feel worse fall over
Well done for discussing it with the doc.
Good luck with the neurologist 🤞

The cake was ok but not brilliant. Here it is before the petals sank into the gooey icing. The leftovers from yesterday were taken to feedpoison the other oldies at her day centre.

DDiL made a perfect Victoria sponge with cream and jam. Yum

I went to check on her old house today. It's going on the market very soon. I also went to the dentist because my fine new denture needed adjustments.
There's a theme for the potters this month to make march hares so here's mine! It is the knob of a teapot so quite.mad.
Lovely hot chocolate tonight thanks Jeeves.

I hope your DH's appointment with his neurologist went well Doodle and that it was helpful.
To be honest Doodle I'd have been surprised, and disappointed, if this time your DH's GP hadn't listened to you. As she knows that he does have a (temporarily untreated) problem I'm glad she's contacting you at the end of this week though and will possibly prescribe a different medication then.

I'm pleased that your DMiL enjoyed having her family all around her on her birthday Grammaretto, and what a caring nephew she has ☺️. What I want to know, and I see Doodle does too, is did she enjoy her cake!?
Can't say I've even heard of that film but I'm hardly a film buff. Did you enjoy it?

You telling us of your mix up with the sprays Kaimoana, and btw I think Doodle's suggestion (or something like it) is a good one, reminded me of what my brother did once when he temporarily had an eye patch (and yes it was only for one eye). He was staying at my mother's house and didn't bring his own toothbrush. He took a tube out of the bathroom cabinet, took off the cap and squeezed the contents onto his toothbrush, put the toothbrush to his mouth and began to brush .... it wasn't toothpaste ... it was a well known antiseptic cream 🤢
It must be frustrating! You deal with these every day difficulties every day and with such admirable humour and Grace. Not easy. Please try not to put milk in the kettle again though eh. Sniff it first?
What an image of my neighbour you have conjured in my mind - I hadn't realised she was stuck to your house, fixed fast like spider woman 🤣.

Both you Grammaretto' and Doodle have asked whether we could move. We could and we'd both like to and have discussed it. If we moved we'd both like our next home to be a bungalow and that presents a problem for us - ie. cost. We also have a duty to tell - another problem. We're beginning to scout it out though ....