🦞Lockdown friends still together🦞

Hi all. Just to let you know I’ve heard from Kaimoana and she sends her love to all. The good news is that her DIL took the lovely Gubbins to visit her and all went well and they stayed for several hours. That will certainly be a big boost.
Ixion if I had a garage I could fill it in minutes.
Hope the diet works for you. I have a cream egg on the sideboard that beckons to me every time I pass it but I will not give in.
Grammaretto Im glad you had such a lovely time with your DgDs. I’m sure they had great fun. The little sweet peas will give them an opportunity to water and rend their little plants. I am nurturing a small pansy plant. Small plant and tiny pansies. I am doing my best not to kill it off, I’ve had it 2 weeks now.
It sounds as though music man is serious in his intent to buy. What are your thoughts about having something built in the garden for yourself, is that still a possibility?
The Aussies have been good helpers. How lovely to find pictures of your Dh and get so much clearing up done.
I expect you’re looking forward to seeing your sister. I wonder what she will think about your house plans.

Naightyneine the situation with your daughters must be so upsetting but I think your approach to responding with love is a good way to handle it.

How lovely you’re having a trip to Spain with your friend. Good for you both I would think.
Grammaretto I too hope all goes as well as it can for your friends funeral tomorrow. Hope it’s full of happy memories and times together.
I’m posting early today because I’m off to church later for Quiet hour. I could do with some time to myself in church and this will suit me as this week is bringing back lots of memories,

I've just read a post on Soop's Kitchen from Naughtyneine. It made me sad and I don't even know the whole story. 😢

Chocolate is the answer! whatever the question .

I am still discussing my new build but have to address the multiple obstacles put in my way by the planners. I've just spent half an hour on the phone to a planning consultant who is going to write on my behalf. Keep the emotions out I've decided is a good thing. And Chocolate 🍫

I am so glad that Kaimoana has seen her Gubbins, Doodle. That's really good news. I'll bet she was being asked for. That child is wise beyond her years.

The Aussies are still here, at least for another night as their plans have altered a bit.

My car is at the garage doctors . I hope for a call soon to tell me it's not too expensive and can be ready soon.
I live in hope 🙏

Gosh, Doodle, you are an early bird today - but then I saw your welcome news from Kaimoana. I am so pleased she got in touch and even more pleased that she has spent some well-needed quality time with Gubbins (and DIL). I hope this is the first of many such visits, I really do.

I hope tomorrow goes well for you, Grammaretto, bringing sadness but celebration too, for a life well lived. You were a dear friend and companion too.

And NN - Spain? Wow, have a great 🐔bash. It will be lovely for your DF too.
Is she to be your bridesmaid too? I wondered about Matron of Honour but deemed it far too old-fashioned a term to employ ...
I think June is -deservedly- going to be 'your month'😍

I was intrigued to read about instant haggis meals. Mind you, to a serious dieter, they sound manna from Heaven. I was about to say that I bet that was something you wouldn't find down here in Waitrose but, luckily, I checked it out.
And there it was, thanks to famille Macsween 'making Haggis with a passion'.
I'd try it out, but sadly it's not in my diet box.
I hope your car proves to be retrievable.

I ordered, from the place with the renowned meatballs, 3 nice but relatively cheapo throws to go over our new settees (yes, they're for you, Barney and Mr.I😡).
Then, of course, I was a loss as to how to make them look stylish AND practical. AKA curating, these days, I believe.
Luckily my electronic copy of Country Living arrived, complete with an article on "Mastering the art of sofa styling".
5 tips, including

And let's not forget a lavish throw – folded or draped with insouciance across the arm or back – which helps to garnish the look.
🤷‍♀️
So now I know.

Doodle, our posts have crossed.
I see now why you have posted early.
The forthcoming few weeks will be even more difficult for you.
I hope you continue to find solace in your church.🕯️

I have just enjoyed a leisurely on line game, over a couple of days, of Wordfeud (like Scrabble) with DGS aged 9.

He has an irritating endearing habit of changing his user name on a seeming whim.

Encouraging all the time and gently enquiring whether it was time for bed, his words were getting impressively more sophisticated.

I then had this sinking feeling.
I messaged him.
You are x , aren't you? I asked.

No Nana, he replied, that's not me.

🫣

I needed a good laugh 😃 ixion
Thank-you.

The funeral for df is most of today. Beginning at her church, then the crematorium and a wake at a local hotel. I may miss the middle part.

I left my car at a new-to- me garage yesterday and the owner gave me a lift home where we discussed replacement hips! He has had one too and has been clearing his dm's house. No end of things in common 😄

The Aussies really are setting off today when their pals arrive with a hire car. He spent his last day cleaning while she cooked and baked. Nice. Although they say the shower doesn't drain properly and new light bulbs required. I couldn't be a
landlady.

I am glad you are making plans for a holiday Doodle. Just the ticket!

I am still glowing with delight that Gubbins is back in her DGM life.

Hooray!

I do hope the funeral is cathartic and healing, Grammaretto.
🙏

The funeral was really very nice a good send-off. I was given a lift to the crematorium so ended up going to all the parts.
It felt like she was with us. Her DC and DGC played their fiddles and pipes and did her proud.

Grammaretto good to hear your friend had a lovely send off and contributions from her children and grandchildren too.
Forgive me all I’m not posting anything other than sending my love tonight. Today is the last full day I had my beloved Dh at home with me and I’m just concentrating on that tonight. Take care all xx

I've lit a candle for you tonight, Doodle.
🕯️

Sending you my love tonight Doodle as you wrap your dear Mr D. in yours.

Thank you 💕

It's amazing how many say that their loved one is there at the funeral. It makes you think. I'm so pleased it went well. Not having seen them for over six months, I've been staying a few days with DD1 (parked New Camperbubble in their front drive) and went to watch her school DGD1 on their new young horse. Leaning on the fence I could feel DH beside me so strongly I daren't look. I could feel his pride. It seems like it's been an emotional few days for all of us one way or another - a group hug is needed. Even if virtual.

The new Camperbubble was a bit of an impulse buy. I went with a friend to the NEC caravan and motorhome show - just to see what was there and the new layouts. I really like Old Camperbubble but it was becoming more obvious that she wasn't going to see me into my dotage. The layout wasn't as right as I thought it would be. I was only going to look with the aim of maybe buying a newish one next year. And I saw New Camperbubble. And she looks perfect. I can even leave the bed up all the time if I'm on my own, unlike Old CB where I couldn't get out of the door without putting the bed away. A few teething problems as the controls are all very different. It meant that the first night was rather chilly as I couldn't figure out the heating system. Thought I had, but I hadn't! So, my care home fund has been liquidised. It was hardly keeping up with inflation anyway and campers hold their value quite well! Never go shopping with a friend. I blame her!

|Mostly I'm really, really so pleased to hear Kaimoana's news. Hears hopefully Gubbins may come more often now. The sun is shining here and the birds singing and I'm off for a dog walk with a friend. At least, I will be when I've got dressed. Onwards and upwards.

I hope you felt the closeness Doodle ❤️
I am sure he is with you.

DH said he would always be with me and I believed him. Knowing this has helped me through.

My visitor yesterday is a friend of my sister who is in Edinburgh for a few days. She had heard about my house and wanted to see it for herself.

It made me remember all the awful things I've had to deal with on my own from roof leaks, ceilings falling in, gas leaks, trees landing on neighbours houses etc. At least I was able to explain why I must leave my house. She didn't think it would be soon though.

While she was here the music man called to return some plans I had lent him.

Talking of lent we ate rather a lot of the brownies that the Aussies had made. They must have left when I was at the funeral.
Now I must write them a review on the website. I shall mention the brownies.

My car is going to be repaired! It won't be ready until next week though.

NFK your new camperbubble sounds perfect for you. I’m glad you decided to go for it. Hope you and Kira have lots of lovely travels in it.
What a lovely thing to feel your husbands presence with you.
I’m certainly up for a group hug.
I’m back at church tonight from 8 till 11 or until I fall asleep. It’s full on this week and it’s very emotional for me too.
Grammaretto I have to believe that Dh is still with me and that we will be together again. I couldn’t cope if I didn’t think that. So pleased they can repair your car. That will be one less worry.
I’m sending Jeeves to round everyone up for a group hug. I think we all need it.

Thank you Doodle.
🤗

Hello my friends
I've just spent a very long time trying to get a Text-toSpeech app working.
And failed.

It's unlikely I will see Gubbins again for a long time as her Mum now works full time and weekends are pretty full too. But that one time was lovely - she was very shy of me, not having been here since November but was soon settled.
Wishing everyone a blessed Easter.

Kaimoana I do hope you manage to sort out that Test to speech app. It sounds, if it works, as though it would be a good idea.
*My friend and I went on our walk and talk group this morning. An amazing number of people turned up. We couldn’t stay for coffee as we had to get to church, Late service last night was lovely but I got a bit cold and tired. Today was beautiful too. Very moving.
It’s been an emotional week all week for me. I’m a bit worn out at the moment. No early start tomorrow so I might have a bit of a lie in.

I hope you get your long lie Doodle
You have had a very emotional time.

My day turned out quite differently from how I had thought.

I am now sitting down to dinner on my own having had df call off and this afternoon I decided to go to the cinema to see penguin lessons which I had heard about in the middle of the night. I couldn't sleep so listened to the world service I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Tomorrow I will go to the seaside with the foragers. We will be looking for seaweed at low tide.

How did the foraging go, Grammaretto? Enough to incorporate in cooking for your visiting family? Hopefully the weather will be kind(er) to you.

Did you get your lie in, Doodle? I generally find that, despite my promise to self, I awake as usual and find it difficult to settle.
All those promises I made to myself when I used to work and be out of the house by 7! Grrr.

Did Gubbins take her plate or dolly this time,, Kaimoana?
When will they be coming permanently to the UK? Maybe when the whole family is finally together, your son will be able to direct the flow of contact between you and DGD to a more positive outcome.

More garage clearance this weekend. Finally persuaded Mr. I to get shot of his racing bike. (No sniggers at the back please).
It looks likes a sit-up-and-beg type to me, but either way I've put in on Freecycle as vintage 😉.
It's a good 30+ years since it's seen the light of day, about the same length of time since he was able to swing his leg over the height of a crossbar. He used to accompany the children as they started their on road journeys.
We shall see. It's amazing what people will seize upon before it starts its journey to the tip.
Metal filing cabinet next. That shouldn't be so difficult to shift.

I will come back another day to seek advice on my great grandma's inlaid headboard and footboard .🤔
Hopefully, if there is a frame, that will surface in the fullness of time.

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I wish you were here to help me with clearing out ixion. You sound like a pro!

The foraging was wonderful. Just being on the beach and scrambling on the rocks. Brilliant. I took my walking poles and was glad of them.

I collected leaves of coastal plants to put in my sandwiches - poor man's lettuce, Jack in the hedge, sorel and so on. We were shown the UK's most poisonous plant which grows luxuriantly all over the place. Hemlock.

I ate some seaweed - which got caught in my teeth. 😟 There was carageen, dulse, bladderack, nori and lots more.

My friend collected razor shells to use as plant labels.

A fire was lit and flatbread impregnated with wild garlic butter was cooked.

I have invited various family members for lunch tomorrow. I wonder who will come. 😂🤣

In mid afternoon I have an appointment for a covid booster.
Scotland always surprises me by not following Bank Holidays or Religious Days.

What is the pink plant in your 3rd picture and what do you use it for??

Please!🤭

It's ribes. Flowering currant cooked up with dead nettle and maple syrup. It tasted very sweet and medicinal