🦞🦂 *What are we up to?*🦂🦞

Kaimoana 😍.
What can be better than Gubbins, glitter and Grandma. Oh, and delight, deliciousness and daddy. Who needs chocolate cake when you have a volcano of love ❤️ X

Sorry I can't read all the above, eyes not up to it, nor my hips to sitting here, so I'll just tell you what a wonderful day we had with Gubbins and Daddy.
Her 'best thing' is making volcanoes, so out came the chemicals, colours and glitter.

Here's a photo....and of course we had a birthday tea as well. The brie, bacon and olives being her favourite
The choclate cake an afterthought - ha ha ha

I hope we are all on an "up" a bit now. NN is not in such a lot of pain and cheered by some sun, Grammaretto has been dancing (!!!!) Kaimoana has very special visitors, Doodle, although the concert was cancelled still found good company and welcoming comfort.
Ixion and Cherry - sending you and all other Lobstars oodles of cheery vibes alongside Doodle's

I am exhausted with all sorts of admin and organising of my mother-in-law and her various needs and preferences - but by going early today (straight after breakfast) we did get a lot done.
It's not just me of course but often it is- as my lovely other half really struggles with some things I find easier.

We could have been back an hour earlier if only she hadn't lost 5 book tokens somewhere (she says in the house)...
We couldn't find them and it did make her quite cross. I phoned the lovely lady in Waterstones who remembered her buying them - so the lack of receipt didn't help. I had wondered if she'd intended to buy them but just bought a birthday card instead (which was there)

So why am I "on the up"..?... probably because I've been feeling better about my hip. It's still not 100% and I'm still waddling about more than I'd like but I had a physiotherapy session in the pool which was exhausting but marvellous. Thank you NHS

On the staircase question ixion- ours used to have a "back stairs" from next to the range in the kitchen onto the middle landing at the very back of the house.
We found evidence of it when we took a wall and false ceiling out in the kitchen some years ago. It was plain to see - obviously a maid's stairs, very steep and narrow. When the house was built (1890s) it had to have room for 2 maids in the deeds - in spite of just being the middle of three and basically a terraced house.
The deeds also said that our neighbours either side had to maintain a paddock suitable for two horses and if any of the houses took down a mature tree then the whole lot would revert (in penalty) to the Marquis of Anglesey!

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Grammaretto... What stamina, I am very jealous. My best friend and I spent New Years Eve in a hotel just outside Glasgow one year. The food was a wonderful 5 course affair followed by traditional Scottish dancing before and after the bells. I have absolutely no idea how most of the guests could even move after eating let alone dance...but they did..
I hope Kaimoana is having a wonderful reunion.
Doodle the hospice sounds an absolute oasis and obviously needed by lots of people, I hope the concert is rescheduled soon. I thought of you today when I was at the Artisans Christmas market at Wells Cathedral, there were some knitted items for sale there at what seemed like a lot of money and I was reminded of your beautiful shawls made with love and given freely

It was lovely to be out in the sunshine..it's been a very difficult week...hip pain and IBS reaction to meds made for one very unhappy lobstar and despite giving myself an imaginary kick up the btm I felt I was slipping into a place I didn't want to be.

Yesterday sanity returned ( or probably a truer expression would be ditsy blonde was back in the game). The enforced rest meant the hip pain was copable and the dastardly digestive system settled too.

It was lovely to be out in the sun today, I'm grateful to have been able to get out of once more. It has lifted my spirits muchly

Pleased you’re feeling better Grammaretto how nice for your BiL to come to dinner with your friend. Will they have to dance for their supper ?
You seem to have a lovely time at the dances. So pleased for you. And an exciting trip to Ireland coming up.
Ixion concert was cancelled because of an internet problem. I don’t actually understand how the two are connected but there it is.
The concerts happen now and again. Mainly supported by families and locals. It was packed yesterday. There are many people who go to the hospice regularly. They have a lovely cafe there and beautiful views. I go at least once a week.
Kaimoana hope you’re having a wonderful time with your son and Gubbins .

Sorry to disappoint ixion no back stairs here. My DB used to live in a fabulous fin de siecle top floor flat in Hellerup with views of the sea and to Sweden. They had a back stair from the kitchen.

My house does have 2 staircases from the 2nd floor to the top floor attic. You can go up one stair, crawl round the eaves and into another attic and down another stair. Our kids enjoyed this as children.

I do have an exit from the first floor kitchen, over a bridge to the garden and out to the street.

Yes it is complicated and not to everyone's choice!

I am looking forward to hearing how the party/reunion went Kaimoana

So pleased you are feeling better, Grammaretto, you certainly needed to be for all that dancing! It sounds tremendous fun. Do you take all levels of competence? Not that I'm thinking of pitching up, you'll be relieved to hear.
When do you leave for Ireland?

One question, which I hope you don't mind me asking🫣. Does your house have two staircases?
I have always wanted to live in one that has. A family friend used to live in a rambling former rectory, where the back stairs were hidden behind an innocuous looking door. I always dreamed of having a house like that.
I hope your entertaining goes well this evening.

Any idea why your concert was cancelled, Doodle. Are they a regular feature?
They must bring a lot of comfort to patients, families and staff too.

It must be Party Morning for you, Kaimoana, with all the excitement and anticipation that will bring you.
I will be thinking of you, your DS and Miss Birthday Girl. I hope your pain levels give you some relief, if only for the gathering, and I wish you the bestest of times 🎈🎈🎈.

How old is Gubbins on her birthday? Is she 3? I can't believe the passing of time. The party will be so lovely.

Enjoy it Kaimoana ❤️❤️

Jeeves' medicine seemed to do the trick. I'm really better!
I was at yoga this morning and at ceilidh dancing tonight. We are running a DIY version but it went really well. The band are great and some of us took turns to call the dances. I called the 10th and final dance, an Orcadian strip the willow so I couldn't join in but I danced most of the others.

I'll miss next week unfortunately as I'll be in Ireland. But ofcourse that will be exciting. I have been planning where to visit.

I've invited DH's brother for dinner tomorrow along with my old friend who often comes on a Friday.
I think I'll make a kedgeree. I made a soup today and I'll do something with apples for pudding.

Sorry to ramble on. It must be the dancing!

Good night dear Lobstar friends

Grammaretto how lovely to have your Dh staying with you for a while. Lots of cosy chats by the fire and some trips out maybe. Glad your cold is improving (Jeeves remedy worked then) and your DGS won the water polo.

Notapaghetti sorry I’ve been monopolising Jeeves. Our younger son’s family all have colds and coughs. Jeeves has re stocked and is in his way to help.

Kaimoana if I filled my body with copious amounts of water I know where I’d be all the time. Still if it works for you that’s a good thing,

Want you to feel your best for the weekend.
What a fabulous spread you’ve laid on and it’s Gubbins birthday too. Wow what a lot to look forward to.

Dear Cherry I will round up all the good vibes I can catch and bag them up and send them to you. Whatever ails you I do hope improves soon,

I am ok thank you. My level of ok now. Bright spots, good company, interesting things to do sometimes but with a lingering sadness that I think may well just be how it will be now,

Yes so happy with DGDs news. She’s a lovely girl. Has worked hard and deserves it.

Art this morning then went to the hospice for a concert that didn’t happen. It was packed but no body seemed too upset. We all consolider ourselves with cake!

I asked AI about the name water polo.
The name polo is a corruption of pulu meaning ball in Tibetan from where the game derives.

There's a net and goalkeeper at each end of a swimming pool, and by passing and throwing the ball whilst swimming, goals are scored.

Fancy it anyone?

As an aside, my dad played (horseback) polo in the army - he said it was originally called Pulu

I think "polo" comes from the word "ball" in an old Tibetan language. - no idea which.
That would make it "Water Ball"

I have looked this up before but do have something of a colander brain so don't quote me!

Doodle, sorry, I meant to send my congratulations to your DGD1. It's a very special milestone for her, and all the family, including you, must be so proud of her,

I didn't know that about viruses graduating or migrating to hips and other body parts. As if wanting to have your own head chopped off wasn't bad enough.

Please be 1 million x better by Saturday Kaimoana 🙏

Cherry too. Sorry to hear you are in need of goodly vibes right now. So here are a bumper crop!!!

My cold is almost gone which is a relief.
I've been chatting with NZ DS. They've had quite a big quake in Wellington.
DGS team has just won the water polo.
So ensued a discussion about why is it called water polo?
There are no horses involved and even the ball thrown isn't the shape of a polo mint.

Hmm. One of life's mysteries.

Good luck at the doctor's today Kaimoana. I have heard of viruses 'settling' in hips before, DD4 had it when she was little, we thought it was down to her cartwheeling everywhere but apparently it was effects of a cold she had had 3 weeks earlier.
Gubbins won't notice any difference in you, she will just be happy to see you and eat her favourite goodies and if DS does see a change you'll just have to reassure him as best you can that all is well.

Thanks Kaimoana, I, myself, am in need of some good vibes at the moment so I very much appreciate it

Gosh, you have been having a really tough time, haven't you. You must have be in so much pain and most definitely struggling. It's good to hear that taking on board plenty of fluids has been some help. I sincerely hope that the Dr is correct and your suffering subsides but please don't hesitate to make another appointment very soon if it doesn't.

Your excitement for Saturday jumps off the page, I know you'll have a glorious day and I, myself, can't wait for you to have that.

I'm sending you my love and heartfelt cwtches X

I hope your cold has disappeared now Grammaretto and you thoroughly enjoy your trip to Ireland.

I hope Jeeves worked his magic and your poorly family recover quickly NotSpaghetti 🤞

Naughtyneine, I hope, at least, things are manageable for you and you are treated before too long.

How are you faring Doodle and you ixion?

I'm sending my love to all you fabulous lobStars X

Sending love and strengthening vibes to all who need them. Life is a beggar sometimes eh?

Doctor speculated virus or infection in my his.

If the former, it takes its course but on balance I think it's the latter.

Since it began last Friday, it's graduated (and not like our clever person above ) to both hips and spine, with coccyx being especially tender.

At the same time, I began flooding my body with copious amounts water (never goes amiss) and over the week I waited to see doc, it has improved a lot.

I'm still using my trusty walker but the pain level is much lower and promises to be gone by the time Birthday Girl and Daddy get here on Saturday for our party.

My homecare lady said, 'Are you going to warn him how much you've changed?'
I went to look in the bathrom mirror and as far as I can see, I am not a werewolf or a zombie and am convinced DS and DGD won't run from the house at the sight.

Especially if they get a glimpse of birrthday goodies on the table

As well as pizza, olives and brie , all DGD's favourites
we're having sausage rolls, and of course a Chocolate Mud birthday cake.

Could Jeeves please make a quick journey to my coldy/flu rundown family please?
Three are ill with the coldy flu and a cough..

...then Jeeves, please can you hurry on your way with your embrocations/ linaments to Naughtyneine and Kaimoana.

Kaimoana2 - hope your appointment with the doctor today involves a "plan of action ".
Thinking of you - and hopingthe journey isn't too painful 😬

I'll also go to bed early Doodle.

How marvellous that you were able to watch proceedings online! Very proud gran 👏

I'm not going to try to find a new tenant just yet. My Df from the north wants to rent the flat for a month.

I've been busy glazing pots and packing the kiln.

I hope we hear good news from Kaimoana soon. 🤞

Grammaretto yes DH took lots of photos and as it was live streamed in you tube I was able to watch it too which was lovely, so proud of her.
It would be lovely if music man came through with the house. Are you going to put it in the market if he doesn’t come up with something soon.
Oh dear I suppose you have to start looking for new tenants again. Hope you get someone nice,
Yes half terms catch us out when we no longer have school age children. Hope you feel better soon .
Thank you NN I am assured that many photos are on their way.
ixion hope you and Cherry are keeping ok.
Kaimoana have you seen your boy yet.
I’m so sleepy I keep nodding off. Early night I think. Sleep well all

I hope you get lots of lovely photos of the Graduation ceremony, Doodle.
Another milestone in the lives of our dear families.

How are you feeling today, Grammaretto? Are you going to risk another short term let? As I recall, you had several potentials last time you let.
Is it next week you are ✈️ to Ireland? Enjoy.

I hope Kaimoana is enjoying her Big Reunion and that her poorly hip issues are being, at worst, adequately managed and, at best, speedily expedited for expert attention. Gubbins must be overjoyed at meeting up again too!

NN, how are you getting on with your research into getting the investigations you have been told that you need?

So much officialdom and bureaucracy these days for such relatively straightforward tasks, it can leave you too exhausted and time-depleted to enjoy the nicer parts of life!
#fromonewhoknows

Doodle...I hope your DGD has a wonderful day and you get to see the photos later.
Grammaretto, well done you on even trying to go to your exercise class when you still have a poorly throat, maybe a blessing that it was cancelled even if it was annoying not to be told.
I hope you are having a lovely catch up with your DS Kaimoana and that the move is progressing well.

Congratulations to your DGD Doodle. You're right DH would be so proud. I hope your DS takes lots of photos.

I had a visit from Music man who is still keen to buy the house and is constantly optimistic that the money will materialise. I hope he is right.
My tenants are moving out on Sunday.

Thanks for the special brew. I have been swigging it and hope it works.
No Gaelic class this evening because the school is closed and I went to my exercise class but it wasn't on either.
I don't remember being told it was cancelled.
My head is so woolly it probably didn't register.

I hope all you Lobstars are well or at least better than me.

Early night here.

Grammaretto sorry you still have a sore throat. Well that’s a very pretty piece. Glad you weren’t outside all night.
That choir sounds talented singing I. All those different languages.
Jeeves is on the way with his special brew and his secret potion he says will make you better soon.
I’ve been out most of the day, met up with friends for coffee then visited other grandma for a bit. Home for ironing. Late dinner due to two long phone calls. It’s DGD1 s graduation tomorrow. Hope our son takes lots of photos. DH would have been so proud of her and interested in what she was doing.