🦞 The Lockdown Gang still chatting 🦞

ixion is the football still going on? 🤣
DS1 and family are due back from Corsica tonight. They’ve had a good holiday. I doubt they had better (hotter) weather than here though. It has been a little cooler today

Marginally cooler here too today.
Occupied sitting time by working out which engagements could be moved or rescheduled until lower temperatures are the norm rather than the exception.

.I hope you had a pleasant evening and that the 🇫🇷s weren't too désolés by the football drubbing loss.

Cool bath calling.
Plus ça change ...

Grammaretto Hope your Ds will be a bit more supportive, crepes sound lovely. Wish I could join you.
What a lovely day you had with your cousin. Great photos.
It’s been a bit cooler here today, so much more comfortable

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Yes Doodle. I think renting may be a better option for a while.
I mustn't be tempted to snap up something I don't really love. I've not bid for the Edinburgh house.

I am glad you bought your lovely apartment and were able to enjoy it together and it works for you on your own .

I hobbled to the PO this morning and met and chatted to at least 4 people I know. I wouldn't have that in Edinburgh.
My DS has invited me round on Friday - a peace offering?

The Frenchies are making crêpes for tonight so I've invited a few folk to enjoy them.

Our day out, cousin and me, to see DD and the girls was a great success. The sun shone and the DGD paddled in the stream. They have a couple of turkeys still which survived Christmas.
We ate magnums by the river Tay.
The train journey was a bit fraught but worked out in the end.

Grammaretto yes Ds is away till Wednesday. He’s sent me some photos. Looks lovely.
What does your son want you to do? You could carry on waiting for a while before a better offer comes along. I just worry you might lose out both ways. Accept a lower offer because you really want to sell and then panic buy into something you don’t really want having given up your lovely home and garden. I only say this because that’s what DH and I did move before last. We both regretted it before the ink was dry on the paperwork but having given our word we stuck to it. We should have opted out and lost our deposit it would have been cheaper in the long run. We sold our lovely modern done up 4 bed for a run down 3 bed bungalow. I was considerably cheaper than our house but we spent nearly all the difference doing up the bungalow. DH always disliked it and we moved as soon as we could. Don’t ask me why we did it. Neither of us could really account for our madness.
Fortunately we moved from the bungalow to our lovely bright and spacious apartment and loved it as did our family.

Sorry I’m rambling on. Glad your back is a little better,
Hope everyone is ok. I’ve spent all afternoon trying to sort out my contents insurance. For all the sense the documents made to me they could have been written in Chinese

Grammaretto whilst my heart is in the countryside I can see the appeal of a city.
We want all the benefits of city living in a rural location.
We have recently be talking about a tiny place somewhere out of the way but with a decent garden and another tiny place in a city...
Trouble is you have 2 lots of everything then

We'll get tennis withdrawal symptoms ixion 🎾🎾

Not a visible dog, no. They may have a dog.

I probably won't go for the house I saw today. It's not perfect and I'm looking for perfection. 😊
Doodle you are wise as always.
Is your DS still on holiday?

I'm taking my cousin to visit DD tomorrow.
She'll be a good diplomat. i hope

DS is still cross with me for not consulting any of my DC before I accepted the offer for my house.
I tried to reason with him but feel he wasn't ready to understand my viewpoint.
Stalemate. 😟

My back is a bit better and
the sweet peas are flowering.

Chillier here now, Grammaretto - only 23 degrees🤭
Hopefully, useful things may be achieved this week as it will be easier to move about. Goodness knows, they're mounting up!

No more tennis either.
I do take pride in the fact that contestants, when interviewed, always praise the atmosphere, the environment, that 'special feel' Wimbledon has.
And Sinner acknowledged tonight the special support the ball boys and girls provide.

DS says it's a standard script, just replacing Wimbledon praise with similar for Roland Garros, Flushing Meadows depending on which Open they're at.
I really love playing here, it's a special place, the very best.

Edinburgh? That was a curved ball!
Let us know how you get on when widening your field.
Are your interested buyers the family with the ones with the attached dog?
You'd be leaving a lot behind - but you know that.

I hope everyone has an easier week ahead, weather wise.
Still, mustn't grumble, as they say.
😡

Thinking especially of NN and Mr.NN and the big decisions ahead🌻

Grammaretto. I know you visit Edinburg a lot. It looks a lovely city. I imagine it’s quite expensive too. Do you have friends there? Be risky to cut yourself off from people you know. Not so easy to make friends when we get older.
Maybe your friend is just trying not to influence your decision .

Yes still baking here.

Are you still melting in England?

It's just nice here. Cousin and I went into Edinburgh today to look at a house for sale.

Most of my friends are surprised that I am thinking of moving to the city.
I liked the house. My cousin didn't like it but won't tell me why. DS didn't come after all.

So I'm home watching the tennis.

What are you doing?

Evening all.
Spent all day at Windsor today. Lots of tourists. We tried to stay out of the sun by going into the shops, quite exhausted tonight though. DS1 and family are in Croatia. I don’t think it’s as hot there as here,
Hope everyone can sleep ok.

Can’t wrote much tonight as for some reason my poorly wrist is very painful.
NN Dh retired long before me. I carried on working and bringing in money for our holidays etc. I had planned to retire at the end of the year but in July I suddenly thought DH has been waiting for me to retire all these years . He’s been home and I haven’t. He was due an operation at some time and I suddenly thought if I don’t get this time with him, if anything goes wrong I will regret it. I drove straight home and said to DH I’m retiring now. I handed in my notice the following morning. Luckily Dh survived that particular op and we went on to have many more happy years together, I never regretted that decision. Every second with him was precious.
I hope you make the right decision for you both xx

Pressed too soon.

I want to say How do you honestly feel about DH early retirement NN? My DH retired at 60 (he had to. Civil Service ) but was very frustrated at first and immediately was offered some part-time lecturing.
His hobbies , of which there were many, filled any spare time.
He was glad to stop the daily commute but missed his colleagues.

Ofcourse nothing is certain. DSiL's DH dropped dead aged 57 for no apparent reason. She was 10 years older and never expected to be a widow.

Thanks for your support re my house sale..
Hopefully the AC will come round and understand. It is that young couple NotSpaghetti 🙂

Your DH sounds like mine Jan - a darling.

I've come indoors to watch the tennis 😉
It's so lovely here.
Thanks

I knew wise words would come my way from you lovely people....
Ixion...he's on the After Sales semi management ( if that's even a thing) side.
Notspag...he took a part of his pension out when he reached 55 and in less than 2 years his portion of the former family home will be paid... and although it's not a happy thought he will inherit ( with his sister) when my lovely PIL are no more. I've still got some of the proceeds from the sale of my former marital home although a large chunk of it bought the cottage we now live in...and I have most of the pension sharing order I was awarded. Writing all that down is making me very aware of how very very lucky I/we are to be even able to consider this drastic ( for me) change.
Anyway enough of me looking up my own rear end...
Grammaretto...it's lovely news that you've sold...does it matter that it wasn't as much as some people ( children) thought you would get...they are not the ones trying to keep up with the ongoing repairs that comes with a house well lived in by you and those before you. Sell up and let it become someone else's dream home to make wonderful memories in just as you have ..take those with you...shut the door and walk into an exciting new stage in your life. (I amaze myself that words can just flow out when needed for others but am totally incapable of taking my own advice🤣🤣🤣🤣). I'm wishing you much joy...you deserve it. I really hope your poorly back does not impede the lifting of a glass or 3 tonight.
Jan...your DH is a star...as are you,
accepting major changes such as yours is brave and takes love on both sides to learn the 'new' way of living and makes what my DH is feeling all the more understandable.💐❤️
Ixion...has the whizzy paint dried? Can you hop from one bit of furniture or fixture to another until you get to the freezer...
Doodle...your party sounded lovely...dining under the trees.. We've been eating outside... We've a little area that is completely secluded so there is nobody to be put off their food by the sight of me only in my underwear..DH however said....he thought he'd like 2 dollops ( of ice cream phew) for dessert.

Naughty Neine What a lovely DH you have - nearly as amazing as mine 😂! Well since my stroke my DH does all the cooking, washing, ironing etc etc. one useless hand and leg does not make a good housewife. I dont think anyone can advise you NN its a major decision that only you two can make. Maybe jts as NotSpaghetti suggested sit down with a pen and paper and work it out. Just a tip once you are retired you do - or we do - spend more time drinking coffee or having lunch with friends! Probably spend extra money on petrol. But its yours and only your decision.
Grammaretto good news on your house and sure you will have lots of different feelings about it. I sold my house where I had lived for around 15 years with my first DH. I met my now DH and we clicked immediately and after a few years I sold my house that I really couldn’t afford and moved in with present DH. I still miss my old house and my old neighbours but it’s something you learn to accept. There endeth the first lesson! And yes its b….y hot and I hate it as does Theo! Happy weekend all

Oh Naughtyneine you are obviously in a bit of a muddle right now.
Maybe do the really boring thing and get out a pen and paper and work out exactly how much you need to live as you do now. Then you can see if you really are a bit short or not?

When my husband stopped working we discovered we did need a bit more income if we wanted to go on living the same life but it wasn't as much as we thought.
Thinking of you!

Grammaretto was it the young couple who loved your house? 🤞
It all seems very sudden (after years of to-and-fro).
Our probate on my mother-in-law's estate is due today... 😬

Your DH sounds a gem, NN, but you knew that already😍

I don't remember whether he is in sales/marketing type thing or hands on in servicing/maintenance?

If the latter, would he consider going self employed and work on a part time basis to suit your own lifestyles?

Your faith, I'm sure, will see you through xx

I'm creeping in tail firmly tucked under for being absent for so long. You have all been in my thoughts and prayers too ( at various chapels ). We are in the middle of negotiating a sort of dilemma and I've been distracted for days it seems. When we returned from Wales DH returned to work only to be told that they had decided they wanted an all female team going forward. We both began to question what was so different here in the South West... people in his industry seem to change posts very regularly and letting someone go just before their 6 month review is quite the norm we have since found out. He was with his previous company for 15 years before our move here and very highly thought of and one of the first 7 to gain Master status. We are thinking it's a London thing... different clientele...etc. He has been offered 2 more positions ( at different companies) already but...and here's where the dilemma comes in...we were chatting things through ( a proper heart to heart) and he told me that the age difference between us has never been an issue but he wants us to have as many years as possible together and enjoy life while our health allows us to. To that end he's thinking of not taking another job ( maybe something part time in the future if I run out of things for him to do😄). We are not rich....we have always had just enough to make our lives comfortable. I'm not one for luxury holidays or expensive clothes either. (Nothing wrong with either it's just not me). In the beginning I was uneasy but as the days have gone on I ( and DH) are wondering if this Gods plan for us...I make no excuses for bringing my faith into this...we both firmly believe that we are where we are because of it.. 2 lonely and unhappy people brought together 7 years ago. On another thread on GN posters were asked what they thought they would have at this age and haven't...and so many heartbreakingly said their husband. That has resonated with me constantly since I read it so now I'm thinking maybe he's right. Then of course being me...I suddenly thought eek has he noticed something about me that I'm not aware of.... deafness is a given as I've had inner ear damage on the left side since I was 11...maybe forgetfulness...not that he's noticed he said except when he mentions some new additions to the motorhome ( that's not forgetfulness it's selective hearing my love). !!!!Anyway it was a no to anything significant apart from the odd mobility issue because of my hip. It was he said...simply that he loves me and he doesn't want in twenty years time to have loads in the bank and me not with him. I have not shared this with anyone but count you as dear friends and know your advice will be unbiased and without judgement.

Oh Ixion can’t you rig up some sort of pulley system that allows you to swing across the floor and get your prize. Not the diamond encrusted tiara but a box of 6 magnums. 🤣
Grammaretto congratulations on accepting an offer on your house. Be positive now and get looking for the right place for you. I hope you find somewhere without all the maintenance problems and big enough for your treasured possessions and small enough for you to manage. Fingers crossed the right thing comes up soon.

Oh, well done Grammaretto.
Tho' mixed feelings, of course💐

I have accepted an offer on my house. It's a bit low and my DC say I should have waited which was their advice. But what for? There might be no more offers. More things may go wrong and I am not getting younger.
I would like to move out before Christmas. I don't want another winter here.

Oh dear. I wish they would support me and not criticise.

I had a tooth implant today which on top of a painful back and the results of the blood tests which show I am prediabetic so must get a talking to from the nurse. It's all making me feel very sorry for myself.

The sun has shone all day which is lovely. The French continued to work tirelessly in the garden. Cleaning paths, cutting back the jungle.
They also worked in the community café washing dishes and making coffee and friends!

One friend has congratlated me on the house sale so I have poured myself a G&T.
Tomorrow we will celebrate. 😯😉

I am reading about your bad back, Grammaretto and am so very sorry. Roll on Friday, when I hope you get some resolution. You must dread the late evenings and nights🌻.

You're positively tropical, Doodle.
Tail end Charlies here. We always seem to be a day or so behind for any significant hot spells, tho' it is ramping up today.

Here's hoping the exercise class is cancelled again on Friday 🤭, apparently the safety cut off point is anything above 27 degrees.

Mr.I had decided to repaint the basement floors with whizzy paint.
Said paint is taking an awfully long time to go off - regrettably, the big freezer, inter al., is unreachable.
Mostly I don't have to access the contents- only, that is, the box of 6 Magnums which remain tantalisingly out of reach.

Grammaretto it’s 34 here. Doors and windows open fans on. It’s so hot.
How are you managing with your back? Sorry to read it’s so painful. Are you having any treatment for it apart from the physio? Do heated pads help?
Your Frenchies are getting around. Nice they’re going to hell in the garden.
I’m not into sport so not watching football or tennis hope our “team /person wins ixion

I like the sound of your party Doodle but perhaps not that heat.
I put the heating on this evening as my cousin wasn't taking off her coat!

I'm firing the gas kiln today and it's taking ages to reach top temperature. Lucky there's a good match to watch at Wimbledon to keep me company.

Still feeling wretched with the backache. I tried a tens machine for an hour or so but really it's only the drugs that touch it. I have a physio appointment on Friday. Can't wait.

The Frenchies had a great day out at the Museum of Flight. They have another day planned for Saturday being tourists but otherwise they'll be working in the garden.
Night night Lobstars.