I'm home and officially what's called tipsy.  I can feel the prosecco taking hold and the strawberries are helping.  Every time I try to leave, Maureen fills my glass and we are now down to the last six standing, well sitting, my spare, Norman has brought a space heater over and Collette who i have never met before says I'm so posh but lush with it, she loves me, that's a definite Ok sent my way, please, please don't go she begs , but hubby needs feeding and I'm feeling slightly drunk.  I can see from my front room that people are dispersing I'm back in my jeans, having dressed up and think after The Voice, the kids I may nod off.  Xx

I'm sat here, it's a monsoon outside and I've texted Margaret to say I'll pick her up in my boat to go to the Otter and fish (appropriately named). We're having lunch on dishi rishi.  I rang Mary on Friday to see how Joe's endoscopy had gone, she's on her bike in the garage he says, I'll tell her when she gets off, she must have pedalled a long way as I'm still waiting!  Hubby had a bad day with phantom pain yesterday and has had a bad night so he has only just come downstairs, it makes him scream out in pain, it's awful to hear, I have to shut both doors so I can hear the TV!!  I know that sounds awful but after ten years I know I can't do anything  that would be helpful so I stay clear.  Stephanie loved the baby gro, apparently I have "taste" which is lovely to hear.  Lisa is back at Hawkshead and she posted a photo of last year in Greece, sunshine, pools, tans, a smiling Harry snuggled up, then this year, cagouls, hoods up, pouring rain and a po faced Harry, thanks 2020 she says.  So off to get dolled up for a couple of hours, take care, love Carol x 

Today's post is going to be about the effects of lockdown on my friends who despite being reasonably healthy 70 year olds are now suffering trauma and lack of care from being both locked down for months and their treatments being cancelled.  Let's start with Mary, friends for 47 years, she had not called me back since Friday so I call her, apparently Joe had not said to call me back, but she knew I had rung, so a little hurt at her attitude.  After a long conversation she's been out for lunch, the staff wore masks, plastic gloves and she and Joe were so happy at how the rules were being obeyed, the restaurants we've attended have also followed guidelines but did not wear gloves and masks, well they wouldn't go to those she says in a superior tone, they had visited Anthony, Joe's brother for tea, six foot apart, paper towels, hand sanitiser in the hall and so on, I am now so bored that I cut her short and ask if we will ever see each other again, we could meet outside and sit six foot apart she says, I refuse to do that as we can have coffee together indoors I say, she goes quiet, Joe's out three days a week playing golf she says, you could come then, I end the conversation, relay it to hubby and he shakes his head, it's all so sad he says, you've been friends for years.  Christine is next, she was awaiting eye surgery, it was cancelled, five months on her sight is so poor she has had to surrender her driving licence, sell her car and is now practically housebound unless Ron takes her out.  Jean rang me, kidney cancer diagnosis at Christmas, no operation until the end of March, three months, she is now underweight as she saw no one during lockdown, they just left her, she now has to have a tummy scan as it may have spread, she's 74 and always been thin but as they say, fit as a fjea, I fear she may be in dire straights due to lack of care.  Dorothy, 72 years old, early onset dementia diagnosed before lockdown, she has got  worse and although the zumba is restarting next week she will not be going as she can't cope with the routines, she won't remember them even though she knew them before.  Florence messaged me, she will go with me and is the one to ask me to call Dorothy, you're right she says, she won't cope.  Alida, her husband has copd, she is terrified of catching anything and has locked herself and Dennis away since March, she is depressed and fed up, they've run out of things to say she tells me, not seeing the grandchildren or friends, I don't know what to say to her, we've had to do the same but have never, never locked ourselves away, you can go out, a drive in the car, fish and chips on the seafront, the countryside is gorgeous and you don't need to be in contact with others if you choose not to.  I will never succumb to their way of thinking, scared, lonely, depressed and in a worse state than they were five months ago, how is that mantra helping, Stay safe, stay home, save the NHS, it certainly hasn't saved my friends.  See you soon, love Carol x 

Dear Carol and Billy,

Bree was complaining about the same last time I spoke to her, people are getting very short tempered with all the restrictions, and everything.  Taking out their frustration on anybody.  At least here it's not like that, everything is quiet, no problem parking and everyone is still nice, you even get a smile, mind you, you don't see the actual smile but most people's eye's smile.  We wear masks each time we leave the house but as you mentioned they won't totally prevent you catching anything, they only lesson the chance a little, but keeping your distance and of course hand washing, it helps.  Have to wonder though, here there are lots of medical staff catching it, they are working in wards treating people with it and they are wearing proper PPE, it's not helping them be fully protected.  One of the smaller hospitals in Melbourne has so many staff members with it, they've closed and transferred patients to other hospitals.
The baby shower sounded good, especially if you came home tipsy.  I hope Norman is feeling better now, it's hard when there is absolutely nothing you can do to make him feel more comfortable.
It really isn't fair at all, the effects the lockdown has had on people, especially older folks.  Poor Christine, that is terrible for her, and it probably won't change either even when her eye surgery finally gets done.  You hear of things like Jean has experienced, and it can't be good at all, to just be left when you have cancer.  
Numbers have dropped here in Colac, dropping in Melbourne too, but still around 20 deaths per day.  Our Victorian premier is saying we could still have restrictions in 12 months, if a vaccine isn't ready prior.  Hard to imagine it taking that long to get back to what was normal.

Billy, They will get your meds worked out so you are on the right dose and they all still work.  As Carol said sheepskins work really well.  Glad Bella is doing well.  Hope you and Bren are doing as well as you can.

Not much happening here, I had Eli Tuesday morning as Deana went to the flower market, then had him all day today, my usual.  He is starting to cut out his afternoon nap, he's done it a couple of times at daycare, they put him down for a nap but he just plays.  Deana said to see how he went, so he didn't end up having a nap today, but by 3.30, although still happy he was getting very clumsy and kept tripping over his own feet, so has a bruise on his forehead from one of his tumbles.  BUt he goes to be earlier when he doesn't have a nap.  Tomorrow morning I'll have him once he gets up and will get him ready for daycare, then the day is mine.  Might catch up a TV show I missed Tuesday.  Friday is Nick's birthday, so we are having another banquet from Fusion, which will be lovely as usual.  We haven't had one for a while.  Normally Deana and Nick would go there for their Birthdays and anniversary.  

Stay safe, stay well and take care.  Love to all.  Sue xx

Hi sue and Carol. 

Just a quick note. Been on new meds a week now voice hasn't changed yet or so bren says, so things are going well.

Don't know why people go to such extreme lengths because of this virus, I'm still doing weekly shop wearing mask of course. But when you see people with mask, visors gloves and wiping shopping trolley down, think it's bit over the top. 

Even seen some wiping car door handles. 

Hope you're keeping as well as can be know things bit chaos now and again. 

Love Billy xxx

P.s my to young ladies are fine and managing well both getting really bossy 

Dear Billy and Sue and anyone else left out there.  Up early for my blood test, apparently I have lovely veins and she could have syphoned off a bucket load, please don't I beg through my mask, I am very good at this nowadays as I used to pass out.  The doctor has just phoned me as I have a freckle the nurse was worried about, an appointment for 3.20 that's very quick, it's a good job I'm on this site or I may panic.  I'm off to my brother's garage tomorrow for my car and I'm meeting Sue then we're going into Richmond for coffee, apparently they have coffee shops open, there's a novelty.  I caught up on everyone's news and you both seem to be coping well, I suppose Sue as it's winter it's easier to stay home.  I can't believe how Eli is growing, can you remember when we first met?  Billy, keep an eye on that voice of yours and let's hope it's working, you deserve it, you are so strong and kind and help a lot of people on this forum, I'm afraid I'm not so patient anymore, I write replies then that's it, it's a waste of my time and good thoughts, or maybe that's how I feel in lockdown!!  So have to leave now.  See you tomorrow, love Carol x 

Just to update you, my freckle looks like a bunch of small grapes she tells me (handy to eat during lockdown) but it's just cells going mad and nothing to worry about.  A bit of good news. Xx

Dear Billy and Carol,

Billy, Glad to hear that Bren and Bella are doing fine, getting bossy only confirms it.  It's also good to hear your voice hasn't changed as yet.  Seems a lot can't be moderate, they seem to go to either one extreme or the other.

Carol,  Unlike you my veins aren't great, they always have trouble getting blood from me, often takes two attempts, just as well I don't really mind the needles.  That was really quick to get an appointment to check your freckle, but really good to hear it's nothing to worry about.  HAve a nice day in Richmond.  You mean to say you can actually go in and sit and enjoy a coffee?  That's certainly a novelty here at present.  I actually made myself a tumeric latte this evening, just for a change.  Coping well here, and and  you said with winter here I'm not minding keeping to the house.  Especially today, we had a storm here, it was quite wild for a while, we lost power for 4 hoursa   A few instances of trampolines getting carried quite a distance, and lots of trees down.  Over 1600 calls to the SES needing assistance or tarps for leaking roofs.  Deana was delivering some flowers and had to go a different route as there was a tree across the road.  None in town though as far as I know.  Deana's delivery was out of town.  Eli is now over 2 1/2 and I struggle to lift him now.  Tonight he was funny.  He didn't mind that we ate tea by candlelight, but he was most put out that we couldn't have the TV going, he likes to watch Peppa Pig when he gets home from daycare.    Yes, I still remember out first talk, you were so kind on one of my first posts.  I  rarely reply to any other posts anymore.  

Looking forward to a delicious tea tomorrow for Nick's birthday.

Take care, love to all Sue xx

Hi sue. 

Had blood tests  just over a week ago, got there with my blood form nurse had another one, she got two vials from one arm then blood stopped so other arm for two more vials, got a lovely bruise from first one nearly gone now. 

 On Monday another blood test, wed after another one, hope I've still got plenty left got another in three weeks then every month after that. 

When i was younger couldn't stand needles not bothered at all now, strange what you got usto. 

Love Billy xxx