Georgette Heyer Fans discussion

Hi Everyone!

The previous thread was getting a bit long. I will leave it in the "Heyer in General" folder a bit longer before archiving it. If you haven't finished with a topic please continue your discussion here.

& good news for most of NZ - outside of Auckland we are moving down to Level 2 at midnight. Auckland will remain at Level 4 (our toughest level) for at least another week.

After a week of fear, I enjoyed Lockdown last time (although of course I missed my kids) This time, not so much. Some days I didn't even get dressed.

I did some preserving, made some ricotta cheese, started a jigsaw, but with Delta being so contagious a lot of time I didn't even want to go off my property for exercise.

I did get some good reading in (last time I read very little)

My husband on the other hand, has been quite productive (even though he watched a lot of the Olympics & Paralympics.) He has weed eaten our section, poisoned privet (it is a pest over here) & dug over the vegetable garden.

& good news - our son has had is first jab! Really pleased as he was reluctant.

Ah, a fresh, new thread!

The weather here has really cooled down since September started, and I am enjoying it! Still not going out much, but have found some lovely dance workout videos on youtube, and am getting my exercise and my groove on inside instead of out in the heat.

My jalapenos are still going well in my garden, but my sage has up and decided it was done. My asparagus is still youngish, and should thicken up a bit next year. I really do not have a green thumb!

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Hi Everyone!

The previous thread was getting a bit long. I will leave it in the "Heyer in General" folder a bit longer before archiving it. If you haven't finished with a topic please continue you..."

Congratulations on your son, yay! That must be a tremendous relief. I saw in several group threads on GR, many were struggling with reading, or anything involving concentration, you were not alone! But I can’t blame you second time around for thinking, “meh, why get dressed?” I’m more like that - the longer this drags on, with no end in sight, the harder it is to stay positive, keep chugging along like any kind of normal. And here, watching the news, Twitter, seeing the insane protests, whining at school board meetings, etc, and now this past holiday weekend, stadiums packed with maskless fans, I feel like this month will be painful for many, especially HCWs! Luckily, my husband and I can socially distance and mask up and he can work from home.

Critterbee❇ wrote: "Ah, a fresh, new thread!

The weather here has really cooled down since September started, and I am enjoying it! Still not going out much, but have found some lovely dance workout videos on youtube..."

You and my son, with your spicy pepper plants! He has an apartment nearby, but the last couple years has planted a veggie patch in our yard - his pepper patch is impressive! He dries and grinds some to make his own hot pepper powder - he likes to cook, too. He freezes some to have through the winter. He interned in DC during senior year in college, visited George Washington’s estate, and bought some rare hot pepper seeds in the gift shop and grew those last year. I grew some mini red bell peppers in pots on my patio, and one tomato plant - I’m the only one who likes them! Husband and son are Italian, but only like tomatoes in sauce, the Irish woman eats the tomatoes! ;)

We’re getting cooler here, finally- still in 80s, but nights should get into the 50s later this week - yay! Time to break out the slow cooker…

I started watching the Lucy Worsley documentary. She sets up George IV as the prince of fibs, beginning with his marriage to Mrs. Fitzherbert, then Caroline, then Prinny as military hero, Waterloo. The next section I believe is about Peterloo. I had to stop playback and do something else. I love Lucy because she always dresses up in costume and inserts herself into the action. Most of the information she's shared we know about already, especially thanks to An Infamous Army.

I found two things most especially interesting
1)George III became the villain of the story of American independence during the bicentennial. His reputation was remade to suit the patriotic narrative and he became the enemy of American liberty, the mad king who lost the American colonies. While they didn't specifically mention Hamilton, that stereotype plays out in the portrayal of the king who pops up to sing "You'll be back" and ends up mad.

2)contrary to what all the novels tell us, the British public had no idea what the Prince of Wales looked like outside of satirical prints. There are some doozies shown in this documentary, most of the prints I've seen but some I've never seen before.

Critterbee❇ wrote: "Ah, a fresh, new thread!

The weather here has really cooled down since September started, and I am enjoying it! Still not going out much, but have found some lovely dance workout videos on youtube..."

Dance workouts sound like a really good idea!

Marty is quite proud as his sage is doing quite well whereas the sage at the edible gardens around our town are small & tragic looking. I wish he hadn't dug out all the mizuna as that was a useful green.

Day One of Level 2 here - & it is different this time. While more places can open, there are a lot more restrictions.

I volunteer for two different organisations. One organisation is opening today - one shift only.

The other we are having a meeting. I know one woman would very much like to open, another dead against till we are Level 1. I'm somewhere in the middle. Meeting today - yay!

QNPoohBear wrote: "I started watching the Lucy Worsley documentary. She sets up George IV as the prince of fibs, beginning with his marriage to Mrs. Fitzherbert, then Caroline, then Prinny as military hero, Waterloo...."

I always enjoy and learn something from Lucy’s documentaries, she’s so entertaining! I was surprised about that, also, that the “Mad King George”image came about during the bicentennial.

Susan in NC wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "I started watching the Lucy Worsley documentary. She sets up George IV as the prince of fibs, beginning with his marriage to Mrs. Fitzherbert, then Caroline, then Prinny as milit..."

He had a reputation of being mad because he used to talk to his animals, sheep, kangaroos and the such like he collected, as well as his plants he had in his exotic collection. "Mad Farmer George".

I had a look on YouTube and it looks like there might be some of her BBC documentaries on there. After dinner tonight I intend having a look to see if they are really the docos or just clips.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Critterbee❇ wrote: "Ah, a fresh, new thread!

The weather here has really cooled down since September started, and I am enjoying it! Still not going out much, but have found some lovely dance worko..."

Good luck with the volunteering. I hope you all can agree on a compromise!

YouTube DID have most of Lucy Worsley's documentaries. I found some that haven't aired in the U.S. and spent a summer binge watching them all. I also found a few on Amazon Prime.

The next section of the documentary on the Regency period discusses (briefly) the Peterloo Massacre and repression of free speech. Then it moves on to Prinny vs. Caroline drama and how she actively turned to the liberal reformers for sympathy in their fight against a tyrannical king and Tory government.

Susan in NC wrote: "Good luck with the volunteering. I hope you all can agree on a compromise!"

well it was an interesting meeting. Our Lockdowns were so complete - one woman had so much anxiety she stayed in another room even though we were all masked.

We all came to the agreement that the amount of cleaning & sanitising would be too much for our volunteers & us! I can only think of one who serves on the counter who is under 60.

The other organisation I volunteer for is more of a public service. It has opened again but just for one shift per day. You don't get huge amounts of people & I'm hoping most clients will be by phone or email. I am doing a shift on the 23rd.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Good luck with the volunteering. I hope you all can agree on a compromise!"

well it was an interesting meeting. Our Lockdowns were so complete - one woman had so much anxiety s..."

Good luck! I can’t blame the first organization for being cautious, especially if many of the volunteers are older, there is a lot of contact, or a lot of upkeep (sanitizing, cleaning).

I ventured out for the first time in level 2.5 today. I dutifully wore my mask which with the warmer temperatures and winds we have blustering at present, I felt like I might suffocate Added to that was the insistence everywhere on sanitizing your hands (which I can't do due to eczema) it was a most unpleasant experience.
I think I'll become a stay at home, read only ebooks person. Not quite how I envisaged spending my retirement.

{{{Lesley}}}

So far no one here is policing the use of sanitiser.

Marty who is far more relaxed about things than I am, tried to get a haircut but the queues were too long. We are going to get takeaway kebabs to support a local business tonight.

Enjoy the kebabs! Yum.
The lines at our take always are longer than the likes of the haircut ones. Tells you something about personal grooming vs food fixations. 🤨

Fortunately I have a personal hairdresser whom I will see early next week. My hair has become so big!

My grandmother is having an off week. She went to bed at 7:30 PM last night and woke up at 3:30 AM and called my mom thinking it was morning! Fortunately my mom was asleep and didn't hear it but this has happened twice. We went over there today and the elderly people were outside listening to a singer play on a keyboard and sing old songs-none of which are in the wheelhouse of people that old. The songs were from my parents and my generations. "The Rainbow Connection" from The Muppet Movie and some Beatles covers. One lady did say she had seen the Beatles play live and even I was impressed by that although I do not like their music.

Then we went back to her room for a visit and she was very confused about where she was and what she was supposed to be doing. Her memories of her parents are still strong and her beloved husband. She knows me and if my mom mentions my siblings she knows them or pretends to. My cousins are a little murkier. They all live far away so can't visit that often but as the only surviving child, my mom felt it was most important to have her mother here rather than in a central location.

They were getting ready to serve supper at 4:30 when we left which explains why she went to bed at 7:30! Today my mom asked them to PLEASE PLEASE don't let her go to bed that early. She at least has a sense of humor and she felt very bad when my mom told her what she had done. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better day.

We might be in the cactus!

What was hoped to be happening today. Auckland moving to Level 3 (level 4 with takeaways & some construction work) The rest of the country - still Level 2 but allowed gatherings of up to 100 people outdoors. (currently 50)

This report is a bit more responsible than some. https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/heal...

We've had some of Marty's family insisting the outbreak is in our town. We are the nearest reasonable sized town to Kaiaua, since the family won't be able to go to the Auckland area for their shopping. (we have border controls)

A good chance the boundaries will shift.

I will get tested if any business in our town is listed as a place of interest today.

Stay safe down there! I know it’s hard to be patient, but this variant is insidious and virulent.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "We might be in the cactus."

I don't know what that means but it sounds bad. Stay outside and 6 feet away from large groups of people, keep wearing your masks too. The science basically says you can stay around inside for under 15 minutes and be OK especially if you wear a mask. That's weird that your lockdown means not buying ANYTHING. Here the big stores and pharmacies were still open and liquor stores/convenience stores allowed to stay open, plus there's always online shopping. My state did a good job early on but the new governor loosened restrictions too soon and people got tired of all the restrictions. We're still one of 5 states with an 80% vaccination rate. The last in the region I think and people are still getting sick. The new variant is here but they don't know how bad it is yet.

I went out in the community yesterday for a fall festival. The park was full of people and hardly anyone, except my family, we wearing masks. My niece and nephew took theirs off to eat and run around a bit. He's too young to be vaccinated so his mask had to go back on when they returned to the crowded area to listen to a concert. It was a gorgeous early fall day and I had a great time. It was fun to be out in the community again.

Don’t you love autumn? My husband and I often walk at a national park in town (Revolutionary War battleground site - forest, but with paved paths winding through it), and we’re just starting to see leaves changing. It’ll be awhile, here in NC, but I love when you start seeing slight color changes - it’s quite a show at “peak color”, but that’s still about a month away. I look forward to it every year! So glad you were able to get outside and enjoy a community festival!

Susan in NC wrote: "Don’t you love autumn?"

Right now I do but this afternoon I was feeling the allergens that come with it and there's more rain ahead. The leaves are juuussst starting to change here too. It's been so rainy, hot and humid all summer that the temperature drop felt sooo good. I bought Xmas gifts for my nephews and one for my sister and her new husband. I bought myself a homemade giant peanut butter cup that I later told my mom I would share and a cookie dough cupcake from a food truck I like. It was GREAT to hear live music again and I think the Philharmonic Orchestra was happy to have an audience and I'm sure their jobs back.

Plus I got to see my niece and nephew and hear about being back in school. HAPPY (7th grader), meh (2nd grader).

QNPoohBear wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Don’t you love autumn?"

Right now I do but this afternoon I was feeling the allergens that come with it and there's more rain ahead. The leaves are juuussst starting to change ..."

Sounds like you had a great time, and already bought Christmas gifts- I’m impressed! The food and the live music sound terrific, I think we’ve all missed a lot of things.

Yes, we’re feeling the fall allergies here too, and looking at a couple inches of rain over the next couple days - we need it, though, and it’s supposed to bring us cooler temperatures Thursday and Friday, so that will be great.

For some reason I can't find the Heyer books for sale thread. Just wanted people to know the Black Moth is on sale at Amazon UK.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B...

Susan in NC wrote: "Sounds like you had a great time, and already bought Christmas gifts- I’m impressed! The food and the live music sound terrific, I think we’ve all missed a lot of things.."

I did it now to save on shipping, support local artisans and most importantly-I have my unemployment and a little bit of government stimulus money. With no other income coming in, I couldn't guarantee I'd want to spend money on Christmas shopping. I bought the boys little Lego mini figure magnetic racers and my sister and her new husband some jalapeno ketchup from a business owned by a young man with autism, a cause they both support.

QNPoohBear wrote: "Susan in NC wrote: "Sounds like you had a great time, and already bought Christmas gifts- I’m impressed! The food and the live music sound terrific, I think we’ve all missed a lot of things.."

I d..."

Smart thinking!

I had to have a swab this morning as I had a doctor's appt on Wed & I thought that was the right thing to do. (I have a cough & a runny nose, same as every winter/spring) But the doctor I was meant to be seeing won't treat anyone with COVID symptoms. I've got to say, a doctor who won't treat sick people is a new one on me, but maybe she has a compromised immune system.

Results usually back quickly now, but I'm stuck at home until at least tomorrow!

AH I hope it comes back that you do not have it! You would know if you were exposed, wouldn't you?

Here, in the past 3 weeks, I have known seven people (through work) who have caught it, 5 were vaccinated, 2 were not. So far, everyone who was vaccinated is recovering / has recovered, and one of the people who was not is in hospital. I have not heard how the other person is, but have not seen them since hearing they were ill.

So far, AFAIK all the fully vaxed cases that have caught COVID over here haven't needed to be hospitalised. Also AFAIK no cases in our little town - which has been fairly compliant. Cases are going up here, especially since they have loosened some of the restrictions in Auckland. JMO, but I think Auckland needs to back to strict Level 3. This isn't something I want to feel - my son moved to Auckland just over a week ago (when most people are trying to leave!) & the girls are there. I miss them all like crazy but the Auckland outbreak isn't under control. A few more weeks of sacrifice are needed. Michael Baker (Epidemiologist & my favourite source of information, has said some recent decisions make no sense at all)

There was a truck driver in the Medical Centre car park (that is where the vax are done now) that Marty used to work with. This guy has a work exemption to cross the border. He says the police know him & just wave him through now. Huh!!!

Oh Carol, I hope you are feeling better now. It sounds weird your doctor won't see sick patients. Last year the practices separated sick patients from well patients and anyone with respiratory symptoms had to be seen in a tent with medical staff in full PPE. Cases are still on the rise here in my area and people have mostly stopped wearing masks which I think is asking for trouble. I wear mine whenever I set foot outside the house. Masks are required in public buildings and on public transportation but there were so many people on the bus the other evening, it made me nervous. I got off once we crested the huge hill and walked home (downhill) from there, stopping to run an errand along the way. I took my mask off once I reached the quiet neighborhood but not for long because of allergies. Yesterday I went on a walking tour and the tour guide, a former colleague of mine, wasn't wearing a mask and almost none of the people on the tour were either. I made sure I had my N-95 mask on the whole time. I am not taking any chances. This Delta variant is nasty and I don't want this virus in any way shape or form. Or the flu or the usual seasonal allergies.

QNPoohBear wrote: "Oh Carol, I hope you are feeling better now. It sounds weird your doctor won't see sick patients.."

Ha - she isn't my doctor - just from the same practice. My doctor only part time & fully booked this week. :)

Find out in about an hour what the latest restrictions (or lifting of) will be.

Been wondering how you are as I'd not seen you on the posts. I'm sure your test will be positive, but it is creeping down the island. We've had a couple of breaches in Wellington again last week.

I can understand the Police waiving him through when he's a regular and known to them. They just don't have enough staff to do the job they're being asked to do. They have such a high number of non compliances at the border (despite what you hear from the big wigs), and they still need to deal with all the other crimes that are going on - shootings, stabbings, fatal crashes, thefts etc., etc. They weren't staffed for the 'normal' work before having to take on this as well.

I wondered about your son when it got into the Waikato. My son said it is quite hazardous around where he works with most of the food places perpetually 'locations of interest', as well as the street violence around there. His employer has instructed staff when going out to get food they go in pairs, and when leaving to go home at night, they've hired security to escort them to their transport.

Hope your son is vaxed since he's moved to AK. Hope he, the girls and both you and Marty continue to keep well.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "I had to have a swab this morning as I had a doctor's appt on Wed & I thought that was the right thing to do. (I have a cough & a runny nose, same as every winter/spring) But the doctor I was meant..."

Good luck!

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "Oh Carol, I hope you are feeling better now. It sounds weird your doctor won't see sick patients.."

Ha - she isn't my doctor - just from the same practice. My doctor only part t..."


I hope they don't let big business rule them and open the borders any further, or relax the current restrictions. We currently have huge traffic delays up the west coast (Porirua to Whenua Tapu) for a tangi that is well over the 100 allowed. Hopefully none of them are from the Waikato, although they could be.

Our medical centre has a room for people who have symptoms. There's a separate entry well away from the main entrance, and a full PEP nurse & doctor make an initial exam there, then if needed can continue that and treatment in another room. Nobody gets refused, but it can be slow. That's the same practice they use if your needing to be tested too.

Lesley wrote: "Been wondering how you are as I'd not seen you on the posts. I'm sure your test will be positive, but it is creeping down the island. We've had a couple of breaches in Wellington again last week.
..."

I've been around but I was really stressed about my boy's move. He moved out of Hamilton the Sunday Hamilton went up to Level 3. I was worried he wouldn't be able to get into Auckland. We told him to come to us rather than go back to Hamilton if he couldn't get in. This is a move that long term will be good for his future, but short term will be tough on him. He is living with one of my sisters a long way from the girls - but he saw them yesterday. His girlfriend & his closest friends are all in Hamilton.

Lesley wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "Oh Carol, I hope you are feeling better now. It sounds weird your doctor won't see sick patients.."

Ha - she isn't my doctor - just from the same ..."

I think Northland, Auckland & Raglan & environs should be full Level 3. Maybe relax things a bit for Hamilton & the other Waikato areas that are at Level 3. Where I live is still Level 2 - same as Lesley.

Here in Ireland numbers seem to be going up again. Our county has one of the highest numbers this evening. Things are gone too lax. I couldn't count the number of people who passed me in the supermarket at the weekend while I was washing my hands. None of them used it. Are they brainless or what!!

Teresa wrote: "Here in Ireland numbers seem to be going up again. Our county has one of the highest numbers this evening. Things are gone too lax. I couldn't count the number of people who passed me in the superm..."

Just curious Teresa - by washing hands do you mean literally washing hands with soap & water or using sanitiser.

I have to say I don't sanitise every place I enter. I always do at our library as they have foot pumps & at the bulk bin place I patronise. Marty does the grocery shopping. I haven't been in our supermarket in weeks.

Always a bright side! :D

My husband still does most shopping, but I’ve gone a few times - we have alcohol hand cleaner and wipes at the grocery entrance, for hands and wiping 🛒 grocery cart handles.

I haven't used hand sanitiser since the first outbreak of COVID we experienced last year. I was very diligent about sanitising when I went out anywhere, and that wasn't very often, until the skin on my hands became burnt and bled. I thought using disposable wipes was double standards given we are not to use 'throw away' plastic bags for shopping.

I always use the hand sanitiser now and the wipes to sanitise the trolley handles in supermarkets.I’ve got used to it and figure it’s still worth doing. I am always amazed at the ones who just walk past.

I know, if not Covid, how about regular cold and flu season!

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Here in Ireland numbers seem to be going up again. Our county has one of the highest numbers this evening. Things are gone too lax. I couldn't count the number of people who passed m..."

Carol, we have both in some places. One of the shops I go to frequently, has a sink with a push button at knee height for the water. I generally use the sanitiser but if it smells awful and the sink option is there I use that :) Maybe I'm over cautious but I use it in and out of every place I go.

Teresa wrote: "Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "Teresa wrote: "Here in Ireland numbers seem to be going up again. Our county has one of the highest numbers this evening. Things are gone too lax. I couldn't count th..."

Very smart - you don’t know who touched what, after possibly touching their nose, eyes, or something else full of 🦠 germs!

And my husband is still deadly serious about it all. Would not be impressed by anyone not adhering to the rules. He's right though. It's still out there.

Well it isn't online yet, but our idiot mayor hasn't had the vaccine. Says she is waiting for nova vax which won't be in the country till next year.

All rubbish of course. She hasn't the slightest intention of having the vax. She freely admitted she was lax about using the COVID app before the latest outbreak.

I thought the leaders of our country were bad. That's disgraceful!! What kind of message does that send out! I despair of humanity at times.

I like hand washing so much better - hand sanitizer is so damaging to skin. I like no-touch sinks for hand washing!

Critterbee❇ wrote: "I like hand washing so much better - hand sanitizer is so damaging to skin. I like no-touch sinks for hand washing!"

Yes the sanitiser dried my hands out terribly. Now the last thing I do at night is moisturise them.

& on radio this morning Idiot Mayor doubled down on her comments. says she will still feel entitled to an ICU bed if she does get ill & refusing to say why she thinks it is worth waiting for Nova max.

Carol She's So Novel꧁꧂ wrote: "
All rubbish of course. She hasn't the slightest intention of having the vax. She freely admitted she was lax about using the COVID app before the latest outbreak."

wow! There are certain places that will gladly allow her to move in. Our governor got tough and even though people are complaining, protesting, etc. Most government and healthcare workers got their vaccine.

My grandmother got her booster today woohoo! I was about to go there and ask them what was up with that. I'm glad it didn't take too long. I hope they did flu at the same time or already.

The boosters are supposed to be starting here next week.