Today I've been.....

Cheers Ari

Well, notso you've persuaded me! Cheers!

Not only raising a glass to Strictly, but I've just found out that I'll be visiting Edinburgh in October, accompanying my daughter on a business trip. I'm so looking forward to that! Never been to Scotland and have heard wonderful things about Edinburgh.

anno and gracesmum Thank you. Yes, we have had to pay Premier Inn for not arriving in Carlisle on Thursday last. Will also be charged for return journey on Monday. No one to blame but we two silly old codgers! Mr soop playing the piano. I can keep a beady eye on him, as we're sharing the same room.

I hope that the birthday boy has a special celebration. Pleased to hear that Gracie is loved by all the family. There's no place nicer than home.

Notso enjoy your Saturday afternoon in the sun. The spritzer is a bonus.

Have been sitting in the sun but only with a coffee and no spritzer - but it sounds like a good plan!

Sounds like a plan, Notso.

Am I the only Gransnetter sat in the sunshine having a very early pre-Strictly glass of wine spritzer?

Oh what rotten timing - and after you had the bother with your hotel booking too! Fingers crossed for Mr Soop.
I have been shopping and prepping for a milestone birthday lunch for DH tomorrow - no clues as to the age, but the pension book might be going on the shelves along with the latest offerings from Amazon! 2 DD's and husbands can't be here - one pair are still on honeymoon and not back until Monday, while eldest and SIL are oop North for Great North Run - and the other grandparents have the little men to stay (Our turn next weekend when DD and SIL go to a wedding in Oxford.) I fear the little men might start wondering who their actual mummy and daddy are?
Will have 2 sisters in law, one nephew, SIL's parents and middle D however so Gracie can stay at home (no kennels)as they are all dog lovers!

Poor Mr Soop. I do hope he does what you tell him and that you get to Oakham as planned. Go on, soop, crack that whip!

Thanks, Bags, I'm in charge at the moment. During the doctor's 'manipulations', I lay down beside the patient and held his hand. Whenever he winced, I took almighty deep breaths. He's sitting with his feet up and has plenty of reading matter to keep him occupied. The doctor will be keeping an eye on him over the next few days. Providing J follows his advice, we may still be able to manage the Oakham trip. We've hotel bookings in Carlisle. If all goes well, J will have the hernia repaired in Oban as soon as we return home.

Look after him, soop! (I know you will). I hope he keeps fine for your family gathering.

Ana...the digger has been delivered to the wee orchard plot. Apart from it being used to excavate three deep holes [more like pits] someone needs to get into the pit and dig smaller holes to a certain depth. Mr soop forbidden to do such a thing. Our good friend has offered to dig on his behalf. Straight away, on learning that we had a problem, the village rallied. Offers of assistance from several folk. We're so lucky. I'm keeping a strict eye on mr soop's activities. He really was in some considerable discomfort until Doc came to his assistance. As you say...MEN!

Oh, soop, what a worry! I do hope it stays back in - no more heavy lifting for Mr soop, what was he thinking? Men, eh?

Doctor has been with mr soop for over an hour. Mr soop's double hernia repair [iguinial and a femoral] on his right side, repaired 2003, has ruptured. He has been doing a lot of heavy lifting. Doc has eased the protruberance back through the rupture. He is going to have an emergency repair if it pops out again and refuses to go back. Told that he must NOT lift/cough/sneeze. Mentioned to doc that we have a long-standing gathering organised in England. Mr soop will be driving. Providing the rupture doesn't give him any further trouble over the next few days, he has no objection to mr soop driving.

harri oh yes, and tonight too, and a friend coming round to sink a last bottle of wine with me. Am just plodding around doing things in my own time! Lovely.

I seem to have started a cystitis thread! I had it in my teens when my mum made me wear warm pants which probably allowed the bacteria to flourish. Nothing to do with sexual activity then. I was kept on a short rein in those days. It was then that I discovered pot cit and hated it, though there's no doubt it's effective in controlling symptoms.

I've been posting 2 packs of bacon and 2 packs of pikelets (crumpets to those not from Nottingham area) to France for DD's boyfriend's 21st birthday breakfast.....the cost of the food amounted to £3.50 and the postage was £12.02......nevermind - as long as he enjoys his breakfast!

Oh what bliss, an entire day

Just seen Theseus off in a big van with my olive tree, robina, various roses and lavenders (all in pots!) all the conservatory furniture etc etc. on the way to Devon. He says he is white van man for the day; dream on!

I now have three empty bedrooms (new beds on order) and empty patio and conservatory, and stuff all over the place. And here I sit, chatting to my friends.

"So here hath been dawning
Another blue day.
Think, wilt thou let it
Slip useless away?"

Probably, if I'm not careful!

I'll never forget getting cystitis for the first time when I was about 19 and being scared to go to the doctors because everyone was laughingly telling me that 'he'll know what you've been up to' . Thankfully I did go because I was even getting backache with it so it must have been bad.

Honeymoon cystitis is caused by irritation to the tissue but is often caused by gut bacteria and lack of enough fluids to flush the bladder. Anybody can get cystitis, celibate or not. Two years running I have had it on holiday and no man was getting near me in that heat

when - what a lovely picture you paint - I am very envious!

It seems very hard to get cystitis when you are celibate!

A wonderfully patient dog, when. Reminds me of my parents' lab who was just like a great big teddy bear with my kids!

when, love the picture of your dog joining in the kids' games! Lovely! Sounds as if the dog enjoys their visits as much as you do.

Just packed DH and DD off to a sports show in Dumbarton. DH is helping to run our archery club's stall and DD is going along to have a look around and, most importantly, because she gets a chance to meet Katherine Grainger, the Olympic rower, and Gordon Reid, the Paralympic tennis player. An opportunity not to be missed!