SOOP's kindly Kitcheners

alea a moan from time to time is very cathartic, and will always reach sympathetic ears in this,the lovely Soop's kitchen . I have had a lovely morning, we have sold our ancient , dark and very brown dining room furniture and today took possession of the new stuff. I have had a lovely time putting stuff away in it and clearing out stray rubbish such as half burnt old birthday candles, and strange stuff that seems to lurk in the back of cupboards and drawers.
This afternoon I have been to see agood friend who is recovering from a gall bladder operation she is doing well and will be going home tomorrow.
soop love the photos.

Alea moan away...it helps to share whatever it is that troubles you.

I realise that compared to many of us I do not have a lot to moan about but have somehow got into "victim" mode (poor me!) so I am going to dislocate at least one hip by giving myself a giant boot up the jaxie and jolly well get on with things.
I am reminded of my dear Dad's dictum " KBO" (keep bu**ering on) .
If you catch me sounding sorry for myself please please remind me!!
Love the easel, soop, and a lot safer than a bike, sensible mcSporran!

This arrived in today's post. I am grateful.

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jollyg My father was born and bred in Northamptonshire. He was a character and never failed to make us smile.

janer It was indeed. We went through a series of setbacks until finally, our friend next door, offered us part of his garden as the plot on which we built our home. All very worth while.

The easel that I bought second-hand on eBay, has arrived. I'm thrilled. Not a lot of space what with the piano, computer, exercise bike and small glass table. Who cares.

That's quite a leap, from Cornwall to Scotland.

A trio of very characterful faces/personalities.

Where did Dad come from? looks like Attaturk/ Greko with the 'tash.

I am including a photo taken in the 90s of MacSporran and me together with my father. We lived in Cornwall at the time.

Dustyangel The very same thing has happened to me on two recent occasions. I had prepared to post my messages only to wait and wait and wait...and then see it disappear into the ether. Miffed! My language was most unseemly.
Our home has two bedrooms...one is used as the computer room/music room/art studio/exercise bike space. It is big enough for we two. Easy to clean and heat and the view is always a delight. The garden is my main concern. If we could afford someone to do the heavy stuff, I would be very happy. I do feel that MacSporran needs a helping hand as he tires easily.

janer I was thinking of your husband during the evening. If he enjoys the garden, he will benefit from being in the open air and feeling "useful" can do as much good as any pill.

We went out for the usual walk earlier today. The rain became heavy, so we returned home...and now the sun is shining. Funny old weather, do you agree?

Yes soop, he went to the Dr's today because the medication isn't working yet. It looks as if he won't be working again for a while, much as I love him I was really looking forward to my former routine. I shall have to get him to do even more gardening for me, he has been quite good this summer, doing things I can no longer manage.

Having just lost TWO long posts. miffed is definitely not an adequate word soop

I'm not going to do it all again but I do want to send Gagagran my condolences and

And to all those with difficulties and poorly relatives, especially husbands, and by the time I finish this it will be time for as well.

soop I love the picture of your house it is so beautifully proportioned. I just showed DH the photo and then the one of your view. He just said "wow!"
People seem to think that we live in an isolated place but we are only about two and a half kilometres from the town. We have no close neighbours but when DH was in hospital and I cut my leg our nearest, a young portuguese couple who recently moved into their renovated house, went out of their way to call and ask if anything was wrong as they had seen the ambulance lights. Our plan B is that depending how much help we would need, it is much cheaper to pay for it here and if we couldn't drive, taxi's are also cheaper. If one of us were on own and decided to go back to UK, we would hope to rent this house out so that we could rent near our daughters.

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I have completed my ironing duties. Thankful to be home and catching up with our Kitcheners.

Yesterday was sunny. Today it is grey and the rain started at lunchtime. Our close pal is being admitted in to a Glasgow hospital today. By this time tomorrow, he should have had a painful arthritic knee replaced.

janer Depression is an awful thing. I do know from first hand experience. All that you can do is continue to be supportive. Is your husband on medication? I hope so, because whatever is in the pills does make a positive difference...eventually. It can seem like a never ending slog for both the sufferer and the sufferer's companion. I felt so ill at one point (long time ago) I could barely bother to walk. However, I came through the black tunnel and I am so thankful for the support of the GP and MacSporran's unconditional love. for you and your husband.

number Yep! The very same beach. MacSporran has banned me from going there without him in attendance.

Charleygirl We never feel isolated. The village is under three miles away. We know almost all the folk who live in it. I was the gardener in the early years...MacSporran did all the carpentry, so he was far too busy. Fibromyalgia and Arthritis now prevent me from doing my share. It is over-stocked. Hard to believe that it was a bare and muddy building plot when we started to create it. During the time we lived in a caravan on site, I began creating the rockery. The peacock (who lived in the forest) was my helper. He used to sit on top of our car and over-see things.

Absolutely gorgeous soop but too isolated for me. Rory will have to survive with his virtual hugs and strokes.

The front garden appears to me to need a lot of upkeep but it is so attractive. I am no gardener- can do the labouring such as mowing a lawn but not at present using at least one crutch.

Soop, lovely photos, but if thats the same beach where you came a terrible cropper a while back, please tell MacSporran to take good care of himself.

They are wonderful photos, what a view. I feel calmer just looking at them. DBH is being a real pain in the butt today. I need some kind of meter than can tell me when he is being a pain just because he feels like it, or whether it's the depression. I wish I could invent one - I would call it the 'Crapometer'.

Every cloud...... alea. Hope DH gets the appointment he needs quickly.

should have been early summer.

jollyg The midges were a nuisance earl summer. They haven't been around for a wee while. You have a poetic turn of phrase.

Bellaonna I haven't visited Ardnamurchan. What a delightful name that is. Yes, the deer come to the garden fence. We've some lovely photographs of Mother deer with this year's fawn. Rory (our cat) was injured in a fracas, one night long ago. We believe that the otter may have disturbed him as he wandered by the burn. Or, it could have been a mink. Whatever, the vet's bill made our eyes water. About eleven years ago plus some, we were visiting the plot on which we built our home, and we saw the puma strolling along the ridge of the hillside behind the forest. We had no idea at the time that the Campbeltown newspaper was interested in sightings throughout Kintyre. The mobile library man urged me to report what we had seen. Apparently there had been several sightings. We've not caught a glimpse of anything like since that day.

Alea Good for you.

Thank you for your sympathy. I know worse things happen at sea and lunch at Brasserie Blanc has gone a little way towards restoring my equanimity.

Amazing pictures, soop. Can I come and stay? Virtually? Reminds me of our loch side holiday home (well not actually ours) on ardnamurchan. How peaceful it looks. You must see some interesting wildlife too. Have you got Pine Marten - I know they are nocturnal, but I was lucky to have one visit the garden. Hope you go on enjoying all that for many, many years. I envy you !
alea - hope it all feels a bit better today. I promise you I really do have the t shirt. And the feeling is well beyond anger at the time. I'm sure he will be rebooked quickly as happens when they make these cock-ups. Do let us know.

The whole thing is just too awful, to think that older and unwell people have to go through such a hard day and not even get any treatment at the end of it. I feel really angry on your behalves.

No midgies!

The scourge of the west coast, but perhaps you are immune.

Its the best place in the world to be, and the beautiful sunsets, the balmy air, west coast rot that caresses you to sleep, with a wee snifter.

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Alea Scream away! If your dear husband could not be admitted, as planned, why on earth did it take that long to discharge him? You must be knackered shattered. I feel like crying with exasperation on your behalf. If I could, I would pick you and armful of garden and I would also make you a and bake you a

I've been with ladies in the care home. We sang 'Westering Home' and 'The Skye Boat Song'...not necessarily the right words (or tune) but that didn't seem to matter.

MacSporran had taken a few photos on the beach opposite our home. I shall share them with you.

Large G&T and go steady with the T. I know how you feel. I really do.

The story so far:
DH went into hospital in London yesterday for various investigative procedures to try to get to the bottom of his iron loss/low haemoglobin etc so I was looking forward to a couple of days more or less to myself including our book club annual barbecue lunch today.
(Now read on)

Lovely quiet morning, lovely long lunch, too much to eat, lots to drink, lots of chat, home 4.30. I was just about to pot up a Darcey Bussell rose present from sis in law for our anniversary when DH rings to say massive cockup basically, no " slot" for his thing tomorrow, so being discharged, like NOW.
We agree to meet at Euston in the Mobility Assistance lounge, he will get a taxi from RFH. So I drop everything, drive to station get first fast train, by the time I get to Euston he is still awaiting discharge paperwork on the ward. So I get the trusty 168 to Hampstead Heath, having agreed we will meet in reception. Is he there? Huh!
Up to his ward on the 10th floor where he is at last ready to go. Back to book taxi, wait for same, taxi to Euston, arrange assistance to get to train which of course means not the first available train, and we have JUST GOT IN. (10 pm, nearly 5 hours later)
Profound apologies from doctors who promise to reschedule as a matter of urgency.
Permission to scream?