SOOP's kindly Kitcheners

whitewave I find it easy to imagine our Galen being served with delicious non highly exotic alcoholic cocktails by a handsome young man. Woo hoo!

Pleased to hear you are still alive galen . jing had a grotty bug which also appears to have taken ages to recover from. Still boarding pass ahoy!!!!

Alea I also understand that you feel concerned for your sister's health. You would have liked more information regarding recent tests. That's natural. Has she always been reticent to talk about her health problems?

Galen darling girl, I'm happy to have you update us. The bug must have been evil. Ten pounds is a lot to lose. You will soon begin to feel more like your usual hearty self. The sooner you're board that classy boat, the better.

It is lovely to have you call into the kitchen, baubles I have missed you. It seems a very long time since we last met in Glasgow. What do you do on the one day you are working?

Alea I can understand why your sister's comments seemed heartless and have saddened you. You are right, pancreatic cancer is extremely serious and difficult to manage. You are fearful for your aunt and you need consoling. How strange that your sister signed herself off with "sincerely" that seems downright formal.

Hi all! I'm still around but don't feel up to posting much.
Work suddenly appears to be picking up for some reason, may be only a blip, but, watch this space.
I've had some sort of nasty bug which has knocked me back a bit.
I'm looking forward to my cruise at the end of the month. Perhaps some Cunard TLC will sort me out.
On the bright side I have lost about 10lbs.

No, saddens me about my sister, not my family,

You must think I am always moaning, but this is another thing to sadden me about my family.
My favourite aunt, well frankly my ONLY aunt in Scotland has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. I don't think there is any "good" cancer, but this is a nasty however you look at it. She is a wonderfully elegant and spritely 87 but I fear this will not be for much longer. My uncle died in a nursing home in January aged 95, unable to stand, walk or communicate after major strokes, so she will at least be spared that.
However, my point is that I emailed my sister who lives abroad to pass on the sad news and also to ask how she had fared in recent blood tests and heart scans. This reply (with names edited out) saddened me. You could a more personal letter from your bank manager!
DH says I should not be surprised, but I was just disappointed at such an impersonal message.

Dear ***I spoke to ** the day before we left for * (holiday) and she didn’t sound well at all. It has been a tough year for her. Pancreatic cancer is becoming more common though it could be the greater awareness of the disease.Cure however is still uncommon.
Blood test to check blood flow.Diagnosis, who knows. Sincerely, *

Ah well.

Hello soop and all the kitcheners. I'm on my break at work and am feeling a wee bit guilty that I never quite manage to keep up with the goings on.

Please do have some of my lemon drizzle, you'd be saving me from myself

Rushing off now, can't be skiving, I only work one day a week.

anno When I was a very young child I was taken to Castle Station in Northampton. This must have been in the mid 1940s. My father was coming home. I clearly remember running along a platform with steam hissing from the huge, oily engine. He picked me up and carried me on his shoulders. Some of the buildings nearby were bomb damaged.

anno I would have enjoyed a visit to the Engine Museum. The last time we went anywhere like was in Glasgow...the Transport Museum...very contemporary...situated on the Clyde. It is beautifully "kitted out" with some olde-worlde settings. I particularly liked the trams. A good pal of ours who lives in Devon, works as a volunteer with restoration of a beautiful, old steam engine.

Hello Charleygirl did you say cake? I wouldn't say no. The ladies at the care home had freshly baked scones with a piece of fruit with their morning tea. My mouth watered. The scones looked delicious. The food always looks appetising.
Margaret kept telling me that she hadn't had breakfast. Two carers assured her that she had. We had a long discussion about the matter. Margaret added..."Oh dear, I must have forgotten." As I was leaving she said that she was looking forward to lunch because "I haven't had breakfast. Dear of her.

I do find standing far more trying than walking, however, we weren't just listening but actually watching the machines. The smell of machine oil takes me right back to my childhood. My uncle worked in a small factory making machine tools and when he came home he always smelt of oil. Strangely, I like it! A would be welcome as long as it's tea as coffee doesn't like me. Calorie free cake is just what I need.

anno sit down, put your feet up and enjoy a cup of coffee and a piece of cake. Two hours on your feet is a long time, especially if you were also standing still listening to a description of something.

I've spent the morning at the Anson Engine Museum only about half a mile from my house, but I've always 'meant' to visit it and never have in 15 years. I do love engines, even though I only have a very sketchy notion of how they work. I specially like the old steam engines but here they also have a range of diesel and gas operated engines. And the whole extensive establishment is run entirely by an army of volunteers who have lovingly restored and now maintain all these wonderful reminders of our industrial heritage. The whole tour took two hours and my feet are complaining!

A very good afternoon to my lovely Kitcheners...am home again having visited the ladies in the care home. Chrissy (who is in her early nineties) told me that "a good attitude" keeps her smiling. Bless her.

Gaga Thank you for putting me right. I always get mixed up when it comes to a few composers of the "golden oldies"

Alea I agree with you. Birthdays do revive memories of those dear people who no longer share our lives.

Birthdays of those no longer with us always awaken memories, don't they? Happy ones too I hope. My dad would have been 102, (died in 2001,) but that seems no time ago!

Morning everyone! A lovely sunny August morning and my dear late Dad's 107th birthday. He's been gone 14 years but I still think of him on his birthday.

Sorry I didn't answer your question about the song "The way you look tonight" soop - it was actually by Jerome Kern and I agree is a lovely song.

Hope your five ladies are in good form and pleased to see you. It must be nice for them to look forward to your visits.

The weather has improved as the day progressed. We have a lovely blue sky and there is a shimmer on the sea.

Tomorrow morning, I shall be visiting the Care Home five...all ladies. I shall pop into our kitchen early afternoon.

Farewell for now.

Charleygirl That is a mean thing to do.

soop I tried offering the rug to a local charity hospice who take furniture and electrical items but they did not take rugs. A pity, because I would have preferred a charity to make money from it.

I do get cross when I give something in good faith via Freecycle to discover that somebody tries to sell the item.

Charleygirl Lovely to have you back again. Thank you for updating us lot. The story of the rug made me chuckle. It sounds very like a comedy sketch. I can imagine a lady boarding a bus, and a queue of passengers assisting by heaving the rug along the gangway as the driver throws up his hands in dismay. As for the fellow who asked "how dirty..." What a hoot. An organisation very like Freecycle has taken away a couple of perfectly good items of furniture from us. Recycling makes sound sense.

Hi all, I have been lurking in the background, unable to access GN for many reasons. It has taken me weeks to do so but I appear to be "home" again in the kitchen and fancy a lovely piece of cake and a stroke of Rory while I am eating it.

I am still in POP and will know this Wednesday if my pinned and plated ankle was also affected. I think that I may be in a POP for at least another 2 weeks.

I managed to get rid of a very large rug which was a trip hazard in this room. The girl who wanted it was coming by bus x2 and intended to take this 115" x 80" on the buses! In the end she sent a mini cab driver- he thought that I had ordered the cab- the girl did not explain he had come to pick up a large rug. He kindly moved 2 heavy chairs and heaved it with difficulty outside and into his car. The girl did email me later to say that the rug is perfect for her needs so it has gone to a good home.

I did say on line when I advertised it with Freecycle that it needed a clean. Some fellow emailed me asking me how dirty it was! I thought that the rug needed a clean, the girl who took it did not so how can one measure dirt?

I'm also hoping that our Charleygirl is managing well and continues to have the support she needs until she's fully recovered.

jollyg Thank you for sharing a heart warming story. I hope that Susie finds a new and caring owner.

Alea The Photobook cannot fail to please your half brother. What a brilliant idea of yours. I imagine that it will be treasured for all the right reasons. You are bound to feel nervous. I'm sure that once you have introduced yourselves the conversation will flow effortlessly. PLEASE update us.

We haven't heard anything from Charleygirl recently. I hope she is alright and coping with her broken foot.