The Soop Kitchen

I've just come home after having a meal with my ds and dgd at his new house. I feel almost happy! My little dgd was running around, laughing and playing and having such a lovely time, that I think it's all going to be ok. She loves her daddy so much, but she was quite happy going back to her mummy's house too.
I know it's early days yet, but as ds and dil are both being civilised and friendly, I feel a lot happier than I did!

Fingers crossed! Just got my DD and dgds to worry about now! ?

Grace now has a "pointer" length tail wrapped in a bright red bandage! Very fetching, but she is sooooo unhappy. Lying groaning on her bed all evening, fortunately the Tramadol seems to be kicking in so I hope she has a peaceful night! I might have a peaceful night then too!
Why is life never dull? I could do with a dose of dull right now
I cannot quite get over how my split second of carelessness has resulted in so much pain and grief - not to mention expense ?

Before I shared my life with whippets I had cocker spaniels. They always, in those days, had docked tails and I was told that, as working dogs it was better to have a tail docked when it was very young than have to take the tail off when it was older, as injuries were very common. I know a lot of people disagree and thick it's just 'fashion' but it did seem a valid reason. Dogs tails are very prone to injury. My last whippet had her tail shut in a door and her front paw; the latter being due to her rushing into the house in the way that only sighthounds can 'rush'. Don't blame yourself. x

I am just back from a hectic day I drove over the (Tourism Advert alert) lovely Peak District, to visit and baby sit the DGS's.

Bright and sunny in South Yorkshire. About 6pm I set off to drive the 50 miles back to Cheshire. I was heading for my choir rehearsal with the new conductor.

The journey was OK until I came up out of Buxton on the A54 and hit the thick fog near the top of the hill slowing me down, then driving snow, temp on the tops was about 0/1deg C.
I know the road very well now but it was very dark and difficult to know exactly where I was.
It eventually became rainy as I got down onto the Cheshire plain. It had obviously been pouring down all day over the west side. All the roads had huge puddles which were hard to see in the dark. Yuk.

The good bit was that the choir's new conductor seems off to a good start and.... she will make the choir do proper warm ups!! At last!
I am still unwinding from the journey. Time for bed!

nelliemoser that sort of journey reduces me to a quivering wreck. It can't just be ageing as I have never coped with fog or driving snow/rain with equanimity but as I have got older, my night vision is less confident and oncoming headlights only have to be poorly adjusted to be dazzling.
Well done you!
And lona my heart went out to you when I read "I feel almost happy" we sometimes fear feeling happy in case it is tempting fate don't we? But these "golden moments" must be savoured and treasured

Just catching up and as I live 30 minuted from Buxton that filled me with foreboding, it was cold and wet here but no snow yet.
Alea good wishes as ever to you and your H ,I hope the NHS are good to you. I had my latest eye injection on Mon and with little improvement have been put onto monthly injections from 6 weekly, oh joy,and have been referred to Manchester Eye Hospital.
On a brighter note, how lovely to have a wedding to look forward to soop I am so ready for something like that.

I hate night driving too Alea, for exactly the same reasons.
Poor Grace, when we had lurchers they perfected looking woeful and pathetic; one of them ended up with a docked tail after breaking it three times, the other lost two toes and would sit pathetically holding her leg up whenever she thought sympathy might be forthcoming ? It certainly didn't stop her haring around like a loon.

Wow soop, how lovely to have a wedding to look forward to, I look forward to seeing your new outfit!

Oh loopylou!! Did you change your poor lurcher's name to "Pobble"? (Who has no toes) ?

Oh Alea poor Grace really is feeling very sorry for herself. It must be painful, she does not help herself but I do appreciate that she does not understand. Alea it never rains but it pours, first your DH and that is not resolved yet and now Grace.

soop a wedding to go to- that is great. Also at least it is not at the other end of the world and will be a pleasant holiday for yourself and MacSporran. The problem will be your family of Rory and the added extra!

Because of my Macular degeneration I had to give up night and dusk driving years ago and I only drive on roads familiar to me now.

I had a neck scan last week so that deep lump is benign which was good news.

We had to go to Caithness Hospital in Wick for OH's minor op and what a difference from all other hospitals. No-one waiting, no other patients having day ops. No dressing up in hospital gowns. We were in and out in 90 mins!

However I had to drive back and like lots of you I hate driving in the dark. Luckily the road was quiet (that A9 is a lovely road in Caithness if you are not in a hurry), and only took 1 1/2 hrs.

One thing down. BT's site say they are working on my fault today so hopefully that will be done today. MIL is still dying so can't plan anything.

Sun is shining here so better all round

Heading your way in August Tizliz for a family wedding and staying at Ackergill Tower. Planning on driving up from Aberdeen as flights are so expensive.

Looks very nice, Katek. Don't be disappointed at John O'groats, it is a dismal place. You should stop off at Dornoch on your way past, a few nice shops in a very nice village. It is a long drive from Aberdeen, could take 4 1/2 hours. I think that residents get subsidised flights.

Oh my word. Haven't you lot been busy.

I haven't needed to do the ironing today...postponed until tomorrow. We took a stroll through the village. My elbow-crutch stick was not in the boot when we arrived. I thought, ha, that doesn't matter, I shall hold MacS's hand and go without. Not a good idea! After a very short distance I needed to hang on to some railings. By the time we'd visited the shop and returned to the car, my back was giving me serious jip. Old age can be a buggeration.

Alea I feel so sorry for Grace (and you)...hopefully the painkillers will give her some relief. Bless her.

lona my heart also goes out to you. All we ask is that our loved ones thrive and when "stuff" happens to upset the status quo, it quite naturally disturbs us. Keep focusing on the positives. I'm sending you a warm and gentle hug.

annsixty and Charleygirl I have enormous respect for the way in which you are both coping with the on-going problems and treatment regarding your precious eyesight.

Nellie What a nightmare of a car journey! I also feel disorientated when night driving in adverse weather conditions. I hate the glare of oncoming traffic and, in fog or driving rain, everything seems surreal. I would rather not undertake such journeys.

Tizliz Such hospital appointments are rare. Good for you. I'm pleased that everything went according to plan.

It remains grey in bonnie Kintyre. I'm about to put on my arty crafty hat. May make a little progress with the portrait. Must admit that I'm a little lack-lustre at the moment. I would really prefer to lie down and have an afternoon nap. Why is it that the very thought makes me feel guilty? Daft as a brush, me.

The wedding isn't until June of next year. I am already feeling a buzz. I shall enjoy searching for the perfect outfit (but not just yet).

I second Tizliz'scomment re John O'Groats. Very disappointing. Dornoch, on the other hand, is attractive.

I am a big fan of 'JAIL' in Dornoch, however it is usually out of my budget. Just try not to go there when a cruise ship is in at Invergordon as all the passengers seem to head for there.

Wedding reception is at the Norseman in Wick but think we've booked out the whole place! That's why we (the olds) are going to Ackergill. I do want to visit John O Groats while we're up but will take heed of your warnings! DS/dil live in Nairn so we're planning to split the journey and stay overnight there. Flights for 2 were almost £400!!

Tizliz Snap! We only ever went into 'JAIL' once, and I, (being female) was bowled over. To my amazement MacSporran treated me to a lovely red jacket. It's awfully "posh" and his eyes watered a little when he paid the bill. I would love to revisit the town. It is "gracious"...

Katek An exciting event in store. Lovely for you. John O' Groats was slightly shabby when we visited a few years ago. As indeed was Land's End. A pity, as such notable locations deserve to be well presented. I don't suggest that there should be ice cream parlours and fair rides...far from it!

We've received a phone call from our neighbour's cousin. This is our lovely neighbour who has dementia and whose wife died of cancer. He's to be admitted to the care home in which his brother-in-law resides (in Campbeltown) for assessment. Oh dear! Old age can be so cruel. Yet, it may be the best place for him. He fell two days ago. MacSporran had a heck of a job getting back on his feet. As he was outside, he was smothered in mud. Had he not been found (thanks to the alarm he wears) he could have lain outside for several hours. It's all such a worry.

I'm away to pedal the exercise bike. Let joy be unconfined.

Back to catch up with our Kitchener's news and views after completing ironing duties tomorrow. x

Poor Joy. She has been waiting nine months for this confinement. How much longer can she hang on?

I do hope that when I end up in a care home, soop, macSporran, annodomini et al will breeze in each week to lead us in a rousing chorus of "Donal where's yer troosers!"
For those following Grace's sorry tale, here is the sorry tail! (The little red bandaged stumpy tail, like a Pointer's) Plus some natty bandaging on her back legs where she has given them a nibble and a lick too looking rather like football socks or else she could be pretending to be a horse bandaged ready for travel!

I've treated myself today to a secondhand folding wheelchair from eBay which I hope I can use for archery. My present chair which I use if I'm in a bad flare up has fixed arms which make it impractical for shooting. This one has no arms so I hope it'll be ok.
I've been using a folding kitchen chair until now. It's not very good as it's not upright enough. All I need now is for the boss to remember to bring my new bow with him!

Alea at least Grace looks rested but for how long? With luck she (and you) will have had a decent night's sleep. Do you leap over her to get up and down stairs?

Yes * charleygirl*! I also go very carefully and barefoot because I never know exactly she will finish up. Her duvet should be in the stairwell, but it "moves" up and down the hall, across the doorway into the kitchen, just about anywhere!
(Last night's Tramadol was magic, she slep through until 6!!)

It seems as though Grace allowed around 6 hours for the healing process to begin! I do hope that she stops worrying her poor little tail- she will have a stump soon the way she has been carrying on. So glad that something worked- at least you also got a night's sleep- well deserved.

Three cheers for Tramadol. Grace looks peaceful enough. she's been through a very distressing time. Us lot send all best wishes for a speedy recovery. Alea for goodness sake...don't trip over the duvet. You are a VIP and Grace needs you.

Elegran keep us updated. How overdue is Joy?

Judthepud2 The portrait posted to (the wrong address) before Christmas was returned to sender "address unknown" I could hardly believe it when the postie handed it to me this morning. Ah well! Hey ho! and all that jazz. It will be on it's merry way to you tomorrow.

Snow on the Paps of Jura. Bitterly cold in Kintyre, but no snow so far.

Today, I heard that another lovely lady from the village, is to be transferred to the Campbeltown Care Home. She had a massive stroke in late November. Thankfully she's showing signs of an amazing recovery. Very soon we shall have three close pals from the village living in the same home.