The Soop Kitchen

annsixty it should not be too bad because I have to empty the kitchen and the plasterer will hopefully cover the floor and work top surfaces etc.

I am hoping to have my other knee replaced in a few months so I will not be in a fit state to even think about these jobs. I have to find a painter to paint the entire kitchen after the plaster has dried and I only have around 3 weeks in total before my new kitchen doors and extra cupboards arrive. I will hopefully be pleased with the end result. Luckily I am a good organizer- it is physically getting people to my house for quotes and work which is the challenge.

Tizliz that is a beautiful photograph. It looks like an old master work of art.

wot Are you are a new Kitchener? I hope so. ^Us lot* enjoy good company. We always say - the more the merrier. I live in Kintyre...a peninsular on the west coast of Argyll. Campbeltown is our nearest large town. Glasgow, due to the fact that one has to travel up and around lochs between us and the big city, is a three and bit hour drive. We live in a wee hoos overlooking the sea towards the islands of Islay and Jura. We moved here about 13 years ago from Cornwall. THIS is home and we would never entertain the idea of moving elsewhere. The local villagers welcomed us warmly. At no time did we feel like strangers. We love everything Scottish.

Badenkate We use the same man for chimney cleaning, painting and decorating, path laying...he's reliable and personable and courteous.

Charleyg My oh my...a knee replacement coming up in a few months. It's a good thing that you are a good organizer. Hopefully all the odd jobs will have been dealt with long before the surgery.

annsixty Is the wet, windy weather getting you down? You sound a little out of sorts. (hugs)

Thanks soop it is life in general getting me down at the moment but come the spring...

soop I pinched the photo from this facebook page www.facebook.com/sutherlandphotos/?fref=ts, it promotes Sutherland and always has wonderful photos on, and even a couple of mine.

Strange that you are over 3 hours drive from Glasgow, as it takes us about that time (depending on the A9), yet you would have thought we were further away.

We have some friends who moved here from Cornwall and are now going back. I do understand, you move here and it is lovely then the children start having grandchildren and you miss them. When we moved here our grandchildren were starting to grow up but then our son got married and has a beautiful daughter (I was almost jealous of OH going to his mother's funeral because he got to spend two days with the grandchildren).

I don't think that the locals here are all welcoming of incomers (not just English, but Glaswegians as well), but then there are some English who don't deserve to be made welcome. We found joining clubs a good way to get to know locals, not muscling in on committees/councils etc.

I hate February for the weather and know how you feel annsixty. We have had snow this morning then horizontal sleet when we walked the dogs. Think I deserve a long lie in tomorrow, unfortunately by 8am I am so stiff I have to get up and walk around.

Sorry for long posting only spoken to OH and the washing machine engineer for the past two days (he fixed the machine OK).

annsixty I wish that you lived a little closer. I would invite you in for a blether. Sometimes, chatting with another, can help to get "stuff" into perspective.

Tizliz Sutherland is spectacularly scenic.
We could get to Glasgow in 25 minutes if we could afford to fly from Campbeltown. Swings and roundabouts. Kintyre is remote-ish. It is also beautiful and peaceful in all the right ways. When I was at school as a wee child in a village in Northants, our teacher taught us to sing 'Westering Home'...at that age, I knew little about Scotland. I did like the songs such as 'The Skye Boat Song' (and others). At the age of 74, I now live with a view of Islay - as in 'Westering Home'.

I must log off. I shall return in the morning. Stay snug.

to kitcheners who are feeling down. February can be a cruel month, although today has been sunny if chilly. You could believe Spring might be around the corner, but I am jst watching the weather forecast and see we have a bit of Winter still ahead of us!
DH has not been able to get out of bed today. He has a large incision hernia in his lower abdomen, just to the right of his tummy, as a result of emergency surgery for a tumour in his small bowel 8 1/2 years ago. Sadly I think the stitching up was bodged and nobody has felt the urge to take responsibility for remedial action since. It looks like he is 6 months pregnant but lopsided, and while he accepts the discomfort it has become acutely painful at times , walking hurts, he can't bend or lift , and today the pain has been coming in waves I have been trying to "teach" him breathing techniques for contractions (!) to manage the pain, but if it is no better tomorrow I will have him at the walk in centre in the morning. Attempts to get a doctor only achieved the offer of an appointment on Tuesday or Thursday of next week.
Not good enough is it?

No it isn't Alea you must get him some help and relief.
I feel so guilty for having a moan when I know what others have to deal with but I had a nasty virus 3 weeks ago and it drained me, making all the little niggles in life so much larger.
So I shall give myself a good talking to and a k**k up the b******e and pull myself together. My youngest GS is 5 tomorrow and if his Bi-polar mother is in a good mood I may get to see him!!

No, it absolutely is not good enough Alea, I hope he can get an emergency appointment asap, or perhaps a trip to A&E may get some results more quickly.

The decorator has finished (DH has to do some more painting in another room) but the carpet fitter can't come for weeks, so we are still in a pickle.

Those viruses are really nasty annsixty and can leave you feeling completely drained. DGD1 now has chickenpox, exactly two weeks after DGD2. I have started to feel itchy but I know I had it when I was a child!

However, the sun shone today.

Our last trip to A&E a few weeks ago was useless, they ran some blood tests, said his liver and kidney functions were fine and sent him home.

Jalima My 3 yr old DGS1 started with chicken pox two weeks ago and now his 9mth old brother has it, again about a two weeks gap. There is clearly a lot going around.
When we visited DGS1 he was under the weather and I told his mum I thought that the few then very pale pink spots on his face looked like the start of chicken pox. She said she didn't think so!
It needed an experienced granny.

Good morning! I hope you manage to get some help for DH,*Alea*. All these ongoing health problems are very wearing for both of you, aren't they!

We met some of DH'S friends from University yesterday and had a great time but, unfortunately, one couple couldn't come because the husband, who suffers from dementia, had had an awful episode where he ordered his wife to go back to her own house and leave him alone! I felt sad for them and everyone on GN who is coping with this - it's a dreadful illness, especially for the carers.

Having been told on Thursday to expect the worst as far as Mum is concerned, we called in yesterday to find her watching Pointless!

ann, I had an awful virus before Christmas and I felt c**p for about six weeks after the acute phase. I was dropping asleep nearly every time I sat down!

We have two dgc for the weekend so I might not make it back in here for a while. Have a good day everyone.

Alea I do hope that you were able to get medical help for your DH. I cannot understand why they do not pull their fingers out considering his on going problems and previous surgery.

You may have more chance of getting a doctor to do a home visit if you ring 111 because of his transplant surgery. Words fail me the way that he has been treated.

How is Grace? Is she behaving? Butter would not melt in her mouth judging by the photos.

Ann I do hope that you feel better- you have sufficient to contend with without your own health letting you down.

The plasterer (no.4) came at 8am and is beavering away. Wonders will never cease.

I remember singing Westering home in Singing Together on the radio when I was at primary school. Loved the song, even though I was singing it in the middle of the Forest of Dean with no sea in sight! Does anyone else remember Singing Together. I remember you voted for the most popular song each year, and I think Westering Home won one year.

Alea I agree with Jalima and Charleyg. As your husband is in acute pain I also think that a doctor's visit would be the best way to get some relief for him. A botched hernia repair could lead to a twisted bowel. If that happens, he'll be admitted to A&E in the blink of an eye. Best get some advice asap. How is Grace?

annsixty Our good friend has been very poorly for several weeks with a virus. She is normally the most active person on the planet. Many days she has taken herself off to bed. She is now deeply depressed. It's a fact that there is something vicious doing the rounds. Be kind to yourself. Get cosy and remember that us lot are rooting for you.
I really hope that you are able to share part of your grandson's birthday treat. You deserve it.

kitty Dementia is almost certainly the cruellest of conditions. It robs the individual of their essence. We've heard of a similar happening from the married partners of couples who are having to deal with such outrageous behaviour. Quite frankly...I would prefer to die, than go down that path.
Have lots of fun with your grandchildren. Their company is a blessing.

Nellie Grannies know such things...best to have to cope with such things as a child. I hope that he'll soon be on the mend and rushing around without a care in the world.

Charleyg...good for the plasterer. Treat him gently.

Badenkate Yes! 'Singing Together' was a special programme. 'Westering Home' is the song that I would like a group of close friends and family to sing, as my ashes are scattered on the beach...in view of Islay. Not just yet mind...

Thanks, Soop, for the welcome!

When we were Brownies, we frequently sang Westering Home. I seemed to be one of the few songs our Brown Owl knew! I was sure it was all about us: 'The folk o' the West, canty and couthy and kindly the best', although we weren't near to Islay - the Isle of Arran was a pretty good substitute.

We used to sing it in guides. We were in Lichfield. West of us would have been Wales

I now understand why it was that I imagined our kitchen was closer than it was to being full to capacity. Without my computer specs, the 800+ looked like 900+...daft as a brush...me! It had me worried for a wee while. Sigh.

Alea 999 and ambulance. Twisted or obstructed bowel strong possibility

It's what we do, wot. I hope that you enjoy being one of us lot

anno We like Arran. It is a short ferry boat journey from Claonaig in Kintyre.

We have friends in the village who were born on Islay. It is home to some famous whisky distilleries. Laphroaig being MacSporran's number one favourite.

Alea...Please do as Galen suggests. Your husband may well need immediate treatment.

Brownies..... Lend a Hand!! When I was 4, after having peritonitis, I was in agony and had a twisted bowl. PLEASE call 111 Alea. Not being nosy or bossy.

Sorry, meant bowel

wot I do hope that Alea is reading our messages. You are not being nosy or bossy. You care...

Thank you you soop and kitty for your reassurance that how I am feeling is not unusual after this virus. I am feeling very low and depressed and snapped at H yesterday when I know he can't help the things he does.