soop's kindly kitcheners and pampered pets...

Thank you cornergran I can hardly believe I am feeling so awful,with "just" a cold.
What my mother used to term 'just a little baby cold' can flatten an adult. Stay warm, plenty of fluids (not ) and get well soon.

My joints are still playing up about a month after the flu (I could not have cared less about a £50 note) and am hoping it will go soon.

What is it with young men and chilli soop? DS loves anything chillified (grows his own chillis too).

cornergran you sound very organised with your food preparation. I have no idea what we are going to eat this evening - and it's 5.28!
There is some home-made bolognaise sauce in the freezer, that may be just the ticket.

Everyone, stay warm, it is really miserable out there and you all need to get well again. I thought HM looked a bit pale when she went to church too, even after a long rest and tlc.

Galen welcome back - hope you feel better soon.

galen I don't like dentists (they understand it's not personal!) but needs must .

I am just back from the clinic seeing the consultant about my AMD. The year has started so well as I have been discharged!!!
I have been seeing him for 19 months and had monthly injections for 12 months, but the PDT I had in Manchester has made a huge difference and unless I notice any problems myself I do not need to be seen again. It is such a relief but I do feel for those of you who cannot be treated.

Well done annsixty

Please think of me tomorrow afternoon, dear kitcheners, when I have a gastroscopy to try and find out why I have been having agonising stomach pains after eating, for the past 2 months.

I am so worn out with it that I am actually looking forward to it so there can be a diagnosis and hopefully treatment. My GP thinks it may be an ulcer.

We certainly will Gagagran I hope you get some answers and some effective treatment.

ann delighted to hear they no longer want to see you again. Please remember if the symptoms return, drop everything and run for treatment.

I am going to the AMD clinic also on Thursday- I also hope to be discharged as zilch can be done.

Gaga it sounds awfully like an ulcer- I agree, good to have a diagnosis and then treatment can start. I am amazed that you are having investigations so soon.

Can it get much worse? Dishwasher seems to have died and it was FULL.

Mine did that in November Daphne I had to unload it and wash everything but it wasn't full of water thank goodness. I have replaced it with a smeg which was on offer and I am very pleased with it.

Good luck, Gaga. I hope that whatever they find can be speedily dealt with. You can't go on having these pains.
I've had three gastroscopies which haven't found anything worse than a relatively small hiatus hernia.

hot toddies for all you poorly folk, get well soon.
Ann how lovely that you've had some good news about your eyes, you need them working well with all you have to do.
Hope your procedure goes well gagagran , I had a cystoscopy at the end of last year and was pleasantly surprised both the ease of the procedure and the lovely staff. Different procedure I know, but I hope you have a similar experience.
As for potty training and children using bibs etc, I agree that things just ain't what they used to be!! But then I'm old fashioned, seems I'm not alone....on gransnet at any rate!

Good news indeed ann, I'm pleased for you. Fingers crossed for you gaga, hope for an easily fixable diagnosis

I have a theory daphne that this bug comes with something that wrecks electrical objects. Since mine arrived the washing machine ceased to function and then remarkably fixed itself, the sound system died but recovered with telephone techie help. The latest was the blu ray player, the recommended fix from the manufacturer hasn't fixed it. It's the bug, I know it is! Seriously hope the dishwasher can be resurrected or easily replaced. You need one, can't manage dishes and the bug.

Here's wishing all poorly Kitcheners, and indeed anyone anywhere who has this bug, a swift recovery.

Well it's time I went to bed. I have have been to our choir post christmas meal and had a lovely time.
After dashing around with the vacuum cleaner and heeling in a new bare rooted rose plant the garden, I continued with my 2nd Christmas jigsaw puzzle, a 1000 piece "old master" scene puzzle.

I am going to take my paracetamol for my back and a wee glass of damson gin. It worked wonders last night I did not wake until 8:30.

Good morning all !

Welcome back Galen I'm sorry to see you bought more than souvenirs back !Get well soon.

Ann what fabulous news . That deserves a new handbag

Daphne Click the door shut on your full , dirty dishwasher..... what you can't see and all that ! I am tempted to move to paper plates ! The joy of clearing the table straight into the bin is hard to beat!

Thinking of you Gagagran hope all goes well.

I am feeling very mean this morning. We babysit once a fortnight on a Tuesday evening for our eldest 2 DGC whilst both their parents are at work. Its an easy job from 1630-2100.

But yesterday our DGD was diagnosed with tonsillitis again and is poorly. I can catch tonsillitis by simply looking at an infected person and it puts me in bed for 2 weeks and usually leaves me with a cough that lasts months. I have said that I cannot go and babysit ( Grampy may go on his own as he's feeling better) BUT he may not as he's not keen on babysitting -even as easy as this one is- on his own.

I know this will greatly inconvenience my daughter . I feel very selfish and mean and know I should just suck it up and go. My daughter will tell me I'm being silly I know but that's how I feel.

I may need cake before I feel better.

N&G you would be an absolute idiot to go especially as you know the end result. Persuade Grampy to go on his own so that he does not let your D down.

I think that the men in white coats are coming for me any time soon. I woke up around 3am I and the other folk in the house (there are none) had to go downstairs to watch a TV programme. I put on my slippers, went downstairs and wrapped a throw around me as I could not find one of two dressing gowns (both on hookS in my bedroom). I sat down and watched TV for a few minutes, wondering where the other folk had vanished to and where the special TV programme was. I then decided to return to bed and slept until the alarm woke me at 8am. At least I did not wander outside. I have not done that since childhood.

Ann I'm so pleased to hear that you've been discharged, you must be delighted and relieved
Gaga good luck this afternoon, I hope they can make a diagnosis and you can get some help.

Charley that's what happens when you overdo the housework!

Lona my cleaner is back from Romania and I am so glad to see her! I will have a spotless house in an hour or so. I have about 6 bags of clothes waiting for charity pick up. I have not rung them yet so that is next on the list. Thank goodness the house no longer looks as though I have been burgled or am moving imminently. I had no idea that I had so many wearable cardigans and they can all now be seen. I think in a couple of months I may have another look at my clothes and see if any more can go to a charity shop- I do not need to buy any more tops and cardigans for many years.

Gaga good luck for today.

I hope that everybody is set for the wintry weather about to descend on us.

Ann, I am pleased that you have been discharged too- probably not quite as pleased as you are though.

Galen, good to see you in the kitchen but please keep the cough to yourself, mine has just gone! I quite like Doctors especially our resident one!

Good luck Gaga

Nellie, I'm feeling very inadequate, I've had a 1000 piece jigsaw on the go for months. My excuse is that I have to keep hiding it under the sofa when DGC come.

N&G - I hope you can persuade DH to step up to the plate.

Daphne, hope the plumber has been and gone and you can ignore the plates in the dishwasher or soak them for ages so there is no effort involved in washing them and then you can drain them in the DW. Corner, 'stuff' getting bugs made me

I think you need a good long sit down Charley, obviously you have been working too hard.

I've finished sorting my desk and had to order a jumper and 2 pairs of jeans to make it all worth while - it won't matter will it?

Blown into the kitchen on a blustery gale. It's good to be here. A few germs being shared with some of the Care Home residents. I therefore keep the visit as brief as I dare. One lovely lady discovered that her catheter was caught on the seam of her trousers. She told me that it was so annoying she pulled the catheter out. Made my eyes water. Anyway, all's well and dandy and she's in good spirits.

Elegran Please remember that you have signed the official secrets act. I've a copy on standby.

annsixty Now that is the right way to begin the year. You must feel relieved and thankful that the treatment worked so well for you.

Gaga You are in my thoughts. The gastroscopy I had, brought to light a hiatus hernia. It's just as well that your pains are to be investigated without delay. If you have an ulcer, the sooner you start to take the medication, the better. Please update us.

granniequeenie The kindly individual who takes one's hand during any uncomfortable procedure, is a true VIP. I cannot thank such people enough.

Daphne Another buggeration! I have never owned a dishwasher. On the only occasion a friend asked me to stack hers, I felt very silly, as I didn't do it quite right...meaning she had to tiddle with the contents before starting the machine.

corner I really do believe that all modern electrical gizmos come with a built-in programme that is timed to test the patience of a saint.

NellieM Damson gin, hey. Save a tumbler wee glass for me. I'd love to taste it. It sounds delicious. Our neighbour (now in a care home) used to collect sloe berries from some secret place nearby. He added said berries to gin. It was pretty good stuff.
My friend loves doing the complicated 1000 piece jigsaws that come out different from the picture on the box.

NanaandGrampy PLEASE do not feel bad about not wanting to go down with tonsillitis. It would be totally insane to do so. Once the bugs have done their bit and b***** off elsewhere, you can make up for not being around. You are without doubt, the most accommodating of grandparents. I haven't any cake. I'm happy to share a Scottish-baked, buttery shortbread with you.

CharleyG Have you a raised temperature? Please take care of yourself.
MacSporran has ordered some real wood flooring for the bedroom. The rest of the house was done a while ago. The existing carpet, which now looks dull and tatty, will go. It's not a vast bedroom. In fact it's only just about roomy enough. Well, when all the furniture is out, (and I'm sleeping on the sofa) I shall follow your example. I intend having a massive clear-out of the wardrobes and drawers. It makes sense to be ruthless with stuff that I'm keeping because..."one of these days..." You know what I mean.

kitty Good for you. Two pairs of jeans and new jumper are well deserved.

soop The catheter reminds me that when a (male) friend was in a large ward in hospital when young, many years ago, a bloke with a catheter was walking down the centre aisle when he tripped over his own catheter line and pulled it out as he fell. He was not amused, but those safely in their beds had a few secret giggles under the blankets.

Elegran Ouch!

Thanks all , I have stood firm although I hate doing so and not gone to babysit.

Grampy has donned his martyrs mantle and gone off but as he is in my bad books I just don't care.

I am going to revel in 5 hours on my own, make myself a lovely M & S ready meal dinner, take charge of the remote and ignore his texts( which will surely come !!)

Sam thought he would say hello !!

Love the doggy N&G
I read your post elsewhere on Grampy and thought "How very dare he? "
This current malaise is quite depressing as it shows that no way can DH manage on his own, let alone look after me
He can't carry and gets breathless just going upstairs (not a steep staircase) he can't stand for any length of time, so cooking, rinsing a plate under the tap are similarly out of the question. He needs me to drive him to things ,today's History of Religions class which he enjoys was out of the question as that is 12 miles away, I just hope my head will cope with driving him to our local hospital for his weekly blood test tomorrow.
I suppose I am feeling like this because I am not well, but the sight of us old dears, me with " flu " and him in his dressing gown with 2 sticks must have been a pathetic one to Robert our very sweet Polish plumber.

However, I DONT DO PATHETIC I am a coper

Sorry, bit of a cri de coeur.

DaphneB That's correct. You ARE a coper. One of the finest. Wouldn't it be grand if we could wish away our aches and pains and niggles and buggerations. The only option is to cope (and that means letting off steam as often as is required.) Us lot are in this thing called whatever it is, together. We can moan and we can listen and really, I recon that for as long as we hang on in there...we're very lucky.

NanaandGrampy Sam is remarkably photogenic.
You really have made a wise decision to stay put. It would not be doing anyone any favours to go down with tonsillitis.

I'm away to feed the pussy cats. No ironing duty tomorrow. My friend wishes me to turn up on Thursday as she hasn't yet laundered all the garments she took away on holiday!

Just a quick post to thank you all for your good wishes which helped me survive the gastroscopy this afternoon! It was not as bad as I had feared and I had it without sedation.

The good news is that there is no sign of an ulcer or anything nasty but I do have gastritis. She has taken two samples to send away for analysis and has referred me for an ultrasound (hope they don't find I'm pregnant!) and to the clinic as the meds are not controlling it as they should. I am seeing my GP on Thursday so will seek her advice on that and about the eating problems.

It was very uplifting to read all your kind messages and I do thank you for them - it helped calm the nerves!