Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen...

A very brief good morning visit before I leave for ironing duties.

It appears to be a Good News Day!
I'm chuffed for Galen and am wishing the very best for Fennel now that she's almost home.
callgirl1 when I first looked at your photo I thought that you were on top of a satellite dish. Talk about "close" to the dome...you were as good as in it.

Sorry that I'm short of time. When I return, I shall check that the kitchen remains open. The new one is ready and waiting and all systems go for when us lot move in. There's plenty of room for visitors.

I remember how sad I was when Noah’s long blonde curls finally got the chop. Not helped that Mum did it herself and eventually shaved his head!

Flynn is a picture-book toddler - a little treasure, Maw. That first haircut is such a big step - more painful for mum than for the child, I seem to remember.

What a cutie Flynn still is, and such a nice bouquet Maw.
Galen and Bella, have a lovely time, great that you didn`t have to cancel after all.
I`m posting a photo taken from our hotel room in London, just to show how close we were to the O2, couldn`t have been any nearer.

Delighted for you galen, todays a better day. .

Flynn is lovely maw. What a cutie.

Yeah fantastic news Galen ??? so pleased for you and Bella hope you both have a great time. Where are you off to this time?

Bella has decided she can bear my company again, so she’s coming on the Xmas cruise with me.
Bless her!

Aww, he’s just adorable mawb.

Some understandable pressure of various kinds about today, take care of yourselves, hugs all round.

What a lovely photo, Maw
Just a short update from me - I'm back "home", ie in England. Husband arrives PG on Monday.
After a few days with daughter in Berkshire we're having to rent for a while because the tenants won't move out of our bungalow in Southend.
Hoping to be online wherever we are.

Maw Flynn looks soooooooooooo grown up. He still has a winner of a cheeky smile.

I shall be away soon after breakfast tomorrow. First I need to do pal's ironing. Second I need to keep an appointment in audiology. Third we shall visit the care home. Fourth do a Tesco shop. I shall check that there is still plenty of room in our kitchen before I leave home. No way are you lot going to be wandering around with nowhere to go.

Bye for now.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201802/medium-706678-28cbb392-abd3-416b-af73-ba6a9a6bc594.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201802/medium-558069-7bc2f6c3-1949-490b-9ed4-5412c598e59d.jpeg

Well you did ask!
Just about to have his first haircut!
Not very short, I think his mummy is having a problem saying goodbye to his lovely blonde curls.

Exercise bike ready and waiting. Back with you in 25 minutes

Hello Marydoll. Yet another eye-wateringly high bill from the garage has been scrutinised. It's been in the dreaded pending tray for two weeks. We're going to have to pay for the last repair in two instalments. The pot holes in the roads are now beyond patching up. There is one road between us and Campbeltown. At this rate we'll be lucky to have a car to use.

Happy photo, N&G Those smiles are wonderful.

Maw Your flowers are lovely. I'm hoping to see a more recent photo of Flynn when you have one to share.

The weather is glorious. There is barely a ripple on the sea. Spring is on its way.

Ironing duty postponed until tomorrow. We've been with our pal with the poorly leg. The wound continues to weep profusely. No temp but the GP wishes to give her a second dose of antibio's.

I visited Facebook and have spent far too long looking at my eldest son's wonderful images of Florence. Scores of them!

ann You've lots of good advice on this post. I feel that at long last you are beginning to feel more confident, and that's a good thing. You have also realised that you are not well and able enough to look after your husband without a full care package. Remain focused on the best way forward. A few extra days in hospital may not be the ideal, but the outcome, once a care package is in place, will compensate big time.

kitty Bless you. I'm sending you a well deserved virtual hug.

callgirl1 Your recent treat sounds amazing. Never mind the cost of the food...you cannot put a price on the shared experience.

Galen You are normally a very upbeat and positive person. I'm sad that you are sad.

ann and maw, sorry you are both feeling a bit down (probably understatement!). As maw says, there will be brighter moments and things that bring you some happiness. for you both.
Galen letting go of your car will be a big change for you and possibly cancelling your cruise too is such a shame. Is it possible that you could contact one of the care agencies and see if they would have someone who would come with you to help out or as someone suggested ask a wider audience. I do hope you don't have to cancel you so look forward to your trips (would Mrs Gary be up for it?)
soop beautiful flowers and a lovely photo too. You could always bring your box of chocs into the kitchen. I could hide them all from you in an instant (my tummy has a large capacity)

I’d hate to give up my car Galen so I don’t think your being silly at all. It’s a shame about your cruise, I hope somthing turns up and you don’t have to cancel. I’m a bit better this morning and was able to take DiL for her procedure.( I’m sure it was her who gave me the lurgy in the first place) I had to leave the house at 7.20 and defrost the car. I haven’t had to do that since retirement and I’d forgotten what a chore that was. Hope things are improving for ann and her husband. All the best to the rest of you.

Good Morning to you all. Not been in for a while as have been a bit poorly, and now to add insult to injury, I have a cold, but that is small beer. So if I don’t acknowledge all previous posts, I hope I will be forgiven. I will just say how pleased I am that Ann’s DH is making some progress.
We had the Prince of Pandemonium from Sunday until yesterday, but he was, like N&G’s lovely Laura, No Trouble at All! We took a short cut through the railway station on Monday to get to the cinema, and he got very excited when he saw several members of Sheffield Wednesday’s first team in the concourse, on their way to catch a train down to London. I suggested that if he went and asked politely they would probably give him an autograph or two, especially as he has a season ticket, but when it came to doing the deed, he was paralysed with awe and backed out, bless him. Then he spent the whole afternoon beating himself up about being so silly and missing the chance. Hey ho! Last year, he wouldn’t have hesitated but the older he gets, the more reticent he is becoming. Par for the course, I suppose.
Hairdressers for me today, though I could do with staying home, but I look pretty scary (or more scary than usual) at the moment so need tidying up.
I will try and look in later.

And so will you maw your family will see to that.
I'm sad to say, my family, while we all love each other. take after their father in the caring and emotional side of life.
Harsh but very true.

Annsixty it sounds as if you too are suffering from the after effects of the adrenaline surge which has got you through the recent crisis.
I know I think what you mean about “life”being over, nothing to look forward to, no hope of relief or improvement BUT there is still pleasure to be gained from the small things, flowers in the garden (eventually) or the treat of lunch or coffee out with friends.
We must hang on to the small things when the wider issues are beyond our control. You MUST factor in the breaks you will need, being a martyr only affects your own well being. Do consider activities for your H organised by Alzheimer’s, if only to give you a break from each other.
Nothing I’ll make this go away but with luck and help and support you will find a way through it

So sorry you are low Maw it will come with the territory for some time yet, you have to try to get on with things and hope for better tomorrow. I am just sad today, this is life now, I feel it is over and can't raise one iota of enthusiasm for anything. The dishwasher want emptying, the ironing basket is full but I did rouse from my torpor to put an order in to Sainsbury's for delivery tomorrow, at least I won't go hungry. It did include a litre of gin. I can't quite get the idea of not drinking alone.
All you poorly people get better soon and get out and about while you can.

Bit low today (no details, I’ll live) but hugely cheered up by the arrival of a Bloom&Wild bouquet from DD2, SIL and little Flynn.
Good timing. Also chuffed that SIL and Flynn face timed me last night (DD is away and littlest one is missing his Mama)
So nice when the menfolk think of one !

Morning all !!

Sorry to hear you're feeling a bit down Kitty . I can empathise, I miss my Mum and I loved her but to be honest she was hard to love !! Especially in the later years and it does make me feel sad. Its hard to say but if I'm nothing like my Mum I'm doing well :-)

Glad H is improving Ann but you are right to not be rushed into anything. Is now a time to start making arrangements for help with him without his approval? Anything to make coping slightly easier?

I'm hoping to see the pictures this week Corner , I cant wait :-)

Not silly at all Galen , I cant imagine life without my car now we have moved. As you have a bit of time before your cruise , how about opening your generous offer up to the wider GN audience? It would give you time to get to know anyone interested before making a choice? It would be a shame to miss it.

I love that saying Maw 'cock a snook' ...what IS a snook I wonder?

Our temperamental heating went off yesterday bringing doom and gloom with it, yet came on randomly in the night !! We really don't want to splash out on a new boiler but I can see it looming.

Its a bit of a grey old day here and I'm not sure what we have planned but there's an ironing mountain with my name on it some time in the immediate future I'm sure !!

I'm missing the 'smalls' today so thought Id pop up a picture of the boys to cheer me up !!

I hope tomorrow looks better galen, your reaction is really understandable. Mr C and I have been talking about our fears for the future, the loss of the car was a big one, our family won’t be close by to help with transport. Having said that taxis are wondrous things and affordable without paying for a car, trains would take us further afield, his and her mobility scooters if we need them , even a private hire car and driver for a special occasion. We decided it would be a huge transition, we’ve both been driving forever, but there were ways around no car. I’m sure you will find a way, you’re determined and resourceful. Probably the car and your concern about the cruise coming together have squashed you a bit today. Can you wait a while before cancelling your cruise? Give it as much time as you can? Tomorrow is another day, I hope it looks brighter.

I know exactly how you feel, Galen, my car is due it's first service and DH has pointed it has only 900 miles on the clock.
I worry all the time about losing my independence and having to give up driving. I know that my conditions are progressive and that it is inevitable.
I do hope you find someone to come with you on your cruise. ?