Soop's warmly welcoming kitchen

I don't leave the house or have visitors so never have anything chatty to say but am rather pleased that today ,St.Patricks Day, I was able to tell my son in law who isn't, the names, places of birth in .Ireland , birthdays and burial place in this country of his paternal grandparents He now has roots ?

Hope no one has a heavy fall of that smelly white stuff.

Jane, I am sorry you have this grief but your Mum is at peace x

I am so sorry to hear about your mum, Jane. As Ann says, even when you are expecting it, it is still a shock. When my mother was very ill we were living abroad and were given leave to come home in haste to be with her, but when we got there, to the bewilderment of all and sundry, she was sitting up in her hospital bed knitting a sweater for my son! We left after our leave was up, hoping she had turned a corner, but she died a week later. I consoled myself with the fact that she and my children had seen each other one last time. I hope you continue to find some solace in your music. Music always works for me.

Condolences Jane very brave of you to be able to sing under the circumstances.

One unhappy cat here- there was snow on the ground when I woke up, it is still snowing and I have to keep checking the heating is still working because it is so cold. I have kept Tara in - at times mother does know best.

Condolences from me too Jane. She would have approved of your singing for her, I'm sure.

Oh Jane my sincere condolences and total admiration for being able to go on and sing. “Cav” is a particular favourite, but even the thought of it is bringing tears to my eyes.
Losing our parents is the last stage of growing up and all those memories of our early years, happier (or harder) times
all the more precious. She will not have known you were not there but how good you made it for Mothering Sunday.

So sorry to hear your sad news Jane. The morning I was a bit later to pop in and see my DM in hospital proved to be too late and I couldn’t be with her as I wanted when she died. Your mention of Cavaleria Rusticana brought back lovely memories of times DM and I listened to this beautiful music, especially Easter Hymn.

I've heard that about cranberry juice for UTIs. Do give it a go, soop. Also, maybe ask your GP or practice nurse for some tips. Perhaps they've given you some already. Constant UTIs must be such a bummer! (sorry! and hug).

jane, my condolences on the death of your mum. My mum, who will be eighty-nine in June, seems to be fading. My youngest brother does a fantastic job looking after her, for which thank goodness as the rest of us live too far away to be popping in.

My condolences jane. Please don’t reproach yourself, or indeed the care home staff. You sang for her, a wonderful thing to do. Be kind to yourself now. As annie says no matter how long your Mum had been ill you will need to absorb and adjust to her loss.

Condolences Jane it it always a shock even when we have expected it for some time.
I wasn't with my mother, we were in the car on the way when the Care home rang to say she had died. I had spent most of the week there, including nights and they persuaded me to go home for a good night's sleep, saying they would ring with news of change, they did but it was too late.
I never reproached myself as I had done all I could for her in spite of a very difficult relationship.
I hope things go well for you in the next few days, making plans and adjusting to the news.

Good evening all and best wishes to those who are poorly. My dear mum died this afternoon. I went to see her on Mothering Sunday but she was asleep and unresponsive. She deteriorated but the care home didn’t make contact until just before she died. I did want to be with her and hold her hand when she went. I heard on my way to our annual choir concert, so I carried on and sang for her. She loved Cavelleria rusticana, which I got through surprisingly well, although I wobbled a bit on the spirituals. She is with dad at last.

Haven’t managed to sit down by the fire in the kitchen for ages, but have peeked in the window a couple of times....I’m too nosy to stay away for long! A bit fed up with grey days, interspersed with snow and the odd snatch of sunshine . Did manage one pleasant walk this week and even saw BLUE sky too.
Soop, congratulations on another beautiful baby in the family. Your paintings are stunning, I’ve no doubt at all that
they’ll be very popular and become precious family heirlooms in the years to come. Good wishes too for your lovely man with all his health concerns. x
I’ve got a bit confused with who has what sort of water problems, so I’ll cover all bases and wish all of you with leaky issues of whatever sort speedy, pain free and not too costly resolutions!
That’s a lovely photo Maw, I’m so glad to hear you had a special big birthday and were able to enjoy it despite a very understandable tinge of sadness.
It sounds as if you’ve settled into a sort of routine, Ann, albeit one that brings its own challenges. I hope you get the chance of some time to yourself now and again to recharge your batteries and fend off boredom too.
Looks like we have more snow headed our way, it should make for an interesting weekend as an old friend from the south is arriving tomorrow. l love her dearly but she can talk for Britain and has such strong opinions on everything under the sun, we usually “manage” a visit by diluting it with walks and visits to coffee shops along the way. If I don’t come back I’ll be lying in a darkened room somewhere!
Goodnight all, wishing you a refreshing nights sleep. x

Wobbly (though I always think of you as Pompa), welcome back!

I agree, so pleased that the leak is sorted Callgirl Re the other problem, you should visit your GP because there arte drugs that can help- it will not cure you but perhaps one trip each night would be a definite improvement.

soop I think that your latest water colour is your best to date. Others may disagree but I am rarely wrong.

I have had a lovely supper of spag bol and 2 or so glasses of wine so I am going to have an extra early shower and retire to bed to read my book.

UTI's are oh so horrible. Mine began in my 20's and by the time I was 40 it was almost constant. In the end kidney function was impacted and there was a lot of pain in that area. I was advised by a consultant to take antibiotics for 6 months. I dithered and in the end did. It has worked until now, no further incidences, she says with crossed fingers. Having said that now we know what we do about antibiotics I don't know if it would be recommended. I would certainly advise talking about protecting gut function if it were suggested to me now, yes it did leave an issue or two but overall I'm not sorry I went that route. It might be worth some research soop, with me I was so unwell the antibiotics were the lesser of the evils, it may not be the same for others.

Beautiful watercolour as usual soop, your family will treasure them. Not long until your get together, I can feel your excitement building.

Pleased your leak is fixed callgirl, water just spreads. Hope the outcome is positive n&g. I do wonder why hospital waiting rooms have such uncomfortable chairs, only on one for a very short time yesterday but was more than pleased to stand up.

Supper time apparently, I can hear a tummy rumbling in the distance. Take care everyone, stay warm.

Soop, thank you for your concern re my leak. The man from Homeserve arrived at 3pm, turned out the problem was just those ring thingies around the pipe which had come loose, so soon sorted.
Agus, I`ve drunk GALLONS of cranberry juice in my time, but still get the UTIs. Trimethoprim has just sorted me yet again, but it won`t be long till the next one. All IM want now is something to stop me having to get up 3 or 4 times a night, Nitrofurentoin did the trick for a couple of years, but then I seemed to become immune to it.

Just popping in quickly to tell you how I dealt with constant UTIs. soop

After many years of dealing with and suffering which also involved taking, to my mind, a worrying amount of antibiotics I tried taking a large glass of cranberry juice as soon as felt the usual symptoms coming on. This solution worked extremely well both for myself and DD2 with the result that neither of us had to resort to taking antibiotics.

This solution may not work for everyone but I would think it’s worth trying.

Sincerely hope this helps you too soop. I know only too well how awful UTIs make you feel.

* N&G* Hope you soon hear positive news as you wait for results.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201803/medium-453704-100-4496.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201803/medium-429472-100-4498.jpg

I have just this minute finished the 10th and final watercolour that I shall give to members of our family when we gather together next month. They all need mounting and backing properly. MacS will do the honours. I shall then line them up and ask for your considered opinions.

PS the last image is a bit blurred.

Away to do my own ironing. I'm a devil for punishment.

Stay warm. I shall return in the morn.

Ooooh! I almost forgot to mention that I have another UTI...how surprising is that! Dropped a sample of wee off at the surgery yesterday afternoon. Call at breakfast time to pick up another dose of antibio's.

Can any of you learned lot (*Galen*) tell me if it would be a good/bad idea to do as the GP suggested some time ago - take a low dose of antibio's daily. I shall await her comment with interest.

Nana I've missed your regular updates. I'm sorry to hear that you were detained for an entire morning with the very youthful consultant. MacS had much the same experience on Wednesday when he was duly prodded and poked and invited to lie back and think of Scotland throughout the investigation. He had a very pretty, youthful lady consultant. Not much older than our eldest granddaughter. He didn't object.

callgirl Is it a major or minor leak? If the former, tell AWH that you are about to float a boat and would be grateful obliged if the plumber could drop whatever he's doing and call by with all the gubbins he needs to do an urgent repair.

WELCOME back to the kitchen, dear Wobbly. Please don't go deserting us lot again. We are fond of you and your bits stories which tickle our juvenile sense of humour.

I agree, lovely to see you back again wobblybits you have hidden away for too long.

Oh dear N&G wait until you spend 5 hours waiting to be seen! You have definitely led a sheltered life. For an AM appointment- forget about the entire morning and if a PM appointment the same.

Morning all !

Sorry I just haven't been keeping up ! Sometimes I wonder where the hours in the day go ? Is that my age or?????

I love how excited you are for your family get together soop , the excitement is half the fun isn't it? We are off down south tomorrow for a family themed dinner - the theme is Irish and I have been practicing making chocolate puds laced with Baileys! oh that gelatine is tricky stuff. The first set had stringy bits in - yuk. Yesterdays effort could have bounced if dropped so I'm hoping for third time lucky today lol

Hello Wobblybits - what a nice surprise to see you back.

I spent the morning at the Norwich University Hospital yesterday ( which is enormous but very modern) to see a consultant ( aged 10 by the look of him ) about my poor kidney function. I thought I would pop in , and be out 10 mins later.

I am obviously a hospital novice because I ended up with an abdominal x ray, a battery of blood test , an ultrasound booked and the promise of a camera ..... and by that I don't mean some nice scenic shots with a Nikon !!! LOL

I feel fine , so I am unconvinced there's much wrong - lets hope that's how it stays !!

Anyway, I must go and get the day started but promise to keep up better !!

Can I join in with the dissatisfied people? Always something, isn’t there, either home or health related. Hope your waste pipe is sorted quickly callgirl (see if you can get on their priority list, should all happen with more urgency) and you feel more together wobbly. We’ve got a bit of aggro with processes at our development at the moment (well, I hope it’s just a bit), apparently I am supposed to know all the answers. . Also this evening I ache from head to foot, I swear there’s not a bit of me that’s comfortable. Both will pass, the first will sort and the second will settle, but when? If anyone has spare patience please send it urgently . Other than that all is good here

Happens to us all eventually Wobbly, unfortunately.
Corner, you could be right, Mia does seem to have the upper hand around here.
I`ve got a leaking waste pipe under me kitchen sink, have just been almost 20 minutes waiting to speak to someone at Anglian Water Homeserve. She says an engineer will ring me in the next 24 hours, I was hoping she`d say someone would be here first thing in the morning!