Soop's warmly welcoming kitchen

Take it slowly galen, you still sound wobbly. What happened with the water ingress? Hope it’s sortrd.

Ah the dreaded inability to use a washing basket, a well known phenomenon.

Sorry it’s been difficult, bound to be mixed emotions maw, so many trip wires. Be gentle with yourself. Wishing you the best day it can be tomorrow.

Good news about your friend soop, shame no time for the care home today, fingers will be crossed for macS on Wednesday and again for next week. I’ve no doubt a positive spirit is oh so helpful.

Enjoyed a very chatty lunch today, sadly no sun here, raining on and off. Take care everyone.

My aunt once had a cat called Djinn that looked like 'Sam the Skull'. He used to hide in an apple tree and land on you as you walked along the garden path.

Jane what a homecoming- is the inside of their house downstairs flooded do you know? At least your DD will not have the expense of unblocking it

Jane is Charlie the big bruiser who has been stalking Tara for over 2 years but has not worked out how to use a cat flap? He hates me because I used to squirt him with water and he has not forgotten it

Galen I do not think that you are fit to return to work this week- please stay at home- you see enough walking zombies in your like of work- do not become one even if temporarily.

Galen what is it about men and washing baskets??
Maw that cat looks like Charlie when he has decided he doesn’t like me - he is about to attack I think.
DD still has a garden flooded with sewage - the people are on holiday at the house where the blockage is ?

Maw there is Hattie! Please do not forget about that beautiful baby girl.

Know the feelingMaw
It will be 15 years for me next month, but that Peter shaped hole is still there.
( mind you, there are no dirty pants and socks on the floor next to the laundry basket!)

That is what we are here for Maw the sad and emotional times as well as the happy ones.
I hope tomorrow is a celebration of your birthday and not a sad day.
Wet and grey day here but as I don't get out at all it isn't a problem for me, how selfish am I ?

I found yesterday more than a bit emotional - Mothers Day so the train to London was full of happy looking families all of which reminded me that it takes two to make a baby and the Dad-shaped space in my heart and the house was hard to ignore. Perhaps best to be out, I was meeting DD1and SIL plus the children and DD3plus SIL for lunch. (DD2 , SIL and Flynn were at his mum’s because it is also her birthday and as she has early Alzheimer’s these occasions may not come round many more times.)
It was also DD1’s birthday so of course all the emotions of those happier days 43 years ago kept sneaking up on me when I was least prepared.
Dreading tomorrow now though, I am not bothered about being 70, a mere Spring chicken, but the emotions again.
Meeting two DDs in London for a “surprise” lunch and an exhibition, but the empty house will still be there when I get back, the friends will ring and I will be trying my best to be cheerful.
Failing miserably at the moment.
Sorry to let it all out here, but where else?

I’m still here. Much better, in fact, ok if sittingstill. It’s moving around that leaves me breathless.

Maw That's a marvellous card.

callgirl1 You deserve to be well and truly pampered. Your family treasure you. And so they should. Said hello to David this morning.

anno I first heard of Alexa when Galen would add a joke or two. At the time, I thought that she was a relative of Galens...just goes to show how old fashioned I am. So last century!
I shall photograph all the paintings once I finished with the final two.

corner Isn't it lovely to meet with a Granspal? Whenever I meet with Baggs we barely draw breath. Always a great treat.

We took our pal for her six week post op' check-up. All well. Had contemplated going on into Campbeltown to visit her husband in the care home. However, we were running short of time and would have arrived as the residents were being served with lunch. We've decided to do the usual Tuesday visit tomorrow.

MacSporran has the regular check up with the haematologist in Oban on Wednesday morning. Next week, he has to have a further scan to measure the growth of the aneurysm. In spirit, he's A1.

A beautiful day. Sea is like a mill pond. There is barely a whisper of a breeze.

What a great present anno Although I have heard of Alexa, I didn’t realise how useful it was, especially like the idea of communicating with others who have one. Enjoy the pestering and ignore one son cursing his brother giving you this wonderful gift

Sounds like a lovely cuddly morning for you and Tara Charley. Very sweet.

She is a softy

callgirl, when I unwrapped the Echo Dot yesterday morning I did have a few qualms about operating it, but once I had found the app on my Kindle Fire, it was plain sailing. I'm now on good terms with Alexa and can talk to any member of the family or friend who also has an Echo, without having to pay for the call. Meaning that I can pester either or both of my sons any time!

Oh that card is hilarious Maw. I obviously raised Poppy in the wrong area of Glasgow

Maw I just loved that card- Tara is far too "refaned* to act like that!

She was attempting to persuade me to get up around 5am but it was too early so she had to wait another 2 and a half hours. She spent most of it lying on my pillow with her body pressed against my head

I thought cat staff and those who have been cat staff might like this.
Just hope it is legible.

Quiet visit as you should all be sleeping. Had a much better day than I anticipated, funny old life really. Your gifts and that special card sound delightful callgirl, pleased your day was a special one.

Loved that card soop, humour is essential. I would suggest there is no competition between a washing machine and your paintings. About 47 years ago I also worked in Covent Garden, I think it was a very different area back then.

There was nothing about that encounter today that was of your making ann, other than being a thoroughly good person. Don’t dwell on it, your son will recover.

That sounds like the feline equivalent of sending children up chimneys charley: I’m sure beneath Tara's dignity.

I’ve been wondering about galen, hope she hasn’t been washed away.

Well, I should be asleep. Meeting a GN friend tomorrow, she won’t be impressed if I’m nodding off over lunch.

Sleep well everyone.

Love your card from your youngest Soop!
Ann, you`re doing great, and your son should have been as considerate and thoughtful as his ex-wife.
I`ve been out for my dinner today to Lincoln, courtesy of daughter 2, she also gave me a pretty peacock brooch. My eldest daughter had flowers and chocs delivered, daughter 3 gave me a scented candle and matching diffuser, and the 2 boys each bought me chocolates. 6 lovely cards, one of them a massive Grandma one, signed by 5 of my grandchildren, I feel so lucky.
Anno, my eldest daughter bought Amazon Echo Dot for one sister and one brother at Christmas, but I think it might be too technical for me to work out.

PS soop, I like your youngest son's card and have often had similar ones from one or other of mine. My interesting package that I swore not to open until today contained an Amazon Echo dot which Alexa inhabits and tells the most appalling jokes, accesses radio programmes and finds music on demand.

You really are on a roll with the painting. soop. I hope we'll be seeing all the finished works.
Ann, I believe Kitty could be right about incontinence pads being available through the NHS. I know of someone recovering from prostate surgery who needed them and I'm sure they were supplied. It's worth asking.
I do hope you will be able to get back some of your social life when DH can be left with a 'minder'.

Charleyg We seldom saw Rory drinking water from his bowl. He preferred puddles.
Had I happened across the street person and the kitten - I would have remained upset for the duration.

When youngest son worked very close to Covent Garden, he met the man with the cat named Bob. Bob has earned his weight in gold. A heart lifting tale with a happy conclusion for the rescuer and the rescued.

I've yet to empty the washing machine. All day spent enjoying painting portraits. I've two on the go right now. A wolf and a falcon. Both pleasing.

Marvellous sunny day. The oyster catchers are patrolling the beach. They lay their eggs between pebbles. There is usually a gull lurking nearby. Eggs and chicks are vulnerable resulting in a few noisy skirmishes between the parent birds and the lurker.

Goodnight to you all. We're taking our pal for her six week check up tomorrow morning. All being well, she should be able to resume driving very soon.

I shall call in once we return.

Jane I sincerely hope that she does not have to pay for the work to be carried out.

Kitty - we are not old! Just not very young ?.
Daughter awaiting Thames Water - back garden under sewage and toilet perilously close to overflowing ....

Our cats don't seem to drink much water - at least at home.

Ann that was not of your making- your S should have given some thought to you.

kitty I think that sod's law is at work here- Tara has not been near water indoors since we last saw the vet. It was possibly Thursday she last had a decent drink or two.

Vet's fees are so expensive but Tara could help- many years ago I saw a beggar in Oxford Street with a kitten who was very unwell and he was raking in the money. The minor problem is if I sat on the pavement I would need a -fork lift truck- lot of help to get me up again. Tara would be unimpressed as she hates cars and I doubt if she has seen a bus.