Soop's warmly welcoming kitchen

Agus Thank you for the tip. I have a portion of blueberries every day.

corner We haven't sat nav. We always miss a turn or two when undertaking a new journey. Will MacSporran ever stop to ask the way...NAH! What is it with men.

N&G I bet even the royal corgis nurtured the occasional flea. No worries. Sam will thank you for his haircut (once spring makes up its mind to arrive.)

I'm feeling very weary. Looking forward to sitting down with a brew and today's paper.

It's a glorious day in Kintyre. Sunny and a little milder than of late.

Rory's empty outside chalet has been taken over by a dormouse. Every so often it reaches the entrance, peers out and promptly retreats. A sweet wee creature.

Care home visit tomorrow. I like Fridays. It's coffee and cake day!

My thoughts are with every one of you who is under undue stress.

Showing off, but doesn’t somebody look as if butter wouldn’t melt in the proverbial.....?

Don’t believe it!

Good afternoon all !

Can I slink in here and sit in the corner.....hanging my head in shame !!

Sam went to the groomers today and he had fleas !!! No idea where from as he doesn't really socialise with other dogs and we have seen no cats since we moved here.

In my defence he has a tricky double coat , and even if you part the long coat there is a fluffy down undercoat so you never see his skin.

But of the shame !!!!! He is now flea free and everything that can be washed , has been washed but I may take some time to recover !!

I loved Guides Agus and even made it to being a Queens Guide ( I actually found the newspaper cutting when we were unpacking !) One of those organisations that is worth its weight in gold I think.

Is that cross stitch Anniebach ? I used to enjoy it but its too hard now my eyesight isn't what it once was. It sounds lovely .

Your day sounds lovely Corner and just what you needed.

Ann hope your day was a little more peaceful and a little less worrying .

I'm off to consider the error of my ways .... Sam is doubly insulted , first by fleas and secondly that he is now a very short haired dog !!

Your present sounds beautiful annie, both in the sentiment and the colour. Mr C is Welsh so the sentiment is familiar. Your daughter will love it I’m sure.

Never thought of planting a blueberry shrub in a large pot, agus, hope you won’t mind if I have a go. Have a Christmas voucher to spend . Love blueberries but some from the supermarket really don’t taste of anything at all.

Your porridge sounds delicious and well earned soop, hope your feet are still elevated.

You’re sounding brighter, galen, slowly does it though.

Well, thank goodness for a sat nav. Went off to meet with a friend this morning. We hadn’t been in the same place for about 30 years, distance moved the friendship into email. She is now close enough to visit so off I went. I still have no idea where I went or how I found her but I did and we had a wonderful natter enjoying delicious home made cake. I’ll be going back and I may know where I’ve been next time

Grandma detail this evening so I guess I should do something useful before I disappear again.

Take care everyone.

If you like blueberries as much as I do soop you might like to try as I did, planted a blueberry shrub in a large pot, very low maintenance and I enjoy a fair amount of berries.

Good to hear you are a little better Galen and the cough is easing. Fingers crossed the breathlessness becomes less troublesome. Take it easy, a day at a time etc. I know you know the drill

Hope you had an undisturbed night Ann

Annie I do like the sound of your present with CARIAD at the centre. Nothing beats a present, handmade with love.
We have a similar translation when saying MO CRIDHE. I often sign off emails to DD2in Australia with GAOL MO CRIDHE, you are in my heart.

The thought of this moment is what keeps me cheerful as I dash away with the smoothing iron. I'm home. I'm eating porridge sprinkled with blueberries, orange juice "with bits" and a coffee. Bliss!

AnnieB My late mother lived in Wales for part of the war. Cariad was one of a handful of words that she mastered.

Galen That's more like it. I miss you spirited ways. Take care.

Maw Don't you just hate spoilers?

Ann, x

Maw, not a comedy then ?

Galen, give yourself time to fully recover.

Smug hat on - have just finished younger daughters Christmas Present, Christmas 2017 ! It's in pinks, from dark wine to pastel pink, roses, blue birds but in pinks, hearts, and at the centre is CARIAD, means beloved one, darling, much loved, no definite translation . She now wants one with CROESO at centre , means welcome , to hang in front hall .

Galen pleased to hear that you are on the mend but if you have the lurgy many of us had you will think that you are better and then it hits you again. Sorry to be a Job's comforter.

Ann I do hope that you managed to get a decent night's sleep.

Think I’m a little better, thanks folks!
Lying in bed until the afternoon then slowly getting up. Still breathless. But cough seems better.
Ann, I agree with the others re uti

Glad you had a thrilling evening Maw. I've been to a very good amateur production of 'Handbagged', a play that imagines meetings between Maggie Thatcher and the Queen. Very funny and often profound. The younger woman sitting next to me commented that there was a lot of history in it. And I reflected that it was all in my adult lifetime! I have difficulty thinking of it as history!

Well that sounds like a cheerful evening maw

Went to The Duchess of Malfi tonight at The Swan theatre.
Spoiler alert - everybody dies

ann hope you manage to sleep tonight and that things are better in the morning.

Evening All from stressy corner. Just too much in the head, it needs emptying out.

That doctor sounds a keeper ann, I’m sorry not to be able to offer practical help and very relieved your son will be with you for a little while, no matter the reason. Wishing you a peaceful night.

That sounds like a tiring morning tomorrow, soop, hope,you can take it easy afterwards.

Flynn is delightful, maw, I often wish we could know what these little people are thinking. Of course I might regret knowing .

How you feeling galen? Hope you are being sensible and also feeling stronger.

Little sleep last night so I’m off for an early night. Take care everyone,

I just echo what everyone else has said Ann. Thinking of you.

Flynn is such a bright young man he will be taking it all in and enjoying every minute.

Made it back in one piece and had a safe journey thanks.

I had forgotten about the clean hanky and 2p G&G which was always checked on inspection. Love Jackson’s outfit and that hat is a showstopper.

How are you today Galen? Hopefully you had a good night’s sleep and feeling a little less breathless today.

Ann if only I could offer you more than virtual tea and sympathy. What an awful day for you both. I would like to bang together the heads of the suits who made the decision to close down geriatric hospitals and units leaving the most vulnerable in our society to get on with it themselves . I’m glad your DS is at yours tonight and this allows you to get some rest and a good nights sleep .

I can only imagine the look of wonderment on Flynn’s face Maw as he takes in all the new experiences he is having. Looking at the world afresh through their eyes is wonderful.

It's log off time for me. Tomorrow I shall be ironing for the entire morning. It's money we put aside for our treats. Not that our treats are extravagant. Coffee and a cake in the Royal once a week. No holiday (other than an occasional weekend to visit family) since we married almost thirty years ago. I feel blest. If we can remain happy and contented with what we share, we consider ourselves to be fortunate.

Bye for now. I shall be with you all again after duties performed.

Ann I've a feeling that the lovely young GP may be just the person you need right now. Also, having your son with you will be a much-needed bonus. Also - may I say a big thank you to the tumble drier - you wouldn't be able to cope with the extra laundry without it.
No need to thank us. We are all concerned for you. Rightly so. You cannot be expected to continue to function without real assistance. I'm in awe of your ability to soldier on.

Could he have a catheter short term Annsixty?
Also in our experience (and I suspect that of others in the Kitchen,) one UTI does not necessarily preclude another, sometimes it needs a longer course of a-b’s too.

ann it is difficult enough to cope with H normally but incontinence is a different issue. Has nobody, including your family, cottoned on that you are marginally over 29? You are going to be in a heap from sheer exhaustion.

I hope that your son will help you practically and that you will get a night's sleep. Hugs from Tara and myself.

Maw how old is young Flynn now?

A lovely young GP ( she looked about 20 to my ancient eyes) has visited. She checked him out, his BP was on the low side but everything else ok.
We think the fall and the 2 hours on the floor shocked him and she felt it would be unlikely to be a UTI for the second time in 2 weeks as he has never had one before.
A sample was not forthcoming as he is currently incontinent. We are operating a 24 hour "wait and see"
She will come again tomorrow if I need her or if the "weeing" gets more copious, with discomfort ab's will be prescribed over the phone.
He has slept since she came.
My S has moved in for a few days, as much for his sake as mine I will admit.
He is having stepson hassles. My new tumble dryer is working away , I need to wash everyday just now.
I am so thankful to you all for your support and kindness.

Ann Please keep us updated.

Do you think you need a hoist annsixty? Someone I know was not allowed home until they had a hoist fitted, then not allowed home until someone with training was available - but it was invaluable as it was impossible for his wife and a carer to lift him.

And yes, could be yet another UTI, perhaps the medication didn't get quite on top of the last one.
I hope your GP phones back soon and is helpful.

Maw