Soop's comfortable, cosy, friendly kitchen...

callgirl you and me both. I could easily do more that I am at present which is zilch.

I have taken an Aldi chicken Jalfrezi out of the freezer and being Scottish I will not be wasting that. I do not want it but I do realise that cereal for lunch is not quite enough. I should be around 50 kilos but no such luck- I have even put on weight but some will be the weight of my Genesis 2 prosthesis. I have looked on line but cannot find out the weight of it. The metal inside me will be rattling soon.

Please Soop, get a safety net under MacSporran! He`s too precious to get damaged.
I feel guilt as well, but well deserved here, I`m feeling guilty because of all the things that need doing and I`m not doing them.

Beautiful sunset, greyduster

Good news about your DiL, morethan2, but understand your own feelings and emotions are all over the place right now. You’ve had a lot to cope with so it’s natural that you will be feeling emotional. Take care.

Those low spots can hit us when we least expect them, Maybelle, so it is good that you can talk about it here.

Charleyg Eat!!! Properly...or else.

I am feeling just a little guilty. I've nothing to confess - except that the tennis is too good to miss. Silly, isn't it? My home is clean and tidy and the laundry is up to date. Why then do I feel that I should be doing something other than drinking tea and rooting for the tennis players that I support? I think that it's a throw-back from my convent upbringing. Guilt weighs heavily on my shoulders ^even when I'm doing no wrong.

The sun is shining and the sea is a dramatic shade of teal. I'm hopeful of taking a special sunset later.

I'm away to make a cup of tea for dear MacSporran. He's perched high on a ladder and insists that he's fit enough to use the hedge cutter. I'm not convinced. He thinks that he's a youthful 77 and I cannot persuade him otherwise.

My very best wishes to you all. Especially our Granspals who need some tender loving care. Be kind to yourselves.

I shall return tomorrow.

That`s great news Ann, so pleased for you and your husband.
Morethan, wonderful news for your daughter-in-law.
Panache, so sorry your hospital visit didn`t turn out as you hoped, I love reading your posts, you are so amazingly resilient and cheerful.
All this talk of tennis and football, I`m on sports avoidance tactics for the foreseeable future, can`t stand it!
I`ve just finished my ice cream cone off the van, I want another one now, but he`s long gone, fortunately, but sadly.

Great double news ann. Having a bit of respite to look forward to will be a big help. How did your DH settle in after he came back home? Sounds as though he gets around ok if he's out checking the washing.

panache sorry I missed you earlier post about your hospital visit. How you remain so cheerful with so much going on I don't know. Hope you are not in too much pain.
I'm going off to google tamari balls too.
morethan so pleased to hear the good news re your DIL. Must be a relief for you all.

Ann the good news is wonderful. The horizon looks much better now.
Charley. EAT!!
Panache I PMd you

May I be the first to wish you a Happy 81st ahead of your Birthday Ann?

It is the sort of repetitiveness of this action daily from H that gets so frustrating I am sure, and ladies such as yourselves must have the patience of a saint.
Those respite times cannot come around soon enough, and further more, you so desperately need them.
As for being in the Carer`s chair for the long haul, I too hope so but neither of us,or anyone else can answer that...........we just hope with all our hearts that these things happen.
It is an eye opener for those of us that are not in your "seat" indeed.

I cared and nursed my crippled 80 year old Foster Mother through a very debilitating terminal cancer for some 7 months and it was extremly hard going...........however I had the strong support of my DH, although he then worked a 10 day 6 days a week...........but the beauty was my Foster mother was of good spirits and she brought much joy into the home.It was just the jolly hard work at that time,a full 24 hour day.........whilst we were in our early 40`s...........a toyally differing ball game from what you are doing at twice our age.

Believe you me Ann I only wish I could help in the proper sense ...........as I know does just about every other one here in soop`s kitchen and in GN.
You take great care of yourself.

Thank you Panache for saying I am in for the long haul and I hope you are right.
3 weeks today I will be 81, I hope your optimism is well founded.
Just a little example of what life is like, when we got back from the hospital I made some phone calls while we had a coffee.
I then put the washer on. I didn't put it out on the line until just after 2pm.
As I walked in and sat down, himself struggled to his feet and went out of the room, he had gone to feel the washing on the line, he has been out twice since then and insists some of it is dry.
It cannot possibly be dry yet. He will persist until I fetch it in having been worn down,as he does this every day over everything.

Absolutely delighted to hear of both your good news this day ANN
Indeed just goes to show how great this treatment for Stroke patients... if they get treated within that magic hour.

Then to hear you can.....and have booked another week of respite care for your DH before the later end of august, really gives you that oomph you have so badly needed.
Knowing also he responded so well to his week of respite care, you can leave him with a happy mind.

Good fortune comes in threes.... and I hope that now you can see a plan formulating ahead, you really must use the future productively and by that I mean..... taking great care of your own self.
This is for the long haul, and your own care and well being is essential.... so that you can Stay the pace.

All of a sudden the world seems a nicer place............Good luck to you both.

Ann that really is good news-H will be none the wiser especially as he seemed to fit in there the last time. I agree with others, you must look after yourself says she who has not had a decent meal for a couple of days!

OK kitty, your DH can join me in front of the TV. Just now I'm with soop watching Jamie Murray in the doubles. There's a footie match on the other side which might be interesting. Difficult to watch both at once, though I suppose it's possible to keep an eye on one on the laptop and enjoy the other on the much bigger screen! I'm not that daft though.

also...Jamie Murray is playing in a doubles match at Queens.

Ann Now that's what I call GOOD NEWS. I'm feeling happy on your behalf.

A lovely lady in the village invited us in to see the photo album of her granddaughter's recent wedding. We've just returned home. The photos were delightful. We now know the history of the entire village. We now know every detail of what was for her, a magical occasion.
In other words, I'm running a tad late. Need to catch up and return to the kitchen later this afternoon.

Greyduster that's a beautiful sunset.
I laughed out loud when I read about that phone call. I have often thought that the musings that are exchanged between MacSporran and me (as we have early morning tea in bed) would make brilliant sit-com. Talk about trivialities...

Ann, brilliant news all round!!

We keep promising to skype the DGC but also keep 'forgetting'. I look far too much like my mother on the screen and I don't want to inflict that on anyone!!

DH is also in the wars anno. He potted a new shrub in a largish pot and then decided to carry it round to the front garden himself. I feel his memory is going because he tripped up a step that has been there since we moved here! He also forgot that I told him not to move it on his own. We have a strapping great son and 3 strapping great SiL available for that sort of thing. He hurt his (replaced) hip and is spending today doing his volunteer driving so I suspect he will be totally immobile when he gets home.
Can he join you watching TV and out of my way?

Annthat is excellent news.
Hopefully with another respite stay not too far off you will feel you can cope better, but don’t neglect your own welllbeing at the same time.
And take up all and any offers of help!

Good news twice over.
We have been to hospital for a review after my H's stroke.
The Dr was amazed and delighted how well he has recovered, they don't want to see him for six months.
It is a real testament to the power of the clot busting treatment of it given promptly.
H had it in an hour of having his stroke.
Second good news is that the care home have a cancellation and can take him for a week in 4 weeks time.
I have cancelled the August one and booked him in for the first week in September, this means I can keep the continuity going with visits every 5/6 weeks.
That way I hope to keep my sanity.

I don't know what happened to me yesterday but I seem to have been absent from the kitchen all day. Did no-one miss me? So I have been catching up on yesterday's news. morethan, I'm so pleased about your DiL's progress - what a relief for all of you. What a great MiL you are.
ann, I'm glad your DH is home and suffered no ill effects from his spell in the care home. It must have been like a little holiday for him and maybe when he has his second respite stay, you could think about a change of scene for yourself.
Panache, such bad luck for you to find that you are going to need further surgery. You face your troubles with such fortitude I am full of admiration at your good humour and concern for others.
I was stupid the other day and lifted quite a hefty office type swivel chair, tweaking a muscle in my side. I have to be careful how I move now or the neighbours will hear my shrieks and send for the paramedics! When will I learn that I am not 27? Don't think there's anything on today's calendar, so will lounge in front of the tennis - even footie! I have a list of films on Netflix and Amazon that I've 'always meant' to see. Maybe today's the day.

When I was still working, my line manager was keen on us all using Skype. I wasn't!
I worked from home much of the time and my dress code was slightly (!) more relaxed than those based in the offices.
Had to give in finally, but strange to say never did get round to fitting a webcam to my computer. . .
More positive day today.
DD's usually phone just as we sit down to watch a DVD. How they know beats me!

You paint a pretty picture Maw . Ours usually phone when I have just left the shower ...

I did`nt know you had actually had a close up of me Maw but that description does fit!!!!

There are some stupid folk on this earth but none more so than the treasurer at my local Macular society. She normally rings me if she is not turning up for a meeting and did so today. I found that news riveting because what could I do about it? I was not going, end of. There are no speakers today and although I was offered a lift, for me it was not worth the effort. At least she did waken me up for which I was grateful.

I was so tired yesterday I am afraid I only managed to eat 2 slices of toast with honey and that was just before bed at 9pm. I must do better today.

One FaceTime call came when I was dressing. Had, err, nothing on that would have been visible. . No, I didn’t answer it Would have traumatised the caller.

Exactly!