Soop's friendly and welcoming kitchen.

Annsixty
I entirely understand your reluctance to make “the” final decision. Would a family meeting be any use?
The other thought is that events may overtake you and take the decision out of your hands, hoping of course that is not occasioned by a breakdown in your own health.
Sorry to be a prophet of doom - deep breaths and enjoy the respite of the next two weeks. A few nights’ undisturbed sleep may help you see things more clearly.
In the meantime - cake and the sweeter the better. xx

The sun has broken through the cloud. It is a lovely view that I have looking across the sea to islands of the inner Hebrides.

Thank you for kind messages. We have no further update on our friend's condition. We have been told that he will not survive. It's an awful thing to think that we'll never again pass him on his way to the village school where he teaches. The three children have grown into fine, young adults. When we first came to the village, the youngest member of the family, a son, would ride on his father's shoulders between their home and the village shop. The young man is studying at uni'. He has done so much for the community. Always there to support the fun raising events for the refurbishment of the village hall. A truly good and decent person.

I shall log off until I return from tomorrow's care home visit.

I am thinking of all those of you who need some tender loving care. Some days seem tougher to get through than others.

soop, Im so sorry to hear about your friend. As ann said, that is such a young age.

Ann, I too can understand your reluctance to make the final decision but you need to think of yourself - you are not getting any younger. It's a sobering fact! And maybe making the decision at your own pace is better than having it forced on you later. You have done your best for a long time. Yet more

Galen a friend of DD2 plays the harp and makes a fortune playing at weddings and funerals! A new career beckons and the evening attire and pearls would come in handy.

anno, I've just had my BP medication altered and am awaiting developments!!

My friend and I went out for lunch and, unfortunately, the owners have opened a lovely gift shop on the premises. Turned out to be an expensive lunch!!

Sorry if I've missed anyone - has anyone seen Charley?

Isn’t there a song entitled “I took my harp to a party and nobody asked me to play”? I’m sure that would not be the case with you, Galen! A splendid instrument in the right hands!

Soop I was sorry to hear about your friend. It is no age, and to be felled by such a freak accident. His family must be devastated.

Ann no words, but you are never far from my thoughts.?

kitty gift shops are like spiders webs luring you in - and then there is no escaping putting your hand in your pocket! My favourite garden centre has just opened one to my dismay. I thought it was the one place I could get away with just plants, but now there are all sorts of other unplantrelated goodies......

GS has just gone home, fed and watered as requested, and I have to say that, for once, he ran out of steam before we did!! We had a good session at the swimming pool; he played football with DH after lunch and we played boule in the garden before tea, then he said could we please not do anything else as he was tired out ! That’s usually our line!

I have ordered a quiet evening, so I will wish you all calm, peace and quiet thoughts.

My goodness, what a day it has been for sad news.

soop ... always so very sad when a life is cut short. Why does it always seem to happen to the nicest people. The family must be devastated.
I hope your mind found a quiet place, at the easel.

ann ....such difficult decisions to make. As others have said, the respite will hopefully allow you to fully rest and face those choices with a clearer mind.
The only input I would offer is slightly cautionary. You may remember that I mentioned family members to you? a husband caring for his wife. I wont go into details, but after her final fall at home, which saw him being taken to hospital, neither returned home again, and both spent their remaining time in care.
However hard the decision, it must take your own welfare into account.

maw ...do we think GN is responsible for raising your blood pressure? One or two threads certainly raise mine!
Seriously ... take good care of yourself.

To everyone else who has had "buggerations" , and in honour of ann's request for appropriate sustenance, I offer a rather spectacular frasier cake made with the last of the strawberries.
It goes well with wine!

Good cake Chaos! (She said with her mouth full!)
Just going home from GS1’s 5th Birthday tea, full of jelly and ice cream and tyrannosaurus cake! ( Which was not good cake!) A very excited little boy ?

No Panache today and has Charleygirl posted in the last few days.
Peace here my H is in bed.

I am so sad to hear about your friend, soop. He had so much to live for. It's a cruel end to a life that should have been long and happy with his family.
I have that BP monitor on at the moment. The cuff is now unbearably itchy and there's nothing I can do about that.
Ann, it seems that it's not if but when you have to make THE decision. I can't give better advice than Kitty has. Do consider what she says - and think about yourself for a change.

Soop I`m so very sorry to hear about your friend, he`s only just reached the prime of his life. It`s a sobering thought that we never know what`s around the corner, maybe it`s best that way?
Ann, do start to think about yourself, and YOUR needs, for a change. You work so hard, for so little reward, time to contemplate making things easier for YOU.
Anno, I had a BP monitor on a few weeks ago, but after 10 hours I`m afraid I took it off, the cuff was so tight it was cutting into my arm, the flesh was bulging out alarmingly and it actually hurt, a lot. They say at the surgery that I`m going to have to have it on again, but I`m resisting, stupid I know.
I hope that Panache and CharleyG are alright.

soop so sorry to hear of your dear friend. I shall reflect and keep you in my thoughts as I walk through the park today.

Just realised I forgot the bread yesterday so here is some quickly made soda bread from first thing today. It is still warm so dig in.

Just taking myself on a walk and looking forward tothe treat of having time to browse in the library and take books out. Several weeks "on base" so relishing turning proper pages instead of the Kindle used for travelling. There is nothing like a proper book. I may sit in the park on the way back and then of course there is the ice cream van .........

So far, I can play three blind mice with one hand.
Don’t think there’d be a lot of demand for that at weddings and funerals?

My sil has just asked me if I want a load of egg decorating stuff that belonged to her deceased mother. As it’s much better than the cheap stuff I’ve got I’ve said yes!. So that’s something else for me to do in retirement.

I’ll get there somehow. Only another 6/12 to go!

galen, just a thought.... I know you’ve enjoyed cruises to various far flung places. Could you create a record of your travels, a photo book or the like? I’ve done a couple and keep meaning to do some more. x

Galen did you see the thread I started about Retirement?
It has shown that not everybody segues happily into that part of their life, something I have been all too aware of. Your thoughts and contributions might be helpful?

Ann ?. And in reply to your comment, I know panache is expecting a second visit from her prospective buyer today, so hopefully that’s what is occupying her for now.

Galen, my sister, also a retired doctor, took up the harp about 9 years ago and has had a lot of satisfaction from it. She went to a class which then formed a group which plays occasionally in concerts, mainly for friends and relatives, I think. I wouldn't call her a virtuoso (should that be virtuosa?) but she can play recognisable melodies and read music competently. Go for it, Galen.

Galen perhaps if you added some embellishments to three blind mice, say in the style of one of the great composers, you might get away with it anywhere! Just don’t stop half way and say “Can you tell what it is yet?” in an Australian accent!
I am in a monumental grump today, so probably should have stayed out of the kitchen. Even a couple of hours in the garden cannot dispel it. I changed all my plans for the weekend because the plumber said he was starting the downstairs cloakroom tommorrow. Now it appears that he can’t and it might be b****y weeks before he can! I have an urge to tell him to s*d off, and to find someone else, but DH, who is utterly in the doghouse for a multitude of other reasons, will not countenance it. I’m fed up of waiting for people to do things, tell me things and generally stop treating me as if I am invisible!! There. Now I will go away and come back when (if) I am calmer!

I may go and sit in the park with Izabella!

Just popping in to let you know that I've just spoken to Charleygirl. She's absolutely fine but her computer isn't - she's hoping to get someone in to look at it soon.

She's asked me to thank you all for your concern.

Where's the cake?

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Afternoon all !

I have yet to catch up but thought I'd stick my head in and say hello. The little boys have been returned home, although it was touch and go whether young Cooper would make it !!

I wont regale you with the details but I seriously despair of that young man. When I asked him why he had done the dastardly deed he simply shrugged! At that point his little feet left the floor as I whisked him into his bedroom and into bed !!!!

On the plus side we had a marvellous day on the steam trains and I add a couple of pictures ( this was all before his downfall from grace lol ) . From his picture you wouldn't think butter would melt in that boys mouth !!

Ill head off to catch up and catch you all later.

N&G Angels! Both of them.

Our friend has died. Yet again, one of the very best of people is no longer a central part of the village and the community.

I'm returning to the easel. It's my way of dealing with sadness.

Back a little later. xxx

So sorry Soop
What can you say when a life is cut short except that it is sometimes not the length of a life which defines us but its quality. Think if you can about the way he lived and not the way he died
Hugely relieved that Charleygirl is ok even if her computer isn’t.

Very sorry soop.

It has been said so many times but GN at it's best.
We mourn with soop ,we worry about our virtual friends when they "go missing" and we support each other through good times and bad.
I am so pleased I found GN.

Worried about Panache now