Soop's friendly and welcoming kitchen.

Sympathy over vets bills! When our last dog had to be put to sleep, a friend asked if I’d cried. I said “we both did and so did Mr T, the vet”. She pointed out that his tears may have had a different motivation... this much loved dog was the last of quite an assortment of family pets that he’d treated for us over a period of 20 years and more!!

Just popped in to see if there is any news - I am a little reassured too!

ann Not at all. You, my dear, most certainly do not have a go. You were absolutely right. MrPanache isn't familiar with us lot and I was surprised when I received his message. for you x

N&G The boys look proper grown up. They are a handsome pair.

soop is that a little girl or boy?!

Afternoon all !

Sadly Grannie you are right ( although in the dim and distant past Grampy was a policeman ) they are more of the 'a good stern talking to brigade' these days.

Charley you are right - I do love seeing the changes in those two but time will fly and before we know it they will be leaving home. But for now I enjoy their company. Coopers first day went well , apparently he learned to count to 100 ( I take that with a pinch of salt as anything over 15 gets him confused) , did some colouring and got 2 girlfriends !! Life is good when you're 4.

Lovely photo soop , don't they all look happy?

I talk to Grampy all the time about you lot , sometimes he even listens :-) . For instance Ann he often asks after you and your H.

I have my fingers crossed Chaos for Sam's eyes. It has been since April we have been trying to clear up the infection and today I submitted my insurance paperwork as we think we might have cracked it. He was a very good boy for his check-up and jabs but...and I whisper this..... he is a little 'portly' ( as described by our young Spanish vet!!).

Sam has to lose 2kgs!! ( Don't we all I was tempted to ask).

Anyway, its not his dinner that has done the damage but the treats so he is on a strict regime. He doesn't like it one bit and neither does Grampy who was caught slipping Sam a sliver of cheese at lunchtime. Both are on the naughty step to contemplate their behaviour :-)

Charleyg Her name is Mila Johanna. Her daddy is Dutch. She's a sweetie.

N&G Awww...poor Grampy and Sam. You are a hard taskmaster, Nana

??Hoping for positive news soon regarding Panache

NanKate Me too.

I can hardly believe that tomorrow is Friday. Where do the days go? We have to make the best of every single one. Enjoy the weather, the beauties of Nature, the simple things that make our days special. Be thankful for family, friends and the fact that our kitchen aka la la Land has brought us together to share our highs, lows, and in-betweens. Thank you.

I shall leave the computer on "sleep" so that I can pop in to check for messages before bedtime.

In the meantime...

Have been a bit out of the loop on other things recently.
morethan I do hope there is good news soon for your DIL. I never wish to push my beliefs on others so hope you don't mind if I say I pray for her often along with others in the kitchen who have loss or hardship in their lives.
I too am thinking of panache and hope for good news soon.
maw so pleased at your good news. A new baby is always cause for joy but under the circumstances more so. My mother was over 40 when she had me also my DIL when DGC was born.
soop lovely photo of Mila. Such a pretty name.
I am starting a group hug. I think we need one at the moment as we are worried about several of our kitchen pals.

I so agree Soop that we need to be grateful for what we have.

I was recently feeling rather sorry for myself as I have had to go back on steroids as my Polymyalgia has returned. DH reminded me that one of my WI friends has terminal cancer and the other very bad osteo arthritis. I then realised I was the most healthy and mobile of the three of us. It sometimes helps to get the proverbial kick up the b*m.

As others have said, I’m hoping for good news of panache. Absolutely agree on the being grateful for what we have theme soop and nanKate. I spent this afternoon with a friend, a young mum with incurable cancer. I was humbled when she texted later thanking me for letting her confide in me. I did nothing special, was just there. I have so much to be thankful for, it was yet another reminder to savour every moment in life.
Wishing you all a night of restorative sleep x

A beautiful sunny day in NW London- I have an appointment with my washing machine.

N&G I wonder if Jackson will be so taken with cars in 10 years+ time, especially when he realises the true cost of them. It is a tad scary if he hooks on to the racers. when he is a lot older. Maybe he could help Sam and Grampy "clock" the drivers going over the limit?

I read your two posts, Gq and NanKate and they brought tears to my eyes. We have indeed a lot to be thankful for if we have decent health and faculties. I feel very “down” today after returning from a few days staying with my SiL in Wales. Neither of us had any idea how bad her dementia problems were as, of course, we normally only speak to her on the telephone. We last saw her in May when she was still forgetful, but still able to cater for her personal needs. She lives alone and this week we were just filling a gap while DH’s other sister was away and now we are home I am overwhelmed with guilt and sadness that we have had to walk away from her and can’t be of practical help from here.
We drove home and went straight over to meet GS from his second day at senior school. Funny how a pair of the long trousers he now has to wear can make him look suddenly older! He needs to grow into them though!
I will look in later and make an effort to catch up.

Dear you lovely lot, it is a glorious day. The care home visit was a mixed blessing. Our friend, who will never leave the care home, is wanting us to arrange for him to renew his long lapsed driving licence. We hung his new large painting on the wall of his new room. He lapsed into floods of tears. He'd also had a strange dream in which he saw his wife standing by the door with a pushchair and two infant boys. He has never had children with his present wife. They've been married well over forty years.

Greyduster I sympathise with you. The same thing happened with our much-loved, now deceased neighbour. He deteriorated rapidly from a fit, upright man, to a shadow of his former self...unable to feed himself or speak.

I have no news of Panache. When I do, I shall be back to share it with you.

I have come hoping for a happy kitchen and find it really sad. I'm sorry there is no news of Panache. I miss her posts.

I'm sorry you've taken a step back Kate, I hope it is only a temporary hiccup!

DD3 had sad news yesterday of a friend's brother who hanged himself at his parent's house where he was house sitting for them. I hate to think of the turmoil in that poor chap's mind. And, his parents are trying to find a way home from holiday. DD3 is upset for her friend and I'm upset for them all.

That is so sad kitty. His poor parents must be devastated at not being there when he was feeling so bad.

Oh kitty that is so dreadfully sad, the poor family must be heartbroken.

How lovely to see your name Lona I hope you are well and happy.

kitty I cannot begin to imagine how that poor family is feeling right now. The parents will never be able to erase the means and place of their son's suicide from their minds.

And a welcome back from me, Lona. We all need a huge group (((hug)))

How very sad Kitty the boy’s parents may never be able to live in their home again.

I’m not too bad Kitty the steroids are kicking in and I am only on a small dose. There are far worse things to have.

I suppose the longer we wait for Panache’s news the better, or am I just clutching at straws ?

I hope you do not mind my also sending best wishes to Panache on your thread, Soop. I really do hope that all is well with her.
I responded to a post recently, and she kindly remarked how lovely my user name was.
I have always found her postings on Gransnet (Soop's kitchen and several others) full of wisdom and kindness. Like all of you ladies on here, she came across as such a lovely lady.

Hello again, NanKate and a warm welcome to heavensjoys. With each passing day I never fail but trust that we receive hopeful news of Panache.

I'm putting the computer on sleep mode. I shall check for any messages before I go to bed.

Ive just returned from holiday to find that panache is very poorly, hopefully there will be news soon. Also hoping for good news for morethan’s dil.