Soop's super supportive kitchen.

Willow thankfully I have not had my flu jab yet. I had decided to visit my local pharmacist on Tuesday pm of this week but that is when this virus or whatever started.

My last meal was Monday and I have had two slices of toast each day. At least I should be losing weight.

I think Tara realised this am I still was not well because she did not whinge about not having any wet food put out. I am trying to wean her on to her biscuits again.

I have never had anything like this in my life before and do not wish a repeat performance. There has to be light at the end of the tunnel. This I think is the downside of living alone.

ann, I am shocked but not surprised by the lack of reaction from your GP. It comes from the separation of NHS and social care. There is, despite having been (allegedly) on the agenda of both major parties, still no such thing as integrated service. Your GP's surgery has probably no contact with Adult Services. Your SW is also culpable and I think it would be well worthwhile contacting one of your local councillors who should be able to speak to the officers on your behalf. And if you do manage to meet a councillor, please don't play down the seriousness of your situation.

It really is a horrid day here as well Nanny rain and strong winds.
It is "bin day" here and more than a few have blown over and had to be rescued.
No SW meeting today kitty I have been waiting for a phone call from her since Monday.
Not much to do today, I have just put a Sainsbury's order in for delivery tomorrow.
I only had one on Monday but quickly run out of things, that I think is the highlight of my day.
No baby news?
It isbetter off where it is today but I bet your D doesn't agree.
Better out than in as the saying goes.
I was sent a photo of a baby recently wearing a tiny babygro, with " prison bars " on it saying "I have just been inside for 9 months".

Is everyone still in bed this morning?! I wouldn’t blame you, it’s a horrid day. It is that day when you realise it is time for flip flops to go away - just wish I had realised that before I left the house!

Evening all – I’m trying to catch up having had a day over at the bungalow trying to put it straight – we now have a garage full of cardboard boxes & packaging which is going to take hours if not days to get rid of. I understand things have to be packed up for transportation but some things are beyond a joke – especially the polystyrene which explodes like a snowstorm if you try to break it up and then sticks to everything and evades all attempts to clean it up

I had to smile at the drawing attempts of the little ones – especially drawing on a fellow pupils clothes and being sent to the head at such a young age!

Loving the hair Soop – do you use a diffuser to dry it to keep the curls in or just leave it to do it’s own ‘thang ? I always end up fastening mine up – it’s the first thing I do when I get out of bed as I can’t stand it hanging around my face – I should get it cut but that seemed to take more looking after when it was short that now it’s long!

Charley did you have your flu injection – just wondering if that might be the cause of the tummy bug? Horrid being ill like that so hope you’re feeling a little better now and Tara took good care of you.

Synonymous I remember reading about your husband’s accident – it’s wonderful you’ve managed to cope as well as you have. Sometimes things happen and bring out the strength in us we didn’t know we had.

Ann I’m just appalled at your GP’s reaction – is there anyone else in the practice you could go to see to ask for some help. As a carer you deserve better treatment especially as you’re paying out and saving the system a fortune

Panache it’s nice to see you’re still watching over the kitchen and popping in when you’re able – doing nothing especially when you have no choice is really boring – do you have talking books to get immersed in and pass the time?

N&G your family photo is lovely – you all look such a happy bunch of people.

Maw hope the acupuncture helps – I had it a few years ago in desperation for the anosmia – it did nothing for that but the massages for the lymphatic drainage I was given worked fantastically on my neck which had been a constant problem for years!

Kitty that baby will arrive when no one is expecting (excuse the pun) and take you all by surprise

Dentist in the morning – dare I say the pain has almost subsided apart from drinking hot coffee – tempted to put it off but I know if I cancel I’ll be in agony on Saturday again. I have brought a Victoria sponge for all to share in case of more tooth issues!

Good nite all

Nannytopsy, I had bone spurs - osteophytes - in the shoulder joint which necessitated surgery to remove the spurs and insert a new 'ball' which looks like a golf ball on the x-rays. If it had been diagnosed sooner, I am sure arthroscopy would have been enough, but it was too far gone. All that was 12 years ago and it has been very successful. Last year, I broke that same shoulder, but the replacement didn't budge. Shoulders are a buggeration indeed.

Just popping in to keep an eye on you all. I am too jiggered to post really except to say 'Hello' to Panache and what a buggeration to ann. Do I recall you have a SW meeting tomorrow? If so, cry!!! I hope you had some really good retail therapy this afternoon.

Maw I hope the acupuncture does the trick. Maybe you could borrow the pins for the little whatsits that did for Corner's car.

GQ, hope the ankle is recovering nicely.

N&G what a lovely, happy, smiley family you seem.

We had an interesting Carer's session this morning when two of the (male) carers had a verbal set too about one talking so much the other couldn't get a word in! It wasn't true but it looked dicey for a while. Obviously, both of them are under huge strain and we will be keeping an eye on them.

On the baby front - there is no news. The sweep that was intended to start the ball rolling, as it were, wasn't possible because the cervix is too high although the baby is 80% engaged. The midwife expects nothing to happen for 'ages'. DD will be unable to walk if she gets any bigger!

Off to cook some salmon and collapse in front of the TV.

Synonymous Please read your latest inbox message.

Care home visit in the morning. I shall pop into our kitchen on our return.

Do you have any arthritis Maw? I had bony outgrowths caused by arthritis under the collar bone which pressed on the tendons and nerves. It gave me aches, pains, sleepless nights etc for ages until they were surgically removed ( by keyhole, not bad). Apparently most common in women over a certain age!

Maw You are in pain. Nerve pain is a major buggeration. Us lot share such things. Please update us when you've seen the acupuncturist.

Thank you Corner I really thought it was getting better yesterday and had stopped hurting by bedtime. Hurray
So why was I awake for nearly two hours unti 5 am with what I assume was something like a trapped nerve running down to my fingers? Boo.
The only way I could ease it was sitting on the loo, leaning up against the cold wall tiles on my shoulder and bare arm! How ridiculous did I feel.
Seeing an acupuncturist tomorrow. It is getting me down because bad nights leave me a bit tearful if I am honest.
However, there’s much worse happening in other people’s lives so end of grumble.

ann you certainly are not a whinger. I can only hope someone will know how to get a GP to understand your situation. Otherwise why not try the duty social worker, be honest about your exhaustion and distress levels. Sorry, you’ll have thought of that already I know. Clutching at straws here to help dissipate my fury at the reception you had today.

Keep forgetting to ask, how is your shoulder now maw? More comfortable? Good luck with the word we mustn’t mention negotiations. No mention of it with our lot yet, happy to keep it that way.

Another happy image n&g. Thank you for sharing it with us.

Energy’s an odd thing isn’t it panache? Has a mind of its own. Sometimes we just need to go with it. Hoping for a better afternoon for you. Be sure we shared many murderous thoughts about the car ‘artist’. I’ll be pleased when it’s fixed and I don’t have to look at it but the initial upset has faded, sadly it’s life today I fear.

That baby seems to be comfortable where he is kitty, I managed to ‘encourage’ one of mine by digging the garden. The other was very late indeed and refused all attempts to hurry his arrival. He’s always late now .

Off to a more relaxed meeting than yesterday’s, be careful out there everyone.

anno, I’m sure I have a photo of myself from that era that absolutely matches your description...it certainly wasn’t my best look!
What a smiley family photo, n&g, one to treasure. Poor Sam, hope he’s more like himself as the day goes on. Having a cold is bad enough in itself but I just hate that lingering business which for me usually means a dry tickling cough that appears at the most awkward moments. Hope you’re 100% soon.

Ann I’m sure your surgery, like many others, will have notices about staff not being subjected to verbal or physical violence. Whilst I completely agree with that sentiment, I sometimes think another sign would be helpful, along the lines of “all patients should be able to leave this building knowing they have been listened to, really listened to”. I know resources are stretched and time is short but seriously, it doesn’t take much to at least look like you’re interested in what a patient is saying. I’m fuming on your behalf, Ann, when you’re disregarded like that it is just so demeaning. I take my hat off to you that you didn’t have an absolute melt down there and then.....on the other hand, she might have paid more attention if you had. Oh and another thing, you’re not a whinger!

kitty, my old boy is just the same a cast iron digestive system.....he does struggle to understand the unpredictable vagaries I have to contend with! Christmas away, now there’s a thought!

panache I share your puzzlement, it’s only my 2nd day of sitting around much more than I normally do, to keep my foot elevated soop I’m being very good. I’m yawning constantly and I slept like a log last night...no logic! Hopefully you’ll gain a wee bit of strength every day and find yourself tiring less easily.

My old boy has gone off for his volunteering shift this afternoon. He thoughtfully hoovered the ground floor before he left, he knows me well, I really don’t mind a bit of mess but not if I’m sitting looking at it. Like others I always prefer to return home to a clean, tidy house with fresh bedding and towels and an emptyish laundry basket. Not always achievable but it’s worth a try.

My personal physio aka dd4 advised taking ibuprofen rather than paracetamol for pain relief and it’s helped I think as I’m hobbling more easily now. Having heard such horror stories of gut damage I usually avoid taking it but I did as I was told this time.

ann You are NOT a whinger. Go out and treat yourself to something that will gladden your heart. That's an order.

N&G. What a lovely, smiley family you all are!

Hello Panache, it’s lovely to see you and I SO agree with you about ann. I was sure she would get some sympathy from her GP, but it seems not.

ann you are absolutely not whingeing. You are coping with things you shouldn’t have to, and not getting the help you need. I’m so disappointed for you. If you fell over and broke your ankle today (heaven forbid) without the help of a little ? needless to say, “they” would have to do something. Please don’t break anything but I hope someone on here, who knows more than I do, will come up with some practical advice. Please come on as often as you need to. We all listen.

Just popping in to say my hello`s and hoping you are all in a fairly up beat mode, although there does seem such a mammoth degree of hurting backs,ankles and the rest.
Needless to add Ann I am absolutely furious that your GP could not show you the caring you need and deserve.
Being something of a lady I cannot repeat the actions I would take on those fingers that caused damage to your nearly new motor Corner..........despicable.

How can doing next to nothing be soooo tiring?......AND boring???

Ooops! I didn't intend to shout when responding to anno's post. Trigger happy is my middle name.

Oh aren't I a whinger.
Hope for baby news today kitty

Greyduster Slowly but surely you are beginning to see results. Stay focused. Keep positive. Us lot are rooting for you.

Nannytopsy Snap! I go a bit over the top regarding cleaning the house before going away, (even for a very short time) because I enjoy returning to find it ship-shape and Bristol fashion. Where did that saying originate? Elegran will know.

anno It will take a little time for me to lurve my curls. I have a natural "kink" but it doesn't hold. I've swept the hair up. MacSporran approves. That makes me feel a whole lot better. *Ann Regular visits to the hairdresser are too costly. Although I admit that a gap of eleven months is far from ideal.

eilyann That is a most satisfactory conclusion to your grandson's recent crisis. He is making his own decisions. He is sensible. I wish him good fortune.

Good post, corner. I wish that I was as "with it" and as up to date as you are. I always fear that I have left one of us lot out. I wouldn't do so intentionally.

Maw Darling girl...you mentioned the C word. Yikes! I really would prefer to remain in a bubble until after the event.

granniequeenie Ankle injuries are a real buggeration. Do try to elevate your leg when seated...I would not like to persuade you to do whilst upright.

I have been to see a GP at our practice today.
It was for a meds review but I had decided to " tell all".
If I had recited the London telephone directory, she might have shown more interest.
She was more concerned with my cholesterol level, it is high, and the fact that I drink alcohol, she is Muslem, that was all she was concerned with.
I take 20mgs of Citalopram daily and she asked if I had ever considered cutting that down.
I walked out feeling totally deflated.
I am out with a friend this afternoon and I think I will indulge in some retail therapy.

Wow! That is a super family photo, N&G. Can't help but grin when I look at it.

kitty I'm excited at the thought of the wee newcomer to your family making an entrance. I shall keep returning to see if there have been further developments.

Synonymous I was horrified to read the account of your dear husband's injuries. Through no fault of his own, his life was turned upside down. Well done for coping as well as you do.

Charleyg The virus that is doing the rounds is also known to attack the gut. It is possible that you've been unfortunate enough to have been a victim. Hope that you feel a lot better as soon as...

Morning all !!

My cold is now just at the miserable stage but I no longer feel so terrible so its time to gird my loins ( I love that phrase) and get on with it !!

Belated Happy Anniversary Kitty !

Glorious hair Soop I just love the silver colour on you .

Poor Sam was poorly last night the after effects of the anaesthetic I think. Although not wobbly now he is not his usual self. Hopefully its just time to get him back to normal.

Sorry you didn't get better news Synonymous but it seems like you have each other and that is more than some . I admire your spirit.

Well I am off to play catch up but thought I would leave you with a photo of my family on our beano ( we were all sober miraculously !!)

Happy day all!!

Where to start! How on earth am I meant to play catch up. You lot are amazing. I thought that I might read through all your posts and reply in a leisurely fashion. Ha! No way Jose.
It 's good to have N&G back with us. Lovely photos.
Good to hear happy news. Some distressing happenings that have afflicted a number of our Granspals.
Back later. Battery on tablet very low. Will return on proper computer. X

synonymous, what a dreadful time you and you dh have had.

charley, I hope the next meal stayed where it was. It could have been a bug. I, too, an susceptible to any tummy type thing within 10 miles, gq. Dh seems impervious to them but is floored by any cold he catches. Sort of Jack Sprat! I'm glad the ankle isn't actually broken.

soop, love the hair. Like Kate I have poker straight hair.

We went to one of those meetings corner, sounded brilliant in theory!! I hope your tooth isn't too bad - one of the worst pains, I think.

Maw, Christmas is full of possibilities for noses being put out of joint. All ours are with the 'other' side this year so we are going away!

We all thought yesterday was going to be the day especially as dd had to do to hospital with high bp. She was then sent home! They had parents evening where they learnt that Bertie aims to please, works hard, is exceeding all targets and Persie is 'hilarious'

Back later! Take care everyone!