Soop's super supportive kitchen.

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Afternoon all,

I feel like I am back with the land of the living today although my cold is small potatoes compared to some of those with ill health.

Oh GrannieQueenie what a buggeration . Hope your ankle is going to improve quickly. Shame about the Lakes but they aren't going anywhere :-)

Sam feels your pain about the tooth Corner. He wasn't himself at all last night and have added a photo of him. We lifted him into his customary position on the sofa and then watched his little legs slowly splay out as he collapsed.!! He's feeling much better this morning and ate his breakfast with gusto but he still looks at us with sad eyes as if to say ' How could you '??

I had to chuckle at your description of DGS's homework being mostly drawing. Young Cooper aged 4 yrs 5 months was sat on Friday drawing on his mini white board on the carpet at school and when the teacher checked he had extended his drawing all over the little boy in fronts white t shirt !! He was told off and sent to the Headmasters office !!! He's only been there 4 weeks !

On Monday he had to sit next to the teacher to do his writing so she could keep an eye on him - it obviously wasn't much of an eye as he drew a moustache on himself !

One piece of good news, our niece had her baby on Saturday morning Ella Isobel. We shall be off to see her soon. Picture attached)

Our family week away was great fun and in line with the theme of famous duos Grampy and I went as Sooty and Sweep( picture attached !!) Shame Sweep forgot his mittens ...he looks a bit scary!

Happy days all !!

Another back sufferer here! I’ve had it for weeks. It’s ok if I’m sitting or lying but I can only stand or walk for 2-3 minutes at a time. ( fortunately enough time to get to the toilet! )
Haven’t been in here for ages as I’ve been too busy. My life seems to consist of -work, read work files, eat, bed, work!
Anyway, regards to all of you and nice to see you’re all ( sort of ) thriving.
Must go, more files to read!?

I am about to empty the litter trays, both up and down, shall I have the contents couriered to you Ann? Better than a real cat as ours are currently trying to save the mouse population from the autumn weather by bringing them into the nice warm kitchen. Did anyone hear me shriek this morning? I hate the flipping things - dead or alive!! The advice to cry all over the SW is good - lots of carers say it works a treat.

Lovely to see you back in the kitchen Panache but please don't tire yourself. We know you are about when you can be. It must be a relief to have a day off.

GD, I could do with drawing lessons too - I am absolutely hopeless. Your back seems to be a little better - it takes an age to mend as we get older, doesn't it? I hope your Dh recovers from the jigsaw incident. Who knew!! I have a almost done one lurking under one of the sofas - maybe I'd better give it away before it causes us any harm.

Glad you enjoyed the wildlife park Corner, it sounds a great idea but I don't think we have one round here. Hopefully the tooth is still manageable.

Many happy returns of yesterday gq - I hope you enjoyed your daughter fest before you fell over (!!) but what a shame to miss your planned trip (boom boom!) I too have a Fitbit.....somewhere!

Looking forward to photos of the new you, soop!

Don't know what happened to the cookies synonymous, maybe it was Ann's mouse? I think I must have missed you telling us about your DH but I hope your appointment goes well.

Welcome back N&G - get well soon.

Thank you for the anniversary good wishes. I have another new handbag. A lovely soft tan leather tote. I do love a handbag, which is a good job as DH seems to think I need lots.

School run this afternoon so we are not going out. We may go out for Sunday lunch - dependent of course on the baby!

Here's a little snippet I have forgotten to pass on, well I forgot all about it until something triggered it off in my mind.
When the SW came a couple of weeks ago she asked if I had ever had a Carers Assessment.
I didn't know what it was so she asked me some questions , one of which was ,would I like time out to pursue some learning or perhaps voluntary work!!
Just look at me FGS.
Anyway when she rang me on Mon the first thing she said was that I had been "awarded" £ 150 to spend on myself!!
I will receive a preloaded card.
I really don't know what to think of this.
It is a lovely gesture but is it a good use of very short funds?.
Has any one else heard about this?
My problem now of course is that I can't get out to spend it.

ann, I hope you get rid of the mouse quickly. If you don't have any peanut butter, bait the trap with chocolate - it's worth the sacrifice. Let's hope it's just one mouse and not a whole family. There ought to be a product that makes the mouse believe there's a cat in the house - or would the 'scent' of cat pee be a step too far?

A day free of hospital so time to spend with you!

My dear Kitchen friends, and believe me I feel honoured to have been so fully accepted by what seems each one of you,this is indeed a great boost to my low and deflated moral at this time.
I sincerely thank you all for your kind and caring words,especially your words and advice Maw, as I rather think you have walked down a very similar route... so know only too well the pitfalls and added hardships.We are both mindful of all that has been said and happy to take your advice.
Early days as yet so we are not fully aware of all my caring needs,but wise to prepare for a longer haul.

Very touched by your lovely words G Q.....it does not take much to turn on the tap these days,something rather new for me!

I shall certainly make the Kitchen my first visit on any better days and I promise to give you the low down on how things are,however always ever mindfull of others suffering greater problems, I shall not be hogging the page........in fact I doubt I could right now, even though in my heart I may want to write for Wales!

Sending love to you all, whatever your own “trials” and hopefully there are more rays of sunshine than tears of stress.
So many of you suffering from this,that and the other,do get well soon.Ann you are perpetually in my thoughts and prayers.
May the floods in Oban dry up to allow dear MacS free passage and fingers crossed.......good results.
Whilst wishing the Lesters household a Happy anniversary....the icing on the cake might be the arrival of a new member of the clan?!

Hopefully you can all enjoy some sunshine.

Oh no, Gq! I have everything crossed that your ankle is not broken. Please take it easy! I send you my very best wishes for your birthday yesterday?? and I hope you will be back in your walking boots soon! My DD also gave me a Fitbit - I have mixed views about them. When you get to 10,000 steps it suddenly makes all sorts of celebratory noises and frightens the life out of you, and you get pictures of fireworks going off! Mine is currently languishing at the back of a drawer!

Corner glad you enjoyed your visit to the wildlife park, and that it took your mind off your dodgy tooth for a few hours. Last time we went to our local one, there was a charity run taking place around the park and the lions were running alongside inside the fences licking their lips as the runners were going past on the outside!

Happy Anniversary to Kitty and Mr Lester ??. Here’s to an extension of your sentence many more years of wedded bliss to come! Wouldn’t a new grandbaby be perfect today?

Ann mice are not good news and the last thing you need, so I hope you catch it soon! Bait the traps with peanut butter - they can’t resist it!

DH is now feeling the effects of his tumble too, so yesterday we had a gentle two mile walk in the lanes around our house to ‘test the water’. I took both my poles and I have to say it was enough for me, but I felt better for it, so onward and upward. I hate walking with poles, but have to admit that they help. We were going to book a break (no not that kind of break ? I hope!) at the end of the month, but unless things improve I can’t do hours in the car or do very much when we get there, so we are keeping our powder dry for a week or so.
GS’s parents had his “settling in” interview last night at his new school. All seems to be going well. DD expressed her concern to me yesterday that his homework to date has had much emphasis on drawing accompanying pictures and he simply cannot draw for toffee. I have seen three year olds draw better, so I have been tasked with providing some drawing lessons. I thought we had previously got a handle on the fact that figures have to have mobility and can’t all look like straw effigies, so that will be his lesson tommorrow when he comes home from school! I have enlisted the help of a little poseable wooden artist’s mannequin. I put it in a walking position last night and DH looked at it and said “spot the deliberate mistake”. So I looked and thought “well, it’s no wonder I’m falling over if I think people walk with the same side arms and legs going in the same direction!” I’ve seen people try and march like that and it’s truly ridiculous! So now he/she/it is walking comfortably! Glad one of us is!

??There’s the last straw and then there’s the very last straw

Thinking of myself again, Happy Anniversary to "the Lesters" and commiserations Gq my H and I have walked many many miles and peaks in the Lake District, I still have all my gear, very happy days.
Hope for good baby news, it seems early to do a sweep ,one day late, but they know best.

Ann I can’t say I blame you.

GQ thst was very bad luck. I hope the X-ray confirms the ankle is not fractured . Shame to miss your holiday break - I’m sure we’d have seen some lovely photos. Happy belated birthday wishes to a fellow Libran!

Just to compound my "woes" I have a mouse in the house.
I found evidence yesterday morning in the utility room and last night I went into the kitchen, put the light on and it was running round the floor.
Animal lovers look away now, I have ordered some poison and a trap from Amazon, I just can't cope with it.

Oh blimey grannyq, what a mixed day. Hope the ankle heals quickly and of course you tripped, definitely didn’t ‘have a fall’. In any case a belated happy birthday.

You joined the poorly bunch n&g? Hooe you’re better soon, good to have you back.

The tooth is, well, there. It will hang on until my dentist is back next week. Good luck for Friday willow. The cost certainly doesn’t help the procedure feel OK.

Yesterday was busy but really enjoyable, the sun shone, lots of chatting and laughing and (whisper this) nothing went wrong and we all returned unscathed. Now today Mr C and I have flu jabs, what could possibly happen?

Busy kitchen yesterday. Wishing your husband well for today synonymous, let us know how it goes.

Looking forward to seeing the outcome of your hairdressers work soop, be brave, all will be well.

Your grandson is safe eilyann, I know not the same as seeing him, it is good he’s keeping in touch, I’m sure he’ll be back when he’s ready although I don’t pretend to understand. Chin up, try not to worry.

Hope you managed some sleep ann, you surely need it.

I understand its kittys wedding anniversary today (the good morning thread), so many congratulations to you both.

If I don’t get on we won’t make those flu jabs, take care out there everyone.

Well it’s been a funny old day...dd1 came to visit, a real treat to have a block of time with her without the gds x2, love them as I do. A lovely walk and a tasty Thai meal (I promise there was only I ?) .

Then it all started to go pear shaped....after we dropped her off at the station to go home I caught my foot on an uneven bit of tarmac, my ankle went one way and I went another, result one very swollen and painful ankle! Upshot was we spent the evening in the local Minor Injuries Unit, after an xray they don’t think it’s broken but a doctor will review the X-ray tomorrow to be absolutely sure.

The irony is that I was due to go away tomorrow to the Lakes with a friend for a couple of days, involving a good bit of walking + it was my birthday today and dd1 gave me a Fitbit to help me keep active/count my steps! Lakes trip is now postponed and that Fitbit won’t be working hard anytime soon - the advice for the next few days is rest, elevation and ice! Oh and just so you know, despite being a year older, I definitely did not “have a fall”, I tripped!!

Annoying, frustating and painful but in the grand scheme of things it’s small beer. eilyann sorry you’ve got ongoing worries. Ann, as always I respect you hugely. Glad you’re home safely n&g ( we missed you) but sorry you’re under the weather, hope those bugs buzz off pdq.
Wishing you all a restful nights sleep xx

Just putting my head round the door to leave some cookies to have with your coffee tomorrow morning.

Today my little sis has helped me with hanging new curtains and thermal linings in four different rooms so I am absolutely shattered but so pleased to get it done.
Tomorrow I take Himself to see the Orthopaedic Consultant and for xrays etc so that we will know how the healing is going. I have a feeling that his leg is as good as it is going to get but we live in hope. I fear that he will never be the same as he was - but at least I still have him, thankfully!

Big hugs to all who need them, I can't manage to keep up with all the happenings at present but I do keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

I know that the SW will only do something annsixty when there is a perceived need and as you are giving the appearance of coping there isn't a need in their book. You are both pawns in a game of chess and until you roll over and say that you can do no more they will do nothing and they can then keep their budget intact. As has already been said the least you need to do is have a really good cry. Do get your doctor in on everything and get him to push all the doors for you or else you will also be needing care and we really don't want that for you.

Welcome back N&G. We’ve missed you!?

Evening all !!

Finally home and all guests departed but I have been left with a horrid cold so not really up for much. A good time was had by all and pictures to follow. I haven't a hope of catching up but will at least ready through .

Hopefully I'll feel brighter tomorrow - I'm just waiting for Grampy who has gone to collect Sam after his dental treatment, I don't know who was worried Sam or Grampy .

Catch up tomorrow xx

eilyann Your grandson sounds like a sensible young man. Letting him know that he has options is the best anyone can do. Try not to worry unduly. Easier said than done.

kitty I am convinced that baby is thinking...right...it's about time to make an entrance. In my own time, naturally.

NfkDumpling Your suggestion to Ann makes perfect sense. Please may there be some positive way forward for her pretty damn quick. There is only so much stress that anyone can take. Her situation is dire. I'm in awe of her ability to function in spite of so many disappointments.

I'm logging off. Ironing duty early tomorrow. After which, I shall wing my way to the hairdressers in Campbeltown. Eeeek! Whatever the result, I shall share a pic with you lot. Please be kind.

I’ve just spent over three hours on line and on the phone trying to get a cash back refund for a camera we bought at the Bird Fair. Never again, next time it’s in a proper shop in front of proper live people!

Now going to do a bit of light weeding to try to lift the resulting headache.

Afternoon – the sun has been shining all day here so despite procrastinating by sorting out my filing drawer which wouldn’t shut and having a late breakfast I’ve finally been out and tidied the front garden and cut the grass both back and front. I’m sure that’s not the last cut if this weather keeps up.

Ann how awful they’ve reduced the daycare – the strain of looking after your husband will surely affect your own health too so please take care. The problem will be that if he falls too often and ends up in hospital SS may well decide he is at too much risk and not let him home again – this happened to my mum and the decision of a care home was taken away from us. I hope you manage to find an alternative care centre for him but as everyone has said it is possibly time to make the inevitable decision however hard it is.

Yes Daph looks angelic – she has the most beautiful huge eyes but unfortunately her looks bely her nature – I’m sure a lot of her habits are due to her earlier life which we know nothing about so she didn’t learn to socialise properly. I say she’s special needs Soop a portrait of her would be amazing!

Corner I hope you don’t have too much discomfort from the broken tooth and it hasn’t been a nuisance at the wildlife park today. I’ve finally given in and made an appointment for Friday morning – if it’s what I think that will indeed be a long, painful and expensive trip! You’ve had a lovely day for the visit – well if it’s like it is here. We really need to go to our local one to see the new brown bears they’ve rescued – preferably before the winter sets in which was the last time we went!

GD you seem to be having a time of it as well lately. Hope your husband is ok – he definitely needs to put that jigsaw on a board although the dining room table usually ends up as the home for them. My cousin’s wife fell a few weeks ago and banged her head on the floor – he couldn’t lift her up either so she had to shuffle back until she was against the sofa so they could both work together to get her up. Hope your own back is a little easier today.

We will be having the remainder of the ‘child’ for tea Thankfully the real child is now safely back in NZ and did manage to message me when he arrived. Eilyann it’s tough that your grandson has fallen out big style with his family but it’s good you know he’s ok – sometimes they just need the space away to get their heads in gear so hopefully he will decide to go home fairly soon.

We now have husbands works Christmas party date in Dec – he was of a mind to stay over until I pointed out he’d then have to stick it out to the bitter end so we’ll be coming home. I’ll no doubt be asleep before the end of the road so won’t mind the journey

Have a good night all

Greyduster Please go gently. Any undue stress will aggravate your problem. Message received, and understood? Or else...

eilyann I’m sure he’ll be fine. He just needs space to spread his wings but he sounds a basically sensible bloke. He knows he’s loved and that’s the main thing. It’s a big transition from boy to man and from mother of a child to mother of a man. Sometimes it can be rather abrupt!

ann you have tried crying haven’t you? I found it was the only thing which SWs and doctors responded to when I was trying to get care for my parents. While they thought I was coping I was on a hiding to nothing. Then a little bird whispered to me to let go, break down and let my feelings loose - and it worked!

At least he is OK and going to college and work eilyann.

Hello Mr and Mrs Panache if you are reading this. Take care.

ann I am hoping all is ok with you and there have been no more falls or any other mishap. It is no exaggeration to say that DH's cold and looking after him has 'got to me' so I am in awe of all you proper carers.

I'm off again. Just wanted a quick check up to see how you all are. And report - still no baby!!

Back later.

No I'm afraid he's not home but there has been contact, thank you all for your concern. He went into college yesterday and told two of his tutors that he had left home and was staying with a friend. Pastoral care contacted SIL but couldn't tell him an awful lot as 'he's over 18'! He has a part time job at McDonalds where he is very well thought of, and DD3 with whom he has always been very close, went in yesterday eve on the off chance. He told her he's fine but wasn't going home. We have all (DD's 2 3 and us) have texted and offered spare rooms but have had no response. We wait.....

ann I am so sorry, my problem seems trivial compared with yours. I can only echo what everyone else has said and send you

The sun is shining here but there is a definite nip in the air. I must put my mental act together and have my flu jab at the local pharmacy. My GP surgery could not get supplies this year- really odd.