Soop's super supportive kitchen.

Oooh, I am with Bertie Kitty as I was so painfully shy that would have seemed like a punishment to me! I only started to get rid of that shyness after I had our children to hide behind because I was then the mummy and had a role to play.
Well done Bertie!
GreyD well done your grandson too. If it was an all school cross country that is an impressive placement especially if he is one of the younger ones. He will be first by the time he is in the top year! Hope your back continues to improve.

It is so nice and sunny that Himself has disappeared into the garden and garage busily getting his workshop organised. So nice for him to have plans and to be looking forward for a change and I am hoping that things will be so much better in the next year or two.
He has two consultants to see in the next ten days, one of whom is in the big smoke so I have booked a hotel for the night as there is no way I could do it both ways in one day. I am such a country mouse nowadays and I hate cities!

Macaroons for everyone and a big pot of tea brewing on the side. Plenty for all you lovely, special peoples!

Who said that cats always make their own way down?. Well, among others, Jalima, I think I did. I am happy to eat my words!

Ah, Kitty I would do well sometimes to heed the Richard III text: “Tis better, sir, to be brief than tedious.” ?. Very well done to young Bertie, both for his essay (an early foray into public speaking will do him no harm at all!) and for the footie! Junior football is either feast or famine - our first match - a “friendly” - was an ignominious rout. The next, the boot was on the other foot! I do hope that your grandbaby doesn’t keep you waiting too much longer - I was a nervous wreck waiting for GS to put in his appearance. The winter weather was threatening to do dire things and we thought we might have to get SiL’s dad out with his tractor to get DD to the hospital! All was well in the end.

The plumber has done for today and gone off to rescue someone’s boiler. All pipe work is in, floor tiles are down, and another weekend should see it done. We overestimated on the floor tiles and I am hoping we haven’t underestimated on the wall tiles as they were difficult to get hold of.

Anno, strangely, when we had the bath in, I only used it once. It was a fibre glass bath and I hated it. Since we had it taken out, there have been a few times when I would have given my right arm for a good soak, and no matter how good your shower is, and ours is great, it doesn’t cut the mustard! But I suppose there comes a time when you don’t find it easy to get in and out of a bath and that was what was at the back of our minds.

I once bought a TENS gadget and tried it out on my shoulder. Nearly hit the ceiling. Perhaps I didn't adjust the strength of the current, but I never tried it again. I found it buried in a kitchen drawer recently and thought it best to leave it there. What did occur to me was that the shoulder was the one that had a part replacement in the form of a metal ball and I did wonder if it was a mistake to let an electric current anywhere near it. But - once bitten...never again!
GreyD, I'm glad you said that about the bath as I have been considering having mine taken out. Now I am having second thoughts.

kitty Bravo Bertie. That was a special event. As a child, I would have boasted for a very long time. Whereas Bertie is obviously modest with it.

Afternoon all! It's flipping bleak in Leicestershire especially as DH has a cold and is currently lying in the playroom, covered in a fleecy blanket with the papers and football on the TV. The upside of course is that he uttered not one word of complaint when I suggested turning the heating up!!

We thoroughly enjoyed Abigail's Party last night. Unfortunately, it did not star Alison Steadman on this occasion and the actress who played Beverly was just not a patch on her original portrayal. We have not seen it for a while and decided it was quite cringe worthy to look back on the 70s from this distance.

I'm glad all felines are on terra firma and Hattie is back where she belongs! I've heard great things of TENS machine Maw so definitely worth a gamble I should think.

Charley, I'm sorry you are suffering but 'keeping quiet' might just do the trick. GD, I would pay good money to see you play Richard 111 - maybe a late career for you. Well done to your grandson!

Safe journey corner and enjoy the celebrations.

Hoping all is well with panache and expecting to hear from N&G when the hangover wears off.

Having heard from Bertie that his team won 15-1 and that he had scored 14 of them, DH went to watch last weekend while I helped on our Alzheimer's Society memory walk. He was slightly disappointed that the team lost 8-1 although Bertie did score the 1!!

Am I allowed a little Ma type boast? Last week Bertie (6 and a half) was sent to the Head to show him his story because it was so good. The Head then made him come to the Junior School assembly to read it out. Poor Bert was so embarrassed he didn't even tell his mum.

Still no baby - considering we knew about him almost from the morning after it seems to have been going on for years!

Well done to your DGS Greyduster
We have keen cross country runners in the family - not something that I ever aspired to myself

Ooh no. At least she came back when called

Oddly, I wondered yesterday, if all else failed whether a tree surgeon would have got Jalima’s cat down. They have the wherewithal, but thank goodness for the climbing friend
Greyduster they thought of that but getting hold of one in time was the problem.
Who said that cats always make their own way down?!

Maw Awww!

Greyduster Well done to your grandson. As for you...rest that back and get proper-well soon.

What is it with these animals?
I have just let Hattie into the garden expecting her to be in and out in under 10 seconds as she does not do rain.
No sign of her ??
So I went round the side of the house and the gate which is usually shut and secured with a safety chain was open.
Expletive deleted.
I went out to the front and called hopefully trying not to sound stressed and back she trotted. TG she had not spied a squirrel or pussycat across the green opposite the house as there is no way common sense would have prevailed.
Back on her sofa now having enjoyed a little sliver of lambs liver to reassure her that East, West, home’s best!

Maw I borrowed a TENS machine from my neice once. They are very effective, so it might be a worthwhile investment. One way or the other, I hope you get some relief soon.

Hello the kitchen! I’m very glad to hear that all pussycats are safely at ground level and recovering. Oddly, I wondered yesterday, if all else failed whether a tree surgeon would have got Jalima’s cat down. They have the wherewithal, but thank goodness for the climbing friend.

Charley I am sorry to hear about your hand - RSI is a b****r. We had a typist where I worked who suffered from it and despite putting in all relevant aids and assistance’s, she had to give up her job. I hope you start to feel better soon.

My back is a little easier today. I am pleased to report that I can at least stand up straight, so sadly I am no longer in the running to play Richard the Third (I had been rehearsing the lines and everything!), and I thank you for the sympathetic feedback. Anno you don’t realise how much you miss a bath until you have it taken out ☹️, but the cushion full of cherry stones that heats up in the microwave has been very handy. I’ve been very interested to read about turmeric and also magnesium and will read up a bit more.

The plumber cometh at last ??. Since he started he has been bombarded with phone calls from people whose boilers are on the blink! It is that time of year, apparently. He has just come back from mid Wales where he and his wife walked up Pen-y-fan. The wonderful photos he took from the top made me hanker to go there. Though I doubt we could climb it now, there is gentler walking to be had. On our journeys to and from West Wales we detour through the Brecon Beacons and always stop to take in the scenery.

We missed GS’s cross country today but apparently he did well and came in twenty second, well within the top twenty percent of the field. A good start to his season for his new school, and he will now have the measure of the opposition!

I will look in later. It has stopped raining so I will have a walk around the garden. I won’t do anything, I promise!!

Maw How could you neglect Hattie to the point where she needs to loll all over the sofa to attract your attention? Honest to goodness, she has certainly found herself the most wonderful home. Bless her.
Tens machines are excellent. I used one when I had Sciatica. It worked! I managed to get to sleep when the pain was at it's worst.

What a wonderful start to the day. Both felines back where they belong. So very happy for all concerned. Well done that man who hauled himself up the tree. If I had cake (which I haven't) I would gladly share it with him.

Synonymous We await a photo of Smokie with bated breath. I can almost hear him snoring from here.

Charleyg Take good care of that hand. Long ago I had an operation on my hand for carpel tunnel syndrome. I agree with Maw's diagnosis.

How is Ann? Have I missed any recent updates? She's never too far from my thoughts.

and for every one of you.

Prompted by Synonymous I am going to try a TENS machine. They only seem to cost as much as 5 packs of heat patches and less than an acupuncture session so worth a try.
I feel such a fraud whingeing when I know there are many much much worse off than myself. Years of being the “strong one” looking after Paw , holding the fort, doing the driving , gardening, bins etc etc etc had lulled me into the delusion that I was fantastic for my age healthwise. I am fortunately very healthy but the years are beginning t catch up with me!
Anyway, it’s a miserable day so I may follow Hattie’s excellent example

Mawand Jalima thanks very much for your help. I have had this before and it is RSI. The only thing is not to use my left hand as much as possible. This is not a problem because I cannot bend my fingers anyway. non use is the only way. I have moved the mouse to the right hand side temporarily. I do not have to use this machine.

Smokie is feeling much better today and says thank you for all the kind messages. I have been trying to take a decent photograph to put on here but he is a bit camera shy. When I can get Himself to do it I will get it put on here.

I remember someone telling me years ago that cod liver oil 'oils the joints' - but I don't think it works like that!
However, the vitamin D in it could help.

Not much use to Charleygirl but I have discovered Voltarol heat patches. These my help with other aches areas.
Pricey at £5+ per pack of two but to get more or less a whole night’s sleep is beyond price.
Pity I am only supposed to wear for one period of 8 hours in any 24, but the joy of no longer dreading going to bed!
The rest of the time I try to get by on the minimum dose of paracetamol. WD40 anyone?

Willow and GrannyQ for toothache and such niggles I melt a tbsp of coconut oil and drop in 5-10 drops each of clove, cinnamon and peppermint essential oils and let it set. I use it (roughly a tsp or so at a time) by rubbing on the affected area and letting it dissolve in the mouth and then 'pulling' it around the mouth for as long as you can. Just ensure you use the best quality food grade 100% essential oils so that you can swallow it. Double use then as it is good for the tum!

I have just started taking a supplement of magnesium as I read any one taking Lanzoprozole or similar are depleted of it.

Thank you Charleygirl and everyone.

Charleygirl you can buy wrist supports as Maw says but it could be worth trying one first if you can. I hope it calms down soon. RSI can be very painful so I hope it calms down soon.

It must be the time of year for aches and pains
Magnesium can help to relax the muscles (usually available with calcium in tablet form) but I don't know what can be done for joint pain as GPs are reluctant to prescribe anti-inflammatories these days.

GreyD, best to stop trying to do things that aggravate your poor back. Can you get in and out of a hot bath? That helps to relax the muscles. Otherwise, get rest, get drugs, but most of all get professional help.

Ouch Charleygirl
Sounding like inflamed tendons. No consolation if it is RSI. When I used a laptop I changed from a mouse to the pad thingy in the middle for a bit.
Do you have a wrist support when using your mouse? Maybe even a rolled up flannel might help.
My iffy shoulder is making me post rather less too (every cloud.....you might think)

I will be on the sidelines for a few days because my dominant hand, my left, is painful and very swollen, too much typing I think. Even moving the mouse to the right has not made that much difference. I need a spare hand.

Tara is much more comfortable and almost back to normal. She is not too fussed about going out which suits me fine. She has forgiven me for putting her through agony and is as loving as ever.

Jalima delighted to hear that the climber has been rescued. He will appreciate his home now until he recovers.

Good news on the wandering cats! Congratulations on the new baby brunette, hopefully kitty will be along with some good news before too long.
willow your tales of toothache are making me nervous! I’ve a check up booked for 10 days time and as I’ve had the odd niggle in the last few weeks I’m a wee bit nervous. I hope yours settles down without too much , on the other hand.... I’m interested in the turmeric idea for pain, I’ve heard it can help with joint pain too, is one sort better than another?
greyduster hope you can find a way to ease you back pain. Does a glass of or a drop of the hard stuff help?
Safe travels tomorrow corner, I don’t know if there are more accidents these days but I do think we all become more aware of the dangers as we get older. We’ve a trip to Cebtral Scotland as well as one to the south coast in the best few weeks. Seeing as we’re pretty much in the middle of England it’s a bit of a trek whichever direction we take, but sometimes needs must.
Well I’m off for an early night, we’ll early for me. I’m babysitting for a local friend tomorrow evening, they’re going to a wedding “do” so I’m guessing it might be late one. They've promised me prosecco and nibbles, hmm is that a good idea if I’m supposed to be responsible for 2 under 4s?