Soop's welcoming and supportive kitchen

A sunny early afternoon greeting to the amazing Granspals in the kitchen. Every one of you is a star.

Thank you to all those of you who are being supportive and kind and jolly and funny and...the list is a very long one. Your individual contributions help to make the kitchen a very special place. I cannot think how I would feel if you lot decided to keep your stories of everyday life to yourselves.

I am not a joiner of group activities. BUT...what we share, is very important to me.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201810/medium-755349-p1011024.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201810/medium-197148-p1011030.jpg

Here are two photos taken from our garden. Last night's sky, and this mornings...perfect peace.

Hello the kitchen and what a busy day yet again so soop I really don't think it is possible to keep up with everybody! What a blessing this thread is and provides a wonderful outlet where people can relax and share. I must have missed MacS's birthday in the maelstrom so another very Happy Birthday from me and Himself.

Maw and deepest sympathy for such a huge loss which I don't think ever becomes less.

Tanith what a blessing you have such a sensitive family who are trying to keep you busy. These interest groups are such a good idea so I hope you find one which fits you like a glove and you find some kindred spirits. I know what you mean about sleep too as it makes you feel so much better and more able to cope with everything. I seem to have come out on the other side of a very lean patch concerning sleep.
Himself left me to sleep yesterday and he was so pleased to have brought me breakfast in bed and I was in bits because he actually managed to carry things. He pretty well kippered himself doing it but it was a real milestone and makes me smile just thinking about it.

That makes me think of dear ann as regards the sleep particularly and the difficulties with your DH. Once the downhill slip begins it sadly increases exponentially so I hope a good placement will be found very quickly because your Sunday meal shows this only too clearly. (((hugs)))

callgirl so much to look forward to! Enjoy !

kitty hope you feel better very soon so just look after yourself.

GreyD sympathies as regards the camera as I am easily bamboozled by the technobabble spouted and often give up. I have worked out that you need to take a child along to explain it to you!

Panache I so love to read your posts and understanding all your battles makes me amazed at the Grace you show.
I was reminded of you yesterday when I visited my 95 year old friend in hospital having had a particularly nasty fall - but no bones broken thankfully. When asked how she felt she smiled and said, "Good in parts". Sounds familiar!

I know I have missed many of you but have read your posts and am thinking of you all. X

I need to get the dishwasher going or else I will have no plates and I will need more today as the family arrive at dinner time. Hooray! and fireworks too!!!

Dear Tanith You haven't misses anything. MacS's birthday is this coming Saturday.
Thank you for a most interesting post.

MaS left a portion of steamed salmon on his plate. Guess where it is? Yep! You are right.

Oooops! Sorry about the misspellings. Trigger happy!

My H started asking what clothes he took off at bedtime, at a quartero three.
As soon as he got the sentence out and had been answered he asked it again, and again and again.
After an hour and a half I put my hands over my ears and asked him to stop as I couldn't take it any longer, he turned away and said "yes you damn well can".
The reality of living with someone with dementia.
He is now getting undressed as he says he has nothing else to do.

annsixty I have just read your post and I have no words to help you . I just wish I was with you to give you a big hug x

ann I feel your pain. I'm wondering - could I maintain your level of patience? I love MacS dearly, and yet, I doubt that I have your remarkable ability to cope day in, day out with the relentless agony and frustration of your husband's condition. I WISH that a resolution may be forthcoming. You cannot continue without becoming very ill.

Evening all,

No hope of catching up I'm afraid so just a wave to all !!

One thing I did spot was your pending trip to the Radisson Blu Corner . I stayed there a few years ago and its lovely. I was there when they had their Christmas decorations up and it was just beautiful. The food was pretty good too ;-)

I am off tomorrow to make the epic trip to Bournemouth to see baby Ella, so I will catch up with you all on Thursday .

I need to log off. Throughout the evening there will be one person in particular on my mind. ann I am very concerned for you.

I second that Soop............. this is a very worrying scenario and so deeply upsetting for you dear Ann...........it seems so futile in simply adding I am thinking of you,but it seems about all I can do.

Ann - thinking of you and your husband.
And saying a prayer - you never know, it might help.

Just a quick visit, I`ve read all your posts, but making of the tea calls, so will be back later.

I can only give you all my thanks.
I will have to act soon if nothing happens.

Oh Ann that’s such hard stuff to cope with, you’re amazing to have managed it for so long. It seems that one of the first emotions to disappear in your situation is a sense of empathy for the other person. Not that any amount of kind words would make it possible for you to carry on as you are, but even a tiny sense of understanding from your dh of how you’re feeling might just ease the burden a little while you wait for a suitable home to be found. I hope that happens as quickly as you need it to.

soop as always, you show us your beautiful surroundings at their very best. I’m following the cat story with interest, that tabby could be the luckiest puss alive if that’s the way things go!

maw, I’ve been thinking of you today, read your post. earlier but didn’t have a chance to do more. I guess there are all sorts of experiences that only your dear paw truly shared with you and today would highlight the loss of your baby as well as the loss of the person who shared that sadness most of all. I’m glad the day got better as it went on, you are a woman of great fortitude....oh dear that sounds a bit pompous.... I don’t meant it to be. x

panache you too are a brave soul, and an honest one too. It can’t be easy to say it “how it is”, especially on here when you could so easily just pretend. I’m sure you pay a price for taking the time and energy to keep up to date but so many appreciate that you do, your care and concern for others is always there and clear to see. You do much better than I do in keeping track of who said what etc! x

tanith another “not a joiner” here, I blame it on that time I went, as a painfully shy child, to Brownies for just the 2nd time -someone told me off and that was the end of that! I don’t think I’m an unsociable person ( But I think I’ll pass on the running club option greyduster!!) but have always found “joining in “ a challenge in certain circumstances. Thinking of you tanith as you look to find ways to make a different sort of life as a “onesome” rather a twosome. It won’t be the life you had but hopefully a good one. I’m glad your family are trying to be supportive, I’m hoping mine will be should the day come for me. x

synonomous I love that description of a “lean patch* of sleep, I know that debilitating feeling, rotten isn’t it? Your husband sounds to be an amazingly resilient and persistent man to be recovering in the way he is. It made me smile reading your description, I could almost see your delight. x

kitty such generosity in sharing of germs, I’m tempted to say that’s what you get for sleeping with a dentist....but that would be mean! Hope you feel much better very soon and get to cuddle that delicious baby.

morethan support doesn’t always come with a fanfare and it sounds like your kind sister has supported generously and practically over the years, what a blessing. I guess everyone does what they can but some gestures are easier to receive than others. Lovely to read about your family party, I hope there were some photos to help you all, especially the little ones, remember that happy time. corner, I’m wishing the same for you as for myself - that a niggling tooth with a broken filling stays quiet until my appt next week!
DdI has just arrived with tea...no time to check for typos x

Well, having approached the prospect of a steroid jab in my rear end with some trepidation, it turned out to be a complete anti-climax. The doctor told me to cough to cause a distraction, then, as I was waiting for the sensation of the jab, he said it was done and I hadn't felt the quite long needle going in. I asked him if he was sure! I felt nothing - absolutely nothing! He says I should feel the benefit of the injection within a week - by which time, I'll be a year older! I think I share (or almost share) a birthday with McS - another Scorpio.
Poor kitty. I'm so sorry to hear you're feeling really awful. I know you have no option but to take it easy, but what a shame you can't go and have a cuddle with Wolfie.
ann, I can't say anything that hasn't been said already, but feel for you and hope for a solution sooner rather than later.
Panache, I feel for you not being able to have a decent night's sleep. It must be demoralising. You have so much empathy with everyone else who has pain or problems. You must have a very big heart.
Maw (((hugs)))) to you on this poignant anniversary.

ann you are following in the same path others have trod before. Not sure whether that's a help or not. I can remember my SIL spending an hour trying to convince my brother that he could not go out wearing his pyjama bottoms and finally persuading him into a pair of trousers only to find 5 minutes later that he'd got back into the pyjamas and gone to bed. He was the kindest and most gentle of people but when the dementia took hold he became impossibly stubborn refusing to take his tablets or throwing them on the floor. If it's any comfort you are going through one of the worst bits now but when you finally find the right care home for him your life will improve bit by bit. May God give you the strength you need to get there.

I'm looking at posts (from my sick bed ) and just want to check that you are looking for a home, ann? As you are probably going to be paying, at least the majority of, the fees you can find your own and worry about the formalities later.

It is quite easy to find the homes that are registered for dementia patients. And then visit rather than relying on the cqc report.

There is also a company that will find one for you. I will try to find the name. It really is urgent now.

If you need to, you can ring the emergency social worker. They will often be more proactive.

maw what a touching and heartfelt post. No greater tribute to your little son that so many years later you still shed a tear for his passing. ?x

Just wanted to say how lovely you all are in support of those in need, I hope I’ll be as supportive in turn.
I am reading and heel for all going through tough times I just don’t feel able to respond to each and every post.
A joint bunch for you all

Sorry to hear you are so poorly kitty. Hope you are on the mend soon. ?

Just to make you smile - youngest GS (age 10) quote of the journey over on the boat. "Mum, if you want me I am in the bar playing cards with my friends". Said in all innocence of course.

tanith I hope you can find some pleasure in your knitting. We have purchased some coloured lights to warm up the dark evenings. A knitting club if you can find one sounds like a good idea. Our local library has lists of such groups you could try looking in yours. ?

panache despite your own problems you still manage to keep posting such caring messages to others. We missed you so much when you were in hospital. Such a joy to have you with us again. x

morethan your sister sounds like a real treasure to provide the type of support that goes unsung but very much needed.

So many posts in the kitchen to keep up with so just want to say hello ? to those I've missed. I have read all the posts so a gentle (hug) to all those feeling poorly or otherwise in need of comfort and support. Hope you all sleep well tonight.

A knitting club if you can find one sounds like a good idea. Our local library has lists of such groups you could try looking in yours

It could be worth considering Tanith - but if you do join one, don't expect to get too much knitting done, probably more 'nattering'. They often have combined 'projects' for charity which give a sense of purpose as well.
Otherwise, your local U3A may have a craft group which could involve other crafts too.

Hello to everyone else and some tlc for those feeling unwell or those having difficulties.
I hope you can get everything sorted out ann, for both your sakes

Ann, I really do hope that you get something sorted very soon. I think you`ve just about reached the bitter end of your tether, this is necessary for you as well as for your husband. All the best x
Soop, yet more beautiful photos, thank you.
Morethan, as long as your sister knows just how much YOU appr.eciate her and all that she does, I think that`s all she needs. She sounds an absolute treasure.
Tanith, take care, things do get better in time, not completely, but better.
MawB, thinking of you. Your little boy is safe with his daddy now, they`ll take care of each other.
Panache, once again, so lovely to keep hearing from you, despite your not feeling very chipper, you`re a lot braver than me.
Kitty, so sorry you`re feeling so poorly, look after yourself, we miss you.
Anno, I`m glad the jab in the bum wasn`t too traumatic.
To anyone I`ve missed, Greetings and sorry.