Soop's welcoming and supportive kitchen

Best wishes for tomorrow Maw - we’ll all be there in spirit.
More beautiful pictures Soop - I’m a lovely shade of green now!
Great photos N&G.
Congratulations to your amazing and brave DD, NfK.
DS and family left this morning - hate the first few hours without all their noise and busyness, so kept busy doing all the washing etc. Spent hours this afternoon trying to find a new gas hob - we inherited a scratched stainless steel one and I can’t get it to look clean. Settled on a Neff in the end so??.
Good night all, sleep well.

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Late to the party today, goodness knows why as the days seems to have frittered by with not that much to show for it. Well now I think about it I’ve actually done quite a lot, but all little bits and pieces so not terribly satisfying.

Jackson looks to be enjoying his holiday chez n&g, somehow by the glint in his eyes I have a feeling that his stamina may out do that of his hosts! greyduster, love the photo, it was a beautiful day here too. Shame about the specs, that’s why I’ve moved on to varifocals even although I don’t need glasses for distance. I got so fed up with the on/off faffing around, kept losing them, sitting on them dropping them. An unexpected bonus of wearing them all the time is that hopefully no one will notice the ever increasing bags under my eyes that they conveniently disguise! soop your paintings are beautiful, the anemonies - that surely isn’t the correct spelling?? Is my favourite.

I’m glad I’m not alone in the getting up from the floor malarkey, I’m fine as long as there’s something to grab on to but otherwise it’s anythung but elegant! I see my gp surgery is running sessions to improve balance (post hip replacement mine is not great) but I can’t face going in case it’s full of old people which of course I’m very definitely not! Anyway who knows how long they’ll be running, rumour has it the surgery got into debt building it’s swanky premises (now 10 years old). A couple of years ago the partners sold the practice off to a private company, all the gps, nurses and other staff have gradually left and it seems there are real problems in recruitming new doctors. Apart from annual asthma/BP reviews I have had no reason to see a doctor for a wee while, I’m hoping it’ll improve before I need one. Mind you I did have 2 random text messages from the surgery today reminding me about 2 different appointments, neither of which I’d made. Apparently it’s down to “a problem with our text messaging service”, it doesn’t inspire confidence.....!

Right this won’t do, I’ve an early start tomorrow with a school assembly 1st thing and then we’re off to Scotland to see the old boys brothers. If I don’t come back please send a search party, I’ll leave you with a couple of sunny autumn photos from last weekends wanderings to York and thereabouts. Sending a gentle hug to those with sore hearts and aching joints x

Thanks Grannieq, I will have one of the aching joints hugs please! Both shoulders and both hips have started playing up at night although not too bad during the day. And getting up from the floor ?? Are you having a laugh?
Hope Ann has a good day.

Hope the shoulder shows improvement Maw and injection is not too painful.
I had a problem with my shoulder last year and had physiotherapy, he told me it would take six months whatever treatment I had. I opted for exercises with weights and elastic and it worked. So inconvenient not being able to put your arm behind your back.

Thankyou NannyT .
I have the SW coming at 3pm, I don't really look forward to the visit.
She really is young enough to be my GD and somehow degrees and training doesn't equal many years of experience.
When I said I expected a battle over fees, I really do not expect NOT to pay for care, I just need to be left with enough money to exist.
With what I have been told by the first SW, I won't even be able to pay my bills.
After 60 years together and hard work on my H's part, paying in to an Occupational pension for 40 years for our retirement, I never expected to be asking for state benefits to feed myself.
He paid an extra % so I would have a decent pension if he died.
We may as well have not done that if it all going in care fees.

Sorry for that rant but my future, what is left of it, looks uncertain and uncomfortable.

I have friends who holiday all the time and I encourage that and have never felt envious until yesterday, one came to bring me some sloes to make sloe gin, and we chatted about the holiday she and her H are going on in 3 weeks, when she said and we are doing a cruise to the Caribbean in Feb , I felt so jealous and that is awful. They have the good fortune to be able to do it and they should enjoy it while they can.

At least I have my health, very stiff and slow, but no major problems, so I wish those of you who don't better health soon.

Thinking of you Ann .I hope the SW can sort out fees without impoverishing you ! It seems so stupid to leave you without any leeway

I'm so sorry you have more worry ann, there will be a way, there has to be. People here will advise I'm sure, luckily not needed to find out for myself yet. .

Missing again and then I make a tentative appearance only to find the Kitchen awash with lovely postings and some great pictures both by camera (presumably) as well as my Soop`s able artistic hand.

If you don`t mind my friends I will simply wish those feeling unwell or have seemingly the heavy weight of the world hanging around their shoulders a much improved day(s)............especially the hard work you are having Ann...... simply it seems for existence and yes,it helps not I know............but I am seething for you......and just hope the result will be far better than you fear once all these calculations are complete.
Having faced far greater things in your life dear Maw I am sure you will stand like a trooper for this cortisone injection.........and the benefit will outweigh any discomfort.Time you were free of these painful problems.
Thinking of you both.

My sunday outing did not happen as some mist developed,just as well for whilst yesterday and today are again glorious,even warm in the sun itself........I have taken another rough turn,so far I have been allowed home from Hospital........but I am not too sure if my luck will hold!

Please know I am reading all the postings and I send you all a pleasing and fulfilling day.

Panache I wish that I had your way with words. Once I begin to get involved with the never ending stream of messages, I get either tongue-tied or "go on" in a boring, never quite getting there burble. Bless you.

ann after all that you and your husband have dealt with throughout your long, married life, you deserve the peace of mind that will enhance the quality of your lives. I am hoping to hear favourable news from you just as soon as something suitable and affordable can be arranged.

NannytopsySome weeks ago, I made the mistake of choosing to have a bath instead of a shower. I could not get up and out of the darn thing. MacSporran (my husband) had to strip off and stand behind me and endeavour to lift me to my feet. It took an age before we were both standing on the bath rug. Oh dear me! Never again. From hereon, I shall be happy to stand under the shower that at best trickles (like a lazy widdle). The supplier has said that it is faulty. No! Really? They've sent a replacement. Now all we need is a plumber.

granniequeenie The photograph of the autumn leaf is my absolute favourite.

The care home visit was a mixture of pleasant small talk and a series of attempts to calm a resident who was yelling for her sister to come and get her. Another lady, the one who relishes peace and quiet, was getting flustered. She finally lost the plot and shouted that the sister was not here, nor was she expected to visit. Cue for me to try more gentle persuasion. As I left, I thought, what if that was me. A little kindness goes just far. Then what...

Tanith I just wanted to say I’m so sorry about your DH. Thinking of you

Thinking of you Panache and hoping you can still get home from the hospital for a good while yet.

Ann there has to be some financial support to help you. Some years ago we had a visit from a charity who advised on the care benefits available at the time for my parents. Unfortunately I can't remember the name of it (I've been trying to think of it for some time) or even if it was just a local group or country wide. It might be worth asking the SW if they know of something similar in your area.

My husband came back from his hospital appointment this morning with a whole new C-Pap machine - his other was apparently 10 years old although it's had various parts replaced. He will be heading off to bed extra early tonight to try it out - what excitement

Flu injections at tea time to look forward to today - not! Back later.

ann do you have your own bank account? You need to set precedent of not only having money (your allowance) transferred to your own account from the joint account so that it will continue once your DH is in care but also that the bills are paid from the joint account so that those payments will also continue. We have enquired of CAB to make sure that we have got it right. It is a minefield and you absolutely have to fight your corner , sadly at a time when you are probably hitting an all time low. Do you have family who will help fight your battles. Church family will help if you have no blood family. I am so sorry that you are having to deal with so much,

Ann, I am beyond frustrated at your situation, and you don’t deserve to have this burden on you. It would seem that a lifetime of hard work and saving for the future, and therefore not being a burden on the state, is no guarantee against being shafted by the system. Please God there will be some common sense solution for you!
Gq brilliant photos. I am currently researching a new camera as my phone camera is not cutting the mustard for me. I have had some good advice from a friend and have my eye on one, but I am always slow to make decisions about sizeable purchases! At this rate, it will be a present for my next birthday, not this one! I have an ultimatum from Himself to get my finger out!
Soop I have given up bathing for that very reason - we had ours taken out but I have wished it back a few times since! There are times when a shower is nowhere near as soothing to aching muscles as lying in a bath.
We had a big garden bashing session this morning. We took around eighty percent of the perennials out of our main flower bed and moved them all around, while at the same time digging out some severe pests that no longer deserve their place and we’re intent on taking over! We now have a much more open framework and hopefully, next year, everything will look more balanced. Hopefully. The best laid plans of mice and men....! There was a time when I would neither have worried, nor given a second thought to the weight of the task, which involved much heavy digging, heaving, tugging and swearing intense discussion. But DH still thinks he is Superman, and neither of us are sensible enough to know our limitations, so now we are nursing myriad aches and pains. Silly buggers!
Our son is travelling down this evening to go to football with his dad, and has asked if we can have a meat and potato pie. I hope if I make it, he will be here in time to eat it, or he will have to have it in a sandwich to eat in the car on the way to the ground!. So I suppose I had better limp along to the kitchen to do the business!

Panache so sorry you have been having 'a rough turn' and also missed your outing. Keeping you in my prayers that you will stay well enough to be at home. Going to the hospital every single day is so very draining so do keep being kind to yourselves.

Flipping heck - you lot have done it again! Please sit still.

Ann, if you haven't already, please talk to AgeUK about your financial situation - they are brilliant and their website has really good downloads. As far as I am aware, your DH can only use pensions and money in his name to pay for care. Savings and pensions in your name only are untouchable. Anything in joint names is assumed to be 50/50, unless there is evidence that it is otherwise, and is reassessed annually. You can't be forced to sell your house but a deferred loan can be put in place for when it is eventually sold. Sorry if you already know all this but you need to be prepared. Also, you cannot be forced to pay a top up fee. Again AgeUk are fabulous. It is a scary position to be in, especially without DH, who would have been by your side previously when big decisions were made.

Sorry to hear about your potential hospital stay, panache. Please visit us as often as you can - we would visit you if we could. We are all wishing you well.

soop, you are a wonder. I wouldn't have patience to visit the care home as often as you do. I'm sure the residents enjoy your company enormously.

Maw, I hope the injection worked the miracle for you. I had a frozen shoulder for at least a year and found it so debilitating.

There are some brilliant photographs here and some lovely children. We have had a flurry of daughters and their families - including Wolfie (who cries a heck of a lot for a small boy!) and I forgot to take any photos at all. Hopeless. The DDs sent me some so I will endeavour to post a few.

This morning, I went to a couple of those huge, cheap stores to buy some hair products. They had them last time I was there, but not this time which drives me mad. They did, however, have lots of things I didn't know I needed eg roasting tin liners, huge soap dispensery things and a lovely little vase so it wasn't a complete waste of time although I will now have to order the hair stuff on line at twice the cost. Hey ho!

I haven't had a bath for about 20 years - I'm not prepared to risk it!! I don't think I smell.

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Photos as promised. I can't post them from the laptop! His uncle (DS1) is looking anxious!

What a little treasure he is * kitty*
The only thing that came out of the brief meeting with the SW is that I know more than her as to my rights with regard to costs and my H is 6th on the waiting list for my home of choice, not encouraging although it was pointed out that the weather is turning now to winter!!! isnt that ghoulish.
She will chase up the finance dept, I wont hold my breath.

What a blessing winter is round the corner Ann!!

While I was admiring Wolfie and typing my last post, a dreadful smell permeated the house.
When I went into the kitchen I remembered I had put some rice on to cook, I now have to cook more rice and the saucepan is in the bin.
Not my day.

I did that last week, Ann. Saucepan burnt black at the bottom. I tossed some soda crystals in and filled it with warm water, left it for a couple of hours and then gave it a swish with a nylon pan scrubber. Clean as a whistle.
Kitty how babies change in such a short space of time! He is a bobby dazzler! I could get broody!

And I thought I was the only one that let things boil dry, ann! Last time it was my pea and mint soup!
As kitty says, Age UK know all about the finance issues. You need an advocate, though you seem to have done a good job on the SW so far. Don't trust anything that comes from the Finance Division - they will try to put one over on you. Take care.

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Evening all!!

Ann I am sure you can fight your corner but we grans stand ready to back you up! It’s a shocking state of affairs !

Kitty , Wolfie looks as cute as a button! I could do with a cuddle.

Grampy has come down with a cold so our cuddles with baby Ella are postponed till next week.

Today was all about tiddling on Hunstanton beach ! ( is tiddling a commonplace word for it or just from my childhood) .

It was bright but windy. Grampy and Jackson had to walk miles as the tide was out....I have added a picture of what I was doing while I waited!?

I’ll catch up more tomorrow night when our house will seem very empty without Jackson !

After lots of mishaps with boiled rice, I have invested in a £15 microwave rice cooker - it's a revelation!!

Thank you, kitty for the photograph of one of our latest darling new-borns. Wolfie has a fine voice. He is living up to his name. I do love the way babies sleep with their arms raised above their heads. Always makes me

ann I left a glass saucepan containing plums simmering for far too long. The smell lingered for days on end. The saucepan remains in soak. I've used all manner of things to scrape the burnt on black off the bottom. Does anyone know of the remedy for such buggerations? Greyduster I also tried the soda remedy. It didn't work.

N&G Merely looking at your photo demolishing that wonderful cake has made my mouth water. Now what! There is no cake in our cupboard. See what you've done...

Maw do let us know whether the injection eases your pain. Please take time to relax.

Panache You are in my thoughts.

MacSporran will be attending a meeting in the village hall tonight. I always miss him.

Tomorrow I should be doing my pal's ironing. Her husband has a stinking cold. It may mean that I pick up the basket of laundry from her home and do the job here. I am determined not to expose MacS to viruses. Tomorrow afternoon we both have the flu vaccine. It makes sense.

Time for my departure. It's been blustery and wet throughout the day. Thankfully we have a snug and cosy home.

Until tomorrow -

I retrieved the pan from the bin, dissolved a dishwasher tab in boiling water and left it simmering, "jobs a good'un" it is gleaming .
Thankyou Greyduster, no soda, but worth a try and it worked.