Soop's comfortable and convivial kitchen.

Didn't know that Charleygirl5. Thank you.
We won 4x£25 though!

No winnings here .

We’re on day two of minding an injured granddaughter. Hurt her arm (apparently not her fault, but there was no one else involved ) and needs a sling, seems comfortable this morning but won’t do the exercises recommended by hospital staff. Oh dear, is she ratty. Patience is wearing thin and it’s not 10am yet.

I’m off to ascend the loft ladder to put the Christmas decorations away, I could be some while .

Take care everyone, sorry, will catch up properly once patience is restored.

Pittcity that is a decent amount to win. This is the second month I have won zilch.

corner| not sure what to say except perhaps to move out temporarily?

My neighbours two adult "children" are having a party on Saturday evening and I have noticed a marquee has just been erected in the garden, just below my bedroom window- oh dear.

If, to paraphrase a character in Billy Bunter, “The rattiness is terrific!”, Corner, I would hide in the loft until it isn’t!

We have just come back from swimming (GS is here today). The pool was like a warm bath and almost empty. Very enjoyable. Not sure it has helped my hip, but it can’t do any harm. GS and I were supposed to be cooking chicken wrapped in Parma ham for lunch until he announced that they had it for dinner last night, so I will cook it for DH and I later. Bang goes my tutorial. The best laid plans of mice and men....etc. GS found some curry in the freezer while he was fishing around for a lolly, and has asked if he can have that for lunch instead. Fortunately it is only a small helping. We are off to the library this afternoon.

Hope Soop’s appointment yields positive results.
I will look in later.

Oh boy! Will I ever recover from that night I spent in the Argy Bargy. I owe you lovely lot an apology. It wasn't my fault. My poteen was spiked and I was rendered delirious. However, I'm okay now. I promise.

Sorry to hear that your granddaughter has injured her arm. I suppose she has every right to feel stroppy. Only - not with you.

My hospital appointment has delivered a wee blow. I've to have more surgery under a full aneasthetic. Within the next six weeks, I have to return for a pre-op assessment. If I'm healthy enough, I shall return for surgery. I am truly grateful that the NHS has given me a third/fourth/fifth opportunity to fix the problem. Will take myself off to have a bite to eat. In need of a nice cup of coffee.

Back a little later.

soop in one respect not brilliant news but if you could get the problem sorted once and for all that would be a bonus and having it done very quickly is fabulous.

I was unaware that it would take surgery to keep you out of that den of iniquity, the Argy Bargy.

The plumber has just called, switched off the water in the downstairs loo and will return early Monday to fit a new part which he has to order. I would rather a new part is fitted than try to put together the plastic thing that is there.

Charleyg Very wise. Best to get new part. Faffing around would be more stressful.

This has just been received on my FB page. Torben...high on a snowy mountain. This has made my day.

soop Torben certainly looks as though he is enjoying himself. I can remember him when he was barely out of nappies- he is growing into a fine young man.

What a happy photo soop. I’m with charley, although a shame it’s necessary the speed and hope for the future the procedure gives is excellent.

The ratiness is certainly terrific greyd, only an hour to go - I can do this .

Sounds exactly the right decision charley, sensible plumber too.

Apologies everyone, still can’t catch up properly. Will try to do better tomorrow.

corner it sounds as though you and Mr. C. may have the evening to yourselves if madam angry is going to her own home soon. Good luck to her parents.

I think I may elect to stay here on my own in blissful silence, waiting for the 4 legged lodger to return later.

I am logging off for today. I shall be with you lovely lot again after lunchtime tomorrow. My love to everyone.

soop sorry to hear about the proposed surgery. However, if I recall correctly your surgeon is wonderful so you will be in capable hands and hopefully will be a lot better after the procedure. Keep positive!

My DH has been diagnosed with sciatica. It makes perfect sense as he probably got it when we were driving around the country with a packed car. Anyway he has been put on Amitriptyline which apparently should sort out nerve pain.

I had a phone call from my breast cancer nurse telling me that at the meeting today an oncologist is going to send me an appointment to discuss additional treatments I could consider. I do not know whether to be worried or not. Is this normal? I was already booked in to see my specialist on 15th.

Dragonfly your team seem to be very on the ball and looking out for you, which is very reassuring! I quite agree though that any suggestion of additional treatments is bound to be unsettling. Try not to worry, they are all on your side ?

Apparently ‘someone’ has eaten two sausage rolls that were lounging in the fridge....I’d better warn DS that his father is on the warpath. DH and I are both grumpy with the lurgy and stealing stale sausage rolls is not on! I’d better get baking again soon...

Dragonfly they may be able to offer you a place on a research programme or something like that perhaps?

Soop sorry to hear you have to have surgery but it's better to get it over and sorted sooner rather than later - it will give you the winter to recuperate so come spring you should hopefully be feeling more comfortable permanently. What a lovely picture of Torben - he looks so happy up there.

Dragonfly commiserations with you on your husband's diagnosis - Mr W had sciatica and was in a lot of pain. Meds didn't help at all but he has been on turmeric capsules for a couple of months now and it's gone.

I don't know what the additional treatments would be - maybe complimentary to help you through the main treatment but I hope your appointment goes well if it's before the one on 15th.

Poor GD Corner - stroppy girls are not easy to contend with!

Quiet day today after a mammoth walk to try and buy a stamp - the post office which was near here has closed and although the post box is outside the shop doesn't sell stamps. A further walk to the next post box yielded the same result. I even asked a passing postman if he knew where I could buy some but despite being very helpful he didn't. I set off back and did a huge circle back again and went to the shop at the top of the estate where I should have gone to start with. Stamps galore in there and a postbox outside! Lesson learned but I'm sure the excercise did me good!

It's Mr W's 65th birthday tomorrow and I have left his card at home - I could tell him to bring it with him in the morning. Good thing we are not too bothered about cards - I do have several from friends here waiting for him.

Have a nice night all.

dragonfly it’s easy to say don’t worry but hard to do. I can only offer that when DH had prostate cancer he had an appointment with an oncologist as well as the surgeon so that we could discuss other options with the oncology team before deciding which treatment option to go for.

Sorry to hear about the operation soop but hopefully it will make things better for you. Lovely photo of Torben. ?

Thank you Doodle I am sure you are right. I expect the only reason I haven’t seen him before is because Christmas got in the way. Suddenly having to face up to all this is the problem.

Just popping in to say hello and a happy and peaceful New Year to everyone. I haven’t looked in for quite a while, Christmas got in the way.

Just popping in for a quick catchup while the dgd are still in bed.

soop, I'm sorry you need a further op but, presumably, the medics think it will improve your quality of life so is worthwhile. Torben looks one very happy boy!

corner, I hope you have recovered from Mrs Grumpy. It's funny to begin with but quite wearing isn't it?

Sciatica is awful, dragonfly!! That's official - well in my world!! I first got it two days before DS2's wedding and my GP suggested I hired a wheelchair for the event - presumably not the same gp!! It has a habit of recurring too.

Please let us know about your additional appointment. They are quite scary and bring things back into focus! We have had a busy few days and Dh's problem has, of necessity, taken a back seat. Until, that is, he got a text yesterday with an additional appointment for Saturday! We have a busy weekend ahead and could do without it but we are, as always, really grateful for the care provided by the nhs. But worried too.

Many happy returns to Mr Willow for today, I think!

I'm sorry I haven't caught up properly with everyone's news - I promise to do better next week assuming normality descends - vain hope I expect!!

Now off to spend our Premium bond winnings. What can you get for £50?

Soop, just popping in to say, I'm sorry you need further surgery, the medics must think it will improve your quality of life.

Well mine was only £25 even fewer options but better than a slap in the face with a wet kipper as my mother used to say.
I am struggling to get to grips with my new situation, I feel so very old and tired.
I go to see H every other day but if he continues to be asleep most of the time and isn't interested U will cut it down.

The guilt I feel about that will have to be dealt with.
So sorry soop about your proposed op, however if it gives you years of a better life it is worth it so good luck.
Dragonfly the more informed you are the better the outcome will be, just trust the experts, that is their aim , to get you well.
Sciatica is indeed dreadful, I had a trapped sciatic nerve 30 plus years ago, it was the most dreadful pain I have ever had, childbirth was a doddle in comparison.
GC are a joy and a trial so I wish those of you dealing with the trials well and I envy you others, I see very little of my younger GC, of my 6 I am only close to one.
I have a kitten demanding breakfast now, she had her first inoculation on Wed, she was such a good girl, I felt as proud as a new mum taking her baby to the clinic.
A tiny shop this morning then visiting H this afternoon.
Best wishes and the kindest thoughts to all and hope for better news from Panache

Soop sorry to hear about your op but as others say it is worth it.

Kitty so sorry to hear about Mr Lester. I am told this is the most worrying bit before treatment is in place. I hope it goes well on Saturday. I will be thinking of you.

Yes I really must give DH more sympathy. At least we know now what it is.

Ann I am so sorry you are so down. My Mum doesn’t know who I am any more and we cannot have a conversation. I go twice a week but usually spend the time talking to the Carers. I maybe do not feel too guilty as she has had a wonderful life and is now 98. I just don’t want her to suffer.

We were supposed to be going to Madeira on 21st but with one thing and another it is looking doubtful.