Soop's comfortable and convivial kitchen.

Hello kitcheners, I have not fully caught up with everyone's news, as always us "oldies" seem to be getting busier as we age as opposed to slowing down.

My sacroiliac joint is really painful at the moment, I hold my back stiffly and tense to compensate and consequently have a lot of pain - heat patches, pain killers and analgesic rub. I am going to the gym with my D for a stretch class which according to her will alleviate the stiffness and get me "moving". Would rather be on the sofa with a coffee and a book but hey ho I wed to be mobile (I have osteoporosis so I try to keep everything moving and my muscles as strong as possible?)

I will hopefully pop back later with cake and try to catch up.

Greyduster you soup saga had me smiling. I am making chicken soup later with the remains of a rather fine bird.

dragonfly I am pleased they have finally identified the enemy and that treatment can be refined for you. I admire your positivity and resilience.

Very very grey day here with lights on still. Up and about myself now I shall be in the gym later in an effort to get where i need to be cyclingwise. If the weather forecast is to be believed I think a gathering of volumes from the library may be in order too.

I have to say I am perturbed by the dearth of cake in the kitchen this morning. All I can offer is Greek yogurt, toasted sunflower seeds and some berries for any late breakfasteers as I have no baking plans. Tonight it is leftover chicken in a home made Thai curry. Hopefully will sort out the remnants of the current Mr Izabellas cough.

So a planned site meeting at our veg plot is definitely off, so back to the Alaska brochures! Don't let the grey day sap your spirits and I may look in later.

I've just made a cherry cake. Would anyone like a piece?
I hope the stretches help, GG13. It all sounds very uncomfortable.
Well, the sun has decided to make a brief appearance, so debating whether to wrap up warm and venture out. I really should...?

Oh good, cake. Thank you Mapleleaf

You're welcome, Izabella.
I've been flicking through the posts after posting (as you do, if you're impatient like me and want to post something), and so pleased that panache is a bit further forward with the support she and Mr P need.
Grey your post about the tins made me chuckle. You'll never know the outcome, will you, but I'm not surprised you were ready to dump her in the freezer!!??
I hope your grandson is ok, Willow500. I bet his comments made the doctor smile! ?
Well, there's even a bit of blue sky now, so I'm off to put my coat on! See you all later.

Just a very swift visit. I shall return after I've taken MacSporran to the the surgery. Since this morning, he has developed a very pronounced rash...it is covering his scalp, chest/back and legs. The appointment is for 5:00. It's chucking hailstones down by the barrow-load. I hope it clears before we set off. I am the driver.

soop take good care out there.

Hope MacSporran is okay.

Hello each! (That used to be someone on the radio’s catchphrase but I can’t remember who!!).

Maple I will have a small piece of your cherry cake if I may. I’ll be willing to bet good money that your cherries don’t sink to the bottom like mine always do (in spite of coating them in flour)!

Soop that doesn’t sound good - neither the horrid rash or the hailstones! Glad you were able to get in to see the GP and I hope he can help MacS! He has been through the mill recently, bless him.

Mr Duster has managed to put his back out. He was bent over something he was working on in the garage and when he stood up......Bang?! So, if we had any plans to go out this afternoon, they are now scuppered. We have been married nearly 53 years and I have never known him have a problem with his back, but I suppose there is a first time for everything. He’s getting on, T’owd lad! . It seems he’s out in sympathy with you, GrannyGravy! Bet you don’t complain as much as he will! Downside is, if he doesn’t get the over it by tomorrow, I shall have to do the school run! In the car!! On my own!!!?. No problem .

DD took Gs out of school today for a hospital appointment. When they got there, it had been cancelled. No notice, no explanation. Though the receptionist was very apologetic she couldn’t get hold of the bookings clerk, so no-one knew what was going on. Fortunately, he didn’t miss any lessons other than PE (which he thought was a bum deal as he got back just in time for Geography!). It’s appalling really, especially with all the technology that they have at their fingertips. A simple text or email is not too much to expect.

Well, DH is waving his hot water bottle at me, poor lamb, so I had better go and boil the kettle!
Have a pleasant evening folks!

Evening all,

Pass the cherry cake Maple!!

I am trapped in the West Wing. It was fine when I got here but now its hammering it down !! I COULD text Grampy and ask for an umbrella but somehow that seems bad. Now , if I only had a coffee I would happily stay here ( there is snooker on the TV ) LOL

Grey sorry to hear about the old chap- was that lifting the giant soup pot??? :-)

Soop sorry to hear about Macs , glad you are on the case !!

Izabella you let us down....where are some of the baked goods you usually leave....sunflower seeds do not cut it !!! :-)

We made the most of our unexpected day and went to visit a massive garden centre with a wonderful café. They do amazing afternoon teas so after a text discussion with the Queen of the Universe we are booked in to go at Easter as she is our expert.

Wishing all a pleasant evening !

N&G, no, actually he was lifting a horse!??. Do you mean to tell me you don’t have the latest state of the art coffee maker in the West Wing?? No I don’t mean George Clooney, but that would make the afternoon look a bit brighter, wouldn’t it?

Soop really hope MacS hasn't succumbed to shingles - a rash doesn't sound very good!

GreyD what with soup disasters and locked back as well as the news I think you might be in for a rough night - I dread to think why he was trying to lift a horse!

Maple can I pinch a piece of cake for Mr W please - he's very partial to anything with cherries in it. I once found him in the pantry eating glace cherries out of the pot! He will need something to cheer him up as he is currently stuck on the M62 - tea will be ruined again!

N&G your garden centre trip sounds lovely - I am still hoping to get Mr W to the one near us when he retires - he doesn't do anything that mentions the G word

Oh dear poorly people -sending healing vibes and hugs.
With only 8 weeks to go before DD3’s due date I realised I had better get a move on and do a Granny Blankie . Her MIL does the most exquisite knitting so I have decided to go for quirky. Watch this space.
(S)he had better not be early , that’s all I am saying.
I am also hoping that my shoulder will not play up in fact I am hoping that perhaps the movement will help?
X ray on Friday to see what is what, but it is most likely osteo arthritis so it will be the Voltarol heat patches and Naproxen.
Sincerely hope MacSporran ‘s rash is just viral and nothing mor serious and that others with aches and lurgies can find some relief.

Welcome Bradfordlass. I’m quite new too and everyone is very friendly.

Thank you for all good wishes, it was, 36 years wedding anniversary Call girll and second son 33 today

Went to work today - all a bit manic but only 1 day a week. DGDs tomorrow ?. Weather forecast very cold and icy tomorrow so will see about taking them out.

Wow Willow you are busy painting and waxing your cupboard

Hope you have some water and heat tonight Mamissimo

Scones spare here happy to share.

Take care

Nanaandgrampy I am so sorry, but we were saved by the wonderful cherry cake brought in by Mapleleaf and I don't think we have had one of those for ages. Not to mention scones from Twin2 - thank you.

Mammissimo - talking of quilts I once went to the Great Texas Show in Texas (obviously) and the quilts there were amazing. Never seen anything so wonderful before and some of the Amish ladies were explaining their significance to the family.

Here's hoping bad backs, cold houses and rashes all ease overnight. For myself, I merely hope I can get out of bed in the morning having gone a bit over the top with the cross trainer, bike and treadmill earlier, plus some free weights in the gym. A gentle swim tomorrow I think and in the meantime - Radox methinks.

?

Bradfordlass A very warm welcome.

The doctor could not identify MacSporran' rash. She has contacted Oban hospital. We have a appointment at 11 tomorrow. Need an early start. I shall be back with you as soon as we return. Sorry for the rush. We haven't been home long. Soup and toast and yogurt tonight. Love to you all.

Good luck tomorrow Soop wishing you a quiet night and a safe journey.

Ahem bradfordlass you and I have met before in that den of iniquity aka the Argy. I hope you will not let slip to the more refined kitcheners exactly what has been going on (soop knows but is sworn to secrecy ?). We’ll just pretend we don’t know each other (for goodness sake cover up that leather basque and put those chains away ?) cover up with twin set and pearls and no one will be any the wiser. ?

soop poor MacSporran hope he’s ok and you find out what has caused his rash soon.
Happy anniversary twin and birthday wishes to you son.
Cooee maple. Cherry. Are over here please. yummy ?

I'll bake another one or maybe a dozen, shall I? ??
Good luck, tomorrow soop. Hope they find out what Macsporran's rash is.
Congratulations to all who have had birthdays and anniversaries today.

Hello Greyduster. It was Beryl Reid who said ‘Hello Each’ but can’t remember the show.

Sorry to hear about your DH.

Sorry to hear about McS soop. I hope the appointment tomorrow is helpful

Oooh Doodle you blew my cover! Pink twine set and pearls it is.
In my Domestic Goddess mode I just knocked up, so to speak, a batch of banana cookies, just 2 ingredients - fine oats and mashed bananas. Will swap for a piece of Cherry cake.

And good, strong wishes for those having health issues.

NanKate and GreyD, may I venture to suggest that Beryl Reid was possibly in the role of Marleen, with a Brummie accent, in Educating Archie?
Soop, safe journey to Oban tomorrow, and I sincerely hope that what ails MacSporran turns out to be not too serious.
GreyD, my sympathies to your husband, my back tends to go suddenly like that, I liken it to a spring going "POING!"
N&G, I hope you managed to leave the West Wing before wasting away.
My eldest son, who is recovering from a recent back operation, has had a rather nasty chesty cough for a while, went to the doctor`s on Monday, she sent him for a chest x-ray yesterday, they rang him this afternoon to say they`d found a shadow on his lung, he`s now waiting for a scan appointment, feeling very worried.

Evening All. Apologies to you all , I truly can’t respond properly to everyone, my memory wont retain all the detail.

So just to say I hope all poorly people are so much better soon and to send a hug to those who are struggling.

Hope this brings a smile. One of ours pondered on the subject of work ‘why do people have to go to work?’ ‘It wastes so much time - whoever invented it was very silly’. Followed by ‘I expect it was a man’

Well, made me smile .

Sleep well everyone.