Soop's super supportive kitchen (with a wing for poorly menfolk)

Here I am again. The funeral for "J the Strimmer" was very well attended. It appeared that the majority of residents in the village attended. He was kind, sociable, hard-working and thoroughly decent. He will be missed. No doubt about it.

Now, I have more-or less caught up with activities here in our kitchen. The slightly, poorly men-folk wing appears to be emptying. Obviouly the strict regime isn't for those of a delicate/nervous constitution.

Willow, your husband's throat sounds serious. He had better have the GP give an honest opinion. The newly established wing is those with less serious conditions who will benefit from Matron's strict regime

Greyduster You have a wicked sense of humour.

It is always good to hear from Panache. One day at a time...makes perfect sense.

N&G As far as I know, MacSporran hasn't discarded a single garment in the thirty years we've been together. He has kept "stuff" from the eighties...kipper ties and, dare I say it, flairs! I jest. I made sure that they disappeared without trace. Everything he keeps is precious. Far too good to dispence with even though I may never again need them. His words, not mine.

Ann Molly has added a new dimension to your life. She will grow into a fine feline (less frisky than she is at prent) but good company.

Better news Panache but still one step forward and two steps back.
The house move is very troubling indeed for you, staying put with help in the house and the garden may be a better option, it is for me presently although finance may come into the equation soon.

I am so sorry that we have so many poorly kitcheners and spouses, my mum would have said you all need putting in a sack and shaking up.
She had no place for illness in her life or anybody else's.

I must admit to having forgotten just what hard work kittens are!!
Molly is a terror, of course I wouldn't be without her now but I am forever getting her out of cupboards, spare bedrooms, dishwasher and anywhere she can slip into without me seeing.
She can now leap into the kitchen worktop so she has to be shut out so she cries pathetically outside the door.
This is made worse by the fact that all my doors downstairs, apart from the shower room have glass panels, so she can see me.
Second vaccination for her tomorrow then she can go out in two weeks but I think I will get her spayed first. She will be old enough by then.

Very cold today but I have been kept indoors by waiting for two deliveries, they have both been now and put away.
One was Sainsbury's so I can eat now for a couple of weeks without needing to shop.
I can also wash up for England as I mistakenly ordered two large packs of dishwasher tablets, I may never need to buy any more in my lifetime.

Best wishes to all you poorly ones, spring is just around the corner although it may be a long road to get to it.

Now Mr GG13 has had his ears syringed (only took himself a year to get round to it) I am having to be more careful about my mutterings about him!!!!!

My sacroiliac joint is still painful, so my exercising is limited, but hey ho I am getting better each day and as soon as I have the all clear shall volunteer for the kitchen SAS!!

Wishing you all a warm and comfy day.

That is indeed great news Panache. It is amazing how we rely on our cars.

I seem to have come down with a bug now but I am not going to steal a bed in the men's ward. Being a typical woman I shall soldier on with the help of paracetamol.

That is indeed good news Panache
I suppose it has been a month, but I know the DVLA are quite strict

Driving after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or minor stroke. The UK DVLA (Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency) do not allow you to drive for at least a month after a stroke or TIA. After the first month, if the doctor agrees that you are fit to drive, you can do so
Driving after a transient ischaemic attack (TIA) or mino r stroke
www.healthtalk.org › peoples-experiences

Having a beautiful red sunrise this morning I thought it may well bring us all good fortune........though nippy we are still free of frost and snow.

Ann I am so relieved to hear that the Consultants are in complete tune with your own thinking regarding your H`s later dignoses,hopefully they can continue to keep him free from further aggravation...........I am sure you feel a whole weight has been removed from your shoulders......and you can breathe more freely again.

I had hoped to take my dear man out of your ward and care Izabella............although well knowing I will never be able to keep up the standard of caring you offer!!!
However a bit of a D Day here at Chez Panache as a rather posh Hospital car collected us at before 8am (an hour earlier than arranged!) to take him for a complete assessment.Although arriving early there at the Hospital,there was quite a wait, however the only plus point after the Consultant had checked my man over was this.......... he is allowed to drive................that certainly brought a big smile!!
However it appears the scans show this is but yet another stroke he has suffered,so the dangers are high.
Although he adheres to a good diet,no smoking or alcohol,and takes all the medication, his BP is back up far too high, so all the tests are being redone,leaving us in rather a worried state.
But you know my favourite saying is ......."One day at a time.........." and so onward we go.
First on our agenda is possibly cancelling the sale of this property as obviously we are dicing with more problems, although of course, down sizing makes much sense.............one thing at a time perhaps.

Good to hear your man is on the mend Dragonfly so obviously that alone speaks highly of the after care in this new ward!

Loved all the lightheartedness and jocularity within this new kitchen and I am fairly itching to be back in the thick of things with you all!!

Have a good, full and reasonably kind day folk.

Hello the kitchen! I didn’t get round to the Anzac biscuits yesterday but I offer them warm from the oven. They have the invalid’s seal of approval (and mine)!

N&G I have been tempted to ask for the leg of lamb a few times in connection with DH’s sartorial intransigence. For several years after he came back from two winter tours in the Falklands, he insisted on clinging to his motheaten (in fact, even the moths turned their noses at them eventually) military cold weather undergarments, socks and boots for our winter walking rather than buying himself some decent stuff. I mean, if he had been run over by a bus on the wilds of the Kinder escarpment, I would have been mortally embarrassed! If you are recruiting for the SAS?, please count me in, but only if we have a nice hat!??

Dragonfly I am very pleased to hear that your DH is on the mend and due for discharge from the men’s ward (lucky chap - I may be re-employed soon!). We are ticking along making small improvements and walking (very) short distances outside.
In fact, we are off shortly for our daily constitutional so I had better make a move. I will look in later.

Good to hear Mrdragonfly is better. His discharge letter awaits collection together with a behaviour report from the poorly wing. All quiet on there this morning after yesterdays whipping into shape. There is a bed for Grampy if required.

Busy on my planning for NZ. Have currently got as far as Coromandel and awaiting international flight details. I still have several poorly friends so dividing visits between them. Another this afternoon after the gym session. Or it might be a swim, we shall see. Depends how many 'faffers' are in the pool.

Sunny here following around 10 snowflakes yesterday and a very very hard frost this morning. Bird table replenished.

Have a good day everyone. Oh and welcome back into the fray of the poorly ward Grey. You were missed.

Good morning. Sun coming through. Hope all hav3 a good day

Morning all,

Hurrah !! I have found an NHS dentist who will put me on his books and see me tomorrow. Whilst I am thrilled as I REALLY need to see him I am in equal parts terrified. My fight or flight response comes out in these situations and my nerves are already on edge with 36 hrs to go. I so wish I didn’t feel this awful fear but needs must when the devil drives !!

Excellent news Dragonfly , I am sure DH found the ward regime too harsh in comparison to his lovely wife and home ?

Grampy could be heading to the ward later. He needs to sort out the clothes he is hoarding and I can hear the conversation now :

Me: charity shop!
Him : but ( tick as appropriate). .... I love it, there’s loads of wear in it, I only wear it in the garden, I’ve only had it 20 years, I might slim into it....etc etc

So , I have the leg of lamb at the ready !! ?

We celebrated too yesterday Mamissimo our clever boiler man got it going again ( the motor had gone). Yours sounds very swish though !! Nothing worse than being cold!

Grey I suspect the Gransnet Battalion of Women of Age is FAR tougher than the Foreign Legion . I have heard it said that it is said that the SAS actually stands for Seriously A*re kicking Seniors ??‍♀️??‍♀️

I hope everyone else is getting better, or feeling better or eating cake !! I will leave some jolly nice cherry cake here in case anyone fancies a slice !

Glad there are some improvements on the mens’ ward. At this rate it will soon be empty!

Willow I appear to wash for Harrow so a few more items would not mean much to me. There will be help but I am aware that many of these men do not know what to do with an iron.

Dragonfly that's good news - I expect it was the excellent nursing and frees up a bed which is just as well as I am fast wheeling Mr W along the corridor from the crèche to occupy it. He has a bad throat. Do we have anyone responsible for laundry?

I've just had time to drop in a Victoria sponge on my way past for us ladies.

Glad your DH is feeling better. dragonfly. We have to take good care of each other as we get older. Not sure son's will be much use.

I just wish to thank the wonderful nurses in the men’s wing. I think they have cured my DH. He is so much better today so I shall take him home if that is okay.

There is a big box of chocolates on the side for all the wonderful nurses.

Lullydully I’m in Hampshire too! Sleety rain this afternoon when I went to the hairdressers - why does the weather turn yuk whenever I go so that DH asks wryly whether the look is what I intended. I was channelling soggy dog this afternoon!

We are celebrating today because our new Air Source and Solar heating and power system is now fully functional and we are toasty again after 8 days with one open fire. Warmth is wonderful ?

Ann I am so glad that the Drs concurred with your thoughts. I had a similar meeting with a hospital consultant about my DMs treatment when she was in the very advanced stages of dementia and from then on she was kept so much more comfortable.

Wonderful photos today - I have view envy Soop - it’s no wonder your kitchen is always full!

Kidneys braised in red wine for us tonight because the resident boy is away. Grown up food!

I did so like the hat, though! ☹️

??? Grey

Well, Matron Izabella, I may be asking for my job back! The Foreign Legion wasn’t as tough as I though it would be. I got a bit suspicious when we all had to march across the desert singing ‘The Sun Has Got His Hat On’!!

Many thanks for the welcome and I will catch up with the chatter soon. I have brought lemon drizzle cake, without calories sadly, despite the lemon and sugar syrup on top.

No snow here in Hampshire, no mountains but plenty of cars.

Izabella VERY funny!

dragonfly Yes, I took the photos through the window shortly before I uploaded them. Those are the islands of Jura and Islay...the Inner Hebrides. Gigha is a short ferry ride away.
And - yes please to hot chocolate. I shouldn't, but I would if I could.

Willow Best do as the pharmacist suggested. Let us know what the GP advises.
I meant to leave a sturdy loofha for the bed baths. If you get any "nonsense," wave it in the air with a disciplinary flourish.

I need to log off. Thank you for your company. I would hate not to chat at some point during the day.

Glad that you and the Medics agreed with OHs treatment Ann , and we can hope things don't get worse for him

Ann that's good news - there comes a time when it's definitely better not to bother a patient with invasive treatment they don't understand. I stopped my mum having 6 monthly hospital visits to have her vaginal prolapse cap replaced - it was so painful for her and she had no idea what was happening which was distressing.

Soop I have the carbolic on standby with a very stiff loofah but so far the inmates on the ward are behaving and the showers are in full use! I do have a very varied selection of books on offer though so will do the rounds later on - nothing too stimulating - we can't have them over excited at bedtime! Your photo would be a great one to have on the wall in there.

Harrigran that picture is fabulous. Although we were up at 5 yesterday morning it was too cloudy to see anything of the moon.

Swanny I was terrified of dogs as a child - one jumped up and scratched me which was bad enough but my aunt had a terrier called Grip who growled a lot and made me even worse. I was only cured when we finally got a puppy when I was 9 after seeing him the pet shop next door - I begged and pleaded for this little ball of fluff and eventually my dad gave in. They had him for 16 years and were devastated when he died.

N&G I hope your 'man' managed to mend your boiler - no heating or hot water in this weather is no fun. I've picked a very bad day to paint the kitchen doors as now I can't close either and the draught blowing through the Khyber Pass is particularly unpleasant. I'm now donned in fleece head to toe but still cold.

I went to pick up my prescription today and had a medication review with the pharmacist - quite a good service really. She advised a visit to the doctor to check out the palpitations which have started again despite the meds so I'd better get that sorted out. I hate the doctors - it's full of ill people

Soop that is an amazing view. Is that really through your window?

Pleased the status quo is going to be maintained for your husband. My dad had catheters and they were a constant cause of problems. The DN was always having to come and change them. They also came twice a week to flush him out as he had crystals in his bladder.

Left some hot cocoa on the side for those who have snow.

What amazing photographs. Thank you people. I have aspirations for the Isle of Mull but it will have to wait for this year.

Ann pleased things are staying relatively as they are for now.

Now, I have to report a lockdown on the poorly wing due to errant behaviour. Whilst I was discussing rations with cook someone interfered with the nursing notes and all the nil by mouth charts have been defaced. They now read 'nil by mouth apart from beer and Roses chocolates'. I have taken stern measures, and the menfolk now realise I am made of much sterner stuff than they first thought.

As far as the kitchen is concerned I have left a supply of home made luxury fishcakes for distribution. They just require cooking, so enjoy them. There is also a chilli dipping sauce if required, but it is quite hot and spicy - beware.