Soops Kitchen , kindness and cake served with love. Come on in !

? soop

Good to hear you back is improving. Voltarol is indeed good stuff.

Great to hear the move is going ahead Panache I hope you can keep up the strength until you are safely settled!

My car has just had its first MOT and it needed new front tyres. I texted my DS to ask if he had had new tyres as his is a similar model but older and he replied ‘ No but you needed them because you are a boy racer!’. Hmm!

That’s hilarious Soop!

Hello my darlin's. Back home and supping coffee. I watched the 75th commemoration of the D-Day landings as I ironed. My word, I am humbled and grateful in equal measure by the reminiscences that were shared - some for the very first time.
A letter penned by a sixteen year old French resistance fighter, to his mother, on the morning he was to be executed, will remain forever etched on my memory.

ann A funny story to share with you...
When we lived in Cornwall - a long time ago - I had been having treatment from a chiropractor for chronic back pain. It was suggested that I lay on a hard surface and my husband try to "stretch" me. *MacSporran belted me to the collapsed ironing board (in the entrance to our hallway) and was about to do the deed when a neighbour dropped by. There was I, shackled to the ironing board and rendered speechless when I saw her bewilderment.

I am a miserable git today. I do volunteer work for my GP surgery and once a year over a week a few of us try to get patients to fill in a survey. It is a 3-4 hour shift, normally two of us, the reception area is hot. It usually takes me an hour to get there because of the dreadful traffic and the fellow who runs the show and myself were not even offered a cup of coffee by the reception staff.

I have been known to speak my mind so at the next meeting, keep your windows closed! I left the house at 8 am and arrived home at 1 pm totally dehydrated. I hate bottled water. Rant over.

greyduster one wet Saturday we thought we’d go off and buy a new electric kettle, we know how to spice life up! En route we had to pass a car showroom, couldn’t resist a peek went and bought the kettle then stopped again on the way back home....! Mind you I don’t regret it at all it was and still is a big improvement on the previous one. It was underpowered and couldn’t cope with our local hills. That last sentence might help you in your cause, good luck!

Good morning all.
An improvement in the back this morning, my that Voltarol is good stuff.
The assistant in the chemist apologised to my S for the cost, nearly £19, they only had the large size, at twice the cost it would have been worth it.
Corfe castle brings back happy momories, we holidayed in Dorset with D, SiL and GC twice and went to Corfe on the little steam train.
There was a charity event on with a treasure hunt for the children and parachuting teddy bears off the castle walls, it was a very expensive day out I think, each bear cost £10 and you didn't get to keep it.
It was a lovely day and now my H is gone and my D separated from her H for five years.
At least the memories are good.
Dull, chilly day here, again.

Hello the kitchen. We had a very rainy evening and night yesterday and the garden is looking better for it.
N&G that made me laugh out loud! When GS was Cooper’s age he was rather cavalier with his equipment and frequently missed the porcelain, but not to that extent!
Callgirl I hope you’re not like me. I so dislike having to buy a new phone that it is like going to face the headsman’s axe! I hope to hang on to my present one for as long as possible!
Gq I didn’t know you were partial to Doom Bar!?. Lovely photos! We spent a lovely holiday in Dorset some years ago, but didn’t get to Corfe. Hope the weather stays fine for you.
Soop good to hear that Brodie has been seen around the chalet. Hope he’s getting the message! Hope you're taking it easy and your eye is settling down.
Panache it sounds like your move is proceeding apace. Try not to let it overwhelm you - it’s hard enough moving house when you are fit.
Have a good time in Scotland, Anno.
Well we got the car back after it’s service but did not except the showroom unscathed. DH was taking a passing look at a car on the forecourt and asked a loitering salesman what the mileage was on it. Before you could say hook, line and sinker, they had booked him a test drive for the weekend! I don’t want a new car; I don’t even want a nearly new car, and I especially don’t want THIS nearly new car. What with that and DD’s tele (which GS sorted out in the blink of an eye, of course!), I think I should have locked him in a cupboard yesterday. He was muttering last night about it possibly being underpowered for its size, in which case he wouldn’t consider it. I live in hope!
The sun is shining here and we are off to the tip this morning with our old garden furniture and other detritus. We know how to do a day out?! Then it is housework for me. There is furniture somewhere under all this dust........ I will look in later.

GrannieQ our DGC cannot cope with our feeble attempts to work their TV! Nor do they understand that my phone won’t play Peppa Pig etc. ?.

Don`t know the other 2 GrannyQ, but definitely recognize Corfe Castle, we spent a lovely afternoon there many years ago.
My mobile phone has given up the ghost, and it`s only 9 years old! Now I have to find a new one, reluctantly, because I hate the things.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201906/medium-478653-ca778765-1f39-4af1-a990-dd13675eb992.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201906/medium-801894-74db23a7-377b-41e7-8744-7c8aa61a6cc2.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201906/medium-361206-299d4c31-a7cd-4130-88ec-567046419157.jpeg

n&g, I greatly suspect that piddling scenario would happen here if my old boy was required to provide a sample! Late Birthday greetings to the lovely Sam, he’s a handsome chap indeed.

callgirl, how lucky am I to have more than one daughter who tells me what to do? panache the advice from doodle sounds very sensible indeed. It’s very hard to decide what to keep and what to let go, especially when time is of the essence. It’s draining emotionally and physically, thinking of you as you do the best that you can with it all.

Sorry your back is troubling you Ann, back pain is so disabling. You’ve been going through a huge amount of physical and emotional stress and it all takes it’s toll. Years ago I used to run a group for carers, so often they their own health issues surfaced following a bereavement. Please take good care of yourself now, as you did of your dh for so long.

Beautiful roses corner, when I was younger I really didn’t care for them but as time has gone on they’ve grown on me so to speak and I really love them now.

soop I hope stopping the medication has a beneficial effect, you’re already sounding a bit more like yourself... maybe that visiting kitty is working his magic!

greyduster, I know that tv scenario oh so well. It’s not a new phenomenon in queenieland. A few years ago we were staying at our sons to look after the 2 girls while he took their mum away for a few days for her 40th. When they left our gd, about 3 at the time, was absolutely distraught. I told her all about the lovely fun we had planned for them but the tears continued. Eventually through the sobs I managed to understand what she was actually saying, “I’m not crying because my mummy has gone away. I’m crying because grandpa doesn’t know how to work our television”. Out of the mouths of babes...

Well we had a really lovely time at our friends 70th at the weekend. I’m not always the best at parties but it was just so good to see so many folk I’d not seen for ages, not least my very good friend. We’re now enjoying a few days on the beautiful Dorset coast.

Oh, nearly forgot Kitty, number 96.

Happy Birthday Sam!
Ann, so sorry about your back. I`ve suffered on and off with mine for 40 years, when it goes "proper" it feels like a spring has gone "BOING!!" In the old days the doctor advised lying down most of the time, a little standing, no walking or sitting up, but it didn`t work, I was once off work for 3 months. The advice nowadays is to keep moving as much as possible, which, although blooming painful, does work better. I hope you`re better soon.
Panache, good to hear from you, I hope all goes well for your husband. You need my daughter 2, she`s an expert at telling me what I do and don`t need to keep! I mostly ignore her.
Poor Cooper. Whenever I have to provide a sample I get the largest receptacle I can find, and even then I sometimes miss!

Well happy birthday Sam. You are a handsome chap indeed.?
ann funnily enough (although not funny at all) I woke up with a really bad back this morning. It hurts doesn’t it. Mine got better as the day went on. I hope yours does too. My dear SIL who suffered with back problems for many years used to swear by the exercise where you lay on your back on the floor, pull your knees up to your chest and wrap your arms round them and then rock gently from side to side. She was still doing this at 86 whenever the pain took hold (we had some funny looks sometimes ?)
panache, MrP sounds like a real star. We too moved from a four bed to a two bed and it is hard. What I can say is that 90% of the things you are absolutely sure you will need - you don’t. All the things you want to keep just in case - you won’t need them. If you are really stuck for time and can’t make it all fit, try putting some stuff in storage for a while to see if you can find a home for it or really don’t need it. We found it useful to put stuff in storage so we had more room to move about in the flat while we sorted things out.
N&G poor Cooper (hope Jackson has recovered). Hope his problems get sorted out soon. ?
Hello soop enjoy the tennis ? take care with that ironing not to overdo it.

I’m sorry you’re in such pain Ann. Please consider a physical therapist (privately if necessary) if this doesn’t clear quickly. A good osteopath or physio is worth their weight in gold for mechanical back problems. I find heat followed by lying on my side and curling into as much of a ball as I can manage very helpful for lower back issues but we’re all different and so please do be careful

Enjoy your break anno
Whe I was constantly getting urine samples from my H , I would have him wee in a large jug, then transfer to small plastic container provided and then into the glass jar, having written his name ,date etc on the jar first.
You D will know next time.
Not much improvement in the back yet, tomorrow is another day.
I do hope the panaches move goes smoothly and quickly and that they have a happy life in their new home.
The same goes for you NannyT.
TOATROY ? X

Dear ~*Cooper*, these piddling things are sent to try us. I was asked to pee in a dish and tansfer some into a small pot. I did the deed, poured the contents down the loo, flushed and realised that I had nothing to take back to the nurse.

Charleyg Tara's fans are truly relieved to hear that she is displaying signs of being more like her usual feline self. Indoors when she wishes. Outdoors when she chooses. Sleep and fuss-times in equal measure inbetween. Yay!

anno Am I correct in thinking that I read of your challenging upcarpeting session? Someone posted something very similar. It was long ago. Way back in the early days of our gatherings in the kitchen.

MacSporran has made me a fresh cup of tea. He also mentioned that the clay court was being prepared for commencement of the tennis match.

Until I return home tomorrow, I shall leave you with the usual TOYA and

It appears that a long list of messages have been added during my post. I'm about to play catch up.

A deluge of rain is about to stop play at Roland Garos. The sky is ink-black. Federer and Wawrinka have returned to the locker rooms. All the spectators have to find some suitable shelter. Hence, I'm back with you all in our kitchen. Aren't you lucky...

Brodie, our the feral cat, has visited the outside wee chalet and licked the dish clean two nights on the run. By the time the outside light alerts me and I stagger from my bed to the window, he has moved on. He pushes the dish as deep into the chalet as he can and the light is triggered as he sneaks away into the forest.

The care home visit to see our pal was upbeat, in spite of not being able to fully understand all that he says, he's in good spirits. The lady that I visit upstairs, had thrown a wobbly. She was recovering in her room. I visited her there and we agreed that, if she was to be taken into the sitting room, she needed to calm herself down. She has had a very serious stroke which leaves her frustrated beyond measure when she cannot articulate her feelings. By now, she'll have joined the other residents. It's very rare for her to be confined to barracks.

The appointment with the optician went well. I've had one cataract removed. The second is "ripening". The drops insered into the eyes during the examination cause a bit of problem when walking in strong sunlight. I felt inebriated and wobbly on walking to the care home. I most certainly was not under the influence.

For four days I've not taken Letrozole. It's too soon to say whether or not I shall feel more upbeat after a fortnight. The breast care nurse will advise me, depending on the outcome, when she phones.

It's ironing duty day tomorrow. I shall be able to watch tennis throughout. That is a bonus. The time passes pleasantly enough when I have a distraction.

Oh dear! I remember the horror I felt on moving day when I had a call from the estate agent telling me that the buyer wanted me to remove the carpet from hall, stairs and landing. A friend came to help and together we managed this awful job. With hindsight I think I should have told them to lump it, but in moments of stress, you don't think of these responses.
Panache, it's good to see you back in the kitchen. I hope your DH gets a favourable report from the bone scan. Do you have any help with the kerfuffle of planning and moving?
It was a warm, muggy morning and now it is raining steadily. I should really go out and bring in the bins! My good neighbour who would normally do it is off on holiday. Tomorrow I am off to Scotland until Monday.

Poor Cooper but that did make me laugh! Our buyer is already making a fuss 6 days after making her offer, so we may go to the other keen buyer. I should have known it was too easy!

Sorry kitty I forgot to mention the fitted wardrobe- as the name suggests it is fitted so it is not up to your family to remove it. As N&G suggested, it may open a can of worms depending upon the age of the house. If the new owners want to remove it- that is their problem. It is part of the fixtures and fittings.

N&G that was hilarious- he must have been saving his urine up for days- at least there will be enough to take to the GP. A good job we do not have carpets in bathrooms!!!

Afternoon all,

Good to see everyone here , even with bad backs and such.

NannyT beware removing anything. We took down one wardrobe on our last move and the fuss the buyer made after exchange and moving in about making good was unbelievable. Replacing coving that had never been there etc etc. I'd just say no if I was you and if they want to move them they can do so themselves or get your solicitor to get a signed agreement making good is down to them.

I had a call from Coopers Mum this morning which might raise a smile. Cooper has had toileting problems and today was off to see the specialist. he had to take a urine sample. He was DELIGHTED to have to wee in a little pot. So after instructions from Mummy they all went to the toilet to do the deed. Jackson went too ( as you do ) to see this amazing thing !!

The trouble started when the wee just kept coming. The pot was small, Cooper panicked and to quote my daughter - it was like an unmanned fireman's hose !! The pot was filled and he also wee'd over his feet, Jacksons feet ( who had to go and lie down in a darkened room at the horror of it all !!) , his mums leg, 2 wellie boots that were in the cloakroom minding their own business and the wall !!!

they wont be doing that again !!

The photos sound fabulous Kitty how lovely- don't forget to show us what you choose.

The rain has arrived here after a few glorious days so I am off to enjoy the sound of it on the roof, reminds me of my childhood bedroom.

happy days all.

kitty thank you for asking about Tara. I am out of the cathouse but I was there for 24 hours +. Normal service has been resumed- she came to my bed around 2 am wanting cuddles and to play. I am afraid I only wanted sleep because I had to be up at 7.30am. so she slept on my pillow. When I opened the door she ran out and I have not seen her since. It is lovely to see her back to normal. She sunbathed in the garden with me yesterday, that is not normal for her. Number 18 for you from Tara.
TOYA

Panache Such a lovely tribute to your dear husband. To have a truly caring partner is beyond price. I know! Keep thinking positive thoughts because you will move into your new apartment and you will bless the day you made the brave decision to do so.

annsixty Back pain is one of the most debilitating buggerations. Like GrannyGravy and many others, I also hope that you find relief as soon as possible.

corner Bravo! Three pairs of comfortable shoes. I call that a result.
Beautiful golden roses. Do they have a strong perfume? I find that the humble wild rose (dog rose?) has the most intoxicating scent.

N&G Wishing darling Sam a very woofy sixth birthday. I love his expressive puppy dog eyes. Cuddles coming up.

I shall return to see what's happening on court. I shall almost certainly return before too long. Unless, of course, the match is one of those marathon events.