Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for the sharing of...

Good afternoon, lovely peoples. The sun is shining and I wish you all a pleasant weekend ahead.

Chicken I feel sad for you. Our eyesight is precious. Being able to drive a car gives one a sense of freedom. You have a lot of serious considering to deal with. In our small village we have shopping aid. Do you know if you have a similar helpful facility. Ask the GP.

I am feeling a wee bit concerned for our Panache. She's had a very busy week. Hoping that we hear from her soon.

Izabella I love your sense of humour. You are an inspiration in so many ways.

Susan56 Undivided attention is precisely what Miss Matilda will be treated to. Surely, you don't need to ask.

Feelingmyage Enjoy 'Downton'. I've heard excellent reports.

Well now, that's lunch sorted. Thank you, Izabella for the salt-free soup. Thank you, chicken for the Hokey Pokey biscuits. Awarding 5***

corner and Ann We have a first rate plumber in the village. I have a "thing" about plumbers since watching 'Watchdog'. There are a few suspect tradesmen in amongst the good guys. First hand recommendations are a bonus.

Latest photo of our great-grandson Teddy coming up.

Dear soop, I would recommend that you stay at least one night when you go for those hospital visits. We do that every time and will be doing the same once again this coming week. Wearisome is a very genteel description! That is why I had the meltdown the other week and now we make another trip for the appointment we could have had but didn't when we were there before!

Synonymous That's what we all call...a buggeration.
At least when we go to the Glasgow hospital, we pass the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar and enjoy a grand treat of fish and chips.
When we stay in Oban we also enjoy fish and chips. We know what we like. Never need to browse through a menu. Oh, and mushy peas, of course.

A beautiful sunny scene through the window. Although we understand that rain is forecast.

I've been sorting through clothing that I wish to take to the Red Cross shop. The Campbeltown branch is one of the best that I've ever visited. The window dresser is an artist. Every week, without fail, the window display is changed and it is always stunning in appearance.

Still no news of our Panache. I hope that we hear from her soon.

My love to you. TOYA

Just popped in to see if Panache had been in, hope all is well.

We are off to Edinburgh now, back the end of next week.
Will try to pop in and out to keep up with the kitchen.

TOYA

Hearty apologies ny dear caring friends but may I reassure you I am home,alive and kicking,but quite frankly am finding my days are just not my own anymore!!

Actually the weather here .....as with many of you ....had been atrocious with rivers overflowing and roads themselves becoming rivers, and so naturally we were dreading the longish Hospital journey on wednesday.
I need not have worried as the shone through a blue sky throughout my visit....initially I had an early phone call wishing me well from friends within this building,advising me I was not to worry over my dear one as there would be people keeping a close eye on him,and true enough he was escorted down to the dining hall by a well meaning couple.
All went well at the Hospital, although I did have an `op to remove the growth on my leg.
On hearing of my situation at home they decided not to drag it out.If however the result comes back in a certain way I may then need a further deeper operation.
A wonderful caring driver whom hardly left my side and so everything went well.
Just dressings and elevation required for awhile.

Can you imagine the rousing cheer when I arrived back during the lunch break...........done and dusted in rather a short time!!
Plus a smiling and relieved husband!!

Once again you have proved so caring, so a big thank you.I have to mention Chicken and Carillion especially as they are new members to our kitchen...................but you know I love you all..........the very best.

At the moment we have meetings and more meetings,not only airing grieviances but preparing for Christmas!

TOYAxxxxxxxxxxx

Good news that you have returned safe and sound from your hospital visit, Panache. Good timing too, arriving during the lunch break. It's wonderful that there are friends who will look out for your husband in your absence. Let's hope there will also be good news about your leg and it won't need any more surgery. Take good care of yourself
ann, I've never (yet) had any problem finding a plumber here, even when their attention was quite urgently needed.
soop, I hope you have decided to stay overnight in Oban. Doing that journey there and back twice in two days would be exhausting for your both. And there's always that fish supper to sustain you.
I went shopping this afternoon to order my new freezer. The floods got the better of my old one. I've been without one for some time and keep having to remind myself not to buy anything that needs to be put in the freezer. Now...what's for tea?

46 years ago I went into hospital to have our first baby. Paw and I were thrilled to have a little boy and equally devastated when he died 24 days later. I realise that had he lived I probably wouldn't have had our wonderful 3 daughters and 5 amazing grandchildren whom I love more than life itself, but still ....................I shall shed a tear this weekend for the memories of what was initially such a happy time and what might have been.

Panache---so pleased that all went well for both you and your dear man and I hope that there will be no need for another "procedure".

MawB--- bittersweet memories indeed; they never fade, those "might-have-been"s.

soop---good fish and chips are a rare jewel, but no mushy peas for me, thank you. They remind me of visits to MIL where they and pease pudding featured prominently on the menu!

There's a ploughing match further up the lane this morning so we won't be venturing out into the crush of tractors, parked cars---and mud! D and SIL set off for a journey very early this morning to make sure they could get out of the lane early.

TOYA

What a beautiful smiley face to cheer us all up soop. I would definitely stay the night in Oban we had some of the best fish and chips we have ever tasted from a chip shop there.

Sorry to here about the problem with your eyes chicken and welcome to soops wonderful kitchen.

As always lovely to here from you Izabella you are inspiring.

panache it is amazing how far you have come in a few short months when we were all so worried about you. I am so happy for you.

Maw it will indeed be a sad weekend remembering your beloved son. I know how my DS and DiL feel on each anniversary hugs

Maw I am being whisked away for the day, but I could not pass without acknowledging your post. An aching heart indeed. ?

Dear * Maw*, posting seldom just now but couldn't let this day for you go by without sending you much love, understanding and solidarity. Will be thinking of you very often this weekend and sending care and kind thoughts. ??

Panache It sure is a treat to have you back with us lot. You, my dear, are a trooper.

Maw One of the saddest "might have beens" can never be forgotten. My love is with you.

GrannyGravy Enjoy Edinburgh. It is our favourite city.

anno and other of our merry band of Kitcheners who have had floods to contend with, I am wishing you an end to the watery outbursts and some healing, warming sunshine instead.

Panache,glad that everything went well for you and your dear husband was well looked after in your absence.
Soop,young Teddy is delightful,what a beautiful smile.
Maw,thinking of you ?
Chicken,when my mum had to stop driving,we set up an account with a taxi firm as she too lives quite a distance from the local town.It worked well and wasn’t too bad a price.No compensation for not being able to drive but something to consider.
We have been to visit my mum today,lunch out then shopping.We had a really nice day with her which makes a change,she has been grumpy lately as we haven’t been able to give her our undivided attention.It was lovely to see her enjoying herself.When we got home however,her neighbour came out and said if we are thinking of selling her house,his son in law would like to buy it.I didn’t know what to say.What I did say was my mum has no intention of selling,her own mum lived to be 101 so he may have a long wait.It has really upset me,she is not in amazing health but she manages and loves her home,feel like the neighbours are waiting for her to pop her clogs,not nice☹️
Anyway sorry for venting.
TOYA

Susan56 You are with friends. Vent away. Your neighbour has a bloody cheek! It's not on.

I saw a photo of two dogs on a beach. I thought to myself...I should paint them. I've been working for a couple of hours and guess what? I'm not at all pleased. What do I need to do? Start afresh (after I've done the pile of ironing.)

I didn't even put the ironing board up. I continued painting. As a result, I'm a tad behind time.

TOYA. Will return tomorrow.

It would seem as if the universe is trying to halt me entering the kitchen this day,my PC has been playing up yet again and then when eventually I got in and was three parts through my post, the darn up dates decided to throw me out .....and it has taken almost forever to get myself back in!!!! I was none too pleased let me say!!!

On reading your poignant post Maw I immediately thought of the phrase from the Bible that goes something like "God works his wonders in strange and wondrous ways".......sadly your beloved son was taken leaving hurt,pain,and sadness you will always feel of course,but you have certainly been otherways blessed with lovely children.........and now grandchildren.Thinking of you and sending a gentle hug.

Dear Soop it seems that one or both of you are spending far too much time on these Hospital appointments, but yet we always know how precious the help is to keep us afloat and alive.So as ever God Bless and hopefully, the news will be reasonable.
Teddy`s smile lightens up this page by the way!!

Indeed Chicken I can well understand your concerns regarding MD as I too have the condition,and it is fast deteriorating......apparently stress related.However it was quite an uplift finding not only another lady on our own lunch table with the condition but on the opposite table there are three others..........of us five three having the dry variety,and two the wet kind.
There is also a support group in our town but as yet I have not joined.
Because of my own health problems plus medications I take I cannot drive at all.

Susan sadly as you go through life the things people say and do will always amaze you........they merely think only of themselves.Of course it is upsetting and I do feel for you,but please do not dwell upon such a thoughtless remark,totally out of order.

I have redressed my leg myself which saved a Surgery trip,as yet it is pretty raw,still bleeding, although this time I have obliged with my feet up!!
Even the fact I was away from my dearest for but a morning he is still not quite himself,in fact I have noticed a bit of a downward turn of late, but am desperately just hoping I am over thinking things.

We are having an exceptionally peaceful weekend,wishing you all the same peace,every blessing ...........TOYA xx

Evening all,

Sorry Ive been AWOL. No good excuses except lousy weather and hibernating :-)

Teddy is growing far too fast soop !! What a cracker !

ah sorry to hear you were upset Susan . Your neighbour never meant to do that I am sure.

Sorry to hear your day has sad memories Maw but glad to see you can still count your blessings .

I have no news really apart from keeping a running total with Jackson on skype of the teeth he keeps losing. There is one hanging on by a thread this evening and when it goes , that will make 3 in 3 days !!

Happy weekend all x

Thank you for your supportive messages,Panache you are right,I really mustn’t dwell on it.He came out to say goodbye to us as we were leaving and I smiled sweetly while wanting to punch him on the nose!!So glad I found my way to soops kitchen.
Panache,I spent quite sometime at mum’s today trying to sort her kindle,in the end we decided I should bring it home to sort it out,got home,plugged it in and it was working perfectly in minutes!!
Hope everyone is having a good weekend.

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May I ask for a {hug} please?
My computer started showing its own “slideshow” while it was on standby mode and the pics of Paw show him looking so well and happy, the tears have just swept over me like a great wave of sadness and loss.
I have poured myself a brandy and am trying to watch Strictly, but oh the memories ????

A gentle hug coming your way maw, it’s been a bittersweet day for you today full of memories, happy ones and sad ones too of all you shared with your dear man. I guess you just want to sit and tell him all about how you’re feeling right now. Ive no words to make it better, all I can offer is an acknowledgement of your sense of being alone this evening. Thunking of you x ?

Maw I empathize with you.
I realise I dream of my H every night.
Not in any upsetting way , I don't wake upset, but he is always with me .
I don't watch much tv and my GD is out for a meal so I have eaten and watching a recorded Midsomer Murders.
Sleep well Maw and everyone in the kitchen.

maw gentle hug from me too. A day of memories for you. No words of wisdom, I don’t have any just thinking of you ?x

Dear Maw I feel for you. Not as awful as losing a baby, but I had two miscarriages. On the other hand, my mother had a cerebral aneurysm while pregnant and miscarried. Had that not happened, I would not exist, nor my children and grandchildren. I often think of her and of that fact. How fragile is life.

Thank you all
I suppose I am missing more than ever, the one person who shared that loss.