Soop's new kitchen being built while she's absent!

Doodle I appear to be okay, thank you. Tara came home at the normal time tonight and is upstairs resting.

When I go to bed she will be the same as usual and come to my bed for cuddles.

When I return to earth I am coming back as a cat and I will actively seek out an idiot like me who will care for me the way Tara and two other cats have been cared for.
TOYA

Nothing like a pet cuddle is there ?

Good evening dear friends. Just a quick up-date... I got back to the hotel about twenty minutes ago (10.15 pm French time).
They didn't take him to theatre until 3.30pm and he didn't come back to his room until 8.30pm.

He's sore, groggy and a bit disorientated because of the anaesthetic but all's well. I couldn't go to bed without contacting all of you. Thank you is so inadequate but I mean it from the bottom of my heart. Your kindness, lovely messages and wonderful support have made this bearable, especially during the long wait today.

I'll be able to spend the full visiting time with him tomorrow, six hours... and will have an opportunity to meet with his surgeon. I'm taking DH a flask of tea and a ham sandwich hoping he'll have some appetite.

I didn't know the hospital didn't provide towels!! But my wonderful hotel came to the rescue and loaned me three towels for him.
I will let you know how he's doing tomorrow. Until then, thank you dear friends, sending love and TOYA.

That’s reassuring news carillion, thank you so much for taking time to tell us, you must be exhausted. Sleep well.

Sounds an excellent party soop, good wishes for macs for tomorrow, safe journey. Steady there n&g, falling about isn’t good for the health. Hope it clears soon.

Germs are retreating here, Mr C continues to cough and be generally exhausted, less so though and I’m definitely on the mend.

Sad news today, our young friend’s husband has had a cancer diagnosis confirmed, more advanced than originally thought and it seems any treatment will be for symptom relief rather than a cure. The treatment plan is to be confirmed next week. My heart goes out to them, again too far away for a hug. It’s been very subdued here this evening.

Busy day ahead tomorrow so time for sleep. TOYA, take care everyone.

Good news Carillion I am so pleased for you and your DH. I have been thinking of you.

Good luck for macs tomorrow soop.

So sorry to hear your news corner cancer is indiscriminate and cruel. The doctors are clever, however, and hopefully your young friends husband will have many more years.

Good news Carillion. You can relax now I hope. Best wishes for McSporran today. That is very sad Corner and a reminder to live life to the full, as none of us know the future.
I do know the future for this cat if he continues to wake me in the wee small hours! He is asleep now of course, while I am not!!

Hello you lovely lot A change of plan, which I shall tell you about after I've caught up with your latest messages.

Carillion Bless you for taking the time to keep us updated. Yesterday must have been terribly stressful and you will have felt shattered by the time you returned to the hotel. Our thoughts and good wishes continue and, we will be looking forward to hearing that your dear husband gets stronger by the day. It will take time for his body to recover from such intensive surgery. With the support of the medical staff and your love, he is well blest. ahead. and continuing (((hugs)))

Along with you all, best wishes to Carillion and her H for continuing improvement and home before long.
I am in a strange mood, have been for a couple of weeks, so pleased Christmas and the New Year is over but very down,
I think my thoughts are of facing the future with no plans and no direction and it is scary and depressing.
If I could get out and do things I would feel better but I can't do must put up with it.
I just hope my planned hip replacement goes well and gives me more mobility but I just can't look ahead.

Charleyg Tara is well aware of how lucky she is to have you as her doting servant. Should I come back as a cat, I shall most certainly hope to be loved as much as she is.

corner I'm sorry to hear that your young friend's husband has had a poor prognosis. Cancer is an evil thing that shows no respect for those, no matter what age, who have to deal with it.

MacSporran presented me with a mug of tea as I awoke. I thought, why are we having tea? We should be up and ready to set off for Oban.
He had noticed a worrying symptom with the car brakes. The garage is to have the car in all day on Friday in order to fix things. He therefore felt uneasy about what would have been a long and tortuous drive (where brakes are absolutely crucial). He has therefore re-scheduled the appointment for two weeks ahead. A good plan!

Hence, I am at home. Bliss!

So sorry your plans have been changed at the last minute soop.
Appointments like that are better behind you than to be faced.
TOYA.

Ann Our messages overlapped. I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling lack-lustre. It is that time of the year. Of one thing I can assure you, hip replacement makes a world of difference. It will take patience to recover fully BUT ultimately you will feel liberated.

Definitely that time of year ann. It’s the same with me, lots I know I could do about it and indeed should do about it, somehow I need an elusive something to get me started. Hope you get your sense of direction back soon, no fun being adrift.

Sometimes a change of plan is for the best soop. Very sensible to postpone

We navigated the lanes without mishap this morning to deliver our granddaughter to her appointment then back to school. One of those things that was worse in the thought than the deed.

I plan to tackle some household jobs I’ve been ignoring this afternoon. An achievement, no matter how mundane, on the horizon isn’t a bad thing.

TOYA, look after yourselves.

soop definitely for the best. You do not want to be stuck in the middle of nowhere waiting for a breakdown van to arrive. Brakes are rather important but sorry to hear you will miss your fish and chips.

Corner that is rotten news about that fellow- what can one say? Unfortunately, new drugs do not appear overnight.

If anybody on GN lives close to Weston upon Super Mare (sp) there is a channel 5 programme on this evening about parking or lack of in that particular town.

I must make a move out of the front door or darkness will have descended and I have done zilch. Like others I have no energy.
TOYA

Charleyg We always had fish and chips in a superb restaurant whenever we visited Oban hospital. Sadly, the cost was a bit offputting. Then, whenever we visited Glasgow hosp, on the return journey, we stopped off at Loch Fyne Oyster Bar for delicious f&c (served at a reasonable price in the deli.) BUT...they have stopped that and the restaurant price is a bit too steep. Al well...

Ah well!

It is not unusual to pay £13:95/£14:95 for Fish and chips in the pub/restaurants around this area, as I sometimes live in "old money" I find that astonishing.

Here am I trying to get back into some routine but thwarted by various appointments this week. The physio is lovely and I am doing my exercises properly so far. The thing is to keep up the motivation. I have sent my thank you notes and wonder of wonders have received one! I think my subtle(ish) hints have worked a little. On a positive note I spotted some green snowdrop shoots. January is such a long, dark month but I have ordered a couple of very good books for my kindle.
carillion special good wishes to you and your DH. annsixty I am sorry you are feeling down but perhaps you could prepare for your hip replacement? My friend had some exercises to do and was encouraged to eat especially healthily. She now walks much more easily and is pain free. soop I am off to do my ironing, needs must. I watch tv while I am doing it. I shall be thinking of you. Your encouragement to us all is lovely. TOYA

Ann We're the same. We also think in terms of "old money/old measurements" and the likes. We are so last Century

Feelingmyage Snowdrops and violets top my list of favourite wild flowers. They are truly exquisite.

I have ironing duties tomorrow. Would have been today. The weather is pretty dire. Hail followed by blustery wind followed by brief periods of calm. However...we are the lucky peoples.

I shall log off for today. Wishing every one of you well. TOYA

Hello, anyone remember me?

I'm so sorry I haven't been around. Disorganisation over Christmas, New Year and my birthday is my only excuse. Thank you all so much for the birthday wishes.

After a period away from the kitchen catching up is a mammoth job, isnt it?

I'm sorry for everyone with the lurgy and hope good health is restored soon.

carillion (I love your name - we have one in our town and my friend's sister is the carillioneur (sp)) I hope your husband feels better today and is doing well.

soop, I hope your car is sorted quickly - cars are a pain when they dont work, arent they?

Hopefully, your hip being pain free will make you feel a little better ann and just think how many people you will be able to annoy then! I had my big birthday last year but being 71 is still a shock!!

It really would be good to hear how the panaches are.

I have ironed the equivalent of Mount Olympus this afternoon so had better go and put it all away!

TOYA!!

I realize I have not been able to catch up with kitcheners recently but please be assured both I and CH have you all in our thoughts. We have also been saddened by news of friends whilst away but an experience yesterday brought joy illuminated into our lives. Just need to share

We decided on a boat trip to the bird colony to see the Albatross and were rewarded with a moving aerial display plus glimpses of nests via the Binns. Also a southern Albatross amongst the throng. They are truly magnificent birds with a wing span of around 9 feet.

We were surrounded by Hector dolphins for ages who rode the bow waves and danced and flipped their way through a sun sparkled sea. It was truly amazing and the most wonderful experience. We were enthralled.

Having read up on the dolphin display we realize how amazing it actually was. The skipper said it was a rare treat but we now realize they are the rarest marine mammal and are endangered. They rarely if ever ride the bow wave of a boat and rarely swim in pods - and they did both for us. A truly magnificent show. I certainly had never seen them before and feel privileged to have done so.

So was it my imagination or did they have a surreal calming effect on me. Even this morning I am still riding high on their display. Thank you Mother Earth once again for grounding me.

What a truly fantastic experience Isabella and how privileged you were to see it.
It will remain with you in photographs for ever I am sure.
You are having a marvellous time on your holiday.
I am sure you are the envy of us all.
Thank you for sharing it with us in your own inimitable style.

A wonderful experience izabella, I’m delighted you are enjoying it all.

Sleep well everyone, TOYA.

What a wonderful experience Izabella! So jealous!
Tomorrow is a day for words with the builder about cheap paint ( not good colours!) and still no window. AIBU to think £2700 is rather much for a normal, soft wood modest dining room window?!
Welcome back Kitty - life has s habit of getting in the way of GN ?.
Emergency call this morning - DS &DGS been sick all night, DL on her way home from a night shift, could we have DGD? Of course we could!
Time for bed!
TOYA

Just for the record, Soup is not absent. Love you Soup x

Good morning everyone. Wrote a message last night but when I pressed the button it disappeared into the ether! DH was much improved yesterday. He had eaten and his temp/BP was good. I left him watching 'Zorro' in French on his telescreen. He'll have xrays today and a more detailed follow up meeting with his surgeon. Just off to spend the day with him. Sending love and TOYA xxxx