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

Lovely to hear from you Izabella Inspirational as always!
Just wanted to share if I may these Easter cards which arrived today from the DGCs in Birmingham ??

Dreamkeeper - dear Panache you say such pertinant) things in a very caring manner and I am sure I will not be the only one to say so. Thank you.

I ventured outside the kitchen just now and posted on the care home thread. I now feel exhausested after concentrating on there so will away now. Just wanted you all to know I anm still here. TOYA

My ear Kitchen friends,just popping my head around the door because I feel such a sense of "things not being quite right" amongst so very many of you.
Of course in these very difficult bleak days it is perfectly understandable,more so for the many of you either feeling unwell or facing treatments,or having a family member in this category.
Everything seems heightened as the ever present fear of this Coved-19 is never far from our minds.

With all the media attention pinned on Care Homes and the very many associated deaths at last, of course although we are in a different category, it certainly raises the fear factor.

Outside the sun shines and spring is springing up all over,however the sunshine does not mean freedom to roam,we are merely thankful for one more precious day.

Thinking of each one of you and your various issues,sending loving blessings to you all.
Please stay strong,keep smiling and above all just now stay safe.
Panache.

I haven’t been out since the start of January. I’m beginning to feel as though I may never emerge again.
I’m also like many others of us, feeling very emotional and tearful

Morning all.

I'm doing exactly the same re bananas today GG , waste not want not and all that ! Im also with you on getting more nervous about being let out of lockdown than staying in. After all the darned virus wont have gone away tomorrow, or next week or even next month. I might stay here in splendid isolation for a while yet !!

Great photo Maw Sam might be tempted to set out a stall too.

Happy Birthday Mr Carillion . We had toad in the hole last week too, an oldie but goodie ! Today its banana bread and later in the week there will be trifle.

ouch ! Sorry about the toe NannyT , that could have been so much worse. Ive been making the mask extenders too . One of our Knit and natter Group is a nurse and we have been making , sealing in bags for 72 hours and she is taking them in . They are cheap enough to be thrown away or I recommend a hot wash with uniform with mine and they stay pretty good.

Sorry to hear your sons treatment has stopped for now Callgirl but after his bout of Coronavirus maybe he needs some time to build up strength and resources before being hit by more strong chemicals?

I've had an entertaining 30 minutes on facetime this morning with Jackson. His topic for the next couple of weeks is Brazil . So we were making carnival masks and using our phone translator to speak to each other in Brazilian ! Technology is amazing!!

This afternoon we will be practising our samba apparently :-)

Happy days all !!

Hi kitcheners, it's a blue sky here with white fluffy clouds, but it is chilly.

No idea what I am going to do today as I am feeling extremely lazy. The 5yr old GC came in for a cuddle this morning and I fell back to sleep until 10am whilst he snuggled and played on my phone. I feel so fortunate to have DD and two of our GC here with us, especially the baby who has grown so much these past four weeks.

The only thing I really must do is make banana bread as I have a couple of overripe ones and I cannot abide waste in normal circumstances.

I cannot see an end to this "lockdown" for us oldies and sickies , in all honesty the longer I stay in (day 29 for me) the more nervous I feel about eventually going out. I do hope that all those clever people in the science/medical labs worldwide find a vaccine soon.

Sending (((hugs))) to all in need.

One for Carillion especially but I know there are others in France !

Good morning dear kitchen!
Dear soop all good here in France ... Lockdown to continue to 11th May which makes good sense.

DH has his birthday today. He wants toad in the hole tonight...I can do that.

Daisyboots ?
Callgirl ?
Nannytopsy ?

Callgirl1 Baby Grace is the image of you. x

I understand that far too many of you will be feeling sad and lonely and lost. I often go to bed thinking...if only I could do something to help you feel less so. Knowing in my heart of hearts that I cannot, makes matters worse.

However, if coming into the kitchen to let off steam or share some light-hearted banter helps to keep us lot connected, I shall continue to be with you in thought, word and virtual deed.

I find that keeping myself fully occupied in the garden, helps to keep me calm. It's a heavy-duty plot. Very wild in parts...which will remain so. I dug out barrow loads of deep rooted weeds from the wet garden rockery yesterday. What remains are some lovely specimens that were becoming choked by invasive stuff. I've shovelled gravel inbetween the plants and rocks. The difference it has made is pleasing. Today, I aim to do likewise between the alpines that have also been rescued by invasive weeds. Every day that passes, is a day closer to a time for celebration.

I shall return.

Good morning everyone and for any who are sad this morning.
I had a quiet day yesterday in my armchair. It was an enforced crest after an incident with a very sharp knife on Sunday evening. It fell off the draining board ( serves me right for washing up!) and slashed my big toe. After first aid from DH it will soon mend I’m sure. DS&DiL are in the NHS and find the masks rub the backs of their ears. I have been asked to make these, so I shall see DiL from a distance today when she comes to collect them. Maybe a wave from DGC?

Callgirl anybody medical may shoot me down in flames, but I have known cases where a delay in treatment because a patient was not well enough in other respects or the conditions were wrong, had no detrimental effect.
A doctor once said to me “Just because we can, doesn’t always mean we should” and while it is absolutely natural - and how I and any of us would feel - to want treatment to be immediate, now might not have been the right time, as things stand.
I am sorry if that sounds trite, but chemo is a powerful tool and I just remember when Paw was diagnosed with Lymphoma 11 years ago, one of the criteria was whether or not he was well enough to start therapy.
Hold on to the good result that he is getting over CV and try not to let future worries get you down.

What a lovely photo callgirl?
I am feeling very emotional too and as Maw says it is the worry about family that is causing me the most anxiety.
It’s so worrying that treatment is being postponed,understandable due to the risks but very upsetting and I find especially if I wake in the night my mind goes into overdrive.
N&G,love the boys inventive way of getting their message across?
Smileless,lovely photo of Dylan?
Soop,maybe save the dusting for the rainy days when you can’t get in the garden,don’t overdo it.
Daisyboots,hope the sachets work ?
Thinking of you all.

Pleased to hear your son is recovering from Covid Callgirl but not good that he treatment has stopped. That’s a lovely picture.

mbmb .

Yes I think we are all feeling very emotional. I am finding I am over-reacting to small problems and panicking easily.
TOYA

Lovely photo, call.

It doesnt take much to make me feel like crying either. It all seems so hopeless and I think, at least for me, is the feeling that I'm not getting any younger.

Anyway, but more gardening and a dangerous trip to buy milk today.

Me with my son and DIL at his 50th birthday party last October.

Lovely memories MawB, if sad as well. Thank you for your sentiments re my son. He may have turned the corner regarding the coronavirus, but the cancer is still with him, and now his treatment is being postponed be cause of C ovid 19. They originally dec ided to carry on with it at Grantham hospital rather than Boston, but have now stopped it until further notice.
Thank you also Doodle.

daisyboots you’ve had a long day. Hope the sachets work for you and the UTI doesn’t develop. Take care and hope you have a good night’s sleep.

maw what lovely memories.
I think for many of us family is what worries us most. callgirl it’s not surprising you feel a bit emotional considering what your son has been through. I expect you are quite worn out too. for you both

Thank you Doodle for your kind wishes. I live in Portugal so what with my health problems and now the awful virus I have been unable to visit my family in England.
I went for my blood test this morning and I had thought the results would be back in two hours like they were when having intravenous chemotherapy but it was over 3 hours of sitting waiting and I started feeling quite poorly. The results were ok so was able to have the tablets for the next round but by the time the tablets arrived over 4 hours had passed. Then down to Palliative Care to arrange some prescriptions.
mbmb I do feel for you having regular UTIs because I have had a succession of them since having chemotherapy. Today I felt I had another one starting and spoke to the PC doctor and as it was early days she gave me a prescription which comprises of two sachets which you take in water one today and one tomorrow. She hopes that it might stop the need for more antibiotics. If they don't work obviously I will need them but worth a try.
Such lovely photos of beautiful babies and little people. What blessings they are.

I had to wear a mask while at the hospital today and just wearing it for 5 hours was awful so I really feel for all the nursing and medical staff who have to wear them for much longer every day. To be honest I found myself touching my face much more than if I wasnt wearing one. In the end it made me feel very anxious which hasnt worn off yet.

“You are not alone” Callgirl I expect most of us find that the tears are never far below the surface these days. A piece of music or even (as today) pictures of a deserted Paris and Central London made quite teary.
Encouraging news of your son, though, I don’t want to speak too soon, but it sounds very much as if he has turned the corner. ???
I think I can cope with most things, but worries about the family are another matter.
Anyway the good news is that I tackled the knicker drawer this morning and threw away all the odd socks/knee highs, tights, old bras etc or anything that looked sad and tired.
But I also found a lovely card Paw had written to me for our 35th wedding anniversary so a little weep followed. I also fond a box containing a sprig of white heather (now alas brown) given to me for good luck for our wedding in July 1970

Dragonfly, thank you for asking, my son is slightly better, in that his cough isn`t quite so bad, but he`s worn out,as is his wife, from weeks of hardly any sleep. He still has breathing problems, but not bad enough yet to have to dial 111.
N&G, those grandsons of yours are great, did they work all that out on their own?
Soop, beautiful photo, the paps of Jura look more impressive at sunset I think.
That`s as lovely pic of Henry, let`s hope he has reason to keep smiling.
Dylan looks very comfy.
I don`t know why, but just lately I keep feeling like I want to have a blooming good cry.

TOYA xx

A late check in from me. Drizzly/raining from lunchtime and all day. Just stopped and I've been able to put out the bins this evening.

mbmb UTI's - aren't they the actual end!? I once visited a locum GP when I was struck down one weekend. He was older, so sympathetic and said his speciality was Geriatrics. (I pretended not to feel insulted) . He was the first Doc to explain to me that for some post-menopausal women it can be the bane of their lives. It's often bacterial and just keeps appearing and takes a lot of sorting out. He reckoned that it can be sorted out, just takes time and patience and an interested GP. At this moment in time, possibly like setting off to find the Holy Grail!

So, a day for washing groceries Lins. Does take the edge off the thrill of a door step delivery, doesn't it.

Smileless please tell me that your little creature in its comfort blanket has a head. Is it a hairless cat? We used to have a wonderful Rex, but your cat looks like it might be a Sphynx - that is, if it is a cat.......who knows.

Soop don't even think of dust or dusting. You will suddenly grind to a standstill - like the Duracell bunny. Don't suppose you saw the thread last night (?) when someone was asking if we've ever gone to put knickers in the laundry basket but decided to have a quick dust of the furniture with them first. I'm definitely not guilty, but some posters were. It was very funny.

Sleep well everyone. Hopefully this is the last (after the first) Easter where we have had to endure such bizarre and emotional times. Chins up, all. Hugs x

Again, so many messages to keep up with.
Lovely little Henry and Grace.
N&G I see your boys have inherited their “crafting” skills from their grandma. Good message.
kitty what a lovely thing Bertie and Persie did for their mum and dad.
dragonfly my DH has had 2 phone calls from the council to check on his wellbeing. Good idea. Hope they contact those who really need help.
Lovely photos again soop can’t believe young Torben is so grown up,?
Dylan looks very cosy smileless
mbmb sorry you’ve been feeling so bad. Hope the antibiotics help soon.
nannyfaraway hello to you too. Never had nettle soup. Glad you enjoyed it.
TOYA ?

N&G. I’m slow. I’ve only just worked out the boys’ message.
It’s brilliant. Thanks for sharing

Just a quick drop in to say hello.
Need to read and catch up with everyone or try too.
I've been busy doing an essay for college also been for a short walk to our local bakery.
My husband made some nettle soup. It was delicious but he said it was a bit off a faff to make.
TONYA