Soops kitchen for caring and sharing...

Good morning (just) from a partly sunny Silver Coast Portugal. Sorry I have been absent for a while but the week off the oral chemo is worse than the weeks taking it. Plus with all the bad news I have been keeping away from social media and losing myself in books. The side effect of gastro intestinal problems has kicked in so have had to take Imodium to ease it. Went for another Covid19 test yesterday and while the last one was unpleasant this one was very painful. The lady pushed the swab so far up my nostrils that I thought it would be coming out of my eye (impossible I know but you know what I mean). My eyes wouldnt stop watering and my nose is still sore today. I have another one next Saturday.
Last night I looked at my phone and there was a text message from the hospital cancelling my appointment with my oncologist on Thursday. I wasnt at all happy with that as it was an important one with me having been on 4 rounds of the oral chemo. I am at thd hodputal tomorrow for my blood test and the Zometa infusion so I will try to find out more. I really need to have a CT scan to see if the treatment is working ? so hopefully Dr Cristina the resident oncologist will be able to arrange it. I have my oncologists mobile phone number so will be sending him a text too.
On the pain front I have now reduced the fentanyl down from 6 a day to just 1 with no increased pain. Hopefully next week I shall start reducing the prednisolone.
Sorry if I sound a misery but I dont mean to be.
TOYA and now to catch up with what you have all been doing over the past week.

Daisyboots Darling girl, you are far removed from being a misery. Indeed, you are one of the most positive Granspals Us lo have the pleasure to be associated with.

We went for a pleasant stroll through our beautiful village this morning. I took far too many photos. However, here is my favourite. The young lady is related to the local farmer. The lamb (known as Buster) was born with a deformed mouth. Buster is doing well. He is bottle fed and, as you can see, well plump.

Hello kitcheners. I've finally found this lovely new kitchen, I must say I love the new furnishings ?.
I was such a sporadic visitor to the last kitchen that I have my ? that I have the opportunity to thoroughly enjoy this one.

Oh Grandmafrench, your continued concern about me has touched me greatly, ? for you to take back to French France. By the way how did you know that I live in that hippie commune in Wales ? ? I have created a nice little "bubble" with a charming rambling rose ? ?.

Gosh, so very very much has happened here since I last paid a visit that there is zero hope of me catching up. It's lovely to see there are "new" (to me) frequenters here ?.

Daisyboots, you have (and are) having a difficult time at the moment and my heart goes out to you. Never ever be sorry for sounding "a misery", you can share your hopes and fears with the lovely people here in the kitchen. I hope you do manage to find more out when you are at the hospital tomorrow ???.

Susan, I hope that gorgeous little Henry will now finally receive the dutiful care that he has always deserved x

Isabella, your CH looks like a fine distinguished gentleman with nothing but kindness in his eyes and therefore his heart. He's a keeper I'd say ?.

I"ve been away so long I thought it's only right and proper that I bring some treats. I thought, however, that I'd bring something different so I've left one little bag of goodies for dogs and one little bag of goodies for cats for the pet owners (or family members) to take a treat home to their four legged family members. There is also a walnut loaf on the side.

Good afternoon fellow kitcheners.

I had to laugh at the picture of the 18 stone lady going topsy turvy Dreamkeeper. Oh dear I do hope she is the right way up now!

Daisy far from moaning I took your post to contain good news. It sounds like the chemo is doing the trick if your pain levels have come down so much. I hope you get the necessary scans. I am supposed to be seeing my oncologist on 22nd and not heard anything yet but I think it is just a routine check up so not holding my breath.

Love the picture of the lamb soop. Maybe he should be hung up with the picture of our other pets.

Good to see you Cherry.

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dragonfly I agree, Buster's portrait now hanging in our Kitchen gallery.

A warm welcome back CherryC. How thoughtful of you to come bearing goody bags for our resident pets. A queue has formed for a slice of your walnut loaf. Lashings of butter and not a single real calorie to concern us. What could be more welcome.

It has been a very warm day. MacS has cut the grass and is over-heated. He's having his second shower of the day. After which, we'll sit in the shade and sup tea.

Four swans were involved in a mighty battle the other morning. One cygnet was bobbing around on the edge of the disturbance. A lady in the village filmed the kafuffle. She has since reported that one of a pair of swans is now missing. Apparently they can drown each other when they become over anxious. I feel sad. I know that Nature is red in tooth and claw - but - I wish that all creatures (including humans) would live in peace and harmony. A mighty big, impossible ask.

I shall leave you with a photo that I took earlier today. It's the peaceful walk that we take every day, weather permitting. Most of the trees are ancient limes with several trunks.

Farewell for today. Thinking of you all.

......... and relax! All celebrations complete. The birthday cake vanished and the decks cleared apart from one portion of trifle (heavily laden with sherry) CH had a lovely time and in fact the whole household rejoiced with him.

I have just scuttled in from the veg patch. Distant thunder is rumbling around our part of the Shire and the rain has just started falling. Very dark and gloomy but the garden will be grateful.

That is a beautiful route soop I shall now go and do an hours painting before dinner. The picture is coming along quite nicely.

TOYA.

Izabella that sounds delightfully relaxed - I shall go and do an hours painting before dinner.
Excitement here today in the form of a plant auction at the local sale rooms. It sounds as if they are organised with social distancing and it all happens outdoors so I may go and take a look. Charlie cat is making a fuss, so I think I need to get up and feed him. He lets us know when things are not right in his world.
Have a good day everyone.

Popped in to wish dragonfly the best birthday it can be. Different I’m sure but hopefully still a good day for you ????

Nannytopsy you have a Charlie cat and we have a Ruby cat. She is such a joy and there have been many other lovely cats I’ve shared my life with since as far back as I can remember. Ruby comes to me in bed, and to wake me up for breakfast she sits close to my head and paws me gently on the chin. It works every time!
She’s got fresh chicken for breakfast today - from our roast tea yesterday. I think she’ll be in cat heaven. I hope everything is right in Charlie cat’s world today ?. X.

Happy birthday greetings to our dragonfly. A fine excuse to enjoy cake and quaff wine. May I join you? We'll find a quiet corner where we can relax and watch the waves breaking on the shore. Here is last night's amazing sunset for you. x

Afternoon all,

The sun is shining here and everything looks better somehow. No real news from our end . Sam managed to get a thorn in his foot before the weekend , but Grampy did a great job in getting it out. The trouble is he is a very unkempt looking chap at the moment , he needs a haircut more than I do!! And that’s saying something.

Glorious pics soop .

I have just finished 2 Totoro themed piñata for when we eventually get to see the grandchildren, I’m quite pleased with them.

Sending best wishes to all as I am totally out of touch with you all.x

Puzzler61 and Nannytopsy Ruby and Charlie, like all our Granspal's pets, are indeed living in style with staff who dote on them. I love hearing about their antics. It brings back fond memories of time shared with our Rory.

Izabella The party celebrations sound perfect. How lovely it is when you can reflect on truly successful day. You mention a portion of sherry trifle remaining -

N&G It is so good to have you back here where you belong. I was wondering how you are. The Totoro themed piñata are stunning. The grandchildren will be overjoyed to be reunited with you (when the time is right).

I sense that we are all out of touch with the old reality. I feel that whatever I share with you lot is both uninteresting and even boring. It's what it is. The days meld into each other and there is nothing new to discuss with you.

We will continue to cope as best we may. There is much to be grateful for. Continue to stay safe and, whatever you do, please keep visiting our kitchen.

Soop your awesome sunset photo should be published or turned into cards. It’s stunning.
NanaandG the pinata’s are fun, hope you enjoyed making them? Your DGC will be pleased!

Happy birthday dragonfly????Hope you have a lovely day.x

Happy birthday and felicitations dragonfly

Izabella Felicitations...one of my favourite words.

Susan What is the latest news of little Henry?

Puzzler I have hundreds of stunning sunset images. Last nights bathed the sitting room in a deep rosy glow.

Ironing ready and waiting. I can barely contain my excitement.

Happy birthday, Dragonfly, and best wishes for a better year to come.
N&G, were you referring to Sam or Grampy when you said he needed a haircut? I checked my hairdresser on line today to try to make an appointment and found that I could make an appointment in October! I will have a pony tail by that time.
That's one of your best sunsets, soop, and that's saying something.
We've had a very warm morning though feels quite humid and there are big clouds building around us. Heavy rain is forecast. We've had two flash floods in the past four years, due to street drains unable to cope with the volume of water. I dread the prospect of my garden being inundated again.

Well that was a shock. I just pressed the back arrow on my screen and was confronted with a rather large image of a cow saying this page has been Mooved! Not what I was expecting at all, ?
grandmafrench thanks for the tips about devices one can use when caught short outside. Unfortunately, I have enough trouble getting on and off the loo these days anything more complicated could result in an accident
Your Cumberland sausages made my mouth water. I bet you enjoyed them. ?
daisyboots it sounds as though your are going through a really tough time at the moment. It’s not good that your appointment has been cancelled. I hope you manage to get it reinstated. You obviously want to know how you are doing.
Hope the test results are good. You don’t sound a misery at all. Take care.
Hello soop nice to have you back after your pooter problems. Perhaps the other pair of swans have just gone of with a bit of dented pride rather than anything untoward happening to them. Your walk in the shelter of the trees looks lovely.
cherry nice to see you in the kitchen. We get about don’t we ?. Where’s our walnut loaf for the lockdown gang ?
izabella sounds as though the party was a great success. With sherry laden trifle I am not surprised ?
The piñatas look really good N&G I’m sure the DGC will love them.
susan hope Henry is doing well.
anno it is indeed very humid. Hope if it does rain it doesn’t cause damage.
Happy birthday dragonfly ????. Have a lovely day
TOYA ?

dragonfly a very Happy Birthday and like annodomini I wish you a better year ahead ????
Good to hear from you Daisyboots I hope you get on well at the hospital today.

soop the avenue of limes is stunning and verdant. I love trees. You are indeed fortunate to have such place in which to walk every day. The sunset is beautiful and the lamb is cute.

It is a lovely warm afternoon. I don't have much oomph today so I will have a cup of tea and a slice of Cherry's walnut cake and sit on the patio. Hope the sun is shining for us all literally and metaphorically ?

Thank you for the birthday wishes. I have had a lovely if strange day.
I have left chocolate cake and pink champagne - courtesy of my DS on the side.

Molly relaxing as only she can.

Happy Birthday * Dragonfly* a strange one but a good one.
Hope everyone is well and safe.

soop,Henry has had a good couple of days.The allergy nurse had advised going right back to basics ie just fruit and veg.She will be ringing tomorrow to see how he is and hopefully they will start a plan of treatment.She has also prescribed a calcium and vitamin supplement.??we are on the right track now.

I hope your hospital visit has gone well today daisyboots?

Glad you have had a good day dragonfly.

We have had thunder and lightening most of the day so hopefully the water butts will be filled again.

The car is going in for it’s service tomorrow so hopefully things will go smoothly.Panache,I hope you finally got your car sorted today and you can start planning your trip to the coast.

I am like you Lins,my get up and go has got up and gone so I will join you in a quiet spot and enjoy the goodies left by Cherry and dragonfly.

TOYA