Soop's welcoming kitchen for kindly caring folk...

A bonny wee boy, soop. He has a very engaging smile.
Charley, giving cats any medicine can be perilous. As Tara has liquid medication, do you have one of those syringes they use nowadays to give Calpol to babies? Wish I'd had one of those 40+ years ago when DS2 came out of SCBU with -of all things- thrush and I had to try to get some disgusting potion down him - amazing how stubborn a newborn could be!

Gorgeous wee boy Soop. I'll try and post the latest of my wee man. It's brightened up here now. Blue skies and a light breeze. The steak in Guinness casserole is in the oven, the figs are ready to be roasted with honey and I'm off to make banana bread.

Ta dah! Here he is...

Lins1066 I feel proud of wee Sam. He seems to have a very special place in my affections.

anno Well done to the marathon man. Good news that your son and granddaughter have tested negative for Covid. It really is a enormous blight on our lives.

Daisyboots Welcome back to the kitchen. We've missed you. It appears at long last that your records will be scrutinised by an expert Oncologist. You really shouldn't have had to wait this long for a decision that will determine the course of further vitally important treatment.

Ann Countdown time! Us lot are rooting for you.

Charleyg You cannot put a price on Tara's wellbeing. She is very fortunate to be loved by you.

Galen Are those two chaps still hunkered down in your sitting room? Be gentle with them.

Hellogirl1 Although it will take time to get the home improvements up to the standard you require, bit by bit, everything will fall into place. Remain positive.

Grandmabatty

Grandmafrench I raise my hat to you. You most certainly have done yourself proud. So what exactly have you cut out or down on? Do share the secret of your success.

A damp day in Kintyre. I may need to force myself to watch the tennis. Such a strain. I shall have the latest photo of Ted to share with you once I've downloaded it.

Must admit, I was feeling a tad envious there, Anno ?

Oh...I may have spoken (well, written) too soon. the sky is grey and the breeze is getting up,
Memo to self: Don't gloat.

Here we have sunshine and blue sky, but I have just heard from DS2 who - 150 miles south - has just done a cold half marathon in heavy rain. Commiserations to kitcheners who are putting up with those conditions today, even if not out running half marathons or even whole ones.
Good news from DS1 and DGD (who lives with her dad) who had Covid tests as she had a cough. Both have tested negative, so no isolation for them. I'm very relieved as she is at 6th form college in Hampshire and he has a job that involves frequent contact with the public in London.

Thank you for your good wishes Daisyboots and everyone else.
I am sorry you are getting the runaround from your oncologist, cancer is terrible enough to deal with without the hassle of not getting the attention and unkept promises.
I hope you get better news this week.
I am finding the world a sad place, I cannot help but get depressed, I just know I am not alone.

Good morning from a mainly sunny Portugal. I am just about emerging from my social media exile having read over 20 books instead. I have spent this morning catching on on the new kitchen's posts and lovely to see that annsixty is finally getting her new hip this week and will soon be without that terrible pain. Belated anniversary and birthday greetings to those who have celebrated recently too. Izabella I would love to sponsor you if your dear CH could send me the link to your sponsorship please. I always wondered what CH meant and now I know. I have one of those too but there won't be any more. ;)
As for me I have now completed 10 cycles of the oral chemotherapy but still don't know whether it is working or not. But I will do on Thursday evening when I have an appointment with my oncologist after having another CT scan last week. I had a CT scan at the end of August which should have been on my spine and pelvis but he put down for my internal organs instead.
But at least I know the cancer has not spread to my lungs, liver, stomach, kidneys etc which is good news. I showed the small lumps under my skin going up my neck towards my ear from the infected lymph nodes in the clavicle area. He said they are skin mets and shrugged them off. He seemed totally disinterested and suggested I have a break from treatment for a few months which made me angry especially as we didn't have the results to know if the treatment is working. I pointed out that he left it months between the original chemo and radiotherapy and then again before starting me on the oral chemo and the mets had spread even more. I don't have any faith in him anymore and have discussed getting a second opinion with my palliative care doctor. We have been asking for the oncologist to send copies of the scans and the results to my son who works at a top cancer hospital in London. He has said he would do so for the last six months but hasn't so the palliative care doctor said if my son emailed her with what they wanted she would collect it together and send it. So the top breast cancer oncologist there is going to look at it all and say what her opinion is. Sorry to ramble on.
I shall now try to keep up with you all

TOYA

Keeping everything crossed for your new hip next week Ann, hope all goes well. That norty step must be playing havoc with your poorly hip, can`t you plead special circumstances?
Good to hear that Mr. Corner is doing well.
CharleyG, Mia runs a mile if she spots the syringe, but as she`s funny about when/if she`ll eat, I won`t put it in her food.
Had a man round today to put up the coving, none of us could have managed it. My grandson also came to box in some pipes, looks a lot neater now.

Evening All. Many thanks ann, the light is now dawning. In the nicest possible way I hope we’re not hearing from you next Saturday because you’re recovering from getting a new hip. No one deserves it more.

Quiet day here, a bit of faffing and a lot of sitting. Hoping to see family for a meal tomorrow, fingers remain crossed no one is poorly.

TOYA, sleep well everyone.

Have you tried giving Tara her thyroxine in a bolts of fish paste or pate?

Hello lovely Kitchener Peeps!

Just started raining here. How dare it! Can't work out how Tara goes out into the storms and comes in dry, but then I expect you are tired of trying to think what she gets up to, Charleygirl. Do hope you are well and I loved (although I saw the incidents in question) Ann's dry and utterly bored explanation of what happened to get you 3 into trouble. Dear Lord the world is full of snowflakes - but with rhino hides it seems. It was just as Ann describes. A nothing.

The Norty step possibly will need properly upholstering soon and maybe as dear Soop suggests it should become a Norty Staircase.

Wonderful photos of you and MacS and lovely weather for your anniversary. You always look so chic - even half buried under those Gunnera.

Even I am getting excited for your New Hip Life now Ann. Keeping everything crossed and wishing hard for you and complete success.

Fingers also crossed for Hattie next week. It will be good to have a clear diagnosis, I should imagine.

I think that Tara should be allowed her Thyroxine in a portion of wet food, Charleygirl. It's a lot more important that her Thyroid levels are sorted as a priority, I would think. My hound, Ludo, takes his Thyroxine tablet in one gulp - but then he does that with anything that stands still long enough. My Nouba cat, being an old boy, needs to have a special diet for his kidneys and to support his new drugs. However, in order to keep his weight steady we allow him some wet food mixed in with his other diet. The Vet totally agreed, when I said that he wasn't going to die because he wouldn't eat, that would be ridiculous. He needs to live his life in comfort.

Take it steady with your Daughter's homecoming, Hellogirl. Don't risk your own health and strength.

Boilers? They are such a let-down. Hope you get it fixed and there's no need for additional mortgages. Susan feet up - between bouts of little GC's. You need to stay well.

Lins I could just fancy some fish and chips - but since I have lost 3kgs, I am determined to soldier on. (What a brave little person I am!!)

Take care, big hugs.

^Ann* I do hope that Molly will not weave in and out of your legs once you have had surgery and home again. I suspect it is Molly's house, you are the lodger and happen to supply her food.

Tara came home extra early tonight- I am not complaining- dry as anything but it is very wet outside, She has not travelled far.
TOYA

Thank you for that Grandmabatty
I am flattered.
My GD is out today, I encourage her to do so at the weekend as I think I try her patience being in with me all day.
I trudged into the hall on my walker and the cat of which I posted earlier was fast asleep on one of my stairs.
The poor thing was wet through, it is a very hairy cat, I think it has some Persian in it.
I didn’t have the heart to turf it out and it stayed for some time until it went to Molly’s food station, then it had to go, but this is Molly’s home.

My GD believes firmly that Molly is short for Mollycoddled.
She may be right.

Annsixty, I'd rather sit with you on the norty step than with someone who has lots of bags,if you see what I mean. I've been out with dd and dgs to meet my aunt and uncle for coffee near where they live, as we are not allowed in other households. It was lovely to see them and dgs was on his best 19 months old behaviour. Smiling at us all and devouring whatever came his way. Back at dd's house to discover she had air escaping from a tyre so I took dgs to my house to let her get it sorted. Any excuse to have the boy. I had bought new slippers for him for my house and he was thrilled. I've dropped him back home and I'm waiting for a tanker load of coffee in a delivery. Chicken curry for tea then a lazy night. Take care all.

Yep, that is what it says on the packaging!
That also was what the vet told me and being an ex nurse I did ask if it was hyper or hypo.

Whatever she has, it costs over £50 for a small container of liquid. A good job I won £50 from my premium bonds this month.

Sorry to hear about your broken boilers Susan and GrannyGravy I have been reminding Mr Lins to contact the plumber as ours needs a service before winter. I first reminded him in July ? We have just had our flu jabs at the medical centre. There was a nurse and a doctor administering them, I recognised Dr E... even though he was dressed like someone from Portendown.
Glad to hear that you will have your new hip by this time next week ann ?
Pleased that things are organised for Lynne callgirl but don't forget to be good to yourself too. I agree that fish and chips are pricey these days, nice though!
Best wishes to Tara and Hattie, hope their owners won't be on the norty step for too long. ?
We took Sam for his second lesson (of five) at the Dogs Trust this morning. Very organised and well worth the money.
Have a pleasant evening everyone.

Special hugs to Tara and Hattie. x

I'm leaving a plate heaped with high calorie cake in the kitchen. It's for the gang who have disgraced themselves, or not. I imagine that you all need a little treat to see through your incarceration. A note of caution...there are also a few bottles of pink Champagne that are usually quaffed on high priority celebrations. It's very potent. As it was my wedding anniversary a couple of days ago, I think that we should all enjoy a tipple or two.

I'm away to watch more tennis. I suppose I should be doing some exercises of my own. Somehow would sooner watch others doing the hard work. I shall cheer on my favourites instead.

Until we meet again tomorrow.

hellogirl. Sounds like everything (apart from the decorating) is all in place for Lynne’s return. Hope all goes well and those carers all turn up on time.
ann I thought your norty post was funny.
Hope Tara and Hattie are both doing well (have their Mummies come off the norty step yet?) ?

N&G - that sounds just like Countdown!

Well, You lot, it appears that the norty step has morphed into a staircase. I'm not sayin' nufink.

Hellogirl1 I'm relieved to hear about the upgrade for Lynne's homecoming. That is more important than the decorating, which will get finished in due course.

NanaandGrampy You don't want to hear my grumpy response to the bloody boring adverts between the tennis games. Insurance! Funerals! Tena pads! I seem to go into overdrive even with the mute button on.

Ah thanks Ann !

Honestly , I do wonder what the worlds coming to anyone can be offended by anything these days and god forbid you upset someone . Whatever happened to the times when people had a little more resilience ?

Yes I am turning into a grumpy old lady - and furthermore I just don’t care ??

Me too, Anno. I think it was a typo or autocorrect.