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

Happy 5th birthday dear Matilda, we all send virtual cuddles and hope that your day is super special.
It's sad that Henry is poorly again, Susan. Dear wee soul, he deserves to bursting with energy. A cuddle for him too. x

Hellogirl1 Oh the air is most certainly purple. It has drifted as far as Kintyre. Computers and anything remotely technical can bring on a fit of insanity when anything fails to do what it says on the tin. Arm around your shoulder time.
I am reading the first of the series of books that you kindly sent to me. I like the characters a lot. Campbeltown seems vaguely familiar. Action is bases in Tarbert when I next settle down with the book. Thank you.

MacSporran has returned with the weekly shop. I shall share a special photo with you before the end of the afternoon. Need I add that he remembered to stock up with supplies for a certain pussy cat? Nay!

Susan Having "our cat" to consider, is a blessing. I rarely think about the surgery. In fact, at this time next week, I shall be looking forward to returning home.

soop that is the way to think about next week's surgery- you will be returning I hope to see a well-fed cat enjoying his food.

Susan so sorry to hear about Henry and I would suggest if DH is so good at waking him up he can attempt to get him back to sleep.

It is a dull but cold day here- Tara has looked out but decided it is much better to sit close to maid service in case she gets the idea, wrongly that succulent food will appear. At least the liquid medicine has been taken very well the last
few days.

My kitchen looks as though I am selling cat food because I have different varieties on display- there cannot be much left not known to cat or man.
TOYA

Fern sounds very different in behaviour to our guard cat soop. He (we assume it a he) visits most days, often lurks under shrubs outside for hours, sometimes sleeps on our door mat. He’s glossy and well fed, gives a furious glare and runs as soon as he sees us. Not usually around at night, he doesn’t hang around in the rain. I put water down for him in hot weather and have continued to do so. He, along with the rest of the wandering cats, come for a drink. His ginger highness won’t drink out of it if a leaf has found it’s way in there. He might not belong to us but he’s managed to find a couple of servants. If I can get a decent photo I’ll post one.

Busy day yesterday so we’re taking it easy today. No reason not to so why do I feel guilty?

I’m sorry Henry is poorly again Susan, hope he bounces back soon. A very happy birthday to Matilda, how lovely to see her on her birthday.

Purple air has reached here too Hellogirl. I do sympathise, have had similar issues with photo books. Drive me to distraction.

Oh well, best sort the kitchen, not sure how a simple lunch can leave so much chaos .

Take care everyone. TOYA.

Hi everyone! Just popped looking for cake! Bagsy I have any of Matilda's that might be left! I bet that she looked brilliant in all her 5 badges!

Nice to see you callgirl, how are things going with Dawn?

Good to look forward to beyond your op, soop. You are a brave hearted lady.

Feeling a bit down today, hence the need for cake. Just heard that DD2's best friend's brother has inoperable cancer - he's 38! And the same friend's husband is in hospital with sepsis.

It's a bit of a bleak old world at the moment, isn't it?

I'll go on a hunt for cake somewhere else now I've burdened you all.

Kitty, so sorry to hear about your daughter`s friend`s brother, life is very cruel sometimes, isn`t it? I think when you asked about Dawn, you meant Lynne? She`s pretty much the same, thank you. She had the plaster cast off her arm about 3 weeks ago, but still can`t use her arms much, can`t reach to put things in her mouth, so still needs feeding. The doctor at the hospital said that the bone had mended, but not how they wanted it to.
Susan, so sorry to hear that Henry is poorly again, the poor little man hasn`t had it easy this far, has he?
Soop, whatever you do, don`t let Fer develop a taste for tuna. Mia loves it, sits there drooling whenever we have it, but she`s not getting a regular supply, much as she would like to, lol!

callgirl. Sorry to have confused Lynne for Dawn. You have another daughter with that name, dont you. Pleasexsay yes or I'll have to have a lie down!! Is there anything to be done to help her arms?

We just had a mince pie and a cup of tea (herbal in my case). We too have an aura of sadness hanging over us. My sister is coming to the end of a short battle with ovarian cancer - she's 52. It was my birthday yesterday so I'm thinking she waited and didn't want to leave the world until the day had passed

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Dear Kitty I am very sorry to hear the sad news that you have shared with us. There are no words. Life can be cruel and if there is some hope, that is all we ask at such times.

Hellogirl1 Charleyg and all those who are fond of felines...here is the photo of Fern's upgraded larder. I am not to blame. MacS did the shopping. This cat has made us laugh a lot.

Confirmation of Covid test inn Campbeltown on Monday. One step closer.

Sending my love to every one of you. Until tomorrow

in Campbeltown!

BladeAnnie Our posts coincided. My heart goes out to you.

Thank you soop - life can indeed be very cruel

Lots of sadness on the thread today so ? for anyone who needs them, particularly Kittylester and BladeAnnie. Soop lots of distraction required over the weekend. Fingers crossed next week goes quickly. I've had a good day today. I met a friend for breakfast and we sat and blethered for a couple of hours then were asked to leave as the garden centre cafe was heavily booked. We didn't mind as we are meeting up every two weeks for breakfast and a chat. I then was forced to look at the children's books and ended up getting some for dgs for Christmas. I got other Christmas gifts too that were a bit different. So came home feeling smug. Then dd arrived with dgs and stayed for a couple of hours. It is so nice to sit and chat to her as Monday and Tuesday is a quick handover. I then did a tesco order as close as possible to Christmas which means I only need cream and fresh bread to pick up. I'm going to dd on the day itself, but I'm possibly having dm and db for lunch on Christmas eve if the rules relax. If not, the food will stay in the freezer! So I've had a better day than I expected. Macaroni cheese for tea. Have a good evening all.

This week is ending in a very sad way for our kitchen friends BladeAnnie and Kittylester.
So very sorry. We often offer “tea and sympathy” and I really hope they help. There are always many caring thoughts for you - and anyone else who needs them - here. ?

Oh, bladeannie. That is so sad. Your sister is so very young.

The mother of daughter's friend is not really a friend but I messaged her when he was first diagnosed and we exchanged a few messages. Not sure what to do now. It's very new news and DD has asked me not to contact her friend just yet!

We often refer to her as DD4 as she stayed with us such a lot when they were younger after nights out - the taxi was cheaper to our house!

Time for steak, chips and

Hello lovely people. What sadness we are sharing. My heart goes out to you, Blade Annie - I have a child of that age. Life can be so cruel and makes one feel very helpless sometimes.
And when your children's peers face terrible illness, Kitty, that is indeed very shocking and particularly sad.

It's good to hear that your Daughter is making some progress, Hellogirl but it sounds as if that progress is slow and quite frustrating. All good wishes to her and to you.

How lovely that your little lodger is bringing cheer and distraction to both of you, soop. That's definitely a good way to approach next week: so distracted that you can enjoy the new company and almost forget about any real plan!! This time next week will probably hove into view before you know it. Keep well in the meantime and maybe MacS should keep out of Charleygirl 's kitchen. Wow is that a stash of cat food he's brought home - heaven knows what Tara will say when she spots that it's gone! (But it won't be polite, I reckon)

Happy Birthday little Miss M. ? Hope that the whole world now knows exactly how old you are. Feel better soon, little Henry. ?
Hope your day was good corner and you did have some rest; and trust that the out and abouting was enough to cheer you and set you up for a good weekend, GrandmaB. Keeping cheery is of prime importance at the moment, isn't it?

Trust you and the lovely Ruby are well, Puzzler - and the end of that rainbow has fallen directly into your garden today.

Here we have had glorious sunshine and winds strong enough to flatten, so our moggies have caught the sunshine from indoors on a rug....they know when they're well off. Have a good evening all, relax and unwind if you can.
Until tomorrow ?
Hugs and warm wishes from French France.

Much love to all, especially BladeAnnie and Kittylester.

So sorry to hear your sad news BladeAnnie and kitty?

Glad that Lynne is making progress callgirl.I’m sure she is frustrated that progress is slow but at least she is heading in the right direction.

Glad that Fern is keeping you occupied soop and taking your mind off next week.It seems to me it was meant to be ,you need her and she needs you?

Matilda says thank you for her birthday wishes.She says she has had the best day ever.Henry brightened up a little after his nap and ate a little bit of lunch.I was so excited that he was eating I took photos to send to my daughter.Charley I did tell DH he had to get him to sleep but took pity on H after ten minutes and rocked him to sleep myself!

TOYA and sending love to the Panaches

Sad news kitty and bladeannie. Thinking of you both and sending a hug. .

Tara has so much food I cannot do much on the worktop surface so I am going to clear out a cupboard for her. At least she is eating some of it but turns up her nose at others.

It was so much easier and less expensive because there was no wastage when she was on dry food only- those were the days. I have ordered cooked chicken for her from Morrison's so that with cat litter, more food and heaven knows what else on Tuesday.
TOYA

Sorry to hear your sad news kitty and Bladeannie.
susan I am sorry to hear Henry has been poorly again. I hope he is feeling better soon.
Lots of lovely cat photos.
Soop I am tempted to come there and tell Fern to budge up so I can share her warm tartan blanket and have MacSporran go to the shops for some tempting treats for me.
synonymous glad that your wet room is now finished. I expect your DH finds it a great boon. Hope he is keeping well.
Glad kiwi came home kitty ...even if it was only for a meal and to get her laundry done. ?

Morrison’s!!!! ?.
Charleygirl you can’t buy Tara’s chicken from Morrison’s. Surely it should be delivered from Fortnam and Mason or Harrods. ?

I looked at the cost of Waitrose cooked chicken for myself and Tara and gulped when I saw the price for a tiny leg. I expected half a dozen for the price asked! I know I am Scottish!

Kitty, yes, you`re right, I do have another daughter by the name of Dawn, and one called Rena as well, in case you see her mentioned anytime. So you`re not going daft!.
BladeAnnie, so sorry about your sister, she`s younger than my 3 daughters, so no age at all. Like I`ve said before, life is cruel sometimes.
Lynne told us that physio wasn`t mentioned re her arms, but a subsequent letter from the hospital (a copy of what was sent to our GP) says that it was offered and she declined it! She says she didn`t.
I`m still going doolally over these photo blankets. Lynne has suggested that the photos are too large, but I don`t know how to make them smaller.

Yes Doodle the wet room is an absolute boon but I have decided that Himself needs a shower wheelchair with big wheels that mean he can propel himself to anywhere in the wetroom he needs to go. Quite important for his dignity to be as independent as possible.
Earlier I would have said that he is really well but he was missing and I found him curled up in a ball in bed so have got him settled into bed properly. He is feeling really unwell and so I have frightened myself by consulting Dr Google! Such a stupid thing to do but how else can you work things out on your own? His mum and next brother up both had pancreatic cancer so I can't help being concerned at pain in that area, have decided that I am just going to keep a close eye on him. A weird thing to have to put to bed a man with a prosthetic leg, what a faff of washing and creaming etc and not only the leg but the silicone socket liner too! You lot are probably learning as much as I am!
DD didn't make it up here today as they couldn't get the big removal van past some parked cars and nobody answered their doors so they had to use a smaller van and then decant everything into the large one at their base and it all took a lot longer than it needed to. She was exhausted in the end as she was not allowed to have anyone in to help her but thankfully a good buddy has put her up for the night and she will travel to us tomorrow after a good sleep. Safer than a hotel, espcially with a car stuffed up to tthe gunwhales, but probably illegal in this current situation - what a mad world we are living in.
The removers will arrive here on Monday morning and then the fun will really begin. I am so pleased that we managed to get the electric loft ladder installed in time as at a press of the remote contol the ladder comes down and is just as easily put away. So much is going to have to be stashed up there as DD says there is A LOT and that is in spite of her being a minimalist! I also fear that I shall no longer be able to keep my car in the garage which is not ideal with the winter coming on.
At least the weird smell from the new carpets and underlay is dissipating which is a real relief and my home help has "bottomed out" DD's rooms so all is ready for Monday.
And then, just to top it all off, there are the four bare rooted, fan trained cherry trees which have arrived and need to go into the ground asap while our gardening friend, who ordered them, is still not very well so I am hoping he will either manage with my help or find "a friend who can". The cherries on the top eh?!?! Never a dull moment here!
TOYA x