Soop's welcoming kitchen for friendly folk

Thank you for messages today. GN threads have kept me occupied this morning. I'm waiting for rain to ease and I will go for a long walk with Mya.

It was a difficult call from my son last night (he's 48) as I've been in this position before with him. He started a new job last year and is finding it very stressful to the point it affects his moods (emotions and concentration). He has a weekly review about projects and he's said he will talk (Thursday) to the company about the work load. He says he has tried before. Lack of concentration caused a car accident the other week. He's OK.
Over the years, when he's hasn't contacted me for long periods, I have rung and even written to him with no answers or replies. Once it was 9 months. In the end, he rang. I drove immediately down to him (150 miles) and we talked for a few days and I left him with a 'sort of' plan of how to cope and assurances that he would keep in touch and he did.
He's had long periods of stability but I never feel totally confident that he has found a way of controlling his emotions. I find it difficult as I see so much of his father's (my ex) traits in him.

I do hope Sam had a better night's sleep, allowing his carers to close their eyes also. It is so worrying- I know so well.

A dull, miserable day which fits my mood to a T.

I'm sorry to hear your son is struggling Muse there are such expectations these days not only by employers but people expect so much of themselves also. We have forgotten how to be kind to ourselves.

It looks like the pain meds are now working thank goodness. So we're hoping for a stress free 24 hours before we head to the vets again !

I am off to cook gnocchi for dinner and we may have open a bottle of wine lol

Just popping into the kitchen after a busy day out walking just north of Inverness. Time to sit down for a bit whilst DH gets the dinner on - yes I know I’m lucky ?
I’m hoping soops journey has been ok today and she’s back home soon - or maybe home already fingers crossed
muse it sounds difficult for your son, I hope things at work settle down and he finds he can cope a bit better
Your sciatica sounds painful grandmabatty I hope it eases soon and your stretches and painkillers can help again
Hoping the news about Sam is a bit better today N&G

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202103/medium-61395-27734cae-b2bc-4f8b-a098-4345c11c9162.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202103/medium-82367-f76ca221-57f5-4f87-b1fe-449801a20a3b.jpeg

A view over Inverness taken today and the bench where we enjoyed our lunch ?

muse a tricky, difficult situation with your son, my son has never really ‘settled* in himself, I hope your situation improves and your long walk was calming.
grandmabatty fingers crossed your pain is settled by now and you’ve found the exact right thing to resolve it, must be so debilitating for you. Thinking of soop on her trek, uneventful for them both I hope.
Greenhouse is coming tomorrow, not Friday, need the rain and high winds to abate before any assembly takes place, very exciting! Went for a short walk, raincoat dripping when back and glasses spattered, but felt better for going. I think the high winds peak tonight on the south coast, so will close the bedroom window, just leaving the en-suite one open. I updated my Saturday Tesco delivery for Saturday to incluse some breakfast goodies for DD on Mothering Sunday, our granddaughter is in on this venture, I’ve asked her to answer the front door Sunday morning. TTFN.

Hope Sam is a bit more comfortable N&G
Thinking of you Muse we will always worry about our children?
Nice photos Brook you have sunshine?
?For you Charleygirl hope tomorrow’s a better day.

muse unfortunately it’s a burden mothers carry, we are only as happy as our unhappiest child doesn’t matter what age they are.
Will try to catch up on the kitchen news.

TOYA

‘Evening All’
?

Us 3 musketeers enjoyed our trip out to M&S this lunchtime. We’ve been shopping for my stepfather this last 4 months and he really enjoyed a stroll around the store choosing his own groceries. We’ve decided to go every other Wednesday for the foreseeable.

You’ll be home now soop I expect. I hope the round trip wasn’t too arduous in the wind and rain.

Try not to worry annesixty. Lockdown will continue to loosen. Life will return to normal late spring.

Stepfather reminded me the clocks go forward 2 weeks on Sunday the 28th. Hold tight to that lovely thought. It will still be light around 7pm!

Right, I’m off to watch ‘The Terror’ 9pm on BBC2 and then make my Horlicks.

Wishing everyone on here a peaceful night ahead. x

‘Goodnight All’.

muse it doesn’t matter how old they are, we never stop worrying do we. Does your son have access to some coping strategy for stress GP, online CBT. Sounds as though he needs some long term help. Hope he comes through this period again. It is hard for those who suffer from stress and those who worry about them. Hope things work out ok.
Hope Sam is feeling more comfortable tonight N&G so you might get some sleep too.
soop hope the day went well and you are safely home.
TOYA (including you Urms?) ??

Thanks Doodle! ??

Morning all,

Its wild and windy here - to the extent the bird table is now in the field behind the house !!

Just a quick one as I am determined to tidy the children's room today . We have accumulated a lot of toys over the years and some now never see the light of day. So its time to pass them on.

Sam is much better this morning. Still not drinking but happily eating and went out to do his business despite the wind. He is off to the vets this evening for a check up and to remove some of the dressing from his neck.

Everything seems better today :-)

That’s good news N&G. ?
My blanket is finished! It can go on the sofa in the kitchen, for everyone to use when you need a snuggle. In RL, it is for DGD’s birthday!
Hope you are all surviving the wind and soop is safely home.

I too hope soop is safely home, and sure she will be in greatest need of a snuggle in that beautiful blanket you’ve made Nannytopsy. I think there may be a queue for it!
Very good news about Sam N&G, a new day, onwards and upwards. Keep positive.
muse I hope you feel less worried today and can continue to support your son who is one of many young people who find today’s pace of life excruciatingly stressful. It’s a real illness and thank goodness we can talk about it now.
Urmston who’d have thought a trip to a Supermarket could be such a highlight in our lives, but it is a shred of independence and normality for you and your dear stepfather. He sounds a lovely man.
Grandmabatty I hope your sciatic pain has decided to go AWOL today - you can do without it.
To everyone else who pops in the kitchen, Hi, and have the best day you can. Better days ahead for us all ?

Love your blanket Nanytopsy looks very cosy.
I have just been shopping and like Urmstongran it’s a real treat!!
Pleased to hear Sam is a lot better that is good news.Hope Soop is now home safe and sound and Grandmabatty that your sciatica is better, it’s such a horrible pain.
Starting some more diamond art this afternoon that will keep me busy.
Have a good day all.

The rain here did not materialise- I am not complaining. The sun has been out so that means free hot water for me so I can have my bi-annual shower and hair wash later.

I must remember to rescue my garden chairs which have gone for a walk.

Poor Sam, another trip to see the vet later. Pleased to hear he is now happier.

All I want to do is amble around a store- anything other than a supermarket and pop in for a cup of coffee- not a lot to ask.
TOYA

Thank you everyone. The pain in the backside has subsided for now and I've been pottering. I made bread this morning and was so chuffed with it as it rose beautifully. Unfortunately I dropped the baking tray and could only watch as it deflated. It tastes fine, maybe a bit heavy, but I'm so annoyed with myself. My art tutor has been in touch and would like me to produce a painting for a charity online exhibition. I'm pleased and horrified at the same time as I'm not that great. So drawing this afternoon and some painting to begin tomorrow, after I have my first vaccination. I hope you all have a good afternoon.

Good afternoon my lovely peoples. I am about to try to catch up. Then I shall be aware of all the happenings since I logged off on Tuesday afternoon.

The journey took three hours both ways. The worst bit was the hold up at the pass of the Rest and Be Thankful. It is a notorious stretch of road subject to countless major landslides. Goodness knows how much money has been spent trying to shore up the hillside. Engineers work tirelessly on the project. We had a long wait at that spot. Had we travelled via the alternative route, it would have added 120 extra miles in total to the journey.

Loos were in short supply. Always a buggeration. The hospital staff were lovely. My remaining breast was pancaked for three images. Over and done with in 30 mins. I've also been in touch with the GP regarding the worsening "drop bot". He is contacting the surgeon's secretary for some idea of what, if anything, can be done next.

We were home by late afternoon. Treated ourselves to a wee dram. As you do.

Away to catch up with you.

Good to hear you are back safe and sound, soopydoop. Yes, RABT, as that place on your journey is known hereabouts, is tiresome at the moment. I don't remember it being quite this bad for quite so long in previous years. Hey ho.

Hope some relief can be found for the 'dropped bot'.

MrB treated himslef to some Jura whisky yesterday. I had a sip only as I'd already drunk some wine. I liked my wee sample.

Glad you are back home safely Soop

Dear Muse, my heart goes out to you. You will not be totally reassured until your son is able to confide in you. I'm so sorry that he feels as he does. I am equally sorry that being his mother means that you will not be able to dismiss countless worrying thoughts from your mind.

annsixty I too feel a little lighter and brighter. We are all deserving of a time of spirit lifting experiences. No matter how simple, after what we've been through, we shall all have something to celebrate.

Hello dear Baggs. We each had a wee dram of Jura yesterday evening. Very good it was too.

So pleased you’re back with us soop after your very long journey yesterday, we missed you
I’m just back from Tesco, we needed to top up on the basics and I wanted to pick up some Easter treats to send next week to our DGC who don’t live locally. I’ve two of my own DGC who live in Cambridge and 4 step DGC who all live in the Manchester area so there’s quite a few boxes to make up. It’s been a cold windy day here with sunshine and showers so I’m glad to be in now for the rest of today..
Your painting sounds interesting grandmabatty what is it going to be? I’m sure we’d all love to see it when it’s finished ..
I know how you feel about shopping charleygirl anything other than a supermarket! Our local The Range store is open although I don’t know why its allowed, sometimes I pop in there for a change.. sadly when the shops do reopen there’s quite a few here that have closed permanently Debenhams, Laura Ashley, Topshop, Dorothy Perkins etc so there’s not many left to browse in. It’s going to be a completely different shopping experience and hope the smaller independent shops reopen.
Beautiful blanket nannytopsy I’m just going to snuggle down on the sofa with it if that’s ok for now ?

Glad you got home safe and sound soop. Love your blanket Topsy but it is quite warm here today so I won't need to share it with brook. We do, however, have hail in the forecast.

Muse , as , I think, gg said on the good morning thread, we can never be any happier than our unhappiness child. I hope you are both happier soon.

I have great news - the hole in the gall ceiling is no more!!

Hall not gall!!!!