Soop's welcoming and supportive kitchen for kindly folk...

soop that is why we are here- please do not sit in silence. I hope Fern had the decency to show her face and eat you out of house and home.
We will be on the move soon, I must watch or I will get lost.
TOYA

It’s all been said, soop, just say it as it is, we’re all here to listen. Hope tomorrow brings increased comfort.

I’m so sorry muse, you don’t need any more stress, you’ll be worrying now about the young one. Wishing your son well for tomorrow.

Our goddaughter is still fretting, distance is a real buggeration at times. Crossed fingers and long distance advice seems to have been useful today, see what tomorrow brings. We’re off over the bridge in the morning for a long postponed visit. It’s always a tiring day, feels a mountain to climb after so long. It will be fine once we get going.

TOYA. Sleep well everyone.

You really made me roar with laughter, Urms - "what fresh hell is this?" You only carry on like that so you can find a reason for a chilled glass and a little sit down. We know!

Muse good news and bad news. Please don't worry at what might sound like bad news. Lots of kiddies have 'heart' worries. I had a GD who worried us to bits when she was 3. A couple of years later no one had any idea as to why her 'murmur' had disappeared. But it's never been a cause for concern right through to adulthood. Fingers crossed for his job interview! Careful with those arrows......

Would that be the Severn Bridge, corner? Had an interesting journey many years ago. After visiting my Mum in Somerset, I was travelling to London and then to Paris. I caught the train where I knew I should then change trains at Bristol Temple Meads for London. I listened for the announcement - none came. I stayed put. The train set off and then it went very dark. Mmmm! Please don't say we are in the Severn Tunnel. When the train finally stopped at a small station, I got off and asked a rather surprised platform sweeper, "where's this, please?" Newport, he said. OK, we seem to have turned left and we're definitely not going to London this way then. I remember sitting alone and patiently waiting for a train going the other way. Obviously I chose the slower way to get to Paris.

Sleep tight all, sweet dreams and get well soon all those with struggles. A huge hug for Panache, maybe a small anti-malarkey hand grenade for Cherry, and a much better day tomorrow, soop.

Nighty night from a drizzly South of France. x

I have just looked out of the window and discovered that it's raining! Last seen a good two weeks ago. Thank goodness I got the washing on the line yesterday. Blood test today, well overdue I think. Still, if they're not worried, I'm not.
Lovely reunion yesterday with our book group, not on Zoom for a change. We all appreciated being able to be together and properly catch up without masks. We had a celebratory glass of fizz - bottles opened skilfully by yours truly, without spilling a drop or putting anyone's eye out with a flying cork. We did find time also to discuss the book!
soop, I do hope you are safely ensconced with your feet up in a quiet corner allowing the rest of us to top up your cup (or glass) as and when required. I'm considering making some flapjack, though doubt if I could rival Baggs's product.
My ornamental malus is so pretty now with deep pink flowers, complementing its little red foliage. It's ornamental because its crab 'apples' are tiny black berries which the birds enjoy.
Have a good day, everyone, whatever it may bring.

I do like having your sunset photo as my screensaver soop. It’s not only beautiful it nudges me to give you a thought each time I open my iPad whilst your health issues are unresolved. I hope you are feeling a little better today. x

An early good afternoon dear kitcheners. Hope all is well within the kitchen and dear soop hope you are looking after yourself. A very dark and dull day here in mid-Notts with rain threatening I believe. Our sainsbury's order has been delivered, the fridge us replenished and we will shortly be off to deliver my mum her order. Have a good rest of the day and of course gentle virtual hugs to all who are in need of a little comfort

Dearest you lovely lot, I owe you all a huge thank you for being patient and supportive beyond the call of duty.

I shall need to print out all your recent messages so that I may respond accordingly.

Just a quick update from me. Went to the garden centre. Spent an eye-watering amount of dosh. Returned home to phone message from Oncology dept in Glasgow hospital for tomorrow. Returned call, explained that I had no word from them re the Zoledronic Acid infusion (six monthly event) and what should I do as I needed to have had bloods taken and results with the hospital at the time of the appointment. Also explained that the last procedure was performed in a hospital closer to home than Glasgow. Lady said, you will need to ring that particular hospital. It's not in our whatever. Rang hospital closer to home. Lady said, the Glasgow hosp needs to transfer the appointment. You will must ring them back and explain. Did so. A gentleman then apologised and said - you are no longer on our list. The hosp who performed in Oct last should have contacted you. Rang that same hospital and after a bit of faffing, it transpires that I should have had the appointment for Z.A. for some time this week. Someone will phone back. I almost went into a complete melt down but didn't.
I trust that you have managed to get the jist of this. I am hoping that it may even raise a chuckle.

Back a little later.

Much as I praise the Nhs, Soop, sometimes the communication isn't great. I hope you are feeling better and all of this faffing can be sorted. Dgs is having a nap at the moment, hence my ability to post. He was most put out that there were no cakes so I made him chocolate chip buns. I'll bring some to the kitchen.

Ooh deary me, GrandmaB ! (That was quite catchy, no?)
It seems that young L might have joined the Tiny Tyrants Terrible Twos Club. Think they have a huge membership. Good luck with that. Sand? Not following instructions? Cake demands? Sounds like you might need to keep counting to 10 and then again, in order to survive this phase.

Just as well we love them to bits, eh?

I sort of laugh, soop but have experienced and heard stories of so many NHS cockups on the "Administrative side" that I find it hard to be amused. No wonder people give up - or maybe that's another money-saving idea. Gird up your loins, keep on going, keep repeating yourself (as in speaking to simple souls) and make them get it sorted. Hells teeth, they couldn't make life more difficult for you if they tried.
I know you can't fix stupid, but in this case it has to be worth giving it a try. You need your treatment - they need to stop failing people! ?

Enjoy your wonderful plant haul. x

Hope the blood test gives the required results, Anno. Feet up afterwards and enjoy a cuppa whilst you polish your ?.

Soop I feel your pain. I have had three cancelled appointments concerning my Alendronic Acid infusion at the Glasgow Queen Elizabeth in the last few weeks. The one for tomorrow has been cancelled yet again.
I can't have the infusion anyway as the blood tests revealed my VitD and calciums are non existent. That's why I need to speak to someone ASAP!

I hope you get it resolved soon. I have given up any hope!

Oh dear, soop and Marydoll. You need to swap notes, join forces and hold strong in the face of all this messing about with your treatments.

As tiresome and stressful as it undoubtedly is - please don’t give up the fight.
As Ted Hastings exclaimed in “Line of Duty” last week “dear Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the wee donkey ! ...... ”
....... keep making your voices heard and you will get your important appointments soon, we hope. ? ? ?

Puzzler, thank you. I haven't forgotten you, it's life has become so busy all of a sudden. I will be in touch!!!
I was recently complaining it was too quiet, now I'm too busy!

Grandmafrench said toddler is sitting beside me on the couch,having eaten his beans and sausages and is quietly watching a cartoon while I have a late lunch. He absolutely has hit the terrible twos! So far we haven't had tantrums but I use a lot of distractions. Marydoll I meant to reply to your post this morning. I'm really impressed with the way you carry on and are very stoic about your health. ? For you and Soop and anyone else who needs flowers.

muse Our granddaughter was diagnosed with a heart murmur when a very small child. She is now a mummy to two beautiful babes. One of which also has a heart murmur. We are told that there is no cause for concern, 'though naturally, one is. As indeed are you.

Urms I well remember having my feet measured for Clark's shoes. I believe that I also stood on a contraption that x-rayed the foot inside the shoe. Them were the days!

Jax I can well imagine how supportive you are during one of those special telephone calls.

Grandmabatty You are funny. Toddler doings... the mind boggles.

Seriously, heartfelt thanks to all our Kitcheners. You are kindness personified.

New batch of antibios for water works infection. Awaiting appointment for pelvic scan. Drop-bot measures approx 2" outside it's appointed place. Walking is uncomfortable. I could lie down all day - but - hey! It's not what us lot do if we can possibly grin and bare bear it.

soop that is no laughing matter and the admin at both hospitals are total idiots.

Marydoll does nobody who is apparently caring for you not realise the importance of receiving Alendronic Acid regularly? Whose fault is it- Covid or Brexit?

My eye trial is either tomorrow or next Wednesday. Why bother informing me? I should be staying indoors. That is next on my list- emailing the idiot who is doing the admin for the 4 of us on this trial. I realise with those numbers it must be exhausting juggling the times.

Sprinkling of rain has bucked up the garden beautifully. Newly purchased plants look handsome in their pots beside the entrance. I treated us to a jazzy door mat. Van Gough-ish.

Gentle hugs returned to every one of you. I've said it often...you are the best. This much cannot be denied.

Charleyg Think Zen. Sometimes, it helps to calm frayed nerved.

Fern graced us with a fleeting visit two days ago. We hadn't seen her for at least five days. In she walked. Sat on her mat. Ate four pouches of cat food. Stretched. Licked lips. Drank water. Buzzed off.

I think the kitchen needs a M*A*S*H unit, soop and Marydoll could have their infusions next to each other.
Grandmabatty as a nearly 3 year old my son was showing off eating ants, I let him carry on until he got bored...about ten seconds. I am sat watching clouds from the l room, hoping for ?.
Two lasagna made, one frozen and one for tonight with salad. DH has bern working, as a tiler he gets interesting jobs, this one was very fiddly, but he’s happy with it, more to the point, the customer is ecstatic.
Hoping for news for muse (little rhyme there!). ttfn

Jax I have path envy. Stunning! As for ants...I'm not too keen. They have a tendency to throat tickle.

Beautiful path Jax

How frustrating soop

I will read and catch up later, The Imp has been mischievous today, even in the garden, he has big teeth coming through ?

I tried to water and do some pruning only a little achieved.

Take care folks ?‍♀️

soop you are one very uncomplaining lady. We could all learn so much from you. I hope the UTI subsides soon. Please keep in touch and complain as much as you like if it helps. !

Jax, that's a path? When I looked at the picture I saw a carpet! It's fantastic. What a craftsman your DH is.
soop, clearly Fern treats you two as a starred restaurant. Four pouches! My grandcats get one between them at each of breakfast and teatime, though they do have some of the dry stuff to snack on between meals. They are hardly sylph-like! You had a right old stramash with the hospital administrators. I hope they have got your appointments sorted out in their own tiny minds!
Grandmafrench, the blood test was just a routine one. The practice is playing catch-up after the pressure they must have been under during the past year. She took three vials, so goodness knows what they hope (or not) to find. I've just been out with the long loppers to take the top-heavy bits off my pink climbing rose which normally blooms in late May.
Grandmabatty, there were some wise words on the subject of toddler's tantrums on the One Show last night by Kate Silverton, a TV newsreader who is training as a child psychotherapist and has written a book for parents (not excluding grandparents: "There's No Such Thing as Naughty". I'm so glad I am past the stage of needing to read it.

GrannyGravy I so admire your fortitude.

Bellanonna Bless you. Bless all. I shall log off for today. I am feeling better for having shared your company.

Coolish late afternoon. Some rain but a little more would be appreciated.

We shall all be moving into a new kitchen soon. Get baking. We all need cake! Lots of it. Until tomorrow,

anno Ha! I still feel like throwing an almighty tantrum from time to time. Only I'm now all growed up.