Soop's welcoming kitchen for kindly folk...

Jax no boiler until the weekend! I hope you can stay warm and make use of your neighbours facilities as much as possible
That’s a brilliant expression grandmabatty dressing gown of doom it would definitely have been suitable for my dear mum if she was still around. Funny though, even though my mum was very difficult I still miss her to bits now she’s gone

Well we’ve arrived safely in Granada after quite a long but interesting coach journey from Alicante. A couple of rest stops at Spanish service stations were interesting and the scenery got better as we got closer to Granada. Much cooler here though, I had to get my coat out of the case! We eventually found our new digs, a little apartment on the Gran Via near the cathedral. Tomorrow will be spent exploring and finding our feet.

Good that the pharmacist is on the ball soop
Enjoy your veggies Urms
Gorgeous picture BA is that the view from your lounge ? It’s stunning

Afternoon everyone.Sounds like you have a brilliant pharmacist Soop hope you soon feel better.
DS has been very up and down crying some days on the phone to me.It breaks my heart,but today he seemed a lot more positive.He hopes to be able to do a slow return to work in a couple of weeks,fingers crossed.
I’ve been doing a slow reduction of steroids a bit hard after each drop but I will get there,then will start a new medication.

It’s cold and miserable here.Keep warm Jax. Enjoy Granada Brook.For Baggs.🌻 Have a pleasant evening everyone.

Afternoon all. It’s cold and miserable here too YiaYia and I have finally succumbed to the thermal vest. I’m glad your son seems to be feeling more positive, I hope his colleagues are supportive during a staged return, it makes such a difference.

Christmas gifts have arrived for all our little ones (25 of them, how did that happen?!). I love them all to bits and it’s money well spent for me. Time to snuggle up in my Oodie until teatime, think it will be cheese on toast or similar.

Grandmabatty Bless the poor wee man with a sore bum. Try the product recommended by Urms. I remember one of our granddaughters (now a Mummy with children of her own) screaming with the pain caused by the angriest rash I've ever seen on a bum. It was Ezma. She was prescribed something that helped it to heal in superfast time.

Llfl Ditto SueD's witty remark.

The long and winding road to Oban hospital was pleasant in the autumn sunshine. Fabulous scenery. Glorious rustic colours of the bracken and what foliage remains on the trees.

Mr Soop's appointment went well. There is little change in his bloods. The lymph cells that are cancerous are clustered deep in his abdomen. The specialist arranges for scans on a regular basis. We had a sort of picnic in the car. The usual restaurant in the hospital has just one table in use since Covid changed everything. We ordered thick, wholesome soup and scrummy flapjacks and took them away with us. Naturally, I managed to drop soup down my best sweater.

We popped into M&S because our pal wished us to buy a very special Xmas pudding laced with orange and cherry liquor. There was an enormous poster in the food hall advertising it. None on the shelf. Young man scrolled through all the Xmas pud listings. It appears that it can only be bought in England. Talk about discrimination!

I shall now enjoy a brew and watch Pointless. We have M&S ready meals for tonight. A treat to end the day.

Until tomorrow, dear Kitcheners.

For Yia (gentle hugs) and

Urms I'll have a look for that. Thanks for the tip. I'm sad today as my oldest friend has had the worst news. Her cancer has returned but this time with different and very unpleasant symptoms. I've known her for 60 years, we have been on holiday together, shared the good and the bad times and she is my oldest and dearest friend. Sometimes life is unfair

Just popping in to quickly say hello 🖐. GrandmaBatty that's just the worst news 😪. You are quite right - life is just sometimes so unfair 🌷. TOYA

Hello the kitchen! We have jacket potatoes for tea, me with butter and cheese, himself with beans. It’s an early tea because tonight is garden club. There’s a cassoulet in the oven for later in the week and I have made a fruit cake for tomorrow’s WI cafe. I’ll get up early to do cheese scones. They are nicer fresh, I think.
The dogs are restless because they didn’t have a walk today. We decided we needed to be kind to ourselves today, not to them.

‘Evening All’

I’m off out in an hour to book club. Luckily for me it’s only across the road in the pub. There’s a car park for those who need it, so it’s handy all round.

Typing this feels strange. I had a neat French manicure done this morning and they’re short.

Grandmabatty that news of your oldest friend will have been devastating for you. The worst. My heart goes out to you. And Yia your son needs to share and it’s good you can be strong enough to listen. Sometimes let a silence sit there on the phone between you. No need to feel as though you have to fill it. His mind will be racing. He won’t notice as his thoughts are frightening him and tumbling around his head. He will just be reassured you are there. It will go away. But it takes its own sweet time unfortunately and the agony is the elephant in the room - worrying ‘how long’.

That’s sad about your friend Grandmabatty it must sorely grieve you.
And Yia he’ll get there, but as Urms said, it can be a long and difficult journey.
My thoughts are with you both.
It’s throwing it down with rain here, since about 4, it hasn’t eased at all, traffic is queued and lots of standing water requiring extra concentration. I went to the farm shop, out for lunch with a friend, then a voluntary drive. I am cooking dinner, but I’ll be the smaller portion by far.
We’ll manage brook lucky we have options, enjoy your holiday, it sounds glorious!
Enjoy your evening all x

The rain has just started here, I am in the kitchen and it’s bouncing off off the skylight.

DH is out and I have a ready meal for dinner, cannot remember the last time I had one as I always cook from scratch. It’s rather nice Sainsbury’s beef stew and dumpling for one.

Grandmabatty you must be devastated on hearing your friends news 💐💐

Yia it is so very hard when our children are troubled.

Enjoy the rest of the evening as best you can 🙋‍♀️

So sorry to hear about your friend GrandmaBatty

How sad about your very good dear friend grandmabatty I feel for you, a 60 year friendship is so special, sending ❤️
Yia, 💐
We’ve had such an amazing day here in Granada, tomorrow we’re going to the Alhambra so very much looking forward to that
Certainly not fair about that Christmas pudding Soop! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

How fabulous Brook, enjoy the visit.

I’m off to bed, goodnight all 💤💤

So much of life being coped with by kitchen pals. My love to you all. I’ll not recall everyone, so apologies in advance.

I’m thankful your pharmacist has intervened with your medication. soop.

It’s true I think yia, our child’s pain is our own. Good luck with the steroid reduction.

A kind way forward baggs. .

Such sad news grandmabatty, our friends mean so much.

This might sound odd. I’m so pleased today as my oldest friend has finally escaped hospital and is settling into a residential home. Sadly dementia has taken more of her and she needs more support and care than can happen in the community, not what I had anticipated for her but so much better than a long term hospital stay. It’s a bit scary as we are the same age

Stay warm jax. Your holiday sounds wonderful brook.

Time for bed now. Goodnight everyone. Sleep well.

I’m so sorry, Grandmabatty. That’s very hard. I hope they can do something to make your friend more comfortable.

Your poor ds, Yia. It’s heartbreaking when you can’t make it all better like you did when they were small.

That’s good re Mr Soop’s appointment, Soop. Annoying about the pud, though.

Brook, I misread your post and thought you’d taken a long but interesting coach journey to Canada! My mind was boggling as to where you’d caught a ferry across the Atlantic!

We had a trip to our nearest Waitrose and also a Sainsbury’s today. I bought some treats for Xmas and a skirt for my dd1 in the Tu 20% off sale. Tomorrow it’s due start raining until Fri evening so we decided to get out and about today and hunker down tomorrow.

Take care, all. Xxx

SueD that would have been some journey! 🤣

Thank you all for your kind words especially Urms your such a wise lady.One day at a time but I just can’t wait to visit and give him a big hug.

So sorry to hear about your friend Grandmabatty so hard for you.💐
No rain yet here but quite cold.I have another Covid jab this afternoon but very pleased it’s the Pfizer one this time!
Have a good day Kitcheners.

Hello all. It seems to be the story of the drugs just now...I fully intended to respond to Blossoming's lovely request to hear all about the Cornish adventures of last week and then on Monday evening after taking the first dose of the new medicine...I had a severe reaction...felt violently sick then sank to the floor...hands and feet went cold and numb and DOH days my breathing slowed right down.. I felt like everything was shutting down. I was responsive apparently and told DOH I didn't want to go to hospital as I know it was a reaction to the drug having had anaphylactic shock before and only if my breathing changed to call an ambulance... After 3 hours I managed to crawl to the stairs and DOH helped me slowly crawl to the first floor bedroom. I slept and slept and slept...most of Tuesday passed in a haze and the shaky feeling is still with me today. My poor DOH thought my time had come ... I've told him that they haven't got my size sparkly halo and wings in stock just yet!!!!!. I'm so glad the prescription wasn't ready before we went to Cornwall as I think I would have had to go to hospital. It's very much a case of doing a small task then sitting down...doing another one....little rest etc.
Soop....Do you want me to buy a Pudding and send it onto you? And Thank Goodness for a pharmacist who knows what he is doing!!!
Baggs.... I'm glad you got things sorted with your sister.
Yia.... Bless him...he will get there and with your love and support will heal and move forward.
Grandmabatty....can you spend some precious time with your much loved friend maybe... Yes it will be hard to know that your times together are coming to an end but if you can chat and look back and laugh at some of the memories you have made together it might help you both at this sad time.
Metanium was a god send when my girls were babies. I hope it works on the little one.
Well I've had my rest so better get on with another little task. Does reading the latest delivery of my Gardeners World magazine count as a task do you think?

Neine that sounds terrifying! Definitely take it slowly, that’s been a nasty shock to your system.

Gosh, neine! That sounds terrifying! Hope you feel better very soon and that the drugs are sorted.

Batty, sad news indeed . It got me thinking about my oldest friend. We have known each other for 55 years. I hope your friend is comfortable where she is going to be cared for.

Thank you for all your sympathy regarding my chum. I visit her and her partner every week after I've been to mum's. We met at the age of 5 when she joined my class from another school and the teacher asked me to look after her. We have been firm friends ever since. I'll be led by her on this. I would have gone to see her today but childcare got in the way. Dgs2 is settling more with me and has gone for a second nap. Fingers crossed! Dgs1 is sitting beside me watching boats and trains etc. He's all wrapped up in a blanket. I have a craft class tonight and I'll force myself to go as I've been awake since five this morning. Naughty I hope you are ok now. What a fright for you. Have a good evening Kitcheners

Blimey Naughty N, that must have been a shock! I was at the surgery today for another blood test. I explained that I would do the 24-hour ‘pee’ test next week as I won’t be in the house for long enough. I don’t really want to cart around a large container with me to restaurants and people’s homes! I have just finished a final batch of WI admin, including putting stuff on the national data base. Dinner will be Mac n cheese with bacon. Then I’m off to a friend’s place. The two ladies I know who have had a falling out, should BOTH be there too. We’ll see. Have a good evening everyone.

Good afternoon dear kitcheners. jaxjacky we've been in the same situation as you - our boiler is being replaced and we ended up last night with no water at all!! Water and flushing loos up and running but no heating as yet. Thank goodness we have a log burner!! I'm starting to think why did I imagine it would be a good idea to have an open house for my birthday on Saturday .....😭. Also our garden is under several inches of water - cars moved from the drive to safety before they float away 😂
naughtyneine that reaction sounds seriously scary - if you haven't already make sure your gp is aware of what happened. I've been with DD1 and my little poppets today - back home now with my beautiful ginger gentleman purring happily on my lap - despite everything that life throws at us what more could I want 🐱💗. Enjoy the rest of Thursday. TOYA

Good afternoon lovely Kitcheners it’s been a few days since I could come on.

Naughtyneine how absolutely scary for you and your DH. What a reaction! Love to you 💐

Grandmabatty sorry for your news about your friend. I’m sure you’ve been through every step of her journey. I am just chatting on watsap with my two best friends of 45 years and cherish them.

Yia it’s heartening to hear your son is feeling a little more positive with a slow return to work. I can only imagine the pain you feel when he calls you in tears😢 when my son came last night from work for Grandson he was quiet and we asked if he was ok he said I’m just tired. We worry about him. He has the worries of the world regarding our darling grandson so that weighs heavy on him as well as coping with his job.

Sending a big 👋 to Brook and hoping you have enjoyed the Alhambra today. Have a great time.

I’m sorry if I’ve missed anyone if I go too far back I’ll lose my post.
Love to you all 🌻x