Soop's friendly and supportive kitchen for kindly folk.

Thanks for your your good wishes I had Angioplasty 2stents on one side one on other ,my toes are a better colour ,have 5inch bruises in both groins .Ouch Granmabatty take care and rest* Granmarie* hope you continue to improve.Thinking of all with worries .

Hulahoop I'm glad to hear that you are recovering. Thank you all, ladies, for your sympathy. I have gone to bed to lie down for a while. Have a good evening

Thank you, hulahoop, good to hear that you've had your procedure and you're on the mend now. Take care.

Grandmabatty, I hope you have a comfortable night. Take it easy tomorrow.

I hope brook and family had a great day at Invergordon.

I was out and about yesterday, Mass, physio appointment then visited my sister. I enjoyed feeling back to normal, but I've been exhausted today, snoozed early afternoon. The most I've managed was to make a big pot of lentil soup with a huge ham hough. I sat at the table to prepare the vegetables, I usually stand at the sink. I'll need to pace myself.

Thinking of all with illness, worries or sorrow. NNGB.

Sorry to hear about your fall grandmabatty hope you’re not too sore, take care
Good that you’re recovering now hulahoop but take it easy
Thank you grannmarie we’ve had another lovely day catching up with family and hearing all about their cruise, it sounded wonderful especially Iceland. DD1 and family arrived safely back in Cambridge but our house feels so quiet and empty again now, there’s no little ones to tuck up in bed. Tomorrow though we’re going to Edinburgh, it’s more family time as DS and his partner are there for the weekend so we’re just taking the opportunity to catch up with them too. It’s an early start so I’m off to bed soon
Thinking of our kitchen pals who could do with a hug just now, take care all x
Ps hope you won at Scrabble soop!

Major stress here tonight as GS (12) is in a school party of 100 - 60 boys plus 40 adults, masters and Dads, who should have been in Copenhagen by now from where they are cycling to Berlin next week starting on Sunday.
They couldn’t get them all on a direct flight so half were flying from B’ham, and half from Heathrow but meeting in Frankfurt to complete their journey.
Then this
Around 140 flights at Germany's busiest airport have been cancelled after climate protesters glued themselves to the tarmac
Activist group Last Generation said six protesters headed towards the runway at Frankfurt Airport wearing fluorescent orange vests and carrying signs that read "Oil kills", after cutting a hole in the perimeter fence.
Their presence triggered a response from police, firefighters and airport security officers, apparently resulting in arrests
The party leader spent over three hours queuing at Frankfurt to even reach the customer desk and at the last count (9pm) hotel beds had been found for about 35 but we don’t know about the rest!
The boys’ safety and security are paramount- they have in most cases been up since three this morning (due to meet at school at 4) and in addition they don’t have their luggage.
The bikes however have arrived - but I don’t know who will have taken delivery in Copenhagen. It is hoped to get them onto one of three flights tomorrow, the other suggestion mooted involved 11 hours by train via Hamburg.
D is a nervous wreck but thank goodness SIL is one of the Dads as Toby is only 12. There is nothing we can do and SIL is very competent - as I expect are all the other Dads but what a nightmare for them all - not least the teachers in charge!

Oh heck, maw. Totally understand the worry and relieved your son in law is with your grandson. Not what anyone could have anticipated. Once it’s all over I’m sure those boys will be fine and have tales to tell. I won’t tell you not to worry as of course how can you not. Hope there is sleep tonight.

How are the bruises grandmab? Falling shakes us up in more ways than one as well as leaving the evidence behind. Take it slowly now, rest tomorrow if you can and please, be careful out there. As our neighbour said to me after witnessing me fall off the edge of the path and land with a wallop, us older folk don’t bounce the way we used to. Too true.

Sounds as if resting is a good idea for you too hulahoop. That’s quite a procedure, look after those bruises

Goodnight everyone. Sleep well.

Making progress!
I would not dream of usurping Mick’s Good Morning thread, but Good morning all. I have been up since 4.15 , D and GS1 and GD have now left for Luton airport for their flight to Paris.
I booked an airport taxi as I didn’t fancy the M1 and finding my way round the airport car parks before 6 in the morning. (wuss)
. 🙏no climate protesters on their runway.
GS2 will be on a flight from Frankfurt to Billund (?) around 9 and SIL is still on standby for a flight to Copenhagen at noon. The boys will be in groups with an adult and I just hope they found beds for everybody!
Sincere sympathy to Grandmabatty - I live in fear of falls because they are so discombobulating at best and risk broken hips at worst. Plus I have no idea how I’d get up again!
Apologies for not mentioning anybody else but I hope any troubles are diminishing with the love of your families and friends around you.

What a nightmare Maw!. I sympathise with the ideals of the protestors but their methods cause so many problems and worries. I have not supported them since they blocked the roads to the ambulance my son was using to transport a critically ill baby. He was the onboard doctor. I hope they are all safely settled by the end of today.
GrandamaBatty I hope you have not stiffened up too much overnight. I am terrified of falling on my bad knee. I would need a crane!

Thank you again everyone. I'm a bit better this morning and intend to rest my knee.

My very best wishes to all our Kitcheners.

I had a rotten night due to restless leg syndrome. It started about two months ago. Before that, I've always been able to sleep like the proverbial log. Last night, having read a chapter of my book, I had to cope with all the buggerating symptoms until just after 3:am. I am shattered.

Hello to all you lovely kitcheners and soop I hope you manage to keep your eyes open until you can have a nice early night.

I hope you start to feel better soon Grandmabatty. Knees seem to be a recurring theme as we get older, mine is playing up a lot at the moment, didn’t realise when I fell on my face at Easter and broke my front teeth that I’d banged my knee as well.
Granmarie don’t try to do too much too soon, it’s better to rest now and try to avoid the effects of long covid.
I’m going to try to make the Finnish Salmon soup LadyLeftFieldLover, it really appeals to me so I’ve had a look at online recipes and it looks within my capabilities. Also I have dill growing in next doors’ drive. Well obviously NextDoor have dill growing in their drive but as they don’t live there they won’t mind me trimming it back a bit.

soop could you tell me a bit more about your cycling thingie please? I’m definitely in need of keeping my knees moving and DH needs to build up the muscle in his legs more again.

Thinking of too many of you to mention by name but I wish you all well. I was feeling a bit low after GDS going home but now lovely SiL will be here for a week as we wind down again.

Crumbs hulahoop I hope you feel less battered today.
Same for you Grandmabatty you don’t want f/t knee club membership.
A dry, sunny day, grocery delivery and sorting out clothes, again, the weather keeps changed. I started cropping courgettes and cucumbers. Gave today’s three away at the pub earlier, much appreciated.

Greyduster my sympathies in bucket loads. I really hope your knee isn't gubbed (technical term). Jaxjacky what lovely produce. I have at least ten red strawberries ready for dgs1 to pick and peas beginning to swell. He will be thrilled.
I have been exceptionally lazy yesterday and today to rest my knee and it's paying off. Still a bit sore but not nearly as bad. I wish you all a pleasant evening. I'm watching the opening ceremony of the Olympics.

Dear Soop my DH had restless leg syndrome. How awful for you. I do hope it wears off soon.
Grandmabatty hope your knee is improving.
Been to collect DH’s ashes today and brought him home. He will stay here with me till my time comes. Our sons came with me to collect him and bring him home. A few tears tonight.

Doodle 💐. My dad is still in mum's wardrobe! He will be buried with her when she goes.

Doodle ❤️

No words Doodle 💐

Thinking of you Doodle another hard task but done -well done both of you. He has come home.
My parents ashes stayed at the undertakers until the second had died and I then buried them at the foot of my grandparents grave.
It was a curiously surreal but of course sad feeling walking into the cemetery with a parent under each arm. My sister opted out, leaving it to me which I slightly resented.
DH was buried in our village churchyard and the dog and I walk up to the village church most days as it’s also a pleasant walk through a field and small copse and “visit Daddy”
No easy way round any of this but it’s a duty done with love.

Happy to report that GS and SIL have been reunited in Copenhagen and as far as I know all the boys and teachers and Dads have now arrived.
D and GS1 and GD also got to Paris only two hours late (delay at Luton probably due to the pre-Olympic problems in Paris ) but we were still up at 4.30 as their taxi was due at 5.15 and I have felt 😴 😴 💤 all day!

Hi kitchen pals, just popping into the kitchen for a 5 minute break, two loads of towels are on the line and the front lawn is mowed. DH has gone round to DD2s to mow her lawn - he seems to have inherited that job and quite a few others since she split up with her partner.
It’s warm and sunny here just a few clouds about so I’m making the most of it 😎
Good to hear things are back on track Rosies hope both the holidays go well
Good to see you back in the kitchen dusty hope you’re doing well and enjoy the time with your SiL
Thinking of everyone feeling sad today, sending ❤️ to all x

Dear Doodle, my heart goes out to you.

dustyangel My exercise bike was purchased on Amazon. It bears the name Sunny. It operates by chain. It is extremely stable. I find that 30 mins is quite enough for me to manage. I shall try to find further details for you.

dusty I looked the details of my exercise bike. On Amazon - 'Sunny health and fitness exercise bike. Pro indoor cycling stationary bike with 18kg (40lb) flywheel chain drive Dual-felt resistance & emergency stop'. Hope this info' is useful.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202407/medium-644313-p1018028.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202407/medium-101977-p1018029.jpg

RosesMaw All's well that ends well.

Grandmabatty Be gentle with your knee.

Jax, I am a fan of Lee Child. Have read most of his books.

I thought that you might like to see last night's Kintyre sunset. I took the photo through the window.

Afternoon everyone. I’ve kept up as far as I can with everyone’s doings, positive and less so, while not being able to be a regular contributor.

Still struggling with pain management, to be honest not really managing it at all while enduring a twice a week stint at the hospital gym. A prerequisite in this area for any onward referral for joint issues. In fairness the 12 sessions should be helpful, as long as the person has a perfectly functioning rest of the body, my spine and fibro both say what on Earth are you doing woman. It’s not all bad, a friendly group we enjoy a chat and some laughs in spite of the physio allegedly in charge of us doing his best to restore order.

Other than that not a lot happening here. Post gym the afternoons are usually spent asleep, the next day doing very little. It seems last years encounter with covid has either left me with long covid or a much refreshed CFS. The GP is tagging it as the latter, as she says I need no more labels.

Back to serious pacing and a reminder that even sedentary stuff such as reading is an activity. Frustrated? You bet but I’ve been here before and much as I don’t want to have to manage it I know I can. I just don’t know how long it will take to it ease away. Pushing hard is counter productive.

Our Welsh friend is very poorly, it’s hard not to be able to help. My oldest friend is in hospital after a suspected new stroke, her daughter is distraught, it’s been a major adjustment to accept we can’t take off across the country to support them both as we have before. If anyone has patience to spare please send it.

Decent day here. Mix of sun and fluffy white clouds, a joy to see. The roses are coming into their second flush, two hibiscus are in full bloom, two geum plants think they’re beanstalks in search of a giant, huge and full of flower, our tiny garden an oasis of colour again.

One hibiscus belonged to a friend who died in 2021. She’s never far from my thoughts but as her shrub comes into flower I can see her smile. It resembled sad looking twigs in a pot when her daughter asked me if I knew what it was, if so would I like it. I hoped it was hibiscus, planted it in the ground and kept everything crossed. Now it’s about 5’ tall and a real joy. We’ve white lilies and a perennial fuchsia both belonging to friends who are no longer here, they all make me smile as they bring happy memories.

Nothing planned for this afternoon now other than a sit in the garden. I’ll take a book and then I’m sure the inside of my eyelids will have a thorough inspection.

Have the best weekend you can everyone. I’ve noticed some tendency towards falling, please stay upright, us mature folk aren’t equipped for bouncing. .

corner A gentle hug is winging it's way from me to you.