Soops Kitchen, a place of refuge, reflection and revelry.

Good evening kitchen folk. GrannyGravy poor you. Take life easy for now. Brook enjoy your volunteering tomorrow.
I'm lounging about. I dropped off the boys at school this morning then did a quick shop at tesco before heading home to do nothing! After I picked up the boys again, we came back to my house for an hour. Lots of drawing by them and appreciative comments by me. Then I took them home. Dinner was chicken stew with borlotti beans and a baked potato.
Tomorrow I'm telling a ghost story to primary 2 pupils. The teacher has asked me and I'm happy to be involved. I will tidy up the library thereafter and pick up the boys. I'm now doing 3 days a week of childcare. My life will be busier but I don't mind. The other granddad goes into hospital for an operation tomorrow morning and will be out of commission for some time. Enjoy the rest of your evening kitchen folk

brook DD1 & family are at Lalandia tonight and tomorrow (apparently Legoland is closed on Wednesdays and Thursdays).Lalandia is like Center Parcs. Then they’re off to Copenhagen on Thursday and Friday! Knowing DD1 the Tivoli Gardens will be on the list of places to visit!
Good that you’re pleased with your hair!

Coffee morning in the church hall tomorrow morning then I hope to repot my amaryllis bulbs which have been outside all summer. Two of them flowered during the summer, so I doubt they’ll produce anything this winter, but hopefully the rest will flower.

Sleep well everyone.

Oh no GG13 💐
A day of bits and pieces, admin, cleaning, dinner prep and phone calls, sun with the odd blustery shower.
Imogen and her friend are loving Munich.
I hope those menfolk are doing well Nannytopsy.

‘Evening All’

Thanks Charley yes I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there. My stepfather was asked by the guy who did the scan whether straight lines appeared wavy. He said not and apparently that’s a good sign apparently. The technician said dry can often progress at ‘a snails’s pace’ which at his great age was heartening. So we await guidance in due course.

Sorry to hear you’re still tender GG13 hopefully another good nights sleep will help the path to recovery. I expect it’s been pretty miserable for you the last few days.

I’ve had a good day, brunch with the Boy Wonder, L’il Miss and their mum then reading all afternoon! Is book club a week tomorrow and finding the sweet spot between reading too early and forgetting some or reading too late and feeling rushed as though it were homework is a fine line.

I’ve just posted this from my smartphone and I’m loving swirling around the keyboard with one finger as shown to me by our Yorkshire Lass in the summer! Grandmabatty you are such an anchor in your family - I’m sure stepping into the breech is much appreciated by your daughter and son in law! Best wishes for your grandson’s grandfather going forward.

Hi! I have had a strange day, couldn’t settle well to anything. I did sort out one big cupboard and do some identifying of things for Vinted.
DS is still having lots of drugs and medication on the virtual ward. CT scan today showed no kidney issues, so that’s something else ticked off.
DSiL had successful cardioversion on Friday, which lasted until Sunday night when it went out of rhythm again. MRI and ECG yesterday but appointment is 2 weeks away. Today, his heart went back into rhythm by itself. He is on a real rollercoaster of emotions. Fingers firmly crossed it has settled.
Tomorrow I have a cake to bake for the refreshments for a village talk in the evening. I hope to get in the garden too. All that rain filled the waterbutts nicely.
I hope all the poorlies recover very quickly.

You must all be in high doh Nannytopsy no wonder you couldn’t settle to anything today. I hope your family gets some reassuring news soon 🤞

Such a worrying time for you all nannytopsy, sending hugs
Is that a glimpse of Imogen with a famous Monet Jax?

GranyGravy that was horrendous. Hopefully you will feel marginally better tomorrow
nannytopsy each day you're going to hell and back.

fgt no two people have the same symptoms. The white and yellow lines on a road used to waver years ago but no longer, why? I have no idea. Please ask me anything whenever.

I had luxury podiatry pampering and my hair washed, cut and blow-dried. I felt a million dollars afterwards.

Sleep elusive tonight. No idea why as I feel heaps better and am still buoyed up by a visit from our grandson and his minders yesterday.

Grandchildren can be a mixed blessing when they share bugs grannyg, hope you are resting and feel more comfortable very soon

A good day for you charley. Pleased for you. Not sure why but I thoroughly dislike going to the hairdresser although she is a lovely person, patient with my foibles and listens. I can no longer use a back wash because of neck issues so it’s only a dry trim, 20 minutes and each time I heave a huge sigh of relief when it’s over. I know, I’m odd 😂

So much for you to worry about nannyt, hope you're sleeping soundly and the morning brings no new challenges.

Wishing your stepfather well fgt. Hope his sight remains stable. He sounds a very resilient person.

I’m off to read my book now. Thank goodness for library books via the iPad. No need to get out of a warm bed.

Sleep tight everyone.

Good evening dear friends, I feel so much better today, so much so I ventured out to M & S Foodhall and then to the pharmacy for my RSV jab.

saw the youngest four GC and gave them their Halloween goodies.

Spaghetti bolognaise for dinner (I batch cooked lots of portions of the sauce a couple of weeks ago)

Hope you sleep better tonight cornergran 💤💤

Sending ((hugs)) to all in need.

Hi all, good you’re feeling better GG13, onwards.
It started gloriously sunny here, cooler, then light cloud rolled in, I was watching bees on the buddlea for ages and had Merlin deciphering the birdsong.
Reflux still rubbish, annoying cough now.
Yes brook not sure why I’m being coy, it’s all over Facebook from my daughter!
Decided we’d go to the pub earlier, good job they know us, pint of iced tap water for me, it was lovely to sit with friends
I hope you catch up tonight corner that would destroy me, fortunately it’s rare, even now 🤞.

Good evening kitchen folk. NannyTopsy such a difficult time for your family. GrannyGravy, I am glad you feel better. Jaxjacky💐
Today has been mixed. The other granddad did not get his operation as there wasn't a bed for him. The whole family have had to make changes, so it's annoying for everyone. Hes fairly sanguine about it all but dsil is fuming.
I paid my parking ticket while still bemoaning my stupidity. In the afternoon I went to the school to read stories to 6 year old. Dgs1 saw me in the playground and waved. Dgs2 saw me and hustled over to give me a hug. Then he came to give me another one as I went into the building, followed by 6 other wee boys who all wanted hugs too!
The class were lovely and very appreciative then I tidied up shelves before picking up the boys and taking them to my house. Dgs2 is a shepherd in the school nativity. He's disappointed as he wanted to be a camel. 😄After they were collected, I made dinner-chicken and pasta- and have been watching The World at War. Definitely an early night for me. Enjoy your evening kitchen folk.

Hurtled

I’m pleased you’re feeling better grannygravy.

jaxjacky sorry the reflux is still hanging around - a pint of iced water sounds very virtuous! I hope the cough doesn’t get any worse.

grandmabatty how annoying and frustrating that the other grandad couldn’t have his operation today and hope he doesn’t have to wait too long for a revised date. How lovely to be hugged by your Dgs2 and his friends. I hope you sleep well tonight.

nannytopsy I hope that your DS’s condition is soon diagnosed and treated successfully. Hopefully your Dsil’s heart will stay in it’s normal rhythm. A worrying time for you all.

I went to the coffee morning in the church hall and caught up with several people I’ve known for years, but not seen for some time. It was lovely to meet up with them again. Talking to some friends, we discovered that six of us reach a big birthday next year, we live with 100 yards of each other!
Then I repotted my 6 amaryllis bulbs and brought them indoors in the hopes that they’ll flower during the winter. I must sort out the pelargoniums tomorrow, they’re still flowering but I’ll try to keep them alive over the winter, despite the lack of a greenhouse.

Enjoy the rest of the evening everyone.

‘Evening All’

I’ve had a nice day. Lunch with my brothers in law & their wives was comforting. I’ve not seen them all since June - too long. We shared anecdotes about Himself which made me smile but also a bit sad too. It happens.

I’ve been home an hour after watching L’il Miss at her swimming lesson. Before I went out I popped a potato as big as my head in the oven and it was delicious when I got in - with butter and grated cheese. I’ll do this on the swimming nights I think going forward and, being something of a domestic goddess, will ring the changes - sometimes adding beans sometimes tuna. Eat your heart out Nigella.

Jaxjacky

Hi all, good you’re feeling better GG13, onwards.
It started gloriously sunny here, cooler, then light cloud rolled in, I was watching bees on the buddlea for ages and had Merlin deciphering the birdsong.
Reflux still rubbish, annoying cough now.
Yes brook not sure why I’m being coy, it’s all over Facebook from my daughter!
Decided we’d go to the pub earlier, good job they know us, pint of iced tap water for me, it was lovely to sit with friends
I hope you catch up tonight corner that would destroy me, fortunately it’s rare, even now 🤞.

Jaxjacky my DH has had horrendous reflux for several weeks. It’s certainly not silent as his cough has caused great discomfort. His GP increased his Omeprazole to 20mg twice a day last week from 10 mg daily and that has started to reduce his symptoms. He was told it would take a few weeks to have effect. Perhaps a call to your GP might be required. Hope you get relief soon

Pleased you’re feeling a bit better today GG that sounds more like it
But sorry to hear you’re still suffering Jax you’re having such a tough time just now 😞
I’ve been at line dancing again this evening but that’s it done now until Sunday - time to rest my feet and recover a bit and have a couple of early nights. I’ve got an an amaryllis bulb from last year too redcar we’ve just put it on the kitchen windowsill and hoping for the best!
Sorry that the operation didn’t go ahead as planned today grandmabatty, I hope it’s rescheduled very soon
Lovely to be pampered Charley you deserve it
Hope you sleep better tonight corner, take care all

When I look back that acid reflux cough was the early warning sign of Hinself’s illness. Discussion on here has just reminded me of it. He used to try to suppress his cough whenever either of our girls phoned him. I’d forgotten those early days.

We bought omeprazole OTC for weeks on end and then the advanced nurse practitioner (who could prescribe and refer) put it on repeat prescription. For months.

Perhaps we were in denial as next was the start of difficulty in swallowing and the anxious realisation dawning that ‘something wasn’t right here’.

Then a routine annual MOT showed anaemia ….

Oh dear.

Reading back over what I posted in the wee small hours might seem, upon careful reflection, a bit scare-mongery.

Apologies if it came over that way, not intended at all. I think my memories of those very early days had triggered my thoughts. When I look back, no wonder doctors (not advanced health practitioners) advise us to report any cough lasting longer than 3 weeks. I’d always assumed (wrongly) it was all about lung function/possible disease in them, but as our experience showed it can also be an indicator that something else might be happening.

Anyway I felt an apology was necessary. Forgive me please if I’ve frightened anybody but then again, unlike Himself, better to be safe than sorry.

Castle25 saw my GP last Friday, I can only take a very low dose of Omeprazole infrequently, it lowers my sodium. Usual drug Famotidine doubled up but slow to fix it, I had a hiatal hernia diagnosed 7 years ago, wish I could have a big dose of Omeprazole.
Been there in my head FGT already.

Jax I understand 💐
I would’ve been there too in my own mind.

A cough isn’t all about lungs as we realised to our devastation. I just wish the ANP (we assumed she was a doctor at the time 😮) hadn’t kept say (after iron infusion etc) “well yore bleeding from somewhere “.

A negative FIT didn’t help. It skewed her thinking and yet, as Professor Mansoor said at our initial consultation “tumours only bleed during an active phase so of course you can get a negative FIT - but your anaemia and cough together were red flags. A sooner endoscopy would have revealed the cause”.

Too late for Himself of course but I share this knowledge in the hope it might help others press harder than we did, for months.

Hello all.Not visited for a long time and missing you all.
Good and not so good news.DH last lot of scans seem to be the same as last time so can cope with that,main thing he’s no worse.His breathing is not good and he struggles but still manages to drive and get about a bit.Small achievements are good.
I’m trying to stay out of his way at the moment as I’ve gone done with a virus maybe flu although had the jab.Seems lots of things floating around at the moment.
I try and keep up with your coming and goings but not easy so just wishing you all well and sending love.Will come back soon.X

Good evening kitchen folk. Yiayia how lovely to hear from you. Fingers crossed for your dh staying the same.
I nipped up to dds this morning to hand in dgs1s water bottle and Christmas card design which he left in my car yesterday. Then I headed to Stirling to art class. I did a couple of studies of various fruit and veg ie aubergine, red pepper and a seriously dodgy pomegranate. Then home. Dinner later will be mince and tatties. I am looking forward to it. Enjoy the rest of your evening kitchen folk.

We miss you too Yiayia, I hope your DH remains stable and your bugs soon bug off!
Dreary weather today, just dull, lights on by 4, we didn’t do much except nip down the village, MrJ is on rat watch in the garden. Next door will feed the birds and their dog outside.
Imogen and pal due back late tonight, fortunately the friends Dad is picking up, 🤞for no fog.
Pasta for dinner, enjoy your evening,,Traitors later!

Good to see you posting Yiayia hopefully your DH will keep steady 🤞

Reflux is horrid Jacjacky

I took The Imp out for lunch today, DD joined us when she had finished her gym session. It’s good to have one-to-one time with various GC 💙

I am on the sofa watching House of Games, getting used to Michael Sheen. Shall start dinner when it’s over, hopefully we shall have eaten and cleared away before traitors.