soop's kitchen for friendly folk and precious pets.

soop so sorry to hear about Bracken but I'm sure you made the right choice. Her last few days were with people (and Rory) who cared for her and she was fed and made as comfortable as possible. I know you will all miss her.

Maw sorry you will miss your DDs 40th. What a shame. Hope all goes well with your DHs procedure.

Didn't have a chance to come here yesterday. Sorry about Bracken, but you made the best decision

Dear soop and MacSporran we were so sad to read about poor Bracken. You have really done the best for her and she must have known that you would care for her when she was ill. X

Good morning all !

I'm sorry you feel down Maw and I totally understand it and would feel the same.

My poor son in law needs a hand this morning, looks like he has injured a disc in his spine and is having difficulty getting up from a chair and walking. So we are off to loan him our wonderful M and s garden chair and a walking stick . The chair has been used by all after a c section, more bad backs and broken ankles. Its just the right height and has sturdy arms to get out of .

After that - I do feel some breakfast in a local café ahead

Back later for a better catch up x

Sorry to hear about your DS [N&G*.
Some years ago DD was having an arthroscopy and we offered her one of DH's many walking sticks so I took it up to Birmingham on the train (pre DGCs) Thinking the easiest way to carry it was to USE it, I was shown so much kindness and consideration for my "infirmity" that I felt about 99 by the time I got there!
Coming back, I brought her sister's backpack with me which she had had for travelling. Again, easiest way to carry was to WEAR and I am happy to report I felt MUCH better as a middle aged wannabe hippy than a sweet little old lady. ?
Moral in that somewhere.

I find a walking stick to be a great 'prop' (literally and in the theatrical sense). It was spectacularly effective on a visit to Rome last year. The Italians are so caring about 'little old ladies'. On English stations I find that young women are the most helpful. Memo to self: don't forget stick tomorrow when off to Oxfordshire.

Soop I am so sorry to hear about Bracken but you made the kindest choice. As a wary feral cat she would have been terrified to undergo the the sort of surgery a pet cat might respond to and possibly already too ill.

Izabella what a lovely poem. I have not heard that before. Thomas Hardy obviously loved his pets.

I hope you don't mind , I'm going to have a little rant....take a seat - pass the cake !!

My SiL is in a lot of pain but when we were chatting this morning after demonstrating his ills he then proceeded to tell us about the 7 tonne of topsoil being delivered on Thursday which will need to barrowed into their garden , distributed and tamped down.

They have a tiny , very sloping garden that he has levelled and is in the throws of turning into a useable space for the little boys.

I told him that I was sure the osteopath didn't intend for him to be doing that sort of work and it was time to call in his friends. He would be the first to offer to help them if the situation is reversed.

He is NOT convinced.... and I can see him compounding the injury. BUT what do I know - dozy, old MiL !!!

MEN !!

The trouble is , Grampy and I will be the ones picking up the slack if he does himself a complete mischief. At this rate he'd better do it himself before I do it for him

I cannot thank you enough for your kind messages. I feel fortunate in that I was able to come into the kitchen and know that you would know how sad MacSporran and I are feeling. Rory too. The effort that Bracken made in order to return to our home, cross the threshold and sit close to us on the kitchen floor, was extraordinary. The vet thinks that she had been hit by a car. Her lower spine and tail had sustained major injuries. The same vet had performed the operation to neuter the three females, about four years ago. At 9pm the outside light went on. Of course, it couldn't be our usual visitor...it was the tabby cat that is possibly Bracken's sister. I thought that I had drained my tear reservoir dry. And then I read the Thomas Hardy poem. Isabella thank you. I shall print it and put it in my treasure box.

I shall feel a little better as the days pass. Please bear with me if I've neglected you. You are very special people.

Your final sentence says it for me N&G
There is "noble suffering", stiff upper lip etc and there is stupid. If you have to "pick up,the pieces" I hope it doesn't prove too much for YOU.

soop everyone understands. We have lost three cats and it is very hard to let go of them. Rory will miss her too. Izabella's poem says it very well, I think. ???

Take care of yourself, soop. Cats live on in one's heart and all loss is painful. I do hope the tabby is Rory's other daughter. I'd like to think that Bracken told her what nice people you are and what a welcome she would get from you.

N&G can SiL not get an odd job chap to come in and spread the soil? It shouldn't cost a lot and better than putting himself and possibly you and Grampy in traction! Tell him "pride cometh before a slipped disc!"

I can see that you are with me Maw and Grey !!

It's at times like this I can feel myself wanting to give the boy a nasty slap !! Luckily, I restrained myself but if he does himself a mischief I shall be first in line to say ' I told you so ,!'

Glad you popped in soop . Maybe the new visitor will find her place in your heart now ? A lovely reminder of beautiful Bracken.

Grampy took Sam out this morning and Sam made a new friend!! We have wondered if Sam knew what a cat was ( he's not very bright!). Plainly not.......

Oooops forgot the picture

I have just written a longish post, mostly maligning N&G's SIL and for some reason could not send it. With luck this may go.

You couldn't post it charley because it's not nice to malign people who are suffering!!!

My brothers and I sorted Mum's bequests and will this morning and had quite a laugh about childhood memories then my elder brother burst into tears and couldn't stop. It was very surprising and very distressing. He told us that it is the first time he has cried since Mum died. I feel quite wiped out so I can't imagine how awful he feels. I haven't cried and doubt I will which is probably just as sad.

I remember holding it together when Mum died, bringing Dad down to us for a week then driving him home to Scotland at the end of the half term holiday. I was heading South again on the Sunday morning somewhere in the Lake District with the Archers on the car radio and Eddie Grundy had just lost his beloved collie.
The floodgates just opened and I howled most of the way back to junction 14 on he M1!
Anyone passing me would have wondered at this red faced blubbering woman in a wee blue Polo.
Sometimes it takes something quite small to trigger the emotional outburst, but as they say, "better out than in".

One of ours sons is like that n&g, in his case a knee problem, easier as it's a son, I just beat him around the head until he sees sense . Seriously, hope your son in law does see sense, what is it with men?

Who knows what triggered your brither's reaction kitty, as mawb says it's better out than in but it is exhausting for everyone. I didn't show any emotion when my Mum died as my Dad was king of the stiff upper lip and there were children at home, work at other times so nowhere to be alone to feel really. It caught up with me on the first anniversary of her death, very intense and hard to hold. We're all different and will grieve differently. No rights or wrongs, for you all.

Good to hear from you soop, hope you and macs bave had a gentle day.

Been shopping for our still housebound friend today. Can't yet go out under her own steam. Off for a visit tomorrow. There are other places she needs chauffeuring so easier to do her shop today and take it with us. We know her likes and dislikes well by now . We just need to remember to take it with us! Lunch out for us all, so a treat to look forward to.

It's been sunny again but a really cold wind, caught out this morning, two extra layers this afternoon. . Take care all.

I agree cornergran I was dressed for winter as it was cold even although the sun was pleasant. I went to my local M&S food store and of course there were men there dressed in shorts and T shirts. I could feel the chill with my attire on.

The builder who was supposed to come today had a tyre blow out on the motorway, damaged a wheel so he had to ring a friend to tow him away as naturally he was not a member of the RAC, AA etc. As he has no transport, heaven knows when he will be here. Saturday being the end of it all is becoming a far away memory. The scaffolding is still up- just marvellous.

I have just checked and there is only one car, abandoned, parked on the double yellows. Hopefully the council will eventually get its act together and remove it. At least it does not look a wreck and thankfully it was abandoned on council land, not ours.

Oh charley, I hope you've been keeping notes, the book will write itself and make your fortune . You couldn't make this up. but more usefully .

Even more useful ??????????

The builder has just rung- he said that he will be coming early am. Ah well, I will have wet hair- tough.

soop and MacS I know how much you are hurting at present and Rory has lost a good friend and play mate but as we have all agreed, it was the kindest thing to do for her- she wanted help, went to the people she knew cared for her and they did the decent thing.

N&G would you like us lot to visit your SIL and give him our thoughts? What would happen if he ends up with a permanent disability by doing something so stupid? It would be a lot cheaper in the long run as somebody said, to hire labour for a day.

The pair of you, much as you love your GC, do not want to look after them on a more permanent basis if that idiot really injures himself. End of rant.