soop's kitchen for friendly folk and precious pets.

How wonderful to actually 'meet' Bracken. She looks beautiful. Bella sends purrs from her sun drenched cushion on the decking as she watches the ducks parade past.

greyduster may we share how to make better scones? Always happy to learn and the ones I put in the freezer here disappear rapidly. More so considering I don't eat them myself.

Been out putting up rows of bean sticks while I have the time and inclination to do them. Managed to put shallots in this morning. I am late with those due to the wrist and hand fractures, but gradually catching up on everything. I am charged with knitting dozens of red poppies now along with the rest of the village for next year. We are going to be festooned!! I suppose it is an excuse to watch some telly while I do it.

Clear blue skies and low flying planes today. Two fighters earlier and a wonderful tree skimming Dekota just now followed by a clattering chinook after that. Time for a shower and a change from the gardening clothes. I have a pork to prepare for dinner. First a cuppa

Sorry there were no cakes to spare, soop but they would be far too sweet for adults, I would think!! Even I give cupcakes a wide berth these days. I shall be making scones tommorrow so I'll send a batch to the kitchen - if they are any good. The lady in the canalside cafe has put me right about why my scones won't rise - no eggs. Apparently you have to use plenty of eggs. Who knew? Everyone but me, it seems. When I muttered something about my recipe not calling for eggs she looked at me pityingly as if to say "tha'at a Yorkshire lass and tha' needs a recipe? That's shockin'! An' tha' calls 'em scones" (with a short "o" as in song) "an' not scones” (as in bones!). If I try it her way and they fail I shall have to turn in my Tyke affiliation card and slink off into oblivion! ?

Greyduster Great cakes. Any going spare?

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wot A huge hug for you and Sophie.

retrolady Oh dear! Our grandson had glue ear when a child, he also had a grommet inserted. I've not heard of a mature person with such a problem. Galen will be able to advice you.

Greyduster It's comforting to know what the problem is with your car. The walk sounds very pleasant - not forgetting the fact that you ate cake at the café. I usually opt for a scone served with cream and jam when we have our weekly treat in Campbeltown. The scones are served warm. yum!

MawB Your advice to dear ann is spot on. aggie you used your time wisely. You most definitely need to "switch off" and recharge your batteries. Do you know whether there are other Gransnetters in your area? It would be good for you to have companionship when you're off duty.

Are you lot sitting comfortably? Then I shall begin.
*Bracken spent all evening in her chalet. She is now sitting on the utility room door mat. She is limping but she has started to enjoy her food. I've some pics to share with you.

Galen spoken like a real laydee. I've never wished for diamonds. I'm more of a colourful bead type gal. Beads be cheap! Also, I wouldn't swap my lovely man for a bedload shedload of millionaires.

Certainly a good drying day today but the wind is from the north and has a proper bite! I have just finished making a batch of cakes for GS's school bake sale tommorrow - hopefully they'll all go. At the last one they had it was like the biblical plague of locusts. Even GS didn't get a cake because he was out of class minutes too late, so I have kept a couple of "spares" back for him.
retro I'm not one for dressing up either but as you say, it behoves us all to make an effort sometimes. I wore a dress to the funeral we went to on Monday. Can't remember when I wore one last. DH was very complementary and my sister in law said she didn't realise I had legs!! Having said that, I couldn't wait to change out of it afterwards!
I'll look in later to see what's going on. I've just noticed that my camellia is flowering at last! I had almost given up on it.

Corner if I do have to have grommets, I'd be pleased to be in with the toddlers. Just as long as they don't take one look at me and put me with the old ladies ... . Actually I'd be glad to get something done. This watch and wait goes against my normal way of dealing with stuff. Still, I know there are loads of people dealing with a lot more (one look here proves that).
Galen You never know you might meet a millionaire, who just happens to own one too many diamond necklaces and would be glad to give one to you. I've never been on a cruise, but one of my uncles and aunties go often and love it, especially all the dressing up. Maybe I should. It would do me good to wear something other than jeans! I also like your earring storage idea and may pinch it after Corner.
It's a lovely day here in RetroLand. The washing is blowing gently in the breeze (little thing, but it makes my day) and the birds are twittering. The only thing spoiling that is that the flippin' washing machine is beeping and flashing its orange light at me, so I guess I'd better go and empty it and get another load out.
As I said yesterday, it's all rock'n'roll in Retrotowers.
Have a good day everyone and I hope anyone coping with difficult situations healthwise and any other buggerations have a better day today. xx

kittylester, I do befriending - in the RUH in Bath, where there seem to be an incredible number of people with dementia. Coping with hospital admittance is bad enough without the double whammy of dementia. I mostly hold hands and chat. I also do Community Befriending. I was matched up with a lovely lady and we meet once a week, play Scrabble, have a coffee and put the world to rights. My mum was sectioned with dementia, which was the first time I really found out much about it. It goes without saying that it's horrible.
Your work sounds really worthwhile. I could've done with someone like you when my mum was sectioned. I was lucky though. I have a brother and sister who were very supportive. I shall see if there's anything similar in our area, as I often find myself reassuring relatives, particularly in the hospital.
Keep on doing what you do and so will I. x

annsixty, good advice as ever here. It matters not where you go, it's important that you do, even if just for an hour. Hope you can think of something that will replenish you. We all have down times retro, just keep repeating 'and this too will pass'. Sorry, had to smile picturing you in the hearing clinic surrounded by five year olds. Could be fun. . Hugs to you and ann, to wot and Sophie too if they still need one.

The highlight of my day tomorrow will, hopefully, be when the Dxxxn engineer comes to fix the wretched thing. There's a strong smell of burning coming from the motor, guess a new one will be needed, be good to have a relatively clean floor again. Where do all the bits come from?

Pleased the car isn't terminal greyduster, at least you know you are safe out and about.

Not long until the new kitchen, callgirl, strange, I've also got a Norway cruise photo as my wallpaper, just magical light and scenery. Would love to go again.

You never know, that millionaire may be in your cruise, galen, love the storage idea for the earrings, may 'borrow' that one, if you haven't a patent on it.

So very pleased to read about Bracken.
Also glad that you`ve sorted the jewellery problem Galen. Who knows? That millionaire might be waiting on your next cruise!
I found out what was tripping my electric, it was the immersion heater, so a nice young plumber sorted it for me this evening, and I have hot water again. Also, the kitchen surveyor has been, and given me a starting date for the new kitchen, June 5th.
Looking at my "wallpaper" picture on my laptop, it was taken exactly one year ago today, on our first full day at sea on our cruise to Norway. It was a year ago yesterday that we set sail, it seems like yesterday.

Ann60, that's good news about your GD coming to keep your DH company. I hope your GD is on a long course!

I have earrings both stud and dangly to match ALL my necklaces plus a few more. I keep them in dossette boxs to make them easy to find,
What I really, really want is a millionaire to buy me a diamond necklace to match my earrings

Oh Anne ,I have a carer sits with Jim , but just for a few hours , it is just when our Village club is on or my painting class . Both have stopped for Easter and DD wanted me to keep the carer coming , but I can't walk far and don't drive so nowhere to go except the posh Coffee Shop , but I can't see me sitting there for an hour ! Last week I had no lift and when the care came I went for an extra long shower , pottered around upstairs and round outside looking at my pot plants , it was nice not to be tied for a while

Annsixty I missed your post and I really hope that one day "off" will help. Get a mini cab to anywhere, meet a friend for coffee, go for a sit on a park bench,or to the cinema, read a book in the library but ringfence this time for YOU .
You have earned it many times over!

Maybe panting is a sighthound thing? Grace starts panting towards evening, pants when she needs to go out, pants when she is hungry, pants when she is excited!!!
You don't want Sophie to lick the shaved bits until she draws blood (can happen) Either bandage the shaved bit (non stick dressing pads and lots of stretchy self sticking bandaging ) and /or get her a lampshade. Because of their long pointy snouts it has to be HUGE which will destroy your wallpaper and door frames!
Or do you have a basket muzzle? That might do it.

Oh, annsixty, I know how you feel. All you can do is get comfort where you can. Like ice cream. Sending you thoughts.xxx

Aww! I remember Graces ' cone of shame'! No, she hasn't got one but when I got her from the rescue, she kept licking a bald part of her leg. On Google, it said lurchers were prone to bald patches. Anyway, I took her to the vets about it and he said it was "behavioural" . Got her to stop doing it! I'm waiting to see what her results from the bloods will be but she seems quite comfortable, apart from the panting, she seems a different doggie but not crying or anything. She's such a good girl. I've ordered her some steps to get into my car as if she needs vet appointments she will need for me to take her. How is Grace??

retro if it helps I have just gone to bed with a large whisky (I will get out of bed and clean my teeth).
My life is awful which is why I haven't been posting but a bit of good news, my GD who is doing a Btec in social care is being authorised to spend one day a week with H as part of her course work. She is very good with him and I think will cope well. the only thing is... what do I do for a day when I have no transport and am not really very mobile at present. My legs are giving up on me. Old age is a terrible thing. But I really need the break.

Does Sophie not have a "cone of shame" aka a buster collar?
Grace had to have both back legs bandaged as well as her tail as she persisted in trying to lick /nibble them when she couldn't reach her tail. Without the buster collar she gnawed through the last 3 bits of her tail to the bone which resulted in the amputation of the last 1/3 of her tail.

retro, I help on the CrISP courses - Carers Information and Support. They are a series of 4 sessions for people who care for people living with dementia. My job is mostly making tea and mopping up tears. I am in awe of the way the carers cope - mostly with humour and resilience. I volunteered after two people of our age were diagnosed with Alzeimer's and I saw what it did to their spouses. What do you do?

wot sending you and Sophie the biggest hug I can muster!

Soop excellent news about Bracken! Good to know the leg doesn't seem to be broken. I hope your leg is still improving and if extra dressings are what it takes that's all to the good.

Galen nothing wrong with a quick zuzz in front of the tele! I fell asleep in the car this afternoon. I think we will all be moving into Soop's for a bit of TLC before too much longer!

kitty that's the good thing about grandchildren - you can give them back (not for too long though!). I hope you enjoyed your big sit down! The tyre pressure warning light used to come on in our last car too. It was a bally nuiscance.

Corner I have a problem posting on my iPhone too. I have to expand the text and on a couple of occasions when doing so I have inadvertently hit the report button. Always a sad thing to witness an accident - stays with you.

N&G what is it with these boys and their snacks? Ours is the same when he's here - even when he' had a good meal before hand. I think he has hollow legs!

Well, the garage have got to the bottom of our car's problem - a duff electronic sensor (bring back the Model T Ford!). Of course, they have to send for one, so we still have the problem, but at least we are assured it is safe to drive. While we were waiting for it, we had a walk along the local canal. As canals go, it's quite pretty and the locks are interesting. There's also a lovely cafe about two and a half miles up which serves really good coffee and home made cakes. I got some useful hints on how to make better scones from the lady who does all the cooking. We shall be going there again!

Evening everyone, I must apologise - I've not been here for a while, due to feeling sorry for myself being a bit under the weather. From having a quick flick through all the happenings, it seems you've all been very busy. Commiserations to all who are going through buggerations. Makes my self pity everyday stuff which bugs me seem like nothing. Sending hugs, thoughts and whatever might help you all feel a bit better. Glad you're feeling a bit more upbeat Soop. The sunshine does help - a cliché, but that's because it's true. Being able to go out without a coat always makes me feel brighter even if I later regret it.

Getting back to my being under the weather, turns out I have glue ear!! Crumbs, I thought that was something toddlers had, not someone old grown-up like me. No treatment yet, just watch and wait for a month and "see if it goes away." If it doesn't I shall be joining the queue of toddlers in ENT waiting for grommets!

Kittylester, I'd be interested to read more about your Alzheimer's Course. I volunteer with the Alzheimer's Society and it's a big interest of mine.

Galen, I see you've sorted your pearls issue. I was going to say that you could take different colours, one for each day. Then there's the different lengths to consider too, but you've covered everything by the sounds of it. BUT ... what about earrings? You need to consider: studs or dangly ones, day or evening ones and whether to match with the necklaces or not. You could just take all your bling and see how the mood takes you each day. I would.

Better go before this turns into my usual essay rambling post. Take care everyone. There's 'nuffin on the telly' so I may just take myself off to bed with a good book and a cup of Horlicks. All rock'n'roll in Retrotowers. xx

Sophie keeps licking her shaved leg and making it sore.

Soop....I would like your big,soppy hug, please!!! And one for Sophie!

So pleased about Bracken. My Sophies enjoying being back from the nasty vet that shaved her neck and leg! Still waiting for blood results. She's been eating well and seems contented even if she seems ten years older thanbefore. I KNEW there was something wrong withher! Once again, I agreed withmyself (the most reasonable person) not to be swayed by ostrich like partner) if I can afford the treatment, she will have it. Otherwise, I will give her the best life remaining without suffering that I can. The fact that she's such a sweet girl makes it all the more poignant.......such is life.