Soop's kitchen for friendly folk and precious pets...

I was sure I had posted earlier in the day but can't find it! I must have done something stupid! Anyway - I was delighted to find you back here, soop. I hope you have now got the better of BT and won't be dragged away from us again.
I've been infested with greenfly this evening, ever since I went into the garden for a few herbs. I need some tame ladybirds!

Hmm seems like a lot of us are finding the kitchen a welcome place of refuge from "out there" where the usual rules of social engagement basic courtesy seem not to apply! I look at the political threads and harrumph to myself but can't be doing with sticking my head above the parapet!
It's a good job I didn't have a leg of lamb to hand last week, I would have been sorely tempted to use it on my brother in law who came last week for a 4 night stay, thankfully minus his rather difficult 2nd wife. He arrived with a heavy cold and feeling unwell, having had to stop every hour on the drive as he was feeling so rough. Why didn't he turn back and go home at that point, you may be asking? Anyway long story short, he continued to feel rotten, so much so that after 2 sleeps my old boy offered to drive him the 200 miles back home and then return here by train himself - he is a good man! Let's just say I sometimes get annoyed with him and feel he lacks common sense.....but in reality I he certainly has a whole lot more sense than his daft brother. When telling my daughters the tale we agreed I got the best brother!
Welcome back soop we all missed you something rotten, hope the t'internet behaves from now on.
All these tales of skirts tucked into knickers and hair rollers etc made me smile. I recently spent a full day volunteering at the toddler and baby groups wearing 1 black and one brown boot, very similar style but slightly different heel. No one noticed but all day I felt a bit lopsided and couldn't work out why
I'm fed up with wild wintry weather but there was a beautiful sky here tonight so maybe there's hope of a nicer day tomorrow

I wonder if DGD1 has a copy?

Well, blow me down. Another post disappeared. Where the heck do they go? Composed yesterday evening, worked fine on preview so tapped post and went to sleep. This morning it isn't there. Grr!!!

Haven't a clue what I said really, other than to be pleased soop is back with us and reassure her the cupboard is a temporary structure behind the door in which I hid to avoid all things political. It seems it needs to be bigger .

My sartorial mishaps have been of the clothing inside out variety. I did wear my corsage upside down at the wedding of one of our sons. I didn't have a clue, the florist had been invited to stay for the ceremony and drew dragged me aside to rectify things. Not sure anyone else would have noticed

Good morning, kate, pleased you have found your way back. Love the look of the Winter Gardens, greyduster, far nicer than the inside of a cupboard. The dog whisperer sounds just right for Sam, n&g, hope he settles soon.

Right, that's it for now. Onwards into the day. We are promised sunshine later and there is a garden to tidy after the ravages of the wind. Fingers crossed this works. I wonder, do iPads make good frisbees? .

Morning all !!

Lovely sky Corner . The dog whisperer has been in touch and we are trying to work out when he can come but his first comment was that we need to change Sam's food as its not helping ?!?

So we are off to see a dog nutrionist .....:-p I'm not convinced..... BUT ..... I said we would try everything and this is everything . I shall be hard pushed to be quiet if they go on about organic food for dogs though !!

I'm feeling a bit under the weather today. I had a kidney stone some years ago and I either have another brewing or a UTI- neither of which fill me with joy ! We are away to Scotland to see my sister for a week on Sunday so need to get it sorted ...

Grampy survived the night and I have reprieved him. Men are so gullible - they truly see the world differently to us women . Anyway, all is well Chez NanaandGrampy !( for now)

What a kind brother Grannie , that's over and beyond the call of duty.

I wonder if you can buy ladybirds Anno ? You can buy butterflies and such on line.... would be rather wonderful if you could.

Anyway, I am off to face the trauma of doctors receptionists gatekeeping...wish me luck !

N&G have you heard of Love Your Dog?
Try a google search, she uses essential oils in her behaviour therapy (for want of a better description)
No personal experience, but somebody I know speaks highly. . She is based somewhere around Long Clawson, I think (Stilton country!!)

Will try anything Maw . In the big picture of things its not a big issue but its become clear that taking Sam out socially is not much fun. So we would like to help him.

At home he's still the lovely little chap he ever was. ( Sometimes I cant say that about Grampy :-) )

If you give them a go, let me know how you get on.
(I think the food thing sounds like an excuse to buy in some very expensive dog food!! )

You could be right Maw... I love Sam but he's not eating better than me !!

My day has changed , Grampy has what could be cellulitis appear on his leg ...so Nanas taxi service has been called and I shall pass an hour in the car listening to country music ...my guilt pleasure :-)

Get him to a doctor nana!
If it is caught quickly he may get away with oral anti-b's if it takes hold he could find himself on a ward plugged into a drip. It can spread and be extremely nasty.
I am not kidding ? ? ? (mafia emoticon)
It could also be gout. Is it painful?

I've been away in Sicily for four days with DD3 so haven't read all the posts yet. Amazing how much goes on in one's absence!

We had a lovely break, despite DD having an awful migraine which made her feel very poorly on the short flight home.

However, a wonderful surprise awaited us at the airport. We were looking for our name amongst the papers held up by taxi-drivers, when we spotted DGD holding up a sign saying 'Nana'. She was not with her mum DD2, but her auntie, my beloved DD1 who had come all the way from Calfornia to surprise us. She starts a new job in two weeks, so came to see us before going back to start it.

Needless to say, I'm over the moon and am hoping to get a rare photo of all four offspring before we have to part again.

I only wish DH was here to see his family together. It was his birthday on Sunday so we raised a glass in his memory.

I'll go now. Love to you all, especially those dealing with tough times.

Just popping in to praise the NHS. On a recent break with DD and little ones I came home with The Lurgy - stuffy headcold and painful, rattly chest, along with sticky red eyes. That started 12 days ago but unfortunately despite precautions I've given it to DH. He has a compromised immune system so when his temperature went up on Sunday I rang 111, just for advice. Within an hour a duty doctor was here, writing a px for a strong antibiotic. I've mentioned his bouts of sepsis before and the tablets are a precaution against a recurrence. He's 84 today, so not the happiest of birthdays, but we will celebrate in style as soon as we are both feeling better. Meanwhile im very grateful that he was seen quickly; maybe living in the London area helps. Hope anyone else with this recurrent bug is getting over it.

What a lovely surprise Downsized/Bellasnana. Where in Sicily were you? I love it but haven't been for a few years. Not too far for you to go.

A bright and breezy hello to you lovely lot. I haven't been to the care home. I've been oot and aboot catching up with happenings in the village.

This is where I hope to catch up.

anno I'm willing to swap a few hundred midges with your greenfly.

grannyqueenie I happy that you bagged the best brother.
The sunset photo is beautiful. It looks almost like a watercolour painting.
The odd boot episode made me . When I was out with Torben (he was a babe) I spent a day pushing his pram through Hammersmith whilst wearing my slippers. Very comfy they were too.

corner I've been experiencing similar irritating buggerations trying to upload images on FB. It's as if a gremlin has been redirecting my posts and losing the images I hoped to share.

NanaandGrampy Get well soon I'm sorry to hear that you are feeling unwell. I understand that kidney stones are very painful. I had problems with gallstones. At the time, I imagined that I was having a heart attack. When the gall bladder was removed, I believe that there were 19 stones. They are in a jar in a cupboard somewhere. They are pyramid shaped and look like gravel.

Maw That is good advice that you've passed on to N&G.

downsized You are positively fizzing with excitement. We're all so happy for you. Don't forget to take photos.

Bella As you say, not the best of birthdays for your husband. You will be able to celebrate once he's better. Something special to look forward to.

For Baggs A big thank you for passing on messages. Hope to see you soon.

Bellanonna, firstly, so sorry your DH is poorly on his birthday. Hope he will soon feel much better and be able to celebrate.

We were in Trapani but also visited the islands of Favignana and Levanzo, as well as a very breezy trip up to Erice on the mountain top.

DH and I used to visit Sicily a lot, usually the east coast, although we did drive pretty much everywhere over the years.

Yes, it is very close and we can fly which takes 20 mins, or take the catamaran which is a 90 minute trip. Good if you want to take the car.

Where was your favourite spot?

Thanks * soop*

Thanks Maw he saw the prescribing nurse and she feels it's an infected bite ( bearing in mind tramping through forests last week). He has some antibiotics and a remit to go back in 2 days if no improvement.

We have seen the canine nutritionist and what she said was very creditable. All our fault of course so poor old Sam is in for a shock . Goodbye yummy wet food with no nutritional value what so ever for turkey and rice with no grains. I've weighed out a portion and Grampy and I stood looking at it quietly for a minute.

I feel we should join him on his diet said Grampy .

You first I replied !!

Glad you enjoyed your trip Downsized , it sounds lovely.

Happy birthday to your DH Bella hope he feels well enough to celebrate quickly.

Thanks Downsized
We used to stay at Alcamo Mare, very near Trappani. Also visited Erice. Happy memories. I suppose because I know Alcamo I would say I like that best although we saw lots of other lovely places. Palermo and the mosaics, Catania, Cefalù with its white sand, and possibly Taormina though it's very touristy. How lovely to be so near. I'd love to visit the 'Montalbano' resorts - I think you can even stay in his house! That would be fun, though I'd quite like him to be there too ?
Have a wonderful time with your family and do post a picture!

Thank you N&G. Hope your husband's leg improves quickly and he doesn't need to go back!

Oh dear, n&g, hope Sam adjusts to his new feeding routine quickly and doesn't bear grudges. You know, I do think you and Grampy deserve a little more on your plates, Sams portion is too small for you. . The advice for Grampys leg sounds sensible bearing in mind your recent holiday. Please do go back if you do t see a marked improvement, not worth the potential risk if you don't. Hope you start to feel better, too. There seems to be a lot of poorly people about.

Hope your husband will be better soon bella, it's horrid being unwell on your birthday. So pleased for you downsized, how wonderful.

Well, there is something yellow in the sky so I'm off out for a bit of a walk. Take care everyone, especially poorly people.

N&G Poor Sam! Some time ago we placed Rory on a special diet of vets special (very expensive) biscuits. He quite liked them. However, MacSporran thought that he should have a more varied diet. I wish that you see Rory's cupboard. It's difficult to believe that, once upon a time, he lived on whatever he could stalk and catch. Rory (the cat who wasn't to "come into the house", is well pampered and, according to MacS, very precious.

I have a date with the iron. Had better get my own laundry out of the way. Tomorrow I shall have not only my pal's ironing to do, but her mother's too.

For some reason this thread is stuck way back and not showing me the newest posts even though I can see that soop posted on it a few minites ago. Just wanted to tell you, soop, that MrB is going to collect the car very soon so Thursday is ON ?

Mechanic has done a temporary fix and promises the full fix will be done in time for me to go south for my mum's 88th birthday do and to see the Derbyshire dudes.