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

roses Better still...I shall coax Rory off the chaise. I shall vac it and plump up a large supporting cushion for you back. You'll have a sea view. Sorry to say that the mountains are cloaked in mist.

kitty Your friend (who does so much taking care of others) is totally wonderful.

Crafting '^the kindness of strangers^' In spite of so much selfishness and mayhem in this world of ours, there will always be kindly people. It is such people that make an enormous difference and deserve our gratitude.

charleygirl is being very quiet. I hope all is well?

ann so glad you managed to get out for a few hours. I expect you worry about what you've coming home to though.

As many of you know, my DB is in a home. My SIL often takes him out for short trips to the river for a short walk or to a park. She has mentioned on many occasions how kind people have been helping her get DB in and out of the car or just keeping a watchful eye on him while she gets a cup of tea from the cafe. We read so many dreadful things in the papers but the kindness of strangers rarely gets a mention.

P.S roses forgot to say I hope your DD and DGS get well soon.

Of course roses, sit there in the corner. That's right as far away from me as possible I'm sure you'll be comfy there. I'll make you a and here's a nice muffin (sorry no scones today). I'll push them across the table to you. It's lovely to see you wouldn't want you to think I'm keeping my distance as I'm off on holiday soon

Is there a and maybe a scone going? Not to mention a comfy chair!
Am presently caring for a not at all well DGS and DD.???

I wonder how I would cope if DH ever became ill. My mother had no sympathy if we were ill and I'm afraid I'm the same. I tend to think people are putting it on to annoy me! DH is a marvellous nurse though - maybe even a little too solicitous. And, if the convalescence period after my hysterectomy is anything to go by, we'd be eating cheese on toast for every meal.

I really am in awe of you people who care for sick husbands as I am also in awe of the people who come on the Alzheimers' course. One lady has her Mum with fairly advanced dementia living at home as well as looking after her husband with a muscle wasting disease and she regularly looks after her 2 year old DGS. It's no wonder that a gentle snoring sound can be heard coming from her direction.

I'm off to do the school run - I hope I manage to keep them both safe.

corner I enjoyed reading your post.

A muggy, mirky good afternoon dear Granspals. Home again after a morning of ironing duties. The lovely lady for whom I do the job, is having awful troubles with her ailing mother who lives in Glasgow. Friend's lovely husband has gone to give mother-in-law support while they prepare for him to return home with her. Friend has a full guest house and bookings to honour. Such a worry...aged parents.

Oldgoat I jolly well knew that you needed medical treatment. It was obvious that your back was painful. You wouldn't "let on." Please take things easy for the foreseeable. You have much to enjoy before you return home.
Swanny I forewent lunch in anticipation of woofing down a gigantic slice of cake.

annsixty I join this lot in saying that you have earned our respect.

bags That is a very fine jacket. My colour...

N&G Yuk! Why is it that we feel bad about complaining? The colourless bacon made me shudder. Also, I'm not a fan of salad bits and bobs served with sandwiches.
I fully understand how awful you must have felt when Cooper sustained a bloody nose. There was an occasion when we were minding Torben. He was at that stage when he would hurtle full pelt into every stationary object. He ran into the edge of doorframe and the resulting egg-like protuberance over his eye was AWFUL in the extreme. Yet, we couldn't have prevented the accident. Other than clapping him in handcuffs.

MawB You do your best. None of us is perfect. (((hugs)))

Greyduster Losing decent, friendly neighbours can be unsettling. Ever since our neighbour's wife died and he went into care, we've missed the happy chats across the garden fence. The house is vacant and on the market. For us, it will always be known as Bobby's house.

Mr C knows well enough that I am no nurse! Our children knew they had to be really ill before anything resembling sympathy appeared. I'm not hard, honestly I'm not, but the nurse gene has passed me by. In mitigation a very down to earth childhood and a chronically sick Mum who deterred all family efforts to 'nurse' her had a lot to do with it . I'm probably worse with my own ailments. ann. maw, and anyone else in a similar situation deserve medals. See neighbours with long term sick partners and marvel at their fortitude. Maybe it comes if we need it, I hope so and try to believe it does but also worry about copinng should Mr C experience chronic illness.

n&g we have a theory that Littlest saves his most spectacular accidents for when he is in our care. The litany is long and bloody. That bacon buttie sounds horrid, hope the crisps - willingly given I'm sure - made up for it.

Be careful with the back oldgoat, hope the pain killers are doing their job. You don't need this on holiday.

Another reason to need a seat on your coach n&g. Mr C has kindly read me most of a leaflet that I had just read and put down. Why do they do that???

Not having daughters I don't get cast off clothes, our daughters in law are both tiny so no chance there. Mr C on the other hand often gets cast offs, we laughed the other day when one son asked could he have a shirt back as he really liked it still. We're still thinking about it .

Afternoon all.

Been to the garden centre and had the worst bacon sandwich EVER. Shame because it was beautifully presented ( although a little strange with salad and crisps) bread was nice but the bacon VERY fatty without a hint of colour too it. Did I complain ? No I quietly ate round the edges and then ate Grampy's crisps as well......

Yes I took full responsibility for the bloody nose although Cooper seemed to see it as a badge of honour ! Nothing could have saved him Bella but you're right...how could it have been his fault

Glad to hear you have some pain relief Oldgoat hope it improves quickly.

Come here and moan as often as you like Ann . Your DH is so lucky to be married to you and not me because my patience would be long gone and yet you soldier on every day ! Huge credit to you ...followed by a nice glass of or 3 !!

You are a champ too Maw . When I win the lottery I shall be whisking you away for a lovely break and leaving Grampy in charge of the men folk...he'll be fine !! Not so sure about your husbands...but life's a gamble

MAWB - try to keep cheerful

Yes ann Ruby is a very young gran. I think her profile pic is beautiful and if I didn't know differently I'd say she was the picture of good health. You seem to have really cheered her up bless you and I do hope her iron levels allow her to go ahead with her surgery soon. I hadn't realised she was into her 5th week. It must be so frustrating for her. I'm sure she can't wait to get back to her little dog and start to do normal things again. I'm sure there will be a good care package in place for her to see her through her convalescence to full recovery. If you are reading, Ruby do keep posting! X and hugs

Oh yes annsixty at least I think it's a
Sometimes you just have to sail serenely by swallowing all the things you could say and indeed would say if a) it made any difference and b) it's not their fault.
The overheated house really gets to me, I rush round opening all the windows then half an hour later Paw complains he is feeling cold.
I know old age is said to be better than the alternative, but it can be a close-run thing
I "escaped" to lunch yesterday with 3 women from last year's Lit course. Really enjoyed it, but consequently forgot to pick up Paw's antibiotics from Boots before they closed. So every bout of coughing made me feel even more guilty, and the sicking up of the carefully prepared supper of baked cod, green beans and creamed (not merely mashed) potatoes - real invalid food - just par for the course!!

Just a little footnote which is funny and "scary " at the same time. While with Ruby yesterday two nurses came in to take blood as R had had an iron infusion in the am. She was asked for name and DOB as required and I was shocked that a fellow gran was less than a year older than my D.
That really made me feel old.?

I have come to have a moan. I couldn't moan yesterday, it would have been so trivial.
I broke my record for being out of the house yesterday but as H flatly refuses help as he doesn't need it I did what I needed to do. I went to the bank with a friend to help over a financial matter, two heads etc and then as we had some time before my train we had a coffee and a sandwich.
She took me to the train and I went to see Ruby.
I left her after an hour and a quarter and was lucky with the train, a neighbour picked me up and I was home by 4:30 so was out of the house for nearly 5 hours. I rang him as did family regularly.
When I got home he was sitting in a "greenhouse" all doors and windows closed, fuming because he couldn't get the TV to work. He insisted I sort it, I couldn't.
He was beside himself with angst/temper? and so when I had had a glass of water and changed into cooler clothes I tackled the problem. He must have pressed every button it was possible to press but after switching everything off and starting again I managed to get it back. I then went to start the meal and when I came back he said " there is nothing wrong with the television now, it's back to normal". Now how did that happen??
I should add we have 2 more TV sets in the house!!
The real downer is the sheer frustration of this every day.
Maw you know just what I mean and many others I am sure.

You made me laugh there N&G. Why do we always feel it's our fault when gc have an "accident". To be fair I have never been blamed but I always manage to feel guilty. Hope oldgoat that you get some relief from the pain and that the beautiful surroundings help to compensate.

Sounds wonderful oldgoat and I hope your back feels better soon. I couldn't believe the size of the cakes in the pics soop posted. Sooo envious (of the seals and otters as well as the cakes)

Morning everyone from murky Muasdale. Having lots of problems with the wifi here. It was a great treat to meet soop and MacSporran in RL, they are as lovely as you would expect and just like meeting old friends. Excellent cake was eaten too. I have tried to post a picture of soop tucking into a massive piece of coffee and walnut cake but it wouldn't send.
We love this campsite callgirl and have a pitch near one end with a nice flat rock in front for enjoying the view. There are seals and otters in the sea just outside our window.
Paid a visit to Muasdale surgery yesterday and am now drugged up to the eyeballs in painkillers. Can't imagine phoning our local surgery at 11 am and getting an appointment a couple of hours later! and they dispense the prescription on the premises. I'm standing up writing this message - really hope it sends.
Sorry not to have responded to all your messages but the peace and quiet of this place compensates for the lack of wifi.

bags I also have one of DD's discarded Benetton sweatshirts that I still wear. She gave up on it when she was at uni back in the dim distant past! It is a bit threadbare now but a favourite for fishing.
N&G it's awful, is it not, when our littlies suffer damage on our watch? GS joined some of his friends on the playing field near his house yesterday after school yesterday (under DH's watchful eye). He engaged in a heavy tackle with one of the other boys and they both ended up on the floor, with GS holding his head. It took him a little while to get back on his feet, but fortunately he was OK, and so was the other lad. Anxious moment. DH wagged the finger at them all and told them to cut out the rough stuff!
It seems that our lovely neighbours have now found a house to buy and are moving. We knew it was only a matter of time. The last house they found fell through and they have a buyer champing at the bit to buy theirs who have been prepared to wait. We will miss them sorely when they leave, although we certainly don't live in each other's pockets. They are just a lovely family. Now their girls have flown the nest, they are looking for an older cottage property and have found one in a nearby village. The new people are a young couple. Hope they're nice.
I will look in on the kitchen later, folks.

Vanilla slice (is that what you mean by custard slice, Maw?) used to be my favourite treat. The one's baked in our local bakery were awesome. Apparently they were my mum's favourite when she was dating my dad so grandma used to supply them every time she came to tea. So sweet (my gran and the vanilla slices! ).

In other news, I've reached that point in my life where I'm nicking my youngest daughter's clothes. She hasn't worn this riding weskit for two years.

Good morning all !

We have enjoyed a couple of days of warm weather - long may it last!

Grey Cooper is resigned to being under house arrest until he is bigger ! I have a pair of military issues handcuffs left over from days gone by ( as we wall do I'm sure) and they're the real deal. I think we will wait a while before giving them to the boys or I foresee a visit to the fire station in our future.

As it was we were nearly at A & E yesterday. My DD accompanied my SiL to hospital( as he is incapable of remembering what the specialist tells him ) , so we had the boys for soft play and dinner at the gym. Three minutes in Cooper took a spectacular face plant on the floor and gave himself a bloody nose !

Rest assured, NO-ONE there missed the fact or the 10 minutes of loud sobbing afterwards ! He is fine but I did not look forward to explaining to his Mum what 'we' had done !!

Looks like the Grumpy Grampy's Charabang is filling up fast!! A seat is reserved for DH Cornerand yours to Liaise!

Oh no Oldgoat hope your back is feeling a little better today .

I'm sorry you felt so low yesterday Galen , I hope you got through the day ok .

I Love a custard slice Maw , don't see them often here.

A quiet-ish day today. Another blood test and then a free at. I'm making some decorations for a baby shower today so that will be fun.

I hope you all have a little fun in your day today !

What else?

Absolutely!

Together? ??