Soop's pleasant (if boring) kitchen for friendly folk and precious pets.

soop I do hope that Rory enjoyed a little breakfast this am. No doubt he is resting his eyes in his comfortable cat cave. Good luck for today and I hope that the vet contacts you.

Tara allowed me a lie in until after 8am today- a minor miracle her sitting beside my bed and probably willing for my eyes to open. She is normally wailing at me to waken and get up.

Just been out for a walk which takes us through one of the local farms. We passed the yard where the silage is stored and I can't resist sharing this with you. Nice to know that farmers have a sense of humour despite all their trials and tribulations!

Fabulous GD.

I've been wondering about Rory and hoping for news.

Lovely to see you Galen - it's nice to know you are ok!

Hoping paw and Hattie are both doing ok too.

I'm also hoping that Ann is having the time of her life!

Not much to report here. DH is driving one of his little old ladies and then going to the football. First 'proper' game of the season. I really hope they do well this year - last year was full of doom and gloom. But, I do love having the house to myself - think I might go and sit down with a and watch something rubbish on TV!

DD1 has gone to the Gower camping. Before they went she had done something to her back which necessitated lying flat (her DH is a pussy cat and lets her get away with things!) so they delayed their departure for a couple of days. On Wednesday night a tent pole broke due to the weather and they had to move pitches - while it was blowing a gale and pouring with rain and with DD's bad back. Last night DSiL was sick all night and they heard that his sister in law had had a heart attack (aged 55). DD was all for coming home but DD2 and family are going to join them for a long weekend so they have to stay until Monday and the weather forecast includes thunder and lightning. It never rains but it pours!!

It's quite funny from our point of view because we've been there and done that. Once, camping on a hillside in Austria, it rained so much that mud from the top of the mountain flowed straight through our tent. It was horrendous - but we were younger then.

Our football starts tomorrow. DH was in a sweat, as up until yesterday he didn't know whether his season ticket would arrive. He bought it and DS's well before they were even promoted to the Championship. When it didn't come yesterday he was all for going down to the ground to make a fuss, but then DS phoned to say that both tickets had arrived at his house - in York! Good job he is coming down for the first game. Like you, Kitty I am looking forward to a few hours of peace and quiet. Having said that, the plumber will be here ripping out the bathroom, so it is not likely to be peaceful or quiet. Your poor DD and her family under canvas - I hope they get some dry weather soon. My DD and her menfolk are on holiday at the moment and the weather has not been too kind to them either until yesterday.
Swanny what an opportunity for your GS to actually handle a croc. Good for him. He's braver than me! Our little lad was given meerkat to hold once - and it bit him! Had to go to A&E. He's a gentle soul too, but the animal obviously took exception to him. Perhaps he should have had insurance! ?
I will look in later to see if there is any news of Rory.

A bit late but here I be. I've read through all your messages. Some made me smile.

Swanny Now that's what I call a real treat for children and grown ups too. The mice were not living, I hope. I would have to rescue them if that were the case. I know for certain that Torben would have loved every minute of the experience.

Greyduster Boys and their football! My adult sons are supporters of Leicester City. I thought that we would never hear the end of it when they became league champions. It's the closest they've been to heaven on earth. Great photo of yours.

wot Remember, this is a bright new beginning for you. Keep updating us.

I spoke to the vet earlier and told him what Rory's symptoms are. He said that any one of a number of internal organs could be failing and thus responsible for Rory's downward slide. Naturally, Rory won't be coaxed into a pet carrier. Neither would he allow another vet to handle him and he certainly wouldn't permit bloods to be taken and whatever else needs doing not without an almighty kafuffle and getting himself seriously stressed. He's an elderly cat. He's a bolshy cat. He likes to come and go on his terms. The vet prescribed a course of antibiotics and painkillers. Now the business of cajoling Rory to eat his food that has been "spiked" adds to our stress (not his) but try we will. That's all that we can do. Our best, has to be good enough. All pet owner/lovers will know what we're going through. It's tough.

soop I know just what you are going through because Tara is a total minx re taking tablets. Her food is dry so it is difficult to spike it.

I am sure that you would prefer to see Rory with a stress free but shorter life rather than put him through hell such as when the female vet visited recently and he was none too pleased, practically doing a backward flip to get away.

I hope that at least the weather is pleasant for the little man. He knows that his fan club are with him in thought.

Does Rory like Stilton cheese? This is the only way we can get ours to take a pill in a square of it. He is greedy and cannot resist the smell.

I agree Charleygirl a shorter stress free life is much better. So often you agree to an expensive operation only for the animal not to survive because it is too stressful on them.

Greyduster we have pink bales here, blend in well with the heather.

Could we make this a football free thread?

You can do no more than your best. soop, if Rory will eat his spiked food then hopefully he will be more comfortable. We've not had cats but we experienced this with both our dogs. One loved cheese so easy enough to bury a tablet in strong cheese. The other was a spaghetti bolognese fan so we ground up the tablets in there. I guess neither recommended but both worked. I hope Rory can be similarly fooled, but he's doubtlessly brighter than our dogs. You're right, your best has to be good enough and, you know, it is better than most.

AWWWW! Now I know why I'm blest to have you lot to advise and comfort me. Right! The next pill will be disguised cunningly in a cube of cheese. Who'd have thought it. I shall report back in the morning.

Do hope that our ann is having herself a right pampering. She deserves it.

Thank you.

Afternoon all!!

I am waaaay behind so will have to go back several pages to catch up. Soop Sam likes liver pate on his pills !! But I think cheese is a great option.

Rory is lucky to have you both !

Swanny what an experience for the little lad, and well done to him for the croc holding.

Herbert and Sherbert have been back in hospital but are doing better and are home now . Stevie aka Herbert has taken up sewing strangely enough so I have delivered a bag of scraps and buttons and he is making me a coat ???

We shall see!

I'm orf for a read !!

So relieved to hear Rory is still with us. I suppose the sad reality is that he is slowly shutting down, but I suspect that won't happen without a strugggle. The word "thrawn " springs to mind.
I used to grind up Grace's pills in a pestle and mortar then roll the powder up woth bits of liver pate to make delicious little balls (honestly you could have served them as canapés at the Ambassador's dinner party!)
Animals are SO cunning though. It will depend on Rory's preferred treats I expect.
Hattie is currently out on the grass demolishing a pizzle (dont ask, but yes it is what it sounds like) and very happy. She slept right through the night until I got up around 5.30 to go to the loo and thought I might as well let her out at the same time.
Paw has managed without his oxygen mask for much of today and can walk up and down the ward to the little bathroom using a frame. Stairs on Monday!!

Sorry to hear Herbert and Sherbert have been back in hospital poor little things. But hope they are truly on the mend now and back to naughtiness right soon and eft speedily. . ?‍⚕️??‍⚕️

Or is it "eft soon and right speedily"?
Does anybody know what the heck I am talking about?

Hello - this is my first 'proper' post ( I also posted on the Welcome one). This looks a nice place to try GN out - I haven't got a pet though - but next door's cats are frequent visitors. Does that count?

Welcome maryeliza! Did you bring cake?

There seems to be a misconception that one has to have pets to come into the kitchen. I have two cats but rarely mention them. The dgc on the other hand........

Oh- have I broken the etiquette - let's try and add cake [cupcake} - will that do? I'd rather bring if that's acceptable and some nice quality crisps like Kettle (but not those flavoured ones)

Failed with cake - try again

Welcome maryliza. I would not worry, you will soon adopt our darlings. I am "mother" to many animals on here, Hattie, Sam, Rory, Oscar and many many more.

We have been classed as boring but we prefer it that way. Once you get to know us, you will find that we love cake and wine, not necessarily together. Being conaseurs (not a clue how to spell it but you get the drift) of fine wine we are also fond of good food.

N&G Sorry to hear how poorly your GCS have been after their tonsils op. It used to be such a common operation years ago that it's easy to forget how nasty it is. When my older sisters had theirs removed in the local cottage hospital they were two to a bed, one at each end! Hope they'll soon be firing on all cylinders.

Hope that Rory will let you administer his medication soop . It's very frustrating when you are only trying to help the old chap. He's a very lucky cat to have found such a caring home with you, having lived rough for years.

It's very windy here in Northumberland. Watching the canvas flapping like a ship in full sail on a nearby tent makes me very glad that we are no longer holidaying under canvas.

I think we also have unicorns on occasions. Oops, two large glasses of wine - maybe not real unicorns!!

Welcome Maryeliza! Anyone fancy a cheese scone? DH is miffed because he likes the ones he can put jam and cream on, but I lerrrve cheese scones!! With lots of butter. And more cheese.....

The one bottom right is a mongrel. There is always a mongrel!

Love cheese scones, greyduster. Thank you. Yumm

Sorry about Herbert and Sherbert n&g, sending them heaps of get well wishes, definitely looking forward to seeing the coat .

Hello, maryeliza, good to see you. It's a warm and friendly place, ignore any suggestions that we are boring. In my best pantomime voice - oh no we're not . I also have no animals, Mr C is holding fast to his refusal, I'd love another dog. There are many visiting cats in our garden too, for better or worse depending what they leave behind them

So pleased about paw, sounds so much better, maw, really pleased. Your Hattie is settling down well, she knows where she is well off

Right, supper time now. Take care all.

Soop, I don't have cats now (Mr I is absolutely allergic these days plus I feed the birds). However, I found getting medication into cats even harder than it is with dogs. Dogs are, Imo, not as bright or self focussed as cats, they do generally like to please their humans, whereas cats don't give a fig. However, I've found that grinding the pills up and hiding them in a sardine/slice of ham/smelly cheese/whatever your pet goes doolally for works every time.