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

Welcome home paw. Phew, made it maw, send one of those perching stools over here if you have too many . Now, Hattie, just you remember your manners, can't let excitement make you forget them.

Goodness, n&g, I
Hope it's warmer where you are, flipping freezing here. Lovely photo of the cousins, handsome boys.

I'm off to find a blanket ❄️❄️

MawB I am sure that Paw is delighted to be home because there is nothing like your own bed and chair and I am sure he will be looking forward to home coked meals.

I am sure you will find once the visitors (physios etc) stop coming, Paw will be asleep in his chair with Hattie on the floor beside him, resting her eyes. At least you can hopefully rest more yourself because you will not be dashing to the hospital x3 a day as well as caring for Hattie's needs.

Ann I am so pleased to hear that you are able to get out twice a week- even if it is just going for a cup of coffee on your own, you will retain your sanity.

So glad to hear that you have worked out a schedule to get you out and clear your head Ann

N&G as always, photos of those children are just superb, I love to see their happy faces.

Ann Excellent news. I'm delighted for you.

Sun shining brightly.

Good night all. I shall be returning tomorrow.

soop a lovely sunny day in Kintyre? It has rained all day here in London. Yuck!

Think I owe you an apology. I was sure I'd sent birthday greetings yesterday but it was a heck of a day and maybe I didn't, so please accept my belated greetings

Maw pleased for you (and him!) that Paw is home. All of us telling you don't do this and have you done that must have been a tad debilitating, even irritating. So I'm making another apology, but it was said with concern for you. At least you won't have the journeys for hospital visits

Pleased Hattie has taken to Paw , as you said she probably recognised him from his scent around the house.

N&G lovely photos as usual. I have one somewhere around of DS, my ex and DGS in the garden pool in the rain. Well, wet is wet isn't it

Ann I'm pleased to hear you sounding happier than a few months ago and long may it continue x

So good to hear Paw is home where he belongs with Maw and Hattie, what a relief it must be for you Maw, I'm sure Hattie will adjust to all the comings and goings and equipment and calm down as she gets used to a new routine - she's young and adaptable.

Pleased to hear ann things seem to be settled for you and you are able to have some time away from home.

It seems Rory is coping well with your tender ministrations soop and of course the comfy knee of MacS ? - quite a day for good news it seems.

Hurrah! paw is home ?. I'm sure it's the best place to recover. Whenever my DH has had one of his hospital stays he always wants me to arrange the "escape committee " to get him out and home asap. Wonderful though they are in hospital, there is no place like home. I am sure Hattie will be better behaved from now on. It must be strange for her to have paw to watch over too. Hope you all have a good night. Sleep tight ?

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Welcome home paw!
Lovely cousin photo n&g, such fun!
Ann it's good to hear your finding ways to add some fun and time for yourself into your week.
Lovely news about the expected precious bsny in your family Jud, very exciting need for you all.
We've had --by comparison to lately--a very reasonable day here, i.e. no monsoon style rain and even a bit of sunshine later in the afternoon. Popped to Harlow Carr gardens where somehow they manage to keep the borders beautiful despite the lack of seasonal weather. Took a good few photos, my poor old boy gets just a tad frustrated at my slow progress round the gardens!

Had to laugh when DD3 texted last night to ask if we had had a "relaxing day" .
Up early to check my ducks all in a row here.
Over an hour to get Paw discharged, home in the pouring rain with a boot full of walking frames, a case of Ensure and his own stuff.
Lunch - which he promptly sicked up, followed by a nap in his armchair, arrival of RAIT team -Physio and OT - to assess house, needs for aids, personal needs, copy medical details, check he could do half of the stairs, fight off over-friendly dog.
Phone call from friendly care organiser to check if we were OK for the evening/night, arranged for her to come in the morning.
Cleared up in kitchen, made (early) supper, settled paw back in armchair while I dashed to Waitrose to pick up John Lewis order of a couple of flat sheets and mattress protector, got Paw into bed (an hour) settled down with a tincture at 9 pm!

Blimey, * maw*, you will, as my Mum used to say, meet yourself coming back. Things will settle but please do accept all help on offer. Hope you got some sleep. Sending positive vibes to you both.

He is still asleep peacefully 12 hours later! I keep popping in but clearly there was much sleep to be caught up on!
I got midnight to 6.30 -not bad!

Morning all !!

In the boys defence I think the pool heater had been on overnight so although the weather was dire, the water was warm ! But they're kids they never seem to notice until they're turning blue!!

My Mum used to say that too Corner it always made me laugh.

He must have needed that sleep Maw. There is nothing like your own bed is there. Give him a couple of days and he'll be feeling the benefits of being home. Just remember not to run yourself totally ragged ! Did he have a chance to see Hattie?

I have a lovely piece of news this morning , our young friends ( they call us Mum and Dad No2 - they are friends of our youngest daughter) had their new baby last night. A little boy - no name yet. But all arrived safe and well.

So there will be some baby shopping this morning and some baby gift crafting !!

Other than that I am off to build an ark in case the rain continues. I drove the little boys home last night and there was much excitement at every huge puddle we drove through.

And finally - I lost 2 1/1 lbs at weigh in last night ( and my daughter lost 3 1/2lbs) . Grampy laughed when I refused to wear my watch to weigh in in case it made a difference !!

Happy day all xx

Well done N&G!!
I always used to leave off jewellery etc except the very first week when I put stones in my pockets wore jeans (=HEAVY) and kept my shoes on

Maw please will you accept help with Paw especially if it took an hour to get him to bed. He will not be able to cope if you have been run ragged and are lying in bed beside him, totally exhausted.

Lovely warm sunshine up here in the Scottish Borders, and yesterday we enjoyed all our meals alfresco too. See, it doesn't always rain in Scotland!
Hope you will soon have "all your ducks in a row" maw I love that expression. Life should be easier for you without all that to-ing and fro-ing to hospital and here's hoping that paw will continue to get stronger with all your TLC.

Think I may be returning to SW when we get home. Well done N&G. The hardest part is actually getting yourself to the first meeting.

Maw until just now I forgot to tell you that when I went to London last week, my train stopped at MK. I did wave to you and Paw, did you see me?.

Busy, busy, busy...that's what I always say about 'you lot'.
The day I wander into the kitchen to find it quiet, tidy and sad looking, I shall be very disappointed.

Maw Such good news. I'm chuffed to bits for you, Paw and Hattie.

granniequeenie Your photographs are delightful.

Nana&G Congratulations on starting your weight loss plan. You and your daughter have done well.
Knowing you and your talent for crafting, I imagine that you will be loving every moment of preparing to create something special for the new baby.

moomin Rory is improving and consequently his "staff" are less stressed and hopeful that his retirement may continue to be peaceful, pampered and pleasant.

Thank you, dear Swanny. I had a thoroughly wonderful day. Simple pleasures! And the sun shone from dawn 'til dusk.

soop your special day was much improved knowing that you could leave Rory and go out to lunch without worrying too much about him.

I hope that he is enjoying basking in the sunshine. Tara came home last night resembling a drooked rat. The Scots reading this will recognise that expression I think.

Maw I hope that today was more restful, probably not as relaxing as your DD3 envisaged! I also hope that Hattie slept through the night.

I know it is easy to say "get help " but when the help gets OH up at anytime from 7am to 8.30 am , then bed can be any time between 7pm and 8.30 pm , it is slightly less helpful than doing it yourself , we have to go with the flow but I know it doesn't suit everyone , so I hope maw that you can sort it out

I'm so glad to hear Paw is home again. What a stressful time. I've been a carer to my poorly DH but his illness was short, whereas poor Maw has been coping for such a long time. I can only imagine how wearing that must be.

Glad your birthday was a happy day for you, soop, you looked radiant in your lovely outfit and much younger than your years.❤️

I'm trying hard not to be sad, but DD2 has decided to go back to the US which means DGD will be going with her. I've treasured our time together these past three years and am not sure what I shall do without her.

Charlieg Is that a 'drowned rat'? If so, I can well imagine Tara leaving wet paddy paw prints all over your nice, clean floor.
Rory has been out and about in the garden. He climbed on to the wooden bench without help.

aggie Are you speaking from experience? Sounds very much like it.

Oh no! downsized. I can imagine how downhearted you must feel. Why the change, do you think? Bella has been a tonic for you. You've grown very close. Will you be able to visit fairly frequently? I'm hoping so.

I cannot begin to say how awful today has been. I am simply not coping.
Up at 6.30 to iron fresh pj's, empty dishwasher, catch up on emails.
Then tried to rouse pawfrom the land of nod. He was just not with it, pj bottoms and sheet soaked, said he was getting out of bed but didn't , couldn't steer walking frame to the en suite, it took me 45 minutes to get him on the loo so that I could strip the draw sheet and mattress protector. Nearly in tears,when the door bell rang, lovely lady to "assess" care needs, could not have come at a better time! She helped me change herself m, get him settled in bed and generally calmed me down Paw was making little sense and she suspected a UTI so rang the health centre and they sent out a paramedic to do the usual obsbs. We managed to get paw to for a wee on the common d so that he could test it and he though not a UTI but possibly s freely dehydrated (on fluids restriction since yesterday?) He didn't seem to be able to see and I had a real struggle to get him t take his mess because he would just stare into space. Again close to the end of my tether when the Physio arrived which gave me moral support and she confirmed that it looked like dehydration (I was afraid it was another TIA as what words he used were slurred and muddled up)
He just stares into space, answers yes or no but doesn't do anything about his answer, has drunk 500 ml of tea(3 cups) 200 ml of Ensure and the same of elderflower and apple. He has had 1 1/2 slices of toast and jam and is currently staring at a bowl of homemade chicken soup. He has been running his finger round the rim, ignoring the spoon and tried to drink,it so I have transferred it to a big mug.
I have opted for 3 Carers visits a day to help with toiletting, changing pj's etc but oh dear, this is far worse than yesterday and not at all what I envisaged.
Hascanybody got any crumbs of comfort for me? I am breaking my heart but also fearful,as it is too soon to bevat the end of my tether. Does he need to go back into hospital, I do wonder but would also be disappointed.

"Take his mess"!!!

No!
MEDS