soop's friendly kitchen for like-minded folk and pampered pets.

Note to self- read instructions. The soup was to die for but not its appearance. I thought that I had pressed the puree button but better luck next time. At least it is only me eating it and there is enough for tomorrow. I piggishly had two portions for a late lunch.

It is dull and a trifle cold here. I do hope that I did not pick upN&G's cold.

Maw on another thread I was reading about the other side to your character! If only those folk knew what your life was like at present.

I am pleased to hear that Paw can negotiate stairs, albeit slowly. Hopefully his confidence will return over time.

I am very well aware that he will never be cured but to get him to the position he was in before that last long hospitalisation will be a bonus. He must exercise though even when chair and bed bound. As you sday, the physios will give you a better idea tomorrow re what he can and should not do.

A pity that we are heading towards autumn as it is not exactly the weather to be sitting outdoors. Hattie has sense as she appears to spend most of her time resting her eyes when indoors.

I am waiting for my mushroom soup yo cook in my lovely soup maker. A slightly late lunch but no doubt I will survive.

I'm coping well enough thanks! When he goes to bed Hattie and I curl up on the sofa and do competitive sleeping watch TV.
Despite being "better" (than he was) he will never be "better" as in "cured". The physios will start tomorrow and I will follow their advice but for the time being, coming downstairs, walking through from the sitting room for lunch and back again is all better than staying in bed and he has a lot of recuperating to do from the kidney failure and pneumonia (plus his ongoing issues) so I am happy to let him pace himself for now unless the physios say otherwise. I don't think he is fit enough to be "pushed" as the ongoing illness is always going to be a factor to bear in mind.

Paw is not spending long downstairs Maw is he? Could he not walk to the kitchen- not to do anything, just to give him exercise? I doubt if he would have the strength to lift an empty kettle and it would not be safe with a full, boiled one. Very difficult. Are you able to have any "me" time apart from taking Hattie for her short stroll x2 a day? As ann is well aware, that is very important but she is in a very different situation.

I did not need a hot water bottle last night because Tara decided that she would spend the entire night with me. She even allowed me a lie in until 8.15am lying quietly beside my bed, patiently waiting for me to move. She is such a good girl.

The sun is shining here- long may it continue.

I hope all you poorly folk are feeling marginally better today.

x

Bleddy predictive text!! I did of course mean overtiring him, but if he were in a Bath chair the risk of the other might be greater!!

Please don't overturn the poor chap, maw !

Oh if only it were 3x a day* charleygirl*!
He comes down before lunch (I have put an armchair in the bedroom so that he can sit out rather than stay in bed as he chooses) and has been going up mid-afternoon. My hope is that he will soon manage a longer time downstairs in the afternoon but I doubt if he'll even be doing twice each way every day for a week or so. I am hoping the physios will be best placed to know whe to push a little harder and when just to let him rest and recuperate. A fine line . Then if the weather is fine, start some gentle walking up and down the patio. I know we can't delay it too long or he won't get back to even where he was before but I am wary of overturning him. In the olden days he'd have been in a Bath chair with a checked blanket over his knees!!

Bless you Soop. It`ll be a pity if you have to alter your travel plans, but as you say, Rory is important, to us as well as to you.
I hope that all you poorly people will soon be feeling better, so you can enjoy the last (probably) of our good weather. Today has been very odd, alternate spells of boiling hot sunshine then lashing rain all day.
Keep your fingers crossed for me weatherwise tomorrow, I`m doing a car boot sale with daughter 3, trying to get rid of some stuff without actually throwing it away, it`s too good for that.

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Haven't been in for a bit, a combination of busyness and some general grumpiness too after a bit of a spat with my old boy. As often happens all over something and nothing, 6 of me and half a dozen of him but neither of us behaved well and it left me feeling cross with myself as well as with him. He's not the best with apologies but I did hear him telling dd1 "of course it was mostly my fault" - I think that's the best I can hope for! It also made me think of Ann, Maw and others coping with the tough stuff of a longstanding marriage and of course made me wonder how I'd cope if it was me, based on this week I fear badly!
Sorry to hear you're still poorly n&g, get well soon. Now an official birthday sounds like a good plan ~ always suspected you had some royal blood!
greyduster, that rather kinky odd mirror arrangement may look even worse after a g&t or 2, hope it wasn't a double!
Baggs good to hear you're back on the road, much as I dislike driving I hated not being independent when I I've not been able to drive for whatever reason. It'll take a while before you have easy movement but it'll come in time, especially if you have been given exercises to do.
Soop, nothing boring about a lovely sunset, please keep them coming. Sorry to hear you're having to rethink your trip, here's hoping you can both travel together, with easy minds about Rory, as you both would prefer. Yes cornergran, I've experienced these micro climates in Wales too. Good luck with your "daft" week!
I popped into church today, there was a special display there with some extra lighting. It highlighted the stained glass windows so beautifully, I couldn't resist a photo or two.
Wishing you all a restful nights sleep x

Can't keep up with the weather changes, one minute sunshine, then either showers or double wiper speed downpour!

But not quite hot water bottle season yet, Charleygirl !

Maw at least Paw is only going up and down x3 a day and it is getting the muscles working. Does Hattie accompany you or would that be disturbing her well needed sleep?

Greyduster that weather sounds horrendous and yes, a kinky cottage where you are staying. Definitely stick something on parts of the mirror or the pair of you will be black and blue.

It is quite cold here this evening- I think that it may be my first hot water bottle for many weeks. I cannot rely on Tara to stay for as long as I would like her to, cuddled up to me. I have a memory foam mattress so when I get up during the night to go to the loo I am roasting hot. There is no pleasing me.

Mr C is Welsh, greyduster, over the years I have had many experiences of Welsh micro-climates, sometimes for better sometimes not. Usually the really wet weather didn't hang around for too long, in fact Welsh friends insist their weather is usually better than ours, so there is hope . Mind those doors, they sound positively dangerous and well, yes, quite kinky. .

Wishing you both a good night, maw with no problems for either of you. Thinking of Rory, you and macs, soop. Gently does it.

Next week is a bit daft here, so I may go missing, hopefully not but I suspect so. Take care everyone, especially poorly people and those caring for them.

The G&T sounds very good so enjoy.
We have spent a lot of times in Wales and parts of it have a micro climate which is normally good. However you may not be lucky in where you are staying, so good luck.
The first time we went, Wales was dry on Sunday which we had not known, however we were younger then and didn't rely so much on a drink!! Only joking ?
I hope the weather improves for you. It has been awful here today.
Keep safe with those mirrored doors, they sound quite kinky.

So sorry it's been a poorly birthday n&g, happy birthday wishes no matter how red the nose. I do hope you are better soon, your cold has been hanging around far too long. An official birthday sounds good, don't forget to invite us all to the party .

He is coping fairly well with going upstairs charleygirl albeit very slowly and breathlessly. Fortunately it is a dog leg staircase with 7 steps then a half landing then 7 more.
We keep a walker upstairs and one downstairs ready for use.
Coming down is easy peasy, he just slides down the banisters
If only.

A very Happy Birthday, N&G! I am sorry to hear you are still not well. I hope you make up for the lack of celebration when you are better.
We have just got back in after a day walking on the coast path - and the weather was foul. We could see the rain coming in off the sea, but even before we had the chance to get the waterproofs out of the rucksack, it came down in stair rods and soaked us. Then it blew out just as quickly, leaving us dripping. I don't anticipate any improvement as the week progresses as the forecast is not good. We shall just have to stay in and drink ourselves into a stupor. The cottage we are staying in is nice though, except for a peculiar arrangement at the top of the stairs where there are some sliding mirrored doors opposite our bathroom (which doesn't have a door, so you have a wonderful view of yourself sitting on the toilet! ). The problem is that the landing is also reflected in these doors, which means that it is perfectly possible to think you are walking onto the landing and actually walk into the mirrored door! We have both done it and it is painful!! I am going to stick some bits of micropore tape on it in an effort to make it less of a hazard.
I am off to make a G&T. I will look in tommorrow, patchy internet connection permitting!

Maw You must feel on edge. I'm certain that I would if MacSporran had been through the stresses and strains and buggerations that Paw has had to deal with.

It has been one of the loveliest days for a long spell. I feel certain of a decent sunset later on. If so, I shall photograph it. Aren't I boring in the extreme.

We are having to take one day at a time where Rory's concerned. He has improved but we dare not take anything for granted. If by the time we're due to go to the family gathering he isn't as good as we hoped, MacSporran will remain here with him. It wouldn't be fair to expect our pal to sit in with Rory, as he has problems with an elderly relative to contend with.
I've booked assistance at the stations. I can cope with travelling on my own, although I would much prefer MacS's company. If our plan is scuppered, we shall lose money on the overnight booking in a hotel. I would travel by train to Glasgow and then return home on the next available bus. MacSporran says that there will be another time, and at present, Rory takes priority.

Wishing you all a peaceful and pleasant Saturday evening.

Excellent news, dear Baggs

Baggs 12 weeks without driving is a very long time especially (I think) as you rely on your car for basics. At least that is a major milestone and things can only get better from now.

Maw how does Paw get upstairs to bed? Is he coping with the staircase?

I can envisage the three of you out for the count, resting your eyes. I do know who would be having the deepest sleep!!!

I agree ann at the first sign of a problem and one is out the door never to return. I could not cope with what you are living with daily.

Yep I certainly never gave a thought to what I was signing up to!
Oddly (or perhaps not)!I used to think that "personal care" would be a deal breaker for me but somehow it doesn't bother me at all and therefore paw doesn't need to feel awkward about it either.
But what YOU are coping with ann, "losing" the person inside, that really terrifies me and I would instantly take my hat off to you if I had one.

I know I have said this before, but I wonder when seeing weddings with blushing young brides (and grooms) how many would go ahead if they knew what they might be doing for each other some years down the line.
We have grown into it but marriage and vows aren't taken so seriously or last as long as ours have done.

Well done Baggs but is there any point in suggesting politely you don't '*overdo it*? No? Thought not!
I am hoping this morning's catheter issue was not serious (blood in the wee) and perhaps something pulled inside as there are no other signs of a UTI. Bit of a 111/out of hours dr phone call at 6.30 though.
The other problem was I think down to plumbing, I.e.something not done up as tightly as it might have been ??
It brought home to me that although he might no longer be be lost in the forest, he is not out of the woods by a long way.
The plug is pulled by early afternoon and he has a nap in his chair, but has also tended to retreat to bed by about 4 so that he can nap in more comfort.
This is not a house of insomniacs is it! Hattie is sound asleep by my side and I too nodded off watching my beloved Escape to the Country.
Commiserations to N&G and I sincerely hope you are on the mend very soon ???

Thank you, both! Now, I must get outside and begin to get the garden under control again.

It must be the feeling of independence again that is so good as well as the injury healing slowly. Good luck.