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

Back home from a full morning of dashing away with the smoothin' iron.

First things first, all good get well soon messages for Mr Sar. Ten minutes drive from the hospital is a tremendous bonus. Lots of TLC on a daily basis is the best tonic ever. My earliest hip replacement is a wee bit younger than some. It's a mere ten years old. I had no idea that it may wear out in due course and need replacing.

N&G Surely you are confusing that wee angel in the snuggly anorak with someone else!

Charleyg Dear Tara. We know beyond a shadow of doubt that if we were to think "vet" Rory would abscond.

callgirl1 Macsporran wandered in after his GP visit to say "all's well!" I asked him seriously did you tell her about such and such? He looked sheepish (as only a man can) and replied...well, no. I think that it's getting better. What can you do with such a man?

ann I also like that saying.

Jane Good to hear that Charlie is on the mend. Our beloved pets know how to give us a fright. Rory is soldiering on. He needs lifting up on to high places. Walks with a distinct wobble. Eats and sleeps for Scotland. Is loved and cared for every moment of his day.

Greyduster Your photos are "atmospheric"...I often think that brooding skies are dramatic. Here is last night's sky. Taken through the window.

soop please threaten MacSporran that I will be up next week to take him to the GP by the scruff of his neck and sit in during the consultation!!!! Men- I am fine on my own!

Glad to hear that the other man in the house is soldiering on. Good that his appetite has not deserted him.

You may be very fortunate and never need a revision hip. 10 years used to be its sell by date but not nowadays, as Galen said, she has had hers for 23 years.

Afternoon everyone. Thank you for your kind words. I visited OH this morning and he was sitting in a chair. His surgeon had been to see him and he now has a ceramic hip with lots of bone grafts. He is not allowed to put full weight on it for six weeks and will be on crutches for all that time. Fun days ahead I can see !! Off to visit again in a minute.

Sar he is making very good progress and is very fortunate to have you at home to cook etc. Enjoy your rest now!

I don't think Cooper 'means' to be naughty Charley its just that naughtiness sticks to him.

I'm glad to hear good news of the patient Sar53 - I'm sending you 6 weeks worth of patience ...use sparingly

Promising news, Sar keep visiting and relax and feet up inbetween.

Charleyg

N&G Cooper is our kitchen's wee trooper. He can be as impish as he likes. Us lot love him.

Glad to hear the op has gone well Sar but to know you have got to go through the stress and the post-op period all over again...?
I am relieved not to be visiting Paw twice a day but would give my right arm for uninterrupted sleep. It was literally every two hours from 10.30 last night and I had to be up for an Internet shop delivery at 7. The previous night was very similar but I had a blessed wee nap between 7 and 9.
I have snatched 2 lots of 45 minutes this afternoon but look as rough as I feel.
His insides are in some sort of turmoil and have not recovered from the "dire rear " of the C. diff infection (although the infection is gone) and he can't take anything for it. So lots of rice and bland food.
No wonder he slept all of yesterday afternoon!
I realise that he is still a poorlier person than we all knew, but there has been progress so I need to be content with babybsteps.

Baby.... steps...

Hello the kitchen. Well, we are still in Wales but another bit. Where the sun is shining! We were properly stressed out today due to a tyre pressure warning lights going off every five minutes, which we got checked out and seemingly there is nothing wrong with the tyres??. We had this with our previous car and it was a pain in the bum. Then we got lost on a route we have driven countless times and had a shocking, gloves off, no holds barred row in a lay by! Over nothing. Nothing like a good slanging match to set you up for the day. Happy birthday darling! We are just about friends again, and the plumber phoned today to say he wants to restart our bathroom on Saturday! Oh happy day! Going out to dinner shortly with the Tafia!

Maw Baby steps are still positive steps. You also need to rest and recuperate. I can appreciate how doing so must seem an impossibility at this stage of Paw's recovery. You know that we are rooting for you. Hang on to your crazy sense of humour. A gentle hug from me to you.

Greyduster Is it your birthday? If so, I trust that you'll enjoy a lovely meal this evening
.A pal's tyre pressure warning light had her taking the car into the garage on several occasions. It was in fact a fault in the electrical circuit. Nothing wrong with the tyres.
As for the plumber!

So sorry to hear of your lack of sleep maw. I always think if you get a good night's sleep then you can cope with most things.
OH had an x-ray whilst I was there this afternoon and his surgeon came into say all looks good and to explain about the amount of bone grafts that he had to use and why it is VERY important not to put any weight on the leg for 6 weeks as it will take at least that time to heal.
We live in a second floor flat with 4 flights of stairs so I don't think OH will be going out too much, cabin fever comes to mind !!!
Oh well let's get him home first, hopefully Monday if all goes to plan.
n&g I shall need your 6 weeks of patience, I'll bank them for now.
charleygirl I shall try and rest and relax over the weekend in between visiting.
Tomorrow is another day. Good night.

Sar please explain to the physio yourself where you live because he has to get up those stairs unless he is taken home by two man ambulance. Do not leave it to your DH as it may well escape his mind.

I am well aware what non weight bearing for 6 weeks means because I was in that state after breaking my ankle and having surgery. I could not cope on my own.

4 flights of stairs are difficult enough when one can fully weight bear but non weight bearing with crutches or more likely a zimmer frame and I am assuming that your DH is marginally over 29 so it will not be easy.

Sar I echo Charleyg's sound advice. Those stairs could be a big problem. Did you mention them to the surgeon?

I'm about to finish a mini spring clean in advance of our Dutch visitors who tell us that they will be here at 10 o'clock sharp! Two tours of Malt whisky tours and a Scottish platter lunch booked. Evening meal at a sea food bistro. I may not have any spare time in which to stroll into the kitchen for a blether.

I shall return on Sunday and expect to play catch-up with you lot. By the by...sun is shining. That's a bonus!

He is home !!! He saw the physio this morning and she took him up and down the stairs and he was fine. His surgeon was happy for him to come home and OH couldn't wait.
He managed the stairs to our flat ok, albeit very, very slowly. He is very positive and determined and nothing was going to keep him in hospital any longer than necessary.
I must admit I was quite upset about him coming home so soon, I thought at least one more day but it wasn't to be.
I think we will be taking things easy tomorrow and maybe venture out on Sunday. He has lots of pain meds but doesn't seem to be too uncomfortable. The thing bothering him the most is hiccups, which is exactly what happened when he had his chemo 2 years ago.
I hope everyone is ok this Friday afternoon. I will look in again later.

Sar is physio being arranged for him at home? If so please do not take him out before then. Has he been shown how to get in and out of a car safely?

I am well aware that it is nothing to do with me and please tell me to go away and shut up but I think he has been discharged too soon.

It is okay for your DH to say that he wants to go home, he does not realise the amount of work that you will have to do for him. He has had major surgery and he is exhausted, it has not hit him yet because he has not had to do anything for himself. Nobody gives a stuff about the carers. Rant over.

soop that sounds a fabulous day out- please relax and enjoy yourselves. Rory can have the house to himself and sleep.

Maw I am worried about your lack of sleep, or should I say interrupted sleep. That is a very difficult problem to solve.

Sar I am so pleased your DH is home and I hope he makes a good recovery. My neice's DH had a second hip replaced recently and they certainly don't hang about when it comes to getting you out of bed and home!
We are back at home now, just had dinner and a nice glass of wine.
We are worried about DH's sister - she is showing signs of memory deficiency now much more marked than last time we were all together. She lives alone and his other sister, who lives nearby, has arranged for her to see the GP. She has always been fiercely independent and very astute, and this is very sad, though I know it is something some on here deal with on a daily basis. I wish we didn't live so far away from her.

charleygirl thank you for your concern, It is appreciated. If they didn't think he was up to it they wouldn't have let him home. We got him into my car with a little difficulty not something they seem interested in at the hospital. He has an appointment for physio next Thursday at the hospital. We will see what the next 6 weeks bring.
greyduster they certainly don't hang about with getting you out of bed and off the premises !! OH says when he had his first hip replacement about 30 years ago, he was in hospital for 2 weeks. Glad you are home safe and sound. Sorry to hear about your SIL, memory problems seem to be on the increase. Both my parents had dementia and I know how devastating it can be.

A good night's sleep last night( 10.30-1.30 and 1.30-7.00 ) set me up nicely for today. Paw!s insides seem to be settling down and I even managed to nip out for a good hour at Waitrose this afternoon. There is light at the end of the tunnel.
But as for discharge from hospital it is a joke!
A consultant or surgeon completes his "to do" list and decrees who can go home regardless of a care plan at home, physio provision, or if anybody at all will be available over the weekend etc etc as I found out (the hard way) when paw was readmitted with pneumonia just 3 days after coming home. Once bitten twice shy.

If they didn't think he was up to it they wouldn't have let him home
Don't you believe it!
When a bed can be freed up it is amazing how "fit" patients are deemed to be!
If of course they have to be readmitted for a connected reason that goes down as a black mark against the hospital targets. It goes without saying it doesn't do the patient much good either.
Cynical, moi?

I agree with every word that Maw has said. The consultant rarely gives a thought to a patient's home circumstances. A hospital used to be penalised financially if a patient was readmitted within 28 days of discharge with a related condition. If a bed is required it is amazing who can find themselves discharged.

Maw that was definitely better last night and an hour at Waitrose today was a bonus. Hattie probably opened an eye and went back to sleep.

Evening to all, and sending every good wish.

Food shopping day today, and I seem to have been hither and yon! First, Morrison's in Bideford, then down the "big" road to Lidl in Bideford, then to Torrington, as Mr P fancied beef for Sunday.

We have had such disappointing beef from supermarkets lately, so a decision was made to go to a "proper" butcher.

I just hope the amount that a 3lb piece of rib cost proves to be worth it!

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Today is Paw's BIG birthday - his three score years and ten!
Very happy that he is home again and able to celebrate it with all his family around him.

Sounds lovely Maw - I hope everyone enjoyed the party!
Has anyone come across deafness when approaching end of life? My mum cannot understand a single word now, no matter if you shout as loud as possible, with or without hearing aids. She is very frustrated and doesn't understand.

Haven't been in for a while, will catch up later but just wanted to say a very happy birthday to paw. Is the tea party today maw? If so hope it's enjoyed by all and you had a good nights sleep in preparation. maw. Pleased there is both a tunnel and increasing light