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

A long afternoon spent doing mucky stuff in the garden. I intended doing a couple of hours. Three hours later, have had a shower, washed hair, and feel satisfied with a tough job done to the best of my ability.

We'll be travelling the winding road to Oban hospital again tomorrow. The weather forecast could be better. Apparently we're in for heavy rainfall.

I'm logging off with all good wishes to you lot. Time for my well earned G&T. Slainte!

Soop, if I had a "wee" seat fitted, she`d probably take the larger one! And do be careful tomorrow on that road if it`s wet.
I had a phone call from one of my grandsons this afternoon, to say that I`m to be a great grandma again in a few months. He and his fiancee have been together for nearly 4 years, don`t know if there`ll ever be a wedding though.
I was so glad to turn the oven and gas rings off when the dinner was ready, it`s so hot to start with, our kitchen was really unpleasant.

Good luck tomorrow Soop take it gently and stay safe.
We are baking down here, perfect BH weather for those out and about, but the roads seem to be horrendous.
That awful accident on Friday night/Saturday morning was very near here and I was somewhat disgusted to see a variety of TV (ITN and others) vans, cameras etc on the bridge over the M1 at junction 14. Ghoulish I thought.

soop I do hope that the weather improves for you tomorrow because it is no joy driving on the winding roads in your neck of the woods. I only hope that you can have a nice lunch and that the crowds will not be too horrendous.

Today was a perfect day- Tara allowed me to lie in until 10am. She could not persuade me to get up at the crack of dawn so she joined me. I have done zilch today, have just had a shower and washed my hair.

I had a£5 voucher which had to be used by Tuesday so I have booked an appointment very locally for an Indian head and back massage for 40 minutes. My contribution will be £30. I have never had anything like this in my life-it really is an indulgence but thought I deserved it after the traumas of the building work or lack of since February.

Maw I agree, they act like vultures but it is photos from awful scenes like that which pay their wages.

Take care tomorrow, soop, wishing you a pleasant journey and good weather, as well as a positive outcome.

Thinking of you today soop and hoping the weather is not unkind.

Just called in to say I hope soop and MacS have a good journey today and that Paw is improving.

Last day with DD3 and her girls. It is lovely to have them here but ten days is a very long time! The older I get the less I can cope with the disruption and mess.

the older I get the less I can cope with disruption and mess. Amen to that, kitty!
Soop I hope you and MacS have a good journey to and from Oban, and a good outcome. Some of the worst rain we ever encountered was in Oban. The car park where we left our car was under about a foot of water when we got back to it! But it was where I started my love affair with malt whiskey and Oban has always been my favourite.
Well, we have met our new neighbours and they are a very sweet young couple, newly wed, with a little doggie. What they think of us will remain shrouded in mystery!
I was very sad on Saturday because my son was totally down in the dumps when he came down to go to the football with his dad. There are tensions at home and he is finding it difficult to cope with. We just let him talk it out and it seemed to help, though I feel very frustrated that there is nothing really I can suggest that will help him without making things worse. A good lunch and a win by his team seemed to help and he was in a better frame of mind by the time he went home - for a while anyway. You never seem to stop worrying about your children, whatever age they are.
A walk for us today; I have been fairly static since Thursday. It will not do!

Just to say Greyduster I know something of how you feel.
My S has had these probs from being young and has made many, many mistakes in his life because of it.
I have not heard from him since Thursday despite many txts from me and he is not answering his phone. H of course is totally unaware.
I am pleased your S will talk to you, it helps you both, I just get " I'm fine" meaning I don't want to talk about it.
Best wishes to you and your S.

Thanks Ann. I often get "I'm fine" and then nothing, too. Saturday was an exception.

They say that as a parent you are only as happy as your unhappiest child don't they. When the Idiot is playing silly buggers with Dd3 I get really depressed (and then steaming mad).

Things are smooth here at present but you do have my sympathy. Especially you Ann as you have noone to share the burden.

The older I get the less I can cope with the disruption and mess
I think a few of us could have that engraved on our tombstones!
DD and family came down to visit Paw yesterday and it confirmed my opinion that children should spend little more than nanoseconds a few minutes in hospitals (even with a single room)
DGS1(7) was good but the 5 year old whom I love with a passion (as I do all of them) got overheated, sulky and downright miserable to the point where he did not even want to give us a goodbye hug . DD must have threatened him with some dire retribution as he came back for a hug in the end but he is one of those children where WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) and he is not really able to "put on" a polite face. One of his virtues, but his older brother who is more tactful will find life easier I suspect. Little DGD is 3 on Wednesday so this was instead of going up for her birthday and she was a happy soul as she had her card, present, cake from granny with butterflies so no probs there.
paw must have been wiped out by the effort as he lay on his bed as I left (4.30 ish) and was still sound asleep when I went back after 7.
I was not best pleased to see a mug of cold tea, a ham sandwich and his early evening meds on his table untouched and had to "have a word" with the nurses.
That word will be reiterated more forcefully today as it is totally unacceptable to leave a patient without checking they have taken their pills, had enough fluids or that they have eaten the paltry supper you get on a Sunday

It is surely enough of a cross to bear having a very sick H without having to do the staff's job for them and worry whether or not it has been done.
Knock a few heads together Maw

Well I should not have mentioned the prospect of a walk. I bent over in the bathroom to move the bathroom scales - and put my back out!! I am so b****y angry. That hasn't happened for so long. . I am trying to keep moving, but it is not very far or very fast at the moment.

Just a pop in all !

Sorry to hear about your back Grey that's a bugger !!

Hope Paw has a relaxing day today to recover from his visitors.

Just spent a lovely weekend with my sister and her husband as they travel down to Portsmouth on the final leg of their relocation to Spain. Its been a long held dream of theirs.

As I waved goodbye I felt a bit teary as it almost felt like goodbye forever but that's just be being a twit! We shall fly out in a couple of months to see them I'm sure.

We spent the weekend talking, drinking and eating. My diet died a death and I have to resurrect it this morning without much enthusiasm !!

Anyway, I must go and return the house to rights...so back tomorrow !!

I bought Hattie 2 new squeaky toys today (funky monkey and an elly ) and she has been driving the neighbours witless with their squeaking No doubt fantasising that they are hedgehogs!
Then frantic "zoomies" round the garden - and in this heat!

Poor paw's dire rear is worse than ever and they may have to put up a drip for fluids.
I spoke to the Ward sister about yesterday and she agreed it was unacceptable.
Then the nurse who was responsible for him yesterday and today came to find me and explained that she had tried to give him his meds but he was very drowsy and wouldn't take them. Hmm.
Anyway I smiled sweetly and just made sure she knew that I know what is what and that I am on the case. I also put it in writing and gave it to the ward sister so she will know I have a copy.
I had added to the bottom of my list of facts (as in my previous post)
"I would appreciate an assurance that this will not happen again, and, for reference, a copy of ward policy on the provision of food, drink and the administration of medication particularly for patients who may have mobility issues."

nemo me impune lacessit as we say in Scotland or "Wha daur meddle wi'' me"

Greyduster, so sorry to ear about your back. Was it like it happens with me, your back seems to suddenly go "ping!", and then complete agony? You need to keep moving though, don`t let it seize up, or it will be even worse.
Maw, you tell `em, that`s just not on!
Me and Mia are still fighting the battle of the stairlift! Heaven knows why it`s suddenly become her favourite place to be.
It`s another beautiful day, the highlight for me will be taking a stroll to the post box a little later on, what an exciting life I lead!

Maisie - reclaiming the kitchen after dd and Co left.

That told 'em Maw. I hope Paw starts to pick up soon - maybe fluids will help. You must be feeling run ragged!

Paw is lucky to have you at his back, so to speak, maw. I hope nothing similar happens again!

greyduster, I know that pain! Ooyah!! Slowly does it ?

kitty that cat knows how to find a lovely spot for a snooze!

Oh dear "Greyduster" you will not be walking far today methinks. I hope that the pain lessens soon.

Maw sorry to hear about Paw's appalling care. At least the staff now know that you are on the case and they will be extra vigilant because they know that poor standards are not acceptable, busy or not.

The nurse had not tried hard enough, especially to get fluids and medicine into Paw. If Paw had been devious he could have destroyed his drugs and you would have been none the wiser. His named nurse should be attempting to give him 100 mls. of fluid, minimum per hour to keep him hydrated, unless he is on restricted fluids which I doubt. Would they like assistance, verbal and practical?!

Quite! Not like the old days when we had matrons!

Discovered another sequelum of dgc's invasion visit!
Child lock put on kitchen cupboard under the sink. Neither Kate nor I can undo the bloody well made thing

Galen there are now modern matrons but believe you me you would not want to know because the word practical is not in their vocabulary. There may be eg a modern matron in charge of surgical wards and so on.

My aunt now aged 95 was a matron, she would not have tolerated this kind of "care"

Horrified to hear about Paw 's lack of care Maw. I won't have it that they are too busy - it's basic nursing to make sure the patient is hydrated and medicated as per doctor's instructions. There've been so many horror stories about elderly patients in particular being left unattended like this that I thought hospitals had 'pulled their socks up'. Obviously not

Greyduster sorry to hear about your back, I've had that buggeration too, often when I've just finished vacuuming so I try to avoid doing it

kitty love the tablecloth that Maisie is reclining on! Where did you get it please?

Down in the dumps a bit at the moment so haven't been posting much but I do try to keep up with you lovely lot . Sending (((hugs))) and to you all.

I've just a few minutes before we set to and prepare a meal.

Little time to catch up with you lot but I promise to do so after the care home visit in the morning.

It's been a very long day. MacSporran not only has the SCL to deal with and the aortic aneurysm but now we're told he has Popliteal Aneurysms in both legs. The consultant was very thorough and informative. A further scan and a trip to Glasgow to be arranged.

Never mind, we shall cope. As do many of you with on going frustrations and setbacks and worries big time.