Soop's Extended Extension.

Kitty (((hugs))) and some in your life.

Oh, Thank you for the lovely wishes. I really didn't mean to inflict sadness on any of you but I needed to just 'say' it. DH is sad for his brother but they are both blokes and not saying much. Anyway, it's onwards and upwards and DN's treatment starts next week.

Now - tea and toast, anyone?

Good morning Soop, Sorry I'm a bit late but got held up on the A9 due to snow. Thatbags said you had saved me a bit of date slice, and oh I dying for a heat and a big cup of soothing tea. By the way I will have to stay overnight as the road home is now blocked. I've brought Jojo my 9 month old kitten with me as I thought Rory could teach him some manners.

Thistledoo I do not think that Rory will like his house invaded by a young upstart! What type of cat is he?

That is horrendous if you now have snow blocking roads in your neck of the woods. Stay safe.

Hi Charleygirl, I think Rory will love Jojo, he is a real aristocrat a blue tabby British shorthair. But he does need to be taught a few feline lessons. He is the naughtiest cat I have every own and this morning he managed to find an ornament that I had missed in the gluing down and smashed it to pieces. He just looked pleased with himself and thought he was very clever. Only joking about roads being blocked, much snow on the A9 but still open last time I heard. Anyway getting my sleeping bag organised for the journey to Soop's kitchen and when I can find Jojo he will be loaded into his traveling box. Better gird your loins Rory.

kitty I've just this minute logged on. I am so very sorry to hear that your nephew is really poorly. Oh dear! I wish [like other Granspals] that I could make you feel better. Our loving thoughts are with you. Please do not feel that you cannot express sad feelings in the kitchen. Warm hug from me to you and xxx

Thistledoo Rory would be honoured to have such an aristocratic pussy cat, aptly named Jojo, stay the night. He's looking very dapper at the moment. Has had one long grooming session and has paid special attention to washing behind the ears. You will be most welcome to sleep-over. I must warn you that snow is in the air. Don't dilly-dally on the way.

Charleygirl I feel sorry for Tara. When we stayed with my son on one occasion, his two cats were terrorised by an "incomer". I was awakened in the early hours by the most almighty rumpus to discover that a bully-boy-cat [ginger] was knocking the living night lights out of the most sensitive/gentle-natured of the brothers. My language as I got Ginger out of the house was not at all lady-like.

soop Tara prefers to go out with me 2 paces behind and I do not blame her. I try to protect her from them as much as I can. They even invade the rear garden.

The cats (and owners) are moving in a few months and slthough I am sad to see the owners leave, I will be out with balloons and bunting when the 2 ginger bully boys go.

Thistledoo Jojo sounds delightful and also very handsome. Tara is still swiping items off shelves or tables and she is 8. She stops short with a mug of full coffee. When or if that happens, Jo jo may well have a live in companion!

Hello everyone, I'm back and finally home again. I have just opened my christmas cards which felt very strange in the middle of February! I feel very odd and sad. I went into the garden, the sun was shining and the rose I planted for J with his ashes buried underneath has one beautiful pink flower to welcome me home. I burst into tears and I can't stop. Oh woe is me I hope it survives the snow which is coming by the look of the sky.
I have enjoyed keeping up with all your Extension News and reading about all your Norty Pussies

Welcome home Gally. It must feel very strange coming from sunshine to monsoon weather.

That was a lovely welcome in the garden. Hopefully the frost will not kill off the rose but I fear that it may. Your loss is still very raw and it is difficult coming home to an empty house alone.

Welcome home Gally . Sorry you are feeling a bit down. Take care.

It would be strange if your emotions were not in turmoil on your return home, gally. During the most stressful part of my life someone said (words to the effect of) "let the waters flow around you", from Taoism apparently. It helped me.

((((hugs)))) Gally, welcome home - just go with the flow, you are bound to feel down. Coming home to an empty house must just emphasise the fact that J isn't there and you will be missing the family as well as feeling tired and possibly jetlagged. Crumbs - you are allowed to feel sad.

Good to have you back Gally
Heed Bags' and Kitty's advice.

Welcome home Gally, so hard to come back to emptiness, but J made sure he was there
Be extra kind to yourself for a while.

Gally Coming back from lots of company to an empty house makes you wonder whether you should have stayed at home from the start, but NO! your home is your home, and you enjoy going to see your family and then you enjoy being home again - once you get over the hump of there being no-one there to greet you.

Remember that he is wherever you are, whenever you are anywhere.

The electrician is coming at silly o'clock tomorrow morning to update our electrics (much needed) so please may I wrap myself up in my sleeping bag and stay here so that he doesn't wake me? I have brought some eggs from the local farm for our breakfast.

It is lovely to have you back Gally although your messages whilst you were away were great fun, thanks.

Welcome home Gally. How lovely that you have a rose out in February.

Welcome home Gally. My cousin has just arrived home too from visiting her family in NZ. New grandson was born while she was there and she is a bit emotional at the moment too plus getting over jet lag.

Be kind to yourself until you have settled back home again

Just a thought Gally. If you don't want to leave J's rose to the elements, I have successfully pressed single roses and then framed them to remind me of certain memories.

Gally (((hugs)))

to remind you of Oz Gally. Hope you are feeling a bit better today and that all was well with the homestead.

I was going to suggest picking J's rose, Agus, so that it didn't get caught by the frost but yours is a much better idea.

I need a quick fortifying cuppa before DD3 and the the terrors come round. Then I'm going out for lunch (if I'm not too tired!!!] with a couple of friends.

Anyone else want one before the day gets into full swing?

Thanks all. Agus - good idea, I will give it a go. DD1 asked if I had taken a photo so will do so once I have risen from my bed - hope it's still there.... Isn't it great to have good friends? I was only home for an hour and had been invited out for supper, had 3 phone calls and the local garage mechanic ( who had promised to keep my car running in my absence but obviously failed miserably!) arrived to take the battery flat car away to be sorted, and a neighbour gave me a lift to my supper date because it was windy and snowing and she didn't want me to walk. Feel good factor this morning

Good to hear you sounding chirpier. Good luck with your rose.

Such a lovely message, Elegran. Welcome home again, Gally I like to think that the rose bloomed especially for you. I can only imagine how you must be feeling. In a book that I have - 'Images from the I Ching' is this quotation...^Bearing a gift of flowers, I leap across a lake of joy^