Soop's welcoming kitchen!

Hmm. Photos are being turned upside-down. I'll try again.

Thank you for your company too, soop

I saw the paintings. Their recipients will not be disappointed. soop is just having artists' jitters.

I'll post some pics on my profile of our lunch and us.

Argyll in May is bluebell heaven!!

There's been nobody around in the kitchen today whenever I've popped my head round the door, so I've had little quiet time on your sofa. Glad to hear your friend is home again Lona, I hope things go better this time. I've sat in the garden this afternoon watching a little mouse industriously running back and forth between the bird table and the bushes collecting stray seeds. Pretty little thing! Off to eat something non-fattening for tea; hope everyone is ok.

Hello my lovelies, bags and I had a very tasty lunch and a blether and a chortle. It was such a treat. I shall post a photo tomorrow. MacSporran needs to upload it for me. At the moment he's preparing a cottage pie. Doesn't need me under his feet. Too many cooks, and all that rubbish...

Anyway, I collected the mounted portraits and intend packing them and getting them to the post office by 9 am tomorrow. Do hope with all my heart that those for whom they are intended will not be disappointed. I did try my very best. Working from photos is not to be recommended.

Agus big Bobby has turned out well, methinks x

anno and annsixty and Lona for you, too. x

Thank you for your company, bags ...and, the flapjack/slices are delicious, we ate half of one each as soon as we arrived home. The rest will be enjoyed later. (hug)

I feel bad about leaving you all so soon...however, I must pack the paintings. I promise to spend more time catching up with my Granspals tomorrow morning. Shall we meet for coffee.

Bella I'm glad to hear the doctor was pleased with your dh's results, every little helps!
My friend, I'm delighted to report, is now home, with two drains in place, huge swelling removed, and says that she feels like a new woman!
She has regained her appetite, and can now go out for walks if she wants to.

I thank my lucky stars that I'm so healthy (so far).

soop How sad for your friend, I'm sure you'll paint a picture of Bawbee that she will love, you have a wonderful talent, in more ways than one

Have a good old natter with bags

It's the steroids that make me want chocolate, so of course they're to blame.

Anno will you blame the steroids or the chocolate then if,like me, you have to discard more clothes for the next size? Meds for me everytime!!

So many grans with problems, mainly to do with family and friends. I hope things will soon look brighter for all of you. I went to the doctor this morning to talk about the results of the last blood test. Dammit! the inflammatory markers haven't gone down and he wants to bump up my steroid dose again to see if that will make a difference. Grrrrrr. I need chocolate!

Just noticed your post Soop

I'm sure you two will have a lovely lunch together and enjoy a good blether. Love to Bags

Which I framed!

Don't encourage her Soop, sauncy besom that she is

I wondered why you made the reference to the surgeon being trained in Glasgow. Now I know why, as your father was Glaswegian. Many Scots emigrated to Canada and from what I have been told, Toronto is known as Little Scotland.

I did the steeping nappies in a bucket too Soop. But had eventually stopped using it. On another thread re stain removal another poster reminded me about Milton. Ain't GN wonderful?

Hang on to your skirt ann failing I would make it into a silk cushion, a memory of DD's wedding?

I eventually cut up my wedding dress (off white ) embroidered the piece to keep as a memory.

I'm having lunch with bags tomorrow. I shall be unable to pop in for morning coffee, but hope to chat with you during afternoon tea. Be kind to each other.

annsixty I've a size 10 multi-coloured silk peplum top purchased about 24 years ago. I've worn it twice. Should it go, or should it stay? It stays...

Bella I've just this minute read your latest post. The sooner your dear husband has surgery, the sooner he'll be able to mend. The wait will seem endless. I'm so pleased that you both have the December/January visit to look forward to. It will be a huge treat to have the company of family.
As for your forthcoming colonoscopy, I know how you must be feeling about the procedure. I've had a few. All but one minus a sedative. Although the probe isn't exactly painful, it is uncomfortable. Being partly sedated is to be recommended.
Drop-dead gorgeous surgeon, aye? If he was part trained in Glasgow, he will be one of the finest. Keep fluttering those eyelashes.

Agus I always soak my dishcloths in a mild solution of Milton. First used it to soak terry towelling nappies in well over fifty years ago.

I have a confession here ,I still have, hanging in my wardrobe, the silk skirt of the Jaeger suit I wore to DD's wedding 22 years ago. It is size 12. I won't say what size I need now but I can't part with it!!The zip goes up about an inch.

Haha Agus I know it was naughty of me to notice, and I really only have eyes for my DH and have done so since I set eyes on him 34 years ago, but this particular doctor is very tall (unusual for a Malteser!), lovely looking and very kind so he does stand out rather. Ooh I'm embarrassed now

Thanks for the stain advice, hadn't thought of Milton but worth a try. I do use the Dr Beckmann's spray on the smaller areas, but his aprons are just covered and would take a whole bottle of spray!

Fancy you training in Glasgow too. It's a small world. My father was born in Glasgow but emigrated to Canada as a little boy after his mum died young.
I've been trying to trace his past but so far nothing from Scotland, although some Canadian cousins I didn't know existed have turned up!

Agus I would like to echo your final comment. It's a strange thing, but whenever I pop into the kitchen, albeit virtual, I sense that I'm far from alone...in fact, I'm with friends... such a comforting feeling.

Dragonfly darling, the sorrow that you've to bear, is beyond anything that most of us have to deal with. I cannot imagine how I would cope. The pain must feel like a permanent weight in the region of your heart. Heartache and heartbreak are real, not imagined. Please continue to pop into the kitchen. There will always be a welcome and a virtual hug.

annsixty Your dear husband has certainly been in the wars. Bless his cotton socks. I believe that it takes just one or two inconsiderate members of staff on the ward to contaminate the atmosphere that patients need and deserve for their well-being. How difficult is it to be kind? Why do a job that demands a sympathetic nature if one lacks empathy? Perhaps CCTV cameras on the wards might act as a deterrent. I was very anxious about stays in hospital, of which I've had many. However, I have much to thank the Scottish hospital staff for. It's such a pity that the experiences of some patients is so dire. If there is just cause for complaint, do so.

rosequartz Full marks for being a special granny. All grandchildren deserve to have a portion of [cake] from time to time. Torben adores carrot cake. He tells his mummy that it's healthy cake

anno I feel heaps better for knowing that I'm not alone in keeping garments "for best." On occasions, when I'm not otherwise engaged with serious matters (like housework and gardening) I have a spring-clean of my wardrobes. I like to hold garments (that no longer fit) against me. I then imagine myself losing the weight that I should, but can't, in order to wear them again. I have given masses away to the Red Cross shop. However, certain special items continue to lurk...

Lona My pal has asked me to paint a portrait of her deceased dog, Bawbee ( a Pomeranian.) He was very young when he met with a tragic accident. My pal had left someone in charge of her beloved pet, with strict instructions not to let him off his lead. The minder forgot and when he did so, a firework startled the puppy and he ran off. It was a couple of days before he was discovered. He had been hit by a car. All this happened many years ago. Even so, the memory brings tears to her eyes. So...I'm about to do my very best to do Bawbee justice.
For your friend...

What are you doing eyeing up drop dead gorgeous surgeons well we are only human aren't we?

If he did part of his training at GRI (Glasgow Royal Inf.) What can I say? An excellent teaching hospital......and not only because I trained there too
Pleased to hear DH's various test results were positive.

My cousin's son is also a chef and I remember when he was still,at home, his whites were the bane of her life. I'll ask about tips to remove stains. I have 're discovered' Milton Tablets recently myself, for whites and pleased with the results. Don't know if you can buy this in Malta but I use Dr Beckmann's Stain Slayer spray for insistent stains with good results.

Just come in from another hospital visit and am so sorry to hear Dragonfly's little DGS has had such an unhappy experience when he should have received much better treatment. Can imagine how upsetting it is for all concerned, and especially for you Dragonfly when you are feeling fragile anyway given the sad memories you are having to cope with.

DH saw the surgeon this morning who seemed pleased with the various test results. He did explain that the major surgery, when it eventually happens, is going to necessitate a huge incision. DH had been complaining of pain in the tiny holes they made for the laparoscopy, so I think the doctor was trying to prepare him a bit. Said surgeon is drop dead gorgeous, by the way, and did some of his training in Glasgow!

I also have an appointment booked for a colonoscopy in September. Not looking forward to that at all even though it isn't my first.

Our daughter and granddaughter will be coming over from 1st Dec until 20th Jan, so I just hope DH will be feeling more recovered by then and able to enjoy them.

Gorgeous sunny weather so have hung DS's chef's whites out to dry and hope the sun will bleach the few remaining stains on his aprons. Lord knows what he does to them but I have yet to find an efficient stain remover. Any advice gratefully received.

Lona how is your friend doing? Better I hope

Take care all of you ((((hugs)))) and

Lona, Agus, bless you.

Dragonfly no need whatsoever to apologise. You have every reason to have a rant due to what is going on in your life at the moment. The reason we all manage to get through difficult times is because they thankfully do,pass as in the case of your DGS but the sadness you feel at the loss of your daughter, I sincerely hope, will ease for you in time. Of course you miss her, I can only imagine the heartache I would feel and that's painful,enough without the reality. I'm sending you the strongest possible vibes to help you through the next couple of weeks.

What your DD and DGS experienced during their hospital visit is unacceptable and more so from an institution that is there to 'care' for the sick, it is so disheartening. I would think she has every right to complain or treatment like this will be allowed to,continue.

I hope you and your family can look forward to a sunny and happy summer.

We all need a vent from time to time and where better than Soup's kitchen where we find like minded people who care and are always there for each other. Stay strong Dragonfly

Dragonfly I do hope you have a better day today, and your little gs can cope with his cast.

I keep hearing these upsetting tales about the treatment some people are getting, whatever happened to 'caring'?

I think it's the complete lack of consistent standards of care that is so wrong, ann, as you've found. And because a trip to the hospital usually happens in circumstances where one is vulnerable, we don't question the care we receive at the point of delivery. She most certainly will complain, and her HR friend has already begun to investigate. Glad your husband's hand is ok!

So sorry Dragonfly that your DD's hospital experience was so bad.The NHS really is like the curate's egg. I have said on here how angry I have been with my GP surgery and the whole Alzheimer scenario,but while this has been going on my DH fell and damaged his hand.He broke and displaced two fingers and had to go for day surgery to pin them.The whole experience was really good .The staff on the ward and in the fracture clinic were excellent and he now has had the wires removed and all the strapping off and is doing simple exercises to get his fingers moving again. Please get your DD to complain.We all deserve better.

Rose, Agus, Soop, Bella, Kitty, annsixty, thank you. The next couple of weeks won't be easy, and I expect I might have a little cry from time to time, as you do. I miss her, you see.
Eldest DGS is in quite a bit of pain with his arm, but apparently managed to sleep last night, which is good. Mum took him back to fracture clinic as instructed, yesterday, to have a lightweight cast instead of the huge hunk of plaster applied on Tuesday. They waited over an hour; the doctor didn't even look at his arm, spent thirty seconds - just asked if he could wiggle his fingers, muttered something unintelligible (his English was apparently dreadful) and walked out leaving them sitting there wondering what was going on. DD found him, asked about changing the cast as they'd been told would happen and he just said no, see him in two weeks. GS was devastated because the slab is so heavy and he'd been promised a lightweight cast yesterday, and DD is not happy, for several reasons. The hospital has a poor reputation on many levels - lousy patient care, staff with very poor English, staff attitudes etc. DD is friendly with one of the HR managers who's told her she MUST complain. I agree; I think we tend to put up with poor service simply because it's the NHS.

Sorry, rant over, will go and sit quietly on the sofa, stop moaning and behave myself! Hugs and to all who need them. We all have our worries at the moment don't we? Thank goodness for the Kitchen!