Soop's welcoming kitchen!

Gaga Ouch! The injury to your knee must have been extremely painful. It's bound to take time to fully recover. How on earth do you manage the stairs?

May I sit here with my coffee for a few minutes before I hang the next lot of washing on the line? How does going away make such a lot of work? Have unpacked but our room still looks like burglars have ransacked the place!

NanKate our luggage arrived safely with us this time!

Thank you all for your kind wishes. We had a lovely time and must be grateful for that and try not to be too sad at leaving our girls. I must admit I felt a pang of misery when I woke this morning knowing it is the first morning in weeks that our dear little DGD would not be climbing into bed for cuddles, but I'm keeping busy to keep from wallowing.

Had a long chat with my sister just now. She said the chemo yesterday took 6 hours and she was very tired afterwards, but is feeling much better than expected today. Thank you all for your concern. Your kindness is so heartwarming.

Gagagran you do not want me remotely close to sing because I could empty the Albert Hall.

The sun is out here and it is marginally warmer out than in.

I got up at 8am today to wait for Tara's food parcel to arrive as a signature was required. The van driver appeared about 45 minutes ago, very pleasant but did not need a signature.

Next will be the Sainsbury delivery between 3-4pm. I hope that he is not running late. Then I can have the house to myself. It was thoroughly cleaned yesterday but today it looks as though a bomb has hit it as I have been tackling paperwork.

As there don't appear to be any volunteer choristers (even of a virtual nature) maybe I'll just play a few gentle background airs and tunes. I am in a 1940s mood as the choir I am in are busy preparing for a commemorative D-Day concert in May. Hope that suits and soothes those who are suffering a bit.

Gaga Bless you. Play away to your heart's content.

Bellasnana I can imagine how you felt when you woke up this morning. The memories will keep you warm, I trust. Your sister's positive frame of mind will, I hope, give her the strength and patience to cope with her treatment.

Charleygirl You are lucky to have a Sainsbury store near you. The nearest to us is in Glasgow, a mere three and a half hour trip from here. I shall upload a photo of Rory tomorrow. He was [just about] lying full length on the window ledge last evening. The sun was shining through the window and keeping him warm. It's really chilly this afternoon. I've been rather lazy all day long. Need the sunshine to buck me up.

I'm logging off because I really do need to do something useful with the remains of the day.

Until tomorrow...be kind to each other.

soop We are always kind to each other
Anyway, as promised I have brought a large, rich chocolate cake with chocolate icing and a hint of brandy! A large carton of double cream is also available!
How kind is that?

Gaga the background music is very soothing so I shall bide a wee while on the window seat.

Oh I love 40's music Gagagran, think I will stay and listen too ( as long as you don't make me sing).

Lona I won't bring my dog Max with me though - he is partial to chocolate cake having stolen DD3's birthday cake from the fridge recently and making himself very poorly. He is ok now but has learned how to open the fridge so I have had to buy a child lock for it! Whatever next?

Forgot to say we had such a warm welcome home from Max and our cat Zim! I was really quite touched. The cat even left her perch on the back of the sofa to come and slink round my legs so I am honoured indeed

We have dust all over the place and the car is scruffier than ever. What with tree pollens plus all this Saharan dust, my voice is hoarse - and we aren't even in the highest pollution area, though we might be tomorrow. I'm taking the veil!

Only now have I found time to sit down and draw breath. DH is currently sound asleep in the reclining chair in front of the unseen and unheard Telly. I shall leave him there as long as possible as he is in such a lot of pain. The Xrays this afternoon showed that the elbow was dislocated again but also that the missing shard, which has come off the edge of the socket is now visible. They think it may have actually been inadvertently trapped inside the ball and socket joint when it was pulled back into place. Certainly the ball went back into the socket more easily today but perhaps that was because of the gentler approach of the very pregnant orthopaedic surgeon as compared with the 2 big, strong, young registrars who undertook the procedure on Saturday. The 'team' have decided not to subject DH to any further trauma for the next few weeks and he has been instructed to keep his arm raised and still as possible to encourage the ligaments to re-connect. We were warned that we were in this for the longhaul, that progress would be slow (because of his age) and hampered by his lack of muscles in that arm following Polio as a teenager. He will have extensive physiotherapy when arm is knitted together sufficiently.

We were no sooner driving home than DH had his sling off - it was hurting the back of his neck - and when we got home he disappeared to the bedroom where I found him attempting to put a sweater, not a cardigan, on - he said he was cold. I have read him the riot act, he went in the huff, then apologised but I note that the sling is off again . Another trip to hospital to be checked on Monday morning, another opportunity for a driving lesson for me. Ho Hum - Onwards and Upwards

Granny23 I can see you will need the patience of a saint and the energy of an Olympian!
Do remember to get some rest, you will need to be alert for all this driving about.

Granny23, it's going to be tough for you both, isn't it? Sending lots of sympathy and hoping you've someone to lean on.

Granny23 do hope you got a bit/ lot of sleep last night. Not an easy time for you.

I am going out in the car today alone and it will be bliss not hearing the following:

You are too near to the kerb
Don't hit that pothole
Have you seen the cyclist ?
Slow down
I'll repark the car for you.
etc etc

I do love my DH but he can be such a pain in the ar** at times.

(((hugs))) Granny23 . enjoy your drive NanKate my Oh would be deposited by the side of the road if he tried that with me!

Please could I have a nice cup of tea, I am off to the the doctor for a BP check. How come just thinking of it and I can feel it going up? Anyway a cuppa might help me calm down.

Deb because my BP rockets too when I cross the threshold of the Surgery my doctor let's me do my own (machine available in our surgery for all patients to DIY).

I then take my BP once and if it is slightly higher than I want, I sit and read my book and try again in 10 mins and it is nearly always acceptable. I then write my name and dob on the paper slip and post it into the box for the doctor.

Granny23- all these free driving lessons! Joking apart I know what it is like. A friend of mine used give me similar lessons each time we went anywhere and one occasion she grabbed the wheel. I drove and stopped at the nearest bus stop and told her to get out. She was quiet for about 10 minutes after that. I have driven for many years and never had an accident or a ticket.

You must take care of yourself.

Re the sling, if it is hurting his neck, have you got an old tea towel or something you can cut up to try and relieve the pressure?

I am aware that he should keep his arm raised at all times but it maybe more comfortable for him to sit in an armchair, with the sling on and put cushions and/or pillows under his elbow so that he can rest but keep the arm elevated.

PS the elbow is not a ball and socket joint- hips and shoulders are!

Granny23...oh dear! Lona's right. You will need the patience of a saint for some considerable time. The injury was particularly painful and the getting better bit, will be too. As for being bothersome...removing said sling...being a tad tetchy......all you can do is keep calm and carry on. You deserve a medal and a whole lot of pampering. (((hugs)))

Thanks for the choc cake, Lona. I would so love a slice with my coffee.

Bellasnana Max was very lucky not to have brought his life to an untimely end. So, he can open the fridge door...I'm impressed. I smiled when I read that Max and Zim had welcomed you home in right royal style. Little things mean such a lot to we soppy pet owners.

NanKate My dear husband has certain irritating twitches whenever I'm behind the wheel. Like Charleygirl I've never been involved in as much as a slight bump, yet his foot hovers as if to apply the brake. He sort of drums his hands whenever we approach traffic signals [hoping that I'll abide by the rules and not jump the red light]. There's more...but I won't tell. Why? Because I love him.

DebnCreme You'll be fine. Deep breaths. Count slowly one to ten and imagine you are floating. Works for some.

Good morning Dragonfly1. It's still chilly in bonnie Kintyre. However, we are blest with super clean air. When we visit London, MacSporran needs to take his special inhaler. Better to be safe than sorry.

Not been into the kitchen for weeks, just had a quick mosey and horrified to read of poor Granny23 and her DH's goings on. What a nightmare it has been - I hope things start to improve, albeit slowly

Hello moomin, it's good to have you call by. I cannot get Granny23 and her husband out of my thoughts. The more I think about what's been happening to both of them, the more I fret. Isn't it a pity that we cannot be of some actual assistance at such times.

Thank you NanKate and Soop. not a good reading and I tried all the breathing techniques. I am only now calming down and it was nearly 5 hours ago. My hands were shaking and my heart pounding; quite pathetic of me.

They won't let me take my own reading for the records so I can't see me ever improving but I did have a 24 hour monitor which was fine even if I hardly moved out of the house, I couldn't because it was so intrusive I couldn't get washed or sleep. I take my own reading and it is fairly normal!

Oh well, scones, cream, jam, chocolate cake - that should help the cholesterol levels anyway . thank goodness its 'virtual'.

DebnCreme All done! No need to fret further. I shall join you in a freshly baked scone, cream and jam. If only...

Yes, all done and dusted, DebnCream. Hope you're now enjoying the same feeling I get after visiting the dentist.
Granny23 I've just caught up with your news. An awful time for you both.

Thanks for the scones, jam and cream. I'm having one to celebrate the completion of the new roof No more nasty leaks and looking up whenever it rains. Only coppers left in the purse, but well worth it at long last.

That is something well worth celebrating ffinnochio

Soop I don't want anyone getting upset on our behalf and am pleased to say things are much better today. DH woke in his chair at 23.00 last evening and said he was 'awffy tired' even though he had just got up. He thought it was 11am not 11pm! By the time I fetched clean pyjamas, his pills and bedtime drink, he was sound asleep in his bed, stark naked bar his plastercast and there he remained until 11.00 this morning - with me checking every five minutes to make sure he was still breathing. I was delighted to find that during his big sleep he had returned to his normal self, able to have a sensible conversation, decide what to eat, etc. By noon he was dressed, fed and watered, medicated and ready to shout at FMQs on the TV. His arm is still very sore but he is keeping it raised and in its sling. It is lovely to have my dearly beloved back again.

Charleygirl thanks for the idea of putting something under the sling. I spotted a bath sponge, which has done the trick nicely, tucked under the sling at the back of his neck. Thanks also for keeping me right about the ball and socket joint (or not) before I made a fool of myself elsewhere

DD2 has popped in again on her way to work this time with a short waterproof cape so her dad can have his hair washed and a 4 x7 pill arranging box. DD1 was on the phone and will come along tomorrow with DG2, now recovered from D&V, to sit with grandpa while I go to town for the weekly groceries (or 'Messages' as we say I these parts).
Also SIL will come at the weekend to do any 'man' things needed, mainly to cut up the logs with the power saw which I refuse to touch.

A better day all round but DH is realising that his fortnightly drumming sessions with the 'Wummin Drummin' steel bad will not be possible for a while and I don't know if we will make it to the, all booked and paid for, SNP conference in Aberdeen next weekend, nor the whole family get together at Nethy Bridge the following week. No point in worrying about this until after Hospital appointment next Monday - qua sera, sera (as they probably don't say in Spanish) [grin}

Granny23, it's good to know that your DH is feeling more normal now and you have support from DD and SiL. Let's hope 'things can only get better' now.

Granny23 so glad to hear you have both had a better day after the trauma you have been through. Best wishes for the speediest of recoveries