Soop's welcoming kitchen!

Glad that's over, kitty and I hope she bounces back quickly.

kitty Thank goodness she's ok and home, a very worrying time for you all.
It must be terrifying for a child.

Very good news, kitty, and hope all the family had a calm night.

Alie - I've just caught up with your news and hope you are feeling much better this morning.

KittyL That is Good news.

My 18mnth DGS had a bad virus a few weeks ago and ran a temperature of 40C. (104F )in old money. DD was told to take him to the children's hospital late at night.

After a Dr had fully examined him and decided it was a virus, DGS was very distressed and his heart was beating so fast she was worried about that. Dr sent them all off to a quiet room so he could calm down before she discharged him. He was doing OK until she came back into the room to see if she should discharge him. He took one look at her as she came through the door and started screaming again.

The Dr decided DGS was probably going to be better to going home to calm down particularly as DD is a nurse so has some understanding of illness and doing patient observations etc.

I can imagine that feeling poorly and being and poked about in the middle of the night by strangers with odd instruments must be really terrifying for little ones.

What a shock for you kitty. Although the children do bounce back quickly, it takes us a bit longer to get over it

Woweeeeeeeee! Where to start. So much news to read. Some delightful Gally springs to mind...and others a tad depressing and distressing.

Agus We share the same mantra...'this too shall pass...' For all my Granspals who are going through a difficult time, I trust that, as time passes, the stresses with which you are having to cope will be dealt with satisfactorily.

bags Raven Black, author - Ann Cleeves has been dramatized for television. 'Shetland'...first episode last night.

MacTavish aka Mr Soop is lurking. He needs to use the printer. I'm in his way. I shall buzz off for a wee while and when I return I shall catch up with your news.

Before I vacate my corner...Grannyknot Bless your cotton socks. You have seem to have far too much aggro to deal with. I think that diplomacy is the key...listen well and respond in a positive manner. You cannot be expected to solve every problem that arises. [Flowers]

MacSporran couldn't get the flash drive to co-operate. I've been allowed to return to my computer. Will need to take myself away to do something useful after lunch.

It is a perfect day in bonnie Kintyre. There's bound to be a glorious sunset again tonight. I shall add the one I photographed yesterday to the album.

Charleygirl you expression...'Tara is resting her eyes...' made me chuckle. Rory, the canny cat, is flopped full-length on his rug on our bed. If we whisper...'aren't you beautiful' as we pass, he stretches even further and covers his face with his paw. Aww! We're both totally barmy.

anno...you are most certainly not an idiot. We all have scatty days. I went to the shops wearing slippers some time ago. It was when I was taking care of a very wee man. Getting both of us ready to leave the house was, at the time, a mammoth task. Hence the slippers. I realised that I was wearing them as I stood in a queue in the post office [in London.] After a while, because I was comfortable, I went for a very long walk to Fulham Park, with a sleeping wee man.

dustyangel your comment regarding the work desk was very kind. However, MacSporran wasn't responsible for the entire unit. He made the extension so that I may have my own work bench. My arty farty creative drive needs kick-starting. One that happens, there will be no stopping me. Top of my to-do list, is a dog named Bobby.

Lona when I typed MacTavish I was thinking of a cat that we had way back when. His name was Hamish MacTavish Cheeky Boy. MacSporran as you know, is Mr soop.

AlieO Stay well away from the garden until that nice young man has made it dog-proof. That bite could have been very much worse. A tetanus shot really was essential. I had one after Rory [who was wild] attacked me and ripped my leg open.

kitty Good! Persie is home, where she belongs.

Nelliemoser Your poor wee grandson was bound to feel distressed, what with such a high temperature and a hasty visit to the hospital. That was an alarmingly high temperature.

soop, I hope Raven Black on TV lives up to the book. I've recently acquired another of her books which I'll pass on to you when I've read it.

bags I'm now reading 'Dead Water.' The new TV drama has oodles of brooding atmosphere. Although I like Douglas Henshall [a lot], I imagined Detective Perez to be dark-eyed and swarthy.

A friend, who grew up in Shetland, and who has just re-visited, has sent me the most wonderful photographs of Shetland's coastline. Stunning.

ffinnyou've just reminded me to take a look at soop's latest photo.

Another lovely photo soop, thank you both.

I pictured him as dark-haired and skinned too - all that Spanish ancestry ought to show. Having him played by Douglas Henshaw is as bad as having Caedfael (small stocky Welsh soldier with black curls and a short temper) played by Derek Jacobi.

Survived the dentist again. But I am afraid to look at my bank account. My lip is still 'frozen', so have made a pan of carrot and coriander soup for my evening meal. It smells so good! Anyone want some? Just have to go and chop some fresh coriander.

I don't think he's described that way in the books, is he? He explained in last night's episode that he took after the other side of the family (which could well have been Viking). My aunt married a very swarthy Scot whose family also came from Ayrshire and were thought to have Spanish ancestry going back to the Armada.

Hi all. soop, the man did eventually come and has put up a fence panel against the hedge which makes me feel more secure.
I am still tired, annoyed and rather sore, so is it ok if I stay here for a bit?

anno, I hope your lip is recovered! Yes I would love some soup.

Elegran Chuckles...

dustyangel Yesterday, I was prepared to take a photograph of yet another sunset...yawn! Well, it didn't happen. A heavy haa [think that's the right word for mist] came upon the sea. Even now, it lingers. The ferry from Islay looks positively ghost-like.

anno The soup sounds, and no doubt smells, delicious. Teeth are top of my look-after-well list. Yes, a visit to the dentist is costly...but necessary. By now, you should be feeling heaps better.

AlieO dear girl, stay as long as you wish. Of course you feel tired, annoyed and sore. You've been through a very nasty experience. The nice man who fixed the fence...did you make him a thank you and give him a ?

ffinnochio I agree that Shetland's coastline is stunning. Although I am drawn to wild places, I wouldn't choose to live in such a remote area.

My friend has phoned to ask me to help with her ironing this afternoon. This means that my time with Granspals is limited.

Thanks soop. Yes of course I did.
I will relax for now with your lovely view, - until I go to the Family History meeting this afternoon.

AlieO

Oh well soop, it's never a waste of time to admire (even an old) a sunset.

soop other Fifers may or may not agree with me but I thought that the word for mist was haar. That is the word that my dad used. I certainly would not hear it in London!

Do you like doing all of this ironing for somebody else? I may send a package to you if that is okay. No great rush.

Haar it is, well here in Fife. (originates from Dutch apparently). We had some last night and it is hanging about a bit today so no sun, just dull.

Hope you get the feeling back soon Anno. I hate all the slurping that goes on after a local anaesthetic.

I had an awful night : I kept waking up and then when I did get to sleep I had a very vivid dream of John, the first time since he died, which was a little disconcerting. He then turned into my Mum with alzheimers (she didn't). When I woke up I felt that I had really been with him - wish I could have stayed asleep.

I hope to catch up with Shetland, but am trying not to watch too much telly this week - my eyes are becoming square with too much viewing.

I took a friend to Kinross this morning and am again on driving duty tomorrow (why is it always me?) for a trip to St. Andrews and lunch at the Glass House (no for me then )

This afternoon, I am going to get John's art stuff out and try to do some sketching - that should be a larf

I'm all of a fluster, diver travel adviser have just emailed me to ask if I'd do a 10minute phone interview with them about the difficulties of travelling when less mobile than normal!

Silver travel, not diver! Can't use my crutches under sea!

gally Larf or not - sounds like a good thing to do.