Soop's welcoming kitchen!

Thistledoo I'm sad to hear that you are feeling low in spirits. Can any of us lot help in any way, shape or form? Jojo isn't really being naughty. He's doing what cats do. Having said that, our Rory doesn't give a hoot for birds. He sits on the door mat and watches them eat seeds just a matter of inches away. Should Tortoiseshell cat call by...the birds give loud alarm calls and scatter. Thank you for the pancake and honey. You certainly know how to spoil us.

We're to visit our wee man in London sometime soon. Butterflies in my tummy just thinking of it.

soop what a pity you are not visiting young Torben this weekend because the weather here is glorious. I have the patio doors wide open, Tara has taken advantage and is dozing in the sun. She finds it a bit hard as there is no grass, it is all block paved now,

I have just come home from the gym via Waitrose and put the washing machine on. I have had a bad dose of the cleaning bug so my bedroom is in a state. Thankfully I am feeling better and the bug is wearing off. The charity shop will be the winner. Such a pity that I have not got to grips with ebay because I found a brand new boxed shredder and other goodies.

The curry evening sounds great, enjoy yourselves .

Thank you, Charleygirl...you've reminded me to empty my washing machine. The cycle must have ended at least an hour ago.

Lucky Tara. It's awfully grey in bonnie Kintyre. Need I say that we're delighted to be visiting Torben but we're also feeling concern for Rory [in our absence a friend will call in twice daily to feed him]...cannot and will not put him through the trauma of a cattery. At the moment, he's fast asleep on his special blanket on our bed.

eBay is really easy to manage. If you lived close by I would pop in and set an account up for you.

Curry evening will be super noisy. My hearing aid is bound to squeal alarmingly Never mind, I shall smile sweetly and nod...hopefully in the right places.

soop that has given me an idea re ebay. A friend of mine is an avid user of it, buying mainly rarely used designer clothes for a song. I have an exercise bike of all things to sell. It has been sitting in my living room for yonks- I do not see it anymore but no doubt any stranger who comes notices it.

Yes, such a pity that I do not live remotely close to you as I would be delighted to spend time with Rory, not the cursory 5 minutes to feed him.

I put Tara into a cattery for her own safety. I could ask a neighbour to feed her but she needs more than just feeding, she wants companionship and cuddles. She would be okay here for one night but no longer. I know that she does not get cuddles in a cattery but she is safe.

Are you not watching the Rugby this afternoon. Scotland/Wales. Just heard the Welsh team and crowd singing their anthem and, as usual, it made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck. As far as I know I have no Welsh genes or connections at all but a Welsh crowd or choir always gives me goosebumps. I thought the young Welsh lads should have won BGT by a mile and still watch them from time to time on youtube

Do you mind if I creep in and soothe my soul with some human kindness and much loved Scottish scenery? I've brought a coffee cake...

Granny23 I was watching the game. Heckers...Scotland is in a whole heap of trouble, including a red card given. Had to take a breather. Need to put my hair in rollers in readiness for the curry evening given by our friend in the village.

Dragonfly1 What is troubling you? Can I help?

I returned to the match to discover that Scotland are being "hammered" ...

Thistledoo and Dragonfly, come and sit by me on the window seat. I am feeling and on my dd's behalf. She's hurting a lot for reasons beyond her control, and has to put on a brave front for her children.
A lot of us know that feeling.......... so let's share some tea and and mutual support and care.

Lona Thistledoo and Dragonfly Mutual support is an enormous help in times of stress. I really do wish that I could sit you down in my home, light the fire, make a and give you all big, warm hugs.

I have to leave you at this point. Be kind to each other. I shall return tomorrow.

By the by...Wales thrashed Scotland

soop You do do all those things xx

I just feel I can't cope with much more on my own, that's all. The last four years have been awful, and now my dear dad, age 91, has all sorts of problems that I can't help with, but know I'm going to need to support him with. I don't have anyone to lean on. I'm just tired of it. Sorry. Moan over.

I feel the same sometimes. I've been on my own now for almost 11 years and now I'm approaching 70, I sometimes wonder if it's worth going on.
It's particularly bad when arthritis is bad as it is at the moment.
I'm going to log into cunard and look at the itinerary for my next cruise again that'll probably cheer me up..

Dragonfly I'm sorry that you're feeling so low. You will of course go on supporting your dad, and you will cope and get through it because you have to.
You've got 4 years of strength behind you, so moan away and have a cry if you need to. We're here in soops to keep you company and listen.

Dear Dragon much good Karma across the miles to you !!

Thank you. I'm being a wimp really; I usually manage to smile and get on with it. Just occasionally I feel worn out with having people lean on me - as much as I love them and wouldn't want them to lean anywhere else-and doubt my own strength. Your kind words help.

Oooh Soop, bet you`re all of a dither thinking about seeing Torben again! Today we moved your two lovely portraits of Pepper and Mia from their places on the stairs wall into the living room, so will try and get a picture of them in their new home and put it on here.

I might not be able to get back to the kitchen later so I just popped in leave a Thankyou card for soop for putting some of her lovely sunset photos back in the album. You live in a very special place soopand Mc Sporran

I'll put the coffee on before I go in case anyone is feeling the need for a cup this morning.

Wish I could come and hide. Have had the news we've been dreading - my darling sister's cancer is back with a vengeance and she is to go through yet another bout of radiotherapy and chemo.

We are in New Orleans at the moment but drive back to DD1's today so I will be without Internet again for two days until we return to DD2 in Georgia.

Thistledoo, Lona, Dragonfly, Galen, and anyone else going through difficult times - my thoughts are with you.

Thistledoo Lona Dragonfly Galen and Bellasnana...loving thoughts for you all. There really aren't the right words to convey my admiration for each and every one of you. Yes, you are being tested. Yes, you will cope. Yes, you need to be comforted. No! You are not wimps. If talking about your difficulties helps...then we are here to listen. If I could do more for you, I surely would.

I am so fortunate because I have a very special husband who is prepared to move heaven and earth for me. If, like some of my Granspals, I was to find myself alone and in need of comfort, I would turn to Gransnet. It is where I would find people who genuinely care about someone that they may never meet. Priceless.

Well said soop. Lots of hugs to those who need them.

I haven't been in here so much lately - been really busy, but hope to be able to visit more soon. In the meantime look after yourselves and keep leaning on soop and the rest of GN.

Xxx

Feel much better after a morning shooting me arrers! Glorious sunshine. Only one draw back :- a numb bum from the ironing stool I sit on to shoot. Must get some padding for it!