Soop's Special Kitcheners

And how are the face muscles?

Poorly husbands. paintings done (lovely) 'orrible neighbour just like mine (we have 'orrible Ian and Nice Ian) annoying teeth ( I need a visit to the dentist but have put it off for months) intelligent GCs - it all happens as soon as I turn my back for the day!

I have been having a sort of clothes sorting frenzy. It happens every Spring, I sort out and try on clothes and see what fits and if I still like it, does it need mending, can it go to a charity shop or does it need to become recycled shoddy. I feel quite sad as I eject much-loved garments, whose only fault sometimes is that they make me look on the mutton side of a ewe.

My 9-year-old GS has a baritone tuba home from school at the moment and seems to like it. When my son and I got home from Rome last month, it was DS's birthday and GS had been teaching himself to play Happy Birthday which he did, to appreciative applause!

So far so good JaneR I'm sort of hoping for an ache to show I'm using those saggy muscles.

Wow loopy I don't think I can aspire to those heights. You must be very proud. Perhaps Anno's grandson can?

Nellie seems to have sussed out my level.

Of course you can aspire to joining an orchestra*Anya*, DD had never touched a musical instrument in her life until well after leaving university.
DD found a beginners orchestra locally and went from there - and yes, I'm very proud of her . She's now trying the flute so she can take it with her when she's working abroad.

I think GNs should start their own orchestra (sorry soop, promise we'll find a soundproof very isolated suitable venue very, very quickly before MacSoop and Rory run screaming for the hills), how about it?

Our own orchestra. What a wonderful idea. Now what instrument can I play???? ............ Well I expect the orchestra will need a tea lady so I'll go and put the kettle on.

Soop love the paintings. The little dog is just like his photo. Can you play a musical instrument in our orchestra?

Anya keep up the good work. You're our first band member (ear muffs anyone ?)

Flute! Only grade three though, piano ditto. Clarinet grade one. I should stick with singing... The only reason I kept any of it up was to help with DC's music practices.

Here we are again...happy as can be...all good pals and jolly good company.

Answer to Crafting's question, I shall play the comb with a tissue stretched across it. Why? Can't think of anything more befitting my lofty status in the orchestra.

You lot are very, very amusing. I love popping in to our kitchen to update on what's what and what's not.

We called in at the nursing home yesterday afternoon to spend time with our dear pal. Oh dear! We both found it a very sad experience. The "sitting room" was "soulless" (light background radio music would have made a difference.) At one table four ladies sat and appeared to stare into space. At another, a lady sat alone in a wheelchair and dozed. Our pal was staring out of the window. I wanted to comb his hair. We asked whether he would like us to bring a book or magazine when next we visited. He said that his eyesight wasn't up to much. MacS used a magnifying page reader when he was an architect. It will be easy for our pal to use. Surely some large print books would be preferable to staring into space. The staff were friendly. We were offered refreshments. Since our visit we've both been feeling reflective. The good times that we've shared in the company of our pal seem so distant...

Don't they have a supply of books in the home? That's something that hadn't struck me. Or a mobile library calling? That does sound very sad.

jane When we next visit we shall check with the staff. The magnifier should be with him very soon. If it helps, a large print book on a subject that he likes would at least give him some pleasure.

That's so sad soop
Can he get Talking Books or audiobooks? If he's registered blind he can get them free I believe (there must be something similar in Scotland) with a 'reader' machine thingy. A blind friend of ours loves them.
Or even a Kindle with downloads and earphones so he doesn't disturb the other residents - I think you can adjust the type size.

Bother possible information source would be Blind Veterans if he's ever served in the forces, they have a similar service.

loopylou He isn't blind but the stroke has left him with weak eyesight. I think that your suggestion of talking books is extremely helpful.

I have grade 5 violin but haven't played for years. Must take up trying to play the harp so that I'm ready for later [saintly emoticon]
I have the harp but had to stop as DGD kept trying to play it and pulled it over on herself. ( now where did I put the tuning key?)

RNIB have this soop
Do hope may be useful, x

RNIB offers several reading choices, giving you access to books, newspapers and magazines in a variety of different formats.
Books
RNIB Reading Libraries (formerly National Library Service) - offering fiction and non-fiction books in Braille and Giant print for adults and children.
RNIB Talking Books – the first of our Listening Libraries, offering the UK’s largest collection of unabridged audio books for people with sight loss on DAISY CD or USB.
RNIB Overdrive – our second Listening Library is a digital download service for Talking Books, Talking Magazines and podcasts, which can be downloaded and listened to on a variety of devices including computers, smartphones and tablets.
Buy books from RNIB - audio, braille and large print books to suit every taste available in our online shop.
Newspapers and magazinesj
RNIB NTNM - Over 230 national talking newspapers and magazines in a format that suits you.
Magazines and newspapers from RNIB - Keep up to date with news, views and features on a huge range of topics in accessible formats.
Transcription services
Our transcription service can convert your printed material and electronic documents into braille, large print, digital audio or tactile diagrams.

You can also download "podcasts" from the net about all sorts of interesting things, which he may be able to play on the same [player as the talking books (I don't know much about that player)

Old radio programmes at www.oldradioworld.com
BBC drama podcasts at www.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/genre/drama
and stacks more.

Many heartfelt thank yous...

That does sound like a sad place your friend is in soop.

Just a thought, if he has a kindle, it is possible to enlarge the font size, which I now do.

Agus He doesn't use kindle. It could be that we dropped in at a very quiet time of the day. It was eerily silent. Perhaps we'll see another side of things when next we visit. My own late father went into a nursing home for a very short stay after he had a major op. He refused to leave his room. Not once did he make any attempt to join in with the rest of the residents. He couldn't get out of there quickly enough...and the staff couldn't wait to be rid of him.

I'm about to tidy my painting stuff away. It's time to light the fire and read the newspaper.

I wish you all a very pleasant Saturday evening.

soop we will be settled in the new kitchen before Easter- it does not take long does it?

And meanwhile, we shall have pancakes on Tuesday. I like the traditional lemon and sugar, but I'm sure there will be lots of other ideas in this kitchen.

In case I do not have time to pop in, we are off to little Pippa's christening tomorrow! Unfortunately we really have to be on the road at 7.30 which is not a time I see very often these days, at least not on Sundays !

That will be a lovely occasion, Soutra - in spite of the early start. I hope.

I don't envy your early start tomorrow Soutra but the plus side should be quieter roads for your journey at that time of day.

Hope little Pippa's day goes well and you and your DH enjoy the get together with your family. hopefully

We had pancakes today with a syrup that I drained from some blueberries that had been gently stewed with a little sugar and some balsamic vinegar. It worked well. I made the pancakes because I didn't want to waste the syrup.

My mother lived in a care home for about 7 or 8 years before she died. We thought it was a hell on earth place, as did my auntie, her sister, but my mother was very happy there. Her eyesight was very bad, and we bought her a talking clock from the RNIB, but we were forever inundated with letters and phone calls for years afterwards. I used to clean at a lovely care home in Boston, it was really nice, but I don`t think I could have lived there.
Soutra, I hope you have a safe journey, and enjoy the christening.