Soop's Special Kitcheners

You have a potential genius there, hilda. They seem to be getting younger and younger.

Hello everyone. I've not been here for ages, but I've been keeping up with the goings on! My Dad is now well settled in the care home. I have just come back from visiting him. I hadn't been there for more than ten minutes when he said, "well, are you going then". Talk about feeling unwanted!
On a different topic altogether here's a story about my four year old GS. He was recently in a small shop with his mum. The shop was being run by an elderly lady (not the usual assistant). My DD was looking for something and realised my GS was no longer beside her. She then heard the lady saying " thank you very much, you are a helpful young man". When she looked round GS was standing on a step, fiddling with the buttons on the till. She was beginning to tell him off, when the lady intervened and told her that my GS had just reset the till for her as she couldn't open it. My DD asked GS how he knew how to do that. He said he'd seen it on the telly. You just have to show this boy how do do something once, and he never forgets!

I'm always drawn to the eyes first, they are compelling in these paintings, wonderful!

Well these eyes are blooming marvellous and are VERY true to life and they follow you around the room! You are a wonderful artist soop.

Thank you loopylou Eyes are notoriously tricky. I've scrapped many an attempt because the eyes were not true to the subject.

Two very handsome portraits soop, you're definitely a very talented lady. The eyes are so lifelike too, that takes a real skill, totally absent in my attempts!
Lucky Gagagran.....

Gagagran's pussy cat portrait is hanging at spot number three in my album.

Soutra Thank you for bringing us up to date with your husband's treatment. You've been in my thoughts. Wishing you both

Anya sounds perfect from where I'm sitting. Go ahead. Give us a tune. us lot are very long-suffering appreciative.

Galen You will be home soon...and yes, one's own bed is a very precious place.
I have fibromyalgia. Now I know who to come to when I need advice. Not that there is a lot more anyone can do. The medication helps, I'm sure. I think of it as being a right old nuisance...only for your ears I've moderated my language.

Norty Nellie

number This must be a very worrying time for you. What a great shame that although your hubby's procedure was successful, the infection proved to be too much for his system to handle. I assume that he picked up the infection whilst in hospital. Stay strong and please keep us updated.

Galen Not so much booze on a course than you might get on one of your cruises I expect!

I was lent my trumpet yesterday by the Community Band. It's very old and battered but if I 'get on with it' they could buy me a new a new one. Just had my first go (using A Tune A Day) and I've managed to squeeze three notes out if it.

I thought it might be a nice idea if I 'played' for you in here occasionally.

Would you like that?

On the train home! Yipee!
The course yesterday was very high powered but has left me more knowledgeable about up todate treatment for rheumatoid, sle, ankylosising spondylitis and fibromyalgia.
How much of it I'll retain is another matter!
I'm now exhausted after a bad night with sciatica in a strange bed and looking forward sooo much to my own bed!
I'd forgotten how lonely it is on a hotel on your own. Cruises are so different.

I meant to add, it was so upsetting to see the picture of that gorgeous little girl in the paper, what a sad day for all those families.

Thank you to everyone for all your good wishes, hubby is still in his induced sleep, the doctors see him every morning, and each day they have to decide if this is the day to wake him up. He was very active with his arms this afternoon, trying to pull tubes out here, there and everywhere, and the nurse said that they`d reduced his sedation, so hopefully it will be the prelude to him waking up. His actual stoma reversal went according to plan, everything`s fine in that area, if the chest infection hadn`t happened he should have been home in a few days.
Soutra, best wishes to your husband, and Bella, I hope what is making you sad is soon dealt with.
It was a miserable, grey day here as well Soop, started off foggy, then dull and dark all day, it was 3 degrees, but the damp in the air made it feel colder, it sort of seeps into your bones.

Collected DH at 8 after his blood transfusion and he has had supper and is off to bed. All went well, if slowly and now we have to see how long this lasts.
Wondering how Numberplease's DH is doing today? Keeping everything crossed for you.
Thanks for all the just sorry about the crumbs behind the sofa!

I've been testing a new paint box. Very reasonably priced on eBay and free delivery. Copied an image of a stag that appeared on one of our Xmas cards. Although I dashed away with the water colours and didn't labour over too much detail, the result is pleasing. What's more, it has kept me happily occupied this afternoon. Far, far more pleasurable than housework.

One of our dear pals, who lives in the village, is now in a nursing home in Campbeltown. He had a heart attack some months ago, followed by several mini strokes. Although we are all very sad that he is no longer able to be cared for at home, it really is the best outcome. His wife was exhausted and medics were constantly being called as he was falling and not being able to be lifted. His wife tells us...he's "loving it"...he has plenty of folk to talk to. He has a view of Campbeltown Loch. Should he need medical attention then the hospital is extremely close. His wife, although sad, realises that there was no alternative. She can visit whenever she likes. We shall visit at the end of the week. Because he is happy, she is too.

It has been a grey day and you would not believe that the islands exist. A foggy haze is hanging like a curtain across the horizon.

Time once again to log off and clear away the paints and such. Any time soon the cats will call for food. Rory has had such a stressful day. How can a cat sleep for so long and so often. He's a master of the art.

*loopylou" Aww!

Happy days, Grannyknot...all will be well, eventually. Make the most of time spent with your "chubster". I used to gently nibble on the backs of our grandson's plump ankles. Oh my, such sweet memories.

The awful things that change lives in a split second .....
I thought that hill had a weight restriction on it, rarely do I see lorries on it. It is a dreadful scene of devastation..... And the three men who died too....

On a happier note my DGS Facetimed me and said (age 18 months) 'I love 'oo'... I nearly burst into tears.....

Hi everyone! I haven't posted for a while, but I have been lurking in the kitchen which sounds horrible, but just means reading not writing!

I'll try to keep my update quick - my daughter and SIL moved in with us at the end of October for "a few weeks" and are still here! One purchase of a house fell through, they planned to leave London, changed their minds due to job offers, bought another house not too from us (yay) - which the bank has now said is overpriced due to the "bubble" that happened last year. So yet another hoop and hurdle as they try to get the mortgage offer to match the seller's expections. Phew. Yoohoo kitty - we are still juxtaposing to fit everything they brought with them in, not to mention that SIL is a fisherman so I seem to sign for endless deliveries (they're off to Florida on a fishing trip soon).

Other than that I am really enjoying my lovely (not so little) grandson who is nearly 7 months old now and chubster in the most old-fashioned way. He has folds where I've forgotten it is even possible to have folds. Those thighs!

Life is busy. I can barely keep up with GN "out there"!

to all who are having difficulties. I'll keep reading your stories.

loopylou How sad that you saw the very spot where the terrible accident killed those people. How would any one of us feel had we been walking with our grandchild when the lorry loomed into view. If there had been time, I would like to believe that I could have pushed my grandchild out of the path of the lorry. The grandmother remains critically injured. The parents of the wee child may therefore lose two beloved family members. Echoes of the Glasgow bin lorry crash.

Teeth.....!
Having recently had two more out because of an awful abscess I totally commiserate with fellow sufferers. I'm now having weekly dentist visits for what seems to be interminable impressions then eventually I'll get my top denture. This hideously expensive rigmarole then starts again in two months time for lower dentures to replace lower extracted teeth....
number, I'm keeping everything crossed that your DH recovers quickly.
Soutra, hope all goes well today x
The death of that poor little girl is really hitting me, I drive down that hill frequently and yesterday evening, on my way back from the hospital, there were many tributes and people who just looked so, so shocked.

My teeth look ok in the mirror when I've brushed/flossed them etc. But then sometimes [eg last night] I have a good look at them in a magnifying mirror and they are full of fillings, holes, stains and wonky to boot. I have a NHS dentist, which I'm grateful for but she seems very loathe to fill in the gaps I have at the top of several teeth where the gums are receding . number; can I send you the biggest hug and hope that your husband picks up soon. It must be doubly difficult for you as I know you say you don't drive. I'm sure a lot of gransnetters will agree with me when I say that I wish you lived closer to where I am and I could help you in some way . Soutra; hope all goes well today. Please continue with the Brum meet up as I'm sooo looking forward to it!

Soutra thank you for your kind and thoughtful message and putting into words the feelings of we Grandmothers. just for you.

number I'm really sorry to hear the latest news about your husband. I felt so sure that he would have recovered from his reversal surgery and would have been back at home, where he belongs. Poor man! As if he hasn't been through enough. You too, of course, because you must be feeling helpless. Please do keep us updated. I'm hoping that the tide will turn and he will steadily improve and fully recover. in abundance. We are here for you. (hugs)

Bella Prinjolata! Sounds almost too good to eat. Yes please...just a wee large slice.
It must be good to have your brother-in-law as a guest in your lovely home. Whatever you do, don't neglect that nasty cold. You are too precious.
Whatever it is that has saddened you, remember, as I've already said to number, we are here for each other. We care.

Galen you make me chortle. Lots of cheers to you from us lot. Crafting is right. We'll all gladly come to your assistance and help you to sample a few cocktails. .

Charleygirl Whatever next. It's difficult to comprehend the multitude of conked-out wotsits that you are having to deal with, repair/replace. We purchase two lamps from Ikea about eight years ago. Both have stopped working. The fuses are encapsulated in a switch that isn't meant to be tiddled with. I emailed Ikea Customer Services and asked what we should do. The reply was...we no longer stock this item. So, two perfectly good lamps are not meant to be repaired...I cannot repeat the word that I used when I read the response. Is nothing supposed to last beyond a short period of time? If not, why not. Spitting tacks!

Tegan The toothpaste has to be used for some days/weeks before the benefits are enjoyed. I'm still in pain. I continue to drink through a straw. I've a feeling that my back upper and back lower teeth (on the left side) will, in the not too distant future, need to be extracted. Which means that partial dentures will replace them. I'm afraid that the gums have receded too far and the sensitivity is not going to be cured by toothpaste.

number Thinking of you, and wishing your DH a good recovery.

Soutra Sending you .

Same feelings here, Soutra. Such a terrible tragedy and repeated thoughts about how it could have been me and one of my grandchildren.