Soop's Kindly Kitcheners

number And to pull into our drive with a caravan might have been tricky as you would have needed to reverse out. We should have made alternative arrangements. Hey ho!!! As 8bags* would say.

Bella how is your husband?

It is another fabulous day in Kintyre. Our pals have been celebrating a special wedding anniversary cruising around the Scottish islands. I rarely envy anyone anything but...I would have loved to experience such a treat. The weather has been marvellous throughout.

I remember that day so well Soop, I wanted to stop, but we`d been held up at the roadworks, and hubby said he didn`t think it would be appreciated by the other drivers if we stopped just there with a flipping great caravan on the back! We looked every time we passed to see if you were out in the garden, so we could stop for a word (or two!) but you were never there at the time. It`s so sad that we`ll never get up there anymore.

nannieroz111 Good for you. You deserve lots of TLC.

anno and janerowena Beautifully descriptive. Spring inspires us...together with the flora and fauna.

number I remember so well waiting for you to pass our house en route to Muasdale. Sadly, the road at that time was being repaired. I regret that we didn't meet. I would have loved to have taken you to Glenbarr for lunch. The wee shop, post office and garden centre are on the market. We miss dear Peter. He was a hearty character.

I have only just come online for today, and found an email from the lady I wrote to at AgeUK, giving me a couple of phone numbers, one of which is for Lincolnshire Wellbeing, but seeing as it`s late in the afternoon now, I will ring them in the morning.
It`s a beautiful day, I wish I was at Muasdale, but sadly I don`t think we`ll be going there again.
Hope all the poorly spouses are feeling better today.

grab crab!!

Just now the sun is on the little red leaves of the ornamental grab - soon the deep pink blossom will be out. The timing is perfect - all this happens just as the viburnum bodnantense loses its last blossom and my lovely white rhododendron has faded.

Ah soop, I've not been up to very much. As you know, I am very quiet. I have been visiting with my sister and her beautiful family for the last 3 weeks. They have been pampering me and trying to help me move forward.

The bright new foliage is stunning, isn't it. DBH complains that it's impossible to see his favourite green hair streak butterflies against it.

We have a wall of ivy, where the garage apex side is square on to the patio. We call it the Flats, because there are two blackbird nests at the top, further down there is a sparrow and a robin, while at the base there is a teeny wren. I can watch them all frantically flying in and out from here.

I love bird cherry trees, I once had several in a row edging a field. Your winds there must be incredibly strong for them to have such a problem against them when they are bare-branched, although they are very lollypop shaped.

The red maple is in its full spring spendour, only to be surpassed when it acquires its bright scarlet autumn foliage. Birds are fledging - on Saturday a male robin was popping up to the seed feeder and flying back down to feed his offspring.

Welcome back nannieroz us lot want to know what you've been up to.

janer You are a poetess. I can put myself into your garden and smell the flowers.

Our bird cherry tree survived the onslaught of the many strong winter winds we've experienced here in Kintyre. It wouldn't have done so had MacSporran not tethered it a mighty rock with strong rope.

It's beautiful here, after a very foggy cold start. The giant acer in the garden is starting to burst into flower. Against the distant bright blue, there are small yellow bouquets at the ends of each bare branch, hundreds of them. I love to see it.

Hi soop. I'm back home now and will pop into your cosy kitchen to listen to the chat and a bit later. Hope you and macs are enjoying the sunshine.

Another bright and beautiful day in bonnie Kintyre...what's more, the wind has changed direction.

I trust that all my lovely Granspals are coping with minor problems and are being supported through the more on-going and troublesome happenings in their lives.

I think they could cope with the odd phone call, number. I know my own mother is loathe to make waves - even when she had a broken back! She was too worried to tell the doctor that her painkillers weren't working - in case she inconvenienced him! I phoned him and told him because she wouldn't. I bet there's plenty you do and have done, for them. Now isn't the time to try to do it all alone. Ease them in gradually.

We visited DS last week, took him out for lunch and visited an exhibition and a museum. He kept on complaining that we were going too far and it was a long walk. I was puzzled, asked if he had hurt himself when away the previous week on an artillery course. DBH looked at me, laughed and said 'No you idiot! He's concerned that it is too far for you to walk!' I was fine that day, but I have to admit I could scarcely move the next. We get so used to looking out for them, don't we. It seems all wrong that they should have to do the same for us.

Hope you get some more help from Age UK numberplease. I did find them very helpful as I said. It is hard to put on your children isn't it? I remember trying to soldier on after DH had his first stroke and then getting told off by them for not asking for help. Damned if you do and damned if you don't

Galen, keep your chin up, we all know you`re not like that, especially the ones of us who`ve met you.

Purple, thanks for the link, I decided before seeing it to email the lovely lady from our local AgeUK who was very helpful after his first 2 stays in hospital in 2013, she`ll probably come up with something. JaneR, the family do do quite a bit already, especially daughters 2 and 3, so I don`t like to put any more onto their shoulders, they do have their own homes and families to look after, plus they work as well.

I'm about to pedal away on my exercise bike. After which I shall read the Sunday papers and slurp sip a gin and tonic with ice and a slice of lime. Bliss! Sending you lot all manner of good wishes. I shall return tomorrow. x

A very good suggestion of yours jane

Oh dear galen! You are having a rough time, aren't you? Hopefully that's it, all the nastinesses all over and done with for a while. It always seems to come in clumps, for some reason. Some people seem to wilfully misunderstand others, don't they.

number I am so sad for you, it must make you feel so helpless. Can you make a list of all issues that need sorting out, and delegate a few to your family?

Galen that is preposterous! I'd be very upset too if that happened to me, I hope she ends up with egg on her face, stupid foolish woman.
Obviously utterly unfounded claim, it's ridiculous.

Galen what a ridiculous complaint. I'm not surprised you are upset and I hope it can be sorted out as quickly as possible. Of it being proved to be ridiculous I have no doubt.

baubles I fee for you. I hope the weather continues to be good enough for you to get outside and absorb the beauty of spring.

Number Good advice all round. (((hugs)))

Galen What a horrid thing to happen. It may help to think about the many people you must have worked with who have not made complaints. Sometimes there are people who just have their own agenda and adjust their view of others to suit. I wonder if this person complained to you personally if they were so hurt? I suspect it is much easier to hide behind an official procedure. Cowardly of them.

Oops! appalled not 'applied'

loopylou is 100% right. number 'Unsatisfactory' after care, even that's a laugh. You have been left to manage the unmanageable. You really do need to make a stink fuss. Your husband and you deserve so much better.

Thank You Purpledaffodil for the link that may help number to sort matters once and for all.

Galen darling girl, I'm feeling miffed that some silly arse has upset you. Stay resolute. We all love you...so there!

baubles 'this too shall pass...' I'm sending you a tender hug.

number I continue to be applied at the treatment and care you're not receiving.
If I was you I'd phone the OT Head and ask what the hell just when will you see some action and secondly the hospital's PALS department and make a complaint-they are neglecting their Duty of Care.

Regarding the handrail that is absolutely total bollocks rubbish and they're fobbing you off in the hope you'll go away and DIY, definitely failing in their duty.
You must be exhausted, please take care & ((hugs)) x