SOOP's kindly Kitcheners.

Just as a matter of interest, in my 55 years of house owning,my current kitchen floor is the best I have ever had. It comprises strips of vynil which come in boards and look like ceramic tiles. They came from B&Q and have been down now about 10 years. They still look very good.

Hi everyone. Today would have been DH's 70th birthday so I'm feeling a bit down. Also had to take the dog to the vet as he's just not himself, I am sure he's missing his master

I have a friend arriving from the Isle of Man tomorrow, and my BiL from Edinburgh on Sunday. DH's funeral is Monday morning. The house is a mess, my children can't see the need to help and I'm feeling overwhelmed. I will be glad when it's all over and I can start to grieve on my own.

The heat is very tiring too, and the a/c on the car still isn't fixed because they need a part which had to be ordered.

Enough of my moans. I've got little DGD here and she is keeping me from falling apart.

Hope all you kitcheners have a good day

pompa Washing up by hand...something that I've done all of my life. I was asked to stack a dishwasher at my friend's house. I made a pig's ear of the exercise. She had to empty the thing and reload the dishes.

Galen A few years ago, we and a few pals went on the paddle steamer 'Waverly' for a wee cruise on the seas very close to Campbeltown. First thing it did on birthing was to hit the side of the quay with a wallop and a lot of scraping. We all boarded and were enjoying the trip when we went below to see the fabulous engine. A huge bang occurred. We asked 'is everything okay' and the engine stopped. The chappie in uniform replied...'I don't know what's happening' and told us to go up on deck. The 'Waverly' had, we thought, hit a sandbank. In fact she had hit rocks.. We were escorted back to Campbeltown by the life boat.

Bellasnana We must have posted at the same moment. I've just this minute read your message. How I wish that you could walk into our kitchen and be comforted by us lot. This must be a terribly sad day for you. Of course you feel overwhelmed. Can you not ask for help around the house. You cannot be expected to manage matters alone. If I could I would be with you in an instant.

Bellasnana I would be deighted to run a hoover around the house- a pity that you are too far away.

I agree, the poor dog is out of sorts because he does not know what is going on and his master is not around.

Your little DGD will keep you on your toes and yes, you will have the house to yourself on Monday and afterwards can grieve on your own. in abundance.

(((Hugs))) Bellasnana, certainly not surprised you're overwhelmed, can't you tell /ask them to do xyz? Possibly they might be waiting rather than feeling they're stepping on your toes?

Goodness knows you have more than enough on your plate to do.

If Charleygirl hovers, I'll dust.....

Very much thinking of you x

Bella loopylou is right. Tell it as it is. You need all the tender loving care and support that your family can muster. I'll empty the linen basket/launder/iron and fold away neatly. You are very special to us lot and it hurts to not being able to do something constructive.

Bella Sod the house, just do nice things with your dgd and rest. The house and the mess/dust/whatever, just isn't important at the moment! Ask for help from your family, they need to know that you need them.

Bella darling. Tell your dd to get her nose out of her iPad and help!

I'm feeling a little shaky today. Last night I got out of my chair too quickly, went dizzy and fell. I just couldn't get myself up at all. I tried just lying there for over an hour but no better. In the end I had to ring Gary who bless him, was fast asleep in his bed. He came and picked me up and helped me up to bed.
I've got a big bruise on my elbow but that's all. Just feeling very shaky.

Playing with the new tool

It seems to crop.

Bellasnana, if nobody is inclined to help you out around the house, then just leave it, they`ll have to take you as they find you.

Galen, are you alright? Don`t you have one of those alarm buttons to wear around your neck, my mother had one, and since hubby`s collapsed lung the other week, we`re thinking of one for him.

Yes, but it upsets the neighbours and it goes through to Gary anyway. Luckily I'd got my iPhone in my hand so I used that..
I've just complained to GNHQ that their new widget has decapitated anthem bookworm, old grey mare. And maniac!

That should be cazthebookworm

Oh dear, Galen, that's a very disturbing incident. It was fortunate that you had your phone to hand and I hope you always do. I should heed my own advice! Just clobbered my head on the edge of the compost bin, picking up prunings to deposit in it. Felt dizzy and now have a headache but as a family we have hard heads! Anyway, enough about me - you loook after yourself.

Bellasnana, I do feel for you. You have enough on your mind to be bothered about the state of your house which I would be won't be half as bad as you think it is. Let it be. You are more important

Should read 'I would bet'!

Time for Kitcheners (((group hugs))). So sorry to hear of your nasty incident last night, Galen

I have within the last hour or so yet again fallen A over T on the beach. I was picking up a shell for bags. Bruised hip and knee. MacS not impressed.

Bella darling, unless you have offers of help, to hell with the housework. It really doesn't matter a damn. You, on the other hand, do.

Oh my goodness Galen, then anno and now soop! I do hope you're not too badly bruised, you must be thoroughly shaken up

What a glamorous group of GNs!
Lovely photo

Oh dear, everyone is in the wars! I wonder if it's something to do with our biorhythms? I have had a series of minor bumps and scrapes this week too. I haven't fallen over yet, I don't want to do that as I would probably break some bones being borderline for osteoporosis. Last time I fell, I suffered a broken wrist which needed surgery to fix.

Definitely hope it isn't something catching! Must be the effects of unaccustomed sunshine on us

In my case it would be sunshine and 2 glasses of wine this evening with my meal. It could not have been wasted, that would be throwing money away.

Blow the upset neighbours Galen. Suppose you went down somewhere you didn't have your phone? Sod's Murphys Law will mean that is bound to happen. My Father had an emergency necklace type thing which went through to a central switchboard so they could call an ambulance straight away if necessary or me if it wasn't. Peace of mind for all !

Mine does the same, but the people the switchboard calls are him next door or Gary. Gary is much stronger if I need lifting as I did last night.

Thank goodness for Gary!
B.....r the neighbours being upset, it's not as if you do it on purpose!

Are you ok?
Must be very upsetting for you x