Soop's friendly KITCHENERS

Good morning all !

Enjoyed both the lovely weather and our afternoon tea yesterday. I DID mean to take a picture but blinked and we had eaten everything !! I blame Grampy!

Charleygirl there is no doubt Sam is a dog whose stomach does his thinking for him !

Dustyangel How is the ant situation today ? Our littlest grandson discovered ants yesterday and came running in yelling ' Nana see my pants'!! Might need to work on that with him

Bellanona Glad to hear you are finally on the mend although the deafness thing is nasty. It does sound like the whole catarrh / sinus thing is infected. I hope it eases soon .

soop as I watch the decorators start their day here I am full of admiration for the energy you and Macs have for all your decorating work. I feel that I am letting the side down !

Alea not tactless at all. I think everyone needs a little me time and space no matter the circumstances. Having spent a lifetime working independently and often going days without seeing Grampy I do miss the days when I had time to either go out alone or stay home alone. If I mention popping out Grampy has his coat on and I cant hurt his feelings by saying stay here ! ( Its bad enough leaving Sam behind who puts on his ';hard done by face' !! Grampy can rival him in that area !!

My heart goes out to both you and Annsixtyx

Today , I have to make 'macaroonies' for DGS 3 before picking him up for an afternoon swimming. They are his favourite treat and although time consuming I have mastered them . The downside is he does like them in lurid colours !!

I made a foolish promise when the skies were grey that as soon as the sun came out we would swim in the outdoor pool . Looks like todays the day!!

OMG it is far too cold to consider swimming in an outdoor pool just yet.

I have friends I have known nearly all of my life and they do everything together. I would find it very stifling- maybe because I have been on my own for so long but even when I was married we frequently went our separate ways. Each needed his/her own personal space in and outdoors.

What a day and a half.

Yesterday OH had his stitches out and the nurse wasn't happy, called the doc in but he said it was ok. OH went to work, I did loads of washing, changed the sheets (two loads of washing dried and ironed).

Been in bed about an hour when OH woke up covered in blood, the wound had burst open. Had to ring NHS (why do they have so many menus to go through?), but he was seen at our fairly local (25 mins drive) hospital straight away. The doc there has just put paper stitches in. Drive home was fun, 1 am and feeling tried and a ruddy great red deer steps out onto the road, looks at me as if to say it was his right of way and slowly crossed the road. The fox and the cat that I also encounter where small fry.

Our local surgery were expecting his call this morning and he is off down there in an hour so they can decide what to do. I am busy washing all the bedding (again), luckily the quilt came clean with a quick dip in washing powder in the bath, only got a third wet, it is too big for our washing machine.

Life is always interesting

I am going to take back all my words of yesterday. H is going to walk to the dentist on his own. It is less than a five minute walk just round the corner. He has done nothing like this for at least 2 years. I have spoken to the nurse and she does know him and if he is confused she will bring him home. Isn't that good. I can pay by card remotely as he can't handle card payments.

Just read your post Tisliz what a performance. I hope he is OK. Why aren't things straightforward?

Oh dear Tizliz, remind me where these stitches were /what for? Sounds terrifying. Good luck to you both today, why indeed is life never simple?
As for annsixty - result! I hope there are no hiccups, but this would be a milestone and just one thing you don't need to take total responsibility for. My friend whose husband has dementia took him to the dentist a couple of weeks ago. Apparently he was absolutely charming to the staff, announcing that although it was his first time there, they were very nice.
She and he have been going to the same dental practice for 43 years

NanaandG the ants are getting less daily, fewer dead bodies to clear up every morning. Obviously there must be healthy ants somewhere clearing out the dead ones. I just wish they would decide to make their home somewhere else.

Tizliz I must have missed why your husband had stitches as well. Of course the wound was bound to open just after you put clean bedding on. You will probably be find odd drops for ages. I'm glad he is alright now.

annsixty I'm glad that your DH is feeling more capable today. How unpredictable this illness is.

I forgot, -- nanaand G . SWIMMING OUTSiDE!!! In April I wouldn't do that even here and the night temperatures are staying reasonably high. I hope you come on here after and tells us all about it.

Hello again, dear Kitcheners It has taken an age to read all your messages.

Tizliz Why did you husband have stitches? I seem to have missed that entry. You would have felt so tired as you drove to the hospital. Thank goodness that the red deer didn't dash in front of the car and cause an awful lot of damage.
It's the perfect drying day. Perhaps you'll be able to relax this evening.

annsixty Alea...I can only imagine how your lives are blighted by your husbands' dementia. Visiting the care home has opened my eyes to on going misery that is part and parcel of every day life.

NanaandGrampy I love your young grandson's comment regarding ants (in his pants!)

Nelliem Long may the last. I can almost see you working away in your garden. Theraputic, springs to mind.

I've been doing ironing duty for most of this morning. In my absence, MacS has been soldiering on with the outside painting. Now, I must lend a helping hand. There is barely a whisper of breeze. Ideal for glossing the woodwork.
Oh, how I wish that MacS had opted for UPVC. The list of jobs is an awful long one.

I shall return a little later. I'm meeting bags tomorrow and will need to wash my hair later this afternoon.

soop if MacS saw the outside of my house he would run away screaming. He would like the red brickwork but everything possible is now UPVC because I could not maintain it otherwise.

Although the sun is shining here I have found it cold but when I went to Waitrose earlier there were people there not quite in beach attire but not dressed for the nasty nip in the wind either.

I agree, I have also missed where Tizliz's DH had stitches. It is no joke trying to get blood out of anything at home, especially bed linen. Sod's law that you had just changed it. Hopefully he will be better cared for this time round with a decent dressing to keep all in place.

I would love to know where all the washing comes from here- are any of you lot sneaking some into my machine? Tomorrow will be Tara's bedding and she hates it newly washed.

Thanks for all your concern. He had two more moles removed last Tuesday. It seems that because he was allergic to the sutures the wound healed too slowly. The stitches had to come out because they were making the wound angry but the doc said this morning that perhaps he should have told the nurse to put some of the paper stitches on. They are not going to start again and he will just have to be careful for another week - they have given me three packets of the paper stitches in case they need replacing. But the good news is that the lab reports came back this morning and there are no cancer cells this time.

I have left the quilt and mattress protector on the line and pray it will not rain before we get back from work. The quilt has not come quite clean but it is acceptable. The mattress protector really did its job and the mattress did not get blood on it and the protector has come completely clean.

The deer are a problem this year. I think that there is not enough grazing for them on the hills so they are coming done to raid the sheep feed. I can't understand why everything is so slow as it is not as if we had a cold winter. I saw my first primroses today on our walk, which is really late.

Not my DH Soop (dementia) it was a friend's husband I was referring to. Not that mine can't frequently drive me demented.....but other medical probs in his case.

Done it! It's in a very soft cotton mix for soft little skin ?

Alea I would not leave it over the chair for too long- I know of a four legged friend called Grace who is always on the lookout for something comfortable to lie on when having a snooze. Is her skin not soft?! The baby will love it.

Tizliz at least the news is good and luckily blood did not seep through on to the mattress. It is rather cheaper to replace a topper than a mattress. Luckily also it is drying weather so with luck everything will be ready for use when you return.

I am so envious thinking of that new baby. ?

Alea So sorry for the confusion. I was trying too hard to get all the messages in before the outside painting job. Forgive me please.
Congratulations on finishing the beautiful blanket. I love the design. It reminds me a little of one of your rugs. Or, am I mistaken?

Tizliz I'm so pleased to hear that the moles did not show anything sinister. Your bedding should dry beautifully. I haven't seen a single cloud in the sky all day through.

Charleyg Animals have an aversion to freshly laundered blankets. I believe that it is due to their own scent being absent for a wee while.
The afternoon has been perfect for outdoor painting. Our home is definitely much smarter than it was at this time last week. There is still much to do. We would welcome a further week of this sunshine. I very much doubt that it will last that long.

I'm about to wash my hair. I can't meet Bags looking like I've had a very nasty fright.

When I return from Inveraray, I hope to have a photo to share with you. I'm sending love to you all. I wish you a peaceful evening.

Alea, what a beautiful blanket. I am sure the baby will love it and it will be much admired.
Wonderful weather today for a trip to Tatton Park to meet my cousin for lunch. Sitting outside in the very sheltered stable yard, consuming soup and chewing over family history, we were roasted. My face feels as if it's had a touch of the sun. The gardens were perfectly peaceful - lovely pear blossom soon to be followed by the apple blossom. The topiary is so smooth you feel you could stroke it! But I didn't.

Yes, that blanket is beautiful Alea. What patience you must have.

As you might know, I lost DH almost a year ago, so hospitals are not my favourite place to be. However, I went along with DS today as he needed an ultrasound on a massive growth on his index finger, then to see the hand surgeon. It is a tumour, hopefully benign, but he still has to have an MRI before he can have surgery.
The consultant is worried that the nerves may be involved and he can't promise that DS will have feeling in his finger after the op. DS is 24 and a chef so it would take some getting used to. He's very philosophical about it though. Bless him.

Lots of other niggles which I won't bore you with. I'm having a glass of vino - I need it. Cheers

???
You deserve it. Bellasnana and indeed all of you! Hospitals can bring back very unhappy memories. I have good reason the be grateful to the Royal Free , but whenever DH has been admitted again with subsequent problems I find myself thinking "I thought we had seen the last of this blankety blank place!"
Grace will not be allowed anywhere near the blanket, I just hope my grand dog doesn't take a fancy to it
No Basil, no!!

Alea what a splendid grand-dog you have. He's absolutely gorgeous ?

What a lovely dog Alea, he can come and be my foster grand dog anytime.

Cheers Bella I hope things work out well for your DS. It sounds as if he is getting the best of treatment. Take care of yourself too.

Good Morning all !!

I am up and prepped. Having spent the evening looking at the newly painted shelves ( which will be the same colour as 2 walls in the lounge I have the unenviable task of telling the decorators the colour is not right . My fault totally. I chose it and they had it made up but it has no 'depth' . I hope they understand because a new colour needs to be purchased and the work redone.

I shall owe them extra cake I suspect. I don't mind having to pay for the additional work because I want it to be right but I feel bad anyway.

Charleygirl Thank goodness DGS3 agreed with you about the outdoor pol because it was a bit nippy yesterday. Our gym is being refurbished so we couldn't stop for our usual treat after swimming so suggested to DGS3 that we go to the coffee shop at Tesco's. HE suggested the café at M & S !! It wasn't until we got there that we realised his ulterior motive was that they sell Percy Pigs ( a chewy sweet) that he is very fond of . We were well and truly manipulated

Tizliz how awful for you and of course your DH. I hope he and his wounds are faring better today .

Annsixty how did the trip to the dentist go for your DH? All went well I hope.

Alea I love the blanket for the new baby. Its charming and such a contemporary look ! My youngest daughter had a yellow and pale grey theme for the nursery for her littlest one and its so restful. Please send Basil round - Sam is always looking for a new friend !!!

Eye test time has flashed round so I shall be spending my time trying to avoid spending an arm and a leg on designer frames I couldn't give a stuff about !

soop enjoy your time with bags and look forward to seeing the picture on your return.

Happy days to one and all x

NanaandGrampy so glad to hear that somebody has some common sense in your family. Mid July or August on a very warm day might be refreshing for an outdoor swim but not this weather when hypothermia is around the corner.

M&S is also more expensive for a coffee/snack and trust him to know where Percy Pigs (I have never heard of them) could be bought.

I am happy to be Sam's friend- he would love cuddles from me. I promise not to dress him up.

I was dressed for winter yesterday while others were out wearing shorts and a sleeveless T shirt. They did not appear to feel the cold. It does appear to be a lot warmer today but that will change overnight I believe- wonderful.

Just back from the GP with the news that nothing but a new knee will relieve the pain I am in. Well I feel like saying I told you so. I am grinding bone on bone when I walk and the injection would have been a waste of time. 4/6 weeks now to see a consultant.

Having knee problems myself at the moment, annsixty, so I sympathise big time, even though mine isn't really bad yet. Hope you get sorted asap.

Had a fabulous time with our fabulous soop (we always do; we are good for each other). She will be posting photos anon. She made me order a really nice tunic.

We shared a fish and chips (divided onto two plates) and while soop then had a crème brulée, I had hazelnut meringue with raspberries and a dollop of blackberry icecream. Perfect.

https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201604/medium-438557-bags-and-me-at-inveraray.jpg%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201604/medium-590487-another-bags-and-me.jpg%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201604/medium-634157-bags-and-me-3.jpg%3C/span%3E

Yes...I had a swell time with our bags. She makes me laugh. She and I are possibly as different as chalk and cheese - she's exceedingly bright - I'm inclined to be "dippy". Never the less, we always hit the middle ground and, I think, we're good for each other.
My favourite photo below. MacSporran took others.