Soop's Friendly Kitcheners and pets...

Quick visit. The back is settling, thank you. It's a complex pain in b**, lots feeding into it, it flares for a bit then goes quiet and I do my best not to wake it up . Yes, sciatica is part of it. All part of life's rich tapestry as my Mum used to say. I'm vastly cheered by getting a copy of the book of the month and a set of gardening books from GN this week. Now I can no longer say I never win anything. Well can say it but it isn't true . On hostess duty until Sunday so quick visits if any visit. Keep your head down Tegan, hope the displeasure soon disappears. Soop there was a GN intruder sending spam messages, lots had them, the technical Wizards blocked them. Think we're all safe. I'm sure someone will explain that more clearly. Take care everyone.

Lovely reading all these posts, just thought I would pop in to ask if anyone else has the problem of not knowing where all the washing/ironing comes from. There are two of us, and I am sure we do not wear all the clothes I continually wash, which seem to increase in quantity when it comes to ironing. Had to do the ironing yesterday, so that I could get into the spare room, which I rather stupidly decided to 'sort out', the 'sorting out' now needs sorting out. Good job I am playing bowls this p.m. can shut the door and forget about it - out tomorrow too, so unless there is a good fairy out there, the sorting out will have to wait. It is lovely that I can do that these days - one of the the joys of old age.

PRINTMISS I have to admit that ironing for me is a thing of the past but washing is something else. There is myself and my cat so where it all comes from I do not know. Clean everything every day does not help.

I managed to get rid of a slim analogue TV with its own set top box yesterday but one of the emails made me laugh. It was a woman, no form of transport, who thought she could put the TV under her arm and walk the mile to the tube station. There are no lifts, only stairs and more stairs.

She wanted me to test it to see if it was working-also was she likely to get hooked to the TV. I had stated why I wanted to get rid of it but she asked again. These daft questions filled an A4. This was Freecycle the emphasis being on the word free! I had forgotten I should have stated that transport was required, I had enough problems getting it downstairs using my stairlift!

In the end I gave it to a newly married fellow who did not have a working TV. Mine was 24" but more than adequate.

Good Morning Kitcheners one and all !!

Charley I know but as you say she enjoyed getting home and even came to visit for birthday cake yesterday in a fetching pair of pjs with short bottoms. Her problem currently is her thigh is at least twice the size of the uninjured one so she cant get anything over it. However , we are an informal party so a good time was had by all !

The cake was lovely and I am sure there are enough leftovers for all !!

Oh Tegan that sounds awful. I don't understand why she would treat you like that. Step away and let your feelings heal a little and see if she comes to you after the stress of the wedding.

Glad to hear you back is 'settling' corner. I suffered a lot from bad backs in my younger days and wont jinx it by saying not recently and I know how debilitating they can be .

One thing I have found Print is that I wear things for longer than a day now I'm not working. Not undies and such obviously but will often wear a top to go out and then change when I get in into something more slobby comfortable. I do have more ironing because now I have to do it myself instead of paying DD...ah the trials of retirement !!

I've added a picture of our DGD with the approved cake --- of which ...please help yourselves . Her poor mum asked not to be added to the picture ( she is looking a little the worse for wear and who can blame her having been told her wound is 6 cms deep and 4 cms wide.... :-() but thanks you all for your birthday wishes !!

oh I forgot to say Congrats Corner on winning the books. Its a real treat isn't it? x

NanaandGrampy How lovely that your poorly daughter was home to share in the birthday treat. The photograph is delightful. As for the cake...all I can say is...if only. I would so enjoy a tiny modest enormous slice.

cornerg When I had sciatica, I was given a tens machine by the doctor. It worked very well (especially when I was lying in bed). It was then discovered that the hip joint was in need of replacing. After the hip surgery, the sciatica was no more.

PRINTMISS We also appear to make far too much washing. Last night, our cat, Rory, sneaked on to the bed and slept all night on the pillow beside me. He usually sleeps in a chair alongside my husband's reclining chair. My husband suffers from chronic night cramps, hence the need to sleep in a chair. MacSporran went looking for the cat when he awoke. When he discovered him, he took the photo. So...now I have to wash the pillow cases.
Some cats have no consideration.

Charleyg The television has gone to a good home. Freecycle makes perfect sense. It's a pity that some folk seem far less sensible.

MacSporran needs to re-house a new printer. He tells me that he'll be shifting stuff around. This means that I shall need to remove myself from the computer (for a wee while). I shall return later.

soop Trust Rory to find a very comfortable spot for himself. Soon Bracken will be joining him!

I must have thrown the duvet off sometime because when I woke up this morning, I had Tara snuggled up beside me on the bottom sheet. More washing for me also but I had intended to wash the bedding anyway.

N&G that is a nasty wound, I hope that she is being cared for by the District Nurse or whoever.

Hardly got a minute to catch up with you all, but just sharing today's "pic of the day"

Daphne you know that we love seeing that little mite. He is having a great time- I hope that Grace is getting her cuddles! I love the colour of his outfit which matches the bedding or whatever it is. He is a very lucky young man with so many doting grannies from afar.

Definitely an "Ohhhh" picture.

Lovely pic of the day!

Mia`s not the only one who likes getting comfy on an adjacent pillow then!

I have memory foam pillows and they do not suit Tara, hence the bottom sheet! Our cats know just what they like.

DaphneB That wee man has many doting virtual Nanas. He is bursting with energy. I also love his colour co-ordinated wardrobe. Such happy smiles. Thank you for indulging us lot

CharleyG and number That Rory takes liberties. For a feline that "wasn't coming in" he's found his niche.

Well, what can I say. MacSporran has treated us to a spanking new printer. The previous printer expired a few days ago. We set out to print a thank you card to the cousin of our next door neighbour (now in a secure, dementia unit) for gifting us the beautiful bench. We selected a very happy photo for the card and a verse to go inside. After much toing and froing we had everything set up to print. Only, the paper has jammed. Seriously jammed. I didn't feed the paper into the printer (I hasten to add) - poor MacSporran is in a right fix. We've tried every which way to extract the scrunched up paper. No way will it be freed. I'm guessing that we are going to need to ask the manufacturer for assistance. That, or think of a pal who knows how to handle such a cock mess up.

Hey ho! Tomorrow is a new day. I shall leave you with a and wander away to feed the pussy cats.
Have you seen the dear lady on the news - she rescued 40 Spanish street cats. She's spent a fortune on having them brought over to live in her Mother's house. They are so lucky. She is devoted to them.

Oh soop I clearly recall training colleagues in basic computer stuff and saying 'if you have a problem anywhere it will be with printing'!' Feel for MacS, printers are a serious pain. Ours agrees to print from the iPad but doesn't want to print from the big computer, not logical at all. Good luck with yours. Have a tens machine but thank you for the thought, it seems the hip is ok, bit of a mystery . Rory seems to be a cat of both character and determination, suspect he will be back on that pillow keeping you company. . Daphne, another wonderful photo, he is certainly cute. Loving seeing him. Pleased it's not just us with unreasonable amounts of laundry. Know what you mean print, never sure how two people can create so much. My Dad used to say 'only dirty people wash' . Guess we are very dirty indeed . Best be off and try to be a hostess, not something that comes naturally sadly, love my peace and quiet. Help, how do I sustain a conversation for 14 hours a day? I'm constantly amazed anyone wants to come and stay . take care everyone.

Saw the orthopaedics consultant this morning and he says I don't have arthritis in my hips. He thinks it is Bursitis, though looking this up on NHS site it seems a trivial thing which only lasts a few weeks, not the year I have been suffering. He gave me a Corticosteroids injection so feeling very sore (he said it will be worse tomorrow).

Feeling sorry for myself and its my birthday. OH really knows how to treat me, we are going to a friend's house this evening so I can help him butcher a deer (half will be for us). Hopefully he will cook the best bits for dinner afterwards.

Don't talk to me about printers! I have an expensive A3 colour one which we haven't used much as it is so expensive to use. It doesn't work now and Canon say they don't have parts for it anymore. It is cheaper to throw it away and buy a new one.

Hello my lovely Granspals. We've just finished unpacking the groceries. Time for a freshly made pot of coffee and a bought nutty flapjack.

cornerg Like you, I am not able to sustain lengthy periods of conflabulations. (not a real word) I like peace and quiet. From time to time, I unwind and enjoy noisy company. However, I'm always pleased to return to my usual, some would say, boring routine.

Tizliz I'm wishing you a very happy birthday.
The Cortisone injection will help, I promise. The pain may continue for a little longer until the steroids kick in.

The printer has to be returned. It grabbed several sheets of paper and the lot have become well and truly stuck. It's a Canon printer. Not one of the priciest but it still cost a pretty penny.

My friend in the village (the one whose husband has been resident in the care home for 18 months) phoned last evening. She was distraught. At first, I thought that her husband had had another relapse.
The vet was with her, and her beloved Labrador of fourteen years, had been "put to sleep".
When we arrived at her cottage, she was in a dreadful state. Another neighbour and MacSorran dug a deep grave in the garden. We then buried Susie, wrapped in her favourite blanket. She now lies alongside her sister Labrador, Poppy.
We all wept. The cottage seemed so empty without the lovely Susie charging around, tail wagging and full of the joys...
This morning, we visited our pal's husband in the care home. Our pal was with him. Once again, we wept with them. What on earth can anyone say that is of comfort? There are no words.

Having dogs and having lost dogs over the years I can sympathise. There is nothing you can say. The little gentleman who lives near me asked me when his dog was put to sleep "when will I feel better", I could have cried for him. The only thing I always think when we loose one of our dogs is that we have loved them and they have loved us and that we have given them a happy life and we have some lovely memories. When we lost our last boy a lady I know told me that grief is the price you pay for love, so true. Time does help to heal, but it take a while.

soop that is so so sad-as you said, there are no words. Her house will be so empty for a long time for two different reasons. She has lovely friends and neighbours.

We have to pay to have our grass collected and some kind soul has dumped 6 bags of grass cuttings and hedge trimmings on my lawn. I went to the council, they wanted me to use my computer which I did but my address was not recognised. The houses were built in 1988. I wonder what would happen if I did not posses a computer? Two of my friends would not have a clue how to access something like that-ah well, out of sight out of mind. I may well ask the fellows on Monday to remove them- they will be coming back sometime to do it, why not then?

There is a service road close by and I watched fly tipping when men renovated a flat. It is still there. A few yards further down is a dumped car- one would think I lived in some hell hole instead of within walking distance to Winston Churchill's old school. Those are my buggerations!

Losing a much-loved pet really hurts. So sorry to hear about your friend

Thank you for your kind words, millymouge and Charleygirl

As for having bags of grass and hedge cuttings dumped in your garden, Charleyg I'm astonished that someone would even think of doing such a thing. Fly tippers are amongst my pet hates. We regularly pick up detritus at the layby in which we park the car prior to a daily stroll. My language is right colourful.

Well now, good news re the wretched jammed printer. MacSporran went on line and was given the info' that he needed (as there was no manual) to unjam all the scrunched up paper. He was so chuffed. Came through to show me a super photo that he'd printed of our neighbour. The image was crisp. He and I are happy bunnies.

NanaandGrampy I hope that poorly daughter is making a steady recovery.

Anya The hurting seems to take an awfully time to heal. A greatly loved animal is not merely just a cat, or dog it's a member of the family. I often wish that I was not so sensitive. However, we are as we are...

Susie the black Labrador, had a sister named Poppy. The two would dash around our next door neighbour's garden together with his gorgeous golden Lab, Amber. Amber died in her sleep. Our neighbour's wife died from cancer. He then showed signs of dementia and is in a secure unit. So much change in a relatively short time span.

Bye for now. I shall return to catch up in the morning.

Soop, I was so sorry to read about Susie. I`m better since we got Mia, but still think of Pepper quite often, these things never really go away.

Another late visit. Pleased about the printer, soop, I can feel the relief from here . I well remember the pain of a dog coming to the end of life, they are so part of the family, why wouldn't it trigger grief? When added to other grief it can feel unbearable. Goodness charleygirl, the cheek of people. Hope the grass is shifted soon. Major pain. Bit late in the day Tizliz, but happy birthday wishes to you, hope it's been a good one. Grandchildren have provided conversation for our friend today, all a bit noisy but easier somehow. Sounds as if I am antisocial, maybe I am , but I do find prolonged sociL interaction difficult, even with those I have known for ages and care for. No hope for me .