Soop's kindly kitcheners and pampered pets...

Nellie, I am just emerging from that buggeration of a cough. I have never felt so bad although I have not had a temperature. I'm not happy to hear it might come back! I had awful gastric flu in August so I hope that was the other half of this.

I could adopt that dog soop but we have sworn off them and decided on another cat after Christmas. A result as far as the iron goes.

Callgirl - how lovely for you - don't worry about Christmas.

Daphne even if I had never touched the flipping shredder it would be my fault if it died!

It's pouring here and blowing a gale. We blame the friends coming to stay, alway but always rains when they come. Wonder why we let them come back .

Feel for anyone with 'the cough', horrid things that seem to impact in every part of life. Keep warm kitty and nellie, and anyone else recovering from it or any lurgy. Sometimes I think the images of mostly Japanese people wearing masks are such a good idea, but wouldn't we feel daft?

All shredding is delegated to Mr C now. The deal is I sort the paper and he then deals with the resulting mountain. My role is then to offer 'helpful' suggestions when the shredder ceases to work. Can't imagine why Mr C doesn't appreciate the help

Many years ago my family had a little black poodle, full,of mischief, your portrait had me wishing for another soop, suspect Mr C will continue to remind me our current lifestyle doesn't support dog ownership, but I can try. Really miss having a dog about

Hope a warm week in Spain will be good for you callgirl, see how you feel about Christmas when you come back, I'm sure everyone will understand ithis one iis different. Just do what feels right for you.

This won't do. best get a wriggle on as need to get to my volunteering this morning then looking forward to our friends arriving. Likely to go quiet here for a bit. Keep safe everyone.

A moaning Minnie of a cat thinks I can change the weather- well I cannot. She has gone out in the horrid rain and will appear dry and happy around 8pm.

I am still enjoying my bedroom TV- I watched a programme until 10.30pm last night, was so tired I switched off and crawled out of bed before 9am today having gone to the loo x2 during the night. Tara thought that 5am was a good time to surface, I had other ideas.

Callgirl enjoy your break in Spain and b***er Christmas.

Nellie you must look after yourself and get rid of that nasty virus.

cornergran is this the time to be inviting folk when you are living in the middle of a building site? I agree, the weather is horrendous.

If the weather is so bad insoop's region, I hope that Rory and Bracken are kept warm. I fret for those cats, they I think may well be joining Sam and Grace here.

soop your portrait of Dexter is lovely. That must have been quite difficult to do.
I felt I was in Scotland yesterday. I had to squeeze my way through Trafalgar Square to the National Gallery, through hundreds of chanting Scots in their various tartans. I asked one of them what was going on and not being a fan of football I didn't know there was a match later on (they lost). I have to say it was fascinating watching them all. They were in high spirits and having lots of fun. The chant of the day was Wem-ber-ley and every now and then they would burst into this mantra, flag in one hand, bottle in the other. When I was on my way home it was dark and there were more fans around, still happily chanting. Only one thing - I love seeing men in the kilt. I think they look elegant and manly but these lads didn't quite make it with tattooed legs on show, trainers and shell suit tops over their kilts. But they were happy and it was infectious - lots of tourists taking videos. I imagine the mood would have been very different last night so I'm glad I live nowhere near Wembley.

I used to take the Metropolitan line to go to work in central London and of course coming home on match days it was horrendous with the tubes full of screaming football fans. I am so pleased that I can now choose when I go anywhere by tube and it is rarely on a match day. I seldom drive on those days for the same reason. I live I think about 4 miles or less from the stadium.

I amble into the kitchen to discover (much to my amazement) your many messages. I promise to read every one of them. First though, I need a little moan. A further NHS letter arrived this morning. I'm being referred to a different hospital. It appears that the consultant who was to be attending the clinic (now cancelled) won't be at the new venue. One year and almost one month into the saga...and...I'm back where I started.

callgirl1 Have a super, well deserved break in Spain. I echo Charleyg's advice. B*** Christmas.

Nellie and kitty I'm sorry to hear that you've been suffering from a wretched cough. Fingers crossed, neither MacS nor I have succumbed thus far.

We had a two hour black-out last night. The residents on Gigha and Kintyre were plunged into darkness. Just as well that we were not soccer fans. Scotland were thrashed by England. 3 - 0 was nowhere near a close match.

MacS found the guarantee for the burnt out iron. It had expired eleven months ago. Sod's Law with bells on.

How upsetting soop to be starting with a new consultant unless of course he is more au fait with your problem and can give you a better outcome.
I also had a medical letter this morning. I had a DEXA scan 2 weeks ago and am told I do have osteoporosis and am being referred for further assessment and medication.

Dear ann

I'm going to log off for today. Tomorrow is a new day. I'm certain that I shall be feeling more in tune with good vibes.

MacS has helped me to write a detailed letter to the consultant and two other doctors.

I wish you all a pleasant and peaceful Saturday evening.

soop you are certainly getting the run around from the NHS. Let's hope this appointment is the one ☝️ (this came up on my iPad while I was typing . I'm beginning to think big brother is watching me )

Love the picture of Dexter by the way. What a cutie.

callgirl hope you enjoy your week in Spain. Christmas this year will be a difficult time for you, enjoy what you can.

nellie your posts/s made me laugh. I hope you feel better soon. You too kitty

I once had a battle with an industrial shredder which almost sucked me in with the paper . Nasty objects. Treat them with due respect Daphne

ann I am so sorry to hear the confirmation of osteoporosis. I know you have a lot of caring to do for DH but please do take care of you too

I agree wholeheartedly with Swanny. Please inquire about side effects of some of the drugs for osteoporosis ann.

soop it is rare that I am speechless re your recent treatment. I am pleased to hear that MacSporran has helped pen a letter so with luck you may get some action. Even if it is only to get you seen and off the books you will have won. I do think that it is time to make a nuisance of yourself.

Build is done charley. They have come to admire!

What a let down soop. Hope your letter spelled your frustration out as well as detailed what is needed. Sometimes the NHS works, sadly it is letting you down. Fingers crossed for you.

cornergran us lot will be there mid week. You will not notice us provided you do not come into your kitchen as that is where we will be.

It has all been done in a flash, I hope that you like the end result.

Poor Grace!
We went up to Birmingham for the day as it is Toby's FIFTH birthday tomorrow so we went for lunch and took his present etc. A doggy friend had offered to let Grace out twice , lunchtime and mid afternoon and also feed her so I was surprised to see no lights on as we drove up just before 7.
As I got out of the car she puffed up the drive behind us full of apologies because she had completely forgotten.
The mess was mostly in the kitchen apart from one large poo in the hall which the poor dog seems to have sat in ???well 8 hours is way beyond what a dog of her age can be expected to cope with and we had left at 10.30
Anyway, my friend was distraught and tackled the worst of the clearing up including taking two of the turtle mat runners I have, home to wash, while I tackled the hall carpet and the poor dog's derrière. Can't blame Grace, just a pity she chose today to have the runs (!) and can't really blame my friend, my dog, my responsibility.
Just what I needed, but hey ho.

Oh poor Grace, there was little else that she could do. I hope she has recovered from the trauma- she must have thought that you and DH had left her forever. She needs an extra cuddle.

Poor Grace!! They are very unhappy if they have to do that, our little dog used to look very ashamed.

We also have a 5th birthday to celebrate this week - birthday girl visited unexpectedly today and nearly caught sight of her present
Toby looks very cute

We are on our 4th? shredder. DH will keep putting too much through at one time. I do enjoy a good shredding session.

Dexter's picture is excellent, soop but unlike the Dexter that we know and love who is human!

annsixty I hope they can sort out some good medication for you.
soop perhaps this new consultant will be on the ball? Fingers and toes crossed

I feel so angry about the way you are being messed around by the NHS soop Sounds like time to make a really big fuss.
Lovely painting of Dexter. It's difficult getting a good image of black dogs, isn't it? We had to trim our little Oscar's fringe the other day because we couldn't see his eyes at all. He hasn't been into the kitchen recently because he might upset the resident cats. He's very keen to play with any we meet when we are out for walks...

Annsixty, so sorry to hear of your diagnosis, but I echo what others say, please take care of yourself as well as your hubby, or who will look after YOU?
Aw, poor Grace, she must have been so upset, I hope she`s over the trauma by now?

Daphne that is a lovely photo of young Toby. My apologies for not mentioning him before but I was upset that poor Grace was traumatised by the event. I hope that she has recovered after a night's sleep and a good breakfast. She needs extra cuddles.

Good morning !

AT LAST the rain has stopped and its crisp and cold and bright here. I was beginning to think of building an ark but it was a perfect day for watching a Christmas movie on TV and eating cake !! ( I'm sorry if I have mentioned Christmas too early but we're feeling festive already in this house

Jackson is resigned to being a shepherd now as he has a song to sing WITH actions . We were discussing the whole nativity thing . I am not particularly religious per se but I do like to make sure the children know the real meaning of Christmas. I asked who else was in the nativity . He mentioned Mary ( played to perfection by his best girl friend Rachel) and then he said that there would be 3 nice men. I suggested he meant wise men.

No he replied smartly , they were nice men because they bought presents !!

He has a point !!

soop Dexter's portrait perfectly conveys a playful bundle of fur. I love it. You are definitely gifted as my portrait of Sam which hangs in pride of place in my crafting room attests to. All who see it mention the absolute spirit of Sam that you captured .

I am sooo sorry to hear that your appointment was cancelled and it is totally unacceptable. My brother has an op this week for a repair to a previous repair for a brain aneurism . I hope he has more luck than you. Its a tough call because he stands a 10% chance of stroking out whilst it is being undertaken with obvious repercussions. We are going down to see him the day before and support his lovely wife.

I hope they rearrange your appointment quickly.

I do hope you begin to feel better soon Nellie sounds awful.

Oh poor Grace Daphne . They try so hard to please us but when you have to go...... Sam only ever has a problem if he's ill and he looks so shamefaced in the morning that we don't have the heart to tell him off.

So sorry to hear your news Ann . I don't know much about the condition but hopefully there is much that can be done to help.

Off for boiled eggs and soldiers( all are welcome ) !!

soop, I'm glad McS is drafting a letter for you. It's time to take a stand against the manipulation of waiting lists. What is their reasoning behind this treatment? Have you sent a copy of the letter to your MSP? No harm in getting political about it. All of us are hot under our collective collar on your behalf but I wish there was something we could do to help.
ann, I'm sorry for your diagnosis. Did they tell you what degree of osteoporosis you have? I am waiting for the second in a series of three annual infusions of Soledronic Acid as I can't take the oral medication. I hope they find a solution to prevent your condition getting any worse. It's a good thing it's been diagnosed and you can get some treatment. I don't know about you, but I am terrified of falling! Take care.

It's a dreich day in bonnie Kintyre. We've been gathered at the war memorial in the village, at which a lone piper played a lament. Very simple ceremony but beautiful in it's simplicity.

You lot have been so busy since I was last in the kitchen. Such a lot of catching up to do.

Before I read through all your messages I wish to say thank you for sharing the lovely photograph of Toby. DaphneB, I sympathise with Grace and you and the neighbour who forgot to call by. She will be feeling totally wretched. Not quite the homecoming you expected.

Away to do a wee chore. I shall return to catch up in due course.

I don't know the degree of my osteoporosis yet anno that apparently is explained in the report to my GP which also suggests another assessment and treatment. It was the surgeon who did my knee who realised my bones were soft and arranged the scan. It is all now in the hands of the surgery. Yes, like you, I am so scared of falling and breaking a hip or a leg. The wet leaves are a menace. Have the scans showed any improvement since you started medication?

May I also send loving vibes to any of you lot who are going through a bad time with health issues and such. We must keep warm. This is the weather for all manner of bugs to come out of hiding.

There is nothing much happening outside the hoos. It remains damp and rather dreary. However, on such days as this, I feel very sad for the countless homeless people, no matter where they are.

Rory is asleep on MacSporran's comfortable, accommodating lap. MacS is also napping. Bracken arrived at breakfast time. She ate a hearty meal before disappearing into the woodland. When she returns a little later, we'll leave the utility room door ajar. Her well-warmed rug will be ready and waiting. She'll also have cubed chicken and specially formulated vets' biscuits.