Soop's welcoming kitchen...

A good blustery afternoon to each and every one of our Granspals.

Baggs We both hope that you enjoy the concert. Scheherezade is a favourite of ours.

Charleyg An unusual "waking dream". Aren't some dreams crazy? I dreamt that the bill for repairs to our car (now back with us) was for a mere £14! MacSporran remarked...in yer dreams.

This afternoon there is a rugby match and/or a tennis match to watch. Decisions...decisions

Nellie I quite agree, Firefox was fine before they started to interfere- now it is such a mess and looks awful.

I think that it is official, I have finally lost it- I could not understand why my parents were not in their bedrooms when I woke up this am. I am 74 and my mother was around 30 when I appeared. I suppose that it is possible but a minor miracle.

Hello the kitchen! I hope those who have been struggling a bit lately are more at peace with the world. I have had a couple of ‘down’ days, where the frozen leg of lamb would have come in handy!
Nellie it is extremely irritating when there are changes in format which don’t seem to serve any useful purpose. I am falling out of love with Apple for that - and other - reasons!
Baggs I hope you enjoy your concert. Scheherezade is a great favourite of mine - I like the Kaladar Prince.
GS has been here overnight as his parents were in Manchester for a concert. He polished off a large plate of chicken pie and then we had a darts tournament. Before anyone throws up their elf and safety hands in horror, they are magnetic darts! We’ve had them for ages but he has recently rediscovered them and is a bit hooked at the moment. It keeps him off the iPad and improves his mental arithmetic, so what is not to like? But it is not doing much for the paint work on my living room door when we all he misses the board! When DD picks him up today, I am planning to go to the art show in town. They have it every year and anyone can submit a painting for consideration. I thought about it a few years ago with a picture I had painted, but the standard is so high now that I wouldn’t even think about it.
Well I suppose I had better think about getting everyone up, including myself! I will look in later.

Popping in to say good morning everyone.

I plan on making Christmas cakes today, if I can be arsed. I’ve been threatening to do them for three weeks now. I’m trying to muster some enthusiasm.

Bumbling in pyjama'd before I start my day. First on the agenda is seeing Minibaggs off to a Spanish school exchange (her peers in Spain think 24° is cold; the Scots are telling them er... no; March in Scotland is going to be a shock for them!).

Second agenda item is a craft fair on t'other side of the peninsula.

And then MrBaggs and I are going into Glasgow for a rendering of Scheherazade.

I also intend to eat some leftovers during the day: stewed mango, mashed potato, and brie all warmed up together ?

Help I am totally P****D off with Microsoft and particularly Mozilla Firefox.
They have both just lumbered me without any warning of new versions.
I have this idiot desktop from Firefox which OH has just managed to get me a usable screen with my Bookmarks in, but they are now all jumbled up.
I have wasted the whole evening just trying to get it into a fit state to use. I am afraid the air has been very blue. and if I was not cussing I would be crying.

Kitty I would very much like to read your son's book. Perhaps you could let me have the details? Keep strong and be kind to yourself

Ann I did not mean the last few years!

Time for me to log off.

Apparently our wayward car has been fixed. MacSporran to collect it tomorrow and return the car we were kindly loaned to it's owner. I dare not contemplate the cost of the repair. Hey ho!

PLEASE any of our Granspals on Facebook...will you please sign the petition against President Trump's decision to permit elephants to be shot for so-called "sport". I'm furious. He must be insane to even contemplate such a wicked thing.

We've visited our pal in the care home. He was in good spirits. That must take some doing when one spends almost the entire day and night in bed.

kitty I've made a note of your son's book. He sounds pretty amazing. His health hit a very bad patch but he has since adjusted remarkably well. I admire him.
MacSporran remembers Big John in Bradgate Park. My eldest son lives in Leicester. His brother lives in Oakham. My third son lives in Sussex.

JaneD3 I also loved playing at shops and stations with our youngest grandson. He too would sneak into the bedroom as early as 5:30 - face aglow in anticipation - with his games all ready for action.

granniequeenie I do like your photographs. I've sketched the scene of the trees and the colourful undergrowth. I've still to ferret out the paints and such. Once I do...it will be all systems go.

ann kitty's suggestion is well worth looking into.

Greyduster Old age seems so unfair. Just ten years ago, I was climbing ladders and had unbridled energy. Now that I'm 76 (far from ancient) I'm walking with the aid of an arm crutch and am inclined to be doddery and prone to falling flat on my face.

Ann I smiled when I saw the title of the book that you won!

When someone hurts our children they hurt us, too and, as a mother, we never forgive [at least, I know I don't!].Totally understand your hurt/anger kitty.

www.unforgettable.org/unforgettable-2-in-1-calendar-day-clock?source_ref=submenu_block_bestsellers_3/

Ann, would something like this help your DH? We hear good reports from carers.

I have a single D but I think she is too old at 52.
I would love for her to find a new partner before I die.
I am still in bed, I managed about 4 hours last night.
H got up and dressed at 12:30 am.
I hadn't gone to sleep.
He was mithering that the refuse bins weren't out. They don't need to be out until morning.
My S got up and put them out and we got him back to bed, then of course I couldn't get to sleep as I was listening for him getting up again.
My S has gone out now and my GD is coming round.
Kindest thoughts to kitty maw and everyone who needs them.

I'm feeling bit of a fraud really.

Matt's stroke was 10 years ago and he is doing well. Living a full and fulfilled life doing lots of voluntary stuff and going on City Breaks and even to stay with a friend America. He had been an English teacher and did an MA in Creative writing after he came home. He then wrote and self published his book.

Not sure what upset me yesterday really but there are people here suffering much worse things things and I didn't mean to have people feel sorry for me. It's not who I am really.

Now, I would like him to acquire a new wife if any one can help.

Kitty I’m sorry, I didn’t know about your son’s stroke. I hope the splint helps his hand. I can imagine how you must have been feeling yesterday. He must be very upset about his friend at the moment. Hope you yourself feel a bit better today.

I didn't live in Leicester then Nellie but DH remembers it fondly. I'm sorry I forgot that you and JaneD would also know Old John. I was a little fraught as you might have gathered! Sadly, Groby Pool has an iffy reputation nowadays. The museum also houses the Barrow Kipper!

JaneD could you smuggle in your own supplies?

Enjoy the Lake District gq. I'll pm the details of Matt's book.

Take care everyone and, again, thank you all for being lovely.

I am another Leicester native and know Old John and Groby Pool, Abbey park. The clock tower and the mummy in the New walk museum (whose toe was still poking out of the bindings when I last visited a few years ago.) I have never forgotten that.

Kitty and JaneD3 do you remember that lovely scale model coach in a case that used to be in the station entrance C 1950s?

Kittylester sorry to hear this latest difficulty for your son.
I was aware he'd had a stroke at a young age.

Sending you a rather belated (((hug)))

https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201711/medium-225281-2fcb3a31-8f49-4d46-8d98-c01e48250021.jpeg%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201711/medium-876602-ab8cab5a-f09c-45c8-8c59-4c0381bcfacb.jpeg%3C/span%3E

A hug from a friend, when offered at just the right time, is a wonderful gift indeed.
soop how on earth do you manage to look so glamorous while doing a spot of diy?
kitty, please could you let me know your son’s book title? He sounds like a courageous young man, no wonder your heart bleeds for him at times and bursts with pride at others. One of my dds works in a neuro rehab unit, she sees a lot of sadness but much to inspire as well.
Jane playing shops, oh I loved that stage with the littlies and do miss it now, but those early starts less so!
I had a list of jobs for today and tomorrow but when we woke this morning we realised that we both had 2 consecutive days free of volunteer or other commitments, quite unusual for us really. After looking at the weather forecast we decided that north was the better option. While I showered the old boy found a discounted b&b, well he is a Scot after all! So here we are in the Lake District after a pleasant sunny meander here. We’ll wander home tomorrow by a different route, in time to visit some local friends for a meal. So a real treat all round. There’s a picture you may enjoy n&g but charleygirl less so!
Wishing you all a pleasant evening and hugs too for those who are tender round the edges today.

Hugs and ? to Kitty. We Leicestrians must stick together! Nanny duties started at 5.30am - we were playing shops very quietly by 6. Little sister did a lot of screaming in the night so we did our best not to wake them. Oh for a glass of wine - best offer this week has been sugar free Ironbru. DiL saving me from myself

Soop you look the absolute business in those photos - do you want a job? I’ll sack the extremely scruffy old man that is doing it at the mo!

Thank you dear kitty xxx

Thank you all for being kind. I'm better now (more or less) but it's the silly things that get to me. It was sitting in the car park where they sorted out his very fancy wheelchair that did it today.

He hardly uses his wheelchair now, in fact only when he goes to the football as he is still unsteady on his feet and he would be swept away by the crowds otherwise. He has walked to the top of Old John (MacS will probably know about that if no-one else does!) but he should actually be taking small Anglo-Japanese children up, not thinking that he hads done well to get there.

I'll be off again if I don't stop.

I've been out for a cuppa with my loveliest friend and she distracted me for a good while and we talked about the parlous state of M&S when you need new trousers!!

Can I return the hug to those who are in need? I'm going to go away and cook now before I bring anyone else down. I know lots of people have bigger problems, Annie and Maw especially, but lots of people who have given me kindness and hugs today.

Soop, I'll pm you.

I am sending the best vibes I can muster to every one of you. It's dark and cold and the sea is crashing on the shingle beach. Time to log off until tomorrow.