Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen...

NanaandGrampy Young Jackson has your creative flair. His smile is contagious. Every time I look at his photo I "out loud" as Torben would say.

More buggerations here- I have been without WIFI access since lunchtime yesterday abut I am now back in business. What a performance but at least it was a task that for once did not cost me any money.

Somebody passing himself off as my husband has been trying to access my Plusnet and also my Morrisons account. I am 99.9% certain I know who it is but I am thankful that I have changed my email address everywhere except here.

The Plusnet man wanted to speak with Mr. C as the account has been changed to his name. I said that Mr. C was dead, easier than explaining that he is alive but dying slowly in Spain. The trials and tribulations of my life.

it was very cold early am so I kept Tara indoors but the sun is out and marginally warmer now so she has gone out.

Thanks all for letting me know which phones you have. I have 3 handsets with an answerphone and advanced nuisance calling, with BT. I also only had to input names once as the handsets spoke to each other. Panasonic appears to be the one of choice. At least I do not need to buy new handsets today but it is good to have it all sorted so that it will be a quick purchase.

I had to let Amazon know of my email address change and what a performance, it took one hour, spoke with 3 people on the phone but at least it is now sorted. I almost needed a lie down afterwards but it was immediately after that my WIFI connection decided to have a long holiday.

Maw that is a beautiful photo of that gorgeous dog. I certainly need a weekly fix, realising that I cannot have a daily one. She is merely resting her eyes.

MacSporran has an appointment in Campbeltown hospital with a very friendly scalp zapper...all manner of bothersome growths are almost painlessly removed from the top of his head with a gadget that freezes them. MacS grits his teeth, I'm told. There is one unsightly protuberance that the general surgeon removes every six months or so. It's benign, or it has been thus far. Then he has a paste to plaster on. It causes a rash which disappears in a short time.
During his appointment, I'm going to visit our friend in the care home. The friend whose wife is in hospital having had hip surgery.
When we were visiting him last Friday, he asked where would he be living when he is discharged from the care home. The likelihood of that is happening is zilch but we all try not to dampen his spirits by telling him so. He suggested that he could live in a caravan! His wife had told him often over the last three years that he has a home, with her. He forgets and asks the same question frequently. We photographed their cottage inside and out. Printed photos. He will have them by his bedside and see for himself that he does indeed have a home.

Charleyg An enormous tender hug is winging to you from me. I feel your frustration. I am also concerned to hear that someone is trying to infiltrate one of your accounts. Please report this somebody. Otherwise us lot will be over to your place in a charra...and we'll see to it that the pretender is taught a lesson. One he wouldn't forget!

thanks soop the problem is I have very little information- a telephone number and the town he lives in.

I had tried reporting the first load of clowns to Trading Standards but they did not want to know because I had little information and the little I had was not true.

At least I can now stick my head in my new working electric oven!

Charleyg Okay! Stick your head into your new electric oven - but only to marvel at it's pristineness. I'm afraid ours, 'though not manky, is not worth looking into.

I am told soop that you can safely tell a dementia patient what they want to hear, what makes them happy as it is likely to be forgotten anyway.
Sad morning, and feeling very tearful. All I did was tidy Paw’s cufflinks into a separate box and throw out all the plastic collar stiffeners men get with their shirts, but touching and pairing up his cufflinks is reducing me to a snivelling jelly and I can’t stop
I am going to go out for a cup of coffee and a toasted tea cake with a friend in 45 minutes or so - in a public place I should be OK
But oh dear - the bleakness of it
Might also be connected with a poor night - there is so often a link.
Oh dear, good wishes to all, hope you are all a bit more y than me.

Minibaggs got her first uni offer today ?. Unconditional. I gather that unconditional offers can be a problem outside of Scotland but here such offers are based on actual results of Highers exams rather than projected A-level results.

Maw - you obviously had a very loving marriage. Poor nights do make sad things worse. Wish I could find the words to say more.
Baggs exciting times, what subject(s) does your daughter want to study?

Maw I have no wise words, but I send you an arm around the shoulder. Let the tears flow.
N&G love the picture of young Jackson - he deserves a crown for being the King of Smiles!
Soop I hope MacS’s treatment with the scalp zapper goes okay tommorrow. I have had a couple of lesions removed by laser around my hairline. It is not the most comfortable of procedures. Tell him I’ll be pleased to come and hold his hand! ?.
I cleaned my oven yesterday - it must have been dark in the kitchen when I did it ! It has not been improved by the fish pie I just cooked leaking it’s filling.
Charley our wi-if seems to drop out fairly often these days. I have been looking at the PlusNet ads. Are they any good?
Well I went on a rare (for me) shopping trip today to buy a new swimsuit. After staring at myself in various changing room mirrors I am shocked at how much muscle tone I seem to have lost recently. We don’t have a full length mirror at home (If I had my way, we wouldn’t have any!) and so I don’t get the ‘big picture’ very often. Bits of me look like they are made out of crepe paper!! But hey, I am no spring chicken so I should not complain. At least I managed to find a swimsuit that looked reasonable on me (if you don’t look too close!).
Off shortly to take DH to the football ground and then I will spend a couple of hours at DD’s house until it is time to pick him up. Parking is a nightmare so it makes sense to do it this way - and he can have a pint. He deserves it for listening to my shopping instigated tales of woe!
Good night one and all!

Baggs tell minibags very well done indeed. As Fennel rightly says, exciting times!

Maw Reading about your reactions to sorting through Paw's possessions makes me feel like weeping. I KNOW beyond a shadow of doubt that if I should I survive MacSporran, I shall be inconsolable. Please continue to share your feelings with us. If we could do more to help, we surely would.

Good news for MiniBaggs. Such adventures beckon. I cannot help but feel a tad envious.

Our car has been "sorted" and is back in the drive. We await a hefty bill in due course. It's always better to think that it will be an eye watering amount - and trust that we'll be pleasantly surprised.

Our friend asked me to attach the photos of his home to the wall opposite his bed. He is thrilled. He remembers it well! That is a bonus.

His wife will travel home tomorrow by taxi/ambulance tomorrow. We shall be there to welcome her. I have ironing duties for another friend to attend to after breakfast. MacSporran will wait in her home for her arrival. I should have finished the ironing in time to join him to welcome her home. She's a star! Have a card that says so.

Log off time. I shall return sometime tomorrow afternoon. Take good care of yourselves. .

Hello everyone. I haven't been in the kitchen for a catch-up for a while. Had my DB funeral last week and have been busy helping my dear SIL sorting things out.

Hello happychops love your name. You sound a very smiley person.?

corner so sorry to hear about your family troubles. I do hope things work out for the best for all concerned but must be a sad time for you.

soop lovely painting as usual. Do hope you get to do one of the lovely hattie. Hope all goes well for MacSporran in Campbeltown tomorrow. Is that where you usually have fish and chips? Either way I think the poor man will need a sustaining drama when he gets home to warm him up after having his head frozen ?

maw sorry you had a bad night and sad morning today. Hope your outing with your friend takes your mind off things even if it's only for a little while (hug)

Well done minibaggs! I bet she's excited (to say nothing of mum and dad baggs ?)

charleygirl sorry about your buggerations. It always seems to take ages to change accounts these days. Hope your wifi doesn't add to your troubles.

ann, glad you enjoyed your Miller and Carter meal. We have one near us and have enjoyed a number of good meals there.

It's now well past yardarm time so I have just opened a nice bottle of Rioja which I will leave on the table. Please help yourselves if you would like to join me in a wind down ??

Many congratulations to Minnibags, exciting times indeed.

Lack of sleep is a trip hazard maw, a hug from me when needed. The small things have huge impact.

charley I agree, you should tell someone. Why not let the police and your bank know what has been happening. Doesn’t matter if you only have a tiny piece of information, it’s a ‘just in case’ to protect you. If you have passwords for your email then best to change them. Again ‘just in case’.

A busy day for you tomorrow soop, wishing your friend an uneventful return and for you a small bill for your car.

That was a wonderful crown n&g, the grin is contagious.

Best be off. Hiding from food time for a reluctant Littlest. There are enough interferingencouraging adults.

Dram not drama . I wonder what a sustaining drama would be? ?

I'm sorry you've had a sad day Maw - wish we could help.

Well done to minibags baggs - you must be a proud mum. It's all that pizza!

gd DH has gone to football with DS. I don't think we are playing you. Because of DS'S disability, they sit in the corporate area so their season tickets include parking very close, for which I am very grateful or I would be doing your trips too.

Love the bejewelled crown n&g. I don't need the boulder at the moment as the Idiot becomes a grandfather today - that'll upset his ego!!!!

Enjoy the clean cooker Charley - they don't last long like that here! I'm sorry that you are having a lot of buggeration - it must be someone else's turn now - just not me please.

I said, upthread, that you are a good neighbour, soop and MacS must be included in that. I hope his zapping isn't too painful for him. As far as your friend is concerned the advice is distraction is key! Never lie, as s*d's law says that's the random bit of info the person will remember. Photos of his home are a lovely thing reminder. Sorry about your car bill - that is a buggeration.

Back tomorrow. I hope you all have pleasant evening and a good sleep, especially Maw.

Maw x

Greyduster I have been with Plusnet for well over 5 years now and have a really good deal. I never pay more than £20 a month. I have only been in touch twice or three times and there is a contactable phone number and a person living in this country who is to date so helpful. I cannot bear these overseas call centres when I cannot understand a word that is said.

I also got my DVD recorder repaired this pm. The fellow said it had not been tuned or wired correctly- maybe but it has done me proud for over 2 years so there could not have been that much wrong with it. It is now working for which I am very grateful although it was an expensive exercise. I may change my name to moneybags. More in keeping with my situation.

I must watch a couple of series I recorded and have not watched because the next time the recorder will be visiting the knacker's yard if I do not beat it to it.

Kitty Everything that goes into my new oven will be doubly protected- there will not be any spills! Cleaning ovens is not my forte and never has been. Such a pity I have never learned to clean it after each use. I can manage the hob, why not the oven? Answers on the back of a postage stamp please.

N&G young master Jackson always looks such a happy boy- a lovely smile.

Baggs you should be so proud of mini baggs- she is really growing up is she not?

corner I think it is a bonus that I have changed my email address. as that person does not have access to it. I have so little information and the phone which I gave him is a PAYG one.

soop I also hope that the zapping is not too painful.

It will be lovely to see a painting of Hattie- she is such a beautiful girl.

Maw I hope that you enjoyed the time out with your friend, temporary, but it took your mind of the very personal things at home. Hugs from me and Tara.

Baggs - well done Minibaggs. It seems no time at all since she was off to secondary school. Doesn't time fly!
Maw, it's a hard time for you and losing sleep doesn't help. Are you taking anything for it? If all else fails, a wee dram might be effective.

Thank you, soopers. Yes, the last six years seem to have gone very fast, anno!

fennel, she's planning to read psychology though at the moment her long term aim is to be a teacher of English at secondary level—complicated plans; I'm keeping out of it except to nod wisely (well, the wisely bit might be wishful thinking).

crafting, I love the expression "DadBaggs". I think I might have to adopt it and ditch MrBaggs ?

Hope all goes well tomorrow, soop & macsporran. DadBaggs had a thing (some kind of cyst) removed from beside his nose recently. He was quite worried about it but it turned out to be benign.

I'll second the wee dram approach, maw. A occasional nightcap might help with sleep even if not with cufflink episodes ?

Hello to the kitchen. Sorry to have been absent for a few days, but haven`t had a lot of spare time lately.
Maw, many hugs x
Soop, best homecoming wishes to your friend, and I hope that MacS`s zapping goes well. Love the rainbow and the owl.
Last Thursday night, at just after midnight, the phone rang, it was one of my grandsons telling me that his mum was in hospital. Apparently she played in a darts match on Wednesday night, but started to feel poorly, then got home and was in such a lot of pain that she could hardly move. My grandson slept out at his girlfriend`s, so didn`t know until he arrived back from work on Thursday, and he took her straight to A&E, from where she was admitted. It turned out that she had pneumonia, which has turned into pleurisy. On Friday morning, my grandson was woken by a loud bang, went into his dad`s room to find that he`d fallen, banged his head on the radiator and knocked himself out! Failing to bring him round he called an ambulance, so both he and my daughter were in hospital then! Although still in pain, she` gone home today, with instructions to sit down and do nowt for at least 2 weeks, her husband will be kept in for a while, he`s on the dementia ward.
Today, after months of being pestered by daughter 2 to go to the doctors about my breathlessness, I went today. He listened with the stethoscope back and front, then said it wasn`t COPD which I`d expected after living all those years with a 60 a day man, but instead he thought it was to do with my heart. He sent me to the nurse for an ECG, then back to him , to be told that I have an irregular heartbeat, a heart murmur. H`s arranging for a heart x-ray, blood test and a scan. So now that`s me AND the cat with heart murmurs, lol!
Sorry about the saga!

Blimey callgirl, that’s a lot for you to digest. My guess is you are more worried about your family than yourself. I hope your daughter will follow advice and rest and her husband return home speedily. You have a resourceful and sensible grandson that’s for sure. Please do look after yourself, you can’t care for your family unless you do. Or that’s what I am told when I’m overdoing things. I’m wondering if the heart rhythm is atrial fibrillation, it seems to be really common in my friends and all seem to be able to do what they want with it, or indeed in spite of it, hope yours settles very soon. You’ve had quite a time, hope you can sleep well.

Thank you Cornergran. I`ve been very breathless for quite a while now, at least a year, but don`t like to think I`m being a nuisance patient, so rarely go to the doctors. I`m actually hoping that my SIL is kept in hospital for a good bit longer, the way my daughter is right now there`s no way that she could look after him, he`s hard work, and violent as well occasionally.

A lot to be concerned about for your daughter. Could the hospital be made aware if discharge is mentioned? Families can worry us so much, especially if we can’t directly help. I hope you are able to sleep. I seem to have an over active brain tonight, can’t seem to find the off switch ?. Wishing you all well.