Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen...

morethan you have a basinful to cope with again and I am sorry that your DiL has had a setback. I hope it is something that they can get her over, and soon. And you have the added worry of your son, too. It never rains but that it pours. My heart goes out to you and your family and I will keep you in my thoughts. There is no need to change your name for us - we understand.

Sorry your DIL has had a setback morethan would I be right in thinking it is connected to her immune system being down on account of the chemo?

And your poor son too, rubbish luck for him.
I am looking forward to having my spirits lifted by Matthew Bourne’s Cinderella in Birmingham tomorrow with DD and DGS 1. Felt low today because I came across Paw’s notebook with his notes from the Philosophy class he went to last year. Just seeing his writing was very poignant.
However, some good friends had asked me over for lunch so I had other things to occupy my mind.

morethan sorry to hear about your DS and DIL. Sometimes all these things coming at once seem too much to cope with. Hope they both improve quickly and you get some relief from your worries

Morning everyone. Just wondered if this sort of thing impacts others or if it’s just me being daft. Had a quick trip out yesterday afternoon to a garden centre and came a cats whiskers close to being involved in a serious rta on the way back, We talked about it with sadness for those involved, how lucky we were not to be a fraction earlier. I didn’t mention it here. Seemed no need, especially as the garden centre was ‘rubbish’ as our young ones say. Last night I just couldn’t sleep for thinking about the what might have been. Not for the potential harm to us but the impact on the family. It’s just daft, we’re fine, and I’m both tired and grumpy this morning.

Hope you were able to sleep morethan, Your plans for today sound just right mawb, I’m sorry there was an unexpected tripwire yesterday.

Not much happening here today, a bit of catch up and I think some reading in the warm. Take care everyone.

Morning everyone. Yes I do think it’s entirely normal that after seeing a distressing incident makes us feel unsettled and be upset for those involved even complete strangers. I hope your mind settles down soon cornergran
Your right Maw my DiL infection is because of her suppressed immune system. I’ll find out more when I return home. I know that she has regular treatment to support her immune system along with all the other medications. She’s lost massive amounts of weight lately and that’s worried me, but then if she so much sneezes I worry. I haven’t heared any more from my other son apart from he’s in hospital awaiting a scan. It’s cold this morning so everyone keep warm if you can.

Thank you morethan. I think I doubted myself as Mr C slept soundly all night. . You’ve such a lot to deal with just now, I hope understanding more of what is happening with your daughter in law and your son will help you. I’m full of admiration for your ability to wait. I’m a ‘need to know’ person and find the hardest time is waiting to understand. Take care of yourself as well as the family.

Corner we have very few tools now...mind you an amazing amount of damage can be done with a simple screwdriver in the he wrong hands! Very early on in our marriage I had a basic food mixer which stopped working, it was still under guarantee but the young boy as he was then insisted he could mend it. He couldn’t, nor could he put it back together again . When I took it to the Philips repair shop, the man looked in the carrier bag I’d handed over and recorded “condition of item” on his form as “in pieces”! That was circa 1970, I think I knew them how things were going to go! I can really understand the accident you passed unsettling you like that. I’ve been wobbling all week since hearing about a young mum I know who’s had a cancer diagnosis with a really poor prognosis. She’s younger than all my girls, it’s made me want to hug mine all the closer.

grey I laughed out loud at the blue tack incident, it just sounded so much like something that could happen here. Hope you’re feeling better after the uti malarkey, they really pull you down these things.

morethan you have such a lot to concern you just now with your family, what a roller coaster of emotions. I hope you’re able to get some space for looking after yourself in the midst of it all. Thinking of you

Well I hope the weather is better where you all are, it’s miserable, wet and cold here at dd4’s so there goes the plan of a good walk and a substantial pub lunch to follow!

Hello the kitchen! The cake is finished and the icing topper was easier to fit than I thought it would be, the men have gone off to the football and I am immersed in peace and quiet for a bit. I have GS’s presents to wrap and then I can throttle back until later this afternoon.
It has been lovely to have DS here, but he has veered between being his usual very amusing, affable self to being tetchy and unfathomable. When he is in the latter mood he is not the easiest person to live with but it seems he has a lot going on in his life at the moment that would have that effect on the best of us.
corner we have had a couple of very near misses, the consequences of which do not bear thinking about and, yes, they do prey on your mind for a long time afterward. “There, but for the grace of God....” and all that. I hope you can settle soon.
I will look in later. Off to take my antibiotics and put my feet up for five minutes.

I really do love you lot and wish to goodness that you would take pity on the likes of this little old lady who is forever trying her best to play catch-up.

My heart goes out to morethan and her family. I'm also thinking comforting thoughts on behalf of Maw and Greyduster grannyqueenie and corner. It is perfectly natural to empathise with the distress of others.

Greyduster I've recently completed the umpteenth course of antibio's for recurring UTIs. Be kind to yourself and allow your husband to pamper you for the duration.

I am constantly thinking of N&G at this most trying time. Did their solicitor not check the likelihood that planning permission was being sought for a development on "their field"?

Corner, those sorts of things appear as if from no where just as I'm about to drop off. It's horrid isn't. My DH would be snoring his way through it!! Ggggrrrrr!!

Have a super day Maw

morethan you have morethan enough to cope with. And, you appear to have lots of patience - I'm like corner, I want answers so I can start to sort things out!! It drives my family mad as I keep asking questions and saying 'What if you did....'. I hope your DiL gets back home quickly.

Hope you are not wearing any old coats GD. That is a wonderful description - did you make it up?

I should be making a chocolate cake really but can't summon the energy! We have DD2 and her two daughters coming for a few days as it's half term. I think she feels that her girls miss out on Ma and Pa attention as she lives so much further away so she comes for a few days every holiday. It's lovely and I try to spoil her a bit - hence the chocolate cake!

I might not be back till Wednesday!!

kitty As you say, from your perspective there was a good RESULT! I can well imagine your glee. Well disguised, naturally. The paprika chicken sounds delicious. A right royal treat!

Afternoon all,

A brief visit from me as I now have the company of the lovely Laura for 5 days ! She’s a dream, tonight at her request we are having an early valentines dinner that Grampy is cooking for us girls ! She has selected steak and all the usual accompaniments . Great taste !

Tomorrow Grampy is teaching her to make a Sunday roast with all the trimmings. And this afternoon we have a masterclass in Victoria Sandwiches !! It’s all about the food here.

Sorry to hear about your DiL Morethan , hope she feels better quickly.

I think our solicitor didn’t pick up the field issue because no planning permission has been submitted yet , it’s all speculative . However, I shall be rallying all you lot ...... we need placards , a song and obviously a nice picnic !!

Time to go, cake timer going off!!

Ps Laura found a hat she thought suited her !!

kitty We look forward to hearing about your family visit once you've eaten most of the chocolate cake. We'll volunteer to tidy away any leftovers.

soop I asked that question but it may have been missed as the kitchen has been so busy. If there are new builds on their field I feel that the solicitor has a lot to answer for because this is something which was not dreamed up overnight.

I believe that tomorrow may be even colder-what have we done to deserve that? I doubt if Tara will allow me to have a lie in.

Waitrose beckons.

The lovely Laura has your smile, Nana. I hope that her visit helps to lift your spirits sky-high.

Charleyg It's wet, wet, wet in bonnie Kintyre. Tomorrow will be cold, cold and even colder. Hey ho! Such is life. A gentle tickle under the chin for Tara, from me.

corner, you have my sympathy. I was involved in a near miss years ago, on the A1, near to Catterick. If there hadn't been enough space for me to swerve off the road (no hard shoulder on that stretch), I'd have hit a vehicle inexplicably stopped in the middle of the road. As it was, at least two other vehicles were damaged. I was a shivering wreck when I arrived at my friends' house for much needed tea and sympathy. The police subsequently rang me for a report which I was just about able to give!

RTA's the stuff of nightmares, so sorry for the people involved but also for those who witness it and the aftermath.
Sad your Dil has had a setback Morethan I hope she can soon get back to where she was and stay there.
It is so worrying for you all.
I have had a rare treat this morning, I was invited to the cinema with my 2 "sort of" GC.
We went to a new cinema complex in part of Stockport's regeneration, a comples with leisure facilities and eating places.
Stockport badly needs redelopment!!
We saw Paddington Bear 2, such fun and lots of stars , I really enjoyed it.
An early Valentines dinner for us tonight, M&S dine in, steak and chips with profiteroles for dessert.

soop it is the same in London- very heavy rain and tomorrow, like your neck of the woods, colder with the possibility of snow.

I went to Waitrose for 30 minutes and in that time my Amazon parcel arrived, but luckily it fitted either through the cat flap or the slim letter box and a friend rang but left a message. Naturally now that I am home nobody will contact me unless by email.

ann that was an unexpected surprise this morning- pleased to hear that you enjoyed it. Your supper is right up my street- I hope that you are having a glass or two of wine with it.

I was planning a welly wander round the garden but then it started pouring again so I "did a Soop", i.e. cleaned and tidied a kitchen cupboard. Well, two when it came down to it what with a bit of reorganising. As you do.

ann Your treat sounds right up my street. How lovely for you. Tonight's early Valentine meal ticks all the right boxes. I also hope that you'll enjoy a glass of "cheeky red". When you are happy, us lot

anno Your near miss on the A1, made me go all goose bumpy. I seem to be haunted for a very long time when I witness scenes from a road accident.

Charleyg Sod's law...

I'm away to watch a little rugby. Not that I really care which team wins this afternoon's game. Tomorrow afternoon...that's a very different story. Scotland versus France. Thankfully, Greg Laidlaw is back on the team. I have a crush on him.

Baggs Tyke!

Pleased to report a totally uneventful day here and equanimity is restored. Thank you all for the reassurance. Your experience sounds terrifying anno, we just needed to stop quickly. It has been pouring here all day too which hasn’t had me smiling, feels like a personal insult.

Sorted some admin with Mr C, he really does need to understand how the systems and ‘stuff’ work. Easier to let me do it but in my view potentially storing up problems so every now and again I glare until he gives in. Other than that have done almost nothing. Certainly no cupboard tidying, oh well, always tomorrow.

Did the cake get made kitty? If not I’m sure no one will mind. Have fun, I do understand it’s tiring though.

Sounds a superb morning ann, pleased for you. The steak will be replicated here for Mr C. I’ve chosen something more to my taste. Red wine for him, white for me - it’s a wonder we ever agree in anything .

More steak n&g? Wish I liked the stuff, life would be easier at times. Laura looks happy, the hat suits her. She sounds excellent company, you’ll have fun I know. Try not to worry about the field. There’s a long way to go and we’ll be ready to march when needed. Seriously I’m sure there will be much local opposition, you won’t be alone.

That sort of thing is universal I think charley: turn your back and someone wants you. Good job the parcel was a small one. Our Amazon delivery driver taps in the door and walks away immediately, we invariably have to chase him.

Any photos of the cake greyd? I plan to check Waitrose offerings for our two family birthdays later in the month . Hope the antibiotics are doing their stuff.

The food mixer made me laugh, grannyq, maybe I just need to hide anything that makes holes and all should be well here. That is indeed sad about the young woman, I totally understand the desire to hold those dear to you just a bit closer.

I’m hoping for the promised dry day tomorrow to get out. Fingers crossed here. Stay warm and well everyone.

I've started the fox portrait and watched the first half of the rugby match. Time to read the newspaper, and at nine o'clock, I shall have a glass of red wine.

Wishing you all a peaceful evening. Those of our Granspals in need of support will remain in our thoughts. I shall return tomorrow.