Soop's friendly kitchen

I'm mucky from head to toe reek of TCP. The garden is a beast and I'm shattered from all the effort it has taken to clear a fraction of what needs attention. Sorry, no energy to spare. Please excuse the moan.
My thoughts are with ann and I hope to goodness that she is managing to recharge her batteries.

Care home visit in the morning. I shall pop in for catch up when I return.

Take care of yourselves.

Evening all,

Apologies, I haven't read all the posts and will have to catch up later this evening but just wanted to pop in to check on Ann.

This is one place where apologies are not needed Ann , life gives us highs and lows and everyone here shares both .

I for one wouldn't want you to think you can only share the good stuff ( although I enjoy reading it).

The render is done on the house , but we still have scaffolding but now we have the painters back in the lounge and dining room.

Thank goodness for some sunshine forecast as we will try and go out as much as we can , they are lovely young men and can be found sharing their lunch with Sam usually!!

Grampy's back is improved and he has an osteopath apt tomorrow but he is champing at the bit to mow the lawn and I have threatened to find a space under the patio if he tries ;-)

I'll try and read all the things Ive missed ( I'm sure there has been some good cake Ive missed !!) and catch up with you lot later x

Trust Sam to be friendly with anybody who will give him a crumb or two. I would not mind if that dog was not well fed but he is very well looked after.

It would appear that the worst is now over N&G and soon you will be able to enjoy the fruits of your labours.

soop please may I remind you that you are no longer 25! A jungle is very difficult to get into some semblance of order at any age.

ann sorry I've not been in the kitchen for a few days and have just read about your DH. I do hope he makes a good recovery (sounds as though he is in the right place) and your dear GD must be a blessing. You will all be in my prayers tonight.

Lona lovely to hear from you again. Thank you for the lemon drizzle.

baggs and izabella hope your backs improve soon. I misread your post at first baggs and thought you had hurt your back swimming. I was trying to think how you might have done that then I read about working in the garden and realised my mistake

I'm trying to keep my eyes open but it's a losing battle! I'm absolutely shattered after looking after my, not so little, 6 year old gd for half term plus inset day. She is a delight but it's very intense.
I'm suffering with dry eyes too, which I've had for a while without realising what it was. So, after stocking up with some medication from the optician, I'm hoping for a better sleep tonight.
I hope Ann is managing to get some sleep too. Maybe she'll have better news tomorrow.

All this gardening talk is getting me inspired. I had a mooch round the garden centre and bought some violas for my big trough as well as nasturtium seeds for some colourful pots. I may have lost my gardener who has recently had some work with the council, but at least I can manage my pots by myself. Take care Ann and get some R and R.

I`m back at last! We arrived home at 6pm, but there`s been so much to do that the laptop has only just come out. The actual sun may not have shone on Saturday, but it`s always sunny around Soop and MacSporran, so we had a lovely time, well, I did anyway. Sorry we didn`t call on Sunday Soop, but a it was pouring down we didn`t think it fair to inflict ourselves on you. Jenny pipped her horn on the way there, MacSporran was working in th garden, but lie you said, on our way back it was persisting down. Nevertheless, I hope you enjoyed the cake. We went to the George again on Sunday evening, and here`s the proof.
I'm so sorry to read your sad news Annsixty, but coming to it as late as this, I truly hope that there`s better news coming my way very soon. All my best wishes to you both, and to your lovely family.

PS, I love the pic of Torben and MacS.

Just popping in to see if there is any news from Ann. I imagine she is running hither and thither but, hopefully, having a good rest too. Back later.

I was also hoping for news of ann and her husband. Will check back this evening if I can.

Another sunny breezy day but not particularly warm. Apparently it will be like this all week- I could soon get used to it. So good not to have clothes drying in the kitchen 24/7.

25C forecast for Thursday, the one day I am indoors all morning at a meeting. Still with luck it will not be the only very warm day this year.

Lovely photograph of you and the girls, callgirl1 Relieved that you are now safely home. Next time, our treat!

I was hoping for news from Ann

A rather noisy care home visit. It's blissful to walk into the peace of our home.

A quick photo call from Teddy.

I shall call in after a wee tiddle in the garden. I do mean tiddle (as in tidy) and not widdle as in...

Lovely little Teddy ?

I've never heard of tiddling used in that way soop. Glad you explained or I'd be wondering why you were doing it in the garden

I've popped in to see if there is any news from ann too. I hope all the family including her DH are ok.

Lona I'm not surprised you are tired but I bet you had fun ?

Popped in to check on Ann, hope she’s not not run too ragged with it all. soop that boy is just delicious and very cuddle- able. Lovely photo of you and your family callgirl

Mustn’t linger here, I need to do a quick “tiddle” in the garden too - I promise there will be no widdling here either!!

soop is that young man ever on loan? He looks so happy and intelligent. Please do not overdo it in the garden (again!)

Just back from the longest two and a half hours for a long time.
My DH has made a really good physical recovery, he just needs help walking in case of a fall.
That apart he is totally away with the fairies. I was told yesterday that the second CT scan shows he has an evolving infarct, I made the mistake of googling that.
The speech therapist and OT came to see me, they would like him home as soon as possible, care will be put in place including all sorts of therapy, but they were blunt that at the moment he is too bad to benefit from it.
He will be assessed when he is home to see if there in any improvement.
That were not optimistic, the damage has been done it seems.
They both felt home surroundings may stimulate some slight improvement, enough to start working with him.
I think the alternative is care as he will not benefit from staying there.
You can imagine just how I feel, mostly resignation.

Awww! You lot are so kind.

Popped in to see if there was further news from Ann. She is on my mind.

Did a three hour session on the rockery and removed a lot of stuff that had died and a lot of stuff that we can live without. Extraordinary massive tufts of a spiky grass that has a mind of it's own. It thrives in the barest of soil and pops up all over the place. Four wheelbarrow loads have gone on a wee trip.

I was asked to do the ironing on Thursday of this week. I am now asked to do it tomorrow. I must away to wash my hair and every nook and cranny that is muddy and smelly.

I shall return tomorrow.

Oh Ann how sad you must be . I wonder how you would cope with him at home ?

annsixty I have just caught sight of your message. It is so good of you to take the time to keep us up to date. There is little that I can say, although I wish with all my heart that I could reassure you. You deserve to be held close by someone who loves you. Please try to rest if at all possible. You must be feeling drained of all energy. We are all rooting for you and your husband.

I can only echo what Soop has said, Ann, but you have been in my thoughts a lot today and will continue to be. Take care of yourself. ?

Oh Ann what sad news for you to receive. I’ve been thinking of you on and off all day. Please look after yourself and say yes please to any help you are offered to manage your dh at home.

Any chance of some rehabilitation in a care home on a short term basis?
Unless you have DS living with you, you could find it very hard indeed to cope (no reflection on you) but if OH. Does not recognise his surroundings and is at risk of falls, the potential for accidents is considerable.

I know how awful hospitals can be, but it is not being pessimistic to be realistic.
I don’t understand why they think he would not benefit from rehab or therapy in the stroke unit in hospital, are you sure they are not just passing the buck?
Good luck,

Sorry things are so difficult for you Ann. Do you think you can manage your DH at home? Are you physically capable of doing it with carers coming in? If you are not sure refuse to accept him coming home at the moment. The hospital do not want him to block a bed but you have rights too. Could a home visit be arranged with the OT for a hour or two to see what the problems would be? Could you make an appt with the consultant who is in charge of your DH to discuss his future care and take your DS and DD if possible? Don't let them rush you to make a snap decision. I wish you well. Take one day at a time. x