Soop's comfortable, cosy, friendly kitchen...

A good morning from West Wales where the grey and damp early morning is now giving way to..............sunshine!!!
A spirit lifter for sure and I certainly need a dose this morning!!!

You too by the sounds of it Greyduster.....whilst I am delighted to hear that at least you are no longer guilty about yoiur DH going into respite care Ann60.......and it gives you that much needed break to recharge those batteries again.Indeed yes hopefully the `Home has a cancellation list, because the end of august is too big a gap for your good self.
One big step taken and now knowing it works for you both,much relief I am sure.

A friend recenly had to place her Mum in a Care home and initially found she was losing far more clothes than gaining.........so she has now taken to the laborious task of adding name tags to all her garments and it saves losing them.So many things we learn on the way.

It seems our last lot of viewers are keeping an open mind until all viewings are complete...........so some hopes remain.

However my Hospital appointment was very disappointing and upsetting,nothing offered for the one overwhelming problem following on from my very first cancer...........but the E.R.C.P. I have just had successfully now denotes a major operation is needed to complete what has been started.Key hole surgery is out because of so many stomach scars,so this could be lengthy and extremely risky,but it could be essential.
I have been given 3 months to monitor the level of pain etc.
A very kind and thorough Consultant...........but I had hoped a summer slightly freed of all things medical.
At this age everything begins to look ominious!

Sounding much more pucker Charley so hope that what with a return to nourishment and much care from Tara life is now on the up mode...........my motto being the ever old......."One day at a time"

Well done mcem........thats the way to do it!!!!

Seems I am a bit of "The odd one out" here.......no little ones and photos to show, and now not a footie or tennis fan either...............but I am following avidly,enjoying and learning as I go along.....and ever grateful for soop for her ever kind welcome.....

Time to spread my wings I think......I have no excuse for being sombre when I read through all your many daily trials.

Until later folks,have a good day doing whatever takes your fancy.......perhaps a or with me???

I posted a long post on Good Morning sending commiserations to both Panache and Harrigran on their health issues and it disappeared into that place so many posts disappear.
I use this thread to wish them both very well.

My people watching skills are very highly honed.
I can predict with great degrees of accuracy who and what they are.
As I never get to know the facts ,I can't be wrong can I ??

ann, I know all about everyone too - me, judgmental - never. On the clothes thing - we (well I, my brothers are men obvs!) named everything with Mum's name, room number and the Home's number for her and she rarely wore her own clothes. I stopped stressing about it for exactly the same reasons as you have - she was happy and well looked after. I sat in Mum's room once watching as 2 ladies came in and looked through Mum's wardrobe as though they were clothes shopping and then one said to the other 'Why does this shop never have anything in my size?'

There are two 'Good Morning' threads again ann, [sigh] but I think I saw your post on one of them.

I'm sorry you had bad news panache but I admire your spirit with another op in the offing.

I'm glad you told your surgery what you thought, Maw. I hope it made you feel better!!

I'm so glad that England did well, GD, and we seem to be fielding much less of a team full of egos now. I do like that nice Gareth Southgate, he seems a really nice you man - I sound about 100 don't I? The team are a really good example to our young footballers. Though I did think the ref was playing for the other side!

I watched the end of the Andy game and thought he did really well but I wonder how long he can continue.

Slightly worrying news at our house - our big black cat has taken umbridge at the the new arrivals and only appears, twice a day, demanding food. We make a real fuss of him but he still gives us a filthy look and disappears again.

Off to Derby for the school run now - I may manage to get in again later. If not, gentle hugs to all he need them.

Morning all !!

Glad to hear the speech therapist apt went well Kitty . Both our big kids had speech issues although you would never notice now. Our GD has been away for a week at Camp and my daughter phoned me to tell me she didn't realise young Stevie never shuts up !!! Apparently he talks a lot to his sister lol .

Kudos to you Corner Queen of the Trampoline !!!

Sounds like you have a good, workable plan in place Ann , I hope that brings you some comfort . Although August is a long way away|!!!!

Sorry to hear of the issues Maw , its difficult on forums with a fluid population for people to keep up to date. That's why the Kitchen is so good, its very easy to keep things up to date here. Not that its any comfort but Im sure the person who asked just didn't know . Doesn't stop it being raw though eh?

Loved that tale about wardrobe shopping Kitty !

I don't understand the need to have 2 Good Morning threads, when one has done forever !! Bloody mindedness perhaps ?

I must share something that did make me laugh last night and hope it makes you lot chuckle too.

Jackson had a lesson at school about bodies ! They had 2 dolls to explain the difference between boys and girls ( don't get me started on why they need to do that for 6 year olds...that's a whole other story!!).

First of all the dolls were naked . Invoke huge laughter from all the children !!! They were NAKED!!!! ( As we are the proud keeps of three little boys I know the mere sight of a naked bottom invokes shrieks and pointing !! Imagine a class of 25!)

Anyway, on the way home Jackson had this conversation with his Mummy.

Jackson : You know my winky mummy...well it has another name...its a penis !!!!

Mummy : Well that's good to know . Do girls have penis too?

Jackson : No silly , girls have V Chinas !

THATS why 6 year olds don't need to know proper names LOL

Happy Days all !!

Hi all, great news I’ve just been with my DiL to see her consultant. He’s thrilled with her progress as is the whole team. There’s just a tiny tiny bit of cancer in her liver and that has shrunk considerably since her last scan. There’s no change in her bones. He’s confident that she will continue to make good progress as long as her body can tolerate the treatment. I got the impression that all the time the treatment is working she’ll be ok, but one day the treatment will cease to help but he felt that was a long way off. I haven’t visited the kitchen for a while, in my defence I haven’t had much contact with friends either. I just feel as if I can’t cope with any emotions at all. My DiL and my son seem to have recovered from all the trauma really well and are back being their normal happy selves. My son is more relaxed than he’s been in years. It’s only now that I feel a bit wobbly. All that raw emotion was horrible. Thank you all for your kind support and understanding. I may not post for a while I feel as if I just need to be ...well just be. (Hope that makes sense.)

Good afternoon all, from a chilly but (now) dry North West.
Please bear with me, but I need a moan. DH had medical appointment Monday, and as he has long term spine damage is full time wheelchair user. Taxi to and from appointment was so bumpy. He is still recovering and is spending nearly all day on pain relief meds that knock him out. So just about to start my 3rd afternoon effectively on my own.
Didn't think about how lonely it could be being a carer . . .
I try to fill my time, gardening, making crafts, sewing etc but just sometimes want to scream! Could scare the neighbours though.
No cure and not seeking answers just wanted a moan to a safe place. Cannot share with DDs as they will just worry about something that cannot be altered.
Oh well back to sewing x

Thank you for the update morethan! What wonderful news! You have held yourself together for so long that it's no wondering you are wobbly now. I am so chuffed so you must be over the morning.

Such a relief morethan.

Fabulous news Morethan ..... now breathe :-) and just be !!

So sorry you feel so isolated Maybelle ! Can I ask where in the world you are ? Maybe there’s some nearby Kitcheners who could visit for a cuppa ? What sort of crafts do you do?

We’re always here if you just want to let off steam or just chat. x

Wonderful news for you all morethan you can all breath easy for a while.
Commiserations to you and your H Maybelle it is indeed lonely being a carer.
I long for a decent conversation.

Indeed wonderful news morethan. Just be as you are for a bit, no rules.

I’m delighted your husband has been so accepting of respite ann, August does seem a long way away, with luck a cancellation. Look after yourself.

That does sound very isolating maybelle. Can you leave your husband for short times, perhaps for a coffee with a friend? Do come and chat with us as often as you want to.

Jackson is priceless, n&g, in fairness he did well to remember one term accurately. I can imagine the confusions shared amongst the 25. Poor teacher, interesting conversations ahead. .

You must be so disappointed after the hospital panache chin up, there will be sunny days to help you get through it and we’re always ready to listen.

Oh dear, cats with character sound a trial kitty and charley. They know which strings to pull. Hope the school run is trouble free kitty and keep eating charley.

Finished the cleaning this morning and now out of energy so a lazy afternoon ahead. Take care everyone.

It is mid afternoon and I have just this minute settled down. The morning's ironing was a mammoth task. My pal and her husband had enjoyed a mini-cruise and must have changed their clothing at least three times daily.

There is tennis for me to relax with and enjoy. I'm pleased to hear the good news of some of our Kitcheners, all of which is worthy of a toast for on-going good fortune.

N&G I'm laughing at Jacksons comment. Bless him, I loved his version of the female body part.

Panache The news isn't what you hoped to hear. I'm sad that you have more trauma to deal with. I would have thought that you've had more than your fair share of surgery.

I'm so sorry for those of you who are dealing with the feelings of isolation that are part and parcel of being a carer. I've not had to deal with anything of that nature. I admire your fortitude.

oldgoat Welcome back. You've been missing for far too long.

As for clothing that goes on walkabout in care homes...I have given M (the lady I visit) several gifts of scarves/slippers/costume jewellery. She has no idea where the gifts are. Someone else is enjoying the benefit. I suppose that it's to be expected,

Lovely news morethan
Enjoy the present and let the future take care of itself - remember bridges cannot be crossed until you come to them.
Maybelle I know only too well where you are at. You have my fullest sympathy and understanding.
Not a lot you can do except (if you will excuse the acronym) KBO.

Apologies for not commenting on a number of messages. I felt rather tired when I sat down this afternoon. I watched some tennis and now I need to do other stuff aboot the hoos. I have a free day tomorrow. Bliss. I shall call into the kitchen in the morning.

Wishing one and all a pleasant Wednesday evening, Here is the view from the window earlier today.

This morning's view through the window.

Sorry, the photo didn't appear to upload at first.

Thanks to everyone for kind and supportive words. I try my hardest to be positive most of the time, just got caught out today by a low spot.
Not really able to leave DH as he relies on me to transfer from wheelchair etc. and tends to fall, but DDs are great at taking us out. think I could write the definitive coffee shop and garden centre guide for the area...

on a positive note managed to start making a Temari ball (wrapped thread round a ball to make geometric patterns) realised there is enough boredom in my life already so stopped and read a book instead. not often I get stuck with crafts but there are limits!

soop great view from your window.

good wishes to all who post, too many to name just now.

maybelle can you get a carer to come in and sit with DH so you can get out. You need to look after yourself so you can look after him.

Our baggs made some fabulous tamari balls a while ago. I am in awe of people who are artistic or crafty. I'm good at chatting to people -not quite the same somehow!!

just read your post kitty and having never heard of tamarin balls I made the association between that and baggs and thought ah ha something to eat not that I'm always thinking of my stomach it wasn't till I go at to the arts and crafts bit that I realised I might be wrong

The ones Baggs made are truly amazing. I looked up the technique and decided I wouldn’t know where to start!

kitty the patterns used /made in tamari balls are fantastic. Love looking at them. Full of admiration for those who have infinate patience to create them.
Think I will reuse the polystyrene ball formers as felting bases. Something quite satisfying about endlessly stabbing a needle into an inanimate object !

`Morning Kitchen people.

Seems I have a lot to learn...........tamari balls has truly got me googling..........indeed a completely new word and idea for me..........how exciting to learn of a new craft this early in the morning.
So a big thank you ladies for educating me and I can understand now what you mean Maybelle by saying there is something rather satisfying from endlessly stabbing a needle into an inanimate object!!!!
Might be a great way to relieve pent up tension................now you are getting me hooked!

Whilst I hope you now realise you have a safe place to unload when that stress gets too much.............and lonliness from being a carer enters in.

Such understanding within these kitchen walls I have found and then when feeling down in comes our soop with one of her masterpieces .........by her own fair hand or camera..........and that shot from your window soop is truly what dreams are made of.............I am still drooling!!!

Time to stop the drooling,work needs to be done!!!

https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201806/medium-790549-b5dc979a-b731-4a18-82da-884f47986d93.jpeg%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201806/medium-506426-af71e249-10ea-4cc1-9786-9257f95b0fef.jpeg%3C/span%3E

Hello, the kitchen. We had a spectacular sunset last night so I thought I would post a picture or two.

morethan I am extremely pleased to hear the news about your DiL, and that you can all start moving forward again ?.
Panache you are by no means “The odd one out" here.......no little ones and photos to show, and now not a footie or tennis fan either”. There are no odd ones out in the kitchen, or on GN and I love to read your posts (we could spend eons just talking about West Wales, could we not?). I am not a tennis fan either, I’m afraid, and only keep up with professional football so that I will understand what GS is banging on about! I am sorry that the news about your ongoing health problem was not what you hoped for.

Maybelle we all have our low spots. It helps to be able to offload on here when the need arises. As Maw says, KBO!

N&G it will be stuck in my mind under that name forever now!! . Out of the mouths of babes!

We had gone to bed last night and just dropped off to sleep when my phone rang. It was a video call from my dear son, who is on holiday in Croatia. “Why are you calling me so late?” I complained (gently). “I’m not”, he said, “it must have gone off in my pocket, but as you’re on, we might as well have a chat.” So there were his father and I, sitting in bed in our night clothes (fortunately!!) for all to see! I was most embarrassed. I don’t know what it is with my children and their phones. I frequently get calls from DD and when I pick them up she will say “Oh it must have gone off in my pocket!” I said to my son that one ever phones us, and when they do, it’s an accident!
Well I must get on, we are supposed to be going out. I will get nowhere at this rate! I will look in later.

Greyduster, that’s hilarious ?

Oh I hate the idea of video calls/Skype/face time etc
Yes I am thrilled to see the DGCs but less so at the aged crone in the corner of the screen!
Who on earth wants to transmit a close up of their wrinkles, jowls, hair like a bog brush and enough chins to start the National Collection ???