Soop's comfortable and friendly kitchen...

I waited patiently for rain al evening but it eluded my neck of the woods. I am not sure what I will do next week when the T is supposed to reach 33C. Gone are the days when I am sitting with a blanket wrapped around me- I even have the French doors wide open.

Panache please get the pain sorted- I am more than well aware what chronic pain is and it does get you down from time to time.

N&G where have the years gone?I did not realise that little beauty was old enough for senior school.

corner I also have to be able to open my car door fully to be able to get in or out- this is where my blue badge helps.

Your neck of the woods sounds gorgeous- I quite fancy coffee and cake watching the world go by near the sea and before the tourists arrive. Not that I should be eating cake having lost another kilo within 2 days.

Morning all!

Quick pop in as I am on nursing duties !

Just wanted to share a photo of the queen of our universe... her mum made her a memory bear out of old school uniform as she leaves primary school for secondary .

I’m off to catch up on all of you.

Back laterxx

Just popping by to check everyone is sort of hale and hearty although fully aware we all have a share in the aches and pains brigade.

Lovely sharing in some of your pictures from your break GQ......they really have made my mouth water......and I hope this last day,which always comes around far too soon,turns out another fun filled day.

Seems you are very much a beach comber GQ.......and I rather suspect much the same of you Greyd and Corner.........hearing your various references to the seaside.So much history there if you dig deep or chance upon walking along after a storm in particular.I think I was born half a mermaid!!

Schools breaking up and as sadly all too normal, the wet weather co incided with just that...........yes the heavens opened at midnight but the heavy rain lasted but a mere 15 minutes,some gentle rain followed, but this morning it is clearing up,looking brighter already.

Such a wealth of activities all over the county,our visitors are indeed spoilt for choice.

So still a slow BB Corner........most annoying,since the engineer called and exchanged a certain socket we have returned to rather good reception,better than it was originally,so here`s hoping you can get yours sorted in a similar fashion.

You will certainly have your hands full there cleaning up "The murder scene" GreyD...............that sort of stuff seems to get just everywhere.Probably the effort is as good as any physio you are likely to get!!
Did I hear you mention you are off to Cornwall later.......what a traitor!!!!

Thanks Kitty, GQ and Corner for your kind thoughts,my issues are long standing and I tend to ignore for most of the time and get a grip.......but every now and then the pain truly intervenes, and thoughts of the dreaded Surgery looms large...............I guess I shall survive!

Hoping,just hoping you are making full use of your little break Ann..........enjoy every last sip of whatever is on offer!

Hi Charley......hope all is well there with you.

I think that will be it for now,that quick visit always turns into that little more!!!
Have a pleasant weekend,and may the gentle rains fall!

What a lovely lot of sea glass, Gq. I spend most of my time on a beach with my head down looking for it. Having said that, you’re more likely to find it if you aren’t looking for it - then it seems to hit you in the eye. I’m told the North East coast is a good place for it. We are off to Cornwall in just over a week, but I suspect there will not be much time for beachcombing! GS is adding activities to our itinerary on almost a daily basis !
Maw make the most of Flynn while he is at this lovely stage. I was looking at some video clips of GS when he was about the same age, ‘helping’ grandad fill some flower pots with compost in the garden. He had a tiny trowel and never quite managed to get any in his pot, but he was having a whale of a time.
Baggs I am glad you have recovered your equilibrium. I have always had this mental image of you as the epitome of calm, rationality and infinite good sense. Your post quite burst my bubble but, given the circumstances, it was perfectly understandable!
I am planning for a quiet day today. I have to give the kitchen floor a thorough wash, having spilled beetroot juice all down the cabinets and onto the floor yesterday while trying to get the stuff out of the packet. It looked like a horrible murder had been committed so I enhanced it a bit by screaming which brought DH running and he panicked big style until he saw it was a prank - and then I got into trouble! “That is definitely not funny! I could have had a heart attack! I thought you were dying!” Oops!
I will catch up with you all later.

Evening All. It turned into a good day here. Caught up with some of the dreaded admin, persuaded BT to visit on Monday to look at our more than slow internet connection and kept the builders happy before setting off to look at a boat festival for a couple of hours. Excellent tea and cake sitting looking over the waterway.

The builders were little trouble, by some fluke (no intent) they were responsible for a lot of our conservatory and are thoroughly nice people. Neighbours had no choice but to be out and so we offered to provide drinks and a sugar fix.

I do understand charley. Although my leg is more flexible and cooperative than yours right now I often can’t get in the car because I can’t open the door far enough in a car park to allow me to get in without twisting my knee or putting too much pressure on it. Fine when I’m the passenger but more than difficult when I’m alone and driving. Have been known to wait ages for the driver of the car next door to return. Hope you find it all easier very soon.

I’m sorry you’re so uncomfortable panache. Wishing you a comfortable and restful night.

Seconding kittys thought greyd, if you can get quickly to physio it can only but help. Having said that best practice ‘the look’ for times the young, fit and pain free physiotherapist suggests something that just isn’t possible

Time for sleep now. Just a few drops of rain here, our poor hydrangea is seriously struggling in spite of several buckets of water a day. I’m determined it will survive.

https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201807/medium-251471-76894720-0b75-4e03-8a04-be240ed9e5f1.jpeg%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201807/medium-499768-1a40ced3-9d7c-4f16-a71e-009596b8131a.jpeg%3C/span%3E

panache I do hope your mojo gets itself back where it belongs and you feel better as soon as can be. By the sounds of it you’ve had more than your fair share of surgical interventions so I understand your desire to avoid any more.

greyduster, sorry about the wear and tear in your hips, it’s dispiriting to be told that news, especially if you (and I suspect you do!) think of yourself as pretty hail and hearty still. Physio asap is a good route I think. I wish I’d known much earlier that one of my hips was wearing away. I think that some suitable exercises may have saved some of the flexibility and range of movement that I lost but sadly didn’t regain with the new hip. But with no significant pain the loss of movement and awkward gait sort of crept up on me without me really realising it was happening. However despite it all I can still enjoy a decent walk, for which I’m very grateful.

2 of ours are off to High School in September so I’ve been hearing snippets from their mums about all the “farewell” events. Our (only) gs who was such a painfully shy wee soul when he was a toddler apparently amazed everyone with his acting ability in the end of year show. I’ve been told there will be a dvd of it all to watch in due course! I’ve seen a photo of his cousin, our gd, sporting a sweatshirt, made by the school bearing all the names of this years yr 6 leavers. It’s all very exciting stuff and they are both at that funny age, part emerging teenager/part young child depending on how the wind blows on the day!
Ann I’m glad to hear you’re having some time for yourself this week and managing at least to some degree to put aside worries about your dh, your gd sounds a lovely young woman.

Well the last proper day of our holiday today, a rather damp one at times. But since we were meeting up with a couple of our oldest friends the weather really didn’t matter. Our Scottish friends drove down a bit and we drove up a bit enabling us to meet up for lunch and spend the afternoon/early evening together. Much talking, laughing and general catching up made for a lovely end to our holiday.

Having space this week away from the normal round of domestic/family stuff, volunteering etc gave the chance for a bit of thinking space, which I always appreciate - I’m not very good at just “being”. Meeting up with my oldest friend too made me reflect a bit on what it is that has shaped my life over the years. I’m an inveterate dawdler on any beach and inevitably a few bits and pieces somehow find their way into my pocket along the way. What were they, what brought them here, where did they come from and what’s made them what they now are? I’ve often thought that I am who I am today because of what yesterday, and all the yesterdays gone before, have made me. And I will be tomorrow what today will make me. Nothing startling in any of that I know, but somehow underlined particularly for me over these past few days. Now that I’ve bored the pants off you all, I’ll leave you with a photo of some the flotsam and jetsam that I’ve accrued this week. Oh and a shot of the late evening light over Bamburgh Castle. Sleep well all x

Sympathy re the arthritic hips, GD. As my Oxon GP once said about one of my stiff joints: "Don't give in to it!" I see you are not doing. Pain relief before exercise sounds like a good idea. TC.

The heavens opened as I was driving home from Walthamstow just an hour ago. What a strange sensation.
Muggins left the washing out while she was away playing with Flynn while his mummy had the dentist followed by a meeting. He is a little charmer, but of course I am entirely objective on that issue.
Wondering how your respite is progressing Ann I hope you can really recharge your batteries, have a lie in, drink wine in the bath, wander round the shops and meet a friend for !
Your OH is no less happy for being in the Care Home so you might as well look after No 1 (because if you don’t, nobody else will! )
Skimming through the thread I sense all is not hunky dory everywhere, lots of aches and pains and poorly people, but I wish you all relief from all buggeration and a peaceful night

All well, sweetness and light today, thanks, kitty. I think MrB got my point .

We had two drops about an hour or so ago but with luck the heavens may open later.

IT IS RAINING!!!! YAY!!??☔️☔️☔️☔️

We have rain!! But not sufficient to stop the need for watering and, as DH and DS2 have gone to the cricket, it's down to me. Ours and next doors - how did that happen on my day?

Baggs as soop said - buggerations! I expect you feel better by now - does DH?

Panache, I'm sorry you are not doing so well. IO hope something manages to ease your pain.... and find your mojo.

GD, that's another buggeration as far as I can see. For what it's worth, I'd start the physio asap even if it costs. Your DGS's attitude to girls was exactly the same as out 11 year old's. But, then they got a dog and he has become very popular and seems to realise that girls are not all that bad....as people!!

Ann, you can do without the trouble of neighbours while you are having time to yourself or at any time really.

Hope the knee starts to ease a little Charley, I'd hate to be careless.

Well that's it from me - there's watering to be done!!

Greyduster I'm truly sorry to hear about your arthritic hips. Be gentle with yourself. I hope that you get proper help very soon.

A late greeting to you lovely lot. I'm afraid that I've been a bit busy since breakfast time. We had to pack in a few visits this morning, and then there was Tesco and so on...hence I'm chasing my own shadow. Only there is no shadow, as the sun went down last night and it's been raining since. Good for the garden. Best for topping up our spring water supply.

I'm hoping that you are all coping with whatever the day has hurled your way. You are special and it does no harm to keep reminding you of that fact.

I need to empty the washing machine and make the bed. If you will excuse me, this is where I need to log off until tomorrow.

Big, tender hugs all round.

Baggs Buggerations galore. Have just read yesterday's piss awful rant. Had I been with you...dear man of yours would have been in double trouble. Grrr...indeed.

We have a grey sky and about 4 drops of rain as I write!!!

Indeed I agree about the damage to our "Once green and pleasant land" Anno......it may well need weeks of the wet stuff....... and we all know how fed up we get with prolonged rain!Even then will that bowling green recover?

At least you seem to be joining the masses GreyD......not nice to be told, but it is not life threatening and I cannot see you bowing down to arthritis just yet!Sadly these things come to most of us and lets be fair,no one is exactly enamoured......just to tide you over

You certainly know how to live life to the full, given an opportunity Ann and I heartily applaud you,keep it up please!

My word you must have a trophy as being the kindest neighbour Corner.......and I can see the workmen think this, hence the request for biccies........next they will be requesting a Victoria Sponge!!

You will get there Charley.......perseverance is a wonderful gift.

Sadly my own mojo has further depleted and I am in real pain,very much the same pain as when these gastic problems first erupted in Sept 2016........followed by many Hospital bouts,procedures and operations.......I have been advised I need the main organ removed and I am now being "Monitored"..... but desperately hoping to avoid major abdominal surgery, having a railroad of scars there makes it very dangerous .Life certainly throws up some corkers.

Hope that things might improve and not continue to "Belly Up"......be back to report and hear all about you lot as our Soop will say.
Have yourselves a pleasant evening.

It looks like rain here this afternoon. Much needed, of course, but would need weeks of continuous rain to undo the drought damage. The local bowling green is completely brown - much like the fairways at Carnoustie. I've ordered a blueberry bush to take pride of place on my patio - once I've cleared up all the rubbish - and the ericaceous compost has arrived so that I can get a big pot ready for it.
A missive from the water company says that they are going to make use of a nearby bore hole to supplement the reservoirs. It will make our lovely soft water a bit harder - temporarily, I hope.

Hello the kitchen. Hey ho! X-ray shows arthritis in both hips, right one worse than left. It’s an age thing, of course. Pain relief prior to exercise and will refer me to physiotherapy, but it takes so long to get an appointment it might be better to go down to the private route. I don’t intend to let it get me down - people have far worse problems. Compared to some, my limitations aren’t too limiting and I have little to complain about, so soldier on. I am going for a swim this afternoon and we’ll see how that works out.
GS went to his school leaving party last night. DH WhatsApp’d him later and asked him if he had a good time. “Yes it was great fun”. He asked him if he had danced. “A bit”. Did he dance with any girls? He posted just about every emoji denoting distaste, disgust and horror I think it was possible to find! So I think it is safe to say he is keeping the opposite sex at arms length at the moment (or maybe it’s the other way round!). I have visions of the boys dancing round whatever passes for their handbags, and the girls doing likewise! DH said to him that when he was Evan’s age, he had a girlfriend. He came back with “Does Nanny know about her?” Well, yes, I do and indeed, I have met her (small world the Welsh Valleys) and she’s very nice - but I think he chose well in the end ?!
Ann I’m sorry to hear you are having problems with your neighbours - that is sad. I hope the situation resolves itself soon. Continue to take it easy while you can.
Corner it is hard enough dancing attendance on your own builders but looking after those of your neighbours is above and beyond! And biscuits too! They are lucky to have you living next door?.
Charley I hope your knee settles down soon and doesn’t keep you out of the driving seat for long. Hasten slowly, as the saying goes.
It looks as if all the rain that was forecast for us today has passed us by yet again. The garden is really struggling. DH found a dead blue tit this morning. I can’t remember when I last saw a live one in the garden. Maybe a cat brought it in. Sad though.
I will look in later, folks.

It is dull and very muggy here- with luck my washing will dry. The fellow is beavering away at the inside of my car- he turned up on time, a definite plus but English non existent. Still if the job gets done to my satisfaction, who cares?

corner a turntable would be useless for me- the lip on my car is too deep for me to lift my operated leg in without twisting and pain. I would almost need the front seat to go back further than the back seat if you get the idea. g

ann it sounds as though you are enjoying yourself and hopefully you can sleep at night without the usual interruptions. You know that H is being cared for and that is the main thing.

The fellow has finished cleaning the inside of my car but we differed over what was inside and outside. Anyway I got a tenner off and he did not get a tip.

Since I posted half an hour ago, it has got too hot for me to sit outside.
I have made a Tassimo Columbian and have had to bring it in?

ann, I suspect you can make anything possible . Sounds a good week.

Don’t despair charley. Your knee will improve. The young, strong and pain free physio I saw yesterday suggested one of those turntable things designed for car seats when I said I also struggle getting in and out of a car. Afraid he got ‘the look’.

Sleeping is odd I think panache for many tedious reasons I haven’t slept well for a good few years, 28 to be precise, and I also find I feel much groggier for a few hours after a decent amount of sleep than I do after little sleep. all very odd. Hope you’re feeling more in touch with the world now.

Cooler here today. Mr C is currently on tea detail. Apparently biscuits would also be welcome so I’d better raid the cupboard.

So pleased for you Charley I'm sure your knee will behave eventually.
It is a lovely day here, not too hot, really pleasant.
I have been out for three evening meals this week, more than in the last year, it has been lovely but I am shattered, my age is really catching up with me.

Slightly troubling problems with neighbours, which we have never had before, I hope it resolves or I will just keep away.

My GD went to see H yesterday, she stayed an hour and a half, he was very confused and couldn't settle to anything but he is like that at home so I am not letting myself be worried by it.

Will now find something very light with little effort needed to achieve a stunning result, is that even possible?

`Morning all from a very sunny and pleasant West Wales..........indeed these are the sunny days I enjoy.

Where to start ....because you certainly had me gurgling coffee everywhere Baggs with your rant of all rants! Strange how letting the cork blow on our pent up emotions truly make us feel somewhat better.
I bet HE has not learnt a lesson though!

These men are certainly having a battering today..........but fear not...... mine is behaving himself...........yet!

Charley first the good news that the DLVA have "coughed up" and then such disappointment that your knee doesnot bend sufficiently to allow for safe driving.......my guess is and ever hopeful as is my wont...........a little more practise and usage will get you back into full driving mode.

Tea duty for you then Corner well we all know how builders thrive on what is known as "Builders tea"........

More of this hedge mauling here and I cannot rest until my man is again free of all those cutting tools and heights...........his knee decidedly does not like ladders!

Having slept like a log,most unusual for me,I fear something is adrift in my system as I am certainly missing my mojo today..........but I shall be back.......

I am having mega problems getting in and out of my car- my poor knee does not bend sufficiently. At present I am driving within a 2 mile radius of my home- 2 months + off the road is a long time in London and I must be safe.

Good new, charley, back to independence now.

Hope equilibrium is restored baggs, you’re a far more tolerant soul than I. Ham sandwiches it is then.

We’re you expected not to notice a door fennel? Another tolerant soul. And breathe. I understand the problem with internal communication - Mr C thinks something and is surprised I haven’t heard his thoughts.

Hope the x-ray outcome is positive greyd, fingers crossed for you. One of ours moved to ‘big school’ last year. Definitely all very different. Different isn’t always bad though, I’m enjoying some different conversations, just having to get used to her increased independence and the moods, oh dear, the moods.

Best stir. Neighbours have builders working in their garden. Neighbours can’t be there today so we’re on tea detail.

Take care everyone.

Definitely one of the advantages of living alone- I can cook if I fancy or have cornflakes at 10pm and nothing is wasted.

My new driving licence was returned yesterday- I am over the moon because I thought that the DVLA were going to call it a day.