Soop's comfortable and friendly kitchen...

You’re worth it Soop! MacS knows he has one in a million!

Back a little later. Pulse is racing right now.

A little later, I shall tell you the business we've had (at MacS's request) to upgrade our hotel booking...cost us to cancel yesterday's booking PLUS cost even more to go to a smarter hotel - ^because the first hotel doesn't have a private car park which would mean a walk carrying our bags^. We've done the deed. Took nigh on an hour on the computer. MacS finished by saying...^you have the patience of a saint^. Naturally, I agreed.

Good afternoon all. A tad cooler here today and it was my intention to do some gardening, but after a trip to the docs and a long conversation on the phone with an old friend, the morning has come and gone and still not a leaf has been disturbed! An X-ray on my hip has been ordered, so we will see what is forthcoming after that. I was surprised when I rang up this morning to be offered a choice of two same day appointment times and there was no-one else waiting when I got there. Never seen that before.
My friend rang to tell us her ex husband had passed away, which is very sad. We knew him well when they were together and had a lot of good times.

Tonight we are going to watch GS in his school play. Last year he asked the teacher if he could stand at the back and not say anything, but this year it didn’t work, so he has eight lines to mumble! It is about the war, apparently. Having been told on numerous occasions that DH, though a soldier for most of his life, was not in the war, he will still insist on prefacing sentences with “Grandad, when you were in the war.....”! DH has now given up and makes things up as he goes along! Usually a complete load of ridiculous rubbish!

Whatever you wear, Maw I am sure you will look stunning and be ready for anything! I hope you enjoy your evening.

Charley, once the footie and the tennis are over, I’m sure there will be other things to hold our attention! Enjoy the rest of the games, and take it easy. I will try and join you taking it easy!

Panache your are full of welcome wit and wisdom. I’m pleased to hear better news of your legs, and hope you get a handle on the sleep thing soon. Not good to run on empty!

Well I had better go and scrape some ivy off a fence while I can still function. I will look in later.

I'm sure they all take pleasure in your visits soop. A cheerful smile lifts most spirits and now you have your trip booked you have plenty to smile about ? Knew McSporran wouldn't let you down. Torben is indeed a good looking young man.

gaga so pleased for you and congratulations on your anniversary tomorrow.

panache glad your GP visit went well. lots of leg problems around at the moment. Perhaps elevating foot stools and mini Magnums should be available on the NHS ?

Hope you enjoy the play maw. Sounds like a lovely evening.

You lot have a cracking sense of humour.

I get the feeling that, together with a few more good vibes thrown into the mix, things are looking a wee bit brighter.

The care home visit was no more painful than usual. Sometimes all it takes is to fetch a blanket for the lady who feels the cold, listen to a lady who is afraid of missing the bus to some place that she has in the mind to visit, or hold a hand and participate in a conversation that makes no sense whatsoever.

Oh dear! Life can be such a trial at times!!!!

Perhaps a small case with "maybe`s" would best fit the bill?

While I welcomed the cooler breezes of yesterday I am now all of a flutter as to what to wear to tonight’s Regents Park Open Air Shakespeare (As You Like It)
Have added a thin vest under the linen shirt, a light jumper to put on top, a new cashmere poncho for the evening but should I add an additional woollen throw type thing (serape?) to stave off hypothermia or will I look like a Russian Babuschka. I suppose I could put the throw thingy over my knees or even sit on it.
How cold can it get? Gloves and a bobble hat?
Oh First World problems!

Certainly very timely these great games Charley when housebound and recouperating................hopefully when over you will not need so much T.V listings.....fingers crossed and all that!

23C here- a normal day for once. I would welcome rain but I suppose I cannot have everything.

I have been trying to explain to a 15 year old when booking transport why I cannot get into the rear of a car. She did not accept that a recent knee replacement, an older one and an ankle pinned and plated was sufficient and wanted a doctor's letter. My GP has marginally more to do than write ridiculous letters like that one so I will take my chances.

I will be glued to the TV tonight watching the France v Belgium match and no doubt the entire country will be watching England v Croatia tomorrow evening. The final is on Sunday but I do not know if it is am or pm our time.

What will I do when there is no more tennis or football?

A slightly more humane morning and smiles from me!

Hello you Kitchen people.

Am surviving Bella and yes Corner these legs are duly elevated!!!!!Thanks for caring.

Making an early visit simply to say soop apart from the usual excess fluid retention leg problem solved (hopefully) with tablets,the fainting episodes due to fluctuating BP and still a host of varying issues under review................but yes am alive and kicking, although still running on very little sleep.
Am delighted with the outcome of your chat with MacS.......I knew he would have your best interest at heart and now you have this wee break to truly look forward too,now booked...........next thing being.......what to wear!!!
Trust us gals......... we always go to the next column before completing the first!
Torben is indeed one fine looking lad that I am sure you are very proud of.

You are to well and truly forget all matters mundane, plus anything to do with caring for your H for your break Ann.......just you clear out the stale stuff and have yourself some really pleasureable times,starting with some retail therapy perhaps???
You never can have enough!!!

Having a laid back day...... with plans for a whooppee tomorrow...........and enjoy slightly lower temps it is hoped.

Wishing you all pleasant landings and more of what you enjoy............with extra helpings of all that is cool and refreshing.

I have had an early very cool shower and washed my hair- I am now melting away- maybe not the brightest idea today.

soop that is great, you are half way there.

Life is full of disappointments, Bellanonna ???!

Hooray for lots of things!
Soop’s autumn jolly, which will be wonderful I am sure, how lovely that I was resolved without any ill feeling.
Do let us know where exactly) and when etc etc
Hooray for gagagrans NOT DVT . I had one of those Doppler scans to check venous efficiency and it was jolly painful as my “lump” was still there.
I have been prescribed very un glamorous anti -oedema compression pop socks and they do make a real difference but require wide and long trousers to avoid a total Nora Batty impression.
Ann enjoy your time off, you don’t need us lot to reassure you. I know exactly where aggie is coming from, I feel just the same, that losing Paw has freed up my life to do all the things we were not able to do for the last 4 years. Such is life, would retreating under the duvet bring them back, or mend Mr Sixty’s mind? Of course not.
And for all you know Ann he may have a lovely week so you can also take pleasure in knowing he is safe and certainly not unhappy.
I have just waved goodbye to friends who came for lunch
I have known them since DD3 became best friends with their DD2 years ago at primary school and he, in particular was a very good friend to Paw especially when he was housebound.
A whole day preparing and eating lunch with friends in the garden where a light breeze has made the temperature really ideal. What’s not to like?

Isn't it daft to be this excited. Answers on a postage stamp please.
I may suggest that we have a glass of cheeky red to celebrate.
I shall leave you all with my love. Back for catch up after the care home visit.

Now that is something to look forward to and the trees should be looking beautiful at that time of the year.
Well done.

Oh and you’ve booked it too! Brilliant

Greyduster I don’t think the strawberrifed g&t will give you one of your five-a-day unless you have several glasses! Give it a try! I so agree about the personality change in young GCs when the parents arrive. I liked your analogy!
Soop I’m so glad about the change of date. Your man sounds lovely!

Thank you all for your kind comments.

Panache Torben is youngest son's son. He's eight and beautiful with it. Update us please when you've seen the GP.

anno I'm a trifle bored with the tennis at the mo'. Too much of the sameness and no Andy to root for. Never mind, there will be exciting matches in store.

I'm grinning from ear to ear. MacSporran took a seat beside me at the computer, we selected a very nice hotel with excellent reviews, and we've made the booking. Four days that we shall look forward to. Now, what shall I pack

That's a lovely picture of Torben, soop. He is a handsome lad and a credit to his family.
Would you believe it: I came in, about ten minutes ago and switched on the TV to see what was on at Wimbledon. In the first four matches I tried (on the red dot channels) one player or another was either receiving help from the trainer or having a medical time-out. Are tennis players just having too much tennis or are they more fragile than their predecessors?

Phew. Cool corner for a very hot Corner anywhere? After being promised a relatively pleasant 23 degrees today we have 31 degrees. Melting about sums it up. On the positive side my GN pal and I managed to have a table right under the air conditioning unit, bliss, we kept it for several hours. Selfish? No, self preservation. Doing a few errands on the way back was positively horrible. I'm now sat in front of a fan.

Hooray soop, I'm delighted for you. That's a happy image of Torben, he's a handsome lad. Two happy lads in your images n&g, so many handsome young men around.

Pleased for you too gaga, elevate when you can, I am hoping for some help for you panache. I do think extremes of temperature make health issues worse, not a scientific study you understand, just life.

We offered to keep a neighbour's patio plants alive while she went on holiday. No problem we thought, when it was Winter . Pleased to report the plants are still with us but goodness, those cans of water weigh a ton. We're a week in, one more to go. Mr C is out at a meeting later so its just me, I should be pleased to be building muscle maybe. Its a bit like minding other people's children, feels a huge responsibility.

No guilt, ann you deserve every moment of 'you' time. We've a Jekyll and Hyde 12 year old greyd, when they're good they're very, very good but when they're not - help .

OK, on with the admin, and sigh.

Torben is growing so quickly- it is no time since he was a toddler attached to daddy's hand. He will be a handsome young man, you must be so proud of him.

Gaga that really is excellent news- well worth the 5 hours being poked and prodded. Join the swollen leg brigade. Admittedly mine is because of surgery but it is not a pretty sight.

Happy news indeed, Gaga?.

Thanks all for your commiserations .......and in fact Soop I see the GP in about an hour!!!...........however had to come and cheer our Gagagran...........a long time being poked around but to have this result was more than worth it I would say!!!!
Now its my turn to show my badly swollen legs to the GP........one twice the size of the other.......
I can vouch for magnums helping!!

So pleased to have you back smiling Soop as I could "feel" your disappointed but somehow I had this faith MacS would not let you down.
Can you explain who delightful Torben is?

See ya later!

HAPPY Gaga HAPPY us lot Woopeeeeeeeeee and big hugs galore. And, HAPPY anniversary celebrations for tomorrow

Ann The word guilt is not recognised in this kitchen.

Chaleyg Should you expect gratitude from Tara? Thought not. She's a canny cat. Canny cats have their own agenda.