Soop's welcoming and supportive kitchen

Panache I do hope you have a better night tonight.

corner I find a motorway scary at any time but when it is raining and there has been a recent accident it is 10 times worse. Luckily you arrived home safely.

callgirl would 3 hours not be sufficient? I am trying to save you money! My girl comes for 3 hours a week and that is sufficient but admittedly she does not do any ironing for me. but she does change bedding.

Soop I hope you sit down when you're ironing.
Sorry I don't comment on others on here, no excuses.

Where to begin!

GreyD your cloakroom looks lovely – well worth the frustration and wait.

Galen we have recently refurbished two bathrooms and haven’t used tiles at all - wall boarding is quick, easy to clean and can go over existing tiling. We haven’t put baths in but quadrant showers which are much easier to get in and out of. If you look on Check a Trade in your area you might find a local plumber who is recommended. I expect your cruise booking is more exciting than new bathroom though – love the thought of bloomers and pearls What a lovely photo of you on the QE!

Panache there’s just no pleasing some prospective viewers is there – it does make you wonder if they read the details properly or are just out for a jolly to pass the day. I can only say what I’ve always said to my family with their houses up for sale (and my MIL to us in the same situation) there is someone out there just right for your home and when the time is right they’ll appear – often when you’re least expecting it. I hope it happens soon for you. I’m so sorry it looks like your break from hospital was short lived – please take care and rest as much as you can.

Soop your poem is very moving – I’m so glad your reading went well and you didn’t trip over on the way up to the podium. I hope the press write up is appropriately glowing as the whole night sounds wonderful.

Synonymous I hope you’re feeling better now and your husband got to his GP appointment. I must have missed where your family were sailing home too but wherever it was they’re much braver than me – I am a total phobic about ferries!

Ann I’m sure that can’t be right about the finances. Please contact Age UK and CAB as soon as you can to go through it all – they can’t possibly leave you unable to pay your own household bills to fund your husband’s care. Martin Lewis’s Money Expert forum will also have information on it I’m sure. It can be so frustrating and heartbreaking with all the weird ideas which manifest themselves. An aunt many years ago was convinced the neighbours were spying on her through the fireplace.

Maw I hope Flynn is feeling better now – once they get to school they pick up all sorts of bugs. That picture is such a lovely thought for the kitchen – can we hang it on the door?

N & G your cabin is fab – I bet Sam thinks its his new kennel

GrannyQ it is always good to get home to your own bed – your own kitchen and the bliss of your own comfy chair and peace and quiet.

Anno Happy Birthday – your weekend sounds like it’s been a hectic one but great fun with family. I hope you enjoyed your lunch today.

I was invited to a bonfire in a village pub with some friends and their GC on Monday – it was heaving – there was talk of 2000 people attending which could well have been correct as it was free with a voluntary contribution in the charity bucket. Our god daughter works at the pub so was serving the food. The fireworks were amazing but very loud. I was thankful our furries were safely locked in at home as it seems there were the usual displays around our house here.

I had gone to the bungalow to meet the gas fitter yesterday to have the gas fire refitted. Sadly although the flue passed the smoke bomb test and the fire actually works it failed the second safety check so he had to take it all out again and cap it off. I was quite upset as it had looked so nice. The fitter said it was either the cowling on the roof or the flue itself and the cost of remedying either or both would be expensive. As the fire is actually over 30 years old (I’ve just read the model was actually voted the zombie fire by Valor in a competition they’d run last year to find fires which just won’t die!) we have decided we’ll have to go down the electric route. These have come on a long way since we bought the one we have here which sounds like a power generator when it’s on! They can even have 'smoke' in the form of water vapour!

I wish all of you with health problems a peaceful night tonight

That sounds very moving soop
I haven’t worked out the maths but it is appropriate that on the 100th anniversary, 11 November is actually Remembrance Sunday isn’t it?
So many lovely things going on all over the country, but I think every year that the best way we could honour their memory would be to end war.
Not much hope alas ?

It used to be said that if women were running every country in the world, there would be no more wars, but sadly, I think "they" are wrong, certain women are just as warmongering as men, and war will always be with us.
Anno (Belated Happy Birthday by the way), you must be a very clean, tidy person to only need your cleaner for 2 hours every 2 weeks. There`s only me and Lynne here, plus Mia, and we don`t go around mucking the place up, but it never looks nice for more than 2 days in a row!
CharleyG, maybe I`m judging by how long it would take me to clean the house, and it would be a damn site longer than 3 hours. I`m not expecting her to do ironing, or even make beds, just clean the place, omitting the 2 bedrooms we don`t use, I`ll see to them myself. That leaves 2 bedrooms, landing and stairs, living room, kitchen, back lobby and bathroom, quite a lot really (to me, anyway).

panache sorry you had such a bad night. Like others I hope you are feeling better today . You put such a brave face on things. I hope tonight is a better night x
maw that is such a lovely poster and how apt for the kitchen. How is little Flynn? Hope he's feeling better.
soop so glad your reading went well. If there's a photo of you in the paper do try and copy it for us.
bellasnanna I do hope you and Galen have a lovely cruise (might be a bit of a squash with you, bellasnonna and galen all in the same cabin ?)

It sleeps 3 actually

Oh! Well if one of the other 2 can't make it I am more than happy to be first reserve! ?
Hope you both have a great cruise. As it's a Christmas cruise do you get to sit on Santas knee??

callgirl when we had cleaners in a big-ish 4 bedroom house with a downstairs extension they came two at a time for two hours fortnightly. I never thought it would work, but it did. I do think (most) cleaners manage to get through much faster than we do. I think I’m with charley , three hours could well be enough. See how it goes, you can always reduce the time if it’s appropriate.

I’m having one of those exhausted but can’t sleep times. Frustrating as I’ll need energy for the blue and yellow building and probably more patience than I have at my disposal.

I also need to write a short history of my Great Uncle for one of ours who is speaking in a children’s presentation about WWI on Saturday. . She will read it along with her own piece of writing. I’ve got all the information sat by the computer but somehow haven’t been able to focus on it as I’m always deeply saddened when I think of him. My Grandmother, his sister, spoke of him rarely as the pain was too much, I have some of her writings that convey it all too well. Oh well, a short time will concentrate the mind, its needs Friday evening, I’ll probably write it in the afternoon.

Time to listen to some music and relax a bit even if sleep doesn’t come yet. Take care everyone, sleep well.

doodle at my weight the poor wee man’d be squashed!

Good morning all!!

Does anyone else feel overwhelmed when they come into the kitchen? I love reading about what everyone is up to but, having read, there seems no time left to reply? I have read everything and hope to get back this afternoon to actually join in.

Callgirl now there is just me, my lovely cleaner (a man) comes fortnightly for about 3 and a bit hours. He changes any beds that need doing especially if anyone has been staying, otherwise just mine (especially the super king duvet cover!), hoovers, dusts, mops, cleans 2 bathrooms (although one of them will only have used if I have visitors) does 3 bedrooms and the study, the stairs, does the kitchen including the cooker top, etc
He also takes heavy things up or down from the loft or to the garage if I need him to.
That is really quite enough although with a dog the downstairs does need an occasional quick hoover round with the little hand Dyson especially when she is shedding.
I can’t imagine you would need that on a weekly basis, but every house is different.
Excellent decision in principle anyway!

My cleaner ( she is here now) comes exactly the same as Maws' every two weeks, for about 3 and a half hours.
I find it is plenty, I just keep the house tidy between times.
This morning she will take my H to his respite daycare.
I was really unwell yesterday, felt exhausted and arthritis really painful, but no question of bed, I am pleased to say I feel slightly better today and so grateful I can afford a cleaner to help me.

Sometimes it is just that extra pair of hands and knowing the “buck doesn’t stop” with you.
Sorry you are having a particularly tough time Annsixty I hope the brief respite today will give you some breathing space.

I will get out to the garden centre this afternoon with a friend.
We just potter round and then sit over a pot of tea for an hour and set the world, well ours anyway, to rights.
It is so relaxing.

I too hope you manage to get some much needed rest today Annsixty yes I often feel the same kittylester mind you I often feel overwhelmed these days. It wouldn’t be so bad but rather than bolster me up to sort things out I get very apathetic and tend to sit about feeling sorry for myself. On the sunny side driving to grandson to school this morning I was rather taken by how beautiful the colours of the trees are. Take care all.

callgirl - nobody in their right mind has ever called me tidy, though I am mostly clean! My poor mother despaired of me in my teens and in most of my 20s, I was in Africa where all expats employed local servants and I came back to Britain completely spoilt. Changing a duvet cover is enough to send me into a foul mood for a week, so having someone to do keeps my vocabulary pure!

BUGGERATIONS galore! There, I've shouted it as loud as I possibly can.

I have read through all your lovely posts. I shall respond a little later.

Thing is...my Facebook page won't let me in. I've followed all the gumph on how to reset password and waited and waited and waited for a code that is supposed to be sent by email. The code will allow me to proceed. The code tearing hair out by the handful cannot be accessed.

Is there anyone in our kitchen who can help me? I would be so very grateful. I might even rootle around for some cake.

Sorry, soop that is all way beyond me which is why I do not have a Facebook account.

I am sure you have checked your junk box for the emailed code ?

aggie Many, many, many times.

Charleygirl5 It is usually totally dependable. I use it for keeping up with family and friends.

Dear Ann, you deserve all the help that you can get. Enjoy afternoon blether with your friend. It is a lovely day here in Kintyre.

kitty It's a bustling kitchen, I wholeheartedly agree. I pop in for a wee while in order to keep updated. It's a pleasure to read every single post. I hate to leave anyone out. I'm happy that Panache manages to cope with the news full-time. Bless her cotton socks.

Blimey! As others have said you need to be jet propelled to keep up with all the traffic in here!

I had a very early start this morning - there were only three posts when I got up at six o’clock and we were out of the house at seven fifteen so I missed saying ‘good morning’ to everyone until gone ten. I had an early hospital appointment and we were lucky enough to grab the last space in the car park! It was only routine, but I spent the first ten minutes talking to the nurse about socks of all things! She admired mine, which had bears on them today, and, like me, she has a bit of a sock fetish! Well, there are worse things to talk about and it does put you at your ease if there is a bit of trivia before they get cracking at the business end ?! And in an hour, we have flu jabs (I know how to enjoy myself!) before we dash off for the school run, so I will look in this evening. I will leave you with some chocolate, banana and walnut brownies that I made yesterday. I am not allowed to eat them as I am on a self imposed diet this week. It’s a hard life, folks!

Anne pleased you had an afternoon out with a friend. You deserve it.

Everyone else - I just cannot keep up to speed with all the traffic as GD so aptly puts it. Mince pies here now, pull up a chair whilst they are still warm. Home made of course.

I was out yesterday perambulating around and got soaked. At least the new trekking trousers dried quickly and I had a waterproof jacket.

Just on the off chance - has anyone ever hired a camper van in (specifically) Ireland. Any recommendations welcome.

Finally got a flu jab appointment for next week. Meanwhile checking the baking cupboard contents to make sure all is set for crimbles.

Izabella You really shouldn't spoil us with warm mince pies/ Hang on a moment...yes, please leave a few for us to sample. Us lot have very good taste.

I managed to gain access to Facebook for a very short visit. And then...it all went awol again and I'm so frustrated.

I cannot come into our kitchen muttering the rudest words under my breath. I shall pop in again this evening. Who knows, by then I may be in a lady-like frame of mind.