Soop' s warm and welcoming kitchen.

Pleased you slept just a bit morethan, sleep some more now if you can, it will help. I do know how hard it is to deal with those thoughts that crowd it, if you can try not to get into the ‘what if’, enough to manage if you stick with what you know. Sending love to you all.

morethan, you have enough to think about without worrying about keeping up. Just make sure you look after yourself and keep in touch with us if you can.

I am truly hobbling in after another sleepless night, where pain and the second night of a ferocious storm did nothing to help...........sadly it seems I am really going to have to TRY cut down on my computing again,that to me.... as a bit of a writer and all the time in the world on my hands...... is truly an upsetting proposition.

However one way or another we get by..........and I can well understand why these fears abound of a night Morethan, and once in your mind it is very difficult to erase them.
You have genuine reasons to fear, but I think in this instance you are simply over reacting.............which we tend to do when a loved one is involved.

So heartening hearing how Christmas is shaping up for you Maw after all I know how your memories and thoughts run deep about the dear man you loved so and lost.
However very uplifting hearing you have treated yourself to something you thoroughly enjoy.

Whilst Christmas is never complete here either without taking that laurel and holly wreath plus fresh flowers out to the Country cemetry where my dear Foster Mother lies.......my only family.
Always such a deeply sad time and yet life goes on and we run with it because we must!

Special thoughts for you Corner as the 15th is nearing and hopefully the end to that dreaded painful tooth of yours.Fingers firmly crossed.

Another great piece of artistry Soop.......even without better pictures you can be proud of your achievement.

Sending you all best wishes for a pleasant Sunday, and may your cares and problems give you all a modicum of peace.

Dearest you lovely lot, I have read through your messages. morethan, I think about you and your family, especially your daughter-in-law, every day. You have more than your fair share of problems to deal with. All we ask is that you take the best possible care of yourself. I am delighted that the Christmas day arrangements have been resolved. Bless you. x

callgirl1 The Butterfly Hospice annual event sounds very special. I can well imagine attending it lifts your spirits. Whenever we pass the beach at Muasdale, we always say hello to dear David.
Both paintings are to be collected by the dog's mummy's daughter. She wanted me to paint Klara to give as a Christmas gift. Whichever looks most like Klara will be the gift. The other painting will be my gift to her daughter.

Thank you for your kind comments.

Maw A lovely, upbeat post from you.

We were invited to visit our new neighbours for tea this afternoon. I was shocked to receive news that C, the wife, has been airlifted from Campbeltown to Glasgow with a suspected heart attack. Her husband is with her in hospital. They are a lovely couple. Very much younger than we two. They were here with us earlier in the week. They had recently spent a wonderful holiday in Bali.

Panache Enormous (((hugs))) for your spirited self. You have a gift with words.

morethan glad you managed a few hours sleep. Please keep coming into the kitchen. You don't have to write reams or mentions everyone else's posts we all know you have much on your mind at the moment.
soop's wonderful kitchen has grown considerably this year. I think many others have found it a place of caring and comfort away from the outside world. Those like you and dear panache who have so much to cope with do not need to respond to all the posts of everyone else. We understand how for one reason or another you cannot do so. We just like to hear from you to know you are ok.
panache I am so sorry you are in such pain and not sleeping. Are you able to use some dictation sort of device (sorry when you say cut down on your computing I wonder if it is the typing that you cannot manage or is it just being at the computer) whatever I am sorry that things are so difficult for you. You have a very active (and clever ) mind (I am in awe of your play acronyms) and can understand how writing and mind games can help pass the time. Hope you have a better night tonight.
My DH is often awake at night these days. He tells me he walked a mile round our lounge last night (he'll wear my new carpet out ?) just irritable legs and upset tummy (or an addiction to his new step counter ?) . Losing sleep makes you so tired during the day.
maw I've learnt a new trick and I think I've got it right now - If you misplace an o then you have lost it .For those who have no idea what I'm talking about I have to confess I haven't been able to tell the difference between loose and lose for years . (hurries off to make sure I've got it right ?)

Doodle Kind words. Thank you.

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Afternoon all,

I have had loads to catch up with and am sending all those in need kind thoughts !! I do hope you all get a little sunshine in your lives .

I'm only here briefly as we have just said goodbye to our guests and I need to put the house to rights . They all went on the Polar Express last night which was a huge success and highly recommended( although Daddy had to fill the car up before they went and it wasn't till he got some funny looks he remembered they were all in pyjamas and dressing gowns for the trip including him lol ! )

Today we met Santa ( Grampy is veering onto the naughty list so needs to pull his socks up!!).

I have to share the huge joy I get from the amazement and delight of 2 little boys who believe ! May I recommend a little believing to all who need a pick-me-up - its marvellous !

Jackson is coming to grips with his new hard cast and finds it excellent for bonking Cooper when he's trouble !!

I'll be back as normal tomorrow but will leave you with a couple of pictures which I hope make you smile x

Fabulous photos n&g.

Just got this so I thought I'd share.

Mustn't stay, I'm wrapping up - if I stop, I'll never start again!

Phew. 5 minute sit down befor making tea for our guests. Manic but fun weekend, won’t end until tomorrow evening. Will I last?

Lovely, happy photos of all the children, Santa and Grampy .

Thank you for remembering the tooth * panache*, it’s not too bad if I stick to a soft diet, toast is out . 15th will soon be here. Rest if you need to, please don’t cause yourself more discomfort here, pace your writing if you can.

Hope your neighbour is going to be OK soop, so much illness around.

Keep on wrapping kitty .

Apologies for the rush, the kettle calls.

N&G Super happy photos. Yours too, kitty.

I wish that I didn't feel so sad for all the people who won't be having any fun this festive season. I understand that it is unrealistic to suppose that joy and good will should be shared by all.
I keep reminding myself that it is not an ideal world. Never was. Never will be.

Have decided to dust and polish book shelves. Must be barmy.

I shall wish you all a pleasant and peaceful evening. and hope to be back here in the kitchen at some time tomorrow.

Stay safe and keep warm.

Morethan it's understandable you will worry at the slightest thing with your DIL - hopefully it will just be as you say because she's not been moving very much and tomorrow the pain will have gone.

Panache the thought that you may have to cut down on your computer time must be upsetting - is this to do with your sight or is it simply too tiring to spend too long writing? I hope the weather has calmed down a little today and that you have a better night tonight. We have had a lot of rain and it seems to periodically find a new entry through the conservatory roof - yesterday it had dripped in a line right up to the TV where thankfully it stopped!

What lovely photos of the young children N&G and Kitty - the magic of Christmas for those little ones is indeed wonderful to see. Our niece posted a photo of her little granddaughter sitting on Santa's knee yesterday - she is just 10 months old and was gazing up at him as he was looking down at her - a wonderful picture!

Soop the thought of clearing my bookcase out to clean it is too tiring to contemplate - I've dusted the parts in front of the books which has had to do for now. It does have decorations in it with lights so I've had to make sure that part is dust free. I hope your neighbour recovers quickly from the heart attack and is home in time for Christmas.

Such heartbreaking news that the lovely student has been murdered in Auckland. I've not been in touch with my son this week but I'm sure it's all over the news over there. Her poor family will never be the same again.

No sign of the crying cat this morning thank goodness - hopefully he just went home. I have bought Alfie a harness today much to Mr W's amusement. We both know it's a lost cause as I will never be able to get him in it - if I do he'll be so horrified he'll be off at the first opportunity. The idea was that we could perhaps take him into the garden at the bungalow to get him used to the area. I'd rather he didn't go out at all but Mr W is insistent he should be allowed out. We'll see who wins

Willow good luck with the harness- I tried fitting one on my last cat and he would not have gone unnoticed in the Olympics with his backward flips. We got nowhere.

Morning all !

Its frosty and bright here this morning but surprisingly quiet now the little boys have returned home ! Poor Jackson is still in the wars having been ill most of the weekend but soldiering on , he crashed at home yesterday and is tucked up in bed . Just a virus he caught from his brother but its been one heck of a week for him.

Good luck with the harness Willow , we had one for our ragdoll Tobi when he first started to go outside ( having been a house cat for the first few years of his life. We struggled to get him in it at first but did lots of short stints in doors with food treats and that helped.

I know what you mean soop and for a while I felt bad about being happy about the season but have decided that maybe BY being happy it will help others to see the joy in the small stuff. I don't know but its worth a try?

Love the photo Kitty they look like trouble on a stick as my Gran used to say ! Bet there's lots of festive excitement in their house !!

Its a crafty day here as the car has gone for service and the days are ticking away! Sending warm wishes to all those in need and hope the sleepless ones got a better night last night .

Good morning all. Finally made it through a very painful and uncomfortable night A case of the old 'diverticulars' as I call it knocked me for six, but getting back on form slowly.

Willow I may be able to help with the harness problem. If you can get a bottle of spray catnip solution and spray the collar a couple of days before you intend to pop it on, then you may have an increased chance of success. I did this the first time our dearly departed ginger gentleman was introduced to a harness and leash, and he was fine with it.

Panache have you accessed the social worker for sight impaired or the RNIB? They have computer programmes adapted that may just help you. Just a thought. My mum was blind way before we all had computers and I remember as a child taking heavy 'talking book' cassettes back to the post office. She loved her 'reading' as she never got the hang of braille.Too impatient, a characteristic I appear to have inherited (apparently!) ?

Lovely photos everyone, and Soop I hope you receive positive news of your neighbour. I am now going to heat up my hotwater bottle (medicinal- not 'cos it is cold) and think what else I could be doing.

Lovely jumpers n&g and fabulous hats kitty thank you for the pictures of such happy smiling children. DiL has an emergency appointment with her consultant oncologist at 4 today so fingers crossed. I’m not convinced she’d tell us if it’s bad news. The builders are here doing the snagging. I’m putting out the flags when they’ve gone for good.

My little lovelies who gives us all a reason to smile

Lovely photos everyone. What beautiful grandchildren they are. Cheered me up this morning.

Just watching Victoria Derbyshire talking to families who have lost children to knife crime. So very sad.

All of the photos are delightful.

Re help from social workers if one is visually impaired- My understanding is that one has to be registered as sight impaired before anybody takes an interest.

My friend is registered (and lives in a separate but close council) and has had massive help all for free from her local council. I am not registered, have not quite reached that stage yet and anything I have had done I have had to pay for.

Good afternoon to you lovely peoples (as Torben would say.)

morethan You must get the photograph enlarged and framed. It's a winner.

Willow A harness! Do report back to us please. My late parents used to walk their Siamese cat through the woods wearing a harness. He loved going for "walkies". Mind you, he was a very strange cat. He was known for tapping the door to open and access the pendulum to the Grandfather clock ans stopping the clock.

Our neighbour remains in hospital and her heart is being monitored. She is having further tests throughout the week. The air ambulance that transferred her from Campbeltown hospital to Glasgow would have done so in a very shoty time. To motor by ambulance would have taken three plus hours.

The portraits of the dog are to be collected this afternoon. I always feel nervous...it's an arty farty thing.

What lovely pics of children. Why is it when I see pics of children I want to cry ? I'm hopeless, can't even go to nativities ! I think I need counselling
I remember years ago when I was a 15/16 year old cadet nurse and on Christmas Eve I joined other nurses and went carol singing on the children's wards, with our lanterns and I was choked up so I've remained the same all my life.

What a beautiful bunch Morethan !! They look like they could charm you whatever naughtiness has ensued. Im with Soop that's one for the wall.

Ellan my little grandson is just like you . He cant watch the lion king because it has sad bits and he cant sing any carols that sound a bit sad because they make him cry :-)

I don't think its a bad thing to feel such empathy, so you cry all you like :-)

Ellan I am far too sensitive. At my age there is no way that I can even hope to toughen up. In some respects it's a curse. Especially at this time of the year.

I feel I must reply to you Doodle

I finding your posts so very sincere and sympathetic to all of us in need of a little tenderness,many write and it is too often, just a sentence,but you so obviously write from your heart.
Please know it has not gone unnoticed,it is in fact greatly appreciated by me.You obviously think and care,ask the right questions and give feelingly helpful well thought out suggestions........thank you.

Having run another thread similar to the kitchen where all those in need flocked too, I guess it is part of whom dear Soop and I are.

My infirmity comes from several directions,with now age adding to my issues,lack of sleep certainly is playing havoc with me too.......far too many worries and no answers!
As for this PC issue, my spine is deformed and sometimes simply tapping the keys on the keyboard are excrutiating,as you know my posts do not tend to be short and this applies to all my letters too.
Whilst of course now this age related MD is adding to my difficulties.

I have been advised to try this voice recognition business but quite frankly,although it may sound stupid,I also write from my heart and most times my mind is spinning that fast I cannot keep up with computing!.......so to even consider yet another method (it was bad enough computing initially as I have always been a pen, paper and fountain pen gal)..........but I realise for survival sake there maybe many more changes in the future.

As for the acronyms I just like words and to think I cannot participate at some point is very upsetting.

However I then read the many other sad stories and am left gasping amid tears,it is then I well and truly start counting my blessings all over again.

You too Willow.....Thank you too for your kind inquiry and helpful suggestions, as indeed the mere thought of first no pen and paper,now no further computing really does take the biscuit!

However very much just as Charley also suffering from MD has written, I have not yet been registered as Sight Impaired ........whether for good or bad........ but the help that is then offered is of course denied me as yet.
Whilst one of my biggest failing also is lack of patience!
Thank you for caring.

By the way what superb photos,you all have every reason to be so proud of your lovely families.

Sending love and showers of blessings to you all.