Soop' s warm and welcoming kitchen.

Doodle we really cannot cope with any more births. Marydoll's news has freaked me out. If it has happened again I will be having a serious talk with soop.

On a more serious note no communication via email or PM from Panache. I know that another GN is also trying because we do communicate.

Luckily I do not think that the Panaches had anything planned for their golden wedding anniversary tomorrow.

Quick rush in. Shopping complete, hooray, it will be safe to go for Granny detail later - as long as I remember to take it. The supermarket trip was seriously horrible, everyone seemed so stressed and so of course extra bad tempered. How the staff remain sane I will never know.

I’ve also pm’d and emailed panache, no reply so far. Will let you know if she does respond. Her situation if she is at home alone is beyond worrying, without her added worry about her husband who did sound to be very ill indeed,

Onwards. Take care everyone.

Sorry, wanted to say pleased you are a little better marydoll. Sounds as if you are more than busy.

Oh, Doodle I lurve your sense of humour.

Yours, too Charleyg. Tyke!

corner thank you for your message. A Panache update would be welcome.

Afternoon all !!

Well that day flashed past!!

I meant to tell you about the nativity from last night. The church is glorious and has been decorated throughout and it was a full house. The children were wonderful !! The donkey disgraced himself by pooping BUT who knew the stable had a 'Pooper Scooper' - he even had lines !!

The sheep were very well behaved apart from joining in 'Oh Come All Ye Faithful'- I have to say they wont be invited to join the choir.

There was a small altercation where Mary tried to poke out the baby Jesus eye but she was nudged off her stool by Joseph who then took control of the baby ! Two of the angels got in a shoving match but no damage was done apart from knocking off one of the Wise Men's crowns.

Afterwards we stopped for tea and Christmas cookies baked by the children and had the pleasure of meeting the Angel Gabriel who assured me I was on the nice list ( from her to gods ear I say!!)

All in all a wonderful event !!

Hopeful of better news from the Panache household tomorrow x

Biopsy done and dusted! No ill effects.
Thank you for all your kind messages they are much appreciated..

Now have to get my mum out of hospital so I can go away to my son's with an easy conscience.

Thinking of Panache and Mr P.

N&G I enjoyed your funny/delightful comments on the nativity, and would have loved to have been there in person.

dragonfly Well done. Best get such procedures over and done with. I would love to hear that your Mum is recovering well enough to be discharged from hospital. She is being well cared for. You deserve a treat. Wishing you well.

I have done all manner of boring chores household tasks throughout the day. Feeling a tad self-satisfied.

Tomorrow is Friday. I checked. Care home visit in the morning and a mince pie and coffee in the Harbourview Grill before returning home to join you in our kitchen.

Still no sign of Tabitha. I shall continue to hope. As darkness has fallen, I shall swap mats in the chalet and place her supper under the shelter.

So dreadfully sad news about Mr P. I hope that Panache gets the help she needs.

I haven’t seen any posts from gillybob, I hope she is well (or have I just missed them).

Dragonfly take care after your biopsy.

Love and virtual hugs to all the poorly and stressed kitcheners, have left mince pies and sausage rolls on the side along with a bottle of Harvey’s Bristol Cream ?

My dear Kitchen friends I do hope my garbled message in a reply to Corner`s PM was passed on by her,so that you will know why I was absent from my favourite place,although in the light of this Christmas rush maybe I wasn`t even missed!

However no GWA celebrations or even Christmas here as there has been some high drama with my dear man,my sole Carer rushed into Hospital last Monday morning where he was diagnosed with a Stroke......apparently the second unbeknown to us........But with my recognising the signs and calling 999 immediately,my quick action and a brilliant team of medics thankfully his life has been spared........although left with a nasty speech impediment.
He has to continue having a load of tests,a rehabilitation programme, as well as speech therapy, but of course all in the New Year.

He is being a star in every way and we are both so very grateful for the tiny miracles that occurred that morning and since, so we know we are having guidance from above.
With his worrying so much about however can I manage .........and now vice versa .......life is indeed extremely difficult,and that is putting it mildly. We are in desperate straits..........no two ways about it.

We have begged for some assistance months ago and it is still all in the paper work stage.
We are desperate....... if we are to survive ........and survive we shall do,because we have faced many black times of great hardship during our marriage, and together we have climbed every hurdle,guided and helped along by our faith.It simply makes us stronger in the long run.

It is absolutely bad timing because with Christmas rush I have been unable to have taxis,the Store we get our groceries have no slots until next Friday (28th) and of course we live 3 miles outside town and all amenities,surgery.... and 5 miles to Hospital.He has been banned from driving and of course I can barely walk let alone drive.
Our 3 neighbours,all widowers are in their 80+ so cannot help much.

We have viewers cancelled now right,left and centre as there has been a specific surge of cash buyers again, and now our need to sell and get moved into Sheltered Accomodation is greater than ever.

The one thing that sustains us is knowing we are having that one great helping hand and although we may not celebrate our GWA in the usual ways,what we have been through this week,and thus far survived, has united us like no celebration could ever do and as long as we have each other we have solid gold.

Already I am on my last legs and without sleep or proper solid nourishment my weight is dropping daily,I have little time to stop and think.............. so my friends I have given you as full a picture as my time will allow, so that you will fully understand that you will probably hear very little from me for quite awhile.

I can but wish each one of you a very uplifting and meaningful Christmas and for those with health and issues galore I trust the New Year will be kinder.
God Bless You all.

Oh Panache, why don’t we live nearer so we could help?

No words can help but I am praying for you both. You will survive this as you say you are strong.

Surely the hospital will now sort help out when they see the situation. It took my mother breaking her hip to get help at home. They would not send her home til help was in place.

I am thinking of you both and sending love and best wishes.

By the way you were much missed please don’t think otherwise!

Panache we are all desperate to help if only we could. Is there a local Lions or Rotary club in your area - they often have volunteers who will do hospital runs and may also help find some assistance for you. How about the local church? Do your neighbours have any family who may be able to get shopping in for you? I do hope Mr P continues to improve - it's fortunate you recognised the signs and got help so quickly. Please rest as much as you can when you can to conserve what little strength you have! Don't worry about posting in here but try to keep in touch with those who have pm'd you who can update us.

Panache, heartfelt wishes to you both. There just are no words. I wish a group of us could get together and do something for you, your plight is heartbreaking. Your strength and optimism still shine through despite all the odds. What a lovely comment you made: “as long as we have each other we have solid gold”. Speaks volumes.
I have PMd you.

Dragonfly I’m glad it’s behind you now.

Thank you, Panache for taking the time to keep us updated. If us lot could gang together to help you to cope through this crisis, we would. Please may blessings be heaped upon you and your dear husband. XX

Evening All. All’s quiet in Grandma detail land so a quick rush in again.

What a relief to hear from you panache although I am desperately sorry for your plight it’s good to know your husband had such prompt treatment.

Yes, I did manage to pass on your news, although a little tardily sadly and be sure many worried good wishes were winging your way.

There’s nothing to say about the lack of practical support that hasn’t been said other than it makes me so very angry. There are some food suggestions in willows post, all fingers will be crossed for you. We’re all hoping for practical help for you from somewhere, well anywhere.

I’m pleased today’s procedure is over for you dragonfly, hope you have good news about your Mum.

grannyg I’ve also wondered about gillyb , not seen her at all. More worries.

The nativity sounds a truly wonderful experience n&g, a real Christmas bonus.

Better disappear. We’ve got one sulking child this evening. No idea why, no explanation and her sister also has no idea. I’ve given up placating and am just waiting (wishing!) for bed time. Oh dear, bad Grandma

Take care everyone. Hugs for everyone, it’s a funny old world at the moment for many of us.

Such sad tidings on here tonight. Panache I have pm’d you.
On a diffferent tack, if I could only get my hands on the idiots with the drones at Gatwick! DS and DiL are stuck in Morocco and don’t know when they can get back. Their airline say Sun at earliest but trying other airlines. DGS was getting tearful about mummy and then he swallowed a marble - the meltdown was awesome! Dr Daddy phoned to assure him all would be well and that chocolate is the best medicine! Tomorrow was our Christmas Day down here but that has been cancelled. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.

although in the light of the Christmas rush maybe I wasn't even missed.
panache are you kidding!! Try reading through all the posts since we found out the news about your poorly DH. You have been pretty much the only topic of conversation in the kitchen. So good to hear from you. Sincerely hope Mr P starts to improve now.
Do you have to cancel viewings? Could the estate agent show people round? Not easy I know. Dear panache we are all thinking of you. Many congratulations on your golden wedding tomorrow. Always in my prayers x

dragonfly glad your biopsy is over hopefully the results will be ok. Many congratulations to you and Mr Dragon on your golden wedding tomorrow.

Panache, I can't imagine the distress you and your dear husband are suffering. There must be some practical solution to your transport and shopping issues. In our small town there is an organisation (based on one of the churches) in which volunteer drivers take people to shops and hospitals who can't drive themselves. Surely your local church would step in to help you if they knew of your situation. Do the staff who are caring for your DH in the hospital know about your desperate plight? Perhaps they would have some contacts with organisations which would help you.

Panache I know I probably should not be saying this but could you not get in touch with your useless GP surgery because it sounds to me as though you are in dire straits. I cannot think of anybody else unless the hospital where Mr. P is could help? there may well be volunteer drivers there if you ordered the groceries online and it picked up.

Sorry I live too far away to be of any assistance practically.

I didn`t manage an afternoon nap yesterday, unfortunately, but I did sleep very well last night!
N&G, I so wish that I had been at your nativity service, it sounds wonderful.
Dragonfly, so glad the biopsy went without a hitch, I hope that the results are equally pleasing.
Panache, thank you so much for updating us. I just can`t believe that there still hasn`t been any help offered. Just what do you have to do to become entitled to help and assistance these days? Isn`t there anyone you can call on to fight the fight for you?

Feeling a bit shell shocked today - the first Friday morning in nearly 15 years when I haven't had reports to do for work. My laptop and all the 'gubbings' is now parcelled up to return after Christmas and I've turned my works phone off. My office desk is cleared so that Mr W can finally have use of it and I'm wondering what on earth I'm going to do with myself come 2nd Jan when the festivities are over. I did have some wonderful messages both from work colleagues and friends which was lovely. I'm sure I'll get used to retirement eventually - although probably not to no income each month

Sorry Dragonfly I meant to say yesterday I'm pleased you got your biopsy out of the way and I hope your mum is well enough to come out of hospital.

NannyTopsy I hope your family get home soon - there are so many people affected by this drone issue and of course the knock on effect will last for some time even if they manage to 'take out' the flying objects! I know they're saying it's not terrorist related but it's definitely someone out there enjoying the massive impact the disruption is causing!

Have a good day all.

Popping in with good wishes for golden wedding anniversaries today. Not the one you planned panache but nevertheless every good wish to you both. Hope you can relax and enjoy yours dragonfly, many congratulations to you both. Ours is next year. I’m already wondering ‘how did that happen?’

It can certainly be huge transition willow, did you enjoy your working role or will it be a relief to let go? Enjoy your Christmas, January will come and will sort itself I’m sure. Give yourself time and don’t pressurise yourself to be any particular way and all will be well. Congratulations on the next stage of your life. .

Cake icing today when I stir myself, late night last night is my excuse for a slow beginning today.

Hope today brings positive news for anyone managing illness or distress.