Soop`s superbly supportive,caring and fun loving Kitchen.

Freesias are my favourite. The sad thing about the ones you see in shops is that they lack that wonderful fragrance. There's a flower farm in Cornwall that does mail order of fresh flowers and the freesias I've sent from there always get a great reception from the recipients. Half a century ago (!) I had a row of them under my front window in Kenya. Such a luxury!
I meant to get out in the garden this afternoon but a friend rang up and asked me to meet her at a local tea room, so that was a great excuse. Then I came back and fast-forwarded the Scotland-France rugby. I recommend that way of watching. It's so much more exciting.
kitty, I hope you have got your OH home and in good form, otherwise you may have to send him to the poorly husbands' unit attached to this kitchen!
Any chocolate biscuits left? Some hope!

WELCOME home, Mr Kitty. Please do as Mrs Kitty suggests. Otherwise, you may find yourself recouperating in the poorly ward annexed to our kitchen. Trust me, it's no place for those of a nervous disposition.

anno our minds were working along the same track.

Kitty, poor Bertie! What a nightmare! We put so much time and effort into protecting their teeth and all it takes is one slip. I hope the situation is not irretrievable.?

Luckily, it's his baby teeth,*gd*, so it's not the end of the world if he loses them but nevertheless..... And, pa is quite upset! When a similar thing happened to DD1 at around the same age he ran around like a headless chicken. It took me to suggest he saved the teeth in milk! Bless.

I remember the glorious smell of freesias as I walked up the aisle. It is a shame that they no longer smell!

My fingers are fairly green! And as I love freesias so much, I’ve tried to grow them both from seeds and corms, but I’ve never had a single bloom! anno as you’ve said, these days they don’t have the lovely fragrance. I’ll have to look for the Cornish flower farm.

Evening all !!

Just a quick pop and haven't had a chance to catch up, so please forgive me. We take the little boys home tomorrow ( which is lucky as we are on our knees lol) . So I shall be back to normal next week.

Hope all is going well ...but from the little I have see Bertie sounds like he has run into trouble.

Ill leave you with a picture of erbert and sherbert !!

Well now, aren’t they the very epitome of cool! That’s a keeper, N&G! Have a good journey tomorrow returning them and don’t tell me you won’t miss them like mad!

They are cool Grey lol and I will miss them but I’m about on my knees now after various visitors for the previous 2 weeks !

We had a prolonged bedtime tonight as they both missed Mummy so we tried several times to get them to sleep . I need at least a week to recover......maybe more ????

We had freesias in a silver vase on top of our wedding cake too! Nightmare about the teeth Kitty but glad Mr Kitty is home and all seems well.
I need garage help too Dragonfly and you are only just up the road from us ... We have made a start and done two tip runs so progress is being made. Tomorrow is eat-everything-in-sight day, as the diet starts on Monday so any cake is very welcome ?.

ntlive.nationaltheatre.org.uk/media/video/63102-follies/yZrs8DlHPLY

I went to this today , Stephen Sondheim’s “Follies” - a Christmas present from sister in law - and I was just stunned!

Another quick popping in to the lovely kitchen. Your used to me not keeping up so it pointless apologising again, but I will. It’s not just the kitchen I haven’t been a friend to my friends. I’m so caught up watching this nightmare unfold I haven’t the energy for anything. My DiL hasn’t improved since that awful week we had when she collapsed. She just hasn’t bounced back this time. Her scans tell us that the brain and liver have responded well to the treatment but now they think her breast cancer has spread to her lungs. That would mean that the current treatment has stopped working. Her consultant has reassured us that they can change the drug regime so perhaps there’s still hope. We await even more scans. We are at the three year point since that ‘harrowing half term’ when we first got the news. What amazes me most is the fact that as family we’ve been able to live with something so unbearable while carrying on an almost normal everyday life. Before she became ill I planned to go on holiday with a group of friends. I’d completely forgotten about it until they rang saying they’d arranged it could I send the money. I really should have pulled out but didn’t want to let people down and my DiL was relatively stable so I foolishly agreed. My son says I must go or my DiL will think we know something about her health that she doesn’t. So I’m off to Mexico next week. I just want the two weeks to be over so I can get back here. I’ll never forgive myself if the worst happens.

I was Nelliemoser but to get the login on my tablet GNHQ have had to get this different name.

That username is there as the only way to get GN on my tablet.
Its a complicated user name, but I was so pleased to get back onto GN.
Its a bit early. I have not been here for a while.
I was too uncomfortable to lie in bed as my back starts to complain.
The gettingitrightoneday was about my inability to type passwords into blank spaces.

Dear morethan my heart goes out to you and your family. I have followed your travails with increasing sadness and sympathy. The courage you have had to find - all of you - to deal with this awful card that life has dealt you - is awe inspiring.

I truly hope that you can go and recharge your batteries on the forthcoming holiday with your friends. If things deteriorate whilst you are away maybe you can cut the holiday short and fly home? Please try and see it as a way to gather your strength together to face the future, whatever it may hold. You need this break.

Sending you my admiration for your courage and holding your family together through this nightmare. Plus a hug!

Dear morethan there are no words to convey what I feel for you. As gaga says your courage is amazing. I am so sorry you are all having to go through this.
I hope your holiday will give you the strength to continue. It is very hard being a tower of strength all the time.
Sending hugs and

I agree completely with what dragonfly says, morethan. Try to relax with your friends.

What a fabulous photo, n&g. Now sit down and relax.

Nellie, I might slip and called you that! I realised it was you. Lovely to see you.

Agree with the other wise words morethan. You’ve been so strong, time to recharge batteries. Sending love to you all.

Those boys are so full of character n&g: feet up when you get home today.

I’m a grumpy corner this morning, beautiful blue sky is tempting me out but I’ll be stuck indoors sorting the havoc I created yesterday. Never mind. Mr C’s birthday tomorrow, he’ll be very old , so we plan a day out. Fingers crossed for more sunshine.

Hello nellie, can we please shorten your new name?

Best get on, a mountain to climb here today. And sigh .

So sorry to hear your news, morethan but like others have said, do try to gather strength on your holiday. Your son is right saying that not to go would worry your DiL. We have a family member at a similar stage to your DiL and she has ups and downs but with changes in chemo, on she goes again. (And she has some great wigs ?)
Hope you all have a good day. X

morethan2 - what a terrible burden to carry for all your family. Well done for keeping life as near normal as is possible. x

The sun is trying to burn off the fog here and I am hoping for a few minutes outside.

DD coming to look after OH while I go to an afternoon concert, so another chink of sun here!

I cannot join you all in the warmth and caring of the kitchen as much as I need or would like.For however much I try I am finding daily life such a strain and there are just no reprieves it would seem.Many of you already know this only too well as you face your own many mountains.

You seem to be having a run of “happenings “ Kittylester and although its good to get your man back home, I hope he obeys instructions though most of all I hope his `op will be a complete success and there are no glitches.

It is indeed a while since we heard from you Morethan although you have remained in my thoughts I can well understand why your silence.... when it would seem you are watching your dear SiL go through so very much,and especially not seeing her bounce back as she normally has managed is hard to deal with.However by all means you cannot halt your own life entirely, and you sound as though you really are in need of a break........so go and return with a fresher state of mind which in the long run will help everyone.

Wishing grumpy Cornergran`s hubby a Happy birthday and yes mine too is looming large,March 4th and again I too shall be very old!!!!

This attending Hospital every other day(although thankfully this one is reasonably close) is such a bind,then yesterday another two further appointments,one for my twice yearly Gynae check and the other for my long awaited and much needed Opthalmology Clinic.My eyes are deteriorating almost daily, and I am at my wits end.

Although my man has recovered to a degree,and is trying to regain his former self by some attempts at mowing for instance,all the planning is now in my department and quite frankly I just haven`t the time Whilst am not that capable........ having relied on him for all these years.

Yesterday proved extremely difficult with two lots of viewers,the second lot had visited earlier in the week and so were here for almost 3 hours taking measurements etc.Because they are retiring here from Canada and she is actually a French Canadian whom is not quite acquainted with our property selling, I am bending the rules to allow them this extra access.
The worrying part of course is we now actually dread an offer as we still have no where to go to..........either to purchase or rent!!
Yes we are almost heading the list for two Sheltered Homes that offer supreme care, but of course we do have to wait our turn.
Life has its difficulties and they are certainly causing me some headaches!

Oh that we could have perfect peace in life and for me that would mean more than winning the Lottery!

The weather is such an uplift and treat with wall to wall blue skies and sunshine,I have a feeling our beaches will be well visited this day.A very welcome change from the “Beast from the East” we suffered last February.

Lovely reading up and hearing both the happy and harrowing stories of our Kitchen friends and may I wish you ......one and all......a very peaceful and pleasant day.

Hang on in there * Morethan* I find it hard to believe it has been three years since you first shared your shocking news. Have that holiday and if you can, recharge your batteries. How you have kept goi his a marvel, as well as an inspiration.
Your house news sounds encouraging Panache and I will keep my fingers crossed for at least one offer. There is no way you can perfectly coordinate selling and moving to your sheltered apartment, but do get one out of the way and rent for a few months if necessary or it will never happen.
I don’t see how spending three hours measuring, chatting about the house or area is in any way “bending” the rules. I am sure we did similar things on previous sales and purchases. One seller not only left a useful list of tried and tested local tradesmen, but church times, baby sitting circle details, butcher and local market recommendations. I really appreciated that.
Why don’t you get someone to help with the heavy stuff, such as grass cutting? A “man” will usually bring his own mower (whatever size) and that relieves you of the chore of mower maintenance plus removing the clippings.
I have had this done here for the last 20 years, it gets done regularly whatever the weather and freshly cut lawns do so much to improve the whole appearance of the garden!
Sorry to hear about your eyes. My sister in law has a macular hole(I think) just recently diagnosed and she is to have surgery in 4 weeks time.
It sounds as if she will have to spend a lot of time lying face down afterwards and as she lives alone in London I have offered to have her here. I hope she has lots of audio books! (Or she may be very bored)
Positive vibes to all!

Panache, I hope you won't think me rude to ask if both you and Dh have all the benefits available to you? I hope the person who came to talk to you did a thorough check.

And, certainly round here, AgeUk can organise the services of grass cutters and domestic help.

That's a very kind offer Maw. I'm not sure i could cope with any of my sisters in law (maybe 1 out of the 5 of them) on that basis!

Just taken DH for the recommended small constitutional round the village. He insisted he could do his normal two mile walk but I prevailed and we came back after 15 minutes. He's now sitting with his feet up!

A bit of help with the garden is a great boon - since OH got AA at higher rate there is a chap up the road who comes in - he has just done a big clean-up, cutting back etc ready for the summer. It is a joy to be able to sit and watch him work!

I have also spent some of AA on a weekly cleaner, which also helps a great deal.

I can rest easy that the bulk of the heavy gardening and cleaning is under control. It is surprising how much this feels like a great relief. We would not have done this without the AA - so definitely worth checking out benefits as kitty says.

Well done and welcome to Gettingitrightoneday who was also known as Nelliemoser. I've found a tartan cushion for you. Harris Tweed. Only the best will do.

N&G Your grandsons are the coolest dudes on the planet.

morethan So much sound advice and comforting comment continues to wing it's way to you. Do take the break and recharge your batteries. I cannot think how you have coped with so much stress for so long.

Panache, many of life's buggerations seem to lie in wait until one is truly deserving of peace, good health and contentment. Why should that be? Surely us lot have earned the right to enjoy our latter years. Seems not! All that we can do is soldier on and make the best of whatever comes knocking our door.

Kitty I was sorry to hear about Bertie's accident. Some time ago, Torben was climbing up a wall-thingy in a gym and fell and bashed his tooth out as he did so. It wasn't the best of days. Now that his big teeth are through, he looks just the job, and handsome as ever.

Okay...yesterday afternoon's pack-a-big-box with "mindings" for all the family was not successful. MacSporran will fetch a larger box from the loft. I shall decant all the gifts and re-pack. I am enjoying the exercise. Early next week, we shall post it to my son in Oakham. Torben will do the "honours" when we get together. He has a grin on his face as he takes the gifts to the recipients. I always love the way he stands close and waits patiently for his gift.

soop - I've just been thinking about your Torben's name.
My oldest grandson is called Tor, which I think is the name of a hill in Derbyshire. And a Ben is a mountain in Scotland.