Soops kitchen refuge for gentle ladies

panache I have a few things which I have given up for lent. Some are more of a struggle than others to be honest. DH and I are low salt people (well he is and I join in to support him) and I crave salt. It is not chocolate that is my downfall but crisps and peanuts. Reading your post today I realised that in a week or so I can go back to my occasional salty treat but you can never do that. To have desire and cravings for food you cannot have again must be a real hardship. That seems a really hard blow life has dealt you. My DH often is awake an night (though thankfully through irritation not pain) and he is often very tired during the day. Your poor DH too be kept awake all night is really sad I do hope someone gives him something to help soon it is heartbreaking how much you two have to cope with.
anno sorry I missed your mishap earlier. That’s a nasty accident hope you are on the mend soon.
Lovely pictures everyone. I especially like the Easter Bonnet ?. TOYA ?

ann just missed your last post.
I totally understand where you are and the feeling you are not part of this world. Just remember that whatever world you are in we are there with you to try and hold you up. You can do this! Sending much love and support xx

Ann, part good news and part not so good, but at least your husband is going to be well cared for. Your poor daughter must be feeling so sad.
What a wonderful Easter bonnet, and what a wonderfully creative young lady!
I love the pic of the dog and cat cuddling up, when we had a dog, a long time ago now, she loved the cat, but the cat stayed stand offish for the almost 15 years that they lived together.
Love and best wishes to, all who are poorly or taking care of poorly people, TOYA.
We had a mouse in here last night. After a few failed attempts at catching it, Mia got bored and went out. I let her in later for her treats, she glanced to her left then got on with eating. I looked left, and there, on the rim of her water bowl, was the mouse, having a drink! And the cat, 6" away, ignoring it! I picked it up and set it free outside, but the little perisher showed it`s gratitude by biting me!

Ann

Ann, I am just about coming out of the feeling you have. My dearest and best of husbands died two months ago, which is why I started again with Gransnet, I had to have something I could just get in touch with at any time and read what folk were up to. The world just carried on in spite of my sadness, I woke every morning, got the taxi, sat in the hospital holding my husbands hand, both of us knowing that we had had a fantastic marriage, and each of us worried about the other. He was proud of the fact that we had been married 66 years, and wanted to reach the 67, we were three weeks short of that, so it is Just me. Don't think he was very much aware, but I was grateful that he had been moved from the hospital bed, = they were lovely there, to the very bright and cheerful room in the Nursing Home, where once again their kindness was appreciated. Life goes on, and perhaps the laughter will return.

ann, not a lot we can say really except that we are with you in spirit. it's a shame your daughter has to go home.

There are lots of lovely photos here especially the Easter bonnet.

callgirl - eek. Are your tetanus jabs up to date?

panache, I hope your poor dh has help soon. It must be so distressing for you.

anno, how is your sister? How are your ribs today?

I hope galen comes back - I don't think anyone was trying to be nasty to her.

Sorry if I've missed anyone but I am thinking of people with worries and sadness and TOYA.

Condolences Justme67 ? You had a very long marriage and have therefore many happy memories and times to sustain you. A sad time for you indeed.
*Callgirl what a cheeky mouse, how dare he bite you. Keep an eye on that though. I think we have some mice in the loft but I don't think I'll ask to borrow Mia!

Ann I hope you were able to get a little rest and that your husband is more comfortable.
Panache hope that you and your dear DH were able to get some much needed rest too. Thank you for your kind and supportive message, so much appreciated.

Grannyqueenie I've finished ' Eleanor Oliphant' and thoroughly enjoyed it.
For breakfast I've had a piece of Christmas sourdough bread which has been languishing in the freezer. Toasted and buttered it was just like sliced hot cross bun and delicious. I've left some slices in the kitchen.
TOYA

Ann I can assure you that you are never far from my/our thoughts and I am so relieved your darling is now getting the care he deserves. Your poor daughter, I feel for her as well as you.

I don't have any pictures of adorable pets as we are not allowed them here (I could have a bird but when I said I'd like a vulture, they frowned at me) but this dear little daughter of my friend came to visit and spent the whole morning laughing and smiling.

I hope it lifts the spirits

Justme
So sorry for your recent loss.
We have been married for 60 years, it seems like you know no other life.
Like you I get to the hospital for 12noon and just sit until I feel he is in a deep sleep.
When he is moved he will have his own room.
I don't know how I feel about that yet, I feel I get and give support to other visitos, although the other patients are constantly changing.
It will be 3 weeks tomorrow since my H was admitted and he is the longest resident in the bay.
He is also the most ill and most advanced in his dementia.
Thank you for sharing your story.

Ann such a mixture of emotions! Sorry it has taken so long to get something sorted - but not sorted the way you would have loved, although that would have taken a miracle. I do hope the transfer goes smoothly and that your DH is unaware. I didn't even know the place existed and was amazed when speaking to my daughter, who worked in Mental Health Care in that area, just what is out there - but how do WE know? I will now be away for a couple of weeks but you will be in my thoughts and prayers. As will all the other GN's struggling at the moment

I am going to be away for a couple of weeks, so there will be a new kitchen when I return. Please don't lock me out! I promise to bring cake and chocolate and maybe even a bottle of something restorative == Lent will be over!

justme, I think our posts crossed. I am so sorry for your loss

ann just kind thoughts and hugs.

Ann,thinking of you today and hope it is a better day for tou?
Justme,sorry for your loss?
Panache,I hope your husband had a better night.The wheels of the NHS certainly do turn slowly,I hope he gets the appointments he needs soon.Apparently my husband is on the waiting list for the waiting list?‍♀️
Soop,hope the car boot sale goes well.
Sending ?and warm thoughts to all who are struggling.

Justme Your heartfelt message brought tears to my eyes. You understand the raw sorrow that Ann is experiencing. Thank you for sharing your experience with us.

We are off to a car boot sale in the village. I shall be back later this afternoon.

Should the next new kitchen need opening...the key is under the flower pot on the new "Welcome" mat. Please may I ask just one favour? Will you decide betwixt yourselves whomsoever it will be to do the honours. We had two kitchens opening together last time. A tad confusing for the likes of us lot. I'm more than happy for one of you to cut the ribbon and be the first to step inside our new meeting place.

kitty, thanks for asking. My sister messages me most days. She tries hard to be as independent as possible, but, reading between the lines, I think she might be trying just too hard. However, her son and grandchildren keep an eye on her and next month her daughter is going over again.
Cracked ribs do not go well with a cough. Last night I coughed and a muscle went into an almighty spasm. It hasn't improved overnight and I am limited as to the painkillers I can take. Don't waste sympathy on me - it's all self-inflicted.
Next Thursday I'm going south by train to see the family - note to self: don't forget to request assistance!

#old crock

anno an old crock - never! Take care.

Please leave a trail for me to follow when you all move. I'm having a baking session so will bring cake.

I'll also bring bubbly - I am reliably informed it staves off dementia!! Any excuse!!

TOYA

I didn’t manage to read all the posts yesterday that I had missed while we were away; my sister in law has dementia and our time was spent keeping her busy, getting her out of the house as much as possible and trying to help make decisions about her future welfare with DH’s other sister who is her main carer. It seems unfair that it should all fall on her and her husband - they are both eighty - but there is not a lot of practical help we can give from 200 miles up the road, except to offer to go down and give them a break if they need it. Or, better by far from my perspective, to have her up here with us, but I am not sure how unsettling that would be for her, or whether she could make the three to four hour journey given her recent injuries.

I will do my best to catch up while I have a couple of hours to myself. DH and DS have gone to the football.

Doodle you are not the only one who has a real craving for salty snacks. DH can take them or leave them but i have stopped buying crisps and stuff unless GS is coming over, as I simply can’t leave them alone!

Ann I could not even try to imagine what a horrendous time this is for you, but as others have said, I hope we are a constant presence for your solace. ?

Soop we go to car boot sales but have never sold at one, despite me saying to DD that, with all the piles of hardly used toys and books of GS’s that she is always complaining takes up too much space, we could be onto a good thing, but she tends to sniff at the thought of having to get up at some ridiculous hour on a Sunday and wrangle over pennies with strangers! She would sooner give it away. Problem is, she doesn’t! Hope your recovery is ticking along.

Gq you sound as if you will need a long sit down when your little visitor has gone home. I wish you could bottle their energy! Loved the photos. I wish I had taken my camera away but didn’t know whether I would get the chance to use it. As it was I missed some interesting shots!

Anno sorry to hear about your fall. DH would have every sympathy with you. He fell off a ladder some time back and bounced off the bonnet of his car and broke three ribs. The car was fine though, and at least it was his car and not mine!? it took some time to get him right though! Look after yourself.

Panache I am sorry to hear that life is not being kind to you and your DH. I hope there is a little sunshine, both actual and metaphorical, for you soon. I watched an episode of Escape to the Country while we were away, and someone was looking for a property in Pembrokeshire. I was silently urging them to your door!!

Well, apologies to all I have not included but TOYA. I am seriously missing my GS this weekend as he is away with his parents until Monday evening. He has face timed me, but I can’t wait to give him a huge hug.

I will see you all in the new kitchen, and will try and bring cake!

Ps! Thankyou for Easter bonnets, cuddly babies and Spring lambs!

gd, the only time in my life when I wanted salty crisps was while I was breastfeeding Minibaggs. Something to do with fluid retention for making milk, I reckoned.

With DD1 it was custard creams. Can't remember if there was anything with DD2. Never had any pregnancy cravings.

Waiting now to hear my H has been moved to the community hospital for palliative and end of life care.
I spent two hours with him and have now come home to get him some bits and pieces and wait for a phone call to say he has been transported.
It could be any time up until late evening.

ann such a difficult time for you. My thoughts are with you and I hope it all goes smoothly and painlessly.

ann I will be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. May I suggest you take something that you might enjoy reading and that you can read aloud when you next go in to see your DH. I took an anthology of poems which my mother and I both enjoyed in other, better times and read them aloud for us both. It helped me and since they say hearing is the last thing to go I think she shared it all with me. (((hugs))) xx

Hope it's not too late, ann, but maybe you could go early in the morning if it is late.

I hope life calms down now for you and you can spend some gentle time with your dh.

There are such a lot of worries and heartaches on gn at the moment and I'm TOYA.

Whilst yet another day of sunshine we have quite a stiff breeze alongside the cold.......although we are being promised much warmer weather with the lead up to easter.Cannot come soon enough!

I think I know how you all are feeling just as helpless as I am on hearing the heartbreaking stories of Ann and her H,and then your very recent sad loss Just me.My heart truly reaches out to you both, but somehow words never carry the pain we feel inside for you.
Please know you are in our thoughts each day.......and we are always ready to listen here in Soop`s kitchen

Whilst thank you for your kind caring as we try to cope with our own situation, which simply does not seem to improve in the least.
In fact I am very upset myself that this weekend, on "Palm Sunday" we have always travelled out deep into the countryside with flowers for the grave of the very dear lady who took me under her wing when I was left an abandoned babe of 10 weeks.This elderly lady truly saved my life,and gave me a roof over my head.
Some 40 years ago we had the dubious pleasure of nursing her through a debilitating terminal cancer, then an invalid of 80 years right through her death,some tiny repayment for the caring she had given me.
We have taken flowers every Easter,Christmas and other times throughout every year.This year though my dear man is unable to drive........and so it will have to be thoughts only.

Whilst if you read back a little GreyD you would hear my account of the "Escape to the Country" team in Pembrokeshire, with the escapees ending the visit by falling for the Barn conversion.......which is only a few fields away from us!!!

However another rather dubious twist in our overly long house move saga.Last evening we were quietly tipped to expect a formal letter next week, advising us that a 2 bed Apartment in the newish Sheltered Complex was becoming vacant and we were having first offer.
I am not exactly jumping up and down because of our very troubled situation here at home right now,my poor man cannot sit or sleep, even painkillers are not helping out every time.Without any other back up the whole scenario presents a whole range of problems.
Of course as yet we have not had any confirmation that they are now able to go ahead and purchase this property either from our last viewers,so there are many question marks.
Of course this is what we have so desperatedly needed and I can but hope and pray that somehow it will all come to pass.
I refuse to think negatively..............but I am extremely worried to say the least.

Doodle you are one of those rare folks whom truly take on board things I say, and obviously mull over them...... realising the difficulties in not being able to follow an ordinary diet.I would have thought it virtually impossable personally,and yet finding if I stick firmly to what I am allowed I suffer less........and so pain speaks loudly.... hence I listen!

Thanks for your PM 1inamillion and now the penny has dropped about your rather great name!!Lovely knowing the contingency of Welsh people in GN..........especially in the kitchen..... is growing!!

What a delightful collection of uplifting pictures,thank you all.

Ooops! I see our kitchen is nearing its present end so I am making a hurried getaway!!! Having boobed and started a new kitchen alongside Izabella last time around, so I am keeping my head down........sorry Soop!!!! And scampering........passing the baton onto the next visitor!!!
Love and blessings to you all.......TOYA