Soops Kitchen , kindness and cake served with love. Come on in !

I daren’t show any fear of my dentist. She and DD1 used to go to Young Farmers together! ( I was tempted to ask if her Mum knew she was out the first time we met in the surgery!)

Marydoll your post so resonated with me yesterday.
I saw my oncologist who was pleased the one tumour had shrunk due to the medication but told me there was no way I could have it operated on as it is in the chest wall. She suggested they contain it with radiotherapy. I told her my surgeon had said in January that she could operate there and then but would prefer it to be smaller! I am not sure who to believe.
Also I have a second tumour in same breast of a different variety which at the moment is not being treated. It is very small although the oncologist did agree it should be scanned although as she could not feel it was not too worried.
I am seeing them both, not together, again in July so hope they have sorted it out by then.

Soop I admire you writing to your sons. My daughter is the person I can talk to as she is more pragmatic like me but my son can't really face up to the fact his mum is ill. I am the practical one who gets things done when things go wrong.

On a lighter note my mum was always scared of the dentist so i had to beg her to take me as a child. I have had loads of work done but I am still not afraid.

I hope you are all having a good day - I would like a little rain to soak the garden before the heat wave at the weekend.

TOYA

ann how funny you should mention that about the Berni Inns. DH and I met up with BIL and SIL recently and went for a nice pub lunch and we too were reminiscing about exactly the meal you describe ?. Schooners of sherry were very much the in thing and the prawns, steak and gateaux. How we used to love that. A real treat out. Not sure I could get past the first course these days and a schooner of sherry would have me asleep before the bill came ?

Good to hear you’re feeling a bit better marydoll ?

dragonfly it would be helpful if all the doctors and consultants kept to the same line wouldn’t it? Hopefully, July will give a clearer picture. Hopefully a good visit.

You lovely lot are my daily tonic. Thank you for putting up with my recent "blips". I also feel ashamed when I share the down-turn in my recovery. Enough said. Today I am feeling more upbeat.

granniequeenie for you.

A visit to the dentist puts my nerves on edge in more ways than one. I hate having that metal thingy scrape close to the gum. I loathe cold water/air played over the most sensitive areas.

N&G I wish that we could borrow Grampy and his speed gun. There is a speed limit along a stretch of road bordering our wee village. Folk (from outside the village) ignore it. I am forever shouting and gesticulating to selfish motorists to SLOW DOWN! More often than not I get something rude mouthed back at me.

dragonfly My son is exactly like yours! Except in this case it’s his dad that is ill. Fortunately I too have an immensely strong and pragmatic daughter.

Our visit from the OT and physio went well. They were both lovely, friendly and very helpful, with lots of useful advice. For the time being we don’t need to do anything to the house, and they seem to think we will be able to manage here when DH loses more of his mobility. It’s also very reassuring to have someone to contact if any problems arise. I know that many of you struggle to get support and I wish there was more in place for people affected by other conditions.

A damp miserable day here, but it’s good for the garden!

TOYA

dragonfly You are receiving mixed messages. How confusing and disspiriting for you. I would like to give you a gentle hug. You do deserve so much more.

Anneliese Having a support system to turn to for advice is of enormous benefit. Funny that you should mention the fact because I have the number of one of the breast clinic ladies who was there during and immediately after surgery. I can contact her whenever I need support. Why is it that I haven't? Because I'm a stubborn old bat...that's why.

Lins1066 I have never ever wished for a large house. I like cosy and neat and manageable. My ideal is what we've been lucky enough to achieve. The garden is extremely time consuming. Thankfully MacSporran enjoys and copes with out minus my help. There was a time when I was the head gardener/house decorator blah blah. Those days have slowly but surely come to an ened. I suppose part of my "downness" is due to frustration of having the energy levels drained away.

However, I am so lucky in a hundred thousand ways. You lot have played a huge role in my personal good fortune.

Having helped my pal with her ironing, I shall put my feet up and grab a game of tennis on tele'.

soop. No apologies please. You are our very own kitchen, cool, calm and kind overseer but we know that you are human too and by being so honest you are giving us the opportunity to support you in return - although we know you don’t expect a return. Isn’t the point of the kitchen mutual support? Now that’s you told. Glad you are watching the tennis. The sight of all those fine looking young people battling it out is very distracting ?.
marydoll ditto the message to soop.
My “walking on eggshells” phone call was not answered so off to try again then I will be back for cake. Victoria sponge on the side.

Oh golly! Reading of everyone’s buggerations reminds me of when my DD1 sat me down, when I was very ill indeed, and with the utmost love told me off for insisting on managing. She told me that I needed to grow up and accept that other people were needing to be helping and doing and that my independent streak and stubbornness was getting in the way of a full and supported recovery.

I was utterly gobsmacked because I kind of thought I was a health warrior but she made me see it from the family’s viewpoint - they needed to help and know the truth to be able to deal with whatever my wonky body threw at them next.

She was so right! It was hard giving up control but throughout my illness I watched my AC grow up and lift a huge weight off my poor DH. We are all closer and stronger because I learned.

And .....
I am tired today after a night in London to see Mark Knopfler at the O2 - brilliant! We spent the night in the Good Hotel which is moored in Royal Victoria Dock - all the profits from this hotel go to support education services in Guatemala - also brilliant!......M25 home this morning - not so brilliant!

My DS made some brownies while I was away....I’ve left them on the table for everyone ? they remind me of those grey pastry offerings of other years!

TOYA

Well done n&g, you made the dentist, not your fault there will be a delay. Our dentist is the same, I once suggested he may be existing in a parallel universe, he didn’t disagree .

Pleased you are both sounding more chipper soop and marydoll. I’m ignoring apologies as they aren’t necessary. Honestly .

Flipping cold and damp here today. Mr C is helping one of ours install (wet!) decking. I sloped off for lunch with a friend and am now doing what I do best - supervising. .

Good luck with the eggshells feelingmyage. It seems to have been my permanent state for three last two years and boy doesn’t the strain make the back ache!

Goodness dragonfly I’m suppressing the urge to bang medical,heads together. You’d think they would be more in tune with each other. I’m hoping for better things for you in July. Sending a hug.

That sounds positive anneliese, very reassuring and a good support system. Thinking support soop maybe it’s worth thinking that the specialist nurse would be pleased to hear from you, if no patients get in touch she’ll begin to wonder why she is there.

Hope the tooth is comfortable kitty and you are still able to cope at home panache

It seems I am no longer a supervisor but required to don my kitchen fairy persona so off I go.

TOYA and be good everyone.

I remember Berni inns well, but I always had zabaglione for desert

I sent a screed this morning but it vanished into thin air. It was to say goodbye in case I did not make it back from firstly the hygienist and secondly the dentist early pm today. With the hygienist, I kept forgetting to breathe which is really not good.

The 16 year old dentist is really lovely and I do not think he believed me when I said I never drink spirits and drink a bottle of wine every 4-6 weeks. There is zilch wrong with my teeth apparently but it was an expensive exercise to tell me that.

I went straight from there to Waitrose cafe where I had a sandwich and a lovely cup of coffee as I had survived the hour's ordeal.

It is cold and raining here but there were folk out wearing sleeveless tops whereas I was dressed for January.

I still have not heard from the vet re Tara's blood and urine results. At this rate I will be returning to work.

TOYA

Galen Zabaglione was also my choice of pud. Haven't tasted it for years on end.

corner I shall ring her tomorrow.

Mamissimo Those grey brownies were made with love. I shall enjoy a taster - if there remains one to taste.

I've not done much at all this afternoon. Watched tennis. Shouted at the infuriating adverts that do not appear to feature real people talking about the benefits of funeral cover. Yes...we all agree. It's the cheesiness that gets me hot under the collar. Maybe, I'm just being a tad touchy this afternoon.

Charleyg Are you ceratin that the dentist was a mere child? Whatever, he appears to have made for a not too unpleasant visit. I keep wondering when you'll have news of Tara's results. She is one of our precious mascots.

Logging off. Still coolish here abouts. Better weather promised later in the week.

TOYA

Charleyg The word is - certain. But then you knew that...

The vet rang late this evening and Tar has liver problems it would appear so she is going tomorrow am to be sedated and have a scan of her tum and liver function tests carried out. I have also asked for the small nodule on the inside of her lower lip to be aspirated. Her mother will be very worried but it is better to get it over and done with tomorrow.

Charleyg all the best for Tara tomorrow.

It has rained here all day, good for the garden but not those on Half Term.
We are dog sitting until Monday, DS and DiL going to Istanbul. I shall Romania!
TOYA ?

charley hope all is well with Tara. We will keep our fingers crossed. Hope all goes well. Try and keep calm.

galen just knew you would be into the posh stuff. Zabaglione indeed ? . Just typing zabaglione made me think of a young girl runner from years ago. Lena something? Any idea who I mean? ?

Doodle ? Lena Zavaroni a rather youthful singing winner on opportunity knocks?

If you’re feeling brave....
youtu.be/Iu2uvAtFo-I

soop I did not notice the typo. The dentist is young but he is very good and he is one of the few I trust. Unlike some, he does not do work unnecessarily.

If anything goes wrong tomorrow I have asked for Tara not to be resuscitated. I have this awful feeling in my stomach.

we are off to bed for strokes and cuddles which she loves.
TOYA

Sorry I have not caught up with the kitchen news as we have been away with daughter and GC to Cyprus. All of us have made some very special memories.

TOYA ???

Charleygirl we will all be thinking of you and Tara with everything crossed.