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

Anneliese Empathy with another's pain is a gift with which the young man next door has been blest. A little understanding can make a huge difference, especially when one is dealing with ongoing stressful situations.

callgirl1 Max is a gorgeous wee boy. And you - have cheek bones to die for.

Swanny your day trip to the seaside was obviously a well deserved treat. I haven't had a Pimms in yonks. Such a refreshing and sophisticated drink.

N&G Oh dear! Sam chasing after Nibbles must have caused chaos. In my mind's eye I could imagine a chase like those seen during old silent movies.

Urmstongran At what time shall we meet in that bar for cocktails?

Izabella ENJOY!

Greyduster MacSporran is the chef and gardener (he also cleans the bathroom). I am the lady of the hoos. I am the duster/polisher/laundry person and washer-upper. Seems to work very well. Yes, the bread tastes delicious.

Charleyg If you sneek in to live with N&G I may pop along for a long weekend. Don't let on. Let it be a surprise.

Nannyt I really am very sorry and concerned to hear that your brother's hip replacement has been removed due to infection. I trust that he is in good hands and that his treatment will gradually enable him to recover fully.
The flower photo is beautiful.

anno I hope to visit Dundee one day. I understand that it is a lovely city.

Oh dear, I cannot read Tara's mind today- I do not know what she wants. She came out with me mid afternoon- I returned an hour later and she was indoors to greet me. That is very unusual.

I may sit outside with a cup of coffee and maybe she will join me. She can still jump onto the 6-foot fences so I have no worries there. She wants to be very near me, preferably physically touching me.

The weather here is glorious- sorry if any of you are experiencing rain.
TOYA

soop, Dundee has its points and has the potential to be a beautiful city but there have been some very dubious planning decisions, especially in the vicinity of the new V&A. MacS's bread looks tempting. When my dad retired, he took to bread making and used to win prizes at the village show.
Anneliese, that's what I call a good neighbour, asking the right questions and wanting to understand about this awful disease. It's essential to have someone you can call on if you need to.
My goodness, callgirl, Max looks like a real boy now. What happens to our babies? Our Max, at 11, has the physique of a rugby forward - once he gets the ball he can mow down the opposition and score tries.
Charley, whoever said it was possible to read the feline mind? Best give up and go with the flow!

In my early 20's when a student, I shared a flat with 3 others in the middle of Dundee, two doors away from M&S and none of us had any money spare to buy anything there.

I agree Anneliese that is a fabulous neighbour you have- can keep his distance but is available in an emergency.

I hate to harp on about the weather (not much!) but it is perfect here. I live about 7 miles from Heathrow and one would think I lived in the middle of the country- not a sound.
TOYA

Tomorrow is care home visiting day. I also have an appointment with the optician. Apart from which, I shall be joining you lot in the kitchen at some point.

Strangely, the ferry is decidedly off-course. Perhaps it is practicing manoeuvres. I shall add a photo. I've never see it so close to our shoreline.

TOYA. Until tomorrow.

The ferry. Bottom right you can see the tops of a shrub in our garden. It has swung round is now heading towards Islay.

Soop, those aren`t cheekbones, they`re lumps of fat! That ferry did come a bit close, didn't it?
Anno and GreyD, yes, babies aren`t babies very long these days, 2 months ago Max was a cuddly baby, now he`s a cute little boy.
Izabella, glad to hear you`re enjoying the California sunshine.
N&G, the picture in my imagination of Nibbles on the run from Sam has cheered me up no end.

Poor Nibbles will have needed a lie down in a darkened room.

soop of course I will not let on and I will personally make space myself.

Evening All. Been to an Outlet today, I should hang my head in shame as I came away with three pairs of shoes but actually I’m more than happy as they are all so comfortable - I have very odd feet.

Totally agree that babies don’t stay that way for long. How did that happen? Max is adorable though, no matter he isn’t a baby any longer.

Wonder if you’ll find out why the ferry changed its route soop? Has to be a reason. Hope not a worrying one.

We’re lucky in that we have neighbours like yours anneliese, worth their weight in gold.

Little sunshine here today but I did see this wonderful rose, haven’t got a yellow one at home. May have one soon

TOYA and be good,

That rose is beautiful ,cornergran it will brighten up anyone's day.
I am sorry to be a grouchy but I have the most awful bad back.
I was bending down to load the washer ,not bending my knees as I should but I can't and I couldn't straighten up.
The pain was awful, it took my breath sway if you know what I mean.
I took paikillers, tried not treatment, cold treatment ( a bag of frozen peas) all to no avail.
I was only comfortable lying flat, so I was on the bed from 4pm.
My GD was staying last night anyway so she was here from work about 6pm and "looked after me"
She will be out at 7am but will come back tonight, even though had not planned to.
I was going to see a friend this evening but that is off and there is no point in her coming here so we will have to re-arange
I now feel for anyone in constant pain and being "dragged down" with it.
I feel I will never be better but perhaps that is result of a terrible disturbed night.
Does anyone think grief etc can have physical symptoms?
Now really TOYA, especially those unwell.

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Morning all,

Just a quick pop in !

Ann have you googled stretches for your back? It sounds like your back muscles have gone into spasm and I feel for you as I know how painful that is. But the stretches might help and you can do them lying on your bed. Hope you feel a little better soon , but don't do too much !!

Nibbles is none the worse for the pursuit thank goodness although I nearly needed a lie down myself !!

What glorious roses Corner , we went to Peter Beales recently a specialist rose grower and are hooked !! We bought 'Mum in a Million' and ' Special Dad' to grow in the garden but some of the climbers really looked fabulous.

Please join me in wishing one of our member a VERY happy Birthday ….. Sam is 6! How can that be ? I have added a picture of the day he arrived with us and one of him now ( we think he's a handsome chap but we ARE biased !!) There will be pupcakes later and party hats and probably pass the parcel lol

We're off to slimming first - then we shall toss caution to the wind and have cake !!!

ann Does anyone think grief etc can have physical symptoms? Ouch!! Grief takes as many different forms as there are people experiencing it, in my opinion. If you were feeling tense as you loaded the washer your back muscles were probably not ready for the change of position as you stood up, and ping! they knotted/cramped/caused you extreme agony. Your body's reaction to that pain was to suddenly stop, thereby causing even more pain.

That's what it feels like when it happens to me anyway, and all I can do is lie flat and try to relax, maybe with a pillow supporting my back. I'm sorry that's not very helpful for you but I wanted to let you know you have my sympathy. TOY and everyone in pain from whatever cause

Every sympathy on your back problems Annsixty. In answer to your question, yes, after a prolonged period of stress such as yours, especially factoring in bereavement, it is not unusual for one’s own physical health to react.
Think how you could not let yourself be ill while H was alive. Well it may be catching up with you now.
Rest, relaxation, indulging yourself, whatever you like is essential. After years of not “doing ill “ while Paw was alive and needed me, I succumbed to a bad dose of flu (despite my jab) a leg thrombosis, a “frozen shoulder” and a torn tendon in my arm all in the first year.
I personally feel that is enough now and I hope to revert to not “doing” ill.
Think of it as all the tension and toxins of the past years having to find a way out of your body which is screaming out for rest.
Hope it eases soon. I have found that lying on the floor on your back with your knees up in a V shape can ease the sacroiliac joint and those lower back muscles.
A hottie and some TLC from your GD if possible too!
???

It was you I had in mind Maw when I posted.
I member you had physical symptoms after Paw died but didn't mention that in my post as it was personal to you.
My S is off work today so he is off to get Voltarol for me as a last resort.

ann, bad backs are so debilitating. Once, my son had to pick me up off the floor when I had bent the wrong way. A local physio put me right and I continued to visit her until I moved. I also found a very gentle pelvic tilt helped - think Elvis!
I think Maw has something about things catching up with you. My back problems started after my marriage breakdown.

Great minds thinking alike then Annsixty !
I suspect we “hunch up” and our bodies are tense when we are grieving or indeed stressed for any reason. So when the pain eases, (and Voltarol is pretty good! ) you could try deep breathing, relaxation exercises or lying back and listening to your favourite musical even an audio book.
I love falling asleep to the sound of the radio for example.
Hope you feel better soon! ?

Ann you will have the sympathy of everyone in the kitchen who has had back problems, so probably everyone in the kitchen! My go to is a chiropractor who uses an ultrasound thing to relax tight muscles. TOY.
We have sunshine and showers this morning, just like they forecast and if I stand still I swear I can see the grass growing! Removals men coming to quite in a while ...

Quote - predictive text!

ann When I have back problems, it’s made worse because other muscles go into spasm. I read recently that deep breathing can help with pain relief. In particular something called four square breathing, when you breathe in for four, hold your breath for four, breathe out for four and hold for four.

It’s also supposed to help calm you down when stressed, and also help with insomnia. I’ve tried it when I wake in the night and can’t drop off again, and I almost always go back to sleep. ?

Happy Birthday, Sam, you gorgeous boy! If you play pass the parcel, please make sure he finds a nice juicy bone, and save me a pupcake, N&G!

Ann my sympathy with your back problem. I suffer grievously with mine from time to time - a hangover from a previous slipped disc. Heat packs help me, and moving around as much as possible. I hope you start to feel better soon.

We are sans vehicle all day today and are holed up at DDs (she lives near the dealership). We had breakfast out and then a walk through the park before we came up here, where he insisted on fiddling about with their TV, which is very complicated and he couldn’t get anything on except a Star Trek film! Now there is nothing on it, so I hope when GS comes home from school, he can sort it out, or we will be in big trouble! Why can’t men leave things alone?

Sam is really a very handsome young fellow. Would he like a quiet holiday with loads of cuddles?

corner three pairs of shoes? You can only wear one pair at a time!

100 years ago I worked with somebody who possessed something like 2 skirts, several pairs of trousers, a few tops, 23-3 bras and about 7 pairs of knickers and that was her wardrobe-if only!

Good mid-afternoon to you lovely lot

I am chasing my own shadow. We've had a very busy morning and a late lunch. I must watch part of Federer v Wawrinka game. I do like Stan W a lot. Anyways...I shall return in due course.

Annsixty you have my complete sympathy with regards to your back, I have just has 6 months physiotherapy on my lower back, sacroiliac joints! I hope you find relief soon.

It's raining here in SE Essex, so I have at last got all the holiday ironing completed and put away (with a little help from the "ironing fairies" for the "tricky" bits)

Other than that no news.

TOYA

Have only managed a quick "scanning " over your interesting posts and sympathies galore Ann for this bad back you find you now have........and certainly do not need.

I am finding life is just running away and I haven`t enough hours..........and far less strength .......to cope with all that is being demanded of me.

Today we have been at the Hospital for hours,whilst my man has this all important Bone scan which could well mean a change of direction with his treatments when the results come back.
At the moment every moment is being utilised re this move and after buying some splendid light fittings,ordering the carpet and blinds we are about to go out singing with a cap in hand!!
My dear one is so determined to see me safe in this flat that he is pulling out all the stops to help in every way he possably can.Of course he is overdoing it and yet feels uplifted by achieving things.
He really is being an out and out hero.
It really is such a never ending marathon trying to squeeze a 4 and half bed property into a small 2 bed flat!

So looking forward to be back joining in far more in the kitchen,meanwhile please know I send my love to all and for those struggling, hopefully much more strength to help you cope.

Lovely to see you Panache! You know we are thinking of you even though you don't post. I hope your DH's treatment can be sorted satisfactorily.

Ann, I hope you back is easier now. I'm sure it is as swanny and maw say. When necessary we hold ourselves very tightly (physically and/or mentally) to cope and when we don't have to cope it all goes to pot - that's a technical term. Just be cosseted while the going is good. It's your turn. [cake]

And [cake] for Sam! He is wearing well for his advanced years! How is Tara, charley?

GD, at least your daughter will know who the culprit is. Men can't leave anything alone can they?

Topsy good luck with the quotes. DD2 had an email from the people who are buying their house asking her to remove the fitted wardrobes - fitted in the last 2 years. To say she is confused is a slight understatement as they didn't mention making good after! Nor did she!

You might recall that the children bought me a photo shoot for my 70th birthday. When the photos came (on email) there were 156 to choose from. They also bought me 4 frames. Could some of you shout out random numbers to help me choose 4 to go into frames. I need a lie down in a darkened room!!

TOYA!