Soop’s kitchen, filled with kindness, understanding and some damn fine cake ! Come on in.

Good morning lovely peeps! I’ve not been on here in ages. I get caught up a bit (too much?) on the news and politics threads.

We were both up in Wester Ross all last week, in Plockton, with my 2nd dad who is 87y, getting his beautiful stone cottage on the market. The weather was dire at only 11°C - I felt nice and warm when we got back down to Manchester! It was a long day both ways for my poor husband - 9 hours in total 8 of them driving, but the scenery through Glencoe was spectacular!

Footnote to my post above.
My D has just rung to say that my GD just burst into tears when she opened my card as of course it wasn't also from GD .
This set my D off which in turn set me off.
Tomorrow is my D's b'day so we will have it all again.

Soop I hope you have pressed your red button as some of the veterans are playing at Wimbledon .... hilarious

Good afternoon kitcheners

I am laying on my sofa, absolutely no energy heavy head and streaming eyes and nose. I was awake half of the night sneezing and wheezing, not sure if I have a dreaded summer cold or my hay fever has gone into overdrive!!

Annsixty it is all the firsts that are so hard, grief is not a sprint but a total shift in our lives.

Beautiful photo Urmstongran I haven’t been north of Harrogate but hopefully we will visit Scotland and the Highlands one day.

Having broused outside this safe and comforting kitchen I am amazed at how brutal a lot of threads are becoming, I shall stay here if that is okay.

TOYA ☕️?????

Ouch! A little later than anticipated. Apologies.
MacSporran had bloods taken, and whilst I sat in the car doing the crossword, he took in a sample of my wee. The dipstick showed presence of another bloody UTI. I then had to go into the surgery and see the GP. More antibio's...and have been asked to consider having prolapse fixed as it might make a difference to the number of infections that continue to be a buggeration.
Pittcity Missed it. Sounds fun. Maybe see some re-play later in the day.

callgirl1 I feel really sad for Dawn. We did pass on the good news (to David) regarding your son, together with the not-so-good news regarding Dawn's injured heel.
NEVER think of yourself as being inferior to any other person. You, like all of us, are unique. Head held high and wear a pleasant smile on your pretty face. Enjoy! you deserve it.

Ann...and now I'm in tears. x

Grannygravy We are more than happy to nurse you through your buggeration. If there is any cake lurking, a big IF, you shall have it. I shall look out the finest china and one of us lot will pander to your needs.

Urmstongran We both have a fondness for Plockton. We've been there in a heat-wave. What with the palm trees growing along the promenade, it looked and felt Mediterranean.

Away to enjoy coffee and a looksie at the tennis. Back a little later.

Still have not had the time ...........or energy......to read through and catch up on all the things you lovely kitchen folk have been up to, but one of these days........or rather weeks!!!!......I shall have that treat.
For now just a small update on life here in the very warm sun where the grass is visably turning golden.What a week!
The Apartment,our move and trying to unpack boxes has had to take a back seat yet again...........since hurting my leg and testing out our rather swanky new surgery it seems the wound is infected.Just the very thing I could do without.
The one plus is we have a love.y sea view every time we visit this surgery!
So dressings mon,weds and fridays until it looks like healing,yesterday my dear man went for a scan,today I have had my 3 monthly Opthalmology Clinic visit and though they see me frequently, my vision is not improving and sadly exactly the opposite.
With a bit of luck our furniture will be heading off to auction tomorrow and yes another surgery visit!!
Life is getting hectic just in the way we would rather it didn`t!!
BIG news.............there seems to be an interest in our property........fingers well crossed on that one.
Hope life is being kind to you all and that you are enjoying the sunshine.TOYA.

Mixed news from you Panache but at least some positives I there as well.
What a weight off your mind if your house sells quickly.
It is pouring with rain here , what a summer.
I have had an e-mail from “Ashreem” who says due my genuine mistake and the fact that I immediately bought another return ticket, he will refund my train journey money ,with of course, a £10 reduction for administrative costs.
At least a result.
I still feel foolish but not poor with it!

Result Ann! ?

ann I agree, you can live with a £10 deduction in admin fees. That was reasonably decent of him.

callgirl the problem after your daughter's surgery will be the 6 weeks non-weight bearing. That is something I could not cope with when I #ed and dislocated my ankle and I was 10 years younger. The post-surgery pain was also no piece of cake. I only hope the hospital will be nearer.

soop I understand that type of surgery will be a trackle but long term it will be for the best, not to mention the area feeling better.

Panache you will have to take everything slowly and rest with your leg elevated if that is possible.

I spent a very pleasant two hours with GNs having coffee or whatever but the cafe was so noisy until at least a screaming baby left.

TOYA

brilliant Ann

Afternoon all,

Its taken all day for my good humour to return after a disastrous weigh in this morning !!

Glad you resolved the ticket issue Ann , Id have been surprised if they hadn't done something to help to be fair.

Lovely picture urmastongran .

Sorry to hear you're poorly GrannieQ , Ill pass you my share of the kitchen cake as I am banned until next weigh in !!

Under threat of emergency treatment my toothache immediately disappeared :-( , I have just under 3 weeks to go until my apt to start treatment so I am hanging on for that.

I am off to start dinner as Grampy is out with K9 unit Sam speed checking the village !! He'll be back with tales of speeding tractors etc lol

Ill leave you with a picture of the letter Jackson has sent the young lad I write to weekly who is so poorly. That was a hard won medal !

I went to the dentist today. Supposed to be a checkup but I’d lost a filling.
She did the checkup then told me I’d have to book another appointment for the filling.
I’m afraid I burst into tears as I am feeling rather stressed atm.
I have to book taxis everywhere as I’ve stopped driving, and I was feeling very wobbly.
However, she did the filling and a scale and polish as well. Total bill £67.
I do wish my old dentist hadn’t retired though.
I just Cuba to cook these days. I really don’t know why I’m so down, but I am.
Sorry to moan.

Cuba? Cba!

Oh N&G what a treasure your little man is! ?

all round. N&G Dear Jackson ...he and Cooper are very special young men.
Ann Hooray!
Panache Huge hugs from Kintyre.
Galen Us lot love you.
Charleyg I know that you are right.

Jo lost her match. She did her best. Now...we have Andy and Serena to look forward to.

MacSporran has an important meeting in the village hall. Log off time for me. I shall be back as per usual after ironing duties tomorrow morning.

TOYA

I’m not poorly n&g but can I still have your share of the cake? But I will share it with grannyG, I’ve heard she’s under the weather!! As others have said your little lad is a special boy with a big heart. Does he know that he has a gransnet following?

Having said all that I’ve been to the GP today about last week’s bee sting. While the swelling and redness wasn’t getting worse neither was it getting any better, which after 5 days didn’t seem quite right. So antibiotics it is and back on Friday if it’s not improving by then. Was impressed that I walked in this morning and was offered an appointment for this afternoon, I hope it means our surgery has upped its game. It’s not had great press recently, patients transferring to other practices in their droves. Maybe, after all, I did make the right decision in staying put?

Good to hear you’re safely moved in and enjoying your new environment panache, you could well do without these additional health issues though

Toya, I must away as the old boy is looking pale and wan... thinking there’s no sign of any dinner on the horizon... he could well be right if I don’t get a wiggle on!

Evening All. Pleased to report the grandchildren got to the right places at the right time with the right ‘stuff’ and we all had a surprisingly happy and relaxed time. Still not sure how that happened .

Been for a wander round some shops after an excellent breakfast, all the better for it being ‘bogof’, compliments of the Meerkats.

That reminds me, our Littlest when taken to see some real meerkats stomped off in a huff muttering ‘theys not cats’. Couldn’t argue with his logic .

Quieter few days ahead, hooray. Our big computer has developed a glitch so will have to go to the techy hospital - boo. Not much happening otherwise. May need to tidy a shed or two.

Those antibiotics sound a good idea grannyq, as does some surgical attention soop. Sorry you’re down, Galen, sounds as if the filling was the last straw, hope tomorrow feels lighter.

Jackson’s heart is bigger than he is n&g, can I join his fan club please?

That’s a result about your ticket ann, pleased common sense prevailed. Can understand the mixed emotions around the card, firsts are more than difficult.

Fingers crossed for a sale for you panache. Please listen to charley about your leg. Get better soon grannyg. Callgirl I’m also sad for Dawn but know you’ll have been welcomed at the Waldorf Hilton, why wouldn’t you be?

Right, food time here so I’m off. TOYA and be good everyone.

panache so pleased to read your lovely post. After all the trials and tribulations you have been through it’s so nice to hear you are settled in your new home. I must say it sounds a perfect place and just the right environment. I hope you both have a long time there together to enjoy it but whatever the future holds it must be a great comfort for MrP to know that you are safe and have company and help around you. The meals sound good too ?

galen. Sorry to hear you are feeling a bit down at the moment. So glad the dentist did the filling to save you another trip. It’s horrible feeling down and quite understand you can’t be bothered eating. You are such a good cook and make such interesting dishes. Is there nothing that tempts you? Hoping your spirits lift soon. At least your tooth is sorted.

N&G That is just so lovely. Thank you for posting a pic of the letter

Galen I hope you feel in better spirits tomorrow

Ended up with cordon bleu.
Ie Heinz baked beans on toast.

Galen, sorry today’s been a difficult one for you, a trip to the dentist doesn't do much to raise the spirits at the best of times. I hope the world seems an easier place tomorrow. ?

I’m hoping these antibiotics were a good idea corner. A few hours after taking the 1st one my face was tingling around my mouth, as were various other bits of me! I'm bit itchy all over but no rash. I’ve taken another one just now but if I'm unsure in the morning then I’ll be back at the surgery, to check if they can be helpful 2 days in a row,

Looking forward to hearing all about your London trip callgirl

Sleep well, kitchen folk x

N&G Jackson and Cooper are two little troupers and they deserve a very big cuddle each.

Tara is in the cat house, I was in bed around 10.30pm last night and still no sign of the minx. I was worried but there was little I could do. I was lying in bed reading when all of a sudden I saw something flying through the air, it was madam, coming to land on my body and to tell me she was home and it was cuddle time for her please.

She wanted to get up around 5am- at this rate like Mollie she will be on eBay awaiting collection.
TOYA

We have had a very quiet and undisturbed night, with no miaowing. Just realised I went to the garage yesterday evening so I can guess where Charlie is! Oops ?

Hello the kitchen.
Galen I’m glad you got your filling done there and then. The thought of a filling is enough to reduce anyone to tears! I hope you feel more yourself today.
N&G I’m sure the young man will treasure Jackson’s medal and the letter. I certainly would. What a lovely gesture. He’s a star!
Gq how are you this morning? That sounds like something that would worry me into standing outside waiting for them to open! I hope you can at least get a telephone appointment.
Callgirl I hope you are now ensconced in your hotel and being treated like the Queen. They wouldn’t have the reputation they have if they didn’t treat all their guest with the same level of courtesy. I hope Dawn is comfortable - what a thing to happen.
I ended up going to our minor injuries clinic yesterday as something felt as if it had snapped in the back of my leg and I was in agony. It was our school run day and as it was too late to make other arrangements, I got DH to drop me there and then go on up to DDs. They seemed to think I have torn a muscle but that I should do stretches and walk on it as much as possible, which seemed a bit perverse to me. I hobbled out of there and went to wait for the taxi I had phoned, then stood (there was nowhere to sit) for three quarters of an hour waiting for said taxi to turn up. It didn’t, so I phoned DH and as GS had just come home from school, they came up and fetched me. It feels a little easier this morning. We will just have to wait and see what the rest of the day brings. These things are sent to try us and there are worse things at sea!
I will look in later, folks.