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

Well I have been ready for ages now and I don't need to go out for half an hour.
I have agonised over what to wear, do I really think a 65 year old man will even know what colour I was wearing, I think not.
As it looks like rain my gladrags have turned into trousers and a thin coat and I reluctantly have flat shoes on instead of pretty sandals.
If only that was all our lovely kitcheners have to concern themselves with.
TOYA.

Good luck Ann!

Good luck ann, if you need to escape you can always climb out of loo window.

I remember Mortimor Wheeler, gd. Well done on the prize and keeping it too.

For the avoidance of doubt, it was DGS who said it was a science ce prize,e. When we asked why he thought it was science and not history he said 'I like science more'.

Ann I hope you have a lovely day. I found out all sorts of things from my cousins that I didn't know. I only ever heard my mum's side.

Maw yes very funny. I am afraid I had to tell him that as she doesn't acknowledge him when bumping into him in the street there is no hope. He was very despondent. I explained that real love should not be difficult.

Kitty I love your grandson. That is wishful thinking at its best.

Your grandson's logic can't be beaten kitty, hope he wasn't disappointed to get an award for history. Apparently our elder granddaughter is off to an awards session next week, seriously blasé about it all. When asked what it might be for all we get is a shrug of the shoulders and her famous enigmatic smile. Oh well, a surprise to come. We can't go, only parents allowed because of space. We are going to the younger ones school production though, elbows will be sharpened to get through the crush and nab an adult sized chair, truly don't want to be left with the child sized chairs that are for the unprepared. .

Good luck, ann, all will be well I'm sure. Better to be dressed for the weather than arrive soggy.

Get you into trouble greyd would I? Of course not. Although with my best not nagging head on I still think a professional assessment would be a good idea. OK, I won't mention it again, well not today.

I'm frighteningly organised for our friends arrival so have had a sit down and a coffee provided by Mr C who doesn't do food preparation but does do coffee production.

Be good everyone, here's hoping for a calm and gentle day.

Cat available for pick up. More than 6 months of food provided plus enough litter for around a month. Car needed but headphones not provided to dull the caterwauling that will go on.

I do not get up at 4am to start my day- I now know how those who are used to sleepless nights feel.
TOYA

Annsixty I hope today goes well for you. It brings back the day 4 years ago when I went to Birmingham to meet my as yet unknown half brother. I had.back up plan with D in Birmingham to “rescue” me with text for an urgent need for a babysitter if it all went wrong!
Full of trepidation but I needn’t have worried. He was thoroughly nice and wanted to know all I could tell him about our father and his family. I became very fond of my “new” sister in law too and visited them in Wilmslow last year.
(I was devastated when she lost her battle with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia just 6 months ago. )
Looking forward to hearing more.

I’ve been reading the thread of what our little people say. Too cute and it’s had me giggling! I’d recommend a peep.

Sir Mortimer Wheeler is in three episodes of Animal Vegetable Mineral on BBC iplayer for all you devotees. My mum loved the programme and for some reason Sir MW in particular. Strange choice of pin up I always thought.

Bless you, Doodle for your kind message. It really says it all on behalf of the rest of us lot.

kitty It was a prize...that's what counts.

GrannyGravy What a wonderful way to get around. I could possibly get down to that mode of transport but I would not be able to get up again without the assistance of a fireman.

Ann Enjoy your encounter.

Juliette I remeber Animal Vegetable Mineral very well. Sir was a bit too something or other for my liking.

Charleyg I would adopt Tara in the blink of an eye. "Our Brodie" has been awol for over a week. I so want to peer through the window and see his rear-end poking from the chalet (as he eats the food that we put out every day.)

Youngest son is 45 today. Eldest will be 58 tomorrow. Yay!

corner enjoy your day. I'm about to see whether or not there is a tennis match to watch.

A pic of a plant that once belonged to our dear friend. After he died, we were given it. It has grown so tall that MacSporran has pruned the top...

soop I think you have made a slight mistake re your son's age- you cannot possibly have a son aged 58, you are not old enough. Enjoy the tennis today. I am going out to buy a few groceries and then I will be attached to my chair for a while.

Tara would love exploring the forest next to your house. The closest she gets to one is my neighbour's rear garden.

I am pleased to hear that Brodie is eating his supper each evening and the food is not wasted.

TOYA

greyd, i hope your poorly leg will soon recover. I sounds like something that happened to me 45 years ago as a result of not warming up for a game of squash; but I trust you are keeping away from squash courts, though I think that would be slightly less hazardous than a skateboard.
soop, I feel sure that your plant is a Triffid which will eventually take over your house; or it could be a beanstalk with a giant at the top...fee fo, fi, fum.....
Animal, Vegetable, Mineral was my very favourite programme as a teenager and I was determined to be an archaeologist. I was fascinated by Sir Mortimer Wheeler and his waxed moustache. He was incredibly knowledgeable. I never did become an archaeologist though I went on a dig the summer after my first year at Uni.
Ann, I hope your are taking notes as 'us lot' are going to need a full account of your meeting with this unknown cousin. How very interesting to find out about family members you never knew about. I wonder how he was feeling in advance of meeting you.

greyd, i hope your poorly leg will soon recover. I sounds like something that happened to me 45 years ago as a result of not warming up for a game of squash; but I trust you are keeping away from squash courts, though I think that would be slightly less hazardous than a skateboard.
soop, I feel sure that your plant is a Triffid which will eventually take over your house; or it could be a beanstalk with a giant at the top...fee fo, fi, fum.....
Animal, Vegetable, Mineral was my very favourite programme as a teenager and I was determined to be an archaeologist. I was fascinated by Sir Mortimer Wheeler and his waxed moustache. He was incredibly knowledgeable. I never did become an archaeologist though I went on a dig the summer after my first year at Uni.
Ann, I hope your are taking notes as 'us lot' are going to need a full account of your meeting with this unknown cousin. How very interesting to find out about family members you never knew about. I wonder how he was feeling in advance of meeting you.

Kind of you Ann to miss me.
Just to let you know that I pop in and try to keep up but lack the energy to do much more. I have been feeling so rotten that I went to the Practice Nurse to get checked over and the conclusion is that it is 'only' exhaustion! I am glad that bloods etc are all fine but it doesn't feel 'only'.

Himself is so very tired and frustrated at not being able to do the things he wants to do. I find myself caring for my carer and constantly on call.
He wants to do what he did before the crash and feels within himself that he can so he tries and is exhausted. He usually makes a dreadful mess which I then have to either clear up or find someone who can clear up and/or do the whole thing again. None of this is helping either of us especially me with all of my M E and stroke issues.
For example, today brought something to light which had been hidden away. We all know that it is much easier to buy a bottle of elderflower cordial than to make it when you are not as able as you once were. He talked friends into collecting the flower heads and he made some which he bottled. He made such a sticky mess but I eventually got it all cleared up and was just grateful that he had enough bottles and that he had not put what was left over to freeze in the ice cube trays in spite of me telling him not to because it wouldn't freeze. Fast forward to today when I was getting something out of the garage freezer and there were two 50 ice cube trays gently dripping over everything within range of them. It was just the last straw and I have cried buckets. Can't even say how I feel because I just don't have the words. I think it is all cleared up. I hope so!

Could tell you lots more things but no point really - best to forget. I don't want to squish him in his efforts to be 'normal' again but he has to come to terms with the 'new normal' which has more limitations.

TOYA

Synonymous, big hugs for you. Wish they could be real.

Synonymous take deep breaths, we in the kitchen are thinking of you ??

My dear Synonymous there is no reason “exhaustion” is qualified as “only” -exhaustion means just that, running on empty.
You have had to cope with so much and as Annsixty and others found after her H died, or any sustained family crisis, your own physical health reflects the huge strain you have been under. (I don’t do ill , but after Paw died I went down with all sorts of relatively trivial but debilitating things) .
And as for for H and his elderflower exploits, I would have wept too, screaming or wielding a frozen leg of lamb requires too much energy. Men!
You sound at the end of your tether and however much your H is kicking against his own physical issues he needs to take your feelings into account.
I wish I could sweep you away for a restorative weekend (or even afternoon tea) . Please , somehow, get some help, enlist support and pay attention to your own health before you crack up.

Dearest Synonymous Exhaustion is a perfectly natural reaction to all the recent stress that both you and your husband have tackled with verve. There comes a moment when, as I know very well, your energey level plummets. The only cure is for you to understand that you will gradually improve...once you give yourself permission to let the irritations go. Easier said than done, I know. You need us lot to cheer you on...which we will. Feet up and breathe deeply.

Charleyg Brodie hasn't visited or eaten food from the chalet for nigh on a week. He's gone AWOL. It will put a huge grin on my face if and when he returns. We kinda love him.

Care home visit tomorrow. Afternoon pop in to catch up with our Granspals has been booked.

Wishing each and every one of you peace and contentment.

Synonymous please take heed of what Maw has said but DH has also to meet you more than halfway also. Could he cope on his own if you were hospitalised? I think not.
TOYA

synonymous after my father had a heart attack he insisted on carrying on as normal doing what he used to in an effort to convince himself he was as fit as ever. I think it may be a way of coming to terms with what has happened. After a while he slowed down and became more accepting. It’s difficult really. Part of you must be pleased he’s making the effort but the other part has to cope with everything. I think the elderflower business would have me blowing a gasket.
Hope things settle soon into a better routine and you get some well deserved rest.

ann hope the visit went well.
soop I thought exactly the same as anno and hope you are armed with the frozen leg of lamb for when the giant climbs down that beanstalk in your lounge ?. It certainly is a magnificent specimen.

I won’t repeat the other very sensible thoughts expressed here synonymous, so just send s hug and hope that there is a way you can rest and regain some strength.

Our friends have just left, two meals provided without incident. I’m shattered . TOYA and be good everyone.

I am also shattered but had a good day, more later.
I am in bed I am so tired.
Synonymous listen to your friends x