Soop's welcoming kitchen for all in need of a hearty blether.

Good morning all.
It is 37 degrees in the east facing conservatory, my morning refuge usually, so I am sitting in the cool dining room at the front of the house.
Once again my GD is on her way to hospital with a suspected quinsy, second time in a month and third time in 12 months.
She is feverish and vomiting so can’t keep the antib’s she was prescribed yesterday down.
The GP sent her straight to hospital from the surgery.
I am supposed to be out this afternoon but I think I would be wise to cancel and stay indoors.
Stay safe everyone.

Ann so sorry to hear this about your GD. I do hope they sort her out soon and also that she is not sitting in A&E for hours.

The heat is indeed unbearable. I have just hung the washing out and now having to cool off in front of the fan. I hope they are right and it is going to abate tomorrow.
My poor DD has a two hour commute in London and I am hoping she is working from home today.

It is 25C here in London already. I am going nowhere myself but I am expecting a Morrisons delivery later and I do feel for the young man. Mine is an easy delivery, not even one step but he will be less fory=tunate elsewhere.

There is a visiting podiatrist coming also but apart from that the furthest I will going is my garden to hang out clothes.
Ann I do hope your GD is sorted out once and for all- it has been going on for too long. Please look after yourself and stay cool if possible.

N&G I do feel for you re the dental appointment- that is on my list next week and I would prefer to be anywhere else.
TOYA

Such a beautiful day, but probably wise to stay indoors if possible.
Ann that temperature so early is mind blowing! Do take the greatest care you can in all your circumstances dear Kitcheners! (Those cups contain whatever you need! )
So sorry for your GD and hope that she will be better very soon. I anm aware that not many people have essential oils to hand but as a user myself I would be using tea tree oil or oregano oil mixed into a little coconut, almond or olive oil on the bottom of the feet and sipping water with peppermint oil or lemon oil. Just make sure that it is 100% purity. PM me if you want to, very happy to share my own experiences of what can help.

ann, that is rotten news about your DGG. She has had no luck at all and it's about time that the ENT consultant got in touch with her plastic surgeon and made an informed decision about her treatment. I'm sorry she is again so very unwell and I know how anxious you must be. It's already a very hot morning - 29 in the shade at my back door - so you are right to reconsider going out today.
Yesterday when I went out for lunch with a friend we decided to try a gastro pub for a change and really enjoyed it - great food; lovely and cool inside, though there were people braving the heat to dine outside. When we got back here and my friend went home, I fell asleep and felt dopey for the rest of the day. The heat doesn't stop me sleeping - quite the contrary!
Panache, I'm delighted to hear that your injured leg is now healing. Once you have survived the sale of your 'effects' (what a horrid word), you can really settle down to enjoy your apartment and new way of life.
soop, please go and see your GP again. When I had a number of falls, my GP sent me to the falls clinic at the local hospital. No physical reason was found for my 'misfortunes' but I am now a lot more careful.
TOYA

They have tried to drain my GD’s tonsil but nothing came out.
They are now saying these infections could be a consequence of her cleft.
She is very upset .
She will still have to have I/v antib’s as she can’t keep tablets down.
I had already cancelled my outing but may be going to the hospital instead.

Aargh!! It is thirty four degrees in my conservatory with all doors and windows open. I watched it climb to thirty eight out on the patio but I wasn’t willing to find out if it was going to go any higher! And I am wearing - wait for it - A SKIRT!! Unheard of!

Ann I am so sorry to hear that your GD is in hospital again. The medics need a good shake up and some joined up thinking it seems to me. I send my most positive best wishes to you both! ?

“Steady the Buffs”, N&G! If he causes you even a twinge we will be upon him enmasse with the leg of lamb!?(yes I know, it’s a boxing glove!!).

Dear Ann, like all of us lot I am truly sorry to hear that your lovely granddaughter continues to suffer. Surely it isn't beyond the Consultants to identify and deal with her ongoing distress. She deserves so much better.

I've done my pal's ironing. And...just to please you lot I've made an appointment to see the lady GP in whom I have complete confidence. It was she who alerted the breast clinic to my cancer. I can tell her anything and everything. On Tuesday afternoon, I shall ask her opinion on the recurrent UTI's and chronic pelvic pain. After all, repeated prescriptions for antibio's cannot be the answer.

It is pleasantly warm in Kintyre. A breeze off the sea is most welcome. I have no intention of working in the garden. In fact, I may chill out this afternoon with a Magnum given to us after the ironing session.

Just need a sit down, so I have come to the kitchen for a cold drink and a biscuit. No new kitchen in this house but we do have a lovely new floor minus skirting boards at the moment. It feels so spacious and airy. Think I will go and get an ice lolly from the freezer, anyone else fancy one, blackberry (made from the juice of the last lot of berries) or orange (bought).

Barmeyoldbat I bags a blackberry lolly.

soop, ironing in this weather - well, I did some yesterday but only because I had nothing left to wear in the heat. Cottons and linens do crush so! I hardly dare to go into my kitchen which gets the full afternoon sun so here I am in 'our' special kitchen which obviously doesn't get overheated.
ann, I hope your DGD isn't in a hot ward. I know what they can be like. I had my shoulder replaced during a very warm spell and had a fan beside my bed because my temp was slightly raised. No matter how often I offered the fan to other patients, they wouldn't hear of it. As far as they were concerned it was 'my' fan. I remember that last time when she was in hospital at the weekend, your GD was shipped out to Wythenshawe. Is this likely to happen again?

Grey, a skirt! What is
the world coming to? I'm wearing a pair of cotton/linen crops and a loose cotton shirt - yesterday's ironing. Wish I possessed a cotton dress, but can't find one I like and which fits my 'apple' shape.

soop advice from your non qualified kitchen doctor- I think you need an xray of your pelvis and I am hopeful your GP will agree.

I have asked Alexa and it is 35C here- still next week I will be moaning I am feeling cold.

The podiatrist has visited so I am now walking on air.
TOYA

It’s hovering around 30 degrees here. The beach was distinctly cooler and blessedly devoid of people. Enjoyed a read under the brim of my hat and a short walk, before lunch at a local nature reserve where it was cooler inside than out. Isn’t air conditioning in a car a wondrous thing? Still flagging a bit so little on the agenda now other than watering the pots when it cools down a bit.

Good news about the doctor soop, like the sound of her

Hope your granddaughter gets some relief ann, what an infuriating situation.

Best pass on the delicious sounding lollies barmeyoldbat as I succumbed to a Snickers ice cream earlier. Perfection, if somehow missed off my healthy eating plan. .

A skirt greyd? It’s ok, exceptional circumstances.

Well, suspect an afternoon nap is called for. Hope all the rushing around hasn’t actually melted you n&g. Wishing you well for the dentist .

TOYA

I'm popping into the kitchen for the first time, although I've been hovering outside and peering through the window for quite a while! I've brought a lemon-iced courgette and sultana cake as my "entrance fee".
Having read about Soop's buggerations with repeated UTIs, I would like to pass on my observations if they are of any use. Having had numerous infections with just a few days free between each course of antibiotics, I decided to take matters into my own hands and, miracle of miracles, have been UTI free for 3 months now. Here's what I've done.---
I've ditched the cranberry drinks (they are just sugary drinks) and found high-strength cranberry tablets on line.
I've bought d-mannose sugar on line and take a dose along with the cranberry tablets twice a day.
I've adopted a vegan-style diet---pulses, nuts, fruits and veggies, especially leafy greens, nut milk ----no meat, fish, cheese, dairy products. This is hard as I love all of them, but it makes the urine alkaline and the bugs causing the infections (e-coli usually) can't get the iron that they need to thrive when urine is alkaline. I bought test strips on line to test my pee and it really has gone alkaline.
I don't know if this is any help, but it's worked for me so far, and the constant UTIs had damaged my kidneys, so it was desperation that drove me on!( I do take supplements to make sure of getting enough vitamins and minerals.)
Sorry, this is a too-long first post. Blame the heat and being stuck indoors.

Very helpful first post chicken welcome.
My poor GD who has been in a cubicle in A&E since 9am has been promised a bed "within the hour"
Staff have also realised she is well overdue for ab's.
She has had nothing to eat all day.
She doesn't feel like eating but that isn't the point, she has been offered nothing.

A very warm welcome, chicken Please, no more loitering. We are happy to have you here. Also, thank you for all your sound and thoughtful advice. I am hoping that our lovely lady locum GP will help me to put an end to the never ending doubts that I have concerning the possible cause being vaginal mesh. I've had enough of the pussy-footing around. That hospital surely has some notion of the procedure carried out. It cost us dear. Just sayin.'

Well, my lovely ladies, it's time for me to log off until after care home visit in the morning. There is an important meeting in the village hall tonight. Massive wind turbines proposed for a site overlooking our beautiful village. Goodness knows what we, as a small community, can do about such a scourge.

TOYA

Ann For you and your granddaughter - and very best wishes.

Welcome chicken to the kitchen, especially as you have brought cake.

ann I'm sorry that your GD is still waiting in hospital, hope she is treated soon.

I'm glad that you are going to see your GP Soop, it sounds as though you have confidence in her and that counts for so much doesn't it?

We have stayed in the cool until about 4 pm then went into town for a few things. It was too hot to take the dog today, though there was a breeze off the sea. I bought some beetroot which is now simmering away in the kitchen. Will have that with a tuna salad later.
A friend gave me some plums from her garden, a plum crumble may be on the cards this weekend.
Keep cool everyone.
TOYA

Our decision to go to an indoor shopping centre was brilliant, air-conditioning aaah!!!

In the car home it was showing 37.5 degrees, so roof was down and air-conditioning blasting!!!!

GS has now got his school uniform and shoes, D, GS and I had an arm and hand massage in Jo Malone.

Sitting in the garden and considering dinner, salads all made Mr.Gravy to BBQ.

Sleep well in the heat x

I am enjoying a G&T in the garden.
I am being very quiet in case my neighbours pop their heads over.
They are very fond of a drink in someone else's garden!!!!
Apart from which I have an unsuitable top on , fine for the weather but not to be seen.

I am getting a tad anxious about Tara- I only hope it is the heat which is keeping her outdoors.

Welcome chicken thanks for the cake.

ann enjoy the solitude for as long as possible.
TOYA

She does worry you charley, hope she’s home safe now

Hello chicken, cake is always appreciated.

Just been doing the same ann, temperature just right here.

TOYA

Ann your poor gd, what a time she’s been having recently. Dd1 has a cleft, it was repaired when she was just over a 1 year, but she was under the care of the Maxillo Facial Team at a London hospital and was seen by them annually until her dental development was complete at about 18. Did your gd have a connection with a similar team where she lives, if so they may be the people to liaise with.

soop I’m glad you’ve seen an understanding GP. I know you said that you are tougher than you think you are but what worries us lot is that you may just be not as tough as you think you are... hmm I may have confused myself there blame the heat, but I’m sure you get my drift, please take good care of yourself as you’re one very special person.

I too have seen an understanding GP today, to discuss the rather alarming symptoms I had after the meds I was given a few weeks back to calm down the bee sting reaction. Long story short she has agreed to refer me to an allergy consultant to discuss having a patch test done to see if I really am allergic to penicillin or not. Apparently such appts are like hens teeth and it will be months before I’m likely to hear anything! The penicillin allergy status has to stay on my medical notes for now, so just to keep life simple I'm hoping I’ve no need of antibiotics till it’s clarified.

mumombs, sorry you’ve had that sadness. We had various small animals, several cats and eventually 2 dogs as the family were growing up. Letting our last dog go was a very hard and emotional time, we lost a much loved although it has to be said very naughty family pet but it also signalled the end of a era for us. By then all the children had flown off and with us both working full time getting another dog just wasn’t practical. I sometimes wish we’d got another one when we retired here almost 11 years ago, but it just didn’t seem the right thing at the time. Now 3 of the children have their own family dogs, they provide almost enough stroking therapy to satisfy me!

Like others of you I’ve struggled my way through the heat today. Normally I love the sunshine but this clammy weather this has defeated me today.

We popped in to a little tea party celebrating the 70th wedding anniversary of some neighbours this afternoon. They’re a great couple, sadly he has dementia and much of life passes him by. fortunately he is mostly good humoured. His wife copes admirably, but it’s all seeming a little more fragile now. It was a pleasure to raise a glass of bubbly in their honour!

Well I’m off to bed, though in this heat I’m not at all sure how much sleeping will actually take place... I decamped to the spare bed last night... I saw no point in both of us tossing and turning. Night all, sweet dreams x

I hope Tara gets back safely CharleyG.
I`ve been absent from the kitchen for a few days, I have been reading everything, but every time I prepare myself to post, there seems to be so much has happened that I get rather daunted at being able to remember everything, so then I try another day. So this time I`m determined to go ahead and post. Apologies at missing lots of you out, my memory is like a sieve, but TOYA.
Panache, I`m delighted to hear how well your move has gone, also that your leg is doing so much better. I love the sound of your colour scheme.
Soop, so glad to read that you are going to see your GP, we need you fit and well in order to control us.
Synonymous, your husband is doing so well in such a short time, well done to him.
Welcome Chicken, thanks for the cake.
This weather is way too hot for me, it`s murder trying to sleep.
My daughter went home from hospital last Thursday, with orders not to put that foot on the ground for 6 weeks. I was worried how they`d go on, as her husband has dementia, and her son no longer lives with them, but he`s moved back in for a few weeks, and neighbours have plated up extra when they`ve been cooking and brought it round to her, a man has come round every day to take their whopper of a German Shepherd for a walk, and last night when I was there another neighbour came with flowers and strawberries. It must be lovely having neighbours like that.
Also, my son went back to work on Monday after his cancer treatment, but he`s only being allowed to work 4 hour days for the first 3 weeks, to see how he gets on.
We`ve been waiting all evening for Lynne`s carer to come, when it got to 10 pm we decided she wasn`t coming. Lo and behold, she arrived at 10.30, saying they`d been very busy tonight.
Ann, I hope you enjoyed your G&T, also that yoiur granddaughter didn`t have to wait too long for a bed.
Once again, TOYA! xx