Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen...

Hello to everyone in the kitchen. I have been popping in and out quietly during the night while in the USA. Arrived into London yesterday afternoon to the mercy of the railways. Engineering works sent my train through Lincolnshire adding more than an hour to the journey. Poor DD2 spent 6 hours on her train to Stockport. On the same soggy route as Maw I think.
Sorry to read so many are struggling, not well, waiting on medical stuff or with poorly partners. for all of you.
My holiday was great and lived up to all expectations from Yosemite to Golden Gate Bridge, Rodeo Drive to Death Valley and many points in between. I even got to sit in the front of the helicopter up to the Grand Canyon.
The second load of washing is blowing nicely on the line in the sunshine.
Now to get to grips with downloading some photos.
TOYA

Halloween has come early in SE Essex, but it did keep GC busy??

soop, I too remember us being called lala land. It was as far from the truth then as it is now. I have never come across a more welcoming, inclusive, caring bunch of folk ever. The fact that most of us have never met is neither here not there. The virtual world is not in our kitchen, this is real life and caring on a 24/7 basis. Due to your guiding hand there is always someone in the kitchen to comfort and help whoever pops in. You are a marvel soop .

Welcome home, Alygran You most certainly have enjoyed a marvellous experience.

GrannyG I am truly impressed.

Doodle Such lovely words. thank you.

Well said doodle.

izabella thank you for that.
ann sorry you are feeling so poorly. How lovely your GD is on hand to look after you.
Hope that Mr kitty and Mr Greyduster are recovering from man flu ok.
panache so lovely to read your cheery post. Hope you enjoy your drinks tomorrow (even if alcohol isn’t on the menu) ?
GG13 at least the procedure is over. Sorry it was more uncomfortable than you expected. Hope you feel better now.
susan I too wish your DH all the best with his op. Let us know how things go.
maw have a lovely time with Flynn. Hope you’ve packed your galoshes ?
Hello to bellanonna, synonymous, corner, nanatopsy,
charleygirl and tara, alygran and anyone I’ve missed.
TOYA

Doodle I recall that silly description too. It caused a stir at the time. The poster doesn’t come into the kitchen at all now thankfully.
Yes Soop you are a great inspiration and you have some lovely people visiting the kitchen every day. I hope you are looking after yourself and not overdoing things!

Hello the kitchen. Hallelujah! It’s stopped raining! Now everything looks like a flood plain! We had a gentle walk out this morning because DH wanted to see how high our river was, only to find that it has come over the banks in places. A normal photo would see a drop of about five feet between the bank and the surface of the water. I’ve never seen it so high, and going like a train. Every path we walked on was underwater for the most part, but it was so nice to be out, and in the sun! On the way back through the bottom of our estate we found a tree laden with Egremont Russet apples - part of the original landscaping that used to be an old orchard - so we scrumped a few and they were delicious. Love the old varieties.
Alygran that sounds like an amazing trip. Welcome home with your lovely memories and please let us have some photos!

GrannyG I’ve had an endoscopy - not comfortable, but you can console yourself with the thought that these things are soon over and then forgotten. I love the lanterns; well done your grandchildren!

Kitty I hope Mr L is recovering, no doubt assisted by the
Foxes’ stonking victory on Saturday!!!

Soop I actually picked up a paintbrush as well as a pencil yesterday - things are looking up!

Ann I hope today is a better day for you and you are feeling more yourself ?.

I must away and sort out some veg for dinner later. I’m surprised I’m still here; I fancied a peanut butter and banana sandwich this morning, which I ate and then noticed that the date on the top of the jar was 2017!!?. It tasted ok; so far no ill effects......... watch this space!

Hope you survive the sandwich gd.

The floods are out (as we say round here- which makes me wonder where they are when they are in!) and there was a danger we might need food parcels but the waters are receding.

DH has been a long standing (and now sitting!) supporter of Forest and their game was called off this week due to a waterlogged pitch. They ground has superb drainage (apparently!) but is on the banks of the Trent so nature rather won that one.

He was not pleased with the 9.0 score!

ann, I hope you feel better today!

Ann I too am hoping that you feel more cheerful today. We all have down days. They pass. Wishing you well.

Bellanonna Thank you. We keep each other bouyed up. My turn for hospital treatment later this week. An overnight trip to Glasgow. Although a longer journey than MacS's appointments in Oban, it is a far more pleasant drive. AND, we pass the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar. Yay!

Gentle hugs for both Mr Kitty and Mr Grey. Trust you are being well pampered.

Greyduster I am longing to have a new subject to paint. It is quite the best therapy, I find. Let us know how you progress please.

kitty It's hard to imagine how flooded some areas of the UK have been lately. Hereabouts we have had little rain. Mind you, when one sees the utter destruction caused by fire and flood in some parts of the world...we have very little to complain about.

I shall log off for today. Time to do the Sunday crossword and sup tea.

Bless you all. Back with you in the morning.

Nuts, Soop! No I’m not being rude, that is my painting subject. The nuts have long been eaten but I did find time for preliminary sketches before the nutcrackers came out!

Kitty I got that one wrong, didn’t I? Hope when the water goes down they have a win, then!?

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Have managed to download most of my photos but just to my iPad. The laptop is not playing!
Santa Monica beach, Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam.

Dear Soop all praise for this haven and refuge going un der the name of your kitchen, and I echo your sentiments exactly Doodle........well said indeed.
Again in turn we each have our ups and downs, whilst you and your dear MacS have a great share yourselves, so of course there is such a wealth of real understanding, coupled with such caring and humour.Long may this kitchen go from strength to strength.
Good luck once again on yet another tiresome appointment and I trust the weather is fair allowing you both a safe journey.

Indeed yes a very pleasant pre dinner drinks morning with a very nice entertaining couple,it just goes to show alcoholic does not always need to be included!
Same as the meals here although I sometimes mention the menu,sadly in the main I cannot partake and the old Ensure continues to be my main course!
Each time I have simply just had a little try I have ended up yet truly unwell,I cannot afford this with the responsabilities I have.

Poor Kitty you do seem to be in quite a pickle and I do hope there will be some welcome answers soon.A soggy roof with this heavy rain is not anyone `s idea of pleasure!

A shame our Welsh team did not quite make it but they certainly showed a good front.

Sunshine in abundance here today and we both enjoyed a little walk and sit outside on a shaded seat,so good for the soul.

Izabella I think you mentioned you had sent me a letter ,may I just add it has not arrived ......hence of course no reply!

Sending blessings to you all,have a peaceful night...........hopefully no big bangs!A menace most of us could happily live without!
TOYA XX

We have had a glorious Autumn day, if a little chilly! Made my first foray to the village church this morning ( we live in Church Lane ?) and there wasn’t any heating ?.
We were pleased to see England through ( although DH found it so hard to watch) and the Welsh came so close. Go Leicester - wouldn't it be a tribute to their late manager if they won the premiership again?
Have a good Monday everyone.

I too second what Doodle wrote. This is indeed a safe haven thanks to soop.

I hope your trip to Glasgow and your treatment goes well soop.

Yes it would be good Nannytopsy if Leicester won the league again.

Lovely pictures Alygran

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That was a fabulous holiday alygran, lovely photos to treasure

We ventured out to an NT today, goodness it was busy, we joined a long queue for the car park, can’t recall doing that before. Thoroughly enjoyed being outside, so many families enjoying the sunshine. Not spectacular photos but they give you an idea.

Please keep your feet dry greyd, I hope you live away from that very full river. How are you doing with the roof kitty? Progress?

Time for sleep, goodnight all, TOYA.

Well a scene of misty morning stillness greeted us on rising this morning. The mist covering everything and shrouding even the slightest sound. Even the trees appear to have stilled their leaf fall and the birds ..... where are they? One solitaty squirrell relishing in having the grass to itself and not being harried by our numerous magpies.

I think I had an insight yesterday into an unwelcome progression of 'Al'. I am aware of how many sufferers think parents are still alive and present this confusion to carers. I have many vivid dreams that seem to very real and these dreams appear on occasion to translate into a different kind of waking reality and yesterday I was confused as to which was which. So I ask myself is this how it starts? Am I now entering the downward spiral of a more specific disorientation?

Please note that I post not for sympathy but in the hope that it may help someone who is struggling to care for anyone more advanced on their journey than I. Neither do I think I am inspirational as many have said (but thank you!!) I am merely a normal person adapting to a situation I never thought I would find myself in. There are so many in this kitchen haven struggling with life and I firmly believe that in many ways we help and support each other.

No firework celebrations the other night as the Derwent broke its banks after all the rain. I am busying myself making spiders today for halloween. I feel it is something within my capabilities as I mull over recent events.

I have missed so much from posts, but one of my post it notes mentions how I howled with laughter as I thought I read someone needed sedation to sit and watch 'Strictly'. I then realised that referred to an earlier endoscopy, but I did laugh.

Apologies if this is muddled but rest assured TOYA

Izabella you are truly inspirational, not only about dealing with Al, your personality shines through your posts, you uplift my spirits every time you post and I thank you for that, you are amazing?????

You are indeed Izabella!
I did laugh at the sedation bit. I read the first few lines twice as I found (and always find) your descriptions so uplifting. Mist really does have that effect and thank you for describing it so beautifully.

Izabella We all bless you for your candour and marvellous way with words. Thank you. x

Marvellous photos, Alygran and corner.

I must away to have bloods taken in readiness for the Zoledronic Acid infusion later this week. Will return asap.

Good afternoon kitcheners, I am trying to read but not posting as we are on Grandparent duty this week.

Keep safe and out of mischief

TOYA

Hello. Just reporting that my friend and neighbour of 41+ years has died.
I miss her

Dear Galen

Izabella I am one of the few who would need to be comatose if made to watch Strictly.

GrannyG I hardly ever succomb to mischief. . Unlike some of us lot.

Greyduster Nuts have a beauty that deserve to be drawn and painted. Any particular type? Or did you have a wee selection to work from?

Panache I like the sound of your newfound gang of friends. It's good to hear you sounding more upbeat and confident.

GP had great difficulty extracting blood. the veins are tiny and well hidden. Anyway, he managed to get the necessary sample and I'm covered in plasters.
He's also putting my name forward for the prolapse procedure that was put on hold when the breast cancer surgery needed to take priority.
It's also possible that I have a Baker's cyst. Scan will verify in due course.
Hey ho! I am truly grateful to our NHS. Thanks to it, we continue to bumble along and enjoy the many joys of life.

Photo of lichen taken earlier today.