Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen...

Dear Synonymous I was horrified to read of your husband's fall in the bathroom. You must have panicked when you saw the state of him and the damage to the fittings. Thank goodness that he was taken to hospital without delay. He will be in safe hands. Please try to rest and recharge your batteries. Keep us updated when you have further news.

Belated many happy returns Anno! You’re only a few weeks behind me and so far 79 hasn’t been bad, though the prospect of the next one is somewhat daunting!
N&G, an amazing result for Mr G. He must have worked really hard to lose so much. I’m sure you must have helped him too. Congratulations.

Maw I bet that Flynn will remember his encounter with the lion for many years to come. He looks proud of himself. And why not'

N&G Are you sure that the gentleman in the photo is Grampy? Wow! He looks years younger and fitter. What is his secret? What has he cut out food-wise? Congratulations to him.

Bellanonna MacSporran keeps talking about that film which he saw on his birthday. He thinks that he was eleven when he last went to the cinema. He was about to sit through a third showing of 'Robin Hood' when the usherette accompanied by his mother collared him. His mother was frantic with worry because he was not supposed to stay out so late. Boys will be boys...

Ann A very long time ago, when I was a child, I was watching Northampton Town 'Cobblers' playing football and I bit into a sachet of shampoo. I foamed at the mouth. Don't ask.

Grey That is a tranquil scene. Beautiful photograph.

Happy Birthday to our dear anno.

Good afternoon Panache Many thanks for your interesting update. MacSporran loved his birthday treat. Wants to see the same film again.

soop I think I can see more trips to the cinema in the offing.
I think we, too, will be enjoying more now that the experience is so comfortable.
ann in my 30s I started to brush my teeth with “rose-scented
Buto” (depilatory cream). The sun wasn’t yet up and I hadn’t put the light on. Thank goodness I spat in out quickly. It tasted revolting.

The care home visit was difficult. The "upstairs" residents have serious dementia and apart from one jolly gent I cannot hold a decent conversation with any of them. It was a chaotic half an hour. One dear lady was pushing a chair about the room and barging into other residents who were not amused. Another lovely gentleman was mixing a paste of soggy biscuit and tea on the table top, after which, he attempted to lick it from the table. Another lady was agitated because the bus "she needed to take her to town" was running late. She was concerned that she wouldn't be back in time to go to bed. Oh dear! My heart goes to them all.

Bellanonna

I understand that my pal for whom I do the ironing is unwell. We're to pick up basket of stuff in the morning and I shall do the job here.

Once the job has been done, I shall pop in to say hello to you lovely lot.

Try to keep out of mischief. Look after your pets. Thankfully we are not likely to hear fireworks hereabouts. There is to be a bonfire party in the village. We'll be staying put.

TOYA

Gosh Synonymous what a shock for you both. I do hope your DH is home now.

Well done to Mr N&G* very impressive.

Sorry to hear you are still below par ann I hope you pick up soon although I do t find this time of year a happy time.

Panache so pleased your DH is having a good period but so wish you could too. Hope you feel better soon.

For anyone I have forgotten TOYA.

Happy Birthday anno ??? hope you've had a lovely day.
Congratulations to your DH NannyandGrampy, what an achievement. Can't understand why he won't be wearing that tie again though......?
We have had DS's little spaniel Wilma here today while they had patio doors installed in their kitchen. He came to pick her up on his bike, he puts her on the lead and then she runs alongside him on the pavement. He's hoping to tire her out so she'll sleep through the fireworks.
There is a big firework display across Swansea Bay tonight as part of the Swansea at 50 celebrations. The weather is dry and clear so it should be very good. Wish I could see it.

soop your visit to the care home was difficult indeed, heartbreaking. Hope your friend is better soon.

I have a friend coming for coffee in the morning, we go to Book Club together, though I have been unable to go for two months being housebound. She is very loyal and has a dry sense of humour. Looking forward to seeing her.
DH has been busy mowing the lawns front and back, and emptying pots etc. It is the last municipal garden waste collection on Monday, so he is turbo charged.
Have a good evening all and as soop has said, look after your pets.

soop as I recall you said your DH had not been to the cinema for thirty one years .......... next post - since he was six? That would make him 37 - what fun? How do you keep up or have I missed something?
syn Hope Mr Syn is recovering - what a ghastly shock.
Soooo wet that it will be impossible to have fireworks tonight. I am happy as random setting off makes me nervous. I am happy with the twenty minute display at the weekend that was very well organised indeed.
My visitors have gone and I have several loads of washing to do. Would it be rude to ask visitors (as opposed to guests) to bring their own (many) towels at this time of year?
I am practising making gluten free cake for the festive season so chocolate orange brownie.
TOYA traybake on the side

Evening All from a Somerset war zone. Blimey it’s noisy.

Goodness synonymous, how frightening that must have been for you both. Sleep well tonight and all good wishes to Mr S.

Those care home visits are certainly harrowing at times soop. I’ve been thinking about how much you both enjoyed that film. We’ve not been to the cinema for many years, maybe we should venture forth - once the cough has reduced by several decibels, .

Gluten free brownies are scrumptious feelingmyage. I’m sure yours will be wonderful. Towels and visitors are interesting. As a child we stayed with family often and always took towels, to save their laundry and in some cases I suspect not to highlight the lack of spare towels. I still do it whether with family or friends. It’s rare for anyone coming here to bring a towel. I certainly don’t expect people to but I do appreciate it when it happens.

A very happy birthday to anno. Take it easy panache, rest when you need to. You too drafonfly and anyone else who needs to. I sometimes think self care should be formally taught in schools.

A huge we’ll done to grampy, Very impressive and I agree with soop, the years have fallen away.

I missed that photo yesterday carillion, a very special time. I’m full of admiration over the driving, good for you.

Loved Flynn and the lion mawb, thank you for sharing the photo and the view from your back lane greyd, not one to ever get tired of.

I hope lins and kitty no longer need an umbrella inside. Not fun. You won’t be doing that again ann, look after yourself and can I add you to the list of people who should rest?

TOYA, including the animals with the fireworks tonight. take care everyone.

Just popping in to say hello to you all.
Synonomous,what a shock your husbands fall must have been for you.Its good that he has been admitted for observation,hopefully it will give you a chance to have a good rest tonight.
Panache,I am so glad your husband is having a good period with his health,I hope you start to feel better very soon?
Soop,belated birthday greetings to macs,sounds like the cinema was a success.Happy Birthday to anno too.
My husbands recovery is going well,We went to Stafford today to visit our younger daughter and family.She made us a lovely lunch which I really appreciated as I’m finding it quite exhausting doing all the driving,house stuff and caring for the old boy.Little Barnaby was so happy to see us so all in all a lovely day.
Well done to Grampy on his slimming award?that’s quite some weight loss??
I am loving all the pictures.Carillion you must be very proud of your grandson.My mum lives not too far from Chester and we often visit the cathedral.She made one of the kneelers and is always very pleased when we find it!
Charley,8 grapes?I certainly shan’t be ordering the snack pack.Have never done online supermarket shopping but think I will give it a go as will be one less job trailing to the supermarket.
Anyway must go and tend to my dear husband.TOYA and hopefully be back soon!

Thanks, all, for the good wishes. It has been a very satisfying birthday - tea and cake in the morning with a good friend and a leisurely lunch with friends to follow. Any number of calls and texts from family and friends too. I have simply lost count!
Meanwhile, the county is at its very best at this time of year. The beeches are glorious though underfoot not so welcome! The local bombardment happened on Saturday, so it's strangely quiet for November 5th.

The bombs started early this evening, there was a break of a couple of hours and they have started again. Have these folk not run out of money yet?

Luckily Tara came home during the lull and is fast asleep on my freshly changed bedding. I will be joining her soon.

Please try to get some rest and sleep synonymous. Such a shock to you both. I only hope he is not sent home too soon.
TOYA

synonymous sorry to hear about your DHs fall. Hope he is feeling better today.
Glad your DH is doing well susan
anno glad you had a good birthday. Any cake left? ?
My grampy looks very slim no wonder he got the award.
charley please do not disturb poor Tara. She must have had an exhausting day what with fireworks and all. As she’s now comfy in her clean bedding you could bed down in the cat bed for the night ?
TOYA ?

Well done Grampy! DH has lost almost 3 stones since the summer but I shall not say how I am doing! ?
Synonymous what a shock for you both. I hope he is much improved tomorrow.
Time for sleep! TOYA

Synonymous I hope your DH recovers from his fall quickly.

Well, I am supposed to be packing instead I have been on GN, even worse I have been drawn into the "political threads".

I well try to keep up with the kitchen, whilst in Kenya, but not sure what the wi-if is like in the Masai Mara???

Keep safe and out of mischief.......no getting lost and wandering into the "Argy"!!!!

TOYA [gringringrin]

Feelingmyage That's in the 31 years during which we've been wed.

I'm ashamed to say that I still have the basket of pal's ironing, untouched, lolling on the sofa. I have another UTI brewing and couldn't face tackling it earlier today. It's to be collected later this after. I must set to and do my duty.
Just had a phone call from the surgery. Need to return this afternoon for more bloods. Vampires!

Oh soop that’s a shame (at least we’ve gone past Halloween so your vampires are of the human kind ?). Hope you feel better soon.

Doodle the cat bed happens to be a single bed in the 3rd bedroom. She has also taken over the other bedroom where there is a proper cat bed which she uses if she is slumming it for any reason. Beside that bed is a cooling gel bed where she can stretch out when the T is really high. She also has a fan which she kindly shares with me! I cannot think of anything she is lacking!!!!

soop another UTI is a real buggeration- I hope you get on top of it soon.
TOYA

Good afternoon to all and commiserations to the poorly ones and those looking after poorly ones.
I have been to our GP practice’s physio this morning and have been referred for x-rays on my hip and spine.
I also have a DEXA scan tomorrow so I hope some good comes out of it.
An upsetting couple of hours for me, my GD is 21 tomorrow, what bittersweet memories that is bringing back, her mum has bought her a locket and she wants t photographs of Grandad and me in it, so I lugged two huge boxes from the top of the wardrobe and started.
Apart from the difficulty of trying to get the right size, so many memories were brought to the fore.
I made a very difficult decision and filled 3 carrier bags with photographs to go to the tip.
Which to keep and which to throw away?
Hundreds and hundreds of the C and GC have gone but if I don’t do it someone else will have the job when I die.So many of my H and I in much happier times, it was very hard.
My GD has been to Amsterdam for 3 days but will be home later tonight, we have family celebrations tomorrow.
It has certainly been a week for birthdays in the kitchen.

Running very late. Will do my best to catch up with you lovely lot in the morning.

TOYA - especially those of you in need of extra tender loving care.

Evening All. Look after yourself ann, that must have been more than hard. All good wishes for your granddaughter tomorrow.

You look after yourself too soop, another UTI is far from good. Hope the vampire was quick and kind.

Wishing you a safe trip and a wonderful holiday grannyg. Pleased you survived the politics threads.

Good to hear your husband is recovering susan, you must be exhausted, I hope there’s some rest for you.

Had a pleasant walk by the water this morning as the coughing one is feeling a whole lot better then would you believe I lost a piece of filling and yes , it hurts. Some straightforward boredom would be good around here. My dentist moved on earlier in the year, I’ve never met his replacement, looks like it will be soon. Oh dear, I had hoped to get used to him before anything other than a checkup was needed. Wish us both luck .

TOYA, take care everyone.

Sorry to hear you had a tricky time Ann - looking at photos always brings back memories both good and bad.

Oh * Corner* you do seem to be having one thing after another. I hope your new dentist is as lovely as mine.