Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen...

Hi moggie57 that’s an awful situation to be in. I don’t know what to say really. Life can be well, really unfair at times. I really hope things improve for you (and your poor cat) soon.

moggie how dreadful for you. Maw has some good suggestions. I do hope things look up for you.

Synonymous it is not surprising you are tearful. I do hope your DH gets up on his ‘feet’ soon.

For everyone with colds I hope you feel better soon and that your DH gets to see the doctor tomorrow kitty.

Hope you slept dragonfly, that was a late/early post.

I’m sorry, no helpful suggestions moggie, can only hope things get better soon.

A get well message to all feeling under the weather, please stay in the warm mawb, some nasty bugs around. Hope your husbands nose stopped bleeding kitty, scary when that happens.

Love all the photos, red definitely suits you soop, what a fabulous birthday for your granddaughter susan.

Best be off, must summon energy for some boring stuff before coffee and lunch with a GN friend. Nothing like putting the world to rights on a Monday. .

Thank you Corner on anti- sickness steroids for a couple of days which also keep me awake added to the fact that I had to be awake before dawn to take DD to the station.

I hope all you poorly people have a quiet restful day and feel better soon.

Welcome moggie and my goodness you do seem up against it. Clearly a need to channel all that bubbling frustration into some positive action. MawB has made some excellent suggestions so they are a really good place to start. Do you have a busy church or community centre near you as they are good places to get warm, sometimes even be fed, and will sometmes be able to plug you in to other sources of things like additional food, blankets and household items.
As for pusscat mix equal parts of cider vinegar with water and spray that where you don't want the cat to be. You can substitute citronella or lavender for the cider vinegar. Protect your bed!
Not knowing the situation or reasons for bimonthly visits to your brother I just wonder if he is able to help you with the fares at the very least and maybe even with other things too. Sometimes we don't like to ask but it is difficult for him to know your need unless you tell him and there must be some kind of bond between you if you are visiting him so regularly.
I hope that things will improve for you when you are working for that to happen!

Moggie,I too would advise contacting your local church.We have rehomed several items of furniture via people at one of the town churches.Also several of our local churches provide lunches,companionship and help.I am also wondering whether you should maybe make an appointment with CAB to see if there are any allowances you are entitled to which you are not claiming.There is the warm homes scheme which is a payment from your energy provider totally separate to the winter fuel payment.I really hope that things get better for you.

dragonfly thank you for your kindness and I am so sorry you are not able to sleep. Feeling sick is the pits and I hope it will get better for you soon, hang on in there!

Today I have let Smokie out so I hope he will be home well before dark. I am not holding my breath though as I put broadline on the back of his neck so my popularity is at a very low ebb.

Beautiful day here with sunshine making our 'liquid amber' tree glow with all its' lovely colours. I don't remember it holding onto the leaves for as long but I suppose we haven't had the gales yet.
'
Loved the bithday cakes and the fairies and the photos thereof!
Talking to DD about the fairy wings and it was so lovely that she remembered all the things I had made for her for parties. So glad I did but it was jolly hard work at the time and we didn't have much spare cash either. In any case I don't remmbr there being such things available at the time even if we had the wherewithal. Photos were expensive too so we have very few of those to remind us so it was doubly precious that DD had so mny memories. It is lovely to be able to photograph so much nowadays and to be able to see the DGG having fun even if they are so far away.

TOYA

Maw, I didn't realise you were under the weather. I prescribe a cosy throw and warm dog on the sofa and an afternoon - or evening too - bingeing on season 3 of The Crown.

Welcome Moggie There is some sound advice given in response to your post. Especially that given by Maw. Please try to contact someone who will listen to your needs. What about the Citizens Advice Bureau? Do you have a trusted family member who is prepared to give you further support in the ways and means of getting the help you need?

Susan Thank you for the beautiful photos of Matilda. She most certainly had her birthday wish come true.

A neighbour called in for a quick chat. An hour plus later...I'm trying to catch up with domestic "stuff". Back again a little later.

I have made some progress today, I went to the shops on the bus.
I had a pair of shoes to pick up from M&S Simply Food so I braved it and walked to the bus stop with my trusty stick.
The shoes, sadly, are like boats, even though after reading the reviews I went down a while size so I have another journey to take them back.
It was so busy at the pickup counter, the assistant explained they they had a full container of online orders in the car park and it was taking so long to find things that I missed the bus back and had to get a taxi.

My GD is having her tonsillectomy? tomorrow, she has to be at the hospital at 12 noon and should be out in the evening.
A far cry from 5 days in not too long ago.
We went.out for a meal last night and decided as they were still serving them to have a roast dinner.
It was very good, nearly, but not quite, as if I had cooked it myself?
It did cost a lot more though.
I really must stop costing meals when I go out to eat and just enjoy it.
TOYA

Afternoon all,

Sorry to hear about the whole shoe kerfuffle Ann , I do hate returning stuff but needs must. At least you had an enjoyable dinner .

I was bemoaning the lack of photos of my girls Syn just the other day but it must be a precious memory if your daughter remembers your efforts. I document everything about the grandchildren and even now looking back only a few short years I miss some of their small child things.

Lots of great advice Moggie , you could also start a separate thread on the forum for more traffic and advice but some great ideas here.

Sorry to hear you're poorly Maw , maybe you need a sandwich and a packet of crisps ;-) ….sorry couldn't help myself !!

I have been mystery shopping today for walk in baths. Its done by a company that identifies whether older people are being ripped off by suppliers of goods and services. Always a bit of an eye opener but todays visit was fine.

I shall pop in after SW tomorrow- I fear all the shenanigans of Lauras birthday will have sent the scales sky rocketing in the wrong direction , so wish me luck please x

Nanaandgrampy
(Budging up the norty step!)
At least I know now not to take anything at face value - except here in the kitchen where I can count on you all to be honest

A friend's Facebook has been hacked. I have to urgently do something or other re my privacy settings.

Sorry to need to dash. Back again tomorrow after care home visit. TOYA

That is true , I love the honesty from kitcheners , the real feelings from real people even when sad.

Good luck Soop darn hackers !

Good morning kitcheners!
Whiteout this morning and so very cold! Stay safe and warm indoors if you can but if you can't then take great care. Sadly, we have to go for an appointment about an hour away and I would much rather stay be the fire. Very grateful to our gardening friend for topping up the porch wood store and cutting some kindling, some friends are worth their weight in gold - and he is a big lad!
Smokie is desperate to go out but he isn't going out today as we won't be back before dark and since he finds everything much too exciting once it gets dark he would probably not come home at all.
I managed to get my blue badge form in yesterday but I did not find it easy as I don't fit their questions every well now that they have changed DLA to PIP. Why can't they just ask if there have been any changes or is that too simplistic?

TOYA especially those with health issues and other concerns.

Good luck with the appointment Synonymous and everyone with health and other issues.
My GD is very blasé about her op, this is about her 6th or 7th all previously to do with her cleft, I am a wreck as I was with all her previous, the thought of a GA worries me.
It is very cold and frosty and the sun has already disappeared.
Have as good a day as you can everyone.

This is how to relax-Tara will give lessons.
TOYA

Good morning everyone. I havnt posted for a while as I have been in a very strange place with 'Al and a further jigging of medication for my afflicted grey cells ?However, I now seem more in kilter with the universe.

This was helped by a stunning scene outside this morning that gladdened my heart. An extremely hard frost in the shire lending a sparkling stillness to the realm. The sky enveloped the whole scene in a stunning beautiful white opalescence. I had to stand and wonder. I wish I could remember how to operate my lovely camera to do some proper landscape stills, but alas that skill has gone. I expect greyduster has been out snapping.

Good to see the lovely Tara has a sensible approach to life. As for all kitcheners struggling for what ever reason I send positive thoughts and my admiration to all.

I am now about to venture out of the kitchen (which I may regret) but sometimes a girl has to say her piece.) Mind you that assumes I can rememb er which thread it was.

Take care all.

Ah. She looks so relaxed, charleygirl! I take it she hasn’t gone on her wanders yet?

Lovely to see you Izabella. Thank you for your lovely, descriptive post

Bellanonna that was taken about 9 pm one evening recently. Tara had been out all day, the bedding had just been changed so it was obviously ideal to lie on the bed to rest her eyes.

I had to let her out with the T at -2C today because she was clawing at the door and was likely to scratch it.

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I have been out snapping, Izabella, but yesterday, not today, so I am glad to make do with the frosty scene you paint so well in words. I would probably have frozen to the spot this morning trying to remember everything I had to do now I have officially come off auto (well, for now?) and the order in which to do it. Being a bear of very little brain, the results were mixed. I got proper cheesed off with DH saying “Ooh, look at this one” and showing me the photos he was taking on his phone, so I picked up a branch, hit him over the head with it and covered his body in fallen leaves...... well, no I didn’t, but I was thinking about it!! We were out in what my GS calls ‘the big wood’ yesterday taking advantage of the sun being out and it was lovely after all the rain we’ve had.
Ann I hope all goes well for your GD, and that this will put a stop to her horrible bouts of tonsillitis. I hope she makes a swift recovery.
Sorry to hear you’ve been hacked Soop - what a nightmare! It behoves us all to change our settings and passwords from time to time, but I confess, I’m very lax about it.
Good luck with the weigh in, N&G! You have to be forgiven a lapse for a family celebration. We have one this week - my son in law is fifty. I remember the first time I met him, in his early twenties, shivering in his shirt sleeves outside my door at some unearthly hour of the morning, having just met DD and brought her home from a nightclub. That was in November too. She asked if he could come in for a hot drink. I said yes. And went back to sleep. Not! Them were the days?.
I will try and look in later. Apologies to all I have failed to mention. TOYA.

Well...it took an absolute age to sort out the virus thingy on FB. Worried me sick. All's well.

Bless her paddy paws. Tara is the mistress of "chill".

Grey fab photos. The light at this time of the year is perfect.

Maw What have you been up to? Izabella You know where us lot are if you need to beat a hasty retreat.

Ann Our thoughts are with you and your granddaughter. We all send get well quickly vibes and look forward to a positive update.

Synonymous Thinking of you and Mr Syn.

N&G When stepping on the scales...breathe in...and remember, you enjoyed Laura's birthday in the only way possible. You ate lots of cake...and so you should.

A marmalade cat was trapped last night. He/she is with a couple in the village. Just one young cat yet to enticed into the cage. I am having dreams about cats and going mile upon mile to feed them.

grey you do not disappoint. I popped back in and behold - there are your stunning snaps. Such scenes are solace for the soul.