Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen...

So sorry I vented, things haven't gone well this week really but I know so many have far worse things to deal with than me, so will buck myself up tomorrow.
I have felt really let down by a friend of 45 years and it has upset me as I know it isn't going to get better.
I have had my head in the sand and made excuses for her and I now must stop and face reality.

susan never be worried about catching up in the kitchen. It is lovely there are so many of us these days who find such pleasure is soop’s cosy corner. Just take good care of your DH ?
Hello feelingmyage and annalise. I have been asking about Galen too. Not heard from her since she went cruising last.
GG hope the endoscopy goes well with good results.
ann hoping for a better day for you tomorrow.
TOYA ?

Take it easy dragonfly

Sorry to hear you are so down Annsixty I hope a good nights sleep brings a better day.

What a wonderful thread this is - maybe Macsporran has gone a long way to solve your problem * Anneliese* I do hope so.

annsixty I am so very sorry that our problem has upset you, particularly after you have had a bad day. It really isn’t about the money. We truly do not have a problem with paying for the work ourselves. It is just seems wrong that without the grant, you can’t get the guidance. Hope you have a good night, wake refreshed and tell us about your beautiful new carpet!

I find it so hard to believe that someone with the needs of Annaliese's husband is not getting this very necessary work done for free.
It offends my sense of justice and fairness.
I am sure we all know people who seem to know the system and get all things done for them.
I have had a very bad and trying day, I am not in the best of moods and this sort of thing upsets me beyond belie
My carpet is fitted but I can't enthuse about it although it looks nice.
Tomorrow is another day, I hope my spirits rise again.
TOYA

Thank you to everyone for their suggestions. Had we qualified for a grant, they would have carried out a feasibility study to see whether it would be possible to convert our garage, especially regarding drainage and ventilation. So obviously we need someone experienced in this kind of conversion.

A special thank you to Soop and MacSporran. That’s a brilliant suggestion!

Log off time. A pleasant late afternoon scene through the window. I caught a glimpse of an otter swimming close to the shore. We sometimes see a family group on a nearby rock. MacSporran was so overcome when he first saw them, he almost missed the bus for which he was waiting.

TOYA

Anneliese MacSporran (my husband) suggests that you get in touch with the Royal Institue of British Architects (RIBA) online and all sorts of information will come up. If you explain your needs they will provide you with a list of architects in your general location. They might also give you contact details for the local area society, who will probably know those firms who are most likely to be suitable to help you.

corner If we had a Tardis, we could all that our heart desires.
A friend dropped in for a quick chat. One and three quarter hours later...

Maw You cannot beat Heinz tomato soup. We stockpile them.

Anneliese My husband is a retired architect. I shall quiz him later and report back to you tomorrow.

Feelingmyage Autumn is a glorious season of the year. The low light of the sun illuminates all the colours of the grasses and shrubery. The Maple leaf is at it's most spectacular.

GrannyGravy When you report back to us, your procedure will be over and you will realise that it wasn't so bad after all.

dragonfly Bless you. Feet up time. Us lot send love.

eilyann You are always welcome.

Just popping in for a catch up. Very daunting!!

Disabled bathroom advice- when we were doing an en suite for DS1 we went to a locally owned bathroom company and got fantastic advice for things to consider including not slip shower trays, flooring, having wider than normal doors. It's worth a try. In out last house we had a wet room which might be a consideration too.

Corner's advice to ask around is good and also contacting AgeUk who often have a list of trusted traders! Good luck. Its daunting but will become clearer.

I have been concerned about galen and bella too.

corner, enjoy your visitors!!!

panache phew!!

gg, good luck tomorrow. I think it is the one thing all of us dread but I am told it is never as bad as expected.

Dh has 'the worst cold ever!' and I am proving once again that I am not cut out for a caring role. I could cheerfully strangle him to put him (and me!) out of his misery!

Sorry for all the people I have missed but TOYA!

Pleased you're home again dragonfly, rest now.

Good luck tomorrow grannyg, soon be over now.

You sound upbeat feelingmyage, half term here next week so I'm hoping for some of the same young people positiveness.

Wish I could help anneliese, not something we've done. My first thought was to ask around, anyone and everyone, also perhaps ask for recommendations on something like NextDoor. In this area there is an independent bathroom showroom where the staff are incredibly helpful and knowledgeable, if there's one in your area then it would be worth a chat. Someone will be along with more sensible ideas I'm sure, or maybe start a thread and ask the wider GN? Sorry, wish I knew more. Wishing you both well.

Love it mawb, any left?

Admin finished off now to collect the overnight guests, I'm unreasonably excited as contact has been sparse lately.

TOYA, take care everyone.

Panache so very pleased the weight has been lifted. You have been in my thoughts and prayers as have all with worries of their own or a loved one's health. Too many unfortunately for my poor brain to remember all names!
Anneliese have you thought of contacting Age Concern re architects etc?

lins I hope the pain is improving and the brace is helping.

Anneliese good to hear from you - I often wonder how things are with you. I would have thought the council should help you or at least recommend an architect. I hope you find one soon.

GrannyGravy will be thinking of you tomorrow. Any test is harrowing.

Just got back from the hospital. Of course we got there an hour early and then had to wait for 2 hours for the pharmacy to send up the medication. After that it went quite quickly. I now feel a little light headed and tired but drinking enough water to float a battleship!

To anyone I have missed TOYA.

It's been a very grey day here. I have done my Saturday jobs today, due to having that wretched endoscopy tomorrow.

We are going out for an early dinner tonight with one of Mr.Gravy's recently widowed friends, he seems to be coping on the outside, but I am not entirely convinced.

Should be able to watch most of the rugby before we leave for the Hospital, hopefully it will take my mind off of what's to come.

Wishing all kitcheners with troubles find some peace.

TOYA

Hello Kitcheners. Here I am trying to catchup after being absent for a few days. I have had zillions of visitors because it has been half term and am sitting with my feet up - lots of laughs, late nights and food - but I am tired and ready for hopefully a quiet weekend. The young folk are full of confidence, ideas and optimism so it has been a lovely week. The washing machine will be on the go a lot.
panache I have never said “I told you so”. May I say it on the occasion of the contracts being signed - the house being empty made for a sale - I am sure viewers prefer to look at an empty house so they can envisage it as their own home. I am so happy for you both that this has been finalised after all the struggles. It is what you deserve.
izabella thank you for your lovely post. I am off to google Jarman. Every day is a learning day.
dragonfly ?
soop I hope you are resting some of the time - are you?
Glorious sun coming in my window and autumn is splendid this year, golden leaves, glowing berries and starry nights.
I have found a piece of millionaire’s shortbread and am going to have a quiet cup of tea in the corner. Look after yourselves everyone in the best way you can.

I’ve not posted for some time, but pop in every day to keep up to date with what’s happening. But today I need to let off steam as I’m so frustrated! As DH’s mobility worsens, it’s important that we make some adaptations to the house, in particular a bathroom on the ground floor. I knew we wouldn’t qualify for a grant, but understood that we could pay for the work ourselves, but still get advice from the council. Today I learned that is not going to happen, and we need to find an architect/builder etc on our own. That is really daunting. I’ve no idea how to find someone with the necessary experience of this type of work. If anyone has any suggestions about where to start, I’d be very grateful!

DH now has a walking frame, so is much more stable, and is still cooking puddings etc. Today he decided to make bread pudding with a loaf that inexplicably was stale the day after I bought it. Not sure how it will turn out, but if it’s as nice as that his mum used to make, I’ll bring some in later!

There’s too much happening for me to mention you all but TOYA.

PS Have we heard from Galen recently?

I am such a domestic goddess- eat your heart out Nigella!
I have just polished off a tin of Heinz tomato soup and a whole (smallish) baguette of garlic bread.

Oh yes soop a Tardis would sort travel issues. Trouble is I'm a nosey soul - well, prefer interested - and would want to go back and see what life was like for my parents growing up and get to know my maternal grandmother who always seemed so distant. Is that allowed?

Not a lot done here today other than swim out for some groceries. Its pouring and has been all day. It should have been a quick trip to the supermarket but we saw a neighbour, stopped at several points for a natter and before we knew it two hours had passed. Oh dear, suspect several other shoppers were very cross with us for being in the way.

Lunch cooked and eaten. a very nice stir fry if I say so myself - I'm trying to catch up with some admin before two of ours need to be collected for a sleepover, a real treat for us as we've not spent much time with them for a while.

Guess I'd better do the admin

TOYA

Hello Doodle.

Susan Please do not fret about whether or not you have pages to catch up with. What is important is preparing yourself and your husband in readiness for his surgery and his subsequent convalescence. You need to relax as much as possible. It's going to be a busy time. We all send our good wishes.

Thank you, dear Izabella for a delightfully spirit-lifting post. I think that you are an amazing woman.

corner What us lot need is a Tardis. We could go anywhere at anytime and still be back in time for a natter in the kitchen.

Lins1066 You are a trooper. In spite of your pain, you still manage to be upbeat and concerned for other friends in this kitchen. Well done. A little kindness goes a long way.

Charleygirl enjoy the London coffee meeting tomorrow. I hope to be st the next one.

Panache I am so pleased the contracts are signed and the house sale complete,what a relief for you both.
Dragonfly wishing you well for tomorrow?
We are having a busy time trying to get ahead of ourselves before my husbands surgery next week.
I popped into the kitchen and I have pages to catch up on and a head like a sieve at the moment so will wish you all well and TOYA

panache wonderful news. So glad the contracts are signed that much be such a relief and pleased to hear MrP looking a bit better too. ?
dragonfly I hope you cope with the chemo ok. The purple wig sounds magnificent.
venall don’t worry about keeping up just keep bringing cake ! Yummy ?
lins things are a little easier. Back pain is so difficult to deal with so hope things improve for you.
izabella your posts continue to be an inspiration. I love your way with words. ?
To all I haven’t mentioned, have a good night. I am going for another piece of shortbread with my coffee. Night night all TOYA

Oh my goodness. Am I too late for the delights of verna11s millionaires shortbread? I surely hope not. Thank you for the contribution and welcome.

Keyboard practice is currently going well and I indulged in one of Borodins amazingly beautiful nocturnes earlier. Lifted my spirit.

Dull and gloomy here but I was lifted by some prose by Jarman yesterday. My post it note states he (Jarman)was describing a shining opalescent light and then goes on to wonderfully state that ^Vermeer dipped his brush in such iridescent solitude^ That took me back to my art history days and my love of so many paintings. My table is now littered with printed masterpieces. Jarman also taught me that arum was used to starch ruffs.

I have consciously jettisoned so many superfluous pursuits since 'Al' came along and now concentrate on things thqat give ,me pleasure while I can still read and understand the written word. I know not how long that my be.

So panache I have sent you a pm and I have an enchanting mental picture of a blue wigged dragonfly I am also happy to know that N&G have discovered the virtues of calorie free cake. Well done. And GG please don't get worked up about your endoscopy. Annesixty I hope your carpet arrived too.

Well I shall now return to Jarman and his wonderfully descriptive capture of nature.

Wishing everyone a pleasant and relaxing evening. Hugs and where appropriate, and safe journeys for those who need to go to/from appointments.