Soop's kitchen refuge for the sharing of...

Not sleeping well because of the pain so have finally caught up with all the pages I have missed on Soops.
I do wonder if the pain from the bone metastases will ever ease. It takes a morning of taking strong painkillers every couple of hours before I can manage to get up and dressed to face the day. I make light of it with my DH as it upsets him so and he thinks the oral chemo isnt working.

It's our 18th wedding anniversary today and I do feel down as to whether we will have many more but wouldnt say that anywhere but here. Sorry to sound so down but I suppose it's because it's the wee small hours of the morning.

Love seeing the photos of your grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. I am missing mine especially as have have 3 greatgrandchildren born since I was last in England. Still staying at home all the time other than than the trips to the hospital. Another visit next Monday for another bone strengthening infusion. But as it's our anniversary if the weather isnt too bad today perhaps we could go for a drive. The weather in Portugal has been nowhere as good as it has been in the UK so far this year. It looks as though it could be picking up from the weekend though with sun and temperatures up towards the mid 20s.
TOYA

Good morning Daisyboots. I am sorry you are in pain and feel free to share your feelings here. That’s what the kitchen is for. I understand that you don’t want to upset your DH. I hope you get your trip soon.
We are awake because DH is in pain with his leg ulcers - he now has a new one on the other leg. This set have been going on for three years after a respite of about four years. It has had a knock on effect on his knees and hips because of walking badly due to the bandages and means we can’t walk for any distance. It makes us look old and leads to a vicious cycle of inactivity and weight gain. I feel so sorry for him.
It’s a chilly start with a hint of frost. I hope the seedlings have survived.
Pain au chocolat for breakfast on the table - enjoy!

Good to see you back callgirl, a hug for you. Sounds a difficult night daisyboots in more ways than one. Those middle of the night thoughts are invariably hard to shake. My congratulations to you both on your anniversary. A bad night for you too nannyt, how is your husband today? Pain au chocolate, yum.

Furniture moving for us today, with luck the demon decorator will finish painting tomorrow while I cull cupboard contents. I’m not being too definite in case I jinx us.

TOYA, look after yourselves.

Thank you Nannytopsy it doesnt help that my DH has PTSD so gets depressed very easily which makes it hard to discuss my feelings. I do feel for you and your DH as I had that with my darling Mum for several years and it's awful to see them go through it.

Thank you too Cornergran. Yes I just couldnt shake the thoughts off so have had less than an hours sleep since 2.30. Hopefully things will improve as the day goes on.

Morning everyone from our (temporarily) crumb free zone in the Shire. CH is understandably down in the dumps this morning as his new magnification aid does not seem to have helped. He is resilient and I know he will bounce back later but in the meantime I hope I am being supportive.

My pal Kate brought me up to date yesterday with events in the kitchen and helped make some notes for me. soop I had completely missed the fact that your lovely man has a hand injury. What happened and is it improving? As for smileless both thanks for the trifle and commiserations regarding your beloved pooch. And doodle you were correct regarding crumbs as they seem to be broadcast in the most unexpected places.

Panache you do have much to offer the rest of us here. Always upbeat, supportive and kind, whilst downplaying your own battles in life. I, for one, salute you.

Apologies for the lovely lady suffering metastatic bone pain - your name escapes me. I do however understand what you are experiencing. My own mother went through this many years ago.

Well I shall send my copy of this to Kate prior to posting so she can edit, following which I will post. I have a remedy for the hand/wrist. So as you go about your busy day imagine me going about my business with a full length evening glove on my hand and arm, keeping things snug and warmed. I realise I look a caution, but it helps. Thank you all for suggestions btw. I wish all of you a good day and hope this all makes sense.

Callgirl, good to read your post, so glad you are here.
Daisyboots, thinking of you and sending kind thoughts and good wishes for your wedding anniversary today.

Dear soop, each afternoon, when gardening, I keep in mind your wonderful, positive vibes ...they are so much valued and I thank you ?

Dear kitchen friends, TOYA

Hi all in this super warm kitchen.

Sorry, no goodies today as I don't feel too good. I didn't sleep too good for 2 nights then 12 hours last night. I had weird dreams about my mam and a friend, both sadly dead. DH is in charge of the tea tonight so I'll send him over with the hot toddies and wine.

Take care all of my lovely friends and catch up with you soon xxx

Hello all.
I am still here and reading everyday.
So pleased to see callgirl is back but hope for better health for her, I can fully sympathise.
Sorry for all others with aches and pains and very difficult times.
We must try to bounce back and remain stoic but sometimes it is very hard .
TOYA

Just popping in to say "hello" and sending hugs and

callgirl nice to hear from you again. Hope you are getting on ok.
feelingmyage you should stick to what is right for you. I can believe your neighbours are so relaxed about things when we are all being warned to take things slowly.
daisyboots I am so sorry you are in such pain. I hope you manage to enjoy your anniversary today. Congratulations to you both. Take care.
nannytopsy sorry for you and your DH too. Leg ulcers are so painful and the treatment so difficult.
purplepixie sorry you are not feeling so good. Lack of sleep causes a sluggish day. My DH has very disturbed nights due to something like IBS he is so tired during the day.
ann nice to hear from you too.
soop take care out in the garden and don’t overdo it.
TOYA?

Can’t believe not can ?

Oh HAPPY day. callgirl1 has returned. If I could, I would hug you good and proper.

Feelingmyage You, lovely lady, are the sensible one. It is far too soon to socialise. The virus is still out there. It's lovely of your kind, sensible neighbours to wave and leave seedlings. Keep yourself safe.
The chocolate crispies are most welcome. As you rightly say, we all young at heart here in our kitchen.

Nannytopsy The volunteer who kindly delivered our paper, took away a huge box of corms. She has "just the place", on the side of a bank outside her garden that she wants "uplifting".

Hi kitcheners sending virtual hugs to all our poorly friends ?

Dear Daisyboots You can share all your feelings with us lot. No wonder you are feeling down-hearted. You have debilitating pain to contend with. You are deprived of proper sleep. The virus is isolating us from those whose company we enjoy.
However, it's your eighteenth wedding anniversary. I very much hope that there will be a celebration of your love for each other.

Lovely to have ann back with us in the kitchen. I'm also missing N&G.

Thank you, Izabella. Your posts are delightful.

I am truly sorry to hear that many of you lovely lot are feeling well below par. If only we could solve each other's problems and cure each other's pain...I would do so in the blink of an eye.

Carillion Thank you for your kind words. We are all doing our best to deal with a variety of stressful issues. I have great admiration for those who manage to join us in the kitchen and share their advice and support. A little kindness really does a go a very long way.

I believe that it's high time we had an enormous virtual ((((group hug))).

Photo of Ted sitting in his swimming pool.

Grandmafrench What can I say. Your first real taste of freedom in yonks and I was all agog wondering what you did, where you went, who said what and to whom. And then you dare to report that not a lot happened. Your post made me chuckle.

It is still sunny and breezy. This afternoon I decided to catch up with my ironing. I didn't enjoy the job half as much as rootling in the garden. Funny old bird...me.

I have no exciting sound-bites. Whatever they may be. I'm supping tea and wishing that I could lay my paws on something highly calorific and totally forbidden. I'm in that frame of mind.

Anyway, I have decided to log off for today. Tomorrow is, we're told, another day. Shall we do our best to meet up again and do our bit to lift each other's spirits? That's what I thought you'd say.

TOYA.

Afternoon everyone.

I'm pleased that you were unable to resist my trifle soop. It was a relief to know that my temptress skills haven't diminished.

Our cockapoo is fine soop and Doodle I think it upset us more than her.

That's a good point Grandmafrench we hadn't thought of that. The dog's a springer spaniel and as you say may well have thought she needed to control our dogs as well as the bullocks.

My PA services are at your disposal Dreamkeeper. I have a shorthand note book and sharpened pencils ready and waiting for any dictation you may have.

'Happy Anniversary' Daisyboots I hope your pain hasn't prevented you from getting some enjoyment out of the day.

Glad you enjoyed the trifle Izabella

It makes doing the right thing harder when you can see others doing the opposite Feelingmyage so hang on in there.

It's lovely to have sunshine from early morning to late evening but does make the endless days seem longer. I was going to do so much today but got hardly anything done in then end. Oh well there's always tomorrow.

Stay safe everyone.

Kitchendears, how are you all?

Izabella - I really laughed at your post. I think it was Doodle muddling your description of clearing up trails of crumbs and lavatories that started me off! It's lovely that Doodle can see a potential for humour in lots of things. Good for her. Then, my late DM is the only person I have ever heard refer to someone as "a caution". I had forgotten all about that until you described yourself as one today. Hilarious. Honestly if you are going to have a glove to keep your wrist comfortable, then why not go the whole hog and have a full length evening glove? Very glam. Obviously you were a Debutante at some stage in life! .

I did not go out yesterday in the deluge, no soop, but today has been busy busy. Wonderful sunshine. Out early to the Lab., to have my blood test. I arrived somewhat anxious but it was totally empty except for staff with masks who indicated that I could approach the plexiglass in front of the reception desk, hand over my health card and prescription for the test, and then stand back. I immediately saw the Phlebotomist who admired my mask (!!!) and I was outside again in 5 minutes. It felt very calm and very reassuring after a long prison sentence.

After breakfast we drove about 5 miles in glorious sunshine to pick up some shrubs ordered last week from a garden centre. Again, all calm on entry and customers wearing masks and staff wearing masks or plastic face screens. Then I spotted one couple and two separate female customers without masks and the kind of attitude which, quite frankly in this pandemic, required a sound slap!!! I fear I shall become aggressive if I have to be in the same space as people who clearly just do not care. They, by turns, wandered across the aisles, pushed in to pick up things, were oblivious of personal space or anyone else until they were told off by others and then at the checkout, finally, one of them stood almost on the feet of a mask wearer and tried to ignore the tape marking on the floor. I finally snapped and told a woman to move away from me, or else. Of course, the garden centre should simply insist that without a mask you can't shop there. If people are stupid or ignorant and don't bother about putting others at risk, they have to be told.

All you dear people who do go shopping for food, you are so brave. And what about the jolly times that people have to accept supermarket deliveries? Is that a joke?

I take my hat off to you all. I know that I would be too anxious - and often angry at seeing the majority being put at risk by the few. So glad that the rules are very strict here, because if they weren't it's clear that people would just go gaily about their business without so much as a thought for anyone else or the virus.

Afternoon was so much better. Emptied the garage of all our accumulated rubbish after 6 weeks. Have you any idea the number of cat litter bags required for the last 7 weeks for 3 cats with 3 trays per 24 hours? Well, it's an enormous number. Did weeding. Cut lawn, and am now off to have another go at all the daisy roots in the grass before supper, so that we can get on with the re-seeding.

soop you possibly don't see it because you know his face too well, but that little Ted is a tiny, perfect copy of your face.

daisyboots. I do so hope that you managed to get out for a drive or something different to celebrate your anniversary. It must be very hard for you when you are struggling with pain but also trying to spare the feelings of your DH. Everything is worse in the night when you are awake and it seems that everyone in the world is asleep and oblivious to your struggles. It's a good idea to offload onto others and there are enough people here to give you the support when you need it. If you can't sleep then maybe catch up later and when the painkillers are working.....it doesn't matter if you start your day later, you should do exactly what you like! .

Wishing all in the Kitchen a relaxing evening with some fresh anchovies, baby tomatoes and a chilled glass of Rosé.

Just missed your post Smileless. Glad your cute little dog is o.k. today. A Springer, eh? They are normally good-natured but also bonkers. When working, she's probably a tyrant with those bullocks and woe betide any innocent little bystander she comes across! Such a shame for you all, but hopefully the farmer was in no doubt as to your DH's feelings on the matter and very fortunately, for the farmer, no large Vet's bills were forthcoming !

That's why we were so surprised Grandmafrench as you say they're normally good-natured but bonkers like our cockapoo.

Mr. S.'s, memory of doing Latin at school has just been triggered by a question on 'The Chase' and he's been saying Latin words of love to me.

Oh how lovely.....Latin words of love. My DH's Latin memories only ever take him down by the river where Roman legions are making camp and throwing spears. (Hastas, he tells me.)
I do feel he should have paid more attention in class.

Hi All, have been offline for a few days feeling grotty. Not the virus, just a flare up of an ongoing problem . So no cooking for last few days but feeling better now so planning home made rock buns tomorrow as wanting fairly "plain" food!

Went for a long walk this afternoon ....vast majority were sticking to the guidelines for social distancing which was good to see. Thinking of meeting my daughter for a socially distanced walk that is permitted from tomorrow, in the next few days. Anyone else planning similar?

Daisyboots, Happy Anniversary to you and your husband. I hope you found a nice way to celebrate, and that you manage to get some sleep, the long hours awake are horrible, as I`ve found recently.
Izabella, I have wonderful visions of you in your long, elegant evening glove, ever the lady!
Purplepixie, so sorry you`re not feeling too well, hope you`re better soon.
Soop, lovely photo of Teddy, surely he was only born last week? The next page on my calendar, I see, is Sunset over Cara, lovely, but not a patch on the ones that you produce for us to enjoy.
Ann, thank you for the greeting, I haven`t completely caught up yet, so don`t know what, or who, upset you recently, but HOW VERY DARE THEY? Take no notice Ann, they`re not worth worrying about.
I`ve had a lot of problems with the pain in my back and legs recently, but last week, after admitting that I hadn`t "been" for over 2 weeks(!!!!) I was prescribed Lactulose. I duly swallowed the obnoxious stuff at the dose recommended, after a day and a half it decided to work. And did it! I was so very sore, and felt so poorly, that I have declared that I`m never taking the bl--dy stuff ever again! Apologies if there was TMI there.
Will sign off now, so sorry to those who I`ve missed, my memory is terrible these days, so, TOYA xxxxx