Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for kindly folk.

Hellogirl sending you the biggest bunch of flowers and lots of support - please don’t ever think you can’t come on here and tell it how it is - we’re here for each other whenever needed, a virtual support network when times are hard, as they are for you now. I hope things improve for your DS and you get as much help as possible with your DD - sending hugs?

Also wishing mrsoop a very Happy Birthday for tomorrow, I hope you both enjoy your celebrations and I’ll join you for some chocolate cake later! ???? Please tell that hip to behave soop and stop causing trouble

Thank you xxx

Happy birthday to Mr soop, hope you enjoy your lunch with friends tomorrow.
Sorry you are feeling unwell soop, hope you feel better soon.You support us all so let us support you now?

Hellogirl, I am so sorry that your son and daughter are both suffering.They and you have been through so much.You must be physically and mentally exhausted.I hope that the treatment they are both having is successful.Sending you all so much love and strength.Also as maw says you are definitely not an old misery?

Hellogirl/you are NOT (shouty capitals) ever an old misery! You are always so cheerful and supportive to everybody else and heaven knows you have got a lot on your plate at the moment.
When I met you in Brum all those years ago I was struck by your sweet nature (and SOH) and nothing that has happened I the intervening years has caused me to change my opinion!
There is more sadness about I see and I send hugs to all who need them.
And N&G ! Where have you been hiding?
I thought if you when I was in Norfolk last week (can’t remember which end you are) but I hope all goes well with you (barring the usual buggerations associated with us being grown ups. )
Big day for the Birthday Boy tomorrow Soop !
What are your plans?

Sorry you`re not feeling tip-top Soop, I hope something can be done, and soon.
My eldest son, 4th child, was diagnosed with lung cancer more than 2 and a half years ago. After a few months on radiotherapy he got to ring the bell. However, a year ago it came back, he`s been having treatment every 3 weeks, and things were going OK, but now he`s been told it`s spread into his other lung, so they`re putting him back on the original treatment. We`re all keeping everything crossed for success.
On top of all that, my eldest daughter, who lives with me and is disabled, came out of hospital 2 weeks ago, but still has the pressure sores on her bottom. Yesterday the district nurse came to connect her to a pump that sucks the gunk out of the sore, which she`s had for 4 months and is suffering a lot of pain from. But whenever the carers move her now, they have to disconnect her, then reconnect afterwards. She`s having to spend a lot of time in bed, and I`m worn out and weary through going back and forth.
Sorry to be an old misery.
TOYA xx

Happy birthday ? to Mr Soop
Sorry you are not great , Soop. You are definitely not a complainer.
I hope you have a lovely lunch with your friends tomorrow.

It's Mr Soop's 81st birthday tomorrow. Bless! We'll be celebrating at lunchtime with our dear pals who live in the village. If the sun shines, as it is today, that would be perfect. He chose his own birthday gift. A book on the life of Elgar.

The first hip that was replaced in 2006 is giving me serious jip today. We had to foreshorten our morning walk. Mr Soop offered to leave me on the village bench while he collected the car. I said that I preferred to walk beside him and, although it took some time, I was pleased that I persevered.
The arm crutch now lives indoors as I need it for negotiating the house. I shall not dwell on this matter other than to say, that with drop bot and "it", I am feeling a tad under the weather.

I appreciate that you lovely lot are most kind. I know that you will understand if I spare you from further "poor me" stuff and nonsense.

Tomorrow, after we have enjoyed a celebratory lunch in honour of the birthday boy, I hope to call into our kitchen to share a virtual slice of chocolate birthday cake and a glass of something sparkly.

Hi everyone in the kitchen. I’m just in from doing a Fitsteps dance class this morning and a bit of shopping this afternoon - brrrr the house feels chilly so I’ve brewed a cuppa and settled down on the sofa for half an hour. I think the travelling yesterday and early mornings at DD1 house is catching up with me as I feel quite sleepy …

I’m so pleased though that whilst I was out I made a start on my Christmas shopping and bought a gift from Dobbies garden centre for one of my friends. It’s something that she’d seen when we were there a couple of weeks ago and she commented on it so hopefully she’ll like it. We’ve got quite a few birthdays in November and December so I need to get cracking early on.

Talking about Alexas, we’ve just got the one in the kitchen that we mainly use for playing the radio and various playlists of favourite music that she keeps organised for us. We too ask her for quizzes and jokes for the DGC Urms and she always comes up with good ones!

Lovely to see you again on here hellogirl

DH is dyslexic and Alexa is a godsend as he can ask her for spellings instead of me.
DGS3 loves to ask her who farted....hilarious replies!!

SueDonim if the funeral is being live streamed that would be perhaps the way to say goodbye to your friend. I haven't 'attended' one but a friend has and said it was a satisfactory experience. It looks like a good day ATM so I hope to get my two loads of washing from yesterday dried on the line. Duvet covers get in a tangle in the drier and anyway we need to avoid using power if there is another way. Next door have a huge tree at the end of their garden and told us yesterday that it is going to be reduced in size today. They are worried about gales - it quite a relief that they have made this decision. It's much too big for a small garden. Must get organised now - I am off to a U3A recorder group session shortly.

Welcome back Hellogirl small steps ?

Just popping in to thank Soop for greeting David again. I haven`t been around much lately, have had a lot on, but have been reading. To be honest it`s a little daunting trying to get back into things again, so much water has gone under the bridge.
We don`t have an Alexa, but do have a smart TV, so we ask Alexa now and again to play music of our choice.

I can see that Alexas are very useful, Marydoll, in your situation. A godsend, really. . I’m not sure our wifi would support us having one in the bedroom, it’s so pathetic that even syncing my Kindle is an effort unless I’m near the router, or whatever it’s called.

If you can play music on request, would that mean I’d have to listen to my dh’s choices? ?

The other purposes are interesting but I’m not sure I’d use them, really. We don’t have the radio on and I’m quite happy with my £5 mechanical timer and can do conversions in my head etc. Keeps my brain active, I hope! It’s always something to consider, though.

I like to ask Alexa to tell our nine year old Boy Wonder some jokes please. He loves them!

SueDonim do what you’re comfortable with, maybe the live stream, remembering your friend in your own calm space ?

We only have one Alexa, in the kitchen and the app on my phone, so I can use it remotely.

SueDonim I have two. I did have a third in my kitchen but it packed up. When I go to bed at night I can ask her to set my alarm for a time the next morning. I also ask her for a flash briefing (the news!) and she tells me the weather in my area. I frequently ask her what the time is.
The one downstairs must be fed up telling me what the weather is at that specific moment and I use it when cooking if I want to set timers.
I can say eg at 9 am Alexa play radio 4 and she will until I tell her to stop.
She will add, subtract etc. and also convert so I find her invaluable.
TOYA

SueDonim, we use ours to control lights etc. The main reason we got them was that whenever, I am an unwell I can speak to DH downstairs, as he never hears me calling. (especially when I was having a heart attack!) It also saves me going up and downstairs to speak to him, as it is often a struggle for me.

Our Sonos and Echoes are linked and we play music through them. DH has Sonos Roamers, which he uses in the garden when he is working. I am a bit of a geek and love them!!

Singingnutty, what sad news. I have heard the same of a few youngsters recently. One was a former pupil of mine, I was actually thinking of him today. He was always a troubled soul. Their poor parents.

Good evening everyone.
I am in Southport for two nights with my friend across the road.
The weather is beyond diabolical.
It has rained constantly and the wind is so strong it nearly had me off my feet and I am no lightweight.
My umbrella blew inside out before I even got it up.
I think retail therapy will be on the cards for tomorrow.
An early night for us both and I send best wishes for a peaceful one for you all.

Wow, Soop, those photos look like something Constable might have painted!

Singingnutty I’m so sorry for your friends, utterly tragic. Our neighbours had to do the same with their 22yo dd. It’s harrowing.

I’m laughing at all your Alexa/Echo adventures! We’ve never been inclined to get one, I fear being spied upon. ? Not that I lead an exciting life, but I’m still suspicious. I’m also not quite sure what you actually use them for.

Thank you for the commiserations re migraines. I have been out today though have felt very woolly-headed and peelie wallie. They seem to have got worse and more frequent as I’ve got older. The doctor who told me when I was eleven that I’d grow out them clearly lied to me.

It’s my mum’s birthday soon so I went into the city to get something for her, a new long cardigan, some bath ‘smellies’ and some chocs. I also got pj’s for two of the GC for Xmas (can we talk about it now it’s November?) and something for our meal this evening.

It’s my late friend’s funeral this coming Friday. I’m torn about whether to attend. I don’t really want to go, I've been to so many funerals in the last three years. Some mutual friends will be going but otoh, I don’t know any of her family and they won’t know or care, I don’t suppose, if I go or not. There is a live-stream option. What to do….

Have a peaceful evening, everyone. X

Doodle we a fair number of Alexas (Alexae??), a Sonos system and Firesticks. They have now started competing with each other, when I ask a question. It's getting quite unsettling to say the least. As for switching off the lights, the command seems to change each time!!

I think they are planning to take over the world!! ?

Lovely photos as usual.?
Urms you sound cosy, On these dark evenings it’s nice to be indoors.
Jaxjacky so difficult this prescription business. Hope you get what is needed.
To all feeling a bit under the weather. Have a good night and I hope tomorrow is a brighter day.

dustyangel more often than not our Alexa says some inexplicable stuff and DH ends up arguing with her over turning the lights on or off.
Marydoll your Alexa sounds really spooky. I think she may be getting a bit above herself.
anno your plans sound lovely. I hope you have a great time with your family.
Nannytopsy I may look into that film myself.?
Aw kitty Wolfe looks so sweet he wouldn’t scare anyone ?
Wot you too Charleygirl? ?. (Oops sorry Miss Charleygirl I meant to say Gracious has that happened to you as well)
singingnutty hope your son is ok. What a shock for your friends. How sad.
Enjoy your choir tomorrow.
Ooh hello brook in transit. ? What a lovely trip you had. I like the sound of that pumpkin spiced gin. Can you put some aside for our Christmas in the Argy. It sounds as though it might be a favourite with the punters.
Keep safe soop glad your Sweetie Pie is still in attendance

Cold here in S Hants, the heating is doing a lovely job.
How very sad singingnutty unimaginable ?
A happy little soul kittylester.
A tedious day of a ‘discussion’ with the pharmacy, them saying GP has not approved prescription, me showing them the app, which says he has. Then the video call with my bank was cancelled. DH, snuffling and sneezing, neg lft and feels fine, has agreed a hay fever tablet is required after some convincing.
Anyway, a lounging evening. Enjoy yours all.

‘Evening All’.

It’s cold out but warm in. That’s the main thing. We’ve had a busy day minding ‘L’il Miss’ who is off from Reception class and is on antibiotics. Mum thinks one more day off so I shall set the alarm again for 7am for a nine hour stint, 8am - 5pm it’s like being back at work!

Salmon in the oven and broccoli and mushrooms to go with.

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Beautiful towering clouds are a joy...