Welcome to the official opening of Granddads' shed

Life is perfect. Sitting outside in the sun drinking a coffee. Best bit is the cafe is called Grandads Shed !!! Even have the picture to prove it.

glamma Ongoing nagging tooth pain, like childbirth, is a bloody harrowing experience. Horrible in the extreme whilst it lasts and soon forgotten when it is passes.

Aw, glamma, you are NOT a drama queen. I've had plenty of tooth abscesses and, apart from earache and childbirth, there's nothing worse. I'm glad you are feeling a bit better. It really knocks the stuffing out of you, doesn't it? Have a lovely day in the .

Ah - it was

are you working? Is it my typing?

glamma - real dental pain from toothache is terrible. People do vary don't they in how much they grumble and how much they can show sympathy. My MIL is the ultimate stoic and has been always, through a series of traumas and a mountain of medical problems. Consequently my DH's standard expectation is stoicism. I was relieved to note that when she was seriously ill (should have been in hospital really - but the combination of her stoicism and woeful GPs delayed this until she was on the brink...) he was a total star.
He is slowly getting better at being sympathetic about little things.
Losing teeth is miserable even if you are not in pain. Allowed to grieve a little. Big sympathetic bunch of from me.
Glad you are feeling a bit better.
(I just previewed... is the flowers thing working...?)

Oh dear Pompa is there no neighbour that you could ring and ask to open up the greenhouse?

Glamma, those nagging aches and pains, teeth, backs, joints etc. can really wear you down, both physically and mentally. No need to feel guilty.

@butternut, I'm worried about my real life geraniums etc. We are away from home for a couple of weeks. When I left, frosts were still a threat, so I left my greenhouse shut up. Now the temp (according to the met office) has hit 29 c. I fear that some things may have cooked, they are being watered with an automatic drip feed, but the heat will be very high.

We are in N. Lincs atm, just right here, heading up to Whitby mid week.

Don't be silly, glamma - teeth (or the removal of) can be a very serious cause of pain and distress. You have come through it with your usual good humour, and pompa has emerged from his depression - so all round!

pompa so glad to hear that you feel better than you did and I hope your pal gets the good news you are waiting for,I feel so guilty for moaning about all the trouble I have had with those dam extractions now but I have been told by my family I can be the ultimate drama queen (who me ?) says she but the constant ache of the absess really wore me down,but to-day i have been at the charity shop I help with and had a nice chat with a elderly man who never see's anyone from week to week he pops in for a so I am feeling guilty for being such a baby.

pompa

pompa - I've noticed you being around a bit and have picked up on your concern for your friend. Hope his news is good news.
Pleased you're feeling back on form and long may it last!

I remember leaving my geranium cuttings in your shed for the winter - how are they doing?

That's what friends are for, pomps

pompa We're here for you, and I'm sending you a warm (cuddle)

So glad to hear you're back on form, pompa!

I said a while ago that my depression had kicked in and that it would take time to sort out some of the problems that were dragging me down. I'm pleased to say that time has sorted most things out at last, I am feeling OK again now. I have been back in GN for a while,but I was still a bit low, all good now. I do hope my friend gets good news soon, (he sees a consultant next week), that would really make my day. (and his I guess).
Thanks to everyone who put up with me over the last few weeks.
Pompa.

And brother does beautiful watercolours.

Try this link butternut I think I missed out a bit.

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/24/mushroom-lasagne-yotam-ottolenghi?recipetitle=Mushroom+lasagne

Gosh, what a talented lot you've got!

Brother is very musical - in their front room are a baby grand and an ordinary (but good) upright piano and an electric keyboard. In their dining-room is an organ, sister-in-law has been learning to play it and has started playing regularly in a local church on Sunday mornings. She also plays the saxe and trombone, and went recently for a jazz weekend - came back enthusing, which prompted the visit to the guitar shop "just to look"

Son is also musical, he plays the acoustic and electric guitar and has just bought an electric piano.

Grandson (by DD2 not by son) plays the violin and is studying music in Glasgow.

Somehow the musical gene passed me by.

Elegran - Strange guitars, Yotam Ottolenghi (i've just discovered his delicious way with food), interesting wine, and family. I'm so pleased you had such a good evening.

(The link won't work for me unfortunately - so I'll google - thanks for the tip)

What a lovely evening, Elegran! And what a fascinating conversation about electric guitars - I remember seeing Jimi Hendrix performing in Manchester in the 60s, playing his guitar with his teeth and generally throwing it around. And what an inspiration your brother is, buying his first one at the age of 62!

It sounds as though it was just the sort of family celebration you needed, of course you missed your DH, but you had good food and conversation which will have made the occasion a happy one.

A lovely evening despit missing DH. It went on until 11.15, so got home and to bed after midnight. Son and brother spent a lot of the meal discussing "strange guitars I have known" Brother has just been drawn (at 62) into buying his first electric guitar, a reconditioned Ibanez which was half the price of a new one from the same shop (cue for much rejoicing)

I now know more about electric guitars than I ever did before. Apparently you can get them with two or three or even more necks, and any number of strings. Some even have one set of strings set at an angle across the first, to save space. Jimi Hendrix was left-handed but could not afford a special left-handed guitar so taught himself to play a standard one held the other way round. By the time he could afford a special he was too accustomed to the altered one to change it. And so on.

It was a very good meal. Main course a mushroom lasagne from a recipe by Yotam Ottolenghi, but with a mixture of dried mushrooms, including chanterelles, and fresh ones, with rocket salad and French bread. Dessert was a trifle made by DD2 (not her usual boozy sherry one, as DIL cannot drink non-kosher alcohol - for this reason I had already stocked up on Baron Hertzog which is suitably kosher and incidentally very nice, so I took one of those in to drink with the meal)

Mushroom lasagne recipe is here if you are tempted -

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2009/jan/24/mushroom-lasagne-yotam-

Be warned, it took longer to make than expected, but was delicious.

Sure there must be some lead left somewhere, just needs sharpening.

Thanks Elegran hope you enjoyed your meal with your DD's and family last night..