O/S Daily Saturday 21 January 2017

Afternoon all. Thanks for the new kitchen advice! I have definitely settled on having a new kitchen after dithering and putting the idea the idea on hold for goodness knows how long! I think I prefer to wait for slightly warmer weather so will browse showrooms and ask around for recommendations in the meantime. Any kitchen showrooms I have glanced in are full of signs extolling the virtues of the bespoke and designer kitchens they sell. At our age and state of health they are not the sort of showrooms I will be spending money in! Mr TA thinks it would be a good idea to wait until the caravan season starts again and he can ship me off there away from the chaos! This is what I did when we had the bathroom done and he was happy to stay here alone living in the mess it created!

I was saddened by your post DUMPLING and can only echo what everyone else has said. HOLYSNAN too sounds to be having a bad time and my heart goes out to the both of you.

Take care all xx

Good evening all,

Nmlc thank you for starting the thread.

Judi I hope your DH feels better soon and of course it is NOT your fault, you did not put the bug in his food!

TA echoing the others: go for the new kitchen! But with the proviso that you really do your homework well and thoroughly, find sensibly priced and professionally minded builders and prepare, prepare, prepare! Late spring/summer is the best time as others have said, and make sure you buy or borrow a small electric cooker to see you through the cookerless days, and if you have a washing machine in the kitchen, ask friends and neighbours if they will let you do a few washes in their machines.

Hollisnan sorry you are feeling so unwell, I hope the new medication works, but if not keep going back to your GP and insist on being referred to a specialist if needed. You can always come here, even if your head is spinning, we will be here to listen to you and support you in whatever way we can.

Speky poor you, take care of that finger, make sure it is disinfected and properly bandaged, hope it gets better soon.

Dumpling, you are SO NOT the worst mum in the world, or even near that, you are a caring and loving mum and rightly concerned for your sweet girls. I hope that the urgent referral helps your poor DD.

Lainey, glad you could carve a day to yourself to rest and recover, you must be emotionally wrung out. You and your family remain in my prayers.

Gers, great to read that your DM is feeling well enough to be out and about, so she bought a bit too much, that's the same like my mum, as you said, war mentality. But they are of a certain age and we cannot change them.

Ah well, what an interesting day I have had. Our vicar, who is a really miitant social justice activist (and he is American, too), has organised a group of us parishioners to join today's anti-Trump march in solidarity with the Washington one of yesterday. Apart from the bitter cold it was lovely, so many people, so many young smiling faces, placards reclaiming social justice and equality, it was huge, and the sun was shining (but it was still freezing!). I had not been to a march for at least 40 years and, although I don't like crowds, I found it ok. Above all, what I found more than ok was the spirit that pervaded the march, peaceful and determined to challenge the terrible things that are happening now in the world.

Naturally I came home absolutely knackered, frozen, hungry and with my hip throbbing, but it was well worth it. I fell asleep on the train, nearly missed my stop!

Now after a couple of hot drinks and a nice meal inside, I have the time to report back a bit more thoroughly than in the last few days.

Thankfully I am completely recovered from the flu, even the tiredness has gone (the tiredness now is because of marching), and am settling back into my old routines, restarted going to Pilates, exploring volunteering opportunities and already volunteering in the winter night shelter.

I resigned from the boy's after school nannying. The mum is sorry to see me go but understands, she is modifying her hours so she can do the rest of the year herself. I will miss them but I really need to be more with DH. She is ok with my notice, I will be with them until February half term.

Eating well (on a modified fast - vegan, also gluten, caffeine and alcohol free) is making me feel so much better, I think I have lost weight, well I have certainly lost girth and bloatedness, I can do my belt up at the last button.

In a couple of hours, even tired as I am, I am going to an 80th birthday party, a lovely lady from our church, it should be fun.

Life is good - if I don't think about DD, but that's one of those things that I have no power to change so I try to avoid thinking about the situation.

As always, sending well wishes to the poorlies and hugs and warm thoughts to all who have sadness and trouble in their lives, you are always in my prayers even if I don't name you individually.

Have a good evening.

FurryBeastOz wrote: »

Gers Did my text go awol?

Yes - see your PM.

snoozer wrote: »

If you have the funds I would highly recommend getting a boiling water tap, they are brilliant.

I got a Qooker, separate boiling tap and a link to the kitchen sink. Best thing I bought for the kitchen. No more waiting for the kettle to boil or forgetting about the kettle and boiling it again and re-boiling it. It was expensive but I don't grudge it, even my visitors are trained to use it and no more waiting for the kettle to boil.

Caterina - I don't mind my DM buying anything she wants, except shoes! She once trailed me round 10 shoe shops in Newcastle and then went back to buy shoes in the FIRST shop we went to. Hence my now sitting in the cafe and waiting for her to finish. I am more than happy to 'indulge' her as she's almost 89 years old and very grumpy!

I'm now sitting as far back from the woodburner as I can enjoying the heat. The flames are better than the TV. Oh, and Rangers beat Motherwell if anyone other than Speky is interested.

Gers I too can understand your Mums 'just in case' mentality My two DDs have always said 'Mum the rationing finished when you were 12 !!! and I'm in my 70s now But I am slowly this year curing myself, and have stuck to only buying foodstuff that was strictly essential this month and am using up my 'just in case' stuff as I go along.
Dumpling you are doing the best you can and being a lovely Mum to your DDs is the most important thingThat they can talk to you as teenagers is a miracle ,especially with girls
Speky be brave and look at you cut ,make sure its not infected

I had a new kitchen fitted about 10 years ago and was pleased once it was done but hated the mess as its amazing how much stuff is accumulated in your cupboards. My kitchen was taken right back to the brickwork and completely gutted I moved into my eldest DDs house for a few days when the worst of the building work was being done, and the plaster dust seems to get everywhere ,but well worth it once done

That blooming sniffly cold that I had over Christmas has returned again its the second time its recurred and I am sneezing as though I have hay fever, blasted nuisance.

Very cold here in north Kent and I think another overnight hard frost is on the cards, roll on the spring

<<hugs >> to those in need

Take care chums and keep warm and dry


JackieO xx