Hi Dita and all

[Andere Richtingen]

Good afternoon to everyone - it's still cold but fine. Can't remember being consistently this cold in November before. OH is showing signs of improvement, according to the bods at the hospital this morning. Slow progress but in the right direction, at last. We both feel our lives are on 'hold' while all this is going on and we're unable to make plans for anything - generally, making plans for next year's trips and holidays is what keeps us cheerful this time of year so SAD has set in with a vengeance.

Lucy's staying in and keeping warm like a sensible cat. She's suddenly started moulting everywhere as she grows her heavy-duty winter coat. That usually happens before now and, considering the temperatures outside, I think something must have gone wrong with the feline metabolism so that she wasn't prepared for it.

Hope you had a good lunch, Penny and plenty of time to catch up with the local gossip? I'm off to the writing group this evening; we all go for the goss just as much as the scribbling.

Keep warm and well, all ....

[Penny]

Enjoy your evening out Andere. Lunch was very good but of course all talk was of next Tuesday when our old club friend is buried. So pleased news of your hubby is good, made me feel better already. Tell puss I know what it is like to shed hair. ha ha Big kiss from me to ease the progress. Take care and all who pop in. Snow reported from a friend in America so expect it over here soon. cheers Penny

[Andere Richtingen]

Oh goodness .... don't mention the s*** word! Not yet, please!! Although, come to think of it, a crisp, snowy and sunshiney day might be preferable to the dank, grey gloom that's sitting outside at present. I don't think it has rained but everything feels damp out there and so far as I can tell, it hasn't got light at all yet. Ugh.

OH is maintaining progress. The district nurse has just departed after doing today's antibiotic drip. All these people trekking in and out is making me tidy up and vacuum much more than usual. We don't mind a certain amount of our own mess but I wouldn't like to be thought a total slob. He's back to the hospital tomorrow for another check so fingers crossed. Yesterday evening, he felt well enough to come with me to the library, where my writing group meets, so he could change his books without waiting for the mobile on Saturday. He then snook into the pub on his way home again ... but I guess he has to have the odd indulgence and change of scene. He didn't stay there long, anyway.

Lucy K sends sleepy purrs. She disappeared outside for an hour before breakfast but has barely stirred from her bed since she came home. I shall soon have enough shed hairs to knit us a new cat!!

[Penny]

Morning Dita, Andere and all. So pleased to hear news of your OH Andere. Makes all the effort worthwhile when there is an improvement in the situ. Keeping fingers crossed for tomorrow. Bug kiss for puss. I don't blame her keeping a low profile and in doors away from the cold. Do hope news of Dita is good, wonder where she is at the moment. I have been very busy this morning, in the kitchen as usual. Slicing the two loaves I made and Doing a favourite of hubbies (braised steak)as well as savoury mince for the freezer. Very very cold here but at least it is dry so far. Do hope everyone else is o.k. and keeping warm. Did a check on the apple this morning, nice and hard but the truth will out when it is de-frosted. Fingers crossed. Come on Dita, where are you and doggie. She will need big hugs for walkies today. Take care all and keep warm. cheers Penny

[dita]

Hello Penny, Andere and all. Decided to risk a bit of Xmas shopping today, we didn't go until after an early lunch, and did a doggie walk before going too, we would have been in terrible trouble if we hadn't done that little chore, hugs are a bit late Penny so there is a few extra ones today. Pleased your OH is continuing to improve Andere, Lucy Katt is very sensible keeping her head down. If my hubby had known you were cooking braised steak today Penny, he would have been round to your house for a taste. we did a bit of a shop at Tesco and I did mean to cook something nice for his tea, trouble was I felt too exhausted on returning home, didn't realise just how much this bug has taken out of me, anyway will do it tomorrow. Keep smiing Penny and take care of yourself Andere and all.

[Penny]

Thank goodness Dita, was beginning to worry. So pleased you managed some of your shopping, gets harder as we get older. The lunch was a great success, had to laugh. OH said you won't get to the finals, I said o.k. he replied, you've passed all the chefs with this dish. Cheek. Had to laugh tho' Take care and big hugs for doggie. cheers Penny

Meant to add, if anyone is near a Farm Foods shop, try the bags of frozen sliced onions and frozen cut mushrooms. Doing so much today I ran out of fresh so decided to try the above, defrosted them quickly fried them and added to pot. A real treat. Iam definitely going to stock up on those two items, I think they were £1. a big bag. Very cheap and very good.cheers Penny

[dita]

Good morning Penny and all. Drizzly misty day, very short and miserable day for walkies, would rather send you cuddles and hugs Penny After a scuttle round with hoover + a bit of washing, nothing else planned. Had a little giggle about the compliment from your hubby regarding his lunch, bull sh.t typical male comes to mind, they are good at it. We do have a Farm Foods in town, do not go in there very often, maybe I should because the price you quoted sounds very reasonable. Do you enjoy Christmas Penny? I used to but find it too commercial which takes away much of the enjoyment, maybe its me who is getting past it Anyway you keep your chin up Penny and take care of yourself, and all popping in today.

[vannin]

Hello all, glad to hear Andere's husband is improving. I too find Christmas has to be worked at, to get a festive feel, but must say, having a little one around for the few days - now aged 5 - makes it all worthwhile.

Pat's funeral is on Thursday 5th Dec, exactly three weeks after Ray's. This time the reception is not at the cricket club. It happens to be booked at the venue which we had on the day of my husband's funeral 5.5 years ago. This is an unexpected development, but I shall work at rising above my own memories and concentrate on the little family that lost their two loved ones so close together.

My cat is contented this month having come through some nasty times, which can be expected each year. Poor little mite, and I feel guilty every time I apply any kind of prescribed stuff which she hates so. But they are very forgiving and she comes for cuddles and a prolonged lap-sit each evening. I did tell her some of the cuddles are from aunties on the forum, so she said Purr-ur.

Viv

[Penny]

Hi Dita, vannin and all. Bit late today, just done weekly shop. Some very good offers at Lidl today. Hubby bought 6 boxes of chocolates £4. per box.£5. everywhere else. Not bought for me I should add. ha ha. Will be thinking of all of you vannin on the 6th Our friend's funeral is next Tuesday. Hubby going but I don't do these times. Makes me ill. Took me well over a week to get over the last one so they don't expect me any more. I have already told them, when I go, put me in a black bag and chuck me in the bin. Hope doggie and pussies are o.k. now. Not very nice for them but at least its dry. Big hugs and kisses from me. Thought I was going down with something this afternoon, We arrived home with shopping and as I got out of the car I felt the whole of my body was aching.
Mentioned this to OH and he said, well, you'd better sit down then. Very helpful with a load of shopping to put away. Anyway, after unpacking I sat down with a water bottle and napped till 4 o.clock Wondered how your trouble started Dita, but I think yours started with a cold etc. Never mind, keep going as they say. Son rang to say he was at another meeting and as we have not seen him for a couple of weeks would we go over to him on Sunday for lunch. So got that to look forward to he is a grand cook. Do take care all and keep warm. Chins up etc. cheers Penny

[Andere Richtingen]

Yeeeeeee - hah!!!
Sorry for the lateness but I didn't want to post until OH got back from the hospital with a progress report. When he did, I was up to my ears in chopping veg for minestrone so I've only just snook away to my laptop . The good news is, they've told him he's so much improved that the IV daily antibiotics can now be stopped. He had the last instalment while he was at the clinic. He has to go back in the morning to collect some antibiotic tablets which were out of stock today and take those until further notice, then a blood test on Monday and back to the clinic for a further progress check next Thursday. In the meantime, he still has to have dressings on his leg because of the eczema but he said they should cancel the district nurse visits as his wife makes a much better job of the bandaging!! Yeh, like I don't have a life, huh? (Actually, it's true. I won't be falsely modest about it; it's 40+ years since I was taught to bandage but I'm a sight better at it than most of the nurses who've been doing it over the past few months )

Since he got back, he's been sitting with his feet up like a good lad but has just announced his intention of making a trek to the Oak later this evening so he can tell his boozing buddies what a long-suffering hero he is .... He did tell me that I must pass on his thanks to everyone here who's wished him well and taken an interest. So, thanks from him and from me, too.

So sad about all the funerals. There seems to be something about this time of year. I was talking earlier to a friend whose OH died a couple of weeks ago of kidney failure - a pretty horrible death. She's one of those very pragmatic and practical people and she's just getting on with things, coping from day to day with the form-filling and paperwork but, considering most of the time they were married, she rarely had a good word for the poor man and often said she'd leave him if she could afford to, I think she's surprised how hard his death has hit her. Most of the people close to me who've died have done so around this time of the year; something to do with nature winding down, maybe?

I'm glad Trixie's so much more contented now - they are very forgiving, aren't they? It's as though they understand that, whatever horrible thing you're inflicting on them, it's because you're trying to help. Anyway, love and purrs to all humans and furry characters dropping by. Pleased to hear you're starting to get about again, Dita, even if it is only for shopping. Don't overdo it and take care because it's supposed to get really cold again next week according to my radio!

[dita]

Penny I do hope you are not starting with this, did begin in my throat although it was not sore more swollen and it seemed to congest in my chest very quickly, then the aches and pains started. Take care darlin

Vannin will be thinking of you next week, also you Penny even if you are not going to be there I am sure your thoughts will be. A couple of months ago went to four funerals, two in one week.
Andere thats really good news from you about your hubby, just shows how well you have been looking after him. My mum died at a Christmas time I have not enjoyed a christmas since although it was way back in 1977, she was rushed into hospital 6 wks before the holiday, had a kidney removed died a week later during the festive time, she was 60yrs and I relive it every year.
When you said he was going on a trek was thinking it a bit further than the pub Purrs to Pussy, take care Andere xx

[Penny]

Morning Dita and all, still struggling on. Ache so much don't know what it is. Have to grin and bear it. Hope your recovery I getting better and better Dita. Take care and give doggie a big hug for today. Nice weather for walkies. Hope hubby is still feeling cock-o-hoop Andere. Must be a relief for you too. In the dog-house at breakfast. Just sat down and hubby said, I have just been thinking, I immediately said, Did it hurt.? I had to laugh but OH not pleased at all, no sense of humour no matter how I try. Thinking of you vannin. Keep your pecker up. Take care all, big hugs for doggie and kisses for pussies today. Lets us pray for a good weekend. cheers Penny

[Andere Richtingen]

Oh, poor Penny; I hope your symptoms don't last too long. I'd suggest taking to your bed and letting Hubby take care of you but, if he's anything like mine, you'll die of hunger and thirst if you do. Oddly, I feel otherwise OK but my arms and legs have been aching a lot these past couple of days and I don't know why - hope I've not got it too but I'm the world's biggest hypochondriac so I'm trying not to think about it.

OH has gone to collect his new medicine; he says he feels much better this morning and his leg isn't aching anything like so much as usual. He's even agreed with me that, when this is all over and he's halfway fit again, we should book ourselves a week away somewhere warm to cheer us up as this winter has started so early. Hopefully, there'll be some bargains to be had if we root about online ....

Hugs for everyone and purrs to cats and dogs from a slightly windswept Lucy K. The breeze has got up here so, even when the sun's out, it's quite cold again but Lucy's been having fun chasing grass stalks like a kitten - it's hard to believe she's nearly 10 years old.

[dita]

Good morning Penny, Andere and all. Cold wind and an odd shower or two sums up today, it was a brisk walkie she was pleased to get home, sending you a big sloppy hug Penny and a hello to Lucy Katt. I spend half my time giggling away to myself over something or other, hubby just sits and watches with blank expression on his face which makes me laugh more cos I wait for his face to crack. Not sure if my family from Kent are coming tomorrow, not heard from them all week and they were planning to call and deliver Xmas presents to family in this area as they travel to Rochdale to D.I.L's brothers where they will spend one night before going back to Kent. Do I have to provide a meal, or not, I keep asking myself. Honestly families???? Penny I do hope your aches and pains go soon, sounds like you got a chill for sure, I can never keep warm these days, think its an age thing. Your hubby sounds much better Andere, thats good news. Keep your chin up Penny Andere and all take care.

[Penny]

Morning Dita, and all. Lovely and sunny here today Hope you got your family problems sorted Dita. Hate being left in the dark. Not too achey today, fingers crossed. Hope all are well and keeping warm. Nice day for walkies today with big hugs to help along. Hope pussies are enjoying the sunshine too, big kisses from me. Have to go out this afternoon, picking up granddaughter, she is playing in a hockey match, then drop her home . Son taking grandson and wife to Some Rugby final. Talk about busy Lizzies.. Do take care all, hope hubbies are continuing to improve. cheers Penny