Val's Cafe

toady

Lol bosh I love it, bet an estate agent would still manage to write a page of blurb about its convenience and deceptive spaciousness 😂😂love the poem too 😊.

Have a good night everyone and love to Sleek 😽 xxx

frogmorton

Morning everyone

Sleek (not a current photo tree is away) is much much better so much so that I didn't take her to teh vet. Exactly 5 minutes before they were due to open I heard her move to the kitchen and eat something! I think it was a stomach bug bless her. Oh but if you'd seen her she looked every one of her 15 years. Head down tail down listless no chirruping just not moving except to the loo (outside).

Morning Joan thank you for caring about Sleek. It's awful isn't it like little children they can't tell us what's wrong. How are your two doing? Lucy is fine thanks she's on her day off today so will probably have a good lie-in. Take care Joan it's very icy here so stay warm ((())) xxx

Morning to Stuart too sleepy to post hopefully that actually means you are resting after all those months with so little sleep. (())

Morning Reshmi

How are you this icy wintery day? Your Mum too i hope she is ok?

I am glad you should be going to BR's birthday bash (BR's BB) on Sunday with all his little nursery friends. I am fairly certain there will be no cake licking. I take it Riley does not have a younger sibling in BR's year?

Gosh they were lucky eating adulk portions of that sticky sweet stuff😮

To be honest yesterday even I had the heating on for too long to keep Sleek warm! Paul said to do it i am sure he's going soft in his old age. So it was a bit sauna-esque here too.

I love the poem! Cahoots you went to cahoots. Gosh i could have told you to never ever try the tears of a nasty person. So acidic it's a wonder your eyes ever recovered! BR's though yes perfect and sweet just like him❤️

Take care today going to the group it's very icy outside no slipping ((())) xxx

PS did you really buy new boots? I did too! Waterproof with good non-slip soles.

Morning Toady

Hope all is well with you cleaning out cupboards again without your feline assistant! I found orzo too! Mine is still in date though😂 We can share. I didn't have to bin too much but today at the foodbank there will be more i promise. You see wen someone dies often the family are so distressed that they just empty their cupboards and bring it all over. If the person is very elderly there can be a lot which is very very very out of date.

I think you'll see Sleek today. She's adamant she's coming over when I go to the foodbank. I have made her book a catsi whatever the weather. Did she videocall you last night? She said she was going to so you can see for yourself how much better she is. Gosh though Toad she was rough. What a night. We all slept better last night. Clever girl though she knew not to eat didn't she?

I know exactly what you mean about your tea boxes. I have some gorgeous tins I love them so much tins. I might take you some photos especially of the cat ones.

Elfie was a sweetheart yesterday just occupying himself and stroking Sleek gently.

This really is yesterday Sleek walking behind him.

Take care everyone

bosh

good morning Toni

Wppl xx

dachshund

Good morning everyone

Did you hear a 14 year old boy got stabbed on a bus and died

Toni (()) have a good day with Lucy (()) go carful when you go out it’s slippy. That’s good Sleeke is feeling better. Have you still got snow. They say we will have more.

Toady (()) have a good day. go careful if you go out it’s slippy. Is it still quiet there. I haven’t seen any birds yet.

Reshmi (()) have a good day go careful if you go out it’s slippy. How is your mum (())

Stuart (()) have a good day it’s slippy out. How is your mum (())

Skinny Keef (()) how are you and Loanda (()) and Sucre (()) go careful if you go out it’s slippy.

bosh

hi Toni

How are you today?

Mums ok 👍

I’m tired and about to perform ablutions

Bye for now tc xx

toady

Hi all 👋 well I call this cold and nasty 😣 but it's exactly what we were promised no surprises really.

So glad to hear little Sleek is going on ok frog 😊 and that was a much better little face I saw on videocall last night than before 👍️ lovely to see her today, though not for too long I said, she must be in the warm with you, Daddy is quite right. I expect she told you I had a disappointing cake just out of the oven, a date loaf that was very heavy 😕 she was excused trying it on medical grounds, rather fortunately I think 😉. Don't know what went wrong but some reviewers described their results as dry so maybe I overcompensated. I will try again, it was only turning out packets of dates from the cupboards that made me do it 😄. Yes I suppose I can see how you get long expired donations, oh dear another good reason to keep on top of them 😬. Hope most of what came in today was useful. Oh yes tins, tins are super too, at least they get used here, some of them, as storage. I am doing quite well with my New Year chores actually by treating it almost like new school term, all my horridest jobs, bits of mending & sewing &c 😣. Bless Elfie playing so nicely and being kind to Sleek 😘 glad to see her there. Hope she carries on steady now 👍️. I notice there are 10 members and 32 guests browsing this minute, that seems more than normal is there something interesting going on somewhere? Hope intermittent posters like Colin @Arthritic_Adventures are doing ok, and his joints (physical and carpentry!) are behaving. Have a good evening take care all :) xx

Hello Joan, not slippy round here but very cold, there had been some sort of frost much earlier I think but gone when I got up. Hope you are getting on ok for shopping etc. Too cold to do much today, yes it's quiet thank you. Not even any post or anything. I have seen the blackbird pair, sorry there are not many about for you at the moment. They must never know what the weather is doing now poor things one minute it's unseasonally mild etc. Have a good evening :) xx

Hi to bosh, I need new boots too I feel left out now 🤨 I have an old pair I wear to go in the garden because they are the only ones that will take thick socks, but they aren't respectable enough for anywhere else. I have better boots but wouldn't call those waterproof etc. Hope you are having a good day and nasty M kept her tears to herself if you went to group. Not much doing here except I made a failed cake, oh dear 😳. Hope everyone ok at the moment and any sniffles etc are going rather than coming especially if there is a party in the offing 🤞. The internet doesn't really agree on whether the cold makes you dream, one article said it might because you might fall into a deeper more restorative sleep (I wouldn't say that 😬), some say increased warmth increase REM sleep, so anyone's guess. I was trying to cross over a canal on a little ferry last night, it was one ticket for 38p and two for 75p 😂 among other things. I also bought someone's suitcase and it had a clock in it with a picture of Kate Middleton, where does one get this stuff from. Have a good afternoon/evening yourself 😊 xx

Love to everyone not in today or not yet ☕️😘 xx

bosh

hi Toni

No I bought the boots a little while ago

“Tetchers” - my old boots had lost their waterproof quality

So I replaced them

BR has a cold now, LA is ok thankfully

So not sure if the party will happen, depends on poor BR’s health

Didn’t go to group as it was too frosty early morning

Just went to the town centre and on a walk 👍

Had more energy today

Felt better mentally too 👍👍

Mums getting better thanks

Sorry I didn’t answer properly

Have a good night Toni tc xx

bosh

hi my amphibian friend toady

Don’t worry I only bought new boots after i went on a walk in the rain and realised most of the rain had been absorbed by my hole - filled boots 😱

Ok so the jury’s out, as it were, regarding cold and dreams, i understand 👍

Incorrect maths my goodness- don’t tell LA 😂

Ok it’s getting chilly

So have a good night toady, please retire before the glitching hour, as the tech geniuses call it lol

Tc xx

bosh

hi Joan

How are you?

I’m okay thanks

Mums getting better 👍

I went out late morning so I was ok thanks

have a nice night tc xx

goodnight also to Stuartknee tc xx

Stuartknee

Hi

Mums ok, another flare up joints achy. Slept till 6, didn't go out stayed in

frogmorton

Brrrrr!!!!! - three million today I reckon!

Morning Joan how are you today? I hope you're ok after your snow last night. Was it much and did it settle? Today it's solid ice here struggled to open the back door for Sleekipaws to get out. She decided to wait till later anyway! Sensible girl😉 Take care Joan keep warm ((())) xxx

Morning Stuart are you ok have you adjusted to the amitrips yet? Remember to take them early evening a few hours before bed. They don't knock you out immediately so you won't pass out. Hope they are helping relax your sore joints (())

Morning Reshmi

Glad to hear you and your Mum are ok. Well for you now at least will you do your MTX today?

Poor little BR though. He will have been so looking forward to his birthday party😣 well it's still 4 days away yet. We can all cross our fingers for him, send good vibes or pray whatever we can do.

Did you go to the group yesterday? Or was it too cold to risk it?

I went to the foodbank and gosh was it busy! We didn't stop from the moment we got there. The place is a mess, a good mess of course, lots of donations, but until the harvest festivals next year that is likely it apart from the donation trolleys in the supermarkets.So we have to get it on the shelves date labelled and in order.

Right now please pay attention to the cold weather instructions above. My 'Tetchers' boots went non-waterproof and 'looser' too if that makes sense? I have ordered some from Fountain Bearhouse. I'll let you know how they are…..

Take extra care out there if you go out ((())) xxx

Morning Toady

Brrrr! Our Sleek did indeed look woebegone didn't she, but so much better by yesterday. She said she only tried a little date loaf because of her tummy. Not because it wasn't nice of course. Not sure why yours failed. It happens. Could be reading other people's experience did make you alter the recipe too much yes. Can the birdies eat any crumbs do you think?

I made a yummy veggie and bean stew for our dinner that was a total success I could eat it all week! If i were allowed of course, but Paul isn't like me he gets bored. The key to success for me with legumes is not to eat too many in one go. I am up to 25 of my 30 a week so far not sure what to add now🤔

Gosh we need to get out and help our birds today don't we? It's solid ice here after a flurry yesterday evening.

Will it be very very very cold where Colin is? I rather think so so I just hope he's doing ok. No idea why so many were looking in we had a record number if you remember years ago in the 100's - probably spammers in those days 😁

Sleek is on her way she is bringing her 'second best' sledge to leave at yours. That cat is an optimist isn't she? She has her long Johns on and has booked the catsi firm's van to bring them over today. I hope your turning out will provide adequate room for storage thereof?

Elfie is having a lie-in. Probably a good idea. Given the number of extra tabs on here he was up late last night. Tut tut!

Both have their long Johns on today as per the instructions above.

Take care Toady and stay as warm as you can ((())) xxx

A quick shout out to Skinny Keef if he pops by ((())) xxx

dachshund

Good morning everyone
Toady (()) we had snow yesterday evening not much it’s icy this morning. Have a good day. When does it start getting warmer.

Toni (()) have a good day is Skeet happier today. Not nice when they are unwell. How is Ayra (()) and her mums.

Reshmi (()) I’m sorry little one has a cold I hope he’s better by the weekend.

Stuart (()) have a good day love to your mum (())

Skinny Keef (()) have a good day love to Loanda (()) and little man I forgot how to spell is. name (())

bosh

good morning Toni

Wppl xx

toady

Hi all 👋 late teabreak for me, shocking night's sleep 🙄 had two cups of tea in the night and spent half of it poking about or adding things to my shopping basket online for something to pass the time 😬

Sounds like me and Elfie were doing much the same last night then, and I intend to do what he's doing for most of today. Doesn't he look comfortable, lucky elf. Definitely frozen bird bath weather again so I suppose the -5 cold or whatever it was didn't help me but surely can't affect you that much 🤔 maybe I should be applying the no 3 extreme cold dressing guide indoors, I'm not far off now! Yes of course I have room for a sledge 😬😂 very nice it is too for a second best, still very smart. Are we supposed to go tobogganing down the park in it though, I'm not sure I'm up for it today to be quite honest. She does look her old self pleased to say 👍️. The birds have had a little cake crumb from the edges, the middle is just too solid, I'm doing my best to think of it as a lardy cake type consistency but it's a bit of a hard sell 😂. Yes too wet I think and maybe underestimated how the extra cold affected it with the over door open even briefly, it was rising more at one point 😳. Never mind it was very unwasteful of ingredients will just try again. Your hot stew sounds lovely 😊 just the thing. Do you do much batch making & freezing of anything these days? Yes I would not be where Colin is atm thanks, or presumed to be, no ta. I was looking to see where in the world is it a nice pleasant 22 or 3 degrees right now, Sao Paulo maybe? Algiers? too humid maybe? Anywhere though tbh I think! Hope everyone well today, have a good afternoon :) xx

Hello Joan, it is sunny here, very in fact, just frosty overnight again it was not a nice night at all 😔. Not sure about proper warm weather but it will be warmer during the night by next Tues than it is during the day at the moment, so that will have to do for now 😬. Have a good day keep warm :) xx

Hi bosh, ah the rain-filled boot scenario, I know it well. I should still try and get some even if I'm not so late to the boot-buying party as all that, but then again 'he who hates to go out in the snow has no need of snow boots', as someone wise no doubt once said 🤔. Sorry to hear about little BR, so many nasties around at the moment it's hard not to pick up any, hope he feels better soon. Hard to miss a party when you're little it seems such a big deal 😔. Glad you were feeling better all round yesterday, good for you, my walking has fallen right off 😳 'must try harder'. Hope you have a good day today too. No sums in my dreams last night I was taking orders for toast & marmalade, not very interesting, mind you I wasn't asleep long enough to have many 🙄. Take care see you anon 👋 :) xx

Oh sorry you were awake again Stuart, me too, fingers crossed you would be out to the wide again as they say and catching up; better tonight I hope xx

Love to all 😘 xx

bosh

good afternoon Toni toady Joan S knee

How are you all?

mums ok 👍

I’m post mxt

👋 toady - the boot - buying party , I love it 😂

I also have totm 🤢🤢

Ok ablutions time

Bye for now all tc xx

Ps don’t worry I’m not carrying a knife- well maybe just a cake - knife lol xx

bosh

hi Toni

No I didn’t go to group as it was slippery early morning

Sorry just fully crackered with mxt and totm

Good cold weather instructions 👍

Ok I really need to hit the biccie shack / potato sack or whatever it’s called

Night Toni tc xx

👋 Joan - how are you?

Thanks about BR

Good night all tc xx

Stuartknee

Hi

Another achy night even though I had a hot water bottle with me joints are still stiff & achy. amtrips seem to work for the first 5 hours & then the pain kicks in

frogmorton

Morning

Me out running yesterday in the cold - NOT!!!!🤣

Morning Joan gosh it is cold now isn't it? Would you believe our window cleaner came yesterday?!! I know so dangerous I told him to be careful and made him a hot coffee. How are the dogs doing mind It had better be toasty in your bungalow? Sleek is absolutely fine now thanks back to normal ((())) xxx

Morning Stuart 5 hours? That is good - you were managing only about 4 before. The cold won't be helping if its osteoarthritis I hope you are keeping nice and warm. If they started yo on 10mg of amitrip you can go up higher just a thought. If it's helping a bit the Dr might consider it. (())

Morning Reshmi

You were probably very sensible to stay in and avoid the group the other day. The weather is dangerous we do not want another broken hip amongst the café crew do we? One is enough Joan!

Oh dear me TOTM as well as MTX well yesterday can't have been the best day for you you have my sympathy (())

I do hope you are all feeling ok by Sunday. Poor little BR would be devastated if his party is cancelled wouldn't he? I expect there is a nursery Mums whatsapp group though and your sister can cancel at a moment's notice. Toni that was sexist nursery parents whatsapp group. Tut tut. *shakes head*

Friday so my meds day but will leave it until later I always do then I can hit the potato sack early and tomorrow will be ok…..ish!

Take care my friend and stay inside if you can ((())) xxx

Morning Toady how are you doing? Yes stage 3 of the cold weather protocol is definitely initiated. Inside and out.

It's lethal out there even just defrosting the birds bath and checking in on the fatty sausage things. I did however manage a walk with a friend yesterday carefully with my spike-bottomed walking poles. It does help but it certainly was a shorter walk than normal. Rewarded with a hot cuppa in the cafe at the end. Oh and a slice of toast (took my own vegan butter) and some marmalade too.

Not sure you should be sledging just yet, even if you do have the second best sledge there at yours. Yes it is a smasher isn't it? Sleek loves all of her sledges - don't ask how many I have lost count to be honest. If you do want to have a go maybe keep the catsi to take you both to the park and back afterwards? She's coming over about 10 today because my friend is coming with the yorkies.

Ah now Elfie. Stayed there pretty much all day only difference is he changed blankies. Turns out he caught Sleek's bug (didn't know that was possible!) and wasn't too well. Oh and Sleek fetched him one of my wheaties and some water. He'll be back to notmal today no doubt.

Shame about the cake but given the weather the oven door could have been the issue yes. I bet the birds likes it you know. It's this time of year I wish I ate bacon we used to give them the rind didn't we?

Batch cooking for sure yes that is what i always do. I did kaposztás tészta yesterday and froze a load. Taking some to Lucy's today if i feel brave. It freezes well. Just takes forever to cook. If it was down to me I'd make the stew and eat it every day till it ran out. Paul prefers something different every day🙄 Do you do the same?

A Caribbean cruise for all of us I think we may need to book one the weather will be sunny there for definite. Mind I wouldn't want to be in America atm near Hollywood so might stop complaining.

Take care Toady keep warm ((())) xxx

dachshund

Good morning everyone

Toady (()) I saw the gardener he came to sort the raised bed out. He said it should be warmer in march. I hope you have a good day and it’s not too cold for you. I wouldn’t want to be where the fire’s are.

Toni (()) have a good day. They say there is more snow to come. Have you got a busy day to day.

Reshmi (()) how is little BR today i hope he’s alright for his party. Love to your mum (())

Stuart (()) have a good day love to your mum (())

Skinny Keef (()) have a good day. Love to Loanda and Sucre (()) have a good day.

bosh

good morning Toni

Wppl xx

Sorry Toni I pressed save draft by accident this morning

Was so tired

Still pretty tired really

Mums ok 👍

She has diabetes phone appointment with nurse today

Should just be routine

Totm still raging but it’s better this way - had no preceding ookey symptoms- thankfully 👍👍

Don’t worry these parents’ Cats nap groups tend to be mostly female from what I’ve heard lol, although I’m of course casting no judgment haha

LA said to my sis, “Just one thing, are granny BB and Mima coming to the party?” She replied in the affirmative of course, but he asked in such a threatening headmasterly way, it seemed that if we fail to attend he would hit or kick us maybe lol

He’s done it in the past, so the 6 year old dispensing corporal punishment, oh dear, I’d complain to the policeman but he’s only 4 years old and licking an ice cream, in preparation for a communal cake licking ceremony, oh no sorry that’s happening in Belfast this year with our favourite cake - hooligan, Riley The Great, older brother of Smiley The Great, customer services representative par excellence lol

👋 Joan , how are you?

BR is feeling better now thanks

His cold has gone 🙏

bye for now Toni and Joan tc xx

ps doormat idea for toady lol xx

bosh

Hi amphibious toady

How are you?

Sorry you slept so badly on Wednesday night,

Sleeping poorly really takes it out of you doesn’t it?

Funny dream, marmalade sounds delicious though

I once got some posh organic jam for mum, i thought it was slightly reduced sugar or something like that, but I’d got that wrong, it was vanilla and raspberry flavour, so delicious, but definitely not physio - friendly lol

Yes best to invest in the footwear that you’ll use the most right now, i understand

BR has recovered thankfully 👍

Decidedly ookey outside isn’t it?

I didn’t venture out today, yesterday I stumbled and half - slipped, without the snow boots I would’ve fallen down

Keep warm and keep eating R Brek,

Otherwise it’s intergalactic prison for you 😂

👋greetings S knee

Bye for now all tc xx

Ps how to annoy the phantom neighbours part 352 xx

toady

Hi all 👋 frost hasn't budged all day.

This is the worst of the really cold days & nights I think though frog, is it? Please? 😬 well cold tomorrow just not as cold, then 10 whole degrees by next Tues/Weds it says. Hope you won't need your walking poles soon. Glad you had some nice tea & toast 😊. Yes a cruise, why didn't I think, warm & not limited to one place 👍️righty ho, I'm in (but yes awful awful fires so many losing so much, and the wildlife doesn't bear thinking 😥). Not much doing here today I had my grocery shop, nothing missing just subbed fat free yogurt, not much use to skinnies but will do summat with it; other than that have been hanging about for a phone call, an elderly friend I couldn't speak to before xmas (had been in hosp) tried today but wasn't convenient, 'can they call back' - who knows when, hope they have taken my new number down right, oh dear 😣. Poor Elfie, a picture paints a thousand words 😔 he definitely is not hims(elf), you can just tell! I hope Paul has the heating on for him 😉 mind you we all need it today, really is freezing. I g**gled your 'cabbage & noodles' 👍️, nice with mushrooms I imagine, in moderation. I'm in the like something different most days camp really, unless I have leftovers. No freezer capacity either much, for extras, I struggled to get in what I bought today, had to cook an apple crumble just to make it work 😄 but that was ok. Have seen Mr B, they have had their winter rations, ooh yes I do remember cutting up bacon rind 😱 gosh not now! Not keen to think of the fatball contents but can't be helped they have mostly other things. The heavy cake is being divided up, I've had some crust with butter, they are having some crumbs 😄 I look forward to trying again but I have to wait for 2 overripe bananas, and don't want to actively encourage 2 to go black 🤷‍♀️. Sleek was very kind company today seeing as I was a bit distracted, we put the laptop on, what else could we do but go shopping really 😉I didn't realize she was a serial sledge buyer 😮😄 we just browsed all sorts and had some nice gingery tea. Hope friend plus yorkies as well as poss 🤞 have a good weekend, love to all :) xx I am gaining on the tabs btw, must plod on 👍️.

Hello Joan, how nice that the gardener is seeing to things, it gives you the thought of Spring on the horizon 😊 will it be bulbs coming up mostly? It will warm up a bit soon and for once doesn't look too wet either 👍️. How are the biscuits going down, I will have extras of crumpets and things like that because I bought them with a view to freezing and haven't got the room 😬 will have to see what I can squish in. Hope it is a better weekend where you are too 😘 I have not gone out in this except to fetch the bins, they were very crunchy with frost 😬 xx

Hi bosh, oh what brilliant pictures, thank you 😂 that fence is so funny, love it. Perfect. And the doormat. Have you got one, or in fact a soap is better, for 'when you are trying to suppress your selfishness and actually mean it when you say 'lovely to hear from someone' but are not doing a very good job of it' 😬😳. I have a long call in the offing and rather like your elderly gent friend, I can't begrudge this person but did rather hope to get it done today and have a rest, instead they had to put me off til an unspecified time. Oh well I had a better night thank you and if I have another tonight & am less tired, I might do a better job of it tomorrow. Jam and marmalade is a theme at the moment then as Toni had some too, I have some xmassy jam I am looking forward to trying, sorry yours was not what you thought on that occasion & not suitable as it sounded very nice. Oh dear not a near-slip, very glad you 'righted yourself' and will go careful. I have just about warmed up today it will be a cold night, but I don't have to get up tomorrow. Glad little BR is better hope everything works out, and no punishments for non-attendance 😱😄. Take care :) xx

Hope you have a better night Stuart, hang on the cold is giving a little bit soon 🤞 I've been known to get up for a hot water refill and a tea in the night. I used to have an electric blanket but I like the topical heat of a bottle, also reviews of new electric blankets are so offputting 😬. Take care xx

Kettle on ☕️ xx

bosh

hi Toni and toady

I was reading some mental health tips on Fb that a friend recommended and it inspired this poem, thanks

It’s called, “Believe it or not, you’re doing okay, No inner demons need to make that foray”
It’s time to breathe and trust
Pick yourself up from the dust
Deep breaths of calm
Social media isn’t the balm
Those written or spoken words from the soul are more than just a lucky charm
The interior matters more, not whether the surface does indeed disarm
No evil thoughts here to torment you in this space
You’re beautiful inside whether you wear rags or costly lace
You’re more than your exterior more than your face
You walk slowly and calmly because a slow and steady pace wins the race
Your mind is the ultimate palace- I cannot begin to describe it’s aesthetic
Your energy is focused because it has no need to be frenetic

bosh

Hi toady

Look what’s happened to the R Brek bowl cupboard

Don’t worry I’ll supply the toast - let’s hope the littley - bears BR and LA haven’t eaten all the marmalade 😂

Night tc xx

Jojo_16

Hi I'm new here I'm just checking in on everyone I hope everyone has had a good day I'm always here if anyone needs a chat