Val's Cafe

toady · 26. Mar 2025, 18:38

Hi all 👋

Yes ok today thanks frog and no more disturbances, and I slept well but as tired today as if I hadn't 🙄 didn't go to bed early though so partly my fault. Have done a bit in the garden and some washing so not a write-off. You need rest as well for the shoulder yes, I hope any little changes you make like the laptop do help, at least you'll identify what does/doesn't. It is so nice isn't it, you want to maximise the sunny weather & get on - I bought a few new small terracotta pots yesterday online and then felt terribly profligate even though it isn't, in the slightest; I don't know where I get this calvinistic streak from 🤷‍♀️. Also very irritating as I've said before seeing the same items now in almost every shop and with the same stupid AI description, I never want to hear the word 'elevate' again 😣 soon people won't even know how to describe something in their own words or know what their product does 🙄. Anyway a few things doing ok in the garden, no new seedlings though, except some radishes and they are never one of my successes 😂 must get some beetroot in. Hope your day has been ok, Lucy's appt of course, and anything else though no foodbank as you say. I did indeed hear about Sleek's vanishing act, she hinted she will be working up a new plan for next time as the key to success is to keep one jump ahead 😬. Glad Elfie has something to look forward too I expect he will be brushing up his French and maybe the continental moustache may make a return 🤭. Have a good evening love to all 😘 xx

Hello Joan, yes much better night thank you 👍️ and more times than not if I don't sleep it's bad habits, not turning the internet off early enough etc. Poor Lexi, is it partly because of her teeth she isn't chewing her food properly so not digesting it and it's a vicious circle? I understand about the vet I guess they think it's the best choice now to do something, let us know what they say next. Have a good evening it has been very pleasant I've had a line of washing 😊. xx

Hi to bosh and hope everything ok with you today 👋 will catch up with your news later - hope the cleaners have been & gone now. Subsidiary nice people 😄 excellent, reminds me of something I will bring it to mind presently. xx

Quick wave to SK and hope the head carries on improving and no further tingly stuff 🤨not a madly unusual symptom for migraine people I would imagine, have you not had it before though? Hope the rest of your day has been ok, haven't been planting anything interesting no, should be, mostly just failing to summon up the energy 😬 glad your coca-cola thingy has survived 👍️. Best to all xx

Hi to Jojo hope things ok with you today 👍️ xx

Really sorry to hear about Cookie, Carol 😟😘 xx

Love to all xx

bosh · 27. Mar 2025, 07:56

Good morning Toni

How are you?

Wppl xx

Ps volcano has not erupted but scheduled to erupt at about 9 am lol xx

dachshund · 27. Mar 2025, 09:37

Good morning everyone

Toady (()) sorry you have bad nights. I have a problem switching my brain off. I concentrate on listening to my breathing that works but it can be hard. I went to bed after 10 last night I couldn’t get pepper in he was barking at the foxes under the neighbours shed I even went and rung the doorbell that didn’t work then he just walked in. Lexi has got kidney disease i hove got to collect some liquid from the vet when it comes in today If it’s too late I can pick it up tomorrow. Sorry to go on. I hope you have a good day.

Toni (()) have a good day how long does it all take at the hospital.
All the best to Lucy she copes with it all so well.

Jojo (()) have a good day.

Carol (()) sorry you lost cookie

Stuart (()) how is Ollie now and you love to your mum (()) have a good day

Skinny Keef (()) how are you today love to Loanda (()) and Sucr’e (())

toady · 27. Mar 2025, 16:30

Afternoon all - no frog today 🤔 just mis-clicked or maybe can't get online. Hope your day is alright otherwise, see you soon and all the best for tomorrow 😘 xx

Hello Joan, yes that's it I do lie there at night thinking 😒 the trick as you say is to get off before you can get too much onto that 'loop' of things going round. I have some nice audio recordings I listen to, things like getting you to imagine being on a night train and making yourself a cup of tea in your sleeper compartment, or walking in the countryside, but then you have to turn off the player - really you need something to turn itself off. There is probably something like that, I don't know. I'm not good at the breathing, or counting down from a number type thing. Pepper kept you up last night then with the foxes 😬🦊 I'm quite surprised they are such permanent 'residents'. Sorry to hear about Lexi 😟 one of my cats had kidney trouble I don't know how different it is with dogs. Does she have to have a low protein diet as well as the liquid? Hope she gets on alright with that and sorry it's worrying for you 😘 xx

Hi to bosh 👋 hope the volcano is not making the news like your pic, well they seem happy enough with their tea & bics (and 'proper' television set) but I guess it's a good a thing to do in the face of disaster as anything 🤷‍♀️☕️. Nothing happening with me much, I was waiting around for the post today and couldn't really get on with much but it least it made me clean the kitchen to pass the time 🤭. I will be going to the midnight postbox later, a case of long time no see, I don't suppose it will have much news though 😄. Have a good afternoon see you anon 😊 xx

Hope things not too bad with Stuart & Ollie today and you have maybe got outdoors 👍️ xx

Wave to SK and hope your day has been alright and going into skool was straightforward 🤞 xx

Hello to Jojo hope things not too bad, I have been putting out washing, I may even catch up with a few more days of this 🌞 things like curtains & blankets that were on the pending pile. Have a good evening :) xx

Kettle on for Carol and whoever comes in, love to all 😘 xx

Skinny Keef · 27. Mar 2025, 17:24

hi everyone. All good here today. Wppl

bosh · 27. Mar 2025, 17:56

hi Toni

Good evening- well almost

How are you?

I missed something, did Lucy have a hospital checkup today?

Is she ok?

Mums ok 👍

But dads car didn’t start so I had do two walks really as I had a blood test around 3 pm

I managed to get one bus so it could have been worse - but typical of dad telling me at the last minute really

The nurse was not vampiric at all - a very nice young lady in fact - nice change lol

She even let me do four forms in one go - lithium for MH and our beloved rheumo plus two forms that were iron - related I believe

Dad is waiting for the person who can (of the car repair variety)

but luckily he’s not stranded supermarkets, but it’s waiting in a nice warm home so that’s something

Okay I think I will have to end it there at least for now Toni

because there was a whole lot of walking going on that’s not quite enough resting ha ha

bye for now Toni take care xx

bosh · 27. Mar 2025, 18:34

hi toady of the toad biccie - crumb cleaning variety

How are you doing this evening?

I had to walk twice as dads car wouldn’t start

I must admit I ate some pastry as a result,

but at least it wasn’t sweet 👍

No vampires were seen today

So you’re going to have a chat with the midnight postbox?

I can’t say that I blame you, you’ll most probably get more sense of our epistle - related friend

Than most of the online “peeps” haha

Ok I don’t really call them “peeps” I’m just trying to be young and trendy as LA did say once that age - wise Mima is age zero lol

Don’t worry kitchen - cleaning was constructive 👍👍

Ok there is a little poem in the bank

Bye for now toady tc xx

Ps the vampire nurse’s uncle or something like that lol xx

Turbogran · 27. Mar 2025, 19:15

hello all

Toady enjoyed me cup of tea. Thank you. Yes losing Cookie was a bit traumatic. So don’t have any pets at the moment. Hope you have had a reasonable day. Take care

bosh · 27. Mar 2025, 19:23

hi Joan

How are you doing today?
im not too bad thanks

Mum is ok 👍

Have a nice evening tc xx

bosh · 27. Mar 2025, 19:29

hi SK

Glad that all is good with you today

How is Sucre now?

Have a good evening tc xx

bosh · 27. Mar 2025, 21:19

good night Jojo S knee and everyone tc xx

Jojo_16 · 27. Mar 2025, 22:10

Good night bosh hope you sleep well

toady · 28. Mar 2025, 00:04

'night bosh, I am using reverse psychology tonight and having decided not to worry about whether I sleep well - so ordered tea and toast at the cafe at 10 o'clock 😄 and am just finishing looking at a couple of things before turning off. Windows just showed me a nice lockscreen image or whatever they call it of The Dark Hedges in Northern Ireland 🌲🌳👍️. I completed my postbox walk, we exchanged a few bits of polite chat but I didn't share any confidences, after all they aren't known for keeping their mouths shut 😉. Glad you got on ok at bloods and the non-vampire nurse was helpful and nice 😊. I remembered what I was going to tell you, about subsidiary names for people (sort of), it was a radio comedy play I listened to where a lady absent-mindedly introduced herself to someone as 'Bigger Sue' because when she was a hospital nurse they ended up with three Sues so differentiated that way, tall I think they meant not large hopefully, anyway it was quite funny. Glad to hear a poem is in the bank 😊look forward to it. I absolutely love the scheming rabbit pic, definitely what it is doing over that lovely cabbage pot of tea; have downloaded that to keep. Hope your dad gets his car fixed ok 🤞 glad you didn't have more than one bus. Have a good night, hopefully Toni will be in tomorrow but has another appt with Lucy as yes it was a yearly routine thing 3 days, Mon/Weds/Fri so last one tomorrow. Sleep well :) xx

Night everyone tea anytime Keef I expect to be up at various odd hours the way things are lately depending if someone decides to have another domestic or general noise somewhere 🤪 xx

Thank you my day was ok Carol, just happy to have some nice weather at last for the garden & dry washing outside etc. I would not have another cat now, so the same here, no animals 😔. I wish I still knew at least someone with a dog or cat to 'borrow' when visiting but no-one has either at the moment; you probably see that I chat about Toni's cat in here 😺. See you when you next call in to the cafe, take care xx

Have a good night Jojo and Stuart, & Toni 👋 xx

frogmorton · 28. Mar 2025, 06:17

Morning Joan hope today is an ok day for you after yesterday. Sleek and me send our love to you and dear Lexi ((())) xxx Last day at the hospital today thank goodness!

Morning Carol gosh no not Cookie your beloved pusskin😕 I am so sorry well. As you said shows how out of touch we've been. We'll catch up soon hopefully you take care ((())) xxx

Morning Skinny Keef how are you has the head cleared? I am definitely wondering about your MTX dose most people here take anything form 7.5 to 25 mg per week so if there's room for an increase that might be the eay forwards?

As no more HP the last couple of nights eh? What a sweet family tradition Anda reading to her 'boys' and everyone going to sleep afterwards. Can you send her over here next please about 9 pm for me maybe 9.30. Thanks.

The cocoa cola plant is looking good? Just be careful a few more frowst are possible yet. Yes we have been outside myself Toady and Stuart. I have plenty of seeds on the go too as had Toady although i really ought to be getting some new ones really to be fair.

Last day at the hospital for me today thank goodness then Friday to myself well sort of i need to nip into the foodbank show them I am still here and see my cat-sitting sister to thank her.

Take care Keef ((())) xxx

Morning Reshmi how are you doing? Your Mum too of course Any sneezing and eye running for you? Plenty here for both of us if not!

Today is the last day at the hospital so glad about that it's been an awfully long week! Just got to return the box and remove 25 electrodes which have been glued in rather strongly. They only do the most basic removal you then spend a week or more picking at it.

Sounds as though the group went well for you. RR of course holding court with his fellow artistic cronies and you saw quite nice T and then really nice T. I think i might be a nice T too if i was there? Then there'd be enough Tea for everyone☕️

I think eating rice sometimes is fine especially with a meal, but I hope that lady is ok now and doesn't have diabetes in her future herself. I will not say a single word about that tiny tiny piece of chocolate muffin I did teh same on Monday myself as a reward for day 1 at the hospital. Like you I only had a few bites.

Those cleaners are often 3 hours late. What is going on? Have they sneaked another customer in in your family's slot?🤔

Looking forward to seeing the poem when your phone has enjoyed it's rest and recuperation.

Mother's day is soon. We will know what BIL managed to pull together very soon.

Take care ((())) xxx

Where is Jojo? I hope everything is ok there? With you Michael and the children? ((())) xxx

and Stuart I take it Ollie is still doing well and is eating as normal now? (())

Morning Toady I am very pleased to hear that your disturbed night was just that one night.

I popped a few extra seeds in yesterday and hopefully took a cutting from my Mum's (christmas/easter??) flowering cactus for myself and Kari. It's looking quite ill so we must save something urgently😕 Radishes are up are they? Good I am not lucky with them either nor beetroot though I adore them reasted pickled an way you like. Glad you got a load of washing done and got outside. Today looks ok too dry at least and bright. When I get back from the hospital hopefully not too late I intend to get outside myself.

Treating yourself to a few terracotta post is not at all naughty or frivolous Toad not at all you will use them and can protect them inside your cold frame now too. Oh yes AI language🙄 people will not be able to hold a pen anyway in the future I think.

Oh I made some hummus yesterday a rather nice batch if I do say so myself. Might make some for the foodbank volunteers as I often get the tahini from there. Why would someone donate tahini? Like most people know what to do with it! not🙄 The 'boss' saves it for me and I replace it with something useful like tinned fruit or uht milk instead.

Oh dear me Sleek has further escape plans does she?😣 I bet she and Elfie are plotting together. Yes he has started an online French class and is hoping to meet some European Elves. Anyone know where my onions and garlic have gone?🤔

Oh well I hope your day is a good one ((())) xxx

frogmorton · 28. Mar 2025, 06:51

Sorry yesterday's post didn't 'send'

Morning Joan have you got Lexi's food yet as well as the medicine? I do hope she does ok once she starts to take her medication and eat the special diet. Lucy's EEG is finished equipment duly returned to the QE. Phew! Took till all hours for us to get the glue out of her head though 25 big clumps of glue. Hopefully she didn't lose too much hair in the process. ((())) xxx

Morning Jojo how are you? Hope all is well with you and the family too ((())) xxx

Morning Carol sorry yesterday's post didn't send so I replied a bit better yesterday. If you had another animal again you'd probably do the same and take on an older one. How are all your Gkids? ((())) xxx

Morning Skinny Keef how are you? Is everything ok with your head today? I do hope so is it MTX night for you? I did leave you a 'better' reply yesterday but the post didn't send probably my fault ((())) xxx

Morning Stuart how are you and your Mum doing? Is Ollie eating normally again now too? (())

Morning Reshmi

I'm so sorry that my message didn't post yesterday. Did HV erupt at 9am? I hope not. I also hope you are well?

Lucy's EEG was removed yesterday so another trip into Brum, but gosh getting the 'glue' from 25 electrodes out of her hair was a nightmare. We had to use acetone and then oil before shampooing and lots of conditioner. Took till about 7pm. Not nice for her with her sore scalp.

When are EF coming? Is it this weekend being mother's day?

Something is definitely wrong with your Dad's car. My Juke too sometimes doesn't start I nearly called the RAC out after 6 attempts at Brainsbury's a few weeks ago then it started. I've got it booked in for 7th, but am able to drive the Fig instead while it's unreliable.

Glad your bloods went well and the nurse was nice!!! That is a real good experience what a difference it makes.

Yes back at the hospital again yesterday for the last time - today I can catch up with life I think.

Take care see you later ((())) xxx

Morning Toady. So sorry about yesterday's post but I had no time to check it being the last day at the QE.

As you'll see we had fun sorting out the mess the electrodes left. One side of her head being worse than the other as the trainee was a bit over zealous with the glue🙄

I like the sound of your sleeper train guided meditation you know.

rained here overnight so hoping I can get in the garden later as the sun is already out and weeding should be easy this afternoon 😊

take care hope your day is good.

Elfie doing an impersonation of Elvis Costello Elfie Costello(according to Paul anyway!) Note his fringe/quiff.

Jojo_16 · 28. Mar 2025, 07:55

Hi frogmorton and toady sorry I wasn't around much yesterday felt a bit crap and tired but I'm still alive I didn't get half of the things done that I planned on doing so hopefully I get more housework done today I hope you are both well.

dachshund · 28. Mar 2025, 09:33

Good morning everyone

Toady (()) yes it’s very had to get to sleep some nights. Have a good day. I don’t know if the fox’s go there to breed.
I’ve just had a phone call from the vets to take her in so she can be on fluids

bosh · 28. Mar 2025, 14:27

hi Toady of the toad radio show variety

how are you doing today?

I am feeling considerably better than yesterday thanks

I had some of those nasty pm symptoms again yesterday

I think I did I did manage to handle the situation slightly better last time without of course going into any detail.

I am so much looking forward to getting a bit older strange though it sounds

so the symptoms can be very much put in the waste paper bin or the shredder and not be constantly brewing somewhere in a metaphysical pot of tea or something of that ilk

that’s very funny about bigger Sue, I like that maybe she was bigger and seniority

I hope so that would’ve been kinder
It was quite the day yesterday with all that walking and not enough resting, but today I’m really not feeling too bad energy wise even though I’ve had injected MXT

And am obviously feeling a little bit rundown but not as bad as usual

reverse psychology I like that

yes it is often difficult isn’t it wondering how much we should worry about things

Dads car seems to have really perhaps gone kaput as they say

It’s pretty old for a car

but as you can imagine dad is moaning about this as well as if the car is a human being silly BB

Ok that’s all for now I need to ablute Have a nice afternoon. Take care Xx

👋Toni

How are you doing today?

Mum is okay👍

Glad that was only a check up type appointment for Lucy👍👍

I will do a proper post later just trying to go and ablute before anyone else has the same idea especially dad who is capable of staying in that bathroom for a whole working day ha ha

Bye For now, Toni take care xx

toady · 28. Mar 2025, 17:18

Afternoon all 👋

Windy! Tis very windy out there, takes the edge off the sun but never mind. Got a fair bit done outdoors yesterday so can't complain. Glad you were just missing with the usual post thing frog and that is was still there for you to click. So sorry I mixed up Lucy's hospital days, I was quite sure it was one day on one off therefore Friday, but all I had to do was go back & read properly 🙄. Glad it's done with but the glue, ouch! 😣 Sleek will have sympathized with someone else having knotty fur 😟 but no other way to do it, I can see that. Hope your day is ok so far today. I potted some stray grape hyacinths into one of the new terracotta pots yesterday and it does look sweet I must say - I fell in love with this Windowsill Bulb Collection | Muscari Collection, not that that's unusual in itself nor do I have a windowsill 😂 but am working on that 'look'. The other pots aren't here yet, they were from a smaller garden centre place that although they have an online option you wonder if they ever actually sell much that way - probably are casting round for packaging materials as we speak. If they arrive in one piece I'll be a bit surprised. Radishes don't behave for you either then, I don't know why I persist tbh but they are supposed to be child's play so you think well surely.. 😄. What new seeds might you need? I do hope your cactus cuttings take 🤞. Glad your hummus turned out nicely 😊 tahini to the foodbank, gosh, yes 🤔😮. Good swap for you though. Well hope not too windy if you do get a chance at some weeding - have a good afternoon. Love Elfie/Elvis btw, ideal for the Magpie Murders, 'Watching the Detectives' 😄. Good choice Elfie I'm a bit of a fan myself 👍️. Love to all 😘 xx

Hello Joan - how long will they keep Lexi in 😟 I hope she is getting on ok and you too. Nothing much happening here today I slept ok thank you but have just had a quiet day. Yes you mentioned there being fox cubs so they obviously think it's a fairly safe place for a family. Thinking of you let us know how things are going with the vet 🤞😘 xx

Hi bosh, toad radio show haha 😂 v funny. Hope your day is ok and you managed to 'bags' the bathroom. Sorry to hear there may be no simple fix for your dad's car, yes they do get very attached, there were workmen up ladders next door today and the entire chat I heard was all cars cars cars. Well Toni might say it's just as much for ladies to be car enthusiasts like with the Figaros, but I was hoping to overhear something more interesting than reg numbers 😉😄. Glad you liked Bigger Sue, yes Senior Sue is good 👍️ there was also something about her getting confused between Netherlands & Marrot and possibly Bradford & Bingley I think 🤔 maybe because you need a loan to afford a bag of walnuts in there 😮 £13 for 800g! Ok endless 3 for 2 offers etc but even so. Well I hope the rest of your day goes alright and well done coping with your pm symptoms 👍️ I tend to think I was spared too many symptoms but of course for all I know, it colours the way I think & behave now and I'm just not aware? 🤷‍♀️. Obviously we all know hormones are going about their business all the time anyway so who can say if 'I' is a fixed thing or not. I understand the idea that you'll be relieved to be older because it means getting to the 'other side'. Hope you get a bit of energy back after yesterday and mxt and can resume more normal walks etc. Take care :) xx

Hi Jojo sorry you had a bad day yesterday, do you put that down to anything in particular - hope you've had a better day and got some things done 🤞 it has been nice weather but the wind is quite cold, I was glad I didn't plan to do much outdoors because there were people working next door, faffing about with the gutters I think, so no privacy anyway. Hope you have a good evening & weekend :) xx

'Lo to SK, Stuart and Carol 👋😘 xx

Jojo_16 · 28. Mar 2025, 18:00

Hi toady I think I just didn't sleep very well and cutting back on codeine might of been the cause. Yeah it has been quite cold still here hopefully its better around easter we going on holiday. I hope you have a great weekend too.

Skinny Keef · 28. Mar 2025, 20:14

hi all. I had a good day today. Very little inflammation which I suspect is Down to taking the MTX on Tuesday. Either that or the (very) gentle exercise.

Hi Toni and Reshmi and everyone asking after me and Sucré, thank you. He is being a little ‘testing’ atm.

I did this for dinner, then had to walk down alley to see Idon at the take out to get some chips because I had

forgotten to cook any spuds of any description. So ot ended up being chips with gravy much to Sucré’s delight.

Skinny Keef · 28. Mar 2025, 20:15

the skull is a Yorkshire pud btw. Anda’s request to have separate yorkie pudding rather than wrapped around the sausages 🙄

Skinny Keef · 28. Mar 2025, 20:20

oh and I am on Day Two with not a whiff of a bad head. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Sorry I didn’t post sooner as well.

I had to come back anyway coz I was missing Reshmi’s pics.

Hope your Friday was good Toni now that hospital all done.

bosh · 28. Mar 2025, 22:03

hi Toni

how are you today?

Mums ok 👍
Sorry it’s been a bit of a chaotic day with lots of unbalanced hatter type multitasking going on ha ha

Very Glad that Lucy is doing okay.
The EEG electrodes and sore scalp sound very horrible. So glad that you could help her.🤗

sorry if I’m repeating myself by the way

good that you have the fig as a spare car

dad’s car has been taken to the garage. It’s in a bad way not sure of the details yet

I think Joan wrote something about Lucy and the hospital appointments and then I worried less. I just thought it was probably a checkup type thing so no problem there, Thanks though Toni👍👍

I slept really well overnight, so today have been feeling relatively energetic thank goodness even though it was a one off MXT day for me

Yes EF are Coming on Sunday but not eat as Mr BR has two parties this weekend. They may be lady babies’ parties Oh my goodness so the four-year-old heartthrob has a busy social life already soon it will be as busy as his brother’s, if not more so- ookey

I hope that the parents have laid on enough cheese sandwiches and jelly baby sauce and tea flavoured with cabbage, or Whatever is consumed at these chic preschoolers’ soirées these days lol.

Ok I’ll stop there

Am aiming to write more

Can’t give you an ETA though haha

Ok bye for now Toni tc xx

Ps this is a pic of my sister, looking nice and conventionally feminine in her heels, dress and handbag, Perfect BMI, etc - don’t laugh everyone is different haha 😂😂xx