Val's Cafe

Good morning everyone

Barbara ((())) thank you for your kind words ((())) I could not sit there and drink coffee while they did sue she's my sister so I help her 3 times a day they come so she can get on her scooter to go for a walk and then they change her pad and put her in her wheelchair then they come back later to put her to bed with out them she cold not do anything she can not stand or walk. Sorry to go on. sorry about your brother loosing weight (())) what do you think about not wearing masks soon. Love to your son ((())) and Niamh (((())) and your brother ((())) and his girlfriend ((()))

Toni ((())) sorry about your neighbour having bed sores not nice (((())) yes I remember you posting a photo of Penelope wearing her cover it looked good. Love to Paul ((())) and Charley ((())) and Annie ((())) and the carers ((())) and Lucy ((())) and Tia ((())) and Kari (((())) and P ((())) and your lovely neighbours (((()))

Mike I feel sorry for you ((())) we use a bus that comes to our front door it takes electric wheelchairs and it takes us in to town or where ever we want to go they charge 3 pound 30 each way they are called Akcess or dial a ride. Love to Elliott ((()))

love to Chris ((())) Carol ((())) and Mig ((()))

Hi @frogmorton thanks for welcoming me to the cafe and filling me in. I have allergies, so I don’t have pets myself. I don’t mind turmeric tea if it’s hot and brewed normally, but sometimes I get distracted by trying to do everything simultaneously before I run out of steam and end up drinking the demonic cold over-brewed version. One of my good friends is a cat owner though, she loves cats so much that she lets her own cat bring dead mice into her bedroom, lol. That looks like a good breakfast of croissants, I’m quite jealous, lol. Hope you’re having a nice weekend?

Evening all we have thunder ⛈🥺

Toni I don't think I have see Penelopes cover ..thankyou fir the breakfast blimey looking at it made me full

Glad Lucy us doing ok I didn't expect anything else bless her..plants all ready its proper exciting..many hugs for P (((())) xx

Joan you never ever go on..this is why we are hear then you can talk about things I have always admired both you and Sue ((((()))) xx

Bosh good to hear from you ..hope all is well with you ..enjoy the cafe cake xx

Mike that is very well put ..the councils seem to be forgetting about people that need extra help..what a shame there is only one taxi ..are there any volunteers in your area ..I know many have been helping in the lockdown xx

Kath they had better get that roof done soon..I remember the times they would have been there sharpish with a leaking roof xx

Carol poor you nothing worse than sitting about in a&e..especially with arthritis I hope whatever they have given you works a treat..not long not fir another ggc xx

Please ignore any typos

Love go all

Xxxxxx

Well Mike I really hope your email gets published it's brilliant! Well said and will certainly make people think about 'their lot' and count their blessings and maybe (just maybe) think again about their own actions.

Utterly shameful that the Council only rang that one time and never checked in on you again. I hope someone from there reads it too Mike.

I see from your second post that you have looked into the social enterprise scheme. Sadly not good for you, but I expect others who can sit in ordinary seats could use the scheme and also don't know about it.

Well done.

Joan you and Sue are wonderful sisters both giving each other so much 💕My neighbour's husband came over yesterday for a look around the garden and to use our garden waste bin! She is ok, but bored so I am going to spend a whole day there soon and maybe P will join us if she can manage the stairs or go up in the trough lift maybe. Take care both of you ((())) xxx

Kath I love the cat drawing please do add it as your signature if you can! Sleek reckons it is 'byute if ul'

Oh dear it rained her yesterday so much and your roof still only has scaffolding.....is Holly back yet? If so get her to add some bunting!!

Listening to your bible and watching Midsomer Murders? Sounds a lovely day to me🙂

Not much on TV unless you like sport ATM is there and repeats are just fine if you enjoy the programme.

Thank you so much for the Tofu bowl it looks fabulous😋 Very glad you enjoyed your breakfast.

Well Bosh @bosh you can enjoy our cats from the safety of your own home allergy free! Erm no dead creatures getting chomped in my bedroom? No I draw the line there🤢 Your friend has a better stomach than me!

I'm glad you like the turmeric tea hot and perfectly brewed because it is rather tasty and I think good for us? Inflammation wise?

I had a good weekend thank you planning what plants for have in my raised beds when they are finished and not making cups of tae for our builders! Hope yours was good?

Oh dear me Carol! That sounds dreadfully uncomfortable. Mr T has proven himself there sleeping on the sofa bed so you can keep your legs exposed so they itch less. Sending ((())) and hoping for rapid improvement for you.

Extra incentive to get fit for the August trip to see the family such a lovely event to look forward to.

Good news Mr T is COVID free is he allowed out now then?

Happy belated Anniversary to you both 51 years! Well done

I bet your daughter is missing you not being allowed to visit.

Oh dear poor miss Cookie losing her 'bed' but at least she had you with her all night. I don't think Sleek has ever slept in her own bed.🙄

Hello Barbara. I won't actually plant any of my plants until the work is nearer completion. The have to pave the patio and decking which will mean cutting i suppose and they would get dusty? But I am loving making decisions!

I intend to steal plants from my lovely neighbours gardens and from P's too🙂 Much more personal that way.

We also had thunder and lots of rain the weirdest weather this year isn't it?

I will WhatsApp you a pic of Penelope's cover. It was my birthday present from Paul.....or maybe Christmas.🤓

Soon be able to see Niamh! I bet you cannot wait!

Right breakfast....workmen back today so thinking maybe bacon butties?

Morning all you beautiful peeps. First of all, I have a treat for you all. Emily's blog. No pics of Hennifer and co, but they have certainly been busy. But there's plenty of photos of home grown veggies.

Bosh, Emily is our youngest daughter and Miss Pond is one of her cats. She is a rather grumpy Tortoiseshell. I no longer have a cat of m own, but Miss Sleek and Miss Cookie often slip through the magic gate to visit me. If you have seen our poetry book "Tails From the Cafe" There are lits of pictures of various cats we have known and still love.

Carol, how exciting, baby countdown has begun. But I hope your poorly legs soon improve. Are you using Dermol? I have that on prescription for my vasculitis. Itchy legs are sometimes worse than painful legs.

Barbara, I see you have already seen and posted to Emily's blog, isn't it wonderful.

Joan, thank you. We are certainly very disappointed. But I expect it will get done eventually.

Toni, I enjoyed the bacon butty, thank you. I will certainly add "Kitty Kat to my signature. Holly is back and is planning another trio in August, they had a brilliant time. Now for supper.

Mushroom Tacos

I’m back with another clean-out-the-fridge experiment turned dinner staple, Mushroom Tacos. Made with shiitake and baby portobello mushrooms, hearty cabbage, and spicy tofu cooked in a sweet and spicy Asian sauce, these healthy tacos have been a hit at not one but TWO casual dinners I’ve hosted in the last two weeks.

Vegetarian Mushroom Tacos. Healthy and flavorful vegan tacos made with tofu and baby bella, shiitake, or oyster mushrooms in a sweet and spicy Asian sauce.

Ingredients 

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
• 12–14 ounces tofu Italian “sausage” or regular precooked Italian turkey or chicken sausage links spicy or sweet, as you prefer (we like spicy!), halved lengthwise, then cut crosswise into thin half-moon-shaped slices; do not swap regular plain tofu, as its texture and flavor will not work out properly
• 1/2 small head green or red cabbage cored and thinly sliced (about 8 cups)
• 24 ounces baby bella (cremini) mushrooms thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons water
• 4 large cloves garlic minced (about 1 ½ tablespoons)
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
• 1 bunch scallions thinly sliced, dark green parts divided from the light green and white parts
• 3 tablespoons seasoned rice vinegar
• 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 2 tablespoons plus 2 teaspoons low-sodium soy sauce
• 1–2 teaspoons ground fresh chili paste (sambal oelek), sriracha, or similar hot sauce or a pinch of red pepper flakes (optional)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped dry roasted unsalted peanuts plus additional for serving

For serving:

• Warmed flour tortillas

Instructions 

• Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large, deep dutch oven or wok over medium high. Add the chopped tofu “sausage” or chicken/turkey sausage. Cook until brown on all sides, about 5 to 6 minutes. Remove to a plate and set aside.
• Add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Once hot, add the cabbage, mushrooms, and ⅓ cup water. It will seem like a ridiculous amount of cabbage, but it will cook down significantly. Let cook until the cabbage is tender and the mushrooms are browned, soft, and have given up their liquid, about 15 minutes, stirring often at first so that the cabbage at the bottom of the pan browns but does not burn. If at any point the mixture starts to become dry and stick to the bottom, splash in a little more water as needed.
• Add the garlic, ginger, and white and light green parts of the green onions. Cook, stirring constantly, until very fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Add the sauteed tofu or sausage, rice vinegar, hoisin, soy sauce, chili paste, and remaining 2 tablespoons water. Stir until everything is warmed through and combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as desired. Stir in the peanuts and remove from heat and sprinkle with reserved dark green onions. Pile inside warm tortillas and enjoy hot with a sprinkle of extra peanuts.

Thanks @dachshund , that’s nice about your dog, unfortunately I’m allergic to those too! And I live opposite a park, never mind, haha. My day wasn’t so great, unfortunately, psoriasis was bad, but I’ve replenished cream stocks now, lol, so that’s good. Hope your day was good?

Morning everyone!

Looks like a wet day ahead here although maybe it will be ok rain isn't forecast. If it rains it's difficult for the builders to build the walls😕

I see a Kitty Kat signature Kath! Love it! Sleek approves wholeheartedly.

The rabbits are back in the garden here having to scare them off every morning before Sleek goes out. I have my football clackery thing!

Thank you for Emily's blog I will enjoy that little read😘

Lovely to hear Holly and the girls had such a great time in Skeggy. I hope she can get something in August for them too - making happy memories for the children is what it's all about 🙂

Thank you for the mushroom tacos super tasty recipe that right up (your's) and my street😋

Morning Joan. My neighbour is getting busy in the garden so much so that he used our bin too as we can't garden ATM 🙄 I think he is trying to get as much done (his son is helping) before they call him for his hip op.

Tia says they have got the numbers of dogs down pretty well now after all this pandemic, but they did have one or two returned😕 isn't that cruel?

Oh Bosh (@bosh ) that is daft cats do indeed get frightened by dogs and they tend to get over the trauma quite well on their own😁 Bless that lady she is maybe a little over-protective.

My youngest daughter has scalp psoriasis so you have my sympathy running out of your cream. She had leukaemia when she was 16 and it seems to have unbalanced a lot. She had hip surgery and a shoulder replacement as a consequence of the treatment too. Oddly enough she can't stand pork either. You must try some of the vegan products which replace those.

How fabulous to love opposite a park though! You can get your exercise in if you can manage it quite easily. Just avoid the animals!!

Barbara P is going to give me some honesty seeds and something else i can't remember....my other lovely neighbours have a perfectly gorgeous cottage garden so plenty to pinch there! P is ok...not as good but ok bless her still 'doing' as she does.

Penelope (My car in case Bosh wants to know) is very happy under her cover. Paul had it specially made in pink and her name added bless him.

I bet it feels like you'll never get the pool out again this year for Niamh🙄 at least you will see her maybe go and feed the birds again instead? You can get the chariot out😊

Love to Mike and Vixen - this week surely you will have a peaceful visit from your home help to enjoy🤗

Chris is getting excited about her cruise which must be only about 6 weeks away. Maybe similar for Carol's visit to meet the need baby Great-Grandaughter too😍

Another day of builders for me🙄

Hehehe!

I fancy cheese on toast for breakfast today:

Good morning everyone

Kath ((()) could your hole get bigger but then you've had it a while haven't you. Love to Chris ((()))Anita ((())) and Val ((())) and Emily and your Dad ((()))

Barbara ((())) your face to face with your Doctor is soon I'm having a trim on that day that's how I remembered. Good luck.

Love to Mr B ((())) and your son ((())) and Niamh ((())) and your brother ((())) and his girlfriend ((()))

Bosh (((())) what part of the country do you live we are in Wiltshire.

Toni ((())) no I don't see how people can give animals back why have them I read of a lady who sold her dog because it did not match her settee. Love to Paul ((())) and Charley ((())) and Annie ((())) and the carers ((())) and Lucy ((())) and Tia ((())) and Kari ((())) and P (((())) she is so good ((())) and your lovely neighbours (((())))

love to Chris (((())) Carol ((())) and Mig (((())) and Mike (((()))) and Elliott ((()))

Hi @frogmorton , I hope you didn’t have too much rain? I missed most of the rain on my walk this morning, so that was good. Yes, I think the lady I know with the cat can be a bit overprotective, you’re right. She’s very reserved and after her dad sadly passed away (he had lung cancer, dementia, etc), she has become really insecure, I’m a friend of hers, of course, but she has lots of v close old friends and one sister, but I don’t think she’s ever really talked her feelings through with anyone, she may benefit from bereavement counselling (but she’d probably take offence if I suggested it). Oh well, never mind, we all have our problems. Sorry to hear about your daughter, that must be very difficult to suffer so much at such a young age. Vegan alternatives sound good, I’m of Indian origin, so I eat a fair amount of chickpeas etc, but I have to be careful with the amounts, as my stomach gets upset easily. Yes, park is nice in theory, but there are always millions of dogs around, lol, plus I get hay fever, it’s a nice view from my window though. Cheese on toast sounds great, lol. Have a good afternoon.

Evening all very wet here

Toni thankyou for breakfast low salt cheese on toast 😋still not found any at tesco I get the vegan slice they are lower in salt

I am hoping summer returns fir this pool I gave quite a large brown patch on my lawn...I used to gave lots if honesty in the garden not a clue were it went..

You must be aching to start 9lanting but it won't be long xx

Oh Mike talk about hitting brick walls ..hopefully something will come up ..can Safa not offer any help ...xx

Bosh I eat lots of chickpeas but like you lately they are causing tummy ache I can eat them hot with grated cheese on xx

Joan I am terrible with dates even though I write them down...so its your haircut day ..I have found a walk in one in the next town and I love it xx

Kath you can unburden on us lot..that blinking roof and all thus rain ..can you imagine what Aidan would say 😲xx

Right just eyes ard going

Love ti all xxxx

Evening all

Barbara Yes a&e is no fun but it had to be done it could not wait until the Monday it would have been even worse.. funnily enough because my mind has been on the eczema and the itching my arthritis pain is not so bad. However I’d sooner the Arthritis than the eczema as it is very uncomfortable.

Hi Bosh nice to have you with us in the Cafe. Miss Cookie is my cat she is a tortoiseshell and a typical one at that an absolutely diva.

Joan my legs are not painful just so itchy and uncomfortable and although the eczema is infected there is no pain.

Kath yes getting quite excited about being a great nanny for the 7th time well technically 5 times the other Two being Gs step children but we treat them all the same.Ashley is now 4 the next one is Kian who will be 2 in August and in the same month Rubie will be 3. But of course the new Baby will be here before their bithdays. My legs are looking better slowly there is no weeping from them now so obviously the antibiotics are working. They are high strength Claryithromycinmm the dr I saw at the hospital gave me and Fucibet a steroid cream. And I am the using emollient my own doctor at the start which is Epaderm .

Toni yes it was a shame that our daughter was unable to visit yes poor miss Cookie lost her bed so she decided that the seat of my rollator was an ok substitute. And I am very thankful to mr T for sleeping on the sofa bed. I tried last night when I first got in bed to put my legs under the covers but after about half an hour I lasted about half hour then I had to take them out again. It is when I get warm now that they start to itch but that was an improvement to Friday night. Mr T still has to isolate his last day is tomorrow so allowed out on Thursday.

well I must go now so

love and sparkles to you all.

❤️❤️❤️🌈🌈🌈

Good morning everyone

Kath ((())) I'm sorry you have waited a long time you are not paying for it to be done are you ((())) love to Chris ((())) Anita ((())) and Val ((())) and Emily ((())) and your Dad ((()))

Barbara ((())) how is your leg ((())) will you be seeing Niamh ((())) this weekend ((())) love to Mr B ((())) and your son ((())) and Niamh ((())) and your brother ((())) and his girlfriend ((()))

Bosh ((()))our dad came from Wales we did our schooling in Cwmbran and Pontypool we were born in Oxford. I hope you have a good day ((()))

Carol (((())) I'm sorry about your legs ((())) you have enough to put up with you don't need that as well. Love to Mr T ((())) and family ((()))

Toni ((())) how is Lucy's ankle ((())) she's so good she copes with it all ((())) just like you ((())) love to Paul ((())) and Charley ((())) and Annie ((())) and the carers ((())) a d Lucy (((())) and Tia ((())) and Kari ((())) and P ((())) and your lovely neighbours (((()))

Love to Chris ((())) Mig ((())) and Mike ((())) and Elliott ((()))

Hi @frogmorton , yes, you’re right, I think the vet is quite friendly and approachable, from what I’ve heard , so that’s a positive thing at least. Yes, thanks, chickpeas, lentils etc are very tasty indeed. Chickpeas with tamarind is my favourite preparation. I’m in Reading, so not too far from London, I did v briefly live in East London, when I had a temp job, v vibrant place, the commute from East to West London was terrible also my boss was v unsympathetic to me, even though both my parents were in hospital then almost at the same time. Tea cakes sound great, I’ll brew the tea, lol.