Val's Cafe

Morning Joan how are you doing today? I hope not too bad. I think our animals can indeed be stubborn, but mostly they don't know we are trying to help and want to be left alone probably. Bless 'em. Take care and have a good day ((())) xxx

Morning Jojo good I am glad to hear you rested a bit as well as getting the house straight. That helps us feel better in our minds so I understand. Lots of school runs you probably want to to do I know I did whether in pain or not. Hope the heat pad eases your back well i know it does help it's one of my favourite things to do. I hope you are off for the bank holiday? What about Michael is he off too? Take care ((())) xxx

Morning Skinny K how are you doing? I hope not too bad?It's so tricky these meds have a trade off don't they? Are you taking anything else? Steroids for instance prednisone or dexamethasone? They can make us feel low too.🙄

Have you ever read any of Arthritus's posts? He talks a lot about diet and what he excludes.

Be careful falling in public is dangerous and a bit embarrassing too isn't it? Do you use walking aids at all? As long as you don't fall off the bike. Take care today is Sucré off for the week like schools? ((())) xxx

Morning Reshmi. I hope you are doing ok and your Mum's stomach has settled. Not good timing is it?

As long as you are not the soft play that should be a very good idea to occupy the boys for a bit and use up some excess energy👍️

6 days and nights gosh that is a long time. I do hope maybe that Mummy and Daddy are having a little holiday but suspect both are actually still working.

energy potion en route - Sleek is dropping it off before she goes to Toady's. You don't really drink coffee do you?🤔Maybe by the end of these 6 days you will!

Thinking of you our friend at your time of need ((())) xxx

Morning Stuart it sounds as though you and your Mum are both having a tough time. It's nearly June closer to your injection. Also it's raining which our gardens so desperately need ((()))

Morning Toady How are you? Sleek is en route in a bit she's just dropping an emergency energy potion off for Bosh first.

Sleek is very much looking forward to a restful day with you. The vet says she can eat treats just avoid phosphate and high protein. ('emm and ess' choc bars are very very very low protein I'm sure) Doing better using much much less of the medicine in her food an plan to increase over time. She actually just ate quite a bit this morning and she loves the prescription dry food so I am giving her that as well.

I videoed her in the garden yesterday she was so happy playing you wouldn't know anything was wrong.

Elfie is very organised I have no doubt he was a great help. I don't think he's coming over today he wants to be with his Daddy (Paul). The baby loved him! He had a great time and is repeatedly telling us all that she likes him best. We had a takeaway curry from our favourite (only really) restaurant. We used to go there all the time when the children were young. All the staff know us. I picked it up (ordered it the night before) the baby had some of her own homemade 'curry' made by her Mummy. She looked so grown up sat in her high chair at the table with us all.

Enjoy your rest and I have no doubt Sleek will enjoy admiring your shopping. ((())) xxx

A quick hello to Carol I hope all is well and you have remained on your feet since you last posted. Les is a star you can tell him ((())) xxx

Good morning everyone

Toady (()) have a good day. I see a lot of baby birds have you heard anymore about the building works near you. The rose is growing after all the rain we’ve had.

Toni (()) have a good day. All the best to Sleek (()) how was Arya (()) when you saw her at tea time. Love to everyone

Reshmi (()) I hope you mum (()) feels better now have a good day both of you.

Stuart (()) sorry you’re in pain. Love to your mum (())

Jojo (()) have a good day I hope you feel a bit better.

Skinny Keef (()) it’s easy falling over it’s the getting up that’s the problem love to Loanda (()) and Sucr’e (())

Hi all 👋 nice and quiet here so far so good.

Didn't have maybe quite as much rain in the end overnight, did you frog? 🤔 I did hear it but it didn't keep me awake. More to come though before we hit another nice sunny spell 😕. At least my obligations are 'off me' for a bit now, hurrah, all the less chance for me to get into tangles with transport & arrangements - booked my catsi yesterday ok but barely noticed in time that I'd done it for asap, not the relevant time 😱😱. Then had trouble paying (that wasn't my fault) and had to use cash, which meant I wanted to get cashback from a shop to replace it - didn't know 'TK Stacks of Stuff' don't do it 😣 grr. Glad you had a lovely evening & everyone well, and well fed, yes Elfie would have been a great hit of course 😊. He was just as well staying at home today it has been very 'girly' here 🤭💅 Sleek approved of all my things, and I have deputed her to try & find me a nice new bag please, I just can't - 3 shops yesterday and saw nothing remotely suitable even if I wanted to pay the asking prices 😮 (the faux leather were all horrible, and online seems to be the same old story, expensive but with bad reviews). Have duly noted her dietary 'specs' for treats btw and do hope increasing the meds slowly is the way to success 👍️. Playing happily in the garden is a decent state of affairs isn't it 🤞😘 love to everyone hope your day has been ok. xx

Hello Joan, how nice you have a lot of baby birds, I haven't seen any yet! I saw adult bluetits coaltits Mrs B and robin yesterday in the garden, none of them wanted their photo taken 😔. Glad the rose is happy now it's damp weather 👍️ it's very windy here today. I haven't heard anything about the planning, I haven't seen the right people who might know but someone else that might have some news I may see them soon so will ask then. I don't want to face any bad news really but I suppose that won't make it go away 🙄. Hope you have had a good day 😘 xx

H bosh, hope all's going well in the soft play world. And that your mum is as well as poss today. Lots of Pe**a Pig yesterday and I don't suppose that's the last of it 😬. I am not doing much today which am just as happy about, shopping was not altogether successful yesterday. I mentioned bags to Toni what sort do you favour, I seem to think you've talked about carrying this & that handy thing around with you so a bigger bag maybe not a little one? Glad I don't want one of those horrid little toys/'bag charms' people are fighting over in stores, what a world 🤪. I saw a good tshirt online though that we might both like, a pic of a rooster saying 'I may look calm but in my head I've pecked you three times' 😄 quite a lot of them about so you may have seen them. The taxi driver I had yesterday was one of those people who believe the government is controlling everything the weather and so on, a peck or 2 might not have gone amiss there 🤨. Hope you have a good evening. Btw have you heard all is not well in the 'Chewniverse', all sorts of rumours in the press about falling ratings, future of the show in doubt etc. 🤔. Take care bye for now :) xx

Hope your day is going ok Keef keep up the good work and the clear head 👍️😊 xx

Love to Carol 👋 xx

Jojo hope your day is going alright too 😊 and wave to Stuart 👋 xx

Take care all 😘 xx

hi Jojo, I was on codene for many years until I couldn't take it due to side effects. I went on to and am still on tramadol. Much better than codeine. Maybe ask your doc for a change.

Hope you have a good sleep skinny keef

Hi Jojo

Sorry to hear that

codeine is a nasty medicine I find

I Hope you manage a good sleep overnight.
Good night take care xx

Morning Joan hope you are well today. All is ok here Sleek is fine too still putting only a small amount of meds in her food and mixing thoroughly. Arya is trying to feed herself! and she can drink a tiny bit of water from her cup after her food. Very cute take care have a good day ((())) xxx

Morning Jojo the cinema can be really tough can't it? All that sitting in one position for an hour and a half can be too much. I am not over-keen on codeine either although Paul manages it really well. I hope today is a bit easier on you. ((())) xxx

Morning Skinny K so good to read how much better you were yesterday hope today is the same even more so would be great. I am very glad to hear you have a guardian angel😇 very very glad we need our Skinny! Be careful on tracks then! Do you think pastry is another 'trigger' for you?

Just goes to show doesn't it how different we all are. I preferred NSAIDs but am now banned due to blood thinners. I did take tramadol for a good while pre back operation and post. Needed something about 6 months later and felt ill for about 6 hours! Never again. Codeine is ok but I feel reasonably sure it gives me stomach ache. Going to discuss again with GP soon see what they think. A few people on the forum swear by nefopam so was interested in maybe trying that. Or back to the patches if all else fails🙄

Hope the family are all doing ok? Sending ((())) xxx

A quick wave to Stuart I hope all is well and you are not in too much pain? and your Mum is ok too ((())) xxx

Morning Reshmi how are you coping? Oh dear did you Mum sort herself out with that near hypo then? But put the children first. Hmmmm….I wish she'd accept your help you are there and willing. You have a very independent Mum there.

I would also have left BB in the car if he was naughty but taken the keys from him so he was bored.

Glad the boys enjoyed soft play even if it was smelly - they always are for some reason? Is it feet maybe? Yuk. Annoying you couldn't have your drink so wonder you needed a treat.

Peppa pig is fine no harm in watching her is there. Scented puddles yes funnily I imagined some Brut aftershave😂

Well done still prioritising your walk you must look after yourself as well as helping with the boys. Not sure about today though so far it's really raining hard outside here at any rate.

Any plans to entertain your small charges today? Any films on at the cinema perhaps? Gosh it's nasty outside atm although it is possible it might dry up later. Maybe a local park if it does🤔 Take care and look after yourself. Have another drop of the energy potion Sleek sent ((())) xxx

I was in B&M Toady not long ago a week back maybe and a chap needed cash none of the shops did it and the cashpoint was out of order. It's not on is it? Having said that we went into a 'bra hooks' a bit back for drink and Paul was most unimpressed when he offered his cash that they only accept card!!!!!😮What is it all about eh?!

Did you have enough for your catsi home?

Elfie came with us in the van up to a car auction in Runcorn. He was fairly well behaved a bit of singing (😣 say no more) and asking for sweets. There are only so many rounds of 'One man went to mow' that a person can take aren't there? He much prefers cars to handbags. Oh the baby loved him he was making her giggle. There isn't much as adorable as a baby's laugh is there?

That explains what she's been doing! Sleek I mean - she was online all night looking at handbags I thought it was for herself. It usually is.

Did you get the rain this morning/overnight? Gosh it was baaad!!! Very blowy with it. Off to Edgbaston in a bit for the vegan food market. It's in the Winterbourne gardens so that will be an extra plus😊

Take care and hope your day is restful Sleek has already left for yours with a list of potential 👜s ((())) xxx

Morning to Carol I hope you have managed to stay on your feet and are both doing ok. Use your walker!!!! By order of myself please we don't want any broken bones like Joan had a bit back. Sending much love and ((())) xxx

Hi frogmorton it's going to be a rough day my first day back to work and my back is still bad so I've started my day off on codeine and paracetamol and I'm going to wear a heat patch at work. I hope you are well and I hope you have a great day I hope your cat is doing ok.

Good morning everyone

Toady (()) how are you today. It looks like it’s going to rain. Have a good day. Yes the garden needed the rain. I saw the baby birds when I went for a walk yesterday.

Toni (()) our neighbour has gone to Weymouth for the long weekend they go at Christmas as well even though they have 6 children all married. Have a good day Arya sounds lovely is she a cry baby. All the best to Sleek.

Jojo (()) have a good day I hope your pain feels a bit better

Reshmi (()) sorry about your mum (()) not feeling well she needs to except your help. Have a good day

Stuart (()) I hope your pain has calmed down have a good day love to your mum (())

Skinny Keef (()) I hope you feel better today love to Loanda (()) and Sucr’e (()) have a good day

I'm having a painful day knee aches right ankle has swollen up its annoying to walk, braces are not helping

Hi all 👋

Bit of a mixed day frog, yes windy 😮 hate wind. Unfortunately so was I overnight, unsettled that is, the gastric oracles got me and I'd done nothing to them 🙄 oh for a cast iron digestion, long may baby enjoy her mild curries etc. I had a very plain diet when young you do wonder if that leaves you unfitted for other things. Anyway, nice quiet Sunday so mustn't grumble, hope you had a nice time at Edgbaston and lovely gardens 😊. Was there anything good at the car auctions? Yes 'one man went..' 😬 oh dear, I was going to say that at least it has a bit more 'to it' than 10 green bottles, but has it actually, come to think of it 😄. Sleek came up with some super suggestions for me and one that is a distinct possible 👍️ will report back. I hope that me finding most of what's out there unappealing is not just a sign that I am not open to new trends - but I am fairly sure some of it is just plain horrible. Yes I was fine for my fare home thanks I just had to go to the other shop I mentioned; at least that function was working, even if they are still having troubles - no online orders still I see. No cash some places as you say, it's difficult to keep up at the moment 🤷‍♀️. Hope you have a good start to the week and your garden is ok - as you will see, I have invaders - lock up your honesty!! 😱 they are systematically stripping one lot of mine. Take care love to everyone 😘 xx

Hello Joan, I am fine today thanks, just a bit of a mixed night's sleep I had tea at 2am. Then I slept fine after that 👍️. I see, the baby birds are around in general where you walk 😊 glad the garden is looking nice. I should be out planting a few things but the wind is so strong today it's been indoor jobs for me. Have a good new week love to Pepper 😘 xx

Hi bosh, I love the four horsemen theme 😂 let me guess, 'War' (speciality: flattening people) and 'Famine' (hasn't had cheese for at least half an hour 😱) 😄. Hope things are going well today and maybe there is a bit of quiet like you said there might be. Nice to know about the bat lessons 😀🦇 and lovely batty coffee thank you. Un-openable bottles, well there are a lot of them about aren't there 🙄 most annoying. Some I have to get the nutcrackers on 🤨. Yes the rumours about Doctor Chew are rather mixed yet; as you can imagine I won't be sorry if Disney cut their involvement, but if the show is mothballed for a while as a result of the turn things have taken that will be a shame. Have a good rest of day and hope your mum is coping 🤞 xx

Sorry getting through work is a bit of a battle Jojo, are you at least having any less to do helping the other person/department you were doing? Hope you are getting by, not too long til your appointment 👍️. Hope family are ok and your mum & dad as well as possible xx

Glad your head is easing off Keef after the pastry got at you, nice to have a shiny bike, what are you all up to today? :) xx

Sorry your ankle has swollen up Stuart, is it usually the same one that does that? Hoping something helps with that, putting it up etc 🤞 xx hope mum and cats ok

Tea and an afternoon rest for me 😬 love to everyone, thinking of Carol too xx

Hi toady yeah I survived work I've worked a cage with much lighter stuff on so not too heavy for me. But I did struggle at one point I went to bend down and my back nearly gave away which is scary especially at work. I hope you are well and I hope you have had a good day. Yeah my mam and dad are ok thanks. Yeah I just hope this hospital appointment is more helpful than the last one.

another day gone bad here. I feel terrible.

I had Sucré on my own this morning as due to her sickness bug Anda is a week behind on her final assignment for her degree and needed to catch up. We ended up doing the drive through at MacFlees, after which he said I prefer eating in as I get to do my own salt lol. We had a car picnic (don’t tell Anda we ate in her car).
then Anda needed a break so we went to see Niff for a cuppa, I went on bike needless to say ( KTM and due to nice clean roads after the rain and hot tyres there was loads of grip and it handled really nicely). I started to feel rough at Niff’s probably down to the food at the picnic. I’ve just cooked dinner for my two and I feel bad with pain everywhere especially my head. I feel really miserable.

Toni you asked me a question and now I can’t remember what it was but I am off to lay down so i will answer tomorrow.

Strike all take out food off my can eat list.