Val's Cafe

also, sorry about your mum.

I hope very much that something nice happens in your life over the next few days and that it lifts your spirits and reduces the depression. I know what its like when the depression starts and you can’t see a way out. A horrible place to be. Sending lots of love and hugs and best wishes to your mum.

Thanks skinny keef I'm going to try and take the kids into town with the dogs for a nice walk out and let the kids play at the park so long as my pains aren't too bad.

THERE'S A PM PHOTO OF THE BABY EVERYONE SO LOOK IN YOUR MESSAGES😊

Morning Joan how are you and Pepper doing? I had a lovely walk with the cockerpoo, but not today sadly maybe later on in the week. Did you get some rain? We had a,lovely day then last thing it started to rain much to Sleek's disgust! Take care ((())) xxx

Morning Jojo I was thinking about you yesterday. Not really impressed, but it can be like that first appointments particularly if your joints aren't flaring by the time you get there. Thing is there are lots of inflammatory arthritises (psoriatic for one) which do not give you a positive rheumatoid factor in your bloods. It's good that she has at least taken X-rays and you are having some special bloods taken that GPs don't do - probably anti CCP and ANA maybe others. It could well be Osteo - the pain of that should never be underestimated, can affect multiple joints and does often start in lower joints.

Toady is right my joints were practically 'glow in the dark' when it kicked off for me. They were very hot and inflamed they swelled to double their size. I also had other things to help with my diagnosis though my R Factor was negative at the GPs. Did you go alone or take Michael/your Mum? My first advice is to never go alone if you can help it they really do seem to take you more seriously if you aren't alone. Take photos of any visible swelling even measure around joints before and after a flare to show how much there is.

Your GP clearly believes there is something wrong so don't give up hope yet. ((())) xxx

Morning Reshmi how are you today? Your Mum too I hope she's ok.

Better that the cleaners come on a different (planned) day than that they turn up 3 hours late.

I rather think, in spite of the obvious visual impact of the lavender ice cream, I will stick to fruit salad. Then I can sing the song too😊

Bastille day is a lovely day to have your birthday. Mine is nothing special really. Christmas day would be the worst I think. Not having one single day in the whole year to feel special😕 Lucy was due 21st December luckily a planned caesarean which they do 2 weeks early if they can 'saved' her from one potentially during the festive season.

We can wait for the poem to clear in the bank no rush. Ah there it is! Very good it is too (loving all the lilac pics too I must say) although of course not in the league of LA's masterpiece. That really goes without saying😉 I could actually hear the buzzing of the bee 🐝 and smell those strawberries. Thank you very much.

Will Shakey looked lovely in his picture to BTW.

To be fair dog nightmares would be far worse than bag stealing. Bags are replaceable your face is not if you get bitten.

I am not so bad today thanks for asking just a bit tired 😴

Take care and look out for a PM photo of the baby. ((())) xxx

Morning Stuart how are you today? I hope all is well we had some rain so no watering for me! Take care ((())) xxx

Morning Skinny Keef how are you? I hope Sucré and Anda are doing ok?

You are so right about being fobbed off at the Drs it can make you scared to go. So supportive of you to help Jojo and Stuart while they seek to find out exactly what is going on for them. Jojo went to an NHS Rheumatologist yesterday and gosh it sounded awful. They have a bit more time than GPs but not much more these days. A private one does definitely have more time because you are paying for it.

Making notes is good i suggested photos too when things are swollen/inflamed and not going alone too which helps. Let's hope she gets help soon. Your story must help it was such a hard fought battle. ((())) xxx

Morning Toady did you get the rain last night? I hope you did it was so needed.

Sleek loves her new PJs have yours arrived yet? She is thrilled to bits with hers. Hope she's stopped muttering about 'dog's? Oh and mummies brushing luggs out of her fur😣

I think those trees are rowans yes beautiful and well done getting out. Sorry the other leg is 'aware' that it's compensating for your ankle. 🙄 Hope things heal soon they really must.

Don't ask about my cucumbers and tomatoes nothing has gone well this year 😕 I am with Sucré it's all been a disaster you too? I find that reassuring. I bet Monty is ok garlic excepted of course…..

I know why did we have to carry so much stuff?! It was such hard work and painful on the shoulders. Sorry about your bag. That didn't happen to me luckily. Grrrr😡 don't tell Sleek she might seek out the perpetrators even now ahem ten years later.

Paul was away working the other night so Elfie got in his side of the bed!

Get ready i am going to try to do my PM with pic of me and the baby.

Take care Toady ((())) xxx

lovely photo Toni, thanks for sharing.

Thanks dachshund I hope you are well and I hope you have a great day too.

Look who graduated

hi Toni

Good afternoon

How are you?

It’s much cooler here, thank goodness

yes, you are right about the cleaners although why they have to be about Three hours late almost every time I don’t really
Yes, I am aware that my poetic talents cannot match those of my little nephew haha

Mums ok 👍

LA is going around, telling everyone that mummy has sciatica and her spine is not flexible anymore lol

no secrets in the Maidenhead mansion haha

Yes, fruit salad, yummy and good for us. You are of course well within your rights to sing that song, but maybe not when you come to visit me on the Riviera please 😂😂

Okay I’m going to have some lunch before certain volcanoes erupt
Bye for now Toni tc xx

Ps a cup for nasty M xx

👋Joan how are you? Mum is okay today thank you that’s funny about the bosh wash lol tc xx

Morning all 👋

Yes I jolly well did have late rain frog and can't say I was best pleased - our gardens may well have liked it, but what have they done for us? 🙄😂. It has been a shocking year I can't even sugarcoat it to myself. I do think I need my nice walled sheltered fantasy garden about now so come on lottery 😬 I won a fiver the other day (not on that), the next prize up was 50 grand, so near yet so far 😩. Also didn't win a competition for a collection of plants but at least they are probably in better hands 😄. Ankle is behaving quite well in the time really 👍 should be right-ish, not perfect I doubt but ok, by the time I need to do any walking much going to appts etc so can't say fairer than that. No we can't have Sleek wreaking a little feline revenge on my enemies from the 'recent past' can we, there would be too long a list for one thing 😹 and she has enough trouble with knots without losing clumps of fur in a catfight (yes she did mention the dreaded comb 😣). No sign of the pjs yet, I don't know what got into me really, it takes an awful lot for me to be warm I'm quite chilly even today, it's just wishful thinking for a long summer 🤞🌞. Much like Elfie I don't feel the need to throw back my duvet (15 tog) until things really really hot up. He does look happy 😊👍️. Right am off to look at PM in a min thank you for the tipoff 😀 love to all 😘 xx

Oh Joan 4 screws 😂😂 I suppose it's a prepacked set or something, can't split up dear me no. Well you will always have spares 😂. My ankle is not too bad at all really thank you, I went up the loft to check after the rain (no leak 👍️), that was easier up the ladder than last time. Walking outdoors is awkward rather than painful I think that will take a while to improve more. Have they traded you other boots from orthotics or are they adjusting them, hope either way they'll be better. Not a bad day here still really windy though. Have a good Sunday 😘 xx

Hi bosh have caught up with last night's poem, a nice surprise it had passed me by that there was one in the clearing process, what a lovely summer theme and a cameo appearance by the sandwiches 😄. I was rather in sympathy with the bumblebee even if a firmer line was probably for his own good haha, hard work being a bumblebee so can't begrudge him a sugary shortcut. Yes an odd thing to ask all of your own accord, about the 5 children, not to mention personal 🤨 best to never say anything as a shop assistant I would think you can't even be sure if someone will take a compliment as one. The only time I didn't mind a comment or two was when taxi drivers asked if I was visiting someone in hospital and not immediately assuming I was going for an appt myself, I doubt they'd do that nowadays 😂. Hope your day is going ok and you have caught up a bit more with yourself 👍️ take care have a good Sunday :) xx love that cup btw oh to have the nerve to give that to guests!

Hi Jojo I hope you did get out for an outing, I know what you mean about being determined to go if you have to drag yourself I've done it myself sometimes you just have to, or you wouldn't get the change of scene and the benefit of going etc. Hope the leg will go easy on you for it. Just to echo what Toni said hope those bloods tell the drs something. I'm seronegative as well, and I was negative for these tests, they have to go by the whole picture but as patients we'd rather tests were straightforward answers. Hope your mum is coping and your dad is ok too of course 🤞 xx

Ooh look at Sucré Keef 😀 was it all hugs and presents for teacher and all that 😊 super photo. Not quite yet for big skools breaking up for summer is it but not that long ahead, when he goes back does that line up with everyone else ie just a longer break now I guess? Hope the head & neck pain stays in the background and you have a good Sunday, any plans? xx

Wave to Stuart hope your day has not been too bad since the early start. I have just spotted a couple of tiny tomatoes on my plants (trailing variety), talk about too little too late 😂 I will be doing things very differently next year! Hope your mum is as well as possible, have a good quiet Sunday I hope xx

Love to all 😘 xx

hi Skinny Keef

Sorry to Hear about the pains

I’m Not doing too badly Thanks

it’s a bit cooler here than yesterday so that’s definitely good.
Have a good night take care x

That's so nice about your day Jojo, it cheered me up to read it 😀 ever so well done for going I'm so pleased everyone had a nice time 😊. I hope you have a good night :) xx

Thanks toady I hope you are well and I hope you have had a great evening and I hope you sleep well tonight.

Morning!

Morning Joan oh dear me I do hope the lady was managing to cope with the dogs before she died. I hope they are all ok bless them. You have 2 spare screws now for a DIY project🤣 Have a good day ((())) xxx

Morning Stuart I am sorry these 4am starts are a bit much. I can't remember if you have an actual date to see the consultant? The sooner the better. Take care ((())) xxx

Morning Skinny K I adore that pic of Sucré he is such a sweet lad you can see it in his face.😍

Wish I could post mine publicly, but she isn't mine so I have to respect that they do not want any pics of her online anywhere. Thank you for your kind comment though😊

Hope you aren't doing too badly ATM pain wise and are having a good weekend with the family. Have you been able to get on your bike with that neck troubling you? Fig is booked in for the week after for those advisories. Need her in good nick for her trip to the IOM in September. Shelsley Walsh in July!!!!!! Hill climb with the Fig club☺️

take care ((())) xxx

Morning Jojo well done you bouncing back and enjoying a lovely family day out this is exactly the best attitude given the knock back you just had.

I thought it might be those extra bloods you were having GPs don't tend to do them just R factor and CRP and ESR I think. Start gathering 'evidence' photos etc and next time take someone in with you for support. Michael would be the best of all.

If you're in work I hope you have an ok day ((())) xxx

Morning Reshmi How are you? Is your Mum ok too?

These cups are great really making me smile! 'this is not tea'😮😂

I don't think the cleaners are any good at time management🙄

Glad you have accepted that your nephew is a far better poet than any adulk can ever aspire to be. It's a tough pill to swallow. Luckily you are very good at taking pills.😉

Maybe your sister is now too with her sciatica. Good job LA does not yet have an online profile otherwise it would have gone viral much further than Maidenhead. Oh l do promise BTW to refrain form singing the fruit salad song in that particular area.

Thanks for your kind comments about Arya she is a little sweetie although not in her best outfit she had managed to soak her original outfit in the dregs for her Mummy's coffee cup🙄 Yes I know 1 child four 'responsible' adulks and she still got soaked!

I hope you enjoyed your few moments on nasty M's throne? How good of you to help fund her wardrobe🤣Roughly how old is she by the way I want to see whether my mental image is anywhere near accurate.

Take care Reshmi we just had one heck of a downpour! So LOUD!!!! ((())) xxx

Morning Toady I am very very glad to hear your ankle is so much better and likely to hold up should you need to walk somewhere important☺️ Thank you for you kind comments about Arya and me too😳She is gorgeous.

The heavens just opened! and I mean opened! From nowhere it came down so loud I got up to see what was happening!

We are taking Lucy's friend's bearded dragon to Taunton this morning in the van should be ok although I am a tad afeared😥 She was Lucy's flatmate, but moved back nearer her family who do not have a van. The vivarium is HUGE! but so is the dragon. I have prepared a plastic box (quite large) with hot water bottles and holes in it.

Ok rain has stopped already that was quick almost flooded outside though. No watering again for me!!

Sleek's lugs are all gone for now, but i think not enough grooming while I was away. Elfie has been doing his resistance exercises

Apparently he lost his voice yesterday. Personally I think he was resting it so he could annoy me and Paul all day on the way to and from Taunton🙄 Elfie does indeed feel the cold always wrapped up warm he is duvet tog 12 plus two blankies. Especially if l put the little aircon or fan on. Oh Mu-uuum!

You won a fiver?! Well done but not the plants….probably for the best given your, and my, success rates in recent years. Mind you could have given them to Stuart I think much safer there.

In France a lot of people have tiny walled patio gardens with pots I adore them. That might be safer for us😕

Take care and hope your day is good ((())) xxx

little pig is ready whatever the weather does!

morning Reshmi and Dachshund and Jojo and Stuart. I do hope ive not left anyone out.

My head is actually clear this morning and I am on my own for a few days so just enjoying a peaceful lay in. About to go and make a cup of earl-y off white tea with honey and milk. Yes i know you’renot supposed to have milk with that blend of tea but I am Skinny Keef and i don’t care. 😁