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.

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.

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