soop's kitchen

Good morning all, mind if I warm my hands, it is really chilly in Somerset. I have just re-read your knicker joke moomin and it did make me giggle. Don't think my sense of humour was switched on yesterday.

I have just joined a chorale society after many non-singing years. It is quite a strain and when I listen to others I realise how lacking my voice is. Hopefully with time and practise.....

Made some more shortbread if anyone wants it.

I have just found this lovely thread and not sure why I have missed it ! Please can I come into your kitchen Soop ? I can make us all a Bramble and Apple pie and perhaps a bit of custard to go with it.
I too have to leave the house tidy when I go away which is quite odd as when I am here it is always in a mess ! If I have warning of someone coming I dash round like someone half demented with a duster and hoover. When I eventually move to a smaller house I am promising myself to replace the mahogany polished (?) furniture with something which doesn't show the dust as much.

Moving into a new house some years ago which had fitted cupboards in one of the bedrooms, I proceeded to give the shelves a bit of a clean before putting stuff away. At the back of one, were a couple of slides (of the photograph kind) which had obviously been overlooked. They were saucy pictures of the previous lady of the house taken of her in her underwear!

Needless to say, I didn't pop them into the post to them!

Re books, Iam I know exactly what you mean! Our loft is stuffed with books and OH's study has shelves of them. Must get up there and get minimising

We're off to Scotland on Saturday, for a week near the sea in what looks like a great cottage, wood burner and on the beach. So - not only am I cleaning and tidying for when we return.... I'm getting two rooms ready as we're pushing the boat out and paying someone to decorate them whilst we're away. Anyone want to help shift shelf after shelf of books. I've been quietly and sneakily minimising the number of Mr Iam's books in recent months, but he is off work and planning to assist today (darn it)

He he Granny 23. But I have to tell you that a few years ago I found a haul of unknown - and quite saucy - knickers and things, and a few socks as well at the back of the bed in the spare room.

The culprit was my cat who carried them round in her mouth like lost kittens. The neighbours knew who it was, but not where she lived. Trouble was, everyone was too embarrassed to claim their own.

In the early 70s we had a phantom knicker nicker who came back several times to our shared drying area - took bras as well. He only took the best stuff leaving us with just the grotty greying things. Months later the Police came round to invite us to attend a viewing at the station and reclaim any items that we recognised. I think we all declined when we heard that the haul of around 100 items had been found in the home of two men who had been using them for 'dressing up'

Certainly a bloody cheek if he/she had left the pegs in

Talking of pants going AWOL. In the early sixties some silly sausage whipped a pair of my knickers off the clothes line. Even took the pegs. Bloody cheek!

moomin Yay! Been there - several times.

Nfk and when...side of bath removed. Nothing dead behind it. Ashamed to say that there was an awful lot of dust. Got me coughing. Need a . And, while I'm here...a couple of your delicious flapjacks, when. thatbags is keeping a low profile. All very well giving us the recipe...I want a freebie...and another couple for later.

Anyone come across a large spider recently? Apparently there is a new species to our shores and it most unpleasant because it's bite can make a mere mortal unwell. It wouldn't need to bite me to make me sick. The very sight of it [huge] would put me into a state od hysteria. It's likened to the black widow only it isn't black

I have an oven in need of a good scubbing if anyone feels the need - one of my most hated jobs! soop with you on the cleaning and tidying thing before going away. It used to drive me mad when I had teenagers and one was left "home alone" for a night or two and I'd return and find chaos (and no, he'd not had an all-night party in my absence), the family still reminisce about the day I hurled an empty frying pan onto the kitchen floor in a rage - seemed slightly more sensible than hitting him over the head with it!

My airing cupboard is fine thanks - unless you look underneath the hot water tank - which it sounds as if Soop might. Remove the bath panel? Do they come off?

If only you had mentioned it earlier "Nfk dumpling"I could have come over and cleared out your airing cupboard for you......that is if I knew where you lived!! It is my favourite chore, once it's tidy and everything is in its right pile all is well with the world! AND you do find that pair of pants which you thought had been stolen from your linen line!!!
I too cannot come home to an untidy house!!

soop!!! Think twice before that bath panel comes off! My daughter noticed hers was loose and found a recently deceased squirrel under there! It had got in through the open bathroom window. Ha ha! I heard her screaming from 8 miles away

Back for a nice and when I've done my duty.

NfkDumpling All these offers of help around the house are very much appreciated. When I last looked in the oven, it was passable. I'm about to remove the side of the bath. Why? You ask. Because I need to vac the dust and cobwebs. ...just in case I do not return from my trip [and someone else gets to inspect behind the scenes.] Pathetic!

Very good of you to offer to help with the housework, wisewoman but Mr soop has already volunteered. when I accept your gracious bribe offer. The flapjacks will do nicely, thank you. If I wait much longer for a sample of thatbag's homemade cookies, I shall become faint with the lack of nourishment.

Oh, I am so pleased to hear someone else feels obliged to spring clean the house before going away. I say it's because I hate coming home to a grubby/untidy house, but really I think it's my anxiety kicking in as I always clean when I'm uptight.

I shouldn't really have called in today. I'm trying to avoid nice things like flapjacks and cake. I just had a health check and been told another pound on and I'll be clinically obese! Does your oven need a scrub?

Sorry, soop there's a few scone crumbs under the rug . I meant to come back and tidy them away. Here's a bribe tray of flapjacks to make amends

Mmmmhhhh. Ice cubes chinking and a warm glow spreading. Do you need help with the furniture now I am reviving?

wisewoman I cannot comment as I haven't found the thread. Nevertheless, put your feet up and I'll put my new Scottish tartan rug across your knees. There's a G&T with a slice of lime and some savoury wee biscuits right here beside you. Relax. Enjoy the music...I hope that you like Chopin.

It's back to shoving the furniture around and doing a proper job of cleaning the house. Can't go away for the family gathering without making sure everything is spic and span.

I have just escaped from yet another thread turned nasty. I would like a wee G and T and some gentle chat, please. NO wonder this is such a haven.

Another hoolie of a wind day. The sea is proper churned-up. Spume bedecks the beach. All very dramatic. Sorry to hear that you are stuck on Arran, Elegran... although it is delightful island and if you have a cosy place to stay, good company and get to eat cake, that's a real bonus.

Gally I hope that you're feeling much brighter today.

Mr soop has taken the car back to the garage in Campbeltown for yet another repair. The roller-bars [?] need replacing. This will be the third time. All down to the shocking pot-holes on the one and only road between here and Campbeltown. We're given to understand that the road is to be "upgraded"...may mean that it will be repaired on a regular basis.

I'm in my usual "must clean under and behind all the furniture" mode. This awful panic stirs within me whenever we're about to go away for a few days. The washing machine hasn't stopped since first light. All the laundry has to be washed, ironed, stacked neatly away before we lock the door. It's a form of madness.

I'm so happy to find so many lovely people relaxing in the kitchen. Please be there when I return next week. I shall have lots to tell you. I shall lots of new photos of the family gathering.

The dog spent happy hours on the sand earlier in the week. She was delighted when we stopped the car there again yesterday for her to step outside for a while. Took her three seconds to decide to jump back in again.