Soop's Kitchen Extension

Galen It's so nice to help the DDs out, isn't it? Yours must be very glad of your help.
Gracesmum I would have loved to go to that talk. I wonder if you have been to the Penlee Museum and Art Gallery in Penzance? I used to go every time I visited my aunt who lived near PZ.

gracesmum it might have been an ocular migraine. I get them occasionally. The first one I had was in a tribunal and I went completely blind for about 10 mins and I had no idea why. very discombobulating!

I've just staggered in for a reviver.
Galen I hope you don't overdo it!
My lot have only been here for 24 hours and I am ****ed. The mountaineer is teething, so has red cheeks, snotty nose, sore bum and wakes at 5am. The 4 year old just has the runny nose - I don't think I have ever seen either of them without some form of stickiness from the nasal orifice smeared across their faces . The house is like a bomb site I can't see the floor for toys, the mountaineer has bashed a toy on my very expensive (not) Ikea kitchen coffee table so it is now forever pockmarked, peed on the bedroom carpet and vomited on the pillow................but I love it!
for GM Anno Liz OGM and everyone else who has problems or is feeling under the weather

Gally for you

Bliss Gally

GM glad things are brighter today.

Galen it's great though, isn't it.

I would stay but the fish pie is smelling gorgeous. I'll bring some left overs in later. Rory might eat them if no-one else fancies them.

Gally enjoy your granny Bliss.

for everyone having a rough time just now. It can be a tough old world sometimes. Try to keep positive and enjoy Soop's wonderful kitchen.

night all.

mrshat thank you for your words.I must get to soop's kitchen more often.

My DD has gone home again with DGS (nearly 6 months). They have been here for 2 whole days, and it has been wonderful. Since DGS is going through a 'wake every hour on the hour' nighttime phase, we the GPs got to keep him all to ourselves from 6.30 each morning so that DD could catch up with some sleep. Gally my house is a bomb site too, baby stuff was spread liberally around every room, but now they have gone and it feels as if the air in the house has stopped moving. Just done a trawl for left behind essentials. Phone charger, baby monitor, 3 bibs so far....
How was the ballet anno? I hope it perked you up, so you feel brighter tomorrow.

Thank you all for your kindness yesterday (and today). On balance things were better although we spent time in Weston hospital whilst my daughter had her foot replastered when she had hoped to have the plaster removed, so big disappointment for her but she has chosen a plaster in attractive shade of red which matches her hair.

So sorry I blasted off, everything just got on top of me but thank you for being here for me. The chocolates were delicious and really helped yummy! to you lovely people.

Icy, Swan Lake was breathtaking. Matthew Bourne's early production has apparently undergone some changes, but it still packs an erotic (and homoerotic) charge. The all male corps de ballet was brilliant and all the principal dancers maintained their characters throughout. The choreography and the story were completely in accord with the passionate music of Tchaikovsky. When we got back on the coach to come home, everyone was smiling. A great evening.

Hello. I've managed to drive the car [beautifully methinks] from Campbeltown and parked it neatly in the drive. Mr soop nodded appreciatively. I feel right chuffed.

Catching up with you lovely lot takes time. I'm doing so as I drink a large mug of freshly brewed coffee. There's plenty in the pot for all of you.

First of all...Icy We are glad that you have found your way to Gransnet. The more, the merrier.

Gally I love your post. It is so true to life and brought back the happiest memories of time spent with the wee man. After time spent with him, my collar was indeed wet with snot. My specs had been sucked to within an inch of their life and were strangely misshapen. My watch usually ended up drenched in bath water and in need of specialist attention. As for taking three minutes to have a wee...no way was that on the agenda! All those cups of cold tea...mashed rice cake crusted into my hair...wet patches on my jeans, where the nappy had come adrift...and stuff and clutter, pots and pans, everywhere. Priceless.

anno I have a video recording of the Matthew Bourne production of Swan Lake. Must watch it again. As you say, a great evening.

LizG There is no need to apologise for anything that is discussed in our kitchen. It's here for the purpose of allowing good friends the space to "let off steam". We all need a listening ear from time to time. There have been umpteen occasions when, in tears, I've looked for support...and, without a doubt, I've never felt truly alone, no matter how grave the problem because my Granspals have listened. Then of course, we have occasions when a celebration is called for. I come here to share because sharing with comrades is a special privilege.

Galen you are doing a grand job.
Thanks for the fish, kitty...Rory is partial to anything that in no way resembles the vets costly diet gravel.
Nellie "granny bliss" that's a lovely description for the calm and chaos of minding a grandchild.

Gracesmum keep your pecker up. I hope that's not a rude expression. If so...keep calm and all that jazz. You are a spirited lady.

Hey I have missed you guys (guyesses) today! Both feeling a bit tired today so slow to get going but took DH over to the optometrist while I browsed in the gorgeous wool shop run by the lovely Ana (Spnish) a few doors along for 45 minutes , £50odd poorer and a bag of the most wonderful colourful - reds and all sorts - yarn later I am feeling inspired. I wonder if I will finish this garment??? (This time?) It is a longish waistcoat in lovely chunky yarn which looks as if it has been knitted already if you know what I mean - remember french knitting? A bit like that and the needles would double for caber tossing duties so it should go quickly!!!
Treated DH to a better lunch at The Bull and then discovered a lovely gallery/art shop with beautiful cards and really tasteful things which will be ideal C.... pressies. What a pleasant outing - now to catch up on GN news with a very large mug of coffee. I am reading of busy grannies Galen, Gally amonst others.
Oh, janeainsworth yesterday's speaker did mention the Penlee Museum and apparently there is a special exhibion of St Ives artists until late November (alas too far for us) but there is also to be one in Worcester in February. Both curated by himself. His name was Tovey and he is the great grandson of a "founder" artist in the late 19th century called I think Tibbett, You can tell I was really listening but I was so blown away by the paintings I was not paying a lot of attention to names and dates!!

gracesmum Wool shops are amongst my tip top favourite places to visit. The garment that you are knitting sounds super. Big needles and chunky wool...can't get better than that. As for purchasing interesting cards...a visit to an art gallery is a must.

Lunch at The Bull sounds very Home Counties. In and around Northants [where my family live] are some picturesque villages, each with at least one good pub. Our wee Scottish village has no such thing. We usually travel 24 miles to The Royal Hotel in Campbeltown for a good lunch. Either that or the Glenbarr Nursery, which is always a treat.

It's a grey day in bonnie Kintyre. The ferry couldn't make the trip to Islay yesterday. The sea was mountainous. Normal service has been resumed. The ferry looks almost ghost-like as it glides across the horizon.

Knitting, a cup of tea/coffee, a biscuit, a sleeping dog (or cat if you prefer) - all of these spell RELAXING to me (or as our PM might say CHILLAXING). happy emoticon.
What does it for you?


But it would help if Grace would realise that a ball of wool is NOT her teddy or a cat and therefore NOT to be attacked

Glorious sunny day here a cold pale blue sky makes me long to be near the coast so I do love hearing of your special view.

When Greatnan Carol was missing I wrote this ( over a period of a few days, coming back to it as there was news/no news)

The night surrounds me with velvet darkness,
There is no moon, no silver light to guide me.
Tall firs, dark swords, thrust into the void,
Fallen leaves carpet the forest floor
Deadening any sound that might be heard.
All is quiet, all is still.

Another dawn,
Chill early -morning light filters through the motionless branches,
A heavy dew
Settles on the decaying leaves.
A cold sun rises, no warmth reaches me.
All is still, all is quiet.

I see a thousand candles.
No need for moonlight,
Their light will guide me.
Nor sunshine,
Their warmth will comfort me.
Messages of love shine in their flames.
All is quiet, all is still.

Oh lovely ogm. Thank you.
Working hard this morning - and driving to MIL's for the weekend. M6 was as joyous as ever. She is now watching a melodramatic US version of A Christmas Carol.
I know what you mean about wool shops gracesmum they are the only kind of shop that seems to offer serious temptation these days - but no good accumulating lots of yarn and never completing any projects. Have brought my hat crocheting project along. Unpicked it once and in redesign phase.
Saw an older woman this morning (coming out of the gift shop opposite) in a striking hat. A black trilby with a scarlet brim. Very stylish. I admired.

Very nice words, ogm. You have set me off again! It has been a very emotional day as it was the funeral of a friend of my daughter. He died on Wednesday after a tragic accident at work and I haven't been able to think about anything else. My heart just keeps going to all those who loved him, particularly his parents who have lost their only child at the age of 27.

Oh how sad bellasnana - when people moan about health and safety they forget that there are still many deaths from workplace accidents

OGM that is so evocative of the actual area. Your last verse in particular moved me: when those virtual candles were lit, it was indeed comforting, wasn't it?
The ballet sounds wonderful, anno, dramatic and highly charged with music to match. Some theatrical events are so completely stunning, you can't help but be uplifted even if they are harrowing - that sounds like nonsense, but I remember seeing Diana Rigg as Medea years ago and it still makes me tingle to think about it. There was complete silence for at least a minute when it ended before a storm of appreciation. (The couple in front of me turned to each other and said comfortably to each other "ooh, I did enjoy that". Heh ho.

I love your poem OGM thank you so much for sharing. Such helpful words. Dreadfully sad for you all Bellasnana (((hugs)))

Your knitting shop sounds to be a perfect place gracesmum but I did laugh when you said perhaps you might finish it this time. I love knitting but have so many unfinished projects it is unbelievable. Perhaps I should bring in all my spare wool and we could swop our wools here in the extension

That is so sad Bellasnana. As parents we expect to outlive our children.