Soop's Extended Extension.

Just called in with a plate of shortbread - help yourselves everyone - especially Alie. You definitely need spoiling today! It's made with what my dear old Mum always called "best butter". (I never knew what other sort there was and she wasn't one to challenge about such niceties!). Might just have a five minute tinkle on the piano whilst I'm here - a few nice gentle folk songs I think?

Thank you, Bellasnana What is it you're going to see? Naturally you'll be missing your husband. I hope that he returns home in good spirits.

Tuesday's scan is to be carried out in Campbeltown and won't be stressful [apart from the fact that MS's bladder has to be full...the second procedure will take longer and we've to go to a hospital in Glasgow. Thankfully, he won't need to stay overnight. What we hope for then, is a satisfactory outcome.

Back to the ironing

I hate to see trees being felled. However, for safety's sake it is necessary. Alie I'm about to tackle the ironing. I shall leave you in peace. If you catch sight of the otter you will be so chuffed. MacSporran was waiting for the bus on one occasion and almost missed it because there was a pair of otters cavorting in the shallow water.

Ogm - four lots of stuff sounds awful. I had two lots of 'Moviprep' which was bad enough! You might want to try sipping it through a straw rather than chugging it all down - I found it made it a bit easier. Good luck with it anyway
Hello dear soop - excuse me for not stopping but am off to the 'Thursday special' at the cinema with DD3 ( only 4 euro each!). DH has begun a new job today so I am missing him a bit.
Hope all goes well for MacSporran on Tues. xx

Oh, it is so good to just relax. I will watch out for the otter.

Just one man on a triffid pulling ivy, quite quiet. They will get to the big trees sometime, maybe not today.....pity about some of them, but the biggest is dodgy and MOVES, all of it, in a high wind.

Oldgreymare I am due for a 'scopy sometime, but since they didn't mention it last week at the JR in Oxford, neither did I....it will happen next time probably...I hope someone is going with you.

I love the way the Scots always say...'take a wee seat...we'll attend to you in a wee while...'

Welcome, AlieOxon...sit yourself down. The chair by the window is vacant. You may, if you are lucky, catch sight of the otter. Rory, who is wearing a lofty expression on his face, is helping MacSporran with tidying the garden.

Ivy can do a heck of a lot of damage. Bet there are a good many spiders lurking in it. Which reminds me, we haven't had a single spider in our house for almost two years ... we have the chestnut essence to thank.

'Havering for Peace'...I like it.

I got here at last. Have been talking to my gardener who came round just to see the carnage next door. I think they are just about to get at the ivy on the roof now...I hate to think what the tiles are like under that!

Thanks for the note soop. Lovely crumpets!

'Blether' is such a nice word!
Reminds me for some reason of a peace demo I was on in Scotland years ago, can't remember where - and a group of people arrived from London, with a banner saying.....'Havering for Peace'..........!

Enjoy the sunshine, ffinnochio. We are enjoying the weather here today. There is barely a whisper of a breeze. The sea hasn't looked so calm in a long time. I'm still hoping to see the otter. Camera at hand. He may have returned along the burn. At one time we considered purchasing a wee plot some distance away. Before getting too involved with planning permission and the likes, we had to visit the "Otter Man" who lived in the neighbouring village - he needed to establish that the otters were not using the burn that ran past the plot. If so, permission to build [and disturb the creatures] would be refused. He told us that the Latin name for otter is Lutra Lutra

Happily, I've an afternoon to myself as Mr.F has taken himself off to see his heart consultant. Very independent is Mr.F - thankfully.

The buttered crumpets are delicious soop - only do lavishly buttered...

Off out with camera while the sun is briefly shining.

Oldgreymare Lovely sunny/chilly day in bonnie Kintyre.

Oh, my darling girl, the Picalax is indeed very thorough. Have had plenty of doses over the years. Sudafed is soothing if you should get a sore bot. I hope that all goes well for you.

You are not at all silly. I've always formed a fond attachment to my cars. One such car was - Monty Mitsubishi - when I parted sold him, I felt rather tearful. I then purchased a second-hand red Mini Cooper. It had an automatic gear box. I could never get used to it not kicking in with sufficient oomph whenever I needed to overtake.

Afternoon Soop, I've been for a walk too (with a group of friends, between us we decided we needed more fresh air and exercise!) It was very muddy in places, surprisingly
Will be thinking of MacSporran on Tues, I've recently had a scan and am now booked to have the dreaded colonoscopy, the preparation for it sounds horrendous, 4 lots of 'clear-out stuff' and a warning to stay close to a loo!!!!!
Car damage means 'trade-in' price reduced, but not by too much as it is destined for a car auction (I feel sad about that and would have preferred it to have gone to a good home! Silly or what?)
Too near lunch for crumpets thanks, will pop back later for tea and cake tho', someone is sure to be baking

Good morning to you lovely Granspals. We've been for a walk through the village. We've blethered and returned home to discover that the snowdrops are in bloom. I'm always amazed that such fragile wee blooms are so hardy.

MacSporran is to have the scan on Tuesday. Later in the week he'll be having another procedure, during which, I shall be meeting bags, which is always a treat.

I've some lavishly buttered crumpets to share with you. Also some quince preserve.

Looking through the window and watching an otter on the rock. It has slipped into the water. If it returns, I shall try to photograph it with the long lens.

Charleygirl Do you know that there is a condition called hyperesthesia? I discovered it when I Googled Rory's extraordinary symptoms. He appears to believe that he has something that is attacking his middle back...

soop Tara has similar turns but she does it to tell me that she is about to do her business in the litter tray upstairs. I have 3 rugs on the landing upstairs and Tara freqently skates along them at high speed so that I frequently find a rug in the bathroom and her in the shower. I am sure that she wakens my neighbours as this fanfare frequently happens after 11pm at night. 2 minutes later she is calm and back to normal.

All of your photos are amazing.

AlieOxon I like the fact that it glows. The sun was about to sink out of sight. I should have rushed out with my camera sooner...I blame Gransnet.

Thanks soop.
yes I could really do with them removing themselves!

Is that pic what you call 'lowering'? Not meaning it brings you down, just a bit ominous? Glowing though.

The photo of last night's sunset is not one of the best but it is still delightful. It's at position 4 in the album.

Sorry for being on the late side. I had a mad yen to clear and clean the utility room. Dust and cobwebs removed. Stuff binned. All looks and smells fresh.

Rory has just this minute had one of his "spins". He's fine now. It's very unsettling for both him and us but the episode is just a few seconds in duration. Thankfully, he has no more than two spins in any 24 hours.

dustyangel thank you for the tips on how to store avocados. Bisexual aye! Whatever next?

AlieOxon...as Charleygirl says, the sooner that house next door changes hands, the better. Your stress levels are being sorely tested. I shall make you a and

I'm about to take a look at the flash drive. May discover an image of a pleasant sunset. If so...I shall return very soon.

I hope that the sale of the house next door is sooner rather than later for your sake.

I don't know if the neighbours are broke or misers - but the council can put the bill on the next sale of the house.....

Must get up here and start the day, had a knock on the door just now and thought 'they want to come in here now' - which I am expecting if they intend to remove the big tree- but it was the postman with goodies (free) from the Family History fair I went to on Sunday!
Back in a bit.

Allie, delighted to hear that they turned up. I wonder how long this work will take. Will the Council present your neighbours with a bill?

Mornin' all - anyone awake?
Sound of the big shredder next door woke me up.....now the chainsaws...

Still, I go to sing this afternoon and get away for a bit. I will stay here for now and nap.

One should be once of course.

I hope your sunset means that it will be fine for you tomorrow soop and yes, I do the same as Nonu,put the avocados in the fruit bowl until they are ready and did then you can keep them in the fridge for about a week after that if you don't want to eat them straight away.
I visited an avocado farm one, and a gem that stuck in my mind is that some Avocado trees are bisexual and have both male and female flowers in one plant.