*Soop's kitcheners*

Thank you dusty, she is loads better now but I promised not to tell anyone as she was quite so don't tell her I told you. I thought it might make MacS feel a bit better.

Thank you everyone for wishes and words. My daughter's hen do really was perfect. With all the items of pottery "blanks" the shop had also delivered a book of images for inspiration. Everyone had been chatting and laughing and then the room went quiet for a while as people became engrossed. It's a funny thing what wielding a brush and a palette full of paint can do, after the initial quiet this lovely buzz of chat arose from the younger people. I just listened and really enjoyed myself (I was the only "old mum" there).

Today we were at my very pregnant DIL's (or "the baby factory" as she is affectionately called, by my son) birthday party. It's all go at the moment.

I do stop and think about what others are having to contend with - Bella hugs.

And I've been following the McS's progress too.

mc that sounds marvellous, for the brides.

Good morning dear kitcheners...the weather here in bonnie Kintyre is glorious. I've been walking through the village, alone. Stopped so often to give updates on MacS's progress and have only just returned. Such nice people. Like wot you are

Thank you to Flora's mummy for the delightful card and message. I'm looking at it right this minute. You are very thoughtful.

The wee hoos that has been built in our pals' orchard is looking so pretty. It will be an additional extension to her b&b business. Very well suited to "walkers"...it's perfect in proportion and sits so well alongside the wee burn with views across to the Papa of Jura. A party will be held there in the not too distant future.

Meant to say...you are very thoughtful, Dragonfly1 (((hugs)))

Soop (just taken me 5 mins to figure out how to make your name in bold - these new fangled gadgets!). It sounds as though you're having a lovely day, I can almost picture it. When you've finished with it, can you send some sun down south it's a bit gloomy down here.

Crafting We've all been in your shoes. You are managing the system famously. I'm so chuffed that you're one of the regular kitcheners...'though you do realise that means you're about to become everso slightly wacky. Hang about with us lot for just a bit longer and you'll understand what I mean. It's a marvellous day. One of the best for ages. I've been weeding in the garden. I got down on my knees easily - but the getting up again was bloody difficult. As a result, my back feels like it's been jumped on and my knees are locked rigid-stiff. Apart from that, I'm in good spirits. Sending love to you all.

More gentle hugs for dear Bellasnana

Beautiful sunny day and I spent it going round in industrious circles

Another thought I had was, years ago, whenever I saw a forecast for a sunny day, my immediate thought was, oh good, sunbathing weather. Now, I hear the same forecast and last night immediately thought, I might even get ^two* washings out to dry, get on with more weeding and finally could hardly contain myself when I also realised I might even get the shed painted. Oh, deep joy!

. Sending some your way Crafting and well done figuiring out how to,do the 'bold' name. It takes a wee while to get the hang of something new. Isn't technology wonderful.....when it works?

Hello dear Agus. When I was very much younger, I would sunbathe for hours on end. Now that I'm "grown up," I find that the sunshine makes me feel sick. Of course, when I was young the sun was GOOD for a body. It isn't quite like that nowadays. I have umpteen sun [liver] spots on my legs and arms, including two on my upper lip. Sometimes, I appear to have a moustache...all most unladylike. Hey ho! As bags would say.

Off to wash my hair. Ironing job in the morning. I shall return after lunch to catch up on all the gossip news.

Take good care of each other.

Soop xx. Any update on MacSporran today? Well done Crafting, took me ages to work out the fiddly bits on here!

Welcome Crafting- we are all a bit mad on this site but pleasantly mad.

As if I did not have enough going on here recently with the roof leaking so that the front bedroom ceiling nearly collapsed and had to be replaced, replastered and painted.

Last week I had my on line account scammed. They only took £99.99 which was replaced but it is the hassle that has been the problem, not having access to money for over a week other than taking a trip to the bank.

I have just had to call a plumber because my upstairs loo is permanently running and will not fill up. It is head in the electric oven time.

Charleygirl, we are all going to have to come over and sort your plumbing out. Thank goodness your oven is electric.

Can you lift the lid (gently) on the cistern and see if you can flush it manually. It may just be a washer that needs replacing. Perhaps .....

Slightly wacky and pleasantly mad sounds like I've come to the right place! Thanks for sending the sunshine - it was slightly overpowered by the grey clouds and rain but hey ho. Pardon me for getting personal on such a short acquaintance Soop but how's MacSporran's bits today!

rosequartz it is one of these modern pieces and the cistern lid does not lift without using tools, nor is there an overflow outside so if there is a mega problem, which the plumber assures me could not happen, my bathroom will be flooded.

Replacing washer days are over. He showed me the "piece" which would have to be ordered and replaced, it is huge. I did not bother to ask him the cost because he was not too happy to do it today, I assume because of the cost. He is very much make do and mend which works sometimes.

Oh dear, all smart and fitted in like the one in our ensuite, and impossible to get to. We had a problem with ours and had to call the plumber back again.

Yes, rosequartz it is part of my fabulous shower room which I still like to look at, 3 years after it was finished, mainly because I think I chose the correct wall and floor tiles. I think it, with the downstairs loo area, would sell the house, not that I am going anywhere.

soop I do hope that MacSporran's blisters and nasty rash are settling down and are not so painful.

Bellasnana your house will be overrun with the we have all sent you. I hope that today is better for you, you just have to take each day as it comes.

Yes, Charleygirl, you are quite right, I've run out of vases now for all the lovely flowers you have all been sending

This morning we have been out with the estate agent who wanted to show us a selection of properties to give us an idea of what is on the market. We are selling our house as it is too big for us, but we aren't sure what or where we want to move to from here. Anyway, it was interesting and there were some possibilities, but nothing that really said 'this is the one' to us.

DH is supposed to be going up in a little two-seater plane this afternoon - his birthday gift from DD3, much to my horror! He should have gone yesterday but it was too windy, so we are waiting to hear if it's on for today.

Hope all you lovely kitcheners are doing ok and that MacS is fully recovered from what ailed him.

Bellasnana how wonderful for your DH - I love it when I do something really thrilling, it makes me feel alive. And flying in a small plane rates really high on that scale .

That's why I also sometimes walk in the rain and just get wet! (don't like being cold though) ...

Message to the kitcheners from soop. She won't be in the kitchen today as she needs to get a man in to fix her computer.

I hope your DH has a lovely flight, bellas.

Soop is having a bit of a rough time, what with spots and wonky computers! Bella, what a lovely birthday present for your DH! Hope he enjoys it. Big hugs.

What a great gift for your DH, bellasnana. I hope the weather has proved favourable for his flight.

Good to hear your DH is doing exciting things, Bellasnana. What a fantastic gift.

I hope soop's pooter soon gets fixed and we can hear news of MacSporran's progress.

Yes, would love to hear how McSporran is getting on.

We are off to Sicily for 10 days very early on Thursday, departure from home at 3.15 am (:. Let's hope we get there, as Etna is erupting again and Catania airport is quite close. Will be taking 2 days to travel over to West side in Trapani- stopping on the way for 2 nights (nothing booked).

The weather was too windy for DH's flight so he's hoping to be able to go on Friday. He starts chemo next Tues so needs to take his flight before then.

Granjura I hope you enjoy Sicily. Etna is about an hour and a half drive from Catania airport, so you should be ok. Are you going to Taormina? We go quite often as it is not far from Malta. Hope you have a great time.