SOOP's kindly Kitcheners

Thinking of you Galen

I have delivered DH to the hospital first thing, DD to Northampton for meetings about a play she is designing, loaded all our towels into the washing machine and am now sitting down with a cup of coffee and GN and I intend to do absolutely nothing for the next hour at least

Well deserved, Alea.

Alea I'm really sorry to hear that your husband is feeling unwell. Bless him, the regular visits to hospital for transfusions must be awfully tiring for both of you. I was born in Northampton at the Barrett Maternity Home. As an adult I used to enjoy going to the Rep theatre. Is that where your daughter is having her meeting?

Brendawymms Had I been in your position I would have fretted throughout the night. I'm so glad that the ticket is sorted. Take good care of it.

dustyangel Torben would love the dried seahorse. You are sweet to mention it. I fear that it wouldn't survive a trip through the post.

janer ...will do. I need to familiarise myself with it.

I've been singing songs such as 'Campbeltown Loch' with the group of lovely ladies in the care home. From hereon, I've a lift on Tuesdays. I shall therefore spend more time with them then. Our pal will have both of us visit on Fridays.

Galen I'm also thinking of you.

It's now the Royal and Derngate. The Royal is the original theatre, now refurbished, a little gem and it is what they call a "producing" theatre, I.e.they produce plays from scratch but it is not a repertory company, each production is individually directed, designed and cast. The Derngate is a big modern theatre adjoining it which "buys in" big touring productions. DD Is designing a world premiere of Brave New World for September for the Royal. Their productions are usually excellent and not infrequently transfer to London which is when we kick ourselves for missing the opportunity of seeing a play closer to home!

Alea Yes, the Rep, as I remember it, was a gem. The last production to which I took my boys and late Nana was 'Dark Lucy'. Derngate, when I was young, was the busy bus station. It was always fume-filled and utterly dreary. The United Counties buses left from there.
I'm fascinated to learn that your daughter is connected with designing productions. She must be very gifted.

MacSporran has attended both. Several dramatic productions at what was originally 'The Rep', one of which starred Frankie Howerd. In the Derngate Centre he saw the excellent pianist Jorge Bolet playing Rachmaninoff's third piano concerto.
When we met, I lived in Devon and he in Cornwall. We were delighted to discover that we had connections with Northampton. In fact, it is possible that we danced together when the Convent girls attended lessons at the Boys' Grammar School. At that time, I had a crush on a lad known as Porkie Beadsworth. MacSporran remembers him well.

What a name!

galen only a month to the cruise. I am beginning to really look forward to mine which is leaving on the same day!

bags He was a well-built rugby player. I would go out of my way to meet him but he never noticed me...and on the one occasion he tried to make conversation, I was rendered tongue-tied.

galen...a cruise? Where will you be visiting? How lovely for you. Have you started to pack?

Soop I had to laugh at the idea of the convent girls dancing with the boys at another school. Our nuns would have been freaked out by that. We were given dancing lessons but had to take it in turns to play the male role. Later in my younger life I was told off for taking the lead, or trying to. My DH doesn't dance so it hasn't been a problem since. Your nuns were clearly a more emancipated, or less evil-minded, lot than ours were!

Bye for now. Stuff to do. I wish you all a peaceful evening.

Bellanonna One nun allowed us to play Bill Hayley's 'Rock around The Clock' in the lunch hour. Mind you, meals were ate in silence. Every lesson ended with an act of contrition. I have no fond memories of my school days. The nuns were very strict.

Gosh Soop, Bill Hayley being allowed? One of our girls was caught playing rock around the clock on the hall piano and given detention. Probably more because of the type of music than playing the school piano in itself, which was off limits anyway. However we could talk during lunch. We, instead, began every lesson with a prayer, which had to be in French or Latin if appropriate to the lesson. Yes the nuns were over strict. Not the happiest of times.

Hello kitcheners! I'm looking forward to going to see the "Mack and Mabel"matinee, with DD and DGD tomorrow at Chichester Festival Theatre. Michael Ball is Mack and an American girl is Mabel and there have been some brilliant reviews. DGD is a stage star in the making so it will be interesting to see her reaction to the show. Then we are meeting up with DH, DsiL and DGS to all have a meal together to celebrate DH's birthday. How lucky are we?

Good afternoon from a fresh and breezy bonnie Kintyre.

Gagagran I'm sure that you will have a wonderful day, filled with many treats. I like Michael Ball. Do tell us what your granddaughter's reaction to the performance was. Happy birthday greetings to Mr Gaga

Bellanonna We also had to say a prayer in either Latin or French, depending on the lesson. During a Latin lesson, I was busy writing an innocent "love story" in an exercise book. The sister asked me to share the book with her. It was taken to Mother Superior's study and I received a hum-dinger of a telling off.
Although I was non-Catholic, I spent far too much time praying in the Lady Chapel...don't ask me why.

soop - yes, resonates with me too. Those were not "The Days"

Good afternoon kindly kitcheners.

I am new to GN and thought this would be gentle way start (practice!).

May I offer a piece carrot cake to you all by way of introduction - not made by me as I am an awful baker, but bought at a local crafts fair this morning. I have already had a slice and its very tasty.

I have been stalking/following you all for over a fortnight since discovering this wonderful site and feel I know you all.
ps just tried to do the crossing out thing but it didn't work(confused) neither did smiley thing !!! Need help.

Welcome to you themoll (interesting name) The clue

Posted too soon.
I wanted to say the clue is to practice and preview. Much easier to experiment there.
Having just resisted a dessert while out at lunch, a slice of carrot cake would be lovely thank you.

Aha! Just read the instructions again and now used square brackets. I didn't even know they were on the keyboard .

Well, I've learnt something already. Sorry, just chuffed. I wont take up any more space.

thank you so much for the welcome dustyangel

themoll A very warm welcome to the kitchen. We always say...the more, the merrier. It will be good to get to know you better. Us lot love cake. Some of us try to believe that calorie-free cake is not merely a figment of our imagination. I shall therefore eat a whopping big slice of your carrot cake. Your honesty is well received. I am not anywhere close to being a "good cook"...unlike many Kitcheners. I love craft fairs. Home-made is good. I wish that I could have joined you. Whereabouts do you live?

Do you Kitcheners realise that since June 29th we have had 522 posts?

Hello soop

I live in the Midlands. Its been a lovely sunny day here today and I have been out walking our dog in the surrounding fields this morning. Not much of a gardener either, I have made lots of mistakes along the way, but I do enjoy it and have been faffing round in it most of the afternoon.

Just to put your mind at rest - the cake was definitely the 'will not add weight' sort!