The Soop Kitchen

You have guns?? I had better watch my step!!

Thanks for the hat crafting but I think I'd better decline - I don't want to add 'hat hair' to my woes!

I was hoping for news of MacS, hope all has gone well for him and you and he have had a good day. It is Thursday!!

We had sad news last evening. I had got back from the school run in Derby, eaten dinner, answered some tiresome emails and was heading for the sofa and TV when the phone rang. It was the wife of one of DH's friends telling us that he had died the previous day. I was so tired that I am not sure that I said the right things either to her or to DH. DH had been friends with him from when they started school and he was just 70 when he died.

I am now going to see Mum - a strange juxtaposition.

Bags and I make do with bows and arrows!

Don't worry grannylyn we're all quite harmless just don't get on the wrong side of Galen

Sorry about your friend kitty

???

Crafting Us lot are pleased that you are a fully-fledged Kitchener. I think that we have a thoroughly decent (if not slightly mad eccentric) group of Granspals. Thank you for your kind words. I'm envious of the Apple thingies.

kitty I feel for you. What can one say that is of any comfort? I'm usually tongue-tied when I hear such news, especially if it's unexpected.

Galen You are trouble enough. Loveable with it.

Before keeping MacS's appointment, we went to the care home. Our friend and next door neighbour was admitted last night. We now have three pals from the village ensconced within the maze of corridors. We were told that our neighbour was in his room...number so and so. Off we trecked. Waving to some of the residents that we're familiar with. MacS never fails to get us lost. Bless his cotton socks. We wandered aimlessly hither and thither and eventually found ourselves at the point from which we started. We were escorted to our friend's room and spent time with him. We then went round in ever decreasing circles until eventually seeing a sign marked exit. It was that funny I couldn't feel embarrassed.

MacSporran has to have a nasty lumpy thing scraped from his scalp back in the hospital a week on Monday. Other skin lesions were zapped with the freezer gun. It (the lumpy thing) is as a result of long-term sun damage. It could become cancerous. Best to have it dealt with asap. We never thought that sunshine could cause skin problems when we were growing up. No sun barrier used when as children we spent hour upon hour playing outdoors.

I need to exercise on my bike. I promise to take care. Easel not repaired but I'm hopeful that MacS can work his magic sometime soon.

It is a blustery, chilly day and the sea is rough. Time to close the blinds and get cosy. Love to you all. Bye for now.

Poor MacS, a further trial and tribulation to add to the list ? Wish him good luck from the Kitcheners x

Your easel leg soop bears a horrible resemblance to my right leg a few years ago......? Incidentally, where did your name originate from? I'm nosy this evening!

Rory's clearly maintaining the upper hand with the young lass, I bet he's really a softie at heart, but trying to maintain the superiority lest she should step over the mark and take his place on the settee ? ?

I had to giggle at your perambulations around the NH; many years ago I worked in one that had formerly been a very large vicarage, with two staircases and umpteen corridors.
I worked nights and got disoriented many times; the only way I could regain my bearings was by going out a Fire Door and walking around the outside, in the dark, and ring the front door bell to be let back in...... I wasn't popular with the other staff ?

It was also haunted.......so door bell ringing in the middle of the night..?

I hope your bumps and bruises are improving soop x

I promise everyone that I couldn't shoot anything live. I started shooting because I realised that I was never going to see OH on Sundays if I didn't join him. Though I am usually the only female there I enjoy the social. I can also assure you that I could shoot much faster with my bow and arrows - To shoot my rifle I have to find the keys to the cabinet, get the bolt out of my case and put the rifle together which takes me ages, then open the ammo cabinet insert ONE bullet then I am ready to fire one shot.

OH has gone off to his mother's funeral today so I took advantage and went into Inverness, wish I had worn my flat shoes! I had some vouchers to spend which cheered me up a bit. The two dogs are stressed without him, they are waiting for him to come home and jump at every noise, going to be a long night/few days.

On the other hand I can eat what I want when I want it, haven't been on my own for years. I know I will be missing him by the morning, perhaps I will be more sympathetic next time I go off for a week to look after the GCs.

soop I do hope that you and MacSporran are not hanging on to your roof as I am aware that it is very stormy in your neck of the woods. You should be resting, like Rory, not roof hanging.

loopylou I believe that it was bags that gave me the name. A long time ago...
Your post made me hoot with laughter. The NH is also on two floors. We didn't dare use the fire exits. Did not want to start any alarms ringing. We were in fact going round in large circles!

Tizliz Do try to enjoy some "you time" during your husband's absence. Naturally you and the dogs will be missing him. It won't be for too long. Indulge yourself. You deserve a treat.

Charleygirl The wind is ferocious. Terrific waves crashing on the shore. It's all very dramatic. Thankfully we still have power. It's at such times that we often lose it. The longest time without, was almost five days.

I cannot watch Andy's match. All I can do is watch the live score on the computer. I'm feeling anxious for him. I believe that I'm about to start a migraine. Zig-zaz lines flashing before my eyes.

Oh! Thank goodness...Andy won. Now we have the final to suffer through.

Do take care, Soop - the weather looks horrendous up your way:
www.xcweather.co.uk/GB/observations

Thank you TriciaF The wind sounds like an express train going through a tunnel. We're staying put.

soop I do agree re Andy. I also could not watch it- I am not sure how he managed to get through but he is up against Novak on Sunday and I am sure that he has rarely beaten him.

Tizliz I think when the cat is away- enjoy your time to yourself.

Alea how is Grace? Is her tail healing or is she being naughty and nibbling?

Alea How is Grace?

A good, blustery Saturday morning to our lovely Kitcheners. I trust that those of you who are experiencing the turbulent weather are keeping safe and warm. I understand that bags has snow. We remain clear. I saw the ferry crossing earlier today. I bet the passengers will be glad to step ashore. The sea is awfully rough right now.

Two female deer visited this morning. They both took off at a rate of knots when a stag also appeared. I ran for the camera but I was too late. He suddenly took flight and then there were none...

Ahoy, kitcheners!! Are you all still there??
You are having some wild weather in North Britain and while it must look lovely, especially from the other side of the double glazing, it can't be much fun if you have to be out and about.
Grace is plodding on, thank you, the tail is healing cleanly I am told as are the legs (which she had licked until they bled, presumably either to distract from the discomfort in her tail or as " the next best thing"). The way she tries to lick the inside of her "lampshade" suggests that she would be at the legs again given half a chance poor girl, it is a saga, you know how you so often wish you could turn the clock back, I am still kicking myself.

I hope you have had no ill effects from your cycling accident, soop, was it like when Bridget Jones fell off her exercise bike in the film? Only joking, and shouldn't, but I trust all is now well. Sadly we don't bounce any more do we?
Wishing you all a happy weekend and a nail biting Sunday morning. What if Baby Murray puts in an appearance? Do you think he will abandon the final and fly home to be with Kim? Let's hope she avoids curries and keeps her legs firmly crossed!

It must be so difficult for Grace trying to find a comfortable spot to settle with that lampshade on. Unfortunately it may be on for ages because as you said, Grace cannot be trusted and if freed from that encumbrance it may well end up with another trip to the vet because she is a "worrier".

I cannot believe that the sun is shining but it is not quite the warmest day of the year.

I did not realise that baby Murray was imminent. I do hope that Kim keeps her legs crossed until Monday.

Alea Thank you for the update on Grace's post op poorly tail. I do sympathise with both Grace and you. I would feel as you do if I was to accidently injure Rory. Time will heal. All you can do is keep her comfortable and give her lots of fuss.
The thigh is nicely bruised and my head remains sensitive where I crashed into the table. Otherwise...I'm as good as new. Still haven't been able to repair the shattered easel. I am so sorry to have damaged it.

Charley It is far from warm in this part of the world. We haven't snow, which is a blessing.
Oh my goodness! Andy's Kim cannot give birth until after the final. Wouldn't it be amazing if he could triumph over Novak? We cannot see the tennis on our TV. Perhaps our pal will invite us in to watch it on his. Yesterday I sat watching the score line only...by the end of the game I had the beginnings of a mild migraine.

soop I thought that the tennis was on BBC2? I could be wrong- I frequently am. I have nothing fancy- it runs on Freeview which suits me. Maybe you could pick up an easel for next to nothing on Ebay?

Alea hugs from me for Grace- she has been through a lot and let you know every step of the way!!!!

Charleyg You could be right. I've checked with the Radio Times. BBC2 2.05 Tennis highlights. I do not think that it will be the entire match. Don't have Freeview. How does one get that?

Hope the "scraping" of the old chap's head went well. OH has a similar thing but we have to put nasty caustic gunk on it - and have to make sure it is all removed before DGC appear. Scraping sounds a better option to me. But they keep coming back and spreading so we would probably be back and forth for the scrapes.

Just finished writing the pub quiz for tomorrow night - I am doing it in aid of Parkinsons UK and hope that people will be generous. We have some good raffle prizes that have been donated. I never know whether the quiz I write will be too difficult or too easy - we will wait and see.

I have managed to miss all the tennis. Is the men's final on tomorrow?

Luckygirl The scraping is to be done on Monday week. The lesser troublesome lumps and bumps are frozen at regularly intervals. The troublesome bits will continue to reappear.
Yes, the final is tomorrow. Jamie and his partner have won the doubles.

Just wanted to show you what was waiting to surprise me late afternoon. MacS has reconstructed the lower supports on the broken easel. It is now far sturdier than it was when I purchased it. I'm chuffed to bits.

Goodnight for now. I shall return in the morrow.