The Soop Kitchen

I have OH's flat cap, which I hang on the bottom newel post if unknown tradesmen will be in the house. (no, that is not a typo for cat flap)

During WW2, when most men were away, women on their own used to acquire a police helmet and hang that on the coathooks in the hall. I gathered from my grandmother that they did this during WW1, too.

A dog lead/chain and large dog collar prominently displayed would be useful.

Your Gary's a big lad isn't he Galen.

My hall is small, I would probably fall over the shoes, slippers whatever and injure myself. I will stick with my fibs I think. I also have good neighbours.

I came on here to have a look because there were so many posts - and LOVED it ?. Nobody being difficult, or trying to stir up trouble, just lovely chat and conversation. Can I stay? I wasn't sure if I have to have some sort of Scottish connection, and hard as I've tried I can't think of one although we do have a timeshare by Loch Rannoch. I will be quiet and sit in a corner ?

Maybe it would be a sooper place for me too - not too sooperficial, but soopposedly 'safe' from unpleasantness. I can claim a Scottish connection either though - except if you count being brought up with 'Oor Wullie' And 'The Broons' comic books thanks to a Scottish friend of the family.

I feel you and I are 'singing from the same hymn sheet' as the saying goes, Imperfect. Let's hope they take pity on us.

Hope so.

Charleygirl perhaps you could let your neighbours know next time you have strangers come to look at anything you want to get rid of. Otherwise, some charities will come and collect furniture as long as it has the fire retardent label.

I am thinking of having a rackful of slippers of various sizes put in the hallway for after I have the new carpet laid

Am logging off now as I'm having problems on the tab. Go-slow Sunday!

Jalima yes, I know about the fire retardant label which this sofa does not have. I will have no difficulty getting rid of the two armchairs which were bought much later and do have the certificates in place.

Normally I can look after myself, I thought it very unwise to have two male strangers in my house mid evening and when it is very dark.

Badenkate and Imperfect27 you will find that this is a very pleasant, helpful site. I promise that you do not have to be Scottish!!! I am but have not been back since 1979.

I ran to this sight a long time ago with my tale between my legs -I am probably a sensitive soul but I did not like the way that I was attacked as opposed to being spoken to- there is no necessity for that.

You will find it pleasant and very relaxing and you will pick up tips as well. Enjoy!

Badenkate Imperfect27 and Jalima Wow! Us lot will love having your company. We're almost sane, some moreso than others. Are you good at baking? If so. us lot are partial to lemon drizzle and date and walnut cake and sticky flapjacks. Virtually calorie-free means that we can scoff away without feeling too guilty.

Galen "Your" Gary sounds very well trained. Does he have a favourite chair and a mug with some sweet message on the side from which to enjoy his coffee? Are his slippers tartan?

Charleyg Jalima is right. There is a charitable organisation in Campbeltown that collects furniture. We've donated a couple of items that were in good condition and had lots of life in them. I like knowing that someone, somewhere, is happy to give them a home.

Elegran I've often thought that whenever we get a cold call on the phone, I should casually mention that my husband is a policeman. Completely untrue but it would almost certainly dissuade any unsavoury character from pestering us.
MacSporran (my husband) for our new Kitcheners has been known to reply to a nuisance caller asking to speak to speak to him...'Sorry, he's in prison. I'm looking after his missus...' It has worked a treat.

Scotland lost to England at Murrayfield. I realise that I, as an Englisher, should be hollering for England. We are "born-again Scots" [ahem] and as we live in bonnie Kintyre, we always root for the Scots. Makes perfect sense.

Baden and Imperfect I am Irish not Scottish and have been welcomed on here with open arms. Settle in and have a virtual I'm sure Soop will be along soon.

Woops crossed posts Soop . Sorry.

Thank you all for the lovely, warm welome. I do love baking and am sending you virtual slices of apple pithivier - a real cheat when you buy the ready-made pastry, and of course guilt free!!!!! It's my latest try at something new.

Happy Sunday everyone.

Imperfect27 once you get to know us you will discover that we are not fussy re food- home baked is to die for and who is bothered about ready made pastry? Not me. Calorie free is the reason I am never out of the kitchen. I also like to stroke Rory although he prefers an undisturbed 18 hour snooze.

Hello Judthepud I'm glad to see you in our kitchen. Make yourself comfortable. Rory remains fast asleep on his blanket on our bed. He enjoyed a long meeting with his daughter, Tortoiseshell cat, last evening. I so wish that we could watch them as they sit in the utility room. The moment one of us touches the door handle, she takes flight and sits close to her lodge. It is at this point that she has "seconds" and has never been known to waste a morsel.
We haven't seen Mother cat for a very long time. However, one of these days she may surprise us.

I'm about to return to the water colour portrait. So far...so good.

AWFUL windy weather and the sea is huge. No ferry today. It's far too dangerous to be afloat.

The heavens opened in NW London yesterday evening after darkness fell. Tara came home with not a drop of water on her. Today has been sunny mostly and it is warm enough not to have the heating on, there is no wind.

Tara popped home for lunch and is now having a few hours shut eye. She and Rory could sleep for their respective countries. She kindly allowed me a decent lie in today.

Thank you for the welcome. I can't offer any cake at the moment as I'm on a diet (again). Even virtual cake seems to add on the pounds. However, a cup of tea sounds great.

Hope everyone's enjoying their Sunday, but I do hear reports that Imogen is on her way

Gary's slippers are plain brown and his mug ( black coffee) has Nuclear Electric on the side. A left over from my husband's working days.
Mind you, on a Friday night it's a pewter tankard with Llangorse on the side. A sailing trophy from dh's dinghy racing days.

Badencake...Imogen is just outside our window. Our lovely bird cherry tree is being battered yet again. We've had to secure it with thick strong rope and anchored the rope to a heavy concrete blocks. We're very fond of the tree. It is a picture in early spring.

Charleygirl Rory awoke not so long ago. MacSporran said the usual ...what a goooooooood boy comments, fed him, sat down to read the newspaper, Rory now asleep again on Mac's lap.

Charleygirl I had a pair of very comfortable recliner arnchairs in Dralon, which had lost their swinging fire ticket and I couldn't remember whather it had been green or not. I made this very clear when I put them on Gumtree. The couple who took them were non-smokers and were quite happy with them. They said they were unlikely to fall into a drunken sleep with a ciggie in their hand!

Galen So, Friday night is special. Does Gary wear his slippers on special occasions? Have you seen that man on Facebook wearing a skimpy thong-thing (and fairy wings) for added effect? Go on...take a peak. Bella and I have...

Elegran A lady in the village was woken by her fire alarm at 5am Friday morning. The electric heater had somehow set fire to her sofa. Do not know all the details. Thank goodness for the alarm. It most likely saved her life.

Elegran I did not mention fire retardant tickets and neither did the two punters who came to see my sofa. I will be on tenterhooks until I see it actually leave the house on Friday. I have shown them where to park near my side entrance and I will have every door unlocked etc in preparation for the grand move. I feel I will need a glass or two of wine afterwards.

I think it is the charities that are particular about fire-retardent labels; MIL had a very nice rocking chair and a Parker Knoll chair with worn-through upholstery, but the charity would not take them because we didn't have the label. As we had no room at our house and were in a rush to clear the house we had to put them in the skip - carefully in the hope that someone would retrieve them! That was before Freecycle.
I often think about that Parker Knoll chair and wish I'd had kept it and found a little corner for it.