Soop's Friendly Kitcheners and well behaved pets.

We have survived a week of looking after GC, mentally and physically drained. Have to cut back on medication now so that I can drive home tomorrow morning, just paracetamol from now on.

A WEEK wobblybits??? I take my hat off to you. You and Mrs P deserve a very long lie down in a darkened room relaxing weekend to recharge your batteries. Wow!!

DB, we already have it booked, 4 nights at Warners, Gunton Hall in a weeks time (had to give MrsP time for the washing.)

Virtual medals on their way wobbly, three days is my limit. Pleasant day here today, sun warm enough to entice me to have a walk on the beach. Last push on Sunday and home should be almost home again. More disruption to have a radiator fitted but not for a month and in fairness minor, so happy face here .

I think MrsP deserves the biggest medal.

Wobblybits so kind of you to allow Mrs.P time to do the washing! I would have wrapped it around your neck!!! Still, a week looking after the GC is admirable.

I made some weird soup today: broccoli and apple. I followed a recipe. The soups I make by not following a recipe (fridge and freezer soup) are usually the best.

Ooooh! I like the sound of broccoli and apple soup.

Do you use salt in your soups bags (nearly put soops by mistake ) I love soup but can't seem to make one that tastes of much without salt. What was your broccoli and appple like?

Yes, I use some salt. How much depends on whether it's leftover gravy that I use as the stock or stock made from from a boiled up chicken carcass or other 'bone-meat' (what my eldest brother cried for when he was little and only given little chopped up bits of meat from the Sunday roast: "I wanna bone-meat!"). Gravy will have had some salt added already, bone stock won't.

Why wouldn't one use salt? Most things need a bit of seasoning and we do need some salt in our diets.

One of the reasons make my own soups is that I find bought soups far too salty. The other reason is that my homemade soups, made from whatever's kicking around and needs using up at the time, are simply better. Boast? Me? Never!

I always make soup from leftovers. Broccoli stalks, old bits of celery (there is always some lurking in the back of the fridge), i keep frozen bell peppers to add in. Dried peas, red lentils and pearl barley. Then divide up and freeze - main use for microwave is for defrosting. Haven't tried making it in slow cooker yet ....

I like to eat broccoli stalks raw. Am I eccentric?

Wobblybits May I add huge congratulations to both you and your long suffering dear wife for enduring coping with a very long week of grandchildren minding. I would be knackered worn to a frazzle. Mrs W.B. deserves a jolly good pampering after she's done the laundry...

bags the soup sounds sooper. As for salt...when my younger sister was asked by a domestic science teacher - 'Where does salt come from?' she burst into tears and replied...'How would I know...'

cornergran I like your smiley face. I'm wearing one right now. Four lovely photos of our darling grandson have made our day. I shall share one with you.

anno No! However, if I did so, I would suffer from chronic wind...

Good Morning Lovely kitcheners !

WB I am exhausted for you and may need to take a nap !! A whole WEEK ?????? You and Mrs P are obviously saints and made of far sterner stuff than us.

But oh what memories you have made you your GC. Priceless.

Soup sounds lovely Bags . I got a 365 -soup a day book 2 Christmases ago and am working my way through it. We now have some new favourites but there are some strange ones in there too.

I make a fabulous stew in which I liquidise all the veggies as I am not a fan ( turnip, swede, carrots etc) Then and small diced ones too for those that do like them. We swear that day 3 is when it hits its peak. But I am partial to dumplings and they are always good .

soop your grandson is handsome and I suspect has a cheeky streak !! He's lovely.

Jackson face timed Grampy this morning and this is how the conversation went

Jackson : Hello Grampy , I'm ironman and Cooper is Captain America( complete with costumes)
Grampy: I can see ...you look very good.
Jackson: Do you have any baddies there?
Grampy : I'm afraid not ( no imagination Grampy!!)
Jackson : What about Nana? Tell her she can be catwoman !
Grampy : ok I'll let her know. Bye.

Later Grampy relates the story to me and say ....and Jackson asked you to be Fatwoman !!!!

I gave him the look....he may never recover !!

NanaandGrampy Priceless!

Another pic of Torben, taken on returning to school a short time ago.

soop I've said it before and I'll say it again, Torben would make me a very handsome grandson in law!!
?

soop that young man is growing so quickly. He always has an angelic look on his face!

N&G I am not sure if Grampy would still be staying in my house! I think that alternative accommodation may well be on the cards!

I have had a busy morning. I have waited for 2 days for Aldi to deliver 3 items. The first email today said the parcel would be delivered today, the second email within 3 days. It arrived mid morning.

On Thursday I ordered 3 items from the Macular Society. I desperately needed a magnifying glass as I have not been able to read a newspaper for months. This package was coming on Monday but arrived around 1.30pm so at least I do not have to stay in on Monday. I eagerly await my all singing and dancing TV. I only hope that the wifi connection is okay.

soop Torben so resembles you ...there is no mistaking he's your GC .

Lona well........ I have a Grandaughter too so we might have to do rock ,paper, scissors for the lovely young chap !!

I do love receiving a parcel Charley even if I know what's in it.

anno, Toad (that is, MrBags, which latter I'm fed up of typing) likes coleslaw made with grated raw broccoli stalks. I usually add some pumpkin seeds, raisins and small bits of carrot.

A little joke for WB

I liked that Tizliz.

Just come into the kitchen for a large glass of something. The sun must be over the yardarm somewhere. My H has lost his off switch or it needs attention. He talks at me nonstop, mostly questions I can't answer or I have a!ready answered 20 times today. I have been taken to task on a thread I should have stayed clear of and JL have just rung to say something I have already been waiting for for 2 weeks will be another 2 weeks so I have cancelled the order. The money was taken out of my account on Oct 11th and won't be back in for5 days as its the weekend. I am very fed up and now I must start shopping round again.

Right now they could put anything on that didn't hurt. The zebra stripes would sure be a talking point.
Been driving home from Leicester, didn't want to risk any side effects from co-codemol, so kept with paracetomol, doesn't work, cant wait for 4:30 when I can take some co-codemol.

For anyone that drives East on the A14 near Cambridge, there is a scruffy old Little Chef called Herbies American Diner just after the Cambridge services. We stopped there for the first time today, excellent, good food, friendly service, give it a try.