soop's kindly kitcheners and pampered pets...

Are the words yours Daphne? They express a beautiful sentiment. I think the image of the girl and balloon is by Banksy isn't it?

No, alas, not original. One "doing the rounds", but I thought still worth sharing!!

My favourite is 'Sometimes you're the pigeon, sometimes you're the statue'.
Now you see why I'm not suitable for Soop's kitchen.

Oh I like that Jane ! Had to think for a moment...

Jane10

Good morning afternoon dear Kitcheners and pets. It's slightly dank and grey today.

DaphneB Flynn is looking "all growed up" as Torben liked to say when he was still a wee toddler. Your daughter will have been very grateful for your support. How lovely that Grace and Flynn are buddies.
I like the Banksy? The message rings true. I'm sorry that the bug has caught up with you. Take things easy.

Charleyg From time to time I find the doing of housework therapeutic.
The very thought of curry makes my mouth water. It's been an age since we enjoyed such a dish. When we lived in Cornwall we used to treat ourselves to a special meal in a superb Indian restaurant in Truro. A long way to travel but well worth the effort.

Greyduster Do you paint in watercolour? It's a tricky medium. Overworking is to be avoided at all costs. Once a painting begins to look muddy, I either pop it under the shower and hope for the best, or it is destined for the re-cycling bin.

Izabella and Jalima I always wanted to go to art school. My late father wouldn't hear of such a thing. I started painting seriously when I was in my fifties. I borrowed my husband's paint box and as a result I sold my work from our home in Cornwall. However, I'm still learning.

corner Try harder next time...Tyke!
You have skills that have passed me by. Celebration cake baking and flower arranging being two. NanaandGrampy is skilful with paper craft. Having said that, supple fingers are a necessity

Crafting The advice that you've given to ann comes from personal experience. I've heard similar stories from close friends.

Granniequeenie I remember two of our granddaughters giggling well into the early hours when they stayed with us. It was a joyful sound.
I hope that you find your "neat book". If you do, will you share your verse with us lot please.

Jane10 What! Not suitable for the kitchen? Think on. You are blest with a quirky sense of humour. Come on in and make yourself comfortable with us lot...

corner I am sure that your dentist will be delighted to see you tomorrow with your awful cough. Very difficult at the best of times but under stress at the dentist- who knows you may forget about it.

I know how you feel, I am the same, not a place for me. I wonder what he will consider doing but at least you will be able to eat properly. Hopefully it is not a front tooth and it will be sorted under the NHS.

Jane we are very sophisticated and refiined here- each and every one of us. Can you match up to those high standards?!!!!!!!

Back to the cleaning, the floors are taking an age to dry.

Grey day here as well, soop, not much to motivate really. Floors charley? Glutton for punishment. So far today I've had scrambled egg, plan mashed veg and almost minced roast soon followed by chocolate sponge and custard, nothing that needs much chewing .

The tooth is at the top, three from the front if you know what I mean. Goodness knows what he will suggest but as long as it stops hurting I just may not care. My previous dentist thought I was hilarious, he was aware that part of my NHS work was with people, including some of his patients, who had dental phobia. I know . At least I can go through the door now and manage to breathe all the way through a procedure. I dont plan to share my work history with this dentist, enough teasing with a mouth full of metal

So sorry you have the bug, daphne, really hope it's not the boomerang sort. Here today and fone tomorrow is good. Your balloon message is very apt I think. As is Jane's, will view pigeons very differently in future.

Time to deal with some food, please wish me luck for an appointment tomorrow. Have hospital on Tuesday and a financial appointment on Wednesday, need to shop for poorly friend and deliver the shopping on Thursday before trying to take her out for a while. Monday has to happen!

corner I forgot to mention your toothache. Like earache it's a nagging buggeration. You have my commiserations. When I last had my teeth scaled and polished, the dentist stopped the procedure to remind me to breathe. The sound of the screeching instruments is scary enough. I did say that I'd sooner "give birth" I've since changed my mind.
I shall be rooting for you [excuse the pun] and hoping that you leave the dentist in a better frame of mind than when you arrived. You've a busy early week. Best get the tooth sorted.

Corner my cleaner returns on Tuesday and I would hate her to think that I really am a total slut.

I do hope that your dentist is accommodating tomorrow, I am sure that he will be because you must get it sorted. I can barely write about the subject as I also have dental phobia. A lot of unnecessary treatment was carried out when I first came to London in my 20's, it cost me a fortune but at least the vast majority of the work lasted.

My electric toothbrush fell down the loo last night- how I have no idea. Just marvellous because the spare heads I have are not for that one.

Charleyg Sophisticated and refined...who are you kidding

Talking about refined...does anyone know if Galen is still afloat? No doubt she'll tell us all about her adventures once she's home. I miss her gentle little ways.

Okay...I'm about to log off. Darkness is descending.

Thank you for your company. Until tomorrow - and

soop darkness is descending? It is pitch black here.

I agree we have not heard from Galen for ages. I would have thought that she would be home by now- I do not think, but I am not 100% certain that the cruise was for 2 weeks.

corner I hope that the painkillers are working and why not have a tot of whisky or brandy to help you sleep? Purely for medicinal purposes of course. As mentioned, nothing worse than earache or toothache.

Hello all !!

Got carried away with a book last night which resulted in a very late night, then a late start and it all went from there

I agree with all your comments about house purchasers - sadly I am one of those that when viewing I feel obliged to say something nice and enthusiastic. I soooo wish there was a better way to do the whole thing.

The potty training seems to have fallen at the first hurdle Charley. I had a little discussion with my daughter about parenting in general and we decided the most obvious difference in 30 years is that I NEVER asked my children what they wanted for dinner or to wear or even if they were ready for bed. Yet my daughters generation all offer a myriad of choices to their little ones . They then wonder when offered an unpalatable choice the tot chooses something not in synch with mum and dad !!

Greyduster I am sorry but I had to laugh at your poor DH's accident !

I quite fancy the WI soop although my family are convinced I shall end up running it...I'm not much of a follower sadly

Very envious of all you painters...its just not talent I have ! It must be lovely to create something from a blank canvas.

Corner I feel for you. I have a real issue with the dentist and it fills me with horror and dread to go, and like you coughs and colds stop me in my tracks. I cant imagine a mouth full of instruments and fingers and then having a coughing fit. I hope you got an emergency apt though . Fingers crossed for you.

I have a camera club photo to produce for the January contest and today we took Sam for a walk round a near by lake. There wasn't much there to inspire ,me but on downloading my pictures I found a two headed duck that will do a treat !!

N&G I quite agree, I was never asked what I wanted to eat, I was told when it was ready and heaven help me if I wasn't. Ditto with bedtime. I did not have the luxury of a bedside lamp so I sneaked in a torch- that would have been verboten in our house. A bed was for sleeping in. My bedroom as a teenager could easily have been any room in a B7B as I was not allowed to hang up any photos of Cliff, Elvis, Buddy Holly etc.

I am desperately trying not to run the local Macular Society, having been there from day 1. The last leader died a few months ago having had cancer. I notice that new people seek me out by name, this is the work of the woman who is in charge of South East England. I will double as the coffee person, treasurer and introduce speakers each month but I refuse to take over, it would take up too much time organising speakers and outings. Saying that we are going out for lunch next week, organised by me!

corner I have cleaned the dining room area, kitchen, downstairs loo etc, hall floor, bathroom, Tara's bedroom and landing and wooden staircase. I am now knackered so I am going to have a shower and wash my hair ready to watch Endeavor later. The remainder will have to wait until tomorrow. It has shown me the bits that my cleaner misses! such as corners!

My C were both clean and dry by the age of 2 because before and after every meal they were sat on the potty and trained to "perform". The GC I looked after from the age of 4 months was exactly the same. I don't think they suffered any trauma from this. The GC born later were much later and were in nappies far too long in my estimation but I am considered old fashioned. What do others think?

Oh darkness is descending here.
Bring me death and bring it now.
Whoever coined the term "common cold" ? it is not common it is TERMINAL and I am feeling wretched. ???????

daphne I'm with you. . ??. Wishing you a speedy return to life.

Good luck, corner. I'm having my regular check-up with my very good-looking young dentist tomorrow - ah! if only I were 40 - 50 years younger! He has recently acquired a master's degree in root canals of all things! I may have to say 'hands off my roots!'

Thank you cornergran I can hardly believe I am feeling so awful,with "just" a cold.
No wonder little Flynn was miserable occasionally if he felt a fraction as poorly as Granny!!

DB. Do be careful what you wish for ! You may not live to regret it !
Ann I think we are probably all old fashioned simply because we did what was accepted practice then. What I really find abhorrent is little ones, still unsteady with a fork, eating without bibs or some kind of napkin to protect their clothes. The mothers, my two daughters, are forever washing. When I have them on my own I cover their tops in kitchen roll and sit next to them. I'm not supposed to help them and got told off the other day for helping the 2 year old who was sitting at a normal table in an eatery and finding it difficult. To be fair she was actually quite skilful at putting the food in her mouth but there was the occasional messy accident. We did potty train much sooner but current thinking is different. I didn't have disposable nappies so that was a good incentive to get training started.
Get well soon DB ?

You wish, anno. !

Ann my thoughts exactly. My daughter seems determined to make things complicated

I agree Bella , in our house I have cut collars and sleeves off Grampy old work shirts and little ones wear them back to front for eating and painting. I see no reason to spend my life getting tomato sauce stains out of their clothes

Here you are daphne, one of my hot toddy's just for you. ☕️ Drink it down then off to bed for a good night's sleep I hope.?

soop I must confess (but only coz she's not here) to having a bit of a giggle about your query as to whether Galen is still afloat. I am picturing her as a very Queenly ship ?sailing along, pusing all the lesser vessels out of her path.... .

I agree that washing terry nappies was a huge incentive to have babies out of them as soon as possible, and the humiliation of a line full of nappies outside when the child is nearly 3 and playing outside with the other children.