Soop's very welcoming kitchen...

My ex SiL used to hide her empty gin bottles behind the side of the bath!

soop, you would die if you took the side off our bath! ?

The only time we've taken the side off the bath is to replace it!
The toilet is leaking (can't use it but we do have another one) and the oven has stopped working. We're out to lunch tomorrow, thank goodness, not as posh as yours by the sounds of it Maw - bon appetit! although we will be meeting a very elderly gentleman too.

Fancy taking the side off the bath to clean soop! That's something I have never thought of!! Stay safe if the weather gets too bad.

I hope you enjoyed your lunch Maw, sounds fascinating! Tell us all about it!

Hope you feel better soon N&G. I'm gradually getting over the lurgy but went out for lunch with some old friends and have felt like death warmed up since I got back. Good job it's only cold roast pork and fried potatoes tonight!

I hope you enjoyed the cinema GD - a bit of time out might help your brain. I should have come with you. DH and I compete to see who can finish the crossword first (we photocopy it) and sometimes it's me!! Today I couldn't even understand where his answers had come from never mind work them out for myself.

JaneD, I couldn't sleep with a pump going in the bedroom - how long did you cope?

It would have been my Mum's birthday today and I have spent a lot of time thinking about her - which is strange considering our relationship. But, I've spoken to both my brothers who have both been to the grave.

Anyway, off to fry potatoes! Keep warm and well everyone.

soop I do hope that you have sufficient food in case the weather does turn nasty and you have to stay indoors. I have stocked up just in case. Snow rarely lies for long in London but I hate ice. A lot depends on the local weather as to whether Tara will be allowed out of the front door especially as she rarely returns under 12 hours. That is when Alexa is worth every penny.

This afternoon's task was to take the side off the bath, sweep, clean into all the nooks and crannies, empty bathroom cabinet, sort through the contents and dispose of stuff that shouldn't be in it. A task that I'm pleased to have completed.

The weather is getting more wintery by the minute. Should we get our first deep snowfall, the visit to the care home in Campbeltown may not be a wise idea. The friend that I travel with is awaiting replacement hip surgery. Should she slip over, she would be in deep doodah, and I would not be strong enough to help her to her feet.

Please do take good care of yourselves. Poorly peoples...stay snug and get better soon.

granniequeenie Was your evening meal a success? I'm willing to bet that it was. Funny thing, I'm more than happy to paint a picture for someone, but the very thought of cooking a meal for a guest, fills me with trepidation. I thought nothing of it years ago. It could be that I'm out of practice. MacSporran took over the job of being the chef when we came to Scotland. I'm the washer-upper and wiping-downer. A compromise that suits us equally well.

Fennel You're allowed to miss a page or two. It's so good to have you back with us.

Maw Fantastique! Is that French? Whatever, wear your best clobber and best smile and enjoy some good company. You deserve it.

Hello GrannyEggy1 There is a threat of snow in the air. Wind is changing direction. Clouds are iron grey. Sea is lively. I'm in the mood to do more cupboard clearing. Cannot think why it is that I'm in such a frame of mind. It's too early to call it spring cleaning. More like post- festive-season-mania.

N&G Bed rest and plenty of fluids. Also, lots of love from us lot.

Jalima I enjoy watching gannets doing high dives into the waves. All birds are special.

grannysyb I wholeheartedly agree with you. I can vividly recall holding our first grandchild and wondering how she will be when she's "grown up"...that was twenty nine years ago. She is a delightful, caring and creative young woman.

I'm interested to hear how your lunch goes too, Maw.
Having read a lot about the French Resistance, but never actually met someone who was a member.

Jalima how funny! Grannyeggy I've done two lots of soup and am now having coffee before ironing. Still rainy here but meant to get better later. Maw enjoy yous lunch. Have loved all the pictures of babies and older children. Time flies once they arrive, my DGS is doing his GCSE mocks at the moment! Doesn't seem 5 minutes since he was born.

A miserable, grey and very wet morning earlier on - but we were entranced by the sight of three pigeons sitting on the trellis in the garden - having a proper shower. They sat for about 20 minutes, fluffing up their feathers and then lifting up each wing alternately to let the rain wash under their 'wing-pits' for quite some time! I would have tried to get a photo but thought that would frighten them away.

Morning all,

a fleeting visit as I have caught a bug. Not THE bug , just A bug so I am back off to bed but wanted to say lovely pictures soop , beautiful baby , but love the one of you and Torben laughing, natural is always the best for photographs I feel.

Well, I'm off , I'll catch up with you lot tomorrow x

Morning Soop, lovely and warm in here. Its hosing it down here inLondon, and I have an unexpected morning free! Lots to do, so here I am, feet up on Gransnet ignoring it all
Have to go and visit my sick friend this afternoon , so am timing my Gransnet surfing, one hour only and then on with the day - soup to make, washing to do etc; was going walking this afternoon after visiting my friend but it's not calling to me out there.

greyduster!
How is your (pet?) rook now N&G? ?
Predictive text has a LOT to answer for!

Just don’t sidle up to him Maw, and say “‘Allo ‘allo; now listen verry carefully - ah shall say zis only once!” . Hope you have a splendid and interesting lunch!
Soop that looks like about the right ‘boy’ reaction from Torben, there! GS was in a very silly mood when he came yesterday, so there was a lot of that, especially when he found the balloon powered racing cars that had been left here at Christmas and between them he and Grandad managed to make some astonishing noises - but only with the balloons fortunately !
I put on a wash this morning and have only just realised that I forgot to put the soap in. My memory is shocking lately, but I am rather distracted today. We are going to the cinema this afternoon so that will be a diversion.
I will look in later.

I looked for this thread when I surgically detached myself from The Crown and finally made it to bed last night, but missed it and those adorable baby pictures. ??
I am rather touched that I have had my first “social invitation” since being on my own as I have been invited to a lunch party today chez our former MP and his wife to meet a gentleman (I am assuming v elderly) who was in the French Resistance in WWII.
Paw with his father’s war record especially in France, (his Légion d’Honneur was one of the medals I found) would have been the ideal person if he had been up to it and I am sure that is why I have been invited.
I imagine it could be very interesting.
Glad rags on and best pearls, not to mention best behaviour!

Hello everyone! Lovely photos Soop and congratulations. DH’s CPAP pump is completely silent but the mask is whistling like a train tonight! Buggeration! I don’t want to wake him because he has to go to work tomorrow but i’ Not sure how long my resolve will last!

Sorry missed the boat there - a whole page in between

Mia looks so grownup already

Just nipping in and have to own up to a bit of teeny tiny baby envy what a wee smasher she is soop. Maybe my lack of enthusiasm for clearing out could be due to not having a baby in the family these days? Hmm I thought not but it’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it!
No news of the missing rucksack, I’m not feeling optimistic. Not because I doubt the many good hearted and honest folk there are around, more because I doubt the system set up to deal with such things. Website tells you one thing, person at the main station tells you another and gives you an obsolete telephone number to ring. Website says submit report and ring to check after 24 hours, you do that and answerphone message says they don’t take calls at weekends. We shall see!
I’d best be off to tart up a quite ordinary dinner. On the spur of the moment I invited a friend to come round and eat with us this evening so now feel I should make a bit more of an effort. The old boy always says we have nicer meals when friends come round and he’s probably right! I hope those of you with poorlyness are beginning to feel better and any with half a head find the missing bit soon. xx

The weather is turning. We had a decent walk this morning. Now the wind is wild and the sea follows suit.
I'm logging off until tomorrow. stay warm and safe. Especially those of you who are fighting off the lurgies that are at present doing the rounds.

Here is the photo that still makes me chuckle.

kitty Could Kiwi's lack of enthusiasm be because he hasn't had the time/energy to mark it with his personal scent? Cats are wondrous creatures. Best not attempt to understand their quirk little ways.

I've blitzed the kitchen cupboards. Wow! The result is pleasing. I feel all useful and housewifely.

Greyduster If I can find it, I shall show you Torben's reaction as he coaxed me to read out a certain book.

Hi everyone! I think I might have the other half of your head corner, I certainly don't have a whole one - haven't had for a couple of weeks - hope it come back soon as I'm starting to worry about dementia!!

Fabulous baby photos soop aren't tiny babies scrumptious!!

It is good to sort things out, isn't it? Really satisfying! And if anyone would like to do some more I still have a box of stuff from Mum's that has been on the dining room floor for 11 months! and one under our bed that has been there even longer.

Your 'turning out' must have been very satisfying Maw, but also sad. Hope you are ok! [flowers}

Love the chicken image N&G. Our downstairs loo has a sign on the door that says 'Poo Room' which Bertie finds hysterical.........every single time he uses it. The girls ignore it!

Maybe other people who have cats living with them as owners could explain why Kiwi is refusing to sit on the lovely new throw I have bought for his chair in dining room (which matches the two new cushions I have also furnished him with) and now sits in DH's place in the lounge?

Off now to do roast pork, I must be feeling a little better as I am looking forward to both cooking it and eating it!

Not long till the new kitchen opens - who is in charge of refreshments?

Soop she is beautiful, and she has some very handsome chaps dancing attendance on her! Shape of things to come, methinks!
N&G I will show that image to GS when he comes this afternoon - little boys like anything even vaguely scatological! It might just have put me off breakfast eggs for life, though! Well, I was halfway there already!
corner my mother also had to wait on tenterhooks to see our children when they were small - they were both born abroad and though there were lots of photos, they took a while to get home. There are a lot of downsides to the digital age, but the ability to have instant images is not one of them IMO.
We are waiting the arrival of DD and her menfolk who are coming to eat me out of house and home have a nice roast dinner. If there is any pineapple upside down cake left after GS has been at it, I will share it around! Don’t hold your breath though!!
I will look in later.

Indeed a beautiful baby and proud dad and grandpa soop. My ma in law lived a long way from us and when I think how long it took to get photos to her I feel sad. She missed out on a lot. Different times I know, still sad for her though.

The tidying bug seems to be winning over the germy bug here today. Had a long lie in, still only half a head but I do have more energy so am having a go at the kitchen drawers. Break for coffee now before finishing. I think I’ve been very lucky, have been nowhere as poorly as many. Fingers crossed you understand.

Loved the image n&g, about my humour level . Hope Grampy is better soon.

Right, onwards with the tidying and the throwing out while Mr C isn’t looking .