Soop's friendly kitchen

I wish you had Agus it might provide a counterbalance to the overwhelming “all men turn into Victor Meldrew/ grumpy old gits” philosophy.
It’s like a bandwagon and yes, there are LTB undertones too.
When did we become so intolerant? I appreciate people need to let off steam (aka have a rant) but this is of of the few places (aka threads) where you can sense that there IS joy in living, that despite life’s ups and downs we can be there for each other and that not everything has to be somebody’s fault
Wishing you ☀️where possible.
If I can work out how to put my Nilfisk patio washer together (think 1000 piece jigsaw or super complicated Lego kit ) I might make a start before the rain!

I found the joy suckers thread very depressing too kitty but although I posted on it, I don’t think it was the place to mention my own happy marriage.

N&G. The card appealed to my sense of humour ?

Discovered I’ve lost an earring somewhere today. They are a similar style to my original engagement ring and I’ve had them over 40 years. A quick internet search shows nothing identical and even if it did it just wouldn’t be the same. I’m unreasonably flattened by this. Mr C is trying to be positive and saying things like ‘it might be in here somewhere and we’ll find it’, trouble is that isn’t helping a bit. Daft to be so upset by a ‘thing’, but I am .

That is the truth Agus !!

soop don't worry. You have so many people to keep track of in the kitchen (such is it's popularity) I don't expect you to keep up with name changes too.
Hi Agus glad you like my new name. I'm quite pleased with it myself but possibly noodle would be more appropriate ?
ann so sorry you have additional worries but your DGD sounds like a girl who is very caring and very close to you. I am sure (having you as a grandmother) she will work her way through this difficult period. Just pleased she has you to turn too. Sounds as though you are doing a good job of keeping the peace between her and her mother.
I haven't read the joysucker thread (not sure I want to now) but I think you may be right maw that those with a loving relationship have not posted. I think there are many of those people in the kitchen who, like you, have had, or are lucky enough to still have, a very loving caring marriage.

The thread is very sad , let's hope it helps those people to do something to help their situation , no point in moaning if no intention of doing anything about it

Corner DH has more of the drops, but also an appointment to see a consultant next week, which is progress. I think they are concerned that the intervals between the flare ups are getting shorter. I hope you manage to find a suitable present for your friend; I’m better at buying presents for friends than family if truth be told!
kitty DH bought an old railway pocket watch at an antique fair and were given an estimate by a local watchmaker for refurbishing it so that it kept going for more than a few minutes; it turned us quite pale! It is still awaiting attention! Family heirloom timepieces are a different kettle of fish, though, and deserve “above and beyond”!
We went out today to buy four things; some carpet shampoo, a couple of plate stands, and some airflow practice golf balls. Outlay? Five pounds thirty. We ended up adding a new mattress for our bed, so it ended up being a very expensive outing. When we set out from home, nothing was further from our minds. Lord save us from impulse purchases! I have a particularly bad record with choosing beds; this one had better be a keeper or I will be spending the rest of my life in the spare room with no hope of reprieve!

Sunshine? What’s that? It’s been a grey old day here today. Dry but heavy cloud and blowing a gale. Didn’t stop the food shop though or the flipping paperwork this afternoon.

Oops soop. Sounds a productive day in spite of it though. I’ll think of you enjoying your red when I enjoy the white currently chilling.

I haven’t ventured into the ‘ joysucker’ thread, the title deterred me. Seems just as well.

Bit of lateral thinking with the clock seems to have solved a pricey problem kitty, good result. Can understand your granny’s clock taking priority. I’ve a tiny watch that belonged to my Gran and would love to have it working again. Will get to it one day.

We no longer have a garage to absorb ‘stuff’ from goodnes knows where, we do have may sheds though. How do they untidy themselves? One of life’s mysteries. . That’s a result gaga, hope you've got your feet up by now. The garage decluttering when we downsized was the most tense part of it.

How’s your husband greyd? As you say it would be good to understand the why of it.

Decided to drift off to look for a birthday gift for a friend tomorrow. Could take a while. We’re meeting up in a couple of months on her birthday to celebrate hers and mine. I know it’s a while yet but I like to be prepared. I know what I’d like to buy, the question is will if I find it? Definitely not if I leave it to the week before.

Been thinking of you and your granddaughter ann, hope you can be easier in your mind about her.

Time for some food - no idea what - and feet up. I seem to have been glued to the computer today

Take care everyone.

In sympathy with your painty foot mishap, Soop,I am raising a very nice little glass of Laphroaig to you!

I too found the “Joysucker ” thread profoundly depressing.
I can only think that those in loving, happy relationships, like present company, did not feel moved to post.
But you know, why do something you dont enjoy but then make sure nobody else gets to enjoy it either?

I've almost finished painting the kitchen. My arm aches. The brush is far too small. MacSporran is grateful and will help me to finish off the fiddly bits tomorrow. At one point I stepped back off the steps and planted my socked foot neatly on the upturned paint pot lid. I swore! Then I put the sticky-socked-foot down on the wood floor (where there should have been newspaper, and wasn't). As you can imagine, from that moment on...things became a tad fraught. Thank goodness for white spirit and kitchen towel. Thank goodness that MacSporran was in the loft. It took me ages to wipe up the foot-print splatters. Ah well...it's Friday evening. I may force myself to enjoy a glass of red a little later.

You lot have been far too busy. I shall have a mega catch-up with all your news in the morning. Hugs all round.

gaga, DH is determined to sort the garage soon. The thing that worries me is the fact that we will have to empty the garage to begin with. Where do we put that crap useful stuff while the argue decide what to do with it? What if it rains? Oh, the stress! And, last time DH did it, he had a brilliant idea - putting the freezers at the far end, if I hadn't stepped in, we'd have died of starvation as that end is totally inaccessible now.

ann, the situation with your GD must be a worry for you but at least she is confiding in you so you must be doing something right.

We've had a good day so far. We had a man round to quote for mending our two 'good' clocks. My granny's clock (called the grandfather clock although it's actually a grandmother ) will cost £450 which made us gulp but is worth it to me. The other, an art deco mantle clock which we just love was quoted at £275. We bought it at an antique fare for around £50 and were not prepared to spend that much on it especially as the other clock is more important to us. So, we went to Hobby Craft, bought a battery operated kit for £13, Dh installed it and it's working just fine!

I found the thread about 'joysucker' husbands terribly depressing - did anyone else? I thought about starting a thread about lovely husbands but thought that might be rubbing salt in the wounds. Maw, your post was lovely!

Well done, Gagagran. You'll be ready for a cuppa too. Come and join me in the cafe ?

Quick report back on the marathon garage-decluttering going on here. We have done one third of it and a packed car load (which I designated as "not needed on voyage") has been deposited at the tip. It is now so much easier to actually get in there and the last two thirds should be accomplished with less debate!

Once I actually get Mr Gaga in motion we make a good team. It's only taken me six years.

Hello to all in the kitchen.
I'm feeling rather pleased with myself as I got out into the garden and tidied up some straggly plants, cutting off the dead stems and cut the grass! My goodness, it was wet, but needed doing. Unfortunately my oomph departed for doing the grass at the front, but hey ho, there are days not touched yet ( but it forecasts rain for tomorrow ?).
At least I've made a start. Need a nice cup of tea ☕️ and a biscuit ? now, any left in the cafe? ?

Rubbish weather here too but I did manage to cut back some more hedge so that MrBaggs can paint our oil pipe. Only about three metres still to go. He'd jolly well better get it done (rain permitting) before the hedge gets rampant again!

I feel guilty saying this in the light of Soop’s rubbish weather, but “what a difference a day makes” down here!
Warm sunshine, blue skies, birdies, lambs, doors and windows open and even gardening!
This is what Spring should feel like. I wonder which season we will get tomorrow?

soop if I pay your fare to bring you here, would you be willing? You sound as though you are in the mood for it whereas I am not. Tara would love your cuddles in the evenings and my shower is working!!!

callgirl1 It's ghastly weather we're having today. Peeing with rain and a tad windy with it. Said hello to David. It was busy at the campsite over Easter weekend. See you a week tomorrow.

Agus You jest!

Greyduster Awww!

I'm decked out in my workwoman-like clobber. Time to attack the walls with gusto. The skirting boards and window sills look dead posh. All scuff-free and sparkly.

Doodle Oh! I hadn't a clue. A nasty senior moment of epic proportions.

ann Although the latest upset is horrible for you to deal with, I cannot help but feel relieved that your granddaughter is in a place of her choosing. She knows what is best for her. It is your daughter-in-law who needs to give some serious thought to the situation. She will consider the whys and wherefores and hopefully reach a satisfactory solution. I hope so. In the meantime, your granddaughter needs your continued support. Thank goodness that she has you to turn to in a crisis.

Hello the kitchen! Ann I hope an amicable solution can be found to your family problems - your have enough at your door as it is. What a shame you couldn’t have had that carer from day one! Sod’s Law.
I am sitting here with damp feet, as I have just washed all the floors and I did it the wrong way round, so that the ones that are drying last are the ones I have to walk on first (DH usually does it - he has a system!). In future I will leave it to the expert! At the moment, he is at the walk in eye clinic at the hospital yet again with a flare up of his scleritis. I wish they could get to the bottom of what keeps causing it. They did say it might be an underlying condition, such as arthritis, but can’t be sure, and the GP doesn’t want to speculate either! At least the facility we have here is one of the best in the country according to our optician, so he is in good hands even if they don’t really know what’s going on. It will be more steroidal eye drops I suppose.
I had a text from GS this morning, asking if, as we are having him on Monday, he could stay on Sunday night, as daddy is running a marathon on Sunday and may not go to work the next day so won’t be able to drop him off! Then I had a text from DD who said he was a little liar; daddy was going to work and GS is just looking for an excuse to stay! I have told him he can sleep in the shed, but he’ll have to sweep the spiders out and bring his own sacks to lie on ?! He hasn’t texted back yet!
I will look in later - I think my floors are dry!

Time to start spring cleaning!

Hi Doodle, I wondered where you had got to. Like the new name?

The carer has just been for the last time, I am very relieved as we can work to our own timetable now.
I found it hard to believe but on the very last day he was here at 9:40am ,an hour and a half earlier than even the best day.
A charming man who came to this country from Malawi 17 years ago and now feels fully integrated in life here.
He was very intelligent and so interesting to talk to.

I am waiting for my GD to ring, her mother has txt me and I have replied, we are both keeping it very cool and civilised but....

A dull day here to match my spirits but hopefully it will clear in every aspect.

Callgirl Tara understands the word "no" and when she is extra naughty as Mia has been I put my finger close to her face, say the word no and she does get the message. They are little tykes at times are they not? I am lucky, Tara does not appear to like my newish three piece suite.

corner forget about this spring cleaning lark and when the weather heats up in May, just think you can spend every day in the garden sunbathing, reading or whatever and just letting the world go by. Maybe make life easier for yourself and introduce Mr. C to supermarket shopping and the kitchen. I know, you can but dream.