Soop's friendly kitchen

It didn't seem right to post a 'happily married and not all men are like that' Maw. The Op was clearly not in a happy place. As I said, I almost started a thread along those lines but it didn't seem right.

Anyway, I'm hopping mad about posting some advice on a thread, having it ignored and then 2 people posting the same thing. I'm chuntering in here rather than on the thread!

I'll put the kettle on!!

Fair enough, I didn’t quite mean it like that, but I suspect that for the majority RL life is not as black and white as it can seem to be online.
A combination of grumps and smiles, spats and making up and mutual tolerance go a long way!
Anyway, mustn’t pursue this or I’ll have teacher after me

I think you have described marriage (well, ours at least) accurately though I would include a good dose of laughter.

And, you are allowed to be more sensitive currently Maw. It doesn't seem fair, does it?

Morning the kitchen
Just started raining here so no power washing today! Have 3 rooms to ready for the decorator coming on a Monday. All jobs put off while DH was poorly.
I agree about the ‘other thread’. DH was incredibly positive and looked for the joy in everything even in the difficult days of chemo and the final struggles. Reading the posts is heart wrenching and makes me ?. Life is precious.
Sorry just needed to get that off my chest. Off to get dressed and do some ‘displacement activity’.

Dare I add “the ability to laugh at oneself” too?

I remember posting some years ago that there don’t seem to be as many laughs as we get older, promoted by some giggling teenagers on the train. When you are young, laughter comes so easily. (Maybe that is why we have grandchildren)
Laughing together is all part of sharing as indeed crying together can be. Sometimes people do get in a grumpy rut as a sort of default setting so for me a combination of tolerance but encouragement was essential.
I suppose I came onto GN when I needed to do the eye-rolling thing !
We used to enjoy comedy on TV(Dave Allen, Kenny Everett, M&W) or a really funny play “The Play What I Wrote” and
“One Man, Two Guvnors” come to mind. Yes, laughter is essential.

Now for the Nilfisk ???
I never admit defeat but the instructions in diagram form are about as clear as if they were in Klingon and might be a bridge too far.

corner I keep telling you that you should move as the weather appears to be permanently inclement wherever you live. I suggested earlier that you could sunbathe in your garden during May but maybe house hunt instead? Maw will agree, we have had lovely weather in and around London recently. That is May sorted- may I help with June and July?!

Sadly Maw it was obviously something none of them wanted to hear as the post I did write was ignored so I felt any further posting would have fallen on deaf ears.

Talking of jigsaw puzzles, we bought one of The Broons family. It was disappointingly the worst manufactured jigsaw we have come across, flimsy, badly cut pieces that just wouldn’t fit. Will be contacting the manufacturers with a complaint.

Hope you get to grips with your Nilfisk and it’s full steam ahead. Power washing gives very satisfying results.

Dreich morning in Cheshire. We can't all live in and around London, Charley!

anno I agree, but corner wherever she lives, appears to get more than her fair share of wet weather.

I gave up with the other thread, it was too depressing for me.

Maw I hope that Hattie is safely indoors, preferably resting her eyes while lying on your bed. I am sure she would hate to get wet.

Chunter away kitty. Good idea to put the kettle on but I need you to try out my new hot chocolate recipe which has just a soupçon of cinnamon. GDs loved it.

Shame you’re having drench weather anno I’m in Perthshire at the moment, light cloud, dry and mild.....I’m happy with that as it allows me to footer about in the garden.

I went to school in Perthsire- very happy memories.

Should have reviewed my post. Spellchecker doesn’t recognise Scots.....dreich not drench!

It’s a lovely part of the country Charley. We spend quite a lot of time across here.

Yo! I've managed to catch up with some not all of your latest postings. So far, so funny. I think that us lot have a very well-tuned sense of humour the ridiculous. You never fail to put a silly grin on my face. Thank you. Back to finish the catch-ups.

It's a much better day in bonnie Kintyre. Calm and pleasantly warm.

MacSporran Bless his woolly socks with the name of the week days on them, has located a brand new, unopened set of paint rollers and tray (in the loft). Aww! He wonders whether I might find the task of painting a good size area of wall a little less taxing ^having spent almost a day doing the job with a small, moth-eaten brush. I do so love him. And yes, being able to see the funny side of life and it's testing challenges, goes a very long way to keeping a marriage well and truly on track. We laugh a lot.

I've a choice. Either I can complete the kitchen with a huge roller - or a medium size roller - or a titchy roller that resembles a hairy caterpillar. I've been told that I'm spoiled for choice and I can think about my options as I enjoy a cup of coffee. I ask you!!!

I've twittered on a bit. Apologies. MacSporran needs me to stand in the bathroom with a basin. He's attempting to fix the shower unit (before we agree that a plumber really is necessary) and he's doing strange things with a length of pipe. Don't ask! It's going to be on of those days.

Onwards and such...I shall return a little later. If you are really lucky, I may take a photo of the kitchen wall that I'd hoped would be a shade of cinnamon. After much discussion at the paint shop, MacSporran persuaded me to opt for a lighter shade than I had in mind. I would have liked the result to be a little more positive. However, we've compromised. Result!

Chap,chap,chap--hello there, Im new here but heard that

your kitchen is lovely and warm, can I come in?

Help!
Calling all domestic minded Kitcheners.
My dearly beloved late husband could roast a shoulder of lamb to perfection! Succulent meat with contrasting crispy skin.
I’ve lost my mind and purchased a half shoulder of English lamb.
Can anyone please tell me how I reproduce his perfect dish.
My oven is electric and has fan assist

As you may have gathered I cannot cook roasts!

silverdarlings you are more than welcome- please take a comfortable seat in the kitchen and enjoy a cup of coffee with a slice of cake- a lovely choice today.

If you are a cook maybe you can help Galen with her shoulder of lamb.

Slow is the word, Galen, slow. Stick it in a covered roaster (or cover it with foil) with some garlic and rosemary, put it in the oven at about 150 and forget about it. When it’s done and falling off the bone, blast the skin to crisp it up. That’s how I do it. Someone will no doubt be along in a minute to tell you how it should be done !

Bung it in at 200 degrees lightly rubbed with olive oil, salt and pepper.
After 20 mins ,take it out cover very lightly with kitchen foil, turn down oven to 150/ 160.
Leave in for at least 2 hours, longer won't matter. An hour before eating, take off the foil and turn oven up to 200 baste well ,leave in for 30 mins until the fat is crisp the take out and rest for 30 mins , then invite us all round.
Don't, under any circumstances forget the rich onion sauce.

Like minds greyduster

silverdarlings A mighty warm welcome to you. There is unlimited space in our kitchen. You will soon discover (and hopefully get to like) our funny foibles. Not that I have any.

Galen My dearly beloved MacSporran agrees with all the above suggestions.

Back to the home decorating. I've been gifted a long pole on to which there is a mid-size roller. Hey ho...hey ho...it's off to work I go...

Before you do any thing, cut a fewsluts in the skin and put into each one: a slice of garlic, a small sprig of rosemary and half an anchovy. fabulous!

Thanks folks!
I will roast whole garlic cloves as well, then when I serve myself with whole half shoulder, I’ll eat the garlic purée and leave the lamb for Kate’s chickens, oh! And Gary.