Soop's friendly and welcoming kitchen.

soop

Teddy looks such a happy little chap.

Like all of your grandchildren how lucky he is to have such love in his life.

Oh my goodness Panache ..... I am now wondering if you grew up a short distance from my current home!

My husband was a pilot in the RAF and for a few short months we stayed in 'Quarters' at RAF Finningley. One night several Vulcans took off together on an exercise the noise was so loud we - in a double bed - couldn't hear each other speak! DD - 5 months- slept blissfully throughout!

Chaos.............stranger things have happened for sure ........this was in West Wales by the way!!!........and where I met my first husband to boot............so don`t let anyone say there is no life in the country!!!

Message to Panache please go easy on yourself. You have buggerations galore to contend with. We wish to offer you the chaise longue from which you can watch the tide come and go. We understand that you need peace and quiet. A pot of freshly brewed tea and a home-baked are waiting on the wee table beside the chaise. Deep breath in...deep breath out...repeat...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

corner I love your sense of humour. You make me smile. Thank you.

Norty Maw! Sitting on the front seat on the upper deck of a bus...I remember it well. The only downside was the blue fug of fags being smoked by almost all the passengers.

callgirl1 Said hello to David x.
As for the talking books CD of short stories...well, apparently, thanks to the CD player being left on, the bloody batteries are now flat. When we go in again on Friday, we shall take a batch of everlasting batteries in with us.

Greyduster The Vulcan was a giant of the skies. A wonderful beast. I love the aircraft of years gone by.

Nonna It all takes time, patience and lots of hope. The sale will happen together with your purchase. Perhaps the tide is on the turn. Don't lose your sense of purpose. Us lot are rootin' for you.

NannyTopsy What have I missed? The troubling phone call...sounds ominous.

Charleyg Snap! I spent an entire night tiring myself out with a frustration dream about cleaning an entire mansion, (not mine) and looking for a decent lavvy with a bolt on the door so that I might wee in privacy. Apart from which, I must have traipsed to the bathroom for at least half a dozen actual wees.

Panache Less of the party pooper if you please. You are dealing with medical issues that must drain your soul of all spark. Just go with the flow and TRUST that you will improve. It all takes time. I sympathise with you all the way. We like having you with us. Remember that...please.

N&G Whoa! I can visualise Grampy standing by the roadside with his speed gun poised. Please take a photo.

Eilyann70 If I haven't already welcomed you to our kitchen, I do so right now. This lot come in and chat away at a rate of knots. Sometimes, I don't know whether I'm coming or going.

Soop one of the younger generation (not one of mine) is in a very difficult place just now and I wish I could help him.

Nannytopsy If he's willing to discuss his difficulties with you...that is a positive thing. Sometimes, we all need to someone who cares. You are doing what your best.

we all need someone to talk to...that's what I meant to say.

No sadly he won’t acknowledge any problem. Hence the need for a magic wand!

So sorry Topsy I think I have an idea where you are coming from and perhaps a prayer would be the best answer at this point in time?

I could and I do hug you with one of our warm welsh cwtches dear Soop.....what lovely messages and please know very much appreciated.Life is indeed one massive buggeration for a while and I cannot stand pulling everyone down because of my difficulties.But Oh! those kind words soothed a very troubled brow.........thank you sweet natured one.

I`ll wend my merry way..............

Reporting back after our trip to West Cowes to enjoy the GN competition prize I was fortunate enough to win.

The Best Western Hotel is in an idyllic setting with wonderful views over the Solent. There are superb views of the big cruise liners and container ships coming in to Southampton and going out from there also. The highlight was seeing the Queen Mary 2 manoevering - so close we could see the passengers. A beautiful ship and I thought of Galen and her Cunard cruises!

The staff at the hotel were the epitome of friendly service with a smile. They could not do enough to make you feel at home and the food was a delight with choices for all palates. We had a very comfortable room with a sea view and a 7 foot bed!

We visited Osborne House one morning but beat a retreat from the hordes of coach trippers in the house - nothing wrong with coach trippers but I don't cope well with crowds . I found the house very gloomy and Victorian (not surprisingly!) but the grounds, formal gardens and the walled garden were superb. Glad I have seen it but not really to my taste.

I think my favourite place on the island was Freshwater Bay and Yarmouth. We would definitely stay at the same hotel again and I have to say a big thankyou to GN and Best Western for this lovely treat.

Nannytopsy Ah! Now I understand. Sadly, if a person refuses to acknowledge the fact that he/she needs to take the necessary steps to change, there is little that anyone can do to be supportive. It's called being between a rock and a hard place. Just be there. I wish you well.

Panache A gentle virtual (((hug))) from me to you.

Gaga Your well deserved prize sounds to have done you a whole lot of good. I agree with your comments with reference to the Victorian house. In fact, had I been with you, I would have elected to stay in the fresh air and enjoy the gardens. It's a big bonus to have stayed in a hotel that you can recommend to others. Good for them. They deserve a mention.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201808/medium-100969-d7abf7ba-80b6-4138-b018-144b53334d7c.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201808/medium-359130-b0987e69-6042-4a28-a11a-7c92745383a0.jpeg

Sounds like you had a wonderful time, Gaga. A seven foot bed! We lose each other in a six foot bed! I think to see that great liner manoeuvring would have been one of my highlights too!
Panache - what Soop said, with bells on! ?. Hang in there!
Soop Teddy is obviously at the stage where everything goes into his mouth. Is he cutting his teeth? What a little cutie he is!
NannyT being in a position where you see someone struggling and you can do nothing to help is both frustrating and heartbreaking. We are in a similar situation at the moment, so you have my sympathy. Hope you find a way through soon.
We have had a fairly wasteful and frustrating day. We took our car in this morning at 0830 for what was supposed to be a routine health check to try and ‘ground’ a problem. It was suppose to take two hours. We didn’t get it back until five past twelve and they had come to no useful conclusion - except to say “it could happen again, but you could ignore it if it does!” It’s going to be like the boy who cried wolf!!
But while we were waiting we did get a walk in the local park. The river is fast disappearing in the drought and fish are being channelled into a few remaining areas of deeper water. This is not good. We need some rain, soon. There was a gathering of radio controlled boat enthusiasts having a bit of a regatta on the boating pond. I leave you with a couple of images of a gentle pursuit.

I have just finished watching the DVD of “Love in a Cold Climate” which I am doing a 3 morning course on (the book that is, plus Nancy Mitford in general) and I am sitting here bawling my eyes out!
Get a grip, Maw it’s only a film!

Greyduster That boat is a beauty.

Maw Nancy Mitford had a way with words.

I'm logging off. Tomorrow morning is ironing duty time.I shall pop in to say hello to you when I return. In the meantime...thank you for your company.

Thank you Soop, it`ll be next April before I can say hello again myself, nice to know David is remembered x
Gaga, lovely that you enjoyed your break to the IOW, I agree regarding Osborne House, it is gloomy, but lovely views from some of the windows. My main problem in the gardens was the wasps, millions of èm!! Did you see the bathing huts on the beach?
Sorry about your problem Topsy, we`ve had similar in our family, namely my daughter`s husband, but his problem as now become dementia, so warn your relative to beware.
Panache, enjoy the view from the kitchen window, it really is a sight to behold, as is the wonderful hostess. I hope you`re on the way to feeling better very soon x

Evening All. Bus trip accomplished, enjoyed it but didn’t manage to get the front seat . Both ways the front seats were inhabited by children, for goodness sake, didn’t they know one was mine .

What a hard thing to manage topsy, you certainly can’t help someone who doesn’t realise there is a problem.

Feet up panache, as the consultant says to me ‘listen to your body, stop arguing with it’. She’s right of course but it’s hard to do I know.

That break sounds wonderful, gaga, haven’t been to the Isle of Wight for years, it may need to go on next year’s list. Not this year, family stuff filling every space but that’s how it has to be so not complaining.

Your car sounds more than frustrating greyd, hope you were suitably irritated with the garage. We should be able to use ours on Friday. Now the current dilemma is do we trust them or phone on Thursday with a reminder? We have a split vote here. .

Feet are definitely aching but I need to sort the kitchen post supper. Mr C usually does it but he’s watering the pots. Like your river greyd there’s still a need for rain here. I may live to regret saying that .

Interesting day. Last day of our regular day with DGS, as he will be having more days in nursery come September and we are away next week. However, we took him with us today to look again at one of the houses we are interested in. He wowed all the ladies in the estate agents and seemed to quite enjoy looking round.

After a bit of negotiation our prospective buyers have come back with a revised offer (and we had another viewing today conducted by the EAs) which we will probably go with. Added to that, our offer on the new house has been accepted! So excited, and nervous, so now the stress probably will start in earnest! We are so looking forward to living in that town.

panache I so wish you could have the same sort of luck, you really do deserve it.

Sending out good wishes to all, and thanks so much for all the encouragement..

Sounding good nonna. Keep positive. There’s no reason why it shouldn’t all go as smoothly as any house move can. Just think of a good outcome. All will be well.

Is anyone else getting the Berganza jewellery advert at the side of the page? I clicked out of curiosity, nearly fainted at the prices. I think we can safely assume that I won`t be shopping there!

Is the kitchen dispensing double strength caffeine? I can't keep up this week!

panache....different FAA location ☺
I hope last night was easier for you

gaga ....pleased to hear you enjoyed your surprise break. You are not alone in loathing crowds.

greyd .... I hope the car issue is of the annoying variety rather than breakdown potential. Otherwise, the garage response seems a little worrying!

topsy ...I can only echo other comments. Such a worry for you.

nonna ...congratulations on agreeing deals. I am sure you would now like a fast forward button through the next few weeks.

soop ....next time you are dream cleaning, could you do my house please.

I am awaiting the postman, with great excitement!

Does that mean we should be saying Happy Birthday Chaos?

If so I do .

Me too, Ann but maybe chaos just has a postman worth getting excited about! ? Ours has nice legs!