Soop's friendly and welcoming kitchen.

corner ....hoping you have finally dozed off, but if not: [wave]

Bon voyage to those heading off on cruises and flights. Postcards are not required, but we anticipate souvenir cake! Have a super time.

Lola is doing well, though very much needing her pain meds at the moment. We have a very quiet few days planned for recovery.

Wishing the kitchen a good morning!

Sleep elusive tonight so out with the iPad. I know, I know it’s not recommended but it’s on night setting so no blue light.

You’ve made me think about retirement galen. I still don’t think I’ve got it sussed. Work for me ended three years ago, I do miss my profession and life is still in transition, a bit of an ongoing experiment, So I try things and if they don’t work I try something else. I realised a couple of months back that in spite of a horrid continuing family worries I was generally content. Not sure how it happened but it has. Of course there are days that feel as if they go on forever but generally I’m content.

There’s not one way to be in retirement, we’re all different after all. You’ll find your way, don’t worry and I agree with soop, you aren’t grumpy. I guess you’re all packed for your cruise, it will be fun, put retirement thoughts on the back burner and enjoy it all. Things will come along to fill the space once the space is there. No point worrying now. Wishing you Bon Voyage.

Goodness, not sure the middle of the night is a good time for this.

The bickering is hard work grannyq, we’ve two that do it sometimes, it’s the unpredictability that gets me. One second best of friends, the next the opposite. Never boring though .

Seems a week for struggles of one sort or another whether artistic, health or just life. Maybe stop trying for a few days soop? Things have a way of working if we leave them for a bit.

The tales of lost things reminded me of my panic when an earring disappeared. They match my engagement ring and a serious struggle to buy 48 years ago. Can’t get an exact replica now without spending a fortune. Well, it turned up between the seat cushions of the sofa. I can still feel the relief and see the smiles. Maybe I should take the cushions off the sofa more often .

Anyone seen charley lately? Have I just missed her post? Seems a while since she was here.

Snap with the lawn greyd, the ability of grass to grow anywhere other than on our lawn continually mystifies us.

Right, I’m trying for sleep now. Hope you’re having some rest panache, a good night would surely help.

Just popping into say hello. Pip the pigeon eating pup has gone, the visiting whirling dervishes grandchildren x2 have been collected. They’re lovely but do have a tendency to constantly bicker, so we kept them on the move with lots of activities which works well but wears us out.
The house has been restored to a semblance of order i.e beds remade, laundry done and it’s tidyish but not exactly clean. The first pair of visiting good friends arrived safely and we’ve enjoyed a lovely day out with them today.
Lots going on in the kitchen as always, babies and dogs to admire and tales of lost items. I’m never going catch up with all the comings and goings!
Good luck with painting soop, I’ve no doubt you’ll perfect it in time - you always do!
galen retirement can be daunting even when longed for. I wish you well as you make plans to keep you as busy as you need to be to feel content and fulfilled. In the meantime there’s another cruise to look forward to.
The need for sleep is overtaking me....night all, sleep well!

No thanks. Done too much public speaking in a previous job. Also voice not what it was??

Panache Is the image anything like Barney was? It would help me greatly to have your opinion. x

Well said, Gaga. What do think, Galen?

I haven't made the slightest headway with a pet portrait that I am putting my heart and soul into. The problem lies in the fact that I cannot improve or enlarge the photos from which I'm working. MacSporran dear of him has put an image of the photo on to a memory stick. He has since emerged from the loft and tells me that, sadly, he cannot improve the image as the pixels keep breaking up. It saddens me. I'm not accustomed to giving up on a painting. Deep breath. I shall re-sketch and try one last time to succeed.

Tomorrow is a new day. I promise not to cut my ear off as Van Gough did. Let us remain hopeful of some progress tomorrow.

I shall now log off and wish you all a pleasant Wednesday evening.

One retirement suggestion for you Galen, given your love of cruising and your long experience in medical matters would be to offer yourself as a speaker on cruises. Would that appeal?

Galen Pearls packed? Good for you. You deserve to cruise on the high seas.

Panache Thanks a lot. As soon as I entered the kitchen, I was aware that all the dishes had been washed and stacked neatly away. Could not however find the cake. Would welcome a large slice of something sticky and non-fattening. Any offers?

Thanks soop for that (undeserved ) compliment. I must say though that atm I am most decidedly grumpy having had an extra complicated case added to tomorrow s list.
Still, only 3 more days work before I go cruising again.?‍♀️

I think you will find dear Soop that both GreyD and myself felt and reacted exactly the same,in fact lots of tears were shed............but how fortunate us three have been........

Please note I have tried ever so feebly to sort of "Hold the Fort"...........or in this case... The Kitchen together whilst you were at your busiest.

A good bonnie afternoon greeting to you lovely lot. Ironing duty performed. Sun is shining. Coffee made by dear MacSporran. The afternoon will be used creatively. A fresh sketch on the easel. I'm in my element.

Galen I've missed you. What have you been doing with yourself? OH! Now I have come across your latest post, I understand that you have been busy with important matters. Please, less of the grumpy...you have a kind nature - a that fact will help you to use your retirement wisely.

Having seen dislocated joints being manipulated on one of the hospital programmes, I am very thankful that such a procedure has so far escaped me.

Talking of lost and found...MacSporran lost his wedding band. Having been to the hospital, he assumed that it had come off his finger when he washed his hands. He was most upset, and hunted high and low for it. A few weeks later, he was washing out the vegetable container in the bottom of the fridge. It was there that he found it. Bless him...it brought a tear to his eye.

Galen pleased to hear there has been some improvement, however very often these areas tend to remind you time and time again to be ever so careful............a safety pain I personally call it.

Very nice too preparing for one`s retirement,March is not that far distant.We had no choice sadly as I was in Hospital long term and My DH was forced to take early retirement to eventually care for me.
That was too long ago to mention!!

However from your description it could almost be me.............although I think antisocial is NOT on my CV.

I am sure many of these dear ladies will have helpful suggestions as they will know you well,but you are certainly going down the right path, busily preparing..........I guess there is an opening with your own name stamped upon it.

My day, though somewhat immobile is certainly very well filled, and so will yours when you get sorted.

Good Luck Galen

A great story GreyD and of course you will understand my feelings over those months.

Now I will "reveal" my own mishaps with yon secateurs.

We were living in a place called Captains Walk, it was a cliff top with merely a fairly steep cliff above an are leading to a well known beach........ but fairly inaccessable to walkers at that time.
I cannot tell you (or I might have to kill you!!) how many pairs of secateurs that went over that cliff edge!!!
We were surrounded by greenery, floral troughs and urns so during the summer I was in complete charge of renewing compost,planting up,trimming etc and so my secateurs were one of my main garden tools.
Clearing up after my work, rather than loose another tool I would add them to my bucket of cuttings or whatever............tired or time running out on me I can`t rember my excuse ........but time and time again the contents of said bucket would sail over the cliff top.
Days later I would realise another pair of secateurs had met its waterloo!!!!
They were never that expensive, but my dear man was tearing his hair out with the amount we kept re buying!!!!

Latterly this area under the cliff is undergoing great works to expand the Harbour etc etc.........so of course the men with the big earth moving equipment will be wondering why it keeps discovering a cache of secateurs!!!!

Never short of those yesterday stories are we?

Our grass has merely responded to plenty of heaven`s best,it is lush and verdant green.However we are now deciding on letting three parts run as a wild flower meadow and have run a zig zag path all the way up to our choice seating spot........a Wendy house with verandah.
Hopefully that will save much of the long term labour whilst we are still HERE.

I shall look forward to some anzac biscuits (hint hint) my appetite is so very poor, and I fear I am fading fast!!!
Must keep a certain weight or I shall not fit the new wardrobe bought last Autumn and is being suitably expanded...........Sunshine calls........Byeeeeeeeeeeeeee

Shoulder still a bit sore if I overdo it, but otherwise fine thanks.
I’m starting to wind down prior to ultimate retirement end of March next year.
Don’t know what I’ll do with myself then.
Suggestions would be gratefully received, bearing in mind that I’m practically immobile, grumpy and decidedly antisocial old woman with no practical skills.

“Sifted”! Blooming auto correct!

Good afternoon, Galen. I hope you are fully recovered from your dislocated shoulder - painful I would think!

Panache I had a wedding ring trauma too, when we were living in Ireland. We took the children to a beach near to where we lived and when we were packing up to leave I took hold of the corners of a picnic blanket and gave it a good shake. I saw, out of the corner of my eye, my ring fly off and land in the sand a little way away. It was a case of “nobody move” to stop the children trampling over that area (fortunately, as with so many beaches in Ireland, there were not many people around to complicate matters) and we systematically shifted through the sand until we found it. Like you, I would have been devastated to have lost it. I was not devastated to have lost my secateurs, just dismayed; you get attached to things.

We have just been sorting out the front lawn; the grass is growing everywhere but there and it must be something to do with all the moss killer we put on in the spring. Hopefully, having had a good raking and a mow, a bit of rain might encourage it to be green instead of horrible brown!
I will look in later. I am off to bake some Anzac biscuits - got a fancy for some yesterday but couldn’t be bothered to do them! Lazy mare!

Will I "do" speaking from the corner with the tartan rug around my feet??!!
.
Dear Soop needs a good rest,this weekend was mayhem in the Kitchen........ where were you then might I ask?................... when everyone it seems popped by with such stories!!!!

Hello! Is anyone there? Can you see Me? I’m beginning to feel I’m invisible.

I wonder not at the Kitchen having no takers ....following your visit yesterday Soop........in my opinion they have surpassed themselves over the Bank Holiday!!!

However I often wonderand feel for you and the position you are in as head of household!!!
It seems that you do not walk but constantly on the run between partaking of all your varied skills,your visits to the CH and of course, not forgetting your Ironing mornings ...................alongside your own life with MacS..............
I bow my head and simply ask,even if you have recharged your batteries, please no master pieces expected at all,but your cheerful face and high spirits are always welcome!!!

Your surprise "Lost but now Found" secateurs Greyd reminded me of my losing my precious wedding ring.
I had been on a Hospital appointment the previous day, meaning I had been in their loos and washed my hands,so after searching high and low in our home the both of us decided it must have got lost in one of the hospital bins.
We alerted them and searches were made but resulting in a big fat NIL.
Several months later my dear man was clearing out our summer bedders,there in our front door urn,lying amongst the roots of the pretty busy lizzies that year was something gleaming in the sunlight........................ah!! dirty it might have been, but there was lying undisturbed was my much loved Wedding Band.
There was great rejoicing I can tell you.
"Little things mean a lot and my Gold Wedding band had by then served me some 45 years.................. and I had been in tears losing it.

Being ultra careful in the future is fine BUT in my case still losing much weight and although secured to some degree, I fear very much for its loss yet again.
It may well end up on a chain around my neck.

Although quite pleasant weather out there with some bursts of sunshine, can I dare share a secret.......THAT road is as quiet as almost the mouse in the proverb!!!

Enough of my chat,wishing you all a pleasant day and rest for this week..........and........ Soop......take a day off!!!

callgirl Mischief maker!

ChaosInc Big sigh of relief.

I had intended to spend some quality time with you lot...and, true to form, I've failed miserably. The only excuse that I can offer is...I'm wearing my arty farty hat. That means that an afternoon has disappeared into the ether and I have done no housework or anything else of note. In fact, I've not had that wee I told you about several hours ago. Have I created a masterpiece? NOPE! Will I give up? NOPE! Am I a devil for punishment? YEP! Tomorrow is a new day. I shall recharge my batteries and try again. I do have the ironing duty to perform in the morning. I shall pop back into the kitchen as soon as I return home.

For all of you who are continuing to face the buggerations of life...I wish you well. I also send my love.

Log off time has arrived.

She’d better be, Callgirl, she invited us to lunch !

I had a surprise this afternoon while I was doing some gardening. Last week I was looking for a pair of secateurs that I have had for a long time and they are usually in my tool basket, but I couldn’t find them. We looked high and low and they were nowhere to be seen so I assumed that they had gone out with some garden rubbish after the last session, which I’m ashamed to say was a while ago, and i reconciled myself to it. I was upset because they were good ones and a particular shape that fitted my hand perfectly. Anyway, while I was transplanting some stuff, I pulled some weeds to dig a hole, and there they were! Very rusty, but a bit of application with some wire wool and WD40 and they are restored to good use! Result! I shall be more careful in the future .

So sorry to hear about your friend Corner.
GreyD, I hope that your friend will be alright.
Panache, all my good wishes to your faraway friend.
Chaos, so pleased that everything went well for Lola, she`ll enjoy that new bed when she gets home.
Panache, I`m not even going to mention the C word again on here, or Soop will smack me bum!
My new George Foreman`s just arrived. The other one works fine, I love it, but this one has removable plates for washing, Yippee!

Goo news chaos, you can breathe now.

Love the photo soop, he looks such a bright young man.

Dear ChaosInc You and Lola are in my thoughts.

Phew!!! How good to have some good news .....thanks Chaos........... at least Lola has gained herself a fan club!!!

Teddy is a right wee charmer and makes life brighter every day.