Soop's friendly and welcoming kitchen.

The leak is outside the property line! not sure why that cheers me so greatly, but I have obviously been worrying about it far more than I realised.

Congratulations on your win gagagran I hope the sun returns in time to shine for you.

A warm welcome to all new kitcheners and a jolly "Howdy" to old ones!

I have brought a plate of vegan blueberry muffins for anyone to try who wishes to do. My DGD made them - she is a committed vegan - and I have to say they are much nicer than I thought they might be. (Nil calories of course, being virtual as well as vegan).

I am getting a bit excited about our forthcoming trip to the Isle of Wight, courtesy of the Best Western Hotels competition. We are going early Sunday and back late Tuesday so will have almost three full days to explore and as we only live 30 minutes from the Portsmouth ferry it will be easy travelling too.

The water companies have outsourced their "works" for many years now *Chaos" and the contractors they use are well versed in all the tasks involved. I worked briefly for a water company after retiring from my career (and getting bored at home) and found the contractors often had chaps working for them who used to be water company employees so no lack of expertise. Hope you get sorted sooner than expected!

panache ...I would gladly welcome your overload, had I not raised the drawbridge yesterday afternoon and discovered that decades of wear has now seized the mechanism.
I think the insurers may consider it a write-off!

Speaking if which, today is also looking to be written off. The men arrived to repair the water leak bright and early. Not a water board van, so another facet of services which is contracted out it seems.
So, no water, no access out without causing major issues, as I live on a very narrow village lane so they have had to park all the heavy equipment on the drive. The drill has been going for a little while. It may be a long day

Oh you self indulgent woman, you! A bun even!
I know what you mean about having the house to yourself though. I used to treasure those oases where I could do whatever I wanted-or indeed nothing at all!
However, times change and I have it all to myself now....

Morning all !!

Just a quick post, welcome to our new visitors, I hope you'll stay !

Are we all going with ann to Ibiza then??? woo P A R T Y !!

I am going to be mostly absent this week as we have the two little boys and their Mummy staying so hope everyone enjoys their week . I am kicking off the week by a morning alone as Grampy has gone to collect them. I cannot remember the last time I was actually alone.

Its probably the thing I miss most , having spent a lifetime with Grampy working shifts and me often working away.

So I'm going crazy with a trip to the Co op and coffee and a bun in the tearoom !!!!

Happy days xx

Buggeration having lost my first post.............it is certainly a monday morning!!!

My word you lot certainly move at a pace and I am struggling somewhat to keep up,the kitchen is the only place to be .............. I did offer a warm welcome to a few new members last evening and I have just wished your partner well NanyJane on the morning thread,you certainly move fast!!!

A pleasure to be here amongst a "Riot of grans!!"

Should there be any scones going spare Greyd I am just merely hinting of course........but I am rather partial!!

I know exactly what you are saying Chaos for it seems I also have more leaning on my semi good nature than I can possably cope with,and quite frankly I may well direct them to a day in your presence Ann...................I find you are far better than any tonic or visit to the G.P............and lo and behold Ibiza, I doubt they will be able to cope!!
I offer my services to help you get your pretties at the ready and how I wish I could simply be a fly on the wall there when you arrive!!!

I am not an early riser these days and when its Monday I am even slower ............however the greyness here on the Welsh coastline is fast clearing and I see sunshine, so I must get my act together.

I cannot possably say Hi individually but I shall ..............in the course of time........meanwhile have a good day folks.

Welcome Framilode and NannyJan. I am off to hydro very shortly to get my new knee up and running again. I must buy some food when I return because the fridge is rather empty.

What am I going to watch on TV now that the athletics have finished? I suppose I could look for a hoover- there was one around I think. To save accidents I keep one up and one downstairs.

Thank you for the welcomes, Soop kittylester Chaos Greyduster and hello and welcome Framilode and hello Mawbroon . I have met some of you and it is lovely to put faces to names.

Just back from taking Partner to Hospital as he is having an operation to widen his Oesophagus

Yes, 'I predict a riot' if some Grans accompanied Ann to Ibizia (think there is a song there somewhere) I am excited for you Ann and hope you have a blast and bring back some happy memories.

This morning I am off to Merry Hell Hill to take an item back to Debenhams and have a little browse.

Perhaps that is a new collective noun Annsixty - a riot of grans?

Depends which grans ann. .

My H is booked into respite care, I really couldn't take him, the last time was5 years ago and he didn't know where he was.
I can't leave him for 20 mins on his own though at times I am sorely tempted?.
How many grans would constitute a riot?

I'm assuming you have got dh booked in somewhere ann and are not either taking him or leaving him home alone.

I'm really excited for you - anyone would think I was going too but I doubt Ibiza could cope with more than one gran at a time. You will have such a super time!!

I am off to Ibiza 4 weeks tomorrow, the 10th of September.
Do you think they are ready for a Gran who thinks she still has it, although she is not quite sure what "it" is?
After a very early start today, the carer asked if she could come at 7.30am, and was there before that, I got breakfast after his shower, did my own breakfast, made our early coffee, did the tablets, prepared tonight's meal and then went for my own shower.
I decided to wash my hair, came out of the bathroom to my H standing in the hall, he asked very politely, "where is Ann and what is she doing? "
I just answered she is drying her hair and he was satisfied and went to sit and wait for me.
Yes , I am really ready for Ibiza.

I forgot to say I am off to the Tower of London tomorrow with DD1 and 2 DGD'S. Very much looking forward to it. There is a short play about Anne Boleyn's trial and last day. Should be very Interesting.

Thank you all for your concern over my toe. It is a lot better now. I think I am accident prone at the moment. Two weeks ago I caught my right arm on a door handle, dug a chunk out of it, lots of blood , it's still not healed. What did I do yesterday , yes caught my left arm, pretty much the same area, on a different door handle. A larger chunk and even more blood and did it hurt ....... My skin seems to be a lot thinner as I get older and tears more easily. I'm a mess of scars.
Well done soop and MacSporran on selling your paintings. How lovely to be able to draw and paint, something I wish I could do.
Hi N&G, yes she is 7 months now and such a little sweetie. We had a lovely day but my poor back does ache today with all the picking up and getting down on the floor !! Hope you enjoyed your time alone.

Good evening the kitchen! I can finally sit down after a somewhat chaotic dinner with the family. We had curry and I made GS a chicken pie but he wanted to try the curry ?, ended up liking it and had that instead. I had even put pastry chickens on top of his pie. He said “What are they, Nanny?” “Chickens” says I, “what did you think they were?” “They look like Walruses” he said. Hereinafter it will be rechristened Walrus pie!
Sar I stubbed my toe not once but twice on a settee in the apartment when we were away last week and it hurt like hell, so you have my sympathies. I hope yours is not broken and you feel better soon!
Soop well done on the art sales! Is that the art equivalent of being a published author? Nice to think someone will have one of your lovely paintings on their wall! Onward and upward!
N&G I hope Grampy doesn’t come home tomorrow to find you up to your neck in empties and Maltesers! Have a great week with the little boys and remember to send us photos.
Welcome Framilode and NannyJan. Cake features in large measure in the kitchen, but I myself never partake ??. I made scones this afternoon. We will draw a veil over them..... Suffice it to say I am losing my touch! If I had dropped one on my toe I might have lost that too!
A pleasant and peaceful goodnight to you all.

Ouch Sar, sorry about your toe, hope it stops hurting soon.
Ann, when do you pop off to Ibiza then? Have they been warned that you`re coming lol?
Soop, lovely to hear that you and MacSporran have each sold a painting. IN was starting to worry about you after receiving 2 empty pm`s, so glad you`re alright!

Oh I know exactly what you mean Chaos I find myself increasingly frustrated and dare I say bored, by the repetition and the long drawn out telling of minor ailments.
It took a friend of mine 25 mins on the phone 2 weeks ago to tell me she had an abscess under a tooth.
I had diagnosed her in the first 2 mins but still had to listen to every conversation with her C and her dentist.

Other friends of very long standing have just simply got boring I am sad to say.
I need stimulation now as my H has no conversation at all ,but I find my mind wandering, I realise it may just be me!!!

Good afternoon!
I have missed lots so will just say....how lovely, ann it sounds to be a long overdue treat.

Also, a wave to framilode and nannyjan . I am also fairly new, but can say this is a nice safe space to chat ....providing you dont sit in the only chair!

It has been a very tiring weekend. Am I alone in finding that some dear friends have developed some difficult personality traits they have aged?
I have known this friend since childhood, with varying degrees of contact through the years as we moved areas/countries/jobs/husbands etc, but always able to pick up exactly where we left off.
This visit seems to have been an exhausting journey through every ache and pain and every small perceived slight she has experienced, in addition to realising the multiple precise requirements necessary for her to be content.

I found myself privately agreeing with the husband who has told her that she is a hypochondriac. A headache last night appeared to have cleared as she came down this morning bright and chatty...until I asked if her head had cleared, at which point she began moaning about the pain and intermittently clutching the side of her head. That went on for 2 hours, until attention was distracted by lunch, when it miraculously disappeared again.

A similar story played out with the crippling foot problem which prevents her going upstairs to use the bathroom, but is not an issue when she scoots up to fetch her ipad.
And the joint issues which make her constantly move with accompanying oo's and ouches....but see her sit on a dining chair for 90 minutes doing a jigsaw, without a squirm or squeak.

Not forgetting the tea issues, which took multiple cups to achieve precisely the right shade to meet preference....and the comments about the free of everything bread and biscuits (apparently we now only eat spelt based products) whilst cheerfully eating standard chocolates!

Sorry for the extended moan. This should probably be an AIBU!!
I think I need a long lie down in a quiet room

Welcome, Framilode, - did you bring cake?

Ouch for sore toes! Been there, done that, don't want to do it again!!

Glad you got more holiday funds, soop!

Hi, nannyjan!

It's cold, wet and miserable round here. We took dd and daughters out for lunch. I had tartiflette and I am stuffed have had an ample sufficiency so will just doze off over here. A cup of tea in an hour or so would be nice.

A warm wecome to NannyJan53 us lot always say...the more the merrier. Help yourself to one of my home-baked flapjacks Tesco's finest flapjacks.

Sar the toe saga made me wince. That will have made your eyes water. Take care. Get well soon.

A warm welcome to Framilode...I can well imagine the high jinx at the 70th birthday party. Sorry to hear that two people had a fall. I'm an expert in such antics.

The friends arrived at 5:30 yesterday (for a quick call) and left three hours later. It was great fun. We blethered non-stop and had a birthday G&T with nibbles and much laughter.

Have done the morning duty at the village art show. A painting of mine and one of MacS's had the red sold sticker displayed. More funds towards our forthcoming anniversary treat. We are chuffed to bits.

Hello Framilode and welcome. Can I come and carry your cases Ann? Have a great time!

I don't post very often in here, as I find it hard to keep up not coming on GN everyday, so mainly a lurker

But just to say to ann how wonderful, I am sure you will have a lovely time even if it just relaxing and enjoying being in a different environment, with your GD.

A holiday sounds just what you need ann, and the chance to spend quality time with your lovely GD too.

I’ve just realised we finished the bread yesterday so I’d better stir myself and go and knock up a loaf of soda bread, so much quicker than normal bread.