Soop's friendly and welcoming kitchen.

kitty your story about the cats and kittens made me laugh. I wonder which one engineered the escape.?

Budge up kitty. I’m in a right old tizz today, it’s one of those just when you think it can’t get worse it does sort of a day. So relieved your brother and his accidental encounter are both OK. I’m truly not surprised your brother has high blood pressure. Hope it settles soon.

You sure you aren’t running a childcare centre? Lovely though it is I would think you wil need some feet up time once they have all gone home.

We’re waiting the outcome of exploratory surgery on a friend grannyq so I do understand. Sending many good wishes for you, your friend and anyone worried about health. There seem to be so many poorly people.

Good to think about topsy and her family enjoying a wonderful day. I’ll end with a smile for them.

Right, I’m off this couch and out for a while, with luck I’ll come back feeling lighter.

Afternoon the kitchen. I am having a sit down, having dealt with a couple of difficult phone calls, cleaned the bathrooms, frozen the last of my plums which DH has generously offered to my son without asking me whether I had plans for them first. I did. Now I haven’t. I threatened to freeze his plums if he was so remiss in the future! So now I have coffee and shortbread biscuits we brought back from Cornwall, and silence as I have the house to myself for another couple of hours.

Soop I am a big Joan Baez fan; I have been buying her recordings since they sixties and it has been interesting to note how her voice and style have changed over the years, which is natural, but it is no less entrancing.

kitty you sound as if you are up to your neck in muck and bullets there at Lester Towers! I had to chuckle about the Houdini cats though. My son in law is fond of saying “if cats had thumbs, they would rule the world!” He’s probably right! I am glad your brother survived his encounter with the drunk (though sadly not the car it seems!). Must have scared the living daylights out of him!

Corner I think it must be one of those weekends for budging up and hiding from ‘can’t get any worse’ days! Hope we will all feel lighter soon!
I will look in later.

Ahem! I've finally finished the watercolours of ChaosInc beautiful dogs. Sorry that I can't show you just yet. I shall pack and post and, when she has opened the parcel, I can then show you lot the results. About to celebrate with a and a bought flapjack.

Looking forward to seeing the results of your labours Soop.
Nonna, I hope you`ve had as lovely a day weatherwise as we`ve had, and enjoyed the concert as well as your picnic.
Topsy, I hope the wedding went off OK, and that the weather held for you.
One of my daughters has gone to Dublin for the weekend with her hubby. Last time they were there they met Phil Lynott`s mum, Philomena, and they`ve received an invitation in the post from her to his birthday party, which apparently she holds every year. She sounds like a lovely lady, but I`m afraid that Thin Lizzy weren`t my kind of music.

Evening all !

Sorry I have been awol. A week of the little boys ended this morning and by 2pm I needed a nap ! I haven't even had a moment to read the thread, so Im away to do that and see you all tomorrow morning when the fog has cleared from my over used brain lolx

NanaandGrampy You are excused. I've been so busy finishing the pet portraits that I lost track of time. Here I am...surrounded by packing and tape, art materials on all surfaces. Not done a thing to prepare for tonight's meal. Thankfully, dear MacS has stepped in.

I must dash. I wish every one of you lot a pleasant and peaceful evening. I shall return in the morning.

Welcome back N&G - it’s been quiet without you! ?

Oh! there folks I have come in search of a darkened room and some understanding ears!

We know we have to sell up,the need is growing more and more desperate but these viewings will be the death of me......and my poor DH will not be far behind.

Anyway although the weather remained grey and dampish,they came,they saw and hopefully they may have conquered!!
What we would call a pleasant intelligent viewing,plenty of relevant questions,THE road was no problem and apart from saying how impressed they were by our absolute privacy,not a word of praise or other spoken.
Yet again Doctors from the South East escaping the hurly burly,heading here for peace and life change in early retirement.We were one of 4 properties on their short list............so we are getting nearer........

Another one booked in for Monday.

Hope our Topsy and the wedding went well.

Whilst feeling your pain and household pickle Kitty me thinks you have a very large home there in Lester Towers! as there seems such a lot of you,plus of course the "Houdini" cats!

Hope you have sorted those troubling issues GreyD.......and Corner I think you both need some Tenby air to revive you!.....whilst welcome back N & G

Like you Callgirl I am in patiently awaiting those masterpieces revealed in all their glory!

Time I was not here and time someone pressed a button marked "Renewed energy"...........anyway we have Sunday to rest and recover,I might even be sane by then..........enjoy your evening gals.

Finally have my act together, today. It has only taken since 7am.

soop .... you are a truly wonderful person, and I am deeply touched by your thoughtfulness and so much work on behalf of the Horrible Hounds. I have no idea how to thank you
Sooooo excited!

Hoping topsy is having a wonderful day!

kitty ... escapologists in training! your kitten antics reminded me of "losing" one of my kittens. I was panic stricken, having hunted everywhere. She finally emerged, yawning, from behind books on the bookcase.
Your poor brother must have been traumatised. What a dreadful experience. I do hope he is recovering.
Thank you for the encouraging info on MS. We are all hoping that this will not be the final diagnosis for DD. At the moment, she has an interim diagnosis of essential tremor (which is medicated) but with open access back to the consultant if she develops further symptoms - when they will do a lumbar puncture. I believe that is a definitive test. GP is waiting to see if the current exhaustion is just transient post viral. Fingers crossed.
Is there ever a time when we can stop worrying about them!

I’m determined to make use of this kitchen, have tried twice before but too easily get behind on the news.
My news that I have just this week moved house. Much fruitless bickering about what goes where (I will usually win because he will forget), but how on earth did all this stuff accumulate when I thought I’d done such a thorough clear-out before packing up? Despair.

Fellow feeling to all who are unwell or anxious, and a pleasant evening and Sunday to all

Welcome winterwhite- it gets very busy here! I am rather behind, like others.

Is there ever a time when we can stop worrying about them!. I asked the self same question myself recently, chaos. The general consensus of opinion was - no! All fingers crossed for your DD.

Welcome Winterwhite. As for the accumulation of possessions - it’s Murphy’s Law. Stuff expands in any given space!

Well, both of those posts made me smile greyd

winterwhite ..... hope hou have woken to your first Sunday morning in your new home feeling a bit more relaxed, after all the upheaval. Life events turned me into a regular mover, so I am quite envious of your new vistas, new faces to meet and new corners to dust . Although I don't miss the stressy bits!
I think is hard to keep up and respond to everything/everyone. My tactic is to do what I can, and hope no-one will take offence if I haven't specifically commented.

A very quiet lazy day, here. The garden badly needs me to have an energy burst.

Another dull day here- as long as it does not rain. Tara was sprawled across my pillow this am leaving little space for me.
Not a lot going on her-

Panache have you thought about auctioning your house and renting when it was sold? Have you asked those companies that offer cash in hand how much they will pay-? I am rapidly running out of ideas!

A quickie from me because I am truly running out of energy and absolutely on my last legs!

The sooner one of my health problems is ......hopefully .....sorted the better for me and I maybe able to write an uplifting posting............but for now folks thanks for having me and putting up with me!!

Welcome Winterwhite and that lovely name conjures up a lovely picture of a white winter Christmas scene!
I hope to be following you......sooner than later.......into pastures new.....Good Luck and enjoy getting sorted.There is no rush!!!

I fully appreciate your kind thoughts Charley and do please know these areas have been explored and discounted for various reasons.
We have only been on the Market since mid july and are having great interest so surely,the law of averages will determine it is our turn next........Hope being the operative word.

Our county is getting rather like sardines in a tin with so many holidaymakers determined to catch those last rays of summer,and all our Caravan,camping and B & B`s are choc a bloc ......Hotels doing great business and when the tills ping everyone smiles!

Blustery overnight,tail end of the forecasted storm I guess,but grey and calm now,in fact looking hopeful.
No walk today as I need badly to make some effort to recharge batteries that are well past their sell-by date!

Wishing you all a day of pleasure ......a spot of doing whatever takes your fancy!

Morning all!,

Just scrapped in with 2 mins to spare.

I feel more human this morning thank goodness. We had a lovely, super busy week with the little boys , their Mummy and our other daughters dog. The boys were loud, rambunctious and have discovered that whining drives their Nana mad !! But the worst visitor was the dog who thankfully, was shut in the kitchen, when she had a VERY upset tummy!! Thank god Grampy was up first on that morning !!

I laughed at your comment about cats and thumbs Grey . I taught our little boys about opposable thumbs this week to their great delight as they attempted every day tasks without using their thumbs. The results were messy BUT they both got the whole concept .

Looking forward to seeing the new portraitssoop

Hello Winterwhite ( love the name!!) , welcome to the kitchen , don't worry about keeping up, just pop in and share when you like and can. Congrats on the move. We moved 10 months ago and that first night with all the possessions ( even after decluttering) from our 4 bedroomed home to our tiny 3 bed bungalow, nearly made me cry. But 10months down the line , more brutal decluttering I can tell you there is light at the end of the tunnel!

Right, I am off as we put everything back in its rightful place for a week until we have the little boys again ! We must be mad .

You love them really N&G. I hope that Sam is appreciating the cooler weather. At least he will have peace for a week- poor little soul.

Maw is Hattie still sleeping her life away? I rather fancy
her style so I may join her.

soop I also am looking forward to seeing the finished portrait.

Hattie is being a very patient dog Charleygirl she has had to put up with a week in Kennels (although I think she enjoys the company) plus the Full Monty at the vets - boosters, kennel cough vaccine up her nose, worm tablets and flea tablets! Fortunately she regards the latter two as “treats” and if there’s one thing she likes more than sleep, it is food. A bit like her Mum really!
She is very good company and has saved my sanity on several occasions these last months.

Good to have you back with us lot, Maw. I've missed you and news of Hattie.

Welcome to winterwhite...I also like your name. Please do not fret because you feel from time to time that you've lost the plot. This lot move faster than the speed of light. I am forever trying to catch up with every single happening. The main thing is...we're here for each other. Every Kitchener matters. That's for every single one of you lot.

Poor Hattie- she appears to be recovering well- sleep is great healer!!!

Hello winterwhite. I can’t keep up either but seem to be allowed to appear as I can, so do join us when space allows. We downsized massively five years ago, after Mr C realised I was serious when I said either the boxes full of ‘stuff’ went or I did all was well. You’ll settle soon I’m sure.

Still needing a peaceful space so I’ll just sit and breathe for a bit. Sounds as if you need some space too panache, hope you feel more energised soon. That elusive buyer would do it I’m sure.

Look after yourselves everyone.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201808/medium-23576-dsc-1203.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201808/medium-133174-dsc-1226.jpg

Hattie looks very well educated maw, with her tartan throw and selection of books .

Sam was most put out Charlie with our visitor Holly in that she appropriated his NEW bed !! Not the old one we had allocated her. He is far too much a gentleman to shove her out so he had a very hang dog expression the whole while she was here .

We did a nice trip to Hunstanton with the boys but a pair of VERY friendly penguins meant there were some explanations we had hoped to avoid! Cooper was happy with 'They're having a penguin hug' , Jackson had far too many questions , only a grown up ice lolly deflected it !

Can`t stop, just about to get ready, daughter 3 and I are off to Skegness to see a Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons tribute act, looking forward to it, see you later!