Soop's super supportive kitchen.

Here you go everybody. As promised, some crab apple jelly with a loaf of DH's freshly baked sourdough bread.

Enjoy!

He has his faults (untidiness) but in general he is a jewel!

That looks most enticing

Home at last. Missed you. Back in kitchen tomorrow afternoon. Need to thank Coco the Burmese cat's owner. Can anyone please help. I have mislaid her details. I have hunted high and low for her gransnet name. Feel frustrated as she has sent me a lovely gift.xxx

Glad you are back safe and well, Soop.
I have been reading the crab apple news with interest. I need the help of the Kitcheners.
For the first time since it was planted 25 years ago, we have a tree with fruit which look like tiny apples. I cut one open and it did indeed look like an apple.
I will take a photo tomorrow and see if anyone can confirm. I don't want to poison DH ? by making jelly, before I'm sure it's safe to eat.

Finally back bearing gifts of cake prepared by a friend for her McMillan coffee morning on Friday which sadly I couldn't attend as we were moving furniture and boxes. I also managed to book Take That tickets for my husband's C........... present. I may have to wear ear plugs but he'll enjoy it - he doesn't know about it obviously and wondered why I was so late arriving to help with the box unpacking!

Ann that's good news that you have managed to secure another day at daycare for your husband - does he enjoy going? My dad hated going but once there he seemed to enjoy the activities they did - especially lunchtime

Soop glad you have enjoyed your break - apart from the Kindle frustrations!

Jud crab apple jelly always reminds me of my mum and a Christmas (oops sorry - mentioned it again) fair we went to many years ago where I bought a jar. I'd never tried it before and immediately loved it.

We have had a lovely family get together today with eldest son's family and SIL and hers. Sad that it was our other son's birthday but couldn't spend it with him so far away.

Thinking of Morethan as I go to bed and sending a virtual hug to help get through the night.

All thoughts with morethan today
x

Can anyone confirm that these are crab apples? This is the first time in 25 years that this tree has fruit.
It was planted so long ago, I can't remember what it was. (onfused)

I'm not sure Marydoll - my neighbour has a tree with similar fruit and said I was welcome to pick them to make crab apple jelly. That was years ago and I have never dared to - but I'd like to know too!

They look very like crab apples to me, the leaves look right. Do they smell like apples? Pick one and cut it open and see whether it has apple pips and those toenail bits round the pips that they always managed to include in school stewed apples. Take a photo of the cut fruit and post that. It will go brown after a while once it is cut open, like any apple. Crabapples are very tart so it will set your teeth on edge if you try eating it raw, but it is still an appley tartness, iyswim.

Looks like my crabapples. I've never made jelly

I have had a change of medication and felt like death on legs. The GP said it would get better and (damn her!!) it seems to be getting better apart from the dreadful wind!!

I've missed an awful lot of kitchen news but have read everything.

Can I just send lots of love and start again please?

Glad you are back soop - please tell us all about your break.

Thoughts with morethan.

Good afternoon to my lovely Granspals. Home at last. Still hoping to locate the lady for whom I painted the portrait of Coco. I shall hug whomsoever discovers her username. I really, really, really need to say thank you.

I think it could be Jane10 who *Marydoll met up with last week. Of course it could be another Jane. ?

I confess that I have missed you. The Kindle is a mixed blessing. I'm still not totally familiar with it. Am hoping for a book on instructions to be delivered from Amazon. Yes, it helps to keep in touch. BUT...it can be a bit of a liability. I feel duty-bound to respond to every post and it isn't possible. I have watched couples fiddling with their gizmos, even as they dine. I feel that is wrong. Hey ho! I'm an old fashioned fart. I enjoy conversing face to face.

I have much catching up to do. I like the photos. callgirl1 Max is a darling. Jud the loaf and the crab apple jelly looks delicious. I haven't ever tasted any. I believe, as Elegran says, it has a certain "bite".

Ann I feel that slowly but surely you are putting a new plan into place. I really do admire you. It is sensible to take one day at a time. You will know when the time is right for a total change in your husband's care plan.

morethan Your post brought tears to my eyes. Again, you are having to deal with so much emotional turmoil.

Panache thank you for passing on my message. It is lovely to have you back in the kitchen.

kitty I suffer from chronic "wind in the willows". That's the trouble with medication. Someone, somewhere will have an unpleasant reaction.

Willow500 I'm glad that your family celebration went well. Many members of our family live great distances apart. Once each year we all make a real effort to have a gathering of the clan. Takes some organising but it is an event I value enormously.

morethan very much in my thoughts.
ann , panache hope you are doing ok.
Feeling a bit 'thoughtful' today of all those with problems and worries. In my thoughts and prayers all of you x

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201810/medium-693549-p1010842.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201810/medium-589640-p1010853.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201810/medium-87205-p1010854.jpg

We travelled over 600 miles and the Highland scenery was awesome. Stacks of photos. The hotel was the best ever for us. More like a stately home but family owned and run and the welcome was wonderful We stayed in the Glengarry Castle Hotel at Invergarry. Log fires, wonderful location looking toward the loch. We went out and about every day. I shall add three photos. Wouldn't want to bore the pants off you. Eilean Castle is one of Scotland's most romantic castles. Glencoe is wonderful in spite of it's tragic massacre back in the days of William of Orange. The falls at Glen Orchy are marvellous. We walked beside the Caledonian Canal at Fort Augustus. Visited the Kyle of Lochalsh and motored across the bridge to the Isle of Skye. All memorable experiences.

Tomorrow, I shall visit the care home. It's been a long time since I last went.

Here are three photos. PLEASE do try to find Coco the Burmese cat's mum for me. I am going over and over the messages in the in and out boxes. It's making me feel utterly frustrated.

NanKate Coco the Burmese cat's "mum" is a Jane in real life. I am wanting her to send me a private message with her "user name"...it's that information that is essential. I seem to recognise Granspals best when they attach a username. The gift tag is missing that vital bit of info. The Company that sent the parcel have no help line.

Lovely photos Soop, more please, you couldn`t bore the pants off if you tried! I hope you soon find Coco`s mum.

My bathroom sink has been blocked since Saturday, I have a plumbing maintenance agreement, a 24/7 service, thinking they`d be here pronto, they`re so busy, it`ll be Wednesday morning. Trouble is, I keep forgetting and turning the tap on to wash my hands!

I understand now Soop.

Your hols sounded absolutely wonderful.

So pleased you had a wonderful holiday soop you really deserve it.

callgirl my shower was going the same way 2 weeks ago. I bought a drain unblocker for £4 and it solved the problem. I repeated the process last week in case it did not finish the job the first time and what a difference- I am no longer paddling in the shower.

Don't attempt to unblock it the way I tried. I thought the bath was slow to drain and stuck a knitting needle down it which punctured the pipe and caused water to drip through the kitchen ceiling. The plumber arrived very promptly and gave the impression that he'd seen it all before. Surely not!

I did pour some Mr.Muscle drain unblocker down on Saturday, rinsed it away after a few minutes and the water ran away at once, but later on it stopped altogether.

My instructions suggested leaving it for 30 minutes or overnight. I chose the latter and it worked for me. It is hardly worth your while as Wednesday is almost here but maybe for prevention buy soda crystals- cheap and effective.

Hello everyone! Just passing through between babysitting and work - the curse of the retired! I think of you all, without the time to stop and chat!

Evening All. Welcome back soop and macs. Delighted you had such a memorable time. Keep the photos coming, never boring .

We did the same callgirl, left unblocker over night and all was well. I’m sorry your issue seems harder to solve. As charley said it will soon be Wednesday.

I’ve not had the chance to visit the rest of GN today and am aware morethan has been sitting in a worry space in my head. I’ll check later for news.

Sorry you’ve been proper poorly kitty, I also sadly have chronic wind issues, super embarrassing at times.

I truly should be asleep. Early start tomorrow. Off out with friends. Best try although I don’t feel sleepy, more twitchy. Take care everyone and as ever apologies to those I appear to have missed. An overly full head at the moment.