Soop's welcoming and supportive kitchen

My friends and I have dealt with horrendous red wine spills using a wine stain remover from Lakeland, whose name temporarily escapes me.
One particular evening at dinner one guest spilt a full glass of red over a brocade seat cover, after treating ,it was totally gone with no sign it had ever happened.
You are being used, I'm sorry to say.

overthehills an assessor and £100 for red wine on the carpet?
Go to any reputable pet shop and buy the sort of enzyme stain remover spray they sell for pet “accidents ” . Arm yourself with some clean cloths and it should come out easily enough.
I have dealt with considerably worse believe me!
It helps if it is wool carpet as it shrugs off stains more easily, but not worth an insurance claim surely? Your premium will go up and no doubt there is an excess to pay.
Alternatively go for a professional carpet clean.

Just popped in to give a message from Soop who's having no end of PC buggerations (hopefully to be sorted out tomorrow) and apologises for any missed messages but I can see the picture of Tabitha and the other posts so perhaps they are getting through after all. Tabitha's one lucky little lady to have found a warm shelter and welcome food. We've often thought that there is some kind of feline code goes round when a vacancy comes up for a new residency

Happy Birthday Synonymous - it sounds like you've had a busy but happy day.

Overthehills the cost for the assessor seems very high - is that for your insurance excess? The pink can of carpet cleaner is very effective at removing stains if that helps.

I haven't dared ask how much the Sunday plumber cost my son but in amongst all the other problems they've had since they moved in this is just the latest saga. The only good news is that he did take the other radiators off while he was there and the paper they have taken off the walls shows the walls are not damp - just missing plaster! He's gone off to London tonight to a gig so I hope he has an evening free from stress.

I agree, thank you for all of the lovely photos and poems.

So sorry for those forking out money for plumbers and I could not agree more, why pay the carpet assessor £100? That is rather excessive.

Tabitha will have a foot in the door when spring arrives and you can leave the kitchen door open with her food bowl just inside. She will be well settled by summer. She looks well nourished.

Hello the kitchen. Thank you for the many lovely photos and poems, I don't feel able to respond individually as there is so much on here but I have enjoyed seeing and reading everything.
Just arrived home from a lovely lunch to celebrate my 'big' birthday to a heap of cards and gifts left by the family over the last few weeks and very well hidden by DH.
As a child I was not that happy to have a birthday on Armistice Day particularly as I was teased about there having to be 2 minutes silence etc but having lived my 'allotted span' I now much appreciate what was done to enable us to have the freedom to live as we do and the sacrifice of those who gave their lives. I certainly can never forget but then neither should any of us.
(((Hugs))) to all needing them. X

Congratulations on the new arrival soop. She’s a lucky little cat!

Just back from our nearest picture in the sand. Glorious blue sky. Felt very humbled and very proud of the young ones Our young ones performed yesterday, paraded this morning, the picture in the sand was thronged with children, some performing the specially written poem. So many children doing the same across the country.

Evocative words panache.

Goodness willow, that sounds an unusual heating problem. Thank goodness for emergency plumbers, hope the bill isn’t too ruinous.

Having named the cat she’s definitely yours now soop, lucky cat that she is.

Hope lunch went well for maw and morethan, you’ve both had heavy burdens to carry.

That doesn’t sound one of the best days overthehills, hope there’s a positive outcome for the carpet and no, I don’t know why you have to pay for a visit from an assessor unless it’s because of an excess?

A quiet evening ahead here, calm before the storm of an overly busy week ahead. Take care all.

Lovely photos gq “irritable owl syndrome”
Thankyou for those poignant words Panache.
Hope you had a lovely lunch Maw. I know what you mean about those hipster places, always something new to try and a great atmosphere.
I’m sure just being together will be enough Morethan - nobody will notice anything else!
Glad DS got that radiator sorted Willow - hope it didn’t break the bank getting a plumber out on a Sunday.
So it’s Tabitha is it Soop - she’s definitely got her paws under table now!
I’ve just had a domestically traumatic twenty four hours managing to spill a glass of red wine on the carpet and then burning the soup I was making! I sloshed a bottle of white over the red straightaway but although the stain is diluted it’s still there. An insurance assessor is coming to “discuss options” - not sure why we have to pay £100 for that privilege! I managed to save the soup and it didn’t taste too bad. Ok, so it wasn’t great either but I could bear to throw it all away and DH didn’t complain!
I’ll try not to burn the next batch of flapjack for the kitchen!

Panache beautiful words and so poignant today.

Maw I'm sure your lunch with Paw's family will have been filled with laughter and tears as you remember your lovely man. The hipster cafe sounds great fun - I'm pleased you've had a lovely time with your daughters. I too sometimes see vegetarian menus and think they sound much nicer than the usual meat eaters ones.

Morethan hope your lunch has gone well too - sometimes you just have to ignore the mess and get on with it when you have so much work going on but with 3 children running around I don't think anyone will notice the bare walls and dust!

We have just got back from Meadowhall where I thought I might do some Christmas shopping but lacked enthusiasm and inspiration when we arrived so bought very little and no gifts. I didn't even get the picture frames for the lovely feline portraits Soop has done of Daph and Alfie as they didn't have the correct size.

We'd barely set off when Son no 1 rang in a bit of a panic having taken the radiator off in their cottage for the plasterer to come tomorrow (repair work after having new windows fitted in 3 rooms and all the plaster falling off!). He'd turned the boiler off but it was hissing and making a lot of noise and smelled very bad - of fish! As he's 2 hours away there's not a lot we can do of course but we did our best with advise and reassurance and he let us know an hour later they'd found an emergency plumber to come out who had sorted it out. His dad asked if he'd found the kippers

Tabitha had eaten her sup
per inside the chalet. She then took a long refreshing drink.

Thank you for ALL your lovely posts, poems and photos.

Tabitha called last night.

A special Sunday afternoon greeting to all our lovely Kitcheners.

The gathering at the Memorial Gate in the village was very moving. A young man played a lament on the bagpipes. The rain cleared. There was an interlude of blue sky.

The PC is most uncooperative. a pal will call by tomorrow to clear the decks and hopefully get us back on track.
In the meantime, I'm sending kind thoughts to you all.

PC

Thank you panache. Reading those words and seeing the ceremonies certainly brings a tear to the eye.

I echo morethan's thoughts maw. You have carried yourself with great dignity through this year and sharing some of your thoughts with us shows us what a lovely man paw was and how much you must miss him. I am glad you are having a weekend with your family. Your final comment about being ready to face the future brings hope to us all I think. Bless you maw and your dear man. x

I echo that , N&G, very evocative words indeed. Thank you Panache. I’ve just finished watching the parade. So moving, as it is every year, but in particular on this centenary day. Incidentally was JC wearing an anorak? ?
Panache, rather different from the sculptures that you introduced us to, but did you see the picture in the sand - the one highlighted was in Folkestone, and we watched the tide gradually erode the image of Wilfrid Owen (in this case) but many other images around the country, a lovely idea.
Rain has just stopped here. It’s been a wet couple of days.
Peaceful Sunday to The Kitcheners.

Morning all !

Just recovering from a trip back for the Queen of the Universes birthday yesterday ! Most amazing giant size doughnut cake - I was suitably impressed !!

I too watched some of the British Legion Remembrance programme. It always touches me and I sometimes find it hard to think back all those years to when both Grampy and I were serving military. The British do these types of ceremonial affairs so well.

I'm obviously playing catch up this morning. Love the owl grannie !!

Very evocative poem Panache , as I look out of the window from my warm home onto a grey ,rainy and cold day you cannot imagine the lives of those poor men in the trenches month after month.

I am being treated to egg and bacon this morning from the kitchen of that famed chef , Grampy , so must dash but back later for more catching up.

REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY.

With hearts that are so heavy ,yet filled with so much pride
We remember those dear ones whom on Battlefields died.
Yes our fathers,brothers,sweethearts and our husbands too
They gave of their own lives just to save me and you
They readily gave of their all so that we should have life
And this,our dear world would be rid of much of its strife
So indeed this day we do rightly honour those dear men of old,
Those weak,the so weary, the great and yes, those bold.
Each one gave of their lives,never even counting the cost
To their family and loved ones of how much they had lost,
These warriors before us were mighty strong and so brave
Readily giving of their All, hopefully this,our Nation to save
They fought these great fights with all of their might
To bring us the Victory that is our own God given right
We salute these lost souls on this day that is their own
As we gratefully acknowledge all those Battles they won.
To them be all honour and much grace to their name
As we now bow down before them,and loudly proclaim
At the going down of the sun,in the morning,we remember all
Those wonderfully fierce warriors who took their last call.
With poppies of blood red and with hearts filled with pride
We shall gladly spare time for those brave souls whom died
They died on those scattered Battlefields – for you and for me
Their greatest aim was to give this land of ours its great Victory

“Our Heavenly Father now we turn to just you
To plead that you grant them all that is due
Give them a place where they may rest in peace
Whilst the joys surrounding them will never cease
Oh! Father God we ask of you to make up for all they gave
Like your Son Jesus they laid down their lives, ours to save
Eternal life must be their portion up there in Heaven above
Abiding peacefully, forever bathed in your most bountiful love.”

This Day of Remembrance we salute with so much pride
All these brave fighting dear ones whom so gallantly died
For ever in Heaven may their souls rest in supreme peace
Whilst the joy within their spirits for ever increase
We remember them all – be they on land,air and sea
Whom took the last trumpet call,for you and for me
Those brave souls of yesteryear whom fought the good fight
So that our lives would be thus blessed in safety and light
We Salute,and we thank them,as we now kneel down to pray
Remembering those brave men and women,on this their own day.
For every participant in war, we stand tall with hearts overflowing
The least we can offer is Remembrance with a Nation all bowing.

Written many years ago and has been spread around,now I bring it to The Kitchen.

We Remember

Across the land O`er this period of these great celebrations
Where we bow down in remembrance nation upon nations
We cast our minds back to those wars that have gone before
Resulting in such heartbreak with families split evermore
On those battlefields blood that was so ceaselessly shed
Making great scenes where there were simply rivers of red
The trenches became homes out there in the bitter weather
Profound must have been their suffering side by side together
Oceans too were scattered with scenes we recall with such grief
Whilst in the air there were acts we recount with almost disbelief
Victorious at the end indeed but again we ask,just at what cost
Because scattered graves are left and so many families have lost
The deepest pain and suffering has been evident through the years
But today we stand side by side whilst families still shed their tears.

Morning all, I expect your Sunday will be very poignant maw you’ve faced this last year with such fortitude it’s been (somtimes sad) a privilege to follow your posts. I agree that those mothers and wives who were left behind must have suffered great hardship and grief and are the unsung heroes of all wars and conflicts. Unfortunately that continues to be the case in today’s conflicts. I’m having my son family over for dinner today. They haven’t been here for since my DiL illness worsened. Four extra adults and three boisterous children to cook for I hope I’m up to it. At least I don’t have to clean because the builders haven’t finished, my husbands decorating what has been finished our living room is stripped bare. So all I have to do is cook. Take care all on this very poignant Sunday.

Looks so young Willow how women coped in those circumstances is almost impossible to comprehend.
Remembrance Sunday always leaves me sad but for a variety of reasons.
I find it all incredibly moving, but despite admiring all the wonderful displays all over the country, I feel we could honour their memory in many more practical ways too, caring for our disabled ex servicemen /women and their families, or those who simply flounder with mental trauma, trying to look for peaceful coexistence, living less selfish lives at whatever level of society.
DD1 has been staying overnight (without SIL or children) and I hope she will be refreshed after an early night and no little people to wake her up early.
I had a lovely time in a London with the other two DDs including an amazing brunch in a friendly “hipster” cafe with lots of young families, honestly if I lived there I’d be out to brunch every day! It would also be very easy to be a vegetarian - courgette and sweet corn fritters with smashed avocado and tomato chutney.
Paws two sisters and brother are all coming to lunch today so that gets this first anniversary weekend over and I can honestly say I do feel ready to face the future. Thank you all for your kindness and support

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201811/medium-988884-43629523-276269279665158-4047268496155869184-n-2.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201811/medium-461120-baby-chapmans.jpg

Morning all. I missed the remembrance service last night - we were on plus one watching a film so didn't look to see what else was on. I will try to see it on Catch Up today.

It would have been my aunt's 109th birthday today - this is her on the right with her 3 younger brothers. Sadly their father was killed in Belgium in 1916 aged 31 leaving my grandmother with 4 children under 7 to raise. She then went on to have my mum after meeting a man she didn't know was married until it was too late. I wish I'd known her as she must have been a very strong woman to have kept her family together through those dreadful days. Mum thought the world of her. I hadn't realised how much my uncle looked like his father until now when I've been able to compare the photos. He looks so young as were so many of them. His younger brother was also killed

Callgirl sorry to hear about your poor back. Be careful not to overdo the ibuprofen, it can be murder on the stomach.
I have found Voltarol stick on heated patches useful - but expensive or else the stronger of the Voltarol creams (especially the 12 hour) but also very pricey.
Failing that (or in addition) a hottie in the small of the back.

Grannyqueenie -“irritable owl syndrome”?

Another late call from me, I didn`t log on this afternoon because I was expecting a visitor who never turned up, then tonight I watched Strictly, followed by the Remembrance service from the Albert Hall. I agree with others that it was the most poignant one yet. There seemed to be more members of the Royal family there tonight than usual.
Panache, good to see you back, hopefully you`ll be able to spend more time in the kitchen than the hospital now.
Ann, sorry you`ve had some bad days, I hope your C word present cheers you up when it arrives.
Soop, so pleased that the reading went well.
It`s been a very wet and windy day here, but it didn`t affect me much as I couldn`t go anywhere due to a very bad back which came on yesterday teatime. I`ve been dosing up on paracetermol and ibufrofen, 3 tabs at a time, all day, and it started to get a bit easier tonight. Fingers crossed for tomorrow.
GrannyQ, lovely photos, love the colour of those leaves.
Kitty, enjoy your time away.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201811/medium-200233-766271dd-8b47-4809-88f6-43ddde6b6a1c.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201811/medium-380490-ff145ebe-59b6-479f-baf9-57048543513f.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201811/medium-613498-f45646a8-419d-4ed8-a851-12fb6230815f.jpeg

Oops....the photos!