Soop's welcoming and supportive kitchen

Ann you deserve some help. I hope CAB will come up with some answers. Chin up, and keep that great sense of humour going if you can.

doodle Cunard QE! I’d better pack a long dress for formal evenings I suppose
Photo of me with Bellasnonna I’m the fat one!

Back with a cup of coffee and some chocolate ( left some on the worktop so help yourselves).
n&g I love your little house. Will it be your craft room? If so I am very jealous ?
maw you are so right in what you say about other threads. You would think there is no caring in families, no such thing as forgiveness and tolerance. It seems to be the same in the newspapers. I wonder sometimes what we are coming to. Then we pop into the kitchen and see that there are thoughtful and kind people in the world too ?
grannyqueenie I wonder if fretting is the mother response to our children and their anxieties and worries. My DH loves all of ours to bits but doesn't seem to spend as much time worrying about them as I do. Glad you had a lovely visit and your orders GD is feeling happier. Hope your other GDs spirits lift soon.
soop looking forward to hearing about your reading tomorrow. I am sure it will be a big success.
galen what a stunning dress. Beautiful colour. Long dresses would be a good idea especially if you've not got enough bloomers ? .

iPad!! Oldest.

Morning, oh wow Galen you look fabulous, that’s really your colour. It’s my favourite too. Bellasonna looks good too. I’ve got to rush I’m off to my hydroride class soon and I’ve just come back after the school run. My granddaughter talk about my ‘olden days’ she wanted to know how we got our water ?? and asked if I got it from a bucket from a well now I know I don’t look my best first thing but surely I don’t look that old and haggard!. I will have to try and catch up on your news on my return.

morethan2 your GD would probably be fascinated to hear how my mother had been brought up because there was no running water, it was the water from the well and carried to the house. The loo was a tin shed in a field with a bucket in it.
They still did not have running water when I went to stay during the summer holidays when I was around 14.

soop I do hope that the poem went well- I doubt if there was a dry eye in the house.

Galen you and Bellasnonna look so elegant- you must be looking forward to the next life on the ocean wave, albeit only a couple of weeks.

Another dull day here but at least it is mild so I can cut down on the heating bills.

Ann please go to CAB asap and get some advice because that amount of money is impossible to live on.

My apologies, I cannot reply to all.

I've tried in vain to catch up with all the news I've missed during a long weekend away, celebrating (if that's the word) my birthday with my family. It was lovely to see them all - except for DGD2 who was camping with the Explorer Scouts - under canvas in November! Presents are nice, but family is better. 13-year-old GS is putting his parents through a period of adolescent rebellion, but I am able to tame him as he listens to me! His brother just keeps his distance! I went to watch the younger one playing rugby. It was easy to spot him on the field as he is a head taller than the other ten-year-olds; and heavier, so that when he charges at an opponent, they stay charged. On Monday night, we had a quick meal out and went to see his class taking part in Schools Shakespeare Festival, with a 'potted' version of The Tempest. He had a walk-on part as a lord and really played the part well, looking every inch a nobleman.
We didn't need to go out to a firework display, as the local spectacular was visible from the upstairs windows. I love fireworks. Comes of being born on Nov 5th and having fireworks parties every year for my birthday once the war was over.
A friend is treating me to lunch today, so I'd better get moving and make myself presentable.

Trusting you are experiencing far better weather than we here on the welsh west coast.The rain has fallen heavily throughout the night and although we are free of floods we feel others will have suffered.

An early morning hello to you all,especially morethan and you Charley for being today`s "early birds".

I must say I am looking forward to the response to your poem Soop as I said earlier I expect there to be serious silence as people truly take in the meaning, followed by tears........... and rapturous applause if allowed.

Although this was supposedly my last week day visit to the Hospital and I was looking forward with great anticipation,sadly overnight I have been grossly ill again,so there now maybe some doubts...........however I just felt I would leave you with some understanding of what is happening here.

We are so thankful to be part of the Kitchen sanctuary where upon we have no need to wander else where where often those waters are muddied by the odd unsavouvery few words.It seems the world around us is in utter turmoil.

As always sending each one of you blessings and a new hope for this, and the rest days ahead,may life in general be kind....with pain and troubles taking a firm back seat.

P.S........ A belated Happy Birthday Annodomini........oops.......I am glad someone enjoy those darned fireworks!!!

I saw this and thought of Soop’s Kitchen

Galen, you need four long dresses. I know you won’t wear the same one twice! At least you can pack whatever you like in your five cases. Some of us have to cram it into one 25kg suitcase.

By the way, ‘‘tis I in the photo, not Bellasnonna, whoever she might be.

Bellasnana it is Galen who does not know who you are because I copied the name she wrote.

Bellasnonna sounds a bit like me Bellasnana but I am nowhere near as slim, elegant, young and glam as you! I would be a real disappointment to anyone thinking it was I.
I hope Galen gets to remember your user name, though of course she will know you only by your “proper” name. I can understand the baggage limitation as you have to pack for a flight but I’m sure you will look lovely in the same dress each formal night. Maybe Galen could lend you a change of pearls to get a different look.
Panache, so sad to hear you have had a troubled night. I hope you feel better as the day goes on. You are having more than your fair share.
Maw that’s a really apt sentiment for the kitchen.

Yes, Charleygirl, I did notice that ? I can’t really blame her, though, since I very rarely post anything these days. I do have an occasional pop in to see what everyone is up to, but not on a daily basis as I did in the past.

Bellanonna, yes, we do have somewhat similar names. You are very kind, but I’m sure you look lovely. Believe me, I don’t look young close up

I shall manage to pack four different evening dresses, and I’ve got my own pearls, which were my grandmother’s. However, Galen is very generous and loaned me a beautiful garnet necklace with matching earrings on the last Christmas cruise.

I’m looking forward to it, although I have just this moment received an email from Air Malta informing me that my flight to London has been changed and I am now going via Cagliari. Oh well, as long as I get there in time to set sail.

Hello the kitchen. I like that sentiment, Maw. It is, as you say, very appropriate to the kitchen.

We have had some really torrential rain today. The road has been flooded twice and it knocked out the television signal for a while. It seems to be clearing now, but I think we are in for a few days of this. At least it will go some small way towards filling our depleted reservoirs! I feel rather down at the moment because I am on a self-imposed crash diet which is making me miserable, and also because I have a couple of family worries lurking in the background. There always seems to be something.

presents are nice but family is better. Anno I couldn’t agree more. When GS said he had brought me a present on Sunday, I told him he is the only present I would ever want! As for your grandson sleeping under canvas in November, they don’t seem to feel the cold at that age and anyway, it’s character building !

Gq we had problems with our tyre pressure warning light coming on last year when there was nothing wrong with the tyres, but to have ignored it would have been like crying wolf. At least you have two nice new tyres with the winter coming on. DH has to get two for ours, and he is dragging his feet, but if he doesn’t do the deed in the next couple of weeks I shall take the damn car myself and get it done! You only need to be out in weather like we have just had and could be in all kinds of trouble. Why are men so stubborn?

morethan your GD’s question about water reminded me of when GS needed to find out how the Vikings made bread, my cheeky SiL said “Ask Nanny - she was there!”

Panache I am so sorry you are feeling ill again and send you a huge cwtch and my kindest good wishes that you will be better soon.

I have a very early routine hospital appointment tommorrow which means I will have to drive, whereas I would usually go on public transport but it takes too long, and as if that wasn’t enough, flu jabs in the afternoon before we do the school run. Hey ho. Here comes the deluge again! I will look in later if we haven’t been washed away!

Hello to the kitchen. Now in a soggy Glossop having driven through torrential rain on the M1. This must be your rain GD as I was near Barnsley at the time so you are just a bit further south I think. The reservoirs on the Woodhead pass now have water in them. Not a lot but better than last time I came 3 weeks ago.
I am here to get DGS from school. A very rare treat for me. We shall go out for hot chocolate and cake.
Maw I love the picture. You have such a talent for the right words. Sending hugs at this time for you.
And for all the other lovely people in the kitchen

That's another long ironing session over and done with. A lovely moment...returning home and having a freshly made pot of coffee ready for the using of.

Panache I'm also sorry to hear that you had a rotten night. A supportive Scottish (hug) from Kintyre.

Greyduster Wishing you a safe journey to attend tomorrow's hospital appointment.

granniequeenie your remark - break a leg made me smile. The reading went well. The only moment that I dreaded was climbing a steep step minus my stick to reach the podium. I kept thinking...what if I stumble or worse. The press from the Courier was in attendance. Photos taken. The entire evening was a poignant reminder of the awfulness of war. A local villager sang a melody of wartime songs, unaccompanied, and his rendition was, for me, the best of tributes.

On Friday, I return to recite another poem. Not one penned by me. The title is, Perhaps. Written by a lady whose fiancée of such a short time was killed by a sniper's bullet.

Good afternoon. Panache so sorry to hear that you had a poorly night. I hope you are feeling a tad better today. Soop I'm glad the reading went well, your poem was so lovely. OH and I visited the Tower of London yesterday and saw the torches being lit. There were thousands of people there but as we had arrived a good hour before it started we had a very good view. Very moving. I've been in to our local town this morning and there are two memorials set up to remember all who didn't return after 1918. One of my DGD'S has been studying the First World War at school and she has been asking my DD if there is anyone in our family who was involved. Neither of us know so I am determined to find out.

Sar53 Isn't it a good thing that this generation of children show interest in the enormous sacrifices of those who fought and lost their lives in war. The youngest casualty was just fifteen. It's almost beyond comprehension that one so young experienced the carnage of war.

Are any Granspals having difficulty accessing their Facebook accounts?

Afternoon all.
Panache, so sorry to hear that you`ve been so poorly, I hope that you are soon feeling better.
Soop, although I`m pleased that the reading went well, I`m also not at all surprised. Why didn`t you take your stick with you up to the podium? Marelli was in your church a few weeks ago, and she sent me the Kintyre calendar, it was on sale in the church. She`s a darling, as most kitcheners are.
I`m sorry that some of you are experiencing rogue weather, it was sunny but windy here this morning, but raining now, and still very windy.
I am joining the ranks of the elite, I`m going to have a cleaner! Only once a week, for 3 or 4 hours, not decided on yet, but I really do need help with certain things I just can`t do anymore.

We swam along the motorway on our shopping trip this morning. Serious accident on the other carriageway didn’t seem to encourage safe driving on ours . Bit hairy at times.

I’m delighted your reading went well, soop, so sorry you’ve had a bit of a relapse panache.

We hope to be off to a beach on Sunday to be part of one of the Danny Boyle armistice day sand artwork events. The Tower of London must have been incredible sar.

A bit weary now so an early feet up for me. More shopping tomorrow in the big blue and yellow building. Take care everyone.

Grey, it was my DGD who was under canvas - not DGS! The females of the family are the tough ones. Soop, I wish I'd been in that church to hear you reading your wonderful poem. I'm sure you could have heard a pin drop.
Panache, I hope you manage to avoid being taken back into hospital and that you have a much better night tonight. callgirl - pleased to hear that you are getting a cleaner. Mine comes for two hours every two weeks and it's a great weight off my mind to have things spic and span without my having to lift a finger.

Apologies, Anno - I must learn to read more carefully!?

You lot are the best. I've run out of time. It's been a busy afternoon but I shall return tomorrow.

The photo of Galen and Bellasnana is a winner. Gorgeous! Both of you. xx

Until tomorrow...