Soop`s superbly supportive,caring and fun loving Kitchen.

I understand it is raining in Leicestershire, I do hope the soops are able to travel home.
It is a big week for them and I don't want them to have any more worries.
It is just wet and miserable here in Stockport.
I am in for the day though, I visited H on Friday, GD went yesterday, so I will go tomorrow.

Good morning, it is gusty and wet here in SE Essex.

I have managed to get out of cooking for 4th day in a row - yippee!!!!

Off to a traditional country pub for lunch with friends. MrGG13 cooked last night which I have now designated as his night in the kitchen.

Keep warm and safe.

Fruit cake sounds really yummy Nannytopsy and I am going to cut a slice or two for myself now. I have just surfaced out of bed, had one sip of coffee but I am well aware what this lot are like and some do not bother to clear away the crumbs.

The sun is shining here and it is 10C. I cannot complain yet.

Hope everyone suffering from wind has battened down the hatches ?

Fruit cake on the side! Hope none of the kitcheners get any snow tomorrow - we said winter wasn’t finished with us yet, didn’t we?!

Evening all!
It`s been a bit draughty out there today. I went into town and twice lost my shopping trolley to a gust of wind. It very nearly had me over, which makes it a very strong wind if it can blow ME over, I`m not exactly a featherweight.
Welcome to the kitchen Bartsmaw, best place on GN.
Panache, great news that your hubby is home, I hope you`re giving him lots of TLC.
Talking about youngsters not knowing where places are, I was having my hair done 3 years ago, the girl asked me where I was going on holiday, I said a cruise to the Norwegian Fjords. She said "Oh nice, where`s that?" I said "Er, Norway?".

I’ve got you down as Mrs Imo now ..... ?

Ha! That made me giggle mamissimo
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No worries Urmstongran .....I’m used to it! I have a very unusual surname in the real world. It’s just three letters but people really struggle with it. It’s a real bind when the nurses mumble when they call for the next patient..I always get up in case it’s me ?

Gosh sorry mamissimo that’s before I’ve even had a drink! I managed to give your moniker a ‘gheisha’ flavour. It sounded rather lovely!

Hi everyone I think I’m in need of a large G&T! It’s a bit wild out there (on some of those threads).
It’s comforting to come inside soops and sit amongst you gentler folk.
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Massimmo what a poignant memory. One to treasure.

panache glad to hear your DH is at home and you are being the dutiful wife. Do you not fancy playing Nurses and Doctors instead? I bet you could rustle up a nurses uniform if you tried ?. Hope you have a peaceful weekend.
Hello bartsmaw. Welcome to the kitchen. Draw up a chair and sit by the fire.
Lovely story greyduster. Brought to mind a story about my own dear mum who always seemed to know everything about people she met. We used to laugh at her but she always said people just tell me things. When I was quite young we were on a train to Wales. About 10 minutes in the woman opposite asked my mother what part of Wales she came from. Mum replied and asked where she was from. Thus started the conversation that all the carriage joined in on. Mum just sat there asking gentle questions listening and I realise she found out about people’s lives because they saw in her a gentle soul who cared for others. Not the gossip or nosey person but someone who listened. Sorry long story, just reminded me that’s all.?
Lovely memories from you too mamissimo
willow goodies how lovely. Please may I have one of each they look delicious ?

GD your recitation of the shipping forecast brings back such memories of my FiL. When he was fairly recently widowed we took him sailing to Amsterdam. We had a fabulous time there and received a lot of lovely hospitality. ?
On the way back out to the North Sea my DH asked him to take down the shipping forecast - a sensible choice because he was an old school stickler for accuracy. I was in the galley, the lights were dim....they played Sailing By.....and when I glanced over my DFiL was fast asleep with his head on his arms on the chart table.

My DH still has the forecast form he completed - a blank sheet with a ring from his glass. ?

Thanks for the memory!

I've had a baking day today so on the side are cheese scones, flapjack and two types of lavishly iced chocolate cakes - enjoy.

Hoping Soop is having a great weekend too.

Ann your night out sounds lovely - I love it when my GD comes up with her boyfriend - they're so chatty and love to go out for a meal (with the GP's paying of course )

Izabella safe journey home - I'm sure the break will have done you good and given you time to discuss what the future plans should be.

Panache I'm so pleased Mr P is home - please take care of each other.

GD I remember the shipping forecast too although never managed to memorise it - obviously it's not something anyone in the next generation would ever have heard of!

Welcome Bartsmaw - you missed a great party during the week - I'm sure there will be another reason to celebrate soon

Bit of a traumatic morning yesterday at the opticians where we both had appointments. Firstly the new contact lens I put in was excruciatingly painful and I couldn't get it out - the optician finally had to do it which was equally painful. She was most apologetic and took them off to the receptionist to get the solution changed. Meanwhile I blew my nose which always starts to run after something like that and it started to bleed profusely! My husband then came in to have his test while I sat quietly in the corner trying to stem the flow at the same time as trying to put my old lenses back in. After all that drama he was then told he needed replacement glasses and charged £540 for the privilege - he still hasn't recovered from the shock!! The optician told him he was lucky to have got to 65 before having to have glasses I've been paying that for my glasses and lenses for years

I agree Greyduster the youngsters on board probably thought that the three of you were on a day's outing from the local psychiatric hospital and your carer was picking you up at the terminus.

There was a youngster on a quiz show this week, university education, who had only heard the name Belfast in Northern Ireland. She was aware it was the capital but she had never heard of any towns mentioned.

Happy landings, Izabella!

Panache. So glad to hear your DH is home from hospital. I hope he is much improved! You certainly sound perkier.

Welcome, Bartsmaw. We all try, and fail, to keep up, so worry not!

I was on the tram yesterday doing the forty minute journey to the railway station, sitting opposite a couple, the husband of whom was trying to name all the stops we would be coming to down the line, in order. His wife explained that they had not lived in the city long, they loved the tram and he was trying to commit the stops to memory. I said it was a bit like committing the shipping forecast to memory, and I should do what my father used to do with me and give a penny for every stop he got right! The husband said “Ooh yes, I remember that”, and all three of us were trying to remember what order they came in, and what came after Dogger, Fisher and German Bight (Humber, Thames, Dover, Wight) to the complete bewilderment of some of the younger passengers around us who had never even heard of the shipping forecast! They probably thought we were completely bonkers, but it was a jolly interlude!

Anyway, I am running out of excuses not to go and do the lunch dishes, so.......... have a pleasant evening all!

Promised our Soop I would make as many appearances as I could manage to the Kitchen whilst she is hopefully enjoying loving family time prior to D.day itself.......and though delighted to say my man was discharged from Hospital again yesterday,time is not that plentiful as I ?try? to play the dutyful wifee!

Always uplifted with the photo galleries and what a lovely latter few of your younger members Kitty and N & G..........although they come with their own catalogue of unwelcome disasters.

Truly hoping Paradise has helped heal those initial hurts Izabella, although of course, sadly, it is not one of those things easily brushed aside,but we shall welcome you back home with love,whilst support and that needful shoulder will never be far away.
I am rather looking forward to a tasting session however!!

Such sad news yet again about your daughter`s friend`s MND diagnoses Kitty,and indeed the condition will be very much on your mind Annodomini after your recent visit to your dear one also suffering with this vile disease.

Seems you had half a building site paying homage to you yesterday Greyduster........and good luck with the patio extension quote.

A warm welcome Bartsmaw this is truly the only place to be!!!

Have yourselves a restful and peaceful weekend my friends,love to you all.........and of course a special few cwtches for our Soop.

It is so windy in SE Essex and the rain clouds are gathering.

My head is thumping I am supposed to be sorting bits out for our upcoming holiday but scrolling through GN instead.

Have a good day folks ??

Am without t internet again for a while soon and will attempt a catch up when home. Take care everyone

Welcome Bartsmaw I have to admit that I have mega problems keeping up but I try my best.

Just fell over into the soops kitchen. Recommended to me at the Glasgow meet up. Hope I manage to keep up.

Good morning the kitchen.
Isabella I hope you feel refreshed after all that hammock swinging and rum punch drinking and have a safe journey home. Bring us some sunshine - it is in short supply here now!
kitty lovely photos of your youngsters on World Book Day. I had to smile about you taking your daughter to a&e with the stone up her nose. We had to do the same when DD was small as she had put the detachable head of one of DS’s toy soldiers up her nose. She was two and who knows what motivates two year olds to do anything but needless to say, a platoon of Coldstream Guards went straight into the dustbin, leaving their commanding officer in tears of rage! I am so sorry to hear about your young friend; that’s a bitter blow indeed for him and for his family.

N&G even a broken finger can’t keep the smile off Jackson’s face, and what an inventive outfit. As for Daddy Bear and the porridge and jelly baby wedding cake, I laughed out loud at that!

Ann glad to hear you had a nice meal with your GD and that it cheered you up. I’m not a lover of rum, but DH is, having acquired it when he was serving with the Gurkhas (who adore it!). He has tried many, but not Appleton’s. I’ll have to look out for some.

Charley our cat used to like the top of the armchair too, but she had a habit of reaching one paw down and digging her claws into your head (gently, mind, but still uncomfortable!).

I had a lovely day out with some of our Gransnetters yesterday. Great fun. My son works in a building near to our meeting place, and I usually phone him to come to a window and give me a wave. The problem is I always have difficulty finding the right window, so I am in the middle of a bridge looking up at a building saying “I can’t see you. Which window am I supposed to be looking at? Nope! Oh yes, I’ve got you! Hi!!” to the amusement of passers by. Then we get a couple of DS’s colleagues who also appear at the window, wave and say “Hi Mum!” into his phone!
He is expected for lunch and football today. While they are out someone is coming to measure up and quote to extend our patio, so I had better get on. I will look in later.

kitty, so sorry to hear about your daughters' friend's diagnosis of MND. That is a truly horrible disease. I have it very much on my mind because of my sister in NZ who has deteriorated markedly since I was there in January. Her prognosis is not good at all. Miserable at any age, but to be hit with something like this at an early age is tragic.
Good to know that you've had such a lovely, leisurely holiday, Izabella. I will forgo my share of the rum - I'm not a frequent spirit drinker, tho' a wee dram from Islay doesn't go amiss, now and again.
Good night all

Safe journey home Izabella.
CharleyG, I think it must be the week for affectionate cats, Mia`s hung around me much more this week. She`s another who isn`t a lapcat, but she`s been rubbing up against me a lot more, especially with her head against my arm.

Izabella enjoy the last few days in paradise. Please do not encourage this lot to continue drinking.