Soop’s kitchen, filled with kindness, understanding and some damn fine cake ! Come on in.

Hi everyone. I'm back from a lovely few days in Switzerland making memories with my 8 month old Grandaughter.
It was very hot so we spent a day at the outdoor pool complex.
Busy today sorting out stuff. So will catch up with everyone's news a bit later

Tanith, the first of everything is so hard, perhaps your family are finding it difficult to talk about your dear Husband.

Take care of yourself ???

A very warm welcome Keeper1 Us lot will endeavour to take good care of you while you recouperate. Lie down on the chaise (with a sea view) and enjoy a well deserved pampering. There may be chocolate in the cupboard. If not, how about and

Charleyg Heather played well. I haven't yet found myself bound to my umpires chair. I've done a pile of ironing. Bedding mostly.

Ann That's more like it.

Welcome home, Nannyfaraway When you've had time to sort yourself out, do tell us about your precious granddaughter. Any photos to share? You know that we're a nosy lot.

Tanith I cannot begin to imagine how I would feel were I facing the first anniversary without MacSporran. You have been in my thoughts throughout the day.

Afternoon all !

Laundry mountain conquered !! 6 loads, washed, dried and put away, luckily it didn't generate a corresponding ironing mountain - I draw the line at that !!

Sounds lovely Nannyfaraway , I echo soop - we love a good baby picture here :-)

Oh ann I HATE that sort of behaviour, if my invitation isn't good enough first off I wont be hanging around being second best. I'm sorry to hear that of such an old friend but it sounds like you enjoyed your catch up with your other friend.

Hello Keeper , welcome to the kitchen, pull up a chair - there's always virtual cake and a good listening ear .

Charley and soop come for a visit, the little boys will be very happy to see you as Jackson explained to me ' old ladies always listen properly!!'

I'm sorry its a tough day for you Tanith. I can absolutely understand how you would like to talk about your husband and all the happy memories you have . I hope your family see that .

I am being super lazy and we are having breakfast for dinner ! Not cereal you'll be pleased to know but a full English lol

Hope everyone has a lovely evening x

N&G Please tell Jackson that I could easily listen to him all day long.

Time for log off. Care home visit tomorrow morning. You lot know my routine.

I shall pop into the kitchen when I return. That is a promise. TOYA

N&G please may I ask where did Jackson find that the word "old" was attached to ladies of a certain age? I would like to tell that young man that I am not "old" perhaps experienced. I can listen and I also enjoy playing but my running days are well over.
TOYA

Tanith - if only people would realise that talking about our loved ones who have “gone before” keeps them and their memory alive
“ To live in the hearts of those we leave behind, Is not to die “
How did the two of you meet?
Do you have a wedding picture you can share with us?

Evening All. Been rushing about again spending time with poorly friends, worried about them all not that worry will change anything. Left me a bit flat though.

Maybe your family need permission to talk about your husband tanith? Please care for yourself, totally understand it’s been a difficult day. Why wouldn’t it be?

gg the camera down is the only medical procedure I am truly scared of. Not at all sure why anyone would welcome the experience, you sound quite reasonable to me, let’s hope it isn’t needed.

The watery weekend sounds and looks fun n&g. Those little boys know how to enjoy themselves. I thoroughly enjoy breakfast for dinner, it happens far too frequently in cornerland, easy, quick and enjoyable. Any spare?

Hello Keeper. Good to see you. I’m hunting round for any left over chocolate crumbs, jut ignore me.

Rise above it if you can ann, try to remember how good it was to chat with the rediscovered friend, someone worth chatting to.

That’s the best type of trip nannyfaraway. Those memories are precious.

Has anyone heard from panache? Been wondering how they both are. You ok kitty? You’ve sounded a bit fraught recently.

Time to sort laundry here. Turn my back and it breeds. It seems the fridge holds some chilled white left from the weekend. Think it has my name on it .

TOYA and be good everyone.

corner if you are feeling frazzled you can easily spend time in the garden, sitting in a chair and reading a book (obviously when the sun is shining) but if you lived in London that would be a lot of the time.

Laundry can always wait.

Maybe Panache`s internet isn`t connected yet?

TOYA, back later!

charley if I left the laundry the mountain would fall and kill us both . Not so much frazzled as saddened to see old friends struggling in different ways but with the same outcome; much reduced capability and a lot of fear for the future. I will take your advice and make good use of any rays of sun that come our way. Relaxing with a book would be just the thing.

Good point Callgirl

tanith I realise that many people who have lost the love of their life want to talk about them. I try to talk about friends partners where possible. It’s a bit more difficult if you didn’t know the person involved. I suppose we are all afraid of upsetting others. maw sometimes shares her memories of paw and I think that is a good thing. We in the kitchen got to know paw through maw and as much as is possible for someone we never met, we have fond memories of him through maw. Sadly, several of the kitcheners have lost their loved ones and we are always happy to share memories with them so please, as maw suggested, tell us about your husband and share any memories or photos you care to.

The weather in Cheshire today has been cold and windy. What a change from last week. That's summer for you! Now it's bright and breezy, but I got myself settled watching Venus Williams being well and truly taken on by a rookie, a 15-year-old with nerves of steel who won in two sets. And she doesn't shriek or grunt! What a prospect.
Any chance of putting up a TV screen in the kitchen?

Hello keeper1. Welcome. You will find the first question a newcomer is asked is did you bring any cake? ?
nannyfaraway how lovely to see your DGD. Switzerland is a favourite place for me and DH. Where abouts were you?
ann how nice to catch up with an old friend. I met with my old school friend on Saturday for the first time in many years. Needless to say neither of us had changed a bit ?? ?
N&G do you have a spare couple of places for dinner tonight. DH and I could be over like a shot ?

Tanith, it`s nearly 3 years since David died, but we in the family have always talked about him, and we still laugh over some of his funny ways, or daft things that he said. So encourage your family and friends to talk about your husband, let them know that it`s what you`d like.
Oh, and welcome to the kitchen Keeper1, accept Soop`s offer of a seat with a sea view, the view is fantastic!
Ann, enjoy your chats (and a possible meet) with yourv old friend, don`t worry yourself about the other one, she doesn`t sound worth the bother.
TOYA xx

anno I did not see all of that match but that girl appears to be a cool customer. In fairness to Venus she was gracious in defeat.

It was also good to see Kyle Edmunds through to the second round but the fellow he meets next he has never beaten but there is a first for everything.

Evening everyone.
Am needing some tea and toast if any going spare. Bad day. DH has had a fall in the garden which might be a complication re his forthcoming op.
Tanith, sending love and care
For all other kitcheners, TOYA night night x

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Thank you so much everyone for your kind thoughts. I texted my eldest GS, it’s also his anniversary today. I asked if he’d like me to babysit so he could take his lovely wife out to dinner he thanked me and said yes please.

So off I go at 4pm and spent a couple of hours playing with his daughter after we’d bathed and put her to bed I was waiting for them to go out and was then given a lovely bouquet and they cooked a roast dinner for all of us saying they had no intention of leaving me on my own today. They also gave me a beautiful red rose bush called ‘One in a Million’ in memory of DH. I was very moved by their thoughtfulness.

What a lovely evening on a sad day, as I’ve only just got home I won’t share my memories tonight but I will come back tomorrow with a photo and memory of our meeting.

Thanks again

That is so lovely! ???

Ah, Tanith, that’s brilliant! X

Again and again this kitchen proves to be welcoming place where anyone, old or new, can pull up a chair and just share what’s on their heart, receiving kind good wishes in return. I’m so glad you told us all how you felt Tanith and had a happier end to your day too.
Sleep well kitchen folk x