Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for the sharing of...

Well said, Susan and dragonfly.

Another busy day draws to an end. I am looking forward to relaxing. Sun continues to shine. My heart goes out to any of you battling atrocious weather conditions.

We still haven't set eyes on the feral feline family that we leave food for every day. The dish is always licked clean. That's our reward.

Log off time. No ironing duty to perform tomorrow. Sigh! I may therefore clear out one of the wardrobes. A devil for punishment some would say.

TOYA.

Ann that puts a different slant on it - I am sure your GD will do what is right for her and that is what is important. I am sure you are great at soothing feathers.

I haven’t been to the Trafford Centre for ages Ann,need to go before it gets too busy with C.......s.
I think so long as your granddaughter has you to listen to her she will be ok.She knows she has your support.I think your daughter in law is asking a lot of you,your granddaughters relationship with you is the constant in her life.Also I think your granddaughters initial reaction to the news may change,she will need time to react then process the news and then decide how she feels about it.
As I said earlier,I am sorry you have been put in this position but I am sure you will find the words your granddaughter needs to hear.?

Afternoon all.
Just back from a lovely few hours at the Trafford Centre.
It was great but tiring, bought 2 new jumpers, some bits from Lakeland , a pack.of C........s cards and had a specials lunch at the YangSing, 2 courses for £14:99.
Will sit with a cup of tea and recover.
I didn't explain well this morning. My ex DiL will tell L herself. She wants me to deal with any fallout and do any smoothing of feathers if that is needed.

N&G I would estimate Jackson's smile minus a tooth to be priceless. How much did N&G cough up ?

Ann There are many sound comments from your Kitchener pals. I also think that, if I were in tour position, I would discuss the options with your granddaughter. You two are close. That counts for a lot.

GrannySomerset Thank you. The purpose of the kitchen was meant to appeal to those of us who enjoy each other's company. What the rest of the forums choose to do is entirely their business. So far, so good. I am more than happy to continue as we do.

Maw MacSporran wishes to thank you for your poem.

ann, I do think your DiL should have had the guts to tell your DGD in person about her forthcoming wedding. However, I know you, more than anyone, are on her side and love her enough to broach the subject wisely and sensitively. She will have time to think about it and maybe come to terms with it. If she doesn't, well, her mother is the one who will have to come to terms with it. But really, she and your DGD ought at some time talk together, otherwise your DiL might decide to put all the blame on you if DGD decides to boycott the wedding.

Oooops forgot the picture lol

Afternoon all!

I think I have the leg of lamb Kitty - enjoy ! ?

Tricky one ann but you have a good connection with your GD , I would discuss it with her and as the others have said be led by what she wants . Your son will have to get over it quite frankly ?

I have been to the hairdressers and now we’re just waiting for the tyre fitter before popping out for groceries and an early dinner.

I shall leave you all with a picture of my smiley boy missing his tooth. There was great joy when it fell out this morning and a lengthy discussion about its value . Cooper is green with envy as he has all his teeth but he spent time calculating their worth ‘in case’ !!

I agree with susan and grannysomerset. You have to follow your gd's lead. You and she have a special bond and that is what is important.

I hope the hospital visit goes (or went well) panache. And I hope your dh has been well looked after in you absence.

Just wondering if anyone knows who has the frozen leg of lamb and if i could borrow it please. The Arsenal is playing up again.

How hard, annsixty. Can quite see why you are worried but it does sound as though you are the best person to raise the subject with your GD. As long as she knows that you will support whatever decision she makes (and she may change her mind more than once) you will both be fine. Your son will just have to accept that GD is the one who matters most.

Thinking of Panache and hoping the hospital visit goes well.
Ann,when my ex husband got remarried many years ago now,my eldest daughter decided not to attend.She has never regretted this decision and has an ok relationship with them,sees them a couple of times a year and always invites them to family parties.I was advised to let the girls make up their own minds.It is very difficult as like you I was the go between.
I would let your granddaughter decide I think.Its so hard but I always think I don’t know how it feels to have parents who separated so I always let them decide while trying to guide them.
I think you have been put in a difficult position,you are your granddaughters safe and special person.The relationship that you have with her is the most important thing.I would let her decide what she wants to do,if she wants to attend that’s great but if she doesn’t that’s also great.
I would also say to your son that you will prioritise your granddaughters feelings.
So difficult for you and I’m so sorry you have been put in this position?

annsixty Wiser ones than me in the kitchen but TOYU.

Good morning all. How nice to be back in the kitchen. I have been away at a family gathering and had a wonderful time in spite of the wind and flooding. I needed a day of complete quiet yesterday after all the fun and noise and chatter. Delightful and amazing how much all the children have grown over the summer holidays - why do they seem to grow so much during the summer? Anyhow, still smiling at all the goings on.
Belated best wishes to soop and MacSporran, also the Izabellas. Apologies I know I have missed some people - can’t keep up.
Washing on the line in spite of the bitterly cold wind. Sterilising jam jars for later today.
Scotch pancakes under the tea towel on the side, with butter and red currant jelly. Enjoy.
PS thinking of panache.
TOYA

Ann this is a problem.

It really wasn’t very kind of your DiL to put you in this position as it could make you the bad guy.
I think I would be inclined to say you don’t want to get involved and she must sort it out with her daughter.
Can you not explain to your son that you are going simply to support his daughter. I would leave that nearer the time though.

Thank you NanaandGrampy for the offer of Cooper's chicken-cuddling---I might take you up on it when it's a bad day!

That's a problem,Ann that will need a good amount of diplomacy and choosing the right moment. I don't envy you.

I've just been reading another thread about C*******s puddings and it reminded me of many years ago when I made the pudding good and early and stored it on a shelf in the back porch which was nice and cool. When I brought it in on C*******s day, the basin felt light and on taking off the top coverings---HORROR---the basin was completely empty! There was a tiny, tiny hole in the foil and a mouse had been living the life of luxury on rich pudding for many weeks. I've no recollection of what we ate instead.

I hope Panache's hospital visit isn't too traumatic today and that MrP is well cossetted in her absence.

Best wishes from sunny Sussex---it's a beautiful crisp morning here.

Oh annsixty what a dilemma. You seem to be very close to your GD, you do not want to do/say anything that could jeopardise that.

Now that your GD is not living with her Mum, do you think she is able to view things differently, wish her Mum well and realise that this man makes her happy?

As for your son, it doesn't matter how old they are they remain our "babies" and we do worry so much if they are upset, I hope one of the wise grans in the kitchen will have some advice?

That should read , my Son's blessing.

I don't want to start a thread particularly as I am not wanting to broadcast this widely but you are all so wise in the kitchen and 'know" me.

I still see my ex DiL regularly, not with my D's blessing, quite the reverse, but she is my GD's mother and I am very fond of her other 2 children.
She rang me yesterday to tell me she is getting married in Feb.
She has been with her partner a long time now and she was 50 this year.

Problem arises with my GD, she left home because of mum's partner.
They are now civil to each other but no more.
Her mum doesn't know how to tell her or what her reaction will be.
She wants me to " make it right"
She also wants me to go to the wedding otherwise my GD is unlikely to go.

It is a very small, immediate family only affair.
I don't know how I will feel and my S will be apoplectic.

There is usually a desk chair in front which hides it from view! And I wedge it behind one of the pedestals!!

Those tangles drive ne and! But I'm not allowed to touch incase I dislodge something!!

If that`s considered a tangle, heaven knows what would be a suitable name for mine, my kids call it Spaghetti Junction x 3!
Soop, thank you for greeting David every time you pass through Muasdale, otherwise he`d be very lonely, especially as I haven`t been able to get up there this year, so thank you again xx

TOYA

Ann, your comment made me smile...my son bangs on about my “cable management” or lack of but somehow never quite finds the time to sort it out for me when he visits!

I went out today to put petrol in my car- a big mistake- the heavens opened on my way home so badly the windscreen wipers could not cope so I had to stop for around 15 minutes. I sat there watching maniacs drive past. They must have magical powers of sight which I have lost somewhere along the way. At least the sun appeared when I arrived home eventually.
TOYA

Is it ok for me to like the tangle of plugs under the desk?
I have similar behind the telly and under a console table.
I feel so much better knowing I am not alone.

Lovely photos, soop. You and macs look so happy.

I love yours too gq.

Here's my latest.