Soop's kind, caring and sharing kitchen.

N&G how awful! Hopefully, as we are in the middle of the village that couldn’t happen to us but there is a huge development planned for the next village. It includes a big industrial estate too.
We have heard of the lighthouse at Orford and are going to see it tomorrow and perhaps take photos. The storms have done such damage that it has to be demolished soon.
Have a good day tomorrow everyone

corner I do wish Mr.C a happy birthday and it would appear he enjoyed his birthday lunch.

Synonymous could you live with your DD moving back home again? There are swings and roundabouts. Your DS has a lovely sister who will take most of the burden off him if he thinks you are in "a sorry physical state". That is not how it comes across via email. You have a lovely family who care about the pair of you.

chicken DDs are such a blessing aren't they & Himself might well listen to her ....... thinks.......
She is talking about selling up and coming to live with us which would be lovely from my point of view. She says she is concerned about us, bless her. DS thinks it would be a good solution which is interesting as I am not sure whether it is from his point of view or ours! I must try to stop having these naughty thoughts! Don't get me wrong as I do appreciate him thinking of us but I had an e-mail from him this week which mentioned his concern at "the sorry physical state you are in" and I have to say it did not do a lot for me as you can imagine. Mixed blessings you might say.

Charleygirl---I know just what you mean about liking silence. I'm the same, but sadly OH, as he gets older, is becoming ever noisier, huffing and puffing, grunting and groaning to the extent that earplugs may well be needed! I envy you having Gransnet meet-ups. No one seems to be interested in this neck of the woods.

Syn---When to stop driving or tell OH that the time has come is a very tricky decision. I know that my OH would not take the hint from me, but will probably listen, but with great reluctance, to our DD. She has a wise head on her shoulders.

N&G---sorry to hear about the planning problems. It makes you feel so helpless, doesn't it. We live in a beautiful quiet position with a big, historic but abandoned house next door, and that will probably be demolished and replaced with numerous new houses. We dread it---the noise, the loss of seclusion and the impact on the wildlife. At present, swallows nest in one of the rooms (broken windows) and it is a delight to watch them swooping in and out all summer.

soop---feeding and watching the wild birds is one of my great joys. We have so many different ones visiting each day from tiny wrens to tame pheasants. My favourites are a family of crows who sit in a tree waiting for me to come out with the food, then caw loudly as a signal for all the other birds that breakfast is served. It never fails to make me laugh.

You have such a lot to deal with Syn ? I understand your feelings about your DH's driving licence, my father in law's was cancelled for medical reasons and we were relieved. I hope that your building alterations/planning are sorted very soon.

Izabella I am saddened to read that something or someone has upset you. You are much loved by all on this thread and greatly respected. I love your photo of the white Spring blossom, you know my love of white flowers. ??

Welcome Dec46 and Cassie I look forward to hearing more about her and her exploits.

GG what a devastating loss for that young family, truly awful.

Wishing you good luck at the Planning Consultation meeting N&G. Book me a seat on the bus, I will man the picket line with you.

annsixty please stay with us. I'm sorry that you are feeling so down. ?

Happy Birthday to Mr Corner a good lunch and a post prandial snooze, sounds good to me. Hope your fibro flare up is less painful and clears up PDQ corner.

I have, with DH's help ( he chopped all the veg bless him ) made lamb cawl. Please dig in, very warming on a cold day.

200 flats will be built on Waitrose car park

Parking won’t be too easy there then will it?

corner Don't you dare! Put that skateboard somewhere out of sight. Us lot want you to remain unscathed.

Ironing duty tomorrow. Can't wait. Time is right for a nice . Sadly no . I am trying not to eat all the goodies that I crave. It's tough.

Thinking of you all. Stay warm and keep safe. Until I return tomorrow.

Oh blimey n&g, what a performance. You don't need that, or indeed to move now your bungalow is just as you want it. Lets hope common sense is alive and well in Norfolk.

Charley its worth a call to Morrisons. They should offer replacement and refund and I always think it does no harm to make a point about these things.

We were blown to a very nice restaurant for Mr C's birthday lunch, he's now snoozing and I'm reading GN and anything else I can find really.

I think invoices from garages are like bills for dental work soop, horrible to contemplate but sadly necessary. Hope the next shock will be a small one.

This is the limit to my keyboarding for today (still fancy skateboarding!) so TOYA, take care everyone.

-

Syn I have a fridge/freezer and the drawers are stuffed full. I ordered frozen chips- did not check the weight so I have a package to feed a couple of streets-hence no space for the bread. It is only a small loaf- I really cannot be bothered.

Getting permission for anything is very difficult these days.

N&G that is horrendous news- good luck. We are having similar here but it is not so personal. Dunelm, Sports Direct and Home Sense will close and 200 flats will be built on Waitrose car park. No matter how sympathetically they are built, the area, once quaint and pretty will be ruined.

Anyway, it is houses and not flats which are needed. It will be over development with a capital OD. At least Waitrose appears to be staying. I hope the residents can find schools and GPs.

TOYA

Building not holding! Wretched spell check!

Charley Himself hasn't been driving for over 3 years so I have become used to doing all the driving. He has been learning how to drive with special controls under supervision in order to apply for his licence renewal. I am also concerned about the PTSD side of things which is sort of under control but I am not convinced that he will not have an episode at the wheel which would be disastrous. It doesn't take a genius to know that you don't get time to choose which innocent person you could kill or maim today! There is no point in me attempting to lay down the law as it just wouldn't work so you will understand that I am very much praying about it all!
There are some modifications to the house that you can get done for you but only when funds are available. The wet room is still nowhere near being even at the quotation stage because our house is brick built and needs a support lintel and holding warrants etc etc - the wheels are certainly grinding exceeding slow! We also have other plans if and when the insurance coughs up - breath holding not recommended!
By the way, if you ring Morrison's and complain about your bread you should be given a refund. We generally freeze the bread anyway and just take it out as needed.

N&G Congratulations and commisserations in equal measure. MacSporran had at one time his own architectural practice. He recalls many a battle between homeowners and folk who were determined to throw massive spanners in the works. You chose your home with the view in mind. You feel dismayed. I know that I would too. Grit your teeth and stand your ground. Us lot will be rooting for you.

Afternoon all !

Its a busy one here today. It was a cook off at SW this morning . I think I needed to read the instructions next time. There was some great syn free lasagne , chilli and such. I made tiny ploughman's on sticks :-) little chunk of cheese, roll of ham , tiny cocktail onion and a slice of apple . I even got a sticker !! I think it was very generous of them lol

Then we have an estate agent coming to value our property and talk about the local plan. It turns out our local farmer is determined to sell 'our' field for 95 houses, building right up to our boundary line.

To that end they have forked out on a report by a specialist planner to support it. So we are getting our ducks in a row to see what our options are.

There is a planning consolation this afternoon and I have printed out the 64 page document, annotated it and I am off to refute all their promises/claims. Wish me luck !! If not I shall be running a coach for you all to come down and picket with me !!

We really don't want to move but without our view this isn't what we want. Silly eh?

Then its knit and natter. I shall be looking forward to my pancakes after that !!

Sorry to hear the buggerations syn . Don't forget that building work to benefit a disabled person is all VAT free !I didn't know that until a friend mentioned it and we were able to apply it to the bathroom refit .

To everyone who is feeling a little blue sending a hug and a whopper of a chocolate éclair that fell into my basket on the way home from SW - because I lost 2 lbs this week !! :-)

synonymous that really is awful if Mr. Syn loses his licence now. It would have been more acceptable to him if the decision had been his.

Are you sure that you have to pay for everything? Friends of mine, for example, had a stairlift fitted for free. She has AMD, he has COPD and both are at least 90 but do not look or act it.

Morrisons man came over an hour early which was great. What was not so great was that the loaf of bread should be used by tomorrow and this was me asking for long use-by dates. I do not think they read or listen.

Maw As if! Us lot (those who can actually bake) will make a cake for when you return.

Sar53 Our good friends have a friend with advanced Lewy Body Dementia. I had never heard of the condition. I find it difficult to comprehend how her family cope with something so destructive.

Dear Synonymous It's kind of you to take the time to visit the kitchen. You are having to deal with some mega buggerations at the moment. Why is it that when we most need the energy and health and wherewithall to cope with later life b's, our resources are sorely depleted?

The bill from the garage has been opened. MacSporran saves it for a day when he feels able to deal with the shock. He says...It's not as high as the last one...but, at the bottom of the page it reads...further invoice to be forwarded. Roll of eyes. Half-hearted shrug.

callgirl1 Rant away to your heart's content. We're here to rant and listen and share some joy.

Talking of joy...a family of hedge sparrows have sussed us out. Apart from containers being filled daily just for them as they live at the front of the house, one little tyke perches on a shrub just outside the computer room window, and tweets away. When I see him, I take some extra seed and scatter it under the bush. He changes tweets, adds a few twitters and the rest of the flock join him.

Izabella, thank you for a most moving post, but I cannot understand who, or why, anyone would make fun of you. They are not worth worrying about.
Please, may I have a grumble? I`ve just spent just over 2 very frustrating hours rying to do my online Tesco order. It usually takes 45 to 60 minutes, but tonight the site was so-o-o-o-o-o slow, I had to refresh every page, then it gave up the ghost altogether, so I have to start again in the morning. Thank you for letting me rant xx

Synonymous .

TOYA.

Synonymous you have so much to cope with these days. Sorry to hear about your DH’s TIA, these are worrying and losing his licence must be a buggeration too far. Paw had chosen to give up driving of his own volition by the time he had his TIA’s on account of dizzy spells after his heart surgery, but with hindsight they may have been the precursor.
If I am not around much please don’t anybody think you are not in my thoughts, but I am taking a break from GN during Lent.
I will however be keeping a watching brief - so no sneaking extra cake while I am behind the sofa!

Cherry and almond cake on the table. Enjoy x

Just a brief pop in to say hello to you lovely lot. So much has been happening in the kitchen that it has taken lots of reading to try and catch up but I know I can't really do it so must beg for forgiveness.
I will just comment on one or two and the rest of you must accept my
I am appalled Izabella that anyone could be so crass as to make fun of anyone with a form of dementia, clearly having no idea of just how frightening it can be or else totally lacking a heart. You are an inspiration to us lot in the kitchen and we love to read your posts, your observations are a delight and so insightful.
Ann I am so sorry that you are feeling weighed down with sadness, sometimes the end of winter can be very hard to get through. St John's wort is really helpful to me as well as vitamin D3.
Maw (((hugs ))) to you too.

I have lovely snowdrops out in the garden and would love to have a few in a little vase but it is impossible to venture out to get some so I am hoping my home help will get some for me tomorrow, I am looking forward to that.

We have had so much happening lately that I couldn't possibly tell you about it all without writing screeds and there have been many highs and lows. One of our lovely neighbours died so he will be a big miss as will his visiting family. It was quite an adventure getting to the funeral in all the wet and windy weather but we are glad we made it.
Himself had another TIA so I am concerned about that and I am thankful that DVLA are not just dishing out a replacement licence to him without their own team of doctors being consulted first. I don't feel that I can say much about it to him as it is not an easy thing to have your licence taken from you but I am a strong believer in safety first.
We have started getting quotes for the alterations we will need to have for when Himself needs his wheelchair more and it is mind blowing, so much to think about.

Seems to be lots of new names in the kitchen so I will add my welcome too. Macaroons on the side - plenty for everyone!
TOYA

Dear Izabella I too was sad to read your post. Your posts are lovely to read, so descriptive. I think that certain people, and I don't mean the lovely, caring people in Soops kitchen, don't understand dementia and think it's 'funny to make nasty comments.
My darling mum had Lewy Body Dementia so I have first hand experience of watching someone go through the stages of the disease.
Please do not let ignorant people upset you.
My best wishes to everyone else. I don't post often but I do read all the news of the kitchen every day.
TOYA.

chicken I meet up with some GNs monthly at Debenhams in Oxford Street and sometimes I think I am entering a disco- I find it horrendous, soothing background music it is not.

That is also my fear if I end up in a home listening to Vera Lynn or whatever. I do like silence. Even at home, living alone I never have the TV as background music.

MawB that new home for your SiL"s mum sounds really lovely. If (heaven forbid) I were to end up in a home I would find endless background pop music nothing short of torture.

Izabella I meant to say that you have a magical talent for painting pictures with words. When you describe a scene it's there on my phone screen in vivid detail. Thank you.