Soop's kitchen for kind and caring folk

Maw Thank you for the uplifting message. It is perfect.

N&G Thank you for the cake. I will be virtually tasting it...not admiring it.

dragonfly Hearty cheers. Well done, you. We are all feeling joyful on your behalf.

ann A little of what you fancy, does you good. Cheers! Or, as we say in Scotland - Slainte!

Long ago, when we were on honeymoon, we asked the bar person for a cocktail that he was unfamiliar with. Anyway, he suggested Tequila. Well, as a result of a tasting session that lasted for some time, we started laughing. We went to our room - laughing. We fell into bed - laughing. Ever since, we have toyed with the notion of buying a small bottle in the hope of repeating that lovely experience. We did just that yesterday. We had no idea how to make a cocktail, so we drank a wee dram's worth. It tasted really peculiar. We wanted to laugh but somehow, something (an ingredient) that was necessary for the drink to taste as we remembered it, was missing. We still have enough to mix a cocktail. I've Googled the details. In time, when we've mastered the art, I shall return with a further update.

It made me chuckle Nannytopsy. The shape of things to come eh?

Hope this raises a smile!

Dragonfly - well done and best wishes to you.
Annsixty - good forward planning with the wine. I am trying and so far failing to stick to my one glass a night rule.

Cheered up this morning as my 'person' from the local virus support has been in touch. I have younger friends I can ask for help but it is good to know there is someone round the corner who actively would like to help.

I find I am worrying about quite inconsequential things as a sort of displacement activity - what about my car battery? - although I can well understand that this doesn't really matter at all as I am not going anywhere at the moment.

Well, now to plan out the afternoon. Knitting, jigsaw or reading? What a dilemma.

Dragonfly well done to have got on so well and enjoy getting through all those things you are now able to do!

As for the lemons I am told (very seriously!) that I must wait until they are properly ripe. I don't know how to tell when they are or even what the inside will be like. I hope they are not all pith anyway!

Morning all,

Its been an exciting start to the day with a grocery delivery. It was very much like a lucky dip and whilst we wont starve we are definitely going to be eating some odd stuff ! I was hugely surprised to find my soap powder didn't arrive - so now on top of having dirty bottoms we'll have smelly , dirty clothes :-) Good job we're self isolating.

Good news Dragonfly , now just take care of yourself.

I'm another that loves the sound of the lemon tree- I might have time to grow one at this rate !!

I know what you mean about not seeing the littlies Corner . It was our daughters birthday yesterday and our SiL arranged a three way video link between them, us and our other daughter and her family. We all sang Happy birthday while she blew out her candles, then we produced a cake and did it all again , and not to be left out our other daughter produced a mini muffin with a candle in it so we did it again!!

There were a lot of smiles and laughter and a few tears as the smallest doesn't understand why we cant all be together. Its only going to get tougher I fear.

I shall leave the remains of the birthday cake on the side for you all - please excuse the way it looks - it does taste good though :-) --- stay safe everyone !

Oh my goodness I mean a bottle over three nights not the case.

Dragonfly relax now and get back to whatever will become normal for us.
It's a funny old world.
I have heard nothing about my op. I have been expecting a phone call everyday.
I have rung the hospital this morning and explained it all to an answering machine, extracting a promise that someone will ring me back.
Shallow I may be but I have ordered a case of wine from Laithwaites this morning, I shall have to drink it over 3 nights, unless of course I think it is going off!!
Love and best wishes to all.

Superb news Dragonfly-I hope you have had a glass of wine or three to celebrate.

From today I intend eating my way through my freezer- no doubt I will come across weird and wonderful things I thought should be frozen. At least I should save some money.
TOYA

Dragonfly, sending love and kind thoughts, well done??

All very quiet here as we are in Day five of stringent lockdown. DH's last eight physio appointments have been cancelled but he's making progress. Have printed off the special forms needed to be taken if you need an emergency shop or medical visit. If you are stopped by the gendarmes and don't have your signed and dated form...€123.00 fine.

I'll be able to read through the last couple of days' posts today but in the meantime dear kitchen friends, TOYA xxxxx

Such good news Dragonfly but I can understand how you could also feel “cast off”, the support of the medical team becomes part of your life doesn’t it?
Forgive me for teaching granny to suck eggs, , but debacles in Sainsbury’s are not where you should be - take life easy and give yourself time to truly get back to normal.
Now for everybody I am sharing this because it is just lovely !

Good morning everyone.

Strange day yesterday. Started being caught up in the debacle in Sainsburys. I had to go to pick up DH’s medication and thought I would get a little shopping. It was bedlam!

Then went to the hospital to meet my oncologist. I saw the consultant himself. He cancelled my last chemo telling me I had done well to get through 7 sessions and cancelled the radiotherapy as the risk of coming to the hospital for 15 days in a row was greater than the benefits. I am pleased but feeling a little bereft. I do have his secretaries number though and will see him again in 3 months. I can now start growing my hair and plan the jobs I thought I wouldn’t be able to do next week!

My DD is coming back from Australia this weekend and self isolating but has no food or toilet rolls. I arranged to send her some black ones from Amazon!

Good to hear from Izabella again, I hope you both stay well.
The lemon tree sounds delightful Synonymous I love a slice of lemon in my water.
Susan I am sorry to hear you are worrying about your DDs. These are very worrying times.

Good morning everyone and I do hope you are all well and have woken without worries. I think that’s wishful thinking but YKWIM.
DH off to his district nurse for a leg dressing and I shall make a foray to the butcher and the Friday fish van at the local garden centre. We said we would christen the new dining room on mothering Sunday, so my choice is meat! Fingers crossed.
Dragonfly - thinking of you - such good news.
Home baked sourdough bread on the side.
TOYA

They're lovely people Purplepixie. You'll get a welcome. I am suffering an expiring battery (and so is my laptop!!) so I'll say goodnight all your gentle ladies. Sleep well and don't worry about tomorrow - at least until tomorrow. Hugs to all and keep safe xx

Compline prayer
MayGod grant us a peaceful and tranquil night.
TOYA

Can’t write a detailed post to you all, but believe me I am TOYA and wishing you a peaceful night, some respite from your worries and refreshment for whatever tomorrow brings.

We certainly are living in strange times. No delivery slots here, just a notice to say try again another day! Luckily I froze lots of home grown produce in the summer so we won't starve even if we have some very unusual meals. I want to make my own bread but couldn't get either strong flour or yeast from the shops, but luckily found a mill that would deliver, and some yeast on e-bay---felt quite chuffed!

Gd who was on her gap year over here from Oz has been called back home by her parents. She was working at a boarding school but it is now closed ( although she could have continued to live there). Gs who works in London has relocated to the south coast in case there's lockdown in London, and Gd who was getting married in early summer will probably have to cancel the wedding following the new ruling for only 5 people allowed. She's distraught.

TOYA. Keep well everybody.

Well,I have had a bit of a wobble today.One daughter has chronic asthma,the other has EDS.Both self isolating,youngest daughter and little family all had fevers.
I literally couldn’t stop worrying about them today.It started when DD1 told me her surgery has closed as no staff and she was worried about getting her inhalers.Once I started stressing,I couldn’t stop.
I have come to bed,decided what I shall do tomorrow,gardening if fine and decorating if not so hopefully I will wake up in a better frame of mind.
Dragonfly,so pleased your treatment is complete.
Reading the posts on stoops kitchen has cheered me,am quite envious of your lemon tree Synonomous.
I really am thinking of you all.

Hello all. Well so much for self isolating. If we didn’t go to the shops we’d starve. No deliveries for weeks ahead, no food on the shelves.
I have often seen pictures in the papers from various countries showing bare shelves and wondered how the people can cope. Well that’s here now. I feel particularly sorry for those with babies trying to find baby milk, single parent families trying to cope with looking after children and shopping and the mums and dads who now have to stay at home and look after children who are not going to school. So nothing to whinge about here. We can sort ourselves out and it won’t hurt if we have a meal or two of rice cakes as long as I have a ? to go with them. As long as the children are ok I will try not to worry. Hope everyone is ok. Take care all TOYA ?

Synonymous Smolie likes his food fresh and it would appear you cannot provide that so for a treat he has to look for his own.

I hated it when Tara did that. She sometimes came home, plonked her body on the floor beside my chair- eating her supper and expecting me to eat mine. Yuk.
TOYA

I hope everyone is doing well today, we have been busy doing a bit more tidying and shredding so are feeling quite pleased with continuing progress. We have had lovely sunshine, some not so nice showers and a sudden short downpouring of hail today but a beautiful evening with fluffy pink edged clouds. Hopefully that is a sign of a nice day tomorrow.

Our gardening friend has now moved our lemon tree out of the big greenhouse as he will need to grow the tomatoes in it this year because the latest storm totalled the smaller 'Tommy' greenhouse. I have just counted 14 lovely big yellow lemons and about 20 little green lemons ranging from miniscule to average sized so I am hoping it will survive both the repotting and the move - it was quite an operation and it looks stunning in the sunroom although very large! Himself calls it a "real talking point" but I think we will need a loud hailer, it didn't look nearly so big in the greenhouse! I am looking forward to seeing and smelling the blossom when it comes. I think that citrus is the only species that has all the stages of fruit on the tree at the same time but I await being told of others. Sadly we don't seem to have any gin in the cupboard so I hope I can get it on my grocery order - if they will still be delivering next week.
Smokie has clearly gone 'wilding' for his food as he seems to have a bit of an upset tummy! I keep telling him he has plenty of food in the larder so it's best not to eat out but he can't seem to help himself!
TOYA

Evening All.

Totally understand shop traumas. We had the Sainsbury experience this morning. I say no more.

Mr C continues to wield a paint brush, I’ve begun my allotted task of touching up the emulsion, quite enjoy it. A jigsaw for himself this afternoon and chat via email for me passed a pleasant afternoon.

I’ve just seen your your news on the good morning thread dragonfly, so pleased for you.

The dental surgery made up our minds for us. Apparently they are now discouraged from treating people over 70 unless essential. The hygienist isn’t essential so no need for me to make a decision. How lucky was that?

It hit me last night how hard it will be not to see the family, especially our Littlest who simply won’t cooperate with a video call and won’t understand why we’re not seeing him. I was very down and teary for a bit, after giving myself a stern talking to normal service is resumed. Phew.

Time for some tea I think. Cake will help.

TOYA, stay well everyone.

I agree soop I will stay indoors and watch some of the shenanigans on TV.

At my local Sainsbury's the young worried well were queuing outside an hour before the place opened specifically for the ancient and the decrepit but the latter were pushed aside until I believe a member of staff came to the door and attempted to allow the correct people in.

Charleyg It's called the herd instinct. Or, mad mindedness. x

Logging off for today. I leave you with kind thoughts and . TOYA Back again tomorrow.