Soop's kitchen for kind and caring folk

Lins1066 Your rich beef casserole sounds more-ish. If there's any to spare, us lot wouldn't want it to go to waste.

Izabella as usual.

Galen If you cannot think of a means to stop the bloody scammers, no-one can.

CherryCezzy Where to put a mattress when you need to. You are most def going to need to make an alternative arrangement before too long. A fall from your bed could cause a bone fracture. Is there someone in our kitchen who can come up with brainwave of an idea that will keep you safe.

Shops! Glory be, and all that. Tesco carpark was full. Many shelves empty. A long and winding queue of customers waiting for the check-out in a designated part of the supermarket. Strict instructions to stay put until a member of staff said to advance to a till. Most folk cheerful. We must do our best to remain upbeat.

Another photo taken today of "our gull" who has joined a colony of cormorants. He always raises a smile as we pass.

I needed to fill my car with petrol which I did today but there were queues- why?

I'm the last of the very big spenders and bought one loaf of bread. I am sorted for a few more days.

Good afternoon to all our lovely kitcheners. This kitchen opened just 13 days ago and we have had 623 posts. We are therefore over half way to opening yet another kitchen including a few extra chairs with comfy cushions and a bar serving and G&T and wee drams. We purchased new paintbrushes today. MacSporran is suggesting that we get decorating in readiness for you lot barging skipping through the door.

Afternoon everyone, these days if we have a nuisance phone call, we just say - stop there please, can I have your phone number - they then put the phone down.

Sorry to hear about your D's business ann particularly so as it a gift from you both.
I have been enjoying all the recent photos, they really do raise the spirits.
We did pop into our local butcher this morning and he'd had a delivery of free range eggs. He said that he intends to carry on making deliveries and has arranged a driver. Not sure how I would pay him though!
I have made a rich beef casserole with plenty of red wine in it. You are all welcome to tuck in, plenty of garlic added to ward off the dreaded you know what.
Fortunately it required only one tin of chopped tomatoes from our scant supply. I struggled to open it with the tin opener only to discover, when I rinse it, that it had a ring pull - DH had a good laugh at my expense, but when he was taking it to the recycling, found that the label had been put on the wrong way round. He did apologise ?

I had the TPS one yesterday, also the daily amazon one!

My first scam was at 8:30 this morning,sky telling me that my sky box was going to stop working in 7 days.
The good news was I was going to receive a new updated box ,free of charge in 3 days time.
All I had to do was give him my date of birth.
At this point I rang off and checked with sky helpline who said they would then say ,oh we see you are an elder so we will reduce your bill, just be stupid and give us your bank details.

Second one not long ago from TPS who needed to update my details to stop me getting nuisance calls, ha ha, just give us the numbers running along the bottom of your cheque book.
I actually asked that one if he thought I was stupid before I hung up on him.

It is very scary and should be stopped but how I really don’t know.

The buds on my Victoria plum tree are showing just a hint of white, so I suppose spring is on the way. However it’s bloomin freezing here 5° only!
The pigeons are carrying nesting material into the ugly fir tree at the bottom of next doors garden, so they obviously they think spring is springing as well.
Just had my second scam call of the day, Amazon this time, last one was supposedly from credit card company saying £600 hadbeen paid on my card in a foreign country. To stop the payment press 1. I put the phone down.
I only need the Microsoft one to complete my usual trio.
I am really getting fed up with these calls.
I’m waiting for parcel force to deliver my stockpile of cinzano
Next week’s weather forecast does look better however.
TOYA

Izabella, a cheesy veg bake sounds just what I need for my lunch, so will help myself to a healthy portion, leaving sufficient for other hungry souls.
Charley, don't presume - unlike too many of our generation, and despite awful childhood experiences, I am quite at ease with going to the dentist. I must have been lucky in my time. As a student, I had a miracle worker in St Andrews who never used an anaesthetic and never hurt a bit. I wasn't aware of him using hypnosis - if that was his secret. My current dentist is just so good and so reassuring that I have no qualms about seeing him, as I will do on Monday to get a permanent filling put in. Well, it's as good a way as any to get out of the house!
The sun is out and the tiny red leaves on my ornamental crab tree are showing up more each day. The daffs I bought in an allegedly mixed bag in Aldi have turned out to be white. They were my mum's favourite and are making a pretty display.
Have a good - healthy - day everyone. xx

You are a wonder Izabella and an inspiration to us all.

I am sorting through the freezer to utilise what we have, I have taken out sausages and with the last two eggs it is toad in the hole tonight.
Have hens stopped laying by the way? no eggs in local shops.
I have also sliced up and frozen a bag of lemons I had delivered last week.

At least Gin doesn’t seem in short supply.

My D learns today if she has has to close her small business tomorrow.
It will probably be the end of it if she does.
My H and I bought it for her after her H left so she would be independent, so much for plans and hopes....

Have as good a day as you can everyone.

Morning from a suddenly balmy Shire. I shall shortly go and sweep away the liberal covering of moss that the nest builders have deposited all over the path. Following that I shall sow more lettuce. Then its a wobbly walk around the paths, keeping away from heights and sheer drops whilst admiring the slow wonder of encroaching Spring.

I hear tales of fighting in the aisles locally. Human nature at its worst. But the kitchen remains a safe haven for us all and I am leaving a cheesy vegetable bake on the side together with some wine for later.

soop just found a post it note stuck under the keyboard. it says lovely hair. Bemused, but am sure it means something?

TOYA

My hairdresser phone early this morning to ask if I needed anything from the shops as she was going for things for her family. I didn't ask her to get anything but was really touched that she asked.She is a mum to 2 very young children so already has her hands full,bless her.
I've got a Gardener here today to do heavy jobs I can't manage,he is spreading gravel on front borders,worrying about being told he must isolate because of his age.I thought he looked quite old and he is actually 75!

Ok, Glastonbury’s off. This is not the end of the world!
That happens when the last night of the Proms is cancelled!

Good evening the kitchen.
We have survived so far and despite the odd moment of hypochondria, no symptoms! We have plenty to keep us busy and the Brexit boxes are coming in useful - beans, pulses, tinned tomatoes, pasta. .. I knew they would be needed sooner or later!
Today we bought a water butt and all the bits so that is a project for DH.
Keep well everyone. Fruit cake on the table.

cherrychez when my son was a baby he used to keep rolling on his tummy which, at the time, was not advised, so I made him a little pair of leggings with ties attached which I tied round the mattress to stop him rolling over. I could make an adult version for you if it would help ?
Had a happy/sad evening tonight. Went and saw our sons families before starting lockdown. Our DGC are teenagers but they all wanted to give us a cuddle. It was so hard I love them to bits.
Spent all day yesterday at Boots trying to sort out prescription chaos (I kid you not, we were there for hours). No online delivery slots available for booking anywhere so will have to do another supermarket dash.
galen did you not think about saying please hold on while I get my granny...that might have shut him up ?
Thank goodness for the kitchen, our safe anti virus place of comfort and companionship. soop please take care of yourself and McSporran and all you lovely kitcheners too ?

I’m tucked up in bed now with some hot milk with a slosh of whisky in it. I blame my Mother who used to give me a teaspoon of whisky in a cup of tea if I had a chesty cough.
Am fully prepared to get the lurgy next week sometime as my dd is doing some shifts in paediatric A&E. At least we’re not in any of the vulnerable groups and if I’ve had it I’ll be able to help nurse my 92 year old fil who is stubbornly refusing to stay in, he MUST go to the library to read the local paper so will undoubtedly catch it.? I’m very fond of the old goat but he drives me mad with his intransigence. Still it’s kept him fit and well until now, still walking his dog twice a day and looking forward to nude sunbathing when it’s warmer ???so he tells me.
Good night kitcheners, stay safe. TOYA.

annsixty, I'm on my way.???

Grey when you form the 'Lavender Hill Mob' I'll be one of your gals. Money laundering sounds just the ticket to escape anything like the current gloom. ???

Cherry thanks but I doubt if I will ever ask him to help me. I am very self-sufficient.

I was trying to help a friend to start online shopping at which I am a known expert but it is very difficult living 3 miles apart and her DH who is in his early 90's is very high risk so I do not want to visit. He is the one to be doing it, my friend has Macular and is registered blind. I have offered to add what they want to my list or I could shop for them and leave it on their doorstep.

Anno at least the dentistry is done and dusted- you did not have time to think about it and like myself and N&G probably run for the hills. The only negative will be your bank balance.

I don't drink ann but my WP has asked if he can have one, but being particular about his gin he's asking can he have bitter ? instead please?

I fell out of ?️ again last night. In the past Drs have told me to sleep on a mattress on the floor but where do I put the bloody bed then!! I'm not going to get rid of it, it's a very good bed and cost a lot of money!
Least of my worries today, last week ( having seen my Dr about the issue a couple of times) my Dr prescribed me something for my tendonitis and it started to feel a bit better. Typical of me however, yesterday I developed swollen red patches on my left leg and after calls to my GP practice I now have to come off them. Drat!
My GP practice has virtually completely switched to a triage system now.
Our world is getting curiouser and curiouser everyday at the mo' .
We'll all be confined in the kitchen soon eating ?
Thinking of those whose relatives are showing symptoms of this CV. Be kind to yourselves

I am just about to pour the first G&T of the week.
Anyone is welcome to join me.?

Glad you've managed to get your tooth sorted out Anno, hope you can manage this .
*Grey, your posts are brilliant, you don't need to worry about your hair - I'll be looking like Cousin It before you . My hairdresser (I was hoping to get mine cut today) is closed for the foreseeable.
Charley what a lovely nephew (in law) . It can't be easy living on your own and not having any family members left. Hope you're taking his offer up if you need it ❤️

CherryCezzy Our kitchen is virtually any size that we wish. Small and cosy when needs be. Roomy and infinitely accommodating when we all require extra room in which to spread our backsides. I am all for eating cake. Perish the thought that we give up all the niceties of life. Heaven forbid that we wilt away. I've a larger size pair of jeans languishing in the wardrobe. Also a pair of amply elasticated joggers.

It's goodnight for today. I have every intention of joining you again tomorrow afternoon. I need your company. TOYA

chicken Beautiful photograph.

N&G Us lot will help demolish the chocolate eggs. That's what friends are for.

Galan if getting more irritable comes with losing one's mind then after today I think that my WP is too . Mind you, we have been out to 9 different places today just to get a few provisions in readiness for the inevitable self-isolation. We've often joked in the past about shops being 'like Russia" ( like the old days of the Soviet Union) but neither of us have ever seen anything like we saw today! The only well stocked items everywhere were cakes, biscuits and chocolate so I guess that every outlet going must be thinking the same thing - ' let them eat cake' . [Hmm]. I don't know whether that makes me feel like laughing ? or crying ?? Guess I'll be stoical and laugh! I just need to encourage my, usually laid back WP to do that too, either that or a gin will do it on my behalf
soop we'll all be wobbling around if all we can order when we run out of other things in few weeks time is cake, will we all fit in the kitchen ?