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

My positive days are taking a bit of a knock each time I log on here. What is probably a good idea to start the week is that we need to find out how many people are actually on their feet (or at least able to stand upright and unaided and uninjured) and we need a Wine Monitor. No fighting and no fibbing about injuries, please.

jacq10 so sorry that you crashed earthwards but so relieved you are not too badly hurt. You get a gold sticker for owning up to your family about the fall. Never a good idea to cover things up, they'd be so upset if they found out you were unwell and had hidden it. Get better soon, please.

Wonderful roof terrace hideout, Smileless. Just perfect. I'm trying to catch up with lots of posts and am slightly confused - I know that Tara is a puss who goes walkabouts, is Hattie/Hetty perhaps a Cockerpoo, or am I thinking of someone else's dog? At this rate they will soon be living in lockdown somewhere together because their owners are all missing in action or too battered and bruised to care for them.

So pleased you've had a bit of peace from your awful neighbours, charleygirl. I can quite understand why you wouldn't want to confront them - that would make things a whole lot worse, I'm sure.

You know when you look at a little soul you care for and they've hurt themselves, how it tears at your insides......Soop ? Are you following me? I couldn't believe your poor head. We're going to have to dress you up like Sponge Bob Squarepants and give you only foam garden tools to work with. That garden needs to be paved with cushions and someone needs to have a word with the moles. I have to say I love moles, but only because although they tormented me daily in Normandy, they never actually touched the lawn in front of the house..that remained tunnel-free. One day I found a mole, in the daytime, fast asleep on his back on top of a mole hill. He lay in the sun in his little moleskin trousers, and I had to quickly spirit him away to a neighbouring field in a bucket before our gardener spotted him. There were local mole-catchers so maybe my garden was a bit of a safe house for the little "taupes" as they are called in France.

We finished the pumpkin soup for lunch, so all I can offer is some soda bread which might be nice with butter and jam with your tea - or leave it (wrapped up) to have with some cheese and a VERY SMALL glass of wine tonight, ladies. Purplepixie please watch those generous measures - the Kitchen will be re-named the A&E Bar, at this rate.
Take care everyone. Stay positive and remember to have a bit of fun. x

Lovely to see pictures of your gardens/terrace. I haven't seen mine since two days as still pretty sore. No point in feeling sorry for myself so I am just being good to myself! No outward bruising after my fall but boy does the right side of my body hurt! Thought I had better confess to family when they called as usual (checking on me) although my first thought was not to say a word. However, DD came up trumps when she remember I had bought a heated throw for DH when he was really poorly towards his passing and felt permanently cold although the heating was on full. So wrapped up in it and it really helped. It is easing off a bit this afternoon so hoping by tomorrow I might reach as far as a seat in the garden but then again the weather is due to take a dip up here in the north so maybe not.

Did someone mention wine? I'm more than happy to put the welfare of others first

Quiet day in corner land. Little sleep last night, just one of the things that is fibro related, so energy on the minus scale. Had a short walk, cooked what look like edible scones (I won't risk leaving any as usually they are a mix of digestive biscuit and strawdust) and finished my book. Can't complain really.

That roof terrace is lovely smileless, a peaceful place to relax. I'm fond of our tiny garden, its a safe haven, the first rose is out on the climber with the promise of more to come. Growing some veg in containers, first time for years, I seem to have remembered how, hopefully the rains won't spoil things

Apparently its time for a cuppa, who am I to argue with Mr C wielding a tea pot? He plans to sample the scones, hopefully he'll survive .

TOYA, be careful out there, please.

I'm about to make a and join MacSporran on the garden bench. I see that the kitchen has been busy. When I return, I shall read through your messages. I shall then respond to the happenings in your lives.

Mr. S. would be more than happy to give you a hand Charleygirl, Dylan's up for the invitation too; at least it would get him away from my singing.

The weather looks great until you venture outside, it really is chilly today. I may put some heating on later as Dylan's retired to his bed having given his hammock the cold shoulder because the radiator isn't on!!

I'm glad your neighbours have settled down; let's hope it stays that way.

Smileless that roof terrace has been lovingly cared for by Mr. S. My rear garden is paved- could he possibly sort it out for me? I am an expert at weed growing. Dylan could sit in the kitchen having a snooze and watching him work. Tara would be out so no problem there.

For me, it is not very warm but I refuse to switch on the heating- it is nearly May I have been informed.

No wine for me until next week. I do not touch spirits.

Thank goodness poor Dylan only has to suffer a weekly bath and the singing- being a house cat he cannot look around for a better home.

It has been fairly quiet next door for three days- I wonder why.
TOYA

Despite a grey and drizzly start to the day, the sun is now shining and the sea looks lovely; calm and a beautiful blue. I bet it's freezing though.

Oh jacq do be careful. The kitchen seems to be having more than its fair share of accidents lately.

I'll have to get that book Grannyowl I've read her others and enjoyed them and am getting through my books rather quickly with so much time on my hands.

A good idea Charleygirl those that can handle the booze are really only thinking of the welfare of those who can't.

A 5th of an acre is a lot soop, especially when compared to our roof terrace.

smileless that looks lovely. Hope you enjoy sitting out there. Is that big swing chair for Dylan? ?

Dreamkeeper/ Panache. Your experience of falling mirrors the fall I had last year. I took a tumble and shed blood all over the pavement. Lots of lovely people helped me to sit up, and called the ambulance. Like you, I had stitches on my eyebrow, where my glasses' frame had gouged a nasty gash. A&E were brilliant. I had to replace a scratched lens at great expense!
soop are you sure you haven't been overdoing the gardening? It sounds really arduous. I sit in a chair and watch the weeds growing! My knees have taken a turn for the worse lately. My poor garden suffered from a flash flood last summer and the new perennials I'd just planted were washed away.
I found some dried yeast in a cabinet last week - two years out of date, but it worked, so, despite not having any bread flour, I managed to make a really nice white loaf. It's quite difficult to get strong flour at the moment. Any ideas, anyone?

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202004/medium-766178-2133c378-edc4-4e37-98b9-e55292baa4b5.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202004/medium-955745-7697b184-a8fc-48f2-899b-6691e3e35646.jpeg

Two pics of our roof terrace

Hi all in this lovely kitchen.

Soop - Do be careful as we need you here to keep us in order.

I’ve brought along some Bacon and Egg pie and the oven chips will follow later, along with the baked beans. Oh and please help yourselves to some home made jam tarts which are just out of the oven.

Stay safe and take care everyone and hope to see you all later with the hot toddies and maybe a couple of whisky and lemonades! x

soop please ignore the house and garden, if you injure your hip you will be working in neither. Please rest. if only to shut me up!

I wish the weather here would make up its mind and rain then we can have a sunny day.

I must continue with the clothes sorting. I even found a bagful of coins- hopefully they are still useable and not farthings or similar.

I was getting excited last night having ordered a new mop online. Unfortunately, my new toy is not coming until next week. Could they not make an exception for me because I am indoors all day and every day.

Will the rest of you leave the alcohol in the kitchen to those of us who can handle it without falling over. I have insufficient rope to tie each of you to a chair to save you from yourselves.
TOYA

The sun continues to shine. There is a chilly nip in the breeze. I drinking and considering what to carry on with in the garden after lunch. It's only a 5th of an acre. It feels like a heck of lot more besides. On the next wet day, I shall knuckle down to a serious house clean. At the moment, it isn't grubby. It isn't chaotic. It is slightly dusty in some quarters but neat and tidy with it. Fair enough!

Well what a shower you are! Please try to stay on your feet and in one piece!
More gardening today and we expect to sleep well tonight.
TOYA and I hope those with worries and pain have a good night.

I am more than happy to serenade any and all of the visitors to the kitchen. Whether they would be equally happy remains to be seen. I am, however, half Welsh, so perhaps blood will out ??.
Beautiful weather here in Kent; blue skies all day made even better by visits from son and granddaughter number two and a later visit by daughter. All stayed at the appropriate distance as family news was shouted across the gap.
Finished Hilary Mantel’s epic book on Cromwell - although his ending was known was very poignant nonetheless.
Hope you have all ended the day without any falls or bruises. I think it best not to leave anything in the kitchen of an alcoholic nature just in case!
Have a good evening, sleep well, onwards and upwards!

Doodle You are a tyke.

jacq10 Dearie me. We are an unsteady lot. I think that the immediate sense of shock is a tear-jerker.

Dreamkeeper Thank you for yet another lovely post. You must remain safe. Stand your ground when it comes to making your feelings known. You have rights and us lot are all rooting for you.

GrannyGravy Don't you dare feel guilty about anything whatsoever. You are one of our brightest stars.

Purplepixie...lovely lady!

I need to shower and all that nonsense. I've been doing the usual stuff about the garden, and I look a complete mess.

I am leaving you with virtual hugs. I shall return tomorrow. We shall need to move into our new kitchen sometime soon-ish. I promise to keep an eye on the situation. I would hate for any of you lot to be feeling lost.

Until we meet again...thinking of you all.

carillion lovely photo of your garden. Thank you.
soop are you sure you didn’t get that bump falling off your barstool in the Alphabet Bar? ?
purplepixie I’m getting fat enough without all these delicious extra treats. ?
jacq10 not you as well!?. I hope you’re all right and not too sore. Such a shock to the system when you fall like that.
panache glad your meals have improved (hope you don’t mind me still calling you panache. It’s how we have thought of you for such a long time and I think I might have inadvertently called you dreamcatcher the other day . I’m easily confused ?) . You were right to complain as MrP needs looking after too and you were just looking after his welfare. Take care x

Time I showed my face especially since I note the days of this beautiful old kitchen is nearing its end.The time passes quickly in kitchenland!!

Every commiseration Jacq10 with your rather painful and unexpected"trip" sincerely hoping the soreness will soon subside,Hopefully it has not dented your morale either.
Sometime ago I came a cropper on tarmac,actually landing on the left forehead,almost stunning myself.
Unalike you though I ended up with a host of lovely helpers rushing to my aid including a gent whom actually bodily picked me up.I would still be there otherways!
Boy did I bleed!
It meant an Ambulance trip to A & E and several stitches to my eyebrow and above,not my finest moment and it has put me in real fear for my life now that I am so frail.
It happens so quickly so indeed you have my every sympathy.

Whilst Soop you never seem to be out of mischief for long!!However I agree that you need to be wrapped up in cotton wool the number of times you seem to come to harm.

Perhaps we need a massive "KEEP SAFE" sticker for some of our members!

Still awaiting this Government treat but by your description of what such boxes hold CharleyG I think we are in for a treat! Or at least one member of our household is as though I no longer rely only on "Ensure" drinks I still have no real appetite........hence quite a stick insect!
A complaint to the right quarters has meant our midday meal is back on time,is of improved quality and the portions better.It is something we hesitate to do but with my dear man needing his nourishment it was a case of must.
Still delivered on paper plates though......apparently for cross contamination purposes whilst this Lockdown continues.

Sun still shining although we have been warned for some heavy showers this next week,the gardens will certainly benefit as well as our growers whom seek rain desperately.
So its very much a case of "Make hay whilst the sun shines" and folk are certainly doing that in our garden,using all methods of "transport" from zimmer frames to mobility scooters and anything else!!!

Again my kitchen friends I repeat Stay safe,every blessing to you all

Well, they say things come in three's so I'm the third!!! Just finished my wee walk yesterday, three houses away from my own, and next minute I'm flat out on the pavement. I think there is a concrete slab covering a drain (amazing how you don't notice something you see every day) and I tripped on that. Absolutely nobody around or looking out their windows so I just lay there for a few minutes and then got myself up and home. Luckily there was no blood or skin grazes of any kind but, boy, am I sore!! All down the right side of my body (legs fine). Confessed to daughter on phone today and said obviously nothing was broken just battered and bruised and suggested I look out a heated pad I had when DH was poorly and wrap that round myself. It really has helped so have a very lazy Sunday. Luckily I had a pan of soup on the go so that will be my fuel for the day so everyone take care - no more injuries on here!!

Beautiful picture Carillion ?

I volunteered to get the baby to sleep, consequently we have both just had a nap for one and a half hours I feel so guilty as the Tescos delivery has come and Mr,GG and DD have dealt with it. ( I thought I had booked for next Sunday until I,got the email this morning) ??

A good afternoon to you all; another lovely sunny day.

The thought of Matilda helping to bath Dylan while singing along with me made me smile Susan. I'm sure he'd love it too.

I'll have to give that song a go Doodle while I'm gently pouring warm water over him.

Honestly soop if you go on like this we'll all have to come over and sit on you to keep you out of harms way. I hope you're OK today.

I hope it doesn't come to that Grandmafrench but I'm sure Dylan will manage providing grannyowl sings to him. Would that be OK with your grannyowl?

I hope you're neighbours aren't driving you potty Charleygirl and spoiling your enjoyment of the lovely weather.

What a beautiful picture Carillion. A lot of green fingered kitcheners. I leave it up to Mr. S. and just benefit from all his hard work. He took some lovely pics of our roof terrace earlier so I'll get him to post a couple for you all to see.

TOYA

Carillion what a beautifully tended garden-That would be a change of scene for tanith.

tanith if you feel like cleaning my house please feel free- I will happily sit in my car for however long it takes. The problem with this cleaning lark which is unfamiliar to me is that it should be done with such monotonous regularity. Why do the results of wielding a hoover around not last for 6 months?

I hope that Henry and Wolfie are enjoying the sunshine and each is feeling better- I did earlier after hanging out clothes.

We will be on the move soon to another kitchen- I bags a chair overlooking the sea
TOYA

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Wow Carillion! The poppies are so lovely and what a beautiful spot in the garden. Thank you for sharing.

Just popped into the kitchen with some warm peanut cookies and more banana loaf. Maybe a bit of custard on the loaf for after tea. Moroccan chicken with vegetable tonight. Last night DH made a lovely Chinese chicken curry. We will end up looking like chickens as I seem to have used up all the other meat in the freezer!

See you all later with the hot whisky toddies and maybe a couple of lager and limes!

Have the best day that you all can and take care.

Carillion All that I can say is...Wow, and thank you for the perfect treat.

Sending you today's tree stump poppies and a lot of love from Brittany to all dear kitchen friends. Xxxx