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

Maw I hope you're feeling a little better now. Shedding tears is nothing to be ashamed of. I'm sure we've all done it during the last couple of weeks; I know I have.

I'm glad you decided to post if we don't know when one of us is feeling down, how can we buck them up.

You've so much on your mind morethan I'm not surprised that self motivation isn't high on your list. It's good to hear that your d.i.l's mother is helping out. Her not being in pain is something to be thankful for at least.

The hot toddy worked wonders soop; think I might be tempted to have another one this evening.

Ooh now there's a thought, I love port and lemonade callgirland haven't had one for ages. I wondeer if we've any port lurking at the back of the drinks cabinet

Your garden sounds and from the pics, looks lovely cornergran.

In case I don't get back to the kitchen again today; TOYA

It has been a strenuous afternoon in the garden. I've been on my hands and knees clearing a large area of land under the Willow. Two hours later, it looks very much better and the result has lifted my spirits. I hadn't realised that it was raining. Not until I came indoors did I feel the wetness dripping from my hair...which is unbecomingly flat.

More beautiful images from your garden, corner. MacS took a photo of our marsh marigold. I shall upload it tomorrow to share with you.

callgirl1 You deserve your port and lemonade. Slainte! We may enjoy a wee dram a little later this evening. I'm working on convincing MacS that we also deserve a wee treat.

chicken It's good to have your company. For one terrible moment, I thought that I was not able to access the internet. I logged off and started from scratch. I would hate not to be connected to you lot.

Log off time for today. Back with you tomorrow. Thinking of you all.

Maw I hope you are feeling a little better. It is quite understandable to feel as you did this morning. Sometimes everything just catches up with us and takes us unawares. All I can offer is a big virtual hug!

It is good that your DS and his MiL are working together and that your DIL is stable. I am shocked they are not getting priority deliveries. Sending a big virtual hug to you too.

Keep safe everyone.
TOYA

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Afternoon all. Beautiful sunny day here. No ducklings today but there are three herons, hopefully they didn’t meet.

I’m sorry this morning was so hard maw, of course it’s totally understandable. I hope tomorrow feels better, be kind to yourself.

I’m pleased your daughter in laws Mum is able to help now morethan. Keeping the family fed is oh so important. Keep safe, please

Thank you chicken, I appreciate your thoughts. There is a plan now so I’ve let go of worrying. I am discovering there’s a down side to not being a Facebook user at themoment but we’ll get around it.

The garden is smiling at me today, the montana is beginning to open at one end while the forsythia continues to bloom at the other. It’s joyous to see today.

TOYA.

Afternoon all.
MawB, sorry to hear that you are sad, you`ve had to deal with a lot over the last couple of years, this lockdown will only serve to compound all that when you`re feeling low. Get yourself a comfy spot in the kitchen and let the world wash around you until you`re feeling more like YOU. xx
Chickem you wouldn`t happen to be in Derbyshire would you? It`s just that a friend remarked this morning about a farmer near her doing just that.
Soop, I look at the view outside here, then I let my mind wander to the sight of Gigha, Islay and Jura that we had at Muasdale and that you see every single day, and I`m so envious, I want to be back there!
I hope all has gone well for Panache today.
I`m glad you`re feeling better Corner.
N&G, young Cooper is definitely a one off!
I`ve done ironing, I`ve done washing, now I`m treating myself to an ice cold port and lemonade, and it`s delish!
TOYA

Hallo everyone, I can't keep up with all the posts lately. Somehow,even being in lockdown, there's still not enough time in the day....it reminds me of long ago when everything had to be done by hand and the days were full from morning to night. Being shut in and unable to get to the shops or book a slot for deliveries has made me more self reliant, so for instance I'm now baking my own bread and remembering how much I always enjoyed the feel of dough under my hands. I had no yeast in the house and couldn't even get any on line, so made my own sourdough starter from the yeasts in the air and felt such a lift of achievement when it started bubbling. I have found that it's the little things like this that have got me over the wobbles of panic and fear.

Panache, I do hope that all went well today and that you are safely home with your dear man.

morethan, what you are doing for your family is heroic, no wonder you feel as you do at times.

cornergran, I know that wobble when supplies are low and a trip to buy things seems inevitable. Have you looked on your own village Facebook site? Sometimes there are volunteers who will drop of some shopping. Or are there any farm shops around who will deliver? Here, I found that the farm feed store had set up a delivery service not just for animal feed but also supplying eggs and vegetables, a wonderful help and so friendly.

Maw, sorry to hear of your fall and subsequent wobble. Any fall diminishes our self confidence and in these strange times, I think we are all clinging on by our fingertips away from our families and the slightest thing can pull us down.

soop, thank you for this refuge away from the chaos all around. It lifts the spirits of us all.

Apologies to all of you for not responding to all the posts. There just aren't enough hours in the day, or enough memory cells in the brain.

There's a newly baked sourdough loaf on the side...not perfect but getting there!

Doodle It is all thanks to you and the rest of our Granspals that the kitchen is a refuge. Without you lot this kitchen would not exist. So, thank you, each and every one of you.

dizzyblonde RESPECT in abundance.

Grannygravy Snap! I find it difficult to imagine a life beyond our gate. It all seems surreal. But, it is what it is. We need to accept and carry on until we are able to walk beyond our limited boundaries. We can do it. We are made of stern stuff.

callgirl1

dragonfly (((hugs)))

N&G Darling Cooper xxx He'll go far...

Maw No matter how rubbishy we all feel feel from time to time (and these are such scarey times) you are not entirely alone. It's perfectly natural to feel a sense of panic. Just as it will be natural for you to wander once more into the kitchen with a spring in your step and a smile on your face. Keep strong, lovely lady.

morethan and more besides.

All of you are super special people.

I need to attend to stuff and, this afternoon, weather permitting, it will be a two hour gardening session. I've ear-marked one particular area in need of serious attention.

After which, I shall return.

corner Your photograph of the ducklings made me smile. Mother Nature continues to soldier on...as do us lot. We need all the cheer we can share.

Best wishes to Dreamkeeper/Panache for her hospital appointment today.

Grandmafrench the image of your frangipani tarts are making my mouth water. Whenever we treated ourselves to a special lunch in Oban (the cafe has since closed) I always chose frangipani tart for my pudding. It all seems sooo long ago.

Smileless has the hot toddy worked it's magic.

Susan56 With every passind day, little Henry will begin to show signs of improvement. Us lot are rooting for him to reach the stage when he has a well boosted appetite.

Maw, it's perfectly natural to let the tears roll. It is a bad time for all of us and particularly for you for whom family has meant so much over the worst time of your life. You are not just isolated - you are lonely and without a shoulder to cry on. Consider us as that shoulder.

Wishing all the best to more morethan and her family,and maw, sometimes it's very hard to be positive with so much going on.TOYA

Wishing, hoping and praying for you all, morethan. Please keep safe.

Maw no need to apologise, you are with supportive company here. You obviosuly have pent up feelings and stress which need the release of a cathartic tear streaming session.

morethan we ALL have days when motivation and reasoning deserts us. Perhaps addressing our biological need for a rest day?

I am only just up again having spent half the night chasing an elusive moon midst thick cloud. I shall now go forth and break my fast.

TOYA

Oh MawB that's horrible. Such a shame when we get in that kind of a state - and we all do sometimes. Wonder if you are suffering a delayed reaction to that fall. It's possible, quite a shock to the system and guaranteed to make anyone feel vulnerable and sorry for themselves.

Can you think of a single (and possible) thing that might make you feel a bit better this morning? If so, do it. If not, perhaps just wallow until you feel you can get a grip...or phone a friend? Real friends will expect another to call in floods of tears on the odd occasion. That's what friends are for, so don't be afraid to share. Hoping very hard that you feel better and soon. Virtual hug to you x

Morning all, you’d think I’d have time to read all your posts, what with all this lockdown business. There are two reasons why I’m not. I’m ashamed to say I just can’t motivate myself, two I’m doing a fair bit of shopping runs for my son and DiL family. I’m relieved to say my DiL mother has stopped working and is doing a fair bit of my DiL personal care. My son and her seems to have called a truce for now. She comes in every morning. It’s a bit of a worry that this virus may be being bought into the house but needs must I suppose. There’s been no outside agencies helping. Someone did ring to ask about food shopping but so far nothing has happened. They’d all be starving now if we had to wait for something to be delivered . As it is I shop but there’s five of them and my DiL steroids have increased her appetite. My DiL physical Heath seems stable, shes no better but no worse. She’s not in pain. However she’s more emotional and her behaviour reminds me of my own mother in law as her dementia worsened. I hope your all keeping well.

Morning ladies, some freshly baked croissants for you all and some additional preserves just in case we ran out.

for you dizzy with thanks and admiration for all you're doing.

Hoping all goes well for you today Panache

A typical boy N&G wanting to know the gruesome details but at least he's interested in the Easter story.

TOYA

MawB so sorry you are having a wobble. It is nothing to be worried about. I think most of us in the kitchen have had a teary day. We are all in uncharted territory (((hugs)))

I hardly dare write this when so many of you have health issues or family worries and are rising above all the stresses of these times.
I have been awake since just before 7 - a good night’s sleep - and it is a lovely morning.But the tears have streamed down my face for the last two hours and I can’t seem to lift myself out of it. I don’t want to talk to anyone as I couldn’t hold it together and all the strategies I have tried in the past aren’t working. I daren’t look at family pictures or think of them and even although being greeted by Hattie ( who has become very clingy) brought a smile - I still just feel sad.
This is serious self-pity and I am not proud of it.
So, sorry for this outpouring, like all things it will pass. I may not even post it, I’ll make another cup of tea first

Morning all,

I actually set my alarm GG to see the pink moon . It was pretty impressive I have to say and lit up the surrounding fields with an almost daylight glow. I also went back to bed and slept like a little log straight afterwards - an skill learnt in my military days ;-)

You're doing a great job Dizzy!! In respect of your glasses steaming up put a tiny bit of hard soap on your lens, rub it in , let sit for a few minutes then buff off. You can do the same with shaving foam . It should help prevent the misting up :-)

Jackson facetimed me this morning to show me his hands. His new soap has arrived and today his new cotton gloves and cream should arrive too . Hopefully he'll see an improvement.

Young Cooper has been doing work on Jesus and Easter and has called me several times to ask me questions. To help out I sent him a lovely age appropriate book explaining the Easter Story. He also face timed me this morning . I asked how he liked his book and he told me it was very good but he was a bit disappointed. When I asked why his reply was..... I thought they'd tell you HOW they nailed Jesus to the cross !!!!

I'm not sure what to make of that but have a vision of him nailing all his teddies to the fence !! Bit disappointed that out of the whole Easter story that was what he got out of it !

Hoping you all have a little sunshine in your day today x

So pleased you are feeling better corner we all have our moments.
And hopefully Henry will feel better soon Susan.

Dizzy you have my respect, what a wonderful job you are doing.

Sorted out my freezer yesterday and found all sorts of treasures. I am now wondering what to do today. Would love to tidy the garage but what to do with the rubbish?

I am sending my love and best wishes to all in the kitchen especially Panache. I hope your operation goes well and you are soon home again.

Sending love and hugs to our dear Panache and her DH.

I woke so early this morning and got to see the super moon shining into my bedroom it was stunning.

My mind keeps wandering off to places I wish it wouldn't, especially in the early hours. It is now 21 days since I have been past our front drive, I am usually out and about everyday, but I am getting used to staying at home. My cupboards and drawers have never been so tidy and organised ????

Morning All. A big thank you for the support yesterday I’m much more positive this morning, have thought through a strategy so onwards.

A shiatsu massage contraption arrived yesterday. Courtesy of an unreasonably cheerful delivery driver. Will give it a try today in thr hope it begins to unlock my locked and painful neck. Just hope it has instructions . My first call after lock down won’t be a hairdresser, I’ll be off to a physio who may recognise me or indeed may not

Respect from me too dizzyblonde, dizzy you are certainly not. Please take good care. Sending love.

Cloudy this morning which will encourage me to stay indoors and attack the dust. Where does it come from? Some check on the neighbours phone calls, a laugh with a friend later, our walk and the day will be done.

Hope the cloud clears tonight and you have better luck with moon gazing izabella.

I can hear the morning cuppa on its way thanks to Mr C. Take care everyone.

Morning all. Thoughts are with Panache today and hoping all goes well.

A rather splendid 'scope on stand has been loaned to us in our eerie so CH set it up last night. All we saw were clouds, not even a star. We shall try again tonight.

My task today is erecting the mini greenhouse for seedlings, providing I can remember how to do it.

Take care everyone.

And lots of love, and RESPECT, to you Dizzy!

Sorry to be such an infrequent poster, I do read everything and have good intentions but today the washing was calling as it was such a good drying day.
I’m having to wash my uniform at 60 degrees after each shift so the rest of the washing gets left until a day off.
Work is busy, as you can imagine and I am heartily fed up of wearing a mask all the time, it makes my glasses steam up and my nose run. I must look a fright, thankfully nobody cares.
Most of our patients and their families are lovely and are very understanding of the difficulties we are facing. I’ve had to have several very difficult conversations and have been humbled by the courage and strength shown by people.
May you all stay safe and we will get through this. Lots of love.xx

soop how lucky we all are to have the Kitchen. Always a good place to be in normal times, now with this added anxiety ove the Coronavirus a much needed safe haven. Thank you.

Take care all. My thoughts are with Panache hope she’s ok.
Sleep well all x