Evening everyone - it’s almost tomorrow! We had a family pub quiz on Zoom tonight. There were five teams. Great fun and we didn’t lose ( came 4th!)
There’s a rhubarb crumble waiting for lunch (or breakfast!) on the table. Some lovely photos. TOYA x
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Soop's welcoming kitchen for the sharing of...
(1001 Posts)Hello my lovelies. At last I can open up and prepare for a wee buffet to celebrate our new refuge.
Welcome!
Yes Grandmafrench your hair is beautiful. I always wanted my children to have aubern hair but it was not to be.
Cherry feel free to come and mooch in the kitchen. We have a lovely comfy sofa over there in the corner. I often slip in when things get too much.
Another glorious day. Sunshine. Calm sea. Birdsong...and the barrow and garden tools ready for the next session. I shall share more pics with you sometime soon.
Grannyfrench Lovely looking pie and lovely photo. Sweet memories.
Nannytopsy Yes please to rhubarb crumble. Is there real custard to accompany it?
Cherry As dragonfly said...you are welcome to sit quietly and look out across the sea. All very calming and good for the soul.
Hello dear kitchen,
I've always wanted a lovely comfy sofa in the kitchen. My idea of heaven. We nearly bought a house to settle in permanently in Staffin on my beloved Isle of Skye but DH felt there would be too few neighbour's and too much hillside... just the reasons I would have gone there, without hesitation and is probably why we compromised and are now in France.
If any friends have a lovely kitchen sofa which needs a visit... I'm on my way.
If the kettle's on I'll bring the munchies. Xxx
When we bought our plot, we lived in a caravan at the entrance. Here is a pic of the rubble with which we built the rockery. Perched on top, is a peacock. He came out of the woods and would walk around the plot with me as I worked on creating the garden. We named him Boc. That was the sound he made as he accompanied me.
Sorry, should have explained, the heart of the house in Staffin had a warm and comforting kitchen with a lovely sofa! X
Thanks dragonfly and soop ????
Wow soop what work you and MacSporran had to do! You have done an amazing job since ?. When we moved into our house here, I thought we had a lot to do but nothing like what you have done. We just had a lot of interior work to do and the gardens to hack back and design, as apart from grass there wasn't a single plant in it. When my WP was a child his parents built their own house (5 bedrooms), a stable for their horses etc, and lived in a caravan whilst doing it. I'm not sure I could have coped doing it so I really admire the fact that you have done it ?
Lovely photos again too soop, that view behind you happy pair is to die for. As you can imagine, from the fact I live in the Gower, I ❤️ the sea.
The gardens have enjoyed some light refreshing rain and indeed the greenery looks exceedingly perky!
Whilst you dear folk are bringing us lovely pictures of your home made foodstuff,although I still can only peck like a bird,you often have me licking my lips!
However these past 2 weeks we have had our own mealtime problems in our "Penitentionary"and we residents whom pay for the privilage of a hot 2 /3 course meal are truly very much "up in arms"
At the onset of our "Lockdown" the lunch time meal arrived nicely served and hot on the usual white china plates and dishes.Ours arrived almost always at 12 noon.
However it then changed to paper plates if you please,and not only are the meals up to 45 minutes later arriving,the portiuons are decidedly smaller,the food is cold and has the appearance of being plated up for hours....all shrivelled up and dry.
After all in these rather strange days our main meal is the one centre piece of each day.
Whilst we cannot collectively gather to discuss these unwelcome changes you may rest assured our `phone lines are red hot!
All the more I look on longing hearing our Nannytopsy mention rhubarb crumble,a particular favourite with my dear man.
Talking of house moving how pleased I am that we assume our final move was made last June,yes almost a year ago,how time passes.Now I no longer have to fret about mowing grass and tree pruning!
Quite an event this house moving and we have done it 7 times and believe me,I really have some hair raising tales I could tell........but thinking of those yet to move I will keep them all under wraps (For now at least!!)
The sun is making an extra effort to shine so we live in hope.
Sending uplifts and blessings to you all.
Cherry I too have a particular fondness for Gower and a great love of the sea.
I have done blogs about our coastal paths including pictures and descriptions,it was an enjoyable phase some years ago.
How I would love to be able to walk those walks yet again!
Knicker update.
They now want a photo of the receipt!
I can’t find it!
They have my name, the name of the product, I have an account with them.
WHY CANT THEY FIND IT THEMSELVES?
This 75 year old disabled, housebound pensioner is obviously not worth refunding a few pounds!
M&S you should be ashamed
Sorry for the rant folks but I’m feeling very frustrated with them
Cherry another Gower lover here. Used to have holiday chalet in Kidwelly before we sold it to buy a small yacht.
Obviously I’m a sea lover as well.
I sympathise, Galen. It doesn’t take much at the moment, and we expect better of M&S. It’s not the amount of money but the principle!
On the upside, have finally managed to download Zoom and have enjoyed a lovely video chat with DS who we have not actually seen this year. I foresee becoming quite a bore about this soon.
dreamcatcher glad to hear from you again. Your meals sound a bit of a let down. I can well understand why they were a high point in your day. Something wrong in the kitchen I think ?
Not surprised galen hope you get your knicker problem sorted soon.
Just hoping annsixty is ok. Not aware of seeing her in the kitchen for a while. Take care ann if you are reading but not posting.
I have a small beef joint going in the slow cooker. The smell reminds me of Sunday lunch being cooked by my mum. Wish I had her roast potatoes and yorkies to go with it ?
TOYA?
Hello the kitchen. Lovely photos Soop, your views are always beautiful. We live by the sea and love it. I have been for my permitted walk, it is a really warm afternoon.
Heard from DS earlier he did the 5k/£5 challenge for the NHS this morning.
GrandmaFrench hope your DH enjoyed his birthday and all the lovely food, great photo.
Sorry about your knicker problems galen.
I can smell your beef cooking Doodle -annsixty posted on the Good Morning thread.
We are having a change today, homemade fish pie, apple crumble and custard, can't wait.
Hello everyone. Today it's going to take too long to acknowledge individually the birthday wishes and kind remarks directed to my DH and to me about The Pie and My Hair! You are all so kind, you know who you are, and DH says to tell you how shocked and thrilled he was. Actually, he quoted the title of Kate Adie's book "The Kindness of Strangers."
My blast from the past photo I do need to explain. I was born with strawberry blonde hair. That same coppery colour has come out in some of our grandchildren. As I got older the colour faded quite a lot and in a moment of total madness and actually the evening before flying from England on a skiing holiday, I decided to go bonkers and colour my hair myself. I think about that now and what would I have done if it had been a total disaster...what on earth was I thinking of? However, it was a complete success - hence the photograph - and forever after people assumed that it was my natural colouring, especially as I have green eyes. When I became a much older lady, I felt that it was far too strong a colour for my skin/age, so I reverted to a pale coppery blonde again. There, end of explanation - no lies on this thread, eh?! 
Bit shocked at your lovely photos, soop because you look so like a couple of our friends (friends married to each other), that we did a sort of double take. You must say what your star signs are so I can try to work out whether that's what links you to our friends in choosing life partners so similar in appearance.
Dreamcatcher not at all impressed to hear how shabbily you are being treated regarding your meal service. Sounds as if the person in charge of the shambles needs to be contacted by someone forceful who will speak/write on behalf of all of you. It must be resolved or those doing the catering need to be removed and the question of costs for such inferior fare needs to be queried. (Wish I lived nearer, given the chance I'd be straight onto it.)
Galen how petty and disgraceful. They are just being bone idle and apathetic in the hope that you'll go away. Every retailer/large business will try that on if they can. I had a similar run-in with Debenhams (and look what happened to them!!!). They needed to be told many times that they were the ones with the records and no I did not have the name of the Store Manager for the branch where I bought the shorts - possibly because I wasn't the one who employed him? Eventually apologetic letter, refund of postage, money off product, voucher for further purchase etc. Not much of a victory though when you have to fight tooth and nail throughout. Please don't give up - make it your Knicker Mission in life (you probably do have the time at the moment).
I bet we've got so many buying/building/renovating/moving house adventures to tell between us, it would possibly be the busiest thread on Gransnet. Where did all the hopes, dreams, plans and sheer energy and determination come from? What achievements to look back on..... along with tales of broken nails, broken backs and broken promises too, in all probability.
Have the best Sunday kitcheners' evening doing just what you please. So, on we go with some positive thoughts - and hopefully sunshine to lighten the mood for the coming week. x
Grandmafrench I'm a Leo and MacS is Scorpio. Does that help? 
Galen Did you mention to M&S that you wear pearls? If not, get right back and tell them that you are not to be messed with. Also, tell them where to stuff their knickers. Bloody cheek.
Lins Well done, your son. He's one of the good guys.
Dreamkeeper We are greatly relieved that you bit the bullet and were brave enough to move when you did. It has worked out to your advantage.
Thank you, CherryC This is the third home that we have built. In Cornwall we restored a run down warehouse-type structure.
After that, we restored a hay loft and it was an upside down house. Living room upstairs and bedrooms down. The farmer who sold the barn to us also gave us an acre of pasture. I was in charge of creating a garden area within it together with a winding pathway which led down to a brook. All happy memories.
I've dug up masses of montbretia. It is a rampant plant that, if left, chokes the garden. It was very hard work. It was also satisfying.
Until tomorrow, I am continuing to think of you ALL. Please stay safe.

Beautiful photos ??
Annsixty I hope you are feeling better today
all the first anniversaries are a milestone that we have to endure.
Well I have had a lesson on how to be a goal keeper from the 5yr old GC, apparently I am quiet good for a Grandma ?
I now have a rib of beef in the oven along with an apple pie, the smell of Sunday Roast wafting through the kitchen is very comforting.
Wishing you all a pleasant evening.
Keep safe and well ?♀️
I love reading all the posts in the Kitchen. Soop, those are lovely pictures of you and McS.
What a lovely photo of Gma French (honest too). I love the hair and your husband is dishy!
soop you sound as though you have boundless energy. You are only a little younger than me and I’m very envious!
Ann ?
I could `nt half fancy some of that beef ........the smells are wafting this way.....delicious!!
Bellanonna - well you've really made DH's evening! He is still very dishy to me but more importantly has such a lovely nature. There, I've made him sound just like a Labrador 
Soop Firstly, I can always spot them. I'm a Leo too - I'm quick to warm to fire signs. My friend, amazingly, is a Yorkshire Leo but unfortunately I will have to check on her Husband, John, because I've forgotten his birthdate! More to follow!
There's a lot of roasting beef aroma wafting around. Lovely "old fashioned comfort" smells. We're having fish this evening.... just missed your post, Lins - thanks for the good wishes and well done to Son of Lins !
Need to find out which department you are in France, Carillion before promising any sofa sitting.
Cherry forgot to say how lovely of you to post admiration of my banana creation - when you can no longer bear bananas. Isn't it awful when you eat so much of something for part of your life and then one day just couldn't consider ever eating it again! Isn't the sea (and your coastline) so wonderful, no wonder we all are drawn to it. Perhaps being an island race has something to do with it or maybe because it has so many moods and faces and an almost hypnotic effect which is like staring into firelight.
Well, 7.35pm French time and definitely time for a G&T.
Enjoy your suppers, everyone, bon appetit - and a good night's sleep to all. x
I am on the cusp of Leo and Cancer and I definitely have traits of both signs. Whilst I enjoy going out and being social, I also hunker down at times, home is my comfort blanket.
Well our first veg bed is ready to go! I sent DH to look for Prosecco and he came back with a very acceptable champagne! Who am I to refuse ?
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