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

galen I don’t think you needed your second post. I doubt if any of us thought you had been struck off. They wouldn’t dare ?
dizzyblonde take care in the outside world. Glad you are feeling better.
cherry hope you are ok.

galen, that's outrageous. I hope you have given them a well deserved flea in the ear and emphasised your age and disability. What's the excuse? Short of drivers?
Purplepixie, you put me to shame. I think I expended all my energy - and dubious baking talent - on a chocolate cake the other day. Today I am going to make some lemon curd using the microwave which I have found to be a perfectly acceptable method. Banana cake looks like a good idea too.
The sun has come out and I need to go down the garden and investigate the compost heap which I hope has about 18 years worth of maturing compost in it.
dizzy, I'm pleased that you are better and back in harness, as it were. My two sons live, respectively, in Oxfordshire and Berkshire. I hope none of their families will be in need of your services - no disrespect!

It is a tad dull here today but it is not raining. At least everything is clean in slut land here. The dishwasher and washing machine appear to be working overtime. I have no idea where everything comes from.

Last night I was going to empty out the kitchen cupboards but that bad dream vanished.

At least my spag bol just has to be heated for supper and sort out the spaghetti. The wine is awaiting. Being a natural hoarder I have plenty of the former.

Dizzyblonde I hope you are not going back to work too soon and wear yourself out.

This is day 4 that the daughter of a friend of mine is working at the Excel Nightingale ward with the army. She is on the admin/project side and apparently everybody is working 12 and half hour daily shifts for 4 days a week with only a 30-minute break. They are going to be so dehydrated.

Apparently it will be 20C on Sunday- lovely.

corner could we exchange houses, please? I have a lot of painting to do and I cannot clean the house, sort out the garden etc at my advanced age.

Smileless Dylan would love to sit in the garden beside me- he would have his own chair and the garden is enclosed but I would keep a beady eye on him in case he decides to make a dash for freedom. He probably does not know which side his bread is buttered, like Tara he is very fortunate.

GrannyGravy I was going to "borrow" the banana cake- it looks and seems to be yummy.

Hairwash later and one of these days I must take the shears to my ever-growing hair.
TOYA

Congratulations! corner, you have every right to feel well pleased.
There is a huge amount of pleasure to found in small things. We've been watching the tits and hedge sparrows as they go about their morning routine. The waves continue to lap on the shore. Far less traffic on the road. Our garden is beginning to look promising. And, what's more, us lot have each other.

There is much jubilation in corner land. The gloss paint is finished. You have no idea how pleased we both are.

My job for the day was to clean and repolish two leather sofas. Done and then on to soup making. There was much laughter at the request ‘please make the one we had last week’. Err, no, using up grotty veg soup doesn’t work like that .

So, off for a walk in the sunshine this afternoon. We’re lucky here purplepixie as we have access to some very pleasant walks and usually encounter thoughtful people. Of course there’s always the exception, but on the whole even small children on bikes are being careful now.

I’m sorry you’re upset cherryCezzy and can only hope whatever it is will settle.

Long distance support is very stressful I think, we do a lot of it. There’s a helplessness attached to it that sometimes can be hard to absorb.

Supermarket staff are having such a tough time smileless, one of ours has made food retail his career, although he plays it down FaceTime shows his exhaustion. Time off? What’s that he says. I’m sure your neighbours were buoyed up by the show of support. We were all out here yesterday, our little cul de sac competed with the next one to see which could make the most noise. Of course we each are certain we won .

It’s a superb day here today. I’m focusing on finding pleasure in small things and trying not to think about the beach I am missing because we need a car or a bus to get there. So it’s the river, ducks and blossom for me on our walk.

TOYA, please be careful out there.

Purplepixie It's a huge thank you to you and ALL our kitcheners. We wouldn't have a kitchen if you lot stayed away.

dizzyblonde Such good news. We all salute you. We clapped like fury last night. I also banged a make-shift drum (frying pan and wooden spoon). We only have one set of neighbours. We all do our bit to show appreciation.

Smileless The world is all the better for good, kind, supportive people. Thankfully, they out number the other kind.

Galen Can Gary help?

callgirl Lots of good vibes from a misty Kintyre.

A local volunteer has delivered items from the village shop. Our neighbours did our weekly Tesco shop and have deliverd it to our door. We both have NHS instructions to stay isolated. We shall do as we're told. It isn't too much ask. Remember what our own parents dealt with during war time. Such memories help to put the present crisis into perpective.

Have just taken Banana Bread out of the oven, here’s one for the kitchen

Thank you Soop for a fabulous thread, it really cheers me up!

Soop - Well done to your lovely son!

I’ve had a busy morning baking so I need a sit down with friends like you lovely people and have a cuppa. This morning I made Bacon and Egg pie, cheese scones (for my son, who lives here with us), Jam tarts and ginger snaps. The kitchen smells lovely and should keep our little lot happy for a day or two.

Then off out this afternoon for a quick walk around without bumping into anyone. Nobody around here will move off the path so I end up walking down the grass verge! Not good with Achilles tendinitis in my left ankle.

Have the best day possible and stay safe and I will pop back later with the Rhubarb gin and tonics. Love to you all.x

Well done to your lovely son soop!!
dizzy ? ? ?

Hope your son is feeling better Callgirl

Great to hear you are now fighting fit dizzyblonde ? . When my WP and me go out to applaud all you amazing people next week I will think of you and give you a salute for the fantastic job you do ❤️

For the last few weeks I've been trying to provide a little bit of support, albeit only by telephone conversations, to the daughter of a woman I used to know. The call I had with her yesterday was an emotional one. This girl (I call her that even though she's in her 30s) has gone through so much and is still struggling so hard and now only a few days ago there was a fire in the building she was living in and she has lost virtually everything she had and it wasn't that much to start with. I feel so powerless to help. She's trying to build relationships with her family so I only hope this is able to be the case for her sooner rather than later. It makes me all the more thankful for what I have got.
I was writing this and just received a call that has upset me greatly. I won't be back today.
TOYA

Just seen Mr. Motivator on the BBC and suggested we get
Mr. S. a similar outfit. He looked at the tv and said "good grief" so I don't think he'll go for it.

Good morning ladies.

Oh dear I'm going to have to gives Dylan's proposed visit some serious consideration Charleygirl

You'll to find somewhere to hide your school bell near the door kitty ready for next week then hopefully you'll be able to grab it before he can stop you.

That is lovely callgirl it really lifts our spirits when we hear about the lovely things that people are doing. I hope your son is on the mend.

I hope you had success booking your delivery Nannytopsy.

I had a little cry earlier as the BBC were showing footage from around the country of last night's big clap. Our lovely girls next door work in the online department of a large supermarket chain, and are now starting work at 2.00am (apologies if I've already told you this).

So last night there were loads of people on our street and when the clapping began their bedroom window opened and one of them, with a huge grin on her face called out "what's going on; we're trying to sleep".

It was lovely to see her, in the 3.5 years we've lived here they've become like daughters to us and call us uncle and aunty. I looked up and told her I was clapping for them, they're exhausted bless them as as well as going to work they go over the road every day and knock on the door of the elderly who live in that block, to see if there's anything they need so they can get it for them before they leave work the next day.

She stayed at the open window until the clapping and the sound of someone banging a drum and fireworks ended.

Mr. S. and I are going for our weekly trip to Aldi this morning so I'll bring some hot cross buns back for the kitchen.

TOYA

Good morning, I’m back to fighting fit now and back at work tomorrow night. If you live in the Berks/Hants/Oxfordshire area and see an ambulance give us a wave.?? You never know it might be me especially if they’re looking very old.? Hopefully none of you will need me in a professional capacity. Stay safe my lovelies.xx

No

Have they said why, Galen?

Ocado have cancelled my booked deliveries after next Monday and I can’t get any other

Well done Son of Soop!
Galen it does make you wonder sometimes!
All clean and tidy here so back to the garden with a clear conscience tomorrow. I am staying up until midnight to try and book a delivery or more likely, a click and collect for three weeks hence. We collect our first one in two weeks time.

soop, I'm full of admiration for your son and the sum he has already made for charity. It's amazing what people are doing for exercise and raising money. On the local news they showed a man who had run a marathon - round and round his pocket-handkerchief lawn.
My hands have only just stopped tingling from tonight's clapping session.

By the way. My licence to practice was stopped because I wasn’t practicing clinical medicine and couldn’t get revalidated as the M of Justice hadn’t a revalidation scheme

Had an email from the gmc to say that my license to practice has been restored.
I haven’t practiced clinical Medicine for many years and I’m Vulnerable and housebound.
However I’m going to phone and ask if I can do anything from my house

A lovely gesture for sure callgirl. A lift to your sons spirits, and yours, can only help.

A huge well done to your son soop, what an achievement.

Oh blimey greyduster you’ll have to nail Mr Dusters feet to the floor. A neighbour had a similar letter. After a conversation with her GP it was agreed she can walk her dog in a very quiet spot. Might be worth a chat with the GP. Having said that I think the principle is he’s as isolated as possible. Don’t envy either of you.

Our little cul de sac did it’s bit for the applause this evening, a remarkable range of items to make a huge noise. Me? I made do with clapping my hands .

The day has flown past here, only one more day and the gloss paint will be done - forever if I have my way. . Had a long chat on the phone with a friend and was able to bring a smile to a neighbours face by sharing some fruit with her. Little things help don’t they?

TOYA and be careful out there everyone.

My son had a boost to his spirits this afternoon. Due to him having a very sore throat, my DIL had been searching the shops in town for throat sweets for him, but everyone was sold out. So she phoned the factory who make them here in town, Jakemans, so ask if they could let them have some, but they said they only supply shops. DIL explained about the isolating, cancer, and coronavirus...………………...they delivered 2 boxes full to the house this afternoon, free of charge, what a lovely gesture.
Soop, well done your son, and doesn`t he look like you?
I now have a wardrobe full of nice clean going out clothes, won`t be needed for a while, but am running out of everyday stuff now!
Beautiful lamb Izabella. A few years ago we had a self catering holiday in a cottage on a farm in Wales. Their 14 year old daughter had 2 lambs as pets, they followed her everywhere, so cute. Her mother said that they gave her 2 each year to rear herself. I asked the girl what would happen when they grew bigger, did they go in with the other sheep? She said "Oh no, I sell them to the butcher, it pays for my school trips!" I could hardly look at those poor lambs after that.
This picture was taken through the cottage window one evening, we regularly got invaded by sheep!
TOYA

Smileless sorry but if Dylan and I bond that will be that.
Wilson is looking at next weeks' supper I think.

Doodle sorry but Tara is having prescription food It was really tasty and I have enough for two more evenings including liquid refreshment.

I am about to have my annual shower and go to bed to read my book. Tomorrow I must tackle my kitchen- I can no longer find anything so if I do not say hello that is where I am and what I will be doing.
TOYA

We have just been out for the big clap and there were more people than last week. DH wouldn't let me take my s hool bell out though!