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

N&G, there's a special magic about hares, especially at this time of year. In the days when I used to drive in the morning from King's Lynn to Wisbech, I would love to see them cavorting in the orchards.
callgirl, what a relief that your son is none the worse and now back home, away from the virus-ridden hospital.
dizzy, so sorry that you seem to have caught the virus - you have been in the front line and we owe a huge debt of gratitude to you and your colleagues.? Hope it's a mild dose and that you feel better soon. Meanwhile, sleep is a great healer!

NanaandGrampy, DH and I always love your lovely photos! Xxx

Dizzy, so sorry to hear you are unwell. I think every day of your posts and admire you and other NHS colleagues who are truly special people.
Dear Panache ??? for you and DH xxx
Dear soop, don't know what life would be like without you. Love to mac for this even bigger, comforting kitchen.

Just downloaded our new 'attestation' form here in France.
New rules come into force from today. Still have to take the form if leaving the house for shopping, meds etc but now need to state the hour you left the house, take ID such as passport also and can now leave for up to one hour and within one kilometre of your home.

Some local mayors have also set curfews and other restrictions, mostly around Nice and Paris but all still quiet here in Brittany. Now day 16 of this sort of lockdown; becoming tighter all the time but DH and I are very comforted by this.

Had no alternative but to shop yesterday for DH's painkillers, milk and some fresh fruit and veg. Plenty of food in the supermarket and shoppers were quiet, courteous and observant of distancing rules. Very comforting. We are so lucky and it makes me very sad and worried for dear kitcheners who have to face uncertainty about getting their basic and much-needed supplies.

DH's appointment with surgeon has been postponed, understandably. He's walking as much as he can just to let the spine adjust after his operation. Only a couple of minutes every hour in the garden but very heart-warming. He's also been able to reduce painkiller intake by one of the daily pills. As Panache says ...onwards and upwards!

Wishing all dear kitcheners a comfortable and comforting day. Xxxxx ????

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Morning all !

Nice and bright here and an early morning visit from Norbert the pheasant was a good wake up call !!

So sorry to hear you're unwell Dizzy but thank you for thinking of our safety lol - your jobs will keep, focus on taking your time to feel better x

Good news about your son callgirl - hope he stays safe ( and your DD too)

welcome back dreamkeeper , glad you are both home once again.

We have hares a plenty soop , I'll leave you with a couple of pictures- they're a joy to watch . Two are mine taken in our field but the last one is by a favourite photographer on our local group who has a knack with hares.

Good news Callgirl, I am so pleased to hear it.

Hope you feel better soon dizzy.

I have just got in my first milk delivery!
Still chasing up the letter from my consultant to my doctor changing my prescription. Apparently he hasn’t signed it off yet!

Good morning, sorry I’ve been AWOL, I think I’ve got the dreaded virus, although symptoms are mild I’m unusually exhausted and sometimes even holding my iPad feels too much.
Dreamcatcher aka Panache, you won’t know me as I’ve only just ventured out of the lurkers paddock but I’ve read many of your posts and followed your journey from afar. Lovely to find you back in the kitchen.
I’m sitting looking at all the jobs that need doing but as even having a shower leaves me all weak and wobbly they will have to wait until COVID takes its leave.
TOYA lots of love and I’ve activated the virus shield so my posts can be read without danger. Stay safe everyone.???

Good news Callgirl1. I hope all continues to be well for him.

I’ve just popped into the kitchen to have a whisky hot toddy as sleep just will not come tonight for me. Also I’ve brought some cheese scones and some cheese and onion rolls for all to share.

I feel worried inside for all of my family and friends and those outside who are suffering. DH thinks we will be in here until July. That in itself is sending my head into meltdown but we will all get through this together.

Stay safe everyone and night night. Xxx

Thank, you al for all the good wishes for my son. He`s home now, his x-rays were better than the last lot, and his temperature has gone down. They said that with all that he has wrong with him it was enough to cause his symptoms last night, and they don`t think its Covid-19. He`s relieved to be home, there are quite a few virus patients at the hospital, plus he said that every time he looked out of the window, there in his direct line of sight was the hospice where his dad died.
My 2nd daughter is under lockdown now, began working from home this morning, as she`s classed as a key worker. She got a new (to her) car last week, says it`s sickening looking out of the window and seeing it, knowing that she can`t drive again for 12 weeks, lol!
Soop, that`s one beautiful sunset.

Apologies, the post about the bl..dy eggs was to Maw and not, as it appears, to callgirl.

Well the big event of today - apart from washing my hair - was to set up my new Echo show. Took me ages of course but I am enjoying testing it out by shouting: Alexa, play - and then I try and think of a really obscure song. I haven't caught it out yet,

Kind thoughts to all those with wobbles and family worries. Let's hope tomorrow is a better day.

Told you I don't do short ?

Ker-ching it didn't disappear!

I kept these coconut ? s back in case things went ? shaped like yesterday. I didn't want them going astray too!

I honestly don't know where the time has gone today. My WP ( seems I've piqued some interest choosing this acronym amongst those who haven't read my definition but are seemingly too afraid to ask) and me had to do some actual banking in a real bank today and we, very naughtily went to get food for the birds. I felt sorry for a guy behind us outside in the queue because it was only when anyone got to the front of the queue that they could see a sign stating the store was now only taking card payments and he only had cash. He'd waited 30 minutes to find that out.

Update from my niece (one) reassured me that things at school (she teaches) were going well, only 8 in the class and they are all obeying the distancing and behaving. Update from my nephew (one) is that working from home and home schooling is 'manageble' (which I know in his speak that means chaos but organised chaos). These regular updates do help to ease the worries.

One of our worries has been about my WP's sister because she lives alone, has spinal problems and arthritis and has been known to fall. On Saturday she went out for her weekly shop and fell. There was a young couple close by and although they couldn't physically help her up of course they carried her shopping back to her 3rd floor flat and made her promise them that she'd contact them if she needed help with anything. They had just started to volunteer with a local group in her area. When she rang after it all happened it was clear that she was genuinely touched by their kindness. I hope all this kindness continues.

TOYA ❤️

My little tablet decided to go a bit crazy ? yesterday so hopefully success today. I could post short messages but every time a post scrolled up the box all sorts of weird stuff happened! Some have you might have noticed by now I'm not really one for short posts so it really wasn't working for me. I hope the same thing doesn't happen now (I'm about to scroll).

morethan I was glad to read yesterday that your DIL is having better days ?
I hope your GS had a good 21st birthday annsixty - he'll be 21 for a year so there should still be opportunity to have a really big shindig.
The photo you posted yesterday of your GC Susan was lovely. They are both beautiful. You can clearly see your DGS was fully engaged with it all.
NanaandGrampy that's a great photo of your visitor, cute too.
You have good reason to be proud of your son soop since it is richly deserved. I think you should also be proud of yourself, all those bike rides you are doing. You deserve a ?, it's calorie free ?
callgirl So sorry to hear about your son I hope he is doing okay
It's those bl..dy eggs you've got to worry about, horrible bl..Dy things!
Kittylester, dragonfly and all those who have had or are having wobbles it is perfectly understandable and we are all here to hold you up a little. As Isabella put it we are a tenacious lot. If we all form our own little human chain here we can hold on to each other and support one another if anyone wobbles.
Isabella waffle as much as you like because you have a wonderful way with words. Oh and by the way sing away music is good for the soul.

I'm afraid to tempt fate so I"m posting this here..

A friend of mine who lives in Falkirk was sunning outside with a cup of coffee and I was considering ramping up the heating as it was so cold here.

I doubt if Tara's fur will feel cold when she deigns to appear. I would love to know where that minx goes for around 12 hours each day.

She knows the routine- I cannot open the door when I am at the top of the stairs so there is really little point in yowling
her head off.
TOYA

The close of another sunny day with the same chilly wind. The waves appear to be changing direction. It's a slight difference BUT it may mean that it won't feel quite as raw tomorrow.

I am thinking of you all. Especially those of you with yet more stresses to contend with. This is a terrible time that everyone is having to go through. I am grateful for your support in our kitchen. The daily business of coming through our door matters and I trust that we'll continue to get through this crisis together.

I shall return tomorrow. I've no other plans. Best wishes

Dreamkeeper AKA Panache Please keep visiting us lot. We are truly inspired by you and your husband.

However am I going to keep up with the so many interesting and varied posts here in our brand new "swanky" kitchen I do wonder?
But so good to be within these warm and comfortable walls.
Mind you being in complete self isolation as we are I am beginning to adjust,and with all that is going on around us home is now so much better than ever it was.
As always lovely pictures and poems from our "Hostess with the mostest" our Soop,whilst the beautiful heartfelt phrases brought to us by you Izabella truly take us to places we may normally simply dream of.So uplifting.

There has been some nasty hiccups with my beloved`s monthly chemotherapy which truly had us both extremely worried,but thankfully again resolved thanks to some fine caring people in our Health Service.

So upward and onward we must go, and may I just add the same applies to all dear ones facing these seemingly unsurmountable problems,one day at a time,hopefully to better times somewhere on the horizon.

Love and blessings to you all.
Panache (Of course I shall remain just that Doodle!!)

callgirl so sorry to hear about your son. A worrying time but hope perhaps in hospital he can get more help than being at home.
izabella more inspiring posts. Funny how songs linger in our minds. Glad you are enjoying yourself
ann think of the happy times.

interesting...

Tara and Dylan under the same roof! That should be interseting. We await the consequences with bated breath.

Nannytopsy I think that hares are mystical creatures. I've only ever caught sight of a pair. That was many moons ago.

By the way, our virtual buffet tops itself up. There is a plentiful supply of party food. What's more...no washing up.

Maw I remember the school nurse "nit-picking" when I was a youngster. After which, if any were discovered, there was a hair wash in tar-like soap.

As promised, I took a photo of the sun setting behind the nearby island of Gigha. I hope that it cheers you.

callgirl1 I am sending gentle hugs from Kintyre. xxx

Izabella Your posts are a joy to read. You are entitled to feel up-beat. Long may the music lift your spirits. I've been singing along with Neil Diamond. I am tone deaf. He doesn't seem to mind.

annsixty You shared many good memories with your husband. It is those memories that count.

dragonfly "Wobbles" are par for the course it seems. I cannot explain why I am feeling as peaceful as I am. It is really strange that, throughout our "lockdown," I have become more content and certainly more grateful for small pleasures. This world of ours may, in due course, heal itself.

I am sending my love to you all.

callgirl so sorry to hear the latest news re your son.

It is so cold here- thankful for central heating (still working).

Soon I will need to find a pair of shears to cut my hair. That will be a pretty picture.
TOYA

fatgran Your baking skills will be in great demand throughout our incaceration. Please continue to share and welcome to the new kitchen.

Well done Izabella sing along to your hearts content.
I was never a Radio Caroline convert but I bet I know all the words as well.