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

It was indeed 25° today Charleygirl. I think possibly the snow will fall on upland areas, but even 13° here means getting warmer clothes out again. ☹️

I have woken up today feeling really low and miserable! Not like me atall. Dont know why today particularly but oh dear! Need to give myself a good talking to and a shake!

And the lemon pudding was not great btw ..I think I put too much cornflour in!

Madgran I think most of the UK will be feeling melancholy today. These are strange times we are living in, parted from our loved ones, not being able to go out as and when.

VE Day commemorative programs on TV and radio all day, I felt weepy on my walk yesterday seeing all the bunting etc on houses (only my second walk in 53 days).

Give yourself a hug, ??

Hi all in this wonderful kitchen.

When I woke this morning I could have cried my eyes out, just so down in the dumps, so I understand Madgran, I’m the same.

DH went for his walk and I have prepared a Chilli Con Carne for tea which didn’t turn out the way I wanted it. Oh well, bring on the rice!

We are supposed to be having a drink on the green outside of our house this afternoon with some neighbours, but to be honest, I am not looking forward to it. My youngest son says I should go and stop being a misery - he did run fast after he said it! The trouble is we have some neighbours who have had the police called to them on several occasions for various reasons and I dont feel like being sociable to them. So it will be a quick toast and back in our own garden.

Have the best day that you can and see you all later for some sanity, wine and hot toddies. Love x

Darling Peeps, a late, grey-ish good morning to one and all.

Have just received this delightful photo of Mila, our two year old great granddaughter. I am wearing a soppy

Grandmafrench Did you forget to mention that one of your apple crumbles is for me? Not good enough. I was about to make a jug of real custard. In my dreams...
I hope that your blood test is favourable. You will appreciate your late breakfast.

Izabella Is the stunning flower perhaps Burdock? Whatever it is, I would so love a few in our garden.
Do you promise not to laugh if I confess that I have lost capability to punctuate correctly. I sometimes have to ask MacSporran for guidance. Most times I just go ahead and trust that no one notices the gaffs. What is depressing dismaying is that I earned a living as a proof reader for several years.

Three cheers for Mr Smileless. At last he is listening to our well intentioned advice. Any further concerns are to be addressed to his GP. Us lot say so.

Purplpixie Providing you all sit well apart on the village green, raising a glass of cheer may very well do you a lot of good.

Madgran and GrannyGravy The spirit of those who survive and remember VE Day are inspirational. They lived through hellish times. They witnessed death and destruction on an epic scale. Their resilience helps me to deal with this upturned, short-term (in comparison) lifestyle from which we cannot escape for the time being. Sending a virtual comforting arm around your shoulders. [flower]

Afternoon all,

Ongoing prep here for VE Day afternoon tea in the front garden. I was out directing bunting hanging :-) when the red arrows gave a magnificent fly past - made my heart proud.

Ive had some down in the dumps days too but not today . I have pulled on my big girl pants and I'm ready to tough it out !! And eat cake of course.

Soop how can Mila be 2 already?? Where has that time gone?

I don't know what meanness has gone on Ann and Maw but you wont find it in here . Let me pass you some fondant fancies and a sandwich or tree. Have a seat and just relax.

I made a disaster of a banana bread yesterday but was cheered up by a picture from young Jackson of his first ever Victoria sandwich made all on his own ( bar putting in the oven) . Made my day.

I have a new blanket underway , made up solely of leftovers from my stash which is turning out quite well, I'll leave you with a picture x

Happy VE day all !

Good Afternoon everyone, not posted for a while but have read everything. Like most I have been feeling rather low.
Our cul de sac is having "drinks" at 5pm, we will sit in our own drive in garden chairs. We observed the 2 minute silence at 11am.
I have just finished washing our fruit and veg delivery, thanked the delivery man and the bin men who have collected our rubbish every week during lockdown.

The scones are Mary Berry's, well her recipe - they don't look like hers but they taste nice - well you have to have a taster don't you ?
As N&G says Happy VE Day all ??

Lins, I have missed you and was so glad to see your post just now. I haven't been posting much recently, like you...have been very low and not been able to find the words.

However, the sunshine has been lovely here in Brittany and I've been burying myself, not literally, in the sorrel, spinach and lovage transplanting ready for summer veggie flans. Thoughts do run away with you in the garden and I'm trying not to be too solitary in my musings.

Take care dear Lins and all kind kitchen friends. Xxx

It has cheered me greatly to read your post, N&G. I wish that I could celebrate the VE Day afternoon tea with you later today. However, we too shall eat cake. Why not!
Lucky you to see the Red Arrows. That will have been a special moment. When I lived in Dartmouth, they would fly over the river Dart.
I like your blanket. The design and colours seem most appropriate to mark this special day.

Lins1066 Your scones look as perfect as any I've seen. Such a pity that I can't test-taste one or two.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202005/medium-728707-p1013059.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202005/medium-803092-p1013068.jpg

Carillion I shall be out in the garden this afternoon. I shall send you special vibes as I continue to enjoy the benefits of beings in the open air.

Photos taken on the beach across the way...

soop the last time I checked Mila was a baby in arms. She is growing and that is such a pretty dress for a pretty young lady.

N&G that blanket is pretty as well as impressive. Birdbrain here thought it was a new rug.

All I want to do is sleep but I must check my hoover is still working. I have saved a lot of electricity though!!!!

How can I sleep so much having done so little?

TOYA

Charleyg Listen to your body. If it urges you do stuff...so be it. If not...stay put until whenever it says otherwise.

With that smidgeon of philosophy, I shall wash the dishes. After which, I shall put on my scruffy glad rags and hasten into the garden. The sun has decided to shine. Hey ho...here I go...

Hi de Hi, All. Well, we seem to have caught a blight of weepies. Mine was last night. On the Good Morning thread I pointed out that in watching (by accident actually) a programme about that blinking Vera Lynn person.....well, I think she's a love, actually, and she lives very close to where we moved from in England, and she's just slightly younger than my Mum, who died almost a year ago and who was a great fan...but she does keep making everyone cry. All those sweet old men talking about how thrilled they were that she put herself at risk to sing to them in Burma. Some tried to sing, and most broke down. Seriously, they are not trying to cheer us up at all. I was trying to eat supper, dry my eyes, blow my nose, and watch the programme through streaming tears.

So that was yesterday. Sentimental Wobble over. This morning? Yes, it's VE Day, a national holiday here in France. So, why would the Laboratory be open to take some blood from me? They weren't. My day and my breakfast was delayed until I found that out. I must be losing my marbles.

Next week I shall venture forth. As long as I get it done before I see my lovely Doctor, and go to see her gripping the results, I can turn up at any old time (but not on National holidays).

Very warm day again. Delivery of "Oximeter" which will enable me to check oxygen in our blood. Just in case this Virus gets any worse, we'll soon be running our own clinic here, I reckon although numbers are dropping and I live in a Green Zone. Paris and the North East is red, so they will not be going out and about free as birds next Monday. Going back to something close to normal for major cities can only happen slowly.

Those look like good scones, Lins. When you said they were Mary Berry's I did think what a good idea. All round to Mary's and help ourselves to her baking would possibly limit all the disappointment that is taking place up and down the country on odd days, don't you think? Sorry you have been feeling down. Hope you enjoy a little drinkie at the Cul de Sac Bar later. That should cheer you up. You too, purplepixie although I expect you feel less kindly disposed towards some of your neighbours. I think people must have hides of rhinos, sometimes.

Knockout blanket N&G. If I could crochet that well...or at all....I'd be so proud. It looks lovely. Hope you're pleased.

Bit concerned to hear on another thread that you've had another seizure, Cherry. Are you at the limit of your drugs or medication to alter this frequent nasty development ? Will you just have to suffer this or can you get some more help? I feel so sad that you just keep falling about regardless of how careful you are in looking after yourself. Please feel well again and let's hope you have a bit of a break from all this nocturnal nonsense asap.

Izabella I have never seen a flower so beautiful and yet so complicated. It's lovely. Do tell us if Soop is correct. Although I would never have guessed, if she is right, that something with such an ordinary name could look so exotic.

And Soop what a honey that little Mila is. I have a second cousin whose little daughter is Mila. She plays Rugby...what can I say?!

I"m sure I said help yourself to the Apple Crumble, but I cannot agree to your keeping it to yourself. Although if we all keep enjoying ourselves in this way, we'll grow into a bunch of Humpty Dumpties - but will be safe in the garden, never falling if we are that shape. We just need to keep off walls - or ladders!

I"m off to the garden to help make quite a noise. Our dirty teak Steamer chairs have come up a treat, so our next adventure is carrying a large garden table down into the bottom of the pool to jet wash that next. It sounds impossible but the pool has a "beach" end for toddlers, so when empty doesn't require climbing down any steps. Hooray!

Fix on those smiles, everyone. Don't be sad especially today, we're all here and we're grateful so this is not time to give in to things which plague us. (Pardon that pun!)
Sending you all hugs from French France and the little message which still appears in hotel windows everywhere :

We always welcome you, Our Liberators

What a lovely message Grandmafrench. I too had an attack of the blues this morning, so fed up of it all and frustrated that I can't get on with things due to this b......y broken wrist. Having permanent plaster put on next Monday and will ask them how long before I can do thingsAh well, as they say this too shall pass. No cake here I'm afraid, once wrist is better I will bake again. TOYA.

Afternoon all. It seems I am a year older today and many people have kindly decorated their homes with flags to help me celebrate .

It feels sort of odd, there’s a bit of me that thinks I should be ignoring a birthday and focusing on VE Day, but then they have always coincided. We respected the two minute silence and shortly after I was laughing with a friend who had phoned. Very odd for sure.

The family have been so kind, videos, FaceTime and a garden visit from one who is in the area later The video from our Littlest had me in tears, the FaceTime call full of laughter.

Sadly my scones never look like that lins. How superb to see the red arrows n&g, pleased you’re feeling on firmer ground. There’s far too much cake here so I’ll leave a very squidgy chocolate one on the side. Somehow we have two bottles of Prosecco, so I’ll leave one of those. First come first served .

We do all have wobbly days I think and you know, we are allowed them. We can all do this, it’s just sometimes we don’t believe we can.

TOYA.

Happy birthday corner please rest and enjoy yourself. Is Mr. C doing a special like boiled eggs with toast for tonight?!

The weather here is beautiful- I could not ask for better.

I am seriously worried about callgirl because we have not heard from her for a few days.

I am afraid I cannot stand Vera Lynn and her songs so I will be channel hopping tonight as well as going to bed early to read and keep Tara company.
TOYA

Cornergran have a very happy birthday! Xxxx????

He’s stretching the culinary skills to scampi and chips Charley. My choice, with a chocolate dessert - yes, I do like chocolate .

Oohh did someone mention chocolate? Nearly broke my neck skidding into the kitchen to nibble a square or two.? Sorry to read that some of you are having a few wobbles; hope you all recover your equilibrium. Although I am a relatively newcomer to posting I have been following you all for quite a while through this lovely thread and I think you are all bloomin’ marvellous with the way you deal with the ups and downs of life and lockdown buggerations (love that word!)

Enjoy the rest of the day and the VE celebrations either in person or through the television avoiding Vera Lynn if necessary! Nearly one day less to serve on the lockdown. Onwards my friends; we shall prevail ?

GrannyOwl and yet more s.

I am going to need to play catch up tomorrow morning. I've only just come indoors and I am extraordinarily mucky. Garden clothes are beyond a joke. Very pleased with my efforts.

I am thinking of you all, and promise to catch up sometime tomorrow.

Night night and enjoy your evening as best you can. I shall have a lovely G&T a little later. I shall raise my glass to you lovely lot.

Aesculus hippocastanum is a species of flowering plant in the soapberry and lychee family Sapindaceae. It is a large deciduous, synoecious tree, commonly known as horse-chestnut or conker

madgran and purplixie we are living in strange times. People are up and down. Hope your spirits lift soon.
soop that cannot possibly be Milla ?. No way. She is just a baby. How did that happen? She is lovely ?
N&G your blanket is lovely. What a talented person you are ?
lins lovely to hear from you. The scones are really nice thank you.?
carillion nice to see you too. I think we are all having wobbles of something kind. We are not used to this sort of thing, glad you are enjoying your garden,
grandmafrench you seem to be in cleaning mode. Hope the weather stays fine for you. Thank you for the hugs ? To you too ?
granysyb sorry about your poor wrist. Hopefully it will feel better when you get the proper plaster on.
corner your birthday. I didn’t know. Many happy returns. Hope you have a good day ?
charleygirl hope you and Tara are ok. I will be channel hopping too until I find something of interest ?
grannyowl how are you. Yes it is nice here in the kitchen isn’t it, don’t know what we’d do without our dear soop
izabella your memory may be a bit dodgy but you can still outspell and outplant me any day. Lovely to hear from you. Beautiful picture by the way.
TOYA ?