Soops kitchen for caring and sharing...

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Hello my darling lovely lot, it gives me pleasure to saunter into our kitchen to find that you have all been behaving extra busy. Thank you all for your kind comments. It is heart warming to know such kindly folk.

Monday night was worse than awful. I hardly slept and was fretting about every detail of the following day's journey. In fact, I believe that I had a panic attack. Certainly nothing like it has happened before. I felt totally out of control.
We set off at 11 o'clock and the journey as far as the outskirts of Glasgow was without stress. We even found that the toilets were open in Inveraray. Bliss! Soon after we started the last part of the journey that took us into central Glasgow, we were met with snarled up traffic queues and road works. Central Glasgow is the exact opposite of our wee village. So many people and so much hustle and bustle. It was just a little unsettling.
I got to the 3:30 appointment with five minutes to spare. MacSporran was shown a door in an alleyway from which I would emerge from the service lift on my way out.
Everyone was lovely. All very civilised. There was a loo...bliss!
It was when I came to using the mobile phone (to text MacS) in reception that I had a series of senior moments. I had decided to leave my bra and the prosthetic titty off. They lay on top of my bag. I couldn't locate the phone. Finished up emptying the entire contents of the bag on to a small table as staff watched. After finding the phone, I couldn't locate my specs. Had to empty bag for a second time. Felt tears pricking my eyes. Ladies smiled and said not to rush. Completed the task eventually and thanked everyone. Was walking away when a lady shouted...you've forgotten your stick. Back I shuffled, feeling awfully old.

We were home just after seven. MacSporran is a trooper. I told him so. He smiled.

Photo of rainbow taken through the car window as we motored home. Followed by a super sunset later in the evening.

OMG soop that was a day and a half. There are easier ways of getting a good night's sleep you know! That is that over and done with for a while.

Light drizzle most of today so need to water the plants.

Cat is looking for a new home- if anybody needs a really early daily wakening-5am being the choice time- she would be perfect. About 6 weeks of food will come with her.
TOYA

Oh soop, you poor love. I was feeling every moment then.....that awful realisation that you were in a real state, that you concentrated everything you had on fighting the traffic, the stress, the strangeness of it all and then when that ebbs away and it's over and you're leaving......brain dies completely. Can't even locate something that you are looking straight at. I've been there, done that. Then you feel really old and vulnerable and tearful. So glad it wasn't an awful experience, though, and they were kind and it was clean and there were loos. Now you're back home safe and sound with his lovely self and all is right in your world again.

Well done for going. Well done for braving it in these insane times. Know you'll do it all again for a nether rustling, without a squeak of complaint. Just don't forget who it's all for - worth it? You bet it is.

Glorious day here usual blue stuff and hot stuff and warm wind. Managed to finally kick off completely (although quietly and formally) at the mad and bullish behaviour of one of our neighbours. Think she thinks, cos we're English and very polite, that we're mugs. Well, today we kicked back and now she just needs to watch us GO! We NEVER pick fights unless we are sure we are totally in the right. So, in this case she'll find out we're definitely the wrong people to pick a fight with ....but we've been so patient and she was warned. Sometimes you just can't fix stupid.

Charleygirl do not encourage that naughty puss to think she will find a super new home. Take action, leave the food, pack and go avail yourself of some sunshine and fun in our friend's pool. Go back home only when you receive a pleading letter and a promise regarding future good behaviour from that girl ! I would!

Hope everyone's having a good day and just keeping on staying safe. Hugs x

soop you got through the day and you must have been really tired from lack of sleep. Bless You and I hope you slept better last night. I expect the staff at the hospital are used to seeing boobies and bums, though maybe not a bookie being launched out of handbags ? They will remember you, you probably made their day. They need some light relief.

I’m so glad you’re back from the city and home in your rural idyll. The Gunnera will be growing even more huge if you are getting the amount of rain we are this afternoon!

Take things easy until you feel the need to get up and resume normal tasks. They can wait. ?

Charleygirl please explain, what has Tara done? Why have you two fallen out?
Telling her to find a new home is a bit harsh and I think you will miss her in a day or two - so please rethink. Take your finger off speed-dial for Cats Protection or Battersea Cats or any other orphanage. Your girl has a really nice home and is used to your funny ways ?.

Stark sky pictures soop just when I thought you always got picture perfect sunsets!

Grandmafrench you stand your ground with your neighbour - I’m right behind you (well, I have been hiding under a sunlounger by your pool after it all kicked off) ?

Oh soop,what a couple of days you have had.Hope that you had a good nights sleep last night and are feeling better today.

Your picture of last nights sunset is beautiful/incredible,one of my favourites I think.

Grandmafrench,wishing you strength in your dealings with your neighbour.Even when you know you are right,any sort of neighbourly disagreement is unsettling.

Charley I know a little girl who would love to adopt that naughty cat???they actually get up at a similar time in the morning too?

I am happy to have that naughty cat stay for as long as she wishes.

I have smiled through all your lovely messages regarding the near melt-down at the clinic. As I retrieved my stick, I said to the sweet natured staff, "thanks for putting up with me". "With luck, you won't see me here again". They chuckled. What they said to each other after the lift door opened and I disappeared into the bowels of the earth, I would sooner not know. I have my pride.

The red plant grown from seed is Balsum. I'm sorry, but I've forgotten who asked me.

Away to spend a cosy, relaxing evening with my special man.

Thinking of you all. Stay safe and I hope to spend time with you tomorrow.

It was me soop, always looking to swell my garden borders with pretty perennials. Thank you ?
TOYA ?

Puzzler once Tara comes home around 7 pm that is it for the night. The minx wakens me most days around 5 am wanting me to let her out. As it is I get up around 7 am to let her out and she vanishes until 7 pm. I do not switch off my light until 12 midnight, I am up to the loo at least a couple of times so I am being deprived of sleep. She lies on me crying and pawing and eventually realises she has gone too far so may sleep on my pillow or retire elsewhere.
TOYA

soop you are back safe and sound. Poor you. What an ordeal you have been through and all that panic the night before. Please have a wee dram to relax tonight and one for McSporran for being such a lovely chap. I expect those ladies at the clinic realised they were in the presence of our own VIP and they probably thought you were a lovely lady, just like we do ?
Please don’t let Tara go to another home charley you know you’d miss her. ?
grandmafrench good for you sticking up for yourself. I am right behind you too....well I’m behind puzzler,

so op I am so glad you are home in one piece. I have left millionaire’s shortbread on the side. Treat yourselves.

Delighted you’ve made it back soop, sleep well. TOYA.

Glad to see you back safely soop, hope you had a relaxing evening. Sleep well both.
Sleep well all lovely kitcheners.

soop, you are back safely with the wonderful McS. That is all that matters. Don't imagine that the ladies at the clinic hadn't seen it all before. When people have had the kind of day you'd been having, they're unlikely to be cool, calm and collected. I'm sure I would be just the same. As for leaving the stick behind, you'd be amazed (or would you?) at the times and places I've had to turn back to collect mine. It's a wonder I still have the same one. Sleep well, you deserve and need it.

Good morning everyone! Still raining here in Suffolk, so that granddog won’t be getting a walk any time soon. She doesn’t like the rain at all. I have had enough wet weather for a while but it has made me realise how that good weather made lock down so much easier.
I hope you have recovered from your trip to Glasgow Soop.
Enjoy your day everyone.

It is not raining here but it is grey and dreich.

Moaning Minnie has flown out of the door so I really have no excuse but to do some serious cleaning. Coffee and toast first I think- I should not work on an empty stomach.

soop I hope you and MacS slept well and you soon forget about yesterday's nightmare. Please rest today.
TOYA

Good morning all, just popping in to leave these for soop. I hope you’re continuing to recover from your trek to the hospital yesterday?
I’ve come over all domesticated today and will be making rhubarb crumble. I’ll bring some in, with dishes, spoons and custard (creme anglaise to Grandmafrench). ?

P.S. I wish you could smell these roses they are sooo fragrant!

Puzzler as usual the flowers are gorgeous. Weeds are not so attractive I have discovered.

I talk to the garden Charley and dare any weeds to grow.
The minute I see one, it’s off with it’s head! (and roots too).

Good Afternoon Kitcheners

A pot of Courgette soup en route ! For such a seemingly boring vegetable, we have such a delicious recipe. Hope you all enjoy.

Love those roses, Puzzler. To be honest, I can smell them. I think when we've owned something like that we never forget the smell - it's like an instinct and a lovely memory rolled into one. I adore apricot coloured roses and I'm sure they seem to be the very fragrant ones. It's a sadness that, although I could grow them here almost all year round, we have such fierce heat sometimes (and little shade) that they actually become bleached of all colour. A bit like laundry when I forget to turn it all inside out to dry (in 30 minutes). We wait patiently for the blooms and there they are and then they're ruined. A bit like in the UK when you can survey your own little Kew Gardens one afternoon and a storm in the night wrecks all of it in the heavy rain.

M.Minnie, your very demanding guest, has left the building then Charley. Do we know where she goes for 12 hours or so, or did I miss that before I joined the Kitchen?

And how is today, soop. No ill effects, I hope, and I'm recommending a lovely lazy day 'on the mooch', without even a glance at ironing, bed-changing, admin or even, forestry !! Yes, we know what you're like. You need to relax and get over the drama of the great Glasgow adventure yesterday and give yourselves a pat on the back for doing it.

Glorious weather again here. Boring to recount, really - especially given some of the temperatures reported in parts of the UK at present. It's like summer has all rolled down here and left only winter and wetness behind. But, be not downhearted, Kitchen chaps, it'll be back. It always is. Island weather is so changeable and a bit like they say of all the constantly changing weather in Ireland, if you don't like it, don't worry - there'll be some more along in a minute !

Crème anglaise - Puzzler. Scrumptious and, surprise, the French have named it giving us all the credit. Hurrah !

Have the best afternoon all. Keep smiling, keep well. Especially you, Cherry, I keep missing you. Special hugs to Susan, I shall pm you with mask sterilising details. Lins hope you're lots better in spirits.......no, there's no sly reference to Argy Bars in that comment. Dreamkeeper & Izabella - oh look, now you're a double act! Hope you are both safe and in good spirits. NannyT too.

Any other lovely Kitchener I know I will have forgotten, please take care. Big hugs for now from French France. x

Puzzler It's an annual. You need to collect the seeds after it has flowered. They can be set before the following spring. It hates to be in too sunny or dry a spot. A delicate wee flower. I keep mine potted and indoors.
Your roses are gorgeous. The colours are beautifully delicate. I can well imagine the perfume. Thank you. x

Your kind words have made my eyes go all bleary. Is it any wonder when I have friends like you.

Do you recall the hours that I devoted to up-digging montbretia bulbs? I then spent days on end laying down gravel by the barrow load. Well, without as much as a by your leave, the gravelled areas are smothered in new montbretia growth. Is it time to sit back and think, buggerations I've done my best? Here's where I throw in the trowel. Or what?

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Dear Grandmafrench Here is last night's Kintyre sky - just for you. I've heard from the Kintyre promotion team. The manager wishes to use my photos in an advertising campaign. I'm very happy for him to do so. In fact, I'm sort of "honoured".
Also, the gunnera continues to climb into the lower branches of the birch trees.