Soops kitchen for caring and sharing...

Spiny Norman was back again last night and scoffed his dinner in short order. Then I found him climbing about on top of my small plants. He is forgiven as long as he is eating the slugs!
Do enjoy your birthday Ann - I long to eat out again.
After following Soop & Dragonfly’s journeys, it was with some trepidation that I went to the breast clinic this morning. I was so relieved that all is well and I shall be able to sleep tonight. It makes me even more in awe of you both.
Sparking wine with a dash of sloe gin for everyone on the table.
TOYA

How wonderful that you are going out for your birthday Ann. A little bit of normal at last.

I remember the net underskirts and how they would ladder my tights if they were too sharp. I was very skinny in those days so loved the wide belts. I used to back comb my hair to death. I looked like nothing on earth looking back!

That is quite a trek to the hospital soop. We are just 3 minutes away from the hospital but it is in the centre of Leicester. I was there last Monday and Tuesday so have been checking my temperature every since!! I hope I dodged the bullet. I did find that as the carpark was free it was full of non-patients taking advantage of the centre of the city site. Very unfair.

Good afternoon, ann I've missed your posts recently. No matter how different the birthday experience may seem, it remains a celebration. You are bound to enjoy it especially after so long "indoors". Having your dear granddaughter share the evening with you is a huge bonus.
I'm hoping that when my birthday arrives in early August, we'll be able to do something a little different. We must wait and see.

You had to be very careful sitting down in those skirts with hoops.
Just get the back of the hoop in the wrong place and the front shot up showing all you had on underneath.

Good afternoon everyone, I hope you are all coping as well as you can.
What a strange time we are living through.

I haven’t been past the front door since about March 16th and have made the bold decision to book a table at my favourite Italian for my birthday, just my GD and me.

The list of precautions and safety measures is impressiveness not quite going as far as plastic cutlery but no tables, suitably distanced, will be set.
All cutlery, glasses, napkins (Paper, not linen) S&P and throwaway menus will be brought to the table as we sit down.

We will be instructed as to how to use the loos, the blurb said not literally, good job too, as there will be a seating area to await your turn and they will be sanitised for each visitor.

How difficult and how very expensive is that all going to be for the owners.

Chilly and dull here so I hope you can all find something nice to do.

TOYA.

Oh...and later I took a liking for hot pants. My word. The memory alone leaves me speechless.

Synonymous Well done for keeping your net underskirt. I also had a plastic hoop, anno, that helped to spread the skirt even wider. The look was totally "girly" which, of course, we were. I loved being a flouncy, pouty, bee-hived girl.

Grandmafrench Palest lips and kohl smudged eyes. Totally wowsomey. Or so I thought.

GrannieSomerset Thank you for making me laugh. Such a funny story. I love it.

NannyTopsy You've made a new friend. I wish that we had a hedgehog to foster. Keep up the good work.

Ooh, what memories, you have all had me chuckling! I ought to confess that I still have one of my net underskirts in a memory box. It is a triple one in apple green and cream lace trim - although come to think of it I was sure it was was white lace but maybe that is what age has done to it. Himself says he is convinced it was white too - cheeky man!

Poppet beads ! My what a memory you have. Yes, I had strings of them. And I had the very palest lipstick - almost white - and had difficulty squeezing through doorways in all those skirts!

How hilarious, GrannySomerset. Most of this "stuff" I used to indulge in whilst living in Somerset. It's possible that we passed each other on a dark night, running from our own underskirts .

I lost my hoop too, once, anno. Never indulged in anything as riotous as Scottish country dancing though - only in school.

Well done, hedgehog. He obviously likes the cuisine at your Café, Nt. x

The hedgehog ate his supper and took himself off somewhere. We will put out more food tonight! More updates if we see him again.

I had a hooped petticoat. The hoop was a thin plastic one which was threaded through a channel and came out for washing. I was at a Scottish country dance evening when I found something winding round my ankles - the hoop had come adrift.

Grandmafrench - thank you for reminding me about the sugar water rinse for paper nylon petticoats. Did rather attract wasps whilst on the washing line! They rustled when you walked and I frightened myself nearly to death en route for the church youth club when I thought I was being followed. I ran, so did the noise, and when out of breath I realised that the sound was my newly washed petticoat rustling. Lovely clothes for teenagers, and mostly made by us.

Grandmafrench Sugar water to stiffen the petticoats was a must. I stood on the bus. Unable to sit comfortably. Do you remember the poppet beads? I wore several ropes in a variety of colour ways, My wide belts were about 3" deep and elasticated. My waist was a mere 24". I used to make up a la Bardot. Pale lips and big pout.
Also pleasing to learn that Master Ludo is beginning to improve. Animals cannot tell you how they are feeling. I hated it when any of our cats were sickly. Wished that I could have suffered for them...daft as a proverbial brush.

Bellanonna The music that we danced to, beats the modern thrum thrum thrum by several decades. I've gone all misty-eyed.

Galen Tut indeed.

Finished this afternoon's tasks. Now to shorten an over-long skirt. Wish me well. It's cut on the bias.

Love to you all. Raining here and continues to blow a gale. We'll gather in our kitchen again tomorrow. Thank you for your company.

Nannytopsy. If your little hedgehog is still there and has eaten the cat food, that's good. It can probably survive if you feed it. Maybe move it to a more natural habitat in your garden? You could use a dustpan (and brush?) and it will doubtless roly poly itself in a small ball if you do. Then put it down somewhere safe where it can find some water and cat food for its next meal. They are normally full of fleas - all the ones we have rescued were - so maybe don't pick it up yourself.

That pesky puss Charleygirl, she has you so well trained. Do you think that a visor might work well to keep her off your face?

Purplepixie How lovely that your friend and her family look as if they might just have turned a corner. Sounds as if your own spirits could have done with a lift this morning on the GM thread! Think lots of us are walking a very fine line from time to time after our lives have been interfered with for so long. Even if you do think you need the odd kick in the pants, promise not to mislay your sense of humour. It really matters!

Soop oooh net petticoats. What a memory. Did you used to put yours in sugar water and let them dry completely stiff after washing them? It's a wonder I ever moved from the spot. I also used to buy light wooden "hooping" to go into the hems of big skirts. Imagine that style coming back - well, at least it would solve the problems of a lot of social distancing.
Really pleased that you are pressing on with the "rebuild" of your good self. Your scan is coming soon, hooray. Shame that you have to incorporate this into a touring holiday but all so much better than just waiting, and waiting, and worrying and waiting. Maybe the trip will actually be enjoyable!

His Master Ludo lots better today. Has advanced to small amounts of cooked chicken with his rice and he has begun drinking again. Oh the relief - not just for him. We've been worrying about him. Hateful when animals are ill.

Very hot. Just about to read a long and hilarious mail from a friend in Florida. No, that at the moment doesn't sound funny, but the way she goes on about the life there and That Man - who she refers to simply as The Combover Kid - reduces us to fits of laughter. Laughter's what we need.

Take care lovely Kitcheners. Only salads today but a small box of Japanese medlars en route for the kitchen.

Stay Safe. Big hugs x

soop, lovely memories of those bouffant, back combed hairstyles and full net underskirts. Gosh and those wide leather belts around a (then) very slim waist. I feel the same as you when I hear that music, though sometimes a bit sad, too (lost youth etc).

Standards dropping then, Galen? Tut tut.

soop no pearls. In fact haven’t worn them since lockdown.
Cba.

Galen TYKE!!!! What I want to know is - are you wearing your pearls?

Nannytopsy Sorry to hear about the wind damage to your banana palm. Is it possible that it may recover?
If the young hedgehog continues to concern you, you could phone the local vet for advice.

Nannyfaraway I also lost a post recently. Not for the first time. It's maddening to discover that not a word has been recorded.
Enjoying coffee in bed sounds like a very sensible way to prepare yourself for what you plan to do later. My task for this afternoon - ironing and then to tidy the final books shelves and dust the nick knacks clutter that I consider to be precious.

dragonfly I was thinking of you earlier today. I spoke to my breast nurse regarding the forthcoming trip to Glasgow for the scan that would have taken place in March at the Vale of Leven. She told me that there is free parking near the clinic (MacS will be confined to the car as he's shielding. I need to ring a door bell, wait to be accompanied in a service lift (the patient lift is out of order), hopefully have a wee and get the scan over and done without too much delay. The round trip will take over six hours of driving. The Vale breast clinic remains closed until possibly the end of August. Travelling there is far more straightforward. However, needs must. I hope that you are continuing to thrive after your course of treatments.

Purplepixie Thank you for sharing better news of your friend and her family with us. It's lovely when someone turns a corner and begins to show signs of improvement.

Charleygirl No matter what, Tara carries on regardless. She could teach us all a thing or two.

Susan MacS has an enormous collection of old records. Mostly classical music. We do however have Elvis, Neil Diamond, The Platters, The Everly Brothers, Bill Hayley, The Righteous Brothers and many more besides. As soon as I hear rock 'n' roll, I am transported back to the days when I had a bee-hive hair do, wore net underskirts under small waisted, wide belted dresses and danced in high-heeled shoes. Oh, those were good memories.

anno I understand what you are saying. The atmosphere created by the spectators is a vital part of the tennis experience. I'm really missing my afternoons rooting for my favourites and screaming instructions from my comfy armchair.

Hi all and thank you for the kind words.

My friend is finally turning a corner and her daughter said last night that she spoke to her mam and she is a bit better. The strong painkillers and antibiotics are hopefully working. Her DH is also getting better daily and that is a weight off their daughter.

I’ve just made some lasagne for tea and baked a banana loaf and trying to keep busy and my mind occupied.

Stay safe all my lovely friends on this wonderful site.

Hallo Teetime good to see you.

Have had to postpone our trip round the block as I have just remembered Boots are delivering medicine. It would not be good to be out when I am supposed to be shielding.

Just popped in to drop off some fresh scones and jam to have with morning coffee.

Hello again everyone. I wrote a long post a couple of days ago but it disappeared not sure what happened.
I probably forgot to post it as I had just finished a very long shift
Anyway here I am again..
Welcome Teetime it's nice and friendly here.
That loaf looks good Soop I love fresh bread.
I'm having a very lazy morning. Still in bed having a coffee.
Need to get some motivation to tackle the ironing basket.

It is very dull here and it definitely rained overnight. I was up before 7 am because a 4 legged creature was walking over my body and my face, Her lungs remain healthy. I doubt if I will see her until 7 pm this evening.

I ordered a face visor but for some reason, it is no longer coming. An explanation would have been good.
TOYA

What a busy kitchen! I am awake far too early so I popped in to catch up then I shall try to sleep again. Lovely photos of the boys Soop and a big welcome to Teetime.
We had some short sharp showers yesterday, most notably just as DH brought me a lovely cream tea into the garden. I ate it standing in the shed ?. The wind has damaged all the leaves on our new banana palm again. It has made 6 huge leaves in 8 weeks but none have survived. It got planted yesterday, where we hope it will be more sheltered.
I found a young hedgehog yesterday on the patio. He slept behind a drainpipe all day then ate the cat food we put out. Perhaps he came down the steps from the garden but is too small to get back up? Not sure what to do with him if he his still there this morning.
I hope you are all sleeping well
TOYA

galen ? Hope you’ve put a mask on your computer too.

Decided I’d better wear a mask while using the internet.

Don’t want to catch a virus eg COVID-19 do I?