Soops kitchen for caring and sharing...

Thank you all.x

Lins The card is priceless. It's a keeper. In fact, I would frame it.

Maw I'm thrilled to see your post and the photo is charming. Please do continue to join us .

Susan for you - xx

Grandmafrench Thank you for the high low calorie offerings. I have a jar of apricot jam that needs an outing.
Our weather is glorious right now. Barely a cloud in the sky. In fact, we were hoping for a decent downpour. Our water supply comes from a local spring. We have had so little rain recently and need to replenish the supply.

Callgirl1 - you, dear lady, are much missed.

I'm away for today. I leave you with all good wishes for a peaceful evening. Continue to take good care of yourselves. Please may we all have proper outings on the not too distant horizon.

I just laughed loud enough to wake up 2 dogs and 3 cats, Lins. Now they'll want feeding. Have you no shame?
That card is so funny, I shall show it to friends. x

Happy that Henry is doing well, Susan. Hope you have a much better week coming up. Stay safe. x

Good to hear from Carillion and you Maw
Have been thinking of you Susan be gentle with yourself.
Sending hugs to all who need them and a Happy Father's Day to all fathers, past like my own lovely Dad, and present ?
I have included one of my DH's cards - it raised a chuckle here, hope it will with you too xx

Susan I am hugely relieved to hear that little Henry is doing so much better - I can only begin to imagine how awful these weeks have been for you all. A poorly child is every parent’s or grandparent’s worst nightmare.
You have been so strong ?!

Flynn enjoying his picnic "snack" with Grandpa

Carillion and Grandmafrench,Henry is doing well under the care of his new dietician.I actually feel quite nervous typing that as I haven’t been able to say he is well for three months.There may be backward steps but for the last couple of weeks he has been making great strides forward.

Thank you for the empathy Grandmafrench and soop.Things are settling down,we have drawn a big line under the last few days and looking forward??

Glad you have seen the family Maw and that Hattie is tolerating Luna.

Has anybody heard from callgirl?

Thinking of you all.

Dear Soop and all in the Kitchen - I’m still here, keeping what you might call a “watching brief” but for the sake of my blood pressure have been lying low elsewhere!
I can’t complain these days as I got to see all 3 daughters last week, on three separate occasions, all properly socially distanced in the garden, plus little Otis who has only recently started walking and also Flynn who seems so grown up, now he is no longer littlest fella. I also saw the gorgeous Luna whom Hattie now tolerates -thank goodness! We walked them up to Paw’s grave together before letting them loose in the garden and all was well. The “kid” behaved well enough for Hattie not to need to keep her in order this time.
I hope all the Kitcheners are keeping out of mischief - not falling over or inflicting injuries on themselves and generally being good TOYA

Hello Kitchen peeps!

A roaringly windy 32 degrees here. Take your choice, ladies and gents - flattened or burnt ! No, it's good in the shade if you like a warm desert wind and (and you can keep your hat on . The little swallows are flying sideways and taking ridiculous risks as they fly down for a scoop from the pool. The spectators, me and DH, ditto in the risks - we're not flying but could maybe use some hard hats in case of collisions with over-excited swallows. So far so good.

Pleased to hear from all today, including Carillion, our Brittany correspondent ! Hope everyone is keeping well. Sad to hear you are having stressy times, Susan. I suppose we all take our turns, but if your bad times are little Henry directed, you must be so sick and angry of it all by now. Empathy by the bucketload is on its way to you. Just dump your anger in it before you send it back, please. We'll chuck it in the Med' for you.

Have a decent day, folks. Avoid falling trees and stay away from bad weather, soop. The changes will be a'comin and you will be fit for anything again, so just rest up whilst it's all a bit samey. Know that we're all thinking of you.

Take GOOD care, Kitcheners. Bit late for croissants, but DH scootered out to get some this morning. I've saved some exceptionally buttery ones for you to have with some good jam and tea later on. Help yourselves. Hugs from French France to you all. x

anno If only I read the instructions when I needed to, I would have saved myself a whole lot of time and aggro. MacS always read the instructions. I have a sneaking admiration for such folk.

Susan What's up? Do share, if it helps.

Carillion Lovely to have you with us. And...where is our Maw? Please come back to us.

I fully understand why the usual hustle, bustle and blether is in short supply right now. Every day is so samey. Nothing new to discuss - beyond the weather. Last night it was rough. A huge tree branch lies across the pavement leading into the village. A very good thing that no-one was walking beneath it at the time it fell.

Here is a photo of last night's broody sky.

Susan56 thank you xx
Hoping your dear little chap is getting stronger every day

Apologies if I’ve missed something these last few weeks but where’s Maw?

After some short,sharp showers the morning is clearing up fast,hopefully warm sunshine will arrive for our afternoon.
A gentle stroll around the manicured lawns will be the order (and no gardening ourselves CharleyG!!!)

I am still back there drinking in the scenes of the sun shining on the blue of the sea,hearing the movement of the sea crashing on the rocks,yes well worth a visit.
Not truly my place of choice perhaps,but it was close to home,it was quiet with few people around ..................and it was the beautiful magnificent sounds and sights of the sea that I have so yearned!!!
Looking forward to the next time!!

Just hoping the day is kind to each one of you,lovely of you coming along in thought with my first trip to the coast!!!

Keep well and keep safe.

Been a miserable/stressful few days here but the less said about that the better so onwards and upwards??

So glad you got to the coast panache and that you had your fish and chips Charley.Am a tad envious of both of these treats?

Also pleased you will have an appointment in the not too distant future soop.

Nice to see you Carillion.

Thinking of you all.

Good morning dear kitchen fellows, I have been an absent friend for a little while but have never lost you from my thoughts.
Dear soop, so glad you are still at the helm. TOYA

Oh,*Dreamkeeper*, you tantalise me with your account of your drive out to the seaside. How I wish I could get there easily too. Maybe when (if) I manage to go south to see the family we'll have a day out to a quiet (?) beach.
soop, as a veggie, haggis would be anathema to me not that I ever liked it much before my conversion. We had a Burns supper when I was in 6th form and the highlight of the evening was when the classmate who was addressing the haggis, plunged the knife in with such force that it went right through the plate.
I took the risk of hanging out the washing today and it has paid off. It's cooler today and much less humid. I hope for decent sunshine later in the week as two different friends are expecting me to go and sit in their gardens - a necessary change of scene.
Time to get down to making my masks. I have made a total hash of them so far. Unbelievable! But I have sworn not to put my sewing machine away in its case before I have mastered the masks. Perhaps I should actually look at the instructions on YouTube before I start again. My father always used to tell us: 'If in doubt, read the instructions'.

Grandmafrench. you are a dear lady. Chat away as much and as often as you wish. The kitchen enjoys your company.

It's time for tea on the terrace. The wind has picked up since lunchtime. What was a calm flat sea is now festooned with white-capped waves. All very jolly.

Thinking of you all. I shall return tomorrow. Please continue to take good care of yourselves.

There is a method in my madness ordering haddock. Cod, which I also like, sits warming for heaven knows how long whereas few people order haddock so it is cooked when requested. There was a good throughput of punters so the chips were fresh also.

Tara has prescription food- the same every day but she was not remotely interested in my supper. Sirloin steak or a lamb chop would have been different. She is now 16 so if she wants a treat, I am happy.

Tonight it will be a surprise- something I cooked a couple of weeks ago but is unmarked was taken out of the freezer. It will either be spag bol or beef casserole. I may well have company.

My eyes are crossed trying to find Miele cylinder dust bags online. I had no idea there were so many different sizes and at a horrendous price.

Dreamkeeper pleased you made it to the sea and soaked in the sun and sea air. At least you have a lovely garden to sit in and you do not have to think it is about time the lawn was mowed as it is no longer your responsibility!

We were drinking our early morning tea in bed, when MacS said...'the baby robin came right up to my feet this morning. I had a few crumbs ready in my pocket. He turned and looked me straight in the ye. We bonded...' I thought to myself, just one more good reason why I love this man so dearly.

Oh soop you do make me laugh. Hoping you are feeling more chipper today - after your recent socialising. I am happy to attempt to hold the fort, wordwise, in your absence; but only because I can talk the hind leg off a donkey and only if you are larking about in a hospital. Any larkage at the Argy does not count and I will just post a blank space to show my disapproval! .

Hope everyone has had a good day. 32 degrees in our garden in the shade. Thank the lord for air conditioning. I blotted my copybook this afternoon and was so engrossed in my reading that I let the pool overflow. The swallows, swifts etc., diving down for drinks seemed a bit puzzled by it all. Soon dried up though.

Beyond thrilled to hear that charleygirl ventured forth - and with the aim of Fish & Chips as the prize. Now that's planning!

And Dreamkeeper. How simply wonderful, you got there in the end. It must have lifted your spirits considerably. Do hope that you will go off on little jaunts even if there are other people about (!!) because you deserve not to be locked up and you need that thrill of seeing and experiencing something different even from the safety of your car. We shall wait to hear how your plans work out.

I love fish too, Lins. If ever we make fish and chips, here at home, the best treat is home made proper chips! Delicious - especially when you can never find them in this country.

Puzzler hope you're well. I've had haggis once, 2 Hogmanays ago. It eventually arrived at a friend's in France, having gone via Germany....don't even ask. I thought it was delicious in spite of it having travelled so far to arrive at our supper.

And don't worry about bikinis, anyone. A one piece is much more chic and fashionable. Or so I believe!

Have a lovely evening whatever you're doing.

Big hugs from French France x

Charleyg Lucky lady. Haddock and chips...I would so lurve a huge plate full...with mushy peas.
Tara had every right to feel peeved. She had returned home and that is where she'd expect you to be and to remain. Who is the boss in your home? We all know the answer to that question.

Dearest Dreamkeeper You post was uplifting. Yes, I could also smell the sea. I love the sound of the waves shifting the shingle on the shoreline.
Your wee outing will have done you both a lot of good. You didn't need that many folk milling around but, thankfully, you were wise to move to a more remote spot. There is nothing to beat peace and tranquility. It is good for the soul. No wonder that you both slept soundly.

Izabella Are you still giving your dear, badly bruised man a whole lot of loving? Good! He deserves it.

Lins How could you tempt me with sultana and cherry muffins? Do you not care that I'm fighting the flab and have the backbone of a flip-flop? Just the one then. Seein's as it Saturday.

Puzzler My nethers have been causing mayhem for nigh on seventeen years. I've had most cringe-worthy ailments. If you wish to PM me with your problem and I can help, I surely will do so.

Oh Charley I’m glad the haddock and chips supper was delicious. Nothing quite like a freshly done fish and chips.
And how dare you leave an empty house when your little furry companion chose to return home! A welcoming bowl of something tasty is expected - that haddock would have done very nicely!

I had haggis once soop , not made to a recipe that I enjoyed I have to say - but I would have been at the front of the queue to have tried yours had it not met with a fiery accident.

Also I’ve come late to posts concerning your nether regions, but irritations in that area are always best sorted quickly so I hope that is what will be happening with you.

I have revisited an old gn health thread today searching for a solution to an issue I have with mine, but it is minor and we’ll say no more about it. (Especially not while discussing food).

Dreamkeeper what is a bikini? I have a vague recollection from a dim and distant past when I had a waist ....

I am baking a Lasagne tonight and if I don’t cremate it I will divide and bring slices to the Kitchen for any that like it.

Good to hear that you went out for your haddock and chips Charleygirl and that it didn't disappoint. You know what they say - a little bit of what you fancy does you good. I love haddock and halibut, most fish in fact.

Similarly a good blether did you and MacSporran a power of good in your friends' garden soop. I hope that you will have a good outcome from your hospital visit, your problems have indeed gone on for far too long. I shall be thinking of you.

I made some sultana and cherry muffins, I'll leave them on the side. TOYA

Showing a friendly face,hoping to find you all well and in tip top spirits.

Did I hear Haggis savouries were being made,I will send my scotsman to taste and try if I may?

Pleased to hear your Consultant has been in touch Soop and there are promising signs that your poor nether regions may well be having all the needful attention.Certainly much needed and not before time.
Grand hearing of your pleasant gathering,again a real treat and the sort needed in these difficult days.

Whilst it seems the thunder has abated and we are enjoying another day of blue skies,white clouds,much warm sunshine but tempered by a breeze.......with a mighty heatwave to follow!!!
Bikini time!

For those who have shown interest in our comings and goings,which have been nil since mid March!.......Guess what?

Yes we took the proverbial "bull by the horns" yesterday and went for our first short but productive drive.
A beautiful day, so very tentatively we set out,my dear man rather nervously but taking time,we headed for an area with a wide promenade overlooking the waterway,really just down the road......but of course, I had not quite reckoned on there being that many people milling around,adults,children,dogs,all in gatherings or ambling along filling the pathways,I truly panicked and if I had my way right then, we would have turned back and raced for the safety of home.
However just a mile or so further away lies a lovely little Bay,and apart from a few children playing on the grassy slopes to the one side,the yacht yard closed,there was just this one through road with seats dotted along....... facing the sea,it was devoid of humans.
I could again breathe!
We parked and walked along the length of the road then chose a certain bench to sit and gaze in peace at the glorious shimmering sea.
It was pure heaven.
There was such a powerful smell of the sea,and a delightful splash as the tide was coming in.
In the distance there was what might have been an oil tanker and then to our delight the majestic Ferry, crossing over to Ireland, sailed into full view........and onwards.
Indeed these were real treats and we drank in the ever changing scene as much as the sights and sound of the lovely sea itself.
It truly was so uplifting and helped make up for my earlier panic at meeting people on the outside again.
You can rest assured we slept well last night!!
One happy man too,proving he is still able to drive, but of course it was only a short distance yet it did our morale such good.

With our vast holiday trade about to open up in July I think we have to make the most of this time.... prior to that date,after that we fear the danger maybe far too great for us, especially those that are shielded.

Still no hair cuts and along with many others I am more than desperate!!

Hope your dear man has recovered and the bruises healing Izabella......it gives you the chance to do a spot of pampering!

Enjoy the day dear folk,keep safe.

I popped out yesterday evening for haddock and chips and it was delicious. One 4 legged friend had a worried expression on her face. She had been out for 12 hours +, I managed 30 minutes but where was I, not at home to greet her as usual.
TOYA

The storm didn't break. The internet didn't do a vanishing trick. All remains good with the world as we know it...bright sunshine, a pleasant breeze and it's Saturday. We like Saturdays.

Thank you all for your kindly comments regarding the forthcoming rootle around the nethers. I know how ridiculous this will sound but...when I'm invited to PUSH I always say excuse me in advance of passing wind. One consultant said ...no need to apologise...we're well versed in the art of farts.

Grandmafrench thank you for saying all the things that I wish to mention (but fail to include in my posts during this stressful time.)

Doodle, lemongrove you tykes, I made haggis savouries especially for the Argy Aussie riot gathering. Sadly, I managed to cremate the lot. Timer wasn't set on the cooker. I had a few jars with a chap wearing a big hat from which corks bobbed and...I lost all sense of propriety time.

corner Virtual hugs from me to you.