Soop's welcoming kitchen for kindly caring folk...

Susan what a lovely weekend you will have with such uplifting news as a young couple becoming engaged to be married?
Definitely cause for celebration ? ?

Gorgeous flowers puzzler?

I said to DH a couple of nights ago that if the heatwave continued I would order us a couple of kaftans!

We were meant to be going for a jaunt to a National Trust property today but I felt really unwell earlier,no idea why.Now it is too late to go I feel fine?

I am going to spend what is left of the day relaxing and reading.

My lovely niece has just announced her engagement and her and her fiancé are joining our bubble for a celebratory lunch tomorrow??

I hope all who have been boiling in the heatwave are enjoying slightly lower temperatures.

TOYA

Puzzler I do love the flowers.

It is pleasant if dull outside with a cool breeze. I have been attempting to hoover upstairs and I must have a go at downstairs now. the better hoover is downstairs so I will hopefully make a better job of it. Thank goodness I do not have any carpets but Tara's black fur is everywhere.

Ooo, almost forgot, I’ve brought fresh flowers for the Kitchen. Hope every one is having an enjoyable Friday.

soop Perfect choice of outfit - you will all ready to go .... to the Argy’s Flower Power 60’s night!

I may take a shower early afternoon and lounge in a floaty cotton kaftan. I have no energy to spare. The garden can continue to do it's own thing. The rest of the ironing is banished into the utility room. The dust has my permission to rest wheresoever it chooses. I'm not in the mood for activity and, what's more, I do not feel in the least bit guilty.

Rest ye well. I shall return before the afternoon is through.

I listened to the forecast and we have a mixed bag of weather coming - but we’re used to that.

We aren’t used to Temperatures well into their 30’s
( no mention of them returning anytime soon ).

I hope you get more rain soon. It refreshes the garden and Us!

Going out for breakfast is one of life's pleasures. We go out for breakfast as an extended family once a month. My mum and dad started it years ago and mum kept it going after dad died. Whoever is available will turn up. My children will try hard to make family breakfast despite their own responsibilities. And now dd brings dgs along. It's a bit like the Sopranos in Central Scotland without any shooting. We haven't been able to go since the virus hit, so I'm very jealous of a lovely breakfast out. Today my mum is 86 and the family are coming to my house for afternoon tea courtesy of M&S.

My new fan was on all night and I found it worked better sitting on my laundry basket. Tara soon found it and was spread out in front of it, she was almost the length of the rug she was lying on. I was pleased to see her really comfortable for a change. Her good night's sleep did not stop the early morning call so she has now left the country a while ago.

It rained x2 last night- the first dampened the grass, the next watered my plants but that is a start. Today is grey and muggy but thanfully the T has dropped. I still have no signal on my TV.

Oh bliss Charley. I hope your new appliance gave you a much cooler night and restful sleep.
It sounds a good model if it’s quiet too.

Puzzler the fan is on and is perfect. I only know it is on because of the light- it really is silent. I have not got a clue what all of the symbols mean but on and off are sufficient for me tonight. I will share it with the absent lodger when she returns.

Because it was not expensive I thought it may look cheap and tacky but not at all.

Ann, good to hear that you had a posh brekkie, hope it becomes a regular thing. About 27 years ago, I was working as a lollipop lady, and every Friday morning, instead of walking along the river bank to home, I went into town and had breakfast at The Buttery, bacon, egg, sausage, tomatoes, toast and a pot of tea. It was the highlight of my week, because nobody in the family knew I was doing it, my little secret. Wish I could do it now.
Oh how I`m wishing for a cooler night, have hardly slept lately, I`ve had a fan going all night, but the noise keeps me awake as well as the heat.
Daughter 2 came this morning to collect my washing, and daughter 3 popped in to clean up for me this afternoon. I`m so lucky, but although I hate housework, I still wish I was fit enough to do it all for myself again. Roll on!
Still waiting for a storm to clear the air, we seem to be one of the few areas that have stayed dry.

Are the temperatures falling yet? Rain must reach you soon, I hope.
I hope the new fan makes you more comfortable. ?

Soon somebody will have to explain to me what rain is. I am fed up watering my plants.

I had a shower mid-morning and retired to lie on my bed to dry off, naturally naked. Not a pretty sight but it did the trick, I got dry but more importantly I cooled down. The humidity is horrendous.

I went to a local PO to pick up a small fan I ordered from Amazon. The box was so large I had mega problems carrying it to my car.

I am jealous of the rain which has fallen everywhere except here.
TOYA

Just as I was about to post our online shopping delivery arrived. A few wrong items, nothing whatever to do with Asda but to DH not listening to instructions ? He is in the norty corner. Your posh Italian breakfast sounds so good annsixty and good to hear that the turmeric is having a positive effect.
Good to see Henry enjoying himself Susan
Glad to see you back in the Kitchen callgirl hope you are feeling a bit easier, your son too.
We haven't had a storm yet either soop only some rain in the night for a short time, it is very warm and humid though. It is a bit like Russian Roulette this waiting, I know that Cherry has thunder and lightening over in the Mumbles which isn't far along the coast from us. Hope you are feeling better Cherry.
I have 5lbs of tomatoes from the garden and am making tomato sauce for the freezer, I've put in plenty of garlic to ward off any vampires tonight should we have a have a storm!
Lovely pictures of bonny children and memorable sunsets.
TOYA
It is now raining....

annsixty your breakfast sounds nice. Just how many of those lovely young men did you have around you ?
Glad something seems to be working for you.
grandmafrench that dessert sounds delicious. Please may I have mine with ice cream and lots of it ?. Oh air conditioning how lovely. I am at last cool for the first time in days. I am sitting on our balcony with a glass of wine and it is raining. Bliss ?
soop another stunning sunset. You really ought to print a book of your photos.
anno my DGS has become nocturnal too. Is it normal Teenage behaviour do you think or only due to the lockdown.
TOYA ?

annsixty What a lovely treat for you - with all the trimmings and, may I add, so well deserved. Did you get to take a handsome Italian waiter home with you. Keep taking the Turmeric capsules. However slight the improvement, if you are beginning to feel some benefit, the medication is to be applauded.

Grannyfrench Your delicious dessert is most definitely out of bounds for me. My waistband is telling me to refrain from sampling extra treats. I've a good friend who can eat whatever she pleases. She has never had to think of dieting. She is as slender a reed. I am quite the opposite. Ah well, it really wouldn't do for us all to be alike. She says through gritted teeth.

I did not shut my eyes. I have done a huge pile of ironing. So now, naturally, I feel saintly.

Away to watch a little snooker. It's a very clever game and easy on the eye. I do miss tennis.

Logging off and wishing you all well. Thank you for your company. Internet permitting, I shall join you all again tomorrow.

annsixty so pleased you enjoyed your breakfast out.
Better news that the turmeric capsules are beginning to have an effect ???‍♀️

That sounds good anno enjoy your time with rhem.
It was Juniper in Bramhall we went to.
Worth a visit.

ann, I'm so pleased that you are able to enjoy an outing. The café sounds inviting and a breakfast outing the height of sophistication! More and more establishments are offering breakfasts nowadays. I'm hoping to treat my DS and his GF to an 'eat out to help out' meal when I'm spending a week with him - he's picking me up tomorrow. I'm at a loose end today as DS2 is at a business meeting (not on-line for a change) and his partner is working. Teenagers have just got up. They have become nocturnal during the lock-down.

Back a little later. I need to rest my eyes.

Mops brow. Slowly but surely takes seat at the computer. I confess to over doing the birthday celebration last night. I dread to count the calories.
Everything was spot on. Marvellous food, good wine, amusing company. I slept in rather late this morning.

Izabella Your posts are a joy to read because you do indeed have a way with words.

Charleyg I agree with Baggs, the Scottish summer is both interesting, bearable and I thank my lucky stars not to be dealing with temperatures in the 30s.

Susan The sooner the experts get to the bottom of our wee Henry's ongoing distressing condition, the better, and the happier us lot will be. Enough is enough!

Chewbacca Wow! We've not had a storm thus far.

I promised to share the night before last's sunset. Here it is...

Hello lovely Kitchen peeps! I am not going to say too much about the weather since it seems so many are struggling. It's probably fine if you have a choice and can sit and relax somewhere cool and airy. If not, all that humidity makes for a lot of tiredness, irritation and discomfort, I find.

I watered some little plantlets I've been growing from some hedging this morning. Put some recycling in the bin and then went indoors after all of 10 minutes, looking as if I had run a marathon. I had to sit in an air conditioned room for half an hour until I felt normal again. Even the dogs have to be persuaded to go out at the moment....not walking, just outside ! But, it'll pass - you'll get your fresh air, we'll get our wild desert winds and all will be forgiven.

Meanwhile. Just had to comment on Ann's cheery post. For our health, apparently we all need to breakfast like Kings, lunch like Princes and dine like Paupers, so going out for breakfast is just the best thing to do to set you up for the day. How lovely. I'm so glad that the Turmeric seems to make some difference, however small. It reduces inflammation and, for me, that's just what I want to hear. I have a scoliosis at the base of my spine, so I rely on Turmeric to keep those red hot areas at bay which can stop me from walking comfortably if I've overdone things, or can even disturb my sleep. Nothing to compare with your pain, Ann but so pleased you are able to enjoy a little more mobility - even if you do have to be fetched and delivered by car - it's worth it for the change of scene I reckon.

That Tara, charley - she's an actual law unto herself. She's certainly got you very well trained. My 3 now come in almost on command since I followed puzzler's cunning plan with the garden lights. Once the lights are turned out, they soon come running. Last night they were not keen on staying out, the non-stop flashing of two bad inland storms spooked them, I think. Not a sound here on the coast but the lightning was quite surreal and it went on all night.

This evening, a supper in the garden with friends. For dessert, I have just made a lovely moist sponge to have with an apricot coulis and crême fraiche or ice cream (or both). Portions will be sent to the Kitchen as soon as possible for your enjoyment. I'm so looking forward to catching up with people we've not seen for almost 6 months now. So ridiculous, this Virus has been stealthily stealing our lives for far too long now.

Glad you've been getting out, Susan, and trying to get back to normal. It is hard, I found it so. We're overrun by tourists here (of course they're only allowed here because of the dire financial situation everywhere in the tourist industry) but it makes one very anxious and I run from the crowds. So the garden will be the place for a good few months to come, I feel.

Sending all good wishes to all of you, esp., Doodle and Cherry. Hope life at Soop Towers is returning to normal after all the birthday shenanigans and that you're both well.
Huge hugs to all and KEEP SAFE, please.

A well deserved treat annsixty, and if you enjoyed it you must do it more often. I believe it’s very ‘American’ to go out for breakfast.

Glad you find turmeric helpful, worth continuing if there are encouraging signs. ?

Good morning all, just.
I actually have something to report this morning.
I have been taken out for breakfast, only the second time in my life apart of course from holidays.
It was such a treat, a lovely little Italian cafe with delightful Italian young men dancing attendance.

I got dropped off at the door but said I would try and hobble to the car back, 20/30 yards in I had to give in and wait for the car to be fetched.
I don’t want to jinx anything but 5 weeks into Turmeric capsules, I can see the very slightest improvement.
Slight but noticeable and very welcome.

It is roasting hot again after a second stormy night.

Stay safe everyone and have the best day you can.