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

MacS Tells me that the rear windscreen wiper was also replaced. The VAT was £70. It does seem an eye watering large amount, I agree. But, it had to be done.

Charleyg I would have preferred not to have had my gold crown. I had wanted porcelain. However, I told that that was more costly.

Hellogirl1 I'm also sorry to hear that Lynne is feeling so unwell. Is it any wonder after she waited seven hours to be taken to hospital with a broken arm.

Grandmafrench Disco dancing mees. The very idea makes me chortle.

And we shall refer to them in the future as DDM's, soop.

Very hot today, given up and come indoors to feed the dogs. 30 degrees and not much breeze. Still, the laundry has cooked nicely and I shall make a huge effort oh what a liar to run over it with the iron just as soon as the air con has lowered the temperature sufficiently near my ironing board.

We had wonderful butternut squash soup for lunch. Maybe the ginger boosted the temperature just a little too much on such a hot day, but DH/the staff are so good preparing it all that I can't complain...and shouldn't. A large pot is on its way for urgent snacks!

The pooches are going to be bathed and we shall then go back into the garden for a nice G&T before supper. After that, garden watering will begin in earnest and then some non-stressful telly I think. Tired today after a slightly bonkers 4hours 20 mins telephone chat with DS last night. Serve me right. Hope all Grans are on top form. Sorry to learn that MawBs gorgeous dog is unwell again. Hugs from French France to all who need it and well wishes to anyone under the weather at the moment. Have a good evening, lovely Kitcheners!

I apologise to you all for being rather reclusive today. My inner zest is lacking fizz. We all have such days. Tomorrow, I'm sure, I shall have recharged and will be better company.

Enjoy your Saturday evening, and I wish every one of our Kitcheners sweet dreams.

Hope you feel more energetic tomorrow Soop and take care of yourself.

I know the feeling Soop. I've felt quite downhearted the last couple of days. Well, dgs had haggis, neeps and tatties for tea. The neeps were completely rejected out of hand but the haggis was practically inhaled. He's just gone down, a full hour and a bit after he should have, so fingers crossed he stays down as I'm knackered. I'll catch you all tomorrow x

Soop, I hope you`re feeling more like yourself tomorrow. My get up and go got up and went a while ago, and I`m still waiting for it to come back!
Dawn and I couldn`t go to see Lynne tonight after all. When she rang for a visiting appointment they said they were booked up for the weekend, so we`ll have to try on Monday now.
I must have missed the news about the lovely Hattie, hope she`ll soon be better.

Hello all! Very late today. Sorry to hear Soop’s get up and go has got up and gone and that Hattie is under the weather. Your weather looks awful tomorrow in Scotland - a day for settling down with a film on TV I fear.
We litter picked the village this morning. There is very little really, although lorry drivers throw a lot of rubbish on the local lay-bys (including the ever present bottles of wee) and someone had dumped 5 tyres in our very quiet lane. There are a few people who pop out regularly with their picking sticks and a bag, bless them, to keep the place neat. Now I have my own tabard, bag ring and stick I can join them ?.
Sleep tight everyone x

Just popping in for a catch up on Lynne. I hope she is feeling better even if she has no visitors.

If your fizz has gone soop you might find some in a nice glass of chambers (or the like)

We have a litter picking team too, topsy who do different parts of the village on a rota. They then get a free breakfast at one of the pubs. I might join.

That sounds like a plan Kitty! I think I can hear breakfast calling here too ?.
There is a ridiculous amount of ironing and yet more washing to do here. Once we have laid our two rolls of turf and watered it in well, ( before it gets too warm) I may retreat with the ironing and a fan.

What would it sound like if the disco dancing mees got together with my clog dancing seagulls?

Disco dancing meets and clog dancing seagulls can join my night time fox revellers, they are so noisy!!!???

* mees not meets!!!!

Galen Clog dancing seagulls, disco dancing mees, randy foxes and hootin' owls...that's what I call entertainment.

I do feel brighter today. I've given myself a good talking to. Needs must. I realise that I cannot put this world of ours to rights. I wish that I could. Refugees with no place to go. Covid shutting down the normal stuff that we all need. Raging wild fires. I worry about such things. Sometimes it's almost too much to bear...but bear we must.

I've spent a pleasant day speaking on the phone to a good friend and two of our sons. The third will phone me back later. I've also chosen a gift for our granddaughter's birthday. Now I need to empty the washing machine and settle down with the Sunday paper.

We shall meet again tomorrow. I shall be as good as back to normal.

Missed you again, soop. Hope that lovely chats with your Sons and a friend have helped put life in perspective again. And you are cheered!!! As my DH said to me this lunchtime when we were discussing the terrible state of the world - "well, we just can't fix all of it". It's right to care but we can't take on all the concern and responsibility, it needs to be shared so that we have something left to care for ourselves as well. So, feel 100% tomorrow? No, not "normal" - that's ridiculous. How can you be the life blood of Soop's Kitchen if you're normal...that wouldn't be much fun.

Nature, Galen and GrannyG can sometimes make a helluva noise, but I think we're fortunate that we are still able to share in the world of these little mad creatures, at least some of the time. (I only say that because seagulls are safely in the distance, mees currently don't visit, owls here keep the volume down and foxes keep to the hills behind. But, boy you should hear the frogs in the Spring. I constantly think it's someone's burglar alarm when the odd thousand or so strike up together, all little chaps and all looking for a mate.

Have had a very hot and sunny day here. Bit frazzling in the garden, so came indoors before sunset. We are just about to eat supper and I am currently being deafened by a cat snoring close to this keyboard. Early night tonight and may try to beat the heat and go off for a walk very early. This evening's walk has been abandoned (still 28 degrees).

Poor MawB was out for a walk in jim jams and jacket at 4 this morning apparently, because poor Hattie is poorly again. Sick animals on weekends - oh the stress. Get well soon, Hattie.

Hope you're feeling lots better, Kitty and well done NannyT you've got your tabard now, you're official! I'd keep the stick to poke the lorry drivers with.

Better news about your DD hopefully, callgirl and onwards and upwards for us all at the start of a new week. Keep safe.

Hugs from French France

Sorry to be late, had a man here doing all his preparatory work before decorating, plus one daughter helping out, so never got near the laptop.
Tonight daughter 3 and I went to see Lynne. She`s still not well, but has at least eaten something today without throwing up. We don`t know how long she`ll be in hospital, but the nurse said until she`s well.
Soop, I`m pleased you`re feeling brighter today. I hope your weather tomorrow isn`t going to be as bad as I`ve been told it`s going to be.
Sorry to hear that Hattie is still poorly, get well soon Hattie.

Callgirl at least Lynne is in the best place. I hope you are taking care of Mia!

I was actually looking forward to my dental appointment today when the dentist rang cancelling it. She apparently is not well so cannot see me until the 24th of this month. Surely she cannot be the only dentist working in that surgery- my dentist will not be back until October but there are others.

We are on the verge of a lockdown locally so I can see that date being changed. I am not a happy bunny.
TOYA

Glad you got to see Lynne callgirl and that she has managed to eat.

Charley,so sorry your dental appointment has been cancelled.I have been trying to see the dentist and have my eye screening since the lockdown eased.My dental appointment is now 2nd October and eye screening 24th of this month but like you I wonder if they will happen.Since lockdown eased my eye screening has been changed eight times and the only reason I have an appointment now is because I said I would travel to wherever they could do it.Could you call the dentists surgery each morning to see if there are any cancellations or ask them to call you if anyone cancels an appointment?

Glad you are feeling brighter soop.

Will pop in later to see how everyone is.We are going into town now,not how we want to spend the day but needs must.

TOYA

So sorry charley, being in pain is no joke.

That sounds a bit more promising about Lynne, callgirl.

Hope today is a bright one, soop, these squashed days do come along, be kind to yourself.

Off to meet GN friend for a short walk and a long natter in a few minutes. Take care everyone, be good if you can.

Susan there is little point because I think this female dentist is the only person working there at present doing emergencies only and it is not a one-man band- there are at least two others. One is my own dentist but he is away until October- heaven knows where he is. The boss appears to have fallen off the face of this earth.

She decided over the phone, as had I, that the offending tooth needs to be removed. I did not tell her I have had bleeding problems in the past. I do not want to put her off!

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Early afternoon greetings dear you lovely lot.

Maw What news of Hattie?

Grandmafrench The meeses had a disco in the loft in the early hours. I slept soundly. MacSporran did not.
We had a deliver of two luxury-looking humane traps this morning. They are roomy, well ventilated and we are assured that the mees in fact may "enjoy" their visit.

Hellogirl1 Better news regarding Lynne. She is certainly in the best place until her recovery gets well under way. She needs nourishment and the experts will know how best to encourage her appetite. In the meantime...rest. You also matter. We can't have you being poorly too.

Charleyg and Susan, dental appointments, GP's surgeries, hospital referrals - all in disarray. MacS's aortic aneurysm hasn't been monitored in yonks. Worritsome in the extreme.

I've taken heed of your comforting remarks. Just recently, I've wanted to sit and sob. Not for me. I can continue to put up with drop bot etc., but my sadness is for the world at large.

Two plump pheasants have taken a liking for our garden. They hoover up the fallen bird seed. I took this photo this morning.

Good Monday to all Kitcheners

Know exactly how you feel, Soop but if we admit we sob for the world, I feel that not everyone "gets it". It's all getting a bit overwhelming without any plan or reassurance and I have felt very emotional and concerned about the Whatifs and Whatabouts over the last few weeks. It's not quite a head-under-duvet time of year yet, but I bet lots of people are feeling like that already. Traditionally I have always found September an emotional month! No idea why, except perhaps my fire sign personality starts to mourn the lack of light. Well, in the UK it often has. But sadness is coming at us from all directions, isn't it. 2020 - a year that most of us will wish to permanently forget. I need to hope for some compassion fatigue now - you know when you just think ho hum! because you honestly can't be sad about another thing. I'm waiting for that to kick in. Meanwhile....back on the planet......

What a nightmare about everyone's appointments. And they matter. Simple organisation has gone to pieces, so perhaps those organising are feeling at bit like us.

Lovely pheasant photos. They are such comical birds. Honestly think you should have a word with Doodle about the Disco Meeses. There are limits and they are clearly eyeing up your comfy space for a winter of disco ntent... . Doodle has the Argy skills and training, methinks, to read them the riot act about noise. MacS needs his sleep and those guys know how to party!! Or, you'll have to scrub around the bits of cheese and instead put Welsh rarebit in the traps and add a drop of Scotch - to help them calm down.

Hope your walk was what you needed, Cornergran plus some sunbeams. Nothing like a natter with a friend to set you up for a Monday. Glad to hear your DD is improving a little, callgirl and Susan be of courage and good cheer in the town. Needs must and all that. Keep safe all of you.
French Hugs x

I love September but my birthday falls this month so that's maybe why! ☺ The pheasant are just lovely. My friend has a grouse family come into her garden to browse. Mum at the front, then eight babies with dad at the rear. No partridge family though. ? It's much too warm and humid for me today. I've been out for a walk with dgs who has charmed my neighbours with his baby talk. Off to tidy the mayhem. Bye

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Grandmabatty Oh my word. How I would love to photograph your friend's grouse family. I would wait for hours in the hope of capturing such a delightful image.

Grandmafrench Thank you for your kind comments.
MacSporran was being busy in the garden. Rather than mooch aboot the hoos, I went outside to lend a hand. We worked side by side for an hour and a half. Had tea on the terrace. Hugged. I then came indoors for a much needed wash and brush-up.

I shall leave you all with virtual hugs. Tomorrow promises to be a pleasant day. I shall return to spend time with you. My thoughts are with every one of you who is feeling jaded, lack lustre, below par. Be kind to yourselves.

I shall leave you with a photo of last night's sky.

Charleygirl I’m so sorry to read of that disappointing news.
Such short notice, too. Hope you’re not in too much discomfort.

Charley,sorry that a cancellation isn’t an option.Hope the painkillers will do the job until your appointment??

We have just got back from town and DH has gone for a rest.He isn’t a fan of going shopping at the best of times but the added stress of lack of social distancing tipped him over the edge?

We have both been feeling a bit down with the situation worldwide.On a personal note we haven’t seen DH’s parents since February and not much hope of us seeing them for the foreseeable future.Two of DH’s siblings are acting as though Covid doesn’t exist which is making it difficult for the rest of the family to visit.We would need to stay in a hotel for a couple of nights which we aren’t really happy to do either.

I hope MacS’s toilet roll stock is safe from the dancing mees soop??

DH’s uncle’s funeral tomorrow which we will be watching online.

TOYA and thinking of all with illness and worries.