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

Soop don't I wish that I hated the taste of chocolate! I like most foods though, which is my trouble. I was out for breakfast with ds today and it was lovely to spend time with him. I don't see him as much as dd and dgs so I always feel a bit guilty. It was also nice to go to Stirling for a change, particularly as the weather is poor. A quiet afternoon ahead for me.

Izabella Lovely, spirited lady, wishing you a happy anniversary and super special best wishes for a successful marathon.

Grandmabatty Why is it that delicious things can sometimes be bad for our health? It's not fair. If only chocolate and cake and pastries produced the same benefits as green vegetables and prunes and cod liver oil.

dustyangel Is Pastel da Nata virtually calorie free? If so, let's party.

Galen's gentlemen visitors will be lolling on her couch and polishing off her tempting tasty home-bake. Bet you she's wearing her pearls as she pads about in her tartan pom-pom slippers.

What puzzler said.

Lovely sunset as always soop. Hopefully back later. TOYA

Congratulations Izabella on two counts:

For embarking on the amazing marathon challenge. ?‍♀️

Also on your Wedding Anniversary. Enjoy this “rest” day and reminisce with MrIzabella. ?

You are inspirational in all senses! ?

Good morning from a rather drizzly Shire.

Firstly, a huge thank you to all who have pm'd me. CH has been a great support as ever replying to you and generally trying to sort me out (not easy!)

Today is a day of complete rest (and 14th wedding anniversary) before I commence my quest tomorrow. It is many years since I ran competitively, and I can no longer manage distances due to balance and fatigue problems, so we have a plan of completing the marathon in stages, and supported by Humanrace who are the organisers for the Manchester Marathon. Even so it will be a huge challenge for me but I am extremely stubborn determined. I feel motivated by the support and encouragement received.

Lovely calming sunsets soop.

TOYA

Thank you Soop I think the migraine was a result of the dark chocolate brownie and dark chocolate sauce on Sunday. Too much of a good thing etc. Grannygravy thank you for the sympathy. You have mine right back. Changing nappies is easy when they are tiny. Now, he wants to lend a hand so I'm holding his legs with one hand and his wandering hand with the other! Fun times. A glass of wine is calling me.

Beautiful sunset soop I never realised that a house looking west would give us so much pleasure.

I’ve had a stressful afternoon having a back X ray in Faro. Only stressful because I haven’t been out In so long. Everything was very well and hygenically organised. I seem to go blind and stupid when I’m stressed so kept going in the wrong direction too. Can’t say it was comfortable, lying on the equivalent of a glass table, when I’m not as bendy as Torben was no joke. Anyway I consoled myself after with a cool drink of water, hot drink of coffee and a Pastel da Nata. I’ve brought a tray back for you all to share. I think I’ll just have a slice of Galen’s cake. I seem to have woken up my sweet tooth.

GrannyGravy I recall that changing nappies is a herculean task. Torben would arch his back, roll on to one side, change tack and somehow manage to get upright well before the nappy had a chance to be dealt with. I still smile at the thought. Those were the days!

Galen Two very nice gentlemen in captivity for two weeks. You seem to have the knack of getting more than your fair share of good looking chaps. Own up. What's your secret. Don't tell us that your baking is that good because us lot do not believe you.

corner flu jabs for we two too. The excitement of going some place for a "wee scratch" is almost too much for us to bear. Be kind to your dentist.

Grandmabatty Sorry to hear that you have developed a migraine. It's high time that you put your feet up and relaxed. That's a gentle suggestion.

anno I've been looking forward to watching the next match. I prefer watching the men. Wonder why that is.

Last night's sunset will be added. If I can find it. I've been trying to rationalise the scores of folders. Yay!

Love to you all.

Grandmabatty

The string art masterpiece didn't happen as I developed a migraine and had to lie down. I will attempt it at some point though and share. Today we have had a failure to communicate. When I said to grandson, "time for nap," he took that to mean time to throw stuff out the cot, take off socks and shout. ? I tried 4 times but it wasn't happening so we have been to the swings, the football pitch and accosted all the neighbours. I now have to keep him awake til he goes home at four. It's like juggling a bag of ferrets. I absolutely love him and would love him even more if he had napped! A quiet evening ahead for me.

Totally sympathise, we have had our nearly 9 month old all day (regular Tuesday and Fridays now DD is back at work) he is crawling and pulling himself up on anything and everything, changing nappies is an interesting chore!!!

galen, I think we've told you before about enticing workmen so dont go trying to turn their heads with cake!!

Lovely to see you.

Glad all seems well with you DH corner. Consulting remotely still seems weird to me. I had a text saying I was due a review of my BP and to send a reading. I did but nowhere could I find what happens next. I'm nearly out of tablets - trying not to panic here!!

The string art masterpiece didn't happen as I developed a migraine and had to lie down. I will attempt it at some point though and share. Today we have had a failure to communicate. When I said to grandson, "time for nap," he took that to mean time to throw stuff out the cot, take off socks and shout. ? I tried 4 times but it wasn't happening so we have been to the swings, the football pitch and accosted all the neighbours. I now have to keep him awake til he goes home at four. It's like juggling a bag of ferrets. I absolutely love him and would love him even more if he had napped! A quiet evening ahead for me.

Hello. May I creep in bearing the rest of the coffee and walnut cake I made.
I have 2 very nice gentlemen in the house for a few weeks. They’ve totally ripped out my old bathroom and are now rebuilding it as a wet room which will be much easier for me.
I never realised how many kinds and patterns of tiles there were before.
They both seem rather partial to my home made cakes. Think I’ll make a lemon drizzle next.
TOYA

Glad you have your TV reception back, soop. I've just discovered that the French tennis is on ITV4, so I won't be getting much done about the house for a week or so. And you will soon be able to see your favourite, Rafa, in action. I see that it is raining in Paris at the moment and they only have one covered court. Here it is a lovely autumn day - not very warm but with no wind to speak of, winter woollies aren't needed ...yet.

Sorry Soop, I finished the last bit off for lunch yesterday. Tastes even better when it’s reheated, not sure why.
Fare thee well for now and Greetings to all.

My Mum used to make string art grandmabatty, she learned to do it at a club she attended when her mobility became impaired. Also macrame and basic furniture skills, we still have a stool she made. My Dad joined in with the string art, our family still have some.

Bit of a medical focus here, flu jabs on Saturday, consultant phone call yesterday for Mr C (good outcome), his swollen hand subsided during the day thank goodness. I’m not sure if he’ll ever remember he might be 17 in his head but his body certainly isn’t. Dentist for me this afternoon (tooth hurts, for once I’m happy to go), and physio on Thursday in the hope she can un-stick my very stuck neck. X-rays for me next week and an echocardiogram for Mr C the week after. Falling to pieces, that’s us. . We’re both grateful for the appointments so no complaints.

Cauliflower and blue cheese soup for me later, I don’t want to wreck the dental work by chewing .

Those sunsets are truly fabulous soop, thank you for sharing them.

Apologies to all, I can’t comment on everyone’s posts, too many. Definitely TOYA.

Take care everyone, be good.

Grandmabatty, us lot will want to see pics of your string art when you've created a masterpiece.
A shame about the ruined soup.

silverlinings Did you save some lentil soup for me? I made some delicious fish cakes many years ago. Haven't felt inclined to make more since. Although mine were superior to the bought variety. Such modesty!

It was lovely soup Soop, lentil ( and other things) like grandmabattys, but luckily it didn't burn. Now watching jamie oliver who is going to make fish cakes i think.

I managed to burn the lentil soup when I was reheating it today so I've had to throw lots out. I don't fancy a big meal tonight so I'm going to have a roast chicken sandwich. Tonight I will release all my anger and tension by hammering nails into a bit of wood. We are making string art at our zoom craft class. I don't hold out much hope for a masterpiece though! See you tomorrow, you lovely people.

Lovely to have you with us again, silverlining. I fancy a bowl of hearty soup served with freshly baked nutty bread. Maybe tomorrow.

Watching tennis. My favourite spectator sport. Good to have a decent picture on the screen. Our aerial engineer travelled many miles to fix things. He also called on our pals and did the same for them. One buggeration less to moan about.

A gorgeous day. Sun shining on a teal green sea.

Away until tomorrow. Best wishes to all our Granspal Kitcheners.

Such stunning sun sets Soop. The photos are wonderful.
My good wishes to all in the kitchen.
It’s been nice today down south and after having a quick look at GN I am off to my kitchen to heat up yesterday’s soup (Soop!) for an early dinner.
Izabella wishing you well for your fundraiser and very happy to add to your magnificent effort for a magnificent cause, please let us all know how.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202009/medium-856426-p1014897.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202009/medium-320654-p1014899.jpg

Right! I know that I'm late. Thing is, a very tall man is in the loft dealing with an aerial that has been causing buggerations on and off for far too long. We have ladders outside. We have much commotion issuing from the loft. He's been here for a long time.

Grandmabatty Birthdays are meant to be indulgent. There would be no point in calorie counting on such a special occasion.

dusty Technology is not my strong point. I'm the creative type.

Warm thoughts winging their way from Kintyre in bonnie Scotland to our Grandmafrench in French France.

dragonfly I've missed you for some long time. I sense that you are beginning to feel less fatigued. Keep up the good work.

Hello Pitcity

Hellogirl1 there is some sound advice offered from anno and greyduster regarding Lynnes home-coming care.
MacSporran is very young at heart. He's also very positive in spirit. I too shall be 80 next year. My bones feel that old, but my mind still regards itself as that of a girl on a good day.

Susan What can I say. Henry looks amazing. His car and his cake likewise. Precious images for the family photograph album of a super special birthday.

The aerial man is about finished. £225. Ah well, I can now watch the tennis and not fear the signal failing and pixilating the picture on the screen. A bonus.

Here is last night's liquid gold sunset.

A big thank you to Izabella's CH for PMing us the sponsorship link.

callgirl, I expect that you and your home will be assessed for suitability before Lynne is discharged from hospital. It's a bit palaver and you're certainly not fit to cope with a hoist and all the other stuff involved. Be prepared to speak very frankly to the Adult Services and make it very clear that Lynne's safety would be at risk if you were left to deal with that hoist - never mind your own health and safety.
Izabella, what a brave thing to do. If you have a 'giving' page, please let us know and you can count on me.
I really don't know why I didn't read any of yesterday's posts! I think my laptop sometimes hides things. Today it's still cold and 'they' say it's going to be wet an windy later in the week. I still have bulbs to plant and hope I can find a way to deter the squirrels from uprooting my tulips as they did last year. Any suggestions gratefully received.

You shouldn’t be expected to have to use the hoist, Callgirl - from what I understand from my niece who was a carer, you have to be properly trained to use a hoist. I would take it up with them before your DD comes home.