Soop's lovely warm and friendly kitchen

Lauranorder my last two dogs were rescue ones, my first came from a pedigree but would have been put down as she had a hernia and was apparently'flawed'. I loved my dogs dearly and lost the last one three years ago. They were all wonderful in their own way. I miss having a dog. I've been to the chiropodist this morning and had my feet hacked to bits. She's lovely but she does enjoy committing violence on my poor toes.

Survived another day of grannie duties lots of excitement when the 5 yr old watched the weather and it said snow overnight in our area (he is slightly weather obsessed like his Grandpa)

Chinese takeaway later, as I am shattered.

Watched the Government broadcast at 5pm, I really shouldn’t have, so depressing and so terribly terribly sad for so many folks.

TOYA

I’m feeling much better thank you Lins.x

Puzzler Thank you for your advice. We know our postie well. I shall approach him tomorrow and try to make sense of things.

Lins I had a friend who lived close to Stoke Gabriel. It is a very picturesque village. I seem to recall a rather nice pub close to the beach.

LauraNorder If I had a choice between a pedigree dog and one that needed tender loving care because it was "left in the kennels" I would choose a rescue dog without hesitation.
Don't get me started on the thorny subject of a certain builder. Best not and say that I did.

Nannytopsy I have had photos used on the Kintyre site. Not in the newspaper though.

BladeAnnie YES! We are so very lucky to have a home and much more besides. I do thank my lucky stars every day.

You lovely lot help me more than you will ever know. Thank you.

Until tomorrow. TOYA.

Hello kitcheners and all you handsome cats. I meant to do the ironing today - I have done some but by no means all! We may wake up to snow tomorrow- that’ll be exciting! I shall try to get out and take some photos, if we do and it hasn’t turned to rain. I have managed to get one photo on the local weather news but I would like to do it again. Have you submitted any soop?
Look after yourselves and enjoy your Friday night.
?

Hello, just popping in to say how lovely all your beautiful pets are. It’s been almost two years since we lost our last gorgeous Labrador. We are so ready for another but the cost is exorbitant these days so will happily find a Heinz 57 puppy as soon as this virus departs and we can go out looking.
I won’t comment on builders as I may use expletives not heard before in this comforting kitchen. Suffice to say we still have blue covered windows, our ground floor rooms are blue tinged and there has been a giant cement mixer and portaloo in our front garden since July. All as a result of a failed job in 2017 for which we are going through the courts to recoup our losses.
Now I have commented, sorry.
I do hope nobody is flooded or stranded and that you are all okay. I hope you manage to gently pull back from the cusp soop. Not a great place to be.
Orlin has just handed me a vanilla ice cream cornet, his idea of cheering me up, I’d rather a gin but he does his best. He is having mint choc chip which I think tastes like eating chocolate while you clean your teeth, yuk.
Well that’s my waffle for today, I’ll love you and leave you, cheerio for now.
Be safe.

Thank you very much Susan I've made a note of the book. Hope you are feeling better.

soop the cottage is in Stoke Gabriel, we've had many happy holidays there over a period of 38 years. It is a lovely area. I've always been drawn to water be it river or the sea.

All the cats are beautiful. Ruby is the image of a cat we had when we were first married Puzzler
A dry day here but a cold wind, we've been for a walk with Sam. He is fast asleep in his new crate, he has outgrown the old one.
Mr L is in the doghouse, having requested fish pie for supper, he had the audacity to complain about the fishy smell ?

Good afternoon lovely people (from Duncan too who could take compliments forever!!). A dull and cold day here in mid-Notts - makes me feel thankful to be inside and warm and desperately sorry for people who are not so fortunate. Stay safe and hope everyone has an enjoyable evening

soop please be aware of a parcel surcharge request that could be a scam.
It is all over social medial.

It has happened with some courier companies. They just want your bank details.

I would hate you to be a victim.

Dear Maw Don't you dare stay away from us lot for too long. We enjoy your company. You matter.

Oh my word, the photographs are stunning. The felines are super special. Milo and Ruby could be related. They are so similar, apart from size. I am about to hang their portraits in our very important pet gallery.

Lins Where was the cottage in South Devon? I used to live in Kingsbridge and Thurlstone and know the area well.

Thank you all for your kind words. I am very fond of you all.

Our weather is pleasant enough. Not too cold. Nothing to complain about compared with some areas of the UK.

BT man was to have called this morning. He hasn't.
A card was left in our post box...there is a fee to pay on a parcel that couldn't be delivered. Please phone royalmail.com/feetopay and quote reference number. Drum roll...there isn't a ref number.

If I could turn somersaults, I surely would right this minute.

Fern went on walkabout for well over 24 hours. She returned in the early hours. She is in her bed. She was heartily hungry. Where does she vanish to? No one in the village knows who she is. Someone in Whitehouse (approx 8 miles away) may have had dealings with her some time ago. He provided a den and food. She would not be approached. Far too nervous. He was going to take a photo if she ever returned. So far, I've not had word from him.

He is a big boy Charliegirl half Maine coon but he’s only 2 it’s rare to see him so quiet.
Ruby looks very happy in her chair Puzzler.

Ruby in the Boss’s Gaming chair! She is a short-haired girl.

Milo is a very handsome furry boy and is definitely of the same tabby family as my Ruby. How old is he Yiayia ?
Duncan is a beautiful chilled out chap (but enjoys keeping toastie by the log burner)
Grannygravy keeping fingers crossed for salvation from flooding !
Hoping our soop finds things that lift her spirits today.
Cornergran a ? for tolerance is awarded to you - and your TV is now retuned. Hoorah.
I hope Craig R-H’s book is a decent thickness Charley and keeps you absorbed?
A bowl of toffees on the side, without the mint ones. Sorry but they are my favourites. Please help yourselves and mind your teeth!
Grandmafrench I could send some airmail to you but have no guarantee how many days , weeks , months it may take in the present climate.
TOYA.

Another handsome boy. He looks to be a big boy too and also not in his first flush of youth. Nice for him to have some relaxation.

A photo of Milo to cheer you all up especially Soop.
Hope your feeling a bit brighter today.
A lazy day for me my arthritis is bad and the meds space me out.Dh will take over the cooking today,that will be exciting lots of chilli involved!
Stay safe and warm everyone.

Thank you kitcheners, the Brook is still high and fast flowing but so far so good.

This is the book Lins.

Doodle this is the first time I have deviated from my usual murder books. I knew he had done a lot of dancing but I did not realise quite how much and a lot of it was in what we would call working men's clubs but it is different in Australia.

I love photos of the cats and dogs- Duncan is always wide awake- a good guard cat.
TOYA

Lovely view, Galen. For some reason I cannot picture you as a Somerset Gran! Isn't that weird (of me, of course). I had you in my mind as being somewhere like Worcestershire or Derbyshire. Never mind, I'm impressed now. 3 people. Opposite Llanwern - would that be Portishead? I was brought up in Weston-super-Mare, so there is a link and moving across the stretch of water saw me spending my early years in Monmouth. So, nearly 4 of us then? (And I do have pearls!!)

Love that Duncan - he's so decorative. The sort of puss who features on an old-fashioned box of chocolates or could be. sitting on a pillow pretending to be a nightdress case? Sorry Duncan, but you look so much like a dear cat of mine, now long gone.

It's been so warm and sunny here today that we sat outside in T-shirts and drank our coffee this morning. Still mad winds, but coming from Africa today.

50 years ago this evening I was kneeling with my face in the sofa, occasionally popping up to watch the BBC News and fighting hard not to call out the midwife. I'd called her out previously following a particularly raucous Hokey Cokey on New Years Eve. That came to nothing, just further indoctrinated my unborn child into a lifelong love of music. I eventually gave in after the News, and he was born the following morning, at home. Actually seems like yesterday. We'd had a white Christmas and he'd also been out tobogganning with Mummy. Seems as if I was a lot crazier and more carefree in those days......

What a (nother) sad day for you, soop. I'm so sad that you are having a bit of a struggle. I've run out of expletives to shout at the amateurs who take your money in return for no internet service. Someone should expose this behaviour as a scam. Wish you'd publish their address and details, I'm sure we'd all write or post about their dereliction of duty and complete disinterest in providing any kind of service. Shame on them, they're all bar stewards and ne'er do wells. It's awful feeling that cut off and powerless, then seeing that nobody cares.

Hope that little Fern is still giving you some happiness to your days and you are not having nasty weather. Like everyone else on here, (us lot), I am sending you hugs and kisses whether you want them or not, in the hope that your spirits may be lifted even slightly. Keep lifting the other spirits at 9pm too - or even earlier.

kitty and GrannyG I have everything crossed (fingers and toes are going numb) that the water doesn't reach you. You just don't need or deserve any more nonsense to befall you.

I'm with you Doodle - Charley needs to keep a safe distance from Mr Revel Horwood. I've just watched all that boogying........one is either going to sleep well after that or just collapse in a heap somewhere and never dance again, I reckon.

There are people on Gransnet who could make me feel quite hysterical with rage. Because of that, I flatly refuse to even consider posting in response to anything they might say. I'm really rather good at it now. I reckon you find that a lot harder, Maw, even if Hattie gives you a warning look. Sorry if you feel bad. Come back soon, please?

Sending warm wishes to Grammaretto, the dear Panaches and to Izabella of The Shire. Nighty night all, stay safe, sweet dreams. x ? ✨

Goodness, a busy Kitchen today. Other than a very chilly sea front walk before Mr C collected his new glasses and remaining married after successfully (eventually!) retuning the tv not a lot happening here.

Hope your business premises stay dry grannyg. We’ve a river behind our fence that is usually very well behaved. There have been a couple of flood warnings since we moved here that have triggered an anxious night but no overtopping Hope he same outcome for you and also kitty as it sounds as if her village is about to be an island. .

A sad day for your community soop, it feels as if you have had more than your fair share.

If it’s possible please pass my love to maw, she’ll be missed.

Sleep well everyone. TOYA

Please pass my best wishes to Maw too. That’s a cracking view Galen. Like soop I could take sunset and sunrise photos every day.
Charlie has barely moved from his cosy bed today - apart from demanding yet more food! I think the old chap is winding down. Or perhaps he too is fed up of cold and wet ?
Keep those chins up kitcheners - this too will pass.

Evening Doodle and best wishes to you and Mr D.

That sounds like a great book Susan, I'll look it up. I'm looking forward to going back to a cottage in South Devon by the River Dart where we spent many happy family holidays over the years. Just thinking about it has kept me going on many an occasion.

I hope that your property will be safe Granny Gravy, such a worry for you.

I too am sorry to hear about Maw and hope she will soon return. Whoever is in touch with her, please give her my best wishes and say hurry back.
TOYA

Is that wise charleygirl. You don’t want to get too excited at bedtime ?. Have you seen his video of Boogie for your bones.good exercise if you can keep up.

kittylester I sincerely hope you are not going to be flooded?

GrannyGravy is having an anxious time hoping their business premises will not be flooded.

I spend a lot of time sleeping so I am going to bed to read my Craig Revel Horwood book and then sleep.
TOYA

soop, I am sorry you are feeling so sad!

I was saying to my brother only today that tears are very near the surface - even just seeing a video of Wolfie toddling along a path has my lip wobbling.

Our village was built on the banks of a river and, if it keeps raining, we will be marooned - as it is, we can't go anywhere anyway.