Soop's welcoming and supportive kitchen for kindly folk...

N&G I can imagine Grampy was delirious with joy being given that description from young Cooper!

I hope Sam's wounds have now healed and he is back to normal.

Yia I love that photo of Boris- you will sleep well tonight.
TOYA

When I dropped anchor in the Civic Centre/Waitrose car park today, for my second jab, I noticed a very well organised queue outside Waitrose and had a double take. Then realised that people who came for the jabs had taken the opportunity to go shopping as well. Jabs at Waitrose! Now that would be interesting. The vaccinations were, as usual, brilliantly organised. In and out precisely on time.
Hellogirl, it was hard for you to say goodbye to Mia. 'Closure' is the popular term but people who use it don't know that you never really lose a love for a departed pet. I still feel sad about my beautiful black cat who, over 50 years ago, just disappeared and was never seen again; and my adored Boxer dog who died early when I was 17. Cats I've loved still live in my heart.

The sun has got his hat on...it's a glorious day in Kintyre.

Hello lovely peoples, just a wee catch-up before I start a few outstanding jobs aboot the hoos.

Baggs You deserve a gold medal. Those buns look amazing and, I guess that they taste as good as they look.

N&G Your darling boys, like you, have a creative and love of giving gene. They are the tops.

Yiayia I would happily care for Boris. He's a gorgeous wee fella.

Hellogirl1 Our Mia is at peace. She was a little treasure. x

corner That job took an hour longer than anticipated. I am now contemplating the next clear out, or, as Mr Soop calls it, rationalisation. That may not be a proper word. You get the drift?

Urmstongran Your invitation to share fish, chips and mushy peas must have got lost in the post.

BladeAnnie 42 days and counting. I've my outfit ready and waiting for the wearing of.

Nannytopsy The front door is to be painted in a vibrant high gloss 'Hot Chilli'. The inner gloss paintwork will be Magnolia. The kitchen is a soft terra cotta emulsion.
After these jobs, I shall paint Maw's portrait of Hattie.

anno All animals that we've loved, will always live in our hearts.

Nannytopsy That should have been 'hot paprika'.

Away to watch The Repair Shop. Such a pleasant, uplifting programme.

No side effects from the second vaccine. We are so grateful for the protection that it offers.

Sun continues to shine brightly. I shall join you again tomorrow.

It’s a beautiful day here in Inverness, quite coldish but clear blue sky .. I’m making the most of it as the forecast is for light snow next week....
I’ve enjoyed pottering in the garden, seeing what’s survived the winter and what’s starting to grow. Lots of spring bulbs looking lovely just now and most other things just waiting to spring into life. The squirrels have been playing tag up and down the fence to the feeder and we’ve got a small pond where a robin was having a bath earlier - just simple things but enough to keep me contented
Good news that your vaccine was organised so well anno how I wish we had a Waitrose up here .... but no such luck ? whenever I visit my eldest daughter in Cambridge I always volunteer to get the shopping as I love looking round their local Waitrose!

N&G delightful gifts, even Bob! Yia Boris looks like mischief on legs, I’ll bet he’s mad active and then just flops to sleep. We’ve spent two and a half hours in a friends garden, it was lovely to see them, not warm enough for me, 16, my Raynauds kicked in and we drove home with my numb fingers. They were in shorts, hardy beasts, I helped them start veg growing this time last year, posted seeds and phone calls, so part of today was ‘inspecting’ the plot. So lovely to see people and chat, I was utterly forced to have a hot cross bun ?.
As we’ve only just got in and dinner is not organised the local Chinese will be deliver later, lazy two nights running, never mind. Catch up later, hope panache has the assistance required this weekend.

brook, are those red squirrels in Inverness? I do hope so. They are such delightful creatures. It's shocking that Waitrose has not infiltrated Inverness. With the Partnership's current financial situation, I doubt if there will be expansion in the near future. DiL is manager of a very large one in the south. Yesterday, having a brew with a good friend, I was led astray by a slice of a Waitrose lemon cake - soooo good!
It's great to be able to sit and chat with a friend - or friends. We have stretched a point and interpreted meeting in the garden as meeting in a conservatory with the door open. Don't tell on me.
soop, Are you and McS likely to be available to do some well paid (!) decorating? No...I thought not, but I can dream. I like the sound of your Hot Chilli front door. It will be like a beacon to passing ferries! Mine is a rather conservative (note the lower case 'c') green.
It's a beautiful but very cold evening. I will have to put the heating on again. Brrrrr

You are so right JaxjackyBoris is a ball of energy for an hour or so then flops?
What a a nice surprise for you N&G and lovely gifts.

Wow n&g, what a wonderful surprise. Love the gifts, as full of character as those little boys.

Much as I’d love to see our lot I’d struggle sitting in our garden today it’s freezing. Really cold, biting wind. Hope you have warmed up jaxjacky.

We also enjoy The Repair Shop soop, the creativity, skill and expertise fascinate me. They all put so much love into their work.

Mr C deposited the heart monitor back at the hospital today, we’re hoping thats it for now other than his physio. There have been no after effects from his second covid jab on Tuesday, so pleased he has had it. Mine is booked in a couple of weeks, looking foreword to it, must be the first vaccination I’ve been keen to get.

Quiet day ahead here tomorrow I hope, need to finish my getting to know it session with a new bank account. It took two telephone calls today to overcome my lack of knowledge. May need more tomorrow. Oh dear, no hope for me .

Be good everyone. Take care. TOYA.

Yes Anno we’re lucky that our garden backs right onto a wood and we often have red squirrels in the garden ? I don’t think we have any grey squirrels this far north, it’s mainly the reds.
Hope all ok with Mr C cornergran and his heart monitor results are good

brook, I hope it stays that way and grey squirrels never cross the Highland Line.

‘Evening All’

Another lovely sunny day here today. Slightly chilly but in the sun it was wonderful. We spent almost 3 hours outside in the company of our grandchildren who were a delight. We bought hot pastries from Gregg’s, coffees and banana milkshakes from our independent wine bar in the square and sat on benches which had become available for use again with all the hazard tape removed. The square and the park were much busier. I like people watching. I feel we are making progress back along the road to normality.

I hope a peaceful night lies ahead for us all. x

Yiayia I love Boris. How sweet. ?. Hope your blood test results are ok.
What a lovely gift N&G
Quick visit tonight I am keeping myself hidden. I have very red puffy and itchy eyes due to the pollen. I am treating them with ??
Take care all

N&G Lovely gift
Doodle Sorry to hear about your suffering. Excellent medicine. Not heard from son yet. He says he will ring at the weekend. Waiting to hear how he is, is stressful.
Brook Wish we had red squirrels. Mya would be banned from chasing those.
Urm. I love people watching. I'm so far away from my favourite place, Truro, but hope to get down there at the end of this month.

Had a productive session with getting logs in for storage/drying out. Six wheelbarrows full after sawing them first. Weeding will have to wait until tomorrow.

Cold but sunny weather expected tomorrow. Still good walking and weeding weather.

That is just the cutest little Teddy Bear dog, Yia. The kind of adorable thing which my late Mum would be delighted to label "a time waster". Quite difficult to not waste time with him, I should imagine.

Such a lovely photo of your little Mia, hellogirl. You'll never forget her - nor will we. Wonder if she'll bump into my Ludo or Charley s Tara once she's over the Rainbow Bridge. A nice thing to hope for.

Sounds like a good day has been had today by most of you lovely Kitcheners. Does sound as if it's still quite chilly in some regions, but as long as there is light to cheer. That's the thing.

Had a busy afternoon in a garden centre. Managed to buy lots of lovely herbs to go into the herb trough which has become a bit depleted this winter. Some of the plants did need replacing. Today's haul included some wonderful Lemon Thyme called Panache. (Seriously), and we have some very nice Basil and Sage. I found some tiny tomatoes - or rather plants for tiny tomatoes - I do find the average large ones often very tasteless, even though they are grown in loads of hot sunshine, so we grow cocktail ones which are dependably sweet-tasting. I was tempted by some aubergines but gave up because I was having to dance around an old dear (actually even older than me!) who obviously didn't understand social distancing. DH took the trolley away from me to distract me from wanting to run over her feet as a hint!!!

I have ordered a Clematis Montana to remind me of England. It is sometimes difficult to track down exactly what one wants in these difficult times - choices are limited and deliveries difficult - but I wanted "Elizabeth" which smells of marzipan and is such a lovely plant. They'll let me know next week whether they can get it. We rushed out today because we thought we wouldn't be able to shop after Saturday - essential shops only. We were told, however, that with their big new dog and cat food and grooming section, they will be allowed to open! Very smart move!

More lavender and some lovely climbers, and other stuff is now parked in the garden and I have forgotten the names! And pots. Bought some lovely new terracotta pots. I've sprayed my orange and lemon trees against bugs. The blossom is about to open and once the tiny fruits start showing, that's when - this year - we must spring into action and lift the big pots above dog level. Last year Ludo knocked off, played with or ate every tiny green fruit on the orange, and he left us with only 3 lemons on the tree. He'll eat meat but is possibly a Veggie at heart - currently stripping the almost invisible little fruits from our Eleagnus hedges. I almost need a cattle prod to get him to come out of the hedge and indoors - greedy doesn't cover it. And DH found an entire kitchen roll neatly torn in postage stamp size pieces on the lawn the other morning. L had walked down into the empty pool to steal that when DH wasn't looking. Maybe he was a goat in another life?

To everyone who has had tests or been grappling with testing medical equipment like Mr corner, hope the results are good ones and that you all enjoy a peaceful and happy Easter weekend. Maybe some fresh air and freedom from hospital visits, clinics, and dentists will go some way to making everyone feel more positive again.

A Hot Paprika glossy door and pale terracotta kitchen sounds lovely, soop. Cheery too. Hope little Fern remembers to use the Tradesman's entrance when she comes and goes. She won't want a Hot Paprika finish any more than your door will benefit from a black fluffy top coat.

Enjoy your Hot Cross buns. I did make batches years ago - from Delia recipes. Very successful and delicious but I dare not make any because I shall eat most of them and then be very cross with myself. I don't have BladeAnnie's wonderful reason for dieting but I am trying hard at the moment in order that I won't have to go through summer here without any clothes. I am, under no circumstances, buying a bigger size - so needs must. Baggs Flapjacks were my final step too far. I am now a reformed character.....very possibly.

Nighty night, people. Sleep well and wake refreshed to a day filled with hope and possibility. And all love and hugs to you and your dear man, Panache. Find the strength to demand the help you need - and deserve. x

Awww Grandmafrench you do write such lovely posts - always a joy to read, thank you!

Grandmafrench, your posts are always lively and descriptive, thank you.
Boris looks as if he bounces, rather than walks, could I be right?
Are you enjoying the redecorating Soop? I can`t paint for toffee. I once spent a few hours painting our smallest bedroom all white, thought I`d done a good job, till hubby did it all again, said it was (rude word) rubbish! I never offered to help again.
I hope you all enjoy your hot cross buns tomorrow, dare I say that I don`t like them?
Daughter 3 wants us to get a memorial plaque for Mia, but there`s nowhere to put one here.
Soop, it`s good to hear that you and Mr. Soop haven`t had any ill effects from your 2nd jabs. Mine is on April 20th.

I just types out a codicil to my last post, but it`s disappeared, so I will try to remember it.
I said, N&G, that it stands out like a guiding light just how much those little boys care for you and Grampy. I`ll bet Grampy loved the potato, hope it`s not going to end up as chips? How is Sam now?

Hello everyone
Managing to keep up with everyone's news but not up to.posting much. Spent 5 hours at the palliative care department at the hospital on Wednesday as I have been having trouble breathing. After lots of injections and a slow iv infusion the breathing is a lot better than it was
Yesterday evening the lovely doctor from there rang to check how I was. She had also.just received the results of the echogram I had on my legs last Friday and thought I would be pleased to hear that it is only oedema and nothing serious. So to keep on with the huge amounts of Lasix I am taking.
Grandmafrench writing about the orange and lemon blossom reminded me of when I arrived home on Wednesday evening and my favourite orange tree was covered in blossom. Last year we lost the blossom due to high winds so no oranges. But then I got a bit down wondering if I will be here in December when the oranges so be ready to eat in all their sweet juiciness. I really must feel more positive.

TOYA

Daisyboots ?.

Cooeee the Kitchen!

You're very kind, brook and hellogirl - glad I don't drive you bonkers with my ramblings.

It was late and I just re-read what I wrote : my darling Ludo dog is nowhere near the Rainbow Bridge......we all hope. I wrote Ludo when I was referring to the late Nouba, my dear old gentleman cat. Sorry Ludo.

Doodle hope your allergies settle down. I've been sneezing a lot but am trying to ignore it. Doubtless I shall get some anti histamines given to me before my 2nd jab next week. Important to remember allergies, just in case.

Daisy those oranges, so delicious. Don't you DARE think of leaving us - we shall be a lot more than angry??❤️ Please focus on getting all the care you can, all the help there is and remember how loved you are! Feel better today and rest xx

Enjoy your Good Friday, ladies. I am virtuously and very reluctantly keeping away from anything that resembles a Hot Cross Bun. Hugs.

Daisyboots* You will have been feeling extremely anxious as you waited for news after your long visit in palliative care. You are receiving the best treatment that you rightly deserve. I hope that the sun shines for you over the Easter holiday...and beyond.

Doodle Tis the allergy season. As well we are aware. We have birch trees in abundance close to our plot. Itchy eyes. Sore throat. One more buggeration to be endured. These are pollenless.

N&G I have been thinking a lot about "your big-hearted boys." Is the car the mosel that one of the boys lusts after for when he's "all growed-up"? I believe it begins with a "B".

It is a beautiful day with barely a cloud in the sky. Our two pals in the village, have invited us to a wee picnic in their garden a little later this afternoon. They always cheer us enormously.

I'm in need some cheer. A villager has notified us that a cat is dead in the verge a short distance from Clachan. A friend who lives in that area, has kindly agreed to walk along that stretch of road. She'll report back later. I shall let you know what the outcome is.

N&G That should have read model, not mosel.

Oh Soop. I hope it isn't Fern.