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

Greetings, Kitchen peeps!

Fabulous photo (again) Brook - can't say you don't appreciate your beautiful countryside. I agree - I'll go further and say life is just better 'outside' - especially when life's handing you lemons, as it is us at the moment. Food outside is definitely better.

Wrote a post yesterday evening, got distracted by a vomiting dog (my last 24 hours has been spent laundering dogs' throws, drying them, washing towels, washing dog's whiskers, and feeding her the French equivalent of Milk of Magnesia after she ate something obscene!). Anyway, post was there and I returned to Gransnet, decided to look at another thread and realised I hadn't actually posted!!!! Grrrrr! Not in the mood to do it again.

I will say today that we would have gladly joined Gbatty for a fish and chip supper. We - DH and myself- got slightly over-excited recently when you mentioned leek and potato soup, boeuf bourguignon and cheesecake!!! Do you have her address, says DH? Not at all pushy, is he? I'm afraid it's all brought about by our limiting the food in order to shed the pounds.

Hellogirl so pleased you've heard from Maw. Hope she's feeling less fragile now, you too. You're quick on those dates. You're right, it's not so long since my 1st vaccine. One month and 2 days : here (if) we can make another appointment, it's ok as long as 28 days has passed since the 1st one. So I was lucky to find another date and not too far away.

Seems like it's not just French France where everything can get disorganised, soop - just as well the Hospital contacted you, or another missed opportunity would have passed you by. So good to hear that you'll have the chance tomorrow to air your views and discuss disappointments and concern with the actual Surgeon and face to face. At least you'll be able to hear about options and have an explanation as to why you're not A OK after the last drama!

So nice that you and Mr soop can paint the house as a team. Hope we're going to get a front door pic when that's done. Maybe when it's finished and up to Fern's high standards/demands, she'll pay a call. Hope so.

Do I notice some rather grandiose behaviour creeping in, ladies? And you're very funny. Not only is GrandmaB 'sweeping' her room with a look, whilst horizontal and doing a Lady of the Camellias, (maybe sighing and peeling grapes too) but NannyT is now referring to something which goes under the gravel in the garden as "landscaping fabric". My my! I can never decide what that stuff's called, so in our house it's referred to as "weed baffle". See, not quite so aristocratic. Weed baffle definitely doesn't translate to anything even slightly French, so I do need to get to the bottom of that - need it for a similar job coming up once the pool tiling is finished.

Meanwhile, brook is tired, jax is in need of a rest and poor N&G are exhausted after their exciting trip. Rest, everyone.
You can do what you like - remember?

Glorious evening here - I've had a very busy day, the climax of which involved putting a fig tree into a bigger pot and then manhandling it on my posh German trolley thing to another part of the garden. So off for my supper and feet up. Enjoy a well-earned G&T, soop and bonne chance tomorrow. Don't hold back - you want her help and support.

Warm hugs to the Panaches, hope you're o.k. Galen, hi Yiayia and where are you, Muse ?

Hugs to all, ?‍♀️??

soop you must both be pleased with what you have achieved with your decorating.
I do hope something positive comes out of your hospital appointment tomorrow.
N&G I bet those boys loved your visit. ?
I too wonder about Galen Grannyfrench.
Sorry about the vomiting dog. Hopefully recovered now.
Hello Maw I hope you are still reading even if you can’t post.
I do hope you are ok but probably lonely without your Hattie. Wish you could be here to share your news. x
TOYA ?

Grandmafrench you have made me laugh with your post! Or at least I would laugh but it requires too much energy and I'm busy being lady of the camellias. My dear, it would be my pleasure to feed you and as many of the kitcheners as possible. Someday perhaps. Pauvre vomiting dog! And poor you having to clean it up. Fig tree manoeuvres eh? Don't overdo things. A bientôt til tomorrow.

Hi all, minor panic earlier, we lost the internet for 20 mins, echoes of the soop saga crossed my mind. The new greenhouse has vents which automatically open, dependent on the interior temperature, we both stood swatching them close earlier. It reminded me of my parents sitting watching their first ‘front loading’ washing machine going round and round. DH popped up the chippie earlier, f&c, mushy peas, he gets staff discount as he does their tiling across the four local shops. Thought of you today Grandmafrench pictures of the vineyard owners lighting the candles, lamps and hay bales near the vines to stop the frost damage. They suffered badly in 2017, we were there then, they had a bad year, for us the odd plant is lost, for them they’re livelihood. The pictures are dramatic, as attached.
Have a gentle evening, (we have the masters on, yawn!). X

Their...proofread woman....

?Here I be GrandmaFrench. Thank you for your uplifting postings. I didn't post much yesterday. My body and soul wasn't quite up to it. Going to catch up with everyone's news so just a short post to start with. I left quite a long one today with Mick's Good Morning slot

Jaxjacky. Your greenhouse will be bursting at the seams before you can say red hot chilli peppers ? ? ? They're quite easy to grow. I've still some in the freezer from two years ago.

More to come ...

Evening all,

You lot are always so industrious ! I have sat on silk cushion and sewed a fine seam today ... for that read ...nothing!

But I am recovered after yesterday’s shenanigans.

Oh Doodle you have no idea ! They were so pleased so see us . It made me smile all day .

Hows the redecorating Soop ? Is Fern still eating at another restaurant ??

Sleep well all x

Hellokitchen friends. How fast this week has passed?
I hope the Panaches are doing ok, and Galen too? Will be good to hear from them.
Jaxjacky your greenhouse sounds the business with vents.
What will you grow in there?
A poorly dog is not good Grandmafrench , I hope he has a better day today.
I think a visit to the Vet’s is on the cards here. They are more pro-active than our human doc’s surgery at the moment!
(hmmm could be that we pay at the Vet’s ?)
We are spoiled with your glorious photo’s Brook which is lovely as soop probably can’t find her camera under dust sheets at the moment even if she sees a wonderful sunset.
You and Mr soop have done a marvellous job by the sound of it soop.
Painting has never been my forte as DH could verify!
I bring fresh flowers to share with you all - those I’ve mentioned and all you other lovely Grans. I love this kitchen with all it’s friendly folk ? Have a good day; I hope you find things to make your heart sing ?

Beautiful flowers, thank you Puzzler.

Grandmafrench I am hoping that your poorly , four-legged friend gets super rate treatment from the kindly vet. Still no sign of "our" wandering puss cat.

N&G The joy you feel spills into our Kitchen. Lovely!

Jax When first I attempted to log on...amber light on the computer flashed. No signal for twenty hair raising minutes. The air was indigo with the most unladylike of profanities.

The weather is sunny and remains a little on the chilly side. I'm wondering whether or not I can give the front door an overcoat of high gloss, hot paprika paint. It will be an early lunch as we have to motor into Campbeltown for drop-bot consultation. Let joy be unconfined.

Back later today. Take good care of yourselves. You matter.

Last night's Kintyre sky.

GMFrench, I hope the dog has stopped throwing up. You don't sound overly concerned, so maybe it really was something he had eaten. The 'landscaping fabric' and your 'weed baffler' might be what has what has been referred to here as 'membrane'. It has not managed to deter the immortal mare's tail in my garden and that has been treated with something lethal. I await results. Meanwhile, the infestation of Spanish bluebells is in progress. Although they look pretty, they really are a nuisance. The recent frosty nights have put paid to my white rhododendron and its petals are all over the paving.

Annodomini I have bluebells in my garden. I've only been in the house for two years. They popped up last year and I thought they were weeds so kept hoiking them out. But to no avail as they've popped up again this year. Would these be the Spanish kind? I always understood bluebells to be woodland plants.

My best wishes go with you to the Consultant soop ?

Best wishes with your consultation from me too, soop.

I am rather relieved that some of you have had posting problems - I could post nothing on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Didn't bother trying yesterday. But all seems fine today.

N&G what a lovely day you must have had with the boys and they with you. We have had a few garden visits lately from the DGC (and their parents) and taken a couple of days to recover. We have another on Sunday!!

I have been wondering how Galen is doing. Anyone know?

TOYA

So sorry to hear about Prince Phillip- I was hoping he would reach 100 but it was not to be. I wonder what will happen to H&M now? He may come to the funeral on his own- I personally think he should. I have to admit I am not too fussed about what happens to her.

Yes I’m sorry to hear the news too Charleyg. Having seen the pictures of him leaving hospital it didn’t look likely he would make his 100th birthday, but he had a long life. Sad for the Queen, her lifelong confidant and husband.

Yes very sad news,such a shame he didn’t make 100.
Just had my blood test back all o.k now Rheumatologist appointment for better pain control could be a long wait!
So pleased you had a lovely day with your family *N&G.
Hope your poorly dog is better today Grandmafrench
I will leave you with a photo when Boris met Harper! Apparently the two dog cousins got on very well?

Puzzler61 the tomatoes, chillis, aubergines and cucumbers will live in there, eventually. But it’ll be used for sowing various seeds until the plants go to the allotment and potting on. Yia good news on bloods, ? not too long for consultation, things are moving quicker now.
I have a friend due for a garden visit, it’s become very cloudy, but should stay dry.

Happy you have good news from your blood test Yiayia .
Boris and Harper look well at ease with each other.

Jaxjacky I hope you get good yields when they all come to fruition. Makes the work at this time of year worthwhile doesn’t it?

Yiayia they are gorgeous and can visit here any time.

Hope your appointment goes well soop?

Grandmabatty, The Spanish bluebell looks very much like out native one. However, it has wider leaves and the flowers are more upright than the native ones which are more 'dangly' and more delicate. I think originally the Spanish ones spread as a result of potted ones being planted out into gardens, though I might be wrong about that. It seems that some hybridisation is taking place and that as a result our lovely native bluebells may die out as a distinct species which would be a shame. We had a bluebell wood just up the road from our house and used to go and pick armfuls in May when they were at their best. I hear that nowadays there are houses where that wood stood.

PS. Not only Grandmabatty, but many other grans will be interested in this:
www.bbowt.org.uk/blog/kate-titford/how-tell-native-bluebell-rest

PS. Not only Grandmabatty, but many other grans will be interested in this:
www.bbowt.org.uk/blog/kate-titford/how-tell-native-bluebell-rest

Sorry, done it again. That is because I pressed <control> <return> and nothing seemed to happen so I pressed it again. Impatient, that's me!