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

Right! The moment has arrived. Out with the paint stained jeans and baggy top. Out with the sugar water to clean the surfaces. Out with new brushes and non-drip gloss. Hey ho! It's off to work I go.

Grandmabatty Having a good feeling regarding your son and his new girlfriend is a VERY good sign. We had the same feeling when we last met youngest son and his new lady friend. It was such a lovely, comforting feeling.

anno our grandchildren are very precious. Look forward to those enormous bear hugs. There is much to catch up
with.

dragonfly We are here to listen whenever you wish to share your concerns with us. You matter to us lot through the good, bad and indifferent times. I wish that the flowers could be real.

N&G Is it true what you said about curved chocolate Easter eggs. I may therefore indulge this afternoon. Calories will most definitely wander over and settle around my middle. However, Tuesday is new resolution day.

Callistemon I remember the Tufty Club. Those were gentler days. Perhaps I'm being a tad old fashioned.

Hellogirl1 We said hello to David recently. The site has a few brand new on-site caravan homes on it. There are also several very smart cabin type holiday lets.

Doodle Awwww!

muse and GrannyGravy Positive vibes from a gloriously sunny and warm Kintyre.

Puzzle Your post was heartfelt. You are a very kind lady.

Urmstongran Little children could teach us a thing or two. The main lesson being, making every moment count.

Lovely photo Soop. Enjoy your decorating. I would like my living room painted but I'll have to wait til things open up. No news about Fern is definitely good news. Saturday housework has been done and I'm having a cuppa before watching Death on the Nile. I have food to sort for tomorrow as ds is coming for dinner with the new girlfriend. I have a feeling about this one so I'll pull out all the stops. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday folks.

I love you lot. Just in case you are wondering.

I wish you all a pleasant Easter holiday. Today, we begin indoor and outdoor house maintenance. This means that I shall be missing for a wee while as I shall be in my house decorating mode (messy!)

There is no latest news of the cat. Fern remains awol. I believe that she is safe and sound and possibly enjoying some springtime rumpy pumpy

Our granddaughter, Hannah, is 32 today. Wow!

Time for lunch. Before I slip into my decorator's overalls, I shall return to read all the latest messages.

GS is 15, not 16!

N&G, how lovely to be able to see red squirrels in action. I do hope they will make a come-back one day. When I was very small, my dad used to read all the Beatrix Potter stories to me and Squirrel Nutkin was a big favourite - also a recognisably red squirrel.
I had long chat with my GS (16) this morning while he was doing his newspaper round. It's always lovely to talk to a GC and he really likes to confide in Granny. His brother sent me a What'sApp this week to tell me he has had 'subject recognition' certificates for Drama and Ethics&Morality. I'm so looking forward to seeing them - and their cousins - when I can be sure of travelling south by train. I will even subject myself to a rib-cracking hug from youngest GS - a huge 13-year-old.
Hoping for good news on the cat front, soop.

I hardly dare throw my hat through the door as I have been away from you lovely people for so long.

I was so sorry to hear about Mia Hello. How is your son these days?

Daisyboots it is hard to stay positive isn't it but it does sound as if you are getting the best of care. Sending you hugs.

I am sorry I haven't been able to keep up with everyone's news. I have had my own worries which seemed to multiply each day but could be subsiding a little now for the time being.

Healthwise fingers crossed I am okay at the moment.
My DS moved to his new house which as his job is uncertain causes concerns but my DD and SiL seem to go from strength to strength.
Funny because growing up I always worried far more about my DD.

I just wanted to touch base with all my lovely friends in the kitchen. I try to keep up but some days are harder than others.
TOYA

Morning all,

I'm waiting news on the poor cat Soop .

I remember the Tufty Club - ah those were the days lol

oooh I do love squirrels Brook but the red ones are special. There is park nearby that has a breeding programme for red squirrels and its a joy to go and see them.

Yes , Sam is doing well Charley. The scar is a bit lumpy and bumpy still and we have to watch he doesn't have a cheeky scratch but in himself, he is much improved. He even went for a summer haircut and now smells nice too!!

GrandmaFrench Clematis Montana is a favourite here too, we have an 'Alba' on the fence which smells glorious and just blooms and blooms.

A memorial would be nice Hellogirl but if you have no room , how about a donation to a local cat charity in Mia's name ? For cats less well loved?

It sounds like you have a lot to deal with Daisy at the moment, its hard to be positive when all around is grey but finding small joys will help you stay positive. We'll help you x

Ah Soop , you would be thinking of a Bugatti ( he continues to save towards buying one when he's a big boy!) , sadly no I was not honoured enough to receive one, by the look of it mine is a very well loved one and I have already been told it might be nice for me to gift it back when i see him lol - Indian giver!!!!

I am struggling to remember what day it is here - they all seem much of a muchness at the moment. But we had a giggle yesterday when 2 of the small children from over the road brought us 2 hedgehogs they had made as thank yous for their Easter eggs. We received our gifts and asked what they were called . The little girl looked up at Grampy and said ' Cant you read yet - shall I help you ?' Sure enough our names were on the back but she clearly felt his education was lacking !!

Not bad enough he looks like a potato but now hes a poorly educated old bloke !!

Happy day all and remember- curved chocolate contains no calories because they slide right off !Enjoy those Easter eggs !

Do any of you remember the Tufty club - all about road safety for children? Tufty was a red squirrel, with those cute tufts on his ears.

I may have this book somewhere in the attic, anno! I think DS was given it when he was at primary school
One day I will climb up there and have a sort out.

Soop, I`m hoping and praying that the poor cat wasn`t Fern, but feel real sympathy for whoever the cat did live with. I`m glad you enjoyed your picnic.
Love those red squirrels. I know the grey ones are considered vermin, but they are cute too, and cheeky.

Urmstongran that sounds perfick! Lovely wee ones. Muse home grown strawberries! I might try to grow some in a hanging basket as I have slugs around. I planted my tomatoes today that I got as a mother's Day gift. They are gracing the kitchen window sill so I'll keep an eye on them. Gardener's world is on shortly so I will love you and leave you til tomorrow.

That’s so cute Urms.
Daisyboots hope your breathing is better now. Glad the result of your echo gram in your legs was good news.
soop I am sorry about the poor cat. I hope it isn’t Fern.
Happy Easter all. Had a lovely day with my DS in his garden. My DGS who is nearly 18 said he so wished he could give me a hug......so we did. I couldn’t resist. It’s been over a year and I missed it so much. Just a quick one.
TOYA ?

Made the most of the sunny day and sat out in it for our afternoon cuppa and snack (freshly made Chelsea buns). In the shade it was sooo cold. ​

Two lots of washing done. One dried and the other is hung up in the polytunnel (30°). Had to take a photo of the strawberries in there. I noticed a couple of flowers yesterday and today even more. You can just see the first fruit forming underneath the flowers.

Popping back before bed to read everyone's news.

Another one who remembers the Tufty Club ?
Nothing to report from Gravy Grange, hope to visit youngest Son and his family tomorrow to hand over the GCs Easter Gift Bags.
I just cannot shake off a feeling of pending doom which is so unlike me, desperately seeking my mojo and happy place.

TOYA

Awwww sounds like you’ve had a lovely day urmston I know what you mean about the chatter, it’s so cute and innocent!
Yes I do remember the Tufty Club anno I think I remember that there were badges and things you could send off for and collect ..

Oops! Nearly forgot Dixon!

‘Evening All’

Well what an unexpected gloriously sunny day we’ve had! Himself took our boy wonder (8) out for a really long bike ride, along the River Mersey meadows, teaching him how to lift his front wheel to get up kerbs. Go that grandad! At nearly 70y I’m more than impressed with his stamina. Our grandson just hero worships him ...
?

Little miss cutie (4) and I went to the local play park where another miss ran up to say hello. Apparently they are in the same class together! It was a joy watching them play together for well over an hour in the warm sunshine. The baby in our family even allowed her friend to have turns on her new LOL 2 wheeler scooter which she only got yesterday. I praised her mightily for her kindness in sharing!

3 hours later after we had met up with the boys we took them back home. We passed a lovely cat.

Cutie: Hello pussycat.
(Cat stops, weighs us up and down and decides we’re not worthy of interaction).
Me: c’mon sweetie, the cat doesn’t want to say hello today.
Cutie: okay grandma... Bye, pussycat. I like your stripes.

Don’t you just love listening to 4y old chatter?
❤️

I keep forgetting it’s a Friday! Off to check if it’s ‘Gogglebox’ at 9pm. Wishing a peaceful night ahead for us all. x

Brooke I love the photos! Red squirrels are very cute not like the grey ones in my local area.

Thank you for all the latest posts. You are such lovely folk.

Great photos of the red squirrels, brook. I have yet to see one in real life. They are very pretty creatures.

We greatly enjoyed the wee garden picnic with our pals. Lots of laughter; the best of medicines. No sighting of a dead cat. One friend searched one side of the village. We've searched the other. Positive thoughts abound as I wish you all a pleasant Easter weekend.

I remember Tufty Anno!
A hug for you Daisyboots.
I have just gone over the steps and the patio with the pressure washer and I was soaked from my boots and socks, all the way up to my eyebrows. ?
? for Fern.
Hope everyone has a good evening.

brook, lovely pictures of the squirrel. So much prettier than the greys. Do any of you remember the Tufty club - all about road safety for children? Tufty was a red squirrel, with those cute tufts on his ears.

Hi all, it’s a difficult road you’re on Daisy, but that piece of good news must have cheered you, it’s good to see you.
We sat in our garden today with a friend for about an hour and a half until we all got too cold, the wind is wicked. Allotment tomorrow, it’s on a hill, as the thermometer is only going one way it’ll be in, collect bags of compost, load into raised bed and out. Yia enjoy your picnic, braver than me! soop ?it’s not your visitor.
As I’m actually cooking tonight, after two lazy evenings, I’d best go and get on with it.

As long as you have more positive thoughts and days than maudlin ones Daisyboots we don’t mind you saying how you feel in Soop’s kitchen.
It is the most caring of places as you know. A fellowship of women, many of whom don’t enjoy the best of health and certainly not all the time.
You’ve had a bad week, and hopefully a good one will follow. ? for you.

soop please don’t worry about Fern unless you have clear reason to. Whoever’s cat has passed away it’s sad, but it is unlikely to be Fern.
I loved the photo of Boris - glad he has neater hair than his namesake. Much more adorable too.
A memorial for Mia, just a tiny one, may be very comforting Hellogirl.

Time for me to leave now and get myself into my own kitchen - I am making plaice and chunky chips tonight instead of sending DH to join the long queue at the chip shop.

Grandmafrench I knew you meant darling Nouba - you are not losing the plot ?
Have a nice evening one and all

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It’s been a bit cloudy here today but the suns come out now and I’m lovely and warm settled on the sofa in the conservatory. We’ve been for a little walk in town, it was much busier than it has been, everyone seems to be out today!
Hope you’re enjoying your picnic soop, hope the poor cat isn’t Fern but sad whoever it is.
Sending you ? daisy and hoping things improve a little bit soon
I managed to get a picture of the squirrel this morning, it’s been non stop up and down the fence to the feeder all morning. It takes a peanut out of the feeder then sits on the fence to nibble it then goes back for another one - so cute to watch...
Hope you enjoy your garden visit with your family yia ?

Soop I’m praying it isn’t Fern.Sorry for those suffering allergies not nice at all.
We are going to our sons house soon to sit in the garden,can’t wait it will be so good to see our GS’s and of course Boris!
Thinking of you Daisyboots ???