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

Have just this minute logged on. I shall away to read Panache's message and then I shall return.

‘Evening All’.

My goodness I’m late! We’ve not long been home. I’m sat in my pj’s now with a cuppa having spent SIX hours chatting & catching up with lovely friends in Bolton. First meet up in 15 months and the time just flew by, as it does with nice people.

We sat in a beer garden in the sunshine for 3 hours and were mentally preparing for home, to be told ‘oh no you don’t! we have made lasagna to eat back at ours’ (literally round the corner from the pub). So we ate in a sheltered corner of their patio with a heater. Bliss! Food and then coffee rounded off our perfect get-together.

Upsetting news N&G and I’m sorry to hear it. This will be a tough time for your family and my heart goes out to you all.

I’m off to read about the tribulations the Panaches are dealing with. Poor dears. Life throws spears sometimes and it’s beyond sad what some folk have to deal with. x

I count my blessings and wish us all a peaceful night ahead.

So sorry to hear your sad news N&G and thoughts and prayers for poor Panache.

Thanks Jaxjacky I’m sure your kind thoughts will be much appreciated. It’s a dreadful situation.

Doodle just read it and I’m bloody fuming, we’ve seen the NHS at its best in the last year, this is at its worst, I’m so upset for panache, I hope she takes the advice you and others have given ?
And I’m not praying as I don’t, but I’m wishing and hoping with all my heart.

Sorry about your family news N&G.
Muse hope you hear from your son soon and that he is ok.

For all those who know Panache, she has posted a dreadfully sad post on the lockdown gang, I can’t believe that poor lady has been left to cope with her seriously ill DH and a Gp surgery who don’t think they need to visit. It any of her friends on here want to read it, I ask, on her behalf, for your kind thoughts and prayers tonight.
Take care all

N&G so sorry to hear that awful news.

GrandmaFrench it does sound a lot but cats food pouches have shrunk over the years. That scallywag only turns up when she is hungry because she is well aware she will be looked after immediately with the finest available.

I watched white van man from Amazon look for my house number, 18 which is easily readable but he was wandering between numbers 8 and 15. To give him a clue I stood on the doorstep and even then he asked me if this was no.18. How did he pass a driving test?

It was a frying pan and the box had been ripped open. Obviously not wanted so it could be delivered to the idiot who paid for it.

Hello lovely peeps!

Love the photos. I used to have lots of ducky little duckies like that. Absolutely adorable. This one looks like the principal dancer in Swan Lake! He's got the moves!

So very sorry to hear of your family difficulties. N&G. But she sounds as if she will have loads of support at such a difficult time. Hugs to all of you. ?

Our new dishwasher arrived this afternoon. I am too tired now to 'play with it' so that will be my first job in the morning. I've read all the instructions and am looking forward to using it. It took me 8 goes to start the old one after breakfast.....good timing for the new one methinks.

Just a little photo to cheer. Today's weather has been wonderful but we've stayed home. I've just had my G & T and garlic prawns are now calling. On the subject of food, are the two pouches and a plateful all consumed at one sitting by that little black cat, soop? If so, she surely can't be eating elsewhere, she's going to explode at that rate. Let us know if you want to start a Just Giving page to cope with the expense. She has so landed on her paws at your wonderful eatery!

Have a gentle evening, all. Feet up and plot some mischief for tomorrow from behind closed eyes!

French hugs ?‍♀️x

I'm sad to hear your news Nannandgrampy. ?
Today was another babysitting one. Grandmafrench dgs and I have such fun. I hope he remembers it when he's older. I love the duck photo Puzzler61. We feed the ducks when dgs and I go to the park. It costs me a fortune in bread! My lovely neighbour handed her dog lead to dgs to let him walk her jack Russell. The dog slowed right down and walked perfectly. It was as if he knew. And dgs was so cute. He had a big smile on his face and was really gentle. He loves her dog. Obviously neighbour and I were on either side to make sure there were no disasters.
So that the babysitting stint over for another week. I'm going to try ds's homemade flavoured him tonight. I'll let you know if it's worth it!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202104/medium-601162-517fd0b8-0a99-485f-8b54-3c6b14dab4d2.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202104/medium-445684-0ba939ed-7194-462a-b564-6c303a20f96f.jpeg

Awww I’ll do my best jaxj - we had non stop light drizzle rain all morning here - if was like a fine spray but it gets you very wet!
I still went out on a walk though down to the University gardens complete with my umbrella and enjoyed it. DH picked me up and we went over to North Kessock and sat with our flask and sandwiches overlooking the water - simple pleasures!

Such sad family newsN&G I hope your DD is doing ok, it must be so difficult for everyone. Sending warm hugs ❤️
I’m pleased Fern is back soop if only for a little while
What a cute adorable picture puzzler thank you - it made me smile!

N&G very sad news for all, rallying round is the best anyone can do ?
brook2704 could you try a weeny bit harder on the rain front please?
A quieter day, a long chat with a very good friend, I helped her and her DH start veg growing a year ago, they’ve now dug up half their lawn for raised beds. We’re hoping May 17th goes ahead, our new kitchen, from last November has only had a brief Christmas lunch held in it so far, and if we have visitors it’ll rain then! I’ve just been to collect some jars of French pate being given away, Mr J and I acquired the taste from our French trips, cute jars too. He was very happy his football team drew last night and his knee is improved, more Voltarol than my TLC methinks.
Enjoy your evening everyone.

I’m sorry to hear your sad news N&G, a very difficult time for you all made worse by the current conditions

Good afternoon dear Kitcheners. I shall be with you all again tomorrow.

N&G I'm so sorry to hear the sad news of the stage 4 cancer diagnosis. It is at such times that the family turns to each other to offer the support that is paramount. Covid restrictions have distanced our nearest and dearest. Our thoughts are with you. We understand that you cannot be with us as often as we would like. You have much to occupy your time and mind right now.

Nor I dustyangel, but it’s fun trying to copy the ducky! ?

On a sad note, sending you best wishes, and strength N&G to help your DD to support her MIL and the rest of the family who must all be in shock. Cancer has no respect for bad timing during Covid does it? I’m sure you will all do the best you can. ?

NanaandGrampy sorry to hear your sad family news, sending you a (((hug)))

We have that calendar Puzzler, we were given the 2020 one and I enjoyed the pictures so much I decided to buy the 2021 one. A good job I did because by the time I was able to shop for calendars they were in very short supply so we also have a self printed one.
The wildlife one is stuck on the graunchy fridge so every time I go to it I practice my balancing. I’m not as good as the duckling

Evening all,

Its been a quiet , sad few days here in the big sky county.

One of my daughters MiL has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer so the whole family is rallying round to try and make her comfortable and support her, made all the more difficult by Covid.

So I am out of touch with the comings and goings of the kitchen, my apologies. I hope all are well - I am another whose clothes have shrunk during the past year :-)

Happy evening all x

Good afternoon dear kitcheners and hope I find everyone well. We have just returned from taking my mum her shopping delivery by way of collecting her from the hairdresser first. She feels like the world has been put to rights now her hair has been permed . Salad with salmon on the menu tonight so a nice easy one and not too long in the kitchen for either of us . Puzzler what an adorable photo . We often get ducks etc etc on our bit of the river but they always seem to know to give us a wide berth when Ruby is here!! Hope everyone has a pleasant evening and virtual hugs to all who are need of a little comfort

Puzzler Thank you for sharing the darling duckling image. I think that he appears to be ice skating. We watch Countryfile. A favourite programme of ours. About to watch The Repair Shop. Our number one favourite.

In response to a wee extra weight around the waist and hips. I have been gifted one extra dress size. Do I care? Nope! Once life returns to being more normal, I shall be losing a little. However, I feel comfortable in the skin I'm in. Shouldn't we all? I'm so pleased that us lot agree.

Good afternoon kitchen friends. I read your post Grandmafrench and agree with you. Any weight gain during the Pandemic Period is not our faults. New clothes are the answer and I love clothes shopping so I’ll get to it.
At the mention of ducklings yesterday I am posting a little duck who is making me smile for all of April.
He is on the Countryfile calendar for this month.
My DD says he is practising his yoga .....
Look after yourselves everyone. That includes you and your DH soop ☺️ who are giving such TLC to Fern. She’s a lucky feline.

A little late, again. One of those bithee mornings.

Our cat has gracefully stepped across the threshold. Two fish dinners from a pouch and a saucer full of Mr Soop's tuna in spring water. That was thirty minutes ago. She has now left the building.

muse Are you having daily nuisance calls? If so, snap!

I really do want to start Hattie's portrait for Maw. No more dilly-dallying. I hope to report back with you a little later with news that the easel is in situ.

Last post from me, Kitcheners.
Had a glorious day here with a long walk on a deserted beach this morning which we all enjoyed - especially the dogs.
Lots of things done in the garden, DH made us lunch and then I intended doing the ironing - But Didn't! Ah well, there's always tomorrow and I can add another wash load to it.
Late afternoon I was rummaging in the front hedge and someone waved at me in the distance. No idea who, since I wasn't wearing my double glazing. The waver and his Wife then approached and begged a favour. They are taking possession of their new house across the vineyard and it appears that they've recently spent quite a lot of time arguing with the service providers for their home over their new address. Something very odd about France in that we have had similar arguments. When you are signing up for an electricity supply or telephone connection, for example, you give your name and address. OK. They then check on their computers and almost every time suggest that you live somewhere else. Later an argument ensues because they keep insisting they know where you live and you keep saying 'wrong' and that you do know your address because you're the one who lives there. It doesn't deter them in the slightest!

So, the new distant neighbours told us that at present, the Government computer thingy has them down as living at our address, or maybe just having our address! They thought I wouldn't laugh, but I've been there so many times before. Someone even suggested to her that the problem may be because of Covid!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, not Brexit then? cos, that's been tried before.

Anyway, so glad to stand in the sunshine with very nice newcomers from Northern France (whose accents I can easily understand) and just shoot the breeze, as the saying goes. I have so missed that. We have assured them we'll pass on any mail we get for them, thrust in our box by a post lady who well knows who lives in our house but won't want to argue with the bonkers French government computer system!!

I am super thrilled that you have some really good news following your recent Boob Squishing appointment, soop. Something to tick off and not worry about for a good while at least. Sorry that Miss Madam is missing again - but good of you to put on your chambermaid outfit and whisk through her suite with a feather duster just in case she strolls in.

Jax cleaning the loos always make me feel very virtuous. Gold star award for you, definitely. dusty those fridge handles really take some stress, don't they? Our fridge and freezer seals mean that you can open the door once - and once you close it again, there's quite a pause before the door wants to open again. I never wait long enough and forget things I need, so often put undue strain on the handles by grappling with it rather than wait... but it's a horrible feeling when a handle starts up with the graunching! I had one get very over-excited once and it cracked across the middle. Almost impossible to buy parts for any modern white goods - think they want you to simply change the whole thing!

Hope you enjoyed your trip out daisy. Bet Portugal is looking so pretty now. We must keep everything crossed that freedom will be on the cards before the end of the year.

Love the ducklings, corner and sad that the Boris treatment isn't working, Yiayia. Maybe something stronger from the Rheumatologist will be better suited to your problems. Fingers crossed.

GrandmaB oooh that little chap loves you so much!

GG wishing your DS a swift recovery - if he's impatient to be off - and hope that the results will be clear and he can get on with his life and the littlies can get their cuddles very soon.

Warm hugs, puzler, syn and brook. And one for you, ? !

Glad you've enjoyed some outing and abouting, Urms. Shame about the extra pounds but it's not your fault, it's the pandemic's fault. Just how much more stress, sacrifice and misery do we need to endure by having to weight watch as well, I ask myself. Well, I clearly don't ask myself often enough, because I am facing the same problem. I was well pleased with myself until Christmas when family turned up and I was so excited that I possibly ate everything that stood still long enough. Easy to fix, just not easy to make a start on said fix. Just as well I don't live near any good shops. Fortunately they are all outside my current 6 mile travel boundary. As soon as I am freed, though, I shall buy some new clothes with the promise that I will look so much better in them with some weight loss. That should do it. (More finger crossing). Hope (and it sounds as if you are) you're keeping anxiety at bay and enjoying the good weather.

Sleep well, lovely peeps. Tomorrow's another day and be determined to make it a very good one. For now, Sweet dreams all. ??

Hello All. I'm so moved at your thoughts about my quote. The lyrics in total are amazing.

soop Such good news about the screening
Jaxjacky Busy busy day.

Just laughed out loud at a flamingo advert on BBC. "flocking to the shops + social distancing"

Cloudy most of the day but enjoyed a trip to the beach. I'm sure there was a drop of rain on the windscreen at one point. My imagination. Mya not fond of the sea (well any water) and looks at a ball in disgust when I throw it, so the next trip out will be just a coastal path walk. She will get to do lots of sniffing there and I will see the sea.

No call from dear son at the weekend ?

Setting up new phone tomorrow. Nuisance Call Blocker Phone. Would love to get rid of the landline altogether but we have a few family members that only use that number.

Sound sleeps everyone ??