Soop's welcoming and ever supportive kitchen,

Dear Kitcheners, natural grey hair is the in thing. In fact, folk pay to have it dyed that colour. We are all in fashion, with bells on.

Log off time. I have every intention of joining my favourite peoples tomorrow.

This is my natural colour.

hellogirl, that's good news about Billy. It sounds as if he's more than ready to join your household. I'm sure you'll keep us informed.
Late afternoon yesterday I was about to go out and do a bit of shopping, but the car wouldn't start, so had to ring Green Flag this morning and a very helpful man came and re-charged the battery, then advised me to take it out and run it for 45 minutes! In the rain. But I did a circular tour of North East Cheshire, ending up at Waitrose where I treated myself to a triple choc chip cookie. The roads were almost awash in places; the drainage around here is terrible.
Still watching election results. As an exiled Scot, I'm more than interested.
Lovely hairdos here. How nice it must be to have manageable hair! Mine is fine, soft and inclined to be wispy - I see my granny in the mirror.
I bought a celeriac today. My DiL made good soup when I last stayed with them, but I'm not too sure how to get rid of the thick, knobbly skin. I'm sure someone here will be able to tell me. Today I made pea and mint soup - it's soup weather!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202105/medium-965538-bebec635-6e47-4f1b-a2b8-1591d3bf0ce6.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202105/medium-628624-f357f0f6-e211-42d9-ade8-cda69a68a5d8.jpeg

Lovely news about Billy hellogirl I’m really pleased for you and I’m sure Billy will settle in well
Despite the rain today, DH and I went walking near Loch Morlich, one of my favourite places. We had a lovely day and even managed a picnic in a sheltered spot even though it was quite blustery. The pictures reflect the grey cloudy day today with heavy clouds!
Lots more lovely hairdos, I like your natural colour Galen even though I’ve not been brave enough to do that myself and still get mine coloured. Your natural colour is amazing Doodle and no greys - wow. My hair is quite fine and recently got quite a bit thinner so I’m not too pleased with it really. I’ll post a picture though after it’s next done! I like your shorter style Jaxj it looks really modern and youthful.
Not long to go now BA! So exciting ?

Evening All. Thank you for your good wishes. You’re not wrong, Charlie, I could and should have summoned better weather. The family bravely went ahead with our agreed walk, it didn’t rain all the time. . I walked much too far but wouldn’t have missed a minute of it. Beautiful flowers and gifts, I feel thoroughly spoiled.

I’m delighted you have a new companion hellogirl, he’ll suit you well. I sympathise about wispy hair anno, mine comes courtesy of my Mum, yours is lovely jazjacky, yours too galen. . Good to know you’re feeling brighter soop, you are an inspiration.

Best be off, birthday or no birthday the kitchen awaits. Even I’m hungry after our afternoon exertions. Take care everyone.

Hello Bellanonna ! I haven’t seen you about for a while. Is all well with you? I hope your weather is better than ours!

Gorgeous photos of herons, views and haircuts.

Glad you managed to get out for your walk corner and that you had a happy birthday?

Really pleased to hear about Billy Hellogirl.Lucky cat really has landed on all four paws?

Soop, I agree with others, you are an inspiration, your positivity and general loveliness shines through your posts?

I have had a girls day today with DD1 and DGD.We had a takeaway meal from a local restaurant and then went shopping.DH stayed at DD’s house with Henry for a boys day!

I am feeling a bit washed out today as I didn’t sleep much last night.I read a really heartbreaking article about a young man who died of anaphylaxis and it made me realise how difficult life will be for Henry in the big wide world.He is so protected at the moment being looked after by parents and grandparents.The family of the young man are pretty amazing, they are campaigning for better labelling re allergies on menus.So brave of them after losing their dear son.

TOYA and hope everyone has a good evening.

Nannytopsy, how lovely to hear from you! I do read The Kitchen but don’t always have anything interesting to add. Our weather in South London is wet and a tad miserable but things are getting back to normal and that’s a real bonus.

A brief update tonight. I've spent most of the day drifting in and out of sleep. Just about managed 4 hours last night.

Had a text from my dear son last night.? I wish I had some positive news to report about his job search and granddaughter's hospital consultation but I haven't. He awaits a call at the end of the week and fingers crossed he will be asked for a second interview. No luck with the others. Hospital visit for granddaughter is in 2 weeks.

Two very wet walks with Mya today and hoping for drier ones tomorrow.

‘Evening All’.

Apart from going for my 2nd vaxx at 10am it has been a very quiet day here at Urmston Towers. Himself made a chilli for tomorrow then watched the qualifying rounds of the Grand Prix - which I think is like Scalextric for adults.

Now I find I’m multi-tasking. On here to say ‘hi’ whilst putting my two penn’orth into one of the political threads (fool that I am) plus really enjoying a film on SKY Cinema with Helen Mirren called ‘The 100 Foot Journey’ which I set in the beautiful French countryside. She owns a Michelin starred restaurant and an Indian family set up ‘Maison Mumbai’ curry house directly opposite. It’s a joy to watch. Has anyone seen it? I would highly recommend it.

Hope we all enjoy a peaceful night ahead. Especially you tonight Susan56. All will be well. You’ll see. x

P.s. the credits have just rolled. It’s a 2014 film.
Produced by Steven Speilberg & Oprah Winfrey. ✅

Susan and muse lack of sleep is so debilitating, I feel for you both, hoping tonight is better.
Good you’ve been enjoying your birthday corner it’s been miserable weather all day here. annodomini I tackle celeriac like a swede, sort of carve off the skin with it flat down on a board, get the majority off then lop off the missed bits.
Urmostongran I’ve watched it, lovely film, could easily watch it again. I am following the posts in political, from the sideline!
Mr J is watching golf while I’m studiously avoiding watching my football team.
Enjoy the rest of your evening people.

Urmstongran that film is a favourite here ??

Loved that film Urms.
We watched The Sound of Metal this evening. A bit weird to start with. DH kept fiddling with the sound until we realised that it was supposed to be like that as you were inside the main character's head. Thought provoking and hardly any heavy metal music!

We watched that the other night Pitt. It seemed fitting that it ended in France as it felt a bit like a French film.

I cannot believe I have the French doors open in the kitchen rather than the central heating switched on. The sun is out but rain is forecast. I am taking advantage and hanging clothes outside.

I did not surface until 9 am today-nowhere to go and all day to get there.

Hellogirl I do hope you manage to get that gorgeous fellow home soon and he can settle down. I wonder what his background is- I hope he was not abandoned for a younger model as many are.
TOYA

Billy is being delivered here on Tuesday, around lunchtime. He has quite a chequered history. The lady he was with died the other week, unfortunately, but he hadn`t always been with her. 2 years ago she was having mental health problems and was going into a home, so she signed Billy over to the CPL. They scanned him and found he was microchipped, but not to that lady, but to an address further along her road. When asked about it, she said he`d been hanging around a lot, looking lost and hungry, so she started to feed him and he eventually moved in with her. The CPL asked at his original home, and he`d gone missing a couple of years before. He went back to his old home, but didn`t settle and kept fighting his sister, so he came back to the CPL, and as the other lady had changed her mind about the home, he was returned to her, where he stayed till she died. Sorry, that was a bit long winded!

Now, a belated Happy Birthday Corner, sorry I missed it yesterday.

A bright and breezy good afternoon to all our dear Kitcheners.

Hellogirl Mr Soop and I are feeling almost as excited as you are. Billy will be loved. You will be very happy to have his company. Your home will be complete, once again.

muse I am disappointed on your behalf. Surely the time is nigh for your son to have a taste of good fortune. If I could wave a wand and wish your worries away, I most certainly would.

corner Sorry, I also missed your birthday. Belated greetings from Kintyre.

Pittcity I haven't seen the film to which you refer. It sonds interesting.

I loved that film too Urmston.

Good afternoon kitcheners. I haven’t enjoyed the recent cold damp days, but today is dry and we’ve been able to get out and start tidying the garden. We’re having a big change out there with a new shed and wildlife pond and a sitooterie. I thought I’d probably be without garden colour this year as much has been dug up, but Mr. B just showed me these, hiding at the bottom of the garden.

As long as Billy is healthy you can give him time and lots of attention and I think he’ll become the adorable cat you deserve Hellogirl.
Our rescue cat had 2 homes before we got her and she was very skittish at the start but she is right in the middle of our family life now and she’s given us much joy.
She loves to be wherever we are. I’m sure Billy will respond to your loving care similarly.
Bet you can’t wait for him to arrive? ?‍⬛ ?

Those bluebells are a gorgeous splash of colour in your garden Blossoming
That’s a new word I’ve learnt today - a sitooterie . Love it.

If you’re ever in Gairloch Puzzler61 pay a visit to The Sitooterie. It’s such a restorative place to sit and watch wildlife. My pond won’t be as big as that though

www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/community-and-place/its-your-neighbourhood/enter-its-your-neighbourhood/2020-21-entrants/gairloch-sitooterie-wildlife-observation-garden/

Good afternoon kitcheners. I have a sitooterie, Blossoming. It's been a bit too cool for me to use, plus the wasp and spider attack put me off! I've just laid three stepping stones and planted strawberries, lettuce, parsley and chives in pots. I'm off to sort out nasturtium seeds. I bought sweetpeas in a willow pot with supports. On Tuesday my greenhouse should arrive and I can sort out my tomato seedlings. It's all go.

That’s such a worthwhile thing for a community to do. A wasteland has become a beauty spot.
Thank you for the info. Blossoming.
My BIL has just made a pond during the last year as my sister always wanted one. It has already become home to many insects, plants and some frogspawn has been carefully placed in it. The latest tweek BIL has done is a pebble ‘beach’ going into it from one side.
Good Luck with your project ?