Soop's welcoming and ever supportive kitchen,

Wowee! I'm breathless having wandered into our kitchen to discover so much friendly activity. It will take an age to catch up. I am pleased to welcome back Grandmafrench

Hello again, mrshat and ixion. It's also lovely to hear good news from Maw and Rosie.

A wise, well-balanced message from annsixty regarding the pros and cons of adopting an animal.

"Sweetie Pie" aka Fern was in her apartment earlier today. She enjoyed three, hearty breakfasts before sauntering away to wherever it is she wanted to be. We love her. She knows it. End of.

Morning all,

Glad too see the kitchen is powering on as normal.

Lots of cat talk too. Burmese are quite easy to train Galen, they are quite dog like. So start right from kitten stage and you'd surprised what you can persuade them to do. They can be kept as indoor cats ( to avoid mouse retrieval :-) ) but they tend not to stray far.

My daughter had one and although I am not really a cat person , it was the most affectionate, gentle creature. Lots of energy though and loved human company.

I think you'd enjoy the company.

Great to hear Maw is enjoying her new friend too .

?Is he here, yet? (Billy, that is!)

Yay !!! Welcome back grandmafrench we’ve all missed you !!!

Galen
Are you a worrier?
Will you keep your cat/kitten as an indoor pet?
I ask as much as I live Molly and would hate now not to have her, I still wish she had never come into my life.
Pets are a huge responsibility and a source of so much anxiety.
If Molly is out for more than half an hour I worry although really she is a home lover.
She brings mice and birds in, sometimes dead, sometimes very much alive.
Although I am much older than you I worry about her when I am no longer here.
Plans are in place of course but we are very attached and I think she will fret when I am gone.
I am told this will not happen but I can’t be convinced.
When you travel again who will have it?
Will it have to go to a cattery ?.
I am sorry for being the “downer” but these things all need your thoughts and consideration before you go ahead.
That all said they bring so much love and affection and it is another heartbeat in the home.

Lovely to see you back Grandmafrench.

Galen, my daughter has a problem with her joints and her cats feeding bowls are on a corner of the work top in the utility room by the window,The cat doesn’t have a litter tray or a cat flap.She calls when she wants letting in or out and they oblige by opening a door or window.

I think maybe a slightly older cat would be better.We had planned on getting a puppy but after we were both so ill eighteen months ago we have had to rethink.We are not sure whether we will get a dog at all now but if we do we will not get a puppy.

Sounds like the garden is going to be perfect for Mr Syn when it’s finished,I love the sound of the solar dome and the added footprints in the concrete?

Hellogirl, looking forward to seeing a picture of Billy,hope he soon settles in.

Hope you aren’t overdoing it soop.

Sending love to the Panaches.x

We are looking after Barnaby today and are to try not to let him nap?

TOYA and will call back later to catch up on all the news.

Good to see you back GrandmaFrench

Galen, DD3 has a half Burmese cat as her partner is allergic to cats. He is fine. And the cat is a real character.

I think the idea of a rescue cat is better too. We feed one of our cats on the work surface in the utility room as we had greedy dogs when he arrived.

Sureflap or Petmate cat flaps are good - ours works with the cats' chips. I think they have ones that can be operated via an app. They also have feeding bowls that are timer operated.

Go for it!!!

Yay! Lovely to have you back GrandmaFrench we’ve missed you! x

Woohoo! Grandmafrench is back!!

Evening all you Kitchen Lovelies ?

So much news on here, I can only try to catch up slowly and hope that I'm up to flying speed again soon.

Really thrilled to hear about Billy and did manage to read up about his pedigree and past adventures. Wonderful that he will now find his forever home, bless him. His photo shows him with such lovely eyes, I bet he'll settle down and be a real softy. You must be relieved after all your efforts, Hellogirl.

Galen can I put forward my 10 penn'orth - I've had cats forever - because I think if you really would like a cat to love and care for, why not? Burmese are gorgeous, but I wouldn't get a kitten of any type. Young cats are too skittish, often something to trip you up, and can never be relied upon to stick to a routine or their own home territory - and sometimes they learn the hard way!

Because I have dogs that will eat anything they possibly can, I'm unable to put food of any kind out for my cats and know it won't be touched. So, my cats are fed on top of my washing machine or dryer - easy surfaces to keep perfectly clean and out of reach of canine capers. They're more than happy to jump up there when it suits them. A litter tray could be kept on a small table and in case of illness or accident, you could have a long handled poop scoop and a mop for emergencies. My cats (or rather the doors) don't have a cat flap - they did once into an outside laundry room - but I have always found cats coming and going at their leisure risked unwelcome creatures being carried in as little presents for the family, so we open the doors when requested or they stay indoors and use a litter tray, especially at night. It really sounds as if owning a cat could be workable for you if you really wanted that.

Doodle loved your hair! Also loved your Pilates vid., and the Victoria Wood aerobics one. I loved the first one - that would definitely get me exercising (on days when my ankle doesn't play up!); but Victoria Wood's one was not only hilarious but seemed it might have greater appeal - with lower standards, chances of much hysterical laughter and something to give any one of us great cheer. Wasn't she just lovely?

You do sound incredibly busy, soop. I fear you might be using my absence to sneak about unfettered by rules and promises to take it easy. Naughty girl. Does sound as if you're achieving loads and loads, though. Latest pic of you, so pretty. If you've gained a dress size, can't imagine where you're hiding that weight.....do you perhaps now have very fat earlobes? ?
Nice to hear that Fern is still being Fern. Cheeky minx.

Pleased to hear how useful you can be to Mr Syn, Syn - regarding his great clearout plan! With your help, he might just get the hang of it soon. I bet we've all spent time with other halves who can achieve great things - they actually go to the dump, finally take unwanted rubbish items out of the car and dispose of them BUT then find some bits of other man's treasure to bring home and store in the newly created space! Jax what an ice cream was that? Did you have to wear sunglasses to eat it? Do you have sun? We have had the most appalling 24 hours of storms and I had to go outside in the raging winds and sheets of rain to keep moving plant pots to safety. We've had 3 large broken pots which will have to be replaced. The plants were o.k., but only after I had to move lots into a confined space, wedge loads of them into sheltered spots with garden chairs to block them in. The thunder and lightning in the night was ....interesting and deafening and the rain didn't stop until 4.30 this afternoon. Bit odd for the end of May, but then life is so odd these days that I refuse to be surprised by any of it.

Have caught up with most of my mails and a filing basket crying out for some attention, ironing has been brought up to date, proper late Spring cleaning was going well until the rain so my enforced break away from wonderful Kitchen company has probably been worthwhile. But, I have missed you all.

Was incredibly moved by Panache's tales of real bravery and guts which she has shown by the bucketful over the last few weeks. Doodle will know what I mean. Love and hugs to her.

Muse what absolutely beautiful hair you have. Hang on in there, life will come good again for your Son, you'll see. Distract yourself meanwhile on your developing house and garden - that sounds like it will take plenty of time!!
GrandmaB your garden is so pretty - a little oasis in these difficult times. Hope you're feeling less tired. Susan too. Urms gearing up for some time away? Bet you can't wait. So pleased that so many of you are getting out and about and doing things. Hope you are all well and coping and not worrying or stressing over too much - especially children!

Hugs to everyone, including those not mentioned tonight. Take care of yourselves, sleep tight ! x

Galen How about a small kitchen step ladder with a large top step. You could put the food on top and the cat could use the steps to climb up to it.

Galen please think again because how are you going to clear up vomit in the house or if although unlikely a cat has a faecal accident or dribbles urine because he/she is unwell?
You would only need one catflap either in the front or the rear door. Again, if you want to lock the cat in or whatever the 4 way mechanism is closer to the floor and difficult to reach.

The cat will soon understand when a visit to the vet is imminent and he/she will crawl into places so low you will be unable to reach the darling. Been there, done it and got the T shirt! It is a difficult decision to make.

Enjoy your last night of freedom Hellogirl- he will love his new abode.

Galen, if you can abide the idea, you could feed him/her on a designated bit of your worktops in the kitchen. I`ve never allowed mine up there, but would if I couldn`t do it any other way.
Thank you Urmston for that great update from Maw. Rosie and she seem to be having fun together.
Thanks for all your good wishes regarding Billy`s arrival tomorrow. I hope he likes us. My daughter took me shopping tonight for "stuff" for Billy, food, bowls, cat litter.....................and a toy. I`ll oblige with a photo as soon as I can, but how soon depends on how quickly he settles down. The CPL lady is sorting out the changing of the details on his microchip, his name at the moment is Billy Sleaford, it`s being changed to Billy Boston, but when I register him at our vets he`ll be down as Billy S-----y, our surname.

I think I might like to get a Burmese kitten. They’re supposed to be hypoallergenic, so I might be ok with one. I’d have to have some doors etc fitted with cat flaps, but I suppose that can be done.
I can’t bend down, so that might be a problem with regard to feeding etc.
Does anyone have any ideas, advice etc?

Hi Doodle ??

Hello Urms ? . I ve done nothing other than go to the dentist today too. Mine was a checkup though not hygienist (I have that joy to come ?) . All very efficient and safe. I have a new dentist. Lovely lady, tiny hands which I always find helpful for a dentist.
Thank you so much for sharing Maw’s news with us, so pleased that Rosie has settled in well. She sounds a bit of a character and I’m sure much fun to be with,
Nannytopsy I hope you enjoy Line of Duty. Having watched all the others recently should help you work out what’s going on.
Take care all. Sleep well Maw and no slipper stealing Rosie ?

Synonymous what a great idea for your DH. Being able to do some gardening in his wheelchair whilst protected from the wind. I hope he enjoys it.
Hellogirl I had a quick look at Billy on the website. What a handsome chap. Nice to think that someone is going to give him a little tlc.
Wow Jaxjacky what an ice cream ?

Thanks Urmston - I have been hoping for an update for days! We are working our way through all the Line of Duty series. We have finished 5 with tea and now are starting 6. It has reminded us of the twists and turns and explains some events in 7!
We have finally finished the gravel area, spreading the half a ton of gravel that we moved last week.
Sleep tight everyone ?

Thanks Urmston .
Maw and Rosie deserve each other to live with and love and they are clearly having fun getting to know each other. ?
Good evening everyone. TOYA

What a lovely update Urmston. Lucky Rosie.

Lovely news of Maw and Rosie, Urms. Thanks for the update x

Thank you Urmstongran for that update from Maw, she’s missed, I’m pleased Rosie is settling in.

‘Evening All’.

I’ve had a very much ‘do nothing’ day today, apart from an appointment with the dental hygienist.
#lazygran

So I will instead post this message to share as I know how much Maw is missed in soops lovely comforting kitchen.

I had emailed Maw asking how she & Rosie we’re getting along? This was her reply (she gave me permission to update you all).

“Oh Rosie is being lovely - follows me round the house like, well, a dog!
Quite puppyish, she enjoys nicking slippers/trainers/pj parts and disappearing out to the lawn with them, given half a chance - so everything is kept 6’ off the ground.(And I sleep with my slippers in bed with me!) She also empties waste paper bins and enjoys shredding paper but I suspect is still at the stage of finding out what IS a toy (it squeaks) and what ISN’T (Mum squeaks)
Rosie met Luna, my daughter’s 14 month old cocker at the weekend and had passed the “good with small dogs” test with flying colours. They chased each other round and round the garden, trashing the tulips and having a wonderful time before collapsing exhausted on each other’s beds in the utility room ! “

❤️ news isn’t it?

I’m settling down this evening to watch the 2 night BBC1 drama at 9pm ‘3 Families’. I hope we all have a peaceful night ahead. x

soop glad you agree and that you are travelling the same route. It helps to know we are not the only ones!
As for ‘stuff’ Himself has been very resistant to getting anything out of the house, garden, sheds or garage and it almost seems that the longer it has been sitting gathering dust then the more precious it is to him. I have got rid of two big greenhouses and sheds and there has been much angst about all the recycling going on but having called his bluff a few times we are getting there. For example just how many rakes does one man need especially when they have been replaced with detachable handles of different lengths to be used standing or sitting and to which all kinds of different tool heads can be attached?! Now multiply that by every tool you can think of!
Going indoors now just don’t get me started on jumpers with holes in the sleeves!
DD has been such a help because it is all exhausting!