Soop's welcoming and ever supportive kitchen,

Isabella and Panache ? for the low times.

Panache, I think of you and Mr P often.Sending you prayers,love and strength.x

Good morning to you all.

Have chosen to keep a low profile as life has become just one difficulty and hardship too many.

My dear man amazes all the medics with his remarkable recoveries following a string of great issues,but of course, the lasting effects of this emotional climb up and down non stop is truly very detrimental to both my own physical and mental health.
Am truly finding each new day almost too difficult to contemplate.

I have not forgotten you all though, and wish you well,always.

Izabella...........sending some uplifts in the form of

Izabella so sorry you are feeling a bit low today, these things certainly hit us all even at the best of times, but you have much to contend with that we can only imagine.

Good morning from the Shire. Galen lovely photo - and commiserations for those with communication gremlins.

I spent a frustrating time earlier trying to 'get into' a new toilet roll. It seemed ages before I could actually unroll it, and when I did it looked as if the cat had been battling with it, claws extended. Is it just me?

A wonderful long swim yesterday followed by gardening, a brief sit in the sun (it didnt' last long) and a read

CH is still struggling. We should know more after his hospital visit later. Rather selfishly I miss his sourdough bread as none has been made for a while.

I am feeling a bit low today which is most unlike me. Probably brought on my being unable to follow and understand a conversations like I used to. Totally frustrating. I feel somewhat marginalised these days in company. Still, I still have much to be thankful for. I shall seek bluebells, birdsong and solace in mother nature and hopefully resurface renewed.

I sometimes think we live in the Kintyre of Portugal soop, we’ve been trying to WhatsApp/phone/message Grandson whose birthday it is, all day. Eventually got through earlier just as he and his partner were about to be taken out for a meal by DD and son in law. Never mind he said, “What time do you go to bed? I’ll phone you then.” I think you won’t be the only one watching Atlantic in your nightwear Urms , mind you that’s one channel that we have great problems with reception. Grandson has been swimming in the sea this morning. It looked bracing at 9°C ?

I love the Pjs aka loungewear urms - I’ll remember that when DH comments ‘pyjamas already??’ ?

Hi Doodle! ?

‘Evening All’.

I’m later than usual. ?
No plans for us as such today but it’s been lovely and sunny.

Anyway, I was scraping the potatoes (Pembrokeshire - delicious) and prepping veg to go with our lamb chops for dinner when, at 5pm Himself said ‘fancy a drink downstairs?’.

As you can imagine my lippy was applied in no time ? and off we went. One bar for a G&T then round the corner to a second, for a large glass of Sauvignon Blanc! Most enjoyable.

We’ve eaten now, my pj’s are on (aka ‘loungewear’ depending upon the time of day) and I’m about to settle down to watch SKY Atlantic - I’m really enjoying Kate Winslet in ‘Mare of ... something town’. She plays a divorced detective in small-town America, a grandma to a 4y old, roots showing in her hair with an alcoholic mother. Such a diversion from her real life glamorous self! She is such a good actress. I’m hooked already.

Wishing everyone of us has a peaceful night ahead. Life’s good. x

Hope soops internet is restored again soon - it must be really annoying. Thanks for the update Baggs?
Good luck with the book club Jaxj
Hope all goes well for your DGD tomorrow muse

Buggeration for soop again...
Day of heavy showers here, supposed to see an improvement as the week goes on, so, planting up in garden not done yet. I joined a book club a couple of weeks ago and told there would be a zoom meeting at ‘the end of May’ to discuss. Just got an email, it’ll be this Thursday, yikes, it’ll be like cramming for an exam ? thats me occupied then.
Oh muse children...they worry us, confuse us and at times irritate us, hopefully all will become clear,?for tomorrow.
I’m now going to watch not much until the Pact on at 9 which Mr J has been following with more interest than me. Have a pleasant evening all.

After nearly a full day of rain, I'm now looking out of the window and can see an almost totally blue sky with the sun about to set. I just hope tomorrow I get up and see the sun rising ?

Had all the paperwork through for the car. Quick read and signed. Picking it up in two weeks.

Text dear son to say I'm thinking of granddaughter at the hospital tomorrow. He puzzled me by saying he hadn't decided which job offer to take but one starts next week.

Take care ??

A very relaxed Grandog Galen!

Hello to you all, We've just returned home from a couple of days at the Norfolk coast. DH has been busy grass cutting on our plot. It was worth the visit, just to see the rhododendrons as we travelled past Sandringham, they are just coming out, they will be glorious in the next week or so.
Take Care, everyone

The Soops' internet connection is down again. I have been commissioned to tell You Lot. Love from soop.

Galen very relaxed and comfortable I think!

Grandpuppy

brook I have red squirrel envy. How lovely for you.

anno Well, your trip to the shops was obviously not totally in vain. Our nearest John Lewis is in Glasgow. A three plus hour trip.

Grandmabatty Your trip has obviously proved to be refreshing and relaxing.

JaxJacky Congratulations! How do you propose to spend your winnings?

Fennel Oh dear! I am so sorry to hear that one of your tumbles resulted in a fractured ankle. I am terribly unsteady and need an elbow crutch for every day walking. I was born with scoliosis of the spine. Over time, the tilt of the pelvis has resulted in one leg being weaker and shorter. As the foot turns in, it has a tendency to trip me.

Just popping in the lovely warm dry kitchen as it’s so wet in Inverness today I’m staying put, no point going for a walk or in the garden until it dries up a bit! Our little pond is almost overflowing and I might have to let some water out later, quite often in a dry summer we need to top it up but not this year
I’ve just seen the little red squirrel hopping about in the garden, they’re not bothered about the rain. I need to go and check if anything else apart from the lupins have been nibbled by rabbits overnight - will see

Apart from nearly universal rain, there seem to be plenty of well fed kitcheners tonight and those who are enjoying seeing friends and family or looking forward to it! We struggled to get going today - perhaps our week caught up with us.
Tomorrow is another day in the village hall making curtains. We should get them finished.
Sleep tight everyone! ?

We had a little relief from the rain yesterday after it had drowned my red rhododendron which looks very sad. Now the rain is back. I ventured to John Lewis today and if you expected to hear about a spending spree... well, all I bought was buttons for the jacket I'm trying to finish. Then to the less prestigious Aldi where I treated myself to a candle - one that has much the same scent as a Jo Malone fragrance.
soop, the pictures of your beach and garden are very evocative of the coastal conditions of my youth. I can almost smell the salt! Dinnae fash yersel about dressing up for your visitors. You are never less than elegant and I'm sure they will be delighted to see you whatever. I hope they encounter better weather conditions than we're having tonight when the big trees across the brook are thrashing again. Thank goodness the enormous birch has lost its pollen-laden catkins.I'm watching athletics from Gateshead where it's also cold, wet and windy. I don't know whether to feel sorrier for the athletes or the spectators!

Urms I always get strong winds after a pork dinner too

I'm home after a weekend with friends where I have been thoroughly spoiled. This is the view from the caravan. We saw pheasants, rabbits, bats, a heron and deer in the woods. I count myself fortunate to have such good friends. A cup of tea beckons.

Hi all, from a guess what, rainy, S Hants, it hasn’t stopped for the last three hours or so. We’ve been to the local, last premiership games, end of Super6, (need to Google if you want to find out ?). Anyway, I came third, £70, that’ll do.
Soop beautiful pictures reminding me of the west coast, stayed at Oban, theatre is as clear as the air all along that way.
muse plants are well watered in the garden, awaiting planting tomorrow, sun hopefully from Wednesday on.
Having had three glasses of wine (small) whilst celebrating I’m now going to eat, wishing you all a pleasant evening x.