*Soop's* ever welcoming kitchen for kindly folk.

Sorry you had a down start to the day Ann but hope your spirits are much lifted now. Have a wonderful time in Nottingham and I'm sure your GD will ensure the installation of the new windows and door goes well.

Hello chicken. What a drama next door. Baker looks very comfortable. I have a favourite Mary Berry biscuit recipe too: double chocolate cookies. Thank you for yours.

soop. How are you? Hope you are over that UTI. I am behaving myself?? If you can remember my encounter with the lady at Pilates going on and on remarking about me being tall. Well, I encountered a GN thread about height the other day. My post was well accepted.

Call from DS yesterday. His first day with the new job today. All the projects are in Europe so??all is safe.

My injury is mending and I do the pilates stretches daily that the tutor showed me last Thursday.

Build work looks like slowing down. I'd like the water supply sorted out next, then the plumber can be contacted again. It's well over a year since he came to do the 1st fix. I suspect MrM will want to do the power next though. We will chat tonight.

I'm off to get a glass of wine?so I can toast and wish that lovely lady, Ann a Happy Birthday.

Hope the day got brighter ann and you have a glass of something to celebrate with this evening. A huge happy birthday from me to add to the other good wishes. Enjoy every bit of your time with your friend, you deserve a treat.

Many Happy Returns of the Day Ann, and remember, Monday`s child is fair of face. Have a lovely time in Nottingham.
Soop, you and Mr Soop, do take care on that picturesque, but long and winding road tomorrow. Try to ignore the scenery, although it is difficult..
I have to remember to post birthday greetings to 2 friends on 2 different forums for tomorrow, before I go to bed.
Over the last few weeks I`ve been watching the progress of stork chicks in a nest in Bavaria, and they`re almost ready to depart the nest for good, it`s been fascinating. They`re on the top of a brewery chimney in Rottenbach, but the nest keeps getting all wet and soggy when it rains, I feel so sorry for them.
TOYA

Bit unsettled feeling here, just heard that our DGD has tested positive for Covid. She was slightly unwell Saturday, had a restless night, then had a temperature on Sunday. They did a lateral flow test at home, then to a drive-through test centre, both positive. ( the rest of them were negative).
Unfortunately their whole family of 5 need to self-isolate for 10 days. It's difficult with work & school.
DGD is the youngest child of DS & DiL, she is 12 & has special needs, so all very worrying stressful.

At the moment she doesn't seem too ill, but, as you can imagine, it's very challenging.

Take Care, dear friends. x

gillgran, good wishes for your DGDs recovery.We never stop worrying about them do we. My grandchild worry at the moment is not about illness but about safety as DGS1's first posting is in Afghanistan.I dread listening to news bulletins with accounts of Taliban advances. He's in Kabul.

Gillgran and chicken.

Hope your precious grandchildren stay safe and well.

Grannmarie, thank you.

Evening all ( to borrow Urmstongran’s line). I’m sitting with a nearly 8 year old who claims he can’t get to sleep but has gone out like a light! Parents at work so we have overnight guests. Once this is written I shall be downstairs for my coffee!

Hope your day went well Ann and enjoy your trip. Positive thoughts to Gillgran & Chicken. Our neighbour was posted to Somalia last week for 9 months.
Well, there are chocolate brownies by the Aga.
Sleep tight everyone

Oh dear , my sticky ginger cake sank in the middle and looks like a trodden cow pat! However it tastes fabulous!! I think it sank because I made it in a loaf tin rather than a shallower traybake. Anyway my sister in law and I enjoyed a slice with a cup of tea and decide! d to nickname it cow pat cake!! Hmmm

gillgran. I hope your DGD makes a full recovery and soon.
MrM’s son got in touch with us last week. GD and wife had been very ill and tested positive. Son and GS were negative but had to self isolate. GS has autism so son had had a very tough 10 days. They are over it all now but it was such a shock to hear. You feel so helpless. You take care.

Greetings from a sunny Wales and the forecasters tell us there is warmer weather up ahead.

Time is now dragging as I do believe I have managed to complete the marathon of paperwork,not at all my forte.

Yesterday was a special day as two friends from this complex took me over to see and sit awhile with my beloved in the Funeral Parlour.
I needed to see him at peace as a lasting memory away from the trauma of Hospital,and yes it proved quite cathartic.
My friends then had arranged to have tea in a local tea room to mark this as a special occasion.
So you see how thoughtful and kind they are,making this sad experience easier for me.

However I need to have this final farewell now as time is getting tedious.
I hope that I still have enough strength left to cope with this next big day.

Dear friends thinking of you, and wishing you well in health and spirits.

Dear Panache, I don`t know whether I should say this or not, I would hate to upset you more, but the night following my husband`s funeral, I slept better than I had in ages, perhaps because a lot of pressure had been removed?
I wish you all the very best x

Today would have been our 58th wedding anniversary.

Dear Panache, I'm so glad that you were able to see your dear man at peace. Now you can rest and gather the strength for that final farewell. All my best wishes to you.

Hellogirl ?

Dear Panache you have such good friends what a blessing ?
Happy birthday Chicken??thanks for your concern yesterday,I need to stop feeling sorry for myself and get on with the round of new X-rays,blood tests and appointments? I’m sure it will be worth it in the end.
Thinking of you Hellogirl?

Hellogirl ?. So far this morning me and the boy wonder have been to Aldi, been to the fish man, saw two fire engines to great excitement, been to the park where we made sand castles, fed the swans and ran around, trying to give me the slip and spent an hour in the garden. He's now sleeping and I'm knackered! ? I hope everyone is fine.

I'm pleased that you have such good, kind friends Panache, & that you found your visit yesterday helpful. Take Care, your virtual friends are sending warm wishes.

Warm thoughts for you, Hellogirl

Happy Birthday Greetings chicken, hope you have as good a day as possible.

for you all

Very Happy Birthday chicken ???.
Some comfort for you panache thoughts with you and strength for the coming days ?.
gillgran hope your DGD continuous to sail through her encounter with Covid and the family all stay well .

Happy birthday Chicken

Hi Best wishes to Panache I am sure you will find inner strength. Happy birthday Chicken. Just got back from hairdressers feel better now for a trim and blow dry. Going for a walk this afternoon to enjoy the sunshine. Enjoy the day everyone.

So sorry Chicken, I meant to wish you a Happy Birthday earlier, so, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Birthday wishes Chicken.

It is comforting to read about your dear friends Panache. Afternoon tea sounds just what you need. I'm glad you have them close by at this emotional time for you.

I make a few cow pat cakes Madgran77. They're lovely and sticky. Perfect with Cornish icecream.

Glorious weather here today. Just about to do a 2nd walk with Mya through the woods. Managed our normal walk this morning. First time in two weeks. Will take a look at the polytunnel on our way round. The doors are being left open all the time. Sweet corn is about 6' high. Should be signs of the cobs soon. Wish the toms would hurry up. I've tried a few new things with them. I think it's 4 years now, I've been growing toms?. Three years of blight hasn't put me off.

Hope you are OK Blosssoming and the rest has helped.
Hoping too that ann is enjoying her birthday with her friend.

Wondering how our missing GN friends are?

Hello my darlin's. Just a quick pop-in after a long and tiring day. Apart from a little weight loss, Mr Soop's lymphoma remains manageable. That's a huge relief.

Birthday greetings to dear Chicken. I hope that you have lots of fun.

Panache your post brought a lump to my throat. Yet, I sense that an inner peace is slowly but surely replacing the trauma of the last few months. You have good, kind friends. They deserve a thank you from us lot. Bless you.

And bless you, Hellogirl1.

gillgran Worrying times for your family. My good wishes for a satisfactory outcome. Please update us.

A virtual gentle hug for Yiayia.

muse You are a tyke. A very likeable tyke. You make me smile.

Blossoming Are you feeling improved? I hope so.

Grandmabatty and Nannytopsy Special Nanas. Like so many of our kitcheners, you deserve a huge thank you.

I am also hoping that ann will be enjoying her time with a dear friend.

I apologise if I've not mentioned all those of you who deserve a response. I feel very weary and need to relax.

Until tomorrow, when I should be feeling refreshed, my best wishes to you all.

Evening all,

Happy birthday Chicken hope you had a lovely day !!

Belated birthday wishes Ann hope you enjoyed your day too.

Thank you everyone for the kind words about the children's photos. I am just in the process of ordering one for my wall and we have treated the girls to one each also.

Tomorrow we plan on a trip to the forest with Sam. The weather has been so unpredictable we havent been for a few weeks so time to dust off the camera and head out.

Hope everyone is well and enjoying some warmer weather x