Evening every person in the Kitchen and those who will probably sneakily post just before me!
Hope this evening finds you well? Is life getting slowly better, Corner? Do hope so.
If you have any problems with your Vet, SueD, take Charley along with you - she'll sort him out, I'm sure. Mr Soop could benefit from some support as well, since Sweetie Pie will probably be coming in for some criticism soon. Chicken for brunch? Does that cat think he's checked into The Savoy Grill? Super spoilt, I think. Or maybe it's just boys sticking together! I've not had a Vet tell me that my cat's pampered, but did once have one say mine was 'portly'. Bit rude, that. Not helped by the fact that he (cat not Vet) had one leg hanging out of the scales and resting on the table - just in case, and probably bracing himself for some personal remarks!
Are you a) bit excited or b) a bit sad, Urms - or a bit of both? You have had a lovely long break and, I'd think - given the speed that time seems to pass these days - it won't seem like 5 minutes before you're back on the 'plane heading off to the sunshine again. Have a good journey and come back safely, both. After 3 months that station is bound to need a bit of organising and will have missed you checking on the times, I would think! You can't neglect your duties forever.
I'm still beyond excited and thrilled for you soop. Not sure how you can quietly paint pusscats - my hands would be shaking just from thinking about it all. How lovely that your fellow villager is recovering so well and already feels better than she has in years. That's going to be you, I'm sure! Hope that your first sighting of the Surgeon makes you feel even more confident and happy about your life changing for the better too.
What a very pretty dress and don't you look wonderful, Yia. Even whilst you're barefoot, we can see that the dress is really meant for you. If it were me (and it's not!!!!) I'd probably not stress too much about shoes/boots/sandals/whatever in blue, if they're not easily found. The jacket looks very good on its own - or with a small matching bag? Or even some earrings in the same blue - nice dangly ones. If you can buy red shoes or sandals or have some already, I'm sure they won't detract from the outfit.
I'm terribly pleased to hear there is a rational explanation for your DD's 'dodgy' arm, Muse. Something that will at least confirm that she's no need to feel she was going mad. She had two separate and worrying problems and it's just as well she went to the hospital. Twice! Hopefully the Doctor is now determined to do the best he can to get her HRT sorted out and she'll be good as new before long. Lovely that her visit is almost upon you.
Hope too that Mr M is seeing some real improvement after all the painful treatment he is having to endure. It'll be interesting to hear what the Doppler results are and whether his treatment will then change. Don't overdo life in the meantime, either of you. You need to get your lovely new home finished - but maybe not at the expense of your health.
Better news from Switzerland, Brook? Hope so. He also needs to rest. Well done DD of Jax. Even grown ups need someone to take up arms on their behalf when they're unwell. It's so awful how, sometimes, we have to fight to get the treatment we do badly need. We'll keep everything crossed for Imogen's scan now that her Mum has secured one for her.
Hi, Hellogirl and dear Doodle. Keep missing you both.
And Grandmabatty, could you have squished in any more into your day? Lovely that you say that Thursday is a day for yourself! With the amount of work you've done, I hope you feel very satisfied. Me? I think I'd opt for another weekday - Thursday sounds a bit on the hectic side. Hello Hello to Gillgran - hope things are going well, and hi to dusty - simply beautiful photographs. Spock must think he's died and gone to heaven with all that attention, bless him.
Are you safely out of the Dentist's scary paws now, Susan? Or did I miss the end of that story?
We've had wonderful weather today and this enabled us to hide on one side of the house, out of the sun but in a lovely warm breeze and do battle with a vine and the wretched olive tree which needed to be separated from a jasmine. What a fine old mess these shrubs get into when my eye is not fully trained on them at all times. It's been too hot for any real gardening, so I do have an excuse but now we must get down to it and make sure it's all tickety boo for the changing season.
I've had a small success today since I've persuaded DH to allow a hedging company to cut our hedges before the end of the autumn. He feels it's a luxury too far when he's able to do them himself, but quite honestly I'd rather he looked after his still recovering knee, took better care of his back, and stays equipped to go out and have some fun rather than take the small risk of wielding hedge cutters, chain saws and ladders along with the endless clearing of the clippings over a couple of weeks. Two strong young men can do it this autumn instead.
We're off on a picnic tomorrow, so I'm taking to my bed to think about interesting things to put in the hamper. One of the things will be mosquito deterrent. I do sympathise with your bites, Muse. We're never able to guarantee we won't get bitten - it's just one of life's buggerations, isn't it?
Sleep well, dear Kitchen peeps. Big love to Panache - hope you're feeling stronger each day. And dear Mattie, think of you always and hope so much that you are finding a little bit of light as the days pass. Stay strong -you're much loved here. x
So, for now, nighty night from me, ? the South of France, a starlit sky and 20 degrees. ?♀️
After lunch, I must return to do my utmost to read through every post. 
Erm...I have done my best to play a mega catch-up and you lot, especially Grandmafrench, put me to shame. What more can I say? Just that, in my view, our kitchen has blossomed and is bursting with energy and unbounded support. Which is precisely what I had hoped for when I opened the first, long-ago gathering place. Sometimes I think that it will continue ad infinitum and, hopefully, still continue once I've passed over/popped my clogs/snuffed-it/died. 