Hello Hello Happy Kitchen Peeps !
Gosh, the speed of the Kitchen these last few days - I've already lost the plot with all the news and comings and goings. But it's better that way - we'll all put something in and take lots of what we need out. As long as that's not the last piece of cake, I'm certainly happy with that!
You're having a busy time, Susan. I was a bit put out this morning when I caught your journey description - bad weather, wet roads, a long day of kiddy minding and......a snoring DH in the car. Not the best start to a Monday but sounds as if it all went well. Feet up now, hopefully.
So, it's tomorrow Soop, your big foray into the surgical kingdom where you will hopefully turn up with a little note covered in sparkly bits and fairy dust asking that nice Surgeon to make your dreams come true. Well, if Gran Hopes won't do it this time, don't know what will. Don't think we could wish harder, hope harder or send you more love and luck. Drive safely and know we're with you all the way, dear lady. x
I've had an odd day today. A huge mixture of things but a general feeling that I've not achieved much. I was all set to drastically prune an Oleander which seems to have swallowed our barbeque area and a wall light. They are real bullies those shrubs if left unattended for a moment. A neighbour called, wanted some help complaining to the local Planners about a house near to them which has just been constructed. Well, not exactly constructed - more like thrown up and possibly will be back down again in the not too distant future. This will be due to the dire standard of building and the fact that they are already in breach of the permissions granted. So we agreed to help and fired off a mail to the local "Urbanisme" department.
Quick response saying that they had passed on our complaint to the Police!!!!! Yes, you did read that correctly. We checked and found that there would possibly be less complaints if someone resembling a Planning Officer could call on a regular basis to check that things are being done properly? And then a proper inspection on completion to ensure that it can have a building guarantee and be signed off as properly done.
But no. It seems that if there are any complaints (and with this house there are many), then it is the Police who deal with it.
Wonder what qualifications they have for such a task. We will doubtless find out soon. My own building qualifications are sadly lacking but I can certainly attest to the fact that you don't build walls by glueing the blocks together on one edge. Seriously! Saw it with my own eyes. Interestingly said 'builder''s trousers were still visible as he stood the other side of the wall, so you can imagine that there was very little bonding the blocks together. The window openings were all different sizes, but responded to a bit of a trim with various saws afterwards. As an English friend said "a proper little house that Jacques built!" We laughed, but it's not funny.
Since found that the house is actually too tall. (It gets better and it doesn't even have a roof on it yet) and so may have to be razed to the ground once all the major problems are to be eradicated. Watch this space. The builder has gone bankrupt, the 4 Kurds who were attempting to build the house spent most of their time arguing loudly and throwing equipment about and tomorrow some "experts" from Paris are being sent here to inspect the result of all those arguments. Can't wait!
I was minding my own business after an abortive trip to the bakers (closed), another bakers (closed) and buying some wonderful peppers and plums and pumpkin from the vegetable shop, when DH handed me a letter from Purina.
Oh no, I thought! Now what have I done? You'll recall my tangling with them over drugs in cat food which turned out to be my cat's own drugs - and a very embarrassed apology from moi. Well, they wrote to say they were very grateful for my detailed complaint and even more so for the explanation of the mystery which reassured them that their safeguards were in place on the shop floor. All was clearly well in cat food world. (I said that, not them!). They enclosed vouchers to fund 36 cans of cat food - a gesture not to be sniffed at - and they hope I shall continue to buy their food. So, it seems we are still friends and I'm grateful.
How lovely do the Two Sisters look meeting up for tea. Glad you had a nice chat and a trip out Hellogirl. Hope that Billy wasn't annoyed that you went back home without cake for him and that his constant snacking is a little more under control now.
Great flowers, Tilly. You always produce lovely flowers to add a finishing touch to the Kitchen corner.
Urms glad that small person is Covid-free. A relief for you as well, I should think. You can continue in your new role as British Pub Inspector for the foreseeable. Or maybe not at those prices, eh?
There seems to be a bit of a Magnum thing going on, Dusty. I'm sure you'll know that I'm a Magnum fan; soop is definitely another, brook has owned up too. Maybe we'll be reading about that soon - the great Magnum shortage in the UK. Well, maybe if it comes to a straight choice between petrol and Magnums, I'd be happy to give the fuel a miss........
Dogs you are being sensible and maybe being in bed so early (and exhausted) will enable you to avoid the risk of a Magnum overdose. Maybe! Nannagarra obviously finds that hiding in IKEA near a plate of meatballs is a better option than ice creams. I'm fond of IKEA, but I have to be feeling strong - that endless march around the whole building, when I only want a specific thing, is sometimes a march too far. Arriving at the check out tired and grumpy has to be avoided, so I only go when I feel I can take on the world. This makes me quite an infrequent customer.
Tomorrow we continue our search for a new microwave. Oooh what a waste of time and life. Impossible to find what we want in stock and in a shop, impossible to find what we want online. There are strict measurements to follow to enable it to fit where the old one sits, a French idea of a 'combi oven' is very different from the English and instead of being quite thrilled, I'm already fed up and have lost interest. Tomorrow I need to sound less ungrateful and - on the promise of lunch out - I shall put on my biggest smile behind the mask and traipse around a store until we hopefully find something suitable.
Wish me luck, folks. I may be some time........
Sleep well, everyone. Have the best day tomorrow - and may your wishes come true, Soop.
Nighty night from French France - and me. x
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