Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for kindly folk.

I am just popping in to say I have been up and dressed today for the first time since Tuesday.
I went back to lie on my bed for a couple of hours this afternoon and will soon be ready to go back.
I am now thinking I have had a mild dose of flu.
Not the full blown version, anyone who has had “proper “ flu could not mistake it but I think it is more than a cold.
I suppose long times with little contact reduces one’s ability to fight things off and my age doesn’t help.
I have to gird my loins for the decorators tomorrow and my GD is back to work after a weeks holiday.
I shall only be able to sit about but that is ok as its hall, stairs and landing so confined to living room.
Absolutely no appetite so just snacks needed.
A real saga with the curtains, too long for the telling now but it took hours over two days to get them up.
I know others have had this virus thing or are nursing family members with it, you all have my sympathy and my very best wishes.

Enjoy your trip away to Hastings Jax it’ll be good catching up with the family there too I guess - hope you all have a lovely time together

Pleased that you eventually got your phone sorted SueD what a palaver with Amazon! Argos is one of those stores that always comes in handy. I must have a look out at our local Dobbies for the sticky toffee pudding cheesecake as it sounds yummy!

Your stepfather sounds so nice Urmston how lovely that you spend so much time together

We’re in Edinburgh just now, the journey down from Inverness was straightforward and easy and we’re just back from a lovely very late lunch or an early dinner. Not sure which but I really enjoyed it. Tomorrow we’re attending a memorial service and then back to Edinburgh tomorrow evening.

It sounds like you’ve had a really lovely trip away Nannytopsy - happy memories made ?

GrannySomerset I too am pleased you’ve had some assistance, easing your back as well. What a palaver with your phones Sue, hopefully resolved now. What a gentle man Urmstongran, I’d imagine being an important part of his life is a privilege, not a burden.
Pretty lazy here, been out for a drizzly walk, now we’re watching football, cottage pie later, I want no leftovers as we’re off to Hastings tomorrow. DD and GC’s are there for the week, us for two nights, l. room should be decorated on our return. Not sure if there are any cake specialities in Hastings for the kitchen, that’ll be my quest!
Enjoy the rest of Sunday all x

Well! We went away on Thursday to an area with poor WIFI. It has taken me all day to read the eight pages I found this morning!
We have ‘done’ Canterbury Cathedral, 2 National Trust properties, Whitstable, dinner with DD & SiL, a farmer’s market and IKEA so now we are home for a rest!
There are cheese and potato pasties warming in the Aga if anyone is interested? No cake but we do have a packet of chocolate Hobnobs!
Sleep well everyone. ?

That's lovely urmston.

I'm jealous of your roast pork corner. I bought a big pork joint for this weekend's visitors but, as Covid put a stop to that, the pork went into the freezer and a small lamb joint came out.

kalu, I can make a mess with the papers all on my own.

TOYA

‘Evening All’.

We’ve had a lovely afternoon with my stepfather. Hes in his 90th year and is such a lovely man. He was married to my mum for 25y. He sat down to his plate of dinner and said ‘I was married to your mum, into this family and would hate to be a burden to any of you now’.

WHAT⁉️

We strenuously reassured him that his company is very much valued and enjoyed. It’s been almost 4y since my mum died. I miss her every day. She would be delighted to see we still sit together for Sunday lunch. It’s what we do.

Sweetie Pie has entered the utility room. I've washing to take out of the machine. A very messy so-called studio to tidy. And I need a wee. After which, feet up, read the newspaper and look forward to a G&T at 9 o'clock.

I wish that the day was just a little longer. It isn't. I have duties to perform and that, my dears, is that. So, until we meet again tomorrow (I trust) I wish you all a pleasant and peaceful Sunday evening.

If a clear conscience is the trick to sleeping well charley mine must be the opposite. I don’t manage more than two hours at a time. Averaging four or five hours a night for weeks. Frustrating? You bet! Memo to self, work on acquiring a clear conscience .

You sound more relaxed grannysomerset, good for you for sharing the load with the family. Pleased the phone issues were sorted sued, something similar here with an iron rumbles on.

Best be off, need to begin kitchen duties, the pork roasting in the oven is telling me it needs some vegetables to go with it

TOYA. Take care everyone.

Lucky you having an empty kitty. DH has Sunday papers all over the place making the sitting room now looking decidedly untidy. I am trying to ignore the mess he is completely oblivious to.

Good luck at the easel Soop. DH’s artwork is a complete guddle, another room he makes untidy! Still trying to teach him the mantra of tidy up when you are finished, something even the children managed to do. ?

You lovely lot are the best.

Back to the easel.

Marydoll I am pleased to see you are resting even if the papers remain unread.

I could definitely type MacSoop easier than MacSporran but I will bow to his wishes if he prefers Mr. Soop.

I had a snooze earlier and I also am trying to remain awake. How I also sleep at night is beyond me. I must have a clear conscience. Thank you, no comments required. I know my place in life and that is in the doghouse.

I'm trying to stay awake too, Kitty. The sun is shining into the conservatory and I keep dozing off. The papers remain unread.

I shall be polite (well try to) use Mr Soop.
I was going to suggest, MacSoop, but that would not go down well, I suspect.

Every time I read his name, I have a picture of a very happy and loving Mr and Mrs Soop in Edinburgh, totally bemused by my shenanigans with Santa!

I think Mc/MacSporran suits MrSoop but we must bow to his wishes.

I have an 'empty' so am just reading the papers. Please try to to wake me when I doze off?

Oh yes, MacSporran has been around for many years. soop, some of us have been in the kitchen for more years than we care to remember.
TOYA

Sunny day here which means I can do more garden tidying, also means, housework will have to wait!

Sticky toffee pudding cheesecake sounds divine Sue I will make a point of trying to find it!
Glad to hear you had some help *GrannyS. It must make a huge difference for you.

Going back a fair bit Galen but you have jogged my memory of said photo and the arrival of MacSporran.

Your secret is safe Soop ?. Dina fash. ?

Galen You are a TYKE! Mr Soop doesn't know that I shared it with you. Gulp!

I remember the photo that started the Macsporran name ?

Good morning dear Kitcheners. I’m glad you now have working phones SueD. What a faff with the faulty ones though. Good that you have some help from the family GrannyS, is the new bed helping?

It’s dark, damp and chilly here, a day for snuggling up indoors with a good book, a blanket, a mug of tea and some homemade shortbread. Have a lovely Sunday all.

Glad you had a good day grannySomerset. Is the bed working out well? Really pleased that you have the help of your family.

A busy day with DD and DSiL here. Dan has completed the list of jobs I had thoughtfully prepared and I am so grateful. DD entertained her father and cooked a delicious supper and I had a long lie down and my back appreciated it no end. Lovely to share the load a bit.

What with family history (mine is a long line of Somerset ag labs on one side and Irish peasants on the other), delightful dogs and talk of cake I am entirely confused so will wish the Kitchen sweet dreams.

Thank you for all your lovely posts about my friend. She certainly had closer friends than me but we had known each other for 15+ years and you know how someone becomes a part of your landscape? That’s how we were. ❤️

It’s been a busy couple of days, with ds2 arriving yesterday to visit his sister and the new baby. Apparently, the baby’s arrival has set up a clamour from his own 7yo as to how they could acquire a baby of their own! ? The 4yo has been noticeably silent on the matter.

I seem to have spent much of this week entangled with the machinations of getting a new house phone. We need one because our mobile signal is so poor. I sent for one (well, a set of three) from that company names after a river. When it and a book I’d ordered arrived covered in a sticky brown liquid (no, I didn’t taste it!) they both had to be returned. That was quite a convoluted affair because our rural situation means only one option for returning it was available and that only on a Thursday between 4-7pm. .

Anyway, the items were re-ordered and the book was fine, but the one of the three handsets didn’t work so the whole lot is having to be returned again. Sigh. I wasn’t prepared to wait any longer so I found the item at an Argos in Aberdeen and went to pick it up this afternoon (40 mile round trip). When I got there, they couldn’t find it…argh!…but a search using my name rather than the order number eventually located it. So, the new phones are now on charge.

I’ve repackaged the faulty ones but because they’re now running out of charge, they keep beeping and we’ve had to resort to burying them in a room we don’t much use! It’s going to be a long week until next Thursday!

One perk of my afternoon trip was a visit to a Dobbie’s garden centre for a fortifying cup of coffee and a cake. A new discovery for me - sticky toffee pudding cheese cake! I’ve ordered a hundredweight to be sent to Soops kitchen!

Maw your doggies are so lovely. ?

I’m so sorry about Ollie the kitten, Susan. It’s heartbreaking.

kittyLester that’s very cheeky about the stair gate!

I hadn’t realised MrSoop had history with his name! I think Mr Soop is easier for me to type.

Speaking of history, I enjoyed reading about your family histories here. The magical thing is that unless you’re siblings, no two histories are the same! I’ve traced my dad’s side back to 1688. Well, I say I. Actually, someone else did the hard graft and generously shared it with me. No royalty, though, mostly blacksmiths and bakers and labourers. Though I guess a baker means cake, doesn’t it…..

Goodnight all, sweet dreams. X

A wonderful lazy day. Started knitting another pouffe but with cord this time as the previous one, using wool, spread to something three people could share! Grand Prix ? and watched a very good French film, Happy End. Too much iced ginger cake, but that’s allowed on a Saturday. ?

I shall refer to your Mr Wonderful as Mr. Soop as is his preference now dear Soop.

Goodnight all, pleasant dreams.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202110/medium-841517-e438f3cf-9bf9-404c-ac54-45301a67d719.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202110/medium-80718-bd27d043-11b0-40cb-9665-8be6dc6868e7.jpeg

Hellogirl1

Maw, correct me if wrong, but doesn`t Rosie look like Gracie?

She does Hellogirl !
Sometimes I find myself calling her Gracie by mistake (but then I often used to get our girls’ names mixed up, so no change there!)
With a rescue /retired dog you get no say over the colour, it’s a bit like your own baby’s hair colour- luck of the draw.
Rosie (top)

Gracie (bottom)

Thanks, Urmstongran - that book looks interesting - I often enjoy the books you recommend. Still on The Vanishing Half at the moment.