Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for kindly folk.

Get well soon Henry. Hope today has been wonderful anno. Good evening kitcheners. A beautiful windy day here. Looked after my grandson til DD came home from school. DGD at nursery all day so didn't get to play with Duplo. DS home next week so will sort out his room which has become a bit of a junk yard. So looking forward to seeing him. DH on call this weekend so we will stay local (very). Thinking of you.

I have been reminiscing since my Facebook “Memories” came up with my entry for 5 November 2017

“ Done and dusted!
Down to London, R (Paw) had an MRI at the Royal Free which was like the Marie Celeste - even spaces in the car par - and back again in time for lunch.
So much less stressful being driven door to door, so thank you H and J for making it infinitely easier.”
(D and SIL used to pay for a taxi to drive us to the hospital and back when Paw could no longer manage the train to Euston)

This was our last “normal” day together - lunch, followed by a quiet and companionable afternoon - how it seems so long ago and at the same time just like yesterday. ☹️

Maw, I cannot believe it was four years ago. Definitely a bittersweet day for you. ?

Maw ?

Late tonight, just seen some brilliant fireworks over Poole harbour, a tiring day, lots of walking. It was very busy, masks on for the fireworks.
Hoping those ailing feel better soon and those sad find some joy x

Oh Maw Bonfire Night ever since must have been a time for sad reflections for you.

The date of such sadness resonates. My mum was widowed at the age of 45y. My dad was only 47y when he died. The last time they left the house together was when he attended Wythenshawe Hospital and mum was taken to ‘one side’ to have bad news broken to her. I went into labour that same afternoon and on this saddest of days their first granddaughter was born at 23:57hrs. Her birthday always reminds me of bittersweet memories of that date. 44y on.

Maw and Urms

Thinking of you Maw.
Anno, a belated Happy Birthday.
Daughter 3 and I went for our Covid boosters this afternoon.

Hellogirl that is great- have you also had your flu jab?

Aww that’s sad Urms ?

Maw and Urms?

Urmstongran what a poignant circumstance that must have been. One life ended and the other started.
Feeling relieved today because yesterday I seemed to be fighting off a UTI. We went to DS2's new house to do various tasks whilst they were at work, and to fend off the problem I was drinking glasses of water and running to the loo all day. Managed to get home before I needed to run again and took some what I call 'magic powder' in warm water which usually nips the problem in the bud. I got it from the very good health shop in town a while ago when I was in trouble at a weekend. (It's always a weekend!) DS2 and family have settled into their house well, although there are still boxes to unpack. They have a large garden now which is great for the little ones and the dog. I was pleased to see that they hadn't bought fireworks, but as we were leaving were taking the boys out in the garden to watch the displays in the sky all around. Perhaps they are going to a public display tonight - that makes sense.

Good morning all, just.
Much milder here today but a bit murky.
A very mixed week for me, I was away for two nights at the beginning with my friend.
On the last day I saw a side to her that I knew existed but had never seen for myself.
If I had been near home I think I would have got a taxi and left her but that was not practical, I kept a low profile and fumed on the way home but sent her a message saying how upset I was.
She glossed over it as me misunderstanding but it has left me upset and unsettled .
I have also parted company with my cleaner, she was fine to start with but gradually did less and less and loved to chat.
My GD would say when she had gone you couldn’t tell she had been.
It wasn’t quite like that but I felt the time had come to part ways.
Now comes the problem of finding another.
My previous one who had been with for nearly 10 years was wonderful.
They are large shoes to fill.
Finally I have a severe pain in my shoulder and neck, it goes from below my collar bone to around the back of my ear.
I wonder if stress is partly responsible.
My GD is 23 tomorrow and she, her friend and I are going out for a meal tonight.
I just hope I feel in the mood , perhaps when we get there I will relax.
What a miserable post from me, all my woes are out there.
I hope all of you will have better days and enjoy the weekend.

Oh annsixty I’m sorry to hear about your upset with your friend. It will most definitely have unsettled you if, had you been home, you'd have called a taxi and left her to it. Is she the friend you’ve been SKIing with?

Whatever, I hope a meal out with your granddaughter and her friend does the trick and lifts your spirits. x

for Maw and Urms

for annsixty

I am hoping that our *Henry is feeling very much better.

Back to the easel. So far, so good. Trusting that I shall have the gift of a wee portrait of a pussy cat ready for posting to a little lassie on Monday.

annesixty what a rubbish chain of events for you. A big let down from your friend, particularly not acknowledging it, that’s the tough bit.
I’d have a hottish shower, couple of painkillers and enjoy your evening with people that count x.

Ann, sorry that you have had such an upset with your friend.Stress could be responsible for your pain and hopefully a meal out with your GD and her friend will relax you.

soop,Henry is still not well and now DD has the same thing so it wasn’t a reaction after all.Matilda is staying with us and we are hoping that none of us catch it??

We have had a lovely relaxing day sitting in the cosy conservatory while it’s blowing a hoolie outside.DH and M have made a playmobil and Sylvanian town which covers the whole floor and I am enjoying reading.I am reading The Return by Victoria Hislop which I am really enjoying.

Ann what a ghastly experience you had. You must be drained. I hope you are looking after yourself and that the pain in your shoulder stops soon. A meal out with others may be the remedy you need.
Thoughts with Maw and Urms.
A lovely morning going to the supermarket and buying a takeaway coffee. Small stuff is enough for me these days. I get such joy from walking albeit wonkily. Wild, wet weather now. Listening to Any Answers. A couple of presents still to wrap for the big day in December. I try to do things as they arrive. Advent is such a beautiful season that I try to have done the organisational stuff by December 1st. Well, that's the idea... My best wishes to all kitcheners.

Susan56 There is a virus doing the rounds. I understand that it causes nausea.

I received a letter telling me that I have a Zoledronic acid infusion booked for Thursday afternoon. I shall be in hospital in Glasgow on that very day...over a hundred miles away. Another case of waiting for a bus when two turn up at the same time.

The wind is wild and the sea is choppy. The gulls are soaring and swooping. I would like to experience the sensation of flight on the wing. Standing upright outside the door, is more than enough for me to cope with right now.

Just popping into the sanctuary of the kitchen , it’s wild and windy outside so pleased to be home now.

What a week you’ve had annsixty I really hope your shoulder pain eases and a birthday meal out this evening with your DGD and her friend helps. I think stress can aggravate that sort of pain as it can tense the muscles up.. I hope your friend realises that she’s upset you and she can find it in her heart to apologise. And as for your cleaner well you’re paying for a service and if you’re not happy then its time to move on.

Today I took DGD to her dance class and then a did few jobs in town. The heavens opened and I’d forgotten an umbrella so I got soaked whilst walking to pick her up. I would have sheltered somewhere but then I would have been late for the pickup. After the dance class we usually meet up with DD2 and walk to get lunch somewhere but it was far too wet today. So a change of plan - we got a drive through McDonald’s for everyone (oh no ?) and took it back home instead. I can report back though that DGS who was such a terror for me earlier in the week was a delight today, that’s because him mum was there and she doesn’t take any nonsense!
After lunch DH and I decided to go for a coffee and a chill out at a local garden centre but the queue for the cafe was ridiculous so we changed our mind and came home instead ? … think we’ll have an early tea and settle in now for the evening

My youngest DGS in Cambridge loves Playmobil too Susan and spends many an hour building his little sets up - so cute!

Well done in getting organised early dogsmakemesmile I’m going to try to do the same this year - like you say, that’s the idea anyhow

That’s just typical soop so frustrating, I hope you can rearrange your infusion appointment
I know what you mean about birds soaring and swooping - I’d love to experience that sensation too - it must be magical!

I have enjoyed today's portrait painting session.

I can hear a loud whirring noise which I cannot identify. I suspect that Mr Soop is up to something and I need to investigate. There is no telling what I shall discover. He won't be up a ladder. That's forbidden.

I am wishing all our Kitcheners a pleasant Saturday evening. I shall raise a G&T to your health at 9 o'clock precisely.

‘Evening All’.

I’ve had a lovely day. Doing nothing much. Wild & woolly here so had a pj day and cried (again) watching ‘Manchester by the Sea’. Great acting and the scenery is just gorgeous.

We ate early too just because we could. Charlie Bigham’s chicken jalfrezi curry, 25 minutes in the oven.
#lazygran ... with bells on.

Ann, sorry you're having so much pain. Have you been lifting something you shouldn't? A well-placed pillow should help you to get some sleep.
Had a good evening out with the family to celebrate my birthday. It was good to see most of them together, though DGD2 evidently had a prior engagement and youngest DGS 'doesn't like gatherings'! So he was at the cinema with a mate. In a couple of days, I'll move from DS2's family to DS1's home and then eventually one or other will take me home!

I’m sorry about your friend ann, tension could well make the pain worse, when I get something similar I find heat helps the muscles relax and reduces the discomfort. A massage helps too.

for maw and urms. Memories can be painful. Our younger granddaughter was born on the anniversary of my Mum’s death. I see a lot of my Mum in her. Mixed feelings for me every year.

Two of ours were here until lunch time, they are such good company if I’d forgotten how hard it is to get them out of bed in the mornings. We were also pleased to meet their Mum’s new partner, a big if definitely positive thing for us all.

Hope you stay bug free susan and the family are over it soon.

Wild weather here too. Christmas cake baked this morning we managed to avoid the rain in the hour we were out. Lucky for once.

Hope the noise was something positive soop. I caused chaos here this morning. Deciding to tidy a high cupboard full of baking tins I knocked several out. Brought everyone running, no harm done if it did sound like a bomb going off

Feet up time now. There may even be a glass of dry white on its way. Enjoy your evening everyone.