Soop's welcoming kitchen for kind and caring folk...

‘Evening All’.

I went AWOL last night. We decided to go down to Pedro’s at 8pm (7pm UK) for one then because it was so cosy inside and Nelly is a good cook, we decided to eat out. I had delicious lamb cutlets with chips. I’m avoiding mirrors.

Yesterday we had a biting wind but today has been lovely and mild. We’ve been out for the afternoon, following our noses, as you do. I’ve just put pasta on the hob and Himself is watching the Man. Utd game. I’ve just uncorked a bottle of Faustino Rioja ...
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Good evening everyone. SueDonim thanks to your enthusiasm and example I have just filled a bin bag with clothing which I will take to the recycling centre tomorrow morning. I feel liberated.
Lovely day. Quick whizz to Melrose and then went into Asda and bought fruit,veg and frozen stuff. Rarely go into a supermarket so it was a novelty. Have taken Ddog out twice today. I grin as we walk. I cannot describe his delight when I pick up his lead. He has waited almost nine months for me. Obviously he has been walked by a fabulous dog walker and DH. Just not me. I hope all of you (and your families) keep safe and healthy. Thinking of those for whom this is another difficult day.x

Dear you lovely lot, including Duncan, this afternoon's snooker match was thrilling. Both Mr Soop agree that it was sad that there had to be a loser. Tomorrow's final promises to be entertaining, after which, the Australian tennis will have me on the edge of my seat.

When all is said and done, I've been keeping out of mischief. I trust that you are suitably impressed.

Those of you who have family with Covid have my sympathy. A few family members have also been unwell with mild symptoms. Nothing dramatic. However, it is still welcome news when they report that they they are on the mend.

SueDomin Congrats on your declutter marathon. If you've any energy to spare, please drop in and lend me a hand.

anno We've all been there...too early, too late, wrong day. No matter, it's what makes us 'uman.

brook Enjoy yourselves. We are also having fish and chips this evening. Without a doubt our favourite meal.

Away to do a little more pet portrait painting. Must sort the laundry before relaxing to watch the evening's snooker. It's all go.

TOYA and sending my love.

Afternoon Duncan and BladeAnnie too. Maw and Annodomini I'm sorry to hear about covid sufferers in your families. I hope they recover fully. Urms I love to hear about your Little Miss and The Boy Wonder. My daughter went to ballet at 3 years and loved it so much she danced til she left secondary school and coached younger pupils too. Grannmarie he exhausted me!
Today has been a day of coughing so I haven't accomplished much. I have hopes for tomorrow though. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

Good afternoon from me and Duncan ?. Mr BA is still busily laying laminate in the kitchen - SiL has been to give him a hand. But we are sensibly keeping out of the way and "lounging" ?. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday - TOYA

MaybeMaw, it's quite a family affair now, isn't it! My DS1 is finally clear after ten days but his partner has been quite ill. She has been having acute abdominal pain which is one possible symptom from a veritable menu. My youngest DGS (then12) had the same thing at the beginning of the pandemic, along with headache and a rash. My nephew in Scotland has caught it -he thinks - from his two-year-old twins who had no symptoms. I can't imagine doing a LFT on toddlers!
It's a cold, dreich morning here but I must go out as a friend has just rung up to suggest meeting for coffee.

I hope your Covid patients recover quickly and completely, Maw, such a worry.

Goodness it’s been cold today. I have been hunkering down having started watching “Designated Survivor” on Netflix - and my derrière has not left the sofa all afternoon and evening!
I did have a quick FaceTime with D2 who has now got Covid as has her husband. So far Flynn is OK but who knows.
SIL is asymptomatic which is a help as D can’t even get Flynn to school assuming he stays negative. (SIL shouldn’t take him either but might be able to drop him off at one of his little friends as long as SIL stays in the car. )
Then I learned D1 now has it too but no word as yet about SIL and the children. It was bound to happen, sooner or later as D1 is a secondary Maths teacher in a large comprehensive. I am surprised she has escaped this far.
Nothing Granny can do except hope for the best. . Heigh ho.

Thanks everyone! Our journey went really well, it is a long way but we left Inverness airport this afternoon at 2.50pm, our flight landed at Bristol at 4.15pm and we were here at 7.25pm this evening so not too bad really … and we rounded the day off with fish and chips too..
We’re coming home on the sleeper next Friday night Sue so that’ll be another adventure ? Well done with your decluttering - always good to do!
Enjoy tomorrow cornergran it sounds like you’ll have a lovely family day
Hoping all covid patients are feeling much better soon

A late good evening, Soop and lovely Kitchen people!
Grandmabatty, you did well watching the wee boy ? this afternoon when you're still not 100%, put your feet up now! I'm hoping I'm feeling ok for our childcare days with DGS2 next week.
Soop, you sound in very good spirits, three more sleeps til Monday!!!?
Jaxjacky, I'm glad your covid patients are recovering, Cornergran, I hope your granddaughers' mum recovers quickly and completely. Enjoy Christmas with your Littlest!
SueD, I'm exhausted just reading your post, but I'm going to reread it several times, hoping I'll get some motivation to tackle my 'glory hole', the cupboard under the stairs!
Brook, what a journey, enjoy South Devon, it sounds idyllic.
What, no Urms this evening? That's unusual, hope all is well.
I'm getting organised for our visit to DS1'S family tomorrow, DGS1 is 15, time flies!
Wishing you all the best weekend possible.
TOYA, NNGB. ? ?

Yesterday I looked in the mirror - a mistake at the best of times - and realised I needed a haircut but couldn't find an appointment on my calendar. Counted the weeks since the previous appointment - six! I must have missed one. Phoned the hairdresser and found I should have been there yesterday. She was very understanding and slotted me in next Wednesday. Now who's a silly old bat then? The last time, I arrived an hour early.

Very sorry to hear of the loss of your cat nannytopsy. Charlie had a lovely "owner" (not sure if you ever own a cat)
Fingers crossed for you Soop.
Wrote a long newsy post for here yesterday and it disappeared. I didn't have time to rewrite it. Sorry
Worked for half a day. Glad I did. Pushed me out of my comfort zone. Need to do more of it.
Must copy you SueDonim with your amazing decluttering of clothes. I cannot possibly need eight coats.. But like your husband I can rationalise why they must be kept. TOYA

Great news soop. Fingers crossed for a fruitful visit on Monday

That’s excellent news soop. Onwards

I’m so sorry nannytopsy, Charlie was a good friend.

Enjoy being South brook. Hope todays sunshine lasts for you

Hope that bug soon passes grandmabatty. I’m finally feeling almost normal three weeks after mine began, we’ll as normal as I ever do . Look after yourself.

Good to see you n&g, all the construction agony will be worth it, honestly. Shame the little boys weren’t there to help Grampy. Well, maybe .

Had an excellent breakfast at a garden centre this morning, dropped off a bag for our hospitalised friend before some shopping in preparation for finally being able to give our Littlest his Christmas gifts tomorrow. Now his dad is over covid Littlest is bringing his minders for the afternoon and evening so a ‘special’ tea involving little crust free sandwiches and far too much cake will be required. I’m really excited, or will be once the sandwiches are cut .

Thinking covid, our former daughter in law tested positive on Thursday. We’re on standby for groceries for her and our granddaughters. Fortunately she doesn’t sound too unwell, hoping that lasts as there’s little else we can safely do for them.

Take care everyone. TOYA.

That’s a long trip, Brooke! It reminds me of the days when I used to take my boys from Inverness to London on the sleeper and the car on Motorail. I don’t think much sleep was ever had, though.

The farthest I’ve been today is to our excellent chippy, where I ordered fish & chip suppers all round - they’re expecting you so go and grab yours! ? ?

We’ve resumed decluttering. Today we tackled the cupboard in the hall. Most of it has been assigned to the rubbish bin or recycling. Then, because I’d started and didn’t want to stop, we went through the porch, with its accumulation of coats and shoes. My Dh couldn’t decide which of his five coats to let go. Seemingly, they are each worn for precise purposes and are not interchangeable. I have put aside for charity everything I haven’t worn for two years and that has made a lot of space. I also reduced my pairs of shoes and got permission from my girls to dispose of shoes they’d left here.

Then onto the study, which is scary stuff! ? A six foot bookcase has been reduced to two boxes of books and I’m now going through toys etc deciding what to keep and what to pass on. Tomorrow will be a day of offloading stuff to charity shops and recycling, I think!

Have a lovely evening, all. Xx

Have a wonderful time brook, you’ve travelled a long way! A lovely sunny day here today, I had a walk earlier, thinking of Spring, but I know too well Winter’s not done yet.Tesco delivered everything ordered, the temperature is dropping, so the beef casserole will go down well soon. Missing Yia especially her diamond art, hope you are well lady.
Son and GF are recovering from Covid, he has a cough which is irritating him, a lot of others are worse off.
Have a gentle Friday evening all x

Thank you grandmabatty!

Sounds lovely Brook. Enjoy.

Just to say hello to everyone in the kitchen this evening - I’ve left a few cheesy nibbles and wine on the side seen as it’s Friday …
So pleased Sweetie Pie has decided to visit you again soop she definitely likes the 5* facilities at yours!
We’re almost at our little seaside cottage in South Devon just outside Teignmouth. We came down on the Inverness to Bristol flight and then the train. Looking forward to a change of scenery and some lovely coastal walks - I’ve got my very warm bobble hat, scarf and gloves to keep those chills away!
Hope you’re better soon grandmabatty I’m always getting colds and things from the DGC too but I did get my own back a couple of years ago when I gave them both chicken pox when I had shingles.. I’ve never heard the end of it!

Good afternoon dear kitcheners. soop - wonderful news indeed ? Nannytopsy may little Charlie run free over Rainbow Bridge ?. A quiet day for me catching my breath after a busy week. Have a pleasant Friday evening everyone

I have enjoyed a productive day. Nothing too strenuous. Responding to friends who have been sending messages recently. Putting a wash on a new portrait. Lolling in front of the tele' and watching snooker. A little housework (nothing to brag about) and thanking my lucky stars that I have the loveliest virtual friends in our virtual kitchen. You have all made a huge difference to my sense of well-being. Your kindness goes everywhere with me

Sweetie Pie has spent much of the day sitting on her rug in the utility room. I have lost count of the number of meals she has enjoyed since breakfast time. No matter, she is more than welcome to share our hospitality.

TOYA

Still dizzy and have a gungy eye, as well as the cough to contend with, but I had dgs1 for four and a half hours this afternoon. Dd brought dgs2 when she came to pick him up but I kept well away. Hopefully I won't have passed anything on. I secretly think I got this bug from them in the first place ?. I am exhausted but in a good way. Pie and beans for tea and then a cherry yoghurt. Adieu mes amies.

Nannytopsy Your Charlie was greatly loved and he, in turn, rewarded you with his long and happy life shared with you.

Sorry to hear your sad news about your cat, Charlie, Nannytopsy, I'm sure you will have some happy memories from all those years.

Pleased that soop has an appointment in readiness for your much needed surgery.

Warm wishes to you all, especially those with extra problems.

Nannytopsy I'm sorry to hear about Charlie. It's hard to let pets go, isn't it? ? Tillytrotter no offence was taken by me at all ? I like that saying - it's not one I know. I'm less dizzy than I was, thank goodness. I'm off to Aldi in a while for toddler supplies. Have a good day all.