Soop's open-all-hours supportive kitchen for kindly folk...

Lovely flowers Aldom: so sad to hear about your brothers. Sounds like a positive appointment Yia, I hope the meds help.

I’m falling asleep now, so goodnight lovely Kitcheners, until tomorrow x

Congratulations on the new baby, Lins! ❤️

It’s good to hear you’re feeling better, GrandmaBatty, but don’t you be getting shingles from your GS! (Is that right? You can get shingles after contact with CP? Or is it that you can get CP from shingles? )

Granmarie I’ve heard of the Swedish Death Clean but I’m far too young to contemplate that. I want a tidier house and not feel overwhelmed by possessions. Also, we won’t be here forever as we’re in a rural area. The loss of all our local services means it’s not a place in which to get old.

Soop, I can assure you, I don’t have endless get up and go. You need my mum for that - at 94 she’s always changing beds, cleaning the oven, defrosting the freezer etc! I have to talk to myself severely to make myself do anything. I’d rather slouch on the sofa all day, with a cat for company. I hope your UTI fears are unfounded. That’s the last thing you need.

Aldom I’m so very sorry about your brothers. I lost my sister almost three years ago. You never really think about losing your siblings, do you? It’s a terrible blow when it happens.

Today was an adventure for us! We set out to take our four boxes of paperwork to be disposed of at a recycling centre. It was so hard to find! I followed the sat nav to begin with, then phoned the place for directions. I ended up in someone’s driveway, where there was a very fierce-sounding dog but a very kind lady who gave me more directions.

That turned out to be to an entirely different recycling centre - it seems that recycling centres are like London buses! So another phone call, where I was helpfully told that they didn’t have a sign on their entrance so not to look out for one. I spotted a waste truck enter a small road eventually and tailed it to the right place. It’s invisible from the road but it was a huge site, massive trucks with giant skips all queued up and me in my car with my four boxes. Anyway, they were very helpful so that’s another task done.

I’m ready to fall into bed now, so sweet dreams, all. Xxx

Good evening kitcheners.
GrandmaBatty so sorry to hear about your sore throat and glad it’s subsiding now. I hope it’s not the virus.
soop it’s so kind of Mr soop to update us all by email on what’s happening with you. The end of February isn’t too far away. It will come quicker than we all think.
This afternoon we went down to the seafront for a long walk. We called in a new cafe for hot chocolate. It’s the first food establishment that we’ve in for quite some time as we’ve been leading a somewhat restricted life whilst this wave of the virus has been passing. It was very nice, we sat near the crackling fire and we were quite some distance from the other few people enjoying afternoon drinks. It wasn’t a busy cafe, not at four o clock in the afternoon anyway.
Sleep well everyone.

Good evening everyone! Very cosy in here tonight. There are raspberry and coconut madeleines for you all. You will have to hurry or DGS will scoff them all ?
I met a school friend at Minsmere today and walked about 3 miles - the longest walk my dodgy knee has done in an age. Lots of good birds, including bearded tits very close to the path and a raft of scoters ( if anyone is interested!).
Sleep well everyone ?

Popped in to see how all poorly people are today. Hope your fees were unfounded soop.

Headache central here so I'll not linger. I suspect I need glasses for computer use, eye test early March will confirm or otherwise.

TOYA

Hello to everyone in the kitchen, it’s dry but with a very cold wind here in Inverness today so my pottering in the garden idea is on hold for a bit longer
I’m just back from my Fitsteps dance class which I really enjoyed and a good catch up with a different group of ladies.
Re the chicken pox Sue I’m not completely sure but I don’t think you get shingles from being in contact with chicken pox but if you’ve had chicken pox the virus stays in the body and can reactivate any time. But I do know for certain that you can get chicken pox if you’re in contact with someone with shingles as both my DGC got chicken pox when I had shingles ? Anyhow I hope your DGS isn’t too poorly with it grandmabatty and everyone else stays ok
Thanks for the madeleines nannytopsy I’ll have one after my lunch
Your afternoon out yesterday sound lovely maddy can’t beat cosying up in front of a log fire!
Hope soop is feeling a bit better today and your headache is gone soon corner
take care everyone

Hello there everyone. I'm definitely mending. Maddyone I did a pcr test which was negative so not covid, thank goodness. I visited chicken pox Charlie and family earlier. He has some more spots but is neither up not down. Suedonim You definitely can't get shingles from someone who has chicken pox as I checked. You have to have the virus dormant in your body. It is dreich outside with fine rain, which we call smirr, and it feels really raw. As well as the visit to the sick house, I have emptied my wardrobe and this afternoon I will sort out what is being kept. I have identified clothes that are going,and I'll look at all my art/craft stuff too. I have sorted out the spare room wardrobe so I am insufferably smug. No baking today, but lemon sole and chips for tea. Have a good day all.

Aldom Wishing you belated happy birthday greetings. I am also feeling sad to hear that your brother who gifted the beautiful flowers is very poorly. Cancer is a very cruel disease. A gentle hug is winging it's way from me to you.

brook I had chicken pox as a child. A few years ago, I also suffered with shingles. The chicken pox virus lies dormant for years. Occasionally I break out in herpes blisters on my lips. Herpes is the chicken pox virus.

Mr Soop is pleased to hear that "his ladies" appreciate his updates. He's wearing a huge as a result.

This afternoon, I intend watching the hour long highlights of Rafa's match in Australia. I shall be all of a flutter.

You put me to shame, SueDonim and Grandmabatty. I am under orders (from DSs) to get on with de-cluttering. I feel like sweeping everything off every surface into crates or boxes, but then what would I do with all the stuff? It's easier to sit and look at it. And as for the bundles of (often unidentifiable) photographs which seem to crop up in every drawer in every room...
Tomorrow my DGD is having her 20 week scan and they have opted to find out the sex of my first GGC. How exciting!

Thank you all for your birthday wishes and kind words. I was very spoiled on my birthday and also on the following day. I felt very loved. Take care and keep warm everyone.

Good evening everyone. A long day with my almost two year old sidekick DGD. Not working til Friday so will potter/bake/tidy on Wednesday and Thursday. Just had an ASDA delivery. Couple of odd substitutions but grateful for such a service. We had never done on line shopping prior to the pandemic. Delivery drivers have always been so friendly and helpful. Wishing all of you a peaceful evening.x

Hi all, a hectic 24 hours. Son stayed here last night as normal lift for work (at 2:30am) not possible, but from ours, another lift. Daughter hurt her eyes, had to go to eye hospital today, but GS needed a PCR test.
Anyway, after phone calls, mucking in, resolved more or less. DD has scratched cornea, antibiotic eye drops; son quiet as a mouse early this morning; awaiting PCR test result tomorrow for GS, so hard for single DD.
I still had two friends for lunch, a happy couple of hours.
I hope you’ve all had a good day. X

‘Evening All’

We’re just back up in a taxi after enjoying a delicious dinner on the marina for the last night of our holiday. A perfect ending. We’ve had a lovely 3 weeks. It’s cold here tonight though. Brr!

Just sorted out my airport handbag it’s all I carry.
Passports ✅ Apt keys for home ✅ BP tablets ✅ Purse ✅
Etc. I have a checklist, which stays in the bag so I don’t stress & never forget anything!

Glad you’ve turned a corner Grandmabatty. These viruses seem to floor everyone these days.

Till tomorrow night dear Kitcheners - from Manchester.

Have a safe, speedy journey Urms, I vicariously enjoy your news from the sun and Matt on GM, thank you.

Thanks Jax ... very kind. ?

Your ‘last night’ had been a lovely one Urmston. Another memory to store.
Eating dinner by a marina is one of my favourite pastimes too.
Have a good flight back ?? ✈️ ??

You’re right Tilly its quite beautiful, especially in the dark winter evenings when all the lights are reflected on the water.

It was very quiet down there. Not many visitors. Admittedly it’s a Tuesday night but still.... Most of the hotels are shut - not enough custom.

Safe journey home tomorrow Urms is there room in your handbag for a little bit of sunshine please ?

Good evening lovely Kitcheners. I’m very tired this evening, forgive me for not responding individually to posts. Safe journey home Urms.

TOYA

Safe journey home Urms. Good night all.

Safe travels, Urms. ✈️

Busy day again here. The man came to fix the radiator that was hanging off the wall. Another job done! Dh and I cleared out another bedroom and did more sorting through paperwork. Changed our bedlinen and did more ironing. I knew the ironing was a bad idea - I scalded my hand with the steam. Ouch!

Another man is coming in the morning to fix the inside of the roof. Lots of the panels that fit between the rafters have popped out of position. We suspect they may have come loose during Storm Arwen.

Sweet dreams everyone - I’ll leave you with a picture of my son’s cat. She was hiding down the back of the sofa from their cleaners. ❤️

Thank you to all you lovely grans for your kind congratulations on the birth of our grandchild.
Sweet photo of your son's cat SueDonim, cats seem to have featured with us today. I met some friends this morning whose 16 year old house cat had died of natural causes and a friend of DD's took possession of a two year old house cat from the Cats Protection League. Molly's owner could no longer look after her following the death of his wife - sad but Molly will have a good home.

A lovely last evening before your journey home Urm, wishing you safe travels and a smooth flight.
TOYA

Bon voyage Urms! Bring us some sunshine back!
DGS in the photo, looking just like his dad used to!
So tired today - the weekend caught up with me, but why does it feel like Sunday??
Sleep well everyone. ?