Soop's newest kitchen for the gathering of kindly folk.

Such a shame grandmabatty you must feel really disappointed, what havoc that wind has caused ☹️

Safe journey Urms for tomorrow

Yia ?

‘Evening All’

We are just back up by taxi from the marina having enjoyed fat steaks with a salad and sharing a bottle of Ribera wine. Himself likes a fillet done ‘rare’ and I choose rib eye medium-to-well. They do say opposites attract ha! Our flight tomorrow means we should be home in Urmston around 9pm. The kettle will go on and buttered hot toast will be made. Till then dear kitcheners.
?

Ps I’ve just realised that most of my posts are about food and wine, hehe! I don’t have many hobbies ...

Well done Mamaa for paying attention at the back. Your certificate is in the post.

Stunning garden, Brook.

I see that, as per, I've a great many messages to catch up with. It's been a busy afternoon and here I am needing to log off until tomorrow.

TOYA and hoping to be better informed once I've spent time reading through all your posts. Until then

Sun and cloud but mild here today.
The paella looks great Urmstrongran enjoy.
Having a quiet day need to pace myself sometimes.DDL has been to visit her dad this afternoon he was awake but not really responsive,she said the staff are lovely and very caring so he’s definitely in the right place.
We are going to Greece in mid June Jax counting the days already.
Enjoy your evening everyone.

Brook what a glorious garden and wonderful outlook you have. My best friend was actually scrolling through Facebook and playing on wordle the other night whilst in my company. I must be so boring!
Grandmabatty how disappointing for you after your hard work in the garden. Enjoy the cinema.
JaxJacky we have an M&S food hall just a ten minute walk from our house all bets are off when I’m in there. Love it.

Hi again everyone, we’ve been over to an outlet place today and I’ve bought some one size fits all tops, the linen type,elasticated waist white trousers and a new swimsuit for holidays next week. Since I’ve been on holiday 2 years ago I’ve put a stone on so nothing fitted. Like alot of us I’m struggling to shift it. Honest I do have good intentions.
When my sister got dressed today I admired her trousers and she said they are called magic trousers have you heard of them. Oh yes I have I said.
Bless her she had a terrible push bike accident in 2020 doing alot of damage so because of a lack of mobility she has put weight on so wears a lot of oversized floaty tops and loose trousers. But always looks really nice.
She did tell me the website she gets them from. But I can’t remember.

Urmstongran I would love that seafood paella you had but DH has a shellfish allergy so always have to have a mixed meat one instead. It looks so yum. Enjoy your final evening and hope some lovely wine will be enjoyed.
Speak soon everyone and have a lovely evening. X

I'm heading out to the cinema soon but I'm very disgruntled. My pop up greenhouse has popped off and is beyond repair. We've had really windy weather today and that's what's done for it. I think my tomato plants are gonners. And something has nibbled on my gooseberry bush. I'm not a happy planter!

Hi kitchen pals just in from the garden, it’s windy today but apart from a few spots of rain it’s stayed dry. Theres lots of gorse out in flower in the wood at the end of the garden, I really love the vibrant yellow colour
Last nights dinner looks very good Urms like grandmabatty I’m not a lover of seafood but it does look very good!
Good to hear you’re feeling motivated again Blossoming well done so far, it can’t be easy. Everyone is different but for me it was exercise that made the difference. Trouble is it makes you hungry though!
Agree about the phones Shazza I try to avoid using mine in company - don’t always manage it

They seem to be very popular soop after the recommendation from Sago, have you read the thread? There is some mention of the fit, they’re not long enough for my legs, but I’m a jeans wearer anyway, so not for me.
Garden faffing today, we did have some rain, but it was light and soon dried up, quick trip to M&S food hall trip to collect ordered shorts, a couple of things just fell into my basket, always seems to happen!
Football to watch tonight and that’ll be us.

Blossoming Repeat after us lot...you are not a Moaning Myrtle. Understood? Good!

I've been dashing away with the smoothing iron. All done and put away. Most satisfactory.

I haven't much to report. A quiet day in every respect. I keep returning to the Magic Trouser site. Still wondering whether or not to treat myself to a pair. Is the sizing about right? Helpful to know should I order a pair.

Good for you, you're back on track, Blossoming! ? ?
So many Grans agreeing with you about how difficult it is to lose weight. Me too!

Mamaa, thank you for the NHS app, I've downloaded it, entered my height, weight and waist measurement....I am now hanging my head in shame at my BMI...?!

Lockdown gains plus holiday gains....I really need to get back on track. I had joined Second Nature 12 weeks ago, low carb, low sugar healthy lifestyle app. I had lost some weight and was forming good habits, but it's hard to stay focused.

Just catching up with everyone's news in between ironing yesterday's holiday washing. Dental hygienist at 4pm, not my favourite appointment.

Urms, my favourite holiday meal, enjoy!

Grandmabatty, I hope you're feeling better!

Sweetie Pie is beautiful, Soop, a very healthy specimen. ?‍⬛
TOYA

Good afternoon lovely Kitcheners. Well, after yesterday’s disappointment I have picked myself up and dusted myself off!

This morning I stocked up on freshly frozen peeled and chopped vegetables. Fresh veg are tricky for me to deal with if they need peeling and chopping and I have the scars to prove it! Peas, broccoli and asparagus are OK as they can just be steamed without much prep. I’m going to increase my veg intake by adding some to every meal. Except porridge of course, I sprinkle fresh or frozen berries on that!

Now that the gout is under control I will build up my exercise levels.

It’s a beautiful sunny day here, so I’m off out for a walk shortly after I’ve loaded the washer. Mr. B does seem to enjoy getting muddy!

Good Morning lovely Kitcheners I’ve missed a few days with my sis visiting. I hate picking up my phone when I’m in company unless it’s important. My DS came for tea last night and he got a stern look when he picked it up at the table and said a prompt ‘oh sorry mum’
Anyway enough of that.

It’s been good to read your news this morning.
I’ll pop back later just going out but just wanted to say hi ? x

cornergran, Sorry, I must have missed your birthday,? Belated greetings from me. Sounds like you had a good weekend away.

That's a great looking meal, Urmstongran, I hope your dinner last night tasted as good as it looks.
Have a nice LWW, today.

Warm wishes for you all,

Oops, meant to say 2 pairs of Magic trousers have arrive at Chez Nous- light blue, and white.
Very nice they are too, don't look much when they arrive, but as Marydoll said they just need a quick once-over with the iron.
TBH as I wasn't going out anywhere I just put the blue pair on straight out of the packet- and the creases dropped out quite quickly...taken a leaf out of your #lazygran tutorial there Urms

Morning all, haven't read for a few evenings ( which I normally do to keep up with your 'doings') so thought I'd catch up this morning.
I too can identify with how you're feeling Urms and Blossoming- it is very disheartening.

After a 'chat' in March with the Practice nurse following my 'MOT' I decided to take myself in hand and started to use the NHS weight loss app.
Downloaded from the App store and very easy to use, counts calories in a daily diary where you input all food and drink eaten, alongside a '5 a day' record, daily exercise taken etc with tips and motivational 'stickers'.
All was going well, a steady 1-2lb loss per week until I got Covid 2 weeks ago and tbh ate what I fancied if I felt hungry-so its been a bit of a struggle to get 'back on the horse', as it were.
As I've not really been out of the house, my daily 30 mins walking has ceased too, nor have I felt up to going to my exercise class which I had been doing twice a week.
Still, I'm now trying very hard to get back in the right frame of mind, and I know it'll be a slog but I need to continue.

Here is the link if you fancy a browse
www.nhs.uk/better-health/lose-weight/

have as good a day as you can all x

Urmstongran, a mouth-watering evening meal.. I’m sure you enjoyed it.

Morning. Just back from a long weekend in a comfy hotel with friends arranged to coincide with me being a year older. Far too much food, lots of laughs and general relaxation. Not quite sure how we managed to make so many clothes dirty though. Ironing for me today.

I’ve been reading all your posts but my head being full of fibro mush I can recall very few. The weight thing is interesting, I find the same, something to do with increasing maturity is my guess.

Trying to sort an MRI for Mr C, blimey it’s hard work. Jaw issues continue, a return bout with my very kind dentist tomorrow. Other than a need to return a skirt bought in hope rather than expectation nothing much in the week ahead.

Take care everyone. Be sure I think of you all often.

I'm happy to let you enjoy it Urms! I don't like seafood. ?

Tonight’s dinner.

Hi all, Sago started the magic trousers thread a few days ago gillgran, a lot of people seem to be enamoured with them.
How depressing Blossoming, you’ve worked so hard, Urmstongran too, no answers from me.
After a morning doing oh so boring housework, I happily hoed weeds, watered, admired and hoped my plants, the vagaries of gardening, I love it though.
Dinner is done, TV on until bedtime, enjoy yours all x

Hello to you all, We're just back from a couple of days at the NW Norfolk coast, warm & sunny there.
I was delighted to have a first sighting this year of the glorious Rhododendrons, as we drove past Sandringham. This seems earlier than usual, as I normally spot them later in May.
Next time we visit they should be in full bloom.

I had my 2nd booster dose of vaccine on Saturday, ( the venue is on our way to coast!), no side affects fortunately.

SweetiePie looks in good health & well fed, soop.

I've only been "off-line" a couple of days, what are these Magic Trousers? ( to be honest, I think I need a Miracle! )

‘Evening All’

This is our penultimate night in Malaga this trip. I will have to talk to Himself at dinner - all our friends have gone home & we are ‘Billy No Mates’. No matter. (I have LWW ? tomorrow afternoon hehe!).

When I said last night that he is kind (which he is) but I’m sure many of us on here would be so in that situation. I didn’t mean to sound priggish I think I was just trying to say how aware he is of what surrounds him. Unlike me - I’m in la-la land half the time, I’d walk past people I know!

Oh Blossoming I really do feel for you. If it’s any small consolation I’m struggling too with this ‘low carb’ regime for diabetes prevention. Honestly I was so energised by it 5 weeks ago I honestly thought I’d found the Holy Grail of dieting. Well I’ve been out here 3 weeks and even with all my bluddy walking, alcohol-free days and salads coming out of my ears I’ve not lost even 1lb in weight. Aargh!!

My only consolation is I’ve cut out the cr*p so I’m eating more healthily and surely that’s a Good Thing? Maybe my blood sugars have come down (who knows?) but my weight hasn’t. It’s dispiriting.

We are just not robots I suppose.... ?
X + Y doesn’t always. = Z

I’m going to count calories instead of carbs next week. I too feel a bit fed up about it all. I’ve even only had ONE ICE CREAM on my holiday! Sigh.

Oh Blossoming I know you’ve tried so very very hard - what a disappointment for you, it should definitely have improved after everything you’ve done. Hopefully it’s just a blip and your hard work and effort will payoff soon
Try not to be disheartened, like you say, onwards and upwards, sending ?

Oh my, Soop - such self restraint around chocolate. I am in awe ...