Soop's kitchen for kindly, caring folk...

Thank you Laura and Brook, we have to make the best of what we get. I’ve done my 45 minutes cycling and my Gaelic practice and very little else, so hot! It’s going to be cooler and rainy next week so I’ll catch up on housework then, or at least I’ll make an intention to

Another gorgeous sunny day here in Inverness, the early sea haar soon went and it’s been wall to wall sunshine ever since. Just in from the garden so I’ve had a cool shower and changed into clean clothes. I almost went out today to meet DD2, I got ready and everything but she had a last minute change of plan so I was dumped! Good job I don’t mind or take offence, I know going out with her mum is probably a last resort and she’ll be in touch again soon enough when she’s bored ? Anyhow I got lots more done in the garden and had an ice cream sat out in the garden with DH instead. Just about to pour two G&Ts too and pretend we’re on holiday
I hope soop is having a wonderful time with her family
I’ve not seen any spiders here for a while grandmabatty what’s the betting now that there’s going to be an enormous one hiding somewhere soon …
Blossoming you’re an inspirational lady, well done to you ?

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202208/medium-618299-453d06f7-bc2f-45dd-bef2-3830667d6aca.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202208/medium-661365-8fd77676-a90b-4f84-96cc-2b41d72929f3.jpeg

I’m back after a lovely lunch and a glass or two of red wine.

Photos of our dining table which must be almost identical to yours Ann, also half my lunch which was excellent as always though DH and I have decided that if we go to the same restaurant next week, we will share a plate of sardines which are at their best right now and have room for a dessert each.
I’ve never had an expresso martini but if it makes your hair that beautiful colour Ann then it’s about time I did. You look much younger than 81.

Naughty Neine great admiration for your adventures with the tick tool. I’m stupidly too squeamish so have to rely on DH or visiting grand son’s partner who can nip them off with her fingernails. We are dogless now so don’t have the problem anymore.

Yiayia for you and your husband. So very sad for you both, as the years have passed I have very easily come to love my remaining in-laws as my own family.

Our temperatures here in the south of Portugal seem to be lower than most of the Uk at the moment. Only 28° this afternoon, although there is an orange alert for the risk of wildfires, we haven’t got the terrible fires that the Serra da Estrella are experiencing. It’s been cloudy today which is a lot more restful for my eyes.

I’m really enjoying all the action on here, lots of joy and happiness, especially for you Blossoming having not only survived such an ordeal but giving life everything you’ve got.
I love your photo Ann, is it those cocktails that preserve those good looks.
Hope you’re all managing to find some shade, a bit of breeze here and there, a spider free zone and a long cool drink of whatever takes your fancy.

Thanks AnnSixty, your friend sounds like a wonderful lady.

Difficult day for you Blossoming but one to be very thankful to see,
Best wishes that your recovery gets better and better.
I too have been thinking about soop
I can’t recall if she had said how they were travelling.
Whichever means they used it must have been boiling hot.
However now they will be having a wonderful time in the bosom of their family.
I am going to a friend’s house this evening for our monthly takeaway, she has a beautiful garden which, aged 81, she maintains all on her own.
She says frequently, I don’t know how long I can keep it up, but somehow she does.
Hope you all have a lovely day and please, all of you, stay safe in this heat.

Good morning (just) dear Kitcheners. 13th August is always a slightly strange day for me, as it is the date I sustained my brain injury. I can’t remember much about it now but for some reason the date always pulls me up short. It’s still very hot here so Mr. B and I will spend a quiet day keeping cool and I will feel grateful for the life I’m living, thankful to the NHS workers who saved my life. I’ll still do my exercises too . In the words of Sir Terry Pratchett I still ate’nt dead

I hope Soop is having a wonderful time. Hugs to all with troubles

Now I have a few chores to do before going out to lunch and I’m looking forward to a long catch up this afternoon.

Oh I’ve so much to catch up on but before I do, I’ve just seen annsixty’s new dining table and I’ve got one the same! I love it but a warning for you Ann, beware of anyone resting a computer on it without a cloth also the same person seems to have an ability to put finger prints all over it! I still love mine after six or so years even with the scratches inflicted by DH. We’re still using a pair of Ikea chairs that really belong in the old house. I really like your chairs though so might pm you for details.

I won’t mention the spiders to MrJ, he really doesn’t like them at all, it’s my job to quietly pick them up and put them outside.
I just popped it to hope soop is having an amazing family get together, delightful.
You Blossoming are admirable and very disciplined ?

They are definitely bigger and more numerous this year, Batty. I had a gi-normous one behind my bedroom mirror an it's web had stuck the mirror to the wall.

A spider the size of a small cat has scuttled behind the TV and now I have to burn the house and leave the area. I'm not normally afeared but the size of it!!

Good evening lovely Kitcheners. It’s so lovely to read of your happy family news and baby cuddles today. It has, of course, been very hot here today. I have been to the hairdressers, done my 45 minutes cycling and 2 hours Gaelic. I don’t feel like eating when it gets this hot, have picked at leftover chilli chicken, with rye bread, some cheese, peppers and anything else in the fridge! Mr. B has found a creepy psychological thriller to watch on the iMac so that’s tonight sorted!

Sleep well everyone x

A very wise decision Jax to miss the cricket if it was 40º - phew much too hot ?
I’ve been to the gym for a cool splash around in the pool then met DH for an buy one get one free afternoon tea at the garden centre - I think everyone had the same idea as it was so busy
Then home for chicken salad with a generous G&T sat in the garden
That’s a real treat to look forward to for your 60th at NY shazza I’ve never been to Madeira but would love to go someday
I agree 100% Ann live life to the fullest and enjoy every single minute, good on you

Hi all from a cooling down now in drought S Hampshire.
You look so happy in your picture anne I’ve never had one of those drinks, a target this year.
A great day with family for at least three of you today, Shazza, topsy and Grandmabatty, my daughter came back from Weymouth today, son is off to Woolacombe Monday, so either washing or packing.
We were due to go to cricket tonight, I was pleased to get tickets as eventually it sold out, but as it was estimated 40 at the Ageas bowl our friends agreed with us, too much, watching it now there are many empty seats.
We’re just about to eat, very late, but it’s cooled down.
Enjoy your evening all x

annsixty, I love your philosophy, you are a wise, wonderful lady and I hope you enjoy life for many, many years to come.

Thank you all who commented on my photo.
I am well and I am happy and I just want to say there is life after 80, even 85, my current age.
Ii do love a cocktail and that one along with an Old Fashioned are probably my favourites.
I intend to live life to the full whilst I can.
I looked after my H for years until I could do it no more.
Now is my time and I hope you can all enjoy in your different ways.
If I could have done it with my H, so much better but we had a good life while we could.

Nannytopsy I remember saying to the midwife when my first child was born what a beautiful peachy colour she was ,for her to say yes she is jaundiced but will soon be fine.
I was shattered, to me she was the perfect baby, aren't they all?
Fergus will soon be fine.
Have the best weekeng you can everyone.

Good evening, Soop and lovely Kitchen people! ?

We had a lovely visit from DS1, DGS1 and DGD. We enjoyed lunch together and it was great to see them and spoil them a bit with gift bags of handy supplies for their return to school next week. DGS1 did really well in his exams, he studied hard for months and his success was well deserved. He was delighted with his Congratulations cards from us and his Uncles and Aunties. We are very proud of him. They are growing up so quickly now, 15 and 10.

My lovely wee car, ?, 10 years old but very low mileage, failed its MOT for the first time today! I'm seeing £££!!

Ann, what a lovely, happy birthday photo! I really like your new dining furniture, very stylish.

Neine, ????!!

Grandmabatty, Snap! I've been sitting on the garden bench with my puzzles now it's much cooler. I like the sun but I can't sit out in it for long.

TOYA, especially those with worries or illness, take care.

NNGB??

Good evening lovely Kitcheners. Wow another hot day.
We went to the coast with GS and it was cooler. We took him to a little zoo but he wanted to feed the animals stones so we left. He loved the land train and the amusements. Other kids got the benefit of all the tickets we won as GS wouldn’t get excited by them. He got frustrated in parts here and there but nothing too serious. Though DH got a little head bang off him. ?
He loved coming back here and going on the waterchute we can keep it fun be using the watering cans so no need for the hose. We are heading into a hospice ban in a couple of weeks. Oh well?‍♀️
I have him on my own mostly the next few weeks as DH has work to do.

Naughtyneine you have made me laugh with your story ‘Ned’s Nip’ hilarious ?? you can certainly tell a story lady x

Annsixty loved your picture you beautiful lady. I love being able to picture the ladies who’ve put their pic on. My Dh loves espresso martinis.

Tonight’s tea was easy I couldn’t be a****d so DH took over and made veg with lentils with sea bass over the top yum. He’s wonderful. Hoping for a comfier cooler night sleep tonight. Please ? I’m so tired.

Urmstongran I’d love to come for the fireworks one day.
Oh so excited today we are booking Madeira for the new year fireworks and I’ll be there for my 60th as well. We have been for the fireworks before. Decided to not have any parties and just go away with DH on our own.

Enjoy your evening everyone loved hearing about gatherings with friend family and lovely meals out ?x

Good evening to the kitchen. I have spent the whole day doing admin but must go outside and water and feed the tomatoes, chillies, cucumbers etc.
DH is making a quick curry for tea (using a Souce Tailor kit). I have come over very lazy lately. Baby Fergus is a little bit yellow ( a golden child ?) and a little bit dehydrated but is now feeding well and will soon be fine. Not the only deal weather to enter the world. We had lots of lovely snuggles with him and will be back next week, in between having the other DGC.
Have a good evening everyone

Good evening Kitcheners. It's been a glorious day at Batty Towers. I pottered in the garden this morning, watering, weeding and pruning. Then I sat out under the brolly doing some puzzles. The summer is my puzzle season. I don't enjoy reading outside but I can complete loads of puzzles. A surprise visit from dd and the boys for the afternoon was lovely. A couple of friends getting in touch to organise catch ups was nice too. Annsixty you look lovely. Grannysomerset that sounds like a great idea. Ramen noodles, veg stock cubes and small packs/tins of veg. Pour water from the kettle over and wait and stir. Urms will you be disturbed by the fireworks or will you watch them from the balcony?
Tomorrow I am heading to the local garden centre for some top up plants and a birthday present for mum. They have a wide selection of gifts to choose from. That, and a trip to Aldi, is all I have planned. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

I am savouring an unexpectedly lovely day. Friend for coffee and long overdue catch up, lunch out at the unexpected invitation of my neighbours, and then a video chat with DGD1 still in the US and visibly more grown up. She is so enjoying her time as a young leader at a summer camp for young musicians and has been so busy she hasn’t got time to be homesick.

Something a friend said has made me think I would like to create a short cookery book using only store cupboard ingredients for her to take to university where shared kitchens can mean that your fresh stuff gets pinched. All suggestions gratefully received!

‘Evening All’

It’s a tad cooler ... 8pm here in Malaga. I could just stay in tonight, heat up a can of Heinz tomato soup, grind some black pepper on a bowlful and thickly butter some baguette to dip in it. But it’s holiday time so even though I’ve enjoyed many tapas dishes at lunchtime, I’m sipping a Gin Mare gin with ice and a slice of lime, wrapped in a bath towel. Orf We Jolly Well Go in half an hour. I’m flagging ....

Malaga feria starts tonight at midnight with a gigantic fireworks display. It’s on for a week. The first in 3 years due to Covid. It’s going to be HUGE this year. Thank god no-one wants to go. ?

What a lovely picture Ann you look well. I have not done much today it's been too hot ,we have just had smoked chicken ,onion and pepper wraps they were very tasty .Have a nice evening .