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

Good afternoon dear Kitcheners. I’m way behind on all your news, will try to catch up. Glad it wasn’t cancer LadyLFL, hope they soon find out what’s going on. Hope you get something sorted about your car Sue. Will be back later x

Good night my lovelies. I need a couple of glasses of smooth red wine...consolation for not having achieved what I have been attempting to create, on and off, all week long.

brook Art is a fart! I says so. There will be another occasion when I can photograph Angus and I'm hoping that I shall glean more information when I do so. In the meantime, I am a tad disappointed.

Grandmabatty I love that word - "drooking". We have had both sunshine and showers throughout the day.

BlueBalou Hats off to your wonderful, helpful neighbours. We have a very good neighbour, too. He trimmed our tall hedges for us. It saved Mr Soop from standing/balancing on high, rickety steps to reach the top.

BladeAnnie I'm betting that Duncan will approach you with his tail held high. SweetiePie paid us a visit yesterday. Guess what? Mr Soop had bought a freshly cooked chicken (because he had a premonition that she'd enjoy sharing it.) Would you credit it.

Time for log-off. I shall raise my glass of cheer to you all at 8:30 precisely.

Until tomorrow.

Wind = wine ?

That sounds like a very lot of gardening BlueBalou but we’ll worth it when you can see such a difference
Well it’s Friday night so that means the wind will be opened soon … looking forward to it
Wishing you the very best of luck with trying to get the portrait underway and progressing soop I’m no artist so I don’t really know how difficult and frustrating it must be, I’m keeping fingers and toes crossed for you
Pleased you’re back home safely BA and hope Duncan is still talking to you!

Good afternoon mes amis, je suis knackered after a day of destructive gardening- mainly undertaken by my wonderful neighbours who do gardening- I am absolutely delighted!
In one day they have done what would easily take me a fortnight.
The overgrown climbing rose is no more, the patio plum that wasn’t is now a respectable size and the borders look amazing. The massive bay tree lollipop is now a neat size and shrubs that didn’t survive the drought are no more. I can see a garden centre trip in the near future!
DH has just taken DDog out and I’m going to have a quiet evening, perfect.
I hope you all have a peaceful one too x

Afternoon dear kitcheners and a belated happy birthday from me too Charleygirl ??. We are home now after such a lovely week on the Norfolk Broads - will almost definitely be doing it again next year ?❤️. Just having a quick cuppa before we venture out again to collect Duncan from the cattery. I'm wonder if he'll be pleased to see us or aloof and couldn't care less-ish!! I'll let you know.....TOYA

Thank you all, 79 is just a number. I had a very pleasant day yesterday, phone calls, ecards ordinary birthday cards and I am being taken out for a belated lunch in over a week's time. I had a lovely supper of steak and trimmings with a glass or three of wine.

Next year will be extra special receiving an extra 25p a week on my state pension. If liz would like to take my dosh to go towards the billions we owe, she is welcome. Her need is greater than mine.

Dgs2 slept for an hour and a half. He was woken by the most disgusting nappy which made my eyes run! ?He's away home with mum and I'm heading to the pharmacy to pick up my prescription which ran out earlier. Heavy showers too so I'm hoping to escape a drooking.

Charleygirl May I also send belated birthday greetings to you. I'm sorry not to be 100% "with it", I blame the arty-farty hat that keeps slipping over my eyes and making the portrait painting so bloody difficult.

In total, I have spent about eight hours attempting to get started. All to no avail.

You lovely lot will understand that I shall not give up until I've tried my hardest to capture the wee dog's personality in paint. At the close of day, if I'm still struggling, I may shelve the painting until another time. If so, you will have put up with a bellyful of moaning on my part.

Hope the little one sleeps for a wee while grandmabatty ?

Oooh a belated very Happy Birthday to charleygirl I hope you enjoyed your special day ???
I’ve just hopped on the bus to the retail park where the gym is and the heavens have just opened! So that’s my washing soaked for when I get home later. Honestly it was only very light cloud with the sun peeping through just half an hour ago - so changeable this Scottish weather ☔️

Belated birthday wishes to Charleygirl. I hope you had a nice day. I have dgs2 this morning. I've just managed to get him to go for a nap so I'll have a cuppa and tidy up a bit. Have a good day all

Belated birthday wishes Charleygirl. At least it was a nicer day than today (pouring here).

Oops, meant to add a late in the day happy birthday to charleygirl. Just got there .

A late visit again. It’s been a good day. Flu jabs accomplished this morning, a pair of boots I’ve coveted for such a long while purchased this afternoon (please tell me the guilt will subside) and a visit to our granddaughters mum to eat with them. It’s been a difficult few years, our son ended the marriage, but somehow we’ve hung on to a relationship and can, finally, feel comfortable together. We had a really enjoyable evening, so pleased we can do it.

for you naughtyneine, hope tomorrow feels better. Good news about your grandson nannytopsy

The years pass so quickly urms, one of ours has just begun 6th form, she was 7 when we moved here. She’s now looking forward to learning to drive next year. Amazing. Your holiday has sounded amazing bladeannie, I’m nostalgic for our years living in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Oh heck soop, you’ll get there, of course you will. Wow, grandmabatty, you’ve more energy than Mr C and me put together.

Apologies everyone, I can’t recall the details of more posts.

Bought a postcard to send to our friend who remains in hospital, she responds well to images I’m told and much to my amazement loves to see my diabolical handwriting. Phone calls are difficult now. Will post the card in the morning when I go for a haircut.

Off to bed now. Sleep well everyone.

Hope everyone is enjoying their evening. There seems to be good news medically and I hope you stay well Ann .
DGS 2 has put on 2lbs in 10 days - he looks very well now with plump cheeks ?
We have a flower festival in the church this weekend so life is a bit busy. I will post photos when it’s done.
Sleep well! ?

Hi all, looking at next weeks weather I think the heating may be in use. Today was sunny intervals, washing dried nicely.
Have a great last evening BladeA lovely and cosy.
MrJ cooked earlier, chicken sausages, mash and beans, beetroot cake would go down well muse!
Hope you’re ok neine ?
Enjoy your evening all x

NaughtyNeine it’s sad your dream upset you. Sometimes a dream can linger like that for a few hours can’t it? Hopefully you’ll feel less upset soon. Has your daughter moved away with your grandsons? I have missed any back story this summer as our internet access in Málaga was frustrating to say the least.

‘Evening All’

We’ve just got in. I put L’il Miss to bed after her swimming lesson and supper while the Boy Wonder went with his parents to have a look round the ‘big school’ he will be attending next September. I can’t think of this boy going to senior school. The years have slipped by. I must have taken my eye off the ball.

Kettle’s on. I’m making toast, Jersey butter and have got some delicious mackerel patê to dive into. Simple food but delicious.

Hope you have an enjoyable last night BA on your boat. It sounds as though you’ve had a great time!

soop I would never have the patience to restart a portrait. Goodness knows I’ve not got any artistic aptitude whatsoever but doing something wrong would just finish me off. Aargh!

Enjoy your last evening on the boat BA and safe journey home tomorrow

Good Afternoon dear kitcheners. Our last day in Norfolk today. We'll say goodbye to our little boat tomorrow morning before heading home to collect Duncan who I am quite sure has been pampered and indulged at the cattery in our absence ??. This week away has done both Mr BA and I the world of good - we both feel so relaxed and "unwound". Hugs all around ? and thank you everyone for the warm welcome back to the kitchen. TOYA

Thank you for some lovely photographs.

I've spent a most frustrating/disappointing few hours making a pig's ear of a puppy portrait. Right now, I could hurl the paintbox across the room. So...I need to sketch a third portrait, after which, I shall start afresh first thing tomorrow. The puppy is only four months' old. Hence there is little definition for me to use as a reference.

End of rant. I wish you all a very good evening. For those in need of comfort, I send a gentle, virtual hug.

I bet it seems very quiet GG13 … I bet it won’t last for long!
Another quite warmish day here in Inverness, I’m still out though since this morning!
DGS1 was feeling a bit off colour and didn’t go to school - I went round to sit in with him and he was well enough to play a very long game of Monopoly
After that I went into town with a long shopping list from DD2 .. I got all that and now we’re just waiting to take DGD to her brownies on our way home.
Sounds like a yummy lunch Blossoming saves you cooking tonight too
Poor DGS grandmabatty hope he’s fully recovered soon and feeling much better

Hello all! Elder son turned up from London early this morning as we had to each sign a document which was witnessed by the same person. My neighbour was happy to oblige. He stayed for an hour or and then drove back to London. He is off to France tomorrow and we are off to Norfolk. My GP rang with the same news the Radiologist gave me yesterday. So it could be a bio-chemistry thing, a liver thing or a bone thing. As she pointed out though, the CT scan showed nothing sinister. More blood tests beckon. I filled my car up with petrol this afternoon and started packing. I spotted a tub of double cream in the fridge which needed using up. I made a batch of caramel ice cream. I think I’ve cracked caramel now. Just don’t turn your back. Chicken curry for dinner, made by OH. Strawberries and single cream for pudding. I’m out this evening at a friend’s but won’t be late home. It’s a long day tomorrow.

Hello Kitcheners.That’s much better news LLFL?
Great photos Blade Annie. I like the sound of beetroot cake Muse, love beetroot.

Well here we are in Derbyshire looking after Pete,Ve and Graham.Have a pleasant evening.