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

Hello to BladeAnnie and dustyangel

The funeral of our marvellous Queen was flawless. An occasion we shall never forget.

There was no colourful Kintyre sunset after the majesty of the day's events. I did however take one image to share with you all.

Back to some semblance of normality, I'm hoping. I have two pet portraits to devote time to. Time for me to put on my arty-farty-hat.

I was exhausted watching it from my armchair with loo facilities close by and able to make a cup of coffee and a snack at my leisure.

I thought George and Charlotte did not put a foot wrong, their parents must have been so proud of them.

Everything was perfect. pomp, circumstance and ceremony are what we do the best in the world.

The police force was magnificent and our army, navy and airforce spectacular.

I do hope the RF can now rest behind closed doors-it has been a difficult time for them.

On a lighter note, has Sweetie Pie appeared for a meal or three? Where she puts it is beyond me.

Afternoon all, Naughty Heineken you need to go to Cardiff on a Sunday, they have a food market along by the river opposite the stadium, it finished at 2 mind you. It’s great, not large but we get our butter there, wrapped in grease proof paper and all sorts of sizes, also meat from a farm and Polish Paul’s wonderful organic veg, sold at knock down prices when he is packing up. Don’t know about parking as we cycle from Just outside Cardiff along the Taff Trail for about 25 minutes or so after driving from Bristol with bikes. Makes a good day out as well. Not done much today, met Mr B for a coffee and cake after his Pilates lesson and then headed into the new book shop that has opened in the High St. back home now and trying very hard to get some get up and go to tackle the huge pile of my paperwork that has built up on the dinning table. Will catch up with all the news on Thursday as tomorrow we are taking our bikes over to Wales and cycling in the other direction along the Taff Trail into Pontypridd where we will do a bit of shopping no doubt and have a lovely roast dinner. Hope you are all recovered from the funeral and gearing up for a coronation in the next year

To add to my little “moan” on here about Saturday night, yesterday two of the people sitting with me tested positive for Covid.
Now that would really be the last straw for me.

And back to a semblance of normality today. I'm glad all went well and speedily for you on Saturday Llfl. Hopefully good news to follow when you get your results. We had to venture to Bristol on Sunday as IKEA in Exeter had only part of what we needed for the utility room. The contrast was amazing...at Exeter you received a message with which bay to park in and your order is brought out to you. At Bristol it seemed like a four minute warning hadbeen given to the test of the city and they'd all descended on IKEA. ..we were both a bit traumatised having gone soft after living in the country for a year. Darling OH assembled the units last evening and for the first time since we moved in the utility room looks smart and functional. I can no longer use the excuse that I can't find cleaning products to get out of housework. ( I will soon come up with another one I'm sure) Annsixty... It's horrible isn't it when you've had to pay out a lot of money and not had the bestest of times. Blossoming... Fingers crossed for today's tests. Barney... You've put me in mind to make some Welsh Cakes. Being close ish to the border some of the local supermarkets carry Welsh groceries...Braces Tiger Bay loaf...Extra large Welsh eggs ( wouldn't actually like to meet the chickens that laid them)... Pembrokeshire potatoes and Welsh butter. It took all our resolve not to veer left onto the M4 and follow the signs to South Wales on Sunday. If it hasn't been for needing to pick up the bits I truly think we would have gone over the bridge just to say we'd been back.
I'm still struggling with this cold...I don't think I actually felt this grotty when I had Covid 3 weeks post op. I'm just wiped out and it's getting me down a bit now... It's seems to be months since I felt like me. I really need to give myself a mental kick up the rear before the clocks go back... They say you love the season you are born in... Not in my case .. Sagittarius by nature for sure but Gemini by season.
I always feel like I've been hugged on here... Thank you all for that.....

Yesterday was the calm before the storm for us. Very emotional and so organised to the last step. DSIL was on duty on the mall but we couldn’t spot him on TV. I did manage to do a huge amount of ironing. ( channelling my inner soop!)
Today we start 2 days of child care, but DH is off to give a lecture this evening, while children have tennis. Tomorrow evening I am out so he is on duty. Then we start church cleaning and flower arranging for the village flower festival and harvest festival. A quiet life in the country? Ha!
DGS2 gave his first proper smile yesterday! I can’t believe he is 7 weeks already and it’s another 2 weeks until we see him ( unless we make a flying visit next week!)
Now to phone the dentist (?) as I have a broken tooth. I am putting it off!
I hope everyone is keeping warm in the kitchen. Autumn is definitely here!

‘Evening All’

A day of high emotion indeed. I feel drained after just watching it all from the comfort of my home so goodness knows how the RF must feel tonight. We’ve lost a loyal and revered monarch. They’ve lost that and very much more.

Just for today.

As a nation we have come together over the last 11 days... Talk of referendums...laid aside...religious troubles past and present forgiven and forgotten ( not maybe forever but for now when it mattered). Those that could came personally to say goodbye.... Many more attended services in their official capacities and millions more watched as I did and said their own personal thanks and prayers and farewell. Our servicemen young and old from all corners of globe representing the Commonwealth played their parts to perfection. I held my breath every time those 6 young bearers lifted the queen's coffin.. none more so than when they had to mount the steep steps into St George's Chapel. We've been told that this day has been planned for years... some of those young navel cadets probably not even born but they never missed a step. The RAF has always been close to my heart as my darling Dad served with them. My Mum used to say they could never march in step but she was proved wrong over the last few days. (I think she would have been happy to be proved wrong). The Queen's family with all its.. what is in reality for most of us.. family tribulations have shared our sadness and let us share theirs too.
I was proud today to be part of a nation at peace and wanting nothing more than to say goodbye to Elizabeth ..our Queen.

Everything crossed for you Blossoming ?
What an amazing picture llfl a memory indeed.
We watched, felt proud and humbled by the sheer passion, pageantry and love.
Now watching Paddington 2, I’ve always loved him, read the books many years ago.
Have a very pleasant evening all x

We watched all the pomp and pageantry and loved it, popped out for a spot of light lunch and then back again to watch them arriving in Windsor, which is the bit I found most emotional. Happy to hear Urms that you have no dishwasher either, mine is Mr B and he never breaks down. Today while watching the funeral I was knitting my piece of art, a sock on four needles. Put it down to nip to the loo , came back and one needle has just disappeared. I have searched hell and high water but it is gone. So I am now using one replacement needle that is slightly bigger and goodness knows how it will turn out. Any way we have lit the fire and are now going to watch something on catch up. Have a lovely evening everyone

Such an emotional day, I’ve watched most of the proceedings on the television throughout the day, really moving

Younger son was in the ‘Queue’ last night for 9 hours - one of the last to go through. He took this amazing photo:

Good evening dear Kitcheners. It really is the end of an era today. I have watched some parts, can’t look at a screen for too long nowadays. It’s brought back some sad memories of my parents’ funerals, as I suspect it has for many. I have done my cycling and Gaelic practice, chicken soup and crusty bread later and an early night. We will be at the hospital tomorrow, Mr. B has an ingrown toenail so is seeing a podiatrist and I will go to the blood clinic. Fingers crossed these will be my very last cancer antigen tests! Laters

I appreciated the group hug earlier soop. Both DH and I have been feeling very discombobulated since the news of Her Majesty’s death too. I really don’t understand why this has affected us at such a deep level. I’m hoping that after watching the funeral tomorrow we will be able to return to our usual level of equilibrium.

The Prime Minister of Portugal has declared three days of national mourning from tomorrow until Tuesday, but has said that it will be up to individual establishments to close or not if they wish to.

A group hug from me, too. {{{ ❤️ }}}

I’ve been so busy keeping all the balls in the air with various things. I’m still without a car. Hope to hear something by the end of the week. I’ve now booked the flooring for my mum’s house and made enquiries about a bed for her.

I’m also trying to get us into a GP practice. It’s all online now, which has involved printing out forms, filling them in, scanning them and emailing them back. We also need to change addresses for our driving licences but because DVLA don’t recognise our new-build house online it has to be done by post. You can’t download the form, though, you have to go to a Post Office (one that hasn’t been closed down ?) and ask for one. Ditto V5’s.

We had to put the heating on yesterday. It was 12.8 in our bedroom yesterday morning! The control box is ridiculously complicated with all sorts of settings I’m sure no one ever needs. Luckily the sales manager came round today and sorted it for us. We have rugs in the family room and hall now and they look nice and cosy.

We’ve emptied more boxes and moved things around but sadly my missing raincoat hasn’t turned up. ?

This evening’s task is to link up the tv so we can see the funeral tomorrow. We had planned to go to our DD’s to watch but they are currently a House of Plague with 3/4 having a tummy bug so we’re steering well clear. ?

Sending love to you all. Xxxx

Group hug from Suffolk too! We went to a plant fair today which was a lovely way to spend a few hours ( and quite a bit of money!). Now doing the ironing. Ho hum!

Thank you Urmstongran ?

X posts so ? to you BladeAnnie.
It’s been a while crocodile.... lovely photos! x

‘Evening All’

Stepfather has just gone home & Himself will get petrol on the way back. I’ve washed the dishes (pans and glasses too, no dishwasher here in this little place) and sided the table. It was lovely to spend time together.

Time to put my softies on and choose something on catch up. We didn’t even plug the tv on in Málaga during the summer so it’ll be good to binge watch now for a few nights.

Yes, a group hug sounds perfect soop I think many of us are feeling a tad emotional just lately. The State Funeral tomorrow will be an historic and sad occasion and doubtless I shall have a little cry while I watch.

Well done you annsixty! Out of your comfort zone in some ways but you made the effort and can feel good you did it. ?

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202209/medium-82147-20220917-143501.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202209/medium-396853-20220917-101308.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202209/medium-1962-20220916-174020.jpg

Is there room for me to pop in and say hello please? I've been MIA for some time with too much going to bore you lovely people with!! Mr BA and I are recharging our much depleted batteries on the Norfolk Broads this week so I thought I'd say hello. We are moored up for the night and will stay here until after we've watched the funeral tomorrow

I’m more than happy to join in the virtual group hug soop just what’s needed today I think
After a cold and wet morning the sun tried to come out and it’s warmed up a bit, so I went out into the garden for a while. Lots of cutting back plants that have finished and moving a few things about into new places.
Well done with the ironing marathon soop I don’t iron much of anything ( yes I know it’s very bad ?‍♀️) but admire those who do.
Hope you’ve caught up on your rest today Annsixty Saturday nights out aren’t for everyone but it’s lovely that you went and joined in. I rarely refuse an invitation out these days as it’s nice to be asked.
Thanks do much for the Bara Brith and butter Barmey yummy

Good Sunday afternoon to you lovely lot.

Have completed more ironing. Where does it all come from? We are the only two peeps in the house. Yet...

We've been invited to watch the funeral on our friend's larger-than-life television screen. I watched the coronation on a very small television, bought by my parents for the momentous occasion. The sitting room was wee. We had neighbours crammed into every available chair. I was dressed as Robin Hood, and my little sister was a squaw during the celebratory street party.

After the funeral, I shall ease myself back into a regular routine. It has been a strange, unsettling time from the moment the Queen's death was announced.

You are all in my thoughts. I am wishing you a peaceful Sunday evening.

Until we meet again, shall we have a virtual group hug? The very thought is comforting.

I love Welsh butter Barmey

Good afternoon everyone. Trying to catch up with what’s been happening with everyone YiaYia4 do let the council know about your fall and they should send someone out to have a look and fix. It use to be job at the Council investigating all the trips and falls plus damage to cars and bike and the resulting compensation claims. My brain is not functioning how it should due to the antibiotics I am taking but I have just managed to make some Bara Birth which I will send along to the kitchen along with the salty Welsh farm butter. Take care everyone and don’t over do it

I promise I will photograph the hoodie soop and that’ll spur me on to actually finish it!
A chilly DDog walk around a nearby village this morning, it was lovely in the sun out of the wind, but definitely nippy otherwise.
We had coffee and brunch too which felt very civilised although I suspect it’ll be the last one this year while sitting outside.
I’m a very early to bed one annsixty, I can’t remember the last time a) we went out in the evening and b) I stayed up after 9.30pm! ? I know but I don’t sleep well and am often awake by 4am.
Going to have a simple meal soon, slow cooker chicken, mashed potatoes and green beans with a cheesecake to follow. I cba to cook a full roast.
I hope you all have a lovely evening x