Soop's kitchen for kindly folk...

I walked to our local, family run garden centre this afternoon. I needed a new hanging bird feeder. Managed to get what I needed, a metal feeder. Hoping it will be squirrel proof. I also bought some beautiful, orange winter pansies. These I potted up later in the afternoon along with narcissus. I also planted narcissus in the borders plus more purple allium. It's something to look forward to. My garden is still full of colour and the Nerines are only just opening. I love my garden. It gives me peace and hope.

‘Evening All’

We’ve had a lovely sunny day here in south Manchester. Busy moving stuff from the bedroom and bathroom into the main room as the decorator is coming soon. Then called to give L’il Miss a squidge and got a kiss from our Boy Wonder with an “i’ll miss you grandma in Spain”. L’il Miss asked “will you bring me a surprise?” Cupboard love! Of course I will little chicken.

Sunday lunch at the new place was ‘okay’. Wouldn’t suit my stepfather, too trendyish, bit café-ish. He likes a buzzy cosy place to people watch. Ah well. I was mindful of my diet. No stuffing balls for me & I slid my Yorkie onto Himself’s plate (once I’d eaten a corner off it first!).

I’m discovering a taste of something yummy doesn’t mean I have to eat the whole of it.
‘Who knew?’
Not me, until recently.
?

No post from me tomorrow evening dear kitcheners. This time tomorrow evening I’ll be in the tapas bar below our apartment in Málaga with a much anticipated G&T saying ‘buenos tardes’ to our neighbours, on a warm evening. ✈️
??

Safe journey Urmston

Safe travels Urms and have a lovely holiday ?

Safe journey, Urms and MrU. Enjoy the sunshine. ☀

Urms is there space in the Spanish flat for a planeload of GNs? We all could do with a short break.

TOYA

Aw, thank you all for your kind wishes.
It’d be a blast Charleygirl if I had the space! ?

Have fun Urms!

Safe journey urms, take care and be good .

Best of luck today Suedonim with your mother moving back home.

Just catching up on our kitchen news after a really lovely day with DS and his partner yesterday
Like Jax has already said hoping all goes well today SueD with your mum moving back home - I know you’ve put a lot of work into getting her house ready

So how can it be Monday already....I seem to have lost the last 5 days somehow. We joined a newly formed local friends group not long after we moved into the cottage and lots of the events are held in the local Conservative club ( apparently in the past you had to be interviewed and assure a committee that you were of that political persuasion before you could use it) that definitely isn't the case now. The resident stewards had a holiday booked before they took over and there was no cover for them in place so DOH....offered our services for 3 of the nights they are away. I hadn't actually pulled a pint for over 50 years.. he being younger had more recent experience. Wednesday I had to 'open up' as he was on lates and for the first hour I was on my own. I prayed that no barrels needed changing...I had written everything down but wasn't really convinced I'd do it properly. ( I just decided I'd tell the customer they'd just have to have something else until the cavalry arrived). It was a fairly easy evening ' spiced up' with the local bingo night. At the end of the night DOH told me he was very proud of me for opening up... Setting up the till and pulling pints like a pro. I did wonder how my hip/back would cope but it wasn't too bad. Our busy shift was Saturday evening...a 4.30 to midnight session....bingo again ( it's very popular) and music too. It was a full on night...and I even had to use all my charm and gently persuade an 'enthusiastic ' couple it was probably time to go home. DOH wanted to do a Phil Mitchell ( I think the last time I watched EastEnders was about 20 years ago and he was still in it). I said better that I use a more gentle approach. The locals were in shock as it's a bit like God's waiting room and ' enthusiastic people' are never seen... They all sat and watched and waited to see how we would deal with it and when I came back in having said goodbye to the couple they all cheered!!!. We could both hardly move yesterday after standing for nigh on 8 hours...I was walking like Miss Piggy by the end of the night.
I didn't get to shout
'Git aht my pub' either.
A postscript... I chatted to the female of the couple... whilst holding onto her to make sure she didn't fall..and she said the young man was her son...and he had a special needs child who needed constant care...and weren't they entitled to let their hair down. As much as I was relieved to be able to get them to leave I was sad for them too. Life is a bitch at times isn't it.

Bon Voyage Urms...
Good Luck today SueD... hopefully you can start to get your life back now and the carers can bear the brunt!!!
Aldom...I am with you on your garden bringing you peace and hope. I'm ordering some Alliums too. The local garden centre had some mystery bulb packs and I've bought 2. I'll post pictures in the Spring of what comes up.
Sending love and prayers too all who are feeling below par...I think I'm finally getting over the lurgy.
Baggs... You and yours are in my prayers...I loved your description of the journey North...I know your thoughts must have been very mixed but the beauty of our changing landscape somehow brings a calmness at times when we need it most.

A sort of soggy good morning to all you lovely lot in the kitchen.

Urms Oh, wouldn't it be grand if we could all spirit our way to join you in your apartment in sunny Spain. I can almost hear the merry blether and laughter. I wish...

SueD. You have done all that you can to prepare for your mother's homecoming. I trust that all will go according to plan. I know how difficult it was when my late father was in your mother's situation.

Aldom I agree whole heartedly that gardens and nature do wonders to elevate one's spirit. Whenever I feel down I focus on the waves as they ebb and flo on the shore.

Naughtyneine You have my respect. Well done with managing the bar. Along with a variety of "proper jobs" I've had several part-time bar jobs. The first was working behind the bar at the Saints rugby football ground in Northampton. That was an experience I shall never forget. I worked in a night club (finishing my job at Avon Cosmetics HQ at 5:30 and starting the night club bar job at 9:00, The doorman, Harry, would motor the staff home in the early hours. Then it was up for work as a proofreader (Avon) by 9;00. When I think about how hard I used to work, I'm grateful that I had the stamina to do so for so long.

Good afternoon dear Kitcheners. I was feeling down in the mouth this morning after learning of the death of a friend, a fellow brain injury survivor. It’s very cold here but the sun is shining brightly so I’m going to shift my bones and go for a short walk.

Blossoming So sorry to hear that you have had sad news.

Soop Here I am...almost looking like I know what I'm doing....I have to say it was a real contrast from my role as Area Supervisor in Market Research and teaching English to refugee youngsters aged 16 to 19.

I am in a very sad mood. Not only have we heard the awful news concerning Baggs daughter but another good friend is also dealing with a tragedy in her family. Two friends in the village have serious health concerns. I wish that I knew some way in which I could be of real help.

I shall tackle the ironing. It is quite often therapeutic.

Naughtyneine You have a truly beautiful smile.

Good to see Baggs got home without incident.

Have a virtual hug soop. ?

Our family have had a tragedy averted in the past week when a relative attempted suicide. Thank God they were found in time because someone close to them just had a ‘feeling’.

Trust your instincts I say.

Bless you, baubles

What a difference a few minutes can make. I've spoken with Baggs on the 'phone. We will meet up when a date can be decided.

Also, I've had a truly wonderful private message from Panache. It has touched me deeply. I shall print her words and treasure them.

Now, I feel like doing something useful. On with dashing away with the smoothing iron.

GNHQ I need your help urgently, please. I cannot find my way into leaving messages in the kitchen, the format has changed and I'm lost.

So much sadness, I'm thinking of all with worries, illness or sorrow, sending love and prayers ?? for strength and comfort.

Lovely photo Neine, you look very much the proud landlady!

I hope SueD 's Mum got home OK.

soop if you’re still having problems email GNHQ at [email protected]

So sorry to hear sad news in the kitchen again today, Blossoming and Soop sending you special hugs
Baubles thank goodness someone acted on their instincts, well done to them for averting a very tragic event and hopefully your relative is will help and support as needed from now on.
Neine what a lovely photo and well done in managing the bar - mines a G&T please
We’re home in Inverness now and I’m feeling a bit sad as I know it’ll be a while before I see DS again, he’s such a caring person, he doesn’t say a lot but I know he cares deeply. I’ll miss him
For those whisky drinkers out there we enjoyed a wee dram of Longrow 18 year old whisky yesterday at the Balmoral hotel in Edinburgh, it was very warm and fiery. I think it comes from somewhere near you Soop!