Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for kindly folk...

Hello everyone. I’m in bed and exhausted! It was lovely seeing elder son and his family. We ate so much food. Guinea fowl and all the trimmings, chocolate bread and butter pudding and a selection of ice cream. We also had cake - Yotam O’s recipe for chocolate cake is brilliant. My sister and niece are arriving tomorrow but as I’m not picking them up until about 5 pm, I will have time to organise things for them. From experience, they will be jet lagged for a day or two. Have a good evening.

I've just managed to catch up on all the news. It's lovely to read so many happy posts from you all.
SueD...I was all ready to say I hope things improve soon for DS and then I read he was feeling better which was brilliant news.
Soop...I love the pictures...you were glowing..and I'm so glad the WW (wheeliewonder) worked so well.
I love steam trains too....when I was very little we used to go to visit my Nanny in West Wales on the Pembrokeshire Coast Express...Paddington Station then was dark and smutty from the engines but I still remember the feeling of excitement and I still get a frisson of excitement at stations, airports etc.
It's been like an Airbnb here for the last week hence my absence. Today is the first day I haven't had to lay a breakfast table...and prepare....a variety of goodies depending on age.... cereals...bacon..scrambled eggs..croissants or crumpets..plus fresh orange and tea.
It's been lovely to see everyone but the timing was probably a bit much given we had a busy time at church.. We were both honoured to be asked if we would have our feet washed at the Maundy Thursday ( Last Supper) service. I actually cried when our PP washed my foot as I felt so humbled. I was reading at the Good Friday service... The lady doing the first reading had a very powerful way of speaking and I sat there listening thinking I'd sound like a wet rag doing mine after her but I actually got congratulated afterwards.
And then to a busy Saturday... Rehearsal first thing...then back to help one of our visitors purchase a Motor home..a whistle stop visit to me favourite butchers..an early dinner then off to church for the Easter vigil service and DOH being received into the church. It's a long service anyway and even longer if people are being confirmed. This year it was 3 and a half hours in total. There was something so special about being at the front of a church in darkness and seeing the light of the Pascal candle coming forward and then the lights of the flickering candles of the congregation getting lit and the light growing and growing. For me as a Catholic it really feels like the light of the world has come back. I felt so privileged to have shared the journey with DOH and the other 3 ...who I have watched grow in friendship and faith over the last few months. DOH said from now on... He knows he will never be alone again..a beautiful way to sum up faith I think.

The only buggeration as Soop would say is....now I've got a cold. Grrrrr.

Granmarie, why has your G-dog been incarcerated?? That sounds most concerning!

Thank you for the messages re my son. He’s off to work today (not a holiday in the US).

I’ve enjoyed the messages here but won’t try to reply as I’m a bit distracted with 5yo GD here yakking non-stop. She woke us up at 3:45 am coming into bed. A disturbed rest of the night ensued.

It’s sunny here so we’re off out now. Have a good day, everyone. Xx

Good afternoon dear Kitcheners. Feeling tired today after a busy and fun weekend. It’s raining here now, so I think this afternoon will be listening to History Hit and 😴

Good afternoon kitchen pals I’m just having a sit down and a breather after a busy morning
Congratulations if that’s the right word to your OH neine in being received into the church. Unfortunately I’m not a church goer myself but understand it’s very important to others
More Airbnb-ing here too neine, although at breakfast I leave them to fend for themselves … Tonight though I’m cooking for 9 again at dinner so hoping it all works out ok. ….. With a bit of luck we’ll all be eating out tomorrow - if we can afford it these days as the bill for everyone with drinks etc will be a bit steep … but DD2 did offer to have everyone round to hers a few days ago but I think she’s forgotten!
A very early start SueD, hope you get a rest later
Still sunny here Blossoming, it rained this morning but nice and dry now but with a cool wind - good for drying the washing again 😀

Haven't you lovely lot been extraordinarily busy. Are you fuelled by turbo-juice?

Our local garage has a major buggeration to deal with. The pumps have stopped working. This means that, at one of the busiest weekends, motorists will have either to journey into Campbeltown or Lochgilphead several additional miles in either direction in order to refuel.

I've been doing a wee bit of spring cleaning. Nothing too taxing. The sun has got his hat on. Tomorrow we will continue with our walk through the village. The super stroller is much appreciated. I am determined to build muscle in my legs. I am equally determined to visit family just as soon as I feel more confident.

All of you are, in Torben-speak, very special peoples. Enjoy what remains of the Easter holiday. I shall return to our kitchen tomorrow.

Got to love a little one with no sense of time SueD!
Pleased you enjoyed your Saturday neine, not for me, but respect to you.
Had a thunderstorm here a short while ago, definitely an on/off day, best spent indoors, chicken and sweet potato curry is simmering away.
ttfn.

Happy Easter Monday to you all.
Just home from our Easter in Derbyshire.Lovely to see DS2 and DiL. He has his bad days but coping well.🤞We viewed a lot of properties on Saturday and we found an absolutely stunning bungalow, however just not quite big enough for family to stay.More to view here in Surrey
this week.
Hope your DS gets his treatment sorted SueD.
Enjoy your evening dear Kitcheners.

Good evening, Soop and lovely Kitchen people. A quieter Easter Monday after our busy weekend. Some batch cooking, then resting my leg this afternoon, video call with the Wee Boy and his Mummy and Daddy, then organising spare room for DGD'S arrival early tomorrow, schools are still on holiday but DS1 and DDiL1 are returning to work. Her brother, DGS1, is staying home studying for imminent exams.

Niene, I was very moved by your post. Many blessings and congratulations to your DOH on his reception into the Church. 💕🙏💐 God bless you both.

YiaYia, I hope your DS has many more good days in his continued recovery. Good luck with your house hunting!

SueD, the dog belongs to my brother and sister in law. He was detained at Heathrow last week after their arrival from the US., then removed to a quarantine farm. Then my brother had to arrange a quarantine vet to examine and assess him. The vet very quickly confirmed that everything was in order and signed the release papers. I'm still not sure why Heathrow thought there was a problem. It was a distressing and very expensive few days for them, but they are safe home now.

Soop, your stroller has been a great buy for you, worth every penny for giving you improved mobility and confidence. No stopping you now!

Brook, I'm impressed with your generous hospitality, enjoy all the company.

Jaxjacky, your curry sounds delicious. Is Imogen safe home now from her travels? I hope her return journey went smoothly.

Blossoming, I hope you had a relaxing and restful day, its good to recharge the batteries!

Have a peaceful evening, TOYA.🥰

LLL, wonderful hospitality at yours also! I'm impressed with your menus. Enjoy your reunion with your DSis and niece.

Yes Grannmarie she came back Saturday, had a great time.
Hope your hives have settled Yia.
Off to quiz 🤞🤞!

Hello all! My sister and niece are here and just a bit jet lagged. Another wedding…This niece is getting married at the end of September in France. She lives in Sydney but her fiancé (who now has Australian citizenship) is French. So a wedding in Sydney in August and another wedding in September. Wonderful. OH won’t go to the wedding in Australia but will go to the French one.

Morning all! So far it’s glorious here in Suffolk and I shall try to get out in the garden for a while, before the rains return. We got lots done on Sunday afternoon and yesterday I mopped floors and ironed because it was wet and windy. Still more ironing to do - can I send some to you please soop?
I have a nasty feeling our church has been unlocked since Sunday - I had better go and check!
I’m glad everyone has had good times over Easter - the weather has helped!
Enjoy your day, whatever you are doing.

Afternoon kitcheners. I have one dgs2 currently having a nap. The other, dgs1, is eating slices of melon. We've been to the park and played in the garden but he really just wants to go home. I think the long weekend has affected him. I've had a chunk of brie and I'm quite content. With luck, dgs2 will sleep til half three. Keep everything crossed. Have a good afternoon kitcheners.

It’s stayed dry here today but with a cold breeze, our visitors went off to the RSPB reserve at Loch Garten as step DGS loves anything to do with birds and they’d been watching the osprey online webcam. I’m not having to cook much tonight as they said they’d get something out so I’m ok with that. I’ll just put out a small buffet with cheese, ham, salads etc and we can finish the Easter chocolate cake off too
Hoping little DGS2 had a good nap grandmabatty and DGS1 is more settled
Hope all was ok at the church nannytopsy!
Lovely news about the weddings LLFL!

Nannytopsy If I could do your ironing, I surely would.

Grandmabatty You, my dear, are a trooper.

Llfl Time for a new hat!

Yia I continue to send good wishes to your dear son.
This is an exciting time for you. Viewing properties for a potential new home will give you much food for thought. We've converted two barns and helped to build our present home from scratch. Now that we are in our 80's my dream home would be a modern maisonette with a balcony on which I could have interesting potted plants and room for comfortable seating.

Grannmarie It must be distressing for both the dog and the owners to have to accept the need for quarantine. Expensive too. I'm pleased that the family is now reunited.

Brook

Mr Izabella here, thinking those who remember the amazing Izabella may like an update. Still going strong and now in a sheltered environment where all needs are met.

I'm glad you posted MrIzabella. Your dear wife has often been in my thoughts. She has such a way with words. My best wishes to you both x

Oh, poor pup, Grandmarie! I hope he’s recovered from his unexpected delay.

I hope you find your dream home, Yia. Also that your son continues to improve.

It’s been very sunny but a cold, cold wind here today. We were up out and early for Dh to have the next Covid vax, which for some reason was administered in a small town about 15 miles away! Even odder when the staff said they’d been vaccinating people in our local town last week! Anyway, he was all done and dusted before the official time of the appointment. No side effects so far.

Otherwise it’s been a quiet day for us - we’re not used to having all the chores done by 11am!

TOYA. Xxx

Lovely to hear news of Isabella.
I also have wondered about her.
Her posts were so vivid and descriptive.
I hope she continues to do well.
Rain here now after not a bad Easter weatherwise.
I have done nothing at all sadly, really very down with life.
However I must make the most of it.
Have the best day you can everyone.

How lovely to hear of Izabella. Thank you to Mr Izabella and so pleased to hear she is safe and well taken care of. I hope you both continue to do well and enjoy life. x

Lovely to hear news of Izabella.Glad to hear she is settled in a safe, sheltered environment.Best wishes to her and to you too Mr Izabella.

Thank you Mr Izabella. Good to hear your wife is in an environment where she can flourish.

Mr Izabella, thank you for letting us know about Izabella, good to hear she is well settled in a safe and sheltered environment, take care

Hi all, I don’t think I knew Izabella, but pleased to know she’s settled.
I meant to say, I’m very glad your son is showing improvement SueD, sorry I was remiss.
Quiz was fun last night, but finished a bit later, no prizes here.
It’s rained all afternoon and it’s cold, this morning was ok, so I got out and about.
No greenhouse planting today, I think next week it should warm up.
Enjoy your evening all.