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

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202304/medium-801225-img-20230416-190731.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202304/medium-781359-img-20230416-190705.jpg

I've left cake too...see what you think. It was the one that was on the Waitrose weekend paper over the Easter Weekend. The writer adds 200ml of strong coffee to the batter... She swears it doesn't make it taste like coffee cake but brings out the richness of the chocolate. It has a ganache topping and filling. I road tested it on DOH before I put it on the side in here. He asked if it was ok to sneak in later and see if there is any left. We had a lovely day yesterday. It was definitely a bargain weekend. We erected the green house that was reduced to £9.99 from £29.99 and spotted a water feature dumped in a box marked £5 at the reduced section of the garden centre and took a chance and yay it worked...inside they were on sale for £99.99... There is one tiny light not working....am I bothered ...not one jot. Nannytopsy I've added those to my list to investigate. I've planted lots of perennials too and I bought a selection of nasturtiums that I'll put into my hanging baskets and intersperse among other plants on the ground too. My DOH said it makes his heart sing to see me in my happy place and not in pain.

I hope it's a good week for everyone...Yia maybe this week will be the one when you find your forever home.
I hope the recovery continues Blossoming...dried fruit has the same effect on me and I do so love a fruit cake.
LLFL...you too and also Mr LLFL too.
Soop hopefully they will have some answers tomorrow. I love the view.
Brook... It all sounds just lovely...and it's a good kind of tiredness isn't it. I'll never stop missing mine.
Jax... I'm cooking a gammon tonight...in coca cola as usual. The rest of the bottle goes down the toilet as it's wonderful for making it sparkle. Lol.

Hello everyone. I’ve tried to pace myself today so I don’t get worn out. I did my usual Waitrose shop with the addition of some vegan things for my brother’s partner. Rice noodles, coconut milk, oat milk and extra fruit and vegetables. . I had a chat with my brother this morning and they are looking forward to their trip. They will be staying with me for a week (my sister will be in a nearby air b n b with my niece) and then heading off to stay with various friends and relatives. They will stay with me for their final weekend. Niece flies back to Australia next Monday and sister goes back next Thursday. Halfway through May, all will be back to normal - except I’m looking after my granddaughter a couple of weekends in May! OH is still under the weather. He has a phone call later today with the Clinical Pharmacist about his missing medication. At least OH has been able to order my 70th birthday presents. Have a good evening.

Good afternoon, Soop and lovely Kitchen people, where is everyone? Are you all in your gardens? I've just come in from mine, resting my leg after a wee spell weeding and tidying.
Nannytopsy, your erythromiums are super! My hostas are just starting to peep through the gravel, it's been cold here of late but weather is picking up now.

Soop, you are blessed with a beautiful view, how wonderful to look out on that every day. I hope the stoma nurse can arrange an appointment for you very soon.

YiaYia, I am sorry that the stunning Abbey apartment didn't have the necessary outside space for you, I hope you find your new home soon.

Brook, enjoy your well deserved rest now, you've given your grandchildren a great time and lots of happy memories.

DS1 sent me photos of DGD and DGS1 on the paddle board and kayak at the weekend, on the west coast, enjoying the last days of the school break.

Jaxjacky, how thoughtful of Imogen, what a kind girl. Enjoy your gammon, a very welcome prize.

Thanks for the kitchen roasts, Grandmabatty, just the thing for a tasty sandwich with caramelised onion chutney. Hope you had a good day with your wee grandsons. We had a great day out on Saturday with the Wee Boy and his Mummy and Daddy at the Riverside museum on the Clyde. There were diggers, dump trucks and fire engines on display in the car park, DGS2 queued patiently for a turn at sitting in the cabins and 'driving ', great fun!

Hello, 👋 👋 Oreo and Hulahoop, great to see you both in Soop's friendly kitchen.

LLL, I hope you and your OH are both feeling a bit better today. I laughed out loud at your 'Typhoid Mary' tale!
I've arranged for a telephone consultation with my GP on Wednesday, cos my leg is still not great after 4 weeks of tubagrip, paracetamol, Deep Heat spray and spells on the sofa... I'm still hirplin' !

Blossoming, your chicken and rice soup and crusty bread sounds perfect, the very thing to settle your digestive upset. You've given me a wee notion to make some. I will liberate a chicken from the freezer, roast it tomorrow, then make soup with the carcass on Wednesday while I wait in for my GP's call...sounds like a plan!

Enjoy the rest of your Monday, TOYA.

Crossed posts, Neine and LLL!

Great garden bargains, Neine, well done.
LLL, a busy family time on the horizon, how lovely to have them all here for your special birthday.

Wow neine they’re some bargains, I think I’ll have to go shopping with you next time - How brilliant the water feature for a fiver !
It’s been a gorgeous warm sunny day here, I skipped the gym and intended on having a rest but the weather just tempted me outside so I’ve been busy in the garden most of the day - my happy place!
DH surprised me earlier with a bunch of flowers, quite a rare event really but he wanted to say thank you for looking after all our recent visitors so well and trying to make sure everyone had a good time - awww 🥰
What a lovely inclusive post grannmarie, you’re always so good at remembering what everyone is doing, well done to you. I hope your GPs appointment helps with getting some treatment for your painful leg.
Llfl hope your OH feels better soon, good that he’s organised enough to order your presents - he definitely has his priorities right!

Brook, 💐

Grannmarie I've had a lovely day with the boys, thank you. Dgs1 was at nursery for most of it but cuddled in when he came back to my house. Dgs2 and I went for a walk. He loves toddling himself and there were many happy screams of joy. Both boys would love that museum. I must tell dd. Brook what a lovely gesture from your DH. You deserve them. Neine excellent bargains! I'm having a white wine before I have dinner. I've tidied up the mayhem that both boys create only for it to happen all over again tomorrow. Chicken and gammon with mash, peas and carrots and gravy with Yorkshire puddings followed by apple sponge. I always make something on Sunday that gives me an easy dinner on Monday and Tuesday. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

Grandmabatty, the Riverside museum also has a family friendly cafe looking directly onto the Tall Ship Glenlee, moored on the Clyde and open to visitors. Your wee boys would love that too.

Grannmarie they definitely would love that

Good evening dear Kitcheners. The light diet seems to have done the trick, the soup was delicious and easy to make. You can bulk it out with veg if desired. The tum is still a bit bloated and giving an occasional rumble but nothing worse atm. I have my Botox appointment at the eye clinic on Wednesday morning so really don’t need added stress! I’m feeling a little anxious, hoping for a positive outcome. Goodnight all x

Neine. You really are a canny shopper! Lovely photo .

Oreo I could do with an enormous slice of your cake right now. Am feeling frazzled with frustration.

Soop 💐

Dear you lovely lot, as I have already said, I am frazzled with frustration. Please may I vent?

I placed an order on April 6th for a young man's birthday which was celebrated yesterday It arrived today. By the time I had wrapped it and readdressed it, the postal collection had gone. We both remained by the phone all morning. I was expecting a telephone appointment with the stoma nurse in Glasgow. It did not happen. Mr Soop also had a telephone appointment with the haematologist in Oban. It didn't happen. We now believe that the silence is due to the strike. I do sympathise with every one who deserves higher pay. BUT, if there aren't sufficient funds to meet expectations I fail to understand the logic behind putting patients (with serious, life-threatening, medical issues) at greater risk. Mr Soop and I are not in that category. My sister needs surgery today but it has been postponed. Her case is certainly top priority.

I haven't articulated my frustration in the manner that I wish. But, thank you for listening.

I shall now shut up. I need a brew, (virtual cake) and an hour of snooker.

I shall return tomorrow.

Soop, how very annoying for you. My dh is glued to the snooker!!

My sympathies soop. It is annoying when telephone appointments don’t happen. I hope the tea and snooker helped. I have just had an email from the hospital about a first appointment about my knee replacement. I got very excited until it said sorry, but do you still want us to to see you?
We have partly spring cleaned today - the oven, 3 bathrooms and two bedrooms, including carpet shampooing. I am going to hoover the stairs then call it a day. 😇
DD, SiL and DGS2 arrive tomorrow, which always involves lots of food. I have a WI outing in the morning and garden club in the evening, so Grandad Topsy will get most of the cuddles!
That was lovely cake! I will put a Mary Berry apple and lemon sandwich cake on the side in time for elevenses tomorrow.

Afternoon Kitcheners.That’s so annoying Soop hope you both get sorted soon.
What a lovely DH Brook definitely a keeper.😃
Another viewing of a ground floor apartment today it was nice but, a very busy road.☹️Our buyer is keen to move but we need to find the right place for us,it’s got to be out there.
If you’re reading this Urms hope you’re both well and happy.Come back soon we all miss you.
Have a good evening all.

Good evening Kitcheners. Well, both boys away home and I'm halfway through tidying up the mayhem. Gammon and chips for dinner with some salad. I'm keeping an eye on a tooth, if that's possible, as it's a bit sore. It has been a lovely day here. Dgs2 and I went for a walk, then went to the swings, bumping into neighbours both times. In the afternoon, he played in the garden and splashed exuberantly in the water table. I had to change him from the skin out. After I picked up dgs1 from nursery, dgs2 went for nap number two and dgs1 had a cuddle on the couch. It's been a lovely couple of days with them both. I'm very lucky. Soop that's incredibly annoying for you both. Yiayia the right house is out there for you. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

Nannytopsy I am impressed with your cleaning skills!

Good evening dear Kitcheners. It has been a beautiful sunny day here. Despite the recent tummy collywobbles I’m still feeling pretty upbeat, I’m sure it’s the weather! More spring cleaning, punctuated by sit downs and drinks of working, and the satisfaction of a job done. Those days with the boys sound lovely Grandmabatty. I’m sure you’ll find the place for you soon Yia.
How upsetting about your appointments Soop. I have been dreading having my eye clinic appointments cancelled or delayed but so far so good. I’m having the Botox injection in the eye muscle tomorrow and I admit I’m rather anxious! I’m sure I read a post from a Gransnetter who had this a little while ago. I did a search yesterday but the only one I found was someone who’d had it but it didn’t work, not very encouraging . I’m sure it will be fine, I’m just squeamish about eyes. I’d rather go the dentist! Chicken with new potatoes and greens tonight, shouldn’t upset the tum.
Have a good evening all, waving to Urms in case she’s reading.

Hi all, what a lot going on.
Good bargains neine!
Glad the tum has settled *Blossoming and fingers crossed for tomorrow’s appointment.
How frustrating soop it gives a feeling of impotence, I hope both medical issues get resolved asap.
Would you like a job Nannytopsy 🙂.
Quiz was fun last night, busy, it’s proving a successful village event, very much a community pub.
It got decidedly chilly here today, with an April shower, greenhouse is closed up.enjoy your evening all.

Hello everyone. I’m way behind. My apologies. Will try to do better.

I’m sorry about your non calls soop. So frustrating.

We’ve had a couple of being decorated days. Our jet propelled decorator finished the living room today, much faster than he thought so he reduced his bill. I like that man . We’d emptied the room of all the wooden furniture (and have the bruises to prove it). Mr C had taken notice of my threats should be attempt to move it back on his own while I was out so two hours hauling it back this evening and we’ve got a room back. Curtains to go up tomorrow, we’ll not know ourselves. Suspect we’ll sleep tonight.

Look after yourselves everyone. Hope it’s a good night for all.

Hi to all kitchen pals, it’s been another gorgeous warm sunny day here,I think we got up to 18º, really unexpected at this time of year but very welcome. Seems like the weathers gone a bit topsy turvy Jax !

It’s so frustrating Soop I don’t know what the answer is but I can understand you needing to vent! I hope your sisters surgery is completed quickly and you and Mr Soop get the required telephone calls soon too

Well done with your spring cleaning nannytopsy you’ve definitely made a very good start

I met my friend for a coffee and a catch up this morning and then I was home by lunchtime for a potter in the garden. Lots of little weeds to pull out, I don’t know what they’re called but they have very tiny white flowers on a longish stem. Later on we took DGD to her dance class, then her choir practice and then back home here for her usual Tuesday sleepover. She’s tucked up in bed now and hopefully asleep soon.

Yia your ideal place will be there somewhere, it’s just finding it that’s the challenge

Hope all goes well at the eye clinic tomorrow Blossoming

Keep an eye on that tooth grandmabatty, I’ve got a tooth that gives me a bit of sensitivity sometimes, it’s been checked out but nothing found to be wrong with it so I’ve not had any treatment - but I keep an eye on it too!

Great news about the super fast decorater corner a pleasant surprise with a reduced bill ! Enjoy the new surroundings 😀