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

Sounds like you’ve had a lovely day soop, I’ll join you in that G&T later after I’ve finished making dinner. It’s Red Thai veggie curry tonight, all made from scratch. My busy working DD1 in Cambridge occasionally buys the Gousto meal boxes and she always passes me the recipe cards that are included so it’s one of those. When you get the meal boxes though it’s much quicker as all the required ingredients are included and measured out in the right quantities but they don’t deliver up here anyhow so we have to make do! Sigh …
DH and I went out for a bit of shopping earlier, we’ve got quite a few family visitors staying at various times over the Easter holidays so we bought a few Easter treats and decorations to brighten the house up- bunnies, fluffy chicks, Easter bunting etc… but I think the children might be a bit too old for an Easter egg hunt in the garden now ..I’ll have to think of something else to entertain them..
Comfy pjs is the best thing soop, once I’m in for the day I often put mine on. My dear late mum would have been horrified and no doubt told me so!
Enjoy your evening with your DD llfl
Well done in winning the quiznannytopsy 👏
Pleased you had a good day Blossoming and got out and about - good picture too!

Good evening dear Kitcheners. Today we have been trainspotting . It’s been a bright day but very cold. Lazy evening ahead, another glass or 2 of wine, can’t let that bottle go to waste! More trainspotting tomorrow, I enjoyed walking around and there are plenty of places to rest if I need to. I did have a couple of ‘off balance’ moments today, but nothing serious. It’s just good to be using my legs again!

Have a pleasant evening all, whatever you’re doing ❤️

Blossoming Your happy news has made my day.

SueDonim I cannot help tittering over the wibbly-wobbly chair incident. It was Mr Soop's remark..."I am beginning to get cross..." that triggers the giggles.
On the other hand, the ghastly litter deposits, makes me want to weep with frustration.

We have been blethering with good friends who have returned from a visit to see their son in Australia. We have shared their memories and enjoyed their company.

We also motored into the village in order to test the wheelchair that a pal has let us borrow. I could tell that Mr Soop was short of breath after a relatively short distance. I therefore opted to push it. We have ordered a "walker" with a seat and other helpful attachments. If it arrives in time, we can take it to Glasgow, on the bus, when we meet family in April. Makes sense.

The hernia support arrived today. It is most uncomfortable and restricts the stoma's activity. I have removed it. Changed into loose pj's and feel liberated.

The sun is shining. We are hopeful that Sweetie Pie (feral cat) may honour us with a visit. He called when we were absent. His blankets had been slept on in his apartment. I had fun removing a multitude of muddy paddy-paw prints!

G&T a little later. Yet again, I shall raise a glass of cheer to you all.

Not many in Soop’s kitchen this afternoon so I thought I’d pay a visit. It’s always warm and cosy and there is the likelihood of a tasty snack! OH has gone to Oxford to collect our daughter from the railway station. I’ve done all the prep for toad in the hole, mash, onion gravy and sweet corn. She likes my caramel ice-cream so we’ll have that for pudding. Have a good evening.

Great news, Blossoming, that must be a weight off your shoulders. Enjoy your steam gala weekend.
YiaYia, I hope you find your forever home soon and the hives depart.
I'm sure the evensong will be a great success, Nannytopsy, relax and enjoy after all your hard work.

Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful weekend. TOYA.

Just caught up with Blossoming’s good news - so pleased to have such a positive start to the day.

Great news Blossoming.
We went to a quiz last night and won! Not that we are over competitive but I was keeping watch and we were in the lead from round one 🤣.
Still jobs to do for tomorrow’s evensong but it’s mostly sorted now. Roll on tomorrow night when I can relax!
Next week is the big push on the garden …

That’s such good news Blossoming I’m so pleased for you, relax and enjoy your wine, I’ll join you in a celebration if I may 🥂
Take it easy Yia a very stressful time for you, don’t let those hives win. Your forever home will be out there somewhere, you just need to find it ..
I’m just in from a busy but enjoyable day, back to the gym 😳 a trip to Tescos and coffee in Starbucks with my friend. The prices seem to have shot up again in Tesco - I’m going to have to ration DHs biscuits from now on ..
The cheese and tomato toasties in Costa are my DGSs favourite grandmabatty, together with a hot chocolate … not a combination I would choose but he seems to enjoy it!

Great news Blossoming enjoy your wine.
So sorry for your loss*Grandmabatty.*A wonderful friend till the end.🌷
Life is still hectic viewing properties but still waiting for our forever home.I have another outbreak of hives, the Doctor feels it’s stress so on another strong antihistamine.☹️
Have a good evening everyone.Will speak soon.

Excellent news blossoming. Enjoy your wine, you deserve it.

What cheering news Blossoming definitely a celebration. School run is done, knocking up chicken with leeks and mushrooms then pub for a catch-up.

That is good news Blossoming. Some celebration required tonight for you.
I've been for lunch with dd and dgs2. He had a haircut first then we had a toastie in Costa's. I'm having a lie down watching black and white films and then gammon salad for dinner. Have a good evening Kitcheners

That’s excellent news Blossoming! I’ve sort of been there and have the teeshirt. You deserve that 🍷!

I’ve had a quiet day. Bits of admin really and OH is cooking dinner. Our daughter is coming for a couple of days tomorrow so that promises to be hectic!

OH might be going out to a Beekeeping lecture tonight. He’s a bit worn out though from moving a pile of stones.

Good afternoon dear Kitcheners. I have some good news to share.

Earlier today, had an appointment with the colorectal cancer support team. To cut a long story short, still no cancer markers in blood (yay). Whatever the thingy is in my lungs it hasn’t changed since it was first detected 3 years ago and it isn’t cancerous. Mr. P is going to send me a letter with details and is discharging me back to my GP. If I do have any worrying symptoms in future the GP can refer me back to them and I’ll get seen straight away (strikes etc. permitting). I really do feel like I dodged a bullet again.

There’s a chicken curry in the slow cooker and naan bread that just needs warming in the toaster. I may have a glass or 2 of my favourite wine later. Mr. B isn’t a wine drinker so the bottle will last a few days

Tomorrow and Sunday is the Spring Steam Gala at the railway museum so I will be out train spotting and taking photos.

Sending hugs to all who need them, and all who don’t need them but would like one anyway!

Spring in S E Essex, hailstones, torrential rain and wind

Ideal conditions for the Easter Fair and egg hunt this afternoon with the three youngest GC 🤣🤣🤣🐇🐣👒

The Domestic goddess has been given a kick up the rear with the news that family are arriving on the 3rd...leaving on the morning of the 6th swiftly to be followed by a friend's arriving later on the same day. It's reminding me of when the 4 students used to leave at 8am and another 4 arrive at 7pm with work in between...I was so organised or was it just less lazy? The domesticity has extended to cleaning windows and ironing on the same day and getting down on my hands and knifes and with a nail file cleared the bits of fluff from the edges of the carpet on the stairs ..my excuse is that the hand held hoover doesn't get deep into the grooves..... It's not that at all....it's just sooooo boring.!!!!. This cant last I hear you kitcheners say...and you are right.. I'll be back wearing my slutty housewife crown any day soon.

Naughtyneine thank you. Those words are so wise and true

Grandmabatty..let your mind wander back over the years...laugh at those times that had you both in hysterics and smile at the memories that made your friendship so enduring...right to the end. Cry too but know for sure that death is just another horizon and a horizon is just the limit of our sight. Xx

Thank you all. Your kindness is appreciated

* lgrandmabatty*.
Beautiful morning in Suffolk. We have a visiting choir coming to sing evensong in the village church on Sunday so today is cleaning ( mostly removing bat poo!) and moving chairs from the village hall. If only we had a few young and fit people to help! The whole event has caused me sleepless nights - I shall be glad when we get to Monday.
I am sure the service will be lovely and worth it all.
Hope the soops are doing well and that Spring arrives with the changing clocks.

Sending love and my condolences grandmabatty You did all that was possible for your friend. Please take care of yourself now. .

Sincere condolences, Grandmabatty 💐

Sending my love to you, Grandmabatty. A hard blow to bear, even when it’s the kindest thing to have happened. Treasure your good memories.

Soop I can imagine your dilemma as I’ve done similar but in reverse! I sat down in one of those swinging chair things and do you think I could get out again? No, I could not! Thankfully Dh launched a rescue mission, which saved the fire brigade having to come out with their heavy lifting equipment. 😳 😂

Agreed about all the litter. I’ve just driven to Stirling along the A9 and the litter is shocking.

Welcome home, Brook!

Lunch with my friend today didn’t happen. I got there and texted to let her know where I was sitting. She texted me back to say that she was still in Inverness and that the lunch appt is for tomorrow. Oh dear! Can I still blame it on the jet lag? We’ve arranged to meet tomorrow evening instead so all is not lost.

I shall try to do better tomorrow. Take care, all. Xxx

Please accept my condolences too, Grandmabatty. Your presence must have been a great comfort to you friend.

Sincere condolences Grandmabatty
How wonderful to have had so close a friendship in your life.
I have and have had friends since schooldays but none who has been as close as you two were.
You were both very lucky and the fact that you are heartbroken shows your deep bond.