Soop's kitchen for kindly folk.

Good afternoon all, it’s been another lovely sunny day here, MrB did the shopping and then we have been out in the garden.

Please look after yourself Grandmabatty, you sound rather run down. You’ve had so much to deal with lately. I always feel cold if I’m tired or unwell.

Is the itch from midgey bites Soop? They don’t find me very tasty but MrB gets bitten quite a lot. He uses a body oil from Avon that seems to settle any itching down. I must look those jackets up Baggs.

Hope you managed some sleep SueD and are feeling better today x

Soop definitely try antihistamines. Dustyangel I love the woodpecker photo. So cute. I've pottered about today but I'm not feeling well. Both eyes are infected and my throat is very sore. I feel cold too, which isn't like me. So no visit to mum tonight and I might go for a lie down soon. Have a good afternoon kitcheners.

Trying to post other photograph. Sorry about the reflections in the woodpecker one.

soop I have a long term skin condition and when it flares up it always starts at night and subsequently is at its worst overnight. A good cream for me for itching is Systral, I think it might be an antihistamine but again for me it doesn’t make the cause of the itch go away but does ease it if used overnight.
I hope your bites subside quickly.

I’ve included two photos, one of two woodpeckers we had in the garden on Monday and the other of my lovely DGS walking near Aberystwyth last week. He went off to Amsterdam at the crack of dawn on Tuesday morning but will be back on Friday when his Dad is also arriving.

Baggs I've opted to do ironing this afternoon. Mr Soop has a midge net. Our neighbour, a builder, wore something not far short of a suit of armour.

My sister is to have 12 sessions of chemotherapy, starting asap. She commented..."bring it on!"

Do any of you lovely lot have bouts of maddening itching when trying to get to sleep? If so, do you have any suggestions for the management of suchlike? It was 2:30 before I finally fell asleep last night. This problem is becoming chronic. In fact, I now dread bedtime. Tonight I'm going to try a plant-based Nytol.

I shall return to catch up with all the latest happenings a little later this afternoon.

Dear Soops, what you need is a Beaton's Midge Jacket. Gardening where we are in high summer would often be impossible without these.

I've even done an archery tournament in one near Oban.

Hope the itching has stopped.

SueD my podiatrist said my plantar fasciitis was a result of very tight calf muscles and he gave me exercises to stretch them plus ultrasound on the areas of pain. Solved the problem! Also, told me not to wear completely flat shoes, such as flip flops. I hope you can sort your problem soon.
NNGB everyone

I cannot believe I had to switch the heating on this evening. Even when the sun pops out there is still a northerly breeze. At least my washing dries.

The heating is off, I am sitting here shivering so a shower and bed with a hot water bottle I think. I am sure it is not June and the longest day will be in a fortnight!

Plane tail liveries sounds a very niche topic for Mastermind, Jax!

The sun has failed to emerge for two days in a row here, Brook. No rain, though, so the garden is parched.

I’m sorry the house search has to continue, Yia. Big hopes that The One is just around the corner.

Soop drat those mozzies. Allevia is a very good antihistamine, one of the newer ones. Sweetie Pie is a pickle, isn’t he? There’s a cat in my DD’s village who is now notorious. Regular calls go out on Facebook - ‘does anyone know if this cat is a stray? He’s round at mine every day’ and his embarrassed mum pops up and says ‘he’s mine and he’s very well fed. He’s also a chancer.’ 😂

Such lovely sky, Blossoming.

It’s been a dull few days here weatherwise but we’ve been busy. Yesterday we had all sorts of small things to do, but git them all done. Today my plans to go to a garden centre were kiboshed when we were needed by dd for emergency childcare. Whilst at DD’s house I folded all her clean washing to put away. She was later wandering around her house looking for the clothes, thinking that she must have imagined that she’d done a wash earlier. 🤣

I’m currently sitting here resplendent in a black boot splint. I have plantar fasciitis and other treatment hasn’t worked so this is the next step (sorry!). I have to wear it on the worse foot overnight - Dh will know all about it if I accidentally clobber him with it in bed! What with that and having developed what they think is allergy-related asthma, I’m feeling a bit like a broken down old jalopy. How come I’m still 25 in my head?

Peaceful dreams to you all. Xxx

Soop, have you tried anti histamine for the itching? I take it throughout the summer cos mozzies and midges seem to like me! DH's late friend used to call midges ' flying teeth', he suffered when out fishing.

Lovely photo, Blossoming, thank you. You have nice places to walk around.

Hello 👋 YiaYia, the right house is out there somewhere, you'll know it when you see it.🤞

All is well, thank you Brook, you are very busy with your DGC, what social lives they enjoy! I didn't know girls could go to Cubs either.

DH helped DS2 to assemble a climbing frame with a chute and two swings for the Wee Boy. His wee pal from next door comes to play in the garden, I love listening to their conversations.

Well done on your team winning the quiz, Jaxjacky! That certainly sounds like a specialist subject, a particular field of knowledge.

Thinking of Urms, MrUrms and family. 💕🙏 TOYA, NNGB.

Hi all, drat Yia, you’ll get there, it must seem a bit of a slog though.
A humdrum sort of day, cleaned bathrooms, washed kitchen floor, wiped down cupboards and sowed some more seeds, beetroot and parsnip, the previous parsnips failed.
We won quiz last night, totally down to one member who correctly identified 19/20 plane tail liveries and their countries of origin in the penultimate round.
You live in a very pretty area Blossoming
Cottage pie is in the oven, cauli and cabbage prepared, ttfn.

Yia you’ll find it eventually 💐

Good afternoon kitchen pals, after a cloudy morning the sun came out at lunchtime and it’s been another gorgeous sunny afternoon 😎
DGD has been ferried about to various classes, she’s now at choir and DD is going to pick her up later. She’s then going to cubs with her brother so no sleepover tonight. She’s ditched brownies in favour of cubs as apparently they do more exciting stuff! I’m clearly way behind the times as I didn’t even know girls could go to cubs …
Sounds like Sweetie Pie is definitely a wanderer soop, a long way to travel though!
Sounds like a busy day Grannmarie hope all is well x

Hello Kitchen.So sorry to hear of your friend Soop.The itching is awful can relate to that.

Very best wishes to the Hulahoop’s and hello Granmarie.

You all must be sick of the house search and sadly it continues.The Victorian property was so lovely but the owner had not sorted the freehold and lease it would have been a real problem also, DH said the very large sash windows needed replacing a big and very expensive Job.The search continues I do despair but in the grand scheme of the things it’s not the end of the world and who knows another day tomorrow
Thinking of Urms and family.Have a nice evening everyone.

Good afternoon dear Kitcheners. It started cloudy here but soon cleared for another sunny day. We have been to Glasson Dock for some fresh air and a little birdwatching. There are avocets with chicks nesting there, these birds seem to be moving further North in recent years.

Cold ham with greens and baby potatoes later, now ready for a nap.

Hello again, my darlin's.

The spirit was strong...the flesh has been eaten to bits by midges. Mr Soop and I managed to stay outdoors for 45 mins. We then threw in the trowel and bolted for the confines of our home. I've stripped off. Now in a cotton nightie. Itching from the scalp down to my toes. Mr Soop, a proper gent, used some colourful language which I cannot share with you lovely lot.

A comforting group hug for all our Kitcheners. Especially those of you who have troubles to bear.

Farewell until tomorrow.

Best wishes for the Hulahoops today.

Good afternoon, Soop and lovely Kitchen people!
Dear Soop, I am so sorry to hear you have another bereavement. Sincere condolences, such a sad time for you both. 💕🙏💐
Interesting about the cat photograph. It sounds like Sweetie Pie can get a piece on jam at any door as we say in Lanarkshire. 🐈‍⬛

I'm so far behind with the kitchen news this week, I'll need to catch up! I've just enjoyed sweet potato and mackerel salad for lunch, bed is stripped and washing on whirlie, I must get back upstairs to clean the bedrooms and put on fresh bedding. We're enjoying a very welcome sunny spell in the west of Scotland, although it is cooler and cloudy in the mornings, I can sit out knitting in the garden from afternoon till evening. Must make the most of it!🌞 Wish I could send some to those who need it.
TOYA. 🥰

hulahoop Thinking of you. Good husbands are beyond precious.

We now wait for details of our friend's funeral. So many people close to our hearts have died this year. Not surprising, since we are now in our eighties.

A lady living in a neighbouring village has sent us a photo of a black cat (with a wee white bib) that calls on her "from time to time". We are almost certain that her visitor is Sweetie Pie. If so, that means he/she treks a distance of three or more miles in opposite directions, as the same visiting cat also travels into our local village of Clachan.

I have offered to give Mr Soop assistance with potting lupins.

Hope all goes well today Hulahoop. I'm with Brooke on happiness too Blossoming. Do what makes you happy.. and it really is the simplest of things that bring most joy lots of the times isn't it.

Thank you for your good wishes for today ,I feel I am restricting my oh doing things he doesn't complain at all he is a good one. Hope everyone has a good day.

So sorry, Soop. That is such sad news.
Sending you a hug 🤗

I’ve pottered through the afternoon… a bit of baking, gardening, sorting stuff out for a charity stall, made a creamy vegetable curry for tea.

Brook salmon salad is one of my favourites. I hope you enjoyed it

So sorry to hear the sad news soop sending condolences to the family
My 9yr old DGS is just the same nannytopsy, can’t get to sleep without his bedtime buddies!
Pleased you’ve had a good weekend ann but so sorry to hear about your DGDs friends troubles - life’s tough for so many I know
Hoping all goes well tomorrow hulahoop
That’s all that matters Blossoming, happiness is the main thing. I’m always happy with the simple pleasures in life, sitting in the garden, the birds singing, beautiful scenery , a cup of tea and a biscuit, a nice meal and a friend to talk to … it’s all important💐
We’ve had a busy day here looking after the DGC, they’ve been off school for an in service day. Swimming this morning, back home here for lunch, a quick walk in the woods and then a shopping afternoon for myself and DGD - it cost me a fortune but it doesn’t happen that often so I don’t mind 😀
I’m off to make salmon and salad to eat soon, have a lovely evening all x

Good luck for tomorrow Hulahoop. Enjoy the quiz Jax.

I spent the afternoon meandering around the marina and bridge until my legs got tired. Bumped into an old friend who is waiting to have a heart monitor fitted, had a good chat. My life isn’t very exciting but I am happy