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

My apologies for being absent without leave. We are having a busy time and I've not been networking for several days.

We have had a massive clear out of the loft and, very shortly, weather permitting, we'll be joining the village car-boot-sellers. I have added many gimmicky "things" to give away to children. Why on earth do we clutter cupboards with items that we shall never use? Answers on a postage stamp.

I hope that I shall be able to catch up with all your happenings over the next few days.

Thank you for your understanding and patience.

Well...we stayed for two hours at the boot sale and sold several items that were priced an average of £2/£3. Met with several friendly villagers and blethered non stop. We returned home with a princely £33. The sun shone. Unsold stuff now packed away until another time. A very late lunch and a pot of tea to unwind with.

Enjoy your weekend, dear Kitcheners. You are very special peoples, as our grandson was known to say when he a wee man.

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Lovely last day in Orkney the weather has been kind to us this holiday and we have visited all the old haunts and seen some new sights as well.
A return visit to Birsay today and totally different photos as the tide was out. You can see people walking across the causeway to Kitchener’s monument. Some of them only just made it back across before the tide came in and got away with slightly damp feet. The tide comes in very quickly and some people just like to take risks!
There is a yellow honesty box at Birsay village and you can see the contents in the last photo. Oh well up early tomorrow to catch the ferry and then drive home. Sad to be leaving but looking forward to seeing family too. As always a small part of me remains here.

Good afternoon, Soop and lovely Kitchen people. Well done on your loft clear out and car boot sale, Soop and MrSoop, I'm in awe of your agility and enterprise. I'm too scared to go into the loft these days, I depend on visiting sons to go up there on occasion, although I would love to clear it until nothing remained except suitcases and Christmas decorations!
Safe journey home tomorrow, Scapa. Thank you for your wonderful photos and descriptions of Orkney.
Welcome back, Brook and LLL, I've enjoyed your holiday details too, but truly there's no place like home.
So pleased to hear that things are moving along now on your house move, YiaYia, it won't be long now.
Congratulations on your expected GDD, Annsixty, a happy event to look forward to.
A black door will be very smart and modern, Grandmabatty, they are becoming popular in our neighbourhood. I'm glad your Mum was more like herself for your visit.
Thinking of Urms and MrUrms, the Corners, and all those caring for loved ones. Remember to synchronise the siestas if at all possible, carers need rest too. 💕🙏

Apologies if I haven't mentioned you by name this time, thinking of you all.

Tomorrow DH and I drive two hours down the motorway to spend a day with The Wee Boy and his Mummy and Daddy at their sea front holiday rental in SW Scotland. They've invited us down for a wee visit, looking forward to seeing them all at the sea side. 🌊
TOYA

Beautiful photos Scapa thanks for posting them and safe travels home tomorrow. Give me a wave as you pass through Inverness!
Today didn’t go as planned as DD2 messaged this morning asking if I’d like to call round, so everything got put on hold and I spent the morning playing a few games with the DGC and helping them sort out a few toys they no longer wanted. I could do with having a car boot sale here Soop but I’ve never had much success so I try to sell on eBay instead. You did well though with £33 - well done 👍
A new baby girl GGC to look forward to ann how lovely
Hope you have a lovely day tomorrow with the family grannmarie, safe journey x

Have a lovely day tomorrow Grannmarie. I have been very tired today so I haven't achieved much.

Thank you, Brook and Grandmabatty, we're looking forward to it, and for a change, DH is driving! 🚘

Brook2704 will do when crossing the Kessock Bridge 👍🏻

Good evening lovely Kitcheners, my stomach is much better and have now had 3 nights in a row without waking up in pain. I am being super cautious with what I eat and sipping lots of water through the day. Hope everyone has well, safe travels TOYA

Good to hear you’re feeling a bit better Blossoming hope tonight is another good one too

Glad you're improving, Blossoming, a good night's sleep is the best medicine. 💐

Good afternoon lovely kitchen pals, I’m just home from the gym and Tesco and I’ve sat down for a cuppa and a late lunch. It’s dry here so I’ll be doing a bit of gardening soon - always lots to do
It was good to get back to the gym and see all the ladies there. It was the Zumba class first and then Aqua aerobics, so both were good fun and not too challenging.
Hoping Scapa is well on her way home now and grannmarie is having a lovely day with the family 💕

Good afternoon.Good result at the car boot sale Soop,hope you’re resting today.
Pleased your feeling better Blossoming.
Hope yore enjoying your day out Grandmarie.
My DS1’s party was great, it was was so nice to see he’s many friends most of them we’ve known since primary school.
We got to bed at about 2am so,yesterday was spent doing nothing.DS2 and future DiL (we hope!) went home this afternoon.They are going on a cruise on Saturday and he plans to propose on the balcony.He’s very nervous but I’m sure it will be fine.🤞
Hope your feeling a bit better today * Urms*
Have a pleasant evening everyone.

You’re probably home now Scapa thank you for your insights.
Good to hear Blossoming keeping hydrated is good for us all, I do my best, but sometimes forget.
Hope your day is going well Grannmarie a quick paddle?
I haven’t seen 2am for a goodly while Yia I’m glad the party went well.
Washing was out first thing but the sun has been sulking, it’s a little breezy, so it should dry. Signs of autumn everywhere on my walk earlier and I’ll have a fleece to hand for quiz later.
Ttfn.

Yiayia fingers crossed that she accepts! Keep us informed please. I've had a fairly laid-back day with no childcare until a sudden visit from dd and the boys after nursery. Dgs1 wanted to see me despite seeing me tomorrow morning. I've made a nice pot of leek and potato soup and will have chicken later. Have a good evening Kitcheners

Five days since I posted! . First of all, congratulations to those with children who received their exam results. The relief when it’s all over! GG13 I hope the CP spots are abating now.
Excellent results for your car boot sale, Soop.
Your holiday sounded just the ticket, Brook.
We had thunder on Friday, GMbatty and some rain. Two miles up the road, my dd said it was torrential and her dd and little playpal were beside themselves with excitment! . GS was with us and napped through it all.
Great news about MrC. Cornergran but don’t forget to look after yourself as well.
🤞 for exchange of contracts, Yia.
LLFL I love your garden! That’s the look I’m aiming for.
It sounds as though you’ve had a good time, Annsixty. And lovely about the new GGD. Maybe you won’t see them that often but it’s nice to think of the next generation coming along.
Scapa when we lived in Thurso the Kessock bridge didn’t even exist! You either had to drive the long way round via Beauly or use the tiny Kessock Ferry. Istr it was a chain pull affair.
Hope you continue with better health, Blossoming.

I’ve lost track of what I’ve done when. I’ve been to my book group (discussed The Marriage Portrait) and seen a friend to catch up on news. Looked after GS on Friday. He’s very protective of his sore finger and won’t uncurl his hand. Hopefully once the steristrips come off he’ll be back to normal. The new dining table arrived Saturday, I was shocked it came so quickly!

Yesterday dd came round with GS and later we went out for coffee and to a sunflower trail. Today we’ve been into town for various bits and pieces. Isn’t it strange how all of a sudden you seem to be running short on all sorts of things that you were well stocked up with just a couple of days ago? Oh, I also got my Covid/flu jag appointment in the post today, (not a BH in Scotland) for October.

We’ve just started watching Yellowstone in tv. We don’t have a clue what’s going on but are enjoying it anyway! 😂

Take care, everyone. Xxx

Good evening dear Kitcheners, I’m feeding pretty good and fingers crossed I’ve turned a corner this time! I’m loving reading about all your travels and family news. It’s been chilly and drizzling here all day and I have been very lazy, just doing necessary physio exercises and listening to Tom Holland’s book Pax. I’ve been fascinated by Roman Empire history all my life, perhaps because there are visible bits of it all around us. Lentil soup this evening, a great family favourite.

Snap SueD we’ve just started watching Yellowstone too - I think it’s taking me a while to get into it but I’m hanging on in there for a bit longer yet!

Back home safely in Dunblane about 6.30 after a good crossing and drive down. It was a lovely holiday. I remember going the long way round at Inverness SueDonim as a child. I did wave going past Brook2704.
We were delayed near Dunkeld by an accident on both sides of carriageway, looked nasty with 3 ambulances fire engine and lots of police. Cars were a bit of a mess. However better delayed than involved. Thank you for all your lovely comments. Now to deal with the mess of unpacking!!

I'm glad you are home safely Scapa It has been lovely to share your holiday with you.

Mr C enjoys Yellowstone too. I’ve seen bits when I ask him what’s happening he sometimes knows .

Welcome home scapa, I’ve enjoyed seeing the photos. Pleased you’re better blossoming, it’s not been fun for you. Don’t suppose you could persuade Mr C that physio exercises are a good thing?

Hope you’ve had a good day granmarie, there’s something about children and the seaside. One of ours has suggested I drive Mr C to meet them along the coast at the weekend so he can watch our Typhoon rush around. We’re hoping for cooperative weather, it would do us good for sure.

Time I was sleeping. It’s INR surgery visit day tomorrow. If Mr C is up to it we’ll go on from there to a garden centre for a cuppa and a scone. Mr C has lost a lot of weight through this process, little appetite isn’t helping, a scone that doesn’t resemble one of my famous digestive biscuits. may tempt him.

Sleep well everyone.

I’m glad MrC is progressing and I’m not sure I am qualified to encourage anyone to do physio - I always forgot!
DH has had an upset tummy today and I have been dashing to the loo every half an hour or so for a wee for a couple of days and every couple of hours in the night. I don’t know what it is but I’m a bit fed up!
DGS is 10 on Wednesday and they are at camp so I get to make an Avatar birthday cake! Blue and green swirly icing is the main idea so far.

NNGB

So pleased to hear you’re safely home now Scapa thanks for the wave 👋
I’m catching up on housework and pottering in the garden today until later when we’re off out to help with the after school activities. DGD has a very busy Tuesday now with dancing, choir and now cubs all on the same night. She doesn’t want to give any up!
Hope you get out for that cuppa and scone corner, always enjoyable I reckon
The birthday cake sounds really good nannytopsy hope your DGS enjoys it. Hope you’re both feeling better soon
DD2 has just phoned for a chat, she often does that whilst in the car travelling somewhere or other. She’s got the hands free set up and I’m really happy that she’s phoned, but can’t help wishing she’d concentrate on the driving!

I’ve discovered the subtitles for Yellowstone - I think I understand what’s going on now! We’ve been laughing at Kevin Costner going everywhere by helicopter and his daughter tripping the light fantastic around the place either in her negligee or just plain starkers. 🤣

Good afternoon, Soop and lovely Kitchen people.
I've just lost my long post about yesterday ☹️ I'll try to retrieve some of it from predictive text, 🤞

Thank you for your kind wishes for our day out with The Wee Boy and his family. We had a great day out, enjoyed a fabulous farm park with go carts, train ride and hill slides as well as feeding/petting the beautiful animals. Then time at the beach, there is a beautiful sandy stretch in front of their decking, as well as a rockier area around the old lighthouse.

Jaxjacky, I didn't manage my usual wee paddle because it was the Solway Firth and the tide is so far out! We had a great meal in the local hotel with lighthouse views and as we departed, around 7ish, DS2 and DDiL2 were heading to the amusements to finish off The Wee Boy's big day out. I hope they got a long lie this morning.