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

Congratulations on fixing a date Neine. Orkney would be lovey for a road trip. Practise on single track roads before you go although there are normal roads too, no dual carriageways though 🤣. A quiet day today stewed some Victoria plums for freezing I do like them but season here is so short. GD2 after school again good to see her. Her mum and GD1 came to pick her up today DS is away up to Aberdeen to watch them in the Europa league unfortunately they are currently losing 0-2. It is a two hour journey his is with his cousin and someone he works with. Glad there are some happier posters today.

Hello everyone
A pinch and a punch for the first of the month!
I’m wide awake after a nightmare so I’m trying to distract myself.
Congratulations Neine!
Yes SueD it’s a banana. It has survived two winters with covering up and mulching and is taking over that space.
I’m starting to yawn so perhaps I can sleep again. TOYA

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MrB and I are on our way to Iona. Pics taken at Oban while waiting for the Mull ferry.

Fabulous, Baggs, I love the bustle of the pier at Oban, the start of many adventures. Have a wonderful time x

Hope you managed to get some sleep NannyTopsy.

I’m trying to get up the energy to go do some laundry. I’m a bit apprehensive as it will involve bending and I’m hoping it doesn’t trigger the hiatus hernia again. It has been wonderful having some pain free days and nights this week. I also need to sort out tonight’s soup.

Wonderful images baggs. Enjoy.

Lovely photos Baggs. Weather looks pleasant too.

Stunning photos Baggs

Gorgeous photos baggs have a lovely time x

Lovely photographs Baggs and * of the superb wedding venu.
What am occasion to remember.
So happy for Naughtyneine I hope your dreams soon come true.

I have been out for lunch with my ex DiL and her now MiL.
We used to have very regular contact for years after the divorce and still saw lots of her C with her second H but as my GD is estranged from her contact ceased.
However when I knew her in laws were coming from Ireland I suggested lunch and they were so very pleased.
Life is too short and all that.
We had a lovely lunch and an uncontroversial couple of hours chat.
I am very tired now.

Baggs such lovely photos. Enjoy your trip. I have had a quiet day pottering and achieved a fair amount. Tesco have delivered so I will eat this week. However I forgot some stuff so a quick trip to Aldi is required tomorrow morning. I will probably visit mum tonight. Have a good evening Kitcheners

Well done ann and very pragmatic, pleased you had a pleasant lunch, feet up now.
Beautiful Baggs such a stunning landscape.
Go steady Blossoming as you’re on a roll at the moment.
After oversleeping this morning, then a bit groggy I eventually got going, we are inundated with tomatoes this year and have given away so many. After they were picked and the greenhouse watered it was sweeping the floor, making phone calls and a late, as usual, breakfast. I’m dithering over dinner tonight as Tesco delivered so we’ve a full fridge, off to the pub soon.

What lovely views Baggs enjoy your trip. Not a very exciting day today ironing in the morning not my favourite thing! Also fish van came as usual on a Friday, he comes from Anstruther and is a lovely young chap. As well as fish he has bread, cake and some fruit and vegetables so very handy indeed. Went to Curry’s this afternoon looking at larder fridges and freezers. The temperature on my fridge seems to be be running a bit warm and I am getting to the stage where falling into my large chest freezer is becoming a distinct possibility 🤣. Not impressed by selection so may have to resort to online.
Funnily enough peppered mackerel for dinner followed by Scottish raspberries.

Good for you Ann, glad you all had a pleasant time. I was very careful Jax, avoided too much bedding. I had a horrendous time with the hernia last week, constant pain and little sleep. No way was I risking that again. One load of laundry done and hung up to dry. Tomato and basil soup tonight with oatcakes and probably a yogurt for pudding. Still drinking lots of water. I love mackerel Scapal but MrB isn’t keen on oily fish.

So pleased that you enjoyed your lunch with your ex Dil ann like you say life’s too short and all that
Easy does it Blossoming take care
Have a great time at the pub later Jax
Good that you’ve got that fish van Scapa, especially as he’s selling other items too. I think we have a van that calls round here too, I’ll have to check it out. We’re having salmon and roasted veg soon, all done together in the air fryer so nice and easy
Did the dreaded circuits class at the gym this morning, I was exhausted afterwards as you soon get out of practice and I wasn’t there last week. I’m happy that it seems to be working though in building up my strength 💪 🤣

Meant to say avoided bending, not bedding!

We ended up with chicken, sweet potato and lentil curry, very nice too.
I wish we had a fish van, although MrJ is not a fan and I do try and avoid cooking two meals, he rarely cooks, but does all of the ironing and other tedious domestic chores!
Watching cricket, it’s getting dark early tonight.
Enjoy the rest of your evening kitcheners.

Hello everyone. Hoping for a less challenging day today. On a very short walk close to home Mr C became very unwell. Struggled to breathe, vomited and was faint. Poor man was propped against a wall with me holding him there. Neighbours came to the rescue with a borrowed wheelchair providing a ride home.

As there was no chest pain and with Mr C regaining colour I called our surgery. Put on the triage list a speedy call back offered a GP appointment early afternoon. After a thorough check it seems likely the cause was atrial fibrillation as his heart rate was zooming around. An ECG is booked for today, medication was tweaked and a request sent winging on its way for cardiology to review.

Mr C is content as he has a likely diagnosis. Me? I’m fretting about the what might have been had we been further from home. It will settle I’m sure, just not yet! It does feel like recovery is a step forward and two back. Certainly best to expect the unexpected.

No fish van here, I’d love one, Mr C on the other hand is not a fan of food that used to swim.

We also have managed a decent relationship with our ex daughter in law ann. Early eggshell walking and fence sitting has paid dividends. We can laugh together and enjoy the occasional meal. Your lunch sounds ideal and yes, life is too short.

Go carefully blossoming The mentions of tasty soup here are encouraging me to begin making it again. That curry sounds good jax. Any leftovers?

Oh well. Best get a move on. Kitchen and bathroom to sanitise then it’s on with the chauffeur head and off for Mr C’s ECG at the surgery furthest from home. Usually I’d be grumbling ar the distance, today I’m mightily relieved.

Enjoy your weekends as much as you can everyone, hope the sun shines.

Hoping the ECG has gone well corner what a worry for you both x

Thinking of MrC and you Corner

Life can be very stressful
I am sitting in our local park watching the world go by.
It is 22° and full sun, glorious.

We are blessed with our park.
5 mins away and large play area for children.
Tennis courts.bowling greens, skateboard park , toilets and sometimes an ice cream van although it isnt here today
Tomorrow at 12:33 pm the Tour of Britain cycle race goes past the entrance.
I may scoot down to see it.

I hope the ECG went ok Corner. What a worry for you.
Flowers arranged and taken to church where more flowers were arranged, bat droppings dusted off and generally tidied for Harvest tomorrow. We are almost packed for our holiday but lots to do still. I would like to make chutney as the apples etc will have gone off by the time we get back. We made piccalilli this morning. DH needs a haircut and we need to put plant pots in water. I can’t wait until I am on the A14 and all is done!
Hope you are all enjoying your weekend - Suffolk is warm and sunny.

Hope today has been a better day Cornergran and the ECG goes well.

Your park sounds lovely Ann, our nearest park is good but it’s up a very steep hill so difficult for us to get to. Luckily the marina is nearby, always something going on and plenty of benches to sit and watch the world go by.

Busy weekend Nannytopsy have a lovely holiday.

I’m still on the soup régime, sweet potato and carrot for tonight. I haven’t tried this before but I’m sure it will be tasty. The only thing I don’t like is butternut squash.

Back again. ECG accomplished plus an unexpected if welcome chat with a GP. Thank goodness for Saturday surgeries.

As expected the ECG confirmed AF. A debate about tweaking meds again, consensus was to wait a few days. Advised to call Tuesday and request to speak with a doctor, take BP twice a day, make a note of heart rate and if worried call an ambulance and say it’s on GP instruction. I truly hope that won’t be necessary!

The GP, we’d never met her before, suggested we both rest over the weekend. I thanked her for the care, it’s been amazing, the practice is often lacking but certainly not this time.

It’s a bonus having the park close by ann, nice day here too, although I think not as warm. Our little river is pleasant for a walk, nowhere to sit sadly.

You’re a busy soul nannyt. The holiday will be well deserved.

Mr C is off for a nap. I’m off to wander Sainsbury and replenish provisions, strangely I’ll enjoy it.

Wishing you all a good weekend.

Phew Corner.. That's good to hear that Mr C has been checked over and hopefully you'll both be and to take the doctors advice and relax and rest. It takes it till looking after someone...I went to the doctor some years after my ex had left and told him I couldn't stop crying...he said he had been waiting for it to happen as I had been back and for with my ex trying to sort out his problems...he said my mind and body had had enough...it took a while to get better and a long time to accept that I had had a breakdown. Take care of you too is my advice and I suspect all your chums on here too.
I've made chutney today...pear apple and plum...it's bubbling away nicely just now. It was my turn to do the flowers for church...I brought back lots of greenery from the Wirral and used 3 large sunflowers and have created quite a dramatic display...I hope it's not too distracting🤣🤣🤣.
We are out to dinner tonight...our friends who got married a few weeks ago are taking us out to say Thank You for doing the wedding flowers and providing the wedding card. It's in Exeter...and I think it's a Spanish restaurant.. I'll let you know. Tomorrow I'm making wine.... We have masses of grapes on the vine so Chateau Ditsy Blonde is going into production. What can possibly go wrong??????

Grrrrr....able to take the doctors advice....and takes its toll!!!!!

Hello kitchen people! I’m just having a rest before elder son and his family arrive. I think they are having a saunter across the Cotswolds at the moment. Two chickens are in the oven (I buy organic so they’re minute), bread sauce prepared, 24 stuffing balls on trays, veg prepped… I have made a raspberry and strawberry crumble but I won’t put the crumble mix on until just before it goes in the oven. The cream is whipped. OH is peeling potatoes. Phew. OH’s bees were fine today. He managed to bring three home but I think they’re still in the car! Have a good evening.