Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for friendship...

Hello kitchen people. I was up at the crack of dawn and drove to the health centre. They gave me a flu jab and a covid jab. The flu arm is aching a bit but not the covid arm.
OH is cooking chicken curry for dinner and then going out. I will watch Bake Off. We have been captivated by the Covid Enquiry. Unbelievable. B Johnson is giving his evidence tomorrow but I think we’ll be out. OH has a hospital appointment at 4 pm, and due to the parking shenanigans, I will drive him there. I have a WI committee meeting at 6 pm, which I’m not sure I’ll be back in time for.
I hope Urms has had a good day packing her suitcase for Spain!🌞

Welcome back Sue you missed storm Ciaran giving you a helpful tail wind!

A quick pop in to the Kitchen to say ‘I’m home, Hunnies!’ A smooth trip this time, bags emptied, all the washing has been dealt with and Dh got his flu and Covid vax this afternoon.

There’s too much to catch up on in the Kitchen for now but I’m thinking of you all.

Hi all, a very busy day yesterday on the voluntary phone line, one of our drivers was taken seriously ill at the weekend, lots of plan b to implement.
Good your electricals are now aok GrannySomerset peace of mind.
Busy bée neine and breathe!
Pleased you got out and about ann life changes doesn’t it as we age, it surprises us all.
This morning it was pharmacy first thing, I have conjunctivitis, so drops every two hours, a minor irritation. I’ve also planted out winter pots and window boxes while the rain makes a brief absence.
Quiz was all Halloween last night, if my team had been marked it would be ‘could do better’ 🙂.
Gardening lady calling in soon for a last tidy, then I’ll go for a walk and prep cottage pie for tomorrow, the mince needs used today.
Have a lovely afternoon all.

I’m so pleased for you both Urms.Enjoy every moment of your trip to Spain.

My DS is coming to stay tomorrow.He is staying till Sunday so will see all the family as we are going out for dinner on my Birthday,then next week we will stay with them for the weekend.
Hope it will help to see his brothers and nephews.

Know how you feel about electricians costs GrandmaS our bill was £1,100,a nightmare.

Pleased you managed a trip out annesixty.
Have a good day everyone.

A capable young electrician came and sorted out my power problem yesterday evening so am £80 poorer but much less likely to have the utility room go up in flames. That’s the third expensive thing to go wrong so I hope that is it for a while and life can just tick over quietly. The ceilings which will need repainting after the drip will be done at the end of November, more cost that I hadn’t budgeted for but hey ho, where I live matters so much to me that I would rather spend money on that than anything.

That should read mill outlet.
D..m autocorrect. I got a nice red top for Christmas Day but haven’t tried it on yet, it may well be going back.

Good morning all from a dry but dull Stockport.
My D who lives in W Sussex had floods at the weekend and had to turn back while on the way to a concert with 3 friends on Saturday evening.
I haven’t been on top form recently but got out yesterday with a friend to a “ million outlet” yesterday.
I enjoyed it, we had a bite of lunch in the cafe, but I was very tired and aching by the time I came home.
I am truly feeling my age, such a shock to me, I was so fit and well in my early years, it is very hard to accept but accept I must.

Yia I can really sympathise with your S’s situation.
My S who is now 53 has been struggling with anxiety and depression since his 20’s.
He had 3 months off work earlier this year and has had medication all the time.
He now lives with me most of the time.
It cost him his marriage and he cannot form relationships.
I hope your DS has it nipped in the bud soon.

My GD has started working from home 3 days a week again, I really don’t like it as I value my own space and company however…
When my H died I thought I would be on my own for the first time ever, so I must be thankful for my blessings.

I hope other poorlies and carers are ok and am so happy for those receiving better news, urmstongran and her loved ones are always in my thoughts.

Well I'm just about recovering from the orgy of cleaning and cooking. The cottage looked really pretty when everyone arrived.. Lots of low lights ( good for covering up any areas that hadn't been reached by the human dynamo I'd become)..candles abounded too and the table was moved to the centre of the room as opposed to it's usual position to one side. The 'children' didn't know what was going on...the puppy's dog crate was collapsed to allow for the extended table ( The dining area is at the other end of what we call the Winter Kitchen as the aga is in there). All dog beds went into the utility room along with 2 of the dogs ( largest ones) and the blind and deaf 22 year old cat. I'd prepped most of the food beforehand so but the time everyone arrived I was relatively! calm. Our guests included our parish priest so I definitely couldn't swear when I caught my leg on the edge of the cooker and then moments later as I sat down at the table realised there was blood pouring down my shin. Luckily I had black tights on so nobody else realised as they were too busy eating their Bobotie..( A South African dish also called mince and custard). I'd made a Delia chocolate bread and butter pudding 2 days earlier as per her recipe and it went down a storm.. the sauce needs that long to seep into everything. DOH and another of the guests had been laying insulation in the church roof all day and bless them they could both hardly move having spent hours crawling amongst rafters etc so red wine anaesthesia was definitely called for....As they say a good time was had by all. Sunday was very laid back.... We both ached lots so did very little apart from go to Mass and visit a garden centre where a new dog bed and dog toys were purchased to make up for the trauma of the last few days. I don't think we are yet forgiven by the 2 larger ones.
Urms...I smiled and welled up in equal measure at your post. It's like taking a mental photo isn't it and making sure that you will always be able to recall it whenever you want to. Bless you both.
Yia... I'm sorry to hear your DS is troubled again and hope that he gets the help/medication very soon to get him on the road to recovery .
GrandmaB... Do approach your local council...I know in East Renfrewshire they used to pay for damage caused by potholes.
LlfL...I loved the stain glass and the course sounds wonderful...is it very local to you?
Grandmarie...I said the Eternal rest prayer for your Sister in Law. 🙏
Jax...a gig in a pub car park... That sounded so much fun.
I used to decorate our dining room to resemble a witches cave when my girls were little... They would all have witches dresses and cloaks made from black sacks ( serrated at the bottom)...and bat burgers and witches finger nails for tea ( burger and chips ) followed by dragons slime ( Ice cream with raspberry sauce). I'd dress up too... Normally in the one remaining black sack that left me looking like something slightly unsavoury found on page 3!!!!!!. Looking back I did my best as a Mum.
Blossoming..I hope you are feeling better now.
Rosie'smaw..I am glad that Rosie's paw is healed now...and that she won't mind going to the K while you are away ( visiting my neck of the woods).
Corner... Lovely to read that Mr C is back to good health and tasks are shared once more.
Brook and Sue... Lovely posts about your trips away...safe home Sue and glad your return went well Brook.
Soop.... Prayers answered for your sister...and wow what an achievement for your son...I became quite breathless just reading it. I hope Mr Soops head heal soon too.
I'm not even dressed yet as I wanted to catch up on all your news and post before the day ran away with me. I'm off into town to get a Halloween haul for any trick or treaters that might call... By what I saw in the mirror just now if I answer the door just as I am... they'll be the ones getting a terrible fright!!!!!!

Hello kitchen people!
Well, I managed to go shopping in Waitrose and make a large batch of Guinea fowl stock when I got back home,, I also changed my bedding. I didn’t feel exhausted at all.
I have to get up early tomorrow as I am having my flu jab. I’m not sure if they’ll do my covid jab too.
I hope you’ve all had a good evening. OH and I watched part three of Bodies, which is a rather bizarre series on Netflix.

Brandmabatty Yig is the name of the serpent god in HP Lovecraft’s story “The Curse of Yig”.

I’m a repository of useless information [gtin]

Should say sure. Yig is new to me!

Brook thank you. I'm not yig I could claim or not. I'll look into it. Terrible twosome right enough! I think my brother made the same accusation against me!

Good you’ve got your car fixed grandmabatty at a price though, can you claim back from the council?
We did the school drop off this morning and pick up this afternoon for the terrible twosome. Just about managed to keep the peace in the back of the car for the short journey, eldest accusing his sister of looking at him 🤣
Also managed a Zumba class at the gym and a bit of tidying up in the garden in between the showers
That cake is yummy Rosies - enjoy and safe travels tomorrow - hope the broomstick behaves
Take it easy blossoming and soop 💕💕

Good evening Kitcheners. Soop it's a buggeration, isn't it? Driving in the dark doesn't help either. I phoned the local garage this morning who couldn't help me as "we don't do tyres" however he gave me the number of a local tyre place. I phoned him and he said, "we don't do recovery pick ups " however he gave me the number of a recovery firm in Falkirk who duly picked it up and took it to a nearby tyre place. £180 later and I'm mobile again. Dgs2 was very impressed by the recovery truck.
We have been out for walks three times today. He's been a very good boy. His grandma is tired though. I'm off to peel potatoes for mash and have steak pie, mashed tatties and mashed turnip. Soop I hope you get answers to your dizziness. Blossoming that meal sounds delicious. RosiesMaw your photo made me laugh.
Have a good evening Kitcheners.

RosiesMaw I have just been reading the account of "Chandler's" untimely death.
As for Rosie, bless her, she deserves all her many creature comforts.
The Halloween cake is a work of art. Is it calorie-free? I love the broomstick. A very classy way to travel.

Hello again, hulahoop

GrannieSomerset Thank you for reminding me that my washing machine completed it's cycle some time ago. I hope that the problem with your washer and drier can be fixed without a costly bill. You do not deserve three buggerations in quick succession.

I had yet another "funny turn" last evening The third sudden episode of experiencing the room spin and feeling sick. I was retching for some time but didn't vomit. When I fell recently, the GP thought it was triggered by low pressure. On Wednesday, the practice nurse is to check things out.

Away to deal with the laundry. At 5 o'clock we'll enjoy a brew and watch 'The Chase'.

Love to you all

Good afternoon Kitchen friends. Grandmabatty what a horrible experience. It’s raining here, yesterday we did get to see the ghostly trains and all the museum staff in spooky costumes. The engine sheds are always warm and dry. MrB made a lovely toad in the hole with onion gravy and mashed swede and carrots for supper, early bed tired and happy. Not done much today.

Grandmabatty So sorry to hear the damage done to your tyre. The potholes in our area are wicked. We have had several problems over the years with the car's suspension.

Tilly and mrshat It's a pleasure to have your company.

Scrumptious cake - hope it travels safely and you have a good break.

Waiting for electrician - washer and dryer stopped suddenly and having checked the fuse box I have no idea why. It’s the third thing to go wrong so I hope that’s it for now.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202310/medium-75880-a2d5971e-829d-414e-a233-a2037ef2e589.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202310/medium-476196-93a0fdc9-ebab-4525-900a-5b0bf5126136.jpeg

Halloween cake to take down to Somerset tomorrow! It’s Nigella’s clementine cake inside so slightly orange.
Just hope it and I make it to Somerset with all the dire warnings flying around.
Broomstick filled up and good to go

Thank you RosiesMaw. I'm less discombobulated than I was earlier. I realise that it's a small thing compared to what others go through. I, too, was much saddened by the death of Matthew Perry.

Grandmabatty that must have been terrifying and I am glad you are safe. There was something on the radio the other week about “invisible ” potholes on flooded roads.
Dreadful

Blossoming hope you are feeling better now Urms I remember sitting watching my family all together having fun the boxing day a few years ago when I was having chemo I was so proud of them .We have been for a walk earlier I was managing 50 to100 yds before having to sit luckily there are plenty of seats in park.Part of me can't wait to find out cause of pain but part of me worried but what will be will be. Yia sorry to read your son is suffering again.I am going to settle down to watch strictly results now.

Thank you ladies. Dd will drop off dgs2 and she'll do the nursery run herself. I'll phone my local garage in the morning and hope they can pick it up. To finish off the evening, I had to remove a slug from the kitchen. 😱 I have a phobia of them. They get in through a broken cat flap. I'm waiting for a replacement panel for the door minus cat flap. It's just not been my night. None of it is life threatening, just disheartening

Rosie does indeed take up 90% of “her” sofa, Soop
I’m permitted to squish into the end, but she wriggles in to the small of my back (which is just like having a hottie) but then pushes and pushes and sometimes licks my back (!) until I find myself pushed off and I have to move along to the other end.
My back is not great today so I have been watching episodes of Friends this afternoon, enjoying and remembering “Chandler”
- a sad loss to us all.