Soop's special Kitchen for kindly folk.

The rain clouds are gathering so of course the window cleaners are here 🌧️🤣

The Imp is watching The Grinch and is rather excited that he will be in big school this Christmas 🙈

Afternoon kitcheners. The rain has been off and on all day. After a really good day yesterday, dgs2 has been off more than on today. Toilet training is going really well, but he's been a typical toddler today and fighting with his brother who has also been winding him up. So I've been a referee today. Both boys are now home, I've tidied up most of the living room and I'm relaxing for an hour before I tackle the rest. I hopeBrook is relaxing by a pool, and*Grannygravy has clean windows 😂

grannygravy the window cleaner came yesterday, but although it was very grey after his visit, we had no rain at all! Perhaps if I wash the car, it might rain?
nannyg4, the reality of losing a DH is so hard to come to terms with, we are all thinking of you and sending love. Don’t let anyone (however well meaning) tell you how you should be feeling, we all deal with our grief in different ways and in different time scales.
Hope brook has a great holiday and that nannytopsy has a good journey home.
Have a restful evening everyone.

Hi all, I had a dodgy tum first thing, so haven’t done a lot today and stayed close to home, it’s fine now.
The garden is looking autumnal, sunflowers and sweet peas have gone over, my tomatoes are taking forever to turn and the wind today has a slight chill..
I hope nannytopsy has/had a smooth journey onwards and brook is in the sun along with Urms.

D***, I’ve lost my message!

Have a good evening.

(I thought that once messages were previewed they were safe )

Good evening kitchen pals from a gorgeous quiet hotel in Menorca. We had a really good journey, arrived at the hotel about 12 noon and got checked in straight away. We’ve got a lovely view and the hotel is perfect for just lazing about and watching the boats sail by. This afternoon after a tinto de verano we enjoyed a dip in the pool, a sit on the balcony and then a yummy dinner. We’re both tired now so it’ll be an early night 😴
Thank you all for your kind wishes, kitchen pals are the best
Take care all and gentle hugs to all in need x

Hello everyone and thank you all for your good wishes for our anniversary. We had the best time.

We are now back home after a nightmare journey late yesterday evening. Our flight should have left Milan at 22.35 but had technical issues at Manchester before flying out. It didn’t leave the UK till 23.00. When it arrived we boarded about 2 am and having booked a room at the Premier inn we finally arrived there at 4.45 this morning. We were shattered. Luckily the check out time is 12 which we made just in time. DH had got up to the bathroom and came back asking me to guess what the time was. It was 11 am so a quick shower and out to get breakfast. Anyway lessons learnt don’t book a night flight again ever.

I found out some sad news today that my friends stepfather has passed away suddenly. He was in his 70s and in a job he loved and put off retiring until about 6 months ago. His poor wife but reading tributes online he was a very popular man in his job. I hope that brings her comfort.


Brooke that sounds idyllic I hope you have a wonderful,relaxing time in Menorca.

I’ve just skimmed through but will catch up over the next day.

I’ll leave some Italian almond biscuits in the kitchen to share.

Night all.

Thanks for the biscuits GrandmaD!
We are safely home and the car is unpacked. The garden has mostly survived. However, the gardener has charged me £140 for watering 3 times a week. Not a big garden but he supposedly watered yesterday, yet everything was dry this morning. Hydrangea clearly not watered, nor the pots on the front - two £25 eucalyptus plants may not survive. I am not one for confrontation but I shall just say that my gardening budget is now spent. Grrr. Garden club competition tonight but no roses to enter - he “deadheaded” them all. Oh well, third world problems! On a positive note we had a marvellous time with the two little ones, which is priceless.

Good afternoon kitcheners. Oh my, it is cold here in central Scotland! I have given in and put on the heating. I'm envying all those in warmer climes today. This morning was a cleaning morning. Hoovering, emptying and loading the dishwasher etc. Then I visited my friend's partner. I haven't seen him all summer, so we had a good three hours blether. This afternoon I've been lazy which is probably why I'm feeling the cold more. I shall make a chicken curry for dinner. I hope everyone is ok. My thoughts go to Doodle and NannyG4 in particular, as well as Yiayia. I hope Grannmarie 's wee boy is still enjoying school and Cornergran and Soop are feeling better. There are lots of people I haven't mentioned, but be assured I think about you all. Back to the couch for me. Enjoy the rest of the day.

Nannytopsy a change of gardener is needed, I think. He's let you down big time

Oh heck, nannyt, your gardener can’t really be one or he’d not let plants die. I avoid confrontation when I can but would make an exception for him. On a happier note that’s a super photo, such a memorable image.

Good to read about all the comings and goings. Enjoy your chilled holiday brook.

We’re ready for carpet installation in the morning other than taking the bedding from our bed, getting some mugs out and putting biscuits on a plate for the fitters. There will be two as they have furniture to move. Beyond us now.

I’m a happy soul today, the physio gym classes have come to an end and I can reclaim two days a week. We’ll be back to TaiChi at the beginning of September. I’m not sure those gym classes have made a jot of difference to my knee - other than make it ache more - they have however ticked a box. The company was good, a small group we shared some laughter.

Have a good late afternoon and evening everyone.

You will find me in the quiet corner. I feel the need to reflect. It is one of those...'this too shall pass' episodes.

We await decision of yesterday's hospital meeting regarding Mr Soop's further treatment. I imagine that, bearing in mind the stresses on the NHS, we shall have to be extra patient as the wheels are put in motion.

My love to you all. I am happy in the knowledge that the Kitchen is functioning as it should. You lot are the best.

We’re all thinking about you both soop. Hoping for prompt, effective treatment for Mr Soop.

Dear Soop, thinking of you, waiting and reflecting in your cosy, quiet corner. Sending warm, gentle hugs for you and your wonderful man, hoping and praying that you hear of a suitable plan very soon. 💕

Welcome home, Grandmadinosaur and Nannytopsy, your holidays sounded fantastic! Wishing brook, Urms and all on their holidays happy days and plentiful sunshine! ☀ ( From dull, cool, Lanarkshire.)

Thank you, Grandmabatty, the Wee Boy continues to enjoy school and goes in smiling and waving, so far so good. We will soon start our new routine of picking him up on Fridays and entertaining him until his Mummy and Daddy return from work.
I hope your DGS1 is settling well, and his wee brother isn't missing him too much.

Well done on completing your physio course, Cornergran, hope it helps. I did my exercises in the local pool on Monday, I might pop over again tomorrow. My knee feels much better immediately after, but aches the following day?

Jaxjacky, I hope your tum has returned to normal now.🤞

Our church Coffee Morning resumed today, so I picked up my friend, she really enjoyed seeing everyone again, and taking part as one of the ' committee '! She has had a super duper new wheelchair lift installed at her front door, so much easier than using the ramp at her back door and manoeuvring through her garden.

Wishing everyone a peaceful Wednesday, TOYA, especially those with illness, worries or sorrow. Take care. 🥰

I’ll be brief, tum fine thank you Grannmarie it’s my back today! Aggravated a ligament I tore ten years ago, it’ll pass, but is annoying and makes me feel so sympathetic for those in constant pain. Voltarol and paracetamol are todays delights 🙂

Jaxjacky I'm sorry to hear that you are in pain. Hopefully it'll subside soon

Grandmabatty thank you. I hope you and your family are doing well.
Dear Soop sending you a hug. Sometimes we all need one.
Jaxjacky hope your back pain eases soon.
NannyG4 thinking of you.
Hello all. You still in holiday Urms hope you’re enjoying it.
Yiayia thinking of you too. Hope your DH is doing well

Jaxjacky I hope your back pain subsides, you gave my sympathy, I have a problematic sacroiliac joint which at times is excruciating.

soop sending you both (((hugs)))

Have been shopping with DD and her boys, first pair of school shoes for my darling Imp, along with school bag, lunch box and drinks bottle. Where have the years gone, I remember seeing him born.

The 9yr old had very set ideas on what he wanted, fortunately they were all met.

DH is out, I am recovering on the sofa with a chilled white wine.

Nightie Night 🙋‍♀️

Soop thinking of you both at the moment. Trust some good news comes your way shortly. Take care x

Sending you warmest hugs soop whilst you sit in the quiet corner, hoping things improve a bit soon ❤️
Another gorgeous day here, I can honestly say that this is one of the most relaxing and enjoyable holidays we’ve had for quite a while. It’s our first time in Menorca, I wasn’t sure what to expect but it’s so scenic and quiet here and the hotel is perfect for us both. We’ve just eaten dinner and are sitting on the balcony overlooking the harbour with a couple of musicians playing in the bar below.
Hoping your back improves soon Jax that’s hard going for you
Pleased to hear the shopping trip went well GG13 👍
What an awful journey grandmadinosaur , I hope you’ve recovered a bit today and have happy holiday memories
Thinking of all our kitchen pals, take care all x

Brook your holiday sounds perfect! We’ve had a couple of Jet2 holidays and were very impressed with them, never having done anything like that before.
Sending you soothing vibes, Soop. You’ve been given a hard row to hoe.
GMbatty I’ve heard of several folks up here turning on their heating, including my hardy daughter! I’ve managed not to yet, but our house is a reasonably warm one. The boiler is being serviced on Monday so I hope to hold off until then.
That’s a lovey photo, Nannytopsy. Grr at the gardener, though. As we say in Scotland, he needs to be given his jotters - ie sacked.
Nightmare journey, GMdinosaur, I hope you get a decent sleep tonight.
Jax I hope you’re feeling better now.
for you, NannyG4. Also for Neine and her GC.

More busy days for us. We restarted the dance class run with GD today. She had a strop about something minor but later apologised for her behaviour - I think she’s growing up. ❤️ I had a morning of catching up with life admin things which is always satisfying, I find.

There is still a lot to do within the house to restore it to how it was eg new bookcases for storage and so on, but at least we can do that in our own time. We need to have a massive sort out of paperwork, too, and get it filed away. And another visit to the dump - that’s a regular on the timetable, it seems!

I want to do some garden planning for the autumn. The garden had given us a lot of pleasure over the summer, even if we haven’t actually sat outside much. The main beds are still filled with flowers and some plants are thriving while other are less so, so I know what to concentrate on. I also need to add height at the boundaries, I like that sort of loose, unkempt look in a garden but I need hardy plants for Scotland so research will be done.

Dd2 has also been talking to me about wedding plans so that’s been lovely. Some ideas are formulating themselves now.

That’s all for today. Sleep tight! Xxx

Nannytopsy I would not pay that gardener the amount he is asking. Next trip would it not be possible to pay a teenager to do the watering?

GrannyG4 go at your own pace, it is so difficult. You have friends here thinking about you.

TOYA

Hello kitchen people,

It was the WI Afternoon Tea today. We prepared lots of delicious food - cakes, sandwiches and scones with clotted cream and jam. We drank tea and Pimm’s.

Elder son and granddaughter had a quiet day. Partner retuned from London during the afternoon. I think their flat might be ready at the weekend.

Here is a picture of the tea:

That afternoon tea looks delicious LLFL - an idea for us for next year! We do a Safari Supper around the village which is fun.
Charley the gardener won’t be returning. I enjoy doing my own work but until I have my new knee (soon?) and new hip ( not even a response to the referral yet) I can’t do it. I have offered above minimum wage to step grandson, to boost his travelling fund but no response. Too much like hard work I think. SueD we are still developing our garden and finding what works. There is some digging out to do …
I think it’s time we gave The Soops a group hug. Love to you both.

Ladyleftfieldlover your afternoon tea looks delicious and has prompted me to bake this morning!