Soop's kitchen for kind and caring folk...

More beautiful photos shared grannmarie and llfl , keep them coming and enjoy your time away
When I’m home FGT my pjs are always on early too, so comfy
Are you anywhere near Pitlochry grannmarie there’s always such gorgeous autumn colours there
Tomorrow at DHs request, we’re going to various forts along Hadrians Wall, I’m hoping there’s a few nice cafes somewhere nearby ☕️

What I delightful place to stay Grannmarie, yes, I’d enjoy that, Sole Meunière is my absolute favourite, very expensive here.

Good evening everyone. grannmarie it’s been a bit milder today although still cloudy. Tomorrow the forecast is for rain and 20 degrees. I’m at DD1s tonight while they’re at the theatre, and it’s probably as warm outside as it is indoors. The granddaughters are in bed, eventually, the 9 year old is no bother but the 6 year old is very upset that her mum and dad are out. She finally went to bed at 9 o’clock, and then had to read to me. I expect she’ll get into her sister’s bed soon.
I’m staying the night as they won’t be back until about 11.
On the way home tomorrow I’ll call in at the garden centre and get some more compost, then plant the last of the bulbs in tubs. Then I need to ring someone about clearing the gutters. Have a shopping delivery in the afternoon.
Night night everyone, I hope we all have a good nights sleep!

Hello 👋 Redcar and hello 👋 FGT.

Redcar, my heating is on at home now, we've had some frosty spells.
FGT, enjoy your bare tanned legs for as long as possible, I'm now into socks and boots, sad to say, summer has departed Lanarkshire! I'm so glad that things are good for you and Himself, long may that continue!🙏💕

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Good evening, Soop and lovely Kitchen people!🥰 Soop, I'm glad hear that your adventurous son is mobile again!

DH and I are reclining 🤣 on a very comfy sofa with cushions and throws in our cosy holiday accommodation in Perthshire. We arrived this afternoon for a two night break, after a lovely drive up through the trees in their Autumn glory. DH is now watching the 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Scotland game whilst I catch up on all your news. We had a delicious dinner in this pretty riverside Inn, DH had his usual steak and ale pie, but I enjoyed a delicious fish chowder, haven't had one of those for a wee while.
Is that one of your favourites, Jaxjacky?
I think you're a seafood fan, like me! 🐠

I'm hoping that Ladyleftfieldlover and SueD are both feeling a bit better today. Did you get an appointment Sue?

I'm glad to hear that Cornergran and GrannySomerset are feeling better, take care dear ladies, the after effects can linger...
Corner, you are rightly proud of your DS and DGDs, not an easy visit to that poor lady, but I'm sure she was happy to see them at some level. Such a cruel condition. 💕🙏

Happy holidays to brook, Ladyleftfieldlover, Nannytopsy ( for Friday) and all on their travels, hoping you have sunshine and safe journeys. Super photos, brook, thanks very much.

Grandmabatty, you are Supergran indeed, you are making marvellous memories with your wee boys. Hoping and praying that your DGS2 feels better very soon. Give yourself an easy day tomorrow, you've earned it!

Doodle, lovely to see you, I hope your memories of Alnwick Castle bring you some comfort. 💕

Thinking of all our kitchen friends with worries, illness or sorrow. 💕🙏💐

Wishing everyone a peaceful Tuesday evening and a good night's sleep.
TOYA, NNGB.

brook don’t alpacas have the sweetest faces? I think it’s their snub noses that make them look so cute.

‘Evening All’.

We are just back from a curry over the road. Lamb madras for me and chicken bhuna for Himself. Our usual. And we thoroughly enjoyed it as always. No rain here today and not too chilly (yet). Pj’s on now and both reading in bed. Life’s good. 😊

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Hello kitchen people. I love alpacas. There’s a farm near why I live.

We’re still enjoying our cruise on the Rhone. It’s been warm today and we sat out on the sun deck this morning. Our trip today was to a lavender farm and some amazing gorges.

The food is amazing and I dread to think how much weight I’ve put on!

Brook DH and I went to Alnwick Castle years ago. Beautiful place. Thank you for the photo. The alpacas look so lovely and placid……….not like some llamas! 😊

Lovely photos grandmabatty precious times ❤️ We’ve still got one of those grey carpet play mats that gets rolled out from time to time, although much less so these days

Good news you’re both feeling better corner and GrannySomerset, I hope SueD has either seen someone or her shoulder is getting better.
We finished off cleaning the greenhouse today, still no new bulbs in the ground and rain due tomorrow, a Thursday job said the procrastinator.
Busy *NannaTopsy enjoy your break, I’d like a decent fish restaurant, MrJ not so much.
Entertainment brook better than the TV, gambolling about.

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One den and one grandson wearing my dad's auld bunnet

Good evening Kitcheners. Suedonim I feel for you. Sore shoulders are awful and definitely don't help sleeping. Brook some lovely photos. It's good to hear that you are enjoying yourself. Soop I'm very fond of Ian Rankin too. Grannmarie a lovely lunch, by the sound of it.
Today has been a long one. Dgs2 hasn't been well at all and was very needy today. Lots of cuddles and attention to the detriment of dgs1 who missed out on grandma cuddles at times. He was mostly very good and his little brother got away with a lot. We watched Julia Donaldson films in the morning. I built a massive den for them both and we played outside in the afternoon then went for a walk, looking for squirrels and sticks. Grandma managed to tidy up before I took them home and I only gave dishes to sort which, I have to say, I'm leaving until tomorrow. So my halo is shining. Dinner has been eaten and I'm collapsed on the couch. Enjoy your evening Kitcheners.

Hi kitchen pals, just back from another day exploring, we’ve been to Alnwick Castle and Gardens, both really enjoyable. We’ve been there before but there’s various places on our bucket list that we’d like to revisit again so we’re doing just that. It’s been cloudy but stayed dry today. We’ve got Aplacas in the field at the end of the garden of the cottage, the picture is especially for Doodle ❤️
Good to hear your sons on his way again soop what an adventure
A nice break to look forward to nannytopsy
Pleased to hear you’re feeling better grannysomerset - my winter vaccines are due in November but I’m not looking forward to them
So kind of your granddaughters to visit their grandma cornergran it says a lot
Sending love to ever in the quiet corner x

Hello everyone. It’s been a busy few days and this week is no better. MRI on my hip yesterday and Covid and flu vaccines today. Garden club Wednesday and on duty at the charity cafe on Thursday. On Friday we are off to Mersea Island for a last minute weekend away. Birdwatching and fish restaurants!
Sorry to hear about your shoulder SueD - they are very painful. Positive news from Yiayia. Thank goodness for family.
Hugs to you all

Lovely pictures of fascinating Cragside, so thank you for the memory. Finally feel better after over a week of being flattened by my covid/flu jabs - never had such a reaction before and think I must have been incubating something when I had them. Now feel able to tackle the domestic admin - bill paying, filing - which has mounted up.

Hello everyone. Pleased to report I feel heaps better, plan to blitz our very grubby bungalow in the morning. I know I’m better as I’m finding sleep elusive. Slept like a log while poorly. Normal service has resumed 😂

Some good news to report. Our friend will move to a nursing home tomorrow. Has to be so much better than a longer hospital stay. We’re hoping once she is settled some strength will be regained and she’ll be able to, or maybe chose to, stand again.

Less good news about our granddaughters maternal grandma. Dementia is absorbing her, she can be aggressive at times and often very afraid, fortunately kindly looked after at home by a live in carer. Our granddaughters asked our son, their dad, to take them to visit after a gap of a few months. Last weekend saw them driving for 3 hours to be able to spend a good bit of Saturday with her. Grandma knew them and welcomed them. The teenagers chatted, helped, took part in a short walk and generally kept their grandma company while keeping their emotional responses firmly in check. Sadly on Sunday grandma was more distant and struggled with wakefulness, no matter, contact had been there, the teenagers had done what they felt was right and were content to drive home. We’re very proud of them.

Having been grounded with covid nothing interesting has been happening here. Normal service should be resumed now. 🤞. Not that we specialise in excitement .

You do sound in pain sued. Hope there is help very soon. Our private physio keeps us both going, I’ve been seeing her for ten years now, she’s worth her weight in gold. The NHS simply doesn’t offer the hands on treatments my spine needs.

Pleased your son is mobile again soop. Wishing him the very best of luck. Hope you’re out from under now ladylfl and a quiet day helped. That was quite a lunch granmarie. Sounds fun

I’ll try to settle to read. I know my body well and tonight isn’t one for easy sleeping. No matter. I’ll be resting and not bored. In a way I’m pleased, it truly does mean I’m better.

Sleep well everyone.

Boy adventurer has had his bike fixed. I can now follow his progress. At present he's in Morocco. Apart from the bike breakdown, he reports flash floods together with a few cases of dysentery. He assures us that he has a positive mental attitude. Just as well

Many thanks to all our Granspals keeping us updated regarding visits to special locations. Your photos are gorgeous, Brook

Usedtobeblonde Both MrSoop and I are partial to Hebridean oatcakes. We top them with Saint Agur? creamy cheese or wild mushroom pate. Delicious!

I acquired the latest Ian Rankin Rebus book today. There is something special about opening the first pages of a favourite author's book. So, it's off to bed with a mug of hot milk in the hope of reading the first chapter before nodding off.

May I take this opportunity of wishing you all a refreshing night's sleep. I hope to visit our Kitchen at some time tomorrow.

SueD so good that with NTS membership you can get in all the NT properties in England too , saves a fortune! Likewise with Historic Scotland gets you into English Heritage 👍
FGT quite right to enjoy everything you can and nothing wrong with getting used to it ❤️

Sounds like a good long lunch grannmarie pleased you enjoyed if

Hoping you feel better tomorrow llfl take care
Well done with your volunteering Jax you make it sound easy but I’m sure it isn’t !

Thank you for the lovely photos of Cragside brook, it’s a fascinating place. The only time I’ve been to Northumberland was in October 2001, I can remember it very well, but I don’t think we had sunny days while we were there.
It’s been cold here today, with torrential rain this morning when I drove to Hyde Hall RHS garden to meet a friend for coffee. We didn’t walk round the gardens, just the shop! Certainly needed more than a dress and bare legs fgt I wasn’t warm in jeans and my winter coat, and put the heating on when I got home!
soop I hope your son is on his travels again,
suedonim I hope you manage to get an appointment tomorrow.
I hope all those who are poorly or recovering from operations will soon feel better.
Night night everyone.

That sounds very debilitating SueD fingers crossed for tomorrow morning.
I like a little chick lit now and then GG13 my library visits usually have 1 out of my 5 other books as that, easy reading.
I was up and out at 7:45 today, in the rain, picking up our friend from the local airport, he’d left much warmer climes in Majorca.
Quiet voluntary phone today, but complex lifts to sort out.
Always in my thoughts FGT.
As are others here sitting quietly, not forgotten 🌹

Granmarie I phoned today for an appt which I was told would be available this week, only to learn that there are now none until next week. I’ll try my luck in the 8am phone lottery tomorrow and if that doesn’t produce a result I’ll find a private therapist. There seems to be quite a few locally. The pain was so bad this afternoon that I was on the verge of getting Dh to drive me to A&E although it’s eased off now.

Wow, that looks wonderful, Brook, I’d like to see Cragside. We belong to NTS so could go there with our card. Regarding imaginary friends, I understood my sons’ frustration. Dd had multiple imaginary friends, they all had names and required places at the table, doors held open for them, they had to be helped to put their coats on and room made for them in the car and all sorts of stuff.

.It was very sunny here today, FGT and I was too hot in a jumper. It was so nice to see the sun, a truly beautiful day.

Not much else to report, all normal life stuff today. Sweet dreams, everyone. Xx

Thank you LLFL. x

Hello from somewhere on the Rhone. I was a bit under the weather today so OH went on his own to a chateau and a truffle farm, I spent the day reading the latest Stanley Tucci book.

I’m thinking of you FGT2 as you wait for your next appointment.

Good evening, Soop and lovely Kitchen people! Thank you for your kind words.
Wishing your son the very best of luck for his travels, Soop, thank you for the super photos. Hope MrSoop gets an appointment soon.

Thank you for your updates, YiaYia, SueD and Cornergran, thinking of you and yours, and all with health issues, especially those caring for/ worried about loved ones, remember to look after yourselves. SueD, I was told it was a 6 month wait for NHS physio in my area, so I went privately, £45 for 45 minutes.

Hope Ladyleftfieldlover, brook and their DHs are enjoying their travels.

Sending energy and patience for Grandmabatty, GG13 and all Grans providing childcare, especially during the school holidays. Hope you have your feet up now with a glass of something nice!

I had a good catch up with friends from my supply teaching days, we went to a beautiful Turkish restaurant and enjoyed a three course lunch. We spent the afternoon putting the world to rights, didn't leave till 4.30!

TOYA, wishing everyone a peaceful Monday evening and a good night's sleep. NNGB.