Soop’s always open and very welcoming kitchen.

What a lovely kind gesture from your sister grannmarie I hope the tea party goes well. I don’t have any Doulton China these days although I do have a nice Cath Kidston tea service and cake stand that comes out on special occasions 🧁

That sounds gorgeous brook, I ❤️ Kath Kidston.

Cath....

Happy Birthday, Gillgran

Happy birthday gillgran 🎈🎂

Happy birthday Gillgran and for Blossoming. Although it was a bit warmer today, I got cold this morning and didn’t get warm until this evening. Tomorrow’s supposed to be better …
The washing machine man is due tomorrow- again! It’s been out of order for a month and I have run out of clothes well and truly now. Done odd loads but there is a mountain to do now. Please keep your fingers crossed that we don’t get a 3rd cancellation.

Good afternoon kitchen pals, I’m just home from shopping and the gym. It’s quite warm at 12° but windy and wet so can’t do any gardening - but at least the ground has now thawed out so ready for when the rain stops. I think we’ve got a couple of blue tits checking out the bird box, they’ve been flying in and out a couple of times so hopefully they’ll like it and start nest building - we can just see it from the window in the lounge

I hope you’ve got your washer fixed nannytopsy a month is a very long time to be without!

Hoping GG13 is keeping occupied and not too bored today x

brook2704 we had two GC here all day (just left)

I was soundly beaten at children’s scrabble.

Watched far too many episodes of Henry Danger.

And watched Duplo houses being built and demolished, a;; from my sofa 🤪

I am exhausted, DH has decided we are going to a local Thai Restaurant for dinner, he will park outside to let me out, I will hobble in whilst he parks in the car park.

Thai sounds good GG13, I’ve just cooked leeks and chicken for later, you do sounds weary, I hope you are sleeping better now.
Blue tits brook delightful, small birds avoid our garden, not enough cover, I’m hoping to put some small trees in this year.
I’ve had a pretty lazy day, a few phone calls and ordering some more seeds, I’m so bad with buying more!
Pub in a couple of hours, it’s tipping with rain and very dull, coats required.

Gillgran A belated happy birthday. I hope that you had a plethora of all good things.

FGT2 I am a great fan of people-watching. I am pleased that you thoroughly enjoyed your evening.

Mr Soop has a new scalp-dressing regime. He appears to be wearing a turban. We now know how to set our computer for a possible on-line appointment with the surgeon who is dealing with my hernia. Alas, the sound system has packed up. Therefore, we need to consider an alternative way forward. As Baggs would sigh...hey ho.

Oh dear soop! Two steps forward and one step backward!
The man came! The machine works! I have the 2nd load in and I think 9 more to go. And then the can start ironing 🤪

Sounds like a fun filled day today GG13 enjoy your meal this evening, you deserve it!

Phew nannytopsy bet you breathed a signs of relief now it’s working

Chicken and leek pie is one of our favourites Jax, in fact we might just have to make that tomorrow now, enjoy your evening

I hope there’s a way around the sound problem Soop so the online consultation can go ahead. Or maybe some friends locally who wouldn’t mind you using their computer for the session? Or you can probably use an iPad if you’ve access to one - fingers crossed for you x

Hope you can sort your sound problem Soop
Enjoy your meal GG it will be good to have a change of scene.

DS2 and Dil will be coming tomorrow till Tuesday.Sadly it’s for DiL1 dad’s funeral on Monday.Its taken so long to get a date seems to be the norm now.

Smoked salmon with pasta with a cream sauce tonight and of course a cheeky rose as it’s Friday.Enjoy your evening everyone.

What a buggeration Soop. I hope it can get fixed soon. Yiayia I, too, will have a rosé soon with my Chinese style chicken curry and noodles. Nannytopsy excellent news. I'll drop off my washing too? Grannygravy that sounds like a good day. Enjoy your Thai meal.
Finally the guardianship has been granted. It has cost me though as I have to have an insurance bond. They didn't tell me about that! It's rather vexatious that I'm having to do it all and pay for the privilege while dead beat brother does nothing. Oh well, it is what it is. I picked up my prescription this morning and went to the library for new books. My plan to wash floors was scuppered because I started reading and didn't want to stop. I'll do them tomorrow. I absolutely must wrap the presents for dgs1's birthday tomorrow. His party is at ten o'clock so I won't have much time beforehand. Enjoy your evening Kitcheners.

A birthday (1st March) present for me, Hellebores, delivered by friends they were, delivered to them early and need to be planted, lovely surprise.

Congratulations Grandmabatty. It’s taken a while I think?
I’m fond of hellebores Jax - enjoy!

‘Evening All’.

We are babysitting - got here at 3pm. Half term so son in law had a day off work with the 3 of them.

L’il Miss now in bed and not a peep 🤞
The Boy Wonder watching tv in his bedroom for another half hour.

Their parents are in Manchester City centre. They went in on the train. Sam’s Chop House for drinks then a table reserved at a highly recommended Chinese restaurant. Uber home probably around 9pm. Early start and early finish suits them these days …. And their babysitters. I keep thinking it’s Saturday!

Enjoy your Thai dinner GG13. Not much longer now.

Nannytopsy I started the process last March and the lawyer said it could take a year. She wasn't wrong!

I love hellebores Jax such lovely flowers, we’ve tried them but sadly they don’t seem to thrive well up here

Well done grandmabatty, eventually it’s sorted but sorry it’s been such a difficult process 💐

Nannytopsy Three hearty cheers. I used to enjoy ironing. It was therapeutic when I was fitter than I am now.

Grandmabatty A very well deserved hug from we Kitcheners. I shall raise a glass of cheer to you tonight.

Hallelujah! Dear MrSoop persevered with the loss of sound buggeration on our computer and replaced a component (don't ask) which means that we can now use Skype. We've tested the link with a pal in the village. It won't allow me to have an earlier consultation with the surgeon as he has only one clinic each month. It will give us a choice...travel to Glasgow and have a fish and chip lunch after the appointment or have an on-line discussion and trust that the computer behaves for the duration.

The sun is shining and the sea is a sparkling teal green. However, guess what? Severe gales are forecast for tomorrow. There is never a dull moment.

Enjoy your weekend. My special love to all our Granspals in the quiet corner.

Thank you Soop. Much appreciated. A fish and chips meal sounds good but so does staying home! Dgs1's bowling party went well. He's had a lovely day. His mum made his cake which I can't let you see because of the changed rules but it looks fabulous. I'm home, the dishwasher is on, the tumble dryer is on and I'm going to have a little glass of wine. Enjoy your evening Kitcheners.

A hard slog for the guardianship Grandmabatty well done, my brother ‘took a back seat* handling my Mum’s probate.
They’re in brook so fingers crossed and we’ve had a shower of rain to help them settle.
I’ve just watched a really good game of rugby, MrJ will be pleased Ireland did the job (he’s at bowls).
Bedding washed and drying indoors, sadly at this time of year the sun, which shone earlier, doesn’t stay in the back garden long, it rained anyway.
My Uncle, 91, sent me a picture from my Dad’s side of the family, my grandma and her 6 children, it was taken 80 years ago. There is a likeness between my son and my Dad, also our grandson and another Uncle, amazing.
Enjoy your evening kitcheners.

So pleased to hear the party went well grandmabatty and well done to your DD in making the cake, I’m sure it looks amazing!
I’m so pleased I’ve been able to get out in the garden today - it’s been very windy though with everything blowing around. DH has spent most of the day at DD2s helping do a few handyman jobs around the house
I can usually spot family resemblances Jax it quite often catches me out when I see a photo of me, my mum and my eldest daughter - we’re so alike. My son and youngest daughter look more like their dad though
Well done with the sound Soop, at least you’ve options to chose from now x

‘Evening All’.

We took my stepfather shopping then once home, unpacked our bits, then went out for a drink. Tried the newly opened Irish pub on the train station platform. Oh no! It was RAMMED! As Himself said “oh it’s the rugby!” so we crossed back over and sat up on the mezzanine, people watching in the Loungers Bar below us. Busy, busy.

A Beatles song came on “Good Day Sunshine” 🎵 🎶
Simply ages since we’d heard it. Such a joyful song!

My heart was full 💙 when Himself raised his glass to me and joined in singing “she knows she’s looking fine, I’m so proud to know that she is mine”.

Moments such as these don’t get much better than this for us. Anxiety ratchets up right now - but we do try to live in the moment.