Soop’s always open and very welcoming kitchen.

Hello kitchen people. I’m glad to see that FGT2 is safely back home.

I’m back too and fighting to stop my eyes closing. The leg from Sydney to Singapore was 7 1/2 hours and the leg from Singapore to London was 13 1/2 hours. Elder son picked me up and drove me home.

I had a wonderful time in Australia and OH obviously managed without me!

Have a good rest of the day.

Hello to you lovely lot. I have nothing of consequence to share with you. I send comforting virtual hugs to all our Kitcheners in need of tender loving care.

At 4 p.m. you may hear my shouts of encouragement as the Scots play the Welsh on the rugby field. I do tend to get carried away. Mr Soop understands. So...come on the Scots!

It's a quiet day. No wind. No rain. A tad misty. Counting our blessings. Wishing you all a peaceful weekend.

Welcome back llfl it is indeed a long haul!

Welcome back Ladyleftfieldlover. Enjoy the rugby Soop.

Pleased to hear you’re home safely llfl, what a long journey and I hope you can get some sleep now!

Looks like your boys have done it soop!
This morning I organised a churchyard working party for 2 hours. There were 11 of us and we made a good start. About 20 yards of the churchyard wall was cleared of ivy and about half of the church itself. Gully pots were cleared and the gravestones were checked for safety. A good morning’s work but I came home and slept through the first of the afternoon’s rugby matches!
Work on our garden is planned for tomorrow morning before ‘our’ rugby match.

Cor soop that was close!

Good evening, Soop and lovely Kitchen people!🥰

We're home from our cocktail 🍹 masterclass, we had a great time, lots of fun! The birthday girl is the best friend of DSis2, they met in Primary One. Many of the company have moved on to a karaoke 🎤 bar, but the afternoon event was sufficient for us. We had a clever young 'cocktail coach' who demonstrated how to make strawberry daiquiris and French martinis, then we were invited behind the bar, in pairs, to recreate our own. My daiquiri was perfect, but my Martini was not frothy enough, there's definitely an art to the cocktail shaking! Tasty buffet too.👍
I'll try to attach a photo of the demonstration.

I'm changing into my Pjs soon, settling down with Saturday evening 📺.

Wishing everyone a peaceful Saturday evening, thinking of those in the quiet corner, especially Blossoming after her fall.
TOYA

Shake, shake, shake!

I so sorry to read your news gillgran a shock for you both, good treatment has started and he is feeling well.
What fun Grannmarie I too would have made my exit before karaoke!
More weeding today as the sun hid behind cloud this afternoon, this early warmth tempts seed sowing far too early, I must wait.
MrJ missed his Ireland losing, down to next weekend now.
Have a gentle evening all, I’m thinking of you quiet corner 🌹

‘Evening All’.

Welcome home LLFL! A long journey indeed you’ll be glad of your own bed.

A good first day back for us. More sun here than Málaga! We saw the family this afternoon which was wonderful.

Nannytopsy, I'm sorry to hear about your dear brother. I hope he gets positive news about surgery soon. 🙏🕯

Neine, you are a big support to your bereaved friend in her sad and difficult situation. 💐

Thinking of all with worries, illness or sorrow.

gillgran sorry to hear the news about your DH and hope that the treatment brings good results. grannmarie the cocktail afternoon sounds brilliant!
Pleased that llfl and fgt are home safely.
I’ve been at DD2’s this afternoon for an early evening meal, DD1 and family were there too, lovely to have the family together.
My neighbour (&friend) cut my grass today, it looks so much better, now I need to try and cut the edges! It will take me a while.
Enjoy the rest of the evening folks. Night night.

Soop... I'll gloss over the rugby result although I'm sure the Scottish GS will be happy. My eldest daughters husband was a big rugby fan...player and coach and desperately wanted my eldest GS to be the same but he hated it and it caused a lot of tension and I was very sad for my GS....I hope in the end he was allowed to live the life he wanted to live and not the one his Father wanted him to live. (Kahil Gibran).
Granmarie...what fun the cocktail making sounds.. I hope you still got to drink the martini despite it not being frothy enough.

Redcar...well done you on not buying anything at the garden centre..that's my ambition...and I've not come near to achieving it yet🤣

Yia... I'm sorry to read that you are in pain along with supporting your DH. Being in pain is so very debilitating...I hope the flare up eases soon. ♥️

GG♥️ for you too. That's been an huge shock for you both and I will keep you both in my prayers that your DH gets the best treatment and continues to be positive and play 'bad' golf for many years to come.

Jax... Your birthday sounds so much fun and what a talented cake maker, We have asked a close friend to make our wedding cake...I haven't even thought about designs yet but probably something fairly simple.
I suppose as there is only 3 and half months to go I should really get my butt in gear and get organised a bit more....as apart from the reception venue, service and invites everything else is on my to do list...eek

I think I want to be a reindeer too!!!!!

Yesterday was clothes cull day... Why on earth did I buy items with grey in them...luckily nearly all my dresses have come from charity shops as down here they're is always a good selection of Seasalt, Joules,White Stuff etc available in very good condition and equally very cheap £5 - £7.50 so yesterdays cull has gone back whence it came.

DH was not impressed with my idea that he too should investigate drawers that had long been untouched but he did and his one M and S carrier bag went off with my 3 plus a black sack.

Then I gardened....I set up my workstation in the greenhouse that our friends gave us (workstation sounds posh but in essence it's a long table that our neighbour gave me as she couldn't use it in her new home and it's on wheels, so easy to move). I redid the hanging baskets with pink primulas and lilac pansies and DH revelled in doing man jobs like screwing and drilling as opposed to discovering 2 pairs of unworn trousers and still with labels on polo shirts!!!!!

I'm back into the garden today.. It's my happy place...I lose myself out there, I probably won't lose myself today however as DH has a lurgy and it's definitely not just a cold he's informed me already.....I wonder if they make locks for greenhouse doors...I could be in there a goodly while....

We have gardened today too. I have resisted the temptation to start the seeds until today - I usually start too soon, then the seedlings get leggy. Lots of chillies, herbs and veg in. Flowers tomorrow because we have had to come in for the rugby! 🤞

Jax The cake is amazing. Thank you for sharing a photograph with us.

Naughtyneine as is your post.

Mr Soop is pottering in the sunny garden. The sea is mirror-like. I am having a frustrating time with attempting to return a blouse for a full refund. The supplier is leading me a merry dance. My language is disgraceful...not to the supplier but in the privacy of our computer room.

We'll be lunching with our Baggs later this month. No doubt you lovely lot will be spoken of with much affection.

Away to make a brew. Fibromyalgia is giving me jip. Bless you all. Stay safe. Will return again tomorrow.

Thank you soop
I’m watching rugby, Italy aren’t the pushover they used to be!
I’m still resisting Nannytopsy apart from a few flowers in the greenhouse, my indoor veg get spindly if it’s too cold to harden them off.
I returned some jeans to M&S and failed to resist hot cross buns, I know it’s too early, but they were calling me!
Washing dried outside, it has been lovely again today, but it unnerves me - we may get frost later this week.

Jaxjacky I have been eating hot cross buns for some weeks now. I really shouldn't but they are very moreish. The extra fruit ones from Aldi are lovely.
Today I went to the retail park and bought new bedding for dgs2's new bed and matching quilt covers for both beds to avoid tussles. This afternoon I looked after dgs2 while dgs1 was at a birthday party. He stayed longer than I anticipated so no visit to mum today. I can't drive at night easily and mum's hospital is an unpleasant road.
Dgs2 and I played in the garden. He watered all my pots, played in the sand pit and blew bubbles. We had a lovely time. Once indoors, he built a den in my bedroom and then made a café with two of everything. The wee scone wanted me to sit on the carpet but I'm not able to manage that anymore.
I've just made a fish pie with trout, cod and smoked haddock. It's in the oven and I have plenty for tomorrow and Tuesday. The house smells a bit fishy which is annoying but I'll open windows to waft it out. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

Catching up with everyone’s need and busyness. A hug for gillgran along with any folk who would benefit

Xx

‘Evening All’.

Thank you soop.

We’re home having eaten with my stepfather this afternoon. It is nice to pick up a menu and all choose what we fancy. Chicken in a mushroom sauce for my stepfather this afternoon, sea bass for Himself and beef cheeks for me. All eaten with gusto and very much enjoyed.

Himself is now enduring torment watching Man. Utd on Sky Sports. I’m making a mug of tea and the biscuit tin is calling to me. I know shortbread lurks within …. 😁

I’ve just jumped out of my skin as Bruno Fernandez has just scored. A brilliant goal (according to Himself when he shouted out). And he’s delighted to see they’ve all stopped the wearing of ‘rainbow’ laces in their boots. Virtual signalling he said! Who knew? 🤷‍♀️

Hi to all kitchen pals, another lovely day here in Inverness although there’s some mist rolling in now
A bit of gardening for me too this morning and then we looked after DGD for an hour whilst DD2 went to watch DGS play basketball. They lost - again, but never mind he seems to enjoy it!
Hate to admit this but we’ve also been eating hot cross buns for a while 🫣I must try the Aldi ones grandmabatty they sound good
There’s definitely a risk of frost here next week Jax but I hope it’s not too bad where you are
Love to Mr&Mrs Soop and thinking of everyone in the quiet corner , take care all x

Hi all, no luck in the meat draw, good in a way, the pub is so busy our odds are very reduced from a few months ago.
They had an extra prize of mulberry gin, my daughter was there and was desperate for it, then disappointed, noted for her next birthday.
A lovely day again, but cloud rolled in earlier, chicken in the oven, beef cheeks sounds delicious FGT.

I have been out on my scooter for the first time for many months.
When I tried it a few weeks ago it was dead as a dodo.
I had not charged the battery all winter and have had to replace it, itcost £142 ,a shock to me but I needed it doing.
I went to the local park, it was so warm and the place was so busy.
I had a coffee outside a little cafe and then my GD and her boyfriend came to join me and they had a late breakfast sitting in the sun.
We then watched the children having a wonderful time on all the play equipment, it was an absolute treat.
I haven’t been well after picking up a nasty virus but I am slowly feeling much better.
Commiserations to those of you with problems with health and looking after loved ones.
Ihope the sun these last few days have helped to lift your spirits if that is possible.

Collapsed on the sofa after roast beef.

More mobile which is better for me, still rather nervous when walking outside, but hey ho onwards and upwards.

(((Hugs))) to all 😘

Glad to hear you’re gaining in mobility and confidence GG13.