Soop’s always open and very welcoming kitchen.

Heartfelt thanks to Retread. Your comment has made my day.

Yesterday, we were treated to lunch in a lovely restaurant in a nearby village. It was a treat to dress up and catch up. Simple pleasures.

We purchased several lavender plants from the adjoining nursery. A large stone pot is being prepared with nourishing compost. It will stand beside our front door. We will enjoy the perfume and the bees will enjoy the nectar.

Another beautiful day. Wall to wall sunshine with a gentle breeze.

Enjoy your weekend, dear Kitcheners.

An early ‘Evening All’.

Just setting out to drive over to Bury for a surprise 80th meal with friends. We are looking forward to this, so nice to be invited! We have to be in early…

What an exciting opportunity for your Dgd Cornergran. I’m sure she will have an amazing time but of course you will be anxious till you hear from her.

We have had a lovely day.Our friend who lost her husband last November came for lunch.We had so much to chat about and the time has flown by,so nice to see her.

Very pleased you had a nice lunch Soop and the lavender plant will be perfect by your door.
I think we will have smoked salmon and scrambled egg this evening we just want something light after a big lunch.

Thinking of you all enjoy your evening.

Hi kitchen friends 🙋‍♀️

Pleased you enjoyed your lunch soop
Your GD should have a fabulous time in Australia.

I found some new season English Asparagus in M & S on Thursday, we are having it as a starter tonight, lightly cooked served with butter, black pepper and Parmesan shavings, really looking forward to it. (I refuse to buy the imported asparagus from Mexico, Peru etc which is available all year round)

DH is cooking venison loin, with sauté potatoes and courgettes.

I imagine that we will watch Britain’s got (no) Talent and moan all the way through 😹😹😹😹

Have a good evening everyone 🙋‍♀️

Hi to all kitchen pals, it’s been cold but sunny here today in Inverness.
I think I’d be just as anxious as you are corner, but hopefully it’ll lessen as the days go by
It’ll be lovely to have the lavender at your front door Soop you’ll be able to enjoy the scent throughout the summer
Good to see you here Yia and hope all is well
I’ve good news to report as DD2 now has her house under offer (again) so we’re hoping this time all goes without a hitch. It’ll be a busy few weeks but if all goes to plan she should be moving in by the end of May. Apart from her getting a new house and a fresh start, it’ll mean we also get our garage back as she’s had umpteen boxes stored here since last summer when it all fell though. I’m keeping everything crossed - thanks nannytopsy too
I’m off out this evening so looking forward to that, take care all and hugs to the quiet corner ❤️

Just popping out of the quiet corner to say, corner that DGS2 went to Australia about a month ago with his girlfriend. They have gone to get work experience in restaurants before coming home to resume his job here - we hope.

They are fine and we think that he will stop sending photos soon!

Hello everyone, a lovely sunny day here but with a bone chilling north easterly wind! Tended my late DH’s grave this morning, it took hours for my hands to warm up afterwards, and I was wearing gloves too! Decided it was too cold to put washing out, so into the tumble dryer it went! I’ll iron it tomorrow.
DD2 will call in at some time tomorrow to help me clear out a cupboard ready for the Smart meter to be installed next week 🤞. The appointment has been cancelled twice, so hopefully third time lucky.
brook fingers crossed your DD’s house sale goes through smoothly.
soop the lavender pot will be lovely outside your front door.
fgt enjoy your meal this evening.
yiayia your day sounds perfect, good you were able to meet up with your friend. corner I hope your DGD is now safely in Australia!
Have a peaceful evening everyone.

Oh heck, I’m hoping for photos kitty. Maybe it’s a case of being careful what I wish for 😂. It’s such a wonderful and exciting time for them all. Flight tracker tells me our intrepid two are an hour and a bit away from landing in Australia almost three hours later an internal flight, after just under 24 hours will reach their destination airport. Hopefully still coherent and with their bags 😀.

🤞 for your daughter, and your garage, yia.

We’ve had a decent day. Off across the bridge before the rugby traffic built up and back well before the end of the game. A pleasant NT walk, grave sorted and a decent lunch in between journeys. I can also tell the physio, when I get to her, that no, my shoulder and arm are not happy driving a car.

Rugby-wise Mr C has not been a happy man. I’m trying not to smile at the tv 😂.

Off I go with my best straight face on. Look after yourselves everyone.

Good afternoon everyone. Brook fingers crossed for your daughter. It's so upsetting when a house sale falls through. Grannygravy that meal sounds delicious. Do you rent him out?😂 A busy day for you Redcar. Don't overdo things though. Soop lavender scent is very calming. Enjoy your new acquisition. Yiayia I'm glad you had a nice time with your friend.
I have been a domestic goddess today. I stripped the bed, washed sheets etc and had it on the line by nine. While it was busy in the washing machine, I went to Aldi for food, put it away, then emptied and loaded the dishwasher. I filled up the car with petrol on the way to meet a friend for breakfast. I took her home, then visited the library to exchange books. Then home to iron the sheets etc and get them back on the bed. Dinner is in the oven. Pork chop marinated in honey and wholemeal mustard with sauté potatoes and tenderstem broccoli. I shall have a glass of wine to go with. Then I'm taking the covers of the cushions in the living room and sticking them in the machine to clean and hang out tomorrow. Wonder woman! 😂

Hi all, bone cold breeze here too down south, on the last leg now corner an adventure for sure, isn’t youth wonderful.
My lavender are getting one more season soop, they’re old and woody, may well be my fault.
Enjoy your evening out brook let’s hope for your daughter and your space!
Same here with the rugby corner MrJ from NI isn’t too happy either.
I’ve sown more seeds in the greenhouse, nice and warm in there, been for a walk and read most of the paper, I need more seed compost.
Might watch a film tonight.

Jaxjacky I think lavenders don't last forever. They do get very woody

Hello kitchen people.

OH is off to another room to watch the rugby. I’ll have a look to see what was recorded when I was in Australia.

I have had a fairly quiet day. I bought petrol this morning and milk and flowers. I finally printed off my WI Secretary’s report and a couple of other things for the forthcoming AGM. I made a spag bol for dinner. There is enough left over to transform into a shepherd’s pie another day.

Have a good evening.

Good evening, Soop and lovely Kitchen people. 🥰 The lavender pot sounds just perfect. Glad you enjoyed your lunch with friends.

We've had a busy few days, I visited my friend in hospital, she was diagnosed with TIA, still quite forgetful and very sleepy.
Then DH and I were off down the coast for our Bee Gees tribute show and overnight. It was a great wee break, cold but clear blue skies, nice drive, beautiful accommodation and views, and the show was excellent! We had front row seats, a super gift from family. Next day we had lunch in Prestwick then drove back up to collect the Wee Boy from school and enjoy Pizza Night.

Fingers crossed 🤞 for a successful house sale for your DD, brook.

What a wonderful opportunity for your DGD, Cornergran. Thanks to the wonders of modern technology you can follow her Australian adventures.

Grandmabatty, I'm so glad that your Mum will be in a local nursing home, what a relief for you.

Redcar, a labour of love. 🌹

We had slow cooker sausage casserole with onions, carrots, mushrooms and baby potatoes for dinner, haven't had that for ages. Very tasty.

Thinking of all in the quiet corner, hope Blossoming, Doodle and NannyG4 are doing OK. Kind thoughts to all with aches and pains, and to those caring/ concerned for poorly loved ones. Good to hear your OH is doing well after his op, Ladyleftfieldlover.

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

And home. 😁
14 of us in total. A complete surprise for our friend who was expecting a table for 6 - their son and grandson, their daughter and granddaughter … then “Surprise!” 🎉🎉
Kettles on now as we get into our pj’s.

BGT not on, we are switching between Lady GaGa on BBC2 and the rugby.

Rugby has been on one of the televisions since lunchtime 🏈🏈

Dinner was scrumptious, especially the asparagus.

Grandmabatty I am willing to share him (in the kitchen only 😹)

* corner* It is a very exciting time for your DGD, but the four months will fly by, and she will be home in no time.

It's another cold day here. When is the weather going to improve? It was sunny, only because I did not do any washing.

A friend who is blind went to a home last week. Her house is up for sale, but the estate agent did not tell her to do some tidying before the photos were taken. At last, she can relax and not worry about food or what drugs she should be taking.

I am keeping the NHS going with four different hospital appointments in London.

soop I hope Mr. soop's scalp is less painful and healing, albeit at its own pace. It was lovely being able to put on your glad rags and have a lovely meal.

Corner, I meant to say that we are inundated with photos and hope he stops soon.

Grannygravy 😊😂. The kitchen would do for me!
This morning I hung out the cushion covers, tidied up a little and even did some weeding and sweeping in the garden. My house smelled of burnt broccoli and was disgusting! Scented candle on and windows open sorted it out.
Evening Kitcheners. I had a visit from dd and the boys earlier which was just lovely. Dgs2 and I played in the garden then dgs1 joined us until a bee appeared. He's terrified. Then we went indoors and dgs2 pulled out my shoes and handbags to play at shops. After, I visited mum who is so frail but managed to eat half a digestive and drink some juice. Tonight I'm having pork chop with potato croquettes and baked beans. Not a patch on your dhs cooking Grannygravy!
My best to you as ll.

‘Evening All’.

It’s bitterly cold here. We’ve all enjoyed our dinners though!

We need to set the alarm for 6:30am tomorrow and be over by 7:30am so Teacher Mummy can get off to work, dropping the Boy Wonder off first for the school bus to his high school. We will walk L’il Miss to her junior school up the road at 8:30am as her childminder needs a couple of days off to deal with a family situation. Home, then back out for school pick up. We are the Back Up Team. We’d best have an early night!

Hi all, a sunny day but cold in the shade, picked up a shirt from Marks, then went for a river walk, supplied son and fiancée with sandwiches, they were cleaning the pub ‘yours are the best Mum’ chancers!
Prepped dinner early afternoon, lamb in the slow cooker, it smells lovely, veg all ready; no alcohol for a week now, although I mainly drink shandy, cola 0 is getting boring.
Enjoy your evenings
👋 to the quiet corner

Well!! It’s only taken 70 years. Well done Newcastle, you’ve done us north easterners proud 👏👏👏👏👏👏

Indeed they have GrandmaC47 what emotion.. Geordie joy

Another cold but sunny day certainly doesn’t do my bones any good.DGS4 won at football today so he”s very happy.

Take care Charleygirl💐
Hope your mum starts to pick up Granmabatty
Just had roast lamb and very nice it was, cooked by DH tonight.

Thinking of you all.

Hi kitchen pals, hope everyone is doing ok
A lovely day today, a video call with DS this morning, a couple of calls with DD2 and a potter in the garden this afternoon. Nothing too strenuous as I was late in bed last night after a really enjoyable party. Only had a couple of glasses of wine so no headache this morning 😇 - see I can do it Jax!
Good you can help out FGT enjoy the change of routine
Nothing like a good game of shop grandmabatty! 🛒🛍️

Dinner is done and dusted, dishwasher is doing its thing, DD and her boys are home safe, I am collapsed on the sofa with a glass of chilled white wine.

Night night folks 🙋‍♀️