New Soop Kitchen in her absence

Ooh and scraping Jerseys were in Sainsbury’s today ladies.
Nom nom. 😊

Lovely produce this next month - asparagus, Jerseys, proper orange coloured English strawberries - not the red Spanish ones which are pretty taste-less by comparison, Scottish raspberries, Welsh lamb …. Ooh. No chance I’d emigrate!

Hello kitchen people.

Well, I had a lovely birthday. My mosaic workshop was great fun and I’m not too embarrassed by my mosaic!

OH and I had dinner at one of our favourite restaurants. I am stuffed.
Sleep 💤 .

Good to hear from you grannmarie and hope the muscle aches improve a bit soon, please just take it easy, one day at a time
So good to hear you’re getting out and about again Blossoming enjoy every minute! Hopefully the good weather will continue this coming week and you can enjoy more sunshine
It’s my last morning here in Cambridge, we’re travelling home today after a really enjoyable few days away and catching up with both the eldest AC and their families. We’re not home for long though as on Wednesday we start our journey to Mexico City to attend the memorial service for my late sister in law. I’m not looking forward to the long haul travel at all but I’m pleased we’re able to go and support my brother.
Fingers crossed for no late frosts Jax hope all the little seedlings grow well
Thinking of everyone sat quietly in the corner just looking in, gentle hugs to you all ❤️

I’m glad you enjoyed your birthday LLFL. It’s mine next weekend.
Brook Bon voyage. Is it your first visit to Mexico?

I'm flying in and probably as quick out again. DH is on leave having taken Martin Lewis's advice and booked 9 days that effectivity gave him 19 days off work. His best friend came down for Easter and we've been whirlwinding this past week. I now have 2 wedding dresses ( one paid for and the other on a wait and see if it can be adjusted). I kept true to my I'll get one from a charity shop and the Devon Air Ambulance shop in Bideford came up trumps with dress, veil and shoes. It was worth the hour plus journey to get there even if we did have to stop at some place selling awnings for Henrietta moho . We have been tourists in our County town too visiting the 900 year old Minster and the excellent Somerset Museum. We are going to have to go back to finish the latter as my back and hip was not in the mood for mooching and we had to give up half way round. That was before the dog took my legs from under me whilst I was feeding her...luckily nothing broken just jarred and achy. We were due to have friends to dinner last night ( Domestic Goddess (( and God)) have been on overdrive and the cottage looks wonderful..but we cancelled as a friend from church is slipping in and out of consciousness and DF who was coming to dinner is sitting with her. I was actually relieved as hearing that news and funeral of Pope Francis made me sad and somehow eating and drinking didn't seem appropriate....daft I know. Then a lad on Britain's got Talent sang a song that was DD3 and her husband's 'song' and that set me off completely. So just as I looked like a hag with make up nowhere to be seen so we got a call to say the sheep were lambing next door and so the next 3 hours were spent watching twin lambs being born and then just as we were about to come home another little one was born with me holding the mums head as she had help to deliver the sweetest little lamb. She really snuggled into me as if she knew I was comforting her in those last few minutes of giving birth. And so once again the message Life goes on.....came through loud and clear.
Once home chilled to the bone and smelling of whiff of sheep...a tot ( large) of brandy was called for and drunk in the bath. Don't judge me!!!!!!.

I know I'm going to lose all of the above if I try to scroll back so please forgive me if I miss anyone out.

FGT...SueD... You were both in my thoughts and prayers last week. I will continue to pray for your DH's and you as you travel this roller coaster of emotions. FGT... Long may the 'sleeping continue'. SueD...hope continues...don't lose sight of that...( Easier to write I know).

Granmarie...I really hope that the pain is easing now. What a horrible thing to happen not only to you but your boys too. Lots of rest needed methinks.
LLFL....Happy Belated Birthday...it sounds like a wonderful day was had.....can you post a picture of your mosaic?

I hope the horrible D and V lurgy has departed and children and Grandchildren are feeling better.
Jax... I'm sorry to read that Fin isn't settling and Imogen is having to face losing her Grandad. As a Mum all you want is your children's happiness and as a Grandmother it's the same.

Redcar... There is no stopping you now.. I'm glad you are out and about and enjoying the freedom of walking pain free.
Blossoming....I felt the metaphorical spring in your step as you went out and about. It was lovely to read and I'd have waved too!!!!..In fact as we are not actually going away on a honeymoon as such ( a cruise next Spring is on the cards) we have booked one of those ridiculously expensive dinner trips on the West Somerset steam railway. The Flying Scotsman is going to be pulling the Pullman carriages ( The Quantock Belle) as we travel out to Minehead and back being served a four course Scottish themed meal. Black tie etc. I may even do a Miss Haversham and turn up in a wedding dress. 🤣🤣🤣.
Today I'm booked on another sound bath experience. Basically you lie on the floor ( mat) along with 20 other like minded folks ( nutters) and you are' bathed' in a variety of sounds created by a person who has a series of different sized bowls that she taps or does something with..I actually don't know as last time I lay on the floor covered in my tie dye blanket and thought what the hell are you doing Missy...you are never going to last an hour laying flat on your back listening to someone tinkling in the corner. Next thing I'm waking up...to find everyone else drinking chai (I know but it was all part of the experience) and I felt wonderful....nothing hurt and I was full of energy when I got home and gardened for 2 hours bending and stretching with ease. I'm hoping for the same today as tomorrow as a reward for Domestic Gods help I've agreed to go away in Henrietta moho to Tenby and I think I'm going to need all the helpI can get as all 3 dogs are coming too.

Love to you all.

Hello to you all, I’m in the middle of a massive, since before Easter catch up, but have just got to FGT2’s wonderful news and I am so pleased that I had today how thrilled I am for you both. 😁🥂🥳

I’ll finish catching up and then comment properly later.

Bravo, Naughtyneine for your fulsome and entertaining post.

As always, my love to all our Kitcheners.

neine you certainly keep us entertained! You on here and Marydoll on the GM thread! Excellent both of you. 😁

Fgt I totally agree with your comments, but I would include your good self. 👏

Hello kitchen people.

I am having a quiet day today until I start cooking roast pork at 5 pm. OH is sunning himself outside in his hammock.

I had a nice belated birthday chat with elder son. It is my granddaughter’s 9th birthday on Friday. Unbelievable. They may be coming for the weekend . Being a bit of an administrator, on my PC desk top I have a folder with photos from her birth to the present day. The folder is divided into years and months… it is all in the Cloud too.

Have a good rest of the day. I am hoping that Liverpool manage that one point and win the Premiership this afternoon!!!

Hi kitchen pals, we’ve just arrived at Luton airport, we’ll soon be on our flight up to Inverness.
We went out for brunch then a walk this morning, it’s a gorgeous day in Cambridge. I couldn’t resist snapping DD1 and the 2 DGSs as they walked on ahead of us - they’ll both soon be taller than their mum!
It’s about our 4th trip to Mexico nannytopsy I can’t say I’m that keen but we’re going for my brother. Previously they’ve taken us to some very interesting places but we’ll only be there for a few days this time and then back home. If all goes to plan DD2 will be moving on 9th May so we’ll be home to help with the move 😳
neine really nice story about the new lambs, enjoy your trip to Tenby in Henrietta Moho
Love the mosaics Llfl well done 👍

Brook safe flight home. That's a lovely photo of your dd and dgc. Neine you have an eventful life!
Housework is all done. I've made lentil soup and had a bowlful. I've stewed rhubarb and it's a beautiful pink colour. I'm going to make a crumble topping soon. Dinner will be trout fillet, sauté potatoes, asparagus and tenderstem broccoli in a butter sauce, then rhubarb crumble and ice cream. Tomorrow is early childcare day so I'll have an early night. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

I have had a very lazy day with my pal on her terrace, the sun was hot and we drank fizz and lots of water.

Now it’s time for a shower and go down to the marina for dinner.

The time has flown by, the weather has been kind considering how bad it has been along the Mediterranean coast this month.

🙋‍♀️

Evening all! Back home after a babysit yesterday in Kent. The children (2 1/2 and 15 months were as good as gold all afternoon except that the littlest got upset at bedtime. She woke after a while and was inconsolable then would lie in my arms and be rocked provided I stood up. For an hour. Back, shoulder, hip were all screaming but I got her down in the end. I’m having a G&T now as I couldn’t last night as I was driving!
This week is looking busy so tonight is the calm before the storm!
Love to you all xx

‘Evening All’.

We’ve enjoyed a good day. I hope that goes for many on here too. If you’ve had anxiety or been struggling in any way then 🤞 tomorrow will be a better day. Captain Tom was optimistic about that for all of us, remember?

Hello everyone! I am exhausted. We had DD3, husband and 3 children here for lunch. They are a bright, lively bunch with plenty to say for themselves and boy can they eat. Roast pork, roast potatoes, honey roast carrots, cauliflower cheese, pigs in blankets, stuffing, gravy and then pavlova all disappeared.

Next week is quite full on, too.

TOYA

Hi all,
I think they just about managed it llfl 😏 🏆!
Safe journey home brook you’re probably well on your way, Fin is heading in my direction upwards, at 12 I reckon 5ft 9 or 10, he’ll be moving schools this week, thank you neine.
Heavy little things when you’re holding them for a while, well done Nannytopsy enjoy a quiet evening.

I’ve planted, seeded and watered, a glorious day, MrJ has just cleared up after roast chicken, Grace is on, that’ll do until bed.

It’s late but good evening all.

Happy belated Birthday Llfl hope you had a lovely day.

It’s been a lovely day the cushions are on the garden furniture and we enjoyed a cheeky wine outside, before dinner.This afternoon we watched our eldest GS play his last football game and they won.He has been playing for the team since he was eight years old so quite emotional.Its nice to just get on with our life at the moment as much as we can, long may it continue.

I’m sorry to hear Fins not happy at school .Jax.
Thinking of you all sleep well Kitcheners.

A glorious day in Suffolk! We have done an enormous shop for the freezer for DH & DS 110th birthday in mid May. (70 + 40!) The cleaner came and we are spick and span and I have done some admin. Choir for an hour at 7 and then relaaax! Tomorrow is gardening! Wednesday might be a day to break out the pressure washer …
Life looks very difficult in Spain - I hope they get power back soon. Maybe it’s time to buy a wind up radio?

Good evening Kitcheners. Early start today so I'm tired now. I did a couple of hours in the school library this morning then had a meeting with the lawyer (and my brother 🙄) this afternoon I knew he let the insurance lapse on mum's flat where he lives rent free, however he made it clear that he has no intention of renewing the policy. 😡 Tomorrow will entail sorting that out and I'll have to pay because he won't. An early bed tonight I think. Enjoy your evening

Good evening dear Kitcheners, I can’t keep up with all the things going on in here! Neine sounds like a lovely few days apart from jarring the hip, ouch!

After the last disastrous visit from an Openreach engineer who messed about for a couple of hours and failed to connect us, another Openreach engineer turned up this morning and had us connected in no time! Internet is running at full speed. We are now waiting for BT to activate the landline and it’s all sorted. If it isn’t done by tomorrow I will ring them and demand another engineer visit to sort it out!

I’m very tired tonight so will send you all a virtual hug ♥️

‘Evening All’.

We’ve enjoyed a glorious day. School drop off (walking) and pick up (walking again) then into the play park on her way home. Seeing her, in her school uniform gingham dress, short socks, running, playing on the swings and see-saw in the sunshine with 2 classmates was a joy indeed. I still cannot believe she is 8y already and with her now long legs (she’s shot up like a weed since the autumn) she’s no longer ‘L’il Miss’ in stature! She was always such a ‘mini’ in the infants. 😁

Our azalea is so stunning at the front door I photographed it again today at 5pm. All the neighbours are commenting how beautiful it is. One said ‘if it’s disappeared when you get back from Málaga it’ll be because it’s on my verandah!”

Hi kitchen pals, hope everyone is doing ok
Gorgeous colour azalea FGT no wonder your neighbours have their eyes on it!
Pleased to hear you’re back online again Blossoming
A busy day here, a few more jobs done at DD2s this morning and then a quick trip to Tesco. I’m not wanting to tempt fate but all is still looking good for DD2s house move on 9th May - missives should be sorted by the end of this week. She’ll be moving from a much older house which is in desperate need of attention to a smaller house, but a new build that should suit the 3 of them fine. Still in Inverness and the preferred catchment area for school. Close enough to us but not too close ..
Sorry to hear about the frustrations with your brother grandmabatty deep breaths ….
The weather has been a bit mixed here today, very mild but with showery rain, I’m hoping for sunshine tomorrow 😎

Hello everyone, I’m a bit late this evening. It’s been a lovely warm sunny day here. I went to the RHS gardens at Hyde Hall this morning, about a 15-20 minute drive for me. I got there just after 10 and it was already getting busy. I had a coffee and went for a short walk around some of the gardens. The tulips in huge pots were spectacular but just starting to fade a little. Those in the garden were still going strong. I decided it was too warm to walk far so sat for a while, then came home.
It felt good to be out and about again.
brooke fingers crossed for your daughters house move.
fgt what a beautiful azalea!
blossoming I hope that Openreach sort out your digital landline very soon.
nannytopsy I had my driveway jet washed last week - it was filthy but looks like new now. Goodness knows how much water they used!

I didn’t sleep well last night so am tired now.
Night night everyone.

A late one from quiz, we were doing so well, until the last round!
A busy and frustrating day on the voluntary phone, particularly as it was so lovely outside.
Your brother sounds rather contrary Grandmabatty and I'm being polite!
Tired, I’ll leave you with a picture as we left the pub, tractor getting pizza from Domino’s!!