Soops Kitchen, a friendly place of refuge

Just back from date night 😹😹😹 The Imp joined us. I had spaghetti vognole (sp) delicious.

The 11 yd old this morning went to put his pj’s in the bin rather than the laundry basket, realised his mistake and said he must have grandma brain I did laugh.

Evening fellow Kitcheners. That made me laugh GG13! Out of the mouths of babes and all that … 😁

I’ve had a delightful day.
The Trafford Centre this morning where I bought a paring knife and a soap dish in John Lewis (I know how to live)

Then an absolutely fabulous facial with massage mid afternoon it was a real treat, so relaxing. I can totally understand why some ladies treat themselves to spa days.

And then this evening the pub for one then over the road for a curry en famille. Delicious and delightful in equal measure.

A Good Day. x

So pleased you’ve had a good day fgt ❤️

Just a quick hello from me.
We have lots going on but won’t go into it for now.

Lovely day here quite warm and sunny.Yesterday I drove to Portsmouth to buy some lovely fresh fish.
We then had lunch looking out at the marina it was nice to have a bit of normality.

Love to you all enjoy the sunshine.

Good afternoon, Soop and lovely Kitchen people! It's sunny and dry here, 13 degrees, fingers crossed that Spring is finally on its way. It's been a long, dull and damp winter. Two loads of washing out on the line, one more to go. Like Cornergran, I'm cleaning/ preparing for the arrival of special visitors. Our Australian cousins are arriving en masse to celebrate the 60th anniversary of their family emigration to WA. We are all very excited!

I'm just catching up on all your news, it's been a busy time. Also approaching DH's first anniversary, we'll be gathering next weekend to share our memories and mark the occasion.
FGT 👋 You are doing really well, early days. I was interested in your thoughts about ' displacement ', I agree that we still need time for reflection, it's important to have some balance.

Enjoy your break, brook and Mrb, looks like good weather for you!

Enjoy your new car, Grandmabatty, perfect timing for nice drives!🚗

Jaxjacky, well done on your progress, you are doing really well. Great that you got suitable seats at the pub, you'll soon be back to your Monday quiz night.

Apologies if I haven't mentioned you by name today but I've read all your news and I'm thinking of you all.

Special thoughts for *our dear Soops*♥️. Hoping and praying that they are cosy and comfortable with all the support required at this time. Thinking ofBaggs too and their special friendship.

Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend, hope the sun ☀️ is shining for you. TOYA

YiaYia, 💐🙏

Good to see you Yia and I'm pleased you enjoyed yesterday, it was gorgeous sun, I imagine the water sparkling.

I had planned an afternoon on my own to be mindful it was 4 weeks today since Himself died. However our youngest daughter suggested we all go to the rose garden at the cemetery where his ashes has been scattered as per his wishes by crematorium staff.

It was just what I needed, without knowing. Thank you darling daughter. We sat together in the late sunshine sharing memories. We took a bag of toffee to share - we laughed and said he’d rather that than flowers. L’il Miss placed two pieces for him on some stones nearby. 🥰

Good evening kitchen folk. Fgt that sounds just what was needed. I am glad your family are surrounding you with love.
Grannmarie a hard time coming up for you interspersed with family excitement. Yiayia nothing tastier than fresh fish.
Today has been a gentle day. I was at aldi early on, then rattled through the housework and washing. For the first time this year, I hung out the washing. Hooray! Dd appeared with dgs2 after his swimming lesson. He wanted to see the new car so I took him out to look at it while dd brought out the bottle box which dsil had forgotten about. Another Hooray. They didn't stay too long and I finished the housework after they left.
I remade the bed and promptly lay on it. Next thing I knew, an hour had gone by. I've had a very mundane dinner but enjoyed it. Everything is done except the floors which I will wash tomorrow. I'm watching a comedy murder called, 'See how they run' and I'll empty the dishwasher in a while. All very house orientated but good. I hope you have a good evening.

I’ve just played a one minute video I’d recorded of him. It was lovely to hear his voice. First time I’ve felt brave enough.
I shared it with the girls.
I’ve got several recorded over the past couple of years. 💙

I hope it’s ok to say I’m proud of you fgt. You’re following your instincts, knowing when the right time comes, .

There was I this evening feeling content with the world, bungalow cleaned to an inch of its life, final food gathering completed, beef casserole put together in the slow cooker to bubble away overnight ready for lunch tomorrow. What could go wrong? The slow cooker - defunct! Thankfully there is a Sainsbury with an Argos less than five minutes away by car. Even more thankful to see a slow cooker in stock. Its too big for our usual cooking for two but needs must. Off we went, back we came, slow cooker liner lifted from the old into the new and peace returned. I have no idea what it’s done to my blood pressure and you know I don't want to . Hope your preparations have been less fraught granmarie.

That sounds a super trip yia. On Wednesday we sat and watched the water at the end of a pier. The sun on water is just magic.

Grandmabrain is alive and well here grandmab, love the description, our family are far less polite!

It’s time for a glass of wine. Love to you all. Hope your evening is just as you’d like it to be.

Apologies. I of course meant grannyg. Evidence of grandmabrain here .

Grannmarie and cornergran have the best time with your visitors.
I had a gentle patio potter today, I’ve found I need a quick afternoon nap lately, I have to lie down in my bed though.
I hope the brooks are having a great time away.
FGT you found your balance for today x

* Jaxjacky* I am so sad for you that your hip problem is taking so long to be resolved.
I have not heard before of someone who breaks their hip to have it replaced , it is usually repaired but I thought your surgeon was ahead of trend but now I don’t know. I think the dislocated hip is at fault,.I had a standard replacement and made a really good and swift recovery,I hope very sincerely that you are on track for the same.
A quiet day for me, I had hoped my GS would bring the GGD’s but no, they obviously had more important things to do!!!
I have had a lovely but solitary meal of duck breast with asparagus and sautéed potatoes.
I made a Delia Smith sauce with red wine and black cherry jam and when I took my plate into the kitchen the sauce was still there in the saucepan , oh well ,we can’t win every time.
I enjoyed my meal in spite of it.
Now in bed and I hope we all have a decent night.

Good evening. As I am minding DDs dog for Easter I went for a walk today. I managed okay but was in a lot of pain when I returned. Each day it gets a little easier so hoping it will be okay.

Hoping everyone is having a good weekend as I lie in bed.

We are home from our days away this last day spent with our son and daughter and their families we have been very lucky with the weather.
You are doing so well fgt glad you enjoyed your massage.
Hope you continue to improve Dragonfly .
There are too many happenings to reply to everyone so enjoy your new card ladies . Best. Wishes to all.

Nothing much happening at Gravy Grange.

dragonfly hopefully each day will see some improvement, take care.

FGT2 😘

Hello kitchen people.

UTBB - OH always makes that meal when I’m out, which I was on Thursday. I don’t like duck, but he does.

I attended a Memorial service today for one of our WI members, she was 99 and would have been 100 later in the year. It was a good occasion with her two children, three grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

I cooked halibut for dinner with a sauce of melted butter, garlic and paprika. It was tasty.

Sleep 💤 tight.

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

After L’il Miss was collected at noon, I’ve had a quiet, reflective period of several hours on my own. My trigger point is always around 7pm as it was then, when the curtains were drawn and the lamps lit, I used to set out all the syringes of oral medications for Himself that were necessary for the evening ahead and during the night.

I had a long crying jag this afternoon, My grief is akin to a soft bruise which hurts when I press it. When I think of his bravery and stoicism it unravels me.

Am I better not to dwell, to press the bruise? I have absolutely no idea. Perhaps the upcoming grief counselling will help me learn what is best. I’m all at sea to be honest. My chest feels heavy as though full of wet sand. It did me good though I think, to sit with grief quietly then sob my heart out. He’s gone and I can’t bear it, that’s the truth. x

Good evening everyone, it’s very quiet in the kitchen this evening.
A bright day for most of the day here. I did a machine load of washing early and put it on the bits of the whirly line that I can reach. I’ll have to see if I can get a smaller one. Then did a load of towels which are still in the tumble dryer.
DD2 came this morning with the littlest. We had to play mummies with babies (teddies), then the Lego came out and she built a tower.
DD1 and family came at lunchtime, bearing MacDonalds for lunch. After they’d gone I joined my next door neighbours in the front garden for a weeding session! We decided that we are the original members of the Bad Back Gardening Club! Both garden waste bins are full and awaiting emptying at the end of the week.

dragonfly I hope your back continues to improve and will be better in time to walk DDs dog at Easter.

jaxjacky I hope you’ve managed another potter on the patio today. I know several people who have fractured their hips and have had replacements rather than repairs, I think it probably depends on the policy at the hospital. But glad you’re improving now.

fgt a comforting way to remember your DH, a sunny afternoon in the garden of remembrance with your lovely family to support you. I suspect my DH would have preferred a toffee to the flowers I left him on Monday!

Have a pleasant evening everyone.

Dear fgt, I have absolutely nothing to say that would comfort you in any way and for that I am sorry. I do hope that the grief counselling will help you to work out the best way for you to negotiate the grieving process. It’s very early days yet and may take a while.
Sending you a hug.

FGT no need to press the bruise you’ll find it will hurt anyway. Accept the times you feel a little better and let yourself cry when you don’t. Hugs x

Sorry once again Kitcheners for posting about my sorrow tonight. Perhaps I ought to post on a bereavement thread instead of unburdening my distress in here. It seems unfair to you all, especially as you’ve all been so kind and caring. I hope you can bear with me.

Thank you Redcar and Doodle.
When it hits its like a tsunami.