Soops place of refuge and friends

‘Evening All’

It’s very quiet in the kitchen.

I had a good afternoon sitting and chatting with my stepfather as we shared a generous malt. He thought to ask “how are you finding living alone?”
This gave me pause for thought.

“I’m managing better than I ever thought I would. I miss Himself so much - but not as he was in those final months. So the relief for him outweighs the sadness I am left with” about sums it up. x

My tech abstinence is over, I have missed my GN fix.

Will try and catch up 🙋‍♀️

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Hello kitchen people.

We had a lovely day in Kew. We celebrated our granddaughter’s 10th birthday with a buffet prepared by elder son and then walked down to Kew Gardens where I walked 8000 steps! It is looking beautiful at the moment. There was a friendly fox wandering around so I took its photograph. I bought my favourite honey marmalade in the shop and after a cup of tea back at my son’s headed home. The M4 wasn’t bad and we took one and three quarter hours to get back. I did all the driving today and OH will do it tomorrow as we are meeting friends an hour away,

Sleep 💤 tight.

Thank you all for your good wishes. We had a lovely and rather noisy group, all sitting outside in the sunshine. We were so lucky with the weather. Today has been rather a blur - I even had a nap before lunch! DH soldiered on with putting everything away.
Tomorrow I really must get on with the ironing.
Sleep well everyone

jaxjacky I had a better sleep thank you! I have serious rain envy, we haven’t had a drop today although it’s been grey all day. With luck we’ll get a shower sometime this week. Pleased you have your car back.

Hi all from a very wet S Hants, boy has it rained, good!
I’m so pleased your family lunch went well FGT, enjoy your cocktail, I have 4 cans of espresso martini in a cupboard from Christmas, not felt stable enough to drink them yet. I’ve turned into a worry wort.
How lovely utbb a special trip for you, have a wonderful time.
Smashing picture brook marvellous you have that so close, enjoy your 💃
My son returned my car this morning, then mid afternoon my daughter and Imogen called in, fresh from shopping, including IKEA. A place I’ve never been and no plans to go, even meatballs won’t persuade me!
Hope you slept well Redcar and the gardener works out just fine.
Have a gentle evening all - especially the quiet corner 👋👋

Have a lovely time in the Lake District utbb.

Thank you for the photo of the dolphins brook.

Well done for going out on your own fgt! Good that you feel comfortable in your favourite bar!

neine I hope that Ddog2 is ok after her episode and that Ddog1 didn’t injure himself when he jumped down from Maevemouse! No wonder your nerves are stretched!

I haven’t done much today, emptied a dead hydrangea out of a largish pot, along with an ants nest. The birds had a good feast! I’m trying to reduce the number of pots of plants, they’re such a faff to water.
There was a May Fair in the local park so I wandered over there this afternoon. Some interesting displays of information from local organisations and lots of silly sports for the children, along with a splendid bouncy castle.

Enjoy the rest of the evening folks.

Love the photos of the dolphins Brook

Good evening kitchen folk. Utbb have a lovely time. Brook its been nice here too.
The boys came through at half six this morning and were so cute. They tumbled in beside me for a wee while then up and playing. We played at restaurants again then they drew off and on most of the morning. They were just lovely. They also ate all morning! Dgs1 has a fearsome appetite. After they were picked up by dsil and dd who were tired (hungover), I went for a lie down. Everything is tidied away and I've hoovered and had a salad for dinner. I'm going to have a chocolate cake which I baked yesterday. Dgs1 has eaten 4! An early night for me as its an early start. Dd is working from her big office, not at home. Enjoy your Bank Holiday evening.

Enjoy your trip to Grasmere, Uttb, such a lovely place and how kind of your granddaughter and her boyfriend to include you
Fgt you’re doing so well ❤️
It’s been a really nice day up here, we went to Rosemarkie beach, had a coffee overlooking the sea and then walked along the beach to Chanonry Point. We were lucky to be there at the right time to see the dolphins feeding so we stood and watched for a while. I managed to get this photo but got many more just of the sea .. Then home for a late lunch and a potter in the garden. I’m out dancing this evening, better than sitting on the sofa
Hoping everyone is doing ok especially those in the quiet corner, take care all x

I have that perfume too uttb but use it sparingly 😁
A little really does go a long way!

Once, my late darling mum and I were in a taxi and en route picked up her younger (and very witty) sister.

As she fastened her seat belt she said “ah I’ve forgotten to put on some perfume.
Never mind Thelma, you’re wearing enough for both of us”
😁
Sometimes less really IS more!

I wear that sometimes FGT I do like it but I haven’t made it to Urmston today.
I think you all know how much I love a cocktail and I just happen to have two M&S Strawberry Daiquiris in my fridge…..
I am getting a few things ready as tomorrow my GD ,her BF and I are going to Grasmere just for one night.
Living not too far from the Lake District with decent motorways quite a bit of the way we can have the best part of two days up there.
I haven’t been since my H died but am so looking forward to going back.
It has been dull all day here but not cold.
I hope most of you can enjoy something of today although I know just how hard it is for some of you.
to you all.

Just had to smile - at a table two down are a group of friends and I can smell Clinique Aromatic from way over here … 😁

Hello everyone in the kitchen
I’m sat enjoying a cocktail in my favourite bar below on the corner.

I’m sat here thinking about cocktails in gentand remembered this:
Whenever people talk about cocktails, I'm reminded of Noel Coward..."A perfect martini should be made by filling a glass with gin, then waving it in the general direction of Italy."
😂

Yorkshire Lass and husband left after brunch to call in on my stepfather thence on to the motorway.

After they’d gone L’il Miss came To play ping pong on my dining room table 😂

I’m getting used to being out solo … 💔

A belated Happy Birthday NannyT...I hope you had a fabulous day...very sensible in letting Waitrose take most of the strain.
We are about to pack up and head West ...my nerves are a wee bit stretched as Ddog no 2 ( the one on chemo) collapsed after chasing Ddog 3 yesterday...she just raised up on her back legs and fell sideways and we both think she twitched a little. To be honest we both thought she had gone and then seconds later she started wagging her tail and was fine from then on....then later in the day Ddog1 jumped down from Maevemouse and must have landed badly as he yelped and has been very quiet since. There is no obvious injury and he is weight bearing so hopefully just a sprain.

Happy birthday Nannytopsy. I hope you’ve had a lovely day. Went to see my mum today we went out for coffee. What would we do without a garden centre. We had a nice afternoon just the two of us. Recently when I see her I have dgd with me and all attention is on her. No childminding or dance class tomorrow as it’s a holiday.

Sorry to be rather late in the day to wish you a happy birthday, Nannytopsy. .
Do enjoy being in the 70's club! ( I left it earlier this year!! ) As you say, better than the alternative.

Warm thoughts for all. xx

What a lovely idea kitty! I’ll put it to the troops! I’m sure it could well be an annual gathering of the clan especially as it’s a Bank Holiday weekend, Thank you for the lovely suggestion. I like it very much. x

I hope you’ve had a very Happy Birthday nannytopsy and that your garden party went well.

fgt I’m pleased your family gathering was enjoyable yesterday and that it was as your DH wanted. My DH died on New Year’s Day 2021 and we’ve had a family gathering on that day every year since. (We wouldn’t necessarily have gathered on New Year’s Day, having been together at Christmas anyway)

I think (hope) I have found someone to help with my garden. He called round this morning to see what needs doing and didn’t seem to be put off! He lives several doors away from me and I have known his wife for some years, but didn’t know he did gardening as a side hustle!
I have been very anxious about it all, so hope I get a good nights sleep tonight.
Night night all.

Glad it went ok, fgt. Will you make it an annual thing, do you think? To celebrate your lovely DH?

Well as there was no funeral to attend, there was no wake either so Himself suggested a meal for the 14 immediate family.

I’m just relieved it went well Doodle. Another hurdle navigated. To be honest it was enjoyable.

FGT what a lovely idea of your husband to have this family meal. You should be proud of all of you getting this far.

fgt each day is different, good that you and the girls enjoyed a meal without tears, Each day as you know will be different and eventually you will stop having "a moment" in a shop or the middle of a busy street.

Enjoy the sun if any passes your way!

Yesterday afternoon our family meal went really well. I didn’t cry, nor did my girls. We felt proud we’d managed to honour what Himself had wanted by bringing us all together. Thank you for all your kindness and encouragement here.

Many Happy Returns of the day, NannyT. Sounds like a good plan was in place.