Soops place of refuge and friends

Hello kitchen friends, we’ve arrived in our Edinburgh hotel near the airport ready for our flight in the morning. We travelled down from Inverness on the Ember bus, a really good service with the bonus that it’s free for us pensioners..It’s just a premier inn but it’s got a bath so I’m going to have a soak in a while - bliss!

Good to hear your eye is improving corner
Hoping you’re feeling ok today Jax and not too worried about the scan results
Grandmabatty I expect you’re still on cloud 9, I wonder if you’ll be buying blue or pink ?
Lovely to hear from you neine
Thank you all for your kind holiday wishes, I might not get chance to check in here every day whilst I’m away but I’ll be thinking of you all, take care everyone x

Just catching up with all the news in the kitchen. Jax...I hope that the medics can come up with a suitable treatment plan for you. I think another Gran on the GM thread has the same diagnosis, maybe she can give you some pointers going forward.
Corner..Fingers crossed that the ointment continues to do it's thing and you feel more comfortable each day...also that operation ratgate is sorted very soon. I'm with you on not coping with them. I have to close my eyes if I'm watching I'm a Celebrity and one of the trials involves them.
Redcar... I'm going to seated Aerobics tomorrow...I have no idea how it's going to go...How is it possible to get your heart rate going on a chair...( Does watching Hugh Jackman count). Well done on the bending too...Gardening is the best form of exercise isn't it.
Grandmab , congratulations on your lovely news. Another little one to bring more joy into your life. How wonderful it's a surprise too.
This time 45 years ago I was planning a last Bank Holiday weekend with 1 DD before baby number 2 came along due early June. I had done a big shop and was planning a roast chicken dinner and a trip to the farm..that all went by the board when DD2 decided she wanted to be part of the action and I got taken in with a suspected PE on the Saturday morning ( It wasn't thankfully) and she was delivered by CS at 2.58am on the Monday. I was over the moon after the miscarriages and she was beautiful. I comfort myself that despite the situation now I was blessed to have been a Mum and Nanny too.
Brooke...have a wonderful holiday and reunion with your DS.
Well done GG for saving the day and so quickly too. I bet it was relief all round.

FGT...I hope the warmth of the sun and the peace is healing you a little each day.
SueD...my thoughts are with you too and Granmarie and Dusty Angel. In Etaples there is a war graves cemetery dedicated to those lost in WW1 and 2 and written on one of the simple white headstone in honour of a young soldier from his wife is an inscription I will never forget...it simply said...Memories of Love....and You.
May your memories of your darling husbands and the love you shared always be with you.

Yes thank you brook and sending you “happy holiday” wishes. 👋

Your view looks so peaceful fgt. It’s still chilly here sadly.

Your surgery sounds to be very efficient jax. I’m sure you’ll get good treatment and advice.

We whizzed over the bridge today to maintain Mr C’s parents grave.m. Pleased to report my eye is much less painful. Less pleased to report my aim with the ointment has not improved. .
Night night everyone. Sleep well.

Just a very quick hello from me after a busy day out and about.. I couldn’t go to sleep without checking in on here first
Hoping it’s not too problematic for you Jax and doesn’t cause you ongoing problems
Thank you for the lovely picture fgt, I hope your day was ok and you enjoyed the warm sunshine
Hoping you’re doing ok Tilly ❤️
Thinking of all our friends in the quiet corner, take care all x

fgt that looks a lovely peaceful place to sit and read. Although it’s been dry and bright here today, it’s too windy to sit outside.

Seated yoga this morning was quite challenging, but I do feel better afterwards and I think my balance is improving slightly.

I spent some time planting some fuchsias and hardy geraniums in the front garden this afternoon. I wasn’t able to dig a hole and bend down low last year, so I’m pleased to be able to do it again - progress, but I still have to be careful. I’ll go to the garden centre tomorrow for more compost (small bags) and plants. Hoping the gardener will be back next week.🤞

cornergran I hope your eye is healing and more comfortable today and that you master the knack of getting the ointment into your eye!

Nearly time for my fix of the Chelsea Flower Show!

Have a pleasant evening everyone.

Hi all, peace and warmth FGT a good combination to gently let your thoughts roam x
GG13 to the rescue 🛟 and they say no one is indispensable!
Better news on your son in law Grandmabatty I hope it has continued today.
I had a txt from my surgery ahoy 6:30 last night, my scan showed osteoporosis in hips, spine ok. I know it was possible, but took me by surprise, econsult about 8:30 today and GP call back within two hours. We discussed treatment, she’s checking something with rheumatology for me.
So the day continued with making pasta sauce for dinner, nipping down to the village shop for odds and sods, then too much time googling!!
I hope to see utbb here soon.
Have a gentle evening all.

I hope everyone else who visits soops kitchen has had the best day they can.
It is warmer outside than in the house today - a bit bizarre.

You are approaching this holiday in just the right frame of mind fgt.
I’m sure your bereavement counselling has helped you.
The peace in that garden must be healing, alternated with meeting your friends for a few hours of socialising.
Your dear Man will be so proud of you. 🦋

Hello to all

I’ve been pottering this morning
Went to the supermarket over the road for supplies so glad it’s nearby

I have a shopper on wheels to cart water
milk and groceries home I got it bc Himself had begun to struggle 18 months ago when we came over between his chemotherapy sessions. 😢

Lunch at Juan’s and now I’m sat under a palm tree reading my book

This pic is from my vantage point
It’s very quiet and peaceful only half a dozen people unusual this time of year but the block is mostly residential now.

I’m sitting with my sadness feeling the emotional tug. That’s important I feel. It’s not good to dismiss such thoughts best to let them hold for a while. Yes uncomfortable but necessary to accept them when they wash me.

Dinner at home this evening I have food probably just make a past dish!
x

GrannyGravy it must be lovely to have created something which your children continue.
Thank you ladies for your kind words regarding dsil. He definitely seems to be improving. Cornergran I hope the cut heals quickly.

Good to know it was all sorted grannyg. Your friends are a blessing fgt, I’m so pleased you have their support. Good news about your sil grandmab, your boys trigger memories of our sons what feels an age ago.

After spending most of the day in the eye hospital A&E on Monday I’ve been attempting to put antibiotic ointment into my injected eye. I’d not win medals for it! It seems there is a small cut, maybe (probably!) occurring during the injection process causing the pain I’ve been experiencing. No sign of infection, the ointment is precautionary, the eye will heal itself.

Hoping to get over the bridge later today, a trip postponed from Monday. With luck I’ll sleep soon, something else I’m not very good at. Mr C on the other hand can sleep for the world. Envious? You bet!

Night, night everyone. Sleep tight.

Grandmabatty I hope to be totally redundant asap.

DH and I are not hands on in the company anymore, the children are doing a brilliant job.

fgt how comforting to have such lovely kind supportive friends waiting for you in your happy place. I look forward to seeing the photo when you can send it!
A quiet day today for me, did some ironing, collected a prescription and saw my dementia friend and that was about it! My friend was very quiet, uncommunicative, but has a cough, which is a bit worrying.

* grannygravy* to the rescue! What a good thing you were able to log in to the gov.uk website, I gave up the hast time I tried, it didn’t like my password and I was wary of changing it in case it messed up access to other websites!

grandmabatty a relief that your DSiL is feeling better.

After yet another morning of waking up at 5.30 I’m tired, so getting ready for bed soon.
Night night everyone, sleep well!

No photo
Never mind I’ll try it on Mick’s in the morning.

😁

Hello everyone (an hour ahead here) so I’m not far off my bed. LWW was every bit as supportive and friendly as I knew it would be. Obviously I’ve not seen them since May last year and we all remembered that rush to get back to the UK. We all shed a few tears(to be expected) but then shared memories of happier times too and I caught up on all their news. Good friends are a blessing aren’t they?

Took this pic in buzzy Arroyo de la Miel on my way to the bar this afternoon.

Well done GG13 you saved the day!

Hi kitchen friends, hope everyone is doing ok,
Goodness GG that sounds like an online nightmare, but well done that it’s all sorted now
Good to hear Dsil is feeling better grandmabatty and that you enjoyed a good day with your gorgeous boys
It was good to get back to the gym this morning, quite an energetic aerobics class then coffee to recuperate with my pal. This afternoon I enjoyed a bit of pampering at the hairdressers, my grey roots are now hidden for another few weeks
Hope fgt got on well today
Take care all x

You are obviously very much needed and appreciated GrannyGravy
The boys were busy drawing snakes and cutting them out this morning. Breakfast was cereal for dgs1 and pancakes for dgs2 which was eaten between art projects. Dgs2 got very upset because he cut off a bit of his snake and dgs1 kindly finished it and consoled him. He isnt usually that caring so it was nice to see. After i dropped them off, I pottered about, did some spanish and sorted the rubbish. Tomorrow is plastic day. Then picked the boys up for more art and football and eating before taking them home. Dsil is much better which is good news.
I have cleaned the kitchen and hoovered throughout- a necessary job with the two boys. My hall was full of sand from dgs2 and his playing in the sand at nursery! At the moment macaroni cheese is baking in the oven and i have a clean and tidy home. Enjoy your evening kitchen folk

It is exceptionally quiet in the kitchen today

I was having a productive day, washing tidying even squeezed in a quick trip to a local retail park to pop into Next and M & S Food Hall.

Just as I was about to collapse on the sofa with a latte and my kindle, No.3 son rang and asked me to go into work ( I haven’t been on the premises since November 2025 😹)

Nobody could find my login details to submit the accounts, and the deadline is uncomfortably close 🙀 Consequently I hot footed along (well drove slowly during school pick-up time, which is as bad as rush hour round here) with passport and laptop, we battled with the gov.uk website. After multiple attempts along with the computer says no mission was accomplished.

Also a nice surprise to find eldest GS there so lots of hugs 🤗

I hope FGT2 has had an enjoyable and no doubt tearful union with her LWW friends.

Wishing you all a good night 🙋‍♀️

Take things easy FGT2 and enjoy your break.

So pleased you’ve arrived safely fgt, a relief that there’s some food in the cupboard too! You’re doing so well, just take things easy and allow yourself to relax. You don’t
need to rush to socialise if you don’t feel ready.

I so admire your bravery and hope your visit brings back lots of positive memories. Having good memories is such a help, I find, and it helps to know that your shared life was a joy to you both. Hope the coming days are mostly a pleasure,

So pleased you arrived safely FGT. Take your time, there is no rush to do anything.

Go gently fgt. It’s absolutely fine to be as you are. Remember that poem about sometimes staying in harbour? It’s what you’re saying you need. X