Soops place of refuge and friends

fgt coming home at midnight!! Pleased you had such an entertaining evening with your new friend. Enjoy the LWW today. I was disappointed to read on the GM thread that you were going shopping for a new picture, I thought it might be a new dress to replace those you discarded last week!

Castle enjoy St Andrews. It's one of my favourite places. Fgt she sounds like an interesting lady and very entertaining

Creeping in …
Most of you will be asleep. I ought to be and we are an hour ahead as it’s gone midnight now! 😳

I’m home after going for drinks then a curry - somewhere recommended and it didn’t disappoint, down in Montemar.

However the highlight of my evening was inviting the lady (82 widowed herself) I’d met in the gardens here - where we’d shared a bottle of wine in the week.

I’d asked her if she’d like to join me tonight. Our conversation was so interesting I was amazed!

Apparently back in the day she had been a professional dancer! Worked in theatreland with Morecambe & Wise on the bill (admittedly before they became famous) Alma Cogan (a different dress every night!) “Do you remember Hilda Baker?” (I did) “Awful woman” had a skit with ‘Cynthia’ who was a 6’5” man in a dress who came to a degree of fame in his own right many years later and well deserved in her opinion.

Apparently Lionel Blair was their production manager “Very good he was too - younger than me I think - and “as bent as a nine bob note” (Oh when one could repeat such, without being cancelled!) 😂

Well you can imagine my delight tonight at such intimate revelations! Stars from a bygone age and insider gossip to boot! 😁

Honestly out here one meets such amazingly interesting characters! We plan to dine again soon - she’d like Chinese next time! I can’t wait….

I have Mme Alfred Carriere too, which is blooming madly and so is my Compassion. Love roses!

It’s been a lovely day here not as hot as down south luckily. I don’t do well in the heat. Had ballet class with dgd this morning followed by coffee and cake at the garden centre. She slept for 2 hours when we got home. We then spent time in the garden where she had fun rearranging the pebbles. She was a joy today. We’re off to St Andrews tomorrow for a few days. It’s a favourite place of ours. Wishing everyone well

A hot one again here too, but at the moment it’s a very pleasant 22 degrees outside, a not so pleasant 28 upstairs. Sleeping will be hard I think. I had DD1’s dog again today as they were going to a beach not too far away. The dog arrived at 8.45 and they collected her at 2.30. We stayed indoors for most of the morning, she’s a labradoodle and has a lot of hair at the moment. I think she’s going to the groomer next week for a haircut.
I decided to leave my hair a bit longer but am regretting it in this heat.
I had a problem last night with the Dyson fan, which decided to blow warm air into the room instead of cool air! I put it in the garage last night as I didn’t want it to self combust in the night.

llfl Madame Alfred is beautiful, quite spectacular!

Enjoy the rest of your evening folks.

This is Madame Alfred on the back wall of our house. We planted her in 1995 - 31 years ago. Our gardener has told us that it is the oldest rose she looks after,

So hot today - 31. We had a barbecue which was all very delicious and then I had to sit inside with the fan on. Our daughter had gone back to London and I’ve sorted out her room already. I think tomorrow will be the same temperature but I have to do a Waitrose shop.

Have a good evening.

We have had a lovely weekend in the West Midlands with my side of the family. There were only 3 who couldn’t make it, so we were 27 in all. Glorious food! Lots of wine! The suitcase is unpacked and we are home. It’s very warm and despite a serious watering on Saturday, there’s some wilting going on, so my next job is watering.
Enjoy the weather in whatever way suits you!

Hi all, a hot one again, read my book, prepared a bbq’d and not a lot else, my son is here to eat, lovely to see him. He has a new girlfriend and she’s away for a week, his phone keeps buzzing 🥰.
MrJ is on chef duties and he will water much later on.
Enjoy the cool brook and the scenery, thinking of FGT hopefully another good day for her.
Glass of white I think 🥂 cheers.

It’s been glorious here today 🌞🌞🌞

I have been in and out of the garden and fed the washing machine.

DH is about to through some food on the BBQ I will through various salads in bowls.

I think we will be sitting in the garden till the sun goes down.

Such a great change to have a sunny Bank Holiday 👍🏻

Phew, it's a warm one. Not as hot here in Central Scotland as you folk further south though. Brook it sounds like you are having a good time. I did half an hour in the school library this morning then came home and hung out a washing. I pottered about inside then read and rested in equal measure. I have been tired due to my early awakening so I'll probably have an early night. Ive stayed away from the sun. Tomorrow I'm having an early childcare day so I'll bid you all adieu.

Hi kitchen pals, an early visit from me as I might not get chance later. I’ve left coffee and croissants on the side if anyone’s up early and would like some breakfast
It’s been really lovely catching up with DS and his partner here in Basel, they’re such a lovely couple and looked after us so well. Today DH and I are heading off to Arosa, it’s in the mountains so hopefully a bit cooler there
Yia I was so pleased to hear that you can go to Corfu, something for you both to look forward to
Fgt good to hear you’re doing ok with friends there for company, sending ❤️
Sorry to hear your germs are still lingering Jax hope they’re gone very soon. Gorgeous peonies, I bought one for DD in Cambridge last time I was there, I hope she remembers to water it 🤦‍♀️
Uttb my stepson and dgs were also at Wembley yesterday to see Stockport County, they really enjoyed the atmosphere even though they lost
Apologies I’m a bit out of touch with kitchen news but hoping everyone is doing ok especially those in the quiet corner, take care all x

Hi all, a very pleasant 25 now, not as oppressive as the 31 earlier, it’s different abroad with less humidity. How interesting FGT what lush, green gardens hidden away.
Couldn’t sit in the garden for too long today, but certainly took my share of Vit D.
MrJ’s bowls was cancelled as expected, no cover at the club, not like playing pétanque in Françe, 34 in the shade of trees, even I did that.
Anyway, sleep well tonight all.

My GD and her BF’s team lost at Wembley, yet another season not being promoted.
They are staying up in London tonight and spending a leisurely day there tomorrow, it is A’s niece’s (who is with them along with her dad) birthday weekend she was 13 yesterday.
Very hot here today, no breeze at all but I haven’t been outside the door, I had my orders, stay in and drink water, no alcohol, and I have done as I was told.

fgt a fascinating view into the gardens of your neighbours! Another good day for you, it sounds as though you have good friends around you.

Very warm here again, juggling opening/closing blinds and windows trying to get some cooler air into my well insulated house! And failing miserably. I have watered most of the garden this evening and left the hose out as I’m sure it will be needed again.

DD1 left the dog with me while they went to a nearby shopping outlet to buy equipment for the 11year old’s “residential” in a few weeks time. We had lots of cuddles and she eventually went to sleep on the dining room floor which is laminated, cooler than the carpet.

grannygravy my DH would have been most upset at the football this afternoon. Black armbands would have been worn!

jaxjacky your peonies are beautiful. I have one flower on my plant, which is looking lovely, usually it rains when the peony flowers!

Enjoy the rest of the evening everyone.

DD and the boys have just gone home. The boys have been alternating between swimming, playing football and watching three matches (West Ham, Spurs and Man City) on various channels in the play room.

They have eaten in between (BBQ) and my fridge is rather empty.

Now sitting the evening sun with a glass of wine.

Evening dear kitcheners from Malaga it’s 8pm here and the sun is still with us for another hour at least it’s a gorgeous evening.

I’ve joined friends for breakfast in a new place over the road this morning then this afternoon another set of friends down on the marina where we enjoyed drinks and tapas.

I got home by 6pm and had a lovely shower
Moisturiser on and my softies 😊

Ever wondered what’s behind those high walls of houses in Spain? They like their privacy - nothing like the UK where we can walk along and literally see into people’s living rooms with their tvs and sofas.

From my vantage point up here on the sixth floor this is what their gardens are like although you’d never see them from the street!

Hope it made you smile Utbbthis was early this morning not many people around.I expect they needed bread.🤣

Fabulous Yia we used to get a pair outside our local bar/cafe in Françe.
I was so tired last night, this cold/cough is dragging on, according to others who’ve had it three weeks is average, I dropped off early. Six straight hours, bathroom, then another couple, makes a difference.
I hope you enjoyed your breakfast FGT special people. Thinking of you utbb wishing today is a better one for you.
Brilliant sunshine, garden ‘inspection’ completed early, the peonies are stunning again, but two plants have no buds this year 😕
MrJ will show his face at bowls later (he’s gone up a shirt size too llfl) but they may not be playing, being of a certain age in this heat.
Chicken crown going in the slow cooker, we’ll decide what to have with it later.
Have a pleasant afternoon all.

Love it Yia
I wonder what they needed today?

Taking the family to Aldi 🦆

Hello kitchen people.

After much angst and disappointment OH finally bought three shirts from M&S! He had put on a bit of weight so had to get the next size up! We then had the usual stuff about how much fitter he used to be when he could still play tennis and football…

At least we had a nice Italian lunch in a cafe opposite M&S.

It was too hot to sit outside when we got home. I sat in the lounge and read the newspapers.

Sounds like you had a good day FGT.

Sleep 💤 tight.

Enjoy your breakfast fgt, it sounds very civilised to be able to just go across the road for breakfast! There’s nowhere in this village to do that until the pubs open at lunchtime!

utbb, sorry you’re feeling low today and hope your energy levels will improve soon.

Night night everyone.

Good evening everyone it’s been another ‘good’ day for me Redcar thank you for asking.

uttb a poignant post from you regarding Past Times. Sad indeed that people you loved are no longer. It pinches I’m sure and I’m sorry to hear you are struggling energy wise. Hopefully your mojo will return soon. Stockport isn’t far away for me on the 23 bus so we must meet up over a bottle of wine this summer dear lady.

Grandmabatty you’ve excelled yourself today so enjoy your takeaway!

I’ve done nothing much….
#lazygran

Finished my book in the gardens
I have a gentle tan building up nicely even with Factor 50 liberally applied.

I’m about to watch a film on Netflix now and I’ve been invited to join friends for breakfast in the morning at a new place over the road. Kind of this couple to include me and they’ve also invited the widow I was in the gardens with yesterday. Some folk just do have marvellous empathy don’t they?

You put me to shame grandmab, no sign of domestic goddessing here. We headed out this morning g for an open top bus ride along the coast. Not a long way but fabulous views. It was positively chilly, a cool wind. Later we turned into children and played on a pier, no idea what I was doing with the 2p machines. We had silly fun anyway. Bring back the old ‘ping a ball’ machines. I understood those. It had warmed up by time we rode the bus back. Have done very little since we’ve been home, I could have done several things but decided against. I figure it’s OK to do little if it’s been a conscious choice. That’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it .

I’m sorry life is hard going utbb, I’m hoping your evening out will lift your spirits .

Time I stopped looking at this machine. Enjoy your evenings everyone, have a good rest.