Soops kitchen, a place of reflection, refuge and at times revelry.

Cute 💙

Redcar, I could put a bet on that, when I see him, it'll be the first thing he says!

Good evening dear kitchen pals, MrB and I have been watching the latest excavation updates from Vindolanda. We are both interested in the history of Roman Britain and Hadrian’s Wall is a favourite place. We did a lot of walking in the area when I was still able to walk and climb. I enjoy seeing how far it’s come in terms of discovery and knowledge gained. I can pretend I’m there, in spirit if not in body .

I’m cosy in my pillow nest now, windows open and fan nearby.

Goodnight, TOYA xx

utbb I’m pleased that your poorly tum was settled enough to allow you to have a delicious meal this evening.

grandmabatty how exciting for your Dgs1, he’ll be talking about it for days!
Sleep well everyone, it’s a little cooler tonight and a cooler weekend is forecast for us.

I am recently back from a lovely meal at an Italian restaurant new to me.
I played it safe with chicken in a mushroom sauce and no trimmings.
No starter, no dessert but a glass of Pinot Grigio which was extortionately expensive but the food was lovely and the service good.
I shall go again.
I am in bed now but not really tired.
I hope you can all manage a decent night, it is not too hot here tonight, better than the last few.

Jaxjacky you be careful with that hip! A hearty well done to all those grandchildren who passed exams and who have moved on in education.
I had a lovely lunch with ds who concocted a very nice salad and bits. The family are home, although I havent seen them. Dgs1 was in 7th heaven because the Rangers 1st team went through passport control at the same time as the family. He was too shy to speak to any of them. I suspect that'll be the holiday highlight for him. I'm lying on bed, listening to the radio and reading. Enjoy the rest of your evening kitchen folk

It’s the end of term here today too. Apparently DD1 has a short video of the 11 year old and her year being clapped out of junior school, with confetti thrown at them! I hope she remembers to show it to me! They all adjourned to the local park, which both DDs houses back onto. I suspect they may still be there!
DD2 and family are off to Italy tomorrow for a week, like me she hates the actual going away on holiday but is fine when she’s there!
jax I hope that your hip pain improves soon.

* cornergran* well done to your Dgs on his SATs results.

Night night everyone!

What a beautiful view Jax. Very calming.

I’m back from a curry celebrating the Boy Wonder’s 14th this weekend.

Me: Did you friends say anything about it being your birthday?
BW: Not really grandma but once they knew they kept giving me a ‘dead arm’.

Hard punches apparently above the elbow,
A term of endearment amongst mid-teens apparently!

MrJ has been at the seaside, Larne.

A big well done to all the DGC whether it’s exam results, school reports, driving tests or whatever. Isn’t it so lovely hearing about their achievements and doing so well. Two of my grandchildren also finished primary school this year, my Inverness granddaughter finished a few weeks ago and my grandson in Cambridge finished today. Lovely photos sent by DD, wish I could post them but best not!
Goodness Jax please make sure you rest, you don’t want anymore problems with your hip
Enjoy your weekend everyone and thinking of our friends in the quiet corner, take care all

Yes kitty resting is my plan.

Just popping out of the quiet corner to say that i do keep an eye on you - so behave!

Well done to all grandchildren on their achievements. Ours all had really good reports and DGD1 got 3 A* in her mock As. (History, Psychology and Politics) she obviously gets her brains from her Ma!! Her school would like her to try for Oxbridge but she is determined to go north.

I hope you feel better UTBB - this weather is debilitating enough when we are well.

JaxJacky will you be able to rest while you DH is away - and should you?

DH is out at the posh burger van in the next village so I had better go and get sorted.

Hi all from a sticky S Hants, cloud is to blame.
Well done that lad corner I understand the joy in such an achievement.
MrJ is away to Belfast, family and friends golf tournament tomorrow.
Of course it’s this week my hip, which has been troublesome, decided to really play up, so I’m hobbling about and very little done.
I’m cheating for dinner with a ready meal, liver which he detests 🙂 right now a very cold can of shandy is doing a grand job.
Enjoy your evening all.

That had crossed my mind Maw!
I will leave them on the long side, with plenty of hem!

I hope the trouser shortening isn’t a waste of time!
I remember D1 buying uniform trousers for GS1 (now going into the VIth form) when he started primary school only for her to find to her horror that the little boys wore shorts up to the Autumn half term - by which time they have often grown 2 inches!

Congratulations on you success of your DGS Cornergran. It’s so good that he showed what he can do. GrannyGravy I cry at everything! Hope you can hold it together. 🤣
Need to water the greenhouse and then we are off ready for toddler wrangling. The older “graduated” from preschool yesterday! My other job this weekend is to shorten his school trousers ready for September. In some ways I am a failure as a mother - my DD is neither a needle woman nor a birdwatcher. She can cook though!

My aim today is not to cry when the 11yr old walks out of primary school for the last time 😿

Eldest GS has just finished yr 13, his brother finished GCSE’s and off to sixth form, and my little super hero of to senior school.

Where has the time gone, how did I get this old 🤷‍♀️

utbb sorry to hear you are no better. Maybe lunch out is a step too far? At our age it seems to take an age to recover.

I appreciate teenagers want to learn to drive but you must be very apprehensive Scapal and Jax. We know the dangers only too well.

I have been looking for weeks for a simple plug-in corded electric fan and I have found one at Tesco. It should be delivered by Monday. I had a small fan which was stolen. Three of us buying fans will definitely invite rain and colder weather. Sod's law.

Sleep is a bit elusive. It’s a comfortable temperature so not that. There’s always a breeze here, often what feels a howling gale. Windows and doors open front and back in the evening soon cools us down. There’s always a sit in the garden at dusk too watching the bats swoop about

I’m sorry you’re so low utbb, you do sound down in the dumps.

Enjoy being run ragged nannyt, you’re right they grow up far too quickly. The two we spent digging tunnels on the beach with are young adults now, the third no longer little. I miss those young days.

Proud grandparent time here Our not so Littlest has done very well in the dreaded SATs in spite of the challenges he faces with autism. He was so anxious and worried, we’re more than pleased for him, a much needed confidence boost.

Good for Imogen jax, I’m sure she’ll prevail and follow her dream.

I really should be asleep. Friday is volunteering day, it’s not a good look if I nod off that’s for sure.

Night night everyone.

When the sun goes down we leave our windows and patio doors open to cool the house. Our neighbour’s house and garden are higher than ours. Tonight she lit her bonfire of rabbit hutch clearings as it went dark. Her small garden is a “rabbit sanctuary “ and there are dozens of them. Not a nice bonfire of woodsmoke and our whole house smells of smoke, particularly our bedroom. She is a difficult person.

Tomorrow we are off to babysit for the two smallest DGC. A hectic couple of days but no complaints from us
We have seen how quickly they grow up with the older DGC so we make the most of this time.
Sleep well everyone!

utbb I’m sorry you’re not feeling well again, and hope that you’ll soon feel better and able to go out tomorrow evening. I’m sleeping for about five hours a night at the moment, which is all right for a few nights, but I’m feeling weary now.

Swept and washed the kitchen and bathroom floors, ordered some blackout blinds for the glass porch which faces west, and had my hair coloured and cut. Enough for one day I think.

fgt and grandmabatty your new fans sound very effective and efficient. I’ve been sitting in front of the open patio doors all evening, but have closed them now as I don’t want moths in the house. Still 27.5 upstairs but I’m getting used to it now!

Night night everyone, sleep well.

Very late congratulations Scapal 🥂.
Imogen will be saving for driving lessons, as an epileptic there are strict rules for when she can start, it’s her dream to drive. Well done to your granddaughter .
Last of our early potatoes lifted this morning, they’ve been brilliant this year, Tesco delivered this afternoon.
Another hot day, rain would be most welcome.

Oh uttb you do sound low. I hope this weekend sees you right. 🤞
Your granddaughter gets the keys to their new house on Monday.
Did you make up? x

Good evening all, I did start to feel better yesterday afternoon and ate a tuna sandwich but I haven’t felt good today, no appetite and the heat has really got to me.
I have done nothing but a washer full of towels and they are still waiting to go out as I can’t do that anymore and my lodgers were late home.
I had a problem with the washer, turned out a frog had crawled up the outlet outside and got lodged, blocking it from draining, it either drowned or suffocated, but finding it saved me several hundred pounds I’m delights to say.
I am supposed to go out for a meal tomorrow evening, I shall decide about lunchtime while I can still cancel.
I hope you can all sleep in this heat better than I manage.

I’ve washed the dishes (no dishwasher here it use to be Himself, I’d cook and he’d side the table) and there’s plenty of people watching g to be done two floors up I do love it you never feel lonely.