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

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 🤷‍♀️

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!

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!

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

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.

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.

Yes kitty resting is my plan.

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

MrJ has been at the seaside, Larne.

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!

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!

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

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.

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.

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

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

Cute 💙

I havent seen dgs1 yet but I'm currently watching dgs2 eat ice cream. Dd is very unwell. It's either flu or covid and dsil is taking dgs1 to a party, so dgs2 is with me. Hes so cuddly and lovely, I'm enjoying this time.

Sorry to hear your DD is unwell grandmabatty, especially after such a lovely holiday. I hope she’s much better soon and in the meantime enjoy the cuddles

It’s fascinating isn’t it Blossoming, enjoy watching the digs

Oh no Grandmabatty your poor daughter, I do hope she improves soon, a bonus for you though.
I’m pleased you went out utbb and enjoyed your meal, handy having a decent restaurant to give you options.
Quiet day here, I finished my Bob Mortimer book and caught up some TV, vegetable curry later.
MrJ rang, he didn’t play well but is enjoying catching up with his family and friends.

Hi folks 🙋‍♀️

Another quiet day here at Gravy Grange, so much so I have marie kondo’d my bedroom drawers. I am feeling better and BORED

Good you are on the mend usedtobeblonde hope your DD feels better soon Grandmabatty

Take things easy Jaxjacky

DH is cooking dinner (garlic & chilli prawns, and something with chicken for mains)

Enjoy your Saturday evening, whatever you are up to 🙋‍♀️

utbb delighted to hear you were able to out and enjoy your meal.

Sorry to hear about your dd Grandmabatty but you will have loved looking after the younger young fellow. He sounds delightful (when in the mood!).

My new fan has arrived, naturally it is much cooler here, and I had to close the kitchen doors because I was cold!!!

At least I have it when the 4th heatwave hits.

Feel free to blame me for a cooler temperature.

Good evening! What a day it’s been. The toddler wrangling has been a challenge! DH went to the loo in the middle of last night and put his back out. He has been taking every painkiller known the mankind and still pretty immobile. He has sat in a garden chair all day because he couldn’t get upstairs. Nanny had to step up! There was quite a bit of “I want mummy and daddy” but in the end they were delightful at bed time.
Getting DH up two flights of stairs tonight will be a challenge.
This weekend has seen a reappearance of my asthma - it came after every cold when I was teaching and went away about 10 years ago. I think the dry dusty harvest might be to blame. May need to cancel a 3 hour dental appointment on Tuesday morning.
What a pair of wrecks we are!
Congratulations to your DGD kitty.
The Kitcheners' DGC have done well this year.
Sleep well everyone. Not sure we will …

That was a challenging day nannyt, you must be shattered. Hope the patient is more comfortable tomorrow, you too.

Go carefully jax.

Your meal sounds a success utbb, hope your spirits remain lifted.

Oh dear, grandmab, that’s a blow post holiday. Please, look after yourself as well as your daughter and her family.

We’ve had a pottering about day including a visit to a shopping mall both quiet and air conditioned where I secured a cardigan I’d admired and rejected as too pricey for less than half price. The heat can’t last forever!

I’ll give sleep a go now, tends to be elusive for a while. Night night everyone.

I watched football last night and it was fabulous. We did so well, no yellow cards, few fouls perfect gentlemen on and off field. Both fans were noisy, but they were all good natured. No booing if one country scored. A pleasant surprise.

Our boys played so well it was like a final. I hope Spain win tonight.