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

Hi kitchen pals, DGS and cute puppy have just left for home. It’s been so lovely having them stay here, I’ll definitely miss them and already the house seems very quiet. I’ve a bit of tidying up and cleaning to do, the utility room floor has a few doggy paw prints but it’s an easy wipe clean surface so wont take long. I’ll change DGSs bedding later ready for next time. I’m going to have a lazy afternoon, I definitely don’t want to see any board games for a while although we learnt a new one called Catan which was quite good
I hope L’il Miss enjoyed her sleepover fgt, you too
Charleygirl do you have any pets?
I’ll catch up later with you all, in the meantime enjoy your Sunday everyone

Charleygirl 😂

fgt li'i miss couldn't have survived a night without those essentials. Did she remember a less relevant item like a nightdress or whatever she wears and clean clothes for tomorrow? She sounds delightful.

I am not a fan of Charlie Bigham's food, I don't like it and think it is very expensive.

I wore a cardigan today as there was a nip in the wind but I enjoyed the sunshine. I can't remember when we last had rain. Grandamabatty I am pleased you are feeling better but are you not doing too much? I think you should come here for a "holiday" and tackle this house. I would be very grateful. You would enjoy London if you were not too exhausted.

Hello kitchen people,

Well, I collected my dress from the seamstress and she has done the alterations beautifully. I also popped into Waitrose and got a few things.

I thought we were having lunch out tomorrow and had booked a table. OH still has a bad cough so I’ve cancelled.

While OH was outside in his hammock I watched the Kenneth Branagh Death on the Nile. Decidedly odd!

Sleep 💤 tight.

fgt I hope you have a lovely time with L’il miss this evening! I like her overnight essentials!

Warm again today, breezy at times but a bit humid. I pottered about all day, not achieving much, but kept busy, changed the bedclothes and will wash them tomorrow on the cheap rate electricity . Both DDs and families are away this weekend, they planned to go to a theme park near the Suffolk coast today. DD2 may call in on their way back tomorrow.

grandmabatty I’m pleased you’re feeling better today.

It’s dark now, nearly bedtime. I hope I can get to sleep before 1.30 tonight!
Night night all.

Hello kitcheners L’il Miss and I are about to eat she didn’t want to go out so I’ve got garlic bread in the oven and spag Bol not home made Charlie Bigham’s we just nipped into the larder to buy it!

I love she arrived with her backpack that she’d packed herself with all the essentials a nine year old needs for an overnighter … 🥰

Im feeling better today, thanks all. The housework and washing is well underway and shortly I will make raspberry jam. Enjoy your Saturday kitchen folk

Awww thank you all for your kind comments about Molly, she certainly is a cute puppy. Quite well behaved most of the time too, and she seems to have settled in well here with the help of DGS. They’ve just gone out for a walk and I’m having a few minutes peace before doing lunch. Like fgt says 12 year olds just like 14yr olds can certainly eat a lot! Trying to get him to have a shower is another matter 😂…
Hoping grandmabatty is feeling much better today
Enjoy your new car corner an automatic is so easy to drive! We swapped about a year ago and never regretted it.
Hi to all in the quiet corner, take care all x

brook Molly is gorgeous and if she would like a change of scenery she is welcome.

Grandamabatty I hope you will be on your feet again soon.

fgt pleased to hear you are getting out and about with or without your friend. You will sleep well tonight.

corner that sounds a good idea and I doubt if either son will be visiting a food bank after your final departure. Enjoy the car while you are still able to drive.

Still no rain here although forecast.

Sleep well if you can everybody.

‘Evening All’.

I’ve had a good day. L’il Miss was a delight. We met the Boy Wonder in ‘the lounge’ below for lunch. That boy can eat (can’t they all at 14? There’s no filling them).

Then this afternoon I thoroughly enjoyed BBC4 on the iPlayer watching the first couple of episodes of ‘Our Friends in the North’ with a young Christopher Eccleston (fab) GinaMcKay (stellar performance) and Daniel Craig. Just wow! A drama set from the mid 60’s to early 80’s. My life as I remembered living in those times. Music too occasionally (not often, just enough to set the times). I’m loving it to be honest.

I’m just back from earring out with my neighbour friend. We chatted over a glass of wine in our favourite bar (the staff know our choices now when we arrive 😱) then delicious Lebanese food.

We’ve been friends 50 years plus and said how grateful we are that serendipity has brought us full circle after a period when life had us taking parallel paths for a while. We are so lucky to have not only reconnected but proximity too. Especially now, for both of us. We don’t live in one another’s pockets. We each have other friends. We plan to meet up again for coffee next Wednesday.

You are right Redcar the nights are drawing in, quite noticeably I think. August tomorrow 😮

Hello everyone. What a gorgeous little dog brook, I’d love another dog, but realistically wouldn’t be able to look after one and DD1’s dog would never forgive me! She definitely knows she’s my favourite dog!

It’s cool outside now, 20 degrees, if only I could get the inside of the house cooler. It’s firmly stuck on 27.5, even with several windows open.

DD2 and her OH took their girls and DD1’s girls to Africa Alive today while DD1 and her DH were working. They all loved it as they can get quite close to some of the animals. They were glad of the fresh air as had to keep the windows in their Airbnb closed because of the smell of smoke from the fire at Dunwich. They’re about 7 miles away from it.

I’ve done some tidying up, then watered some of the garden with a watering can. We have a hosepipe ban from Monday but my hose keeps disconnecting itself from the tap so I think it’s telling me something! Fortunately I’m not watering everything in the garden, just the plants that need it.

Enjoy the rest of the evening folks.

Hi all, I'm not a dog person but…
Just in from the local where the hip behaved until home time, but lovely to see people and chat, I usually drink shandy but had a vodka and orange, just the one.
corner I couldn’t survive on so little sleep, how horrible, good news with the car though, your son is so right.
Oh dear Gbatty hopefully brief.
I hope your cold is improving llfl miserable.
Quiche for dinner and I have some lovely cherries for afters, a man is here at 7:30am to fix a tile on our roof 🙄

That puppy is just wonderful. Reminded us of the two pure Lhasa Apsos who were part of the family, spirited, lively dogs with huge confidence.

Sleep wise it was three hours. No wonder my brain is mush. It’s been both a busy and surprising day. A busy volunteer morning followed by an afternoon surprise - it looks as if we’re changing the car! We’d been pondering the wisdom of swapping our manual car for an automatic. Spotted one we liked. Took it out for an hour and went back to chat, it’s held for us until Monday. I loved it. Mr C, when I allowed him a turn 😂 looked so relaxed driving it I could see how much better it was for him. It is of course also much better for my left shoulder with intractable rotator cuff pain (I’m on 14 months of it now) aided and abetted by osteoarthritis in the shoulder. Not better for the savings pot but as our son said you can’t take it with you mother. True.

Food time now. There will be a glass later. Have a relaxed evening everyone.

What a beautiful puppy!

The most gorgeous dog! Brook, i have puppy envy.
I've been out this morning with dd and dgs2 and had a filled roll and a coffee. Then back home where I ordered new clothes for both boys. Sadly, I'm feeling a bit under the weather so have been lying down for a bit. Up now for a cuppa and a dry biscuit. Enjoy your Friday kitchen folk

Oh she is gorgeous and what a beautiful colour.

She’s a Lhasapoo Charley called Molly and is 5 months old now 🐶

brook a puppy can be a handful at any age. What breed is the puppy?

From reading soop's kitchen for years I have picked up that cornergran has mega problems sleeping, but I believe her DH like me can fall asleep on a washing line. I sleep well during this stifling weather and it is hotter in London.

I should move a muscle and find the Miele. My cleaner is coming on Monday, but one must maintain standards!!!

Just having a quick sit down tea and a biscuit whilst DH and DGS take Molly the puppy for a walk in the woods at the back of our house. They’re both being really good, DGS is very good with the puppy and she’s certainly keeping him busy
Good you’ve got some help with the cleaning uttb it’s one less thing for you to think about but sorry about your sleeplessness, you too cornergran, I hope you eventually got back to sleep. I’m finding it harder to wake up and get going in the morning these days.
I’ll catch up again later, I can hear them coming back !

corner you don't need your kitchen and bathroom deep cleaned fortnightly. Once at the beginning and then a normal clean should suffice. Some charge a fortune for deep cleaning.

I have gone off red meat because of its toughness, but the sirloin steak was excellent and a good bargain. I only have 1/2 a steak so the Scot in me is saving money.

Last night's supper was edible but a disaster/ I have trouble with my gas hob, sometimes it decides to save money and switch off. My variety of vegetables weren't cooked. I bought peppercorn sauce, put it in a microwavable, I thought, mug but it exploded. I have not had the courage to heat water in case the microwave no longer works.

I can look after myself, and I am no longer bothered, I go with the flow.

fgt I will be having the same supper tonight, but there will be cooked vegetables. I enjoyed 2 glasses of wine and there is plenty left.

Yesterday's rain never materialised and today is perfect, a cool breeze but later the T will be close to 30C. I am acclimatised now.

8utbb* the house is your own and although too quiet at times, please remember when you complained about the noise. You can do your own thing. Please take care.

Enjoy the sunshine, it is unlikely to last.

I hope that sleep came Cornergran , I have had a couple of hours and am awake now, probably until about 6 when I will go back.
It doesn’t matter what time I get up though, my time is my own.
Please try to persuade your DH that a cleaner is a good idea, it gives peace of mind and takes away the stress of feeling you must do it even when you don’t feel up to it.
These good folk even cleaned the windows inside, what a bonus that was.

Guess who isn’t asleep? It's been a busy day which inevitably means I don’t sleep. Where’s the logic in that? Never mind, books to read and you all to catch up with.

We’ve been over the bridge to see our Welsh friend. She worries us, nothing we can do to make anything different for her though. Horrid traffic on the way back meant our 6.30 return was actually 8.15. The joys of motorways.

Good news about the cleaners utbb, I’m trying to persuade Mr C a fortnightly deep clean of kitchen and bathroom would be more than a good idea. So far my persuasive skills are lacking.

charley what a frustrating appointment. Are you running out of patience? Unlike fgt I don’t want to come to dinner, I don’t eat streak which isn't at all logical as I enjoy roast beef. Now if you’d reverted to your original shopping list I’d be there like a shot.

Sounds an excellent day fgt, I was in a shop somewhere recently where Diddley Squat items were on sale. Now if I could remember where that was I could tell you as I’m sure it was a chain not an independent this area only shop.

Same perfume here grannyg, we’ve horseflies floating about, first year, goodness do they bite the unprotected. Hope you enjoyed your meal. We never seem to eat in the garden although there is a perfectly adequate table and comfy chairs. The most it sees is coffee and a chocolate biscuit.

I seem to have bored myself sufficiently to feel sleep coming on. Apologies to those I’ve missed, I have read all your posts. Thank you for your company everyone. Night night.

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Hi to everyone in the kitchen this evening. 👋 to all in the Quiet Corner too. I feel for all who have anxiety looking after loved ones or worrying about them. I know how draining it is.

I’ve had a good day.

Thisxafternoon I went to a new bar & deli round the corner with my friend who is someone I used to work with at the hospital. It was lovely to catch up. The music was wonderful as the playlist was a 60’s vibe - The Beatles, The Kinks,

Remember I told you a few weeks back I’d joined Amazon Prime Video to watch all 5 series of Clarkson’s Farm? Well the place only sells Diddly Squat products! (Amongst others). I bought several jars of jam, piccalilli, mustard etc to share with the family. Made my day! 😁

No news on the lady who suffered the stroke yesterday.
I hope that’s a good sign.
She was my first thought when I woke this morning.

I like your choice of foodstuffs Charleygirl5 right up my street! Set the table for both of us tomorrow please. 😁

GrannyGravy that was funny! Ditch the Jo Malone and save yourself a fortune ha!

GG13 I share your excellent taste in sultry weather perfume.

I went to the Vascular appointment, but I should have stayed at home. Every question I asked, the reply was "see your GP" I learned nothing. He also had such an accent and spoke so quickly I had to ask him to slow down.

I think I am, becoming accustomed to the heat as it was 35C in London and I didn't need to switch on a fan. Soon I will be moaning about the drop in T. No rain here yet.

I met a friend for coffee and a chat and afterwards we went to Lidl. I wanted salads and cherries but bought a loaf of bread, strawberries and two sirloin steaks. At least I will not starve.

Please look after yourselves and rest. The dust will still be here next week.