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

** I can’t even spell ‘evening’ or ‘that’ it seems!
Why don’t I proof read it’s not as though I’m in a rush ….
#lazygran

‘Ecening All’

You did well to spell tgat Jax! Hope the injections help to heal. Anything ‘itis’ is an inflammation so hopefully it can settle down with treatment. Is it rest or mobility that’s best in the interim?

I’ve had a good day. Brunch with my (wingman) brother in law and his wife. Then the dental hygienist. Fee has steadily gone up these past months (I choose to go 3 times a year as I’m a devout coward and going more frequently = less scraping - ugh!) from £50 to £70 today. Yikes.

I discussed having my teeth whitened. Moulds to be taken in September by the dentist and trays made to clip over my teeth. I said “I don’t want to look like Katie Price but I would like a significantly pleasing result”.

I last had this done 20 years ago. Technology has moved on. As I have no caps, crowns, bridges (or whatever) he thought I’d get a good response as apparently my teeth enamel isn’t thin. 🤷‍♀️ We shall see.

A few of my friends have much whiter ‘teeth’ but turns out they’re veneers. Expensive. Plus even if I could afford them I’m too nervous for extensive cosmetic procedures!

Jaxjacky that sounds very painful. Hopefully the cortisone will help

Good evening kitchen folk. Today I took the boys to Stirling at the invitation of ds. He was still working when we arrived so the ipads came out. He showed them round the flat once he'd finished, including his tower. Dgs2 said he lives in a castle and was very excited by it all. Then we walked to the park which was busy. Both boys were happy but eventually got thirsty. Sadly the bit with bouncy castles and ice cream kiosks etc was closed so we trooper back to his house for lunch. After lunch, ds took dgs1 into town for ice cream. Dgs2 didnt want to go so I stayed with him. Then I drove them home. It was a nice day but both boys were a bit grumpy at times. I think they were tired. They're away and I've had dinner. Tonight will be an early one because I slept so badly last night. Enjoy your evening kitchen folk.

Hi all, cheery news from Spottybook and Septimia onwards!
My hip problems have been diagnosed as Trochanteric bursitis, basically inflammation of tendons, referral for cortisone injection. I’m very relieved the joint looks fine and am tired after worrying, being prodded and walking miles - so it seemed! Glass of wine is in order.
I was on the voluntary phone until 12, so did do something constructive 🙂
Enjoy line dancing brook I might join you in a few months 🤣🤣

Hope you’re enjoying your tea and cake uttb 😊 It’s good that you’ve a date for your echocardiogram but I’d be a bit apprehensive too, I hope all goes well
I’m just having a lazy afternoon, we went out to Tesco this morning, then the garden centre for coffee. They’ve some beautiful plants but very expensive if you’re not sure they will survive the winters here. Over the 20+ years we’ve been here we’ve gradually learnt which plants thrive and which don’t …
I’m off out line dancing this evening, I’m looking forward to the dancing and the catch up with friends.
It’s heartening to hear that both your DHs are doing well septima and spottybook, so pleased for you both and great that you’ve can still travel far afield spottybook, good on you
Hoping all our kitchen pals in the quiet corner are doing ok, take care all x

Thank you again for the congratulations and for the good wishes for DH's health. Let's hope, spottybook, that our men continue to do well on the treatment. Mine, with his heart meds and all the things to counteract side effects, has so many pills to take that he's had to make a spreadsheet to keep track of what to take when!

Happy anniversary Septimia and so pleased to hear your news. My DH was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer at around the same time as yours. We too have been able to lead a relatively normal life and have just come back from visiting family in the Far East - we never thought that would be possible at the back end of last year. It will also be our 51st Wedding Anniversary this year.

Sorry, didn’t want to hijack your post but, like you, we are grateful for every day and the marvellous treatment he has had.

Good morning all.
It is cloudy and chilly here what a change!
I have received an appointment for an Echocardiogram from when I had an ECG back in February which resulted in a referral to the Cardiac department.
It is in a month at a centre in Manchester, I don’t know whether to be pleased or apprehensive.

Congratulations to Septimia and your DH I hope sincerely he continues to do well.
Many of us can well imagine how you have been feeling.

I am out for lunch tomorrow and seeing a neighbour for tea and cake this afternoon, my social whorl never ends.

Thank you everyone, and especially fgt for your kind comment.

A very Happy Anniversary Septima, pleased to hear you’ve both enjoyed lunch out and that your DH is doing well 💐
It’s been a bit of a lazy day here, we’ve had showers on and off but the sun came out this evening. I’ve pottered around the house and dine a bit of everything
Enjoy tomorrow with your son and DGSs grandmabatty the new play park sounds good
Thinking of everyone in the quiet corner, take care all x

‘Evening All’

Congrats Septimia and I hope your husband continues to do well on his treatment. Little else matters.

L’il Miss stayed over. We had breakfast in bed which delights her! When she went home late morning I caught a bus to the Trafford Centre and watched ‘The Invite’ which was entertaining and tie curling for the 4 protagonists in equal measure! Penelope Cruz stars - she’s beyond gorgeous!

Then I had a glass of wine in a bar Himself and I used to frequent. I sat there on my own with my memories thinking Himself would be proud of me, doing this.

Then I got the bus to enjoy a meal with L’il Miss & family. I think it was their way to say ‘thank you for the Sunday lie in”!

Happy Anniversary septimia 🥂 and a Happy Birthday grannygravy pleased you’ve had a lovely day!

We actually had a short shower of rain this morning, very welcome but not enough to do any good, mustn’t be ungrateful for it though! I haven’t done much today.
DD2 and the Dgds came over this morning, jaxjacky they were more or less recovered from their journey home on Friday night thank you. I had a road map of Italy so was able to show them roughly where they’d stayed and where they’d visited.

While they were here, my dementia friend’s daughters arrived with birthday presents for DD1’s younger daughter who will be 8 next week. The daughters are a year or two older than my DDs and all four are good friends.

I did very little for the rest of the day, my back has been protesting after doing too much yesterday! My cough is a bit better thank goodness.

The gardener will be back either tomorrow or Tuesday to carry on clearing the back garden of the dead weeds.

nannytopsy that sounds a good division of the preparation for dinner! Enjoy your glass of rose! I don’t envy you the task of cleaning the windows. Last week I noticed that the window frames in my bedroom were really dirty, where the windows have been open for weeks. Cue cleaning all the window frames in the house!

Enjoy the rest of the evening everyone.

Happy Anniversary Septima 🍾🥂🌺

Happy Anniversary Septimia 🥂

Happy Birthday GG - enjoy the cake, if there’s any left!
We had yet another late start, then shopped. Bed made for our visitor tomorrow, 3 lots of dry washing and a bit of dead heading. That filled the brown bin, ready for tomorrow’s collection. 😇 My first job in the morning has to be the windows. We get a lot of flies ( nearby pig farm!) and they leave such a mess on the windows.
I hope everyone has a good evening. DH is in charge of gammon and salad while I have a nice glass of rose.

Happy anniversary Septimia to you both . I hope you had a lovely day

DH took me out for lunch today as it's our 51st wedding anniversary. Last August he was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer and we didn't know what the situation would be this year. Fortunately he's doing well on the treatment and we're able to have a fairly normal life at the moment. So we're very thankful for that and for every day.

Thinking, therefore, of all those who are living with medical problems and wishing everyone the best life possible.

I have had a lovely Sunday, DH suggested going out for a late breakfast/brunch, so we did. We are fortunate to have e a nice Mediterranean restaurant within a 5 minutes walk which does a really good breakfast/brunch and we managed to get a table.

Came home and haven’t done a lot. DD and The Imp arrived mid afternoon, he went straight into the spa pool and stayed there until his starter was ready. We all ate our starters outside, it the breeze was rather gusty, so we came in for our mains.

The Imp is now demolishing my birthday cake, I am kn the sofa, relaxing again (#lazygran FGT2)

I've had a lovely Saturday afternoon to Sunday lunchtime with dgs2. He made me laugh so much. We played with lego and he showed me how to build houses on his ipad. He had a long bath last night- he loves my bath. Then his big brother and grandad dropped in while dog walking. You would think the brothers hadnt seen each other for a year!😂 I did offer to take him out for breakfast today but he decided he didn't want to go, so grandma's kitchen it was.
After he was picked up. I tidied up and have watched tv. Dinner will be salad and quiche. Tomorrow will be early childcare day. We are going to my ds who lives near a large park with a new play park. He lives in a lovely flat with a tower so both boys are excited. Enjoy the rest of Sunday kitchen folk

Hi all, we had an exciting four minutes of rain this morning, that was it, all trace gone soon after, a windy day of sun and clouds.
Washing dried well though, a tiny plus in this summer of sun.
We haven’t done much, I’ve read my book, MrJ nipped up to bowls, he said it was very disorganised so didn’t stay long.
I hope your daughter and family have recovered Redcar.
Chicken in the oven, the last of our garden potatoes will be eaten.
Have a pleasant evening all, including those in the quiet corner.

That sounds like a lovely day GG, nothing like catching up with good friends
Our new sofas arrived this morning , they’re looking good although I’m still getting used to them ! Very comfy though, I’ve gone for a chaise end sofa so I can easily sit with my feet up in the evenings 😊 Then we went out this afternoon looking for a few accessories, cushions and throw etc to finish things off. Didn’t really see what I wanted so I’ve been browsing online this evening
Hoping your cough is better soon redcar take it easy if you can
Hoping all out friends in the quiet corner are doing ok, take care all x

Just checking in, I have had a lovely long lunch with three girlfriends we have known each other for ever, been to each other’s weddings watch our children grow etc.

Ended with a stroll through Old Leigh and an ice cream on a bench by the little beach

Nighty Night 🙋‍♀️

Goodness it’s quiet in the kitchen this evening. Hot again, but breezy. Some cloud coming over but I don’t think we are forecast any rain.

DD2’s flight home from Italy was delayed by an hour and a half last night, no joke with an 8 year old and a 3 year old. They had to queue for ages to get through passport control as families with children under 8 can’t use the new digital system.
Stansted was a shambles apparently so they didn’t get home until 2.00.

I pottered in the garden for most of the day, coughing all the time. I know it’s only a cold but I’m fed up with it!

fgt I hope you enjoyed your lie in this morning.

jaxjacky I hope you had another pain free day again today and were able to enjoy just being outside in the sunshine.

Enjoy the rest of the evening folks.

Nanight everyone.
I’m just back from an unplanned curry night with friends. Most enjoyable.
And the icing on the cake is that I don’t have to set a 6:30am alarm in the morning! Childminding duties are done (for a while) 😁