Soops Kitchen, a place of refuge, reflection and revelry.

Hi all, we’ve had rain for a few hours, keep it coming please.
A quiet day, quick trip to M&S foodhall, returning jeans, collecting bra’s, everything else resisted.
Parsnips prepared and frozen, in case, for Christmas.
I’ve been following events on the news in England and NI, not the most cheering thing to do.
I shall now watch something moving!
Enjoy your evenings.

Evening kitchen folk. NannyTopsy it sounds like a productive day for you.
I have not been quite as productive. I have made a slow cooker pot of mince which will mostly go in the freezer. It has rained for most of the day too, so no outside work attempted. I have pottered about indoors. Dinner tonight will be salmon in a mustard sauce with potatoes and broccoli. Dd visited with dgs2 and brought two portions of soup which will do for lunches. So I'm all sorted for food. Enjoy your evening kitchen folk.

Quiet today! I did a few hours in the garden and now I’m ironing. Been watching DH’s rugby team narrowly beat mine. Shame!
I shall go and make a beef casserole now for dinner.
Hope you all had a good day and enjoy your evening

Always read Soops but very rarely post but reading your post FGT I visualized you both on gogglebox with your drink and nibbles.

I am so pleased that Ripley is home, totally unconcerned she had been out for too long. Her tum would have reminded her.

corner I remember Mr C had heart surgery but had forgotten the year. That waiting time is disgraceful.

It is definitely autumnal here.

I achieved a lot today. Somebody is coming on Monday to repair my dishwasher, Another fellow is coming on Tuesday to look at my printer and computer and I discovered my AA home insurance, due mid October, papers were sent on the 18th so they should arrive before Christmas. The price has shot up and I can save at least £75 a year, so I must put that in motion.

I watched Strictly for 30 minutes, couldn't stand the screaming, hated Jo jo's apparel and 3 presenters are too much.

When we got home to change into our pjs I took this pic of a beautiful moon (7pm) but it shows my friend arriving home and gives you the sense of our proximity.

fgt what a lovely impromptu evening for you and your friend! Pleased your stepfather is doing well.

Night night all.

P.s. Glad to hear Ripley is home and yes, thank you, my stepfather is grand. I spoke to him twice today to check he was okay.

‘Evening All’

I’ve had a delightful one. Wine (Sancerre) in a buzzy wine bar where we bumped into friends of my son in law. Nice to say our hellos and you’re you doing etc.

Then my friend and I enjoyed our Lebanese food. We ordered less tonight thinking we were a bit greedy last time. We polished it all off, unsurprisingly. 😁

Then it was 7pm.

We went home (round the corner) and disappeared into our own apartments to put on our pjs. Then I knocked on with a bowl of seedless grapes and chocolates, my friend opened a second bottle of ‘chicken wine’ (our first was in the restaurant BYO - bring your own) and we watched Strictly together.

She definitely enjoyed the grapes with her wine. I had a few of them but then snarfed several ‘snack size’ chocolate bars - a Crunchie, a Twirl, mini fudge bar and some buttons….. I think it’s called ‘having the munchies”. ?? 🫪

Companionship of the highest order, it was wonderful to be honest. We both enjoyed our relaxed and impromptu get together. I loved just crossing the decking in my slippers - first time we’d done this! No one saw us (not that it mattered) it’s very quiet on our landing area.

We hugged as I left and she said “see you Monday evening for a brew”.

Cornergran I am appalled at the wait for your G’s cardiac appointment, you may know that I was referred in February after an ECG was not clear.
I have had all tests done and seen in clinic by a lovely Consultant and declared fit and well.
Conclusion was an ectopic heartbeat after a virus illness in December.
Keep on complaining and nagging.
My GD came today and took me out for coffee which was lovely, we called in M&S and I bought myself a Moussaka which was delicious, I made a mixed salad to go with it.
I also bought a bottle of their Coronation sauce, when I got it home it is two months out of date!!
I rang to tell them, not because I shall take it back, it is 25 minutes away but so that they can check the shelves.
I got a recorded message to say they were closed, I don’t think so, I shall ring again tomorrow.
I hope you all have a good evening, I have started watching Line of Duty from the start before a new series starts, they all look so young.

jaxjacky some of the seedlings I hoed were nigella , the leaves are quite distinctive aren’t they. I think some of them will survive, but if not I’ll buy more seed and plant them in the spring. The rest were definitely weeds. I had sausages for dinner this evening.

Enjoy the evening everyone. Not sure about Strictly yet but will probably watch it every week!

Good news llfl.
Not good in your news corner let’s hope the GP rattles some cages.
Sunny day, but it has that edge of autumn, that smell, I quite like it.
MrJ played a bowls competition, I tidied and wiped down the kitchen, then made a sausage casserole for later, we’ve a lot of veg to use up.
Weed/flower seedlings to sort here too Redcar I think they might be nigella, I’ll ask my gardening lady to sort them, think she’s coming next week.
Have a pleasant evening everyone.

Good news about Ripley ladylfl. You must be relieved

Yes, redcar, our granddaughter arrived an hour late and definitely in one piece. She’d kept contact with her dad by phone so he wasn’t worried.

We had a super morning. Went to a marina and sat outside a tiny cafe in warm sunshine drinking coffee while watching the world go by. Cyclamen secured they are now planted. Just hope a passing squirrel doesn’t dig them up in the perennial search for bulbs to destroy.

Off to watch Strictly now. We’re not convinced the new format is for us and agreed to give it three weeks, guess I’d best concentrate.

Wishing you all a good evening.

Hello kitchen people.

Ripley is safe and well. She was fast asleep under her favourite bush in the back garden this morning. She’s back out there again now.

cornergran the wait for your DH’s cardiology appointment is appalling, I hope your GP can get him an appointment for his checkup. I hope your granddaughter has arrived safely at her destination. I hope you had a pleasant morning at the coast and found plenty of cyclamen at the garden centre.

I hoed and raked up several buckets of weed seedlings from the end of the garden this morning. That was about half of what’s there, I’ll do more tomorrow if my back isn’t too achy.

fgt I hope your stepfather is recovering well from his procedure yesterday.

Another dry and sunny day today, but not as warm as yesterday, but it’s still very mild for the end of September!

I hope Ripley has returned.

That’s rather concerning for you both cornergran

I haven’t done very little today other than pop into two local shops and clear the laundry basket 👍🏻

I am reading the latest Dan Brown an actual book not on my kindle, I am halfway through and trying not to get distracted.

I found some lovely big figs in the farm shop, they will be stuffed with goat’s cheese and wrapped in Parma ham for starters tonight, followed by piri piri chicken (not sure what veggies)

(((hugs))) to all 🙋‍♀️

What a worry for you with cardiology Cornergran. And Ripley causing concern too! So horrible when a cat is missing.
We have just come home from a few days in North Norfolk. Lovely weather, good birdwatching and fine food. Nice to be a long way from the ironing pile and the church admin!
It must be winter - watching the first rugby of the season!

llfl I'm hoping Ripley turned up

I don't normally post on this thread, but cornergran I did laugh at life's custard pies. That puts a sort of smile at my life at the moment.

Another hope Ripley is home safe ladylfl.

🤞 for diagnosis and help for your granddaughter redcar. She sounds a brave soul.

Mornings and evenings are definitely cool here, not needed heating yet but up the thermostat will go up if necessary.

A rant if I may. I’m almost - but not quite - speechless at the impossibility of securing a cardiac follow up appointment for 83 year old Mr C. He’s had one checkup since open heart surgery for a mitral valve repair and artery bypass in 2023, what then should have been annual checks were moved to two yearly.

Last year we were told there was an 143 week delay in the clinic . Now? 200 weeks. This is a well respected centre of excellence, surgery came quickly and efficiently enough. So many people will be impacted. It’s not an exaggeration to say some will die. As the ever pragmatic Mr C said if everyone on the clinic list were his sort of age the wait would drop quickly enough. I’ve finally persuaded Mr C to make a GP appointment. Thank goodness for a GP who cares and if she thinks it necessary will fight his corner. It all adds to pressure on GPs though. I just hope changes I observe are simply age not cardiac related.

It’s been a frustrating week all round really. Some post holiday blues to contend with and our new to us car developing a fault (apparently common in this model - now they tell us!) which was permanently sorted in less than two hours thanks to the understanding and efficiency of a member of the Service team. He went above and beyond, restoring faith in both the car and the dealership. A good outcome for sure.

Good news about your stepfather fgt. We have three neighbours in their 90’s who live alone and are self sufficient. One drives daily and yes, safely. Isn’t it heartening to see?

I must check on a granddaughter, five minutes after she had bought her train ticket to travel to her dad for the weekend the train was cancelled. It seems an issue at her local station. She couldn’t easily get to the alternative station. I know she’s coming up 18 and very competent but I’d just like to know she arrived safely.

Other than all that we’re fine 😂. It’s just what we call life’s custard pies, this time we didn’t duck quickly enough.

With luck we’ll get out for a couple of hours this morning for some sea air, the plan is to come back via a garden centre for cyclamen for the troughs. I’ll plant them in the hope of benefit from the rain we’re promised tomorrow. There may even be lunch on our travels, always a good plan.

Hope it’s a good enough weekend for everyone. Take care.

The cats have a cat flap which they’re used to using - only they can use it as its operated by some sort of chip in the back of their necks!

Lllf I do hope Ripley came home later. Can he use a cat flap? It is so worrying.

It feels cooler tonight, it will be shower and bedtime soon. I am trying not to switch on the heating until next month but as the price will rise sharply, it will stay off as long as possible! I may live in England, but I am still Scottish! The nuns taught me well as the radiators were barely tepid, warm enough to keep pipes from freezing.

Hello kitchen people. So glad your stepfather did well today, FGT2. He sounds amazing.

I listened to a very good talk at the Arts Society today on Jazz until the Second World War. OH didn’t come as he doesn’t enjoy Jazz.

I spent a couple of hours sewing my quilt and did my ironing.

We are concerned about Ripley our cat. She disappeared early in the evening and didn’t come in for her dinner. She and Milo are 16 and love their food. We looked around the garden - neither of them go very far now, but there was no sign of her. It was dark though and the torch was rather weak. Milo appeared concerned and was trotting hither and thither - if a cat can ever look concerned!

Sleep 💤 tight.

‘Evening All’

My stepfather had his BCC under his eye removed today with local anaesthetic at the Manchester Eye Hospital. We set off at 10:30am and got home at 5:30pm (rush our traffic through the city took ages).

Anyway he’s all done. Sutures will dissolve. He has after care instructions to follow. The staff were amazed that at his great age he’s self caring and living independently.

It’s good it’s done, he did well and was tired when the taxi dropped him off although I did go in with him for a few minutes to set him up before leaving to continue home myself.

Hi everyone. A beautiful warm sunny day until about 4 when the cloud came over. No rain though, so I’m still watering the newly planted plants. Fingers crossed it may rain next week.

I had my hair cut and coloured this afternoon, so it looks lovely now - until I have to wash and dry it myself!

The littlest DGD has been referred to a paediatric physiotherapist, who will hopefully be able to determine why her knees and ankles hurt at times. It’s odd because most of the time she’s absolutely fine, but then at times she’s crying in pain. X-rays are clear, hopefully the physio may be able to determine the problem.

Thinking of those in the quiet corner and also those who aren’t posting for any reason.

Enjoy the Chinese grannygravy and enjoy your healthy prawn salad charleygirl. Have a good evening everyone.