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

We have had an Italian evening tonight in the village hall. DH made the vegetarian lasagne. I ate too much after a good week of low carb eating. I am replanting a section of the garden after the dry summer, ready for open gardens next year. Delighted to be able to scramble up tiered flower beds after new knee and hip!
Glad you are on the mend Jax. Enjoy Northumberland FGT. We loved living there for 18 months when we were young.

Good evening kitchen folk. NannyTopsy you have been busy! An Open Garden plan sounds exciting. Jaxjacky I'm hoping your mouth is better now.
Today has been good. Dgs2 was very well behaved and full of laughs. He was picked up at 11.30 by a very tired dd. I tidied up the chaos then went for a nap which lasted 2 hours! I was obviously more tired than I realised. Once back in the land of living, I did a washing and got it dried then did some Spanish. Dinner will be chicken with a lovely salad and a baked sweet potato. It all looks very colourful. Dessert will be Greek yoghurt with honey. An early bed because of an early childcare day tomorrow. I hope you are all well

Hi kitchen pals, DD2 has just called round, it was lovely to see her. The dgc are with their dad, but they will be staying over with us midweek. The puppy is arriving tomorrow for a few days!
So pleased you’ve had such a lovely time with your dgs grandmabatty, but I know how tiring it is!
Hoping fgt is now settled somewhere in Northumberland
Hope you’re doing ok Jax
Take care everyone and sleep well later x

Hi all, an overcast day, the stray violas were added to the new herb box, my old herb tub suffered from the heat and ant infestation, all died.
The garden is shutting down, but greenhouse tomatoes, all MrJ’s nurturing this year, have been so prolific, he’s very diligent watering, im rather more erratic!
I’ve just had a CB fish pie, how much! tasty and easy though.
I hope FGT has decent weather.
What a joyous time with you Dgs2 gbatty I miss that snuggly warm stage, our grandson is 6’ plus at age 13, no lap time there!
Busy week ahead brook but lovely.
Enjoy your evenings x

Hi everyone, a bright but chilly morning, a cloudy afternoon. We may have a shower overnight - please!
DD2 called in this morning on her way to her mil’s for a family gathering of her OH’s family. DSiL also came over with the two DGDs and dog, DD1 was working! The 8 year old is still very cuddly and gives lovely hugs when she comes in and before going home. The 11 year old measures herself against me every week - I think she will overtake me by Christmas!

I put the fans away in small bedroom as I don’t think I’ll need them again this year. I’ve got the autumn weight duvet on the bed, but have had to add a fleece blanket as I’ve been cold. I’ll put the heavy winter duvet on next week and dig out the electric blanket ready for the cold nights.

jaxjacky I love a CB fish pie!

Thinking of those in the quiet corner.

Enjoy the rest of the evening folks.

I’m afraid our bedroom fan is being used as a clothes horse Redcar, FGT’s fault #lazygran.
I must also confess Christmas cards and crackers have been ordered, once a project manager…..

Just in from celebrating our dear friends’0’ birthday.

I drive home in DH’s new car for the third time, not sure I like it, but will persevere getting used to it.

Night night 🙋‍♀️

More gardening achieved - feel like I am getting there. Still lots to do.
It’s very chilly here but we have found the our heating isn’t working properly. Upstairs radiators are fine but the downstairs underfloor is less effective. It seems that every Autumn another valve or controller has failed.
We need to sort it out soon.

jaxjacky Christmas cards are next on my list, I’ll do that tomorrow.
Just had to order a new printer as the old one was getting a bit too hot for my mental wellbeing! It was the smoke coming out of the back that concerned me…. DSiL said it was probably dust but…

grannygravy well done for driving your DH’s car! You may get to like it in time?

Hello everyone just to say I’m loving it here already over in Northumberland.

This is the most gorgeous 4 bed cottage - it’s quite luxurious to be honest.

My cousin watched the rugby, I read my kindle drinking mugs of tea while his partner prepped cottage pie (refusing all help) then at 6pm we walked literally the 5 mins to one of the 3 local pubs 🍷🍺

Back to eat and I was ravenous.

A fabulous start to my stay here!

I was seen at the Vascular Clinic on Tuesday, surgery in 6 months + but I received an email today surgery on the 2nd November. There must have been a cancellation. Too early to order my minicab! I am delighted but must do some preparation re easy food as I have no idea what state I will be in. Probably a stagger to the loo and kitchen.

The heating was on most of the day as it was cold.

Jax I thought of you when I saw Craig R=H dancing on Strictly. I don't believe he had a THR, possibly a femoral osteotomy. I didn't enjoy it as I know no celebs and few professionals.

Look after yourselves, I will have an early night.

Amazed Shirley did that cartwheel 😮

I was unsure who did it. That is amazing as it was more than one.

I don't think it was Shirley!

We wondered too grandmab

Good news about your procedure charley. I’m so pleased you won’t have to wait too long. Good luck with the preparations. Definitely makes sense to be as prepared as you can be.

Off for our Covid jabs soon. Flu last week left not an after effect between us. 🤞 the same today. Our local pharmacy is very efficient and the needle wielder both kind and professional.

Enjoy Northumberland fgt. Sounds an excellent start.

Wishing you all the best week it can be.

‘Evening All’

Our walk was just over 3 miles, almost 10k steps. Quite a few inclines enough to make me feel a bit breathless, which may be considered a Good Thing.

Afternoon tea was delightful.

We got back an hour ago. So lucky with the weather too! Not windy and no rain.

Feeling virtuous now with my feet up on the sofa reading my kindle. A glass of wine will feature at some stage I’m sure 😁

Well done Fgt. That sounds like a lovely day.
Dgs1 has been a star today and has helped his little brother when he got distressed over a game on the ipad. Dgs2 has had a day of mixed emotions. We have had happy boy and stamping and screaming boy who slammed doors. The word, "no" is obviously annoying him. 😂 when he is good, he is very, very good. But when he is bad...
Anyway he and I played Frustration again and he wanted me to help him spell lots of words. Dd was later picking him up because of an accident on tge motorway and he coped ok with the delay. I'm about to make dinner- salad again with chicken again. This very low carb diet better make a difference! An early night for me. Enjoy the rest of your evening kitchen folk.

I hope your low carb diet is going well Grandmabatty. Hard with little ones to feed. It’s my go to way of losing weight and I am back to it now that I have given up Wegovy and Mounjaro which didn’t work for me. I haven’t lost much yet but my energy has massively increased. Good thing as I have a lot to do in the garden.
Dry white wine and gin are your friends here!

Hi kitchen friends, I am feeling rather sorry for myself this evening, I had 10 mole like thingy’s on my face treated this afternoon. They are rather stingy, very swollen and I look like I have been in a fight.

Easy dinner, spaghetti sauce from the freezer, fresh linguine and cheesy garlic bread slices. The q1yr old is staying over and he approves.

GC tantrums are very tiring for us Grans, Grandmabatty sending you a (((hug)))

Sounds like a near perfect day FGT 👍

11yr old 😡

Hi all from a damp S Hants, we’ve had continuous drizzle all day until about 4, good though.
Voluntary phone quite quiet, odd calls too, people checking their bookings rather than making them.
Good news on your booking Charliegirl 👍
Sounds lovely FGT glass of vino is well deserved.
I’m progressing to omelette with well cooked veg tonight, mouth is healing.
Have a good evening all.

Good evening, I have just finished a cottage pie from the freezer, home add a a couple of weeks ago ,and it was very nice.
Just before that Sainsbury’s delivery and was put away.

I had a real surprise, almost a shock this afternoon when I went to the dentist. I walked into the room and there stood a new young dentist, no-one had said a word. I have been with the practice for ever and with the old dentist for at least 28 years.
He introduced himself and said he was taking over some patients from Mr B who is winding down.
He was very pleasant and efficient and I was happy but felt annoyed that I wasn’t told, any way my teeth are fine and that is the main thing.

I feel tired tonight ,that walk will have done you a power of good FGT you will sleep well tonight.

It is very Autumnal here and the heating is on, I hope you have all enjoyed some part of your day ad I wish you all a Good evening.

GrannyGravy here's a hug right back at you from me! That sounds painful for you.
Nannytopsy I'm steering clear of alcohol too! So a miserable month ahead. Oh well, it'll be worth it. Utbb I've had the heating on most of today. I felt cold.

There’s a change of plans here, not surprising with DD2. She phoned this afternoon to ask if the DGC could stay tonight and tomorrow as well as Wednesday- I really don’t mind but I just wish I’d had more notice!
So I’m just waiting for them both to be dropped off here together with the puppy …
I expect there’s going to be very similar moments in our house over the next couple of days grandmabatty I’d hoped that by the ages of 11 and 13 they would have learned to get on a bit better but will see
Sounds painful GG but better now that it’s done, sending a gentle hug
Heating on, house nice and warm and kettle just boiled, no chance to put my feet up though, they’ll probably want to play a game when they arrive .. as long as it’s not Monopoly 😩

TV not to my taste so an early night which probably means midnight. Last night I threw out the UIOs in my freezer but there is little space. I should eat the food in it instead of buying more.

No need for heating today, just taking each day as it comes.

Online delivery tomorrow so probably like others, chicken and salad.