soops kindly kitcheners and perfect pampered pets.

Hello Sunseeker, you will always be sure of a welcome here .

We have plenty of Cats ( and dogs - Sam waves a paw !!) and there is ALWAYS cake ( the virtual kind with no calories) so pull up a chair and settle in!

Izabella what is the name of that handsome cat? He is gorgeous and I am pleased to hear that he is being looked after in the manner to which he quickly became accustomed.

A warm welcome sunseeker. Us lot say...the more, the merrier.
Rory can be a tad bolshy but only when his pathetic whinges go unattended. There is a larder in which his food and treats are stored. You can't miss it. The door doesn't close properly. If he appears faint for lack of nourishment...you will gain his undying respect and adoration should you do the honours and pay serious attention to him.

Izabella Your cat is lovely. Sadly, Rory hardly ever goes huntin' an' fishin'. Since he moved in he's been pampered to within an inch of his whiskers. BUT he does appreciate a beautiful she cat when she happens on the scene. What is her name?

Ooops, a he cat...not a she cat. Gulp! Apologies

Galen I know full well that you won't listen to me. I'm not a doctor. You were. You should listen to your aching, breathless body and remain at home until you have fully recovered. End of so-called lecture. As my late father would say...'I'm cross with you because I care...'

Wow, look at all these cats. I'm assuming that all the (very welcome, newcomers are aware of the convention of bringing cake and bubbly into the kitchen. (I know I made that last bit up but it's worth a try!)

We also have cat - a handsome black male called Kiwi (cos' he's an All Black cat!!) who idolises DH and can't give me the time of day so I am demanding one of my own! What's more, DH has agreed! It's a good job really because cats are hard to hide!

I'm sorry I've been missing for a few days - how does life get so busy?

Soop so glad that things are still ok with MacS's health. Gaga, good luck tomorrow - that was fast!

Galen, it took me ages to stop feeling breathless - enjoy the lunch tomorrow if not the course!

I refuse to think about motion sickness - or I might be!

Tizliz, I hope your husband doesn;t suffer too much for today and that the light at the end of the tunnel draws ever closer.

Good luck with the new agent N&G. Lovely photos.

I'm after food parcels again. The railway bridge is still closed, blocking one road out of the village, another one is closed to enable 'services' to be organised for a new development, a sewer has broken on yet another road and the floods are out. Not only do we need food parcels but I have to be 20 miles away by 9.30 in the morning. I'm thinking of setting off now! Or does anyone have a spare helicopter

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This morning's scene and this evening's sunset.
and

soop and Charleygirl said feline is Bella rescued from the RSPCA and completely in charge. Lots of charging around and mewing earlier as she watched some canoeists on 'her' river. She will awaken in due course when the whiting is taken out of the fridge for our dinner. At that stage of course, her James Wellbeloved biscuits will become decidedly dull and not worth bothering with.

She says hi to Sam (flicks tail) and looks forward to meeting other PP's.

Soop how well you know me!?

Disaster! I took what I thought was some chilli out of the freezer at lunchtime to have this evening. It has turned out to be stewed rhubarb!! That will teach me to label things ?. I was reight lookin' for'ard to it an all! I shall have to join Mr Duster in a baked potato ( he is off his food at the mo).

Greyduster I did laugh when I read that! Rhubarb will not fill a hole. That is the daft thing that I do because I also do not label anything so have taken out a bread roll instead of a piece of steak before now. Tonight I left it so long that I will be scrabbling around in the fridge for sustenance.

A story for cat fans by Ann Treneman

I bring you the story of Mimi the Wondercat who, if I ruled the world, would be the star of a blockbuster Disney film. Mimi began life as a normal cat. She belongs to a family who live in a house in Barnet in north London. I have to assume that, for years, she behaved in the mysterious way of most cats.

One day, when I went to the local shopping centre in Barnet, I saw a tabby cat just sitting in the middle of the concourse, halfway between the door to Waitrose and the (ridiculously expensive) car park. Everyone who walked by — and there must be hundreds every day — stopped to take note of Mimi, who has a snazzy collar so everyone knows she’s not lost.

I go to the centre once or twice a week and Mimi is always there. Everyone talks to Mimi and then we all talk to each other about Mimi. She’s like a feline social worker.

We are so used to public spaces that are devoid of anything of interest. The only exceptions I can think of are the pianos at railway stations which have sparked all sorts of reactions, including love and marriage. I may just recommend Mimi for a CBE (Cat of the British Empire).

That she chose Waitrose to sit outside shows that she is properly discerning in the way that all cat are! ?

I've had a sandwich

As we are on cats, my D's cat,she of the costly vet treatment, is doing very well. She had her op on Thursday and saw the vet last evening and he is pleased with her. She is still wearing the T-shirt to stop her getting at the wound and is to have the stitches out on Tuesday next week.
She is called Narla and is the mother of my D's other two cats, brothers called Charlie and Peanut. The owner of Narla who lived in a flat, so she was an indoor cat, decided to get 2 African grey parrots. Bad mistake, so Narla needed rehoming. My soft D couldn't think of her going to a stranger so adopted her. There is no family feeling between mother and sons at all. They have reaches a state of tolerance, that is all.
They are getting a dog at Easter,my GS is 18 then and he has asked for a dog!!
Forgot to say after 2 years of indoor life Narla just loves being in the garden now.

what sort Galen? One sandwich is still not enough. Have a or two. You can go out tomorrow if you choose but if you don't feel well soop and I will just nod our heads in a knowing way and say we told you so. Be careful!

soop glad to hear MacSporran got on ok.

Welcome sunseeker and Izabella. Did you bring cake? #everhopeful

Believe me Crafting you don't want me to make a cake!!

Shiphams chicken spread.
Struggled with last quarter and now overful

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Good that everything is proceeding well for MacSporran. She is pictured elsewhere, but may I add my Mia to the feline portrait gallery please? She is quite adorable, but definitely prefers men to women, the little hussy!

Hello Mia lovely to meet you and Mimi sounds a little star. Crafting yes I brought cheese scones. I have to low carb myself due to being pre diabetic last year, but happy to contribute. Champagne unlikely to get as far as the kitchen I am afraid. One of my weaknesses!! I can do a marmalade and ginger cake for tomorrow. How does that sound?

Our hens are Star (top of the order) Florence the Wonderhen, (I operated on an abscess last year on her foot) Hepzibar Lillicrap, Dot, Carry, Zilpah, Penny, Polyanna PIckerill, Lunar and No. 6 (the escapologist)

Love the story of the rhubarb. I once 'enjoyed' a bowl of gravy thinking it was soup. Anyway packing up in the kitchen now with a lovely mug of decaf awaiting. Goodnight all.

Just realised the hen names is on THAT thread. Time to retire methinks!!

Just popping into the new kitchen with Oscar. He's had a shampoo and set today and is looking lovely and fluffy again, now that his fur has regrown following his disasterous hair cut. Unfortunately, he will have another bald patch tomorrow because he is off to the V.E.T....
He's very interested in cats and would like to meet all the new pussies in the kitchen , though they might not be so keen to meet him!

I know of at least one that wouldn`t, but I`d love to meet Oscar.

Good morning, can I come in? I haven't been in here for a while, but I just took a battering out there on the forum and could do with a sit down in the warmth and a chit chat with a cuppa - I am on a diet, but bring homemade chocolate chip cookies for all.
On the subject of cats, our lord and Master is Stroph, and his sidekick is Domino - the two dogs, Crumble the labrador and Pocket the Chihuahua know their place!

Yes draw breath Lisalou and thank you for the biscuits. I am only popping in briefly as Catchng the bus to see a Late morning fillim.

Bella would be intrigued to meet Oscar (possibly!) but is currently asleep after a busy night. We have blood on the floor and a dismembered rat. Not found anything else yet. Very foggy here this morning with mist rising off the river. The heron is back and it all looks magical. soop I enjoyed your pictures.

Have a good day all in the kitchen and keep warm. Expect the choc chips will be gone by the time I get back, but then I can't really eat them anyway so perhaps just as well. Toodle pip.