Soops cosy kitchen for kind peoples and precious pets !

Lisianthus AND etc etc

Maw what a beautiful 'secret santa' gift, your SIL is truly a gem. So sorry to hear of the difficulties your DH is having recently. Both of you must be shattered and very worried so it's good to hear he had a decent sleep last night.

Have been lurking recently and not posting much. Rather than risk attributing events to the wrong kitcheners, I'll just send ((hugs)) to you lot with problems and worries and 'yippees' to you lot with good news

The majority of us mums never stop worrying about our children and it hurts when they're not the best friends we'd like them to be. I've always said as children get bigger so do their problems and so do your worries! A brother and sister in my wider family fell out big time over care of their mother in her later years. Thankfully they came together and mended bridges over her funeral and are best pals again now.

All this talk of sorting paperwork and gardens is putting me to shame. I want to tidy up all my patio pots front and back - see what needs nurturing, what needs ditching and what is coming along nicely - but I told myself I can't do that until I've gone through the many piles of paper waiting to be filed or shredded ... Somehow I always seem to have more to file just in case than I manage to shred

Have a good day everyone. The sun is shining so I'm going out for a while, then want to do some baking when I get back. Might have to shift some paperwork from the kitchen first though ...

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Good afternoon, lovely peoples and pets. It's a strange day...sun one moment and a wee downpour to follow. I have had a hell of lot of ironing to keep me busy. No garden toiling for me today. I took a photo of part of the area that had become jungle. Before I tackled it, there was a very narrow pathway to the compost bin. It was impossible to move around the area as it was choked with briars and matted grass. There is room at last for the soil to breathe and the sunlight to peer through the ancient willow's gnarled branches. Across the fence is an area of scrub. It is there that I tossed barrow loads of unwanted vegetation.

Maw Your son-in-law aka 'secret santa' is a star. Hug him for us lot when next you meet.

I shall now read through the many messages that appear during my absence. What's the betting that you've all been busy and productive. It would be difficult to find a busier bevy of Granspals.

Maw What a wonderful sil you have there! Flowers are so uplifting and those look beautiful. Good that your dh had a decent sleep, I hope the transfusion lasts longer this time.

It's been a beautiful,sunny (dare I say almost warm?) morning here but the clouds are gathering now
I'm feeling much cheered by all your kindness, and I'm now going to have a cuppa and two Rich Tea biscuits as a treat!! I know how to live

May I join you, Lona? I've some buttery Scottish shortbreads hidden in the cupboard.

Well what a beautiful day it has been here today. WARM and SUNNY!!! We were out early this morning to watch the final of the Sheffield Junior Schools cross country, which took place in my favourite city park. Here is a picture I took at the start with views out to the edge of the Peak District that never fail to lift my spirits. The boys did very well - their team of seven came second overall and they all put in a good performance despite the acres of mud! My God it was muddy! Before we parted company, GS said "are you and grandad coming to watch me play football tomorrow?" "Of course" I said, knowing it was forecast to be bucketting down. If he can do it, so can we! He held my hand on the way back to the car. He hasn't done that for ages.
Just done a couple of hours in the garden. Jungle clearing continues apace. I am posting a picture of my triffid in another thread in the hope that someone can tell me what it is!
MawB I am very pleased your DH seems to have had a good night. Hopefully the consequence of that will be that you had one too. I love your flowers ?.
Going to finish my coffee and make some brownies for the refreshment stall tommorrow if we don't get washed away!

Flipping heck, it's daunting to come back into the kitchen after an absence there is so much to catch up on. The wind in Suffolk was such that the internet kept disappearing and I spent lots of time typing lovely long messages and was then unable to post the pigging things. And, as for answering emails regarding Mum's funeral - it was hopeless.

Still, it's lovely to be back and to catch up again.

Soop, I'm so sorry that Bracken has gone missing - I do hope she returns. You have done a miraculous job with the garden. When are you next in Leicestershire to help with mine? I could be doing it now but somehow GN has more appeal.

I'm sorry your family are falling out Lona and being piggy in the middle is blinking awful isn't it. The Idiot caused a bit of bother between DD3 and DS2, which isn't difficult to do as they are so similar, but that was soon sorted once the Idiot went on his stupid way. I've just has a lovely cup of Tea Pigs (my treat to me!) with some M&Ms that were left over from Christmas and, therefore, really needed eating up - oh, the decadence!!

Ann, I am glad to see you posting again and wish we could do something to help. Good news about your lesions. I too hate the things that keep popping up on the surface. We all have friends who take no blinking notice of what we say, I'm sure. I've spent the last 35 years complaining about my Mum to one of my friends and I've just opened a card from her sending her deepest heartfelt sympathy. I've just opened the door to a proper friend who said that she couldn't work out how to word a card but 'have this azalea just so you know I'm thinking about you'.

Fabulous flowers from your SiL Maw - what a thoughtful person. How is DH today? It must be massive worry for you. My friend who dropped round the azalea is having a worrying time with her DH who is awaiting test results. Getting older is a real buggeration some times - better than the alternative though.

Corner hope the cold/cough is beating a retreat. We have a lovely sunny day which should help if you have similar.

Sounds like Georgie is doing well Jud - you must be pleased.

GD I hope your DGS did well in his cross country. One of ours did it for a while and I hated standing in the freezing cold waiting for a filthy runner, who might or might not have been DS1 (who would never acknowledge our existence even if it was) stumble past. I'd rather watch them chasing any sort of ball round if I must freeze. I also hope you sleep well. I have lots of things going round in my head so went into the spare room last night - it worked - I slept for 6 hours.

N&G, if you read this I hope your get together goes well.

I'm sorry if I've missed anything but I am sending good wishes to everyone and I hope to be able to keep up with everyone now.

Crossed posts GD. I love the Peak District!!

I'm so sorry not to have been back with you lot before now.

Dear MacSporran has had a nasty fall in the garden. He was attempting to climb over the fence using ladders propped on either side. It's awfully muddy at that point, and the ladder slipped. He fell heavily against the car that is parked nearby. His head is looking grim. He has scraped the skin off the top of his scalp and cut his hand. TCP'd and ordered to sit tight and not move until I say so...or else. He has also ripped his gardening jeans beyond repair. Rory came into the house and looked sheepish. He was not the cause of the fall. No bones broken. Badly bruised and covered in blood and mud. What to do with him! I've hugged him and bathed and bandaged him. I shall return to the kitchen tomorrow.

Oh soop he's not supposed to land on his poor head! Is it superficial or bothersome?
Wish I could help you both xxxx hugs too.

Greyduster Love the handholding

Oh dear Soop, sorry to hear that, I do hope that Mac Sporran is alright. Does he need to see a doctor?

MawB, those flowers are beautiful, bless your SIL.

It just goes to show how often I clean out my wardrobe. This morning I was chucking stuff all over, looking for something, and I came across a Bonmarche bag, containing 2 jumpers, still with tags attached, that I didn`t remember buying. On checking the receipt, I found that I`d bought them in January.............2010!

Hope you still like them callgirl1

soop I hope MacSporran hasn't done any lasting damage ... to the fence Seriously, please keep an eye on him as bangs on the head can be nasty things. What was he doing climbing over the fence anyway, looking for Bracken?

I'm afraid I didn't get any baking done this afternoon. It was such a lovely day that I stayed out longer than planned, then walked home with a full shopping bag. My back didn't like that so I've been confined to the recliner, with cushions strategically placed. I have a lovely massage chair thingy - which goes in the cupboard for safe-keeping when DGS is here - which he was yesterday - and my back is too painful to lift it out again at the moment

I`m not keen on one of them Swanny, but I must have liked it at the time!

McSporron look after yourself. Crashing falls are not to be recommended. I know. A wee dram perhaps?

Soop I do hope McSporran is okay - that sounds like a nasty fall! DH did something similar putting up a basket hanger over the garage door. He fell off the ladder, bounced off the bonnet of the car and landed in the drive. He was much younger then, but it took him a while to get over it. Or perhaps it was me driving him to the hospital it took time for him to get over . Please keep us posted. Izabella makes a splendid suggestion - a drop of the malt works wonders!

That's not good, soop, hope macs is recovering, but would it be sensible to seek medical advice, heads are delicate things.

More envy, greyduster, early sunshine disappeared, grey and rain followed. Really must stop turning green. .

Just the sort of secret Santa gift to cheer you, mawb, hope your husband is getting stronger.

So very sorry to hear about McSporran's mishap. I imagine the skin on the top of his head is especially vulnerable and bleeds easily without a protective "thatch". However I hope he wasn't concussed at all and am sure you will be keeping a close eye on him Soop. Please pass on my sincerest good wishes for a return to health and to common sense about climbing onto or over things when he should be more circumspect. It is a worry isn't it when we each get as bad as the other and feeling our age is not a very welcome sensation.
DH was very perked up today by a surprise visit from DD3 and SIL who had been visiting his parents in Bedford. He is still terribly breathless though, just coming downstairs and going back up wipes him out (not a long or steep staircase by any means.
Another quiet day tomorrow.
Could everybody in the kitchen and their nearest and dearest please take lots of care in their doings so that we have no more bad backs, poorly eyes, sore heads or anything else?
BTW charleygirl is very quiet, All well?

Crafting I have failed in an attempt to PM you to ask more about when your DH had a similar problem to DH's.
Would you be able to pm me even if you can't receive them? Not necessarily something to discuss on open forum!!

Best wishes to all you lovely ladies and MacS. Exhausted from minding
My 2 grandchildren yesterday, their parents went to a wedding, couldn't get the 5 year old to go to bed, their parents don't go out in the evening a lot, so he was taking full advantage, playing games as the TVs went off at 9pm 3 year old fell asleep, but had a really bad cough which was worrying. While I was trying to get the DVD to work, GS tried to take a bite out of GD's leg, I shouted his name and gave him a fright,we had a little chat about it after and I apologised for frightening him and we had a hug. They fight all the time as did my children but I didn't like myself very much for scaring a little boy. Could not put this on one of the other threads as some would be ringing the NSPC. Raining here in Liverpool so no walk to clear my head.

Morning all!!

Just a quick pop in !

So sorry to hear of Macs mishap * soop* !! Hope he's being spoilt and recovering now.

I haven't read through everything as the internet here is a bit patchy ! Having a wonderful time, we have reverted to childhood. It's a Sunday lunch out in the local pub today before ' cottage karaoke ' tonight . As we have all inherited our family's total tone deaf ness ( if that's a word) it should be interesting to say the least.

I will post some pictures when I'm next somewhere with a better signal.

Tomorrow we are off to the donkey sanctuary ( or to see the 'wonky donkeys ' as Jackson says !!

Take care all xx

Ooooooh I love donkeys. Please post pictures later.

A horrible grey and rainy day here today so staying put. Just need to measure a couple of panes for the greenhouse to order replacements. Poussin for dinner and some sort of treat for pud when I have decided what I fancy doing/what is in the freezer and cupboards/what is not going to take too much one handed faffing about with.

I trust MacS awoke with not too much of a reminder of his ladder leaping escapade? And Mawbroon so pleased your husband had a lift yesterday. Lovely to hear. Swanny look after that back!! To everyone else ? purrs from Bella who is currently gazing in adoration at a new toy mouse one of her admirers delivered yesterday. At great peril I might add as the river is still up.

Thinking of going to see The Viceroy tomorrow. That probably means the weather will change to sunshine is I am in the cinema. We shall see. So I shall consult now with Delia and decide on the latter part of today's menu. I may also try that lemon drizzle cake for friends next week.

Hope MacS feels better today soop. Why will men not admit some things are a little too much for them now?
At least I don't have that problem, mine has now taken up a new career as a couch potato.
That is unless I am trying to do something, particularly in the kitchen, when he stands at my shoulder putting things away in the wrong place before I have finished using them. I was prepping all the veg for Sunday roast this morning and found myself shaking with frustration and barely hidden temper. I went upstairs and locked myself in the bathroom to calm down.
I am now taking antidepressants but will see the GP to get the dose increased. Its all good fun if you don't weaken ??

I think the kitchen should "consumer test" the lemon drizzle first Izabella don't you?