Soops cosy kitchen for kind peoples and precious pets !

Eyup, chucks! The sun has buggered off from my part of Argyll (send some of yours over, would you, soop!) so I've been blending some butternut squash and apple soup for this evening's meal. I've had a slurp and it's great. There's some extra so I'll leave it on this heat pad thingy on the sideboard for you to help yourselves. There's some seedy bread to go with it.

Good afternoon, soop. The sun is shining here this afternoon, too, but up until 12.30 it was absolutely hissing down. The tree surgeon turned up this morning and managed to get half the job done before he apologetically asked if they could call it a day because for the rest he would be using rechargeable electric tools and he was worried about the wet. They were both absolutely soaked anyway, so they will come back later in the week and finish the hedge. I have to say that now the laurel is down, there is so much more light in the garden and my plants will not be leaning forward all year. It looks a bit severe at the other side of the wall, but it will grow back and there are lots of seedling shrubs that will fill the gap eventually. Of course, about an hour after he had gone, it stopped raining! Sod's Law! DH has taken the boy down to the park for a kick about while it is dry. I have promised to join them but I have been known not to keep my promises! I feel like a sneaky gin and tonic to revive me! GS and I have just been making coconut tarts - hereinafter to be known as "nanny's blood sweat and tears coconut tarts" because that is what it took today. He was in a mood for messing about. I love him to his bones, but, as they say in all the best comics, "Grrr!" I was going to ask John the tree surgeon if I could swap GS for Eli and Roger, his two border terriers, but I think he would have said NO! Well. I suppose I'd better show willing and get my (virtual) football boots on. I don't think I'll be down there long - it's looking a bit black over Bill's mother's again. ??.

soop I've seen a photo today, on Instagram, of Georgie on the beach, first visit, and on the lead, so jud is being very careful.

Charleyg He prefers the rug on the floor when the fire is burning. Today, as the sun is shining brightly through the window, he's snoozing on the chaise longue. This evening, it will be on MacSporran's lap. He's a cat of many comfortable cushions and blankets but there is only ONE lap that he chooses to loll on. MacS's

I agree, he is in the same pose as Grace always appears to take and like Grace he is rarely awake. I am amazed that he is lying on a rug on the floor- he is more used to a tartan rug on the sofa.

It's a bright, sunny, cheery good afternoon to all you lovely people. The view through the window is fabulous. the sea is a vivid teal green. The peaks are wearing wee fluffy cloud-bonnets.

I wish to thank everyone for listening to me blether on about dementia. It's comforting to have the chance to offload the countless fears spinning around in my silly head. MacSporran always says...'You think too much...' Of course, he's right.

I hope that we have news of Georgie sometime soon. I shall call in again later, I'm sure that Jud is being kept very busy what with one thing and another.

Rory's daughter, Bracken, hasn't visited for almost a week. She hasn't stayed away longer than 36 hours to date. Rory sits on the door mat and looks longingly into the woodland. It's worrying. We continue to service her wee chalet and leave breakfast and supper for her. Throughout the evening, I go the window whenever movement triggers the sensor light outside the door. So far, nothing remarkable has turned up.

I'm about to put the finishing touches to an animal portrait. Another dog is waiting in the wings. I'm always happy to be painting.

Below is an image of Rory as he adopts a Grace-like pose on the mat, in front of the fire. The photo is grainy. We should have used the flash.

Evening All! Remember that? I truly think we 'of a certain age' all have those moments. Certainly when I was paid to work and loving it my major concern was having to use ten words instead of the one I wanted. My boss used to tell me not to fret, her theory was that there was so much to sift through that it just takes time. I found comfort in her thoughts . Not sure if I'm brave enough for the Protect Survey, will check it out though. Try not to fret soop, so many things impact on us in the moment. You are always coherent here.

I've had a thoroughly enjoyable day today, coughed my way through it but no one minded. In fact Littlest was vastly amused. Don't worry about the cough, soop and charley, it is better, just not better enough. I am getting on so impatient with it though. I am feeling more like myself in bursts, lousy in between, could quite get used to this doing very little lark.

Good news about your scan lona, pleased for you. Think I have got of lightly with the grown men chasing an egg retrolady, Mr C is Welsh, not only is he someone who cannot hold a note (or not the right one) he has no interest in watching hours of rugby. He watches snatches of it and is interested in the outcome, how lucky am I? I put it down to his Mum being English .

Oh blimey n&g, you need a better class of house viewer. I agree, viewings only with an Estate Agent in tow and never on a Sunday. Appalling manners, wish I could conjour up the ideal purchaser for you. More bad manners with you charley. Since when was it OK to dump rubbish in someone else's garden? People, eh?

Could just do with some time in a boat being looked after gale , good for you. Where is this one headed?

There's certainly some snittyness elsewhere in GN. I had a bit of a think today and concluded if I had just taken a peek at the site I wouldn't have joined, or if I did I would have worried about posting. Not a good sign of the GN times.

good night all, time for sleep.

Retrolady thanks for mentioning Protect Study. I googled it and as soon as I saw Kings College London are involved I was happy to complete the application form. I have seen the effects of dementia at close hand and will be pleased if I can help research the condition.

soop please don't waste time and energy worrying - just enjoy the pleasures of each day and the company of your many friends in RL and GN

September next year!
I'm hoping that 'er next door will come on some.
If not, I might be looking for volunteers to come with me. They're all Southampton to Southampton in a Q3 suite on Queen Elizabeth
I pay for the cabin suite and it includes a butler! ( no! You can't take him or her home)
You can google a Q 3 suite.

Like others I've had a peek into a couple of current threads and quickly scurried back into the warm kitchen. I can't be doing with bickering and point scoring in real life either.
N&G the thought of you lounging on the sofa in your jammies for a house viewing made me laugh out loud, what a nerve people have just not turning up.
I'm not a cruise person myself Galen, but I'm all for doing whatever you can, while you can so if it's what you love go for it and enjoy every opportunity of doing so. Anyway think of the pleasure we'll all have hearing about it!
Soop, we're all worrying about the same things I think. I've heard this week that my sister in law, who had dementia has suddenly taken a downturn and it saddened and worried me. We hear and read about dementia at every turn, in conjunction with hearing how awful the NHS is, how lacking services are and what a burden we all are. Is it any wonder that it makes us worry and think to ourselves what if..? And that's before we even consider our own ageing minds and bodies and how things are changing for us, faster sometimes than we like to admit. But it's horrible to have vague nagging worries like this at the back of our minds, but mostly (speaking for myself here) I don't really want to know the answer. My old boy confessed to having poured coffee granules on his cornflakes instead of sugar the other morning, he doesn't even drink coffee at breakfast time so should I be worried, who knows?

Galen Yay!!!

I have started the process of doing the Protect Study survey. To be honest, I'm feeling a bit wobbly/apprehensive. Tomorrow is another day. Perhaps I shall wake up and feel a great deal more positive. The very thought of dementia horrifies me. Thanks for listening.

Bye for now. Enjoy a peaceful Sunday evening.

Galen I hope that you have paid a deposit only in case the firm goes out of business. One of us lot has to be practical.

soop I would be more inclined to empty it over their head if I discovered who was doing it. I can cope with the half used coke bottles my builders leave indoors and in the rear garden- my recycling has tripled I think since they came.

Galen! how extravagant can you get? Do I assume by "September 18" you mean five by September 2018, or do you mean five by 18/09/17?

Retro Can anyone take part in the Protect Study? I shall Google it.

Charleyg That's no excuse. I would like you to discover who the dumper of rubbish individual is. I would enjoy taking it back to their property and ceremoniously returning it. All tied up with a big, red bow.

Good afternoon, Galen, I trust that you are behaving yourself.

Nellie is right. We haven't heard from Jud and Georgie for a wee while.

Whisper it very quietly
I've gone mad and just booked another cruise! That makes 5 between now and September 18?

N&G are you sure you haven't moved and that's why no one is coming? They're all going to your last house!

Has anyone seen Judthepud2 and Georgie lately? I am wondering how they are doing.

Soop and Swanny - if you are developing dementia, then I must be too. I explain it to myself by saying we have so many memories that a few are bound to fall out of our brains from time to time. Maybe we do ... maybe we don't ... I take comfort from the fact that I take part in the Protect Study run by Alzheimer's Research, ostensibly to help research of course, but also I know they will contact my GP if the tests throw up anything untoward. Anyway, it's not us, it's just the rest of the world that's out of step.

Can't believe your viewers didn't turn up, again, N&G. How rude. I definitely think it's a good idea to refuse any viewings at the weekend and to insist they are accompanied by the Estate Agent.

Himself is back watching that thing with 30 grown men chasing an egg again!! Oh dear ... at least for once he's not asking what I'm doing on the laptop and giving me sideways looks every time I click on something. One thing - why do we need the commentary AND to hear the mutterings from the players at the same time. It's just a flippin' mess of noise to me. Himself disagrees. At least England are winning, temporarily, so he'll stop throwing his hands up in despair. I'd quite like Italy to win, because they've not been in the competition for all that long have they? I suggested that to Himself and he didn't answer, can't think why ...
Time to get on with those 35 hats.

Call the Midwife is on later - now that is a PROPER telly programme.

xx

soop at least it was bagged and manageable!!!

Italy leading England 10-5 at half time???
Bit of a turn up for the book! Even if Italy concede the next 15 points, that try was one to treasure. I wonder what was said in the England changing room at half time?

Charleyg I've just this minute made a pot of coffee. I will be happy to share with you.
How dare some slob person dump rubbish on your lawn! I'm flabbergasted.
It is a day of mixed weather...the sun shines for a wee while, the wind picks up, the rain clouds muscle in and hey ho...it's piddling down right now.

I've been watching the rugby. Not terribly impressed with England's performance. Italy, on the other hand, are in fine fettle.

soop I think that you will find with us lot that you are not alone re way of thinking.

Sorry N&G I will not be joining you to scoff the hot cross buns because I do not like them but a coffee would be very nice.

It is grey and miserable here and with a bite in the wind. I have just binned a carrier bag full of rubbish dumped on my front lawn, probably from a car but it is a cul de sac!

Swanny and Greyduster It is of some small comfort to know that I'm not alone with what I think of as being dull-witted. I was really fit a few years ago. Now, I fall all over the place and need an elbow crutch. The decline in my physical fitness doesn't bother me anywhere near as much as what's going on in my head.

N&G My late father was a RSM...he would have screamed...^you blithering idiots...^ just for starters.
What on earth is happening to folk and their idea of good manners. A phone call this morning would have been polite - even if it was to say that they had changed their minds/been overcome with a dreaded lurgy/emigrated to Mars. Stick by your guns decision. Your house and your rules.
I shall help you to polish off the pack of buns. Don't you dare scoff the lot before I get there.

I can hear a rendition of the National Anthem. My cue to watch the game. Not that I'm willing one team to win. I like to keep an eye on the opposition in readiness for the next Scotland skirmish.

That's it -!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sorry ladies but stand by to be stood by as my old RSM used to say!!

The viewers today also failed to turn up despite the agent confirming late last night with them that they would be coming!!

ARRRRRRGGGHHHHHHHHHHH

So new rules.

No Sunday viewing !
No viewings without the agent - then we're not trapped at home.

These 2pm no shows are just not on because we lose the whole day. We had to turn down visits from all the grandchildren this weekend and life's too short for that .

I'm off to eat a whole pack of hot cross buns because I'm hot and cross!!