soop's kitchen for friendly folk and precious pets.

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It's a sad time when our grandchildren grow out of wanting to do things like dressing up, making hats and cards and things. GS is not keen these days, although with some friends in his class he has organised a bun sale for next Friday for school funds, and he is making posters. These sales usually go down very well and the idea for this this one followed on from a stern lecture from the head about scarcity of funds for resources after someone had been caught trying to push table tennis bats down a toilet!! Anyway, guess who has been requested to contribute some buns? What else would I do with my time?
Glad to hear you survived the flooded roads, soop - it was like that the day we went from Fort William to Oban! I'd not seen so much water since we were in the Far East!

We had a through the valley and lunch at the pub today (chicken breast stuffed with chorizo, with a wild mushroom sauce on a bed of sauté potatoes ?). The weather was lovely and there were more buzzards overhead today than you could shake a stick at. Lots of wild flowers too - celandine, anemones, forget me nots, and king cups in the marsh. Spring has truly sprung.

Galen you are so cruel - no where near their delivery area. There is an inch left in the bottle which will do me a few weeks as long as OH leaves it alone - and he WILL LEAVE IT TO ME - he has a bottle of Fettercairn. He says that there is only malt whisky

Greyduster Your day sounds like the perfect treat. Lovely photos. We are waiting for the king cups to flower in our wee "wet garden". They always make a welcome sunny splash of colour.

Tizliz I'm off to read the report on Fettercairn in our malt whiskey lovers "bible". The first time we sampled Talisker, it was in a lovely inn called Three Chimneys. Seem to remember it was on the Isle of Skye. We also enjoyed a toasted cheese sandwich. When it came to paying the bill we thought that there had been a mistake. But no...the Talisker was highly priced. It didn't put us off sampling it on another occasion. Always taken with a splash of water.

I'm logging off until tomorrow. MacS is fast asleep with Rory lolling on his lap and softly snoring with delight.

Ann I used to drink gallons of Tizer when I was a child; we never thought about what was in anything then! You can still get it, but, strangely, I don't feel disposed to rush out and buy a can ?!

Tizliz Big mistake. It isn't whiskey...it is whisky.

Yes, soop, whiskey is John Jameson, Powers, and similar.

soop if you frequent 5* hotels like the Three Chimneys then I am not surprised if you needed a mortgage to pay.

Yes, whiskey is either Irish or American.

Soop, I was idly perusing houses for sale in Kintyre, wishful thinking in progress, when I came across a house with a next door neighbour that I`m sure was your house! Am I right?
Last night I placed my order with B & Q for a new kitchen, now waiting to hear when their surveyor is coming.

I am in my element, I have central heating working, hot water and a working TV.

I am cheap to take out as I would have either a coffee or a diet coke, hating whisky and any other spirits.

I am having a decent supper for once, half of a sirloin steak with trimmings. I would love to open a bottle of wine but not until everybody has left this house permanently. They are returning tomorrow and Sunday so no rest for the wicked.

Roll on Monday, Charley

That sounds so much better charley, hope that wine can be opened soon, you certainly deserve to be able to relax

The work will not be finished on Monday but the boss is visiting then so a lot more work will have been done.

I have booked a table for a week Wednesday as I am going out with 2 neighbours who are also good friends. It is a local popular Indian restaurant and I am hopeful that we will be celebrating at least the removal of the scaffolding. With luck I will have the house to myself by then with new blinds, a laminate floor in situ and an ever decreasing bank balance.

Back home after a, mostly enjoyable visit to my old boy's brothers. We had lovely weather during the few days we had on our own, so I don't mind that it rained heavily when we were visiting family! So today has mostly been catching up with household stuff., how do 2 people create so much laundry anyway? But we did go out for a walk around a local reservoir, no matter how much I've got to do I can never resist the call of a sunny day.
Charley I'm beginning to feel cautiously optimistic on your behalf but I'm hesitant to crack open the just yet!
Greyduster our littlest grandchild will be 8 this weekend, it's all going too quickly and I will be sad when there's no one still interested in craft and cooking with Granny! But hopefully not just yet.
A busy day tomorrow as our lovely grand dog has to come for a visit, her giddiness would not enhance the birthday girl's party !

I'm lying in bed at DD''s house catching up with all the activity in the kitchen. OH and I have been to Majorca so Oscar our puppy has been staying with the Granddogs for a few weeks in Scotland. He's allowed on the bed at DD''s, and it's been lovely to be able to put my hand out and give him a stroke in the middle of the night. I'm taking him back home to Yorkshire on the train today. I think he will really miss chasing around on the beach with the other dogs. Perhaps it's time to think about getting him a little companion? He's nearly ten months old now and we aren't planning to take any more holidays abroad without him. Instead, we will be off in the campervan and hoping to visit Kintyre and see all the lovely scenery in soop's photos.

Just to confirm my memories(?) I think we stayed initially on or near the Killean estate In a lodge house near Tayinloan, but moved in our second week to a holiday lodge overlooking Loch Caolisport which was brilliant because there was safe sailing and also pony trekking at Ardrishaig.
Looking at the map I am astounded at the distances you have/we had to drive because of all the ins and outs of the sea. Almost like Norwegian fjords! Would I undertake that sort of journey with 3 girls, a dinghy, 3 bikes, a Labrador etc today? Even allowing for an overnight stop in Ayrshire? I doubt it!!
Serious respect for the driving you and macsporran have to do!

It is a beautiful day here,I had a lie in for once and Tara enjoyed the relaxation. My laminate flooring is now ready apparently to be laid but the fellow is kindly going to ring me in 19 days time to see if any more progress has been made here- ie is everybody out of the door?

The plumber is working a half day then being picked up and brought here. I have never heard of a plumber who cannot drive- he relies on lifts to get him to and from work and home. Unbelievable. He need not think that he is being ferried home by the builder after he has finished his 30 minute job, that will not be happening.

callgirl1 Full marks! The house for sale belonged to dear Bobby. Sadly he is now in a care home.

Tizliz Perhaps we had fish 'n' chips for lunch in the Three chimneys. Cannot remember the exact details. It was a very charming inn/restaurant.

MawB Killean Estate has been sold and is under new management. My pal worked there as a bookkeeper. Aren't the lodges delightful? Yes, I also recognise where you moved on to in Ardrishaig. Once upon a time, when we were wealthier, I used to have a weekly shampoo and set in Lochgilphead...senior citizens' rates. Lochgilphead isn't too far from Ardrishaig.
Yes...getting to anywhere from the west coast takes time. Good thing is, we love this place.

Charleyg Wow! You sound really upbeat. What a saga! You've been a star.

granniequeenie Wishing your granddaughter a very happy eighth birthday. Would you believe I found it very difficult to spell eighth correctly? Well,I did.

oldgoat Wishing you a safe journey home. When you do visit Kintyre, please let me know. Where are you likely to stay. Muasdale, maybe?

It's a lovely day. The garden is looking good. We had coffee in the garden. Rory sat between us. He really is a darling cat.

Oscar and I are on the train just approaching York. He's been a really good boy sleeping under the table in his bed. Luckily the train is very quiet. The trolley man offered him a free bottle of water, too. Wasn't that kind.
I'm off to book the ferry from Ardrossan to Campbeltown when I get home. Just hope the seas are calm that day because I'm not a good sailor. We plan to stay at Muasdale in May. Really looking forward to it.

oldgoat We could meet for coffee and at Glenbarr garden centre. It's a favourite of ours.

Thank you all but I am almost back to square 1. I was assured that the plumber would be coming after his morning work but nobody has appeared, no telephone call so they had better be wearing their hard hats if and when they turn up tomorrow.

A lovely day here today but I have been stuck indoors.

soop Rory has known for a long time that he has fallen on all 4 paws finding yourself and MacSporran.

oldgoat I agree that was kind offering Oscar water. I suspect that man has animals at home. You were fortunate that Oscar could stretch out in relative peace.

soop We would love to meet you when we come to Muasdale. The Garden Centre sounds good. I don't think that Rory would want to meet Oscar, who is VERY interested in cats. He only wants to be friendly, of course..We are just off to take him for a walk around the village - we both need to stretch our legs after the long journey.

One of those lovely days!
DD1 rang last night to say SIL was going to London and did we fancy seeing her and the little ones late morning /lunchtimes me?
Thank goodness I had nothing planned!! I never see them as often as I would like as they are busy folk and now the boys have weekend activities, even free time isn't "free".
So quick dash to Waitrose for their Easter eggs as we won't see them before Easter, then when they arrived, all 3 settled almost immediately into colouring at the kitchen table Followed by lunch up at the village pub and a serious runaround and kickabout with some other boys at our playground on the way home. Pippa loved the swings/slide/climbing frame/roundabout/seesaw and the boys enjoyed their impromptu football match . Although the youngest there, they acquitted themselves well (especially little Toby) and it was a joy to see the children playing together.
Ice lollies in the garden when we came back and now they have gone
It is pathetic (?) to admit how easily pleased one is when all it takes is 4 hours or so of the grandchildren!

MawBroon that is so pleasant especially when you were not expecting it. The children had a great time as did their DGM.

How is Grace? I have not heard her name mentioned since we had that scare a couple of weeks ago when her rear legs were wobbly. She may enjoy some gentle sunshine.