soop's kitchen for friendly folk and precious pets.

My very best wishes callgirl that your journeys go well. Doubtless it will be emotional but also comforting, if that doesn't sound too weird. I'm sure you'll enjoy meeting up with soop too.

Maw hope all goes well for Paw tomorrow and the roads aren't too bad for you. The Saturday is usually the quietest of this weekend as far as road traffic is concerned. Love the Flynn pic - my DGS still loves to sit in the body of a trolley but he's getting awfa' heavy for me to lift!

Greyduster how dare your OH laugh at my helpful suggestions to ward off malnutrition? Must admit though I did have a little laugh myself about it yesterday when blitzing a load of vegetables and chicken breast. DGS will not 'eat' vegetables but does enjoy special chicken soup!!

Thanks everyone for your kind words and understanding of my tiredness this week. For complicated job reasons DS has looked after him today and I spent the morning dozing on and off on the sofa. This afternoon I joined some neighbours and enjoyed 'adult' conversation, which involved a lot of laughs. Feel so much better after my lazy day

Hope you all have as good an Easter weekend as possible

I wouldn't want to usurp Mick's "Good Morning" thread so I will just whisper it here.
You know when you know you have to be up early so you go to bed early and it all goes downhill from there ?
In bed by 10.30, read for a bit, all quiet from Grace downstairs . Fine (I am in the little spare room, just one up from the dog kennel but we need our sleep. I snore and he gets up loads in the night. Also I like to read late go on GN )
So at 12 there's a whimper, Grace needs out. No problem.
At 12.30 there's another. Grace wants out. Fine.
Then I fall out of bed with a crash around 1.30. Nothing damaged, but I might as well let Grace out as she is awake.
I wake up to the dawn chorus shortly before 5.30 decide to cut my losses, put kettle on, empty dishwasher, urge an unwilling dog to go out (whether she does anything I have no idea) and take DH a cup of camomile tea (clear fluids only) at 5 to 6.
whispers <Good morning everybody.>
Wishing you a pleasant day, especially Soop and callgirl who I hope has arrived safely.

Oh I know that one, mawb, I've been awake since silly o'clock as we're in charge of Littlest, who is fast asleep as he will be for a while yet, but I'm awake just in case. In case of what? Earthquake, flood, tidal wave? No flipping idea! Adrenaline (and cake?) will keep you going today. Duplimand cars,wil,do the same for me . Wishing you a safe and easy journey and a good outcome for your husband. Also a long and restful sleep tonight.

I'm sure tonight will be fine mawb. Sounds like my kind of night, though I haven't fallen yet! Hope the day goes ok.

Take care on the roads mawb. Of course you will, I know. Why do rotten nights happen when we have to go somewhere? Hope all goes well for Mr Mawb and that you have a safe journey both ways, with a good sleep tonight.

Safe travels,*maw*, oh and cornergran I'll be looking out for some of those "duplimand cars* they would be an asset to my toy cupboard!
Having stayed up to silly o'clock chatting with visiting daughter about her new and very lovely boyfriend ( it's all sounding very positive and I'm SO excited for her), here I am wide awake a good hour or so before I need to be. No matter, an easy day ahead with a relaxing walk and lunch out before daughter goes home. Some of the family are away on holiday tomorrow, our twin daughters are meeting up with each other but typically for them haven't thought to include us in the fun so I think we might feel like Billy no Mates tomorrow! Well I will, the old boy rises above such things better than I do
soop I do hope you're beginning to recover from a very difficult few weeks and enjoy meeting up with call girl
Sounds like a relaxing spell on the sofa and some laughs was just what you needed swanny
I'm too far behind with all the kitchen comings and goings to be sure I've wished every one well, so if I've ignored anyone I apologise!

I am definitely flavour of the month where I live. I have the plumber drilling in the kitchen and then the scaffolders appeared without any warning 15 minutes ago to remove it so my neighbours will be having a great time with all of the drilling inside and out.

Normally I would not be dressed, so the scaffolders were lucky. What would they have done as I had to open the rear gate for them.

The floor laying fellow was here until 7.30pm last night drilling away so I will be staying indoors I think.

Good morning all !!

Grampy assisted yesterday and it was done very quickly. His back is no worse for wear thank goodness. We are doing a taxi service today for SiL who needs to go for and MRI .

I shall be staying home as DD and SiL have a simmering war discussion about grass seed or turf. I love my SiL but he has inherited his fathers style and he is as stubborn ( and cheap) as the day is long. He favours seed , my DD favours turf as she has two small boys and summer is coming. I'm staying out of it !!

I agree * Corner* Grampy does not feel a day over 30 (but his body does !!)

Hope DHs procedure goes as well as it can Maw and you enjoy a lovely family lunch !!

How are you feeling * Gray*? I do hope the lip improves quickly . 4 stitches sounds a lot

Your family get-together sounds right up my street Kitty , we have a piece of beef to cook tomorrow the size of small pony.....now that doesn't conjure up a good picture

Oh Flynn is growing so fast Maw , I do love the pictures of him. He looks adorable .Sorry to hear about the disturbed night - that sounds a bit like Grampy ....he was up and down like a yo-yo last night...he has a cold coming but from the moaning I would think it might be Ebola or something worse ! Men

It sounds like the house is really coming together Charlie I am so pleased for you !!

Right- time for me to get on... Safe travels Maw - and Soop and callgirl enjoy your get together !!

Happy Days x

Hello kitcheners. Early for me today.
Maw I only just noticed that you are going to The Spaniard for lunch. When DH and I were 'courting' (does anyone use that expression anymore?) it was one of our very favourite watering holes. That and Jack Straw's Castle, but mainly The Spaniard. We've never had the chance to go back - maybe it should go on our bucket list! I'm sorry you had such an awful sleepless night - not what you need in preparation for what will be a trying day for you and your DH. ?
Corner GS is ten and sleeps in longer than he used to do, but when he is here, I am always awake early in case he wakes and "needs me". The only thing he "needs" when he wakes these days is his iPad! He is off to Amsterdam today with his Dad for a lads weekend! Not sure how they managed to persuade DD to agree to that on Easter weekend, but there is, as always, a football match involved. I spent most of the afternoon yesterday in the bedroom here he calls his, sorting out his toys, most of which he can now be deemed to have grown out of - Duplo, Playmobil, loads of Action Men and a full QM stores of their kit, K'Nex (which is borderline still 'in play'), Lego. When do you get rid of this stuff and (sigh) where does the time go ?
My lip is a lot better today. The swelling seems to have gone down and I can eat and drink fairly normally, but one of the stitches seems to have unknotted itself. (I promise it wasn't anything to do with Flynn, Maw ?). It is still in, and seems to be keeping things together, but the two loose ends are irritating the life out of me. I contemplated trying to reknot it using two pairs of fly tying tweezers, but thought better of it - I can't even pluck my eyebrows in a mirror without hurting myself!
I'd like to be a fly on the wall when Soop and callgirl get together! I hope they have a splendid day!

I have just lost a very long (and untypically brilliant)post and I can't go through it all again.
In essence, have a good day whatever you are all doing, some will be very good and some will be duty but hope it all does well for you all.

Sorry N&G I was still tapping away when you posted. I agree with your DD - turf is the way to go for a reasonably boy-proof lawn! Seed takes ages and needs attention as it grows to encourage it to thicken out. We have a small section to reseed shortly but are waiting for some rain in order to prep the ground. Our lawn does not suffer the attention of small boys these days I'm sad to say - it's not big enough to be a football pitch!

Ann ?☀️☀️??

Oh ann. I do sympathise, frustrating or what? .

A for the new toy, grannyqueenie, of course you knew I meant Duplo
and cars, still that sounded far more interesting. I'm truly not safe to be let out with an iPad.

All systems go for you. charley, pleased your modesty was preserved. You sound better greyduster, good to hear.

Turf or seed? Turf for sure n&g. Otherwise by the time it's been re-seeded at least four times because of escaping small children it will have cost far more in terms of energy and tension. Hope common sense wins.

Well, we're off out. It's a horrid morning but you know it's far easier than being in with Littlest. He doesn't mind the weather and as long as he's happy, we're happy. Wish us oldies luck. .

ann I know how frustrating that can be as it happened to me the other day and I ended up writing a couple of short sentences in case I had problems sending those.

It is very quiet here now, the plumber having recently left having done a superb job on the previously botched one. I now have 3 working and non leaking radiators.

The scaffolders have also departed- obviously none of them knowing how a sweeping brush works but at least they are gone forever.

I must get my act together and go out to do a little food shopping, that is if the shelves are not totally empty.

When I return, I must continue with the paper shredding. If the builder tomorrow could concentrate on finishing the kitchen I would be a happy bunny.

I need him out of this house forever because I need to make things like dental appointments.

I hope everybody has a good day, especially soop and callgirl.

Greyduster please leave the sutures alone but I do know how frustrating it is. Pleased to hear that you can almost eat and drink normally and that the pain has subsided. I will keep my fingers crossed for a good result.

Victor Meldrew moment
I don't believe it!!
DH is not having his colonoscopy (which he needs and forvwhichnhevspent 24hours drinking noxious Moviprep and pooing for Britain)
Oh no, RFH admin has cocked up again and he is having a Gastroscopy for which no prep was needed. I could have gone to DD's party after all.
Good thing we were here early to get something sorted out , that we did not shell out our usual £100 for the taxi and that somethngbat least will be done which may possibly address the issue of his sickness in the night.
And as consolation he should be out in time for lunch with the DDs although I am still gnashing my teeth at the incompetence.

Flipping heck Maw!! Good luck for the rest of the day!!

Try not to get blown away corner.

Sounds as though good progress is haprening charley. You'll wonder what you were so bothered about in a couple of weeks. Well, maybe not that soon!!

Oh dear, hells bells and all the other stronger expletives which I only mutter under my breath at H when the mood takes me ( quite often I admit).
If he makes lunch your H will clear the kitchen he must be so hungry.
The best laid plans etc etc.

Oh it takes a while to get over something like that. Angry doesn't begin to describe the feeling. Poor both of you. I do hope he manages lunch with you all and thst you can both enjoy it. At least it wasn't the wrong day (trying to look on the bright side). Happy Easter !

Oh MawB at least something is being done but what a waste of time also putting your DH through hell and back. Having been there myself I know what it is like. That part of his anatomy will feel very delicate and sore today. If you had threatened to sue them for cost of taxis etc. something more may have been done. I do hope that you enjoy your lunch at the Spaniards.

That means another trip for you in the near future and your poor DH will have a repeat performance- my heart goes out to him.

kitty the level of incompetence re some jobs here is so high that I will never ever forget it. It rather outweighs the number of excellent jobs carried out. I would happily have 2 of them return to do future work but not the remaining 5, I do not want any of them over my threshold.

At least the curtain fitting, floor laying and plumbing this week has been of a high standard so I am marginally happy.

I do intend to open a chilled bottle of wine this evening. I hate champagne, thankfully but I do like a decent wine. I must get my act together and buy some fresh vegetables if the shelves have not been emptied.

Oh fgs MawBroon!
I hope you get there in good time for lunch
I remember when MIL was told she needed a colonoscopy; she was in hospital with a chest infection and I queried twice why she needed it and was assured that it was necessary and would show up a lot that could be wrong with her. They starved her and gave her barium meals. The next day they realised that it was the wrong patient and should have been the woman in the bed opposite (completely different name, different age).

Happy Easter to everyone

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A bonnie good afternoon to you lovely lot. Sometimes I imagine logging on and being able to read through a handful of messages and responding within minutes. No chance!

We met callgirl1 just before one and we left Campbeltown round about 3:30. It was a very happy lunchtime. It took callgirl and her family twelve hours to reach Campbeltown. They were completely bushed on arrival. Hotel had stopped serving food, so they went out for fish and chips. Now that she's here, she is extremely happy to be so. Although scattering her husband's ashes on the beach tomorrow is bound to be a tearful occasion. The sun is shining for her right now. All her family were gathered in the adjoining bar. We met them all. There is a nice photo of callg and her grandson and me which I shall share with you.

It doesn't happen often but words fail me mawb. You couldn't make it up. I'm hoping you could enjoy some lunch and your husband was able to be with you.

Lovely photos soop. Those desserts look fab too, macs looks very pleased with his. So pleased you were able to be there with callgirl and her family. Will be thinking of them tomorrow.

Lovely day. Shattered now. May be comatose in about, oh, 2oseconds. .

For those of you who are travelling, safe journey to and fro.

MawB and Jalima Yikes! Such mix-ups are not the norm.

Charleyg You've endured a living nightmare. You must be made of tough stuff. Many people when faced with incompetence of such magnitude would be taken off to convalesce until their sanity had been restored. You are getting there.

N&G Turf!

Greyduster Pleased to hear that you are beginning to feel less sore. I use to pluck my eyebrows. Haven't done so in a very long time. They are no longer bushy. In fact they're sparce and straggly.

granniequeenie Thank you for asking. The sadness washes over both of us when we least expect it. We go the window and look up into the woodland. Bracken had a well-worn path down to the gap in the fence through to our garden. We still expect hope to see her.

corner Doze on...the rest will do you good.