soop's kitchen for friendly folk and precious pets.

Bella has just jumped onto the window ledge following her afternoon snooze (which carried on from the after breakfast snooze) and is most interested in a pair of tufted duck, a mallard, one moorhen and two wagtails. Not a bad collection for this time of day. No dippers today though.

She was locked in with a litter tray when the blackbirds and wrens fledged last week. Stress!! She sends considered feline thoughts to Rory.

Galen that made me giggle. No salt marshes but a river which passes my window. The samphire is watered using a saline solution of 1tsp salt to a pint of water apparently. For that reason I shall grow it in a container.

Snowing and wintry showers here. All cordon fruits under fleece and fingers crossed as the blossom is in full bloom. Bad timing for apples.

Greyduster sorry to hear about the ambulatory problems and hope all gets resolved soon. There are fish to be caught and places to go.

Lemon drizzle cake here if you are quick. I put the cheese scones straight into the freezer or else 'someone' (every house has a 'someone' I fear) will assist in their rapid disappearance.

soop calming thoughts on their way and naturally they may be shared with anyone else in need.

Away to attend to my teetering pile of ironing. Rory is, as usual, asleep on his chaise...it's a tough life being a cat.

I am cross. I have lost a long response to you lot and on top of the hooha at the care home, I'm far from amused.

callg If we should both be "dumped", please may I sit next to you. We must be sure to have a view across the loch. I so admire the carers. Today, I sat between two ladies who were "prickly" with each other. We reached a watered down truce before I left. By gum, it was tough going.

Izabella Wot! No cake...I hope that you lodged a complaint.

kitty I've not even heard of the word samphire until today. Is it a classy form of seaweed?
And no, I haven't heard a dickie bird from either the private or NHS hospital. I am continuing to remain patient. I'm also not going away. I am in cage-rattling mode.

greyduster Keep resting. I doubt that your new comfortable shoes are part of the problem. More likely to be a trapped nerve.

Yes, thankyou, kitty. It's still there but feels a lot better. I am wondering, now, if my new walking shoes are the problem. I hope not because they cost an arm and a leg and are the most comfortable I have ever had, but everything is pointing to that at the moment . I will change the footbeds and see if that makes a difference.

I've been thinking about going to The Chatsworth Flower Show. It will be either that or the Harrogate Autumn Show which I always like.

Oooh, I absolutely love samphire - our Sainsbury's stock it as does the fish van that comes to the village.

Hope the leg is a bit better today greyduster

Have you had any news soop?

Ann, that must make you want to do some serious damamge with one of the knives! I think n&g's suggestion of a few knives is a good one.

Although I love this house so much and never intend to move, I do envy n&g the adventure of house hunting - wonder if they need any help. I should really have been a house hunter for all the property programmes that proliferate now.

Glad you enjoyed the flower show Izabella. The Chelsea flower show is coming to Chatsworth in June and I'm really looking forward to going as I'm absolutely positive that it won't be at all busy!!

Now, I want you all to sit down and not do anything until I get bakck - there is always far to much to catch up on.

Difficult to describe - crisp and salty straight off the ground. Needs very little cooking. A wonderful accompaniment to fish.

It grows in abundance on the marshes at Freiston Shore, not far from here, but I`ve never had any, what is it like?

We used to pick it and nibble it while we waited for the boat to take us off Blakeney point.

Grows on salt marshes I believe. Do you have one in your garden?

If you succeed with the samphire, izabella please tell me. I adore it and would love to grow some. Our local supermarket used to sell it but no longer. Not popular apparently.

Managed to find my way back to the kitchen at last. I have had a quick recap on what is going on. So many trials and tribulations. Hugs to everyone or flowers if they prefer. Great to hear of house sales but not medico legal stuff and sore calves. rather perturbed regarding mention of snow.

Had a glorious day yesterday at Harrrogate Spring Flower Show. Interesting plants, lovely people, not too busy, plus the usual myriad selection of things to waste money on. An awful morning here today with rain and wind but the most wonderful evening now.

Not a scone in the place after hoardes of various kinds descended last week. Nor cake of any description not to mention low bread stocks in the freezer. How do people eat so much? Better get organised tomorrow. Chicken marinating in the fridge for tomorrow's Moroccon Chicken for the slo cooker, gym followed by pricking out more seedlings. Has anyone ever grown Samphire? Thinking of giving it a whirl as it is so hard to get around here and expensive too. Watered with saline solution obviously.

Just read this and realised I am wandering and waffling!!!!!! I think my next move will be outside to fleece up the cordon apple trees. Just the wrong time for a frost.

Wishing everyone a relaxed evening if possible and a good nights sleep.

Soop, is it the Kintyre Care Home? Rena` hubby took a pic of her and Dawn outside there, maybe they were thinking of where to dump me!

greyduster Do you think that you've pulled your hamstring? That too is agonising. Rest and re-couperation is the order from us lot of the day. Not certain that the spelling is correct. If not, you know what I mean.

Care home visit in the morning. I shall return for catch-up as soon as I can.

Wonderful views galen, Gary is doing a good job. Snow tizliz? Flipping cold here and windy but no snow, the heating is back on though. Sorry about the injury greyduster, hope it mends soon, sounds painful that's for sure.

Not much doing today, seem to be forever in catch up mode. What would I do if I ever did catch up? It was lovely yesterday so ventured into the garden and tidied a shed. Can't believe the difference a day has made.

Take care all, keep warm and well.

Good afternoon kitcheners. Sounds as if you have a battle royal with these medical people, soop. I hope you see some light at the end of the tunnel soon. N&G you've sold your house! Great news! I hope you find the property you're looking for in Norfolk. Plenty of lovely areas to go at. We were thinking of buying there, near Diss, when DH was coming up to his 22 year point, but decided on here instead as it was near to my family and work prospects were better. We love Norfolk, though, and go there as often as we can. For many years we had friends in Thetford but sadly they are no longer with us. I also have another friend in Norwich who once swore the only place she would ever retire to was Tarbert!
Ann ???. Easy for me to say, I know, but keep your chin up.
I am somewhat crocked today with a bad calf strain that hit me yesterday when we were out walking. We were, as usual when these things happen, a few miles from home and by the time I got home I was in agony. It has improved today but I'm trying to stay off it ?. DH is being very solicitous.

Galen Gary is a star. Your garden looks delightful.

Tizliz Ooer! The sea is choppy. White crested waves. I'm about to put on an extra layer of clothing.

Snowing here! Big flakes and settling

That's not the garden. That's the front patio. It's completely enclosed and faces south so very warm. The back garden is on a slope with 12 steps down to it. I can't get to it so it's Gary's kingdom.
It's nort facing. You can see the Bristol Channel at the bottom and the Welsh hills

Isn't it blustery and chilly? This too shall pass. I emptied the washing machine and discovered that a top had managed to dye all the accompanying items bright pink. Yikes!

Thank you, Mildred I shall update you lot when I eventually get an answer.

Sounds like exciting times ahead n&g, relieved I can uncross digits. . You are right about seeing the little ones less as they get older. We usually only get to spend a day with Littlest, the other two are so busy we grab an hour when we can and relish sleepovers when their parents need a night out. It is a big step to move as you plan to. We love Norfolk, lived there early days, fabulous coast line and generous housing, including bungalows. It must be hard to think about leaving the family. Good luck with it all

Cat like threads in GN, galen? Surely not! Love your garden, looks very inviting.

Hope your patience holds out, ann, more if you need it.

Seems like lots of very supportive and sensible advice about your medical records, soop, I hope there is a positive outcome very soon.

Love the lounge Galen. Looks like a happy place for your DGC to be. Unless it was Gary of course?

ann you have my sympathies. I remember the following about phase well. It nearly drove my poor SIL mad. Never a moments peace. My brother used to get very agitated if my SIL went out of the room. Have you got any help yet, anyone to sit with your DH while you go out for a bit?

Just been watching the cats duet by Rossini on U tube
Can't think why it makes me think of some threads on GN?

They have an obligation to get back to you and not ignore the request, but what happens if they are no longer functioning? Where are the records then? Soop has said that the hospital was a private one, so the NHS is not involved.