Soop's kitchen for friendly folk and precious pets...

Just switched ours on too, ann

Bellanonna you are somebody after my own heart. Friends laugh at me because I have a 15 tog duvet and also use a hot water bottle as and when necessary. I always have been a cold morsel, born and brought up on the East coast of Scotland and eventually coming to London which is marginally warmer some days but not today.

Tara is not much of a help as she prefers her own bed after I switch my light off.

Oh I make good use of my hwb charleygirl, often on the sofa before bedtime. Hate to be cold! It's really windy down here isn't it (though possibly tame compared with other parts). I'm afraid I'm a wimpy Southerner tho I did grow up in the 40s when it was only warm around the fire!

We had a fright just after midnight last night, an awfully loud crash in the yard. Being a scaredy cat, I waited till morning to find out what it was. The kitchen fitters had left to old sink top leaning against a wall, and the wind had blown it over.
Tegan2, are you our lovely Tegan reincarnated? If so, it`s wonderful to see you back in the fold!
Soop, beautiful sunset pictures, thank you.

We walked the Samaria twice, the last time about four years ago. I have RA and was determined to do it after a bad flare up left me feeling I'd never achieve it. New medication gave me my life back and whilst I don't think it's in my earthly powers now, I'm still so pleased to have made that glorious, mammoth trek. Many thanks for all these positive memories of this special island

"When sinks go walkabout", sounds like a bad horror film! Don't blame you for staying put callgirl, hate unknown noises in the night - that's one of the reasons I wear earplugs. We put our sink, in it's housing (with a large bucket under the hole) & did the washing up al fresco on the patio when our kitchen was completely stripped out 4 years ago - luckily it was Aug/Sep, clement weather & light nights - the birds were scratching their feathers a bit though, wondering what was going on!!

I love to hear when dogs are used as therapy Iam, wherever the setting. It reflects great credit on their owners - you must be proud to be part of such a group.
A while back I saw how a "working" PAT dog was introduced to a class group of mostly adoring 9 year-old children; in work mode it was calm, serene & almost cushion-like, once the work jacket was off & he was outside, he was like a dervish - the change was remarkable to see. Great stuff!!
Good to hear you are enjoying your holiday.

Yes; c'est moi callgirl. Needed a bit of 'time out' but good to be back.Came back temporarily to answer a question but may just hangaroundabit. Oh Crete/Chania/the Samaria Gorge. How I love the place. Desperate to go back there but won't leave the dog as she's got health problems and I don't know of anywhere homely that she could stay. The smell of thyme when walking in the hills; I'm not religious but there's something biblical about the place.

A very empty kitchen this morning? Have you lot scoffed the croissants and gone?
Or are you burrowed deep under the duvet trying to block out the "p " word(politics) ?
After a rubbish night,( Paw's coughing and my cramp probably caused by different shoes yesterday, I was awake/up at least every two hours) I finally fell asleep over my tea at 7.30 and needed it.
I hope everybody is well, that N&G are not blown or washed away. Yesterday's weather has played havoc in the garden and today although not raining, is still blustery and most unlike Summer weather
Somehow have to get the sheets and duvet covers dry. .

Popped in from my dragonplant-slaying because I got a message from soop to say their broadband connection is down AGAIN and the BT 'engineer' isn't coming till Monday!! I've been telling soop to get herself a cheap smart phone so that at least she can be connected once a day, so long as she has a signal. Poor soop! She needs that connection, BT!

Thanks Baggs please pass on commiserations and maybe phoenix's curse on BT ?
Incredibly frustrating for Soop and for anybody in the area trying to run a business, absolutely impossible.
Mobile phone is a good idea.

I've contacted BT via Twitter (@bt_uk) and left complaints. Perhaps a few others of you could do the same. I just mentioned Kintyre and the fact that the closest village "upgrade" is what seems to have caused the ridiculous problems she is having. I've suggested they give her smart phone that will connect on mobile data. They should probably give her a free connection that way for a year as well as the eighteen months free but often useless connection they've already given her for compensation after the last incompetence.

Baggs if Soop is up for it a strongly worded and detailed (signed for) letter to the Chairmans Office at the BT registered address works wonders. We were sorted within 48 hours and had a substantial charge reduction/compensation. The Chairman has a magic hit squad, we were given a direct number to a person tasked with sorting it. Ours was a connection issue, too. I hope Twitter works, but the letter can do no harm. Sending love and patience to soop and macs. Thank you for letting us know.

Poor soop - BT problems again! I agree with corner; bring in the big guns and hit them where it hurts! Thank you Baggs for letting us know.
Maw my commiserations for your broken night. I hope you manage to get some rest during the day to make up for it. I hope that Paw is feeling better.
The wind has played havoc with my garden and I have just been out to tie up Mrs Bradshaw, who had gone into a dead faint on the lawn (too much gin probably!). She was not happy at being tied up, thwarting all my efforts to get raffia around the relevant bits. However, she is now upright again - for the present! The clematis was also going off in all directions, and needed a bit of support, but at least it seems to have got over its fear of heights and it climbing a bit further than last year. At least the sun is shining. If the rain holds off, we might get to kick a football around with His Majesty after school.

Good thinking, corner. I'll pass that message on.

Meanwhile a Hermes delivery just arrived at the boggy brae where I live. He stopped at where I was doing my dragon slaying and handed over the parcel. I told him he could drive up and turn his car at the top so he did and then came back down giving me a cheery wave as he passed. I thought that, though he had a sweet young man face, he looked slightly strange. Nothing much, it was just a funny look.

Then I came inside and saw my face in a mirror. Some of the wood I've been cutting was sooty from a fire a couple of weeks ago. It seems I must have touched my face with my sooty gloves! Ah well, the nice young man can laugh about these weirdo women living on boggy braes fighting dragons

The dragons are rhododendrons, btw.

And I thought with all that soot, Baggs, they would be fire breathing rhododendrons dragons!

greyduster Your description of getting to grips with Mrs Bradshaw really made me smile.
Having studiously avoided exposure to politics on television or newspapers for the last few weeks I called to see a friend this morning who immediately launched into an angry tirade about JH on the Beeb this morning. Your OH is not the only one shouting abuse at the tele.

Duct tape is an excellent solution to stop menfolk banging on about politicians and the like; applied while the subject is asleep (preferably not with the mouth open).

greyduster

greyduster very descriptive post about Mrs Bradshaw and the clematis with a fear of heights. Loved it

Maw Listening to the TODAY prog this AM. I was perfectly tuned in and in bed, however the prog seemed to be interrupeted at times..

Has your OH got a particularly loud voice! It seemed to interfere with my signal.

I thought Kier Starmer nailed JH with his answers.

BTW JH is long past his sellby date.

Soon summer will come and politicians will depart. Where to?

Berlusconi is not and option, nor Trump towers.

Await tomorrows results wit interest

Baggs Thanks for the message about soop - they must be spitting feathers I assume that Virgin cabling hasn't reached Kintyre yet, so BT has a monopoly. A letter to the chairman is a must - I think they've been more than patient over the unreliable connection. A free smartphone with limitless contract would help them somewhat methinks

Don't blame Paw if your signal you got interfered with jollyg!!
I can assure you he has not interfered with anybody for quite some time !!

Fire-breathing dragons, gd. Love it! Fire-breathing dragons will feature in future garden blog posts

I had a hospital appointment yesterday and when I arrived home late pm it was to the smell of a freshly painted house. What a difference- only two more rooms to do, my bedroom and the new kitchen. Even I am beginning to think that the end is in sight. I did give the ultimatum of this Sunday but I do not think that will happen. If their working day would increase to more than 4 hours a lot more could be done but at this stage I do not want a mass walk out of two.