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

I'm in bed already trying to catch up with all the kitchen news and resting my weary legs. OH and I led an 8 mile walk along the Yorkshire coast today, to Saltburn, and it was boiling hot. The only thing that kept us going was the thought of our afternoon tea prepared by the local WI. They are amazingly good cake makers and insisted that we bring all the left-over cakes home with us! Well, it would have been rude not to. So I'm leaving a plate of strawberry shortcake and scones on the kitchen table for you all.
I meant to say soop that your friend's lemon drizzle cake was delicious. My mouth is watering at the thought of it.

When we went to Oban we had juicy deep filled prawn sandwiches from what looks like a green garden shed near the ferry terminal. It sells all sorts of fishy treats. I wonder whether you know the place I mean? There were queues of people waiting to buy their lunch and sit on the tables outside to eat - and it was raining at the time!
Sorry to hear about your arm baggs.Have you got it in plaster? Gardening is a dangerous persuit. Is your leg completely healed now soop ? I wouldn't let OH up a step ladder with an electric hedge trimmer. He's dangerous enough with the manual clippers and managed to get his finger end in them one time. High drama! You would think he'd chopped his hand off.

Sorry, crafting, should have made that post clearer. I'm not agreeing with your issues about access to GN - if it helps you aren't alone - but with the sentiments in your final paragraph.

Hear hear, craftng. Agree totally. Could just do with some chocolate cake, I'm having a very naughty-food day. Have a glass of chilled white to hand, so cheers everyone

Oh dear, baggs, that will slow you down. Hope it's not too uncomfortable

Had a really good day today, managed to forget the current buggerations in our life and feel very chilled. Long may it last .

I've been locked out ?. Haven't been able to get on GN for days. GNHQ say the problem is theirs and I can come on via 'active' threads so at least I am allowed in now.

Baggs so sorry to hear about your wrist. That (in kitchen terms) is an absolute buggeration. Is it your dominant hand? I too have had a fall when getting out of the car. I didn't hurt my wrist as I fell on my backside . I got up quickly hoping no one noticed but I am rather sore and sitting down is rather painful ?.

There seems to have been some derogatory remarks made on other threads about people talking about cats and being nice. Leave them to it I say. Enough trouble and sadness in the world. If we kitcheners are kind and supportive, then as far as I'm concerned we are in the best place. Plus we have the best ?. So here, a large chocolate cake, filled with chocolate buttercream and chocolate icing on top. Help yourselves

Our Baggs has fallen in her garden and broken her wrist. Sorry to hear that, Baggs. Feet up when you get home and perhaps a wee G&T to help you relax.

I'm about finished for the day. Ironing done! Newspaper to read and... a G&T ready to be poured. Simple pleasures are the best.

Rory is exhausted. He's been watching MacS trim the hedge. He's lolling on the chaise. It's having to concentrate on a 'human bean' doing some hard graft that does it.

Bye for now.

That's a big plant !!

The gunnera...

corner I agree that gardens are good for relieving stress. MacSporran has been hedge-cutting the old fashioned way - with a pair of his late father's shears. He looks a little hot and bothered because the hedges are high and he has to perch on steps. Not a good thing at "his age". Now he tells me that, when we are in Oban (he's to see the blood consultant) he proposes treating himself to an electric thingy. I'm a little concerned. He will still have to use the steps and with a machine in his grasp who knows what may happen. Time we thought about getting the able-bodied local young man round again to help with such stuff. The trench that he dug earlier in the year, is collecting the water draining off the hillside. I shall show you a pic of the gunnera. No wonder it thrives. The land around it is a mini bog.

All welcome charley. Loads of seats. It's a tiny garden but very full of plants. Its my stress relief.

Having woofed down a slab of choc cake, I shall burn off a few calories doing the ironing. Back with you later.

Charleyg Well done, Tara. How much longer will the building work be in progress?

Baggs Take it nice and easy. you've a tartan dress and pearls waiting to be worn for Mum's 88th birthday bash.

Have you ever read 'The Little Grey Men' or 'Down the Bright Stream' by 'B.B'? Both were read to pupils in our village primary school. I have both books here and have read them to Matt. They are marvellous. Well worth a mention.

I was without phone, TV and internet access this am for a few hours. It was my builder who sorted it out. I knew that it was simple and it was. I have to thank Tara for playing around during the night and stepping on an important switch. My eyesight being as it is could not see if it was switched on or off.

Tara's problem is vomiting and I use paper towels for that job. Newspapers would not do the trick.

Galen I hope that you were not waiting for food for last night's supper. That is unusual, Ocado do not normally treat their customers like that.

Aggie that is horrendous. I also would be going down the alcoholic route although I never touch spirits I do have a selection of wine here.

Poor Sam- at least he is having a well earned rest now as is Buzz.

MawB I do not know what to say about Paw- it is very difficult for both of you,

Corner what a gorgeous garden, room for any intruders?

I think you will love the Borrowers, soop. There are more books about them if you do xx

Typing with one had cos i've just fallen down a bank. Think I've mentioned how steep it is on t'other side of the lane. I think I've sprained my wrist. There's a swelling.

Hi, mazza, I hope I can meet some of the Lancashire lasses again some day . I'm coming down for my mum's 88th birthday lunch at the end of the month but will be staying in Derbyshire with DD1 cos mum will have a houseful already with my bro over from US and sis up from Norfolk. my youngest bro lives at mum's already.

Nellie I don't have a laptop. I've had difficulty accessing certain threads. Gremlins in the pipeline!

I cannot get into GN on my laptop right now. Only on my tablet . It's a pain in the backside . Are things ok with you lot on laptops?

Welcome mazza245 I see that Nana has answered your query. I returned home to find a parcel in which was a gift from Baggs...'The Borrowers' by Mary Norton. Pod, Homily and Arrietty (love the name) are a family of tiny people who live beneath the floorboards. Everything they have is borrowed from the 'human beans', who don't know they exist. That is, until one fateful day when Arriety makes friends with 'the boy upstairs'...I shall enjoy reading it a bedtime. I enjoy quirky!

annsixty Norty!

Good afternoon to you all. Granniqueenie I'm eating a wedge of chocolate covered temptation -(the cake stall is no place to leave me for any length of time.)The back-bone of a flip-flop, some would murmur.

So what's been happening hereabouts? I'm about to find out. Hang on in there as I play catch-up.

downsized Your lovely daughters are very like you.

Has anyone news of jud and Georgie?

Talking of vet's fees, as we were yesterday, a local lady has crocheted (is that correct?)some pet blankets. Each blanket has it's own knitted mouse, with a feather tail, attached in one corner. I was thinking - the blankets would make a very nice gift - providing the pet doesn't try to swallow the mouse together with it's feather tail. If so, the vet's fees would mount up alarmingly, making the cost of the blanket somewhat excessive. Just a random thought.

NanandGrampy Poor Maw she far too classy to be tied to a wheelie bin. I wouldn't mind betting that our Galen wearing her best pearls, leading a protest march, is not to be ignored.
There is a Matt cartoon featuring elderly protestors. The chant is something along the lines of - 'what do we want - when do we want it - what were we saying?'.

Mazza if I recall correctly it was just a technical hitch , she couldn't access her account so had to change her name .

Hope that helps ! :-)

Back from the vets with an unhappy Sam !!

His face when he was having his temperature taken was priceless !! She feels the new food - healthy or not- has disagreed with him. So probiotics, antibiotics , bland diet and rest , plenty of water and hopefully an improvement by Monday !

He's snoozing now, and Grampy has joined him to show solidarity !!

My D does have Karndean all through the ground floor of her house for which she has been very grateful since the puppy arrived.
Her estranged H is spending the weekend with them as he is in England on business. I hope the dog doesn't let them down.
On the other hand.....

Annsixty, its thick kitchen towel all the way for dog vomit or worse. I clean up in disposable gloves, with detox and water, then either karndean (kitchen) or laminate (sitting room) to finish. I can ear all the non dog people expressing in wonder "why have Dogs". I know, they're messy nightmares but the positives are endless. NandG I'm fortunate, daughters and their partners very chilled about the Dogs, see it as helping immune systems ?

Poor aggie, toothache is worse than childbirth IMO, do hope you are feeling better.

I've been sitting here putting off tackling my industrial-sized pile of ironing by watching the Trooping of the Colour. I love tradition and ceremonial things, greatly admire HM The Queen and Prince Philip, so have really enjoyed it.

Galen that's terrible service, I hope you told them their fortune
Hope you will enjoy the BBQ. Seeing your lovely DG's will cheer you up.

I'm posting a photo of Buzz, my dog. He is feeling the heat.

I've been searching everywhere for the reason why "thatbags" changed her name to "Baggs" and I can't find it anywhere. We met in a NW meet up so I feel slightly justified in being so nosy. Please will someone put me out of my misery?