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

Back with the cream for the scones (that's 2 days in a row isn't it Gagagran?) - now do we break apart our scones or cut them? (Haven't thought about it before (apparently "naice" people break them!) but I don't suppose it matters if they're virtual anyway.

I'm with you Elegran regarding the moving powers of music. A few years ago we had a small group of nice but noisy young people who congregated at the side of our house in the evenings. We found that opera played very loudly, was not to their taste & they moved on. Puccini rocks, but Wagner's Valkyries may discombobulate the "difficult" neighbours. Galen really ought to start an al fresco music society .

Charleyg Talk about doing battle with a cat. He took a look at the eye dropper, struggled, hissed and scarpered into the garden. He doesn't leave his garden. Another cat wanders through occasionally and he has to investigate. Unlike Bracken, the newcomer isn't welcome, it seems. We have heard a few cross cat calls whenever they meet.

grannyqueenie Knowing when not to voice an opinion is an art form. I do feel sorry for the grandchild that appears to be depressed. Do you have any idea why she is so unhappy? It must be very difficult and upsetting for you.
Rory also uses his litter tray. He's a good boy!

The sun is shining brightly. I've done some gardening. It is a very tough job these days. I've saved my ironing money and am tempted to ask the strapping young man in the village if he's prepared to do some heavy spade work.

Kind thoughts winging their way to all our Granspals. I shall return tomorrow.

Posh Who cares! Once the scone is on the plate, I do what comes naturally... I scoffs 'em.

I'm so impressed by such neighbourly cats, as mine were when I had them.... but then I never had 6 like my neighbour.
Thank you charley and soop it's very sad to see my eldest gd as she is and a huge worry for her lovely parents. I think there are some longstanding issues (possibly ASD type) which have become more obvious in adolescence. School and her mum and dad are working well together but the poor lass is very resistant to accepting any support, so it's a bit of a stale mate at present

Betwixt me & thee soop, I don't care either (&, she says in very quiet voice ... I loathe cream !!

Thanks for topping up the cream Posh (noted that you are not keen - neither am I truth to tell!) Others can tuck in and enjoy though. We do like to have a ready supply of comestibles available at all times in the kitchen and soop always has liquid refreshment available!

I am waiting to hear news from my sister who lives 300 miles away from us and is marking out the end days of her DH of over 60 years. He is fading more each day and she is full of stress and angst and sorrow because she cannot do anything for him except be there to hold his hand.

Her hearing is poor and she doesn't like the phone so we email each other and I try my best to support her but I wish it was over and done with so she could greave properly. Then I feel guilty for wishing that.

He is safe and well cared for in a nursing home but is 85 with lots of health issues and had a major stroke last September. I wish there was more I could do for my sister.

Flowers for everyone with a sore heart tonight, for whatever reason

What a lovely gesture grannyqueenie
I do like this cafe.

Back home and Paw's "oscopies"(both ends) duly done. Whew!
It was a long process as due to bowel surgery some years ago things are more twisted than in most people, plus adhesions (?) make it difficult and, for him, painful at times.
He didn't get out until after 6 (from a 3pm start) and has crashed out now, barely able to stay awake long enough to finish a bowl of soup! I may be off to bed very soon too, after my weekly Monty/Nigel fix (and not necessarily in that order) ?
I had to laugh at the image of trying to get Rory to sit still for his eye drops. Reminds me of that thing about how to give a pill to a cat !
Still, nobody likes pets to be poorly so I hope he is on the mend very soon.

Hugs and gagagran, sometimes life is so hard. Your thoughts are human and understandable. Such a difficult time for everyone.

Oh charlie, how I wish the cats here were as well mannered as Tara. I'm sure I clear up enough for an elephant on a daily basis.

Goodness, soop, that was some adventure with Rory. Hope he recovers quickly.

The ups and downs of being a grandmother, eh grannyqueenie. Sounds as if you are doing a more than good job. Must be hard not to worry about the 14 year old though. We're minding a two year old this weekend, the potential for injury is as wide as the world.

Thank you for sharing your precious photo of Jaylan, callgilr, he's certainly a cheeky lad

Off for an early night, suspect I will need it. Take care all.

I am now back to normal- the washing machine is running- it has not been on for about 4 days, unheard of here. I slept like a baby last night and I was allowed a lie in until 7.30am.

corner are you sure that it is cat faeces that you are picking up? It could well belong to a fox.

It is dull but there is a good drying wind. I have an appointment with a hoover so I must go.

Hello dear Granspals. Although yesterday was sunny and warm, today the weather is dreich. The grass isn't going to get a haircut this afternoon.

granniequeenie and Gaga Tender hugs for you both.

Posh I bags your cream. I only ever eat it when we eat scones (once a week), the rest of the time, I abstain. I'm a champion abstainer.

Marydoll and we like having your company.

Maw I don't envy your dear husband having to suffer both-end-oscopies. He needs all the sleep he can get. And maybe a little pampering thrown in for good measure.

corner We haven't been able to put the drops into Rory's eyes. He's a big, strong cat. He has in fact kept a low profile...sleeping in distant dusty corners so that he appears to be out of the room. He's a canny cat. We shall have to continue with the treatment. Goodness only knows how...

Charleyg 'Back to normal'...Yay!

Last night's sunset was special. You can see the ferry to Islay against the backdrop.

soop I know exactly what is happening re Rory as I have had a similar experience with Tara.

Even if he comes near, you end up squirting the fur on his back or near his ear. I think the only way is to forget about it now, lull him into a false sense of security by petting him but not attempting anything else. The problem is that it is not a one/off so is there any point attempting it because there is no way that he will receive eg a week's treatment?

Maw I totally agree, Paw must be totally exhausted after yesterday's pokings and proddings.

I saw a visiting cat slink past my house earlier with breakfast in its mouth. One less mouse around here.

Hello everyone, any tea in the pot? I've brought some fresh raspberries in - they were still growing a few hours ago and I have washed them, so do help yourselves.

I think I saw a thread recently about breast scanning, probably on Health forum. I have to go Monday morning and I had a phone call earlier this week asking me to take some form of identification with me, eg driving licence or passport. Can't remember being asked for that before, so thought I'd ask you lot if you've heard of it? Surely no-one would go just for the thrill of having your boobs squashed between 2 metal plates As usual I'll be taking the letter with appointment details with me. There is also a questionnaire to complete about previous breast history, which I have to put my name and address on, state my ethnicity and sign it All seems a bit over the top to me

Swanny Thank you for the raspberries. I shall eat mine with a large dollop of fresh cream I wish
As for your query regarding breast screening. I have never come across that which you are being asked to present. Mind you, perhaps the system has been upgraded. Now that I'm 75 I'm not sure whether or not I remain on the list. There are some very intelligent Granspals who visit the kitchen. I bet that you'll get a response very soon.

Swanny You could Google.

Anybody know where NanaandGrampa are? It's unusual to come into the kitchen and not find an update.

swanny, I've never been asked for identification but I expect it's to do with ensuring it's only for people who are really entitled. I have an idea soop that automatic screening stops at 70 but I think you can self refer after that. Last time I went it wasn't as bad as previously.

Lovely photo soop. You are lucky to have such fabulous views.

DH and I have treated ourselves to an afternoon reading the papers in front of cricket on the TV. I went to sleep I was woken by a message from DS1 saying that his block of 6 flats was surrounded by police with guns and a battering ram. It's all over now and a young man has been taken to a secure unit after holding his mum hostage.

I have never heard of having to take ID - perhaps it is something to do with the age as it is not automatic to offer screening to anyone over the age of 70.

It's not like a driving test where people have been known to send someone else along to do the Theory test on their behalf - I can't imagine anyone volunteering to get squashed on behalf of someone else.

I shall have homegrown rasberries with fresh cream tonight after my scrambled eggs made from eggs from Kate and Gary's two chickens.
I'm afraid I bought the crumpet that will go under the eggs

I used to make my own but it's not worth it for one.

kitty Yes, you are right. I had my last screening when I was 70.
Goodness gracious me...poor Mum being held hostage by her own son.

Jalima The squashing is far from pleasant. I certainly wouldn't opt to stand in on someone else's behalf.

Galen enjoy your crumpet. For my pud this evening, I'm having creamy rice pudding and plums (which I simmer in elderberry cordial) from a grower in the village.

I am logging off. Back with you all tomorrow. Bye for now.

Evening all, just getting head out of water after a day minding Littlest. So far so good, please send wishes to every deity there is for a peaceful night.

After my last breast screening experience I was delighted to realise there will be no more. Age is a real benefit sometimes. I wasn't asked for identification but it does sort of make sense I guess. Good luck, swanny. It is a good idea to have it done.

Like the sound of your supper galen, just love scrambled egg.

That sunset photo is superb soop, hope Rory decides to cooperate soon, maybe he will realise it is for his benefit

Definitely not fox charley, would you believe I looked it up, found an excellent pooh identification site , fox is darker and contains seeds, we do get some of that. It's definitely cat, there are so many here who view us as the local public convenience. Inconvenience more like . Pleased there is normality for you. It will take some getting used to .

Hope pawb is recovering mawb, you sound as if you both deserve a rest.

There's a sleepy Littlest waiting to go to bed, so I'm off to settle him. Take care all.

I wish you would stop talking about cream teas......am off all kinds of sweetstuff for a while, boohoo.
Maw your poor Dh and you, never seem to be out of hospitals lately.?

Galen I too have just had an eye test and have incipient cataracts, DH has now had both of his eyes done, and hardly needs reading glasses anymore.It has to be quite bad to have them done on the NHS ( the optician has to recommend it.)
Hopefully incipient means that we will be ok for a long time.

Good evening after a nice day. H has been pecking at my head for a couple of days now and I have been quite stressed. I decided to go and see Ruby after her op.
My S took me which was great, she has a long way to go before being well, however I left the hospital and rang a taxi, another couple were also going to the station so we shared. They said they we're on expenses so would pay,result!!
I got on the train with a family whose daughter had just done a 5k run for a hospice so I gave her my taxi fare to contribute and they opened a bottle of Prosseco on the train and gave me a glass!! Very decadent at 5pm but I really enjoyed it. Home to G&T and an M&S meal. What an enjoy able afternoon.