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

cornergran I had to read it twice ie that you were on a trampoline!!! Please be careful or you could easily break a bone. Enjoy your friends staying- like the rest of us they will not mind if everything is not 100%- all they want is good food, company and laughter and hopefully they will get all in abundance.

N&g my heart goes out to Sam- does he need a bath? Poor fellow must wonder what he has done to deserve such treatment.

I must ring the gas engineer as my boiler has taken a holiday and I still have not done anything about it.

Specially for Sam, go Sam!!

I'm fed up!

We have had a lovely little family next door - she was at school with DD2 AND I know her Mum - who have moved to South London. He has been offered a really good (but tough) job and, as they are not sure whether they will stay long term, they are renting in London and have rented their house out. They have let it to people he knows from the university who, it turns out, are elite sportsmen. They also appear to be elite drinkers and noise makers.

I tried my Bat Out Of Hell technique but I couldn't stand it, I tried Songs of Praise but I couldn't stand that either, I tried West Side Story but that had no effect either. I need to get Galen and her flaming arrows round before I do something serious. How much do you charge Galen?

Charleyg Freshly baked bread with real butter and Jalima's strawberry jam. Now that's what I would like right this minute. And then I remember that I'm trying to eat sensibly. Such a horrible word sensibly...I shall have to stick with a Ryveta biscuit with pumpkin seeds, topped with oily fish and an apple.

Callgirl1 That most certainly was a pleasant surprise. As for Campbeltown being "wee", Inveraray is wee-er. We're fond of Inverarary. Who knows, we may be able to meet at The George. It's a friendly place and the food is good.

N&G Jackson is the kitchen's adopted smiler. He never fails to put a grin on our faces.

Rory isn't well. He's lacklustre. Moves very slowly. Doesn't appear to want to be in the garden with MacSporran Still interested in food. We think that he must be 14. Four years ago, when he had the snip, the vet thought he was possibly 10 or older.

kitty You have made me laugh out loud. Yesterday I pedalled away for a full thirty minutes, thanks to Abba. I did sing along. 'The Winner Takes it All' still has the power to move me tears. It takes me back to a sad time in my life...before I met and married MacSporran

It's that time of year again. Wimbledon. The agony and the ecstasy. Andy plays his first game very shortly. I've bagged a good seat. Pot of tea will be made and I shall be in good voice. Back later.

No bones broken, charley, just some aches and pains. I am seriously wondering if one of those little rebounder things would be good for me, help build some strength. Don't panic, I wont do anything until I check with thr GP. Well, that's unless I see Littlest again and he wants company on his trampoline . Sometimes I get so tired of being sensible.

kitty if you need help I'll be along. There's a degree of frustration building here that needs an outlet. Seriously, invite them round for a coffee and a chat, after recording the noise they make as evidence, or if it gets too bad ask your friends to get them to pipe down. Hopefully it's just settling in high jinks and it will pass.

Onwards, had my sit down, preparations are nearly done, then I can relax for a couple of hours.

soop at least my boy is still interested in eating. I am assuming that he is pain. Has he been able to jump onto the chaise with a little assistance? You are so unfortunate that your vet lives so far away, it is a major exercise thinking of getting him there.

Thank you but I am not a fan of strawberry jam but I am sure I will be able to find damson or raspberry jam in the kitchen. I do not like bread and butter on its own, those days are long gone.

As I write, I am listening to the TV and shortly I will give Andy my avid attention- I think that he needs all the help he can get this year, even if it means you and me shouting at the TV.

Fresh bread and strawberry jam will fill the gap nicely. The great joy of virtual snacks is that they are zero carb!

I have just finished a batch of marmalade, if anyone fancies some. I'm a bit worried it's not going to set very well. Fingers crossed. There are also some sultana and cherry scones. I have been trapped in the kitchen for the last two hours, while DH paints the hallway.

Marydoll Us lot will help to demolish sample the marmalade.

anno Never a truer word uttered. Virtual doesn't include calories. I'm off to open the virtual biscuit tin.

Charleyg So far, so good. Andy has left the court due to a heavy shower. So far, so good.

soop I enjoyed the match but I do not think that he would have been able to hold his own against Rafa and co. He was definitely limping, especially when he was going to the dressing room when it started to rain.

Luckily the rain stayed at Wimbledon because my washing is drying nicely.

Corner if the rebounder is what I think it is, you will fall off it and be in hospital expecting to have grapes peeled. You are no longer 5!

Thank you but I am not a fan of strawberry jam but I am sure I will be able to find damson or raspberry jam in the kitchen

Never mind, I made raspberry jam as well, just for you charleygirl - it does have a few added loganberries, hope that is OK.

I love a marmalade sandwich!

DD2 will be chuffed for Andy. They have tickets for the Men's Final and are hoping it will be Andy against anyone he can beat!

All help with the neighbours gratefully received corner. Soop do you think Rory will need another trip to the vets?

We've just booked Maisie in to the kennels while we are away in September. Kiwi is fed by the lovely man next door but we have decided a five month old kitten as well is too much of a responsibility. I'm not sure we can afford to go away and send Maisie to the kennels!

Jalima I have never tried loganberry jam but I am happy to try anything once. I buy marmalade from Waitrose and it has whisky in it and is delicious. I never touch spirits but this is something else.

Kitty, is your cattery very expensive then? The one we use is about 5 miles away, but is absolutely spotless, you could eat off the floor, and everything is really nice there. They also have a large section for when there are several cats from one household, so they don`t get separated. And she only charges £4.50 per day. Also, she asks what food your cat prefers as well.
Soop, I was thinking exactly that, we could meet at the George, it must be good, you and Baggs keep going back. Rena`s looking at a place called Brambles for us to stay at, on Main Street, but I`ve just emailed her to point out that there`s no car park or lift (for decrepit old me!) I do hope that Rory starts to accept his medicine, he needs to get better.

callgirl1 in 2009 when I broke my ankle and was hospitalised I still could not look after Tara when I was discharged as I was non weight bearing with a zimmer frame. It cost me £10 a day for 6 + weeks and that was with me supplying her prescription food. Now I think the fee is £12 a day. Horrendous. The only positive is that for a fiver each way Tara is picked up and brought home again and that worked well in 2012 when I had my knee replaced. London is not cheap.

Callgirl, it appears our kennels charge a lot for cats! We are being charged £10 per day. They do ask what food Maisie will eat. It is a kennels that we have always used, for both dogs and cats, and the facilities are great but, since the last dog died, we have been happy for our friend to keep an eye on the cat and house. We water his garden for him and eat his produce (aren't we kind!) The owners of the kennels are friends of DD1.

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Good evening, fellow GNs. I thought it was about time I stopped lurking in the corner of the kitchen (handy for the fridge, though!) and caught up with you all. Kitty I feel your pain with regard to your neighbours. Ours are moving this summer too. They are selling to a young couple who are getting married this month, and apparently they are lovely, but one man's lovely, as they say...... but they may not relish living next to a couple of dinosaurs, so it will be quid pro quo!
The talk of strawberry jam reminds me that I froze some strawberries last year with the intention of making some jam (done it once before and it was a disaster). Will they still be okay after so long? I never got round to it. Looking at the local hedgerows, there should be a bumper crop of blackberries this year.
We were out for a walk and lunch in the Peak District today - the wind was cold, but it was really lovely. The hay meadows are gorgeous at the moment - full of flowers; red and white clover, yellow rattle, ox eye daisies, common spotted orchids - the smell of the hay will be a real joy when they cut it later in the year. Herewith a couple of photos, including one of yours truly in semi intrepid mode! See what I mean about dinosaurs??
The only thing that spoiled our day is that we called in to see DD and GS on the way home and he has been poorly today; can't keep anything down it seems. I am trying not to go into panic mode.
Corner! Trampolines? Noooo!!!

Gagagran I'm astounded no-one told your sister about her DH's infection - that is really bad communication and so distressing for all the family. UTI's can cause so many problems and varied symptoms in those of us with many miles on the clock.

I heard today of a friend in hospital awaiting an operation last Friday. Obviously he had nothing to eat all day and when they cancelled it at 8pm didn't even offer him a sandwich! Unbelievably the same thing happened on Saturday too Thankfully he has had the op today.

Wow! I've spent a very pleasant afternoon doing my own ironing and watching tennis.

Greyduster That is a very fine trio of photos. You look as if you mean business. I also like your purple top.

It's very good of you lot to voice your concerns for Rory. We are worried. However, his appetite remains healthy. He isn't in obvious pain. We shall keep a very close eye on him. If needs be, we'll pay the vet to visit.



It's time for me to log off. I've never known an afternoon to fly by at such a rate of knots. Morning visit to the care home. Back with you to sample baking and jams just as soon as I return.

Swanny Best wishes to your friend. No-one should have to go through his experience. He's had his op. He can enjoy a hearty meal. I actually like hospital food. True!

I've heard from my sister today - she had to have a wisdom tooth out this afternoon on top of everything else! Anyway, she has spoken to the staff at the Nursing Home who are all Phillipino so there is sometimes a language nuance difficulty and also she is quite deaf, which doesn't help! They have said sorry and that they will keep her informed if there is anything else going on with her DH . Time will tell.

She doesn't want to cause a fuss because they are all very gentle and caring with him and he is well looked after generally and she doesn't want to upset that.

I just hope this awful situation resolves itself sooner rather than later.

N&G Yes my boobs are mine, all mine and guess what? No-one asked me to prove it. So why the phone call last week? Who knows? Maybe St Barts NHS Trust has money to waste ...

kitty sorry to hear you've swapped a lovely family for a group of 'elite sportsmen'. I think the suggestion of inviting them in for a welcoming get-together, accompanied by the recorded noise of their own merry-making, is an excellent idea

soop and MacS so sad to hear Rory is out of sorts in a big way. Gentle (((hugs))) from me to him if he'll let you, if not share them yourselves

ann thanks from me too for going to visit ruby and talking common sense to her and the ward staff about what she needs when she goes home. Your return journey sounds serendipitous - unexpected and extremely pleasant. for you if you have any more virtual vases and a couple of too x