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

I have just caught up with the introductions, having spent far too much time glued to a chair in front of TV, watching Wimbledon. I am annodomini which I suppose is self-explanatory. I have two middle-aged sons but don't tell them I used that term; one adult GD who has a job and a partner; GD - 14, going on 25; her brother, just turned 13 and very tall; two other GSs, 11 and 9, both quite sporty (tennis, football, rugby, taekwondo). I used to teach English in Adult and Further Education; also a local councillor for 8 years. Retired, did CAB volunteering; have a little house in North Cheshire and a completely out-of-control garden. No pets nowadays as I don't think they would survive on the road where I live.

Tizliz My thoughts are with you and Anlon Do you have any idea what the problem might be? Our Rory all 6.4 kilograms of him, continues to loll in his chalet. Neither of us can believe that not too long ago he was extremely sick. We were, at the time, thinking that we were close to losing him. Animals!

Greyduster We also have clear blue sky in Kintyre. I almost forgot...fully matured brownies will be gratefully received in this 'ere kitchen. I've left a very large platter for the batch that you'll be leaving.

Crafting It's always good to have your company.

N&G Your granddaughter couldn't wish for a better Nana. You are the tops!

MawB The cartoon couldn't be more appropriate. My late father was a Freddie. When your Freddie moves in, I may be inspired to paint his portrait. I'm a bit out of practice at the moment. I blame Wimbledon. Too much tennis to distract me.

Hipsy Your message made me hoot. What's the parrot's name? Long ago, I visited a lady in Torquay who fostered pets that no one found appealing. We adopted a cat who looked most odd. All legs and ears. He grew into a very handsome creature. The lady also had a parrot who, through stress, had plucked out most of it's feathers. She also had a dog with three legs. She was a marvellous person.

Before I return to my courtside seat for yet more bat and ball...(a game that callgirl1 cannot get enough of I just want to say, welcome back aggie and Sar53, Swanny and Marydoll. I haven't yet fully caught up, which means I shall need to return later this afternoon.

oldgoat Snap! We share appreciative thoughts on the beautiful body of Rafa. And, yes, he does have a winning smile.

I am having a break from the pile of ironing I have been doing. The brownies I made yesterday have now reached OG (optimum gooiness), so I am sending some to the kitchen. Enjoy.
Maw love the cartoon! Hope Paw is getting better and that he has Freddie to come home to. My neighbour's dog is also Freddie, but he is a spaniel.
N&G I love the relationship you have with your granddaughter. She will carry your love and guidance with her all her life (and be a good cook to boot!). Being a lifelong tomboy I did rather wonder what I would do with a girl (my first was a boy), but when she came along I was besotted and we did the complete package of girlie things, which was rather alien to me as I never did them when I was growing up myself! My mother despaired. My son has two step sons and taught them both to cook as they were growing up. They both went to uni fully kitchen prepared but I don't expect it stopped them eating more than a few takeaway meals!
Tizliz I hope Anlon shows some improvement soon.
We have wall to wall blue sky here but the wind is really cool. Himself has been labouring in the garden and it looks a treat. I am now going back to my ironing.☹️

I love you lot...there, I just have say so...

We went out for a short stroll through the village. Got blethering, invited in for coffee, wandered around a pal's gorgeous cottage garden, took photos and returned home not so long ago.

And...what do I find? So much news to read. Why are you lot so bloomin' busy all the time. There's tennis to watch. I shall check to find out who's on court. I shall return. That's a promise.

Hello hipsy I pop into the kitchen from time to time (usually when there is on offer )

I love the kindness, support and humour of the kitchen and feel like part of a big family. As for me, DH and I live in a flat (or apartment to give it it's posh name ) having given up our garden as we could not cope with it anymore. We are blessed with 2 sons and their families (3 DGC ) who all live locally.

Morning all.

Prepping for the collection of DGD for her sleepover. Times have changed as she has got older and today we will be going for a walk with Sam, playing some board games, then she is cooking salmon for dinner for her and Grampy ( and washing up I hope ).

We are working on her cookery skills outside cake making so I have high hopes. When this child leaves home I am determined she will have all the necessary skills and not live on pot noodles !!

Grey well done to your GS for his cricket. Grampy was a keen cricketer through his life but finally hung up his whites when he gave himself a pulled hamstring in a seniors Vs young ones match at his club !!

I live in Essex too Hipsey and you're right it was hot and humid last night here . I'm not complaining though

Sorry to hear Anlon is still ill Tizliz , hope he improves soon .

I hope everyone has a good weekend planned or at least a relaxing one.

Just checked to see how Andy Murray's match ended yesterday. Phew! what a relief! I don't watch much tennis but did catch the end of Nadal's match. What a lovely body smile he has.

Morning everyone. I've been awake since 5
- the sun streams into our bedroom but I insist on having the curtains open a bit at night and the window open all year.
I tend to hide in the corner of the kitchen, eavesdropping on the conversations and not saying much (unlike in RL!) .Reading about other Kitcheners' problems and sick partners and pets really makes me count my blessings.
I live near York with OH and our little schnoodle, Oscar. DS's family live nearby and we have been lucky enough to look after the two GSs since they were babies though we are seeing less and less of them now that they are 9 and 12. Sad. DD lives in Fife with her lovely husband and the two granddogs. Both the dogs are getting old and a bit wobbly and I know they will be devastated when they lose them. They have never been lucky enough to have any children.
We were fortunate to meet soop , MacSporran and Rory in May when we were on holiday in Kintyre and you don't need me to tell you that they are the nicest people you could wish to meet.

hipsy my OH's one regret of moving here is the lack of good beer. Definitely a preference for lager here. He just drinks whisky instead ?

Realised that I didn't mentioned my family in my intro - told you I got embarrassed talking to crowds. I have two children with five grandchildren between them aged from 4 to 21. I come from a large family (I am a great great aunt) and my OH has recently discovered he has lots of relations in Germany.

Up early as Anlon (dog!) was sick again. Hopefully our usual vet will be back from holiday this week.

That was how we introduced Grace to Basil, DD's dog. Walked them side by side paying no attention to each other and then brought them both back to the house via the garden and the black door.
Wish I had known that when we first got Grace, one friend (who should have known better) brought her 2 chocolate labs to our front door to be introduced ??
I know (also do) that thing about talking to other greyhound owners, Tegan2! It's called "Greynoculars" which give you the "ability to spot another greyhound at any distance, whatever the conditions, weather or time of day."

Thanks for the introductions. Very pleased to meet you all (lots of Scottish connections) Have visited Edinburgh but its OHs dream to holiday in a remote spot with a well stocked real ale pub.Know anywhere?
At home there is OH,myself ,an elderly staffie,a lurcher and a parrot.All of us working towards retirement
I have 2 sons and 2 GS (living with ex DIL) Son has them most weekends
We live in the (sweltering) SE (is it ok to say Essex??? ) Think TOWIE

I met a lady at the park with a rescue greyhound. In fact, I ask everyone with a greyhound if it's a rescue and it usually is. She said she had another dog when she rescued this one. When the agency brought the dog to her house she made a point of meeting her outside with her own dog and walking them in together; this prevented any territory problems with the older dog which would have resulted in them not letting her keep the greyhound. I've never met anyone with a rescued ex racer that has a bad word to say about them.

Sorry, Welcome to Daisynance too. nice to see tegan around again as well.

Maw I know Flynn is a very advanced young man but he can't get a licence till he's 17 !
I forgot to say what a good looking dog Freddie is. (Fred gets called Freddie too) I hope it all works out smoothly with collecting him combined with hospital visits etc. If we were in U.K. I would be very tempted by a rescue greyhound. My cousin has three and they have lovely natures.

Maw It is indeed, but you get up in the morning to fight another day. I have serious health problems , but my BIL is an inspiration, so no time to dwell on my own problems.. We are all my BIL and SIL have, so we just get on with it. That is what we do for family.
Anyway, one a lighter note, live in a wee town near Glasgow. Two sons, one daughter and one DGD, born against all the odds after thirteen years of trying and IVF. She is a miracle and lights up all our lives. CF gene means there will probably be no more grandchildren. I come on Gransnett and I find people who are so much worse off than me. So ops kitchen Grans are a lovely bunch.

Welcome Hipsy. I'm another occasional visitor, usually to be found sitting in the corner trying to catch up.
The kitchen has saved my sanity this week as after hobbling around for six weeks since he fell of a ladder, DH was admitted to hospital and due to a radiologists strike has been on COMPLTE bed rest for the week. He had an operation earlier this evening and might be coming home tomorrow!!!!

My admiration for those of you caring for disabled and poorly OHs has tripled over the last few weeks, you all deserve medals. I hope all the other poorly kitcheners and pets are on the mend.

I have 2 DDs and 3 DGC, youngest (daughter of late DS) we don't see very often but the other two, we see as often as they or we can afford the flights as we live in the Algarve, where it has been extremely warm for the last few weeks.
No pets of our own, 3 proxy dogs belonging to DHs nephew who walks them in our direction most days. The dogs were very nervous and scared of strangers but seem to have become much more friendly since the DGCs just visited and spoilt made friends with them by giving them bits of cheddar cheese and digestive biscuits. I've got a grand dog as well, as DD2 has just adopted a rescue miniature poodle called Fred.

GD There is usually a spare G&T available here anytime you feel the need. I've just been through the choosing tiles thing myself. (I'm still not sure about the bathroom floor tiles and they have been down for a couple of months. )

I too am very sorry to hear of your BIL Marydoll life is a bitch isn't it?

Sorry Soop, but I was moaning about flipping tennis earlier. Switched BBC1 on at 7.55pm ready for EastEnders, it didn`t appear because some bloke called Murray was bashing a little ball about, no announcement, luckily I switched over to BBC2 just in time to see EastEnders starting. An announcement would have been nice.

So sorry to hear about your BIL Marydoll.
Continuing the present theme, I have 3 daughters and 2 sons, all married apart from disabled eldest daughter who lives with me, and I have 7 grandchildren, 6 boys, 1 girl, and one great grandson. I am ruled by a white cat called Mia, she thinks she`s royalty!

I only pop in now and again, as I don't have any pets( serious allergies) I just wanted to say Maw we are in a similar situation with BIL than you are with Paw . It is so exhausting. Paw is so fortunate that he married you. I hope there is some respite for you both. Everyone on here is so supportive of each other. My SIL sleeps in her clothes, in case BIL has to go to hospital during the night. We leave all our clothes ready at night in case we have to make a midnight dash to hospital. We feel so helpless. As well as a kidney transplant, he now needs major hear surgery, yet he never complains.

Continuing with the 'This is me' introductions Hipsy I live alone in London but my DS, his partner and my DGS live just under a mile down the road. DS met his lady love relatively late in life and I have only the one DGC, but he's worth everything to us all. I moved here from the south coast when I retired to help them with childcare, as it's very hard for couples on low-average incomes to afford life in London. I wouldn't change a minute of the last 7 years (well maybe some minutes!) and I enjoy my life in the real world here and the virtual world of Gransnet, particularly the lovely friends in soop 's kitchen

I don't post in here very often but read about what goes on every day. A very friendly place to visit, lots of love and caring going on.
My OH and I have 2 daughters each and 9 grandchildren between us with another, very unexpected grandchild due in January. To say I am excited is the understatement of the year.
I am currently looking after 3 granddaughters whilst their parents are away tonight. It is their 10th Wedding Anniversary. All asleep now and I will be too shortly, very, very exhausted.

forgot , we don't have pets due to various allergies in the Grandchildren , due to move house soon and might acquire an outdoor (who am I kidding ?) cat

I sneak in here every now and again , I live in Co Armagh with OH who has Parkinson's and related memory problems , 6 off springs , 3 of each , 7 Grandchildren do a bit of painting for relaxation and love to bake , but only when I have visitors as my waistline ain't what it should be !

I'm an occasional visitor to the kitchen because I have a fairly boring life, so not much to report! ?
I live near to Manchester Airport, alone, thank goodness, after two divorces. I have two grown up children and three granddaughters.
I love to visit the kitchen, and I feel as though I've known soop and macsporren for years! I don't have any pets, so i just talk to myself!

grannylyn I went to school at B of E about 100 years ago. Is the hospital still there? I had my appendix removed there- it was preferable to sitting Highers!!!!!