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

Maw, I too hope things look brighter for Paw soon. As someone else said, look after yourself too. DGD1 is a Hattie - Harriet Martha as it's Sunday!

corner I hope stress levels are lower today.

Charley that was a rude awakening - I hope you have recovered.

Thank you all for the potted histories - it's good to have a recap.

Must get going - 9 people for lunch and I've promised our Hattie a trip round the village Street Market - I must be mad

maw when I was in MKH they didn't have air con and it was new then. Remember being very hot. Hope paw got a good night sleep.

kitty 9 for lunch? It is far too hot to be bothered with anything other than feeding your own face. Please do not stress yourself, I hope that you have plenty of help.

Maw I feel sorry for Paw because the last thing he needs is stress over a window open or closed. What a pity dogs are not allowed to visit!

Flynn is a little angel, just enjoying life.

Another sweltering hot day here in London it would appear. I have a cat up for adoption- you will never need an alarm clock but her getting up time and yours will be very different. 5am is a tad early for me. She is out now and irrespective of the time the minx comes home tonight I will close the living room door so that I do not have a repeat performance of last night. I did expect to see blood and guts on the floor.

Eek charleygirl I have often wondered about undesirables getting in through a cat flap!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201707/medium-285860-img-1455.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201707/medium-817674-img-1454.jpg

Would Tara enjoy these?

Maw a few years ago we had 2 resident male bullies who lived about 5 doors away. One got in the cat flap, ending up wearing it around his body. I got the cat flap changed so that only Tara could use it but there was a couple of seconds delay while the mechanism worked, long enough for her to be bitten on her rear which cost me money.

At least if a cat does get in and the living room door is closed, the cat is stuck in the hall and has the option of staying here or getting out of the cat flap again.

When I first moved in here and was working, I came home one evening mid January to find at least 4 cats + my own, dotted around the house, very comfortable thank you as the heating was on for my arrival. My male cat at the time would not have said boo to a goose. One cat, on my bed, had the cheek to hiss at me! Luckily the large ginger tom who stalks Tara now is too thick to work out how to get in the cat flap. I also think that he would get stuck because of his size. She is only 4.3kg.

A very good early afternoon to you lovely lot. It be dreich here-abouts.

Maw Having read the tail tale of Freddie's antics on being introduced to other members of your family, I agree that he wouldn't be ideal. Some other owner will be better suited. Harriet, on the other paw, sounds perfect.
I'm sorry to hear that Paw is having to have tests. Just as well that he's in a good place and will receive the treatment he needs and deserves.
I hope that you and Swanny get to meet each other.

N&G Miss Laura has inherited your lovely smile. She is also blest with your gift of producing a very tasty meal. It must boost her self confidence to be encouraged to cook for the family. Well done, Miss Laura.

anno Roger seems to play effortlessly...he remains cool, calm and collected. My all time favourite was Pete Sampras.

hipsy Better believe Galen's description of herself. All partly true. She is also bright, classy, well travelled and a good pal.

callgirl1, xxx

Charleyg Sorry about Tara's disturbance with the bully cat. Rory gets very vocal when another cat wanders onto his patch. He was never fussed when Bracken visited. He enjoyed her company and would sit beside the fence hoping that she'd drop in for a wee while. We're sure that he still misses her. Earlier today he curled up and napped in Bracken's chalet.

Maw Those photos are so funny.

CharleyG I loved the story of you returning home to find that your home had been invaded.

Years ago, Dawn had a cat flap, she had 2 cats, mother and son. Son was a big lad, name of Ivor. She came home from work one day to find Ivor being "very amorous" with a female cat, the flap was kept fastened after that when they were out!

callgirl1 Birds do it...bees do it...even educated fleas do it...tra lah.

soop, when I was 11 and we had our first TV, we all got properly hooked on Wimbledon and I fell in love with the young Ken Roswall, remained a fan and was very happy to find that he was still competing in the 1970s.

The raspberry muffins are on the side, sorry I did not get round to them yesterday. DH is making a fruit tart at present, using raspberries, blackcurrants, and some rhubarb, all from the garden. Watch this space!

anno We had our first TV in time for the Queen's coronation. I also remember Ken Roswall. He had a fine pair of legs.

NonnaW I bags first place in the disorderly queue. I've tucked a napkin down my front. Not that I'm a messy eater. Best be safe than sorry.

I've forced myself into catching up with house cleaning duties. Hated the thought. Told myself that with another week of tennis to savour, I'd better get the jobs over and done with. Now, of course, I'm feeling all self satisfied.

Rory continues to do well. He's sleeping (a lot) and eating heartily. He no longer limps and he certainly hasn't lost the use of his back legs. If the lady vet could see him now (as opposed to her last visit) she would swoon with amazement.

This morning's photo call.

soop your Rory really is a handsome cat. You must be so relived at his recovery.

Please make sure you leave a muffin for n&g people, I forgot to put her name in one , sorry.

NonnaW We will remain vigilant. As the lady vet warned, Rory may yet succumb to something nasty. He will continue to hope and take the best possible care of him.

soop I have on occasion seen him actually awake but he does enjoy his snoozes. You have had a nasty wake up call so enjoy the rest of his years, I hope that they are many. Like Tara he loves his life. They are roughly the same age but lead such different lifestyles, good luck to each of them as we both know that our darlings are happy.

Are you sure that is not our Kiwi soop? We have a cat flap that only operates with a matched chip as we were having lots of food going missing and a very hungry Kiwi asking for food all the time.

I didn't cook as such, Charley. Lots of vegetables (peppers, new potatoes, sliced red onions, tomatoes and lots of garlic cloves tossed in olive and chicken thighs, also tossed in olive oil, roasted for about as long as it takes to go round the Street Market, served with garlic bread and Aldi Roulades and cream for pudding. Easy.

Going for a well earned cuppa now.

kitty that sounds yummy, a pity I do not live closer and the back door was open!

It is so hot here again today. I know, give me 4 months and I will be moaning that I am cold. Tara will be at her hidey hole wherever that may be, having a snooze.

Another proud Ma moment.

Ellie and Lottie were flower girls at an uncle's wedding (their dad's brother)

kitty what a pretty and happy looking pair.

Thank goodness it is cooler now.I am going to cook supper and have a glass or three of wine. It is the other half of last night's steak which was only really fit for soling a shoe or two.

Absolutely lovely, what lovely little girls.

I was going to have one glass of wine but having read that Charleygirl perhaps two ..... or three.
No, not three, I shall fall asleep during Poldark!

Ahh! Peace and quiet. My little whirling dervish and his parents have just gone home. He goes through my kitchen like a plague of locusts, and then asked if he could take home chocolate brownies and orange jelly (not all in the same box though I shouldn't think that would have put him off!). We tossed a coin for the last piece of pork crackling and I won. You're probably waiting for me to say "but being a good gran, I let him have it anyway". Well no, dear reader, I ate it and it was lovely! The young have to learn to suffer disappointments - it's a life lesson . Then we went out and played cricket. On a full stomach. I don't recommend it but it was fun.
DH played footie this afternoon with the Lads and Dads, even though I asked him just to watch and, yes, he got injured - hit in the face with a ball and I wouldn't be surprised if he has a shiner tomorrow. I have refrained from saying "ITYS" (but only by the skin of my teeth!).
kitty your girls are pretty as a picture! No wonder you're proud. And I hope Hattie got something nice with her pocket money at the market today!
soop good to see handsome Rory looking relaxed. I know he is not out of the woods yet, but it must be a great weight off your mind.
Maw my fingers are crossed for Paw's recovery.
Nonna if there is a muffin for me, I will gladly donate it for N&G - I am ashamed of the amount I ate at dinner time! Seconds of everything and two puddings ?. I shall give myself a severe talking to!

Oh what is the point of everything if Paw isn't here to share it with me?
Things have been looking bleak today.
I have been brave so far but the facade is cracking.

maw I just popped into the kitchen and saw your post. I don't know what to say really. I do so hope paw picks up, you have been through so much. I'm sending you a massive (hug) and a shoulder if you need it. I feel the same about my DH too. He means the world to me. If you don't mind I will include you and paw in my prayers tonight. I do so hope he improves. Stay in the kitchen maw. Others will be in to support you soon