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

It's not me worrying about Sweden corner (I'm just worrying about Heathrow!!) but I hope Paw isn't fretting. He's back from today's transfusion now and seems more settled, just needs a good night's sleep.
Now where IS my passport ??

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Okay! Home from a trip to the care home and a visit to the little farm shop at Bellachontuy. I've baked bought a lemon drizzle cake for you lot. As per, there is so much catching up to do. Only trouble is...a match is about to begin at Queens. Please excuse me for a while. I'm gasping for a and need to put my feet up.

ann Good! I'm really pleased that you have an evening out to look forward to.

A few pics to be going on with...

Sweden is nearly here, mawb, I know easy for me to say but please try not to worry about pawb, he will be in very good hands and you could be right, some of the current symptoms could be because he is unsettled about you going. Once he knows all is well things could well settle. You do need the break, so please go and enjoy.

I'm still a bit 'weird', n&g, - well, many people would also say no change there . Thank you for thinking of me. It's only BP, from time to time it decided to emulate a very fast lift going down. Not dangerous but leaves me light headed and 'weird' until it settles. Hasn't been like this for years, hopefully won't again for another few years.

Sam sounds to be back to his usual self, good news indeed. Hope you are enjoying your impromptu shop and Cooper has some trendy new shoes. I was also wondering about your move, hope its progressing as you want it to.

So pleased your tunnel is back complete with light, charley, not sure I understand leaking electricity. Didn't know it could .

Like the sound of your fatted calf, Gagagran, always happy to find a food parcel on the doorstep.

Your evening out sounds good. ann, relax and enjoy, you deserve it.

Take care all. Weird person is off for a nap .

Gaga as long as you are happy, that is the main thing.

I'll set another plate out for you Charley - I always over-cater so there will be more than enough!

Trouble is I do not know how many there will be as DD, DsiL and their two may well join us also. DD is busy getting ready for their village festival weekend (which is why her brother and family are coming - I'm just a feed station!) Hey ho - I'm sure we will be just fine. Should be great fun with the four DGC together and being their usual noisy, lovely, lively selves! Happy Granny!

What are you inferring about Newport Pagnell charleygirl?? Your "racist" neighbour may indeed be disappointed but I am not sure why. We moved from South London to a village not many miles from NP and one of the first things the DDs commented on was "isn't it WHITE here?"
Well compared to Tooting Common.....and it was 31 years ago.
Am I looking forward to going to Sweden? Do I actually believe I am going?
Collected my money today, a plug adaptor thing (we have no end of them, but WHERE exactly?) plus a new pair of jeans (always useful!)
However....
Up three times in the night with Paw who was being sick - see what I mean? Fortunately his sister is a retired GP and is coming tomorrow, but I will believe I am going when I get on that plane. He couldn't eat any breakfast either, I do worry if is a subconscious "panic" attack.
DD has been working on a production of The Winters Tale (in Swedish) so I have looked out my copy to mug up on it (and follow!) Ever hopeful.

Excuse me Gagagran but exactly how many are you feeding?! You will not notice another popping in- merely to taste you understand.

N&G Sam is not stupid, that is what Tara would and has done.

There is light at the end of the tunnel re this house. Electrician no.1 left me with an electricity leakage and luckily I harped on about my larger bills long enough until electricians no.2 and 4 identified and sorted the problem yesterday. I dread to think what this month's bill will be because the company thought that I had made a mistake reading my meter so used an estimation. I have informed them so I should hear within the next few days.

Another lovely day here but thankfully not so hot.

My garden helper, aged 8 is moving house today. I do not think he realises that he will not be able to pop round to help me. They are moving to I think Newport Pagnell. They are going to be sorely disappointed because the young chap's mother is such a racist.

N&g we very much enjoyed Churchill. We treated ourselves to popcorn too (well, you have to, don't you?) though we bought half the bag home with us. There weren't many people around at all, so I can only assume they make their money on the evening and weekend showings. We will go again though.

Our Travis has taken to barking suddenly at seemingly nothing, which makes me jump. Probably with more windows open he can hear more from outside, but it doesn't do much for my nerves! Plus if he startles Purdey she erupts into shrill barking but she clearly doesn't know why. They are off to do their bit 'helping' in the garden now.

"have bred" not had. Take out "tonight" after weekend
Note to self - Proof read before posting
Note to GN - PLEASE can we have an edit button?

Love your updates NandG - your family sounds such fun! Where are you up to re the big move? Have you started packing yet? When we did our last big move from South Bedfordshire to here on the South Coast, I tried to sort/pack a drawer or cupboard each day in the run up to D-Day so that it didn't feel one huge operation. I started with books - which seem to had bred again since we came here five years ago. Funny how they do that!

DS and family are coming from London this evening, for the weekend tonight so I have been busy with the fatted calf, as you do, and this morning have cooked a piece of gammon and made a French Lentil and bacon salad. In store, I also have poached salmon, salad, cheeses, new potatoes, hummus, felafels and crusty bread. (Can you tell there be vegetarians in the party?)
Looking forward to a lovely family gathering. My favourite activity!

Enjoy your days everyone!

I suspect that if we all had the day we want there would be no posting on here and we would have no news from any Kitchener's to keep us in the loop N&G but I appreciate the thought. I am going out this evening, for the first time for months, in the evening that is,with my recently widowed friend.
She and her H had a very top of the range motorhome and she has decided it will have to go.
My S is setting up to go camping and she has given me lots of very useful things for him so I am taking her out for a meal, I am so looking forward to it,she is coping so very well,it will be good for us both.

Morning all !

Yes Charley , Sam is back to normal thank goodness. We are persevering with the new diet but starting very small , so he gets about 10 pieces in slightly less of his normal food. He delicately eats around those 10 pieces, lifts them out onto the mat and eats the rest!! Its going to be a long process at this rate !!

I am glad to hear jelly in trifle is NOT common Downsized Our favourite family dessert is my sisters home made trifle. She doesn't 'mess around ' with it according to my lot [laugh]. Sounds like you're keeping busy , and that's a good thing. I totally understand your sadness, but I like to think its just a plan ride away to visit and what adventures you will have !! x

No thunderstorms here Maw not even a sniff of one ! Are you getting excited for your trip now?

Hope you're feeling a bit better corner?

OH Tizliz you rebel you ! In-matching pegs indeed [laugh]

Glad you got it all sorted Baggs and suspect MrB was absolutely right.

We love the cinema now we're retired Nonna, but you have to wonder sometimes if they make any money. We often go to an early showing and we're practically the only people in there. What did you think of the movie?

Had a quiet day planned but youngest daughter suggested a trip to the big Mall nearby . Young Cooper needs to be measured for new shoes, I need some t shirts to use in my crafting and Grampy needs to buy us all coffee and cake !!! Sounds like a win win to me.

Hope everyone has the day they want!!

If anybody saw the egregious Katie Hopkins on the Ian Hislop TV programme on immigration tonight/last night they may care to rethink pastel pink tints. Purple of fuchsia would go better with the dress too.

I know it's late but thanks to all the kitcheners for just being here when I need you

Baggs a couple of years ago I was going to a fund-raising event for breast cancer awareness and just happened to have a wash, trim and blow-dry booked that morning. As they do (!) the stylist asked if I was going anywhere special that day so when I told her what I had planned she put a few pink streaks in the front of my (grey/white) hair. They looked fabulous and I had lots of positive comments until they washed out. I'd definitely do it again for a special occasion, so go for it gal!

Glad you're feeling better Baggs after "coming over all unnecessary" (as my Grandma used to say) & arm now proceeds to heal without annoyance.

soop, I've always loved the look of antique strawberry servers - there are some beautiful designs - but failing that, there are pretty, minimalist modern ones around for a mere £60!
Strawberries for Swanny & Nonna & the rest of us lot. Form an orderly queue please!!

Not been on for a bit and cannot find the last kitchen so not sure what's been happening. However, like the haircut baggs and a coloured streak would look great. You could always try it at home with a wash out chalk stick (bought a pink one to use for a fancy dress party).

Been busier than usual this week, meeting a friend for lunch in Cambridge yesterday (missing my first train home by a nanosecond!), then DH and I went to the cinema this afternoon to see Churchill. First cinema visit for about 12 years, but we are determined to do it regularly now. Strane though, to sit in a cinema with only 2 other (separate) people!

Baggs Yikes! I believe that Mr Baggs is right. So pleased that you were treated kindly and that the discomfort has eased.
It will take some time to get used to short hair. I'm willing to bet that you will be glad that you put your faith in a first class hairdresser.

It's care home visiting day tomorrow. It will be early afternoon before I'm able to log on. In the meantime, inbetween time, take good care of yourselves.

Thank you, btw, for all the kind comments re the hair. I haven't got used to it yet but it sure is nice not to have to tie it back while my arm's in a pot.

MrB took me back to 'the-yospital' (kid talk from way back) and my stookie was duly sawn off with an amazing ceramic circular saw that can't cut skin followed by some clever plaster separating pliers. The relief was instant. No wonder my whole arm, my shoulder and even my sternum had been hurting!

Then my blood pressure plummeted. Feet up, chair back down. The nurses were lovely: three cups of water, new stookie, cup of sweet tea, a chocolate biscuit, and blood pressure back to normal later I was allowed to go home. The nurses were asking me all sorts of questions to try and account for the drop in blood pressure.

MrB, working from home this week, thank goodness, was very busy until just now. He, I think, has hit on the reason for a sudden drop in blood pressure: the release of pressure on my arm made a sudden difference to the required blood pressure and that took a wee while to stabilise again. Seems obvious when you look at it like that!

No wonder they say come back if you get pins and needles!

Arm and hand (and all the rest) much less painful today. Phew.

I've been doing some one-handed gardening and 'testing' my new haircut in the breeze.

Swanny There is a vacant chaise reserved for you. Us lot will rally and make an effort to impress you with a pretty tray bearing strawberries and cream (in a fine china bowl) and a large goblet of chilled white wine. You'll also have a freshly starched napkin. When we do "stuff" we do it in style.

downsized wonderful photos of your family - so pleased for you that you managed to get them all together.

Baggs you are brave and sensible having your hair cut short, and it does look good on you. Hope you've got the pins and needles business sorted out.

soop and Maw and anyone else who has to keep trekking to and fro for scans, blood tests, transfusions etc - then back again for the results - you should all be made saints IMO . ann not long now before your birthday present halo arrives

I hope the rest of you lot have saved me some strawberries and is there any chilled white in the fridge?

Yay! Bags, your hairdresser is seriously good. You look totally mod. I wish that I had your courage (and your good looks). Minibags meant her comment to be a compliment.

Well done, Nana...there was not a shadow of doubt in my mind that you would return home with the replacement.

Tizliz the morning's ironing duty is but a memory. The moment I return home, kick off my shoes, come through to say hi on GN, I'm a very happy bunny.

There be tennis on TV. I shall put my feet up and sup freshly brewed coffee. After which, I shall return.

Lovely new haircut, Baggs -

So I am not the only one with a magic laundry basket - one minute empty, next minute full - and there are only two of us. Did 2 loads on Tuesday and 2 this morning. Hung out but pegs are not matching ???

Get thee to the hospital, baggs, better safe than sorry

Washing and ironing breeds and multiplies in the night, mawb, nasty stuff . Just do what is essential, the rest will keep. Your currency sounds more important.

Still feel a bit weird today, so not rushing anywhere. Sorry, soop, forgot to say yesterday that I hope all will settle with macs. Take care everyone.