Soop's pleasant (if boring) kitchen for friendly folk and precious pets.

We have booked our flights for next week's sad odyssey to say farewell to my lovely brother-in-law. There will be a big family gathering of siblings, nephews, nieces, great nephews and nieces and even a great-great niece. Plus friends, neighbours and former colleagues. All sad to mark the passing of a dear, funny, kind man.

As one of my nieces said, "It's a shame we only get together for funerals these days" and it is a shame. The problem is we are all living so far apart and everyone has demands on time and finances. A gathering of the clan only occurs to mark a wedding or a farewell.

I am sad to hear of your being upset Maw, especially as you are so vulnerable right now with all the worry about Paw. It just is not worth trying to join in the contentious posts or those which become so. I ask myself "Would I join a group conversing in that manner in a real-life sitauation" and the answer is a definite "No", so I steer clear on-line too.

I am a bit surprised that GNHQ, who took such a firm and even it could be, and has been said, an unfair line with jings, seem to have no teeth when it comes to some of the comments that are posted.

Keep your chin up Maw - you will always find support and kindness in the kitchen.

I agree moomin some people are downright nasty. I agreed with every word that Maw said re that hideous pink dress.

I do hope that the new antibiotics are kicking in and that Paw is feeling marginally better.

How is Hattie settling in? It must be so difficult for the young lady, everything is so different, smells and very strange noises like a washing machine and heaven forbid a vacuum cleaner. Has she met Flynn yet? I do hope that they become bosom buddies.

Maw - another reason I rarely post on GN, I completely agreed with your TM thread and it was totally obvious it was light hearted, some people are just downright unpleasant.

Thoughts and prayers with you and Paw today, life's tough that's for sure. There's bucketfuls of support amongst your Kitchener friends here.

N&G not often you see a photo of Laura without the biggest smile on her face; I shall be keeping fingers crossed that all goes well for them both and a quick recovery so that they can enjoy the rest of the school hols. Glad your neck pain is nothing serious. It's probably just wear and tear. I'm fed up of my doctor telling me things are 'age related wear and tear'. B****r that! As for the cake, someone is going to have to eat it today or it is going in the bin before the cream goes off! I have to start all over again this weekend when the other lot descend on me. And the tee shirt? Only you! Excellent! .
Maw I'm sorry you have had a mauling. Isn't it always a case of "just as you thought it was safe to go back in the water......" (cue Jaws music) and we never go near the water again, which is a loss to GN. I think many of us know what it feels like and send you soothing vibes.
DD, GS and SiL are going away to Cornwall for two weeks today. I always get a bit tense when they are travelling and then imagine a hundred and one things that could go wrong when they get there! She told me yesterday that their apartment has a balcony. I wanted to scream "don't let GS near the balcony!!!!" But I smiled and said, "Oh that sounds nice" while my stomach plummeted. I think I need serious help.?‍♀️
Have a pleasant day, kitcheners!

Since I last posted, we've moved! And there is so much news to assimilate. I've done my best to scan through all the posts and if any one thinks us boring, they really don't know us at all. Maw, I feel for Hattie all alone in a strange kitchen. I think I would feel the same though I wouldn't leave a puddle. To Nonno and gaga and their families, my condolences. At our time of life (well, mine...) we have to face many bereavements and it's something we never get used to. There's always a gap left never to be filled. Maw, thining about you. I hope Paw had a peaceful night and that the new antiB is having a positive effect. ((((Hugs))) to all the grans suffering anxiety or loss. And please may I have a slice of the most luscious cake someone must be secreting in the kitchen.I promise I won't eat it all - can't afford to put on even virtual pounds.

If it helps Maw today I shall be wearing an oversized t shirt that says ' save a horse - ride a cowboy !' I shall be sending one to TM as I think she would like it for her hols !!

Chin up chick xx

Big hugs Maw, best off staying in the boring kitchen methinks!

Very sincerest and hopeful thoughts to you Maw.

Morning Soop and kitcheners. There are so many of you coping with troubles and sadness. I wish you strength Maw and hope Paw is peaceful and comfortable.

It's easy for someone else to say take no notice of comments, maw but I know harder to do. If you can just ignore the hurtful comments, it's another example of on line thoughtlessness. I can only hope these individuals don't behave like that in RL. Look after yourself. You've enough to be worried about. Sending love to you and paw.

I will pop back later , just to say things are not good here and the responses I got to my TM thread which was started in lighthearted mode yesterday have hurt immeasurably. I don't mind people disagreeing with me, but yet again, things have got personal.

Lots of positive thoughts for your tonsil-two n&g. Think I would look apprehensive too .

Pleased your head isn't falling off, hope the pain can be improved by the osteopath.

The beginning of my post was intended to follow maw's post, n&g beat me to it. .

Indeed you have grannyqueenie, there is room for all no matter where they are with life. Hope you enjoy your girls morning today, well deserved.

You are so right , we do need to enjoy and value the times our grandchildren want to be with us, swanny, I think the children practice all their relationships with us, so we get the welcome and the not so welcome and of course how they relate to us changes. Don't worry, your grandson will always be just that, even if he wants different things from you.

It's seriously horrid weather-wise here this morning. Cleaning planned but not just yet as after a very disturbed night my morning hasn't quite begun yet.

Morning all !!

Hope you're doing ok today Gaga , have been thinking of you .

I totally agree with you Swanny , I'm sure I wasn't as over protective cautious with my own children.

Sorry to hear about your BiL too Marydoll , that's the trouble with getting older eh? Our loved ones do too !

My pain in the neck ( not Grampy this time) is just that - a pain in the neck. The trouble is its sometimes in my shoulder and sometimes in the back of my head and its intermittent and a nuisance more than debilitating. I wanted to check it wasn't my head dropping off with the GP before I booked into the osteopath for some pulling and prodding. So that will be my next port of call.

Love the hats Maw ! I am a big hat person myself

Poor Hattie. I totally understand where she's coming from. She ends up in a strange place, then along comes a nice lady who takes her somewhere else and gives her treats and is thoroughly nice to her and then, just when its dark and a bit scary - she disappears. I'd howl too . Can you leave behind something you've worn with your scent on it- she might feel a little less lost? Or a teddy to cuddle with?

Grey - there had better be a slice of that cake on hold for me. It looks delish!

Loved the picture of the in-house artist too. How serious does he look at his work ?

My sympathies to you Nonna , what a sad day for you. It's the beautiful memories you have that will get you through.

I think we should all post some wedding pictures to compliment Maws and see if we all subscribed to the fashion trends LOL

Perfect words grannieQueenie. Perfect xx

Have a little thought if you would today for my DGD and DGS1 , they are both off to the hospital to have their troublesome tonsils out ! I got a picture this morning before they set out. DGD requested T-shirts to wear so the nurses wouldn't remove anything but their tonsils .... they look a little apprehensive but have been promised mountains of ice-cream when they get back home !!

Have a good day all !

Well said grannyqueenie you have summed it up so well.

grannyqueenie enjoy those together times! My DGS is very much a daddy's boy but this week we've had some fantastic cuddles as well as activity sessions. As long as he is happy to come to see me I will value his presence; when he doesn't want to be with grandma I will understand but grieve his absence. I hope that doesn't happen too soon

The lovely kitchen just reflects life doesn't it, some are just bursting with pride, and rightly so, at achievements of children and grandchildren, yet others are watching loved ones grieve or struggle with ill health while some of us are just jogging along in the ordinary stuff of today but not knowing what tomorrow may bring. Beautiful photos too, both past and present. Just like in the best of friendship circles there's room for it all to be shared here. Goodness I'm not sure why I'm feeling so reflective all of a sudden. Perhaps because I'm half watching something about a group of men doing a huge walk in Spain as a kind of a pilgrimage and it's rubbed off
Me? Well we've had a good day, albeit dodging the showers, with our gd. It was rather a teary bedtime though, underneath all her humour, bravado and quirky characteristics she's a real softie. Thankfully cuddles and the promise of a girl's morning with granny tomorrow helped her turn herself around . Mostly she's her Pop's best buddy, but if she comes to stay without her mum, she attaches to me big time! She's had lots of hospital stays, surgeries and procedures and has ongoing health issues which copes with so well.
Early night for me I think, there's fun to be had tomorrow! Sleep well all x

Is there anyone in the kitchen from Rochdale? Until we moved here 40 years ago, I lived in or near Rochdale since I was 13, but today I paid a nostalgic trip back, via Google Earth Streetview, and realised that if I went back now I`d never find my way around, it`s changed so much. Some streets/roads seem to have disappeared altogether, and the grammar school that I attended has been knocked down and replaced with a brand new, larger school. I know that things have to advance, but some things should never change.

Nonna, so sorry to read about your sister-in-law, my condolences to all the family.
Greyduster, that cake looks super yummy, is there a bit left? And your grandson will break a few hearts in the future, he`s a lovely looking lad.
Tizliz, well done to your talented daughter.
We`ve had hot dogs for tea, now my house stinks of fried onions from top to bottom! Apart from leaving the doors and windows wide open for a week, how do I get rid of the pong?

Swanny he certainly looks the part but when it comes to artistic talent he doesn't have it in spades!! I am still trying to convince him that the figures he draws should have elbows and knees - just like us! Fancy that! I am nothing if not tenacious and I keep plugging away.

nona so sorry about your SIL you were obviously very close

tizliz as someone who never achieved much academically, I stand in awe of anyone who passes a degree let alone someone who was raising a family at the same time. No wonder you are proud, congratulations

Galen I was just going to ask you what a peal was...then I thought to myself it's Galen, she must mean pearls

cornergran your cooking in the kitchen with the DGC sounds just like mine...chocolate fingermarks everywhere

greyduster what a nice looking DGS you have. I bet he's responsible for a big hole in that cake

roses that furry thing on the worktop isn't my fur hat is it? I've been looking for it everywhere ??

Sorry about the pain in your neck nanna (it's not grampy again is it ? )9

maw hope paw has a better night and hattie keeps her legs crossed ?

Thank you for your support, especially those going through hard times yourselves. DH is quite strong, and is, I think, just glad her suffering is over. She was 17 years older than him, she used to introduce him to everyone as "my baby brother", even in his 60's! We have lovely memories of her.

Tizliz congratulations to your daughter and both of you are allowed to be very proud of her achievement. It must have been far from easy in the circumstances.

Greyduster your handsome young DGS has certainly got the pose and concentration of an artist, but I agree the apron won't do much for his street cred! However, it was a better alternative to having to (wash and) dry his clothes for a 3rd time in one day

Nonna my condolences to you and your DH. ??. Very sad.