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

A very good afternoon one and all. Sunshine one moment and rain the next. Hey ho! As Baggs would say.

Swanny I read your kind message several times...once out loud to MacSporran. A huge thank you for making me smile (and go all soppy inside.)

Maw The tale of the broken down car brought back some frustrating/irritating memories. We bought a pig in a poke. A fourth hand Saab. It was long ago and we were totally unprepared for the number of things that fell off the car during important journeys. The tale of the rogue Saab is far too long and boring...so I won't go into detail.
Thank goodness that there was a satisfactory conclusion to a buggeration of a journey. Flynn will have made everything seem so much better.
Good news regarding Hattie. She most definitely going to stay. She is a beautiful lassie.

Crafting Rory (with help from MacS) made it onto his rug, on our bed, early this morning. MacS was concerned that he might land heavily when he tried to get off the bed. Later, I discovered two low stools and a huge feather cushion placed on the floor. Rory, being a very bright cat, took his time and coped with the dismount. He's now in his carpeted cat cave.

Nonna Bring on the chocolate cake with courgettes. Us lot will taste and scoff whatever you have left over. I always say, it's a shame to allow food to go stale.

anno Those two words - 'travel light' are a nonsense. Enjoy your holiday.

Gaga and Nonna I think that a celebration in memory the life of a loved one makes perfect sense. Neither MacS nor I would want black to be worn. Let there be smiles and a lot of blether and a warming wee dram. We would also like folk to sing 'Westering Home with a song in the air.' We've asked for our ashes to be scattered into the sea beside the beach just across the way. Perfect!

Jalima Did you say TWO grand kittens. Awww!

Nana&G Our gathering of the family clan, is the highlight of our year. We talk nonstop, laugh until we cry, hug and kiss each other soppily, and return home exhausted but buzzing with the most wonderful memories. Gathering this year is in September.

soop do you think that I would receive the same treatment as Rory if I moved in?!!! I think that is lovely- I know that Rory is bright and would have worked something out but every need is being catered for. He is a very lucky boy but he does know that.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201707/medium-461202-img-1627.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201707/medium-734639-img-1631.jpg

Just chilling out here after a busy spell, the washing machine and dishwasher are busy whirring away and I'm lolling on the sofa after turning down the offer of a "good walk" with my old boy.
sorry why would I want to do that now
I just can't stir my stumps to get my ample
enormous backside off the sofa!
We had fun with our funny, quirky and resilient 9 year old gd and then her 2 mummies joined her for the weekend. Our dil is fodmapping, which involves in her case anyway cutting out all manner of random food then eating it anyway if the fancy takes you! But we had a laugh about it all and it does seem to be helping her, I'm just relieved the dietician I saw recently said my IBS wasn't severe enough to merit doing it!
Good to hear news of various kitchen pets, old and new who are holding court in their respective homes. The visiting grand dog maybe cute and small but had a way of ruling the roost. He wasn't too keen on the "no dogs on granny's lounge sofa" regime, preferring the more casual atmosphere in the conservatory!
Passwords are the bain of my life, I have tried to be clever and security savvy thinking up passwords that related to the particular site foolish error , as I now can't remember them for sites I haven't used for more than15 minutes ages. I'm now veering towards having the same couple of passwords for everything as I'm not sure if it compromises security that much. Anyone know if it really does?
Some of you may remember I've been worried about my oldest gd who seems a troubled lass these days. I hear that she's now been referred to CAMHS for assessment for anxiety and depression with a suggestion of ASD thrown in. I'm just hoping it won't take too long as I know my lovely son and dil are struggling with it all. They don't want all the family to know which makes it tricky to know how to deal with casual but sometimes probing questions from his siblings. Never in my dreams did I imagine that almost 47 years after the birth of my 1st baby I would still be fretting about them all and their babies too What an innocent I was! How much more I understand now why my mum did just the same with me (her only child) and mine
I really thought it so uneccessary
Late in realising I owe you an apology mum!
Heck that was a marathon, sorry if I've bored the pants off you all!! Right now to tackle remaking the beds!

My first visit to the new style boring kitchen. I've enjoyed catching up with the news here. Good to see other people's weather is the same as ours - it's either sunny with blue skies and warm, or pouring down. This is very unusual in the north west, where it's usual to have endless grey skies, frequent rain with occasional outbreaks of sun, infrequent blue skies. I'm loving this summer.

Charleyg If you visit our home you would get a right royal welcome. Rory may take leave - he's a funny feline - the one and only person he has all the time in the world for is...MacS

granniequeenie I thoroughly enjoyed reading your post. You've reminded me that I've washing to offload it's been in the machine since first thing this morning some would call me a lazy mare.
I do hope that your granddaughter benefits from whatever counselling is most suitable for her needs. We never cease to worry about "our own", it's what mother's do.
That is one darling visiting grand dog. Such a sweet face.

Iam64 I cannot tell you how pleased I am that you find the new kitchen to be a dull as dishwater. Yawn!!! nothing new there then.

soop do you not think that the kitchen arrangement is a bit twee? I do not mind- it would appear that others bother about twee and us lot being dull. Sorry but I am unlikely to change now.

I think it lovely that Rory and MacS have developed such a bond. A friend of mine is staying overnight with another friend and the cat will hide until that person leaves tomorrow because he knows she is not a "cat" person. He will appear for his food when everybody has gone to bed and he will then join his mummy on her bed.

He is a house cat because they live fairly close to a busy main road and my friend has lost one cat on the road and did not want to lose this one.

Charleyg Our kitchen can be whatever we wish. Those who like twee will appreciate the gingham tablecloth...those who like dull can have whatever shade of dull they desire. We are together. That's what counts.

Rory hadn't seen the inside of a home until the day, about five years ago, when he followed me indoors. He shadowed me for some weeks. He didn't like certain sounds and the log fire terrified him. Now, of course, he's worldly wise and don't we know it.

I've washed my hair. It looks a bit like a shag pile mat. Oooh, do you think we should tart our kitchen up with neon coloured shage pile rugs and cushions? Or, would that be taking things a tad too far.

soop we really do not want to overdo it.

grannyqueenie I love that little 4 legged visitor and he was behaving himself having a short nap. He is very photogenic.

As we are as in the words of that well known Chinese blessing, living in interesting times, the idea of a boring, comforting, stress and argument free kitchen is a perfect necessity. Does anyone one mind my three doodle dogs lying around? Officially or allegedly none of them belongs to another family member but she does spend rather a lot of time here. On second thoughts I'll put them in the utility. Interlopng youngst smallest dog has taken middle sized favourite tiger toy. She is ripping it's innards out, middle dog is giving her his most menacing look. She remains oblvious and has progressed to ripping th squeak out. Off to prevent canine wars ?

My D's beautiful pets.
Stevie has had his"bits" cut off,hence the cone of shame.

Sorry I can't print him?

Oh I did!!

There is a 3rd cat.
Narla, the mother of the 2 boys but she is shy and rather solitary.

I love tabbies ann - what lovely pets you have access to at your DD's.Without all the work involved!

How is Ruby getting on? Have you heard from her? I keep wondering if she is OK and feeling better and I know what a good friend you have been to her.

I am in regular touch with Ruby,she is doing well and getting out on her scooter.
She is starting to feel much better.

Gosh I haven't been in the kitchen since Friday and haven't a hope of catching up now! What a lot of lovely looking animals and one gorgeous small boy in a puddle (best place for small boys - character building!).
Well, we are back to whatever passes for normal in this house after the onslaught of DS, DiL, their two boys (18 and 22) and the mystery guest, a charming young man who has just finished a music degree and was delighted to find that we had a piano! Needless to say, he is better than me by a country mile. When you hear someone else play your piano, why does it always sound so different? (I'm referring to the tone rather than my incompetence!). He politely ate my rather aimless attempt at a stuffed pepper but cried off second helpings. I was disappointed to find that he actually eats fish. If I had known that, his lunch might have been altogether more appetising, as I am quite good with fish. The rest of us had some very good roast pork. We had a rather nice afternoon playing raucous card games as it was too wet to go out. So we are now back, to quote a line from a song from My Fair Lady, to "An atmosphere as quiet as an undiscovered tomb", with DH finishing off the last of the pineapple upside down cake (yes he did offer it to me first!). I will have my feet up with a G &T now until Poldark!
Soop give Rory a stroke from me. Hope he is just throttling back and will hold his own for a while yet!

soop thanks for your lovely kind words.

I've tried to refrain from talking about Rory as he reminds me so much of a beautiful supercilious black cat I had. He's brought so much pleasure to your household, including us lot in the kitchen, and I hope he can continue pain-free for some time yet.

My darling cat was the daughter of another cat I had. Sole kitten from her mother's only litter, as she had a nasty prolapse after the birth. She was very much an aristo cat and very picky about showing affection when other people were around. Very loving though when just the two of us. She went downhill very fast when about 14 years old. I had arranged for someone to come in to feed and spend some time with her while I was away for a few days for work. On the last day I had an early morning call to say she was not eating so dashed home immediately. So pleased I did as she snuggled in for the last time and died as I held her I know death is the only certainty in life but I still miss her. No cats or dogs allowed where I now live unfortunately ...

Jalima Did you say TWO grand kittens. Awww!
The older cat and DH will not be impressed

I have been busy making some tasteless shag-pile animal print cushions for the kitchen - are they suitably naff enough?
I hope so.

They are warm and cosy, just like the kitchen!

grannyqueenie sorry to hear about your DGD. I do hope she gets seen by CAMHS soon. My DGC has been down the same path suffering from anxiety and depression and ASD. A few years on, things are looking better. Help and support for all the family will be much needed. Tell your son and DIL life will be easier if they just tell people what is wrong and it will be more help for your DGD if people understand what she is going through.

I don't know how I missed your post grannyqueenie, just want to add positive thoughts for your oldest granddaughter. I won't suppose many of us understand completely when our first baby arrives that 47 years later, we still feel responsible for them. Someone close to me has a grandchild first referred to cahms at age eight. The diagnosis was anxiety. The child is now fifteen, has not had things run smoothly. A recent second opinion assessment concluded ASD, not previously even considered has been the route of continued anxiety and depression. The diagnosis seems to have helped thus bright child and parents a lot. I hope the referral process helps your granddaughter and her parents similarly.

Having stumbled my way through a mountain of Jalima's naff shag pile and stepped carefully over several furry newcomers, I'm overawed by the amount of activity in this kitchen since yesterday.

Iam64 Everyone and every creature is welcome to join us lot...the more the merrier.

Greyduster Your Sunday sounds like fun. MacSporran plays the piano. Understandably, he claims that his fingers are no longer as nibble as they were. He used to play in a village pub as a student (for beer money) and would always start with a few bars of Beethoven, before lapsing into something more appropriate.

annsixty The cats are gorgeous creatures. Rory had his bits snipped. He didn't like it. Mind you, he certainly became slightly less arrogant. I love the wee dog.

Swanny Rory was determined to join us as we enjoyed our early morning brew in bed. Watching him struggle was hard. However, with lots of encouragement from MacS and a bit of a gentle lifting, he made it. His purrs sounded like an old fashioned lawn mower. We know the signs. He's very elderly and we hope to give him a peaceful however long he has remaining. All a bit jumbled. You know what I'm trying to say.

Iam64 Wise and hopefully helpful words regarding granniequeenie's oldest granddaughter.