soop's friendly kitchen for like-minded folk and pampered pets.

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Hello the kitchen! I am late today as we have been out all day sans iPad (I am being surgically reattached as we speak!). DH was being a guinea pig for a health research facility (he is master of the fun day out!) which involved some travelling and potentially a lot of sitting around thumb twiddling for me, but I was rescued and spent a few hours in some truly delightful company. We stopped above The Winnats to take a couple of photos on the way back - one of the Great Ridge, which we used to walk regularly, and one of the spread of the Hope Valley. A friend of mine once commented that the cement works was an eyesore, but I like it and it gives a lot of employment to the area.
Ok, GQ where is this reservoir and does it have fish in it ?? Love your pictures.
Kitty Persie looks so sweet in her uniform. Time will hurtle by from now on. GS will be in his last junior year next week and I don't know where that time went!
N&G losing a pound is not to be sniffed at and a great incentiviser (if there is such a word!). Onward and upward! I am staying away from scales; it was bending over to move mine a few inches that put my back out! They can seriously affect your health as well as your self esteem! Back is fine now apart from the odd twinge, I'm glad to say.
callgirl I hope your DD's other key holder is not doing something naughty like renting out her property on the QT!!!
I knew I didn't have a hope of catching up tonight, so apologies to all I have missed out - I'll try harder next time!

I think I mentioned on Wednesday that I was being driven mad by insect bites. Nothing seemed to soothe them until I put coconut oil on them! Read about it online somewhere and it is Brilliant!

callgirl that is very worrying info for your daughter about her house in Spain, and the last thing she needs with a poorly husband. I do hope it isn't the key-holders making a fast penny

kitty your little Persie looks adorable and I loved her comment from the back seat of your car My DGS informed me he does not want to go back to school next week. However in the next breath he was worrying if I would know where to meet him from his new class when I collect him on Fridays

gd glad your back pain is easing. My right shoulder is playing up today after a pile of ironing got cleared last night, while watching Strike on catchup tv. I had planned to do lots of filing and shredding this week but thanks to my 'moody blues' I just can't be bothered ...

ann thanks for the recommendation here about the soup maker. Bought one this week and last night chucked in some cabbage, leek, courgette and potato that had overstayed their welcome in my fridge, together with a veggie stock cube. Ready in no time at all and tasted delicious!

Wishing everyone happy times and thanks for all you kind messages xx

Greyduster and Swanny, that`s what Dawn`s been wondering, but hoping that she`s wrong. Lovely photos by the way Greyduster, and I`m glad your back`s almost better. I`m going to get some coconut oil next time I`m in town, thanks for the tip, I usually use vinegar, but it tends to make me smell like a chip shop!

callgirl your comment about vinegar on bites reminded me of the home-made sun protection my mother insisted we covered ourselves with when I was in my teens. It was a concoction of olive oil and vinegar ... !

My DGS 1 is set for reception class in school in a weeks time I have not seen a picture of him in his full uniform yet.
I fear his uniform will be hanging off him a bit.

Greyduster I recognised that view straight away. I think my car could drive itself down there.

I have spent a second day up to my elbows in damsons. I have about eight kilner jars of damson gin just starting in the cupboard under the stairs and a lot more damsons ready to go into the freezer for jam or chutney.

This is what happens when you comment on the Facebook page of a friend who has lots of rapidly ripening damsons to deal with before she goes away next day. Lots of damson pulp now ready for freezing.

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Morning all, I love the images that come to mind, i.e. nellie up to her elbows in damsons while her car drives off to enjoy the view, swanny sunbathing in salad dressing and callgirl smelling like a fish and chip shop!
greyduster the reservoir is Grimwith, I can't say I've seen anyone fishing but there is a sailing club and the walk round is lovely. Yesterday's walk was at Bolton Abbey where there is always something worth snapping, I've attached a couple. There was also a sight I've never seen, a young man with 2 youngsters stripping off on the river bank. He then waded in to retrieve a teddy which was going down the fast river at quite a pace...sorry no photographic evidence!
Where is the Hope Valley, it's obviously a favourite with some, it looks beautiful.
kitty your little Persie looks great in that uniform, hope she enjoys school. We've a gd starting high school next week, I'm hoping my dil remembers to send a photo! It's hard to believe that rather large baby I watched my amazing son deliver on their lounge floor, with me relaying phone instructions from the ambulance service is off to high school. It was certainly a night to remember!
Thanks for that tip about coconut oil, I too am viewed as a tasty morsel by biting creatures. I bought some coconut oil when it was hailed as the new healthy wonderfood but by the time I got round to opening it times had changed so I'll be glad to find a use for it.
Well it looks like a nice morning here so time to get going, shopping to do and cakes to make. Have a good day everyone x

What lovely pictures grannyqueenie!
Reading about the damsons reminds me we used to make Damson Gin (as a change from sloe) and very nice it was too. ?
I have been sneezing since yesterday and wonder whether to blame my poor DGCs (who showed no signs of a cold) or the drop in temperatures a couple of days ago. I have always maintained you don't GET a cold from BEING cold but....?
Hattie was discouraged from coming up to the bedrooms in the early days and even now rarely ventures beyond the half landing. I really don't want to be retrieving unmentionable items from the lawn on a daily basis!! And I do want her to sleep downstairs.
Lovely sunny September morning here, wish I had the energy to tackle the garden while it is fine. ?

GQ the Hope Valley starts on the A625 at Nether Padley where the road starts a spectacular drop down through Hathersage (has to be one of the finest views in the country), on to Castleton and up through Winnats Pass to Mam Tor and the Blue John Mine at the top. We used to do a nine mile walk from Castleton round the top of the Winnats, up Mam Tor, from where you can see the whole of the Edale Valley, along the great ridge and down a steep descent into Hope. That's the killer. I could not do that descent now - my knees wouldn't take it - but there is a gentler route that brings you out just below Mam Tor where every road they have ever tried to build there just slides into holes in the ground. That in itself has become a bit of a tourist attraction. Sorry, I must stop doing these 'travelogues'. The Peak District tourist board are not paying me, I promise! I hope your wading man managed to get his teddy back. ?

I've always thought I would like to be able to say 'I live in Hope', Grey. However, at least I'm not so far away, over to the west of the Peak District. Not that I can take myself anywhere until my fractured humerus heals. I have an appointment at the fracture clinic on Tuesday and fervently hope they won't want to operate on it. Meanwhile friends are being supportive and DS1 is coming for several days next week. Yesterday's big achievement was fighting my way into a tee shirt without strangling myself on my sling.

You have brought back a lot of memories Grey! I was briefly the warden of an outdoor centre in Bamford in the Hope Valley in 1975. Thought it would be the dream job but with two under-five children, a DH working away Mon-Fri and being on call 24 hours per day, it proved just too much . We loved the area though and saw lots of it. A special treat after a walk was a Bradwells icecream - heaven!

The river Wharfe at Bolton Abbey is so beautiful granny queenie and the famous Strid is nearby. My Dad's claim to fame (one of many) was that as a young man he jumped the Strid. People have died doing that so it takes a brave if foolhardy chap to do it. (Not sure if any females have ever done it).
Don't we have a lovely country? Feel so lucky.

Juliette what a lovely photo of the gorgeous Harry. Indeed he and Buzz look very alike. I'm sure you miss him. It was one of the reasons I said 'no more dogs' when my dear poodle Max died, but, after a shaky start, I'm now very glad Buzz has joined the family. He's a lovely natured boy and very well-behaved. His only fault is that he goes totally nuts when out of the house and I can't control him because he is so strong. I'm working on it and hope he will calm down when he realises it isn't such a big, scary world as he believes it to be. Fending for himself on the streets of Sicily has left him with scars, bless him.

Thank you for sharing your photo of Harry.

My thoughts exactly gagagran, hardly a day goes by here without me saying how blessed I am to both live where I now do and have the health to enjoy it. If the day comes, and that's hopefully not yet a while, when I'm not able to get out and about as I do now at least I'll have thousands, I exaggerate not, of photos to pore over!
Yes The Strid is stunning after a rainy spell, especially --I may have a photo
or twenty of it wow gagagran a brave or foolhardy man there's a question- the omnipotence of youth springs to mind!
Thanks for the info about the Hope Valley, reading the posts I realise I've actually been in that direction. We had a family weekend away in the youth hostel at Castleton last year, unfamiliar territory for me. Repeating it again in a few weeks time. With 19
bossy boots strong characters to please it can be a challenge but a very enjoyable one and well worth doing. Ask me next month if that's still true!
anno that description made me smile, I had an arm in a sling last winter, I found zipping up a coat on a wet day was a challenge. Hope you manage to avoid surgery
Well this is diversionary activity so I'd best get off here and get myself back on track. x
ps you do the Peaks and I'll do the Wharfe Valley greyduster maybe between us all we could do the Rough Guide for Grannies!!

Very envious of all the photographs. The Peak District is on our doorstep and we have spent hundreds if not thousands of hours walking all of it.
Alas, no more, but no-one can take the memories away.
Swanny I am so pleased you like your soup maker, I always feel it is a couple of free meals as the ingredients are all in the fridge waiting to be used or discarded.
I am waiting for my supposedly self clean oven to do exactly that. All that seems to be happening is a smelly kitchen with the backdoor wide open to clear the air. I have never had one before and wish I had stuck to nor I could clean with Oven Mate. Always got very good results with that.

ann what is the make of your soup maker please?

The plumber has just visited so hopefully I will have no more drips etc over the winter. There is always something I find.

I cannot decide what I fancy for tonight's supper so I am hoping that something will jump off the shelves into my trolley when I go to Waitrose later.

Mine is the Salter Charley . The Morphy Richards was very similar but at the time the S was a couple of £'s cheaper!! Never known to waste money.
I have been delighted with it.

Am I the only person who can't get on with a soup maker? Perhaps I am not trying hard enough......

Afternoon all !

Loved the picture of the adorable Persie Kitty . Is it unPC to say she's going to be a little heartbreaker?

That's most worrying Callgirl hope it all checks out for your daughter. We had a similar thing in our house in the states and it turned out the rental management were putting in extra guests and pocketing the rental money !!

Yes , I'm interested Ann like Charley as you are pleased with your soup maker.

We survived the chaotic trip to Clarks ( my god talk about the seventh circle of hell!!!) and Jackson is now the proud of owner of new shoes and trainers.

Then we went to Patisserie Valerie to blow our diet out of the water. When asked by the lady serving what he would like he asked for a green macaroonie and some sugary goodness ?!?

Turns out its what his Mum calls meringue

Then we tried to buy a pair of school shorts to no avail. Unbelievably shorts are only for the summer !!! Not to our boys!

Today I have been crafting as the carpet cleaner man did the hall stairs and landing. I hid when I heard him say to Grampy 'I don't mean to be rude but the water is absolutely black from the cleaning' !!

oh the shame !!

Ann I have ordered one, the cost is half price and being Scottish- say no more. It should pay for itself over the winter months. Thanks for that.

N&G I thought the reason you called in somebody to clean the carpet was to do just that. I was also under the impression that we should not be doing these tasks ourselves- it should be left to the professionals. The only fault I can see is that you did not invite him a week earlier!

I hope that Jackson got exactly what he ordered. The waitress must be used to strange orders like his.

You can always search Amazon for shorts. It is as bad as stores not stocking warm cardigans during summer- mainly because apparently we never have cold days.

For anyone RUSHING to clean their oven!! I did of course mean Oven Pride.

A warm welcome to Juliette You're right. The likeness between Buzz and your dear Harry is uncanny.
We called on the vet living on the other side of the peninsula earlier today. We have an elderly ex-feral cat living with us. He's becoming more and more unsteady on his rear legs with every passing day. Anyway, we bought pain killing tablets and antibiotics (for a runny eye) and the vet said, that will be £35. My husband said, we want to make this last chapter of his life as pleasant as we can. The vet said that he will call by to examine Rory when he's next in this area. If so, we've warned him that Rory can be very fierce with strangers. Apparently, the painkilling tabs have a small amount of steroid in them. This has increased Rory's weight dramatically. We shall know when it's the right time to let him go. Only, as we always say...not just yet.

callgirl1 I would feel very uneasy thinking that some youths had been visiting the holiday home. Do you think that will have confined themselves to the garden? Surely, they didn't find a way in.

Greyduster Another beautiful photograph. Thanks for the tip regarding a soothing cream for fly bites. I've been using Avon's Skin So Soft.

Swanny Doing a pile of ironing won't have helped your painful shoulder.

Granniequeenie Your photographs are lovely too. Trust you to catch sight of a young man stripping off.

Nelliemoser Damsons! A wonderful fruit in any form. I like them stewed and served with delicious creamy rice pudding (preferably with a crusty top!)

Maw What you do not want is a bad cold. For your own sake and Paw's steer clear of folk with runny noses and coughs.

Today, the weather in Kintyre is perfect. We have bright, warm sunshine and everything in the garden is looking tip top. I took a photo of last night's sunset for you. I would like to think that it represents the 'silver linings' that we all need from time to time..

anno Take good care of yourself please. A fractured humerus will take time to heal. Our Baggs has been through something very similar. It's been a slow recovery for her.

I'm logging off. I'm feeling awfully lethargic this afternoon. No good reason for the lethargy. It's here and it will pass.

There are so many messages that I haven't yet read. Nevertheless, you lot are special peoples, as Torben would say. I'm hoping that when I return tomorrow, my spirits will have bucked up.