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

Well today might be regarded as a milestone.
Paw came downstairs after a wash and brush up, fresh PJs etc late this morning and has been up and awake ever since!
He has had an earlyish supper and as soon as the carer's gondola /ark appears he will be up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire. A neighbour popped inforva cup of tea and to see him so he had some company for a bit - all in all, a good day!
I am frankly not "bovvered" by some very spiteful people who seem determined to find fault no matter what I say so secretly I am thinking where they might wish to reposition their Andrex ??? but of course I wouldn't DREAM of saying so .

Maw what have you been up to receiving all those vitriolic remarks! You should stay where it is safe- I do.

NonnaW that was really pleasant meeting up with friends from DH's past. Glad to hear that your dogs appreciate their home, like the vast majority of animals in soop's kitchen!

The sun is out now but there was a heavy burst of rain earlier. Autumn is definitely here, it is so much colder.

Lovely set of new friends!

Two manic spaniels here today, as we picked them up from 12 days in kennels. We've had a week in Spain and then this weekend we went up to Newcastle to cheer on DSD in the Great North Run. The Spain trip was a catch up for DH with a group of friends from his younger days, when he played in a band. I'd never met any of them before, but came away feeling I've made a lovely ad of new friends. A week filled with music (pop, rock, blues) and reminiscences.

I've just tried to have a catch up on all the news here. Commiserations for all those who have had sadnesses, and congratulations on the successes etc. Fingers crossed for continuing good news about Rory and Paw.

MawB I think this kitchen is the safest place!

Take your point soop, but I do not take things lying down (unlike Hattie!!) and this ganging up is not going to go un commented on.

Maw You have more than enough real problems to deal with. What's more, you do so with admirable positivity. Walk away from the stuff that bothers you and breathe a sigh of relief.

Feeling rather sorry for myself. Being told I am sanctimonious and then that I have a Big Pronlem a bit hard to take. I hate it when others start to "join in" (" fight, fight") especially when Grannymattie and I have made our peace

and (((hugs))) galore for you lot

Not feeling my usual bouncy self. Tight chest and woolly legs! Never mind. I shall need to recover by the weekend. Our granddaughter's in-laws are touring Scotland. We have a tour of the famous Springbank distillery and a Scottish platter lunch to look forward to.

THANK you, Oldgoat for your very kind offer.

Soop That cat of yours is amazing. He is as tough as old boots with the rough life he has had.
Ruari, you are a legend.

It's so good to hear some better news of your dil morethan, what an up and down time it is for you all. I guess at times you hardly dare hope for good news for fear of being disappointed but without that hope it would seem bleak indeed. Thinking of you as you cope with your own worries for them whilst supporting them all too.
Thinking of you too kitty with sad news about good friends.
Glad to hear various poorly pets are perking up, and so they should do with all the lavish care they're receiving!
soop, get well soon, I hope you haven't caught n&g's? bug just by sitting in the kitchen!!
greyduster I did smile at your dolphin story, I'm guessing Newquay in Wales? We once went on a dolphin spotting boat trip there, sadly not a dolphin in sight for the whole trip. That is until we sailed back into the harbour where crowds of people had gathered watching a pod of dolphins playing, all for free of course! It's a lovely bit of coastline all the way along there, have you been to Llangrannog? We had a few happy holidays around there when the children were small and then went back a few years ago, just the two of us and enjoyed walking the coastal paths.
Good luck with mastering the soup maker charley. There must be a knack involved! I haven't succumbed to one yet so can't offer any advice I'm afraid.
Just watching the latest tv footage of Hurricane Irma, goodness me what awful times for these poor folk.
Sleep well and safely in your beds tonight folks. X

morethan that is fantastic news and here's hoping for more of the same. I know chemo is not easy to cope with, but such good news is encouraging and I'm sure we all wish the best for your DIL and family x

Morethan, that`s wonderful news!
Soop, I hope that by morning your sore throat will have improved. I can`t do the italics, but am also whispering "Come on Rory!"
I did a car boot sale today with my daughter number 3, it was a disaster, I only sold 2 pairs of shoes and 2 books! It was also very cold and windy, I was perished!

morethan a very quiet cheer to read your news. I do know every step forward is a cautious hope but better that than a negative report.
I will continue to pray for your whole family.

Too tired for a proper catch up tonight but I must just say to morethan how pleased I am for her, her Dil and all the family.. Thank you for telling us.

We had a panic this morning when we realised how many birthdays there are in our family between now and the end of September (7 between 25th and 30th) and that we are away for a week of the available shopping time. So, John Lewis profits will soar this month but I doubt I will recover my energy soon.

Now the rest of you - flipping stand still until at least tomorrow pm or I'll never manage a proper up date on you all.

morethan that really is good news.

Greyduster it was not the colour of it, it was the floating pieces of onion, celery and mushroom which had not been pureed. I managed to get 3 of my 5 a day. I am not sure how I managed to burn the base with 800 mls of vegetable stock in it but I am learning. I am no cook and this is a steep learning curve for me so I must read the instructions.

That sounds a fabulous lunch- hopefully the pair of you managed to waddle back to where you are staying!

soop that goooood boy does not give up easily. That is a very decent friend and neighbour but you will worry daily about Rory.

I am meeting up tomorrow am with 3-4 GNs for our monthly coffee and serious discussion! It is over 3 years now and we get along so well.

Hello all! There is a lot less sneezing from Charlie and he is eating very well, so I think he is on the mend. Chins up to all you poorlies - I hope you are feeling better too.

morethan That is wonderful news! Here's hoping it continues!

Apologies dear Granspals. I've been busy doing other "stuff". I also have a sore throat and am not exactly wanting to do much with what time is left for today. My sympathies go to all who are feeling jaded for whatever reason.

morethan Bless you for sharing your good news with us. xxx

MacSporran and I will spend the night that we've booked into a hotel together on the day I return to Scotland. Our mate has said, go ahead. It's paid for and I hadn't realised that by the time I get off the train, I shall have missed the last bus.

Do you mind if I speak in whispers? Rory, the big, black, bossy cat is doing everything in his power to improve one day at a time. I hear MacSporran say...*you are such a gooooooood boy* at least every hour. I cannot promise that he will fully recover. I dare not leave further messages on the FB page because I do not wish to tempt providence to do an about-turn.

The weather was perfectly lovely all day yesterday. Today it is wild and wet and the sea is rough. We have no complaints. Those poor people who have lost everything, are experiencing a living nightmare. I cannot believe that some communities will ever recover. It is beyond heart breaking.

I'm about to log off. I shall return to our kitchen in the morning.

morethan that is wonderful news!
Very, very happy for you as Ican appreciate how you are probably all living on a knife edge, so ANY good news is to be celebrated. ??

Morethan I have only just seen your post, but what really special news that is! Fingers crossed that the treatment continues to do its job successfully!

Charley I love home made mushroom soup, with some dried porcini mushrooms added for extra depth, but the appearance does sometimes verge upon the grey end of the spectrum. Stick a lot of cream in it to brighten it up a bit!
Maw sounds like Paw has a long road ahead of him but he will cope with it better in his own home where he feels comfortable. I hope the physio makes a difference.
Wonderful stained glass, gq. It's a shame that so many of our churches have had to go to extraordinary lengths to protect their stained glass from vandalism, and in doing so, have take some of the glory from it, but needs must.
We have just come back from dolphin watching at New Quay. We couldn't get a boat trip because of the weather, but the dolphins very kindly turned up just offshore, as they do almost daily, and gave us a free show! It was incredible to see them. Pity about the boat. We consoled ourselves with an gargantuan Sunday lunch in a very small cafe at the top of a steep hill (we felt very virtuous as we had to climb the hill once to book, and then again to eat!). It was one of the best roast dinners I have eaten for ages. Acres of meat, seven different vegetables not including the two different types of potatoes, and gravy like DH's mum used to make. He polished off treacle tart to finish, then we staggered down to the beach just as THE SUN CAME OUT and sat there in a semi torpor for a couple of hours turning all that food into inches fuel! We have solved the mirror problem with sticky tape but now we just have to stop DH banging his head on the bedroom lampshade and the beam on the landing!? Onward and upward!

I'm sorry to hear that there's a bit of a bug doing it's rounds. I hope those affected will recover. I haven't kept up so I hope paw is on the mend. I've just popped in to give you some good news. My DiL chemo is doing its job and the biggest tumour on her liver is shrinking and they couldn't detect any others. She's half way through the chemo and feeling and looking rough but the news has given her a lift.

Maw I agree- if that is all I had to worry about I would be skipping everywhere.

Does Hattie creep upstairs now that she has a sleeping companion? I can envisage her sitting beside Paw's chair, the pair of them resting their eyes.

Thank you charleygirl it was not a reflection on my own circumstances as it happened, just perhaps an observation on the trivialities of some lives.
I clearly do not share some people's sense of "humour" ???