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

I had a nasty shock this morning - I was up before the sun!!
We had a beautiful warm sunny day yesterday and this morning was a complete contrast. Yuck

Lovely photo of Jackson N&G and glad to hear you are on the mend at last.

Good news about your relatively quiet night Maw, sleep can be such good medicine. Hope you've told Hattie that winter is on it's way and she will have to get used to going out in the rain sometimes. Hope Paw continues to look (and feel) chipper.

Hope soop has had a good weekend and has a safe journey home.

Just re-read this and there's an awfa' lot of hoping in it

Yesterday was very quiet in the kitchen - lots of busy grans!
We made a flying visit to see our two and had such a lovely time. My heart melted when GS opened the door and saw us. There was a huge smile because he didn't know we were coming.

n&g my Mum used to swear by a saucer next to her bed with vinegar and brown paper in it for a chesty cough. I've tried it a time ir two and did sleep better, but that might just have been the anaesthetic properties of vinegar . I've never heard anyone else recommend it, though . A rightly proud young man there, super photo.

Fine-ish here so off to stretch the knee. I'm obeying the physio-terrorist to the letter, he's scary.

That sounds like an excellent night maw, good that paw is improving, relief all round.

Right, no more procrastination, off out.

I feel sorry for Hattie because none of us obviously know when it will rain. At least you had a better sleep and good that Paw is looking and obviously feeling a bit better if he can read a newspaper.

The sun is not out yet but at least it is not raining. I have done zilch but what is new in this hotel?

Corner Tara was out until well after 7pm last night, it is a case of me, I and myself. She woke me at 7am today but I did not move. She should be used to that by now.

N&G Jackson is a very happy and proud young man.

In the restaurant there were children running around like steam trains- if I had been the manager I would have said something to the parents who absolve all responsibility the minute they all sit down. The waitresses had a hard time. Thank goodness we left at 3pm because there was a party of 30 children arriving 2 hours later. I think that the manager was planning on an early exit.

The friend I was with lost her gorgeous dog Alfie a few weeks ago but she is picking up a miniature Schnauzer in over a week. He is 9 weeks old at present. Dark grey I think with the odd patch of black. This one will be called Nico.

Monsoon style here too maw, it seemed like a good idea at the time to promise to accompany a friend on a dog walk this afternoon Glad you and paw had a better night, here's hoping that's the start of a new and improved pattern.
Well done that boy, his smile would brighten anyone's Monday n&g. Afraid I'm another another harsh old bugger. When mine were small I worked on the premise that the more you expected children to rise to the occasion the more they did. They were no angels and could run rings round me at times but generally I could take them out anywhere without embarrassment and the grandchildren are pretty much the same. They can all be monkeys at times but it's a pleasure when we all go out for a special occasion meal. Mind you I may say differently after spending next weekend banged up enjoying a happy family weekend with the whole crew!
greyduster do I remember you mentioning Ladybower Reservoir recently, there's been a suggestion of a walk there on our family weekend, are there loos? We walked round Swinsty yesterday afternoon, there were so many fisherfolk by Fewston that I wondered if there was a competition taking place.
Well I can avoid it no longer the post holiday ironing pile awaits. Hoping for good news of soop and her travel adventures, I think we've all missed her. Happy Monday everyone x

Home!
Now, tell me!
Just what have you lot been up to while I've not been there?

Welcome home, I ma sure that the pair of you thoroughly enjoyed yourselves. It is back to work now for you!

Many of us have spent time on the norty step, otherwise we have been so so goooood!

Gq I have PM'd you.
N&G Jackson should be very proud of his swimming certificates. I hope he'll compound on his skills and become a good strong swimmer. It is not GS's strong suite. I blanch at the amount of money DD has spent on swimming lessons for him. We started taking him before he could walk, and he had lessons at various pools until last year, but, though he can swim (like an otter underwater!) his co-ordination is not good, so it's not pretty to watch!
Talking of otters, they have been seen in one of our city's rivers, which has enjoyed something of a post industrial ressurection. There are salmon coming back too, so maybe otters are bad news, but nature has a way of balancing these things out. It all points to very clean water, though!
I was supposed to be having a fishing day today. Conditions are perfect, and me? I am poorly, so going nowhere. Hope for better things tommorrow.
Galen welcome home and hope you had a splendid holiday!

Feel better soon Greyduster
A very difficult day here as H is upset by his memory loss which in turn upset me, I'm afraid he is getting worse.

Ann ?? thinking of you both.

What 2yr olds just have to do all the way up the fence. At toddler pace. A good job we were not in hurry.

Oh ann, so hard for you both .

You know Galen if we were sure what we had done we'd try hard not to do it again, but of course being in blissful ignorance anything might happen. Hope you enjoyed your holiday, only very slightly envious. Well, if I'm honest extremely envious, could do with a warm escape.

What's up greyduster? Hope you feel much better soon.

Children and restaurants can be a minefield, charley, as others have said we insist on sensible behaviour with the grandchildren who frequent restaurants far more frequently than their parents ever did. It seems though that there are some families where the children are firmly in charge. It's a shame for everyone, not doing them any favours long term and very disruptive for those around

Having said that saw some impeccably behaved children when sat recovering from my walk today, a nice coffee was the antidote I needed. There were some little ones with excellent manners, lovely to see

Right, it's been an odd food day today, nothing since breakfast so off for a very early tea

Take care all, be good .

Nellie he's lovely! Been there, done that, got the tee shirt, but now it's me who goes at toddler pace and GS waits for me (sometimes!).

Nellie he is gorgeous- has such a cheeky grin on his little face.

Pleased at you and Paw`s good night Maw, may they continue.
Lovely photos N &G and Nelliemoser.
Welcome back Galen, Downsize as well, if you`re there.
My children weren`t angels, little buggers really, all 5, but they knew to behave when we went out, be it eating, shopping or just visiting.
I hope all that rain in MK isn`t on it`s way here, we`ve had a fine day, a mix of sun and cloud, but absolutely no breeze at all.

I think having 5 makes it easier Callgirl. We stopped short of the whistle but I feel that we must sometimes have resembled a slightly smaller verison of the Von Trapps. Of course, when our eldest were young, we felt very privileged to be allowed any where anything but Wimpy Bar with them so they HAD to behave.

I'm pleased you had a better (sort of) night Maw, it makes such a difference doesn't it.

Nice to see you back Galen, maybe you can ascertain what we did wrong and let us know - the norty step is crowded at present.

Hi Downsized, any gossip about Galen while you were away - did she behave? I'm sure you were very ladylike!

Jackson looks a picture. Aren't all children so chuffed with Certificates? Persie has just got her first swimming ceretificate. It has only taken 2 years - Bertie started at the same time and has gone up 3 stages. Persie spends all her time saying 'Look Mummy', waving and then slowly sinking!

Gorgeous boy Nellie.

((((Hugs))) Ann, I'm sorry you are upset too. Is you hospital appointment still on for tomorrow?

How are you, GD?

Well, most of the roads round here are flooded so I'm hoping soop manages the journey home.

Our hall is slightly damp too! . The joys of an old house with a very old roof. It's in a bit where two slated slopes meet each other so it's really difficult to know whether it's tracking from somewhere or what. It's not as bad as the time I was cleaning my teeth in our bedroom when the roof decided it would be efficient for me to shower at the same time! Or the time someone came collecting for Water for Africa - she didn't think it funny when I offered her the two full buckets in the hall - I was hysterical!! Hey ho!!

Sorting out summer clothes to pack away in the loft I find myself thinking WHY did I ever buy that? Did I seriously think I looked good in it? Do I need (mumble mumble won't say the exact number) pairs of wide legged linen trousers? And why did I not even wear 10% of what I carefully unpacked, washed and ironed 5 months ago?
Do I have the courage to take the bulk of it to the charity shop ?
No, I can't afford to replace the linen trousers if I change my mind next summer and with a few exceptions, I will reassess the rest next April
I did put one large bag together though, mostly jeans entitled the likes of Long and Lean (I am NOT!) or Sexy boot cut (somebody is surely joking) which I don't have a hope in hell of ever fitting into again
I wonder what forgotten treasures will emerge from the loft tomorrow?

Annsixty that sounds like a downward step on your OH's part. I always imagined I would livebin blissful ignorance if or when Indeveloped dementia, there are so many sorts, but to know ones limitations and feel the frustration without being able to do anything about it, that is hard indeed and increasingly hard for you.
Sending every sympathy and the hope that there is the possibility of some respite for you xx

Well, that was fun! I managed to get a medical appointment this morning to be poked and prodded within an inch of my life, and he still doesn't know what's wrong with me. He had a theory. He said he would speak to the senior partner about it (because she has more experience of wimmin's problems than he does!) and rang me again about half an hour ago (when does he get to go home I'd like to know!). She had a different theory! So it is tests - again. He did have a rather nice young medical student with him this morning though, but he was instructed to remain at the head end (presumably he won't be majoring in wimmin's problems either!). Just as well, I suppose - don't want to frighten the horses! ? I am going fishing tommorrow if it kills me!

kitty I did laugh at your 'water for Africa' anecdote. Not funny really though. We had water pouring in over our front door last year, flooding the hall. It took a lot of head scratching and three visits from a roofer to get it sorted out, but sort it he did. Hope you sort yours!

That is one reason why I refuse to have a water meter because every problem I have appears to be water related although in my case it is tank and taps.

Nothing worse than a roofing problem because it can cost as you are aware.

Water and gas are the two elements (?) that I most fear in the house, not that I am paranoid. For our entire married life right up to the current (modern house) we have lived on old or period homes with the corresponding roof problems. Buckets in the loft were second nature and the cheque book was always at the ready, so when we moved into this house 20 years ago I thought I could lie snug in bed while the strorms raged around us. That was until the strip between the sticky out bit over the window joining it to the main roof (gulley??) decided to give up the ghost TWICE, both sides. Then there was the dodgy plumbing in the brand new bathroom that came through the sitting room ceiling on Boxing Day morning. Friends coming round for our annual quiz asked if they could bring anything - another bucket and towels, I suggested while "handy" SIL did clever things round the back of the cistern upstairs.
So Kittylester I wish I had had your wit and calmness to offer your spare buckets of water !!

It's an ongoing saga with old houses and part of the swings and roundabouts isn't it? The water for Africa was soon after we moved in and, as the house had been repossessed and boarded up, we had no idea what was going on really. Every improvement we tried opened another can of worms. I'm still not sure which radiators are on the hot water system rather than the heating. And, as for the electrics!!

The problem with the hall is that the two halves of the house have a roof that runs onto a flat roof over the hall.

One the morning of DS1's wedding the ceiling of the newly decorated lounge developed a leak from the shower above.

It's a good job we love the house.

I used to say you needed to have nerves of steel and deep pockets to live in an old house!
Anyway this pic arrived this morning to make me smile.
Who needs Uber anyway?

The Children have grown up.
The Grandchildren go to school.
Our only commitment now is the P.M school run.
Looks like we'll have to spend a lot more time with our Louie.