Soop's Extended Extension.

Now would be an excellent opportunity to take items that you no longer need to the charity shop. Think how good you would feel afterwards!

Of course the food cooks by itself and naturally there is also little preparation.

At least the bulk of the work is now done and you can relax a bit.

My friend gave me a beautiful fruit cake that she had made. I have had one slice but I am happy to take the remainder to your abode, you will love it.

My friend's latest grandson, Tom, arrived yesterday in Bristol so Granny rushed off hot foot to visit for a few days leaving behind Grandpa who has to work. Entertained him to a few 's last night and he is coming for his dinner tonight - curtains will be flicking and tongues wagging in my street! . Just as well I over did the chicken casserole yesterday. I am now preparing myself to meet my new Italian teacher later this morning for my first conversation class. Arrivederci - a presto......

Books bagged up and in the hall ready for the charity shop and/or a friend. One has found its way back onto a shelf already. MUST tie up the bags and put them in the car before any more decide to walk back.

Fruit cake and coffee sounds nice, is there more room at soop's, it is probably cleaner than my house? Why does decorating make such a mess? Must have been the plasterer.

I was trying to think of an appropriate Italian phrase but am stumped, sorry. Except ciao!

Dear Gally...you never cease to amaze me. The neighbours will be in for a treat. Will the Italian teacher be visiting you at home? Oh, I do hope so. Will he serenade you from the doorstep?

rosequartz Books are precious. I always find it difficult to part with one. Best to pass on to a friend. The charity shop is a good place for someone with limited funds to find reading matter. Photographs! We've thousands. Many catalogued in albums ready to pass on to family [when we become stardust.] I've also a large box containing dozens of rolls of processed film. Books and photographs...to be treasured.

Charleygirl Rory is sitting in the sunshine...his eyes are closed. His breathing is shallow. I guess that he's enjoying himself - as only a cat can.

Did any of you watch the closing ceremony in Sochi? It was very cleverly orchestrated. I loved the ballet sequence. It was uplifting to see so many people from so many countries enjoying the event together.

rosequartz you are obviously on a roll. Fancy sorting out my house as well please? Tara my cat will -hinder- help you.

No Soop, we met on neutral ground in a local café (wanted to do that as you never know ). As it happens he is delightful and thinks I have the makings of a good pupil! He is very dishy and looks about 30 but tells me he is 45 - phwoooor. We have a date for next week, same time, same place........

Gally Go girl...go!

Gally - in bocca al lupo!

Enjoy your lesson Gally. Italian always sounds so beautiful. Did I see that you are going on holiday there later in the year?
I've come in for little rest. I've been trying to catch up with GN, it's only been a few days and I seem to have missed a lot.
I'm trying to do a 5.2 day so if it's alright I shall sit and look at the view while I enjoy my Ryvita and cottage cheese. Just don't put any fruit cake within reach.
soop, I was disappointed that I missed the closing ceremony. DD1 had her in laws round, full of news and photos of a new grandchild so I was catching up with them instead.

Gally La vita e Bella. Enjoy it. Hope you learn some Italian too

Well brazen hussy is what springs to mind! An easy on the eye Italian young man (or even not so young, e.g. Francesco da Mosta) in a cafe in Fife........ will really have the tongues wagging. I can hear them now ;
"Weel did you see that? Fit does she think she is doing? Oh ah dinna ken. Aye, weel......" etc

Every time I tried to come into soop's I got frozen, or at least my tab did - is it cold in there?
(and it all came up on one long page 1, but other places were OK)
I think charleygirl has eaten all the fruit cake now. Still sorting my own rubbish, sorry, no time for anyone else's.
4 more pictures retrieved from the charity bag. Progress!
La dolce vita

What a glorious day it's been here. I've taken 3 large bags of 'stuff' including some very nice leather handbags, to the charity shop, so someone will be happy.

I've come here for a and some calm, after reading the Advice thread. I am really upset for those poor children. I just don't understand how any mother can treat children so badly, it makes me feel sick.

Lona enjoy your [cuppa] you deserve it after taking all that stuff to the Charity shop !

Soutra Your message made me chortle.

Lona Me too. You know what? If I lived nearby [with Grandma's permission] I wouldn't hesitate to report my concerns to someone who could investigate the matter further.

rosequartz "four more pictures retrieved..." What are you like.

Bellasnana Whatever it was that you said sounds delightful. Italian is the most musical of languages. That's why I'm a fan of Inspector Montalbano ...liar, liar, pants on fire.

dustyangel Russia certainly has a rich heritage. I thought that the portrayal of the arts, was beautifully orchestrated.

I do believe that I have a wee dose of spring fever. Have suddenly got myself doing a list of jobs that I've been "saving for another day". I came across the following poem which I'd like to share with my Granspals. Whilst out walking this morning, we stopped to listen to a thrush. Across the road a second thrush was also singing. They took it in turns to exchange their joyful message.

Coming Philip Larkin

On longer evenings,
Light, chill and yellow,
Bathes the serene
Foreheads of houses.
A thrush sings,
Laurel-surrounded
In the deep bare garden.
Its fresh-peeled voice
Astonishing the brickwork.
It will be spring soon,
It will be spring soon -
And I, whose childhood
Is a forgotten boredom,
Feel like a child
Who comes on a scene
Of adult reconciling,
And can understand nothing
But the unusual laughter,
and starts to be happy.

soop I've felt just the same today! The weather makes the whole world happier

The members of our U3A writing group have been reading their spring poems today. And all very good too. Except for me. I'm blocked. I keep having ideas which look ridiculous when I put pen to paper. Everything I thought of seemed so clichéed! Is spring a massive cliché? Not in Larkin's hands, obviously. Thanks for that, soop.

Popping in to see if anyone has a brew on the go. (trying to emulate the Soops and save myself for the weekends, having done so well with dry January!)
It must be that sorting time of year.....
I'm sorting thro' odd bits of paper: recipe ideas, phone nos and addresses, business cards etc. I've copied the ones I want to keep into an indexed book which I am calling my 'Ideas' book, the rest have been shredded.
Why do I hang on to so much rubbish?
Tummy settling thanks to peppermint oil capsules, anyone else tried them? Should be able to have some flapjack soon!
Soop I'm enjoying Salamander too, good Saturday night viewing.
Back to the sorting, thanks for the break

Looking forward now to St Petersburg in June!

rosequartz how can you suggest that I possess rubbish? The clothes in my wardrobe for the charity shop have been hanging there for at least 20 years and every book is precious to me!

Tara has only 2 unused cat beds, she uses a single bed in a spare room if you please!

So sorry charleygirl. One woman's rubbish is another woman's treasure as they say (or something similar).

Didn't get far with my sorting, too many phone calls this afternoon. 'Tomorrow is another day', the procrastinaters' anthem.

Yes, that has been my anthem for too long. I am going to do what soop does and log off early eveing so that I can do other things. I may even take a break for a few days because I really should take the stuff to the charity shop and do more organising. I would love the minimalist look.

Keep your windows closed and the air fresheners at the ready because I have not had a shower since last Thursday. I do not have a drop of water coming out of my shower. The plumber is coming this afternoon and he will be getting the red carpet treatment. I have been dreaming of having a shower.

Good luck Charley I wondered where that pong was coming from I had noticed a slight aroma.
How good will that first shower feel?
Ever since I decided that I'm not safe to have a bath any more, I keep looking at it longingly, and I don't like baths!

Hello everyone, sorry I haven't been around for a while - life suddenly got really hectic. It's calmed down now so would anyone like a ?

Isn't it funny how having a sort-out seems to afflict us at this time of year? I've done my wardrobe and nagged DH about his - I can do no more. Our problem was that all the local charity shops have stopped taking paperbacks and we have quite a few to get rid of. I had visions of taking them to the dump but, yesterday, an envelope from the local air ambulance charity came through the door asking for anything and everything including books. Result!

I'll just finish this lovely and then I really must get back to my desk-sorting!

I took some books along to our NW meet-up. I had to leave early so am not sure who got what. I hope they enjoyed them. Our local charity shops have stopped taking books. I wonder if e-readers are responsible for a dip in the demand for second-hand books.