Soop's Extended Extension.

First things first. I've reported a spoof email supposedly from PayPal to PayPal. So pleased that I followed my intuition. A very helpful man has agreed that such emails should NOT be opened but forwarded to [email protected].

Now then...what's what with my Granspals.

dustyangel Freesias are one of my top ten flowers. On my first date with MacSporran he gave me a bouquet of freesias. I've loved them ever since. The drifts of snowdrops in the verges outside the village, are a joy to behold.

Bellasnana At 5am I still have three sound hours of sleep in me. The only time I can make do with less, is when we have the early bus to catch as we set off for a day's travel to see Wee Man. On such occasions, I can barely sleep at all.

number Who placed the large painting in such an awkward place? Get it moved. If it gets knocked over and damaged, you'll be even more cross. It certainly is kind of your son and daughter-in-law to redecorate for you. Just think how fresh and neat everything will look when the job's done.

OGM You are thoughtful. The local honey with porridge sounds perfect. Do you used water, skimmed or full fat milk? I use half soya, half water. It's supposed to a healthy alternative.

Charleygirl I can well imagine Tara soaking up the rays of sunshine. Although our day started on a sunny note, it's very overcast and chilly right now. Rory is still asleep on his special tartan rug in the centre of the bed. Oh...he leads such a stressful life. I cannot imagine how he copes.

It's lovely to catch up with all your news. I've only missed a couple of days and it seems as you have all been very busy. I got back late Friday to find that we would be having guests all day Saturday. Old friends who had to leave their holiday apartment on the coast seven hours before their flight.
We had such a lovely day, lunch out and then talking, talking, catching up and more talking and maybe just a little bit of drinking

Today it is back to everyday life. I've just planted some snowdrops I bought back. I've never seen them here but wild bulbs do well, our freesias are out and a friend has some of the tiny daffodils like AllieO.

I've brought in some of the flowers DH brought bask from the market. Fresh from the stallholders garden, white and purple iris and deep red freesias. Spring is really on it's way.

All your decluttering tales remind me that I still have a cupboard full of boxes which I intended to deal with 'later' when we moved house five years ago

I agree with soop re books being precious. I regret parting with a lot of mine when we moved.

OGM - my mouth is watering at the thought of porridge and honey.

It's 6am where I am. We are in a hotel in Charleston and DH is still fast sleep and snoring. I am quite envious as I never sleep past 5am and am then tired all day. Oh well, thank goodness for Gransnet and soops kitchen!

Luckily my local charity shop is taking books so I took 2 carrier bagfuls there last week and there are more to go when I have decided what to give away. I forget the number of years I have said that I will have a go at clearing out my 2 fitted wardrobes in separate bedrooms.

My loft is empty so when I shuffle off this mortal coil that will be one place less to clear out. The shed although full, is not too bad. Garden furniture does take up a fair bit of space.

The sun is shining here which is a bonus. Tara is sunning herself on the window sill in the living room and no doubt Rory is similarly occupied.

Just popped in again with porridge and local honey, now to catch up!

Phew! I'll catch up on all the gossip later
Just wanted to pose this question: The DGC have gone home so why am I up and doing at the crack of dawn? (Well it is for a Sunday!)

Talking of clutter, I`m living in the middle of mine! Our son and DIL are decorating for us, but have run into a few problems during the preparation work, so we will be upside down for longer than first thought, and as we`ve decided to throw out the display cabinet/wall unit, everything that was in it is stacked up in the kitchen, filling two boxes upstairs, and scattered around in here. How the heck did it all fit in there in the first place? AND I threw loads of stuff into the bin! I`m getting quite stressed with it all, really do need to calm down in front of your view Soop.
PS, the large painting off the wall is standing in the kitchen, right across the front of the cupboard I go into the most, which is making me grit my teeth!!

Time for me to close down the computer. Thank you for your company. Wishing my Granspals a cosy and peaceful evening. Until tomorrow and

Had second thoughts regarding emptying and re filling the wardrobe. I'm not in the right frame of mind. Start well enough and end up in a heck of a mess. Takes all afternoon to put stuff back from whence it came. B*** that for a game of soldiers.

anno books cannot be classed as clutter. Books are precious. Treasure them

Got on with yet more ironing. Watched an old black and white film...'The Lady Vanishes'. Don't make them like that these days. As my Nana was known to say.

Nor do I have a garage and I know that if I did have one, it would already be chock full of clutter. I haven't the oomph to climb up to the loft with a load of 'stuff'. The charity shops around here are not taking books at the moment. Although I have a kindle, there are heaps of hard and paper backs by my bed, quite a few of them courtesy of Gransnet.

Dark clouds coming over. The sea is much livelier too. MacSporran and Rory were intending to work in the garden. I doubt that they'll do so this afternoon. Is there a rugby match to watch on TV? If not, I shall rootle through the wardrobes [again]...I'm a devil for punishment.

Elegran That's a very good idea. We haven't a garage. We have a cluttered shed. We also have a very roomy loft. As I'm no longer safe to climb the loft ladder, I leave it up to MacSporran to organise what clutter there is stored there. He's often to be heard shifting stuff [from one end to the other] but very few items ever make the trip through the hatch. When we lived in our wee cottage in Cornwall, there was no loft. So, in the ten years we've been here, we must have accumulated a heck of a lot of "stuff"...why would that be? We've also had at least three skips parked in the drive. Each time it trundles off, it's full to the grim. I cannot count how many car boot sales we've attended. Not to buy. Only ever to sell or give away. I'm somewhat perplexed.

Anno Go into a pound shop and buy lots of cheap plastic crates. Stow way the clutter in those and stack them at the back of the garage (if there is room beside the rest of the clutter. Sort them out after she leaves.

Thank you, soop. I can hear the gentle lapping of the waves, the cry of the gulls, the little breeze off the water. Mmmm. Zzzzzz.

anno Like you, I would be in a tiz-woz. Just tackle one job at a time. Take time out for a spot of relaxation. I've moved the chaise longue nearer to the window. Lie down, I shall make you a and you can watch the waves lapping the shore.

My sister has decided to come over from NZ in about three weeks, flying into Manchester, and spending a few days with me before going off to family in Scotland. I am hoping to get a professional spring clean done before that and the gardener is coming (weather permitting) next week. But only I can tackle the clutter. Please allow me to lie down in a quiet spot with eau de cologne on my temples.

Sorry...that should have been Bellasnana

AlieO Having the incentive to tackle jobs around the house, is a positive thing. You've put up with such a lot of hassle recently. It's good to hear that you are feeling much happier. I like the sound of the wee daffodils. Thank you, I shall put a virtual bunch in my wee Scottish vase.

Bellasnan Snap! It's our grandson's birthday today. Such a treat for you be able to share your daughter's birthday. I shall possibly never see a pelican fly by. How exotic. Have yourselves a very happy day in Charleston. I hope that the sun shines for you.

Good day to you dear soop. Sounds lovely where you live. I love all the flowers you mentioned. For some reason we do not see any of them in Malta.

Had a lovely day in Savannah yesterday - it is a very attractive city with a river running through it. We saw a pelican flying past us which was quite a surprise! We are actually still there staying in a motel but will move on to Charleston today. It is DD2's birthday today so we are happy to be spending it with her and her husband and our little DGD. Lots of blessings to be counted.

Hope you have a happy day

Hello soop and everyone. I just realised it's March....what happened to Feb? Full of weather, I think!
This morning I looked out and there's warm sun - and frost still on the cars over the road. It's gone now.

(A thought, was MacSprran looking in the mirror?)

I have been sort of busy, and still am - since next door garden was cleared, I am trying to fix everything in my house. No, I know I can't do it all at once. But I have the incentive.

I have little tete-a-tete daffs flowering in a box by the front door, a recycled green box which was for the use of the bin men!
Have some ....!

Good morning to my dear Granspals. We've walked in the sunshine. Crocus, violets and snowdrops all looking good. Daffodils won't be too long before they bloom. Bird song fills the air. Sparkling sea. Big, fluffy, puffy clouds.

I've just heard MacSprran say..."your a big, handsome pussy cat..." He was not addressing his remark to me.

My daffs are in one tub and looking very spring like. Snowdrops never grow here, I have no idea why.

Good morning everyone. I am popping in while I can in case I can't call in for a chat later.

Happy St David's Day. I have brought you a plate of freshly baked Welsh cakes, I hope you enjoy them!
The aren't out yet in the garden but DH brought some home this morning.

And just because I like tongue twisters...

A canner, exceedingly canny, one day remarked to his granny, "A canner can can anything he can, but a canner can't can a can, can he?"