Soop's Extended Extension.

Same here, Agus I like the mix of Tor and Ben. Puts a whole new Scottish slant on the name.

I was way off track then as I thought the origin of Torben's name was a mix of Tor=hill/Ben=mountain. Whatever the origin soop I love the name.

Bellasnana The cake is a work of art. Wonderful creation.

Hello...to you lot...sun is shining, flowers in bud and all is well in bonnie Kintyre.

Elegran thank you for the information. Our Torben certainly shines from within. His daddy was at school [long ago] with a boy with the name, Torben. He liked the name and it was bestowed on the wee man. Torben's second name is Alexander, followed by Falcon [after the great explorer, Scott].

Dear Nonu enjoy your special treat. I cannot tell you how much I long to see the wee man. Hopefully, when the spring arrives, we'll make the trip to London. We last spent time with him in the autumn.

Bellasnana I shall take a peek at the photo of the chocolate cake. My mouth is watering. I'm doing well enough with my diet but I've still a few pounds to shift before I can easily fit into my favourite jeans.

rosequartz We could have shared the trimmings. I would have been happy to do so.

dustyangel safe travels.

Agus The trip to Campbeltown was very pleasant. Lovely rolling waves at Westport beach. Gorse on the hillside mixed with bronze of the bracken. Lovely!

Charleygirl...we looked up at the sky last night but it was far too cloudy to catch a glimpse of the lights.

anno instead of scoffing virtual chocolate cake trimmings, please may I have a bowl of your home-made soup? I purchased some freshly baked nutty bread this morning. As it's a Friday, I may butter the bread. All this is in my imagination. Virtual food is free from calories.

The bike was purchased for a £10 donation to a dog charity. At first it was a pleasure to "go for a static spin"...MacSporran endeavoured to try to locate the loud irritating clonk. After much harrumphing he sort of gave up. I have asked a pal if he could look at the bike sometime. He used to be a maritime architect. Possible he'll know a thing or two about nuts and bolts and things that clonk.

Sorry about that, Charleygirl our posts must have crossed!

dusty where are you off to today? We are also on the move later and it looks like a sunny day for it, though a little chilly.

There has been a bird outside our window making the most unusual sound - do wish I could identify it.

See you later

Time for a . Soup is in pressure cooker and towels in the wash. Need to re-charge the Dyson - well, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Agus I had to read it twice as well! What a fantastic cake Bellasnana, I'm not surprised your daughter has her own business creating them.
I can see more birds from my DD's windows than my own, as well Bella there is a Blackbirds nest in the hedge at the front and a Robins nest in the unused garage at the back. The birds seem to be less scared of humans than in the countryside.

I hope to come and have a rest in the kitchen later, I'm travelling today.

Agus, Bella's cake beat me to it so it does read a bit out of place. The cake looks gorgeous and is far too good to eat.

I quickly went to the last post here Charleygirl and thought you were referring to Bellasnana's birthday cake and you saw it on BBC!!!!

Shoot me now

I could kick myself because I missed it. I saw the photos on BBC Breakfast and they were fabulous. A shade different from this morning's mist and rain.

Thanks Agus. rosequartz have another look. It should be there now although I am having problems with my photos.

Your DD certainly is talented Bellasnana the wee girl who received the cake must have been thrilled to bits with it. My two DGDs would love it!

Hope you have a nice day in Campbelltown soop

Have a lovely time with your angels Nonu

I can't see the photo, bellasnana, which perhaps is just as well as it will have far too many calories! Keep imagining what it looks like though.

Charleygirl, hope you get your shower fixed soon. We asked for a water meter but there is a tree root where they would have put it. I am sure a meter works out cheaper than water rates.

I am off to , two little people have worn me out!
Oh, did anyone see the northern lights tonight? Apparently quite far south this evening

rosequartz my shower apparently needs a new cartridge. At least I can still have a shower.

The plumber who came a couple of evenings ago fixed the problem ie I had no water, now I have it in abundance. As it is a separate job I am not paying him £50 call out fee + whatever it costs to buy the cartridge.

I have called another fellow who has been here before, does not charge a call out fee and is very reasonably priced.

I live on my own, have thought of metered water but every problem that I have here seems to be water related.

In case you are interested, I have put a photo of the finished creation on for you. Bottom layer is chocolate, top layer is red velvet. DD2 is very talented - she didn't get it from me.

I am still unable to put on more than one photo at a time despite contacting GNHQ

Yes please, bellasnana, although I would have been happy with the trimmings (before they went in the waste disposal)

rosequartz - I'm sending you a huge virtual slice. There is also red velvet with cream cheese icing going spare if you are interested

Chocolate cake?? Have expended so many calories today I could afford a very large tiny slice please

Charleygirl, without seing iit DH said it could be the valve either hot or cold ( you can tell which). The valves need looking at and if it's just a rubber seat shouldn't cost much. He thinks you should get the original plumber back as he has charged you for nothing, either fix it or money back please? If it's the valve obviously more

Sorry to hijack soop's. I started this post this morning and only just finished it at 6.55 pm after a very hectic but enjoyable day looking after DGDs.

Soop I have just heard of the existence of a substance that I thought was called torbenite and couldn't wait to tell you. I have now discovered that it is torbAnite - it was mined in West Lothian (Torbane Hill, Bathgate) and was halfway between coal and shale. It contained oil and burned with such a clear flame that it was called candle coal.

There is apparently also torbernite, named after the Swedish chemist, Torbern Bergmann. That is much prettier, square green crystals, but is radioactive.

Would you rather Torben produced a clear bright flame or shone in the dark?

Hi soop and Nonu - DD2 offered me cake trimmings but I told her to throw them in the waste disposal. What willpower

Can you get someone to fix your exercise bike? My cross-trainer developed a very annoying squeak some time ago and it was very expensive to get it repaired. Next time it goes I shall get rid of it.

Savannah is a two hour drive north from here. We plan to break the journey there and then it's another two hours north to Charleston. The roads are certainly more impressive than our Maltese ones. Too many massive trucks for my liking, but I do love to see these huge motorhomes sailing along towing the family car behind!

Nonu, enjoy your little angels. I am certainly reveling in being with our little treasure. Just wish we could see her more than once a year.

TTFN

Hi Soop , tomorrow off to Bournville to see my darling little angels, so excited , have not seen them for 5 weeks !
Good wishes across the miles .
X

Hello Nonu...trust all is well with you. I've the usual late afternoon jobs to attend to. Maybe catch up with you tomorrow. Weekly visit to Campbeltown in the morning. Back here for my Granspal fix in the afternoon. Take good care of yourself. Bye for now.

Bellasnana I do believe that I can smell the chocolate cake baking from here. What I'd give for a huge thin slice right now. I am trying very hard to lose the pounds that I've gained since my exercise bike has been immobile. It has developed an off-putting clonk.

It all sounds very exciting there in SW Georgia. Have far do you need to travel to arrive at Savannah and Charlestown? I imagine that the roads are impressive. Still, a three hour trip must have seemed like a lifetime for the three year old.

When viewing a video of our visit to Mull [made a few years ago] we had captured an eagle in flight. It had a vast wing span. A glorious bird in the most perfect location. We hope to return sometime soon.

Enjoy time spent with your family.

Bella you sound as though you having a good one !