*Soop's kitcheners*

By the way...another glorious day in bonnie Kintyre. Wall to wall

Galen

Sorry to hear about your bruises, bags...do take good care of yourself.

Well, what a to-do. I phoned our lovely neighbour yesterday afternoon, to say that his four hens were enjoying our garden and company. It transpires that the four were brought to the neighbour's house just 24 hours earlier and hadn't been seen since. Could we therefore put up with them until today, when daughter will return from Gigha and come around to collect. At 10.30 last night MacS discovered that the four girls had "bedded down" inside our entrance hall. They were fast asleep. They stayed overnight and made a lot of mess which has since been cleaned up. Our shoe rack had been used as a make-do perch. MacS left them with a bowl of water. This morning, they trailed around after him as he topped up the bird feeders. Then he gave them breakfast. There is poo all over the path and Rory isn't amused. I can tell by his expression. Anytime soon, the hens will be moving back to their own henhouse and chicken run. They are very characterful, but awfully messy with it.

I don't dare interfere! Darling daughter is much scarier than I've ever been, and DC always said I came over to strangers as scary!
No idea why? I'm the original pussy cat!

Long T-shirt would be just as good. DD1 once went to school in one of my old T-shirts. She was wearing knickers too, I hasten to add, but nothing else.

Merryn wouldn't be seen dead in a dress! She's been known to insist on wearing a life jacket at breakfast!?

Because I have hyper mobile joints, if I don't wear a brace I get horrendous bruises. It always occurred above the normal short brace so I wear one that goes above the elbow.
(My elbows hyperextend, giving me an abnormal 'carrying angle")
I'm just strange.

Until last week I never wore an arm brace when shooting my bow. Last week my bowstring hit my arm twice (big bruise) so I put one on. Today, same thing again, so I noe have a reripened bruise on my left forearm. Tcha!

When I thought my kids were ready to start using a potty (well past their second birthdays) I just dressed them in dresses without knickers and left potties in strategic places. They all cottoned on quite fast. I'm convinced this is why little boys of my father's generation and beyond remained "unbreeched" because they were wearing smock-type 'dress’ garments until they were toilet trained.
Good luck with that over the summer with your GD, galen. The summer hols will be a good time for her to practise.

Well, I'm quite glad there was no tennis, I've been watching a film in a zombie -like state after babysitting!
I wouldn't have been able to concentrate on tennis
Roll on tomorrow! I'm not planning on doing anything but goggle boxing!

Won't use the training seat either. She starts nursery in September.
She is a darling, but a stubborn little monkey! Just loke her mother was (and according to family tales, which I don't believe,) myself!
Yesterday at her party, she wouldn't put anything but a nappy on her bottom half. Darling daughter says it's not worth fighting over and risking a tantrum. She's at THAT AGE!
I love her dearly.

Two of my children didn't use potties - they had a little step for the loo with a training seat on there for them.

soop I'm missing the tennis today, too. Roll on the second exciting week!

galen, your GD is just an independent thinker. The potty training will happen eventually but probably only to please herself - not her mother and not you! She might like one of those little seats to put over the adult loo seat. As for socialising with other children, she may just be a child who has her own inner resources and doesn't need much in the way of company. I wouldn't worry about her if I were you.

I cannot stop giggling. Rory was sitting just inside the open front door, relaxing in the sunshine. He lay quite still and made several wee squeaky noises. MacS went to investigate and discovered the neighbour's four hens pecking around the door step. I bet he thought to himself, "they are certainly not coming indoors..." This is my home..." So much for guarding the homestead. Rory has left the hens doing what hens do, and now demands his diced chicken and portion of special, expensive, vet's nutritious feline fodder. £47 for the economy-size pack. MacS says that Rory is worth it. Talk about getting his paws under the table...Rory rules!

Thank you for our hugs, anno They are much appreciated. I'm missing the tennis. Every day I wake up thinking, goody...more exciting matches to sit through. Who do you believe will win this year's trophy? It's a very close run competition with the big four still very much in contention. To date, for me, the best and most exciting match was Novak v Stepanek [cannot quite bring to mind the spelling of the man's name]...I was on the edge of my seat for the best part of the entire match. I think that he should be awarded a special prize for sheer grit.

Galen I'm sorry to hear that your arm is still giving you jip. How dare it! Get yourself off to see the doctor first thing tomorrow. There...it's my turn to be a bossy boots.
Your granddaughter is her own person. At the tender age of three she may not appear to be outgoing...our wee man was very much like her. Well, eighteen months hence, and his confidence and outgoingness has come on in leaps and bounds.

Had to miss archery today as my arm is still too sore and infected. I'm going to have to go to the surgery tomorrow to get some impregnated gauze I feel. Can't prescribe for myself now I've given up my licence to practice.

My DGD (3yesterday) refuses to be potty trained! She will not sit on the potty. She's very bright but I fear she's on the autistic spectrum as she doesn't seem to relate to other children either. I can't remember but is this normal at this age?

Commiserations, Lona. It's difficult to find a new hairdresser who will understand your hair. I've had a few 'trial and error' episodes, but I think my present one does understand mine. Unfortunately she has gone on holiday just when I'm due for a trim. How could she? soop, what a nice sociable morning you've had. Do give McS a gentle ((((hug)))) and have one for yourself. No tennis today, so have to catch up on all sorts of things - like the abhorrent ironing.

Yet another beautiful June Sunday. We took our daily stroll around the village mid-morning. By the time we had stopped to blether with some wonderful folk, the time was marching on and we were about to head home. Our pals spotted us leaving the village shop...called out "drop in for a coffee"...which we did. We were then given a showing off of the sweet wee hoos that has been built in their orchard. It's so pretty. "Time for a wee dram" our pal suggested. Seemed churlish to refuse. More pals turned up. Yet more blethering and chortling. Have just this minute returned home to a very moody put-out Rory...ten minutes late for his lunch

and to all my Granspals...and that includes that cheeky bags

Poor MacS! I do hope they diagnose it very soon and he gets the appropriate treatment. It looks very sore and painful. for him

Thanks Crafting, much appreciated!

soop I think I'm having a day or two of 'the vapours!'
I'll get over it as they say, but she has lost a client!

Hello, crafting

Thanks for the pictures soop. My they are huge aren't they!

Lorna you are welcome to borrow my large brown paper bag to put on your head if you want to. Mind you I might need it back soon, I have lots of bad hair days both with the hairdresser and when I've done it myself (I have loads of hair - not long, just masses of unruly locks. Sometimes the bag is the only option!

soop as if!!

...I can almost see bags nodding in agreement.

Lona you are most welcome to share anything of mine. What exactly did the hairdresser do to cause you such dismay? Whatever, it will soon sort itself out. I've lost count of the number of times I've left the hairdresser [not the one I use in Lochgilphead...he's the best ever] and stood in a shop doorway to brush it all out. It's a girl thing... And yes, bags takes first prize for being serene. I seem to manage the half-crazed look...which sort of suits my personality.

when you are, without doubt, a perfect grannie.

Yes, especially for their non-skid properties, lona

Apparently, crocs are the ideal footwear for this stage when