*Soop's kitcheners*

Norty Crafting Even you cannot persuade me to spill the beans. Where did that crazy saying originate? Answers on a postage stamp...

Could I just pop in for a mo please? Need to ask if anyone has spare freezer space? Have visitors coming on Saturday for a week and we went shopping today and unfortunately I somewhat over estimated the amount of space in the freezer! We had to sit and eat the remnants of two boxes of ice cream and then I just got all the stuff I had bought from the freezer shop in but cannot get any of the fresh meat in! It does have a few days grace so here's hoping!! May need a few of these

annodomini have you finished your ironing yet? I'm about to start a huge pile (spell check just wanted to change pile to pole - not sure what you would have made of that). Oh well on with the ironing, I might catch up with you all around midnight.

Soop you can tell me . I am the soul of discretion. Quick while everyone else is gathered round the teapot. I won't tell anyone I promise!

How intriguing, soop. You are a tease! Poor old McS. This has gone on long enough! Give him a big ((((hug)))) Sorry about your poor sick laptop too. What on earth is built-in breakdown mode?

Tender (((hugs))) for all of you in need of comfort.

I'm about to watch tennis from Eastbourne. Wimbledon will be the highlight for me. Come on, Andy!!!

Well, goodness gracious me...haven't you lot been busy. Opening the virtual door and catching up with my Granspals is a proper uplifting treat. for every one of you.

MacSporran remains very lethargic. The blood test results will take a further week to come back. In the meantime he's continuing with the treatment recommended by the doctor. He sends you all a lovely .

It's another glorious day. It took me an age to walk through the village this morning. Every one I met asked after MacS ...reached the shop and...more kind messages for him. It is a bonus to live in a close-knit community.

I am p****d off with my lap top. It died on me a few days ago. It's with a lovely chap in the village and he thinks that it may have had built-in break-down mode. The warranty expired very recently. He's been calling the manufacturer for some time for additional vital info' and is repeatedly told to try again later. I'm very cross.

I've some exciting news which I'm itching to share with you. No babes on the way, mind. If I tell you, then there's an outside chance that the little "secret" may reach the very person that it shouldn't. Tut! I'm usually hopeless at keeping secrets...but...this one is a must do. As soon as I can, I promise to share.

Just going to have a little play on soop's piano so if there are any requests just say and I'll try and include them Hopefully might cheer the soops up - both of them need some joy and cheer right now methinks.

Nellie your marmalade is rather moreish - just tried it!

*Roses I have quite a lot of Marmalade. It's very strong tangy Seville orange stuff. I have brought some along as well some Gooseberry and Damson jam.
That might just help stop my jam shelf from collapsing.

I am sure Soops kitcheners can eat it faster than we ever will.

Here you go, when. I have a bottomless teapot but you will have to supply your own milk. I don't like it and always forget to buy it!

Morning all - a fresh cup of tea would be lovely, anno. I've just strimmed all the weeds and overgrown herbs encroaching on the paths in my kitchen garden and the scent of the different plants is heavenly. I've swept them into a pile next to the garden bench where I sit - it would be as shame to compost them whilst the air smells so nice. Some pruning to do now - the plum tree is like a triffid.

Healthy (((vibes))) to all the DHs who are not very well.

Morning both. I've just made a fresh pot of tea - Ceylon - if anyone wants a cuppa. Things to do today, like weeding and cutting back of a large shrub that interferes with my washing line. And there's some ironing to be done. Oh misery! I hate ironing. I'll pop back for a little respite later.

Miserable start to my day; discovered we are out of marmalade!
Settled for a huge cup of tea with honey in it and a small piece of buttered toast.Fab weather here, warm and sunny, so went for a walk [and ended up in Soop's kitchen] in search of freshly brewed coffee, and a sit down before walking home again.Hi marmight seems it's just us two, it's very quiet here, I could doze off. zzzzzzzzz

Just popped in for a cup of tea and perhaps a piece of marmite toast in more peaceful surroundings. The DGS's (2 and 4) have been on the go since before 6 so it's going to be a long day, although another beautiful sunny one. The music festival starts tonight and the outlaws arrive this afternoon . They are very nice (?) but I always feel about 2" tall and somewhat inadequate in their presence which, for those of you who have met me, could be unbelievable! I shall have to stick to the topic of bird watching and I should be ok...........
Have a lovely day everyone

Just finished watching that excellent programme about the Australian tiger keeper who has brought up a pair of cubs in his own home until they were too big to live there. It was delightful, but horrifying when he went into the Sumatran jungle to see the terrible things that poachers do to the diminishing population of wild tigers. The money the public pay to watch the cubs is being used to support anti-poaching measures. And after that, I need sustenance. Tomorrow's a low cal day, so where's that crusty bread?

anno it is not a case of lack of urgency, the bugs take time to grow and we must find out if it is a bacterial or viral infection. It is also more difficult because he has had I think at least 3 lots of antibiotics.

You lot will be joining the AA soon and I do not mean the car lot.

I am looking forward to tomorrow evening's football. There are not many matches that I have missed to date.

Oops! I have obviously indulged more than I should have, I meant sipping not slipping. Perhaps I should have a little lie down and sleep it off. Night night everyone. Thanks for the company

Aaah Rosesarered you have caught us all out. Nope, no need to go home. I am quite happy to sit here playing cards, indulging in soup and crusty bread whilst slipping quietly from the bottle I have craftily (!) concealed under the farmhouse table .

Hello, I have dropped in for supper. Is that a pan of carrot and coriander soup I see simmering on the AGA [in the large, farmhouse style kitchen which is 'THE HEART OF THE HOME.']Good, I would like some thanks SOOP since you offer, with some French crusty bread and butter, oh and maybe a little cheese as well. Any pork pie?No? Never mind.I see Soutra in a comfy chair by the AGA [she has been here all day? Really?]
Still holding a glass of champagne I see. Tut tut.What's that, Anno? No, I shall give the Marstons pedigree bitter a miss thanks all the same, I have heard bad things about it, it bloats you they say.Who else is here? Who is that over in the corner , ah! it's Thatbags reading minibags a bedtime story . At the farmhouse style table, marelli is dealing cards [with a practised hand] toAgus marmight and crafting looks like it could be a long night, haven't any of you got homes to go to? Going out [after my dish of soup] I encounter kittylester whenin64 and nellymoser all trying to crowd into the kitchen at once, and beyond them yet more shadowy figures heading this way; my, this IS a popular place.

It'll have meant so much to everyone of your visiting family, Marmight, to spend such a wonderful couple of weeks with you (and each other). Painful and bitter-sweet goodbyes, but such lovely memories for all of you. xx

Eh! Satisfied sigh. I found a bottle of Marston's Pedigree bitter in the fridge and was so hot that I drank the lot with my salad, now feeling a bit bloated. I won't drink the other bottle tonight. Promise!

Cheers,*soop*. I deserve a little something, having tried out my new hedge trimmer on the unruly front hedge. It's so humid out there, hardly a breath of air. I'm sweating buckets and am indulging in a nice of Earl Grey. The bubbly can go in the fridge for later. I hope McS will soon be rid of this mysterious ailment. Agree with when: I'm rather shocked at their lack of urgency.

Thank you When. We are really hoping that the angiogram results show that a stent is all that is needed.

Waved DD and DgD off at Heathrow yesterday so feeling very sad. 2 weeks was not long enough. I always find it hard to come to terms with having 3 daughters spread far and wide and living totally different lives from when they were 'my' babies. We may not be together for a very long time - that is hard too. At least I have spent time with them all this past week and for that I am very grateful. I am now near Cirencester for the village Music Festival in which DD1 is taking part before trailing back up north again on monday. I have had it with motorways having driven well over 1000 miles since leaving home on the 8th!
Sorry to hear that McS is still not well. Hopefully the results will show up something so the correct treatment can be given and to everyone else whose DH's are not too well a and . Just about to partake of a small tincture myself even though school is hardly out