Soop's Kitcheners...

I've road tested the new ironing board and iron. Chuffed to have finally conquered the mountain of laundry that has been staring at me for far too long.

Welcome back, anno It's good to have you visit the kitchen.

Thanks for your advice bags I'm sure that it's sound. I shall relay your message to MacS...he's very tender-hearted. I cannot swear that he'll heed your warning, but I shall try.

If the 1000th message clocks up before I visit tomorrow morning, please will one of the kitcheners open a new kitchen for the rest of us to gather in. It can still be named Soop's Kitcheners. I'm very fond of that title.

In the meantime...a peaceful and restful evening to all my Granspals.

Hello everyone, welcome back anno.

Is there any tea going? Could do with something sweet to go with it. Any flapjacks left?

Nice to have you back Anno. Shame about the rip off train journey but pleased you had a good time with your family.

Bellasnana, what great news for you and DH. You've had such a stressful time recently. I hope that all will continue to go well.
I'm back from a week with family, half and half Didot and Sandhurst. Enjoyed fireworks at Didcot! And quality time with both families.
I had treated myself to first class seats to and from, but Cross Country trains were a big let-down. Trans Pennine trains provide complimentary sandwiches, crisps, biscuits etc and as much tea/coffee as you can drink. Cross Country, on the contrary, between Stoke and Reading provided a small cup of tea and a tiny slice (mouthful!) of inferior fruit cake. What a waste of money that was. It would have been cheaper to have booked standard and bought tea and snacks from the trolley. I have tweeted my opinion!
Rant over!
Nice to be back.

Rattus!

Granjura of course not, but this is a foreign invader like ratted norvegicus

Bella- what fantastic news enjoy Christmas

Would you feel the same if he was red? ;)

I'll kill the pesky squirrel that is thieving the birds suet from the feeder as I watch! blasted tree rats! (Glaring menacingly at offending rodent!)

I gave up at 2 in the morning trying to find a mouse that Poppy had brought in. I felt anything but humane when I saw the evidence of it's visit! Two sofa cushions chewed at the corners, arm of a tweed chair and a linen scatter cushion also chewed plus of course a trail of droppings. Still couldn't find it so I left it and Poppy in the sitting room with the windows open and shut the door. A while later it had obviously gone through the window and I spent ages cleaning and disinfecting the room . Poppy's mouth is now checked before entering the house

Hope you're not feeling too bruised and battered after your fall soop. That was a nasty one

You too Baubles. Hope your wrist isn't giving you too much trouble.

bella, good news!

soop, an ethologist told me that trapping a mouse humanely and then removing it into the territory of other mice is not humane because, mice being very territorial beasties, they will attack the incomer even unto death. A standard, old-fashioned mouse trap is, in fact, humane because if it is set properly, the mouse will be killed instantly. We have some new ones made by Rentokil. They are very good and you don't have to touch the mouse to remove it.

Bella...brilliant news. I'm so very pleased for you. of celebration for you both you and your husband. As for your tumble in the torrent, bless you. It's been a week of such mishaps one way and another. I'm delighted that all is well with your dear daughters. That's how it should be.

Soutra I've only seen the poppies on the TV. However, the entire project seems to have been an enormous success. The fact that each poppy represents an individual life lost, is deeply moving.

Okay....latest update on the loose moose aboot the hoos. MacSporran put a wee cube of bread and peanut butter inside the humane mouse trap. Also...just to be sure that the creature wouldn't die of thirst, he placed a tiny ceramic egg container - filled with water, beside the trap. He and Rory then took to the 'Stressless' recliner chair. MacS has problems with lying flat on a mattress. He suffers from low back pain if he's ever away from home and has to sleep in a bed.

At approximately three o'clock this morning, there was a rattling noise emanating from behind the panel between the skirting board and a set of shelves. It was the sound of a conker being rolled around/opened up by a very small creature. I heard the clatter. It went on and on and on...Rory, ears pricked, sat staring intently at the wall panel. MacS paced the floor. I called out...are you okay? He replied with an expletive or two.

Awoke this morning to find the trap empty. MacS noted that there is a mighty large shed (housing timber) on a plot of land about a quarter of a mile away from home. When said mouse gives up on the conker and investigates the peanut butter trap, MacS will drive it to the cosy wood shed and release it.

Nice to hear good news from you, Bellasnana

I hope you're ok after your fall.

Bella that is very, very good news.

Wonderful news Bella and Mr B. Happy days to you both.

Did you see mine Soutra? I'd love to go but, to be honest, the thought of attacking London is very wearying!!

Brilliant news Bella you must both be hugely relieved.

Happy for you Bellasnan isn't it great when they say"We don't want to see you for x months" ?? And also good news about the DDs. Maybe the strain was getting to them and you just happened to be in the line of fire.
I went to see the poppies at the Tower of London today- a stunning piece of artwork but the brilliant thing is also that it has brought hundreds of thousands of people together and made them think about war casualties wherever and whenever. Not jingoistic just thought provoking and very moving. Hordes of people but all very friendly and companionable.

Bellasnan That does sound a positive step.

Bella That's wonderful news, you must both be feeling relieved, and glad about your dd too.
I hope your fall and soaking hasn't shaken you up too much

Bellasnana great news and such a relief for you.

I hope you've recovered from your tumble.

So pleased Bella

bella 3 months before your DH's appointment is such good news. The consultant is obviously pleased with way things are going. Such happy news.

So glad. Have pm'd you

Bella, that`s wonderful news for your husband, I`m so pleased for you both. Here`s to everything being on the up and up from now on.

Bella so glad you have had some good news for a change.