Soop's Kitcheners...

So normal service will be resumed as soon as possible

Morning -- just popped in to put these lovely Orange roses on the table to brighten up the kitchen before soop arrives.

I've not been in much lately but I hope everyone is ok. Ibe put the coffee on, there is tea in the pot and hot buttered crumpets miraculously keeping warm over there. See you all later!

As I've never visited before thought I'd better not come empty handed, so there's a plate of flapjacks beside kittylester's crumpets. They're about the only thing I can bake.

Good morning! I have bought some Marmalade if any one wants some. It very tangy though, pulls no punches.

Welcome back to our hosts, I don't think we have wrecked the place in your absence. No wild teenage parties here. I would settle in for the day if did not have to go out for 9 this morning.

Everywhere looks spick and span, I'm sure that soop and MacS will be glad to be home after the journey
I'm leaving some smoked salmon, cucumber and brown bread in case they fancy a sandwich, and a welcome home bottle of bubbly!

Welcome home * soops*

Helloooooooooooooooooooooooo you lovely lot I have missed you. Now I have to read through all the latest happenings before I can comment further. Give me 10 minutes and I shall hasten back...that's a promise.

Do we have any news of Mishap yet?

What's a girl to say. You lot are beyond amazing. Welcome Starling and Anya to the venue I most feel at ease in, with the folk I most enjoy spending time with.

Bellasnana I like your sister's spirit. When you visit her, your company will be priceless, I'm sure. Also, you will feel easy knowing that your husband is well cared for in your absence.

Sue I've been concerned for you. Episodes of Lupus are rotten. I'm pleased to hear that you are beginning to recover from the awful tiredness that took the zip out of your spirit.

Nellie Trust you to have found yourself the pleasure of a dishy tiler. Treat him gently. He may have other jobs to attend to when he's finished with you yours.

Of course everything is looking good in our kitchen. As I keep reminding you...our kitchen is self cleaning. The food we share is calorie free and the Champagne we quaff is alcohol free...'though it does seem to make us feel light headed and giggly in the nicest possible way.

The trip was a great success. Thank you, bags for relaying messages. I appreciate your help in such matters. We covered approximately 950 miles. As a result of which, my joints feel rather stiff. We took it in turns to drive. I did the easy bits and MacS was in charge of the rest.

Leaving Rory was really difficult. I shed a tear as I tried to get to sleep on the first night. MacS missed him too. We were welcomed home with an awful lot of meowing and weaving between the legs...tail upright. Rory had missed us. We discovered a corner of the bedroom where he appeared to have tugged some of his fur out. I'm certain that he was bored to bits. He needs a cat flap. MacS doesn't agree. Our doors are made of metal and therefore, apart from drilling a gap in the masonry, there isn't an easy way to install such a thing. Our pals called by frequently. They reported that he had been "fine" in our absence.

The family are all thriving. I can ask for nothing more important... we spent one day with son number one and one day with son number two. Son number three shared the first of the gatherings. In a way, it was better that we were not all together all of the time. Being hard of hearing, I find it difficult to keep up with several on-going highly excitable conversations.

We had enormous fun and enjoyed a quiz game that sadly the team I was in failed to win. Next time...

Our eldest granddaughter, Hannah, couldn't join us this year. We spoke to her on Skype. She has a new job and was asked to retrieve exhibits from a location that, on arrival, she discovered was locked. She is a very good natured girl. I sensed that she was disappointed. Our second eldest granddaughter is getting married next year. This means that another gathering will be happening just that bit sooner.

Torben was wonderful. When asked where he was born, he replied in a very laid-back voice...Africa!. Well, he was actually born in London...and he knows it.

Heelo Mamie What's this about Mishap? I'm off to prepare a photo or two to be uploaded in the album. Back shortly.

Lovely family photos soop - so glad you had a wonderful gathering of your clan. You probably need a day or two to recover from the travelling and to digest all the chat and news etc. I know I do whenever we have a get together! Just need to get MacS sorted now.

I think Mishap's hip operation was yesterday. She posted saying she had a sore throat but didn't post again so I assume it went ahead.
Off to UK tomorrow to see the family and treat myself to some size 12 clothes. So excited!

Gaga you are so right. We are waiting for a date for MacS's biopsy. He enjoyed himself very much when we visited the family. I'm still trying to add extra photos. Need to reduce the size of some first. Must do so tomorrow. I've spent far too long on the computer and still need to catch up with jobs around the house.

Mamie Well, I shall be rooting for Mishap and hope to hear that the surgery went well.
Good for you. I'm sure that you will enjoy your visit as much as I did. You will have fun choosing your new size 12 garments. Is there a special occasion looming?
I returned home having gained a little weight. There was far too many tempting dishes to savour and, of course, I didn't have my exercise bike with me.

No, just that everything I own is two sizes too large...

Soop. I didn't touch him! Honestly! It was all in my mind!

Great to have you back again Soop, with some wonderful photographic memories to keep you going until the next time.

I have just put DGS's birthday cake in the oven. He is two years old on Saturday. Tempus fugit!

Tempus fugit indeed, Nellie. It seems no time at all since I cuddled my new-born GD2 and today she is 12. We had a good chat on the phone a little while ago, but I wish I was there with her and the rest of the family.

Welcome back soop and MacS. Glad you enjoyed your family get-together and very happy to hear you are safely home with Rory again

We had a very busy weekend with TWO little girls vying for attention. DGD and the dear little girl I babysit from time to time. There was a bit of a power struggle between them at first, but they settled down and we had fun. Even managed to take them out to see Prince William up close and personal despite horrible humid 38degree C temp. DH was pleased to shake hands with Prince W, and we got some nice photos.

More good news to report from our son and his lovely girlfriend - they are engaged. We are very happy for them indeed

DH is back in hospital until Saturday. He is bearing up a bit better as he has met two old friends who are also in having chemo. He feels very sick, though, and refuses all food on offer

I won't rabbit on although there is much I could rabbit about having had an altercation with a couple of jobsworths in our local Post Office this am but I will say goodnight to you all for now

Bella you sound a lot more cheerful and it is great that the girls are enjoying themselves. Sorry to hear that DH is back in hospital but maybe the time will go by faster if he has two old friends to chat with, if he feels up to it.

soop I can see Rory weaving in and out of your legs and generally letting you know that he is delighted to see the pair of you again. Is he allowed into your bedroom and on your bed? I think that he may not want the pair of you out of sight in case he thinks that you have vanished again. He does appreciate all of the care, attention and love lavished on him.

Soop welcome back. You obviously had a great time at your family gathering, such happy photos.

Bella lovely news about your son's engagement. You must be very pleased.
Must help your DH having company of people he knows in hospital. Relieves the boredom a bit. Hope he feels a bit better soon.

It's been very busy in the kitchen today. Lots of lovely goodies. I find it hard to resist crumpets....and flapjacks... and the smoked salmon was lovely washed down with the bubbly.........oh dear, I might go and lie down for a bit I think I might have eaten too much

Welcome back and i am just having a smile at Torben, soop

We asked DGD2 yesterday which playpark she wanted to go to. She said 'the one in Africa'. It must be the 'in place'.
She is two and she has never been to Africa!

Bellasnana You do sound happier now you have your girls with you, and what lovely news about your ds.
It's about time that you had something positive to help you along.

Lovely to see "mine host and hostess" back after their gallivant "doon Sooth". Best wishes to Mishap and * Bellaspapa* and all in need of a hug.
To paraphrase the poet
"Soop's in her kitchen, All's right with the world"

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