SOOP's kindly Kitcheners.

Well said, dear Galen

Any cake going begging? Should be, since our pompa hasn't been in the kitchen today. Bless him.

The following poem is also a great favourite of mine.

Sometimes...Sheenagh Pugh

Sometimes things don't go, after all,
from bad to worse. Some years, muscadel
faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don't fail,
sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.

A people sometimes will step back from war;
elect an honest man; decide they care
enough, that they can't leave a stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.

Sometimes our best efforts do not go
amiss; sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
that seemed hard frozen: may it happen for you.

Bella so sorry to hear your sad news

Pompa what fabulous hair your DGS has! Our younger DGS(3) has the same wonderful red hair and while I worry about teasing/bullying in the future as the English don't seem to like 'gingers', I think it is stunning!!

Just been cheered up by the sight of tho bluetit chicks sitting on the bird feeder while the two adults were frantically trying to fill then up. A bit like Soop's kitchen and cake!

Galen definitely like soop's kitchen

Just spent the afternoon trying to tire out DGS in the park, unsuccessfully. He's like the Duracell bunny, 21 months old and indefatigable, bless him!

I'm knackered and DH is asleep in the armchair, no stamina at all

pompa two very venerable gentlemen, hope you're having a great time!

Nice hat, pompa. Is there hair under it?

I feel for you Loopylou just got back from a 4 day marathon with our 2 GSs 4 and 2. I am like a wrung out dish rag and am already in my PJs. DH has kindly offered to get supper as I only have the energy to use Gransnet.

I am the lucky one I realise with some of the recent sad events on this thread.

Lovely photos pompa. He looks a happy little fellow and I adore his hair colouring.

Galen Aren't fledglings amusing to watch...they flutter their wee wings, gape and wait...

loopylou and NanKate lots of Brownie points for you both. You deserve to be pampered for the remainder of the day.

I'm away to see whether or not pompa has posted a pin-up photo of his good self.

Indeed he has. A lovely photo pompa and, may I add, your grandson has been gifted your sunny smile. Have yourself a lovely time.

Ironing duties tomorrow. Back with you just as soon as I return home.

I have sent my hair away for cutting, still waiting for it to come back

Just back from visiting DS and DGS in London, DDIL is away in USA for work so they're home alone.
Absoballylutely exhausted!

DS managing the little live wire on his own and loving it, even the 5am starts!

Great to see your photo Pompa! And your grandson is gorgeous!
Galen, hope the tide turns very soon for Lucy, you both deserve things to get better.
We`re not looking forward to bedtime. The stair lift conked out at lunchtime, and they can`t send an engineer till morning. Our contract says within 24 hours, so we can`t complain really, but as neither of us can get upstairs without it, we`re stuck down here for the night. One gets the settee, and one the rise and recline chair! As the bathroom and toilet are downstairs, it`s a good job it didn`t go whilst we were upstairs!

number Bless you both. At least you're in your own home and not camping out, under canvas, in the wilds. Rest ye well.

loopylou I doff my cap to your son. 5am is an awfully early hour to get into gear. Remember it well.

Just came in for a bit to see how you all are. I have been putting membrane down in the fruit cage, and laying slabs on top of it. I am fed up with old carpet.

I put my back out the other week, so bought a back support. So out I have to go with back support, knee support, and ankle support...

DBH said 'You shouldn't be moving those slabs with a bad back!' (they are huge ones but I can 'walk' them into position). So he said he would lay a couple if I showed him where, and then emptied his (heavy) wheelbarrow load of logs for him. ...

So off I trundle, stack all the wood and return, to find that he has laid two. Only two. In the wrong place.

Which is why I am so good at just getting on with things that need doing.

Just got back from visiting darling daughter and the dgds in Gloucester. We went to a soft play place in a local garden centre. Ended up paying for the soft play and her mint and thyme as well as my own plants!

Whoops Galen !

Granny privilege I guess! I'm guilty of paying almost by default-yesterday was NT entrance fee DS and DGS because they're not members, coffees, scones, juice for tiddler
Also willingly took meal ingredients with us and cooked it, bought fruit for pudding etc.

Equally though DS will have us to stay anytime, sorted out and booked/paid for our holiday together in the Dolomites last year (I insisted on paying for car hire and food) so really it does even out over time.

We don't see them that often so happy to treat them but would probably be different if it happened regularly!

janer Tut! Is it possible for you to repeat the exact response you made when inspecting the wrongly laid slabs? How come that it was you...the lady with a poorly back, knee and ankle who was responsible for stacking the logs! Your dear husband really is pushing his luck.

Galen Naturally you were the one paying for all the treats. It's what we do (without as much as a whimper.)

loopylou for you too.

Our lovely local shop/post office/petrol station is changing hands. Oh dear! We really are very fond of the present owners and, to make matters worse, the two regular staff members are also going. I'm not good with saying goodbyes...however, at 6.30, the villagers gather at the shop to make the first of three leaving presentations.

I've been living with a newly niggly shoulder for about ten days. Rang to ask if I could have a cortisone injection before going to the wedding. Answer is NO! The injection will not be at the surgery until Monday next. My own silly fault. I should have done something about the pain much sooner. As my dear Nana would have said..."that'll learn ya!"

Thank you soop

Isn't it hard when the familiar changes? How lovely that the villagers are recognising the former owners and staff?

Your shoulder must be a ruddy inconvenience to say the least and with only a few days to go now to the wedding I do hope it doesn't play up too much. Shoulder pain is so incapacitating, I do hope a hefty dose of painkillers or a wee dram or two or three will help.
for you too x

Painkillers washed down with a cheeky dram should do the trick I await the "granny dancing" pics on Facebook with interest

I've gone mad! I've upgraded my Royal Princess cruise to the top grade grade suite.
It actually sleeps three and is on the aft of the boat with a wrap around balcony.
Darling daughter thinks I'm mad!
Might invite someone to share. They'd have to have the sofa bed as I do need the the double for myself.
No idea how much the other person would cost, but as the single supplement is high it wouldn't be that much extra.
This is for june next year!

Bella might you be interested?
It starts from Civatevecchia?

How wonderfully indulgent Galen ! Sounds very glam, I do hope Bella says yes.
and champagne for you both x