SOOP's kindly Kitcheners.

We have just had a lovely day with DD3 and SIL here for lunch, along with our Singaporean niece who has come to England to do her Sixth Form in Kent, her Singapore Chinese mother who is now divorced from BIL and has remarried a charming Frenchman and their 12 week old baby!
Poor things left around 7 for the long drive back to Tonbridge, apparently got as far as the M25 when we realised he had left his jacket here with wallet, phone etc. They have just made it back to pick it up and now face a 2 hour drive back to Kent.
We had, if anybody is interested;
A side of salmon (cold) with tarragon mayonnaise
New potatoes , chicory and beetroot salad, green salad, peas
Passion fruit pavlova
Fresh raspberry tart

Time for a nap now.

Oh annsixty I have just caught up with your news and send and a hug. You have more than enough on your plate at the moment. Hope the family are supportive.

ann you are having a tough time and I feel for you (((hugs)))
I'm sure they will be able to treat your eyes, they can do amazing things these days ( my son goes every month).
You must feel overwhelmed by your dh's condition and so alone, but you can always unload your fears on here xx

annsixty I hope they treat you quickly and you can begin to feel some reassurance that things can be managed. You have enough to worry about

annsixty

New to the kitchen so not sure what's happening - but to all those Grans going through tough times. Troubles certainly seem to come in battalions.

A good Monday morning to all our Kitcheners

Ann Thank goodness your eye problem has been diagnosed so quickly. That is a very good place to be in. From hereon you will be treated and we all hope that the outcome is positive. I'm so sorry to hear of your husband's condition. I think that Galen has put into words exactly what I am thinking. Please keep talking to us lot...we are here to be as supportive as we can be.

Soutra sounds as if Sunday was a day not to be forgotten. Your visitors certainly enjoyed a marvellous lunch. As for the drive back to Tonbridge... My youngest son has yet to make a journey to either see us or return home without a major cock-up hiccough.

bags dear pal, I do indulge in Magnums...only (being greedy) I have a liking for the full-size variety. It's the opening day of Wimbledon. I shall need to indulge whenever there is a particular match to celebrate. Tee hee.

Falconbird It's good to have you share our kitchen. Most of us are daft as brushes harmless. Have fun.

Excuse me soop but who are you describing as daft as brushes? This highly intelligent, weel grounded mortal takes umbrage at such rudeness!!!!

Rory would not like to hear you call us that.

loopylou The gunnera has almighty thick/tough/spiny stems. The seed heads are vast. We were given two small specimens about eight years ago. We now have an entire gang of gunnera so I wouldn't recommend anyone with a small garden doing as we did. Last year one grew to approx. 13' This year, some are even taller. MacS is to measure one for me.

Soutra your fruit cocktail sounds perfect for a hot summer's day.

Charleygirl...you, my dear, are one of the rare few who I would not dare to call daft as a brush. Galen is another... Perhaps the rest of us are a trifle eccentric.

Just been with one good friend to take an older good friend to have a 'taster' of a residential home with a view to her going for a day a couple of times a week. We were all very impressed with the staff and the accommodation and we left her to have lunch and a hand massage. I hope it works out for her as she is a sociable person with all her marbles - and more - but has mobility problems and gets very lonely. Going back to pick her up later.

anno I used to dread the thought of visiting a residential care home because I imagined that they were depressing places in which people sat in rows and nodded off for most of the day. Ever since our pal had to go into one (he also has all his marbles) I've slowly but surely realised that it can be a positive move in such cases. I have become friendly with four dear ladies who are also residents in the same care home. They are bright and funny and extremely grateful for the care and support that they receive. A few are extremely senile and cannot relate to what is happening around them. If I lived a little closer I would volunteer to sit with those who never have a visitor. I hope that your friend finds things to her liking. I've a feeling that she will.

I'm just popping off for a taster of things to come on the tennis court. Oooh, I love this time of year. I shall return. There will be a new kitchen opening very soon. I would not wish for our kitcheners to find that the door had not been unlocked.

Same here, soop Djokovic just about to appear and I'm bubbling over with anticipation.

Just before I nip off to Wimbledon soop, I'm happy to be daft as a brush! . My DS is always saying that he doesn't know which of us is daftest, me or my dgd (age 3)!

Lona surely not the 3 year old?!!!

I am loving the tennis. I will hide when I say that I would prefer that Novak loses to the young German because Novak is most likely to be up against Andy in the final.

My head is well protected behind the sofa.

The weather here is glorious- perfect for tennis.

Get out from behind that sofa, Charley or you'll miss the good bits!

soop, so far so good. We left our friend enjoying the company of residents and looking forward to having some lunch. She hasn't been feeding herself well lately and I hope she will find the food enticing. We are picking her up at 6 so she will have had a good long stint getting to know the place.

Lona daft as a brush and lovely with it.

when and Charleygirl I have to confess to rooting for the young German. I am so wanting our Andy to win the tournament. Tomorrow will be his first match. I shall be hoarse by the time the match finishes.

anno whenever we visit our pal on a Friday the choice is either fish, chips and mushy peas or gammon and mash potato. The pudding always looks most appetising. I bet bags can guess which first course I would select. Having companionship is vital for one's wellbeing. I'm willing to bet that your friend is having a happy introduction. Do update us please.

Charley I agree about Novak, I would be quite happy if he lost (he hasn't today ).
It gets a bit boring.

Well Lona and Charley I am going to out the cat amongst the pigeons as I want Rafa Nadal to beat the lot of them. Sadly he is going through a bad patch, this time last year he was no. 1 in the world I think and now no. 10.

NanaKate Rafa is one of my favourites of all time. He is a gentle giant. He plays with such passion. I have not ever witnessed a "strop" from him. Should Andy not win...I shall be rooting for Rafa.

We have reached 1000. I'm about to open the new kitchen door.

Knock knock!!