Soop's Kindly Kitcheners

It's wild, wet and windy in bonnie Kintyre. Aren't we so lucky to have cosy homes? In an ideal world, I would wish for every person on the planet to have a safe place called "home".

Charleygirl I missed the match to which you refer. I did enjoy Andy's encounter. Thrilling to the end. After the funeral we'll return to watch Andy and Jamie play in the doubles. Go, Andy, go!

number I really do have to make an effort to get some things right. Language, in the past, was never tricky for me. Alas, I do sometimes struggle to get the right words in the right order.

hildajenniJ Eek! Those short journeys that are made slow-going due to certain frustrations are the stuff of my nightmares. I set off (in a dream) for a place that I'm familiar with. On the way, I'm confronted with all manner of obstacles. You will have managed to get sorted by now...I hope. If they are still with you, I trust that you and your husband will be well looked after. Feet up... and all that.

We've to get ourselves ready for Willie's funeral. We've good memories of a true gentleman.

Aarrgh! DD, SiL and the four DGC are descending upon us at about 7pm. They left home at 2.30 but had to go to school to look for a lost schoolbag. They then had to take DGS 1 to the toilet in town so at 4.00 they had been travelling for an hour and a half and only managed to travel about 15 miles! DH and I do early morning cleaning and have to be up at 03.00. I don't reckon that we will be getting much sleep tonight!

Soop my love, you DID say Canada in your previous post! Don`t say you`re losing it like me, I threw 2 tins of soup at hubby the other day. It got his attention!

I watched part of the match which was on before Andy's and the young man Kyle Edmund did not disgrace his country- considering that he is n0.100 in the world and he was playing against no.16 he did well to win the first 2 sets but slowly the other fellow ground him down. Kyle is not used to playing 5 sets so he was exhausted half way through the 4th set.

I must at least start the beef casserole for tonight and then I can watch Andy's match.

Hello my darlings...'tis wet and windy but mild with it.

number Mia wouldn't do anything "on purpose"...like Rory...

Welcome back dear Lona...it really has seemed an age since you last bestowed lemon drizzle cake on us lot. The large chocolate cake will keep us happy over the weekend.
I'm relieved to hear that your painful back has responded to proper treatment. I cannot think of too many pains to equal the ghastliness of chronic back pain.
It does sound like you're beginning to enjoy life again. Brooklyn has had a number of appreciative reports.

The tea party was lovely. I got it wrong when I said that our friend is relocating to New Zealand. In fact, she'll be joining family in Canada. The gift to her was a beautiful silver Scottish thistle brooch. There were a few tears shed...but, we all know that she will be happy.

A funeral tomorrow. Many villagers will miss Willie. He was a gentle, kind man.

I'm off to watch Andy play in the Davis Cup match. I do hope that he plays to the very best of his ability. Tomorrow, he and his brother play a doubles match. Come on Andy! Come on Jamie!

Hello everyone, I haven't been in here for a while, so I'm sorry about the lack of lemon drizzle!
After having my knee sorted out, my back finally gave in and I've been having treatment. It was very painful but it seems to be much better now, although I can't say the same for my bank balance!
Anyway, I decided to spare you all from my grumpiness and stay away. I've brought a large chocolate fudge cake as well as the usual lemon drizzle, because I can creep with the best!
I'm having a busy week (for me) looking after my darling gd on Tuesday, taking my ds to his eye appointment on Monday, but yesterday I went to the cinema and saw "Brooklyn". It was a delightful film about a lovely young Irish girl going to live in America. I can recommend it, very heartwarming.

Hope you enjoyed the tea party *soop" and that the arm of the sofa was still intact when you got home!

That sounds like a lovely village community to be part of Soop, would that it was like that around here.
Mia has left her claw marks in my new, and expensive (for us) curtains. Not deliberately, I might add, she lies on top of the settee, and when she stretches, her claws catch on the curtains. It only happens at night, when the curtains are closed, during the day her claws don`t reach that far.

Charleygirl Rory has taken it into his head that a right royal scrabble (claws extended) up the front of the sofa on to the arm of said sofa, is the way to go. MacSporran coughs whenever Rory practices his clamber...in order to deaden the sound. I keep muttering...^he'll have to go...^ Of course, I'm not being serious!

Galen ...I like your post. You may need to ask Garry if he'll act as your bodyguard. What with all that gold and your pearls...you are rich pickings.

Alea The villagers always rally at such times. Another sweet lady (one of the first to welcome us to the village) has had a massive stroke and is unlikely to recover. Her neat house and beautiful garden, in which she worked so hard, looks forlorn without her cheery presence.

We're about to leave for the tea party. After the care home visit tomorrow, I shall pop in to catch up with our kitcheners.

Keep warm and stay safe.

Commiserations on the sad loss of one friend and departure of another to so far away. Life is sad isn't it, the challenge is to keep smiling even through your tears and celebrate the good times.

That is where our animals can lift our spirits, not to mention DGC if we are lucky enough to be near them

Just back from the dentist. I manages to break the inlay I had earlier this year so now I've got to have an overlay? Makes me sound like a carpet. At this rate I'll have more gold in my mouth than my jewellry box!

It is so sad, so close to Christmas.

We had sunshine here for about 5 minutes but at least it is dry and not very cold. No doubt Rory is in the best, draught free spot.

Please put your feet up soop, you are more than entitled to a little cat nap. Rory will always enjoy your company.

Hello from a murky bonnie Kintyre.

Ironing finished. Time for coffee and cheese and marmite on a pumpkin seeded Ryvetta.

The wife of our pal in the village (who died of a brain tumour), is being given a tea party in the village hall this afternoon. She'll also be presented with a gift from the villagers. Next month, she'll be leaving to make a new life in Canada, where her children and grandchildren live.

Today we heard that yet another lovely man in our village has died of cancer. The villagers will be attending his funeral on Saturday. His wish to spend his last days at home, together with his wife and pet Labrador, was granted.

It is chilly and windy and wet in bonnie Kintyre. I'm about to tidy my "studio" before I take a 20 minute pedal on the exercise bike.

Tomorrow I shall be ironing for my pal all morning. I shall pop into the kitchen to catch up with our Kitcheners.

Good night...sleep tight.

Dear Kitcheners the new kitchen will be ready for the festive season. We shall also have a stock of delicious goodies and plenty of Bucks Fizz for the sharing of.

Gagagran I do not think that Tara has a second home. There are many people that she does not like, mostly men and I cannot see her visiting another house and settling down. I think that she is resting under a shed or somewhere but it would have to be sheltered from the wind.

She is microchipped- I do not believe in putting a collar on a cat because of the damage that it can do, including strangling them if tree climbing and the collar does not give way. She comes home as dry as a bone- only once did she resemble a drowned rat.

soop I do hope that we have moved and are settled in our new kitchen before Christmas- not too much upheaval for Rory-he does not like it.

Charleygirl knowing what comfort-loving creatures cats are I suspect that your Tara has found a bolt hole. She is not going to lurk around outside in the wet and cold is she? If she wear a collar you could maybe fasten a note to it asking whoever she is lodging with to call you to say where she goes. I would bet money on her having a second home!

Good to hear that somebody contacted you quite quickly soop and that the animals are well fed.

Trust Rory to make himself very comfortable. Tara was screaming this morning to be let out. Short of flying I cannot get downstairs any faster. She did allow me to have a long lie for once but that never happens on a Sunday.

She was indoors last night at 6pm but spent hours trying to find ways of getting out again. She has worked out that the windows will not move when head butted. Anybody like to retrain her? Food will be provided.

I've been contacted by a local member of the SPCA. I'm now feeling reassured about the condition of two herds of cattle that have been of some concern to me. Whenever we use a certain road, we pass two boggy, mud-filled fields in which the cattle live. I've yet to see fodder in the containers and I asked if someone could look into the matter. Within a matter of hours a very nice gentleman called to say that, yes, he knew of these animals. He passes the spot regularly. Although the fields are boggy, they are well fed. That is the news that I'd hoped for.

Crafting A glass of at lunchtime never fails to put me into a stupor.
bags suggestion makes a lot of sense. Out with a water bottle...not too hot, but soothingly warm.

loopylou Any good photos of Thomas?

Rory is fast asleep on the best chair in the hoos...that cat knows how to live in style.

It's blowing a gale and the rain beats upon the window. Time for a and one last look at the portrait of a pretty young Spaniel. I've discarded the first attempt. I shall need to sit throughout this evening and look very closely at the latest portrait. If I'm pleased... if not ...I shall try again.

Love to you all.

Re: thick cat we had one of those called Thomas.....he lost all his 9 lives in his first 9 months of life (+vets bills of over £1000, not bad for a 'free' kitten]
Bless her, it does seem strange that she's started staying out all day. If only you could attach a camera to her, the results would be fascinating, wouldn't they?
Perhaps, as you say, the colder weather will change her routine.

Been out for lunch today and now I am feeling very mellow and sleepy. Possibly due to a large glass of with lunch.

Bags I just have room left for a lovely blueberry muffin with a nice warming . Thank you . I am about to wrap a hot towel round my neck (will try the hot water bottle later) and settle down to have a quiet afternoon nap a suduko or crossword or something equally challenging

bags We've been indulging in the occasional freshly baked blueberry muffin when we have Friday coffee in the Royal. I've squirreled one of yours away for later.
I'm pleased that you enjoyed time with hildaj I also look forward to our next meeting. A real treat.

All those Kitcheners nursing winter-chill aches and pains...warm hugs.

As for that pussycat... she has found a comfortable hidey hole in which to meditate. She's far too grand for the not too bright suitor.

The rain hammered down this morning. I've been having a rousing sing song with the ladies in the care home. The original four have recruited other like-minded songsters to our wee choir. 'Donald Where's yer Troosers?' made it to the top of our hit parade today. Such enthusiasm. I shall take a CD of well known Scottish songs along with me next week.

Delighted to hear that the pair of you met up and you have arrived home safely. One never knows what the weather is going to be like- it could as you know be raining when you leave and arrive home to what had been a day of sunshine. At least we have not had snow -yet.

Glad all went well, hildajj. Here's to next time!