Soop's friendly KITCHENERS

NanaandGrampy where are you off to in 7 days? There is so much to be done before you go but hopefully you are well organised.

It is cold here and very dull. I do not think that there will be much improvement. I am returning to the grand clear up. I had no idea that I had so many decent carrier bags either cloth or plastic.

Galen there are no excuses- start knitting.

It sounds from other GN's lives that I am better off on my own.

Very sad about BHS collapsing, it has been around apparently for 88 years. I feel so sorry for the 11,000 staff. I have noticed for many months that they have had daily sales which spells trouble usually.

I was shocked about BHS, it seems that part of our early lives are disappearing.
I do not shop there much I have to say but the school uniforms were good. I certainly won't miss it as much as I missed Woolworth's, I just loved that store,it really was part of my childhood and I would avert my eyes at the sorry state the Stockport store turned into for quite a few years before it became something else.

Mission accomplished! Been to vets with Sophie Dog. I only made one wrong turn but was in plenty of time so that was okay. More importantly, Sophie is fine except her weight has gone up to 46KG! She was such a good girl. I shall not tell buggerlugs that I nearly got lost again; it's our secret. Wishing everyone a good day!

Nana, I love the airhorn idea! At least it's peaceful here in the mornings.

I have got to summon up the courage (?) to take Grace for her annual check-up and boosters too. She got so good at going to the vet when her tail was being treated I should really have had the whole thing done then, I wonder if the fear will have returned or if she will take it in her stride. Might leave it till next week though, feeling a bit broke and trips to the vet run expensive!!

BTW wot I suspect Sophie is responsible for you (nearly) getting lost, she was clearly giving you directions to the PARK not the vets!!

I was pleasantly suprised that Sophies boosters and check over came to only £32.50. I shall put the change back into her jar as I like to keep £100 saved for the vet, just in case.

Ah, dear girl. Sophie was shaking when we got back in the car. She's happily having a little snooze now. So people still say "snooze"?

Do, not so.

In this household we "close our eyes for a few minutes".

Grace doesn't snooze, she just thinks with her eyes shut

Grace has so many places to sleep in your house Alea- I am not sure if I have ever seen her awake!

wot you made it there and back- that is excellent. Just tell him indoors that you and Sophie enjoyed the trip. What type of dog is Sophie?

My cat Tara is around 4.3kg which is a good weight for her.

Grace is so lovely! Her bed looks SO comfortable!
Sophi is a lurcher; half greyhound and something else.....She's got black spots under her fur all over so it might have been a dalmation. The vet said when dogs are a cross breed, they're generally more hardy. Funny thing, Sophie woke me at 6 this morning so I didn't need my alarm clock[s]. She must have sensed something was going to happen. I feel like "resting my eyes" for an hour or so.

Having studied Graces photo, it looks like she may have black spots too.

Grace is "officially" (as a racing greyhound) white with black markings but as her coat changes from heating on to heating on a bit less winter to summer, you can see more shadowy black spots "under " her coat.
She doesn't sleep all the time, there are walkies and dinner to take into consideration and where her bed is, at the foot of the stairs, and outside the kitchen door, she can keep a watching brief on all that is going on. She can also wriggle forwards so that she is virtually blocking the doorway which, given that DH now uses a stick even indoors, is fraught with danger all round.

Do you think Grace could give one of my dogs lessons in sleeping? He will sleep happily all day (asleep under my desk at the moment) and all evening in front of the TV. But as soon as we go to bed he starts walking around and going from one room to another - we have wood floors so his claws click click click. Can't have him in the bedroom as he is just too restless. He has been doing this on and off since he was about 2 years old.

I find the worst danger from my dogs is their toys. They are worse than children for leaving a ball right between kitchen and living room. They did have a strange toy which was lethal, didn't matter which way up it was you caught your foot in it, that has been binned.

What would we do without them?

By the way it is snowing hard here, what happened to Spring?

Tizliz what a beautiful, handsome boy. Would he not sleep in the bedroom near you in a dog bed and stay there because he is near you? How old is he and what is his name?

Grace has got the right idea. watching what goes on in the kitchen like a hawk in case she misses a meal- fat chance.

It is cold here today and I have the heating on. the sun came out for 5 minutes, at least it is not raining yet but that is the forecast.

Tizliz, I think it's finally arrived in the Algarve. Beautiful day yesterday and just as good today, no doubt I will soon be complaining about the heat.
Your dog looks beautiful even if he does keep you awake at night. Does he keep the other dogs awake?

Hello to everyone who has popped in for some company, you will find this a very friendly and welcoming place. especially if you bring cake

A warm welcome to cornergran. You already have one of the cosiest seats in the kitchen. I shall place a tartan rug ready for you to drape over your knees. The wind is keen.
Where do you live? We have Granspal Kitcheners visit regularly. Perhaps we can introduce you to someone who lives not too far away.
There will always be some kind person to talk to. We share each other's highs and lows. We all get along and, I cannot remember a single incident when any Kitchener upset another. Unkindness is banned. We can grumble and laugh together...PLEASE stay with us so that we may get to know you better.

Nelliem The outfit is brilliant. You are very talented. Your grandson will almost certainly wish to wear it all the time, even in bed. Well done.
Those Kitcheners who have first hand awareness of difficult husbands, can relate well with each other. I think that this is where Gransnet can be of enormous comfort.
Tell it as it is. We are happy to listen. Maybe the feelings of isolation and loneliness will seem less destructive when those who need to talk, do so, and are understood. Not very well worded. Sorry.

NanaandGrampy No worries. Us lot will polish off cornergran's melt-in-the-mouth meringues. You enjoy the mystery shop. We've no big stores in Kintyre. Once in a blue moon, I would love to go to a swanky department store.

baubles I do hope that your husband fairs well with the exams. I do have occasional nightmares when I'm about to sit an exam about which I know zilch.
I joined a Tai Chi class about 30 years ago. It was held in Dartmouth and the teacher had lived in Nepal (I think) and was one of the first tutors to live in the area. It is a beautiful relaxing (exacting) discipline.

Galen NAG Stop messin' around.

Below is a pic of part of the "wet garden"/bog into which I almost disappeared.

wot...allow buggerlugs to be himself. Start doing stuff because you wish to do it. Your life...no-one elses.

Tizliz Such a handsome dog.

annsixty Very funny...

Alea Grace is gorgeous.

Just a lovely bit of news to share with you. After which, I must do the ironing.
Last night, my second son rang from Rutland. He then said that he and his brother (together with their wives) are planning to visit Glasgow. they are looking into renting an apartment so that we can share a mini weekend together. My son's second daughter is to be married next year, in Holland. We had thought that we probably wouldn't have our usual annual get together this year. I'm dancing a jig with excitement. Daft as a brush!

Soop, that's lovely about your family get together! Maybe if you're in Glasgow, you can get to a posh department store!

Charleygirl he has never slept in a bed, he prefers a mat or the rug in the photo. If he comes in the bedroom he will nudge me, then wriggle under the bed and nudge OH, then lie down for a minute then jump up and run out the room - you get the picture, he just will not settle it is so strange.

He is called Anlon and he is just 7

Soop I love family get togethers, but OH is not so keen - think he finds my large family just too much. We had to rent an ex youth hostel last time (2 years ago now). My sister organised that one, think her daughters are planning another but I might have to go on my own.