Soop's KITCHENERS

Quick catchup visit before we're off out - should have been for the morning but looking at the clock by the time we're up and ready it will stretch well into the afternoon.

Still smiling at the new arrivals, they are both such lovely little boys.

Thanks for the happy photos nandg, those memories are mounting up even memories of shopping! Envy you the weather but not the gout, know from friends how painful it is.

Charley your yellow van reminded me of our son's frustrations at similar parking issues outside his first home. The darkness fell during the day regularly, not fun at all, hope it has gone for good.

Good luck Gaga, you are very brave. I'm another non-singer. I envy those with a singing voice. Was evicted from the junior school choir, haven't really tried since, the embarrassment is still with me. I'm good at miming though . I've often wondered if it's the reason I speak very quietly, don't want my voice heard. Any public speaking is a major stress, I've done it and still do when it's appropriate but I hate it so. Odd really.

Soop pleased the x-ray is done, won't be long for the outcome which hopefully will be positive. Just be careful out there, as an American tv programme used to say (think it was Hill Street Blues, ages ago).

Best be off or it will be tomorrow before we leave. Wishing you all some . Sorry, no cake to leave today, will try to do better.

If a Good Fairy (or a genie with a bottle) were to offer me a wish, apart from the usual ones world peace being 4" taller and 2st lighter, it would be for a beautiful voice! I would just love to be able to open my mouth and have a lovely sound come out
Alas, still not quite as bad as DH whose music master told him " You appear to know only two notes. You sing one until it comes up in the tune, then you change to the other!"
A beautiful voice can easily reduce me to tears (Antonio Papano's recent BBC series had me blubbering) while a truly BAD voice can have me in hysterics, like that little girl in the Nativity play, or presumably Florence Foster Jenkins. Anybody seen it?

Alea, yes me too, i would love to be able to sing without curdling the milk.

My wish along these lines would be to play an instrument, or paint. The lovely gold tipped leaves have been replaced by 12 hours of rain - I think you know which scene I would rather be able to paint.

I do paint (poorly) and play an instrument (better than I paint) so i guess 2 out of 3 isn't too ain't bad.

numberplease how old is Mia? Tara used to be as quiet as a mouse but not for the past year- does not give me a chance to use my stairlift to come down stairs to open the door for her. She knows what will happen and how long it will take but she seems to think I am going to fly. Tara is now over 11 years old I believe.

It is miserable here in NW London, not raining yet but anytime soon I would think.

The huge yellow van is back, I presume for the weekend- marvellous.

Greetings dear Kitcheners from a part-time sunny, part-time showery Kintyre.

Charleyg You could write a polite note and stuff it under the van's wipers. Use your considerable charm.

GandTea ...and you also have a delightful sense of humour. I'm pleased that you've returned to the kitchen.

Alea Oh my goodness! Florence Foster Jenkins believed that she had a voice to be heard and admired. How much would it have cost to hire the Carnegie Hall? Such venues don't come cheap...

cornergran I fancy something rich and sticky and oozing flavour. In my dreams. I may have to settle for a crisp Pink Lady apple. Enjoy your day.

number Mia is a little madam.

NanaandGrampy Cooper's biscuit looks delicious. I'm very happy to hear that you are having a lovely holiday. It's a great pity that Grampy's toe is giving him some serious jip. It could take some time for him to recover.

Do any of you lot watch Monty Don in Gardeners World? I think that he's such a sweet-natured man. His dogs - Nigel and Nel are very amusing to watch. They rarely stray far from his side.

One of my other neighbours contacted me this am thinking that yellow van man was working here as the van has been parked overnight! Absolutely not! Also another car had parked behind yellow van man so nobody could enter or exit the mews. It is now all sorted. The other car belonged to a visiting carer and she was very apologetic- I doubt if she will park there again! She was shocked when we said we were about to ring the police- which was true because by then we had 2 cars who could not exit.

Two minutes later yellow van man arrived and I was less than pleasant or polite- I doubt if he will return in a hurry. His excuse was that he lived nearby- maybe but he does not live or work in this mews. It is nice to have light in my lounge/dining room again. I should really return to charm school for some more lessons. One of my neighbours would say that I should move in permanently. Cheek.

It is a miserable day here, not raining , dull and also not very warm.

Mia and Tara sound to be similar- Mia could sleep on my stair lift overnight without being disturbed, but I doubt if she and Tara would get on. Tara has taken to my bed again. I washed her bedding ( a baby quilt) on a duvet earlier this week and she has not been near it since. Shame on me for having so many clean items around the house.

Charleyg Yellow van saga. Sorted! Bravo! As for cats appreciating the niceties of freshly laundered blankets...forget it.

Rory and Bracken are lolling on the terrace. They must be exhausted. Neither has stretched a limb since lunchtime.

Wearing my arty-farty hat. I'm away to sketch a possible portrait of two adorable children. I say possible because I'm no expert regarding portraits. First attempt is therefore a pointer in either the right...or wrong direction.

Watch this space for further updates.

I'm logging off until tomorrow morning. I hope that you lot have a pleasant Saturday evening.

Charleygirl, Mia is approximately 5 years of age, not entirely sure as she was a rescue cat, and when we took her in, they told us she was about 18 months, that was 3 years ago last October. I`m glad you`ve sorted Yellow Van Man out, but feel a little sorry for him if you were as ferocious as you say you were!
Hubby has (blessedly) gone upstairs to watch the Cup Final on his 47" TV. Now why can`t he do that with all the sport stuff he watches, thereby giving us a bit of peace?
Soop, I`m sure the portrait will be lovely, all your other paintings are, and I seem to remember seeing a portrait of a little girl in your photo gallery, so you CAN do it!

Very productive day here. It has Bucketed done all day so no gardening. But have moved everything round in the kitchen. OH is not going to be happy but I realised that I was stepping over a dog and round OH just to get a plate or cup, whereas the pasta was very handy. Then I did all the ironing - three lots of bed linen. Then I emptied out my wardrobe, threw out a few things, discovered a cardigan I had never worn ? And realised that I did not need to buy any more fleeces - saved some money. I may even eBay a few things, though not sure it is worth it.

That should say 'bucketed down', should proof read before posting

Evening all - as Jack Warner used say!

I just popped in for a quick check on how everyone is faring. It seems quite peaceful so I'll tiptoe out again.

I have to pack as we are going away tomorrow to Suffolk - our favourite hotel in our favourite place. I really feel in need of a long sit down, watching the sea! Just don't tell mum or we'll be rushing back for another crisis The Internet is a bit iffy there - I think rhe sea breeze blows the signal off course so take care till I can pop in again.

Have a crisis free rest, kitty, enjoy the relaxation that the sea can bring, you deserve it. We lived in Suffolk many moons ago, don't dare think how many, it was the County I said I always wanted to return to. We will next minthy, for a visit. Look after it for me. .

I've had a really nice lunch with my ds and dd and their new partners! After all the upset and traumas of the last few years, they have both met their soulmates! There was such a lot of laughter and the respective 'newbies' are both so easy to be with,a vast difference from before.
I hope with all my heart that they will be happy and settled now.

Glad you got rid of that van Charleygirl
Kitty Enjoy your break

Lona how lovely for you that your C have met lovely people who hopefully they will share their lives with. That is my hope for my D, my S is still attached to his unsatisfactory ( to me ) partner. I live in hope he comes to his senses. However his children from that relationship are delightful, so a small consolation.

How lovely, Lona, things are coming together for you. It's your time and I'm so pleased.

Lona that is lovely to hear that your children have hopefully met their soul mates now. All you need now is to exchange contracts and move into that lovely flat. Simples.

Tizliz I was exhausted reading the amount of work that you did. If you feel like whizzing through my wardrobes please feel free. Please not the plural.

numberplease I could not fit a 47" TV into this small house- how on earth do you cope? The husband of a friend of mine is like a couch potato in the front room watching sport. Luckily it is not a through lounge so my friend gets some respite.

The sun is shining but I believe that heavy rain is expected early evening. If I moved my body I could strip my bed etc. and everything could be dry by then.

Yellow van man obviously heeded my 2 short sentences. The neighbour with me did not get a word in but he had just put a note on the van. Two happy bunnies.

I think one of the greatest things as a mum is when you see your DC with the right partner. It's a bit sexist/traditional of me, but I feel a huge relief that our 3 DDs have got lovely men to cherish them for the rest of their lives.
And if they don't... I will come back and haunt them

Alea is Flynn the name for the latest newborn? Is your DD coping okay and has your SIL had a decent night's sleep or is that a distant dream?

Charleygirl don't you find that some days you have lots of energy than go for days feeling tired? Yesterday was one of my good days. Was not too pleased to get a cup of tea at 6.30 this morning - it's Sunday! didn't get up till 8am though.

Really need to do some weeding but it is raining again.

We still don't know Charleygirl!!!
There have been hints of others, but they seem remarkably relaxed about what they are calling him. There has been a promise of a dcision after this (visitor free) weekend. We shall see!
Yesterday both were saying he seems a placid baby and they had each had a good 3-3 1/2 hours sleep the night before, and DD1 who saw them on Friday said they seemed to have got over trauma of the days in hospital and seemed reasonably relaxed. (?)

Hello kitcheners! Just reporting back that the choir concert last night was 100% better than the final rehearsal on Wednesday, thank goodness. I read my poem which went down well and all the soloists were on top form. We ended with a good old singsong with audience participation and we had very positive feedback.

Now we have to do it all again in our "home" village on Wednesday evening but probably with more confidence!