Soop's KITCHENERS

Hope you didn't catch the virus from me cornergran. DH and I came back from UK with what we thought was hay fever but turned out to be a fluey/cold virus and we are still struggling with the side effects nearly three weeks later.
You have done very well today especially after such a horrid night. We have been having a lazy day so I think it's time for you to have a rest now as you are making me feel guilty. I hope you sleep well tonight.

Kitty, come into the kitchen and recuperate when you have visited your Mum.

Galen will there be three little Elsas next year or Is your DD expecting a boy?

NandG Have you tried antihistamine for the itchy bites. By the way, my DH was put on medication for gout a few years ago, was put on medication for it, and has had no problems with it since.

Alea Grace does co ordinate her accessories (the rug) so well. and I am very glad you were able to sort out the wasp problem and didn't get stung.

soop lovely photos again. I'd forgotten that it is rhodendron season. Everything struck me as very green in your part of the world. Which must mean that it is becoming brown here although it's raining today.

cornergran Bless you. Us lot wish you well. Remain as peaceful as possible.

It has been a perfectly glorious day. I trust that our Kitcheners are suitably relaxed and enjoying the sunshine.

Has Gandtea been in lately? I'm missing him.

Alea Grace has a lot in common with Rory. They appear to be comatose. That is until the cupboard door in which his food is housed opens. At that precise moment, Rory springs into action. Well, more like he saunters into action. He also manages a plaintive mew. Barely audible but MacS always responds with ...'good boy!' don't ask.

We're about to prepare G&T for me and a wee dram for MacSporran. This evening we shall sit on the terrace and look out across the sea.

Love to you all. Especially those Granspals in need of comfort.

Until tomorrow...

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Night night.

Thank you all again for your thoughtfulness. That ice cream would just hit the spot loopy. I plan to resemble Grace tonight, Alea, have helped things along with one of my as and when sleeping tablets - 24 usually last me about the same number of months. Throat is settling to stinging nettle level rather than the barbed wire it was so much happier. I enjoyed my 45 minutes in the garden, really didn't overdo it. Quiet day tomorrow so normal service will soon be resumed. Wishing you all well. .

NanaandGrampy thank you for your kind offer of Sam. I would love a virtual cuddle.

Alea, vicar indeed!

Thanks for the "comforting" crumpets kitty. Do they give you a cuddle as they slide down

Soop lovely photos as always but do you think it's wise to let MacSporran hold up those big trees all by himself.

Cornergran I do feel for you. For years I went through a phase of having sore throats quite a lot (mine were due to allergic reaction to most of the medicines I was taking at the time) and it can be really painful and worrying. I used to get in quite a panic if I couldn't swallow properly. I do hope you feel better soon

I know you will all be agog at the latest instalment in the wasp saga (no yawning at the back, put your phone AWAY)
Well Fred the Rat Man rang me at 9 ( cup of coffee in bed, but heigh Ho) and was round 20 minutes later with his cylinder of death and destruction to little buzzing things.
He must be 85 if he is a day, so I do wonder how much longer he will go on, but £35 did not seem a lot to pay for such prompt service.
He is what I would call "old North Bucks" Born and brought up in Stony Stratford, known to all and sundry as Fred the Rat Man and long may he flourish - a gem!
I expect the EU will soon ban his particular poison of course and insist on a course of humane aversion therapy for wasps wanting to nest in my walls )

Morning everyone. 11 hours sleep has made a huge improvement to the outlook on life . Certainly did my best to learn from all those photos of Grace. Throat still at nettle level, but definitely heading the right way. Can get alongside it all again now. Still in bed, plan another short garden session and then not much more. Have DGC for a while tomorrow so will definitely be sensible today. They are self sufficient, not hard work and will make me laugh, so looking forward to it. They understand 'gran-flu' and make allowances, though of course I try not to let it impact them they know energy fluctuates, aren't children great? Good wishes to all. Hope your bank holiday is a good one.

So pleased to hear that you are feeling marginally better after a decent night's sleep cornergran. I agree, Grace and Rory have taught me a lot re relaxation- the only problem is I cannot do Grace's method, flat on the floor (on a rug)- I would never be able to get up again. Rory is more my style.

Alea I am amazed that you have had the work done on a BH and the price was very reasonable. I hope that they stay away. It was worth giving up your leisurely lie in.

NandG I hope that the itch has gone and the gout pain has settled. You want to enjoy the rest of your holiday. Hopefully the boys are on their feet again- they will never forget that fabulous holiday.

I did next to zilch yesterday but still managed to sleep until after 10am. I did have my 4 legged company all night- she is happy to turn regularly but less so for me but she is coming round to it and does not make the usual fuss.

It is a miserable dull day here- not quite what the forecast said.

Alea small world, we lived in Stony Stratford for 20 years.

a friend sent me this, think he is probably related to Grace

lazy dog

I thought somebody in the Kitchen said they had, tizliz. Did you ever meet Fred?
I wonder how long ago that was that you left? I like Stony but rarely go there since the wonderful electrical repair shop closed down.
Did you see there had been a big fire on the last BH, next to the Bull. A whole old house in the High Street came down as if it had been "chosen" for demolition. Sadly a young couple lost everything, including possibly one of their dogs.
We are on the other side of MK close to Olney which has a similar character to Stony, but is fighting a battle with the spread of MK and the chains.

Re the Labrador - I think it is probably related to ME
Grace says Don't mock. She has a lot of serious thinking to do and why stand if you can sit, why sit if you can lie?

Alea we left Stony in 1994, only moved to Buckingham. We only once had a problem with a swarm of bees (the noise is unbelievable) but I think a bee keeper sorted that out.

I can't say I didn't meet Fred because I have a really bad memory (sends OH mad "you can't possible have forgotten ....", but I do).

My daughter sent me the news about the fire. There are so many old buildings there I am surprised it has not happened before. The saying about a 'cock and bull' story is supposed to have come from the two hotels there (though I am sure lots of other towns claim it as well).

I know Olney as well (an Englishman's home is his Castle!). It was a lovely little village. Don't want to complain too much as the alternative to the spread of chains is the death of villages, which is what is happening here. We do try and use the shops left but now Tesco delivery almost everywhere the small shops struggle.

Tizliz, what a lovely video! The dog's so cute!

Just made a list and lost it, no idea how, so if at first you don't succeed! Pleased to hear the wasps have been dealt with alea, your Fred sounds a wonder. We were part of the MK sprawl back in the 80's, knew Buckingham, Olney and Stony well. Sorry if we helped with the encroachment! Love all these doggie things, am using Grace as today's role model. Like her style.

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Oh, 'tis as fabulous day in bonnie Kintyre.

I've caught up with your latest happenings. I'm pleased that most of us lot are improving (if somewhat slowly.)

We've been to the lovely wee village of Skipness. Enjoyed coffee at the Seafood Cabin which sits alongside the ancient castle. The view across the water to Arran is stunning. At the cabin is a friendly deer. I'm about to share a photo with you.

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Our friend and her late husband had a Hof House built in Skipness. It is most unusual and the interior is a delight. Gorse runs alongside the road to Skipness.

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The beach is quite unspoilt. Craggy rock pools and beautiful clusters of flowers for as far as the eye can see.

It's just so beautiful....I feel as if I've been on a short holiday, looking at your photos, Soop! ?? (nearest to a deer..?!)

Lovely photos soop but I wish we had your weather. It was so changeable yesterday, with thunder to upset the dogs, now it is just cloudy and dull. OH was trying to do some promotional photos for a friend's caravan park and it was a case of dodging the showers. Did get a few atmospheric shots though.

Do you know what the flowers are in your photo? The broom is just coming out here and my eyes are streaming when I walk the dogs, think I will have to take an antihistamine. We have variegated broom here, is that unusual?

wotShould you ever visit Kintyre (and the weather permits) we'll take you to Skipness. You would love it.

Tizliz I'm not sure of the name of the yellow flowers on the beach. I shall look through the reference book a little later. There were acres of a cotton-ball-like flower. None on the verges. I couldn't get close enough for a decent image. Must try to put a name to it.

soop has MacSporran put on a smidgeon of weight? He looks far better anyway, whatever it is. He, like you is enjoying the beautiful countryside and plants.

You appear to have pinched the sunshine from here- I wish that it would rain and get on with it.

I only went out to buy the bare essentials- I was wrapped up for winter it was so cold.

soop there is a wild cotton plant which we get lots of here.

Yes overcast here, could do with rain now the weekend is over (have to consider those poor devils that work), Just over seeded part of our lawn and keep using sprinkler.

Think the yellow ones are Bird's-foot trefoil, I was looking at some today, rather like a broom flower. It was the orange ones I don't recognise.