Soop's Kindly Kitcheners

True Charley I didn't think about that. I'm still not convinced though maybe I dare start a thread on that??

We have a female blackbird nesting near us. DH saw one of our hanging baskets swinging around and when he investigated she was in it rummaging through the earth. He said she just looked at him and very definitely told him to go away. She also dives at our male dog when he is in the garden standing on three legs doing a wee. Poor boy nearly fell over the other evening. The male seems much quieter, he is a lovely fellow wth glossy feathers and a bright yellow ring round his eye.

They do have a very short life for playing football hence the grotesque salaries. Last night was I think Wayne Rooney's worst performance with the exception of the penalty but that delight was short lived. The collective salaries of the English team runs to millions- they should have done better. I do hope that Iceland wins.

I turned over to the Sewing Bee. It was much more exciting. What amazing garments they made from a child's duvet cover. I have overslept this morning and still feel dopey - serves me right for going to bed far too late. Still, that's one good thing about living alone. soop, the bluetits in my garden are being outnumbered by a large family of greenfinches and the odd goldfinch. The greens are by far the greediest birds - I am constantly refilling the seed feeders. The local squirrels are hardly getting a look-in.

I'm not a sports fan so I say this from a totally uneducated point of view but I think that's terrible Ann . I'm sure he's talented ( although judging by some of Grampys comments last night maybe not !) but £350,000 a week talented ???

I know they're all paid ridiculous amounts of money . I'm just flabbergasted

Rooney earns £350,000 a week, nice little earner!!

millymouge I also was giving advice last night but it fell on deaf ears. Unbelievable, considering the millions paid to the fellows playing. I did not realise that Iceland did not have a professional team in their country- I would love to see them win the tournament. 10% of the country have travelled with them to to give support. The English fans were very good, there could have been nasty scenes. They backed England to the end but were devastated with the result.

Our Andy this afternoon- I hope he does not need my advice.

Milly, our fridge/freezer is a Beko as well! Itt`s one with a water dispenser, but wish we`d got a normal one now, the ice cold water is very nice, but it takes up too much space inside the door.

Oh dear so very sorry for England, we had come so far. Might have done us all good if we could have made it. DH watched it and offered them advice, but unfortunately they didn't take it I watched the Great British Sewing Bee, love the programme. They do so well working under pressure, and come up with some marvellous things. Looking forward to the final next week.
Our freezer is Beko, numberplease, think they are very good. You will need some. nice weather after you get it to get everything dry, and then there will be a bit of ironing to catch up with!!!!!

numberplease you live a tad far away from London to use mine! I agree, it would cost too much and if safety is an issue it is not worth it. The new machine will be put through its paces once it's installed. Hopefully the weather will be decent to get it all dried.

Alea what a super prize going to Wimbledon. I wonder who they will be able to watch? Andy is on tomorrow pm- I have no idea of the order of play.

Soop dear, if I were to ever get tickets for Wimbledon you would recognise me very easily by the choc ice!
DD and SIL have tickets for next Tuesday though. She is a Secondary Maths teacher, part time, 3 days a week and they "won" the tickets at their health club/gym - of course, they were for one of her working days.
Nothing daunted she went to the Head and pointed out that she has done all the INSET days so far this year even although they were NOT on her normal working days asked for the day off -AND GOT IT!!! (On condition she keeps her head well down if the TV cameras are there, and doesn't tell anybody.)

What about Marcus Willis, then!!! what a nice young man!

Charleygirl, it`s a Beko. There`s a launderette about a mile away, but can`t get there, except by taxi, and it would cost a fortune, I``d need about 3 or 4 machines. Plus it`s not a good area, there are some right characters hang about there. We were there once and some idiots managed to bar the door on the outside, it was ages before any of us got out! I`ll just have to put the washing in the back bedroom out of site, and wash a few bits by hand. I wish I could say that about my iron, it`s always on the go. Daughter 3 tells me off for ironing too much stuff, she says I should stop ironing knickers and tea towels for a start.

What make of machine have you chosen numberplease? I agree, that is a long time and the washing will have piled up. Have you got a launderette nearby? At least the machines are industrial size and do hold a lot more.

soop I cannot remember the last time I used an iron. I an certain that I have an allergy to them.

My washing is in, I have had one massive tidy up and put heaps of clothes away. It is almost time to think about supper and then watch England hopefully win.

You sport lovers have got it in spades lately, I hate sport, but hope you all have fun watching your preferred "thing".
Charleygirl, the weather ,stayed fine and breezy, so all the towels dried, thank goodness, and they smell a whole lot more fragrant! The washing machine is a definite gonner, a new one will be delivered and installed on Wednesday July 6th, by which time we won`t be able to move for dirty washing!
Eldest son has just been to say that he and DIL have booked themselves a last minute trip to Paphos, I asked if there was room in their case for me, but unfortunately I`d exceed the luggage allowance!

anno Little Mo was a marvellous tennis player. I happened to have had a crush on Ken. He was a handsome dude.

I've done a very large heap of ironing as I watched a game of tennis. Alea Will you be at centre court after today? If so, please let me know what it is you'll be wearing. You could hold up a card with Alea written in bold type. I want to wave to you...virtually, of course.

NanaandGrampy The party appears to have been a great success. The summerhouse must have been filled with laughter. One of my sons will be 43 next month and the eldest will celebrate his 55th the very next day. We shall be with all the family in September. I've been excited about the gathering for some months now.
The sweet pea painting never did look like a winner. It was a mistake to try to paint another in the same mode. I did compensate our bags with another of my watercolours.

ann Thank goodness for your son and WD40. He deserves a very warm hug.

cornergran You've achieved a great deal throughout the day. I've done the ironing, and I've dashed wandered around with a broom and duster.
The sun is shining. Both cats have been fed and are lolling on the terrace. A large family of blue tits feeding on the peanuts. Tits are canny. They keep a close eye on the felines.

Tomorrow morning my friend and I will be visiting the Care Home. After lunch I shall call into our kitchen for updates.

Enjoy your evening.

I've always loved watching sport on TV. The first summer we had it in Scotland was the first year Maureen (Little Mo) Connolly won Wimbledon. My friends whose families had yet to get TV used to haunt our house until my poor parents began to be fed up with them and sent us off with our rackets to the local tennis courts. I was 11 and had a great fancy for Ken Rosewall.

I'm struggling with the sport as well ann, seem to have missed that gene. Fortunately DH isn't a sport fan either, so no fights over the remote. We've cleared out the shed today, taken a car load to the recycling centre (still want to call it the tip) and done some weeding, managed lunch out in between so felt rewarded for the shed clearing, still sneezing from the dust . Alea thank goodness the bug has been identified, better news if disappointing that the hospital stay continues. Hope your queasiness isn't anything horrid, maybe a reaction to the better news, surely can't be the chocolate . Off to tidy a cupboard now, no stopping me today.

I agree, he has saved you a fair bit of money Ann. Sorry to hear that you do not like sport- in my opinion there is too much on at present and as you and NanaandGrampy said, you do not enjoy watching it. At present there is little else to watch and shortly there will be the Olympics- bliss for me but I do consider others.

You were fortunate that you had fairly decent weather and you were able to lounge in the summerhouse. Have an early night and sleep off the small amount of alcohol that you had yesterday.

Good afternoon all !

Made it home in one piece after a lovely afternoon tea. Needed a nap as I might have had a drink or two yesterday and certainly felt a bit tired this morning when we set off home.
It was worth it though to see the 'Twinnies' celebrate their 51st birthday. My favourite sort of party- a family one.

The BIG TIDY limps on - and you're so right Oldgoat its blasted hard work. Luckily no pictures tomorrow . Before we take that final step we need an idea of the price we might achieve as that obviously influences our plans.

I know what you mean Lona we've had quite a bit of work done in the last year and I do love my home. Just wish I could pick it up and plonk it down somewhere else. You must be pleased your move is imminent?

Thanks for the offer Charley but quite frankly one BIG TIDY is enough . No umbrellas were needed , the weather was pleasant though not sunny and my brother has built a magnificent summer house at the bottom of his garden with comfy chairs and everything so I took up residence and had to be pried out at the end of the evening

Oh soop just when I think your sunsets could not get more glorious you post these pictures. No wonder you are a painter ! How inspiring are your views? How is the sweet pea panting coming along?

Thanks for the hugs and cake everyone. I have it more in perspective today. Had a great and lively debate yesterday at one point and am cheered that we talked and then moved on...that's what I expect . Luckily , you lot, are my kind of people !!

I'm with you * Annsixty* it will be crafting for me tonight to avoid the sport. Glad your lock problem was solved so cheaply !! He sounds like a handy chap!

As this has turned into War and Peace, I shall leave and go and stock up on all sorts of magnums as I had no idea you lot were so addictedkeen on them !!

Alea that is progress if the bug has been identified. Hopefully the correct antibiotic will kick in and they are still investigating. At least your DH is not being discharged because he looks marginally better.

I hope that you have an easy supper planned for yourself.

I will be watching the England versus Iceland match tonight. Iceland has nothing to lose and I fear that England may regret playing them this evening. I cannot watch tennis as well, I will be getting pressure sores!

You must be stronger than me Alea to take all this stress. Very best wishes to you both.
I am one of the 00.1% who does not enjoy tennis or any sport so I shall be sorting out a DVD for tonight and will occupy myself some other way every afternoon.
We had a lock malfunction over the weekend, couldn't get out of the back door, so anything for the bins had to be taken "the long way round". As it was very wet yesterday, by evening we had quite a pile to deal with. I rang a locksmith this morning and arranged a visit for tomorrow . £75 + vat and then the cost of the parts. My S called unexpectedly and took the lock to pieces, sprayed with WD40 and job done. Embarrassment as I cancelled the visit but I was very relieved.

Alea I responded to your latest update. Guess what...the message was deleted. I may have pressed the wrong key.
I'm relieved to hear that the bug that has wreaked havoc with your husband's health, has at last been identified. The experts will now be able to take his treatment a step forward. Although your husband won't be returning home tomorrow, you'll feel reassured that he's in excellent care.

Enjoy Wimbledon. I would so love to be sitting beside you, sipping a Pimms and dipping strawberries into clotted cream. I trust that you haven't picked up a bug. The game between Novak and James had it's moments. Novak was never really in danger. He's such a steely competitor.

at Wimbledon can't be a bad start to the .week, but unfortunately DH may be in for a few days more as the biochemists have at last identified his bug but don't yet know where it is. Because there was what we in Scotland sometimes refer to as"guddling "'around the heart area 3 weeks ago at the JR , he is to have a heart scan to make sure it is not there. Personally, Dr Alea thinks it won't be, but he did have a replacement aortic valve 5 years ago so there is always a risk.
James Ward is giving Novak a run for his money isn't he?
Might have to lay off the choc ices for a bit, I woke up feeling distinctly queasy (how my face looked!!)