Soop's special kitchen for like-minded folk and treasured pets

We’re going to be happy to see them too Ann.

Thanks for the tip , I’ll look at getting a step. Getting out is not so easy, so that would be a great help.

I know what you mean about the downstairs shower, that was my problem but being on one level is a revelation (smile).

Thank you for your kind wishes, even with the mountain of work planned we feel so relaxed , it’s lovely xx

Hello, the kitchen! I was watching a pair of buzzards circling over our house just now and suddenly felt very dizzy, so I’m using it as an excuse to sit down for a bit!
Oldgoat it’s disappointing when your hairdresser gets it wrong. I have had the same lady cut my hair since Adam was a lad, and occasionally she still puts what passes for my fringe on the wrong side. I had to tell her three times yesterday, but she is stressed out at the moment as her house sale fell through last week; it turned out the guy who was buying it didn’t have the funds in place and no real chance of getting them!
Gq lovely photos as always! The picture I took is not far from the Surprise View. The gritstone edges are a magnet for people - especially families with children as there are lots of boulders for them to scramble about on and ‘test their metal’! The bird sculpture is a permanent fixture. It was commissioned by Ikea who supplied the sculptor with the 3,000 Allen keys and said “make something for us”, so he did. We have a permanently resident pair of peregrines who live in the city centre, so it is a tribute to them too! We are hoping to call in on the Samaritans ‘Ten Artists’ exhibition tommorrow after seeing our friend, and this sculptor will be there with some of his work. He makes things out of old cutlery, old machine parts, just about anything salvageable, and he’s much in demand.
Ann I thought I was quite good at getting in and out of a bath until we went on holiday this year and then I too found out what a struggle it’s becoming. That was the whole idea behind getting rid of our bath. Having said that, we have not yet used our new bathroom - I just pop in and give the tap a polish when I’m passing!
N&G. I hope there will be photos of the boys - we haven’t see them for a while! I know you’ll enjoy their visit. We only saw GS briefly on Wednesday when we went back to DDs after our walk. She made us coffee and then went to pick him up from school cross country club. He said to her “you didn’t leave Nanny and grandad in the house on their own, did you?”?. I’m not sure weather he thought we were going to play with sharp objects or run off with the cutlery! He was covered in mud as they had been running in the woods so we are now the inventor of the arms length hug!
I will look in on you all later.

ann may I suggest that you stay here and do not venture afar- it is not worth it.

Its a bit of a minefield out there, some rather tetchy people!
Anything to do with half term I wonder ?
Such a lovely sunny day too ☀️☀️☀️

granniequeenie When I saw the photo of that wall I said Wow!
Sorry to hear the sad news of your friend's breast cancer. Having supportive friends at such a time is a blessing.

N&G Ditto your sunset. Oh boy...the boys are going to love visiting your new home. I bet that they will be only too happy to help your sort through the boxes.

oldgoat You have beautiful natural curls. I have curly hair but it doesn't behave as does yours. Right now, I look like a bat out of hell.

Tegan The books of yesteryear had charm. I've passed a number on to Torben. He seems to prefer Lego.

Greyduster I meant to thank you for your kind good wishes. I've been way down in the doldrums. BUT...I'm on my way back. MacSporran is very supportive. He never changes. His good spirits always help me through.

The sun has had his hat on today. Anyone remember Terry Wogan playing this record way back when he had the breakfast time radio programme? I liked him a lot. He was a good man with a lovely sense of humour.

I've completed the frustrating task of putting stuff for sale on eBay. Doing so was good for the grey cells. It's not as straightforward as it appears. I may have a little pocket money at the end of the week. I can barely contain myself.

Time to flick the duster across the furniture. Show willing...that's my motto.

Keep going up soop. Glad to hear you’re feeling better.
Yes I loved Terry and his distinctive brand of humour. I miss him.

Sam and Janet Evening! Priceless!

I love GD's, 'Hello, the kitchen' so I've borrowed it for today. I'd like to borrow her hair too as mine was mouse and is now faded mouse and costs a fortune in highlights - no one would pay to have that colour!

I love the bird called Alan! We had a 'mobile' in our kitchen made of old cutlery, it was great but DS1 & 2 kept bumping their heads on it and being speared by forks, so it had to go.

Grannyqueenie I love the photos and I do hope your friend gets on ok. Cancer still strikes fear doesn't it, even though we know that results are so much better now.

Soop, I'm so glad you are on the up!! I have actually been applying proper polish to the desk and chest in the hall - they look so much better - I really ought to do it more often!

I hope you make lots of pocket money after all that effort. I try to steer clear of EBay as I find it an expensive habit but, we are looking for a string picture (like the one we had in 1970 ish and took to the dump ) It's Sod's law isn't it?

DD3, who is very design orientated, decreed that our dining room curtains needed replacing. We bought new ones (which look lovely) in our 'Mid-Century' room but now we need art work for a tall brick wall. DD suggested a sun burst clock (which we can go with if we can find one that is less than £100! ) and a macrame wall hanging . I hated those first time round but it reminded me of the 'string' picture we also had. So, Ebay it is!

N&G, you sound as though you have found your 'forever' home - enjoy it and make memories with the boys.

The Ladybird Books made me smile. We had loads and loads and I gave them to a friend who was a child minder. When she stopped being a childminder she sold the books on Ebay. Unreasonably, since I had given them to her, I was very miffed.

I mentioned on another thread about our neighbour having an attempted break in while he was sitting in the lounge. Someone rang the front door bell but he has just come home after having a TKR and couldn't get to answer it. The person assumed there was noone in and threw a brick through the kitchen window. Luckily, Alan had managed to stand by then and was able to scare the intruder away. It's a worry as it looks as though they had been watching the house and seen his wife taking the dog out. Our little group have been all atwitter all day but I'm not sure what we can do apart from being vigilant. I'm in on my own as DD1 has gone to a Jazz concert with DH (she's very kind to her Mum!!) and I'm here with 2 cats for protection! Better have more

kitty do you mean the pictures that were often done on black velvet boards?
We had one done in bronze "thread"which was of a pennyfarthing bicycle, in its day it was very attractive.
I wonder what happened to it.

That's it Ann! We had one which was orange 'string' on a black board in an abstract pattern. Fancy throwing it away!!! Not that orange would go with the curtains but........!! There is a penny farthing on Ebay, I think. But there is also a peacock. Trouble is, the dining room is red!

Make one, kitty. It is not difficult. all you need is lots of nails, yards and yards of string and a hammer. Oh, and a board painted orange (other paint colours are available) there must be patterns somewhere on the net, but you could devise your own.

You used to be able to buy kits to make string pictures. Don’t know if they are still available.

This is all very retro.
Has anyone 3 flying ducks to sell.?

I've been trying to post a link to some kits on Amazon but ther post just sits there in the text box.

Well, here are some on Ebay.
www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/string-art

There are lots for sale on eBay - both ready made and kits. Make sure you go to the UK though.

Sorry elegran - crossed post.

annsixty I sold three flying kingfishers on Ebay a few years ago, inherited from my uncle's house. All of them had mended breaks, but they made about £120.

Great minds think alike, Greyduster ( my father would have added, "but fools seldom differ . . .")

Has anyone 3 flying ducks to sell.
Me! From MIL's house, the middle one has a clean break through the middle but has been skilfully mended.

£120? I must do something with them before the DC throw them into the skip

Oh, they're not kingfishers (very upmarket), they are ducks

Funny you should ask about “flying ducks””!!
I have just been reading —another thread— elsewhere and was tempted to post that I don’t give a “flying duck”or something close.