Soop's very welcoming kitchen...

Mr C has just confirmed which part of my head I have found - it’s the part that can talk .

Some good and some not so good in the kitchen today. My big news is I seem to have half a head, not sure which half but there’s definitely some back. Been deliberating on the wisdom of going ahead with plans to meet up with a cousin and her family tomorrow. I wouldn’t but cancelled on them in the Autumn so think we will, I can sleep in the car. She has been warned, is apparently bringing me a large plastic bag. Such kindness. Hope things work out for all with worries and pleased at the good things some have experienced.

Glad you had a good time ann. Your GD sounds a lovely and thoughtful girl.

I am just back ( yes I know it's early but I am an old lady) from a meal out with my GD, it was at a fairly recently opened Turkish restaurant, very local to us, and it was lovely.
I was probably eager to be let off the leash, but very enjoyable all the same.
A nice cocktail and a glass of red enhanced the experience.
I am getting out as much as I can , I have decided I must do it while I can.
I do like having older GC especially the GD I have.

Thanks Soop, that explains all the travails you endured to get to 'Your Wee Grey Home in The home in the West'

You have reached home.

I have to log off for today. Wishing you lovely lot a peaceful and pleasant evening. Will be with you again tomorrow.

Fennel I know how you are feeling over the not-so-smooth move. You and your beloved pets are going to enjoy the Isle of Sheppey. Your experience is very like ours was. We sold our home in Cornwall to move on to a plot that a farmer had agreed to sell us in Argyll. When we arrived, the farmer had taken the plot off the market (without notifying us) and sold it to a higher bidder. We had nowhere to live. We rented an apartment for ten months. We were offered a second plot that went pear-shaped, through no fault of our own, after we'd got all the planning permits etc. We were stumped. Then a lady in the village put in a good word on our behalf. Our now deceased neighbour kindly sold us part of his garden. We lived a fairly Spartan life in a second hand caravan for several months. Now we have a lovely wee home beside the sea. The entire protracted episode cost us dear. However, even though we're unable to do all the marvellous sightseeing that we had planned, we are extremely happy with our lot. Sorry to bore you with all the stuff and nonsense that we had to deal with. Remain positive. All will be well. My thoughts are with you.

Our move back to UK has been long and complicated - I won't bore you with too many details.
But today has made us more cheerful.
We had at last found a buyer for our house here (in July) and had planned to return to our bungalow in Southend, but the current tenant doesn't want to move out - I don't blame her really, and feel bad about it. Various negotiations going on.
The final sale date is 20th Feb., and I was thinking we will be homeless, the 2 of us plus elderly dog and cat. Now we've found a lovely holiday home on the Isle of Sheppey where our pets will be happy too. Until the trouble is resolved.
But it's going to be an expensive move.

I am never disappointed whenever I pop into our kitchen. It is a hive of activity and the familiar banter always cheers me up no end. Have just returned from the Campbeltown trip. Very blowy and chilly with it.

We have promised to print some photos of Bobby, our pal who died recently. At the funeral we chatted with close members of his family who showed an interest in having a few happy reminders of the jolly fellow he was. Back later.

* Maw* I thought you might appreciate a tshirt I just made for young Jackson ( maybe your SiL needs one too !!)

I think we might have pushed our luck because the fence erectors who arrived 2 hours after our lovely builders have so far managed to put up a gate....

then they went to lunch for an hour.

hmmmmmmmm watch this space :-)

N&G you appear to be very fortunate having found such a decent set of builders. Let's hope that the weather does not turn stormy etc until the work is finished. You need a lie down after what you have achieved today.

I have been sorting paper yet again and I have found stuff that I put in a safe place and that was weeks ago. That four letter word "file" has escaped me all of my life. I am slowly getting there.

Hello everyone.
Just crawled out from under my stone. The sun has come out.
Spring is on the way.
Must keep on thinking positive thoughts.

Have been feeling very grumpy for a week or two but reading your nice cheerful messages has helped to brighten the grey days.

Off to take Oscar for a short back and sides. His fringe is so long the poor dog can barely see out but I've been reluctant to get him clipped while the weather has been so cold.

grannyqueenie We've seen gooseanders on the Wharfe at Grassington. They look so streamlined cruising along the river.

G&N I'm full of admiration for the amount you manage to achieve- catering for your builders, crafting, photography. What a bundle of energy you are.

Hope all the ailing Grans will soon be on the mend.

Must keep thinking positive thoughts.
Must keep thinking positive thoughts.
X

Morning all !!

Its a flurry of activity here this morning ( very unlike me ...I'm more a sloth than a busy bee !!)

I have prepped dinner with a NEW recipe ! I have prepped the soup for lunch. I have completed all the ironing, put up a coat rack and kept a constant supply of tea, coffee and biscuits to my garden full of workmen.

On the down side we have some problems with the rook for the extension which need fixing - an unexpected cost - but on the upside , the men have contacted a roofer and he'll be here next Friday!

I've added a picture of the job as of close of play yesterday... I'm amazed at how quickly its going up.

As long as you have the home comforts Pinto . Where abouts in the world ( vaguely) are you? We have a blue sky day here today so hope the sun is shining on you too!

Thank you for the kind words about the vests , I am just hanging onto them for a day or so until baby arrives then will drop them off.

I had to look up Goosanders Grey and Grannie !! We ex city girls know nothing lol

Sorry to hear you're feeling so poorly Corner , just leave your head on a shelf and go back to bed , It'll still be there when you feel a lot better.

Good point Jane , I can see it now - 'Are you sure you're warm enough officer?' ' let me whip you up a nice bobble hat while we wait '!!

Well , I'm off to finish the boxes in the corner of my bedroom and for the first time in nearly 3 months all downstairs will be box free, Guess its time to start on the loft then [wink}

Disappointed to hear that Trump is not coming to London - I was so looking forward to my first —riot— protest march.
Started a surreal discussion with DH about such a march - lots of GNs, chatting to those nice young policemen, taking cake for them, flasks of tea, coffee and soup. Would you like me to hold your riot shield while my friend gives you a piece of cake and a cuppa dear?

Sorry to hear you are poorly corner, but don’t expect a fully functioning head for a few days. Just go with the flow.

?????

Creeping in while it’s quiet, don’t want to share my bugs. Not sure where they came from Charley, but if I find out blood is likely to flow. The bugs have removed my head. I have no idea where it is. If anyone finds it please may I have it back? It is sorely missed. Ability to think coherently has left me. I’m so sorry, this is really pathetic, but I just can’t recall any detail of posts to respond. Retired to bed for most of the day, emerged, had a whinge at poor Mr C and retreated again. Oh well, goodnight everyone from the worst patient in the land. Tomorrow will be a better day.

Thanks gd, I couldn't get a close enough look at their bills but knew they weren’t mallards or mandarins!

More than likely goosanders, Gq. We see them quite regularly on the Wye and the Derwent. We’ve even been graced with them on our own pedestrian waterway, the humble Rother. The bill will give them away - slightly turned down at the end, and with a serrated appearance at the sides (they are one of a species of sawbills). Lovely birds. They catch more fish than I do!

Thank you Soop xx

And it’s Thurday once again, how did that happen? You’re exactly right soop time just races on.
Liking the sound of your builders n&g, they could find themselves travelling the length and breadth of the country on your recommendation alone! But then again I’m not sure we can all promise them geart fodder
and customised baby garments!
Good news for your family morethan, I’m sure it will have brought a few smiles and sighs of relief.
Your plan sounds a sound one maw and sometimes a good plan can help us feel a bit more in control of the uncontrollable stuff that’s around. Well that made sense to me when I thought it but less so now I see it written down!
We had a river walk in a favourite spot today. We watched a pair of quite large, long bodied ducks, one was white with a dark head the other a bit different. They were having a great time in the water, almost white water rafting in the way they dived under the fast flowing water and appeared further down. It was too far to get a photo or even a decent look as they were so quick. Has anyone any idea of what they could be, the only thing I can see vaguely like them in my book is a Goosander.
Wishing you all a pleasant rest of the evening and as always apologies to anyone I’ve unintentionally ignored. x

soop we will be on the move again soon- no doubt the kitchen is ready for our arrival. I need a area for a quiet snooze- Tara will happily sleep on your bed, usually bang in the middle and does not like to move when asked nicely.

callgirl1 Said hello to David earlier today. Will do so again tomorrow. Campbeltown-day. Am I right in thinking that the week seems to speed by "these days"?

It's pitch black outside. Birds have taken to their beds. Talking of birds...as we were walking through the village earlier in the week, I drew MacSporran's attention to what I thought was a painted robin garden ornament. And then it moved. It was huge. Feathers all puffed up. It looked at least three times as big as the robin who visits our garden. If only I had taken the camera out with me. My goodness, he was a bonnie boy!

It is time for me to log off. All being well, I shall return early tomorrow afternoon. Stay safe. Stay snug.

I love those baby vests N&G, I`m on the lookout for something different for my next great grandson, due in May, hope I can find something half as nice as those.