Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen...

*
Bellasnana* Roger is amazing! He appears to be getting better with age. Unlike the bottle of red served to annsixty. I would have said...'yer 'avin' a laff' , or something equally droll.

Ann a bottle of Oxford Landing at Morrison’s £6.50. Our favourite Chinese restaurant: £17.50. I like restaurants where you can take your own and pay a small corkage charge. We have one such near us. The first time we took DS there he had never come across the practice before and was convinced that someone would appear and whisk the bottle away, rap us across the knuckles with a ladle and throw us out! That was the night the poor boy ordered veal and his sister refused to speak to him the whole evening! Kids!?‍♀️

????Good afternoon. I have been reading the recent posts about how some people feel on other forums,I also feel a little lost.I read that this is really friendly.Can I say hello and would you like a cake.

Hello Happychops. Yes please! I love cake ?

I'm here. Right, there is fruit cake, gluten free chocolate cake, lemon and almond cake, some stollen bites (don't ask!) and half a box of very nice chocolate biscuits from the supermarket beginning with W. Please, please, please help yourselves or Mr C won't be able to fit through the doors.

What about my doors, Corner? Just a mo, I’ll get the saw !

And happychops! A cake bonanza. ‘I think we’re gonna need a bigger saw’!!

I'm back again. Hello happychops, it seems you got there before me.

We have had a lovely few days, yes I am tired, exhusted to be honest but it was worth it. Its just the conversation, I think I've forgotten how. Not sure how I survived in a very chatty workplace. I even managed to do some work. They are good friends, eat whatever they are given and are very undemanding guests.

Sounds a super visit n&g, that smile when they see you is worth everything I think. I own to being envious of your half term, know we won't see Littlest and not sure about the others which is daft as they live fairly close. Having said that I hope you have copious quantities of energy, its going to be a busy one that's for sure.

I've not introduced this in the kitchen before but one of ours has separated. Been living apart since the summer. Last weekend we were told us they have decided to formalise it. Isn't it odd how things catch you out? I've expected this for months but it floored me. I want nothing more than for them all to be happy, whether apart or together. Right now they aren't a lot of the time and there are many practical worries eating away at us all. Of course the picture we had of the family future is currently in bits, it will rebuild and you never know it might be a better one.

Pleased you are feeling more cheerful ann, we've also tried Miller and Carter (lunch menu, quite reasonable as these things go) and enjoyed the experience. It is becoming a regular lunch haunt when we meet a friend from our previous area. The staff don't mind how long we sit and natter

The washing machine is on charley, so pleased we got the new one installed, its proving very well worth it.

Now, dont shout at me. We've just emptied the spare bedroom. We ordered a new bed base with more storage - it's coming tomorrow, 9am. I know, I know, daft timing but this is us, we aren't sensible. All I need to do now is tidy a bit and then I can sit down, as long as there is some gluten free chocoalte cake left I will be happy. I'm hoping the old bed base will be removed tomorrow afternoon, currently negotiating it, keep everything crossed for us as it does look a little odd in the conservatory.

Mr C has just put the kettle on and its time for cake. Take care everyone.

Come on in, Happychops I love your name. Welcome! My late Nana used the term "chops" all the time. Are you a Midlander? No matter, we're pleased to have your company.

Happychops Almost forgot... is always the way to cheer us lot. Our needs are simple. We are easily pleased. You now have your special chair, free from cat hair and boasting a tartan rug.

H has been asleep most of today and I have been quite bored since all my chores are done. SO I have been investigating Toby Inns and M&C as ours was a Toby inn before.
Surprise surprise, they are both owned by Mitchell and Butler.

I can’t understand why they shut our Toby to turn it into a Miller and Carter. It was always well patronised whatever day you went and is much missed. There are two and they chose to shut the busier one with the biggest car park. Having said that, the M&C prices now reflect the more affluent area that it is in.

corner sorry to hear that a member of the family is going to formalise the separation. Not easy for anybody especially if they have children which I suspect they do.

I do not mind moving in temporarily to help get [rid of] eat the cake- it should not be left for long because it will go stale. I am no bother at all and you have had recent experience of having guests, Tara and I will be as quiet as mice. I only hope that you do not live too far away.

Happychops welcome to this [madhouse] welcoming kitchen.

I have not long returned having had lunch out with a friend I met when we were 11 years old. The service today was too speedy- we were only half way through our starter when our main course was plonked in front of us. Anyway the food was fresh and we had a good natter.

It is very mild here, long may it last.

Computer did a silly buggeration a few moments ago. Amber flashing light! This usually means that we're in for a spell of being out of touch with the big, wide world outside. Before the line blips for a second time...I'm sending my love to you all and closing down. Hopefully back with you in the morning.

greyduster Somebody ordered VENISON at the GN meetup in Edinburgh when our friend soop was present! Shocking!

Just lost a long post to corner empathising with your situation.
I have been there twice and it is a dark place.
We needed to give our D a lot of help, much of it financial.
They have not formalised their arrangement even though it is 3 and a half years and her H has lived with his girlfriend for over 2 years.

Been busy today. Listened to the Archers, then showered, started to construct a chilli con carne for Kate and Gary on Monday ( I have the leftovers when I get back from work on Monday
After a little sit down to recover, I made a spinach and feta pie.
Sat down again. Checked the chilli and realised I’d forgotten to put the chilli in ? added some fresh chilli. Can’t put much in as Kate doesn’t like it hot!!! I’ll find the hot sauce to add for Gary and myself.
Sitting down to recover atm, am then going to sort out washing.
I now know why I like being at work:- it’s a lot easier and less tiring than being domesticated

Galen, my old pal, you have had a fruitful day. I feel positively idle by comparison. I do like the sound of your feta and spinach pie. I’m too lazy to cook though.

I’ve had what kitty would call a ‘pootling and faffing’ day.
Hoovered up several tons of dog hair, it’s a wonder Buzz has any left on him, he sheds like a tree in autumn.

Have done several loads of laundry, including my pedestal mats Still have DS’s chef’s whites to do. They are soaking in stain remover at present.

My treat on Sundays is watching ‘Columbo’. Takes me back to happier days.

Thanks for all the cake, I’m well stuffed now.

Goodnight all ??

Hello!! Just a quick pop in as I heard there was GF cake going - bagsy me!!

Welcome happychops - could you provide GF as well as ordinary cake next time please!

Glad you are feeling a little better Ann.

We like Carter and Miller!! We took DD2 there for lunch last week and, as there is one just up the road, enjoy a visit. The pub that was converted to a C&M was a 2 for 1 carvery place previously - C&M wins hands down!! The pub was called the half way house as it was a place where coaches changed horses. When I met DH (almost half a century ago!!!!) his school friends used to meet there on a friday night as they had been at school with the owner's son.

Corner, I wondered if there was something like that in your life (fellow experience) and just want to send you love and best wishes. It's not nice and a trying time but sometimes things do work out for the best. DD3 is in a much better place without the Idiot and with her new partner but it took a lot of getting there and she needed us a lot but it is devastating when it becomes reality.

Bella - you have pedestal mats!

Right, I'm off for dinner and then CTM and then bed. We had B&P last night and B coughed and coughed and coughed!! Eventually, I put him in bed with DH and went and slept with his sister! I'm not stupid!!

One final thought - I taught Bertie the meaning of the word 'compromise' which he used all day. Eventually, Persie announced 'Well, I know about camouflage, anyway!'

There was venison on the menu at the pub we went to Oldgoat but they didn’t seem to have many takers. Perhaps, like me, all the customers were wondering whether they had been culled from the adjacent moorland where there is a wild herd. We usually see some but they were absent on Friday ! I, like Soop, like to see deer on the hoof, not on the plate.
Corner I feel for you - one of mine has teetered on the edge of this for a while, and the rifts still threaten to open up from time to time, bringing the attendant worries because who among us ever stops worrying about their children? If your grandchildren are young that must be very hard indeed.
kitty let us hope your little ones never have to see a world where camouflage wins out over compromise; but full marks for learning new words!

I have had a very full on but satisfying two days with Paw’s sisters here sorting through massive quantities of old family photos, war record and Normandy landings and Dieppe raid material,
We have also read through piles of letters, shredding many of them but also keeping others for scanning on to the computer to share with the DDs.
So a productive weekend altogether!

It sounds as though you have been very busy Maw- I think that some of the memories would have been sad but lovely to have his sisters staying with you. I hope that there was sufficient lying/sleeping space for Hattie and that she was not too inconvenienced.

Tara has an inbuilt alarm clock of 7pm that is when she appears for supper. She is resting her eyes at present on my bed.

Hello everyone - been watching quietly but haven’t come in as I am off cake and I can’t trust myself! The scales tell me that despite a diety weekend I have put on SEVEN pounds since Friday. I think they lie!
Lovely day on Saturday watching DD try on wedding dresses

Jane I had to look twice at your description of your weekend!! But that’s just my diety mind! I sympathise with you as I am now off cake and biscuits until I can get down below the ten stone mark - again. I have yo-yo weight loss. I can only imagine the joy of looking wedding dresses with your daughter - mine, after twenty five years, seems not to be the least bit bothered - unless they have done it in secret and not told anyone! They wouldn’t - would they?
I will look in later. Ironing calls.

Another dreich Monday, but the good thing is that January is almost over and the snowdrops are glorious. Through the raindrops on the window, I can see the yellow blooms of the Cornus Mas which usually continue right through to March by which time the little red leaves on the Maple and the ornamental crab will be showing. Right! I've almost cheered myself up. I am going to make some lemon/lime curd so if someone else brings along some scones, I should have some to share this afternoon.