Soop's friendly kitchen

The traffic news was full of warnings about fog in Greater Manchester, so, when I drew the curtains, I was overjoyed to see blue sky and sunlight, only a few miles from the GM border. At this time of year, before the foliage comes out, the sunlight on the bark of the silver birches is beautiful. Other seasons, I abhor those trees for their pollen which is coming on soon and the leaves in the autumn.
What a cute bunny, n&g. A perfect present for a 4-year-old. Cooper will be ecstatic. I hope the security is tight. My family's rabbit fell victim to a fox which also penetrated the chicken run.

Thanks for the suggestions regarding DGD, I shall mention them to DS next time I speak to him.
mapleleaf you are very welcome to take Purdey for a walk, but you might have to take her ‘stablemate’ along too!
Well done soop on getting all that decorating done. We have to do the living room soon, as we have finally bitten the bullet and ordered a blind for the window. DH wants to sand and revarnish the floor too, so it will be a major operation involving moving the furniture into the conservatory for a few days. Anyone want a lodger (plus two dogs) for a while?

JaneD3 I deserve to be rich! Well, that's how it would be in an ideal world.

NonnaW No charge! Once I have the spare time, Purdey will go to the top of my to-do list.

Had a good trip out with younger granddaughter, on the bus which is a treat for her, even more so as we managed to sit at the very front upstairs. Got back just as the skies opened, so good timing. We are now apparently going to learn her lines for a forthcoming production, . May subcontract that one to Mr C and do the ironing.

Agree with ann, bunny has to be the name for that oh so cute rabbit n&g. Our M&S cheat meal was excellent, like you I enjoy food more when I haven’t had to spend ages cooking it. Pasta today, quick and easy seems to be the motto for the week. Your marathon meal deserves a medal for the chef greyd.

Purdey looks too innocent to be otherwise nonna, another willing walker here.

No news will be good news about Bertie kitty but hope your mind has been put at rest now.

Onwards, ironing calls, apparently I can do that while I help with line learning. .

The plumber has been and has installed the new shower unit. Sadly MacSporran believes that the pressure is pathetic (which it is) but plumber says we need a pump. MacS silently shakes head and believes otherwise. I'm on the plumber's side (but shall remain neutral).

N&G Bunny is beautiful. My now adult son's very first pet was a white rabbit. He named her - Snowdrop.

You lot have taken the wind out of my sails. Today's updates are beyond plentiful. I have yet to complete painting the utility room. Hence, I'm preparing to change into my work clothes. By the end of the afternoon, I should be able to clear the clutter, stand back, and enjoy the fruits of my labours.

I shall return.

Soop, please don't work too hard - you are no longer in the first flush of youth! Seriously, don't overdo it. I'm on the side of the plumber too!!

That is one cute bunny N&G, and I actually don't like rabbits! Hope the rendering has got under way.

I rarely go on buses now, Corner, but last time I did I sat at the front upstairs too. I felt sick and got very worried about going round corners. Glad your DGD enjoyed it. Hope the line learning went well - you know it will be your fault if she forgets them!!

Ann, why not go somewhere on your own, for some peace and quiet and a bit of pampering, so long as the food is good and there is some

GD, you deserve a medal!

Our village is in a state of uproar! The Co-op, in the middle of the high street, is closing for 6 weeks for a refurb and their car park is inaccessible. As I walked past a car parked on the zigzag lines for the Pelican crossing, I politely asked driver why she felt she was allowed to park there. 'Because the f****g car park is shut'. For some reason she got quite angry when I took a photo of her car! She will be even angrier when she gets a parking ticket!! Aren't I evil?

Bertie hasn't gone to school today and DD has got a week's sicknote because of her permanent sickness and the lack of sleep. Slightly more relaxed Ma here. And very grateful to the fabulous NHS!

kitty that woman has to learn the hard way that she cannot park any old place just because the car park has closed for whatever reason.

I do hope that Bertie and his mum get better soon. His asthma attacks are too frequent for a young man of his age. I hope that his medication was changed.

corner when I was your GD's age it was a treat for me to go anywhere in a car. We did not have a car then and travelled everywhere by bus. How times change.

soop I agree with kitty, you are doing too much - next week will be here soon. I also agree with the plumber!

Hello all, no time for tea and for a change I don’t even need any sympathy. A charity has given my sick DiL and her family a four day break away. That has meant no childcare duties (I do love em honest I do) and no seeing any upsetting scenes for me. Selfish I know but restful and knowing they are having a really lovely time..just them is more than wonderful. I’m off to have a quick snooze before their all back tomorrow.

What a lovely gesture on the part of the charity morethan that is the sort I like to donate to.
They will make some lovely memories for the future and you will get a welcome break.

We have had a beautiful day here, quite warm but it has suddenly started raining. My S has done a really good job in our garden..
The physio has been this afternoon and is happy with H's progress but I have to be careful not to let him do more than he is capable of, he thinks he can.

I can see no progress in getting him back upstairs to sleep, I will have to accept the loss of my dining room.
It isn't a problem when the days get warmer , we can eat in the conservatory, but only 2 at a time.
I shall have to issue tickets for sittings if we have visitors.☺

Kitty Not evil. A tyke!

morethan How kind and thoughtful. I'm smiling on your behalf.

I took a photo or two. The colour is a soft cinnamon but it looks more like soft peach. Who cares! It's as good as done. I feel tremendously satisfied. In fact, although we do not normally imbibe on a Monday night...I am going to celebrate with a glass of red. Why not?

The rest of the house is decorated in neutral shades. It's surprising how much lighter the rooms feel for having paintwork glossed in white.

My D has just rung, her smallest but oldest cat, still under five, has been kept at the vets, she started very suddenly acting "drunk" and unable to move her back legs.
The vet thinks it is a problem with her brain, could be a toxin or dread word , a tumour.
I feel very sad for them as I don't think there will be a happy ending.

ann I'm so very sorry to hear the news of your daughter's cat. We went through something very like this with our lovely Rory.

I won't post kitchen photos tonight. I need to get the lighting right. Will do my best tomorrow.

Care home visit in the morning. Back with you after lunch.

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All this talk of spring cleaning, painting and patio washing is making me feel a wee bit guilty but we since have dd1, partner, dgd x2 + a pooch in residence for the week I have no chance to get into spring cleaning mode. Well that’s my excuse and I’m sticking to it! We’ve had a good day out and after a very dull misty start the sun even shone so we could enjoy beautiful North Yorkshire at its best.

They’re cooking tea tonight so I’m enjoying being off duty for a change. Mind you having read your over and beyond the call of duty cooking exploits yesterday greyduster, I think it might be you who deserves a rest today - you are a true super gran! n&g I’m totally with you on the great enjoyment of food other people have slaved over cooked. I’ve just popped into my kitchen and been invited to sample a sweet corn fritter thing, made to accompany tonight’s Thai chicken curry, yum!

Lovely to hear your family (and you too) are having a much deserved break morethan. These sorts of charities really do help the families who need it most and give them a good chance to make happy memories when the future is uncertain.

Nonna I feel for you in your concern for your gd. Our oldest gd is due to sit GCSEs this summer, but she’s an unhappy and difficult girl these days and school is very low on her priority list. Her mum and dad have done all they can to understand, support and encourage her and school have been supportive but it all seems to no avail. Ds and dil are beginning to accept that she’s not going to take the conventional route and that her mental health and safety matter more than A* results. But it’s not easy when they’re surrounded by friends who have less complicated and more compliant teens.
soop in my view remaining neutral is a skill, learnt with age, and usually results in this house at least in being proved right!! Please don’t wear yourself out before your big family get together, you have babies to cuddle.
kitty your poor daughter extreme pregnancy sickness is just horrible and she could do without the worry of a poorly boy as well. Childhood asthma can be a scary thing. Hope it all settles down soon.

Ann you continue to amaze me with your resilience and sense of humour in such hard circumstances. I hope you are able to get the break you need and deserve.

Right then one gd has gone to bed, the other one is showering, the wine is chilling and dinner is almost ready. What’s not to like?

That blue sky is just wonderful grannyq, if we could borrow some, please? Rain then grey cloud then rain is stuck on repeat here. Hope your meal was as good as it sounded.

You’re so right kitty, bound to my fault. The production isn’t until July, I foresee much angst on the horizon. Fortunately no bus triggered nausea today, phew.

I’m sorry you’ve another worry, ann wishing the cat and her family well. I’ve been trying in vain to think of a dining solution for you, thinking ability seems to have left me, so sorry.

Heart warming news morethan, good for you all.

Looking forward to those photos soop. Having said that can I echo other thoughts here and encourage you not to exhaust yourself? Keep some energy for your trip.

I should be asleep. Busy day tomorrow including coffee and lunch with a GN pal, best not be late . Sleep well everyone.

Well, I can clearly remember posting on here last night, but it`s done a bunk now! I can`t remember what I said,
but did remark on the gorgeous Teddy, and the lovely Purdey.
Could anyone experiencing sunny weather and blue skies please forward some to me? So fed up with grey sky and rain.
Soop, can you use your magic powers to conjure up some beautiful Kintyre weather for the weekend please?
My grandson and his fiancée are expecting their first baby, my 2nd great grandchild, on May 4th, her scan the other day says the baby is now 6lbs 4ozs. He is to be called Max, I`m not keen, but then he`s not MY baby.
Kitty, I`m so pleased that Bertie is out of hospital, I hope they get him sorted soon, he must get so fed up with being poorly, bless him.
Morethan, how lovely of that charity, and wonderful for your DIL and the family.

PS, Bunny is beautiful, I`d love to see Cooper`s face when he receives his present!

callgirl I love the name Max, it has a manly,handsome ,ring to it,which of course he will be.

I don't expect to see GGC so of course I am very , I love babies, I worked with babies for 12 years and would have liked more of my own.

The weather here a complete change from yesterday,oh well.
Cooking day today to get some freezer meals in.

Have a good day everyone,

Hello the kitchen.
Gq the Northern half of our county must be getting the best of the weather - we could do with some blue sky down here. I shall content myself with looking at your lovely photos and those that DS keeps sending me from his potterings around Northumberland where the sky was also very blue yesterday. They seem to have been to a lot of castles! He’s a history buff, so it figures. By the way, I LOVE sweet corn fritters! Ages since I made them.
I like the name Max too, Callgirl. GS has a classmate called Max and he lives up to his name - head and shoulders taller than all the other children!
We had a nice day with GS yesterday, bashing around the pitch and putt. He thinks he’s Rory MacIlroy and he’s very creative with his scoring (even my arithmetic is not that bad!), but we had a lot of fun. I didn’t play, so got lumbered with carrying the clubs, ball spotting and reminding him that it’s not a good idea to stand within swinging range of grandad’s club when it’s his turn to hit the ball!
It’s very wet here today so we are doing indoors things. I have to ring around and try and arrange for our mattress to be taken away before the new one is delivered in a few weeks time. The problem is that it is so heavy (why are modern mattresses so heavy?) it will be a job to get it down the stairs! Might have to recruit some labour......
I will look in later.

No ‘best of the weather’ here greyd. It started raining just after I finished cleaning the patio yesterday evening and hasn’t stopped. Decorator is getting on well but the outside jobs will have to wait.
Off shopping for new curtains and lampshades this morning. Charity Finance Committee and History Society later.
Stay dry everyone.

What a difference a day makes...... ?, it’s no better up here today greyduster
Gd 4 is 10 today so we’ve had an early start to the day, with lots of giddiness. It’s a miserable day so we’re all off ten pin bowling and the 2 girls may fit in a bit of trampolining too.
I think my preference would be to hunker down with a fleecy blanket, a cup of coffee and a good dvd but hey ho needs must and it’ll be fun when we get there!

Better news about my D's cat.
She is slightly better, the vet thinks she has been poisoned, antifreeze was the first suspect, I think my D's prompt action saved her.
The shaking and twitching has slowed down , she has an iv line in clearing her system through and will be in for another 72 hours, thank goodness for pet insurance.

callgirl, it sounds as if your Max is going to be a fine big baby. If he's anything like our Max (now 10), he will be a lovely boy. Ours has the physique of a rugby forward and a very strong will - loves a cuddle and has a hug like a young grizzly bear! Whatever his name, you will fall in love with him at first sight.
It was a lovely day yesterday until it rained in the evening and it's colder and grey today. Just had a long call from my sister in NZ who says it's suddenly turned much colder there - but then, it's their autumn!
What a rotten thing to happen to your D's cat, ann. The perpetrator should be made to drink anti-freeze!

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A very good ('though wet) afternoon dear Kitcheners Sorry callgirl1 I fear that the weather may not behave itself at the weekend. Never mind. We're to meet in the George, where it is cosy and comfortable. Safe travels.
I like the name - Max.

ann Sometimes, I really do despair where mankind is concerned.

I did take a few photos. The results leave much to be desired. However, you will get some idea of the pleasing shade of paint used in the kitchen and utility room The latter is fairly long and on the narrow side. MacS kindly painted the wall behind the shelving. My arms aren't long enough!

Care home visit was not as fraught as some. M doesn't know whether she's coming or going. I told her that I'm often feeling that way. Nothing to fret over. She wouldn't eat her Digestive biscuit. I played at trains...dipping the biscuit briefly in her tea...asking her to open her mouth...and she not only enjoyed the biscuit, but the game too.

Aw Soop, pity about the weather. It was very sunny, but freezing and windy, for our meet last year, but it poured down when we were on the beach at Muasdale, so I was just hoping, says she wistfully, for a couple of nice days. By the way, do I have to book for the George, or just turn up like at the Royal?
I seem to have put my foot in it regarding the name Max, it`s just that it makes me think of Max Branning!
Love your paint colour Soop, it looks cosy and warm. You`ve done a sterling job there Missus!