Soop's comfortable, cosy, friendly kitchen...

Thank goodness I do not like Turkish Delight.

All of you naggers (I know that you mean well) can take a rest because I had half of a sirloin steak and a few mushrooms for lunch. I even felt like scoffing the other half but as I have had little to eat I thought that may be was overdoing it and I can have it for supper in a toasted sandwich.

The sun is out here and the little wind has now died down.

I slept like a baby last night and with luck I will have fewer zzzs during today so it will be a repeat performance except maybe for a couple of trips to the loo.

kitty why not suggest they call him Robert, after Robert Lindsay and then they can call him Wolfie as a nickname ?

soop ?. Please allow me to save you from temptation. I will make a great personal sacrifice and take the two remaining bars of Turkish delight off your hands. I will keep them safely away from you (especially if they're the sort covered in chocolate). Sent them to me at once....please ?

I see that you lovely lot have been sitting around and twiddling your thumbs If only you would take a very deep breath and relax long enough for me to read through all your goings on.

Charleyg Nutritious food is also on your menu? Crisps and lovely chocolate are okay ( as is cake ) but you need plenty of protein.
I was cleaning out the fridge earlier. I happened across three bars of Turkish Delight tucked out of sight. MacSporran had gone to the shops. I ate one. Felt so guilty afterwards. *MacS returned home. I said...I have a confession. He looked stern. Is it bad? He asked. I nodded and produced the wrapping. He chortled and said - where did you find that? He had forgotten that he'd squirreled them away some weeks ago. He said, I thought you were going to tell me that you'd dropped the camera down the loo. I ask you. As if!

Storm Hector is doing his best to wreck the taller plants in the garden. The sea is being whipped into a frenzy. We sat in bed and watched a very tall woodland plant (Burdock, we think) swaying precariously in the wind. We also have a similar plant in the front garden. MacSporran has been out and over the fence with stakes which he hopes will offer support to both gigantic specimens. The Gunnera is taking a bashing. Photo to follow.

Maybelle I took a look at the jigsaws that you mentioned. They look complicated. My friend's favourite is Wasjig. They too are complicated but in a different way. The finished jigsaw is not identical to the picture on the box.

Greyduster Your account of being beside the river was wonderful. I can picture the scene. Tranquil and uplifting.

I shall return a little later.

Jigsaw finally completed !
Will now spend a happy few days making a pom pom wreath for Christmas. Then start a another jigsaw, working my way through my jigsaw stash. Beginning to feel as though this could be an obsession ?
How about Pavlov today with passion fruit Panache (have special delivery of no calorie sugar i have been waiting to use). sorry Greyduster but I have to get more lemons to make a lemon drizzle cake

Panache please look at the reviews made on a variety of McCarthy Stone properties around the country. Some were sweetness and light- mine was downright practical.

I had 2 packs of crisps for lunch and 2 for supper yesterday, you will all be delighted to hear that I do not have any more and I also finished my 2 delicious chocolate biscuits. I do have several bars of chocolate but I do not want food to be out of date so I promise to cook something for lunch. It will not be much but I really have no appetite.

Kitty I am very much with your DH re the child's name. He has to live with it but I doubt if the parents think of that. It cannot be pleasant being teased about a name. When Wolfgang was mentioned, Adolf leapt into my mind immediately.

Forgot to say charley - eat - please .

Oh kitty, it seems Woolfie is a real potential, I guess we get used to anything in time .

Well, I’m not a happy bunny, our poor roses are not faring well in the current gale. Whole blooms are snapping off a little way along the branch. Right now the lawn looks like the aftermath of a wedding with petal confetti. As long as the climbers survive they will bloom again so not too upset, just grumbling.

We’re off to collect Mr C’s computer from the computer hospital. A GN friend recommended it to us and she was right, reasonable prices and they speak in language we understand, or at least Mr C understands. He’s a happy soul at least.

Had planned going from there to an NT for a walk round but it’s very exposed, hill top site, so we may be forced (by the weather you understand) to head for the shops instead

Coffee first then off we go.

Take care everyone, enjoy your days.

anno I might mention the dachshund!

The reason for Wolfgang is because they fancy calling him Wolfie. I'm afraid that I can only think of Robert Lindsay in Citizen Smith so that's not helping. Dh was heard to mutter, 'why not call him bloody Adolf and be done with it!' We don't think they heard!

The only Wolfgang I ever came across was a dachshund. I was going through an Arthurian phase during my second pregnancy and DS2 was almost called Gawain or Lancelot. Fortunately sanity, in the unusual form of his father, prevailed.

`Morning all kitchen friends.

Aren`t I the lucky one......although rain came in at dusk last evening and it was blustery overnight the sun is back out smiling quite nicely down upon us........I don`t think it may have the same warmth but it is more than acceptable!!!
but yes the wind has played "silly beggars!" with the leaves and fresh greenery...... so plenty of work out there..........again.

Still no confirmation of the viewing.... but soop I totally agree with you,we are on that same wave length!
We know the right people to "fit into" our homes kitty don`t we?
(Hope your garage transformation leaves you free to entertain your special guest this day)
As for this offer of "Sheltered Housing" we are seriously thinking of it,we have had the offer previously but always when I am either in Hospital or on my way there.......so this time it is far more realistic.

Also invited to a "Pimms & Strawberries" Garden party at a McCarthy & Stone new Complex in the city of Swansea.
It is in an area where I lived during my Nursing stint in one of their Hospitals there,whilst it is within close proximity to Mumbles a favourite place of ours....and the beautiful Gower Heritage coastline.........all very similar to my beloved Pembrokeshire.All tantalising....
We are thinking about this too!!!

All this brain activity is rather wearing!!

Charley the next we shall here is that you too have faded from us,come on now,make a supreme effort to get some strength back into your body......I too need to nag it seems!!

It seems I must be way out of touch with these names for our newcoming babes....do people really call their off spring Wolfgang for instance?
I must be still living in the dark ages!

Can I put forward my "sweet" request Maybelle.....it has to be a pavlova every time.

At the moment my inners are calling out for a coffee
so I shall love and leave you.....have a good day folks.

Lemon drizzle always goes down well, Maybelle! My last effort at a cake for the kitchen ended up in the bin - those pesky Americans and their cups wot did it!!
Good morning kitcheners. I had a complete ‘downer’ day yesterday, went to bed early, like you Charley, and slept until eight thirty this morning (with a brief bathroom excursion at five!). I am having my hair cut today so that, and a bit of goss with my hairdresser, will go a long way to cheering me up. Then, having been tasked by GS to find a recipe, I have to buy some suitable flour to make Viking bread, as he has the bit between his teeth on his school project. Who else would you ask to make Viking bread? After all, I was there, wasn’t I? Or so his father keeps telling him!! I also picked both an ear of wheat and an ear of barley yesterday on my way back from the river yesterday to show him what they made bread from.
Kitty I had high hopes of GS having a name with classical connections (Persephone is lovely, by the way!), such as Alexander or Darius or Ptolemy, but perhaps he wouldn’t have got away with it for long at a Northern Comprehensive, even one in a ‘posh’ area!
It is blowing a hooley here at the moment and my garden is taking a battering. I will look in later.

Good morning, rainy blustery day in the North West today. Ideal jigsaw weather, only 50 pieces left
All green with leafy bits on !
Shall bring celebratory cake to the cafe when I have fitted the last piece into place, any requests ?

I'm keeping quiet too Maw, but DD3 has history. Her daughter is, after all, called Persephone!! Not that she could possibly be called anything else now and the name really suits her - or I'm used to it!

I hope you slept well, Charley.

gd, I can empathise with your gs's mother. I really thought cricket whites had to have greeny brown bits as some sort of camouflage!

I hope you get viewers this weekend panache and that they fit your house better. Our last house was sold to people we thought suited it well but they changed lots of stuff and then moved within a very few years. I was unreasonably offended!

Flynn was known as Stavros before he was born (and for a few days after while they considered names)
I kept very, very quiet andalsobkept my fingers crossed he wouldn’t stay Stavros ??

Sorry but I loathe the name Wolfgang. There are much nicer names around.

I have slept most of the evening and I am going to bed now expecting to sleep for at least 6 hours- A distant dream I think. I am exhausted having done nothing at all today.

I think Wolfgang is a wonderful name for a baby, kitty! He might turn out to be a musical genius! And can we add all our left over tiles to yours, please?
N&G what wonderful photos. The last time we saw fields absolutely full of poppies like that was in Dorset. We were walking near West Bay. We saw short swathes of them when in among the rape seed and barley when we were out locally on Sunday but nothing like those. It engendered a conversation about how they separate the poppies from the crop seeds, but after listening to some of DH’s ridiculous theories, I lost the will to live! Next time I see the farmer, I will ask him!
GS is getting very interested in cricket, but I don’t think he will ever make a batsman (after we have spent what seemed like a vast amount of money on a decent bat!) - at the moment his talents lie in fielding. His diving catches are a wonder to behold and he has caught Grandad out many times. Mummy, however, is not impressed by the state he comes home in having spent most of his time on the floor!
I wandered down to the river with my fishing rod this afternoon, but the fish were not prepared to accommodate me today. However, I spent a while watching lots of different kinds of damsel flies, some of which were quite beautiful; iridescent blues and greens, like miniature kingfishers flitting about on the water. When you cast a fly line out, they have the strangest habit of settling on it. I have noticed it when fishing on reservoirs as well. The fish didn’t even come up for them today, so maybe they have gone on holiday. It was nice to be out though.
It seems we are in for some rough weather and high winds the next couple of days, so hatches will have to be battened down by the sound of it! Happy days!

I'm about to log off until tomorrow. The promised storm hasn't yet arrived. The sky is grey and there is no sign of the islands. The sea is "ruffled". By morning, I may tell you that the storm has blown on by. Hope so.

Hello again, mrshat. I agree with you...the flower images are truly uplifting.

corner The rose is perfect. I can almost smell the heady perfume. We've banks of wild roses growing in the hedgerows. I bury my nose in one or two every time I feel like being uplifted.
Good for you. A legitimate complaint has been taken seriously.

Maybelle I shall ask my pal if she's tried a Charlie Harper jigsaw. I shall Google and report back to her. Thank you.

Panache I never did believe that the fussy couple were right for your home. A bit cranky, methinks.
I believe that it might be well worth you considering the new sheltered housing on offer. I would if such a scheme was available in our part of the world.
Please keep us updated.

Charleyg Please continue to rest and enjoy whatever flavoursome goodies take your fancy. Well done, you.

Beautiful photos of flowers and gardens, my very favourite things! n&g your photos reminded me of when we were in Norfolk last summer. One day we happened upon an amazing field full of poppies of all colours but had more or less driven past before I saw it properly. Sadly we never managed to find that same little winding country lane again, as you can imagine I was dying to photograph it!

Best not joke about “Wolfgang”, Kitty. This afternoon we had a record 27 at the parent/baby group I help to run .....including a Beauden, a Tygi , and a Wren, along with the usual sprinkling of Sams and Joshuas, Islas and Graces, oh and at least 2 Teddies! Albert, Stanley and Rory are suddenly popular and Elsie, Felicity and Penny are making a comeback. Oh well it keeps me young!

Just to say thank you to those who have posted pictures of beautiful gardens and plants and sunsets. SO uplifting and much appreciated.

One thing in my life has definitely improved and that is the pain. I went from 10pm last night until 4pm today without thinking about topping up.

2 bags of crisps for breakfast/lunch and 2 gorgeous chocolate biscuits to help the tablets find their home a few minutes ago. That may well be supper- I do not know.

I fell asleep for a couple of hours this pm- something I am trying not to do because I am going to bed with the babies and should have sufficient rest without these sneaky naps. I will be in competition with Hattie soon.

All of those lovely photos amaze me.

My TSB account has now closed and I have moved to Nationwide. I wonder how many others have moved?

Soop`s Kitchen united........its me again,looking for a peaceful spot to rest my feet.

I could almost smell the perfume from the queen of florals,that rose picture Cornergran,mouth watering indeed.Thank you for the treat.
I have never had much luck with roses myself sadly.

However delighted to say our window box of orange geraniums planted the day before my Hospital trip is showing much colour with 24 flower heads....the Osterspurniums which I have not tried before, are now in lovely colour,my favourite purple.......so as long as you come to the front of Chez Moi you will be greeted by colour.
The remainder we have left untouched with matters of health causing us to halt!
I did hear your nagging Cornergran!!
Well done for winning out where your conservatory glass roof is concerned and hopefully, it will now receive proper attention.

Whilst one of the first things we attempted on thinking we had a Sale of our property was clear out our rather large,and overly filled garage... so Kittylester I can sympathise a million times over,what an absolute rotten task it is.
However it was a case of simply off loading big time with us...............so if we have another sale that will not take too much time,and neither will my decluttering of clothes for that was the second task ........fully completed.
You will be in search of ye olde bottle after that thankless task!!

News of sorts on the house front..........still nothing from our last viewers would you believe,but it appears we have another viewer this Saturday, although not yet confirmed.
Further to that, our local Sheltered Housing have offered us a 2 bed apartment in their almost new place............ aimed to house from a certain age till death, as they have every facility to assist under the one roof.
Not quite sure if this is “us”....... although healthways we certainly qualify,and in fact head their list of prospective customers.

Whilst commiserations to both you soop and Cornergran feeling “under the weather” this day...........time I donned my nurse`s cap and apron heading in your direction,mind you I probably would end up feeling unwell myself...... travelling between Kintyre and Somerset!!........ needed at least.

Time for a cuppa I think ...........have yourselves a restful evening.

Hi Soop, love most jigsaws apart from cottages or animals ! Favourite ones are by an American art poster designer Charlie Harper, very stylised animal and nature prints originally used for American parks and reserves.
Only around 100 pieces to fit in this one left now, hoping the cat hasn't eaten and pieces, again

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Afternoon all. I'm avoiding the admin as usual.

Lovely photos, beautiful and uplifting. Thank you to panache, n&g and grannyq. A couple more roses to add to the collection.

Oh dear, kitty, garage clearing is not to be taken on lightly. I'm wishing you both well, when we cleared ours before moving it got more than tense at times although I'm sure you are a calmer person than I. Wolfgang? Hmm, not sure about that one .

We've been unhappy with the glass in our conservatory roof but had made no headway after a formal complaint some months ago. Today the owner of the supplier came and looked and would you believe agreed with us. Isn't it nice to be vindicated? He will take the complaint to his supplier and hence to the manufacturer and if not successful will replace the glass. Another weight lifted, although we aren't expecting anything quickly its good to know us grey haired folk sometimes know what we're talking about.

Hello, maybelle, good to see you and congratulations on expecting a little one in the family.

I hope this all makes sense as I'm a little odd today but that's because I'm spaced out with hayfever medication. Mr C did kindly point out that it's hard to tell the difference between me with and without the meds. Its either or go in search of the leg of lamb.

Hope you're eating properly charley, that you will feel on top form again soon soop, do rest as much as you need to along with panache who I hope isn't overdoing it today. It's called never waste an opportunity to nag .

Right, on with the admin, take care everyone