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

Morning all !

Sunday started exactly as it is meant to... late start ( Bomber command obviously heard me!) , The Times , thick toast and real butter, good coffee and a view to heal all ills !!

Slightly marred by the onset of a cracking bout of hay fever and of course as always, caught me totally unprepared so I have retreated to the inner part of the house where the pollen cant get me so easily !!

Grampy's leg is fine and healing and as he is having a lazy Sunday too I think it will be safe today ( he's up to date with his tetanus Maw after last years adventure where he STOOD on a three pin plug.....lets not talk about it , it makes me queasy thinking about it !!)

Enjoy your weekend Kitty !!

Oh nasty Jane !! That's not what you want to find in your loft is it ?

We had an interesting chat with Jackson about his Race for Life activity Corner , I asked him what he was running for . He said' His Grandad he never met' . I said' ok that's nice - so what will they do with all these pennies you have raised'? He thought for a minute and said ' it would be nice to give all the runners a free ice lolly …… and then cure cancer with the rest!' Priorities , that's what I say!!

Loved the whole primary school story anno , I believe we have a pilot or 3 here too.

Oh Charley , I'm sorry to hear you're feeling low. Not helped I think by not fancying anything in particular to eat. I hope you're feeling a little better soon.x

Good to hear you had a better night Ann , doesn't it help when you get a proper rest. I hope you can repeat that little miracle again tonight .

I am off to finish the papers!!

Happy Day all xx

Ann that does sound more hopeful by tweaking the times that you do things it would be fabulous if H could get 8 hours sleep each night without interrupting you.

Sounds as though you feel very much "in the mood" Ann and I hope the day con tinues in much the same way,
it would be nice were this to be a new pattern for your H.
We can still hope!!

I am so pleased to report that I had a much better night with H.
We had had two lots of visitors on Friday and that obviously upset him, he has told me he just wants the two of us together in the house although he is very used to the morning carers and is fine with them.

I kept the whole day calm yesterday and timed dinner later so that by the time we had cleared away and watched half an hour of mindless tv ( old dinnerladies) he was really tired and went to bed.
He slept for about 8 hours, a miracle, and never came to wake me up, although I was awake.

I left breakfast until after his shower and we have just had a coffee.

It is a beautiful morning ,I hope you all have the same.

It is early for me today - I am usually not an early riser on Sunday, but we are currently at DD’s house keeping GS company while his parents are running in a competition. If we can persuade him to put on some clothes, we might go down to the park and get some breakfast at the excellent cafe there; he could go down wearing Marvel Avengers pyjamas but I suppose people would stare! It is easier to get a jumbo jet off the ground than my grandson!
Ann I’m sure your neighbours fully understand your situation, but I can imagine how you felt. We had to turn a blind eye to much of what my BiL said and did in the later throes of this very cruel illness. We missed the gentle amenable man he had always been. ?
Ah, at last - we have one clothed boy child ready to go out, so, quick before he changes his mind! I will look in later!

I have just read on line that there were two stabbings yesterday in the road off mine and the air ambulance was called- neither is too badly injured but it is rather too close to home and this is supposed to be a reasonable area in which to live!

I have decided I will have lunch today when England is playing and that may help celebrate them win. It will be the goodies I took out of the freezer yesterday- I only have to cook rice and microwave the unknown contents!

All of my recently acquired nagging "mothers" can settle down for today.

Another superb morning so what about a bit of "Rise and shine" my fellow kitcheners?

It takes some getting used to but I have to say I could easily live a lifetime with clear azure blue velvet skies!!

Whilst our road is really a dead end leading to a handful of lovely little coves further down, where all manner of water sports are enjoyed along with just lazing on the beach or taking an energetic stroll around the 186 miles of our world renowned coastal path...........
Usually from around 6.30 of an evening (all evenings) and 10 .30 am on a sunday morning there is no further traffic as a rule, just the sound of silence along with bird song...........bliss!!...........but yesterday,all afternoon,evening and throughout the night there were sound of distant traffic almost continually..............
I assume we have a plethora of holiday makers heading for the coast due to this scorching weather forecast for a little while....obviously “taking pot luck” with bookings or perhaps camping or glamping......and who can honestly blame them?

Weather such as this we really have to take full advantage of if at all possible!!

To add to the noises of the night ...........or perhaps that should read......morning?.......the darn pigeons started billing and coo-ing from at least 5am, and in very fine voice they were too...........not exactly musical.

In fact the day is so absolutely fine I think it time I joined the masses!

I aim to avoid yesterday`s swooning performance by staying home until after lunch time!

Wishing you all a peaceful start to the day,thinking especially of our troubled ones and sending a special few Welsh Cwtches..........a bear like hug............Ann in your case I am sending a few.

Just back from a wonderful day with our children and every single member of our families. Nearly a disaster when Dd’s dog so very nearly had her cousin’s pedigree cat!

Hang on to those happy memories annie and remember your DH has no control over what he says and does now. My DB was the most polite and gentlemanly man and continued to be so until the end but did have the odd bout of saying inappropriate things sometimes.

Charleygirl please feel sorry for yourself, it will soon pass.
I have long periods of doing so and then I give myself a good talking to.
My H is such a sorry fellow, he doesn't know what day it is and what is happening. He has deteriorated so much since the stroke. He doesn't know which rooms are which and once again he has fetched damp washing off the line while I was putting my Sainsburys order away.

Last night he walked the house until midnight and then again from 4am.
I fear the day I cannot cope is getting nearer.

It has not been such a hot day here, pleasant but quite overcast ,however it has been warm.
Yesterday was glorious and I enjoyed a wine in the garden with my neighbours, H was very unpleasant though, we just ignored him and chatted for an hour while he told me to get in the house and lock the doors.
They have known him for over 30 years but still not nice.
He would not believe it of himself if he was able to understand, he was a most kind ,hospitable man.

Enjoy your evening everyone and I hope the meals and bbqs go to plan.

Tara is not a lap cat but she does love to sit either on the arm ot my chair or on the back. She will appear at her usual hour and rarely before. My vibes have not reached her.

I will be switching between the football and the tennis.

I do not think that Andy should enter Wimbledon- I personally feel that he should retire gracefully now and as I think soop suggested, consider coaching.

Charleyg If you are feeling sorry for yourself, so be it. Some days we all feel below par. Be gentle with yourself. Rest will work wonders. As will something tasty to top up your batteries. I wish that Tara would wend her way into her home and settle down on your lap. Whenever Rory did so, MacSporran would from ear to ear.

I'm sending my very best wishes to you all. Continue to enjoy the marvellous weather. It promises to be a tip-top week ahead.

The doubles match will begin before too long. I'm away to shout and offer my expert opinion (on how to play).

It will be smoked salmon trimmings with Ryvita- there is zilch else here! Certainly no shallots and definitely no onions! Maybe later, much later but I promise I will not waste it.

I have been out for my daily walk- met nobody so back indoors probably to watch yet more football. Where is Tara when I need a cuddle? Just feeling sorry for myself when really I should not.

It is certainly the right weather for a gentle stroll. We usually have ours mid morning. MacSporran is once again up a ladder He has decided that the exterior paintwork needs a wash and brush up. My way of dealing with this...go outside with a pot of tea and some shortbread (bought) and entice him to join me.

I was delighted that Cilic won his match and will play in tomorrow's final. I'm not really rootin' for Novak. But, I shall return in time for the doubles match. I love watching doubles. I believe that Jamie Murray is still in with a chance. I could be wrong. I've been doing other stuff in between certain matches.

charley and soop........thanks for your votes of confidence....... and what I stated early this morning has developed into quite a morning.

Deciding I needed to be "shaken and stirred" rather than just slump in the corner feeling sorry for myself, I joined my DH nice and early on his shopping trip, even trying my best to look as good as the glorious weather!!!!

Only half an hour later I came over "all queer" feeling extremly shaky and on the verge of fainting.............much the same happened yesterday, following shampooing my hair............so off to the M & S cafe with a window seat and coffee for a sit down.
It did the trick eventually........ and as one of the themes in this site is about" how beige trousers should NOT be worn by ladies of a certain age" I was well able to really understand the meaning behind this!!!
Though to be fair,in the main the grey and white haired ladies looked very smart and summery, mainly wearing brilliant white capri pants with various tops......and shoes ranging from gold or white sandals,to pumps and trainers.

Very uplifting and quite a fashion show!!!

So feeling both uplifted........and revived..... I am back home with legs duly elevated and moans stowed away.......for now!

What a swamping Burdock.............and rather an attractive lady I have to say!

So charley smoked salmon and all the trimmings sound a treat to me,so you will do us........and yourself.... proud if you partake.......and I am sure Tara will assist with any left overs.
Great message there in this heatwave it seems we are enjoying.......keep well hydrated.
Men?..........where are their brain cells I ask?

Before I recieve answers, I am considering taking a short stroll in the great outdoors...........its almost tooooooo good to be true.
Enjoy,but be careful my kitchen friends.

Blimey soop is all I can say!!!

Charley eat, please! Smoked salmon fritata is lovely with some shallots and a little creme fraiche.

I hope today has been a good day, Panache.

I also cried in Durham Cathedral Jane but then I saw Brian Ferry - that cheered me up!!

DD1 is having a family BBQ this afternoon so I have been making salads. The massed Lesters should be there although Bertie was at A&E again at 4 am so might not be up to it and, even if he is, his mother might not be!! Unfortunately, she couldn't let the Idiot know his son was unwell as he has blocked her number.

Very well played, Cilic. I hope that you win the final.

Dear Panache you can open your heart to us lot whenever you wish. Your bright, breezy exterior is a bonus but the inside demons need to be released. Continue being you. You are amazing.

Charleyg The very same thing happened to the husband of a lady in the village. He worked in the garden all afternoon, in the strong sunshine. He went into the house and started to shake violently. His wife feared that he was having a stroke. Ambulance was called. Admitted to hospital with severe dehydration.

MacSporran took this photo of me standing alongside the magnificent Burdock earlier today. I've cropped the image at the point where the top of the plant ends.

Greyduster Your account of the visit to the National Memorial Arboretum was very moving. Thank you for sharing your experience with us lot.

Tara makes sure that I am up early but yet again today I fell asleep until a friend woke me by ringing. She visited another friend yesterday, went home early evening and within a few minutes discovered her H on a sofa muttering and mumbling. The emergency services were excellent- he had not had a stroke- the idiot had worked for around 6 hours non stop in bright sunlight without a break, drink etc. If I was married to him I would be in prison for murder. I do not know where his grey cells have gone- how he ever managed a responsible job is now beyond me.

I only managed another cereal for supper but I have taken smoked salmon trimmings out of my freezer and also something I cooked a while ago and froze. It is not labelled so that should be a surprise. I will have at least one decent meal inside me today. I promise to cook rice or spag, whichever is appropriate for the mystery dish.

I seem to take so many drugs for breakfast that is a meal in itself.

Panache I do feel for you, my major pain and moans are now behind me and I can now only slowly get better whereas you have a hell of a lot in front of you. Let your DH take you out and treat you to a coffee and as "cornergran* does, sit and watch the world go by.

Please feel free to have a moan at -us lot- whenever you want to- that is why we are here.

I will obviously have to give yourself and cornergran sleeping lessons because I could fall asleep here without a problem. My bed is not quite so comfortable but I still manage at least 6-7 hours a night including a couple of trips to the loo. That is not including the 3 hours + I spend dozing downstairs. I am sleeping too much and doing zilch.

`Morning kitcheners..... and what a glorious day.

You have certainly brought some sombre thoughts here and I even went to bed with them,I think it does us good to remember and to pay homage to those so many brave people whom went before us,many in the most horrific and inhumane of ways.
Memories such as these stay forever.

Believe me Cornergran my sleep pattern is all over the place and it is quite normal for me to be parading around,doing crosswords or even having my P.C on during any time of the night!
This week with these viewers setting us of on one track of thought, and then the thoughts of yet another unpleasant operation..........or a "what else" situation....... has really knocked me for six.
I may show myself to be happy and coping,a mechanism I have long since formulated, as knowing so many others have their own issues I don`t like adding mine.
However underneath there is quite a torment raging.
Although I had to retreat early last night as I felt I could not cope with another night "tossing and turning," this is exactly what happened.
You get up the next day feeling as if you`ve been run over by a steam roller!!
So I do understand and I do sympathise.............though that does not exactly help does it???

My DH is trying to stimulate me by suggesting an early morning out, as he always has some shopping on a Saturday morning. So even a spot of people watching might fire me up..............anything is worth a try!!

Fish and chips still the good old "stand bye" and such a favourite with my man........perhaps its a real Scots thing soop??

Anyway, enough of my ramblings as it is certainly time to "show a leg" and make the most of this superb day.

Have a good one folks.............. at eleven for anyone who maybe interested!!!

Kitty I remember the last post at the Menin Gate as almost unbearable and also the huge cemetery at Tyne Cot. No one who has been to the battlefields could want to take the UK out of Europe.

Do go, kitty. It's very worthwhile. And wear comfy shoes - there's a lot of walking, and then going round again to find the bits you missed!

Sounds a very special place greyd, an experience that will stay with you for a very long while.

Oh Charley, I so wish you felt more like eating. Go for what you fancy, little and often if you can, lots of liquid too. It’s certainly no fun making yourself eat something you really don’t enjoy. It will get better, hang on in there.

Spending time with baggs and another trip with fish and chips sound good soop, hope the hospital visit is positive, be even better to have three good things.

I’m envious of an early snighttime panache, I have a poor relationship with sleep, somehow it doesn’t like me

Wishing everyone a peaceful night.

The national memorial arboretum is on our list too gd. It's strange how a place like that is so evocative. Weve been to the Menin Gate and the Peace Park in Hirishima and just the atmosphere moved me to tears.