Soops Kitchen , kindness and cake served with love. Come on in !

Waiting for my new cooker to be delivered today. Had a text last night to say it would be between 11.31 and 14.31. An hour ago the 'track your delivery' app showed delivery between 10.00 and 13.00 so my living room now looks like a railway carriage, having made an aisle through the middle so they can get from front door to kitchen. Just checked the app again and it's gone back to the original estimate! Why the odd minute though? We all know you can't be that precise when using our roads, especially in London

MawBroon pleased to hear you had a good day yesterday. The Kings Cross development is fantastic and seems to have incorporated imagination and space as well as money-makers into what was basically a goods yard. Did you see the gas holders which have been 'converted' into flats? Think of an apple pie cut into slices as they're wedge-shaped flats with prices starting about £850,000 for a studio apartment (bed-sit that was!!). They have panoramic windows but the views are somewhat marred by the criss-cross structure of the holders

TOYA

Dear Marydoll ^If only you and I could pull up a chair and spend some quality time with each other. I know that I would most certainly benefit from whatever we cared to share.

Urmstongran To be perfectly honest...I prefer the "real you".

Nannytopsy Your photograph is stunning.

ann and Panache kitty Izabella Anneliese and all you lovely lot in abundance.

Swanny Will you be baking a big, squidgy just as soon as that cooker is operating? If so, let's hope that you don't have too much longer to wait.

We take a walk each day through an avenue of marvellous lime trees. The foliage reaches the ground. Here is a pic of one I took this morning.

marydoll you really are having a tough time at the moment. Certainly the kitchen is the place to let it all out. It’s hard when you don’t feel well and waiting for tests, when you just want to get on with finding out what’s wrong and start feeling better. Let it all out on here as much as you like. There are some broad shoulders here and we want to help (not implying we’re all overweight I hasten to add )

Glad you had a lovely day out maw. I certainly don’t think the gorgeous Flynn would have a tantrum. How could you say such a thing ? he’s just letting his artistic temperament out.
Very envious about your ice creams though ??

soop Just got my house back how I like it after my cooker was delivered and am now sitting down with coffee, brie and crackers for a late lunch. I will be trying out all sorts after I've read the instruction book so there may well be cakes aplenty. Not too squidgy though, I can't afford a new laptop as well just now

I love lime trees but I've never seen them touching the ground like that. And a whole avenue of them? Beautiful

Swanny There is a grand house in the village. The driveway is an avenue of limes. they are very old. Planted long ago way back when. It is easy to stand beneath the lower canopy. The perfect hidy hole for creatures and birds.

Doodle Yet another kindly post from you.

Maw Flynn is permitted the occasional "wobbly" at his young age. We've all been there.

Today I sent private messages to my three lovely sons. They think that I'm hunky wotsit. I simply wanted to tell them that some days are particularly tough. I have had supportive responses. A little kindness goes an awful long way.

Inbetween watching some tennis, I 've dusted some book shelves that begged for serious attention. I do believe that setting oneself a task and completing it helps to boost a sense of accomplishment.

Back to the tennis and a

I just cannot do the holiday thing so am putting it out of my head. Everything is just too much. DD has suggested that I just concentrate on getting in more help that we need so that I can rest more. Hopefully, if I do that, the rest will follow. I am not ignoring everyone, just have no energy to do anything at present so am going to disappear for a while. TOYA x

No news from N&G
I hope I haven't upset her?

Good idea Synonymous and we do all understand.
You have both been through so much trauma you need some time to recoup your strength , mentally and physically.
All good wishes and come back soon.

Synonymous A wise decision. You must take all the rest and recouperation that you need. My word, you have both been through a ghastly period. It will take some getting back on track. You have our very best wishes.

ann N&G is not the kind of person to take offence. So...fret ye not.

Wonderful sunny day. No sign of Brodie. Maybe tonight.

Logging off until tomorrow. TOYA and (((hugs))) a plenty.

What a lovely thing to say about me soop!

Back from my weekend with DS1 in Berkshire, having also seen DS2 and family. DGD2 was away some of the time helping at a Cub camp somewhere in deepest Surrey, but her brother was around as were two other GSs. The two older GSs (cousins) are now the same height and on a par with their dads. Youngest GS (11) is the same as me, but will very soon outstrip me. Yesterday DS1 took me to a very nice restaurant beside a lake where we were able to eat outside in the sun, while enjoying watching water ski-ers falling off their skis! Paddle boarding looks like fun.
I am still trying to catch up with all the news while I've been away and can only say that I do hope that you, Panache, don't have to be in hospital again, just when a new phase of your lives is beginning with what sounds like an ideal flat. Marydoll, that sounds like a crazy length of time to have to wait for an angiogram. Not that I know much about cardiology, but surely that should be a matter of greater urgency.
Life is hard for so many of you - stress, pain and anxiety. Wish I was around to give you all a real (((hug))).
Just beginning to warm up - when I left home on Friday the weather was lovely and I didn't take much in the way of warm clothing. Getting off the train in Cheshire, I realised that I was back in the North! The air-con in the train was a bit fierce too!

Good luck with the instruction book swanny, we’ve had our cooker for six years and I still can’t use the oven timer . Still, good to know it’s safely installed.

Sounds an excellent weekend anno. Air conditioning can be far too cold, hope you’re warm now.

Flynn sounds to be an interesting stage maw, a child of character that’s for sure. Fun to be with though and an excellent day out.

Hope the dentist survived n&g, I suspect anxious patients can make a dentist even more anxious.

You've a good family, soop, I’m sure they appreciate you sharing some of the not so good with them as well as the better things. Look after yourself.

Oh synonymous outnthe holiday thought in a shelf and only dust it off when you feel you can cope with it. More help at home sounds eminently sensible to take some pressure off. Rest when you can.

TOYA and be good everyone.

synonymous just to let you know we’ll all still be here thinking of you even if you don’t post all the time. Like oh dear panache, we know you’ve got a lot on your plate so even if we don’t hear from you we’ll be TOY ?
Don’t worry ann, as soop says, N&G aren’t likely to take offence at your joke. I expect the dentist has worn them out. ?

soop you do your very best to keep us lot supported with your cheery posts. Don’t forget we are here for you too and if you are a bit under the weather you can tell us. You don’t always have to put a brave face on it. What lovely sons you have ?

Evening all!!

I survived!! To be fair , nothing was done ? , the work was planned and unbelievably the earliest apt was at the end of July !! So this started in January and it will be 7 months before any treatment starts.

So now I can put it out of my mind until the night before.

Oh ann , of course I’m not miffed! You were absolutely right . It was time to put my big girl pants on ! ? I just wish the mere thought of going didn’t make me terrified !

I’m late back because we went for cake ??? to celebrate surviving the dentist AND another loss at slimming this morning lol .

I’m glad your sons know the reality of how you feel soop , it’s for the best.

Anyway , time to get a coffee and relax, have a lovely evening all x

N&G - 7 months - I've been waiting since last Sept!
I'm terrified too. I've been putting it off for years before that.

I totally get that Fennel and I am a little bewildered that the dentist doesn’t seem to care that months pass , you’d think things would be getting worse, and I suspect they are .

I do think that unless you feel that terror at the thought of the dentist it’s almost impossible to understand . As I went in today , it would have taken nothing to have me turn tail and leave . Yet , I’m an educated woman , I know what needs to be done .

So I’m sending you and understanding hug and hope you get seen soon!

Good morning all, I just wanted to apologise for my wobble on this thread yesterday. I was feeling quite sorry for myself, but totally overwhelmed by the kindness shown here. I'm a bit embarrassed by my self-pity! , when so many are suffering much so more.

I'm much more upbeat this morning, though tired, as DH got up at 5.30am to play golf!!! . He must have woken the whole street!

I have been reading the comments about the dentist. I too am a "feartie" (frightened person!) and my check up is overdue.
I have got away with not going, using my illness as an excuse! I'm supposed to go every three months, due to my conditions. I chickened out of the last appointment!! I just couldn't face the lecture from the hygeniest, who hadn't a clue how painful it is to brush your teeth with RA in your hands! (This doesn't mean I have grotty teeth, BTW! ! )

TOYA! I hope everyone has a good day, free from pain and stress if possible. Hugs for those who are struggling.

I'm glad that you're feeling better today Marydoll and there is no need to apologise here. Hope your DH enjoys his golf and you, the peace.
I'm lucky I've never been afraid of the dentist but send my sympathies to those who are.
My hydrotherapy went well yesterday though my foot ached afterwards. Have another session next week.
It is DH's birthday and we are going to our local pub for a meal later. Haven't been out in the evening since January! It will be lovely to do something 'normal' again.

Soop those lime trees are spectacular. There may be a 'big house' in your village but I'd live in yours every time with those views and your lovely garden.
TOYA
Help yourselves to some Black Forest Gateau, DH's favourite.

"I dont mind if I do" Lins
Coincidentally a friend and I were reminiscing a few days ago about Berni Inns in the 70s/80s.
A schooner of sherry, prawn cocktail, steak and chips, followed by Black Forest Gateaux, the height of sophistication.
Those were happy days.
Out for lunch today, Frankie and Benny's.
Not my favourite but going with young folk and they like it.
I usually have a chicken ceasar salad, not much to go wrong.
Have the best day you can all.

Morning all,

Mmmmmm black forest gateau - one of my all time favourites … can I just sit here and admire it as yesterday was a plethora of celebrating all with food and all with food that does not bode well for my slimming efforts. Why don't people every say- oh I'm happy - lets eat lettuce????? OR do they?????

Enjoy your meal out Lina , sometimes its the normal things that we enjoy the most eh?

Marydoll , you've had a pretty good excuse for avoiding the dentist and in your shoes I would have done exactly the same. The hygienist is my arch nemesis :-) even yesterday when the dentist was explaining that they would try my deep gum clean without sedation I was already shaking my head and requesting any class A drugs they had available :-) .

Hope you're feeling better soon too, and feel free to wobble away here ( if I eat any more cake I'm going to to be the one wobbling (more)!!) , I always think a trouble shared truly is a trouble halved.

Its a quiet day here , Grampy is off later with his speed gun to establish law and order in the wild and woolly east. We have had a blanket 20mph limit imposed throughout the village as there are 2 absolute death traps which even at 30 due to the narrowness of the roads are constant accident hot spots , so he is VERY excited at the prospect of 'criminals' breaking the law lol .

K9 unit Sam is staying home as he has a sore paw and is milking that by lifting it piteously whenever anyone suggests he actually walks anywhere ( don't worry its not serious ) .

So its crafting for me today - hope you all have a little sunshine in your day !

I actually quite like dentists. well until the last few days. I knew where I was with dh as he never dared hurt me - think he was scared of losing privileges eg having his dinner cooked!

I'm glad you are feeling more upbeat marydoll but you are allowed a wobble.

soop, I'm glad you have put your boys in the picture. We do try to shield our children regardless of their age. They were bound to be lovely and supportive - they have you for a mum! And, dont forget we are here too.

I can use my oven timer corner but, if I accidentally press the preset button, the oven doesn't work and I dont know how to un preset it without the book - which is usually missing. I've only had the cooker 15 years so I still have time to work it out.

Dh is itching to go sightseeing so I must fly. TOYA!