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

The photos of the very relaxed cat and dog are wonderful. Neither has a care in the world.

ann the areas Tara likes to relax I cover with something rather than hoovering all of the time.

I have never been widowed but knowing some of the past circumstances I am sure it is very natural expecting to see his smiling face when you walk in a room. At least some of the sad stuff has been temporarily obliterated, it is part of the grieving process.

We had rain overnight and a grey morning, but the sun has just come out. DD took me to Asda earlier ( I know how to live) it was my first supermarket visit since January. I was able to walk around the aisles and enjoyed doing something 'normal' again. I'm easily pleased ?
We drove along the prom of our little seaside town on the way back and passed two vintage wedding cars. The families must be pleased to have some sunshine.
Our neighbours across the road - a lovely couple in their early forties had a baby girl yesterday. They have had many IVF treatments over the years. We are all delighted for them. Thought I'd spread a little good news.

Wishing everyone a good weekend and TOYA

Shocking news here - the sun has been out for two hours . So our bus trip to the sea front was only slightly damp on the way there and almost warm on the way back. Doesn't some sunshine make a difference?

I'm seriously envious of your ability to sleep Charley, I managed a whole two hours last night. Will try to do better tonight or I'll be a robot tomorrow.

Oh well, shouldn't have such a guilty conscience as my Mum would have said

TOYA, be good everyone.

Dear Ann your post brought tears to my eyes.

Charleyg Brodie was photographed through the window. He would most certainly not have been accommodating had he known what we were doing. He is an ultra cautious cat. Even so, we are fond of him.

Lins Simple pleasures are what we two enjoy. Our trip to Campbeltown is special because we have coffee and cake before returning home. I'm pleased to hear that you enjoyed your first real outing in a very long time.
Although I have no idea who the new parents are, I'm so happy for them. Unsuccessful IVF treatments must be a great strain on all concerned. They have good reason to celebrate.

corner Just two hours sleep? My word, that really is shocking. I'm surprised that you have the energy to pop into the kitchen. I couldn't have put in an appearance. I would have been completely frazzled. Do hope that tonight is better than last. Sleep is so precious and important. Please go to the GP if this continues. (hugs)

The time has arrived for me to say a fond farewell for a few days. A good friend will be house and wild creature sitting in our brief absence. We're off to the Highlands. Brodie has a beautifully serviced chalet. He also has a new bowl in which his food will await his visits. Our friend is an animal/bird lover. All will be well.
I do not use my tablet. It irritates me to distraction. Should you need a new kitchen before I return, please will one of you decide who is to open it. I shall miss you. I shall be thinking of you. I know that you'll continue to support each other - because that's what you do so well.

Daft, isn't it? I actually feel sad. Silly old bat that I am. When I return, I hope to have some interesting photos to share with you.

Bye for now.

Evening all !

and the sun came out and all was right in our world !!

Well apart from a frustrating attempt to sort out flights for next year which had me looking to see if there was a frozen leg of lamb in the freezer !!

Grampy's early Fathers Day present ( a soup maker) arrived- I am sure he will grow to love it OR if not Ill have it :-) Just teasing - its for me really!

I have some reading to do in the kitchen but Ill just wish you safe journey Soop - we'll miss you too !! x

Dont be sad soop, or worry about us lot, we’ll be fine - and behave, honestly . You both deserve to enjoy a break. We’ll look forward to hearing all about it and seeing photos. Sending love to you both.

soop have a wonderful relaxing time in the Highlands, we shall miss you, but look forward to hear all about it on your return ?

I hope you have a restful time.

I did not think for a moment Brodie would stay if he sensed any movement. Hopefully he will return for more delicious food but no doubt he also likes hot food in his tum.

No need to worry about us soop. You have taught us well. We will look out for each other until your return. Hope you have a wonderful trip. Please enjoy yourselves (bring us back a stick of rock) ?
izabella any cake left? Ever hopeful ?

ann ☹️ ?

Good plan, ann, but on reflection, I would rather have you here as you are than as a f'net pet!

g'net!!!

Have a wonderful time in the Highlands Soop and MacS, you so deserve it. Great pic of Brodie. A Doro phone is supposed to be ideal for elderly people, with larger buttons. I got a phone in town this afternoon, I told him I didn``t want one of the modern ones that look like a small tablet, just a phone with buttons. He brought one out, after a bit of discussion I decided to buy it, asked the price, expecting around £30, it was a fiver!
Aw Ann, I so know what you mean. Just recently David has featured in my dreams every night, but in the most improbable situations.
Izabella, that cake will be delicious, please save me a tiny piece.

callgirl the only good thing about the Doro was the large buttons on the phone. Otherwise I hated it. I was so pleased to get rid of it and now have a Samsung Galaxy 6. Simple seems to have gone out of the equation.

Is anybody giving Tara a bed for the night because that minx has not returned and I am about to shower and retire to bed.

Hope she’s back now Charleygirl ?

Thank you Soop you are so kind.
Wishing you and your husband a wonderful time in the Highlands. Looking forward to some spectacular photos.

I'm sure that Tara will return Charleygirl she likes a comfy billet.

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Ta dah!

Must have been good. Not a skerrik left this morning. Sorry callgirl

I hope Tara is now firmly ensconced at home after worrying Charleygirl again.

No rain this morning and hoping to get out and deadhead the roses. They have taken a battering this last week. The only really happy looking inhabitants of the garden reside in the veg patch We won't mention those slimy black things going about their usual measured rampage.

Looking forward to a roast lamb dinner later being cooked by CH. A quieter affair than the festivities of last evening.

Hoping all have some light in the day and that the panaches are enjoying the new interior decor and garden and soop enjoys the trip. TOYA

Great cake izabella, wouldn’t dare post an image of mine .

Our poor garden is also oh so battered, I’m so sad for the climbing rose, the blooms that have hung on aren’t their usual colour, sort of muted. Should it be dry when we get back from breakfast I plan a tidy up, the forecast doesn’t fill me with hope though.

Hope Tara didn’t keep you up too late charley, she knows how to worry you.

TOYA.

I have no idea what time that minx came home last night but it was early! She must have ambled in the door and straight upstairs to one of her two bedrooms for a bit of shuteye because she was lying in bed, wide eyed and bushy tailed when I went upstairs for a shower.

I had to go downstairs to shut the door because I did not want "friends" visiting Tara.

She normally tells me she is home, even if it is only weaving in and out of my legs- she did not stay in the cathouse for long- she came to me for cuddles and life is too short to squabble but I did tell her not to do a repeat performance.

Dear Soop and my friends in the kitchen please know I have not forgotten you and am certainly far from abandoning you all.

However please believe me these days I hardly know whether I am coming or going!!!!

Zero day for moving is on the 28th should all go according to our plan.Our home as we once knew it is no more.We are in total disarray, with three parts of everything on its way to auction (to recieve next to nothing we are informed!) whilst our garage is now more like an Emporium filled with so many things that once were either useful or adorned our home.

My dear man with the best will in the world is determinned to lend a hand, but in reality he has little strength to match his big caring heart.
He is so very thin and gaunt that it breaks my heart seeing him trying to do a little something to save me.

It is a massive move for us at such a vulnerable time and my own health is taking a battering .............however the move is getting near although of course there will be much hard work setting up another home whilst I shall still be toi-ng and fro-ing back to this place, until we have sold everything including the house.Hopefully things will run fairly smoothly, allowing me in thefullness of time to return to my daily ramblings here in the kitchen,catching up on all the daily gossip and the things you each get up to.

Sending you all every blessing,peace and goodwill,whilst some sunshine in place of all this rain would certainly be a bonus................it is June after all!!!!!!

Hi panache lovely to hear from you again. We all so want you both to be settled in your new home soon and be done with all this moving business. It must be sad to see your treasured things (not necessarily financially but precious memories) being packed away or sold off. It is hard for us all to part with things but downsizing is always difficult. Take care both of you x

Delighted to hear that you now have a moving date. Have you got any help or are you beavering away by yourself? The pair of you will sleep for a week at least in your new abode. I do hope you will be closer to the shops etc. It will also be good not having the worry of grass and hedge cutting.

Panache I can only imagine how exhausted you must feel both physically and emotionally. It’s disheartening to take apart a home you’ve loved and invested yourself in over the years. Hopefully now with a firm date you’re on the home straight towards creating a new home where you’ll both be comfortable and happy.

Izabella that cake looks truly scrumptious, I’m always available should quality control testing be needed! lins that is lovely news about your neighbours new baby, much longed for and long awaited. Hope soop and Macsporran are enjoying their highland adventure, much deserved after a tough few months for them both.

Dreams are funny things aren’t they? I randomly dreamt about my lovely dad a few weeks back. He died in 1977 and I don’t remember dreaming about him in all those years. It saddens me still that there is so much of my adult life he never got to see, including the birth of the younger 3 of my 5 children. He died knowing I was having a 3rd baby, but didn’t live long enough to hear that it was in fact twins. Here’s my favourite photo of us, taken when I was very small. Thinking of Ann, callgirl and others missing their special men today.