Soop's welcoming kitchen for all in need of a hearty blether.

Sorry, soop, I meant to say how sorry I am to hear of your friend's death. So sad for someone who seemed to live such a full life.
And mamissimo, I hope all is well with your DD and you are enjoying the company of the delightful Mimm.

soop, 'peace and quiet' - if only! Just before I went off on my travels, we had a flood - our small town was on the national news, such is our claim to fame. It mostly bypassed my house but rushed past and inundated the garden, forming a lake with the stream that runs past. There's now a nasty looking mound of silt, probably full of sewage which the water company will, I think, feel obliged to remove. My wee cellar (formerly a coal hole in this former miner's house) was 2" deep in water which receded quite quickly and all seemed to be drying out. However, when I got back yesterday, an unpleasant smell assailed me and I found that my freezer, in the cellar, had overheated and everything was not only defrosted but also rotting. Have been in touch with the water company and will ring my insurer tomorrow when I work out the value of the food I've lost. A buggeration? You bet!

I'm sorry to hear about your friend too, soop, and so young and fit.

Dd and co are in a cottage on an estate on the edge of Loch Fyne (sp). She says it is very beautiful.

Any news mamissimo? Waiting is hard. I bet Mim is excited.

Panache, I hope you gave some joy today.

I am very sorry to hear about your friend *soop

I have just picked these sweet peas before the rain tomorrow, they smell divine.
TOYA ?

Another fabulous day in bonnie Kintyre.

Yesterday's pals came bearing bubbly and a very smart phone that is just one year old. It has all manner of sophisticated gubbins on it. This afternoon, I've been having lessons on the use thereof. To be honest, I am almost afraid to use it. It has my thumb print for recognition. My old Nokia (about 15 years old) only sends and receives calls. It is so basic, but perfectly suited to my level of state of the art tech ability.

A larger than life associate of ours; an artist, who lived in a painted wagon on the banks of the Crinan canal, died suddenly of a heart attack yesterday. He was 58. Such a shock to learn of his death on FB. He used to teach at art classes. He cycled everywhere. He would swim across the canal holding post card examples of his work aloft. That is how we first met him. His family live in Canada. They have been notified. He adopted a stray cat and named him Fred. Fred is being cared for by friends.

MacSporran has made a pot of tea. We are about to sit on the garden bench and enjoy the sunshine.

TOYA. I shall return after ironing duty in the morning.

Orange and almond cake, baked by my DiL Mamissimo, help yourself. I've got my fingers crossed for your DD's safe and quick delivery.

Sorry about your poor offer Panache, they may be testing the water and come back with a better offer, especially if they know that there are other viewings. Fingers crossed for you too. I love blackberrying Greyd I used to be covered as a kid, my fingers would be purple for days. Isn't it amazing how many you've missed when you go back along the row!

You sound as though you've had a wonderful time in Scotland annodomini.

Mamissimo, no doubt you will be restless until,you hear news of the new baby!!!

Persie is a pretty girl, obviously out spending her "tooth fairy money".

Panache, house selling is just so stressful, but someone will walk in and know straight away that your house is their forever home.

Soop GC and I played dinosaurs, puzzles, shops and read stories whilst watching the horrendous weather. Today we have been to the library as GC is doing the "reading challenge" as they are only 4 and starting school next month I feel we should get the stickers!!!!!

TOYA ??

Mamissimo I feel your tension. In fact, I'm doing some deep breathing in anticipation. How exciting! Us lot will hopefully, in due course, have another baby pic for the kitchen gallery.

Panache Remain focused. You are doing splendidly. Your time will come. When it does, we'll pop the cork of a special bottle of bubbly that is languishing in our cupboard.

kitty Persie is far too busy to ring. She has cash in hand. What's a girl to do? Spend it, of course.

Greyduster As I read about the blackberrying and your grandson's desire to keep clean and unscratched, I was nodding. I also know of a young man with the same attitude. I would make a blackberry and apple crumble. I would eat it with thick, creamy custard. I wish.

Well done, corner. Isn't it lovely to win a prize?

anno That most certainly was an eventful ten days. I imagine that now you are home, you will welcome some peace and quiet. However, being with family anf friends and talking umpteen to the dozen, is good for the soul.

Mamissimo you poor thing! I hope it is all over very quickly for you, her twin and of course, the mum herself!

Hello the kitchen! Is there any cake?

I’ve had to return to lurking and reading for a while as DDs pregnancy has been a bit grim and I’ve been the luscious Mim’s responsible adult.

My DD is now in labour and I’m struck again by how much I worry when this is going on. Her identical twin is coming to be with us and Mim because she is a total wreck with a tight tum. The twin thing is incredibly strong with my two and I guess I will have them both labouring this afternoon.

DD has that awful thing where her ligaments became soft during pregnancy and she also has gestational diabetes, so she’s on a drip and confined to bed. Her first baby came in 4 hours but this one’s somewhat bigger. The waiting game is awful!

I’d like to say I’m TOYA but I’m missing in action today!

Well done young ......and pretty ......Persie,hopefully the tooth fairy delivered and everyone is smiling in the Lester household!!!!!

What is this prize...... and you Corner being the fortunate winner? Just goes to show where my head is these days!!
You painted a very vivid picture of yourself in the soft play area with your littlest..........thanks for the giggle,it certainly made me smile!

An offer was made on our property this morning and it was the sort that made you want to sit down and cry.
People obviously taking full advantage of an empty home and garden now in need of some TLC .............although the price reduction reflects this fact adequately.
Back to the drawing board an d await what tomorrow`s viewer has to say............probably another hoping to cash in on our bad fortune.
Little wonder how I sometimes despair of the human race!

Obviously they should join us in the kitchen and let the kind ness and good hearts of these lovely lot change their opinions.

Weather still holding up and the sun shines nicely.
I shall have to get started on some ironing as no one here is offering!!
Have yourselves a good day............TOYAxx

Oooh, we've never done that!!

Persie was supposed to ring us this morning to tell us whether the tooth fairy had been. We've heard nothing so she is either raiding the shops or her mother can no longer afford a phone!

Well done Corner and Persie for the book and the tooth. Hope mum didn’t have to do the “ I am sure the tooth fairy has been, let’s have a good look in your bed” routine. We often used it to slip in the coin when we had forgotten the night before!

A children’s book kitty, Littlest will love it. It’s in the competitions, won anything, thread which I had also not seen. Had an email from GN.

No rules, or indeed bones, were broken honestly. As if I would ? Adults are allowed in this soft play ‘to support children if. necessary’ as long as they take their shoes off. Mine didn’t have laces so I was nominated. Haven’t had so much fun in ages .

Congratulations corner, on your win. Which competition was it? And where are the results announced? I dont see a thread any more.

Don't they have height limits in soft plays?

I’m still in shock charley. Our Littlest will be the winner.

I’ve also been missing for a couple of days and admit there is no chance of catching up. Must comment on that tooth though kitty - we’ll done Persie. . My sympathies for the tooth fairy.

Picture this everyone. We’ve been minded by Littlest today. He needed someone in soft play. How could I resist? I got in, no small children were killed, but then how to get out? Much giggling and serious advice from many small people I emerged to a round of applause from Mr C. Would I do it again? Oh yes! .

TOYA, sleep well everyone.

Back from Scotland after an eventful ten days: friends' golden wedding in Yorkshire; sister and BiL in Dundee; a good concert with Scottish National Youth Orchestra; obligatory visit to St Andrews and the best ice cream in Scotland; an overnight in Glasgow to meet my new great nephew and niece, now a month old, smiley and sociable; meeting up with two second cousins and a second cousin once removed (go figure!) and her two delightful adult daughters. Today three trains and a taxi - and home!

corner congratulations- I saw that you had won a prize. Yours was the only name out of a good few which I recognised.

Wow, Kitty! That was quick!?

I hope the Tooth Fairy’s has been advised,*Kitty*! What is the going rate these days? Ours only seems to be losing back ones now and they bring in a premium!

GS stayed overnight and has been regailing us with tales of his holiday adventures. We went for a swim today, he helped DH clear the spare room ready for the carpet fitter tomorrow and then we went picking blackberries down the lane. His idea, but when it came down to it, he is the same as his mum when she was young - he doesn’t like to get his hands dirty, so he confined himself to hoiking down overhanging branches with a walking stick and pointing out the big ones while Nanny got scratched and nettled and covered in blackberry juice! The things we do for love! I have absolutely no idea what we are going to do with him tomorrow - forward planning is sadly lacking this week! He has gone home and I am now exhausted so I’m off to put my feet up for an hour or so. Is the sun over the yardarm yet?

Tada!

Kitty I hope the tooth fairy is saving up!!

kitty Isn't Persie pretty? And, yes, a loose tooth is a great talking point at her age.

MacSporran has cut the grass. At anytime soon our visitors will arrive. I shall log off for today. After care home visiting in the morning, I hope to join you lot for a catch-up.

TOYA

Panache Good fortune lurks in the wings. I've a feeling that the right buyers are about to walk through the door of your previous home, fall in love with it at first sight and pester the agent to start proceedings. Oh, I really, really would like that.

GrannyGravy13 A grey wet day is the perfect recipe for entertaining and being entertained by grandchildren. What do you propose doing?

kitty I was hoping that the cat hadn't gone too far. As for the weather on the West Coast of Scotland...Kintyre to be precise...it is glorious. Mind you, living in a home, as opposed to camping under canvas, is a lot easier. I wish them good fortune. Whereabouts are they going?

Thought you might like to know that Persie has a loose tooth. She tells everyone she meets!