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

N&G glad you enjoyed your visit, it sounds lovely. Whenever I am feeling wistful on these occasions and thinking "wouldn't it be nice" I remember a friend whose husband was left a stately home quite out of the blue and what a worry it was for them not to have sufficient income to maintain it properly. Even the window cleaning cost was so exorbitant that we now automatically say "think of the window cleaning bill!" I always thimk of those friends when I see those £20 a ticket raffle for a huge house or estate - a frightening prospect!

We were early at the prosthetics hospital yesterday and were just preparing to hunker down for a long wait when the prosthetist called us in and we actually left before the appointment time. I think that is being in the right place going out to meet ourselves coming in - I think!
Interesting to see the new cast being taken and to hear what Himself will be able to do with the new leg. Just as well really as on the way home we found a lovely restaurant for our main meal and because it was on a hill the slope was very steep and my poor man had to 'crab' up it. The slope turned on itself three times before we got in the door which was hard for him. It was a lovely meal so very well worth it and we enjoyed the superb view across the water to the castle way up high on the rocks with countless swans swimming past upriver. It was all so delicious that we ate far too much.
We had an amazing reception from Smokie when we got home and an insistence on "much play please"! He jumped and jumped so much that I think we will have to put him in to the Catlympics!

Maw I hope Hattie is being good and letting her hurts heal properly.
DD had a problem with her car warning light not going off and she was quoted a horrendous price so went elsewhere with the result that the warning light was "taken care of" within the service. No idea what or why but thankfully no longer there. It may be a 'more equal' world now in many respects but I do feel that lone women are still very vulnerable. Have you managed to get more than one quote?
I am so grateful that my motability lease includes all the services and niggles and whilst the cost is high it includes everything including 'taking the strain'.

soop rest! Please!xx

Good morning everyone, I'm taking the chance to post because the departure back to the UK of GChildren is imminent! So sad but hopefully the operation for DH (which is still imminent??) might be undertaken so that we can go over and make our annual Father Christmas trip.

Dear soop, I'm going to follow your thoughts and make the pic of the children in the 'box' into a Christmas card which apparently I can do online with a much advertised company.

I'll also do what you suggested and make a large photo which I can frame. Won't delay the kitchen with anymore pics but yesterday we had kite-gate! Three kites and only grandad supervising, hilarious. ????

Maw hope you are ok? ?

Echoing fingers crossed for Panache x

N&G, your visit sounds wonderful, very Pride and Prejudice! Would love that. Xx
Signing off for now, TOYA. ❤️

Wow, we were only away overnight but trying to catch up is going to be hard!

* Charleygirl* you have explained something that has puzzled me for years! I had no idea that those coal sex in the bath were something to do with the birds and the bees. My aunt and uncle had a very big bath in the kitchen so there must have been lots in there but there was a huge work top across it which had so much on it that it was rarely removed in my memory. No wonder they had no bairns of their own!

Panache great excitement and anticipation! As soop says "Woop! Woop!" We wait with bated breath.

A quick pop in. We are off to RHS Hyde Hall with GC, they have a "Hungry Caterpillar" treasure hunt.

Will post pictures later.

TOYA ?☕️ (Victoria sponge on the side)

Can’t keep up, must try harder!

Panache keeping everything crossed for you as your news certainly seems more hopeful.

Soop I’m sensing that you are in danger of deflating! Rest, drink gin and eat cake. Join the slow living tribe for a while and stop running on empty! .....and possibly tie McSporran down!

I’ve collected another consultant and will soon have the full hospital I think....but am somewhat despondent that at this rate I will be an inpatient in outpatients! At least allowing me to live at home but go there every on what seems like every other blooming day saves me from hospital food! I also seem to be buying the car park ?

TOYA - and especially to all others with needles to face!

Morning All. Manic day yesterday but so much fun. We went off for a 'seaside' day, all the things the grandchildren don't usually do although they live 10 miles from the coast. So nothing tasteful or educational with lots of chips . They loved it, so did we although this morning I wonder at the wisdom.

That was a result with the drive N&G, we use the same tactics with the gardeners, the extra help is worth the packet of chocolate biscuits consumed weekly. .

Quick visit here to say TOYA and yes, Charley next week is very much feet up and rest, hopefully in the sun if the weather forecasters are telling the truth.

Take care everyone, off to replenish the food cupboards.

Morning all,

Another blue sky day here !

The lane was resurfaced yesterday and at one stage we were having a cuppa and biscuits with 6 burly workmen !! It was worth the biscuits as they kindly plopped a bit of tarmac in a dent in the drive that fills with water to lake proportions in the rain :-) No good turn and all that!!

That's an 'ouch' Maw !!Can the garage offer you a 'loaner' Maw to save your weekend?

Kitty I feel your pain lol - Grampy once filled MY diesel car up with petrol and did no more than call out the AA and then he walked home and left me with it . I felt obliged to tell everyone I met that it wasn't me who did the dastardly deed !!

I was introduced to the Lady of the Manor Soop , she was as lovely and gracious as could be - I am not often envious of what others have but I have to admit to a twinge . Her house is a beautifully restored old Georgian farmhouse with huge windows , high ceilings and immaculate taste throughout. But the grounds made my heart sing, a lake, pastures and enough football field for any number of little ones :-)

What a lovely picture Carillion , our love a box too !! Enjoy your time with them.

Its a stay home day today with yet more darn laundry and then I must over the weekend tackle the ironing mountain. My own fault, its me that likes crisply ironed sheets and pillow case !!

Hope everyone gets a little sunshine in their day today xx

So sorry your weekend has been spoiledmaw

If it is any consolation Maw, the predictions for travel on the roads this weekend are absolutely dire. eg “Leave for the West Country after 9pm on Friday”

For those who like my stories. My father was called to a home delivery in the fifties. The grandmother to be watched the process with fixed glare and her elbows akimbo!! After the delivery she grabbed the baby. And shook it under the dds nose. Saying “ now do you say you’ve not been with any boys?”

Too expensive, plus somehow got to get Hattie to the kennels- just too complicated.
Never mind.

MawB that really is a big buggeration!!!!

Is there no way you can get the train down to Somerset? ?

Further to my car woes, the garage say they can’t get the part so they can’t even get it back to me tomorrow so my BH weekend with DD, SIL and the children in Somerset is down the pan too.
So I shall just hunker down with Hattie on our own.

Steady gentle rain has fallen for the best part of the day. Good weather promised for the weekend. MacSporran mentioned "trimming the hedges". My heart sank. My pulse quickened. Gulp! He'll be perched on top of a ladder with an electric hedge cutter. Please may he remain safe. I would far sooner have an untidy, overgrown hedge than a husband swaddled in bandages.

dragonfly more x

I am about to ride the exercise bike. I'm a glutten for punishment.

Care home visit planned for the morning. Surely it cannot be Friday again. I am logging off until we return home tomorrow afternoon. Please take care of yourselves.

TOYA

Gosh that is a shock Maw. Still better to be safe than sorry as they say.

Maybe your post belongs on the Angry at OH thread kitty!

Lovely pictures Carillion - lovely family time.

MawB It doesn't help to remember Paw's sound advice. Yet, he is so right. Wish that I had a few bob to spare. We've stuff needing attention on our car & the bathroom heater.

kitty Go on...name and shame. Us lot think we know the culprit.

You could say something like the word anno used when she lost her thread - gosh! Or even flippin' 'eck.

Dh took my car in for a service this morning. They say he didnt leave the key, he says he did. Nevertheless, someone has just had to drive into town in the courtesy car and give them her key. Now let's hazard a guess who that would have been!

I am lying down in a darkened room reeling at the quote for a new airbag unit for my car.
£700+
And then apparently rear brake discs or something on amber alert, so another £250

Paw would have said What must be done, must be done. Lives are more important than money. But nevertheless ???????

N&G Were you introduced to the 'lady of the manor'? I always imagine Hyacinth Bucket in the leading role. I loved that series.

Carrilion01 I would have that photo enlarged and framed. It's fabulous.

anno Oh, the pain of losing a message! Did you say something like - gosh!

Panache What did I say...woop! woop! Matters on the home front are most definitely looking much more hopeful A little hope goes a very long way.

Doodle My boys were conceived thanks to immaculate conception. I remember it well.

kitty I don't give a hoot if the peanut biscuits are a wee bit "well cooked". I am helping myself to a handful.

Greyduster The threat of visitors puts me into over-drive. The house and everything in it is cleaned to 5* standards. When the visitors depart...stuff returns to normal. Dust settles. I like it that way best.

I had just written a long screed, when the phone went and I had a prolonged conversation. When I went to resume my post, I must have pressed the wrong key and the whole lot disappeared. When the phone rang, I hoped for GCSE results but DGD hasn't let me know yet.
What with Gransnet and phone call, I'm now running late, so TOYA for the time being.

Good morning everyone, just sending a photo of three of our five. They've come to France to play in a cardboard box pirate ship.
Happy days. Hope everyone's well and set to have a peaceful day. X

Morning all !!

Its a blue sky morning here which always sets me up for the day !

I definitely get the sleeping in the conservatory in the rain Corner. I love being snuggled up whilst hearing the rain coming down outside( but I'm not volunteering to sleep on the sofa bed mind you :-) ) . Hope you survive your long day, its taken us a few days to recover from our week with the 'erberts!!

Great news Panache fingers crossed !!

We have not reached the place for explaining about where babies come from with the three boys but had a long discussion in the car with Cooper aged 5 about death. He was extremely cross that he never got to cuddle Sammy when he was a puppy and no amount of explaining that at that time he was just a twinkle in his mummy's eye would do. He moved swiftly on to his cousins dog who died a few months ago and is now convinced that when you die you go to the beach -obviously !! We just nodded sagely and are leaving any explanation to his Mum and Dad.

We enjoyed our tea and cake at the lady of the Manors house, it was really well attended ( for that read everyone was being nosey lol) but I was the youngest by a country a mile which made me feel very chipper !!

I'm not sure what today will bring but I guarantee you no ironing will be taking place while the sun shines !!

Happy day all x

corner it sounds to me that you should reintroduce the word self-service. Next week the weather is going to be glorious so I suggest you make arrangements to catch up with all of your reading by sitting out in the garden watching the weeds grow. I love doing that.

I agree, Greyd maybe iron the bedding your guests will sleep on but do you have to do anything else? I have not ironed anything for years.

I was definitely picked up from a bush outdoors towards the end of September. It must have been a cold day because I have felt the cold ever since.
TOYA