Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for the sharing of...

Although I never watched Downton Abbey, I agreed to go with a friend to watch the film this afternoon. The moment I set foot outdoors, the heavens opened. I drove most of the way to Wilmslow in a cloudburst, through a lot of flooding, especially under the railway bridge! By the time the film ended, the rain had stopped and the roads were mostly clear. At one point the projection equipment broke down, and we had an unexpected interval in the film - but nobody came round with ice cream . I enjoyed the film which left so many loose ends that there is sure to be a sequel - driving home, we almost wrote the screen play!

Evening all - I am currently knitting a canoe !! The weather is so bad that Sam had to be kitted out in his winter jacket to go out and so did Grampy !! They both came back looking like drowned rats !

I'm all for a bit of rain but this is verging on ridiculous now :-)

Well done to you Soop I have been avoiding the ironing mountain for some days and now I am thinking I should bite the bullet and get it done !!

BUT...… I shall say this only once.... I have done the bulk of the small ones Christmas shopping and will collect everything tomorrow ! I know its early, but I like to get it done and dusted ( and spread the cost a bit ) and was feeling a little behind the curve. But now I am basking in that righteous glow that can only come from getting it done ( or cleaning the utility room ;-) )

On that note ( and before you start throwing things at me ) I shall away …. I manage to stab my thumb with the scalpel this morning and after bleeding profusely over my crafting I managed to stop it using 'invisible bandage. A liquid you paint on. But you do have to re apply it every few hours . Works a treat though.

Anyway enough niff , naff and trivia.

Happy Sunday all.

I am feeling slightly "holy". The utility room has been sorted and thoroughly cleaned. Didn't much want to do the job. Very pleased to see the result.

It has been another lovely day in bonnie Kintyre. I am hoping that you lovely lot have been spared the torrential rain that has fallen in some parts of the country.

Until I come into our kitchen tomorrow...TOYA

My goodness it’s quiet in here today! Lots of lovely Sunday lunches and afternoon naps?!

Thank you again for your lovely messages.
Well done to the crafting group N&G?
Lovely sunset soop,we had a cottage in Anglesey when I was growing up and the sunsets over the sea were spectacular.I have a hankering for a break by the sea,will start sowing the seeds of the idea in my husbands mind!
TOYA

N&G Congratulations to the crafting group. The money raised thus far is testament to their skill and good will. You have done marvellously well. Good luck with reaching your target. Loving those "little chaps".

Last night's sky was beautiful. Here it is...

Morning all from rain central !!

Lovely picture Susan that's a keeper :-)

I think we should definitely throw the Panaches a party when everything is signed sealed and delivered !!

The total thus far on our crafting group is £1200 !! It will continue today but in a more mellow way with less games and such but we have now set our caps at raising £1500 in total . I auctioned off a few crafting projects so today I shall be making dozens of these little chaps ( see picture!!)

I shall be back to catch up later- Happy Sunday all !!

Henry Jude looks a contented little chap Susan56! Congratulations.
Awake early after far too much wine last night (yes Kitty, we have opened a few!). I blame my DD! I hope your house was dry when you got home.
Well, breakfast to cook and rugby to watch! Have a good day everyone x

Susan56 We shall hang this delightful photograph of Matilda and her darling brother (he looks so bonnie) on the kitchen wall. Big from us lot.

anno Dare I say that the weather here has been nigh on perfect. I do hope that you remain flood free.

Panache The bunting is ready when you are ready to sign. Let's all have a knees-up when it happens. You've had a bumpy journey at times. Yet, you persevered and coped with many buggerations. Us lot feel like celebrating a very happy outcome.

I'm logging off for today. Enjoy your Saturday evening. All those of you with trials and tribulations will remain in our thoughts.

TOYA

Thank you for all your lovely congratulatory messages.We have met Henry Jude and had lots of cuddles when Matilda let us,to say she is besotted with her little brother is an understatement.
I too agree re the kindness of strangers,when my husband had his accident earlier in the year we were humbled by the kindness shown to us by people we had never met before.
TOYA and will leave you with a picture of Matilda meeting Henry??

Thanks ann, the drains are, so far, holding the amount of rain we've had this week. I was out and about this morning and there were plenty of places where flooding looked like developing. There's not much traffic going past my house as the council are felling an old, moribund tree and have closed the road just a few yards up from my house. People who live further on have a massive detour.

Congrats to all concerned Susan and what a delightful picture of a very substantial Henry Jude,an impressive name and good weight.A lot of cuddles await!!!

So sorry hearing about the severe weather again and I hope indeed those flood gates will not be needed Kitty,it seems you are followed by water wherever you go!!
Our weather is very intermittant but it seems with warnings abounding we are in for our share very soon.
We have a lunch invitation at friends tomorrow so we are in two minds about being able to make it,as with every little thing these days we have to think hard and play safe.

That lurgy has entered our establishment too so I have a feeling it is but a question of time before we shall all have Rudolph red noses! It does seem to bring with it a cough as you mentioned Izabella........hope you,Corner and any others that have succumed will soon be hale and healthy yet again.

We held a successful Macmillen Coffee Morning here yesterday,despite the windy and wet weather many folk made an appearance so hopefully there is a sizeable cheque being sent off to help a very valuable group of people.

This morning has seen our garage being completely emptied with everything going either to the "tip" or for Car Boot sales.Sadly it was something we felt unable to carry out ourselves following 2 not very successful Garage sales.It seems............and I say this in a whisper.............we are getting ever nearer to that day of actually signing...........The flags will then fly high!!

Wishing you all a pleasant and safe from storms weekend,stay "hunkered up" within the confines of home sweet home!!TOYA xx

N&G The kindness of strangers goes a very long way to make up for the selfishness that seems all too apparent.

A lovely lady in the village invited us to view her album containg the many photos of her granddaughter's wedding. We arrived at her home at eleven. We left just after one. I'm almost ashamed to say that, after the viewing, I ate a huge slice of the delicious wedding cake, a salmon roll and a chocolate slice. Where was my will power? Absent without leave, is the answer.

dragonfly The waiting and wondering is very stressful. Rest assured, you will be given the very best treatment that your cancer demands. I believe that whatever decisions the experts help you to make will be in your very best interest. You are making positive progress. Well done, you. Please keep us updated.

Izabella I've so much respect for the way in which you are coming to terms with your condition. You sound a lot more with-it than I am. I also like the manner in which the lovely assistant helped to deal with the payment for the card. All it takes is honest-to-good common sense.

Henry Jude is delicious, congratulations to all,

Thank you all for the kind messages, the room is much more stable today haven’t ventured out yet, for once I’m being sensible. I have high hopes for tomorrow though. Need to get moving again I think especially as I’ve a good day planned on Monday. Mr C is doing well in the kitchen, as long as I don’t look in there my BP remains low. .

TOYA. Take care everyone.

Afternoon all,

Just back from the Harvest Festival local food fayre at the church. Stuffed full of samples - Norfolk Blackshuck gin, cheese and such !! AND we managed to avoid the rain !!

Hope you're feeling better Corner , stay in bed and be waited on until you are !!

Congrats on the safe arrival of Henry Jude Susan , what a cracker, I am very fond of the name Jude as it was one of my Fathers names. He looks lovely , are we lining up for a cuddle?

That's a buggeration Dragonfly , but at least winter baldness means you can wear some glorious hats etc , much less doable in the summer. Not much comfort I know , so sending you a hug xx

Grey and one for you too by the sound of it. You know that she doesn't mean it and it is the illness talking but after your recent happy visit its galling.

I am a little bit proud of my fellow crafters today. We lost one of our admin unexpectedly to cancer. We are a smallish group of around 600 ladies, rarely met in real life but just as here, a group of online friends.

We are holding a crafting and tea party online to raise money for Cancer Research today. There are games, prizes an auction and all sorts of going ons. There are photos of people with cake and raising a cuppa to Lyn, our much missed friend and so far 6 hours in we have raised £700 !!

How nice are strangers eh?

I shall pop back later and let you know how we end up but wouldn't it be marvellous to top a £1000 :-) ?

Congratulations on the new arrival susan. Lovely boy ?
izabella it warms your heart to hear about the kindness of some people. All we seem to hear in the papers these days is bad news. Glad you got your card.
panache hope things are going well for you and MrP. So glad you are settled in your new home before winter sets in although the weather here makes me think it already has ???

Welcome to the world, Henry Jude ...a perfectly beautiful newborn. Thank you for the photo for the gallery, Susan56
Celebrations all round.

corner So sorry to hear that you are feeling well below par. Listen to your inner voice. Relax and be prepared to be well cosseted. (((hugs)))

dragonfly so many emotions for you to deal with. ((((hugs)))

greyduster I too am sorry it is your turn on the rota for your sisters ire. When I read things like this (and PLEASE dont let it stop people posting such things) I hope I don't turn out to do the same. Who knows.

This morning I had it in my head that I MUST get an anniversary card for CH and pootled off to the shop. Found a lovely card then realised I had no money. My faith in human nature was restored when the lovely assistant (who knows I have Alzheimers) said not to worry and call in some time and 'would you like a balloon f.o.c? Bless her. I resisted the balloon as we all know helium is a non replacable gas and fast depleting.

anne try an eggless sponge perhaps?

Congratulations Susan what a lovely boy he is.

Lovely pictures as always GrannyQueenie and congratulations again on your Golden Wedding.

It is sad indeed that your SiL has turned on you Greyduster but as Soop says it is the dementia taking over and hope you feel better soon Corner you have had a lot to cope with recently.

I had a very strange day yesterday. I received two disquieting letters in the post. The first was a summons for Jury service. I have never been called before and as it is a Leicester Crown Court I would really like to go. I rang them and they have told me I can defer for a year which I will do.

The other letter was from the hospital with an appointment with an oncologist I have never heard of for the week after next. I have an appointment with my surgeon next week to get the results of the operation. I rang the BC nurse and she was appalled that I had received the letter before I had seen the surgeon with the results. Apparently it is because I will need radiotherapy, which I already knew, and my present oncologist only deals with medication not radio. Also she said they are going to discuss chemo with me as they are sitting on the fence about that one and it sounds as if it is up to me. Not sure how I feel about that and that I could be bald for Christmas. I like them to make the decisions. Anyway I will try not to worry until I know more next week. Meanwhile I am feeling good, driving again and have full movement of my arm so cannot complain.

It is now pouring down again.
I hope anno’s drains are working well.
I have a Sainsbury’s order coming this afternoon and it includes butter so I can do some baking, now realised I have no eggs!!

Welcome to the world Henry Jude. You are gorgeous!

What a lovely baby and I love the name too congrats all round.
It can’t make up its mind here in Ealing whether to rain or not if it holds off I’ll get some shrubs trimmed if not I might do some baking.
Have a good day all.

What a lovely young fellow- we do have a lot of babies in the kitchen at present.

Dare I say we had sunshine all day here yesterday It did rain slightly during the evening and night. I have not switched on my heating yet- I am trying to survive until the beginning of next month- we will see- I do like to be comfortable when Strictly is on!

Sorry to hear some have ongoing buggerations- corner I would stay in bed- if Mr. C is trained I would allow him to show his newfound skills of making hot drinks and delivering them without leaving a kitchen looking as though you had been burgled.

I love all of the photos.

Lovely baby, Susan, and a nice healthy weight too - very cuddlable. Congratulations to all.
Raining again. I had hoped for a respite today. The Council cleaned the gulleys on my road this week so that if a flash flood happens, the drains might be able to cope this time. I really don't want another lake at the end of my garden.