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

There’s a cottage pie hidden at the back of the fridge soop. I’m whispering this so only you hear, it will be fine tomorrow .

Love the mug n&g enjoy your post weigh in cake. If you decide not to eat it all we’ll help .

Night night everyone,

Late into the kitchen today. Hope it’s not too late to wish you happy birthday N&G ?

corner the last time we had a heatwave I suggested you said "self service" in your house and sat outside reading whatever.

Apparently we are going to have an Indian summer this weekend so that would be an ideal time for you to sit outside and in my case, watch the weeds grow. A warm week next week would be good- you could maybe continue with the indolent life- I am well used to it.

I'm sure you would not notice me sneaking a couple of portions from the slow cooker. I am going through a phase of I cannot be bothered cooking much.

I cannot believe it but I still have not switched on my heating although this evening has been a tad parky.

Happy Birthday n&g sorry it’s so late.

Thank you all for your kind good wishes .

It’s such an uplifting thing to have people you’ve never met send good wishes . You’re such a lovely bunch !

I shall return with leftover cake mountain tomorrow ( you can dream !) ?

Just catching up after my hols and saw Galen's post about her mother's birthday.
My mother was born on 29/9/19, so she too would have been 100 years old if she was still living. I hadn't realised that until now.
She was brought up near Falkirk, it is indeed a small world.

Good morning everyone, from Chinon. It has taken me ages to catch up! Lovely GGS Tanith - congratulations. We are renting a 16th C chateau, complete with turret, where the stairs are. This is the living room. There are caves which house a barn owl and bats, who emerge each evening. That’s where we are keeping the wines we are collecting to take home ?. I am dreaming of the new house every night!
There is a box of fresh croissants and pain au raisins on the side.
TOYA

My dad would have been 100 on Thursday - lots of post war marriages and subsequent first borns?

That is some holiday home Nannytopsy, you look quite at home in your Chinon Chateau. Are you going to have a log fire in that wonderful fireplace? I would. Chinon and the view from the Chateau ( Henry11's not yours ) is stunning. Do visit the abbey at Fontevrault where the Plantagenet's are buried. I taught History in another life and was in seventh heaven in the Loire Valley.

My mother was born on 17.6.1913 and would have been 106. She died in 1985 the year before our daughter was born and our son was only two and a half. She missed out on so much. She was 41 when I was born, I am the child of older parents with no siblings.

Sorry I missed you birthday n&g. Belated birthday wishes. Can I have cake too? Pretty please!

Wow Nannytopsy the chateau looks amazing. I love France and have spent many happy holidays there. Thank you for the pain au raisin.

You do indeed have a strong looking mother Galen. My mum was born in 1920 so will be 99 this month but she is weeny.

Bit of a setback yesterday. Had the drain out as planned but they decided I have an infection so now on antibiotics but the upside is that I can now sleep in all positions so a better nights sleep was had.

Oops soop think you've confused Wilma with another owner, she's ours ??

Good morning everyone,
Lovely in Brittany just now after a cold, rainy Monday.

Nannytopsy what a lovely place!

Dragonfly, so pleased the drain is out but sorry you've had to have a course of antibiotics, good news about the sleep though.

Hope everyone has a peaceful day. Xxx

Nannytopsy that looks a rather splendid billet! I have never been to France other than to cross the channel on the way to somewhere else, but my DD spent six month's in Tours, living with a French family, as part of her university course; she visited Chinon and I envied her that, as I have always had a bit of a love affair with Henry II. She brought us some very good local wines back, recommended by her host.

Well we didn’t get off to a very good start this morning when a frantic, pleading, SOS arrived from GS asking if either we or his father could go and get his school shoes and bring them to him as had forgotten them. He had had to be at school very early for football trials and with all the other stuff he has to carry he had forgotten his shoes, which it would seem is a hanging offence. It’s fair to say he got himself into a bit of a state! His dad phoned the school and explained that it wasn’t feasible for either us or him to do a fourteen mile round trip just for the sake of a pair of shoes, and they said they were on top of the situation, had calmed him down and assured him that he wouldn’t be punished for it. I expect when he comes home he will be feeling foolish for letting his emotions run away with him, so perhaps the news that DH has got him a ticket to see Liverpool play at the end of month will cheer him up a bit!
Oh! And we have a very leaky pipe under our kitchen sink!!☹️ Now where is the plumber’s number?

Wowee will I ever catch up??! Such a lot of lovely posts and I have been enthralled with the Highland pictures GQ......you are a wizard with the camera.

Even later again but may I wish you N & G a belated Happy Birthday?
Whilst such a delight hearing about the several mothers born over 100 years ago,now they really would have tales to tell!A lovely picture Galen your mother shows such character,and it has certainly been reciprocated in your good self.
Talking of mothers brings sadness into my life as actually I never knew my own mother,yes I have some details but have never known a mother`s love.So by all means cherish your memories.

Looking forward to our Soop`s masterpiece of your Wilma Lins1066......something to treasure.

What a treat having such a beautiful chateau,overflowing with history, as your holiday retreat Nannytopsy and I am sure it will fill you with ideas how to form and style your new abode!!!

Such a bind having to revert to A/B`s Dragonfly but the main thing is that this infection is cleared up.Wishing you well trusting there will be no further set backs at all.

Am completing my A/B`s tomorrow after a very painful bout of diverticulitis but thus far they have not cleared up the problem.....I still live in hope.

Today I have the dreaded Optician`s appointment and I dread it simply because I just have such poor vision so cannot tell which of the lens is best!Of course it will also mean I shall be left with a huge dent in my pocket!!

Even with all your "buggerations" regarding your stairlift Charleyg you do seem in good spirits and I like that........do not let these trials get you down........I am sure Tara agrees with me!!

Lovely hearing from you Izabella and although you may feel you are not always on top form,please be assured most of us feel much the same!!!
Life can have its difficulties but we simply soldier on with a smile!!!

Another lovely morning,indeed we are truly being spoilt here on this western coastline,whilst yes,the forecast for the weekend is absolutely stunning.........I think a visit to the beach is called for!! We are trying to pack in such little visits whilst my dear one can still manage them,sadly though for me,I do have difficulty in trying to push aside what is ahead, although I am determined it must not mar what we have here and now.
Often thinking of you both AnnelieseYou will certainly understand.

Have yourselves a great day my kitchen chums...........TOYAxx

Lins1066 Of course she is. A senior moment! xxx

Our resident award winning scribe - Panache - has beat me to it and put into words all the individual messages that I would have liked to add. Thank you, Panache

N&G The coffee mug is perfect. Those grandchildren of yours are some of the luckiest on planet Earth. x

Care home visit was a bit of a confused affair. MacSporran discovered that our pal, A, had emptied an entire pot of runny yogurt down the front of him and over his top blanket. After clean-up, things went well. In the meantime, I arrive upstairs (where the most needy residents dwell), to find that T was still being attended to in her room. I sat with a dear man, N, who wears a permanent grin and we attempted to converse. Then, I was sent to T's room. She was aggitated because she wanted to be wearing her favourite bracelet. Once I'd sorted her out, she attempted to explain who all the people in two ancient framed photos were. A couple being her parents. She then broke down and needed hugs to get her back on track. Off I then went to join MacS in A's room. A asked me what did vets insert under the skin of pets? Microchips! Well, he suggested that, when Parliament reconvenes, all law breakers should be fitted with one. You get the drift...

Dragonfly it does seem that things are progressing pretty well and you just need to have the a/b.s working properly. Hoping that Panache also has the required outcome from hers.

Lovely holiday photographs everyone! Nice to be able to enjoy them with you.

Himself is sitting on an old stool on the front path while he cuts the mini hedge and seems very happy to be outdoors. I am trying to get him focussed on the things he can do rather than all the stuff he can't and it seems to be working well. I am heating up a pre-prepared meal for a latish mid day dinner so am also feeling quite pleased with myself.

My young helper popped in today for the first time for ages as she has been most unwell and it was so lovely to see her. I actually felt needed as she just needed a listening ear and a big hug; both of which I am good at - even if I do say it myself. She is not a gardener but is going to join me later on this week in dead heading and pulling out a few weeds which will do us both good. I will get some exercise and we both get fresh air and she will learn what weeds look like. We have loads and a wide selection so it will be a very full lesson! All good if the garden looks better and I may even be able to entice Himself to cut back a few things too. All we need is some sun!

soop you sound so busy - please both of you take care!

dragonfly The body takes some time to heal and settle. You are making good progress. You remain in my thoughts.

greyd you deserve a medal, your GS must have been mightily relieved.
I hope that your optician's appointment went better than expected Panache and that your pocket wasn't too dented.

It has turned out to be a warm and sunny day after a cloudy start. We have been to a nearby town with a lovely covered market. There is a stall there which sells beautiful leather goods and DH wanted a new belt, he bought a good black one.
We had forgotten that the Neath Fair occurs on the second weekend of September. Gilbert de Clare gave the town a charter to hold a fair in September in the 13th century, I forget the exact date. Stall holders were setting up, but it all looked very different from my childhood memories when my father took me on the Thursday after school. I always had a toffee apple.
You had a very eventful care home visit soop, you are very kind both of you.
Best wishes for continuing progress for dragonfly and all those with concerns and buggerations. ?

Hello kitcheners. I have just been for a lovely walk with an old friend. I thought of wearing walking boots for the rough terrain but it was sooo wet and muddy that we should have had our wellies and a canoe. We had to double back at halfway as it was too flooded to continue. Breeks are now in the washing machine. Anyhow it did not stop us from trying to put the world to rights - we had to console ourselves with hot chocolate and a lot of cake to compensate for failure in both walking and sorting the world. I think I will have to close my eyes and ears to what is going on.
Had a jam making session and have left jars of rhubarb, raspberry and strawberry jam in the kitchen cupboards. I will try and make scones tomorrow to go with it unless someone beats me to it.
panache nice to see you. Those taking medication look after yourselves and TOYA. ? for the kitchen window.

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Evening all !!

A successful weigh in with the scales going in the right direction encouraged us to head off for cake ! I had cappuccino sponge and very lovely it was too !!

I have attached a photo ! As you can see it wasn't exactly a chunk so I'm afraid I ate the lot !!

I love homemade jam Feelingmyage - I remember helping my Mum make blackberry jelly jam, that was strained through old tights stretched across an upturned 3 legged stool!!

Grampy has finally caved and exchanged his pre diet trousers for new ones as they were beginning to look like he had borrowed them from a MUCH bigger boy!! Then he complained because I lost more than him so he blamed his new heavier trousers lol

Oh poor lad Grey . I can imagine the horror at the forgotten shoes. That is so like Jackson who lives by the rules ( unlike Cooper who says 'Rules? what rules?'). I hope you have a few treats to hand to cheer him up.

I would just like to say - my husband is a keeper !! ( No need for the ditch and frozen leg of lamb today!!) As a huge treat we are having chips tonight , first time in 10 months. AND I really fancied a slice of proper white crusty bread with them. So he has headed off on a 40 min round trip to Tescos to buy a loaf !! That's what I call love !

I also got 2 birthday cards today from the little boys - you will recognise me from the picture :-)

They both show a penchant for boobs and in the right place but Cooper's are slightly bigger!!
It has been a beautiful day here today ,if only I could get out in it.
I can now only go out if I am taken.
I am very, very annoyed with my legs, they are not behaving at all.
I am being picked up at 7pm to go to a friend's house for a glass of wine (or possibly two) so I am looking forward to that.
A good evening to everyone.
TOYA

Actually Cooper's might be a collar on a dress, I now am not sure I am on the right track.

Feelingmyage I've bagged a jar of rhubarb jam. Anxiously awaiting the scones.

N&G Go girl! Eat that cake and enjoy every last crumb. The cards are keepers , together with Grampy.

Ironing duty in the morning. In the meantime, TOYA.