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

It a far better day here too. I lay down for a short siesta after lunch. Cannot say it made me feel refreshed. Have started a cat portrait for a lady in the village. She's a very kind soul. Always doing stuff for others.
I'm also busy putting the finishing touches to middle son's two cats...Dylan and Archie. We've ordered a smart copper-tone frame for it. It will make a pleasing birthday present in November.

Care home visiting day tomorrow. It will be early afternoon before I'm able to skip into the kitchen.

Please take care of yourselves. TOYA.

What with promise of chicken pie and Yorkshire Parkin I may settle for just the one dark choc cream this evening. Mustn't be too greedy.

Greyduster Guinea pigs are sweet wee creatures.

Ah, Yorkshire Parkin! Be still my beating heart! I will swap my chicken pie for a slice of that, please, Fennel. My mother used to make it.

Well, so much for seeing GS today. He phoned on the way home from school to ask if he could play football in a friend’s garden and as we know both the friend and the garden, we said yes. Getting him to come home at the appointed time will be like getting a limpet off a rock I dare say. So we have had only the guinea pigs for company!

GreyDuster - I love chicken or meat pies but they involve a lot of work. Our butcher does good quality mince and I made a lovely pie last week. I had some real beef stock left over from a slowcooked slab of beef shoulder which we'd had cold, sliced.
But like you, Ann I'm already tired of the planning, shopping, cooking routine. Even though I still get quite excited about trying a new recipe .
Tomorrow I plan to make Yorkshire parkin - I might spare a few pieces for the Kitchen.

That looks delicious Greyduster I don’t eat much pastry due to reflux but I will make an exception for that.
I am not a bad cook but pastry is not my best thing.
Sponges and cakes are fine, just don’t have light enough hands.

I am going to have to sort out meals with my GD.
After years and years of meal planning and c’ooking
I welcomed a break from it, pleasing myself if I cooked or snacked, then my S moved in and back to square one.
We then decided I would just cook Saturday and Sunday and he would see to himself in the week,now back to square one again until we work our way through it.

It is a much better day here than expected and quite warm.
I am surprised just how warm the nights are now.

Hello the kitchen! The sun is shining, the washing is out, the roses are putting out new blooms and I even have a lupin that has put up a very late spike! As for the rest of the garden - meah!

Ann I am very glad to hear you are to have the reassuring company of your lovely GD, and that all find a cosy space somewhere!

Izabella motorways are a nightmare for me these days and I don’t even drive them. Just being a passenger sends my BP soaring. Glad to hear you are safely ensconced at home and hope the Bach practice is going better than mine. The Prelude in C Minor is threatening to slip away from me yet again. When I get fed up with my own playing I fall back on Helene Grimaud’s sublime renditions.

N&G that’s pure Jackson! What kindness. I think he and my GS would get on very well (but I’m sure Jackson will not be scoring any own goals!).

I have been making chicken pies this morning, and cauliflower cheese, to give DD a break from cooking an evening meal as she will apparently be very late today. I leave the spare for anyone who likes chicken pie - my DH does not (Philistine) and there is too much even for greedy me to eat. I have promised him salad for tea. How dispiriting!

Thanks N&G I am a bit of a misery at the moment but I do know what you mean ?

N&G what a lovely little grandson you have,you all must be so proud of him.
Ann,it’s so lovely that your granddaughter knew that she would have a home with you and good that she will be around to help you and keep you company.
Thinking of all the families affected by the collapse of Thomas Cook and all the employees who have lost their jobs.
TOYA

N&G When I read about Jackson's kindness, a large grin crept over my face. Bless him. He is a proper star and us lot love him.

Ann Your granddaughter has a special relationship with you. You will be good for each other. She will have a fine time converting the second bedroom into her personal space.

anno We are wondering whether to spend our next weekend (sometime) away in Dundee. The V&R would be a perfect place for us visit. Last night's Antique's Road Show was the perfect venue.

Thank you all for the great number of those who wished me a happy birthday. Tara did want me up at the crack of dawn but that was not to be. She stopped bringing home presents around 3 years ago- why I have no idea but I was pleasantly surprised.

She is less than pleased with me this morning because I did not surface until after 8 am.

It is a lovely day here- bright sunshine- not what I was expecting but I am not grumbling- it will not last.
TOYA

Good morning all.
Another week, where is the time going.
I have a very busy week ahead although my job is planning, not doing.
My physical condition is deteriorating more quickly and I am finding life harder in that respect.
As posted on another thread, my GD moved in with me yesterday, totally unexpected but she knew there was a home here for her when she was ready.
I won’t go into details but am glad to have her here.
My S is already here so the house is filling up.
She is taking over the second bedroom so wants to change things a bit, that is where the planning bit comes in.
It won’t be “done in a day” like Rome so we may have some upheaval before C.......S.
We also have to figure out where my D and her family will sleep on their visits, life is suddenly far from dull.
I am so sad for people suffering from the fallout of the r Thomas Cook collapse.
Life seems so fragile sometimes.
Lost holidays are bad enough but thousands will lose their livelihood.
Have as good a day as you can everyone, TOYA.

DGD1 sent a lovey picture last night - she's enjoying a break in Mexico. As she's looking relaxed, I assume they are not with Thomas Cook. DGD2 is living it up in Perth (Aus) with her army cadets, as guests of the WA cadets, having flown on the non-stop flight from Heathrow. She sent a picture of herself with a koala. Of course - it's obligatory for tourists, isn't it?

A beautiful morning here and maybe I will get the towels out on the line before it rains yet again. The leaves on my red maple are showing signs of change. It won't be long before they are crimson.

Morning all,

Was hoping for a sunny start to the day but its not to be it seems. So not sure what the day holds as we were planning a trip to a NT property. Maybe it will brighten up later.

Sorry to hear your trip was bad Izabella, the roads just seemed super busy all weekend.

How are you feeling today Doodle ? A bit brighter ? ( Actually thinking on that it sounds rude ...like you were dull before lol but I'm sure you know what I mean :-) )

Oh I bet your heart sank for GS own goal Grey , poor lad but glad to hear he gave it his all !! Its been a football boot buying kind of weekend here too as both little boys needed boots.

CAUTION : Proud Nana moment coming.

Jackson's Mum was telling me about last football practice. Jacksons best friend Walter forgot his trainers so Jackson lent him his new ones and wore his too small football boots himself. He got blisters from the boots ( hence the new boot buying spree), but what a kind boy he is. He didn't want his friend not to be able to play . He's got a big heart that child.

Anyway, now Ive got that off my chest I will leave you with a picture of my kind boy proudly carrying his new tetrahedron pyramid he made to school ! as you do lol !!

Happy day all !

Apologies for not keeping up with everyone's news whilst I was tripping (literally a couple of times) the light fantastic near southern shores. The weather was superb, the sea sparkling and the gulls noisy as ever. CH recited anew the 'sort of ' poem as we sat on the prom in Bognor. Lovely.

Fantastic to see old friends too. Always important in life.

A very belated birthday to Charleygirl I hope the day went well, and to cornergran pleased you made it home safe and sound. We had the journey from hell with driving rain all the way back on a journey that took over 7 hours. CH mentioned it was leave the car at home day but the motorways were stop start and so busy. MAybe its like that all the time I don't know as we rarely travel by road these days.Doodle I hope life is a little better for you and for dragonfly also. As for the poo cake N&G that brought a smile to my face.

Murphy has seen to it that we are surrounded by sunshine and blue skies now we have no need to drive today and the leaves in the tree outide the window are now dancing in the breese in their autumn livery of yellow and gold. Quite beautiful.

I now need to get back to Bach practice - with thanks to McSporron for helping me out with a total memory blank. Thank you.

Happy Birthday Charlie!

Doodle I hope you are feeling less anxious and Panache too.

I really need to sleep now TOYA!

Happy Birthday Charlie. Big internet problems here - hopeful that we get installed this week!

A bit late, but,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHARLEYG!

Hi gq thank you. I have replied. ?

Still busy with houseguests here. Happy Birthday, Charley... better late than never! Doodle have pm’d you, hopefully it’s worked!
toya, will pop in tomorrow x

Thank you soop.x

Panache thank you for your kind thoughts.x

Happy birthday to Stevie too N&G. Lovely cake ?

Sorry to be a late arrival at the party charley. Many happy returns ??? ( Tara, mummy is a year older today. Be gentle with her ? no ? dropped on the bed and no ? and certainly no ?! )

Anno they were not booing GS, I’m pleased to say. The booing came later in the game when we had scuppered their advantage, but we still lost in the end. Sorry to hear about your GS’s wrist - he’ll be champing at the bit to get back in action I expect. I hope it heals soon!