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

izabella you are a wonder ?. So lovely to read your posts. Always interesting and fun.

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Evening All. We’re newly returned from a wonderful few days in North Wales. Superb weather, dramatic scenery and a constantly changing harbour to watch. Bliss. Back to reality now, two lots of laundry done, one to go and a heap of ‘stuff’ to put away. Never mind, it was worth it

I’m sorry you’re worried panache, hope your husband feels stronger soon. You’re right, the nature of your new home comes with its own kind of sadness, it takes some adjusting to I think.

I love any kind of glass n&g, those installations are beautiful. Hoping to get to see Downton next week. Depends if a courier cooperates with a delivery on Tuesday. Fingers crossed here. Enjoy your weekend. Please bring cake back with you. I desperately need the virtual stuff as after the excesses of the week I’m on lettuce and water .

Izabella Mr C is very envious of you watching The Repair Shop in action. It’s his favourite programme. Its always good to hear from you and share your experiences through your photos.

You do have the most dramatic sunsets soop, I look forward to seeing them.

Time for feet up here. TOYA and be good everyone.

Good evening the kitchen! It’s taken me ages to catch up with you all, the photos and the news. We have had the grandchildren for their first sleepover at our new house - that day started at 6 and was pretty full on! We did GS’s homework - baking a cake with photos (he is 6!) so there is lemon drizzle in the side! Night night xx

Morning All. Think - hope - its Charley's birthday today so popping in to wish her a very happy day with far too much cake . Don’t think I’ve seen her around for a few days so hope she’s OK.

Major need for a sort out here today so if you never see me again I’ve disappeared under a heap of ‘stuff’. .

I am intending to do nothing today, apart from cooking roast beef with all the trimmings this evening.

Our DIL is having a C section tomorrow with their second child, I am so excited to meet the new little one.

So the next few weeks will be busy here in Gravy Grange.

Happy Birthday Charlie ???

Have a restful Sunday kitchener?

I haven't been on here for a while.
Reading recent posts remids me that I've also started to visit a lady in an old age home. I go with a friend, 20 years younger than me.
The old lady used to live with her married daughter who very sadly died last year. so she's now in the care home.
She's lost a lot of memories, which is perhaps a blessing. I don't think she realises that her daughter is no longer here. And she still talks about her own parents as if they're still here.
Old age!
The Care Home is a good one, I wouldn't mind going there myself eventually, I'm not much younger than the people there.

Must make an effort on Charleyg`s birthday,have a good one and no aggravations are allowed!!!! .......just chill with Tara and enjoy another new year in the adventure of life.

Thanks for the reminder Corner it seems you have been truly enjoying pastures new up in glorious North Wales,strangly enough though,never mind how good a break nothing beats Home sweet home!

Dear Doodle ever the one to think kindly of others and play down this feeling low you are experiencing yourself.Several times I have tried to PM you in the past to find you were not into recieving them.I can understand that but then on the other hand, you are probably missing out on many uplifting messages that sort of fit that particular time.........but with you now open to them I hope you have nothing but pleasant messages
I think,irrespective of our given lot in life,we all get these low tim es when every little thing irks and gets to you,then when meeting something much bigger, we find we are not dealing well with them.They come and they go.Hopefully very soon in your case.......they have gone.
I can expect this in all we are facing but I am trying very hard to avoid dwelling on things and looking too far into the future,not at all easy though some days are better than others, and my favourite "trick" is to make myself realise there are others far worse off and facing bigger ordeals.
It does not always work though!

Whilst Izabella your posts come through as a truly lovely breathe of fresh air and must never be dismissed, as I for one am learning much from them,whilst enjoying your amazing pictures.Just keep up your good work!

Gravy Grange has much to look forward to indeed,so all I can add is ........simply enjoy!

How is the new house shaping up Nannytopsy? You seem to have gone straight into entertaining and that I find very impressive.What is your secret??!!

The rains have arrived but hopefully will not dominate the rest of the month.
My dear man had another fair night though is overheating dreadfully and sleeps without even a sheet for cover.Having just had a shower and shampoo we will wait awhile before we can evaluate exactly how he feels today,so far there are signs of improvement.

Have yourselves a restful Sunday my kitchen chums.TOYA XX

Thank you all. I cannot believe I am yet another year older.
I seem to have had a very busy week and yesterday I was at a conference for Macular Disease-it was run with military precision and well worth attending. Even living in London and getting to Tower Hill was a nightmare, car, bus three tubes and then a hike. Next year it will be in Birmingham.

Tara tried to get me out of bed at some ungodly hour but did not manage it until after 10 am.

Thankfully I am not going out for lunch today- I intend to catch up with washing and boring stuff.

Happy Birthday Charleygirl
They do come round with monotonous regularity.
Busy just now so will pop in later.
TOYA.
There is a very regular poster on here to whom I owe a PM
I hope you know who you are.Reply later today.

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Happy Birthday Charley - we are sending you a slice of virtual Harry Potter themed lemon birthday cake. Despite being well decorated it was neither too sweet or dry - best birthday cake ever ! Leaving some here on the side for you and Corner to replace her lettuce leaves.

Mind you , young Cooper nearly killed me with laughter - he spotted the cake ( and for those in the know , on the top was the sorting hat) and promptly announced that Stevie had a cake with a giant poo on it !!!

I have to say it didn't put me off the cake but if you were unfamiliar with HP I can see how he came to that conclusion.

Anyway, we are having a VERY mellow day today . It was a killer trip home last night due to the Duxford Air Show clogging everything up. I'm feeling it today.

Lovely views *Corner8 quite glorious !!

I shall leave a couple of pictures of the party for you . Ill be back later x

A cheery good afternoon to all our lovely kitcheners.

Happy birthday, Charleyg. Enjoy! I always do. Seems a shame not to celebrate.

Nannytopsy I can well imagine the hustle and bustle and pleasure you've shared with your grandchildren. Nothing quite as rewarding - especially when a home-baked lemon drizzle cake is on the menu.

Panache I fully understand how mixed your emotions are on a day to day basis. It's only natural that your fears surface, as do mine. I cannot forget that, the aortic aneurysm that continues to grow in MacSporran's abdomen could rupture without warning. The leukaemia will not go away but we do our best to put any concerns away in the pending file. Photographs taken of him just a year ago show a much more robust individual. We all want our loved ones to thrive and enjoy life to the full. There is no magic formula. We simply do our best to cope with whatever comes our way.
Thank you for all the kindness you extend to this lot.

Fennel Our visits to the care home are a mixed blessing. Those whom we visit are cheered. That's how it should be. On the other hand, seeing how child-like some of residents are is distressing. One particular lady wanders from room to room crying out for her mother. Recently a very smart elderly gentleman stood in the doorway, and his trousers fell around his ankles. He was wearing a nappy. He was naturally a little aggitated when he found it difficult to hoist the trousers up. I helped him but, I imagine that, if he fully understood what had happened, he would have been beyond embarrassed. Old age can be cruel. Again there is no magic formula for reversing the business of dealing with dementia.

I didn't mean to get maudlin' I apologise. It is a state of mind that I make a huge effort to avoid. However, you lot understand. That is a great comfort.

N&G THANK you for those happy-making photos of your super family. I am cheered no end. As for the cake...save me a sample. I am in a cake fancying frame of mind.

Thank you all so much, it is really appreciated.

I had so much lovely food yesterday I have only had non-alcoholic liquid refreshments today so far.

It has had the temerity to rain on my birthday but at least I have not had to water the hanging baskets which were crying out for water.

Nothing lined up for next week except Tara's annual trip to the vet. I am unsure who will be more traumatised..
TOYA

A very happy birthday to you Charleygirl????
I am still struggling to keep up with all the busy goings on as my daughter still unwell so we have been looking after Matilda.Our whole family arrived for the weekend to celebrate our youngest daughters 30th which went well but difficult as so much worry and tiredness.
Panache,soop Isabella,Ann and all you lovely kitcheners continue to inspire,you have so much to deal with yourselves but always so kind and thoughtful to us lot.I wish I had your way with words,you express yourselves in a way I would love to be able to,I will keep trying.
Anyway,the little princess needs me so TOYA and hopefully things will get back to normal in this household soon and I can contribute to the kitchen in a way I would like to.

Susan56 Your contribution is greatly appreciated. thank you.

Hello the kitchen! First chance I have had to look in for a couple of days - don’t know where the time goes!

Happy Birthday, Charlie??! Don’t spend too much time on the domestics - you deserve a day off on your birthday!

Panache I hope your DH is rallying and you both feel a little better. Take it all a day at a time?.

Soop MacS is not get only one who seems a lot less robust in this year’s photos than last - mine seems to have aged very suddenly. Probably something to do with living with me; I hope that is all that it is! It would help if he would slow down a bit!

N&G what super photos, especially the one of Laura and Grampy! Bless Cooper - that would have made me laugh out loud too! Fantastic cake though - shame to cut it! Glad the party went well. Hope you have your feet up now!

Well, junior footie was wet today but very exciting. GS excelled himself by scoring...... an own goal ?‍♀️! I was pleased to see that he soaked up his humiliation well and got on with it, playing his socks off for the rest of the match. What did disappoint me today was to hear one or two members of the opposing team (we lost, by the way) booing during the match. I then heard one of their spectators doing the same. Totally unacceptable.

Went to see ‘Downton’ on Friday and very much enjoyed it.
Another full week of school runs for us next week as DD is working five days on the busiest of the two student registration weeks. Apparently the city traffic was gridlocked on Saturday due to the influx of students arriving to both universities. Judging by the rate at which they are building new student accommodation, numbers must be increasing year on year.

I have a chicken to put in the oven for a late dinner today, so I had better get on with it. I will try and look in later. TOYA.

Shame on me! I forgot to say how wonderful your photos were, Corner. I’m very glad you got the weather and enjoyed your holiday! We have never managed to get the weather for Snowden. One day perhaps!?

corner Your photographs are delightful.

Greyduster The behaviour of some people never ceases to disgust me. Those who boo or heckle should be shamed. Your grandson on the other hand, was a good sport. Stuff happens. You have to get on with the game. Well done, him.

It is log off time for today. The weather hasn't been as good as yesterday. It's grey-ish and damp-ish. Never mind...we are the lucky ones.

MacSporran has baked a delicious smelling loaf containing plump raisins. Sunday evening meal is a simple affair. Toasted cheese sandwich with sliced avocado pear on the side. Followed by a pud. A friend gave us a box of dark choc peppermint creams this morning. A bad move! We've already eaten two each. I am now anticipating scoffing nibbling on a further two later. The back bone of a flip-flop. No way can I make those chocs last.

TOYA. Until tomorrow -

Soop I know that both DH and I would swap our chicken for your toasted cheese (only one for avocado though??)! It is a perennial favourite here. As for the peppermint creams, I can only drool......

Thanks for your understanding, Soop. What upset me most was when we went a few weeks ago and she was asleep. When she woke the first thing she said was "I want Mummy".
On a cheerier note, we're still bu......g on here with our aches and pains. TG still on good terms with our 4 and their families. Who are all over the world and we see as often as possible.

greyduster, how could his opponents boo your GS? After all the own goal he scored was to their advantage. They should have been thanking him. Mine - GS - is off football for a few weeks as he fractured his wrist last week - just a 'buckle fracture' which should heal quite quickly. Luckily it's his left wrist so he won't have an excuse for not doing his homework.
soop, dinnae fash yersel. It would be sinful not to have a few more of those delicious choc mints. They wouldn't be safe if I was around. The same can be said for MacS's raisin loaf.
I must admit to having been tide to the small screen for many hours today watching rugby, albeit Scotland's pathetic performance almost made me weep. Where is the team that took the Calcutta Cup just this year? England didn't have too much trouble with the very large Tongans.
Tonight's Antiques Road Show was recorded at the new V&R in Dundee only a couple of months ago. When I was last there, they were busy setting up the venue in the environs of the museum,

tide TIED

PS. How could I not wish you Happy Birthday, Charley? I belatedly hope you enjoyed your day and will have a splendid year to follow. ?.

Happy Birthday Charleygirl !
I am very sorry I missed it but being away at DD’s I haven’t been keeping up with GN
I hope Tara didn’t bring you a small rodent as a present or wake you up at crack of dawn to Miaow “happy birthday, Mum” in your ear!
Anyway I hope today has been good and that the next 365 days until the next one will be even better!