Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen...

Maltese
Wet not war
Sigh

Malteser - autocorrect has not heard of these treats?

Hello the kitchen. Well, after yesterday’s brilliant day, which afforded an opportunity to get out to the country park after a morning making chicken curry with The Boy during which he acquired lots of new culinary skills and overcame his raw chicken phobia, today was all downhill. I had thought there would be cake to share with the kitchen, but it was an unmitigated disaster and we have been trying since to pick apart what went wrong, without coming to any useful conclusion. I had been given this recipe by an American friend the year DD was born, made it numerous times and it acquired legendary status within the family. But it makes a very big cake for which I no longer have a large enough tin, so GS (who had heard much of this cake from his mama) and I decided that we would cut the ingredients in half. You’d think that would work wouldn’t you? Anyway, it has been consigned to the dustbin of history, and the, er, dustbin of dustbins. We know when we are beaten. Even he won’t eat it, and he will usually eat anything!

Super photos from all; mine from yesterday won’t download so that I can put them on here, for some reason. You aren’t missing a lot!

Soop my nuts were hazelnuts, picked in our lane, some still in their green husks. I will work on it further this weekend.

Lins glad to hear your back is a little easier. I had a brace when I slipped a disc and it was a godsend.

Galen my condolences on the loss of your friend - I know you had known each other a long time.?

To all those who have been braving large shopping centres with their GC, I salute you!??

Afternoon all,

We have survived 3 days with the little boys then an intensive day of shopping with the Queen of the Universe. We had a marvellous time, but oh how my poor knees are paying for it today!

I thought I would pop in prior to heading out to our inaugural Knit and Natter meeting. I am going to this one just because it is the first but will generally be doing one on a Thursday morning as I hate going out in the evening in winter.

I have of course, no idea what's going on in the kitchen and to be fair by the time Ive read back I will have forgotten what I read and forgotten why I did it - so sending good wishes to you all.

I'm sorry to hear of the cake disaster Grey ! Keep trying - we'll keep eating …. which is something we have done a plenty this last week and my scales prove it !!My Slimmer of the Week delight was short lived I fear.

So sorry to hear of the loss of your friend Galen - that was a lifetimes friendship and I am sure you are feeling it greatly.

I am off to gather up my crotchet so will check back later and will try harder to catch up x

Lovely photos as usual Soop.

*GrannyGravy..."getting ideas for Santa" all part and parcel of the fun.

Feelingmyage Wow! Please explain 'Dublin Murders' when you've watched the latest episode. I'm still unsure about what's going on. I'm a simple soul.
My father meant well BUT (at the time) I thought that he was a rotten spoil sport. On our way home, he would mutter...'less of the tutting'.

Greyduster Surely that cake could have been used in a trifle or whatever. Or am I wrong?
I really like hazelnut husks. I pick them up on walks and add them to a bowl of conkers and stuff. On occasions, when delving into my pocket, I come out with a few that I've overlooked.

Lovely to have you back, N&G Happy Knit and Natter.

Thank you, Bellanonna

Ironing duty in the morning. Before we leave for Glasgow in the afternoon, I shall pop in briefly to have my daily Granspal fix.

TOYA

I can't believe that so much has been happening in the past five days while I've been away, staying with my family in Oxfordshire. I saw most of the GC except for DGD2 who was away on Duke of Edinburgh Award activities. Yesterday we visited the Leckford Estate, owned by Waitrose and Partners. It's a lovely garden centre and the lunch in the restaurant was delicious and great value. DS2 took me to the station this morning only to find that my train had been cancelled. He drove me to Oxford in plenty of time for my connection which was, of course, late and kept on getting later, finally leaving 25 minutes late. By the time it reached Macclesfield, it was a whole hour late. Was I glad to find my taxi awaiting me at Poynton Station! Luckily I had arranged assistance for getting myself and luggage on and off trains. It worked perfectly and I was so grateful.
Anneliese, I'm so sorry to learn of the hassle you are having arranging alterations to accommodate your husband's limited mobility. Have you contacted the MND Association, who might well have come across similar problems. You might find this link useful.
www.mndassociation.org/support-and-information.
Galen, I'm sad for your loss of a good friend and neighbour. No matter how much we may expect it, bereavement leaves you feeling empty. .
Ann, it sounds as if the months, and maybe years, of stress may have played havoc with your immune system. Glad you have your GD to keep an eye on you. xx

Hello everybody!!seems like everyone is having a really busy time,loving all the photos.We have been to a Halloween maize maze today and pumpkin picking.Matilda has come for a sleepover and has a long list of activities for tomorrow?
All our preparation for my husbands surgery on Friday was going well until he went into the greenhouse and sliced right along the top of his head on the window latch?am thinking of wrapping him in bubble wrap until Friday.
Soop,wishing you all the best for your hospital trip tomorrow.
Lins,am so glad your back is feeling easier.
Galen,Sending you my condolences on the loss of your friend.
Soop,wishing you all the best for your hospital visit tomorrow.
TOYA?

Thanks for all your understanding.
Am recovering today from very tiring tribunal and even more exhausting visit from the dgc yesterday. The girls are fine, but the 3 year old is nonstop and completely exhausting.
Only 14 more tribunals to go before I retire.

Morning all !!

Will there be a celebratory cruise to mark the end of your tribunal work Galen ? Have to be something pretty special !!

I have a husband like yours Susan, he leads with his head and I have lost count of the number of lumps, bumps, cuts and bruises !! Good luck with the surgery!!

We are off to collect Lauras charm bracelet in preparation for her birthday in a couple of weeks. We bought the bracelet the week she was born and each year have added charms celebrating that year , so hope she enjoys the story of it all.

Knit and Natter was lovely , ladies of all ages , some very talented crafters and some delicious village gossip...oh and cake !! My kind of club !!

Have a good day all !

soop, best wishes and safe journey!

N and G
No!
Next cruise is 16 days in the Baltic in May.
After working in benefits for over 41 years, I really feel like a rest.
I’ve celebrated retirement by buying myself a string of —- guess what —- pearls!

Good on you Galen

I’ve not posted in a while I’m finding 15 political threads all going on at the same time very off putting so thought I’d pop in hear for a more interesting read. As always lots going on happy and sad.
I had my carpal tunnel release surgery last week which contrary to my thought on the subject, to say the least was gruelling the reasons for which are long and tedious suffice it to say I’m usually good with pain but if my hand hadn’t been strapped down it’s involuntary jumps would of landed ‘James’ a black eye. My hand is healing well but is painful and the carpal symptoms feel the same as before so far. I do hope I didn’t put myself through that for no benefit.
Well enough of my woes it’s another lovely day and I’ll take a walk round the park.

Have a good day all of you ,too numerous to mention individually other than to add that Charleygirl5 is nothing than very welcoming to everybody an uncalled for remark.

Just a brief drop-in before we take to the road to Glasgow.

anno One of the best small restaurants in Kintyre is part of a garden centre at Glenbar. It's our favourite for celebrations such as birthdays. Fab home-baked food using locally sourced produce. A cheerful atmosphere. Surrounded by trees and shrubs.

Susan Enjoy Matilda's sleepover. As for your husband's head...snap! MacSporran regularly bumps his and it sometimes resembles modern art...black, blue, red and such.

N&G Thank goodness! I was begining to think that I had missed pics of the Queen of the Universe on the occasion of her birthday. Looking forward to the event.

Thank you, Bellanonna It's a beautiful day for the journey.

Galen Did you say - pearls - I would never have guessed. Your forthcoming retirement is richly deserved. You, my dear, are a trooper (in pearls).

tanith The experience isn't exactly memorable for the right reasons. The surgeon who operated on my hand had an alarming stutter. I was fearful that the scalpel would also jig about a bit. However, you will be spared washing up duties and, in due course, that awful pain will be but a distant memory.

No time to spare. (MacS says so) I shall TOYA until I return sometime late tomorrow afternoon.

Try to keep out of mischief.

Sorry I missed you soop- bon voyage and good luck.

Thank you tanith much appreciated. I do not understand why you are still in so much pain- it should be getting better. When do you return to the hospital and do you go to the surgery for suture removal or did he use dissolving ones?

I think if you are still in so much pain visit your surgery for advice. I am assuming that the wound is not infected? You, like myself, would recognise the symptoms.

Quick visit. Mr C has man-flu. Need I say more?

Hope today has gone well soop, is this the overnight stay? Apologies, my memory is tired I think. That sounds more than uncomfortable tanith, I'm sure Charley is right and a visit to the surgery is called for.

Our friends are all falling too pieces. Heard today one has broken some ribs. Fortunately his wife is well in control but the GP prescribed morphine for the pain so now he's hallucinating. This getting older lark isn't always fun.

Good for you galen, what better way to celebrate?

Wishing your husband well for Friday susan, hope his head remains intact. Strange, Mr C is also a head banger, car boot was the last one and he knows it's there.

Of I go to don my waitress persona, apparently man-flu doesn't impact the need for food.

TOYA

Thanks for the concern, I have dissolving sutures Charleygirl5 there is definitely no infection it’s healing nicely, I did wonder whether he might of tweaked a nerve while he was cutting the ligament as my palm hurts, it is slowly improving though, I suppose I had high expectations that the numbness would disappear pretty soon after surgery but it can take much longer apparently. I will speak to my GP if it doesn’t improve soon.

Late to the kitchen today after a busy day. The lawn this morning reminded me of my grannies house. Can you remember those Axminster carpets with the autumn leaf design? Well we have one fitted all around the trees and paths ? . Looks beautiful.

soop I hope the journey and associated activities all went well? Nice to see you tanith and I hope the sleepover went well susan. Commiserations to Mrcorner on his malady, although I am sure he is being well looked after.

I will try and remember to post a picture of pumpkin and spiders when CH finds out how to send from his phone to mine ?

Keyboard practice before dinner. Passable now but as a preferred perfectionist and having been more than able on the ivories in the past - definitely not for public listening. So frustrating.

Home made parkin next to the aga

Hello all. Early dinner tonight so I am a bit mellow having imbibed some ?.
galen we expect a pic of your pearls when they arrive. We should have a kitchen party to celebrate your retirement. ? champagne and tasty nibbles I think ?

Oh goodness! I have missed a few days what with workmen and everything and it has taken an age to catch up!
Galen welcome back - enjoy your pearls. That reminds me that mine need restringing.
Another lovely frosty morning here, as we gradually slide into a colourful Autumn.
We have had a lie in today, after 7am deliveries and an 8am concrete mixer. I shall wander along to the village coffee morning later.
Have a good day everyone. There is a banana cake on the side.

Dropping in for a quick update and to have a sneak look at some of your posts before grandchildren wake. There’s been little change since my last visit, the steroids keep my DiL going so at least she’s up rather than in bed all day. My son is having a major wobble. He’s in such a state I’m worried he’ll have a breakdown. He turns up at my door either crying or angry. He tells me such awful things. It’s being interpreted ‘as not caring’ by her family, I’m finding that hard to listen to as well as hard explain to them. It’s such a worry. The three youngest grandchildren seems oblivious except the very youngest who out of the blue asked “why is my mummy not getting any better? Why is her medicine not working Nanna? “ Her brother was with us and I was driving at the time so couldn’t really give her my full attention. I just said “sometimes medicine stop working but perhaps the doctors will give mummy new medicine “ It’s that kind of thing that makes me want to weep. This little girl will have no memory of her mummy when she was well. It’s been a busy two week half term. I’m off to see my lovely sister for four days break next week to power up my batteries. Love to all.

morethan a sobering post at the start of the day. Words can never really say what I want to in such situations but you are in my thoughts.

Seems rather glib after morethans post but if I dont do this now it will be forgotten