Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for kindly folk.

Oh Scapa you’ve were so close yesterday, sounds like you’ve had a lovely couple of days away. Nairn beach and Brodie Countryfayre are only 20 mins away and we regularly visit. I’ve not been to Deans shortbread bistro though, must put it on the list!

Evening Kitcheners. We had a nice couple of nights away in Elgin. Tuesday and Wednesday weatherwise was a bit wet but did not keep us in. We had lunch at Bruar on the way up as usual it was very busy. We heard one woman saying it was “just like Harrods” not convinced about that though. Yesterday we had a walk at Nairn beach before the rain came on then lunch at Brodies which was packed, I think everyone was sheltering from the rain! Today the North-east Riviera was lovely, not cold with blue skies but very windy. Got the cobwebs really blown away on a walk along the beach at Cullen. On to Huntly with lunch at Dean’s shortbread bistro, Cullen Skink which I love but don’t make due to fact the smell of the smoked haddock hangs around the house for ages. Of course we had to stock up on Deans shortbread, several types quite cheap as all second 🤣. The it was home was just nice to be away.

My idea of hell Nannytopsy you’re very brave, I hope you sleep well and feel tons better tomorrow.
I’m no baker either llfl but neither of us are fussed about sweet foods, plus with my cholesterol issues, now sorted by statins, it’s just as well.
Imogen bakes, it was part of her Duke of Edinburgh award, she’s very good at it and a size 6!
It was warmer today but cloudy all day, I pottered in the garden, my garden lady and I discussed a few ideas, I saw a rat after she’d gone, I know they’re around, but eek!
Now I’ve sown some seeds I’ll be impatient for the shoots to appear, whilst hoping there’s no frost, tempting fate before May.

You do make some really delicious sounding cakes and meals llfl well done to you 👏

Brook - I think I must have a Baking gene! My mum was a trained baker and made the best cakes. My sister and a niece are very good too. My two sons (though sadly not my daughter) are also excellent bakers.

So good to hear from you Blossoming but sorry to hear about the boiler issue. Hopefully it will get fixed very soon and you’ll have your hot water again. In the meantime, have a lovely time away, enjoy the stunning scenery and a relaxing break with a hot shower!

Bet you were both pleased to be home soop after a long and tiring journey

I’ve had a lovely day here the weather has been good, it was a bit windy but dry and sunny so I was out pottering in the garden most of the morning. This afternoon I met up with my friend and we had a lovely walk in the local park and a coffee at Starbucks.
I’m back home now and DH is cooking dinner 😀

Your cake sounds absolutely delicious llfl I wish I was a baker but I’m not much good at it

Sorry to hear about your ordeal at the dentist nannytopsy, hope that’s it done and dusted for a while now

Take care with that arm grandmabatty and well done with all the cleaning you’ve done. I’ve got one of those Karcher window vacs, it’s quite good and cleans the windows well

Nannytopsy I'm particularly bad at cleaning glass! No matter how I do it, there are smears

Our windows need doing too grandmaB - perhaps tomorrow!

Good afternoon kitcheners. Blossoming have a lovely time. You deserve it. Nannytopsy ouch! Get better soon. Ladyleftfieldlover the chocolate cake sounds wonderful. Soop the Rest and Be Thankful road is notorious, isn't it?
I have managed to regain some energy and tidied up the front garden, giving myself a nasty deep scratch on the arm in the process. The window cleaner was here this morning, so I did all the inside glass this afternoon. A productive day for me. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

Thank you Jax we are off to the Lighthouse Hotel tomorrow for a few days and hopefully the boiler part will have arrived by then. The first thing I will do after checking in will be a lovely warm shower! The weather forecast doesn’t sound great but we don’t care, the views will be spectacular.

I’m glad appointments are moving ahead Soop. That dental appointment sounds horrendous NannyTopsy, hope it settles down soon,

GrannyGravy hoping all goes well tomorrow

Hope any poorly people are soon on the mend. I am very behind with all your news, will try to catch up over the weekend.

Afternoon everyone! It’s sunny/cloudy and warm in Suffolk and I would love to be in the garden. I had a 3 hour mauling at the dentist this morning, with 3 lots of a anaesthetic, so I am feeling very sorry for myself. There are sutures, earache and aches in areas that were not touched!
Still, it will pass. Best wishes to all of the really poorly Kitcheners and their families. Glad you are home safely soop and I hope you get good results.

Hello kitchen people.
It’s sunny, warm and grey in my village. OH has gone to Reading to test drive a car. He wants a 4x4 so his bee hives will fit in more easily.
So, I’m having a relaxing afternoon. There’s a cake in the oven - Felicity Cloake’s Perfect Chocolate Cake. I’ve made it before and it’s delicious. It contains melted chocolate, chocolate drops and cocoa. I might take it to Kew next week as I’m looking after my granddaughter and it’s her mum’s birthday.
In a minute I’m watching a lecture on zoom about London pubs.
Have a good evening especially those of you in the dumps. Soop, I’ve always compared a mammogram with being caught in a door!

Good to see you back Blossoming not good boiler news though.
That sounds horrendous soop a relief to get home n doubt.

I am sorry to hear that a few of our dear Kitcheners are experiencing the dreaded lurgy. A pal of ours has been been feeling below par for a few days. I wish you all a speedy recovery.

GrannyGravy Special good wishes for your dear son's full recovery following tomorrow's surgery.

Yesterday's journey to the Vale of Leven was interesting, to say the least. A total of six hours motoring through some heavy downpours. The road at the Rest and Be Thankful was closed on our return journey. The area is prone to awful landslides. Traffic was diverted along what is known as the Old Military Road. It was a tedious trek. Miles of traffic awaited the escort vehicle. Never mind, we arrived home safely.

The mammogram was, as always, an uncomfortable, but necessary procedure. Prior to which, we enjoyed a fish and chip lunch. Sadly, we didn't meet Baggs on this occasion. There will be other opportunities in the near future.

Love to you all.

Good afternoon dear Kitcheners. Sorry for the radio silence, but the last few weeks have been rather fraught at Blossom Towers. The icing on the cake has been the boiler packing up on Monday. We have a service agreement with British Gas and I can’t fault their response. Engineer arrived and checked everything, but unfortunately he wasn’t able to repair it as it needs something replaced. Of course the part to be replaced is not one that is kept in stock, it’s a ‘special order’. We don’t have a problem with keeping warm as we have warm clothes and electric heaters for emergencies. It’s the lack of hot water that’s the real pain. Even so, we can manage with thermos jugs but no shower. Later today I am going to attempt washing my hair over the kitchen sink, which is always fun . I’ve had to do it before when I couldn’t shower following surgery, lots of towels needed to catch any spillage.

Brother and wife have gone, no games 🙁 they’re both exhausted, house renovations and were very pleased to be fed in a warm house.
Your poor family GG13 I do hope your son remains germ free for Friday 🤞and your daughter in law improves swiftly, similarly your daughter SueD.
MrJ has used the last of ‘our’ cough mixture, Tescos own chesty cough is really very good, tastes vile, can be taken with most other drugs, does the job and isn’t expensive. ( I have no shares in Tesco🙂).

I wish we had a Waitrose up here SueD, I do miss the different shops and choices. We’re mainly Tesco, Aldi or if I go into town then M&S
Hoping your DD feels better soon too 💐

Hoping all goes well for your DS on Friday GG

RosiesMaw.

Nannytopsy yes, I did get towels, pretty yellow ones. They cheer up the bathroom no end. Dunelm had a better selection than anywhere else.
That sounds worrying, Grannygravy. I hope all goes well for your ds.

Truly, these lurgies and this weather are making life quite miserable at the moment for so many people. Dd1 is now on antibiotics for her lurgy. Having planned for a child-free week, we’re now doing childcare on Friday. Oh well!

Like Brook we had rain today. I say had when in fact it’s still raining! My son-in-law, who farms, says none of the local farmers have been able to sow so much as one single seed so far this spring. It’s worrying for the harvest later on the year. Even those who sowed in the autumn have seen vast areas of seeds swept away in the deluge. And I saw poor little lambs standing in the downpour today.

We made it to Waitrose today, where I had a good browse and picked up some temptations to bring home. It made a change from our usual Tesco or M&S. Otherwise, it’s been a quiet day and hopefully we’ll have a quiet night as well.

TOYA. Xxx

brook2704

Hoping your poor Dil is feeling much better soon GG

Thank you, we are on tender hooks as DS is having a partial mastectomy on Friday and he doesn’t want it cancelled due to him catching anything 🤞

Hoping your poor Dil is feeling much better soon GG

Hi kitchen pals, it was dry this morning so I was busy pottering in the garden, there’s always lots to keep me busy. The rain started about 12 so after lunch I jumped on the bus and went into town for a browse around the shops. Bought a quick and easy dinner from M&S just for a change that’s in the oven now
Hope you’re enjoying your evening with your brother Jax and the games too
I bet those little DGSs will be so very pleased to see you grandmabatty with lots of stories to share too!

Well my day didn’t go to plan, one of my darling daughter-in-laws is really poorly with this family lurgy so I have had GD & GS here all day (just been collected by DS)

We met DD and The Imp at the park, but despite being sunny the wind was blowing from the Estuary and I came home frozen, the tinies were oblivious.

Will probably have them tomorrow as well, need to up the vitamins 🤣

Jaxjacky chicken and leek pie sounds scrumptious. Have a pleasant evening with your brother.
I have been so lazy today. It started off dry but quickly turned to rain, so I haven't done much. I'm quite tired today so I don't mind being lazy. I did get some stuff for the family at Aldi to keep them going until tomorrow. The family are on the way home and I expect I'll see them tomorrow. So a peaceful evening ahead for me. Enjoy your evening Kitcheners

Another day that started with sun and blue skies, chillier, but glorious, by 12 back to rain and grey, where it has remained, our heating came on at 5.
However, I’ve been to the library, I still love a proper book to read at bedtime, called at the farm shop, just caught the last of the Cypriot early potatoe and I’ve made a chicken and leek pie.
Soon my brother and his wife will be here for dinner, games will be played, I’m looking forward to it, I’ve warned them we are a lurgy house.
Have a lovely evening all.