Soops place of refuge and friends

Back from a few days at our little home-from-home, it was lovely to see the first of the rhododendrons as we passed near Sandringham.

I'm out of touch here as we have no internet there.

Very belated Birthday greetings to you, cornergran. .

Great for you to enjoy your family time in Cambridge, brook.

Busy weekend for you, Nannytopsy, sounds lovely.

Good for you, FGT, booking your flight to Malaga, we'll all be thinking of you. x

Utbb, I hope all goes well for your granddaughter as she gets her first home of her own, exciting time for her.

Warm thoughts for you all. x

Good evening everyone. I’m glad you have your flight booked FGT. There will be difficult days but fond memories too.
We had DD and the two littlest DGC here this weekend so DS and his extended family came too. The two little boys disappeared. Step GGS (4) and GS (3) came back with grubby faces. A chocolate cake and my ( late) birthday cake had been sampled 🤣. Little handfuls had been scooped out of the middles and there were bite marks around the edges! They had clearly got fed up of waiting. After all the excitement THR littlest was sick in the night.
DGD (2) is being potty trained so the mop and the carpet shampoo have been in use.
All in all a proper and very noisy family weekend!

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Milo and Ripley having a Sunday nap.

Hello kitchen people.

I had a good day. We had a good lunch out. The portions were so huge that we asked for a doggy bag. OH will eat it all tomorrow night for his dinner - I will be in Kew for a few days looking after my granddaughter.

We visited an Oxford Arts Weeks venue. I bought a couple of greeting cards and a bag of purple fabric oddments. I may add them to an enormous collage I’ve been working on.

Sleep 💤 tight.

Oh how lovely FGT.

Hi everyone. It’s been a grey cold day here, until about 5 o’clock when the sun came out, still cold though.
Both DDs and families visited this morning. The 3 year old had a meltdown on arrival and her sister was looking very glum! DD2 filled my car with petrol for me, I think it hadn’t been filled up since before Christmas as I haven’t been driving much,
DD1 arrived a bit later, the 11 year old spent the visit on her phone, the 7 year old disappeared upstairs with her cousin, who is 8 and they played happily for an hour or so!
They’d all left by 12.30, so a quiet afternoon for me. That was ok as I was able to get some washing done while electricity was cheaper.

fgt how lovely that L’il Miss regards your apartment as her weekend home. What a sweetie she is.

grannygravy well done to your GS and his football team. I hope his SATS tests go well this week. My 11 year old GD has hers tomorrow too, and apparently for 4 days this week.

Wishing luck to all those DGC taking exams of any kind this month and next.

‘Evening All’

It’s been a sunny day here.
My heart melted when L’il Miss arrived this morning (she, like me chooses not to cheer on the Boy Wonder at football - last game of the season they too had won their league and he got MotM award) and she said “This is like my weekend home, grandma!” 🥰

Hi kitcheners 🙋‍♀️, it is rather dull here and chilly.

I have just prepared the veggies for dinner (roast beef).

The 11yr old GS is on a high, the football team he plays for has just one the league, so he will go into his first SATS exam tomorrow morning happy.

The 16yr old GS is stressing over his GCSE’s, I do feel for them.

Will try and catch up with your news 🙋‍♀️

A dull and definitely cool day in S Hants, I’ve been down to the village for cash, then checking some money stuff online.
Good to hear from you neine sorry you still have aches and pains, mine haven’t all gone either, a nuisance.
Great the boys were around brook busy bees those youngsters.
I wish I could bake llfl but if I could it would go to waste, I get the occasional fancy, but generally stay off the sweet stuff. MrJ is similar.
My Dad used to travel a lot and bought me an early Barbie from America, my younger sister cut all her hair off!
Best get on and prep some veg for dinner, MrJ is at bowls.
Catch up later.

Lots to catch up on here. The week has just flown by...a belated Happy Birthday to you Corner, The trips out and a Chinese meal sound lovely and your eye not hurting too much was a well deserved bonus.
Yia.. Fingers crossed that a trip to Corfu can happen...having something to look forward always lifts spirits I think...and wonderful news about the apprenticeship.
UTBB... lovely need about the house...was it the one they had to answer questions?
Redcar and FGT I smiled and winced about the Barbie's...with 4 daughters there was always the odd Barbie shoe lurking somewhere unseen until I trod on it barefoot...ooh I can recall the pain.
Jax... I'm so glad you are driving, it must feel that nearly everything is back to 'normal' once more. I'm struggling at the moment... tendonitis and sciatica which are both possible side effects of the revision surgery. I'm trying not to be down about it but not always succeeding.
Granmarie...I didn't make it to the gym last week. I intended to but the combination of maybe making things worse, DF arriving, Financial Advisor and Hairdresser meant it didn't happen. I gardened instead albeit much more slowly than I'd like. This aging thing is not for the faint hearted. I didn't buy any plants at the Gardeners World show but made up for it at Home Bargains at Solstice 🙂
LLFL...the Panna Cotta sounds lovely...I have made a chocolate bread and butter pudding in the past...if I remember right I had to start it a couple of days before I needed it so the sauce could sink in..there were no leftovers.
Brook...enjoy your time with your Grandchildren....you can never get those moments back...so precious. I'm glad I have some wonderful memories of those sleepovers to cherish...I hope the Grandsons might remember them and me too.

And here it is:

Hello kitchen people.

I’m all tucked up in bed. I had a ‘bitty’ sort of day. I got my ironing done and made a chocolate panna cotta. I enjoy cooking, especially cakes and puddings but I’d never made a panna cotta. It was a Nigel Slater recipe and worked beautifully. We had it after the chicken curry which OH prepared.

I had a long chat with my brother in Australia this morning. He has various health issues mainly resulting from a very bad car accident he had over ten years ago. He had decided to sent me a birthday present after all. A teapot in the shape of a birthday cake with Winnie the Pooh characters on the lid. It arrived just after I’d finished speaking to him. Many years ago he bought me another teapot - bright pink in the shape of a tea table with cups and plates on top. It is on the window sill in my downstairs Barbara Cartland memorial bathroom.

Sleep 💤 tight.

Hello, Kitcheners.

fgt I’m pleased you’ve had a better day today. Playing Barbies looks fun. I must get some new Barbies for littlest to play with, those I have belonged to my DDs and are definitely passed their best! And their clothes are very dated.
I’ve been quite busy today, changed the bedclothes including the duvet cover, did some ironing, pulled all the dead leaves off the daffodils and took the bulbs out of the trough. I’m feeling a bit tired now,
I hope you’ve had an enjoyable day with your family in Cambridge brook.

corner a shame you had to cancel your trip to Malvern, but it’s a big showground isn’t it. I doubt I’d get even half way round it now.

Enjoy the rest of the evening everyone.

‘Evening All’

My day has been smoother. Yesterday’s bereavement session unmoored me. I cried there and again later, at home.

This afternoon L’il Miss was dropped off while mum went for a power swim. Good for her to carve out some ‘me’ time. I told her this year she needs to find more time for herself as she is always so busy (and dependable). What’s that saying? “If you want something doing, ask a busy woman”. That’s my girl.

L’il Miss and I played Barbies (see pic 😁).

I’ve just enjoyed a glass of chilled white wine and a Bigham’s Thai curry. Not much washing up so a double bonus. I’m going to get ready for bed now, sit on it and watch a couple of episodes of the new series of Amandaland which I love. (Thank you for the recommendation LLFL!) I might have missed it otherwise.

Hi kitchen friends, an early visit from me as I’ll probably be busy later
I arrived at DD1s house here in Cambridge yesterday, it’s lovely to be here and catch up on all their news. Both DGSs at 9 and 11 are growing up fast so I like to visit as often as I can whilst being mindful that they’ve all got very busy lives. Unusually neither of the boys have got football matches today or anything else on so according to DD we’ll be going our somewhere later, where to is a mystery to me but I’ll just go with the flow!
I really hope you can get to Corfu Yia I’m sure it’ll do you both a power of good. A big well done to your DGS, I hope he does well with his apprenticeship
Exciting times ahead for your DGD and boyfriend uttb, I hope everything goes smoothly for them. Of course you’ll miss her dreadfully but like you say it’s the right thing for her , hopefully she’ll not be too far away ❤️
Hoping all our kitchen friends have the best day they can, take care all x

I’ve had an excellent t birthday, thank you everyone. My eye was less swollen so no fear of scaring the horses . No sun this morning but we still headed to the pier for an hour. Sat and watched the waves pass by as worries pass by - eventually.

Rat-gate continues, it’s firmly on the back burner for the weekend. Our University granddaughter visited, what a treat and surprise, I had no idea she was around, it was courtesy of a postponed assessment. We’re both looking forward to tomorrow. 🤞 both motorways cooperate. So many messages and cards from distant old friends, I feel overwhelmed. Often feel very separate from them, a real alone feeling.

We cancelled our planned trip to Malvern today, we knew neither of us had the stamina for it this time. Next year maybe. Watching it on tv made us all the more determined.

fgt counselling sessions can be oh so exhausting. They take courage. Listen to your body and rest.

🤞 for your granddaughter utbb, I hope all goes as smoothly as any house purchase can. You’re right, it’s a far more complex process than it used to be.

Well done to your grandson yia. Hope you can get away and the sun warms hard to be with moods.

Cambridge family time sounds good brook. I don’t think we’ll get there again, a shame but realism is important. I’m trying not to wish for what isn’t practical

As ever apologies to those I’ve missed. My head needs to sleep, if it will agree to. Night night everyone. Sleep tight.

We’re watching Question Time Redcar GW would be better for my vocal cords!!
We went to our local earlier for our usual catch up, sitting outside in the sun, out of the stiff breeze it was pleasant, move a metre it was cool. Good to see friends, talk was about football this weekend, elections and what we were having for dinner!
Enjoy your evenings.

FGT2 Sending a 🤗
Horlicks and shortbread sounds very comforting.

Redcar I could have gone to that show on a trip but felt I couldn't walk round at the moment. It's lovely, am enjoying it on the TV.

I’m watching Gardeners World coming from the Three Counties Spring show from Malvern and remembering visits there some years ago. A lot of money was spent, not all of it on plants! I learned the hard way that which plants grew well in Gloucestershire didn’t always survive an Essex winter!
I may have an early night too fgt having been awake since 3.30, worrying whether I had the right form for my blood test. I did of course. Counselling is very tiring I think. .

Enjoy the rest of the evening folks.

I’m in bed scrolling GN
I’m tired - I did a lot of crying at my bereavement session this afternoon.

I enjoyed my fish n chip Friday and in an hour I shall make a mug of creamy Horlicks and open a packet of shortbread and read my book for a bit.

Light out for me around 9pm and tomorrow is a whole new day - untouched as Himself used to say.

My GD and her BF are on a high, I just hope it all goes ok.
It is so many years since we bought a house, it is so complicated now.
They have had to provide pay slips, that seems normal but today he has had to go to the building society with their driving licenses and passports and every penny of the deposit has to be accounted for.
I am gifting them money towards the deposit and I have to send a letter saying where that money came from.
Does over sixty years of saving sound ok? (ironic).
I’m so pleased that phase of my life is over.

yiayia good news for your grandson, you must be very pleased and proud of him.
utbb good news too for your DGD, I hope the house purchase goes smoothly for her.
I’m not long home from a blood test at our local hospital, I was in and out in 10 minutes! I had envisaged a waiting room full of people but i was the only one there! Everyone else was probably driving round the car park trying to find a space!!
Have a good day everyone, it’s warm and sunny here so far!

Excellent news for your granddaughter utb

Thanks Yia and everyone else, small metaphorical steps.
I do hope you get to Corfu, it would be cheering for you both Yia and hopeful dispel the grumps.
Good news for your granddaughter utbb fingers crossed 🤞

Happy Birthday Cornergran I hope you have a lovely day.
I am still recovering from my one night away.
I was exhausted when I got home, we packed a lot into 2 days, my scooter was a real boon.
My time of going away is coming/ maybe has come.
My GD has had an offer accepted on a house, now all our finger are crossed that it goes through smoothly with no hiccups.
There is no chain at either end.
I shall miss her tremendously but young people should be on their own to make a new life for themselves.

Yia I hope you get the go-ahead for a holiday , it will do you both a power of good.