Soops place of refuge and friends

grannygravy is Lakeside air conditioned or is it the individual shops that have AC? Whichever, perhaps not the best place to be on such a hot day! I hope the shopping trip was successful.
Enjoy the wine, you certainly deserve it!

On the hottest day of the year so far I have been to Lakeside with our nearly 9yr old GD clothes shopping 🤦‍♀️. That is what she wanted for her birthday treat.

Kebabs on the BBQ Lamb (for DH) chicken for me, with rice and salad, warm enough to eat outside.

I am impressed with your domestic goddess persona Grandmabatty

Early time for a nice chilled blush, might have to crack open the Whispering Angel, cheers dear friends 🙋‍♀️

Redcar that's much too warm for me! I have dug out the fan and it's in the living room, but I don't need it yet.

Hello everyone. grandmabatty I’m very impressed, a domestic goddess indeed! I did strip the bed, wash the sheets and duvet cover and swapped the mid season duvet for the light summer one but I always struggle with the duvet covers. I got it all dry outside but haven’t yet ironed any of it. I’ve vacuumed downstairs and then given up, the temperature indoors is 24 degrees, and the garden thermometer says it’s 31 out there! Too hot to do anything except sit in the shade with an ice cream!
I tried on a few summer skirts and some of them are destined for the charity shop as they’re too uncomfortable to wear.

utbb an exciting time for your GD and her partner, I hope the house purchase goes smoothly for them. You’ll miss them for sure.

fgt I hope you’ve had another good day.

Have an enjoyable evening everyone.

Good afternoon kitchen folk. I hope you are all well. In particular Brook who is catching up with family in Basel. Im very jealous. I've only been there once and thought it was a delightful place.
Today I have excelled myself at domestic goddessing. It's not been overly hot here and there's been a wind so I have washed the sheets, mattress protector and duvet cover as well as other sundry items and hung everything out to dry, which it has. Then I ironed everything and put it all away. I have cleaned my leather suite with leather cream, polished, hoovered and washed the floors. Indoors is mostly done. Tomorrow I will clean the windows and mirrors while I wait for tesco. Then I will potter in the garden. I'm disinclined to spend time in it because it's a bit sorry looking, but needs must. It isnt getting a makeover till August.
Because I deserve it 😄, I've ordered an Indian takeaway from my favourite local place to be delivered later.
Enjoy your evening kitchen folk

Hello all, I am still here but feeling so tired and so old .
BH weekend has me feeling sad and nostalgic.
For several years we went to Abersoch in N. Wales for this week with 4 other couples and had a most sociable and very enjoyable time.
We had both cold rainy weather and hot sunshine on different years.
Now half have died and one had dementia, old age takes its emotional toll.

My GD and her BF are very excited , the house says SSTC on the agents website and they seem to get notifications every day from the mortgage broker or Solicitor.
All by email of course with all the questions answered online.
A far cry from when we bought our first house in 1960, new build semi for £2,250 .
They are off to Wembley tomorrow to watch their team, Stockport County either go up into the Championship league or stay where they are.
Very tense time.

I do read every day and follow all your doings, my thoughts are with you all especially those who are walking a long ,hard road.
I have been there.

Fgt2 I love a Vina Sol in the sun. It was a quiet day until DS & Dgd arrived for a quick visit, she livened things up. My sister is coming tomorrow for a few days so I anticipate a busy weekend spent with family.

FGT2 Vina Sol in Spain yes 👍🏻. By the time it gets to the UK no 👎🏻

I’ve had a day of two halves. Pottering and productive this morning culling stuff from cupboards (mind you I’m studiously ignoring a ‘certain cupboard’ which contains clip boxes of Himself’s clothes) then after a mushroom omelette for lunch I went down into the gardens with my book, chair and suncream.

Delightfully I was joined by a lady who, like me, owns an apartment and holidays here many times a year whenever the fancy takes her. She is a little older than me and has been widowed since Covid times.

Our chat was delightful (my novel didn’t get a look in!) and at 4pm I asked if she’d like to share a bottle of chilled white wine with me. I scooted back up in the lift and brought down a bottle of Viňa Sol and two wine glasses. A very pleasant end to my day and she too said she’d been glad of the company, so all in all, a smooth day.

Pleased to report eye progress, no pain now, the aim has improved and I’m much more used to viewing the world through one slightly hazy eye. I can stop on Monday, not long.

Super day here today. A coffee and a long sit by the sea wall, a wander to a garden centre to buy a few more plants to join those waiting to find homes in the tubs. We thought another bag of slate would be a good idea, goodness that stuff is heavy. Down to us now there is no local family to help.

Planted all the tubs early evening, just hope Mr Rat and his mates don't decide to go digging in the tubs. There are noticeably fewer invaders now, 🤞 the trend continues

Your evening with friends sound just right fgt, you’re certainly facing the challenges. Hope tomorrow is a good day for you.

Good news about your holiday yia, it’s good to to read positives in the last few days if sad to read worries. Look after yourselves everyone.

Hi all, two loads done here Grandmabatty you win! Library books renewed, a long call with very good friends and Tesco delivered.
Off to our local in half an hour, outside will be busy.
Delighted for you Yia not long now.
Enjoy your meal GG13.

How exciting Grandmabatty a new baby in the family

I have had a manicure, eyebrow waxing and lash and brow tint this morning. This afternoon I laid in the garden for a while (factor 50 applied) and read my kindle.

Now need to shower and get ready to meet DS4 and his family at a local Italian restaurant, a lovely finale to a glorious day.

I hope FGT2 is relaxing round her pool 😘

Good afternoon kitchen folk. Yiayia how lovely that your ds is joining you. My ds is going to corfu in August and im very jealous. Redcar I have dug out the fan for the living room although it isnt quite necessary yet.
I had a lovely afternoon tea and time spent with both my children. Ds told dd about the baby and she is very happy for him. Apparently dgs1 is delighted and has sent his uncle a list of names he can use. I did 3 washes this morning and hung them out. I also made bread dough and have just baked it, so shall have soup and bread later. Im relaxing at the moment. Enjoy your evening kitchen folk

That was a late night fgt but so pleased for you that you had a lovely evening with friends. I’m sure you will be calmer when you meet them again next week.

It’s very warm here today, with a breeze which isn’t cooling it down much. I’ve been putting plants in the garden for some of the morning, some are wilting in the sun, despite lots of water. I’m also emptying out the spring bulbs from their pots and will store them until the autumn. The garden desperately needs water, but no rain forecast for the foreseeable future, so i’ll have to fill the cans from the water barrels.

I’ll also have to get the fans out, if I can find them!

yiayia how nice that your GS will be joining you on the beach in Corfu - not long to wait! I’m sure both you and your DH will feel the benefit of a holiday.

Enjoy the rest of the day everyone, and the sunshine if you like it.

Hello everyone trying to catch up as usual these days.
What lovely news Grandmabatty so pleased for you.

Hope you come to terms with your diagnosis Jax never nice to hear but
meds will help.I have Adcal for hip and spine hopefully stop it getting worse.

You are a very brave lady FGT you must have very special memories and it’s great that you have very caring friends.

Enjoy Switzerland Brook lovely to see your son.

Well,we are going to Corfu the medics think DH will be ok.He’s still very grumpy but I’m hoping a holiday will help.
Our eldest GS is coming for a week (his idea) I think it will be good for us both.We have rented the house on the beach again for beginning of June.I will try not to adopt a another Greek cat, Spiros would be jealous.

Look after that eye Corner.

Hope the funeral is ok Grannmarie that’s very sad.

Keep cool everyone it’s 28° here in Surrey.

Congratulations Grandmabatty a new baby is always such lovely news. Your boys will be so excited to be cousins

Just creeping into the kitchen to say good night - it’s late (and here we are an hour ahead so it’s midnight 😮 super late for me).

I’ve been out to dinner with longstanding friends (neighbours in the block) who originally hail from Glasgow and are such a kind and warm couple.

I’d had a crying jag in the apartment after
lunch after unexpectedly coming across some of Himself’s deck shoes and deciding that I was ‘strong enough’ to bag them up with some other
shoes and throw them out - then falling to pieces after I’d put them in the communal bin and crying bc I felt guilty that I was erasing him bit by bit from life here with hardly a trace to show that he had lived and loved here.

Sounds silly doesn’t it but that’s where my grief thoughts took me.

I very nearly cancelled on my friends. My face looked puffy and my eyes looked red but I had a shower and applied some make up and do you know, it was the absolute best evening? Absolutely just what I needed without knowing. Support, hugs and listening ears to give me space to gabble on about my loss. They said they’d expected tonight, a first get together, would be raw and yes we were all a bit emotional at the start of
the night.

Anyway I’m home now, feeling tired and drained but strangely buoyed by their sympathy. A safety valve of sorts . We’ve arranged to meet again next Wednesday to try a new venue together and I said I’m sure I won’t be as labile, I am aware grief can subsume conversation even with friends and so I shall endeavour not to press the bruise on Wednesday.

Well done grandmabatty you certainly deserve a cuppa and a biscuit or two!

DD2 texted to say they have arrived at their hotel in Türkiye, with photos of delicious looking patisserie and the 8 and 3 year olds looking hungry!

Night night everyone.

Wonderful news, Grandmabatty, many congratulations to you and yours, so much to look forward to! Best wishes to your son and his partner. Your wee boys will be proud big cousins!

Safe journey and happy holidays*brook*, Switzerland sounds fantastic!

Thinking of you, Jaxjacky, as you come to terms with your diagnosis. I hope you have good care and support to manage your condition comfortably.

Hello, Neine , good to see you! I hope you are keeping well. I'm a Hugh Jackman fan too, loved him in Australia, Les Mis, still to see him in Sing Sung Blue, not sure that I can cope with a weepie. Thanks for your kind words for myself and all our bereaved kitchen folk, your last sentence is very comforting and much appreciated.

Thinking of you, FGT, you are very brave. Enjoy your special place with your friends, and treasured memories of your darling man. ❤️

Well done, GrannyGravy, you saved the day!

Well done on your planting, Redcar. I did a wee bit of tidying up the front garden on Monday, just weeding and cutting back the lavender. It's been raining since! How kind of your neighbour to cut your grass. My lovely neighbours put my bins out for me, very helpful.

Hope Usedtobeblonde is doing ok, an exciting time for her DGD and BF. Fingers crossed 🤞 everything goes well for them.

I took my friend to Mass and Coffee Morning yesterday, she really enjoys the company. This morning I went to my NHS Strength and Balance class, I really must follow our Blossoming's example and practice the exercises regularly. Thinking of her and*MrB*. ❤️

Tomorrow, DS3 and I will attend the funeral of his school friend, a former pupil of mine, lovely laddie, who died suddenly. So sad. I keep thinking of his poor mother and brothers and sisters. 🙏 🕯️

Thinking of you all, especially those with worries, illness or sorrow.
Wishing everyone a peaceful Thursday evening and a good night's sleep. NNGB.

Redcar kitchen is cleaned, rubbish is out and the bin is out too. No early morning walk of shame down the path tomorrow. I deserve a cuppa and biscuit

neine i find seated yoga fairly challenging with the stretches and twisting round! I’m sure seated aerobics will involve lots of arm swinging and marching on the spot while sitting down! I hope you enjoy it We have coffee and biscuits after yoga, a good time to meet new people.

brook enjoy your bath! A good way to relax before a busy day of travelling tomorrow.

I went to the garden centre this morning and bought more compost and some more plants for the front garden. I planted them this afternoon and am now resting my back! My neighbour cut the grass in the back garden so that looks a lot neater now. Hopefully the gardener will come next week to tidy the flower beds in the back garden🤞.

grandmabatty I had a mini magnum this afternoon when I’d finished gardening. Have you cleaned the kitchen? Too late in the day for me to do any housework!

Enjoy the rest of your evening everyone.

Hi all, safe onward journey brook ✈️ I'm fine thanks, still coughing and sniffling with germs, I eat fruit, take vitamins and got this virus, MrJ not even a grape, fit as a fiddle!
The heat is climbing, just about to close the patio door, might hit 30 next week, hose will be deployed.
I hope target practice on your eye is improving corner and it’s less uncomfortable.
How exciting Grandmabatty, a lovely surprise.
Enjoy your evenings, a gentle one for those struggling.

Brook, thank you. Enjoy your bath. And Neine and the others who have commented on my good news, thank you too. I have no idea if they'll find out the sex beforehand, so I will wait before buying!
I worked in the school library for an hour and a half this morning then home to potter. I really need to tackle the kitchen but I can't be bothered. However, I know it will annoy me if I leave it any longer. I've had a very bland dinner of stuff from the freezer and im going to have a mini magnum before I decide about the kitchen. Enjoy your evening kitchen folk

Hello kitchen friends, we’ve arrived in our Edinburgh hotel near the airport ready for our flight in the morning. We travelled down from Inverness on the Ember bus, a really good service with the bonus that it’s free for us pensioners..It’s just a premier inn but it’s got a bath so I’m going to have a soak in a while - bliss!

Good to hear your eye is improving corner
Hoping you’re feeling ok today Jax and not too worried about the scan results
Grandmabatty I expect you’re still on cloud 9, I wonder if you’ll be buying blue or pink ?
Lovely to hear from you neine
Thank you all for your kind holiday wishes, I might not get chance to check in here every day whilst I’m away but I’ll be thinking of you all, take care everyone x

Just catching up with all the news in the kitchen. Jax...I hope that the medics can come up with a suitable treatment plan for you. I think another Gran on the GM thread has the same diagnosis, maybe she can give you some pointers going forward.
Corner..Fingers crossed that the ointment continues to do it's thing and you feel more comfortable each day...also that operation ratgate is sorted very soon. I'm with you on not coping with them. I have to close my eyes if I'm watching I'm a Celebrity and one of the trials involves them.
Redcar... I'm going to seated Aerobics tomorrow...I have no idea how it's going to go...How is it possible to get your heart rate going on a chair...( Does watching Hugh Jackman count). Well done on the bending too...Gardening is the best form of exercise isn't it.
Grandmab , congratulations on your lovely news. Another little one to bring more joy into your life. How wonderful it's a surprise too.
This time 45 years ago I was planning a last Bank Holiday weekend with 1 DD before baby number 2 came along due early June. I had done a big shop and was planning a roast chicken dinner and a trip to the farm..that all went by the board when DD2 decided she wanted to be part of the action and I got taken in with a suspected PE on the Saturday morning ( It wasn't thankfully) and she was delivered by CS at 2.58am on the Monday. I was over the moon after the miscarriages and she was beautiful. I comfort myself that despite the situation now I was blessed to have been a Mum and Nanny too.
Brooke...have a wonderful holiday and reunion with your DS.
Well done GG for saving the day and so quickly too. I bet it was relief all round.

FGT...I hope the warmth of the sun and the peace is healing you a little each day.
SueD...my thoughts are with you too and Granmarie and Dusty Angel. In Etaples there is a war graves cemetery dedicated to those lost in WW1 and 2 and written on one of the simple white headstone in honour of a young soldier from his wife is an inscription I will never forget...it simply said...Memories of Love....and You.
May your memories of your darling husbands and the love you shared always be with you.