Soops kitchen, a place of reflection, refuge and at times revelry.

Today didn’t go to plan 🤦‍♀️

Overcast along with coach loads of school children at various local beaches, even the usually quiet back of beyond one.

Plan B indoor trampoline park, very tired children and much lighter purse.

I am about to have a not needed but wanted glass of wine…

GrannyGravy much sympathy. On my second glass.

I’ve had a large glass too today, the lull before the storm as we’ve both DGC here tomorrow for a sleepover. Wish me luck!

grannygravy what a shame your day went pear shaped! Indoor activities for children are really expensive aren’t they, fortunately I’m not called on to take my DGDs to the local one, but they seem to go regularly.

cornergran I hope you stayed awake on the bus and enjoyed your meet up with your friend.

fgt enjoy your few days child minding L’il Miss. is she staying with you?

My gardener arrived today with his son. The front garden looks a lot tidier, but I need to put more plants in, I’m reluctant to do it just yet because it’s so dry. The son attacked the weeds on the drive and has done very well. I think they’re both coming again on Friday.

Enjoy the rest of the evening everyone, the sun has finally come out after a very cloudy day.

Every time I go into the garden something else has died Redcar. Today it’s a camelia. Come the autumn, there will be a lot of things going out I’m afraid.
Good luck to everyone having DGC and sleepovers. We have done our bit for now.
It’s “ can we borrow a car?” at the moment! Looks like it will transfer from DD to DS. We have given up any hope of getting it back on our drive!
Off to do some ironing
Sleep well everyone

L’il Miss is being dropped off the next three mornings at 7:30am as he mum then sets off to work. Gives me chance to gather myself and just before noon we will stroll over to theirs, see the Boy Wonder and I’ll fix their lunch. Stay there till my son in law gets in, he gets home an hour before his teacher wife because in construction he starts work at 6am. He has a heavy manual job.

I’ve had mostly a good day with my friend who is a golfer. We had coffee then went to the outlet at Salford Quays where is bought a lovely dress from a shop called Roman. I love it and it cost £100 less than the dress I treated myself to from Hobbs which is gorgeous linen but classy and I’ve not worn it yet. 🤷‍♀️

You can take the girl out of Old Trafford etc … 😁

My friend was telling me that who should join them all on their local Parkrun on Saturday but Dame Kelly Holmes - a delightful woman by all accounts who was happy to pose with the park runners for individual photographs! My friend showed me hers - both grinning like Cheshire cats and KH has her arm around my friend’s shoulders. A super memory for my sporty friend! I feel a rich couch potato by comparison … golf, running oh well they say opposites attract which is why we must be friends! She’s 6 months older than me, widowed too and loves books. That’s our connection. I did know her husband. Lovely man. Oesophageal cancer, died at 70y. Fuck cancer.

Came home, ate my tea and a song on the radio (James Taylor ‘You’ve Got acFriend’ set me off just now, good style. I’ve howled. Rocked back and forth holding a cushion like some deranged woman. I’ve got a headache now, puffy eyes and the reality of my loss has just unravelled me. Again.

Hi all, hope you’ve all had a decent day, FGT 💐
More sun today, it really is relentless, possibly a sprinkle of rain on Sunday, can the USA do us a favour and send some big low pressure systems please.
New dentist today, mine has retired, two molars to come out, I wasn’t hugely surprised, but sad, thanks Mum 🙂, Dad’s teeth were perfect.
Chicken casserole for dinner, have a pleasant evening all.
Quiet corner 👋👋

Hi jaxjacky and others. It's been a warm day here too. No rain yet but forecast on Friday. I did a load of housework this morning and my ballet buddy came round for coffee in the afternoon. So it has been both a productive and pleasant day.

Other than going to the gym this morning and minding The Imp for an hour I have done very little today,

Off to get my glamour on as apparently we are leaving here in a while, no idea where I am being taken or who is going - a birthday surprise meal. Slightly worrying as DH is not great at organising surprises 😹

I’ve had a smoother day altogether. Minded L’il Miss here this morning, I styled her hair by twisting and pinning the sides back. She has lovely curls and thick hair.

We called in at Greggs for their lunch and walked to theirs. The Boy Wonder was delighted!

I’m off out in half an hour. Drinks at a friend’s house only up the road lucky me can walk it in 10 minutes. Others will be driving (or being dropped off).

Enjoy your surprise birthday meal GG13. I’m sure it’ll be lovely. 💕

Fgt your lil miss hair is very similar to one of my gds hers is at her waist .Hope
Jaxjacky hope you Get that troublesome hip sorted .
Gg hope you enjoy your surprise .
I have been cleaning my carpet in room through to dining room my arms are aching now .
It's been overcast most of today but still humid.
Best wishes to all.

L’il Miss has beautiful hair fgt. The 11 year old has hair past her shoulders but the 3, 7 and 8 year olds have theirs a bit shorter, but all very thick hair, like their mums and mine! I was never allowed to have long hair as a child, so love seeing my DDs and DGDs with their hair at a length they’ve chosen! I hope you have a good evening with your friends.

Warm here again but cloudy on and off. I went into the local city this morning and bought the things I needed (perhaps wanted rather than needed). When I got home it was still cloudy, so I washed the car. I can’t say I made a good job of it but most of the dirt has gone. Needless to say my back thought it was a stupid thing to do, so I’m sitting with a hot wheat pack on it at the moment.

grannygravy I hope you enjoy your surprise evening!

Enjoy what’s left of the evening folks. Night night.

Gorgeous hair fgt well done, looks like a very similar colour to my DGD’s hair
We’ve just waved off both DGC, their dad has just picked them up and they seem to have had a good time. The best thing being that they seem to have stopped their constant bickering and winding each other up, now it appears they’re actually liking each other. There were a few little spats but nothing much and it was soon forgotten. We’ve played lots of board games, not my favourite pastime but they enjoy them and it keeps them off their screens for a while. Anyhow the kettle is now on and I’ll see if there’s any biscuits left in the cupboard…
It’s a lovely warm sunny afternoon here, I should really get outside for a bit but I’m happy sitting here on the sofa
Hoping everyone is doing ok, take care all

I have had a lazy day, visited two garden centres (plants were purchased 😺) and a new to us farm shop.

I was whisked away to one o f my favourite restaurants, had a lovely meal, ended up booking their private room for a celebration next year 🤷‍♀️

Your GD has fabulous hair FGT2

No car washing allowed here Redcar and I’m not buying any more plants, our hosepipe ban will be a long one, tomatoes and other veg watered only. Oh, two hanging baskets as well.
An overcast day, keeping the temperature pleasant, beautiful hair FGT, Imogen’s is still long and thick.
Delivery list for tomorrow’s groceries updated, sauce made for fresh pasta later.

A dull and cooler day today so I have a Cardigan close by. Morrison's delivered and decided to give me the food that had no more than 48 hours before consuming. They wanted a review and received one, possibly not what they were expecting.

That is a lovely head of hair fgt. I had thick hair also but I was never allowed to grow it.

GG( at least your husband is trying to please. Many wouldn't bother.

GrannyGravy that sounds like you had a nice time. Redcar I hope your back has recovered.
I've had quite a lazy day today. I caught up with The Sewing Bee and read a lot. I did extra Spanish this morning and hung out a wee wash. Macaroni cheese soon for dinner with toasted sourdough. Enjoy your evening kitchen folk

We have spent today at RHS Sandringham flower show. It was our first RhS show and was a lovely day out, despite being hot and dusty. My feet are filthy!
I only bought a few plants, large to introduce this kind of colour scheme to part of the garden.

My GD and her partner have now left for their new home.
I managed to save the tears until they had driven away.
They are only about twenty minutes away but I am determined that they lead their own lives and just see me occasionally .
It is the way young couples should be.
There are just a few bits of theirs still here which they will pick up at their leisure.
It has been a warm day again here, no sign of rain, my garden has really suffered , I have not been able to water, I shall replace as and when.
I am not particularly bothered.
Have the best evening you can everyone.

Oh Utbb a big hug from me

A big hug from me too utbb. Best wishes to your Dgd and her partner in their new home.

grandmabatty my back is a little better thank you, I’m sitting with a hot wheat pack on it at the moment, but I’m so hot!
The gardener came today instead of tomorrow, the garden is looking better, but he’s very fond of the hedge trimmer, so I’m having to watch what he’s cutting back.
I’ll go to the garden centre tomorrow to look at plants for the front garden but I don’t really know what I want. There’s a large bare space to fill.
A lovely photo nannytopsy the RHS seem to have several new venues for their flower shows this year.

jaxjacky we haven’t got a hosepipe ban here (yet) so I thought I’d do the car while I still could. I felt a bit guilty doing it, but wasn’t very long or very thorough! I’m finding it hard to water the garden just using watering cans, so am only doing the veg and newly planted things.

Enjoy the rest of the evening everyone.

Oh goodness Redcar I’d be watering every night with no ban, I'm exempt but would feel guilty and have to put a placard in the front window if I got the hose out 🤣

‘Evening All’

L’il Miss has been with me again today. She is a joy. She has me laughing which is the best medicine isn’t it? One can’t be too sad in the presence of a happy 9 year old and it’s contagious!

Her hair is beautiful. She doesn’t take after me or my side of the family! Oh Charleygirl5 such a shame your own crowning glory wasn’t allowed to be grown to the length you wanted. Different times indeed. Children often had little say in these matters.

GG13 your husband came up trumps it seems! ✔️

I’ve just been sitting with my lovely friend (neighbour) and enjoyed a G&T together with ice and slice of lime. We are both so grateful to have one another only next door but two. I met her 50 years ago through a mutual friend. What were the odds really she’d have downsized here with her partner? She coping quite well, getting through her own ‘sadmin’ slowly but surely. A bit more complicated than I had to deal with. Her partner had a post mortem which delayed things by 3x weeks and because they weren’t married (albeit partners for over 20 years) there’s been much more for her ro deal with - application for Probate and eventual dispersal of his assets as per his Will to his adult children. She’s doing admirably at 77y learning as she goes.

I’ve now just poured myself a rosé wine. As you do. 😊

Apologies utbb I meant to say “well done you” dear lady for holding in your emotions during a huge period of transition. Cry on your own and pin a smile on your face for the young ‘uns. Quite right - as you say. It’s their turn in the sunshine now. They’re not a million miles away. You’ve given them a good push off from the dock. You can be proud of that. x

I echo FGT utbb what a grand job you’ve doing nurturing and guiding until your granddaughter was ready to fly. You’re understandably sad, you should also be very proud of yourself and her.