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

(178 Posts)
GrannyGravy13 Tue 09-Jun-26 18:23:42

It feels odd to have a kitchen without our founder.

We shall carry on as she would have wished.

Supporting each other and sharing our ups and downs šŸ˜˜šŸ„‚šŸ«–ā˜•ļøšŸ°

Yiayia4 Mon 15-Jun-26 14:14:26

Yassas from a very warm and sunny Corfu.Its been lovely having GS here with us and showing him around.Yesterday we hired a boat for the the day,DH was determined to do it but he’s incredibly frail and I feel it took it out of him,however he loved showing GS how to drive the boat.GS goes home tomorrow then,he goes to Barcelona on Wednesday for 3 nights of festivals. Great to have a summer break before his apprenticeship begins.We will have a quiet restful week then.

Sorry to hear about your car Cornergran hope it’s fixed soon.

Thinking of you FGT ā¤ļø

Take it easy Grandmabatty.

Hello Grannmarie
hope all is well with you.

Welcome Teabagwoman.

Thinking of you all, love from Corfu.

Jaxjacky Mon 15-Jun-26 14:23:16

I was thinking about you this morning Yia what a blue sky! I’m so pleased your son could join you and there’s some male boat driving bonding going on šŸ™‚ your DH can rest later, precious times. Notes from abroad - thank you.

Yiayia4 Mon 15-Jun-26 14:36:15

Hi Jax it’s our eldest DGS with us.Very pleased your DGD got a place at a university of her choice.

Redcar Mon 15-Jun-26 15:00:08

Thank you for the lovely photos of blue sky and sunshine yiayia! We were supposed to be having dry warm weather this week, but no one told the weather gods and it’s been cool and drizzly so far!!
Too damp to cut the grass but maybe tomorrow…
A sad phone call from the daughter of one of my late DH’s oldest friends to tell me her dad had died. He was best man at our wedding and my DH was best man at his wedding a few years later.
jaxjacky so pleased your DGD has an unconditional offer for university, it takes the pressure off a bit doesn’t it.

brook2704 Mon 15-Jun-26 16:01:04

Lovely photos Yia thanks for sharing, good that your DH could show your DGS how to drive the boat - happy memories made
It’s lovely and sunny up here Redcar, had to get the umbrella out on the decking to sit in the shade. I hope it brightens up for you soon but so sorry to hear your sad news, sending condolences to all his friends and family šŸ’
I’ve just come in from the garden for a shower and a quick rest. We’ll be eating dinner early as I’m out to a dance class this evening, I don’t really feel that motivated but I’m picking up a friend on the way so can’t chicken out at the last minute!

Grandmabatty Mon 15-Jun-26 18:44:03

Lovely Yiayia. Such warm weather. brook it was pleasant here too. Redcar sad news indeed.
Early start this morning. I dropped off the boys then came home and tidied the kitchen. I hoovered too. Then went to the school library to tidy up there. I picked up dgs2 who had been back at primary one, playing with this year's intake. Then home. Dgs2 wanted to paint his salt dough figures from Saturday then continued to put salty water on the weeds on the path. Dgs1 was tired so he stayed indoors. Dinner was a veggie burger with chips and beans. Before that, I did half an hour of Spanish. I'm sitting on the sofa for a while before tidying the kitchen- again.
Enjoy your evening kitchen folk.

Jaxjacky Mon 15-Jun-26 19:15:48

So sorry Redcar a sad day.
The voluntary phone was busy today, couldn’t allocate a driver for one client.
Weather sun and cloud, gusty wind again.
Leftover bbq for dinner in a minute.
Enjoy your class brook being obliged helps with the motivation!

teabagwoman Mon 15-Jun-26 21:26:21

Redcar, sorry to hear your news, a sad day.

Brook I hope you enjoyed your class once you were there.

The weather here has been cloudy and quite windy at times with enough rain to mean that I didn’t have to do any watering- always a bonus.

I’ve had a much better day, walking more easily. Got a bag full of stuff out for a charity shop collection, did some research and proofreading for my daughter, got the ironing done and prepped some food for the freezer. Had a phone call from my GP to say that although one of my blood test results is still abnormal they’re happy to just monitor me for the time being. That’s a relief as I’ve had quite enough medical treatment in the past few years.

Now I’m tucked up in bed with a good book. Thankfully I can still read on my IPad.

GrannyGravy13 Mon 15-Jun-26 22:03:17

Sad news for you redcar

The Imp went straight to sleep, I went to the gym after sorting the GC’s bedroom and playroom after the weekend.

Have just watched the first of this series Jeremy Clarkson’s Farm, absolutely brilliant.

All our AC who have been to the Farmers Dog, rate the food and say it’s good value for money, it’s on my list…

Charleygirl5 Tue 16-Jun-26 10:21:16

yia I would stay where you are, the weather appears to be perfect.

fgt I do envy where you live. No need to check the weather or even find a coat if you have forgotten a loaf of bread! Everything very fresh and gone are the days when you had to check a date before cooking something.

Also, we are here to listen, better to get it all off your chest.

brook2704 Tue 16-Jun-26 15:49:52

Hi kitchen friends it’s another lovely warm afternoon here, a bit cloudy but that’s fine with me
I did enjoy the class last night thanks Jax and redcar, it was good fun
Grandmabatty you would be so pleased with me, after a very quick class at the gym I’ve changed and washed all the bedding, hoovered the lounge and bedrooms, swept and mopped the kitchen and utility room floors, dusted throughout and scrubbed the sink - I don’t know what’s come over me, I just thought it was time I got cracking on the cleaning! Oh and cleaned all the bins too - the house smells so fresh and clean now. I think it’s because we’re away from tomorrow, I always like to come back to a clean house
I must catch up on Clarksons farm GG, I’ve not watched it for a while

Grandmabatty Tue 16-Jun-26 15:55:04

Brook, I'm very impressed. I have the gruesome twosome so I will post later

Grandmabatty Tue 16-Jun-26 17:33:55

Phew, and relax. The boys are home, having eaten continuously. Dgs2 had his sports day and got a medal- everybody did). He was very grumpy this afternoon and showed flashes of tantrums but he was so tired so I forgave him. Dgs1 was tired too. They definitely need their holidays. Dgs1 brought home 2 big folders of work completed. That's for his mum and dad to sort out šŸ˜‚. Dgs2 fell asleep 3 minutes before he was due to get in the car. Initially he was unhappy to wake up but he came round quicker than the past so that's progress. I made a chicken curry for dinner this morning and it's been resting all day so im looking forward to it. .
At the moment, I'm having a cuppa and relaxing. Enjoy your evening kitchen folk.

FriedGreenTomatoes2 Tue 16-Jun-26 17:45:31

Thank you Charleygirl5 for your understanding.
I’ve been on my own all day. Not left the apartment. Got food in and Netflix.

Sometimes being properly alone helps my grief.

But being ā€˜still’ for a while enables my thoughts to be heard by myself. Yes, it hurts. I cried quite a bit this afternoon. No tv no music, just the sound of my own abject despair.

The relief I felt at first after those godawful ten months which incrementally got harder as time passed, were then replaced by the busy-ness of sorting admin. That took 3 months, doing it slowly at my own pace.

Now?

I’m just so very sad. I miss him so much. The reality has properly hit now 16 weeks in. That this is ā€˜it’. It seems worse somehow. Sometimes I just feel a bit lost y’know?

kittylester Tue 16-Jun-26 18:01:51

Sending more hugs your way, FGT - wish it could be more.

It will be small comfort I know but you do write so eloquently about your feelings.

This morning my friend called in to bring a copy of her self published memoir. I am so looking forward to reading it. We come from very different backgrounds and areas but our memories of childhood chime such a lot. And we had mutual friends later in life. Strange and comforting how lives interconnect.

Grandmabatty Tue 16-Jun-26 18:04:54

Fgt grief isn't linear, it will recede like the tide then some days will overwhelm you like a storm surge. You are doing what you need to, to get through the day..šŸ’

brook2704 Tue 16-Jun-26 18:08:41

Fgt I don’t really have the right words to say but sending you a gentle hug ā¤ļø

Jaxjacky Tue 16-Jun-26 18:17:10

You e been busy, busy FGT today your grief had space, that’s very much allowed, it means you can be understandably sad and weep.

A cleaning lady had a try out today, she used a toothbrush in the shower and will be back.
Lovely surprise this afternoon, friends we made in FranƧe, who live in Wales are touring across the east/south of England, they’re calling in tomorrow. Much reminiscing will be had.
MrJ is at bowls, I might not watch football - what a rebel eh šŸ™‚
Have a pleasant evening, wave to the quiet corner, I miss Blossoming.

Redcar Tue 16-Jun-26 18:20:32

fgt I think it’s the realisation that ā€˜this is it’ that is so hard to deal with.
You just have to do what you feel like doing (if anything) and if you feel like sitting and crying, then that’s ok too.
Sending you a hug.

Nannytopsy Tue 16-Jun-26 18:30:50

Hugs to you FGT.
We have emptied and refilled some big plant pots and a trough, hoping the new rose I was given will enjoy its home. It suddenly got very warm at about 4 o’clock. DH (aka the butler) is making Pimms, as I need a long drink to rehydrate! šŸ˜‰
One more lot of washing to peg out and I’m done.
Hope everyone has a good evening

teabagwoman Tue 16-Jun-26 18:59:35

FGT a gentle hug from me too.

It’s been cloudy and warm here and I’m keeping my fingers crossed that we will have the forecast rain tonight.

Charleygirl5 Tue 16-Jun-26 19:19:35

fgt U hope you can sleep at night and are not lying alone with your thoughts and feeling empty.

As others have said, this feeling will recede, but that isn't exactly today. You just have to take each day as t comes and prepare for your next trip to Spain.

You can scream and yell at us, we understand.

Ladyleftfieldlover Tue 16-Jun-26 23:00:36

Hello kitchen people, and especially FGT🌷

I planted up a hanging basket today (our gardener doesn’t do everything!) with mainly pink and purple flowers.

I visited friends until after 4. I whizzed home as I had to have dinner ready early as OH was going out. I made a sort of pasta bake with cheese sauce and bacon.

Sleep šŸ’¤ tight.

Jaxjacky Wed 17-Jun-26 10:42:37

GG13 sad news on Jeremy Clarkson’s health today, we’ve watched his farm series from the start, very funny in parts, but with serious struggles too.
Dull, damp morning.
Have a decent day all.

GrannyGravy13 Wed 17-Jun-26 11:00:57

Jazjacky yes really sad. I saw Jeremy’s short social media post, he looks rather gaunt and visibly upset 😢

One of our AC was at his pub at the weekend.

Well first half of Sports Day is over, only rained lightly twice ā˜”ļø
A couple of hours at home then it’s back for the second half (Yrs 3-6)