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

Fgt I don’t really have the right words to say but sending you a gentle hug ❤️

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..💐

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.

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 ‘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 ‘it’. It seems worse somehow. Sometimes I just feel a bit lost y’know?

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 😂. 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.

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

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

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.

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…

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.

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!

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.

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 💐
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!

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.

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

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 🙂 your DH can rest later, precious times. Notes from abroad - thank you.

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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 ❤️

Take it easy Grandmabatty.

Hello Grannmarie
hope all is well with you.

Welcome Teabagwoman.

Thinking of you all, love from Corfu.

Thank you ladies.

I agree with Fgt completely, gbatty so enjoy it.

We have had a lovely weekend with DGD2 &4 who came to stay while their parents were living it up in Dublin. Our usual practice is to meet them at J15a on the M1. It works well so long as our car starts again to take us home. We had to wait an hour and a half for the breakdown service.

We had a fascinating time people watching. We saw one man arrested and searched and 2 men in cars pretending to be engrossed on their phones.

Home now and equilibrium restore with a whisky for DH and a nice chilled rosé for me. And we need strong words with the lease garage as this is the 2nd time it's happened.

Don’t be ‘disgusted’ with yourself Grandmabatty! Some days you are very busy indeed.

It’s good for the soul to take ‘time out’.
Trust me on this one - I’m an expert in the field.
#lazygran

fgt I’m glad you have had a better day today. It must be so convenient having your “larder” downstairs with its supply of tasty food!

teabagwoman I’m sorry you’ve had a difficult day, I agree that it is very frustrating not to be able to do things that we could do without thinking a few years ago.

grannygravy sleep well tonight after your busy weekend.

DD1 and family visited this morning, the 11 year old is very excited to be going away with the school tomorrow for a “residential” - three nights camping in a woodland activity centre, sleeping under canvas. Fortunately it looks like a dry and warm week.

I’m hoping that my friend will cut the grass in the back garden tomorrow, it definitely needs it. If he doesn’t come in the morning I’ll do it myself. I spent yesterday planting a few plants in the front garden, it took me all day. My back didn’t appreciate the exercise so I’ve not done much today, cleaned the bathroom and did some ironing, then read the paper.

Enjoy the rest of the evening everyone.

Well done to your DGD Jax an unconditional offer is fantastic, she can relax and enjoy the summer now - after Tuesdays last exam of course! I remember you do no mow May, good for the wildlife 👍

DH got full marks for dinner 👍🏻

The GC have been collected. I have shut the door on playroom and GC’s bedroom, will sort out tomorrow.

So looking forward to bedtime 💤💤💤

Hi all, a lovely bbq afternoon with the family, son’s newish gf and granddaughter with her unconditional University offer far more relaxed. It’s her last A level on Tuesday, then she’s off clubbing, casual job interview tomorrow.
We’ll be eating bbq tomorrow, we do over cater.
Our front grass needs cutting brook we are the only house in the road without a tidy mowed lawn, daisies, clover and buttercups instead.
Good today was a pleasure FGT peaks and troughs xx

Today has been exceptionally quiet. I have tidied up the shocking kitchen mess from yesterday, then cleaned the bathroom and hoovered. But that's all. Im quite disgusted at myself. However tomorrow is another day. Fgt I'm glad you had a decent day. Teabagwoman definitely don't overdo things.
I plan to have an early night and read for a while. Enjoy your evening kitchen folk