Soop's kitchen for friendly folk and precious pets...

Back to writing thank you letters. So far, no spelling errors.

That's sheer genius, oldgoat.

We've been sent a good photo of MacSporran in his tartan waistcoat.

Work in progress!

It's been a lovely day so far in York though it is clouding over now. Been wearing my shorts all day, trying to tidy up the garden after a couple of weeks of neglect. OH and I are also preparing our entry to the village Scarecrow Festival next weekend. Having lots of laughs trying to create a curvaceous female body out of straw..

cornergran it sounds to me as though you should consider moving because the sun has been shining all day in my part of London. Two loads of washing are drying in the light breeze- it is not the warmest day of the year but still pleasant.

Maybe the only good thing to happen here today- at least the police will not be washed out gathering evidence etc.

Thought TM sounded like an irritated head teacher with disruptive kids. ' enough is enough'
Sorry to hear about your aunt * Maw* I have an aunt like that. She's 95, was a chief nursing officer, still does the daily telegraph crossword and is holding a family barbecue in a fortnights time in case she doesn't reach her 100th birthday!
She's very deaf so now uses Skype and email on an iPad as it's better than phone calls and she has learnt to lip read.

Can I just say it's pouring here, has been since about 10. . .

soop it is grated cheese, and a liberal filling of smoked haddock, salmon and cod (and butter in the mash, of course!). When you have your feet properly back in the ground, we are all looking forward to seeing your photographs.
DS has not stopped working today; mowed both lawns, cleaned the car and now he is cleaning the conservatory windows. I think he's trying to dissipate his anger at today's events. We would be out today but for my leg, which is easier today, but not ready to road test! Having finished in the kitchen, I am now going to sit and sort out my fishing flies. I will take out those that don't seem to be working, and keep the ones that are. Then, next time out, when the ones that are working now are not working then, I shall put back the ones that aren't working now and hope they will work again.... or something like that! Fickle b****rs these trout! Perhaps I should try spam, or chuck in a few maggots ("don't go over to the Dark Side, Luke"). Or maybe I should pack it in altogether and go back to origami!

https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201706/medium-562037-18835796-1509338235789299-1284250231459609544-n.jpg%3C/span%3E https://signal-corridor.live/uploads/talk/201706/medium-59593-18813512-1509338335789289-4581103563342465316-n.jpg%3C/span%3E

Two happy photos...

A beautiful, sunny Sunday afternoon to you all. I hope that you are managing to enjoy some of this perfect June weather.

May your day be safe. If hope alone could prevail, the wicked, wanton slaughter of innocent people would surely cease. We ask - what can we do?. I do not have an answer.

Greyduster MacSporran is a lover of fish pie. Pity that you live too far away. Is that a grated cheese topping? If so, we would enjoy one each.

Swanny I like hearing that sprigs of heather were worn in buttonholes at your late mother-in-law's funeral. It was a fitting tribute to her Scottish roots.

There are many emails piling up, and we also have a list of thank you letters to write (by hand, on proper paper!)There will be hundreds of photos. Two family photographers worked tirelessly throughout the day and night to capture the celebrations. Lauren and Erik are in China. They will be the first to select which images they wish to share. I'm not going to bore the pants off you...[as if]but, if you don't mind too much I would love to share a few with you in due course.
I now need a dictionary. Some good quality paper and a steady hand. Love to you ALL.

Anyone like fish pie? It is my go to comfort food, and I will gladly send these to the kitchen instead of bunging them in the freezer.

This is like the hydra of Greek mythology. When you cut off one head, it grows another. In the face of that, I think we all feel like sticking our heads in the sand.

Thank goodness for the sanity and sanctuary of the kitchen. Felt physically sick when I saw the news and now feel sick with relief that DS and family are ok, as they often use that station when visiting friends.

I agree with earlier posters and feel I'm sticking my head in the sand. Stay safe GNers x

I agree too maw and oldgoat. It's a good job we can retreat to the kitchen.

In a word, mawb - yes

I totally agree with your comment maw .When we were away camping in Scotland we watched no television, bought no newspapers and only listened to music on the radio. It was so relaxing. I used to be an avid news-watcher but it's all so bad or political at the moment that I'm sticking my head in the sand. Feel so impotent.

Does anyone else feel afraid to open a newspaper, turn on the radio or TV these days? What a dreadful place some people are making our wonderful world.
I'll just hunker down in the kitchen

So sorry, mawb, your Aunt sounds to have been a very special, supportive person. I'm wondering, are you the family support now? Will everyone turn to you as your Aunt isn't there? It's an odd feeling, having no one above you. Keep thinking 'what would Eileen do', you'll know the answer. Lots of hugs and good wishes to you.

Beautiful photos, soop. You all looked wonderful and oh so happy, keep the photos coming, I'm certain no one will be bored. Some wonderful memories stored away.

Feel for you greyduster. I've a knee doing the same thing, good enough then it certainly isn't. Definitely worth thinking about footwear, are the new shoes more supportive I wonder? The crab sounds super, I love crab, sadly Mr C does not so it's not often on the menu here, a real treat for me.

Pleased you arrived safely n&g, there were some horrid traffic issues yesterday. Have fun . I'm hoping your day was warmer than ours, very cold wind here. So I did potter, charley, too chilly to sit still. It was relaxing, though, so did the trick. I would have loved a sit and do nothing, one day the space and the weather will coincide

soop welcome home. The pictures are lovely and the bride's dress is beautiful. You all look great and glad it was such a happy occasion.

Sorry to hear of your sad loss maw, there's so much more to mourn when it's someone so special and the death signals the end of an era for you too.
Glad to hear you're home safely after a happy wedding, soop, what a handsome/ beautiful family you have! Looking forward to seeing more lovely photos in due course.
Hope you get to the root of that pain greyduster, it's really annoying when something is intermittent yet debilitating and it's hard to see a cause. Like Swanny I'd suspect footwear, a good physio or even a podiatrist seems like a place to way forward.

Swanny I really don't know now - I had a good walk wearing the new shoes last week and was fine. Today I wore an old pair of trainers because we weren't going very far. No rhyme nor reason to it. I'll have to find a sports injury clinic I think.
soop. The wedding photographs are wonderful and you look a picture! I expect Rory will be sticking to you like glue now in case you disappear again!

Greyduster so sorry to hear you have that pain in your leg again. Can it be connected to the shoes you wore at all? I get what sounds a similar pain if I wear totally flat shoes for consecutive days. Just ignore me if you've already thought of that and I hope you feel better soon.

Never fancied crab, despite it being my birthsign, but I know some people love it. Used to enjoy prawns but then developed a shellfish allergy and haven't eaten them since. I'm not a very fishy person at all, though some may say otherwise

soop Welcome Home! Your photos are beautiful and what a pair of handsome lads you have. Lauren looked gorgeous and I'm looking forward to seeing the bridesmaids' heather-hued dresses.

At my late MIL's funeral all the related males wore a buttonhole sprig of heather. It was just the right touch as she was very proud of her Scottish heritage.

Maw so sorry to hear of your loss. She looks a wonderful lady.

I've enjoyed looking at all your photographs. Nellie

oldgoat Heather is one of Lauren's favourite flowers and colours. The bridesmaids all wore different shades of lilac/purple/lavender. I've a photo of the bouquet which I shall bore you with in due course.

I've done very little today. Almost welded to the computer chair. Bit of a back ache for my sins. MUST empty the washing machine. The cycle finished at 10.30 this morning!