Fun Monday# 20 My kitchen

Joy at A Spot of T our host for today asked us to show our kitchens. If you head over there you will see the list of participants.

I have never really liked my kitchen and although it was the first room in the house to be renovated, that's now almost 21 years ago and so it is very dated. It was originally a small dingy room with orange formica units and there was a sliding door across the end of the kitchen which revealed a pink bathroom and you'll be horified when I tell this was a 'guest house' how they ever managed to pass health checks or to cook in it beats me. We knocked out the bathroom to give more space but I was still left with a galley style kitchen which does not have a lot of counter space and is cramped if more than two people try and work in there. It is also very difficult to photograph!
The kitchen faces North so its very cold and never gets any sun and this is the view.
You may have noticed the scales sitting on the unit, I don't use these often because Sam bought me new electronic scales. Tucked into this corner alongside my hob I keep storage jars, grinder and a bread maker (amongst other things).
Just out of view in the main picture I have all my cookery books at the last count I had over 80 and as you can see my more recent ones are just tucked alongside the microwave, which is even older than the kitchen, and could not be fitted into a unit. (No I would not part with it old and ugly as it may be it's very reliable). I really need to sort out the cookery books and get rid of some -oh but this is soo hard to do as many of them hold memories of the girls cooking as kids.
On top of the cupboards I display my stone jars- well not exactly display because you cannot really see them and all they do is gather dust but I like them and I get up there a couple of times a year and thoroughly clean it all- and this has reminded me it's due a clean anytime now. This stone hot waterbottle is a relic of my childhood. No central heating then and my mother used to wrap this in an old pillowcase to stop it burning my feet. I'm showing the oil jar because it really belongs to Sam and she left it here when she moved to San Fransisco so this is just to show her it's still here.
This is one of four majolica tiles depicting the seasons that I have decorating the walls (more examples of decorative tiles can be found here). This last view is of the breakfast room which leads off the kitchen and is where you would have to sit while I prepare the coffee and cakes!!
I'm looking forward to visiting everyone else for coffee so see you soon.