Bolthole, anyone?

My tomato and basil soup is nice with hot buttered toast. And thanks Rosannie, I'll happily take your share of cheese and I'll repay you with a dram - or two.

Hi there. Hot eccles cakes anyone?
I saw a sweet thing when I was out for a walk:
Dad and mum pulling small child, aged about 3, on sled.
Flat on his back, fast asleep, dummy in. Aaaaah
And the wood looked amazing with every trunk, branch and twig highlighted with blown on snow. Ready to snuggle up in the warm now though.
Cari, instead of picking over the carcasses, would you like an eccles cake?

Oh I do like an Eccles cake! May I join you please? I can pop along with some hot chocolate and marshmallows .. got them in for the DGC but they are too busy in the snow!

Aaah! I love to see children who fall asleep when they're playing. Yes, let's get Cari in here and ply her with alcohol give her some nourishment, whilst she's working so hard

Can I come in with my very muddy, wet Springer-he's been chasing pheasants and I've been collecting wood, but we're very cold....I've got a big pan of mulled wine though

He'll dry off in front of the fire, so come on in and have a dram and some cheese, if Anno has left any, that is. Then we can hit your mulled wine! Hic!

I beg your pardon, Ariadne! I'll have you know that I've been very self-disciplined. Have to watch the cholesterol and the waistline - what waistline?

Sloe gin anyone?

Now you're talking!

Here's the promised beef curry, with naans, chutneys and raita. Help yourself. I'm just off to babysit, back late tonight. Enjoy! x

I was going off to the kitchen to cook supper....until Jess mentioned Sloe Gin. Supper's now on hold.

Here I am, and here I stay! Bring it on, when and jess! Just right after all that mulled wine. Perhaps we need a little chilled something to go with the curry? I'd go and get some but my legs have gone all wobbly. Oh dear! Whoops!

Must dash off now, but make another space for Tegan/Crimson who might fancy a little something to celebrate her return x

Sloe gin, just right to whet the appetite before dinner, might be nice after too, just to keep the cold out of course.

Yay! Looking forward to meeting you, Tegan. SO glad! Hic. Now, if I could just get to my feet, I have some champagne hidden away. Here I goooooo

Ariadne this is sounds too convincing

Just a drama queen, that's all! (that came out as "dram queen" Oh dear!

Hi Tegan glad you are back.
have a steaming hot bread pudding all moist and spicy,fresh from oven,can ellie my black lab join us she likes to lay on feet and keep them warm,she's very friendly..
Have some damson vodka to add to our stashxxxxxx

Did I hear a cork pop and the magic word*champagne*, I 'm sure DH can wait for supper, it would be unfriendly not to join you in a little glass of bubbles Ariadne

Sloe gin? I'll just have a quick one
This is a haven of peace and gransnettedness. Whew!

and bread pudding. what are you like!

Yum, bread pudding, champagne and sloe gin. That sounds like a good recipe for a Saturday evening.

That reminds me - I have a bottle of sloe gin that just needs tasting.
Dare I risk it with daughter so close to her time? (As in, if I'm awash with sloe gin I can't drive and would be useless in the delivery room.) Think I'll try just a little glass.

Wonder what sloe gin in champagne is like....

Sounds good ariadne