Soop's Kindly Kitcheners

Alea lovely outfit. Hope you find the right necklace to go with it.

Bella sorry to hear about your friend. That is so sad. Hope the move goes well and the cystitis clears up quickly.

Soop your painting of the rem was vey good. No you are not soppy, I am exactly the same. If I have something on my mind I can't sleep. I'm sure you've made the right decision about travelling at Christmas.

Alea Have you found just the thing to complete your elegant outfit? If so, well done our number .
About the cruise in April. It sounds so right. You really must grab your husband (gently) and make it known (firmly) that this is what you both deserve. Us lot will back you to the hilt. No excuses...you have as good as booked and that, is the end of the matter.

I've had to start yet another portrait of Fiona the Highland Coo. After which, I've three dog and a cat portraits to complete in time for Christmas. Our granddaughter has adopted a sweet looking cat and named her Juno.

Here is a photo that I took today of a boat passing close to "our beach".

Soop, you`ve made the right decision, it`s a journey and a half to/from Kintyre in the summer when the weather and roads are good, so it could be decidedly dodgy in winter, especially going over Rest and be Thankful.

Alea, clever, moi? Did you like the stuff on there then?

I`m trying to get Himself to spend some time discussing next year`s holiday. I`d more or less given up on the idea of a cruise, as they`re a tad pricey, but there`s one at the moment for April, going to the Norwegian fjords, and it`s a bargain, but he`s either playing his flipping game, or he`s asleep, it`s difficult to catch him in between, and then the football`s usually on! HELP!!

Wise decision soop regarding Christmas. Travel can be a nightmare but oh how I regret all the emotional baggage that comes with Christmas ec! I thought I had it under control, but found myself in tears when 2 DDs and men and the DGC decided to spend last Easter together when I had hoped they would all come to us It turned out for the best as DH was not really well enough to travel and in fact ended up in hospital straight after!
Travelling in the Spring is a much better idea and something to look forward to.

Me too, anno I cannot think why I have taken such a liking to rugby. Never gave it a thought until we moved to Scotland.

Thank you for your supportive messages. I found it so difficult to ring my son and say that we won't be joining him so I've sent an email instead. Had I spoken to him I would have blubbed. I hardly got a wink of sleep last night. My mind would not let me sleep until I had reached a decision. Aren't we a soppy lot! (speak for yourself, Soop)

Thank you numberplease you clever girl!!

That sounds like the right decision soop. It's not a good time of year for travel if neither of you are in the best of health and I know how you feel about leaving Rory on his own for any length of time. Perhaps the February half term would be easier.
I'm watching the rugby yet again. I seem to be taking root in this chair! So far, it's a bit disappointing. I had hope that Argentina would give the Wallabies a good match.

soop Travelling such a distance at Christmas could be very difficult for you both, which is such a shame. When you go, do you travel by train or drive?
bella that is sad news for your friend, and her family.

At least your house sale is happening, are you buying another house or an apartment? I'm going to be selling up next spring and moving to an apartment, and I'm dreading it!

So sorry I do not live closer- Rory could have stayed in his own home and had loads of hugs and cuddles and received his chicken supper on a Saturday. I would hate to see that cat deprived of anything.

Winter is not the time to be travelling, fit or otherwise especially if we get the hard winter which has been forecast.

sally345 Welcome back. It has been a long time since we had the pleasure of your company.

anno I agree with your comment about the match. I shall be watching Australia and Argentina this afternoon. I would not want the Aussies (who robbed us of a place in the final stages) to win. Petulant!

I may take a look at number'ssuggested website. Silver with turquoise and lilac would look lovely with Alea's outfit.

My eldest son has completed running a half marathon in Leicester. He's new to running, he is in his fifties and he has weak knees. Therefore, I am extremely proud of his achievement. He has raised funds for a charity that give aid to refugees.

I'm feeling all mixed up at the moment. My son has invited us to spend Christmas with him in Sussex. Travelling from the west coast of Scotland during the winter can be difficult. MacSporran also tires easily and I've a prolapsed bowel problem that needs further attention. Also, the cat, Rory, is a big tie. I've therefore asked my son to suggest dates in the spring (maybe when Torben is on half-term hols) when I could make the journey and MacS would not mind being in charge of Rory during my brief absence.

Alea, for Indian jewellery ideas, look at www.rupalionline.com some lovely jewellery on there, and prices from very cheap to not so cheap. I`ve had a few of their cheaper necklaces, and they`re very pretty.

soop, I spent too much time watching the rugby. My NZ sister will be cock-a-whoop. I was losing patience with them because they kept giving penalties away in their own half. That match should have been the final!

Just popped in after quite a break from the kitchen due to ill health and glad you are all still here. love the outfit Alea and agree silver would look very classy. Hope you find something really nice. Good luck

The ram is great, I love him. I wish I had your talent soop.

Silver would be practical and will go with lots of other things, but if you can find something, picking out the pinkish tones would look lovely.

Can I just say that I briefly looked at the other thread and the colours are darker on this thread . Loved the look on both I may say, I can't wear anything so exotic as I feel too old.I feel silver will carry on the eastern theme especially if it is large and ethnic looking.

I also like the purple. Thinking-cap on...

Happy for you and Mia, number That's more like it. I'll check the images tomorrow. Have used up the afternoon shouting for NZ to win their match. Very exciting!

Alea You look wonderful...your outfit is perfect. I shall have a look at possible jewellery tomorrow and then I can give you my opinion. I agree that silver would suit you.

Perhaps there is something out there which has frightened her, number? Maybe another cat or even a fox and your little cat has decided discretion is the better part of valour!

I have posted this already on another thread, but do any of you have suggestions for jewellery to wear with my wedding outfit? I will of course have my "war paint" on, (I was just trying all the separate bits on to help me decide which of 2 pairs of shoes I wanted)
It will not be a "hat" type wedding and I would like to continue the Indian/Eastern theme, maybe with a big statement silver necklace? Over the neckline to elongate the neck or neatly round the neck to detract from the jowls (!) what do you think?

Pics on the way Soop. That`s a very handsome ram you`ve got there. Mia is much better today. I thought an improvement was pending when she woke me this morning, shoving her head into my face! Next, she came downstairs of her own accord and tucked into her breakfast, then went outside for the first time since Wednesday. I don`t know hat the problem was, but it seems to be over.
Anno, she`s been using the litter tray, which most of the time she ignores, so that wasn`t the problem.
Bella, so pleased that your house sale/purchase is going through OK, you deserve something to go right. So sorry to hear about yur friend`s bad news, so sad for everyone concerned. I can empathise re the cystitis, I used to suffer terribly with it, on a regular basis, till a bad UTI was diagnosed, and since I`ve been on Nitrofurentoin, no problems, touch wood!

Back to watch the rugby. As we woz robbed, I'm supporting New Zealand.

Bella The house sale/purchase must be a great strain on you. Important decisions need serious thought. This is one time (in many) when you will miss your dear husband's support.

I am so sorry to hear that the prognosis for your friend with the tumour. It is not as positive as one would hope.

You have cystitis. Very painful. I also have a recurring UTI and a fresh course of antibiotics. (((hugs)))

Clearing cupboards is therapeutic. I'm intending to rootle through my wardrobe (yet again) next week. Have finally decided that much of what I feel is "me"...isn't. The Red Cross shop will have some suitable items to sell over the winter months.

I do love the portrait of the ram. You are so talented soop.

I haven't been into the kitchen lately as I've been all of a dither worrying about house selling/buying and if I'm doing the right thing. It is all signed but now we wait eight weeks or so before we can go forward. It's a different system to the UK.

Still, all that is trivial compared with the plight of my dear pal who has recently had a brain tumour removed. I phoned her yesterday and heard the whole story, which is not good. Even with radiation and chemo, her life expectancy is twelve to fifteen months. She's 58 and we have been pals fr 47 years.

Today I have blitzed a few kitchen cupboards and thrown out two bin bags full of items which are so far past their sell by dates as to be almost antique. (Hangs head in shame). It has been quite a task, complicated by a painful bout of cystitis which has had me in and out of the loo all day. DGD has no sympathy. She heard me cry in pain and told me to stop it 'you're not a baby, Nana'.

number, poor Mia sounds as if she's in some discomfort. If she hasn't been out, has she been using a litter tray? One common ailment seems to be a blocked anal gland and it could be as simple as that, though the vet has a rather unpleasant job unblocking it. Hope she's feeling better.

Sorry aboot that. I must have had a trigger-finger moment.