soop's kindly kitcheners and pampered pets...

Goodness, you have all been busy. Flyn looks his usual cheerful self, don't they all just love those walkers? You are allowed to be exhausted, daphne, not sure I would be standing. Think you also are allowed to be tired, n&g, you have a busy life and grey days can do that to us.

We are recently back from the theatre. It was a charity evening, soop, Christmas readings and Carols requiring the audience to stand and sing. More than happy to croak away (my normal singing voice, not the cold), a little worried at the standing as we were on the edge of the balcony. I need a scared face to go here! Still, no accidents and it was great fun as well as raising a lot for charity. Fortunately it was loud enough that the cough was not noticed . Tedious trip home but worth it.

That little girl looks angelic, I envy your talent soop. Cut and stick crafts of the Blue Peter type are my limit. Mr C wears a hearing aid and I know to my cost how useful they can be to the wearer , according to himself two are easier to manage than one. It will be good to hear properly again, even if you pretend you can't at times .

Your shopping trip sounds to have been fruitful, callgirl, I sometimes wish I had a daughter to go with. Been looking for a 'something' to wear at Christmas without success. Nothing smart, just something comfortable to wear to sit on the floor and play silly games, no luck so far so I have almost decided it will be whatever falls out of the wardrobe.

Discovered today that we are childminding for four days next week, good job the cold is on its way out. Looking forward to it, but had better get some sleep while I can. Sleep well all.

NanaandGrampy May I please have a portion of your left-over energy? anno is right. The boys have a very special, skilful, and kind Nana. I like the fact that Jackson describes his friends as 'his children'...

anno Drat! The cold, if it continues, will almost definitely scupper any chance of a sinus procedure. I hope for your sake that you recover in time.

DaphneB I bags some of your excess energy too...that's if there is any left to share. I'm in awe of your recent full-on activities culminating in a tricky, long drive on the motorway. Of course you've loved having Flynn for company. He is changing with every new photo that you share. As for bringing home the laundry, that's what Nana's do with a . A rellie dropping by for lunch (without too much notice) is a minor buggeration irritation. I trust that they will arrive bearing gifts of chocs and maybe a bottle of something to warm the cockles of your heart.

callgirl1 and nancyma The wee girl is photogenic. The painting looks wishy-washy. It was in fact much more colourful. I must photograph the paintings from hereon without flash.

cornergranThe concert sounds enjoyable for all the right reasons. It is good to participate. I would have had to mouth the words. My voice isn't tuneful.
I would enjoy browsing for a suitable outfit for you to wear at Christmas. I enjoy the challenge. My outfit is entirely thanks to eBay. I bought each item from different sellers. I shall have a photo taken to show you the result once the festivities are over and done with.
Sleep. Whenever we stayed with Torben (when a babe) the thought of an undisturbed night of sound sleep, was all we ever wished for. He was a wonderful wee child. I would so love to go back in time and re-live a number of happy memories.

The care home visit left me feeling washed out. The sitting room was very warm and noisy. I was attempting to read the lips of the ladies who chat along in unison. The television was on. The vacuum cleaner was active. The fire alarm drill was operational.

Home to perfect peace. I've also promised myself a kitchen cupboard cleaning/sorting session. Daft as a brush. Me.

Soop Flash is a killer doing the shots you are attempting. North light, and a slow speed on the shutter if you have one, but take care to depress the shutter gently, just as squeezing a grape pip.

Being digital you can take and discard any that dont come up to standard.

You are the boss, tell the camera what to do.

BTW what sort is it?

Chicken soup from the freezer, sourdough bread likewise and a quick trip to a local deli for 3 cheeses followed by satsumas sorted out our lunch! I bought a piece of Stinkng Bishop, a piece of Oxford Blue (well that is nearly local ) and some Montgomery's Cheddar as that is MADE by DH's cousin, Jamie Montgomery who is also the rellie's cousin (both on their mother's side) at North Cadbury in Somerset.
Time was when we would get a small truckle from them each year and divvy it up with the girls. I do like a good cheese !!!
She has now gone and it is nice to enjoy the luxury of a second coffee, a newly hoovered sitting room and a couple of scented candles while the washing machine continues to do its stuff. Peace
I wrote our Christmas cards last week, but still haven't the stamps so that could be my next task. Need to apply for a second mortgage first though ???

The care home visit left me feeling washed out
The DGD visited a local care home last week to sing carols for the (mainly) ladies.
DGD1 commented that one old lady enjoyed it very much, joining in and waving her arms around but the rest appeared to be asleep.
I expect they enjoyed the children singing all the same!

I've never tried Stinking Bishop DB although it is made not far away - perhaps I'll take a trip to Ledbury and try it in a shop there before I bring any home.
And I have to look out for Montgomery's Cheddar now

jollyg I use my wee Kodak AF 5X. Are you any the wiser?

DaphneB The lunchtime treat was more of a feast. We are lovers of tasty cheese. Roquefort is my favourite. We also buy Mull of Kintyre extra strong because it makes a good Welsh Rarebit.

Jalima The staff at the care home go to great lengths to decorate the sitting room with all manner of Christmas bunting. A morning visit can be difficult because a good many residents remain fast asleep in their chairs. We, the group of ladies I visit, often have a merry sing song. They like rock and roll music. Not always the right words, to the right tune, in the right order...but hey, what does it matter!

I've tackled the kitchen cupboard clear out. Hated doing the job. Loved the result. I've also washed all the dusters and cleaning cloths.

Ironing duty in the morning. I shall return to catch up with you lovely lot after lunch.

Evening All. Had a lovely day today, the cold is in retreat and spent time with some happy people. To top it all I managed to stumble across just the right thing for Christmas Day, in a supermarket, half price! What's more it even fits. Miracle or what? Won't need to try eBay soop but would have appreciated your advice, I'm unreasonably nervous about eBay purchases

Have planned our survival strategy for childminding next week and hoping for a good nights sleep. Wishing you all the same. .

What did you get cornergran? I have given up on that quest

We are looking after the GSs for two days next week and they will be staying the night. I'm so looking forward to it (not sure whether Grandpa feels the same). Now that they are a bit older (9 and nearly 12) we don't see so much of them and I really miss their company. Love reading their bedtime story and creeping in to see them when they are fast asleep.
soop and cornergran we could form a girls' choir - it sounds as though our voices would be well-matched! I always try to mouth the words when singing in company but occasionally I hear a little grunt escape . One of my ex-colleagues said that I sounded like Kermit. Oh, to have a lovely singing voice!

I was looking forward to the same, oldgoat; we usually have our boy the first two days of any school holiday, but it seems DD has holiday to use up, so she is taking those two days off. I consoled myself with the thought that we would have him staying over on Saturday at least, but even this is in doubt now. I felt strangely bereft and got quite crotchety about it, until DH gave me a telling off for being silly. But as you say, the older and busier they get, the fewer and further away become the opportunities to spend time with them.

Nothing exciting, daphne. One of the daughters in law has persuaded me I really can wear legging type things, well skinny jeans in this case. Have some new-ish pale grey ones and now have a long tunic, grey and cream diagonal stripes with a bit of green. It's comfy jersey fabric and just right for sitting in the floor with littlest. Gone are the days of something elegant for Christmas Day . I also have a sweater with gold Christmas trees for Christmas Eve, again courtesy of a supermarket (Sainsbury if I'm allowed to say). I grew up in a home where we all had something new to wear for Christmas, I think looking it back it was often the only new thing my Mum had in the year. Isn't it strange how things stick?

I'm up for a croaky choir. Evicted from the school choir at age 8 I have worried about anyone hear me sing ever since. A virtual choir could be my salvation!

I never could sing well but some time ago, before it was diagnosed and treated, acid reflux had damaged my vocal chords and my voice gives out half way up the sol-fa scale. So croaky choir - here I come!

OOOh, I want to join that choir please! According to my mum I am tone deaf and she was mortified when I produced a nativity at Sunday School and sang solo right at the end.

Soop, my mum's care home had erected a blow up Santa (about 8' tall) until a few relatives suggested that it might be quite confusing for the residents. They have, thankfully, taken it away now.

Off to wrap - see you all later.

Looked up for a description on user modes on AF5X, Im none the wiser.

Surely there is a flash off mode. If not try a layer on 2/3 of bog roll over the flash, just to softern the harshness of the flash.

Have you a photo editing prog , lots of free ones available, but I dont use PC. Then you can crop change colour balance etc, to a result that you are happy with. Always make a copy of the original, and tiddle around with it till you are happy with the result, and save the best one

soop Manual for Kodak AF 5X doesn't seem to be online, but a question about it on a website referred them to this PDF. If it is this model resources.kodak.com/support/pdf/en/manuals/urg00775/C713_C813_CD703_UG_GLB_en.pdf then page 7 has a list of flash settings - auto (when light levels need it), fill (always - lightning symbol) anti-redeye, and off (lightning symbol crossed out)

But if have the manual you know that.

Good afternoon to our lovely Granspals.

Have completed the weekly ironing duties and am relaxing with a mince pie and coffee. Best bit of the day!

Elegran and jollyg I also have a manual. I do know how to switch on and off the flash. Thing is, I usually take the photo in great haste. Don't ask...it's the way I am. I take the photo and that's that. No time to bother to repeat the process. So...the next time I need to use the camera, I shall pay attention (as the nun used to say when I was daydreaming during Latin.)

I like the idea of an out-of-tune choir. Why not! Us lot could make the top of the Christmas song chart. I remember getting to fah when Sister Gabriel waved her arms about with alarming speed and beckoned me to sit away from the rest of the girls. The shame of it has remained with me ever since.

corner Oh my goodness. I am envious that you have a figure slender enough to wear skinny jeans. I have a round bot. My jeand are classed as "relaxed fit".

oldgoat and greyduster I would love to have Torben stay, if only for a day. It won't be possible. He'll be in West Sussex and we're in Kintyre. Never mind, I accepted long ago that this was the way things would be. The distance between us, is a fact of life. As with all our family members, as long as they are safe and thriving, then we're content to speak to them on the phone.

kitty An 8' tall Santa could confuse a few big blobs on the window. The blobs were cut-out reindeer and trees and such.

kitty I had typed that one of the residents had asked, what are the big blobs on the window? Those few words have disappeared into the ether.

I'm totally baffled by all his camera stuff, I just point and click .

The thing is soop I'm not a bit convinced I should be wearing the wretched things, but the 'encourager' is very encouraging and says it is good for the image - hmm, maybe she doesn't like me after all . Any case, no one but family to see me - I hope!

Lovely walk on the beach in the sunshine today, followed by an even nicer mug of hot chocolate in a tiny family run cafe. Wander round a garden centre this afternoon, pleased to find Christmas items already reduced, so there was room for just one more after all .

A pre Christmas outing with friends tomorrow to some caves which are decorated for Christmas. Its a bit of a ritual. Intended for children really, I say no more other than we just wave to Santa rather than sitting on his knee.

Wishing everyone well and a good night's sleep.

corner I like the sound of your afternoon of hot chocolate and wanderings. Good that you also happened across some reduced bargains.
I've been wrestling with double sided sticky tape. The bad language was most unladylike.
Enjoy your outing tomorrow. Why not sit on Santa's knee. He might like it.

Off to feed the pussy cats. Pitch black outside. Rain on and off all day long.

Goodnight until I return tomorrow.

soop

Like the outfit cornergran and what is more it sounds comfortable!!
A couple more things ticked off my list today - stamps bought, cards stamped ready for posting, one present posted and tree bought!
Yay!
Also got to within a few hankies and two shirts of the bottom of the ironing basket -until I do more washing
Alas DH's blood has taken a nose dive this week and his Hb has dropped to lower than it was before last week's transfusion -[worried emoticom] so it's back to MKH tomorrow morning.

Daphne sorry to hear that about your DH. Hope they can help at the hospital. Things are always so busy at Christmas, health problems just add to the worry. Do hope you are both ok. ((Huggs))

He will get 2 units of blood at the Planned Care Unit. Last week's 2 units should have lasted a couple of weeks at least, but the weekly check always picks up if the level has dropped too far. Please God they are happy to continue with this management plan.

Another of our lovely friends has died, and I know it is never a good time to die, but at Christmas it always seems so extra sad somehow. It should be a happy time, although I know for some it is not, but this particular friend was always full of life and he will be missed. We have made several new friends since we moved. but it is the old ones who share the memories isn't it.
On a more cheerful note I am doing well and walking without a stick, although a trip round Sainsbury's yesterday was not a good idea, but you have to start somewhere.