soop's kindly kitcheners and pampered pets...

DaphneB Grace never fails to put a smile on the faces of us lot. I wonder whether we should notify the RSPCA...she looks stressed beyond measure.

annsixty You deserve a mention in the New Year's honours list. I admire you no end. Over Christmas we spent time with two families. Each has an aged parent with dementia. Listening to their individual stories made me think of you.
This evening I shall raise a glass of something special to you and all our marvellous Granspals.

Charleyg Keep us updated on the matter of the silk duvet. What a faff.
Rory has slept all morning. Bracken is on her rug in the utility room. It's raining. She'll be dry and cosy throughout the rest of today. Rory does spend a little time with her. She's playful. He'll take just so much skittishness and then he wanders round to the front door and waits to be let in.
Are you 'avin' a laff? What do you mean...the shops are closed for two weeks. I cannot believe it. I think that you are a TYKE!

All the best for the bells to soop & all her kitcheners.

DH & I are going out shortly to enjoy a curry at an Indian restaurant we have been frequenting since 1974 followed by the RSNO Hogmanay concert in Glasgow. Should be home in time fo the bells.

A guid new year tae one and all. ??

Crafting Heartfelt thanks and a big New Year's Eve (((hug))) from me to you.
You deserved to enjoy a special Christmas. I know exactly how you must have felt when your family, at last, laughed together.

*Daphne8 that is a beautiful photo as usual of Grace but she needs a blanket over her or she may catch her death of cold.

soop I have cancelled the silk duvet, it will be interesting to read the excuses they give me when they open up again on I suppose Tuesday. Even the email is vague re opening times. If they grovel enough I may accept it!

soop I know that Rory, like Tara, is not in his first flush of youth and his earlier life did him no favours although he has made up for it since the day he unpacked after moving in permanently. Has Bracken been to see him or is he not bothered because he is not feeling very well?

I went shopping at Waitrose early pm and none of you ladies told me that all food shops were closing for 2 weeks. The siege mentality was alive and well. On my way out I noticed that cars were queuing for around 1/2 mile, unbelievable.

Well I have had mostly a truly s....y year but we have survived it, no worse really than the start. I have had a very successful knee op and am no longer in pain. I know I can cope with my H and my family are "OK".
My D is coping well with being on her own and has started doing a Masters degree.
H is now 80 and I am 80 next July and we are in very good physical health. A lot to be thankful for I think.
I have a bottle of Prossecco in the fridge and was well as toasting our own New Year I shall offer up a toast to all the Kitchener's for a good one for us all.

Grace is getting very excited about the New Year as you can see

Lovely message Daphneb please keep up with the poems, I love them.

We had a wonderful Christmas with our DS's and their families (complete with runny noses and coughs ) One of the nicest times was to see DS and family laughing together and happy (it's been a while since I have heard my son chuckle, they have had a tough time) it was the best Christmas present ever

Hope all with coughs, colds, or the dreaded sickness bug are on the mend soon.???

Hope the New Year will bring some lifting of the spirits for those who have suffered troubles or loss this year and ((huggs))

Soop thank you for the warmth of your heart ❤️ and your kitchen.

Happy New Year to you all ?? - I'm off to tuck into some mince pies and chocolate while I ponder when to start the New Year diet!

Charleyg Rory is an ancient old feline. Considering the lifestyle he was used to for a great many years, he's done remarkably well. We shall keep a beady eye on him. Costly...yes! Is he worth it...YES!

DaphneB That was a very thoughtful message. Thank you.

Oh so nearly the end of 2016
Great happiness personally with the birth of young Flynn, Toby starting school, Will getting ballet lessons with Royal Ballet Birmingham and Pippa's angelic face when she does precisely what she has been told NOT to, but in many world wide respects it has been a bit of an iffy year hasn't it?
However, need to be grateful we got to enjoy it at all!
A Happy and a Healthy New Year to you !

soop for once I do not think that it is the fault of Yodel. The bedding company said that they would email me when my item had been dispatched and they have not, they have gone on holiday it would appear.

Where on earth has Rory picked up this bug? He does not move 2 yards. That is worrying considering how much it will cost. Please give him a hug from me and my lodger.

Charleyg What's the betting that the silk duvet is delivered today. If so, will you keep it? It may not be the Company's fault. Bad road conditions may have contributed to delays.
We love steak pie. Preferably with short crust pastry.
We're looking forward to a quiet and cosy stay at home evening.

Something weird is happening with either the computer of GN connection. Words somehow manage to randomly skip hither and thither. I cannot blame the weather. It isn't too bad today. Breezy but far from blustery.

Rory is not feeling too well. He's sneezing and looking lack lustre. If this continues, we shall need to pay for the Campbeltown vet to visit. No way would he let us put him into a basket. The last time we needed the vet to call, he went bananas.

I shall pop into the kitchen a little later. A small pile of ironing beckons.

soop I a also a fan of Zulily's kitchen ware but I have never bought any. I need boxes with lids for freezing food but not 20 of them.

I have cancelled my silk duvet- I tried to contact the company at 3pm yesterday, Friday but they appear to be having a long weekend off. A weird way to run an on line service I think. They offered to have it delivered yesterday, I did not put a gun to their heads.

A bit warmer here, still foggy but marginally less so than yesterday. I am going to have to brave the weather because I need basics like bread. I also need to buy a steak pie, a traditional New Year meal but I will probably have it this evening.

ann Well done to JL for keeping a promise. They are a first class company. Reading manuals isn't my forte. I'm inclined to press buttons until the gadget works, or not. In which case, I call MacS to my side, pull a silly befuddled face, and wander off to faff with a duster while he sorts matters out.
Very good of your son to offer to do your shopping. Try to remain germ free. It is a nasty bug that is doing the rounds.

I'm logging off. Before I do, I wish to send good-will vibes from our home to each and every one of you.

Back tomorrow.

I've at last started to pedal the exercise bike after a very long period of R&R. Sheer laziness, on my part. Twenty minutes seems an awful long time. I pretend I'm in the Olympics. Ten mins hard pedalling equals a bronze. Fifteen minutes = a silver. Twenty = a gold. Who am I kidding! That and a thirty minute walk each day = a big, bright, blowsy medal studded with precious stones. Daft as a brush - me! But you already know that.

Yes John Lewis did not let me down they were here at 10;50am.
They were very friendly and efficient and the oven is lovely but works differently to the other one so I must study the manual. My S who is as snotty and croaky as many of you has just taken me to do a big shop and I hope not to have to go out for several days OR to have picked up his germs.
What a lovely gesture soop but he obviously enjoys your chats and your friendship.

NanaandGrampy I like your style. You always manage to raise a titter or two.

anno It's good to hear that the surgery went well. The freezing fog in the Midlands has caused havoc. Surprisingly mild here at the mo'.

Jalima The post office van often pulls into the entrance to our drive. I watch with beady eyes (thinking that a parcel is about to be delivered) but nine times out of ten the postie is re-arranging the deliveries.

Charleyg I agree that Zulily fashions are stylish. I dare not get myself hooked on the site. I've far too much clobber to be going on with. You have every right to be miffed regarding the delivery that hasn't turned up. Stick to your guns! No-one messes with one of us lot.

It's a very good, mild-ish afternoon to all you lovely lot.
So sorry for those of you with sore throats and runny noses and other buggerations besides. Bah! Humbug!

ann Was it eleven? We called Telecom on behalf of our pal who hasn't had a phone connection since before Christmas. A lightning flash knocked out a number of lines in the village. She was assured she'd have it fixed yesterday morning. Nah! No way. We phoned on her behalf this morning. Told that her line would be operational by this afternoon.
Nah! Called back to be told the engineer will call on her NEXT Thursday! She is not a happy bunny.

callgirl1 Lovely to hear that your family have rallied and given you the tender loving care that you deserve.

We were about to cross the road to the Royal hotel at lunchtime, (for coffee and scone) to be greeted by a gentleman who was waiting for us on a nearby bench. He gave us a gift each. We do not know him well. Most Fridays we stop beside his table for a chat. He said..."you are both very kind to me. This is a thank you." Such a lovely gesture. He made our day.

N&G I have emailed the company, in Yorkshire I think, stating I have stayed in all day and if the item is not here by 12 mid day tomorrow they can cancel it.

I would have been happy to wait until after the New Year but I was offered next day delivery for free so why turn that down? I am reasonable and realise that that it is the weekend + a BH but as stated I would have waited. I am picking up my trousers from M&S next Friday, there is no rush for either parcel but I must go food shopping tomorrow. Not a happy bunny here.

Charleygirl the rest of them come up our close, park outside our house and then sit and have a chat on their mobiles.
I always get excited thinking that a parcel is arriving for me, but generally they are just having a little break!

We have a nasty fog which has rolled in. Time to hibernate.

Those of you looking for tops- have you tried Zulily on line? Very different. The only downside is that it is very difficult to unsubscribe once they have have their claws in you. I receive a different post from them daily.

N&G I live in a small mews and every white van except Yodel has come here. I think, like me most are on their computers 24/7. I must learn more about this 4 letter word "save". Still, everything I buy now is "for the last time".

The freezing fog is still here, a good job I can live out of my freezer.

anno pleased to hear that you are up and running again and that your family appeared to have looked after you admirably. I would love to be able to wash in my hair in soft water, it has not happened for many many years.

Charley, you made me laugh! I go one better and clamp my hand over my mouth. Thinking about that it might not be the healthy option. I used to be so laid back, too. I think too many bouts of illness over the past 18 months have freaked me out about germs. Someone sneezed in the supermarket aisle I was in the other day and I scuttled off in the other direction. Then went home without the milk I'd mainly gone in there for. Oh I'm sure the vile creatures will catch me sooner or later ?

Dammit! I was writing a post which suddenly went 'down the drain'! Anyway, it's good to be back in the kitchen with you all. I've had a good break with two lots of family. DS2 came north with his two tykes and 'looked after' me following my sinus-clearing operation, then took me back to Didcot for the festivities. DS2 and family came over on Boxing Day for more feasting and took me back to Sandhurst with them, whence I returned by train yesterday, thankful not to have to drive through freezing fog in the Midlands.
Glad to report that my nose is functioning well and I can breathe through both sides at last. Seeing the consultant in three weeks' time for a follow-up. It's good to be back in my own 'nest'. Something about the water 'down south' makes my hair even more unruly than ever and I will look more human once I have had a shampooing session with good soft water! Here goes!

Morning all!!

Brrrrrrr it's chilly here !! Grampy is ignoring me as he's not chilly . But I am . I suppose I should go and and put a sweater on !!

Yodel are such rubbish 'Charley* and I say that even though my eldest daughter works for them! Our sales bargain new Hoover from JL turned up yesterday and has put out old Hoover to shame !

Your meal sounds lovely callgirl , how nice to be treated !! My whole family brother, sisters etc is descending on my today so I'm feeling under pressure. I had planned a slow cooker chilli and meatballs and pasta but after a conversation with my sister I had to change to a buffet as apparently her two grown daughters don't like either of those !! Even though I've eaten both at her house many times !

So it's a cold buffet and sod em' I say !!

The panto was a great success and we had great seats. Although it was Sleeping Beauty there were some modern twists. I was a bit taken aback when the male dancers appeared on stage shirtless a la Chippendales and the girls in what I can only describe as big pants and longline bras!!! Laura was not in the least surprised and corrected me by saying the girls were in 'dancewear' not underwear !

We threw ourselves into it , and she enjoyed it so much we have agreed a trip to Aladdin next year was on our bucket list .

Well , off to burn a few sausage rolls and spike the punch !!

ann I have been living a similar life and if somebody sneezes, I hold my breath and run for my car.

I think that JL will be there around 11am ann. With luck your oven will even work.

The freezing fog has not lifted here so even if my duvet is delivered today I will be going nowhere.