soop's kindly kitcheners and pampered pets...

oldgoat lovely photos- I can remember the days when I could ice skate, now I am happy to stay on terra firma.

soop I do hope that you do not lose electricity and no doubt you have other ways of making a hot drink and cooking a hot meal. I do not know what the T is like in your part of the country but it is very mild here, the calm before the storm I believe.

Nellie and annsixty I am not part of the bah humbug brigade but I also will be happy when it is all over. A pity that the three of us did not live closer as we could cheer one another up!

Look after yourselves and do not spend too much money if out shopping buying essentials.

I have never tasted bread and dripping-I do not think that I would like it.

This is a bit early!! Last lie in until next Wednesday when it will al be over [
I had hoped DH would crash out for the full 10-12 hours which he generally does after a transfusion, but he's awake too.
So," last day before" for me, as we are off to Birmingham for lunch with the family then Carols by Candlelight at Symphony Hall with DD and DGS1 while SIL takes the 2 younger ones to Room On the Broom. That should put us in the Christmas spirit!
Safe journeys to those travelling today whether on M ways or just to your supermarket car park

I am going no further than the local supermarket, Waitrose.

At least the transfusion was done at the correct time as you have a lot planned for today and all away from home. Enjoy!

Morning all !

We are up way to early but leaving in half an hour for the 140+ round trip to pick up damn car! You know when you just KNOW it will not be smooth sailing ....that's how I feel. I am sure it will be the wrong car or only have three wheels !!!

And don't get me started on traffic on the M25

I am sorry Nellie and ann that the festivities are not making you smile. I totally understand why and like * Charley* wish we were a little closer to help in some way. I hope it passes quickly for you both and you find a little unexpected joy somewhere to get you through.

Sending you a little holly and mistletoe ( and some decent plonk) to help you through.

Have a good day one and all ( and Daphne the concert sounds wonderful!¬!)xx

N&G I do hope that the car is exactly what you want. If you are travelling on the M25 you will have plenty of time to view the surrounding countryside because no doubt it will be stop/start the entire journey.

I was at Waitrose around 9am today, it opened at 8.30am and it was hell on earth. One would think that food was disappearing until Easter. There were young boys in some sort of uniform helping with packing but I had so little it was not worth it. I did thank him profusely- he was so polite. I must look for the hoover, I have no more excuses. I do have a robot hoover but birdbrain did not charge it up.

On Christmas list, a new charger for brain as present one obviously not working.

Have you seen this charleygirl??
DD rang me at 8 back from Waitrose and said when it opened at 7.30 there were only about 5 other cars in the car park! Bet it's a bit different now.
Anyway, I hope you like the attached !

Daphne my local Waitrose will be closed for 2 days but there will be small Asian shops open on Christmas and Boxing Day as I live in London. Admittedly I am only catering for myself so I am not bothered about anything. I love the attached-that is what was happening when I was in the store. The girl could not stock up the bread shelves fast enough.

One of my huge turkey legs is in the slow cooker and with luck I will have a delicious curry at the end of the day.

Charleyg A comforting (((hug))) for you.

DaphneB and NanaandGrampy Safe travels to you and all Granspals undertaking journeys to some place or other.

I had a phone call during the evening. It was the lady with whom I left the baby-size doll. She had taken it to the wee girl's grandmother, and just wanted to say that grandma's reaction was a very happy one. She is sure that her granddaughter's eyes will light up when she opens her present on the 25th.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201612/medium-560141-pc234637.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201612/medium-851167-pc234639.jpg

Baubles, berries and beads. And...'pigs might fly'...

soop that is really kind of you and that little girl will love her new doll.

Take care Soop those winds look horrendous:
www.xcweather.co.uk/GB/observations

Chaleyg It gave me great pleasure to pass the doll on to a deserving child. If I hadn't a dental appointment yesterday afternoon, (and not had the doll on the back seat of the car) nor walked into a certain small shop to enquire whether the ladies knew of such a wee girl, I would have missed the opportunity altogether. It was meant to be.

Will do, TriciaF. I do believe that I've a small pile of ironing begging to be attended to. Before the power is disrupted, I shall attend to it right this minute.

I know you will believe I compiled a post that has vanished. If I wasn't so pleased I would be peeved. The source of the pleasure is that the 'box thingy' is fixed. Mr C phoned the techy helpline, wrote down the instructions which I read out to him while he crawled into a corner with a torch. Several minutes of muttering later and we had sound. Unreasonable pleasure remains .

The doll is one any little girl would love, soop, as you say meant to be. Part of our family is motorway travelling later, not a good day for it. Hoping they, daphne, n&g and all other travellers arrive safely

Best get on. Unwrapped one of the children's gifts yesterday (don't ask!) so best re-wrap it or I'm in trouble.

Stay safe and warm everyone. Soon be Christmas .

corner I am delighted that there is one happy bunny who can play with his box thingy. I knew that the end of the world was nigh but not that close! You will get some peace now I hope.

I must return to this house cleaning lark.

Thanks charley, you probably won't want to know that the cleaning is finished! Came fr a sit down and a phone chat with a friend but she's not at home so chatting on here instead. Hope the cleaning goes well.

corner Such a blissful feeling when a buggeration is fixed at long last. I now know what a 'box thingy' is. We haven't one. Just as well, really. You've heard that some folk are in the 'digital slow lane' - MacSporran says that we're in the 'digital lay-by.' All our technical gadgets and stuff is naff. I guess that's the way it will stay.
I've also unwrapped and re-wrapped a gift. Not for any logical reason.

My thoughts are with all travellers on this blustery day.

Charleyg I thought that I'd completed my house cleaning lark. What is it that suggests I haven't quite finished? I've been cleaning (on and off) for nigh on a fortnight. It's a form of insanity. I don't even like housework.

That little girl is going to be so thrilled with her dolly.
Do you think ?? Father Christmas gets the same pleasure from every gift/stocking he brings to the boys and girls?
It must be the BEST job in the world if he does!
Red cabbage in the oven for Christmas Day (it's tomorrow, Christmas Eve we are off to Birmingham, hence advance cooking!!)
Hope your hatches are all battened down up in the North and West - keep safe.

Rory has taken to one of his favourite beds. He put his nose outside the door for all of five minutes. Then he turned around, shook his back paws clean of imaginary puddle-water, and called it a day.

DaphneB I would love to be the bearer of gifts to as many children as I could possibly visit. I was so lucky to win the doll. We called by at The Salvation Army HQ, just in case someone knew where the doll would be appreciated. The offices were closed until Tuesday. The lady who knitted the beautiful outfit, will receive a thank you note from me.

The local school children have baked all the 'Seniors' in the village a special iced cake. They do so every Christmas. Very good it is too.

Red Cabbage! Yay!

soop Rory makes me laugh so much, being a fellow who had to look after himself for so many years living rough in the woods and now he is in the lap of luxury but will not poke a nose out of the door in case he gets a spot of rain on him.

Tara used to be like that, one spot of rain and she would retire to bed- nowadays she will go out in any weather and occasionally but not often comes home resembling a drooked rat.

I have got as far as the hall and downstairs loo and that is only the floor cleaned! I got bored so I doubt if I would earn much money cleaning.

At least tonight's supper, a huge turkey leg is in the slow cooker so little to do there.

I hope that you keep warm and dry soop we both know of one member of the household who will. No doubt that Bracken will use her bed at night.

I also am technologically challenged, as you are well aware.

soop I hope you and MacSporran are safe and sound in this horrible weather, keep warm.
I would also like to wish both of you and all the kitcheners, a very happy Christmas and a peaceful 2017.

Charley Will you please stop cleaning and sit down! ?

Charleyg Yes, indeed, Rory has come a long way. From a life living rough for a good many years, to a wheelie bin containing an igloo cat bed with fleece, to a kennel with a mat and all mod cons, to a home with his own cupboard groaning with the best of feline fare. Several tartan rugs. And let us not forget...a doting, besotted carer (who said in no uncertain terms - 'he's not coming in')

Lona Thank you for your kind message. I wish you the very best of everything. I hope that 2017 will be very much kinder to our Grasnspals who deserve better.

Goodnight from Kintyre. I shall return (power permitting) in the morning. A group hug for us all to share.

A very happy and peaceful Christmas to all my friends on Gransnet, I hope you get all what you wish for. And let's look forward to a peaceful and healthy New Year.

I suspect tomorrow will be manic with the GC.

Pompa xxx (xxx only for the ladies )