Soop' s warm and welcoming kitchen.

Just stopped in to wish you luck today, Dragonfly. I will be thinking about you.
I will look in later and catch up with everyone.

Thinking of you Dragonfly.

Same here dragonfly

Sar DH is fortunate to have his own personal nurse at his beck and call. I wish him a swift recovery.

I slept like a log last night and would still be asleep if my 4 legged friend had decided I should not be in bed at 8am. I cannot watch the news so I have no idea what is happening and I am happy to leave it like that until next March- somebody will tell me I am sure.

I am going out for lunch with a friend today so that should be very pleasant. I should be dressed by then.

Morning all !

Have a lovely lunch Charley !! I'm a bit like you , I have placed my vote, I voted for the party I wished to be in government , now there is precious little I can do but hope my trust was not totally misplaced( BUT I am SICK of Brexit hijacking every news programme!!)

The antidote has been a diet of sappy Christmas movie, predictable plots full of snow and Christmas cookies :-)

Hope he appreciates you Sar and that Santa has put something nice under the tree for all your hard work.

Hope all goes well today dragonfly

Its all go here on the crafting front and Grampy has retired to the garage to commence work on the tiny dog kennel Cooper has asked Santa for. It must be small, sturdy and light weight - I am sure Grampy has it all in hand !!

Cooper's first school play went well and he sang all the songs and - and I quote- played his maracas enthusiastically !! Enough said !

Happy day all x

Also just popped in to wish Dragonfly luck today - we are all thinking of you.

Panache dentist visits are awful at the best of times but having to endure it when not well is rotten! Hope you feel a bit stronger today.

Sar surgeries these days as with all medical matters are rather like conveyor belts moving ever faster - it won't be long before all procedures are conducted by instruments coming out of our computers in our own homes! I'm glad your husband is home and has you to nurse him.

My BIL was arriving today to drop in some cards - I expected him mid to late morning but no - he arrived at 8.30 just when today was the day I'd been messing about experimenting with hairdo's for a works party at the weekend and therefore wasn't quite dressed. Cue me hopping around on the landing trying to put my leggings on shouting down hang on a minute. His response when I finally opened the door was have you been having a lie in! I've actually been up since 5.30 am!!

I have to go and clear out the freezer in the garage to make room for some Christmas stuff - donning coat, hat and thick gloves - I may be some time!

Update -Just seen the specialist. The CT scan showed that the cancer has not spread which is good. They have found a second suspect area in same breast so need a biopsy next week but as I am on medication to shrink the tumour I am not seeing her again until 15th January.

What I have is fed by oestrogen so I am on tablets to eliminate all oestrogen in my body. It will take a few months but in the meantime it is not growing. I will have to have an op to take the breast off but probably not until next summer.

She was very positive and much happier than when I saw her last.

Looking forward to Christmas at DS's in Brighton now unless anything untoward happens after biopsy next week but feeling much more positive. They are so clever these days.

Thank you to all who sent me good will messages.

Sar So sorry to hear about your Granddaughter I do hope she feels better soon.

Dragonfly that is good news- hopefully you will be able to relax now and enjoy Christmas.

dragonfly, I’m so glad to hear you have had encouraging results, and we will all be cheering you on through your treatment. It is a horrible disease but, as you say, so much can be done nowadays and I look forward to the day when you can say you’ve beaten it.

Lovely news Dragonfly - now you can enjoy Christmas !
Cold here but a lovely day. The granddog is snuggled very close to me and runs the other way every time I suggest she visits the garden. Right - presents to wrap and a washing machine to load.

Dragonfly Oh, your news has put a big on my face. Such good news with which to start the day. You will be able to relax and begin to enjoy the festive treats.

Sar I'm sorry to hear that your wee granddaughter is still poorly. Bless her, please may she start to recover in time for Christmas celebrations.
The best place to be for surgery is in hospital. The best place to be in order to recover is at home. Good wishes to Mr Sar. I've had both hips replaced. Once the swelling and bruising becomes less troublesome, the spirits perk up no end. Be gentle with him.

Willow Wrap up well. The bitter wind resulted in our daily walk being foreshortened.

N&G In my mind'e eye, I can see Cooper putting those maracas through their paces.

Greyduster Yet another atmospheric photo. I'm sorry to hear that you continue to wrestle with family problems.

My apologies. The above message was meant for granniequeenie. A senior moment.

Well spotted Soop! While I would love to claim credit for it, I am a camera novice who worships at the feet of those who know what they are doing!?. I may know a bit more after Christmas though! While I was putting away DH’s boxers in his drawer this morning I found (Shhh!) a book on digital photography that is obviously intended to be my Christmas present (I only looked for a second then covered it up! Honest!). He’s very thoughtful but absolutely rubbish at hiding stuff! He should have put it in the cupboard where all the cleaning stuff is - I never go in there!!

Dragonfly I am so pleased to hear your news. I hope you can now enjoy Christmas and park any thoughts about your treatment until the Mew Year. (Mew Year? Isn’t that for cats? Anyway you know what I mean!!). Easier said than done, I know.?

Gq it certainly must be a sign the water levels are rising if the anglers are out in force, but it would be too cold for me, and it usually is for the fish. They tend to sulk on the bottom and stop feeding in the winter and there is no sport for a dry fly enthusiast like me! Your photo certainly made me feel whistful though!

I have retreated to the bedroom in search of a little peace and quiet from the television and the B word! I’m with you, Charley and N&G; I wish it was over and done with now.

Sar what a puzzler about your little GD and what a horrid time for her to be so poorly. I hope she starts to pick up very soon.

We have a friend coming to lunch tomorrow and last time I saw her, we were talking about food and she said she rarely got the chance to eat a proper homemade pie, so I am making a chicken and mushroom effort. DH hates chicken pie, but he will have to lump it, as she doesn’t eat red meat. I have warned him not to get the face on! She regularly presents him with things he would rather not eat and he shovels them down manfully because he loves her. I don’t know whether I engender the same selflessness in him ?!

School run this afternoon and no crossed wires today, I hope!
I will look in later.

Greyduster Bags I get to sample a portion of what will be a home-made pie. Will it be topped with shortcrust pastry? If so, I bags a large portion. Eyes bigger than my tum...as my late father used to say.

Away to tidy and clean in the corners of the utility room. Not a job I ever look forward to. Somebody has to do it. MacSporran has been using the hand-held vac to reach the tops of shelves. Once he starts, I get the bug.

Dragonfly, glad to hear your news is better than you expected.

Making my way in to the warmth and friendly ambience of the kitchen.... after a recall to that darned Surgery and another mauling........ which my body does not take too very kindly!

Willow My dental visit yesterday was a mere "Spit and polish" as I tend to call it ,so not really an ordeal.......this time!!

With Dentists on my brain obviously I got your extraction dates wrong Corner.......sorry about that but please keep my special cwtch until Saturday, and lets hope it works wonders for you.

Sleep is something that hardly ever happens in my life nowadays Charley ............and hearing of your mammoth sleep certainly I am filled with envy!!!

Dragonfly I am so pleased to hear a completely different tone today following having your results, and it seems you have been given a thorough and proper understanding of all that is and going to happen.
Yes it means a Mastectomy in due course, but at least that is summer time,which not only gives you time to take all these things fully on board, but will offer such a great recovery time.
Meanwhile the medication hopefully will shrink these tumours, it seems this now seems acceptable and you can go truly enjoy this Christmas with your family, knowing all there is to know.
Not knowing or undersranding is not only frustrating but it adds to your stress.
Now it seems you have a plan........ and we can but hope everything goes well accordingly.
I am sooooooo pleased for you.Cheers indeed!

I think you are need of a tender pick me up Sar......hopefully the little one makes a quick and full recovery as youngsters tend to do.

Don`t get too carried away with that cleaning bug Soop..........it may be catching!!!

I shall love and leave you all as I think it time I took an afternoon break...........if only I could have a snooze!!

Sending love and blessings to you all,and for all those with problems, we here continue to wish you all well again.
Keep up those smiles my friends.

Slipping in for some peace and quiet. Hoping politics is banned in the kitchen. Couldn’t sleep thinking about the young mum who died in the Edinburgh hospital.
dragonfly Very pleased to hear a better than expected report.
greyduster. I will make a chicken and leek pie tomorrow inspired by you.
The tree is about to go up in spite of the missing decorations. No, not in the garage. So just lights and a star. Is less more?
I have left some shortbread Christmas trees on the side.
Just going to snooze on the sofa before going back to the chores. Is there a cat in the kitchen - I need to snuggle up to it.

I have had a lovely lunch out. We were only half an hour late which embarrassed me but my friend did not bat an eyelid.

Amazingly we could not find a parking space and we were 20 minutes leaving the house anyway. Still, it was worth it having a table next to a roaring fire. I would have been happy to sit there drinking coffee for the rest of the day.

That’s so encouraging dragonfly, thank you for sharing your news.

Get well wishes for your granddaughter sar, hope the sleep is healing.

Must rush. Fussy family coming for a meal. Preparation is needed. Take care everyone, a hug for struggling and not struggling folk. .

So happy for you dragonfly your news is so encouraging , you can now enjoy your Christmas more.
I am having a lovely time in Nottingham, some retail therapy has been acheived and met up with an extended family member this lunchtime which we enjoyed very much.
We went into the centre last evening and watched the outdoor skating and had a nice Italian meal.

I'm glad your news is optimistic dragonfly, hopefully you can have a more relaxed Christmas now.
My DD tells me that DGD is much brighter today after sleeping nearly all day yesterday and all night. Hopefully on the mend.
Soop I'm always gentle with OH. He doesn't like any fuss when he's unwell or recovering so I leave him to get on with things, apart from putting his surgical stockings (!!!!!) On, lifting his legs onto the bed, helping him into his slippers, you get the picture. And my favourite thing of all is being his taxi driver for the next six weeks , that's when we often have words. I love him really .

Thank you annsixty I am getting the feeling that you are adapting to a new kind of normal. It will become easier as time goes on. I am pleased you had a lovely day.

Ann Whoopie How good is it to hear that you are enjoying some well deserved treats. I am happy for you.

Panache I'm so sorry to hear that you've had yet another pummeling.
As for the "spit and polish", I can handle that type of dental appointment. It's the drill that puts me into a tiz-woz. The very whine of it makes me shudder. Having said that, when I had my last total hip replacement surgery I did so whilst fully awake, thanks to an epidural, and the sound and the smell of the drill didn't worry me a jot.

Feelingmyage You are a dear. Snooze away to your heart's content. Us lot will share the shortbread.
I was also shocked to hear of that poor young woman's untimely death. In fact, I cried.

Charleyg Good friends are like that. They will wait for as long as it takes. You will have been greeted with a welcoming smile.

corner I'm so relieved that it isn't I who is having to cook for a fussy family. I am fine once visitors arrive. It's the bit beforehand that is such a worry. Yes! I am a worrier.

Marydoll When is your date with that norty father Christmas? He's in for a BIG shock. Best be prepared to waft a glass of brandy under his nose. Either that, or smaelling salts.

The utility room looks amazing. So tidy that I may have to forbid MacSporran to use it. Aww.

Time for me to log off for today. After care home visit tomorrow, I shall be back in our kitchen for further news and views. In the meantime...