Soop's comfortable and convivial kitchen.

I think it may have been the Bendick’s Bittermints, N&G. To die for.....

I just wanted to join in the sentiments for Panache and Mr P and applaud those wonderful Kitcheners who stepped in to help.

Greyduster, I can't resist Bittermints, disappointingly Thorntons have stopped amking them, so withdrawal symptoms.

Soop, I hope Macsporran* feels better soon.

Soop, should MacS see a gp?

gd your back is a real nuisance.

Just got the house back in order now everyone has gone but I have had a fabulous day. I've been thoroughly spoilt with flowers, cake, cards and the children have booked a family photo shoot and provided a selection of photo frames.

The best bit though was very moving speeches from both sons and eldest dgs! We are not a demonstrative family generally so it was totally unexpected and lovely. I feel very loved and valued!

Sending some of my happy vibes to those who need them.

My back is but a flea bite, Kitty, and I am so pleased you had a lovely day with your family. The accolades were nothing less than richly deserved I’m sure.?

Still around kitcheners but keeping my head well down , simply depressed by being bad mouthed by a certain new hostile member(?) last week and another who jumped on me at every turn, blatantly biased, untruthful, twisting facts to suit his agenda etc etc etc
Frankly I do not need to take that from people I would not give the time of day to in RL so the canniest thing was to back right off.
Instead I have had a lovely few days playing serious trains/cars/“toys” with little Flynn and his mummy who came for a few days while Daddy is away on business.
Hattie patiently tolerated being covered in cushions on her sofa so that she could play hide and seek and even (sometimes) put up with the presence of grand-dog Basil, both dogs enjoying the extra titbits dropped by small person at mealtimes! I do wonder how those of you without dogs manage -do you have to sweep or hoover your kitchen floor yourselves?
Sorry to hear of viruses and lurgies but relieved that Panache and MrP are now getting the help they need.
Go the kitchen!

Maw, glad to see you posting. We missed you. ?

So glad to see you back Maw!! Is it worth raising that man’s attitude with HQ? They are quick enough to jump on most people!
We still have the lurgy - 13 days so far - hence posting at this silly time. Can’t sleep for coughing plus himself’s CPAP mask is howling. He must have disturbed it with coughing. What a happy pair we are!
Our jaunt to Suffolk was very interesting and there are some lovely villages and good looking houses out there. Some villages are really hamlets as they have no amenities. We will get on with it in the Spring.
DD and SIL got keys to their new home on Friday and have put a coat of paint on three bedrooms and the sitting room already. I remember being able to do that kind of thing!
Have a good day everyone - when you finally wake up!

Phew things have been eventful in the kitchen over the last week. I so admire the way you all keep up. I hope things are improving a little for Panache and annsixty and the rest of you kitcheners who’ve been in the wars. I loved the photos taken over the festive season. Honestly you all look so lovely and kind. It’s my first back to normal day today. All visitors have gone home. It’s been lovely for the children to have all this love and attention but I’m exhausted from all the bed changing and cooking. It was a very subdued Christmas here, DiL ate almost nothing. I’m hoping it’s the side affects from the radiotherapy. She celebrated her 40th this week although not much celebrating going on. Our oldest granddaughter covered a box with pretty paper and the three little ones wrote little notes about what was best about their mummy. They read their notes out to her (her eyesight is not too good) hearing their little voices saying such loving things was very poignant and all us adults sat gulping back tears. This little box of love cost nothing and was in my opinion the best present anyone could get. I know that 2019 will be a difficult year for many of us but it’s good to know tea and a sympathetic listening ear can always be found in the kitchen.

Morning all !!

Well that put things in perspective Morethan , thank you for sharing . Love costs nothing yet without it nothing has any value. I really feel for your family and can't begin to understand how hard it is to keep those two faces going ...the one that supports the children and reassures them and the one that understands the enormity of your DiLs situation. I wish that 2019 brings some sunshine to you all .

Ohhh Suffolk is lovely NannyTopsy but expensive . Venture this way a little and prices drop dramatically :-) .

Maw not sure what happened to GN over the holiday period but we certainly attracted the good , the bad and the downright ugly!! Glad to hear you have been enjoying RL instead !

Sorry to hear Macs is still laid low Soop , the plus side is you can eat his cake if he's not feeling the ticket !!

Its a slow day here , the weather is bright and I suspect Grampy and Sam will head out for a walk at some stage whilst I retreat to the West Wing.

I'll pop in later to catch up x

Hello the kitchen. I feel as if I have been sleeping with an elephant on top of me (no, not DH, he’s as light as a feather these days!). I was dreaming about trying to organise a cake for a party and the only one I could find was one shaped like one of the Black and White Minstrels covered in chocolate! There were barnacles in this dream somewhere too! Help me!!!

Morethan my heart goes out to you and your family. Take a little time out now to refresh yourself if you can.?

Maw I will send you my combat helmet and N&G will send her Kevlar flak jacket for if you are tempted onto the front line again; in the meantime we recommend some gentle kitchen R&R. And yes, it is amazing how much dogs will put up with when small boys are involved ?!

Another one here who loves Suffolk too, Nannytopsy, but Norfolk is nearer for us. Hope you find what you want.

Well, school run later - back in the old routine - but nothing exciting in the meantime. I will look in later.

Good morning everyone, just dropped in and tried to catch up with you all.

Soop, I hope Macsporren is beginning to feel better by now. If not, maybe he needs to be checked out by the GP.
Sorry to hear about your surgery, but hopefully it will improve things for you in the long run.

Maw, there are one or two somewhat abrasive posters on Gransnet, but thankfully the majority are good hearted and supportive. I’m sorry you’ve been upset by posters who seem to think they can say anything from behind a computer, they probably wouldn’t be so abrasive in RL. Well, hopefully anyway. I’m sorry you’v been upset by it though, that’s unkind.

Morethan, just sending love to you and your family.

Ann, that little kitten sounds lovely, it will be good for you to see her little face waiting for you when you return home each day. You’ve cared for your husband for so long, I know you’ll enjoy caring for your little kitty.

We went to a lovely concert in London over the weekend, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons ( and other pieces.) It was DH’s Christmas gift from yours truly, but we enjoyed it so much. It’s one of my favourite pieces of music.

Best wishes to everyone in the kitchen, I’m off to get the bag unpacked.

Good to hear from you Morethan - it must be very hard but pleased Christmas went without incident.

Maw I kept out of the abrasive posts. I have had my head bitten off once too often on here. That is why the Kitchen is so wonderful.

Sorry to hear that Mac is not well Soop. Hope he improves soon.

Not feeling so cheerful at the moment. I find the weekends hard - not sure why but maybe the lack of routine. Not helped by DH being in intense pain. At least he had a shower today although it took him a couple of hours.
Still waiting for the oncologist's appointment although have to get DH to hospital tomorrow to see the endocrinologist. It seems hospitals figure a lot in our lives at this age.

Maw...I've said this more times than I can count...walk away from stressful forums. You do not need them. You do not dererve them.

N&G Your opening comment moved me to tears. You have a good heart and Morethan and the rest of us lot appreciate having you with us in the kitchen.

kitty I am delighted that you had a truly memorable birthday. Lovely!

MacS is sleeping. He coughs for the best part of the night. Like so many of you and our friends in the village, this Winter lurgy is a buggeration. He hasn't lost his appetite. He enjoyed the goodie bag from our pal's birthday celebrations. He hasn't a temperature. He has had the flu vaccine. I shall continue to take the best possible care of him. That's a promise.

dragonfly A gentle (((hug))) from me to you and your husband.

Good afternoon all. Well we have another year and so many trials and tribulations between us all, plus the welcome jokes and beautiful photographs to sustain us all within the kitchen.

Talking of sustenance I have a jar of home made lemon curd left over from the festivities, so I am happy to donate a layered lemoncake later this afternoon. Four layers of light as a feather (hopefully) sponge layered with the lemon curd and topped with lemon icing and tiny shards of lemon zest.

My mind has been 'elsewhere' in gransnet for a few days now so I have not been concentrating on specific woes. Please do not think I am ignoring you all as I have read through quickly this morning.

I will return bearing cake around 3ish, depending on calls on my lego expertise and my ability to use the nutcrackers - both in great demand today with the littlies.

Hello all. Firstly it is good to hear from morethan I am pleased you got through Christmas and I send my very best wishes for the coming year.
It is going to be so hard for all of you.
Secondly commiserations to all of who are not well and those with H's , OH's and partners who are also suffering.
It is a dreadful day here, pouring with rain, Molly has been sitting in the bay window trying to catch the rain pouring down the outside of the pane, but has now gone to sleep in disgust.
I have been thinking about anno and hope she is enjoying some NZ sunshine and also being with her sister.
I have taken the opportunity to wash my 2 everyday coats and some jumpers although I hate the Widow Twankey look of things drying, these are things that can't go in the tumble dryer.
I hope some of you are having a better day weatherwise but hope you all have a good day anyway.

Izabella I had reserved my place at the head of the queue and am ready and waiting to sample your lemon curd cake. Many thank yous in advance.

Ann It is awful blowy in Kintyre. The sea looks spectacularly invigorated.

maddyone I've pm'd you.

In spite of it being around for many years, I have just had my first taste of Pannatoni, I think it will be my last.
How has it got such a following?

soop TWO pieces for you as I am sure MacS would appreciate lemon curd naughtiness. Everyone else please form an orderly queue. I'm hoping someone else put the kettle on?

We have a ruffling breese through the trees this afternoon which is also catching the odd fallen leaf by surprise and moving it on. The sky is the palest of grey and has a strange matt quality to it. My dad would have said 'there is something in the air, mark my words.' He was usually correct. As the light fades here it is quite wonderful to be at treetop level watching the movements in what looks like 3D.

I think trees are marvellous. Calming, solid reassuring. First thing this morning I noticed around 20 pigeons on a tree and the way they were spaced on the bare branches almost looked like a musical score with the birds looking like breves on the staves. Sorry I'm wandering again.

Anne do we have a recent photo of your lovely new companion? They grow so quickly. I loved your description of her trying to catch raindrops.

Gd so sorry to hear of your back. Mine kicks me into submission now and again, usually at the most inconvenient of times. Also pleased to see Mawbroon is still around the kitchen, and I hope that the Panaches are making inroads to a more supported lifestyle.

Morethan I send my thoughts to you at a time of great strain and worry. Not forgetting dragonfly and apologies to anyone I have omitted.

I have books to read, a kitchen to clear up and pots to clear away but am just revelling in the post-child silence that has now descended on us. I may eat more cake!!

Izabella Sounds like a good plan.

I'm away for a wee while. Ironing to do. Care home visit in the morning. If I can, I shall pop into the kitchen via the Kindle...or not, as the mood takes it.

Today is our great granddaughter, Mila Johanna's, first birthday. Bless!

Shoving soop out of the way in a most unladylike fashion....lemon cake mmmmmmmmmmm :-)

This first week back on the diet is killing me . I am having sweet things withdrawal symptoms again so cut me a wedge of virtual lemon cake please Izabella - it sounds like heaven on a plate !!

Grampy has been out trimming the tall hedges with his extendable hedge trimmer Santa got him. Men and their power tools eh??

I shall leave you with a picture of the tiny kennel Grampy slaved over for Cooper for Christmas. DONT ask what it cost but suffice it to say we could have bought several ready made ones for the price lol

annsixty I so agree....but Pannatone makes the best bread and butter pudding!

Popping in only to find that the lemon curd cake is all gone!!!!

Just a quick visit as looking after youngest GS.

Hope all poorly gransnetters are beginning to feel better.

Will pop back soon.

Happy Birthday dear little Mila and to her Mummy and Daddy!

A Very Happy Birthday Mila, your G/Grandma won`t recognise you when she sees you next, you`ll have grown so much!
Maddyone, have you ever been to the Classical Spectacular at the Albert Hall? It`s a wonderful concert with a fantastic finale. My youngest daughter and I are going in March, for the 3rd time, really looking forward to it.
Get well soon wishes to MacSporran, I hate to think of him being poorly.
My memory is getting worse, so best wishes to any poorly folk and their families that I`ve missed out, it wasn`t intentional.
Oh, I love the little kennel N&G, what is it`s size?