Soop's comfortable and convivial kitchen.

nannytopsy. Thank you - “no mean feast” in fact. Lolling on the kitchen sofa laughing at my own joke/pun (lolling!!!). Think it is hysterical relief at pulling it all off. Took DH to a hospital appointment today and was amazed at the professionalism combined with cheerful kindness of the staff. They deserve medals. I deserve chocolate. soop. Thank for for the ‘awesome’ and top of the class. I have never been top of the class before. Reminder - I am Scottish so must not be smug or let a compliment go to my head. The wine however is another matter. I have left a selection of crisps on the side for those who have had enough of the sweet stuff. Sleep tight all.

Hello all - very belated Christmas wishes I don't seem to have been able to get to the pc before now.

Also upset to hear the Panaches have no support still despite Mr P being sent home (although that is wonderful news) - it's really appalling to expect you both to manage on your own like this!

Morethan I hope you all managed to have a nice day making good memories for the children.

Ann I also feel for you - I'm quite shocked you're expected to take your husband to the hospital on your own. How did they expect you to cope with all that the appointment entailed? Another dreadful example of the care not being offered. I hope you did manage to have one tipple from your seemingly expanding drinks hoard!

Lovely photos GreyD, Soop and Callgirl. The only one I have is of Alfie as he is looking out of the window. He's now been out of the back door here twice (Mr W seemed to think he should be offered the opportunity) - he ventured all of six feet either side of it then scurried back inside to safety. He's not so considerate on a night but seems to be getting better as time goes on. Both he and Daphne are living in harmony here however which they refuse to do at home.

Christmas day was different this year as we spent it with friends and their family. We talked to the NZ lot on Christmas Eve seeing the boys with their presents but only after they'd opened them then our other family down south on Christmas night but again missed the grand opening ceremony. Chaos was in both households!

We had a pleasant walk along the sea front today - the weather has been quite mild - followed by coffee in the old haunt we used to frequent back in the 60's which hasn't changed apart from the seat covers and now it's glass mugs rather than cups and saucers! How sophisticated we thought we were back then

I hope you all have a good night tonight.

Love Alfie`s photo.

Lovely picture of your Max, callgirl. He's growing so fast you won't be able to call him 'little Max' much longer. Ours is definitely a big Max, now 11 and pre-adolescent!

I agree, a handsome young fellow and I am including Alfie in that!

Morning all !!

We made it through !! I got some very thoughtful gifts but also a bout of tonsillitis from one of the littlies !! Nice kids !!

My toothache is now superceded by a sore throat lol oh tis the season !!

Love the pictures Grey !! Looks like a good time was had by all.

I have to take some time to sit down and read back through everything so I will be back later , fully informed lol !!

Hope everyone had a Happy Christmas whatever you were doing and wherever you were.
We had a lovely quiet time, Church services were quite special with everyone pulling out the stops and working together now that they are in an interregnum. We had such a happy service on Christmas morning with the children bringing their presents and a skit of Archangel Michael berating the angel in charge of the arrangements for the reception of God's son on earth until he received a congratulatory call from The Boss who said "it was all just as He had planned". The funniest thing was the typecasting which had everyone in stitches.
We had minimal Christmas presents which was refreshing and relaxing as we all had small home made things which were much appreciated. The first year ever that I didn't 'do' Christmas 'proper' presents. Think we will do it again!
Lovely to see all the photos and to hear what everyone has been doing. Loved "the moveable feat"! Amazing what we can do when we have to!
soop I understand completely about the chocolates as I have such a love/hate relationship with the stuff. Have to keep reminding myself that it is only the very first bite that is so lovely and there is no point in trying to recreate it! I have always shared whatever chocs I have as much as is possible and now that there are so many unpronouncable ingredients which upset my tum I just give them all away - unless they are homemade! I once read that you should never eat stuff you can't pronounce or anything with more than 5 ingredients.
DD has been poorly with tonsilitis and unable to do much at all but today she seems a bit brighter so here's hoping. Her puss cat seemed to think he was in heaven since his 'mum' hardly moved and he had unlimited cuddles.
Our activity of the day today will be DH and I giving each other a hair wash over the kitchen sink as we can't access the overbath shower here! You have to laugh!

I’m afraid I am still in bed with a rotten cold - our cat thinks he’s in heaven too ?. I must get up soon - the granddog has a vet’s appointment for tranquillisers for New Year’s Eve as she is terrified of fireworks. She hated shotguns here earlier this week too but we can never know what has frightened her so badly as she is a rescue dog. Planning what goodies I will add to my turkey sandwich for lunch

Hello the kitchen. Our travels and family fun and games are over for the moment and we are taking time to wind down, having just come home from an overnight at DS’s. We had a lovely time, with both the stepgrands there and their respective partners. It did not all go swimmingly, as the eldest SGS’s partner had to go off to a family ‘do’ late afternoon and her brother picked her up in his car. On the dual carriageway, someone pulled out in front of them, then slowed, so they had to slow, were hit in the rear and pushed into the back of the offending car! Fortunately, no-one involved was badly hurt though with whiplash injuries you don’t always feel it straight away. Then this morning, as we were having a pre leaving cup of coffee, DH uttered that fatal phrase “has anyone seen my driving glasses?” (He brought them into the house to watch tv though why he should need to when the screen is as big as Cineworld is a mystery!). I knew he would struggle on the motorway without them. Cue hunt for same (including me going through the kitchen bin in case they had been scooped up with the Christmas cracker litter). “Have you been through all your pockets and looked in the car?” “Of course I have!” Then he backed into a side table and knocked my coffee all over the carpet. I’m afraid I lost it completely and everyone stood open mouthed as I gave him a verbal scouring! I thought of calling for the leg of lamb! We gave up the hunt and then, surprise surprise!! He found them in one of the cargo pockets in his trousers ?‍♀️. Following all of that, I had an aural migraine, so had to wait until it passed so they couldn’t really throw us out until then! It was not a good start but my DiL seems to float along in a bubble of patience and good humour and was completely unphased by it all. I’m sure they were glad when we left, though! She has another houseful overnighting tonight!

N&G you have truly been in the wars! I hope you are feeling better in time for New Year!

Syn the mutual hairwashing sounds like a very companionable sort of ‘activity of the day’. I like the idea of that sort of gentle human interaction!

Callgirl loved Max’s photo - he’s certainly growing at a rate of knots! I called on my neighbour before we left yesterday and her baby, three months old, has changed out of all recognition since I saw him last. However, when he saw me cooing at him, he burst into tears! (I have that effect, not only on babies!). Not a good start to our ongoing relationship!

Well, we have leftovers for lunch (oh joy!) and then I have laundry to sort out. I will look in later.

I've had my tooth sorted, temporarily. The practice was taking emergencies, and didn't seem to be very busy. A quick visit to the Bureau de Change at M&S and I now have the currency I need for my trip next week. I've discovered that M&S own brand toiletries and skin care products are, for the most part, cruelty free (leaping bunny logo), so got a new moisturiser which I hope will agree with my skin type.

Oh blimey greyd, what a couple of days. I’m amazed and also pleased Mr G survived. No photos of the event? .

That sounds better anno, long may the filling last.

Now n&g, enough with the health issues, no need to keep collecting. Hope you’re much more comfortable very soon.

Loved hearing about your Christmas synonymous, we also stopped ‘proper’ gifts for adults, it felt odd but works.

A quiet, catch up day for me today. Mr C has ironed while I have caught up with the admin. Straightforward lunch enjoyed and now the spare bedroom to sort and all will be accomplished.

I’m twitching about the panaches, hope they are coping.

Take care everyone.

callgirl1 Little Max! He's a beautiful bonnie boy. A super photo.

Synonymous and Corner We also made a pact with family...no gifts for we two. We have all we need. It was just our youngest grandchildren and great grandchildren who received parcels. No complaints!

anno Thank goodness that the tooth has a temporary filling. All good wishes for a pleasant and trouble-free trip. Forgive me, I've forgotten where it is you're tripping to. I'm sure you will have told us lot. My memory isn't as keen as it once was.

Greyduster Of course you "lost it". You're human. We can only take so much flack before we need to blow a gasket or two.

Nannytopsy Get well soon. No hurry to get up and tire yourself needlessly.
Loud bangs are a curse where animals are concerned.

N&G Bless you! Tonsillitis is a mega buggeration. I feel very sorry that you're having to deal with it. Stay warm. Relax! You've earned it.

Willow Alfie is a most handsome feline. I love the casual stance/pose as he checks for intruders on his patch.

I cannot account for the lateness of the day. Time seems to have rushed by at a rate of knots. I have only just remembered that the washing machine needed emptying a good hour ago. Tut.

So, time to log off. Attend to Tabitha's chalet. Still no sign of her. And wish you all a pleasant and peaceful evening.

soop I wonder where Tabitha has vanished to- I hope she is okay but I doubt if we will ever know.

Zilch on TV for me so I am retiring to bed to read my book. Tara will not object.

I hope I have managed to post my photo.
During last week I took H a new shirt and jumper to wear on Christmas day, no sign of it. However worse things happen

No photo, will try again.

Lovely picture Annsixty

I agree, a lovely photo ann. I would complain about the shirt and jumper vanishing. Did they have H's name on them?

Panache I do hope that everything is okay in the Panache household.

A photo to treasure ann, I agree with charley, it’s worth asking about the shirt and jumper if you have the energy. As you say worse things happen but the smaller things still have importance. No matter the clothing, it’s still a lovely photo.

Sleep well everyone.

That is a lovely picture Annsixty one to treasure.

I agree. A really lovely photo ann. ?

panache hope you and Mr P are ok.

What a lovely picture Ann! Should you need any further encouragement to believe that you've done the right thing I think that photo may be it. Some other lovely photos around too, its always good to see smiling faces - they make me smile too.

greyduster what a dramatic end to your family celebrations. There’s something about this time of year that makes the best of us vulnerable to explosive outbursts i think. I have to admit to a snigger at the missing glasses story though, we have had various varations here of what I now refer to as the “mutliple pocket scenario”. My old boy does love a pair of cargo trousers or indeed any garment with several secret pockets. Going in a plane is a nightmare...trying to remember what pocket contains the passport/boarding pass/currency is just tortuous and it’s actually really stressful - i can quite understand why you lost it over the missing specs.

Sorry to hear that, as well as toothache, various coughs and sore throats abound in the kitchen. Hope everyone gets well soon. Like others I'm wondering about mr and mrs P and hoping that in this case no news is good news.

Well I’m as up to date in my own kitchen as I can be. We have 3 daughters + partners, 6 assorted grandchildren and our youngest daughter + 2 dogs all here tomorrow for a post Christmas get together. We’re having lunch at a local pub then all back here for the remainder of the day. Goodies for a buffet tea are all in the fridge ready, so what could possibly go wrong...as long as the dogs both behave all should be fine..... Dd1 and her crew, possibly dd4 too, will stay overnight. We’re setting off south on sunday morning to catch up with ds and his family who couldn’t make it north this year. They’ve had a very hard few weeks, I will be glad to see them all and hold them close. I have to admit I would be happier going away and leaving an empty house, I always like to tidy round before we go away. But realistically, despite my heavy hints, there’s no way dd1 and crew will be ready to go before we are! We will want to travel in daylight if we can, so we’ll leave them to lock up etc. Hmm again.....what could possibly go wrong...for peace of mind I may ask my lovely neighbour to pop in and check later in the day just to make sure!

Wishing you all a restful night with refreshing sleep. x

Ann, that`s a lovely photo, you both look so content and relaxed.