Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen...

Tara sounds like Six Dinner Sid in the wonderful children’s book of that name!

Syn apart from feeling proper poorly I also think that everything has also caught up with you and you need to have a decent rest. It is good that your DH can now wear his new leg for a tad longer each day and be able to be useful about the house. Provided he does not overdo it!

Corner it sounds as though you also need a good rest. That is a beautiful photo and here was me thinking that was your front room!

I do hope your GD is feeling better- she is in excellent hands but it is still a responsibility if her mother is not close by.

Grey the donkey does look elderly- I am not sure how long they live.

I also was wondering what has happened to the Panaches and are they okay? At least there is assistance in their new abode, they are no longer on their own.

It is cold but dry here- Tara was screaming her head off to go out so I obliged because she would not settle. That is goodbye until 7 pm tonight. Where does she go? If she appears on any of your doorsteps please do not feed her- she is on prescription food. She is dining somewhere.
TOYA

Morning all,

Flying visit this morning . We have already face timed the birthday boy ( where did those 8 years go?) . Ive added a picture of the last 8 years - it flew past.

Love the picture of the sky Grey . We saw a fabulous sunset last night as we went to see Blickling Hall lit up. Ill down load my pictures for later to share.

I would love to be able to thread a pipe cleaner in one ear and out the other for a good clean out synonymous. The "never put anything smaller than your elbow in your ear" is sooooo hard to stick to.
TOYA

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201912/medium-566848-5c1cb303-c175-4339-9d59-86995202245c.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201912/medium-353346-fdfdbb8a-59ea-459c-a7c6-902c720b3abb.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201912/medium-992829-fe895209-2b63-4d3b-9cc3-76287fe9cdeb.jpeg

We had a fabulous sunrise this morning which I would like to share with you.

Charley the donkey is an old lad now, and his paddock at the farm is bordered by a fairly busy public footpath, so everyone who passed would take an apple or carrot to feed him and he was piling on the pounds, and so were the two ponies who shared his space and would muscle in greedily if there was food on offer. The farmer put up a notice asking people not to feed him. It’s always nice to see him still going, though. I don’t know how long donkeys live for, but this one was bought for one of the farmer’s daughters to ride when she was small. She is now driving serious farm machinery and riding hunters!

Corner that’s a lovely seasonal photo. What a gorgeous setting! I hope your GD is feeling better soon. I agree, it’s a big burden of responsibility looking after them when they are under the weather, but she will absolutely be in very good hands?!

Glad you got to see the doctor, Syn. Hunker down and look after yourself now?. I expect your lovely DH is pleased to have the chance to look after you.

I will look in later. TOYA.

Good morning you lovely lot! I am grateful for the kind comments, they really do help funnily enough. I saw a GP yesterday who said I was proper poorly (I knew that!) and basically said I have to ride the wave until it goes having run its course. I also knew that really and was not expecting to be given anything but I needed to know what the situation was with my ear drums and if there was anything more I could do to help myself. Apparently it is all a bit of a mess but ought to heal itself in time which just goes to show what an amazing design is our body. In the meantime it is very interesting living with it all, I was coughing violently and my sense of humour nearly did me in because I had to grab tissue to mop up the warm liquid shooting out of my ears! All I could think of was the Paddington Bear film when Paddington was using a toothbrush to thoroughly clean his ears inside and out! It is important to laugh!

Himself is making big efforts bless him and so I have been able to let him do a bit more which is helping him too.
Can't do very much at present so am just saying TOYA

Evening All. Head like a washing machine on fast spin, so what better to do than visit the Kitchen when sleep is elusive?

That blue sky is fabulous greyd, love the sound of your walk. I was dragged out earlier in the week to an NT dressed for Christmas. It was very pretty. The photo doesn’t do it justice.

We’ve been left in charge of a poorly granddaughter. Her Mum has travelled to be at a funeral tomorrow. It feels a heck of a responsibility so all phone numbers are to hand.

I’ve been wondering about mr and mrs panache and dragonfly. How are you? You sound proper poorly synonymous, a get well wish to you and anyone else managing health issues. Pleased you landed safely izabella, enjoy it all.

More internet hassle soop? You must be spitting feathers.

As I’ve been foolish enough to preview so I can see if the photo is almost seeable (is that a word?) I now can’t view or recall other posts. Daft or what?

So TOYA and sleep well.

Izabella, have a lovely holiday in Oz. It must be nice and warm now.

Grey those seasonal pictures are lovely. I always enjoy looking at the photos people post. Lots of berries around and a lovely blue sky showing through. Glad you had an enjoyable walk.

N&G I hope this question does not put anybody off their food but has Grampy got a lot of superfluous skin? He has done so well.

GreyD I love the donkey but his expression tells me that to take a photo of him he needs payment and that obviously is not forthcoming.

Hugs to morethan| and lins.

I have actually started writing Christmas cards. It takes me a while because I write a fair bit for everybody- there is little point sending love from me if I do not say what I have been up to because some of my friends live a distance away so these days I never see them.

TOYA

GreetingS from Melbourne, our first stop. I will try and catch up later. In the meantime. TOYA

Good evening kitcheners, I am struggling to catch up with all the comings and goings - sending virtual hugs to -morethan- and lins

I have been to our closest shopping mall today for some Christmas shopping (Lakeside) and I now remember why I always get mine done before the end of November!!!

We have GS for a sleepover this evening he has been fed and watered (curtesy of our local restaurant) and is upstairs sound asleep. Mr.Gravy is out for a meeting so I have control of the remote and the comfy sofa.

Have I missed Panaches posts?

TOYA

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201912/medium-369880-c5446d5e-bbd0-41f6-991f-f65f8c65f1ee.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201912/medium-834000-694b9f00-ef4f-424e-83fe-3aefc092dac5.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201912/medium-932349-33f7dba6-b8b3-4d48-a4b3-0533500abe4f.jpeg

My goodness, the kitchen seems to have been quiet today! Everyone doing their Christmas shopping?
Syn I hope you got to see the doc and he was able to give you something to make you feel better. A burst ear drum is no fun at all.
Galen it’s years since we did a fondue - I still have the “set” in the loft somewhere; I am tempted to dig it out!
Sorry to hear that Soop is temporarily offline again - hope that is remedied soon!
Morethan you are never far from my thoughts ?.
Lins sending you a hug?.
N&G congrats to Grampy on his very creditable weight loss. You’ll catch him up, I’m sure, but this is not the easiest time for losing weight, so be kind to yourself! Hope Jackson’s birthday is a huge success!
We have been out for a local walk today with a nice pub lunch - roast turkey, a creditable array of six different, nicely cooked vegetables and all the trimmings, washed down with a pint of Guinness (well, no-one was driving!). I took a few photos. The old donkey at the farm posed for his. We used to take him apples and carrots, but he isn’t allowed to have them now! Blackbirds and redwings were feeding greedily on berries. Lots of fabulous holly around. Dare I ask if this is a sign of a bad winter? I hope not!
A pleasant peaceful evening to you all.

That sounds so miserable Syn! I hope the doctor can fix you. The builders have arrived, all the doors are open and it is freezing. Winter drawers on!

(((hugs))) to all who need them - including me! I am just off to the Drs as I couldn't get an appointment other than 'sit and wait'. I don't fancy sitting in the waiting room complete with all my germs to spread around but have no choice and it was probably where I picked up this lot anyway! Just hope I am not going to pick up anything else! Over the last week I have had the worst cough and cold ever culminating in a sinus infection in a similar vein. I must confess to being a bit frightened when I started bleeding from all my upper orifices and think I have at least one burst eardrum. The other ear seems to be permanently turned in to my very loud heart beat so at least I know I am still alive - if I could just find the volume control!

galen sounds like a lovely meal. Many happy returns ?

morethan you have done an amazing job supporting your family. It is such a hard time for you all. x

lins sorry you are having a hard time too. Hopefully, whatever it is will pass and things will settle down. Take care x
My goodness, soop won’t know what to do with herself if she has no internet. We will need to try and set up a pony express to keep her in touch.
TOYA ?

Good luck!

Evening all,

Sending a heartfelt hug to Morethan and Lins !

Your strength is exceptional and your families are lucky to have you both,

It’s shame you can’t offload a bit here Lins , it sometimes helps just to verbalise an issue but can understand you keeping your own counsel . Just don’t let it crush you .

Sorry to hear your news ann , I hope you’re feeling ok .

Sounds like a lovely dinner Galen , I like fondue ! lol

Grampy reached his target weight today at slimming and topped it off with Slimmer of the Week. That’s a massive 4 stone 5 1/2 lbs . I wish I could say the same lol but I’m seriously lagging behind at 1 stone 8 lbs . It will be interesting to see how it works out now he does not have to be so strict .

We are now getting everything together for a full day trip down to celebrate Jacksons 8th birthday. First of all I need to make 48 green or brown macaroons with the Minecraft logo on them lol - wish me luck !

Lovely evening here. We had an old fashioned cheese fondue. It was with Gary and Kate, the couple I pay to look after my house and garden.
They are friends as well as employees.
They’d never had fondue before, they’re too young.
They seemed to really enjoy it and want it again.
Might do the the beef bourgeoigne next time.
Can’t remember how to spell the boeuf one!
Lovely end to my 75th
Night all

In answer to your question Kitty - not really, we are a small family ( now only four) and I am still housebound. I would like to ask the advise/just offload to the wise and experienced heads in the Kitchen, but we are the type to keep our own counsel. Furthermore we have been told to keep quiet.
My DH went for his annual Electrocardiogram this morning and thankfully everything was alright though his blood pressure was a little high - unsurprisingly. I am hoping and praying that the Black Dog will stay away from him. Like most men he finds opening up difficult, though he is better than he was.
Enough of all that.
Here's hoping that the soops enjoyed the flicks and the chocolate.
morethan ??

Kintyre internet buggerations continue at the Soops' house. The problem could take a week (a week!!!!) to fix. soop is missing you guys something rotten.

To both morethan and Lins
No amount of words can help on some occasions.
It would seem soop still has problems with her internet, she must be very frustrated, not being in contact can seem like having a limb off!!

I had my first card today, addressed to us both, it was from my H’s cousin who we hadn’t been in touch with for some time.
I had rung him when R died but he has this call guardian thing on his phone and he never replied or seemed to accept the call.
I decided to try again and finally got through, his wife had died 2 years ago, very suddenly and he was very upset on the phone today.
I came away from the call rather depressed.
It had been my intention to get my cards out early to explain to casual acquaintances with whom we still exchange cards but I didn’t so I expect I will get some more, inevitable I suppose.

My GD is cooking tea tonight, hooray, a night off.

TOYA.

Just called in to see how everyone is after a frustrating day trying to do some online Christmas shopping.

As maw says, your post morethan puts things right into perspective. I can't do anything else apart from send you virtual hugs but I am in awe of you being so strong for all your family. Lins1066 family upset is horrid especially when you can't talk about it - talking really helps, is there no one other than DH you can off load to?

TOYA

morethan and Lins thinking of you both and your families

And an extra hug to Lins1066 I very much hope you find peace of mind very soon and that you and your DH can sustain each other.