Soop's new kitchen being built while she's absent!

Didn't see you there Doodle and GG, I thought the noise was coming from the fridge

Very quiet in the kitchen. Are you all busy or are you posting less because our lovely soop is still out of contact? I popped in for peace and quiet especially peace. I have decided not to read the news and to listen to Christmas carols while doing some festive baking.. someone mentioned adding apple to mincemeat. I have done that and it is so much lighter and not quite so sweet as I used cooking apples. I have left the misshapen ones on the side - they taste just as good. There is also some double cream. Enjoy.
Very, very worried about the panaches. Does anyone know where they are in real life?
TOYA

PS I need more people to decorate our kitchen Christmas tree. Advise you not to add chocolate baubles though because it is near the aga and someone might eat them all before next week!

Leg of lamb needed here too Nanytopsy, DH decide to use the food processor to grate some elderly parmesan and twisted the lid the wrong way so now its stuck, grr. Now says he will buy a whole new one as it is "badly designed!" No it's just not waiting for instructions on how it works! I can buy a new lid for about £30 online! Hope everyone is coping with Christmas prep. I feel like the elephant "all behind!"

Evening All.

Much frustration here. I need to vent, please ignore me. I’ve been designated grandchild taxi this evening. Dark, raining, unfamiliar route. I turn where I think I need to be. A shriek ‘no, my teacher said not to go that way’. I stop, wait ages to get back into the traffic flow. Eventually do to see three cars turn where I had planned to. Voice from the back seat says ‘my friends are in those cars’. Go the even darker circuitous route as directed by the small dictator. Yes. We get there but her flipping friends get there ahead of us. Moral of the tale? Don’t trust a 10 year old

Other than that not a bad day. Did the cleaning, wandered a garden centre. Now we’re in charge of two of them this evening. Staying the night so now have a large glass of chilled white to aid relaxation. It’s not all bad.

I think of Mr and Mrs panache often, no reply to my pm. The silence feels a weight.

TOYA, take care everyone.

I worry about the Panaches

The only positive thing re the Panaches is that they are now in a retirement flat where there is help if required and the main meal is provided. They are no longer stuck in a house on their own.
TOYA

Oh dear, I had just completed a long post, largely apologising for not being here recently whethe iPad must have run out of battery, all went black and my post has disappeared.
Try to start again.
A week ago with all the election shenanigans I was so absolutely disheartened not to say disgusted at all the vitriol, spite and downright rudeness I was encountering elsewhere, I just didn’t want to have any more to do with GN.
But I haven’t stopped caring for all here in need and I have genuinely been thinking of you all.
I won’t name names as I would be bound to miss somebody out, but just wanted to say that I tried to contact Panache by regular email, to no avail. Surely somebody who perhaps lives in or around the area has a number for her?
I won’t bother you with the details of my plumbing disasters of last Sunday night, but was very grateful for “emergency cover” on the house contents insurance. I would never have got a plumber on a Sunday night, let alone one who was prepared to Dyno-Rod the outside drains at 11pm in the rain!
Off to Norfolk tomorrow to spend the weekend with DD2, SIL and Flynn, to babysit as it is their wedding anniversary and to have an early Christmas as they will be with her in-laws. MIL is now in residential care and coming home for Christmas so the family understandably want to be together for what may be the last Christmas she can enjoy or understand as she is deteriorating.
Elsewhere on GN I have quoted what is probably the most beautiful poems by Burns “John Anderson,, my jo” in tribute to all of us denied the privilege of spending our declining years with our life’s partner. Very moving and I think quite a few of us can empathise.
TOYA xx

This is it:

“John Anderson my jo, John,
When we were first acquent,
Your locks were like the raven,
Your bonie brow was brent;
But now your brow is beld, John,
Your locks are like the snaw,
but blessings on your frosty pow,
John Anderson, my jo!

John Anderson my jo, John,
We clamb the hill thegither,
And monie a cantie day, John,
We've had wi' ane anither;
Now we maun totter down, John,
And hand in hand we'll go,
And sleep thegither at the foot,
John Anderson, my jo! “

MawB the election shenanigans has opened more cans of worms than necessary.

I have to be optimistic, as it was my Mothers default setting, and as I am now the families "matriarch" (blimey it makes me sound so old) I shall continue with my glass half full attitude.
It is difficult and hard at times, but I shall so m best.

Buggerations "do my best" (stay of the prosecco but that is a different thread

It's such a touching poem Maw. I remember learning it for a Burns competition at school and I'm sure my recitation didn't do it justice. My other favourite is 'Ae fond kiss' which includes these heartfelt lines:

Had we never lov'd sae kindly,
Had we never lov'd sae blindly,
Never met-or never parted,
We had ne'er been broken-hearted.

I'm sure there will be those here who will relate to those as well as to 'John Anderson'.

Moving on: Have you recently tried to post a parcel containing a perfume? It was only a little bottle of fragrance from Body Shop that GD2 requested for Christmas, but you'd have thought I was trying to send a bomb by Royal Mail. The lady behind the counter sucked her teeth and told me she had to fill in a form. This she did and put two rather formidable looking stickers on the small parcel. Why? Didn't those Russian spies in Salisbury put their poison in a perfume atomiser? Perhaps that's it!
Tomorrow I need to pack what is necessary for a week away - and not forget toothbrush this time!

Evening all! It is terribly quiet but I think maybe we are all just a bit busy in real life. Maw we were distraught too. I realise I have always lived where the other side had a massive majority, however I wanted to vote. Cleaning, tidying, cooking, Christmas tree tomorrow plus a hint of furniture removals.
TOYA

Afternoon all !!

Sorry I have been absent, caught a 24hr bug from the 'erberts!! Am fully recovered now but sadly Grampy had to miss attending an old friends funeral . Its just too far in a day drive on your own . But I'm sure his friend would have understood.

I do hope Soop gets access again before Christmas ! Its strange without her.

I'm sorry Anno I did have to smile at your description of trying to post your perfume lol I bet you're right -- can you see those Russian Spies filling in their form ' poisoned perfume enclosed' !!

Sorry to hear of your plumbing emergency Maw, just what you need.

I agree about the vitriol on GN ( and elsewhere) about the Election. But I have long ago decided that the people who matter to me are reasonable , thoughtful people and the people who spew their hate don't matter to me . I refuse to give them the attention they crave. And god knows there are few of them about .

Enjoy Norfolk ( bring your wellies....we're thinking of building an ark its been so wet!!).

I'm off to start prepping for the trip down south next week so ill leave you with a picture my daughter shared with me of the little boys from a photo shoot they did for her work. Don't be taken in by those angelic little faces :-)

Happy Christmas one and all xx

I’m beginning to feel like the sixth and seventh ages of man from old Bill’s speech by the melancholy Jacques

More rain but at least it is not snow and ice.

I have a large Morrisons delivery coming tomorrow and I can stay indoors for days.

My niece has asked if he can pop in at the same time so that will be a pleasant afternoon.

What will I watch because Strictly has stopped?

I am aware there are many buggerations around and those like Bellanonna with a nasty lurgy I hope you all get better very soon.

I am in cleaning mode this afternoon, it is my fridge/freezer- I want the shelves sparkling for tomorrow's onslaught. This cleaning phase will pass- my washing machine and dishwasher are also doing their bit for the house.
TOYA

We are home after spending 4+ hours on the M25 dropping off eldest GD at Heathrow Airport, I not to be repeated in two weeks time when we go and collect her.

Off for dinner tonight to celebrate Mr.Gravys birthday, the restaurant will no doubt be packed, but they do marvellous fish dishes.

TOYA

“Only to be” ???

Right - who has the leg of lamb- I am in dire need of its use.

Last week I cleaned the kitchen fridge, sorting it out, throwing stuff away and creating space for all the food that will shortly need to go in. I've just looked inside and it's full of drink. When asked, Dh said 'well there was plenty of space!'

Maw, I love that poem - it's very evocative and sad.

I tried sending a smelly thing in the post anno but I gave up eventuall. The man in the post office in the next village is well known for being terribly officious and flipping nosey.

Glad you are recovered n&g. That is a lovely photo

I too am worried about the panaches

Right, off to see whether dh has seen fit to redeem himself.

Oh dear

Only to be not - I not!!!!

kitty, I'm afraid I can't oblige with a frozen leg of lamb. I seem to remember that phoenix had some useful curses and I am sure she would willingly share the magic.
I have almost finished packing for my sojourn in Didcot. Trouble is, every time I think I have packed everything, I remember something else. Those male toiletries I've got for the GSs are heavier than I thought. Youngest DS asked for deodorant (!) so I got toiletries for both.
Glad you got over your bug, N&G. Best to get over those before Christmas.
As kitty has mentioned cleaning out the fridge, I've remembered that this is my long-delayed next task!
Merry Christmas to all and I hope we get soop back on line before 2020.

I have a frozen leg of lamb Kitty. Every time I clear a space it only takes a day for DH to fill it!

I have two big fridges and both will be filled on Sunday. I am sure I have bought far too much.

It is our 51st Wedding Anniversary tomorrow and our DD and SiL are arriving for Christmas.

Still missing Soop and worrying about the Panaches.

To all travelling I wish a safe and successful journey.
The latest about train travel in the south is particularly disturbing and getting to Gatwick is apparently a nightmare.My D lives in W Sussex and she reports a lot of problems with flooding very near to them .
I am all dressed up ready to go out for my second night out of the week.
My friend "feels very tired" That could mean anything to be frank, she has been known to leave halfway through a meal if it suits her but normally with me she knows how far to go and is very good company.
I will report back tomorrow.

Crumbs galen that was like a crossword clue . Being a bit on the dim side I had to look that up on Mr Google. No galen not you. You are far to with it and have too much humour. Thank you for my bran teaser for today

kitty I cannot oblige with a frozen leg of lamb but I can provide 10 large parsnips. You might think they could not cause harm to anyone but having been cooked in the oven as roast parsnips with honey last week I can assure you they have become a lethal weapon since coming out of the oven today. Black, pointed and hard as iron. They don’t smell too nice either ?