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

Izabella sorry you have had another tumble and broken your toe! Oh dear, oh dear! Hope you will manage alright and really enjoy your trip. Thank CH for his input! Lovely photos!

Izabella, anno we also very much enjoyed the Coramandel Peninsula. We stayed at a B&B on Hot Water Beach and they had beach spades so that you could dig a hole to naturally fill with the hot water. You learnt not to go too near the hot springs or you could boil quite easily. We were horrified when a family arrived on the beach and very nearly popped their baby straight into an abandoned pool until everyone around shouted madly because we all knew it was a 'boiler'! Not locals obviously!
Interesting roads round there too aren't they, no wonder the area produces good racing drivers!
Would love to go again sometime.

annsixty please do not feel guilty for socialising, you cared for your husband selflessly.

I keep hoping to see a post from Panache, very worrying.

soop your kitcheners are missing you.

Izabella take care, your posts and photos are truly inspirational.

TOYA

Dear Doodle I press the wrong buttons all the time ??

Evening all xx. Have had a lovely afternoon catching up. Our Anglo French afternoon tea went well yesterday (not sure about the Scottish Bunloaf though!) DH offered some of his precious Lochnaghar malt to help it go down but I'm not sure that was the best thing. However, they were lovely, as usual.

Dear annsixty, thinking of you this afternoon and hoping you have got through writing the cards, sending <<hug>> and kind thoughts.
Cornergran...will you help me with my Christmas decorations?! I bought some giant Christmas baubles from a shopping channel sale last year but haven't managed to 'smuggle' them in yet.

Izabella, I love reading your posts and the photographs are beautiful.
Nannyandgrampy, love the photographs. Those lovely smiles are beautiful.
Before I sign off though...Charleygirl ...find your passport!!

Hope to be back soon. Sending TOYA...as well as Bunloaf xxxx

I do apologise ? I pressed the wrong icon.
It should have been TOYA ?
Not ?. Don’t know where that cam from. ? oops!

Lovely photos izabella

Lovely smiley faces N&G ?. Been busy doing Christmas stuff today so time for a ? and a rest.
Worrying not to have heard from the panaches in such a long time. I do hope all is ok.
Hurry back soop we miss you.
TOYA?

Izabella the scenery is fabulous- you are obviously enjoying every moment but please be careful, it is so easy to stumble especially on unfamiliar ground.

N&G it is lovely watching Jackson and Cooper believing everything and thoroughly enjoying themselves. To me that is what it is all about, seeing it through the eyes of a child without the commercialism.

It is sunny, quiet and really pleasant here although a tad cold. I have found all of the pieces of paper I had mislaid, only my passport to find- not that I need it but it is good to have everything to hand.
TOYA

Morning all ! I am safely tucked up in the car while Grampy and the little boys play football !! I have to watch closely and yell ‘foul’ out of the window every time Grampy gets the ball !!!

They had a wonderful time at Elf Acadamey yesterday ! They learnt how to tiptoe, peep through windows and how the magic coin works . They had present carrying tests too before meeting Rudolph and then the great man himself .

Now we are off to see the singing reindeer ! Back later

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Ch here with some pictures of today. A train journey to the top of the world. Driving Creek Railway. Amazing engineering built mainly by one lone male

Doodle not a whisker. It’s taken me 2/52 to get me to write 10 cards

Ann I know what you mean (((( hugs))))

Of course it’s not wrong ann. I think it’s one of those head/heart things. The head is logical, the heart is less so. I’m delighted you have had a better day, please allow yourself to enjoy those to come. .

An injury izabella? Please take care. Lovely to hear from you.

Izabella you are truly inspirational.
Your posts make us realise how lucky we are.
I have had a better day due to the fact that my neighbour took me to the shops.
Such a small thing lifts me.
I have been out this week and am invited out to a lunch and two evening meals during next week.
I am delighted and looking forward , but, am so aware that I can only do this and enjoy because my H has died.
Some of you will understand and empathise .
It is such a hard thing to come to terms with.
I have spent 7/8 years doing very little, is it wrong to have some pleasure in Christmas?

Izabella, the Coromandel Peninsula is heavenly. I can just about hear those bell birds as I read your words. We scalded our knees, on the hot water beach and had a lovely trip in an inflatable boat. You will love your stay as much as I did. Sorry to hear about your toe. The best time (if there is one) to break a toe is when you can wear sandals or flip-flops! I'm relieved to hear you weren't in Bay of Plenty when the volcano blew!
Enjoy the lovely sunshine in beautiful surroundings.

Hello from NZ where we are basking in lovely sunshine surrounded by Bell Birds, the sound of a gentle stream and clucking hens. The roses and agapanthus are a delight. A local feline has decided we are worthy of attention.

We are in the Coramandal region which is probably the only area we have not visited before. It certainly does not disappoint. Truly magical. Soothing and good for the soul.

I am still wheezing but less so with the steroids and other stuff. A broken toe has taken my mind off that for the time being. 'Al' continues to ensure my balance is compromised, hence another stumble. CH appears to be coping with me, but I feel so guilty for adding to his woes.

Carillion I hope all goes well on the operation front and that you enjoyed company from your neighbours. To the usual stalwarts I send my thoughts. I cant remember who is receiving chemo and hesitate in case In post the wrong name, but whoever it is - my best thoughts.

Sorry for those who report snow? I shall try and post more pictures but I actually need help to do that now and CH is washing up at the moment.

Thanks for keeping us in touch baggs. I don’t understand how BT can be unaware that such an important person is unable to contact her kitchen friends. Do hope they get it sorted soon.
carillion that sounds quite a lot for your DH to go through (and you too as I am well aware those who only stand and wait carry a huge burden too). Hope you manage to enjoy Christmas at least in the knowledge that the op is coming soon.
I am very worried about the panaches. I don’t think we have been so long without contact. If you are reading panache we are all thinking of you.
Galen your pen sounds very fine. I don’t suppose I can get you to write my cards as well can I? ?
TOYA?

Here's soop's latest message which arrived a few minutes ago:

"Msg from BT. An engineer will visit Mon afternoon. I hurled specs across room. Speechless with frustration! Love to all xx"

It's abominable how BT is taking so long to fix soop's internet connection!

Wishing your husband well for what sounds a gruelling procedure carillion. Look after yourself as it will be an anxious time.

Bit miserable here today. Heard yesterday that a young (well, 20 years younger than Mr C) friend has had a cancer diagnosis out of the blue, another one far away and so frustrated I can’t give his wife, who grew up almost next door to us, a hug. There are few people in Mr C’s family I have met and certainly he has been in contact with, no great falling out, mainly huge age differences in a melded family. We have kept in sporadic touch with two similarly aged cousins. A Christmas card arrived from one today saying how difficult this Christmas will be for her niece and nephew after losing their Mum in the summer. What? We had no idea. Mr C says it’s fine not to have been told but I can see the hurt. Families eh?

Not much cheerful to report other than there is apparently a parcel at the post office for us. No idea what it is, could be a nice surprise.

I’m not sure any sort of pen would make my writing legible galen, your father’s description would be a very kind one. Pleased you’re enjoying your pen though.

Right I’m off for a cuppa and determined to cheer up.

TOYA, hope soop is back with us soon and we hear from panache, hard not to worry.

Galen there is nothing to beat a good fountain pen, and a Mont Blanc is peerless. I had my forty year old Parker 45 refurbished for GS. He uses it at home to do his homework and the difference between the writing with that and the pen he uses for school is enormous.
Still no Soop? How disappointing, for her, but more so for us. I wonder if Eddie the Eagle has landed with the mince pies yet? He’s probably sitting on a Munroe somewhere sampling them! He’ll have N&G to asnwer to if he is - he should be quaking on his talons!?

Wow! Managed to stir myself out of my post retirement apathy enough to write my Xmas cards and simultaneously christen my new Mont Blanc pen ( leaving present. ) Not sure if it’s the pen or retirement but my writing is legible and my signature no longer resembles a ‘caterpillar run over by an articulated lorry’ to quote my father ( whose writing was even more illegible)

This morning I have seen snowflakes! In Cheshire. It had been raining since Thursday morning, but after those few flakes, the sun deigned to make an appearance. I hope this heralds a change from the very dark weather we've had. When I looked out this morning, I was tempted to go back to bed. So I did! For a short time. I had a book to finish.
Carillion, that sounds like a gruelling operation your DH has to undergo but if it relieves his pain it will be so much better for him.
Soop I keep imagining that you are on holiday but then remember that you're still there in your lovely coastal home, isolated from all of us by the absence wi-fi. B****y BT!

Hi everyone just popping in again after being away for a few weeks.
I just don't seem to have time to come on here with lots of things happening in life. Very busy with college and sorting Christmas stuff out.
Will have my whole family this year including my Grandaughter Ellie.
Will try to catch up with everyone later.
TOYA

Good morning everyone, most of the garden blew into next doors overnight!??
Baggs, so good to hear that soop wi have treatment soon. Can't wait for her to be back.. The day just isn't the same without her.

Hello Charleygirl. Thanks so much for asking about DH just to answer your question...and thank you for asking! Xx...
His operation involves replacing three discs and working on rebuilding some vertebrae at the base of his spine.

We were always told in the UK that nothing could be done but here in France this procedure is available. His recuperation is about three months and is a lateral op. He'll possibly need a second op through the back tissue with another three months recuperation but we'll have to wait and see.
He never complains but I know how much the relentless pain takes its toll.
I feel guilty writing this again because I know I wrote this at an earlier time and send my love and thoughts to all dear kitcheners and their DH's who live through far worse.
However, as I've learned from soops wonderful haven, none of us are alone and everyone matters.
Our only disappointment is that we haven't been able to get to the UK for the usual Santa visit but hopefully will see DGC's at Easter, God willing.
Do hope we hear from Panache ...
Sending love to all.
We have some lovely French neighbour's coming round this pm for an afternoon tea!!
Leaving lemon curd scones and Scottish Bunloaf on the side for the kitchen ??
TOYA

I hope soop is enjoying the concert and pleased that the op is going to go ahead. What a difference that could make to her life. BT's inefficiency is staggering. Would a complaint to Ofcom be any use?
corner - aren't you brave! I won't venture into my own loft never mine anyone else's. Goodness knows what there is in mine - I haven't seen it for 19 years!
I'm slow to put up decorations and, as I'll be away for Christmas, there doesn't seem to be any point, but the wee Christmas tree is ready for the lights which, I hope, are still working. The people immediately across the road have an illuminated reindeer head above the front door. A bit spooky! Other neighbours have an enormous inflatable snowman in the back garden - I think there must have been some pressure from their almost-four-year-old!
Like others, I am perturbed by the prolonged absence of the Panaches. If you're able to read this, Panache, you will realise how much we care about you both?.