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

Poor soop must be wondering what’s happening in the kitchen. We can’t even send her a telegram. Smoke signals are out as the weather’s too bad. No one seemed up for the pony express. Of course, we can get Santa to drop off a message from his sleigh ? as he’s passing. Mince pies ? on the side for anyone who isn’t fed up with them yet
TOYA?

Ooh pass one over Doodle there are never too many mince pies!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201912/medium-333412-a441a51d-4d8e-41de-a20a-de7aa0a2d2bc.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/201912/medium-625222-02b8cba3-a3b8-43f0-9fc8-c9f41c2a8d43.jpeg

As ever TOYA. I have scrolled a while but concerned there is no news of the Panaches.

The annoying BT definition of urgency persists I see. Hey ho. There will be much rejoicing on soops return

We are now back in Hobart following a delightful countryside drive by CH Many wineries and other places of interest. A couple more pictures but in the meantime all those with trials, tribulations and buggerations, keep your heads up. Annesixty a delightful picture

Morning all! Just popping in for a catch up. I'm sorry there is no news from panache and hope that soop gets reconnected soon.

I hope all cats arrived home safely. Our 3 just stay in getting fat. I'm not convinced the eldest would get through the cat flap anymore!!

Lots of people needing hugs and warm wishes - I won’t name names because I would be bound to miss one, but you know who you are, so consider (gentle) hugs administered.
Charleygirl I have tried to pm you without success - is it something I have said, or has Hattie been telling tales about her wicked mum who leaves her at home while she goes out gallivanting?

MawB that is strange, to my knowledge everything is working at this end but there again, what would I know?

Tara has a catflap which leads into a hall. There is a door at the end leading into my living room. I keep that door open slightly because very occasionally Tara decides to pop home for an afternoon nap around 3 pm.

Syn I do hope that Smokie wandered home eventually last night.

I must put some clothes on as I am going out to meet other GNs for coffee.
TOYA

Hi Kitcheners, coffee and croissants on the side ☕️??

The tree is decorated, and the smell of pine is wafting round the house. Two out of three sets of lights are on the tree and working........Mr,Gravy is tied up in the garage by the other set, I shall release him in due course (the bins need taking out)!!

No news from the Panaches, I check almost hourly.

Sending kindest thoughts to all of our kitchen gang who are under the weather be it emotionally or physically

Keep out of mischief folks!!

Morning all !

Its a chilly one here today but that's ok because I am not going out !! In preparation for visitors this weekend I shall be baking so will be leaving homemade sausage rolls and gingerbread men later on !

Missing Soop so I have purchased a crate of carrier pigeons so we can keep in touch with her- keep your messages short ladies - these aren't very big pigeons :-)

You made me laugh GrannyGravy I hope MrGG will be set free soon ( he has chores to do lol )!!

I think we need a 'dogflap' in the bathroom here Charley! Sam has taken to wandering in for a nose and then as the door always closes behind him he is then trapped. As he isn't much of a barker he then wait patiently until one of us notices he is not about to set him free. I now know what a hang dog expression looks like lol !!

Happy days all !

Duh! Muggins here got your name wrong

Smokie arrived home when Himself gave a last call just as we were going to bed and we were so relieved I can tell you! He was voraciously hungry so maybe he got shut in somewhere. This morning he deigned to lie on Himself's lap for perhaps a minute to a minute and a half after he had been given some treats - amazing! I do hope that he will become more cuddly as he gets older, we have never had such an independent cat and standoffish might be a better description. I seem to be the one he follows everywhere so I know he is at least attached to us. Oh well!

I am taking Himself to the surgery this morning, first time out for well over a fortnight. Must get going, will pop in on return.

So pleased Smokie turned up Synonymous we are so attached to our pets, not knowing where they are is awful.
We are getting the cold shoulder from Molly as my GD and I have been away for two nights.
My S was here but he doesn’t fuss her like we do.
Very pleased to hear you are getting better at last.
I do wish we had news of the Panache’s, it is getting concerning.
Off out to lunch later, my gadding never ends.
When will soop be back with I wonder?
TOYA.

Let’s just say the sausage rolls turned out well...the gingerbread,,,,,hmmm slightly less so! ??

But if anyone needs a festive shaped door stop I’ll leave them on the side ! ?

Have a lovely day ann !

Good luck Syn . Hope all goes well .

A festive shaped doorstop is just what the (retired) doctor ordered.

Syn I am so pleased that minx came home and yes, it does sound as though he got himself trapped somewhere. I cannot see him becoming more friendly as he gets older.

Tara has never been a lap cat. If she comes for a cuddle she will sit on the covered arm of my chair. She prefers the chair in my bedroom and is now partially using it as another bed. I stroke Tara but cannot have her too near me or she struggles to get away. I think she does appreciate the hand which feeds her.

Birdbrain remembered which Sainbury's to pick up my clothes but naturally forgot the reference number. Another day.

In my next life I am coming back as a cat- I can choose my house, a dog cannot.
TOYA

I have released Mr.Gravy from the garage, we have agreed a truce and he is taking me to our local pub for dinner tonight.

I should be writing the last few cards and wrapping gifts...............instead i am flicking through GN

Hello the kitchen. I composed a post this morning and - it disappeared when I pressed post! How does that happen? You kind of lose the will after that! Anyway, I left some mince pies on the side, but of course, they have disappeared into the ether as well!! Pity, because the ones I took when I went to visit my neice this afternoon were not half bad (if a little rustic!). They didn’t last long anyway. Finding a decent mincemeat was a trial this year. The two supermarket brands I previously used have gone from being very reliable to being gloopy, fruit starved shadows of their former selves. M&S came up trumps (not very often I say that!).

N&G I can’t make gingerbread either, but I am very partial to a sausage roll if there are any going spare.

I hope that Soop gets her internet connection back tomorrow; the length of time she has had to wait is beyond a joke. We all (even an old Luddite like me!) rely so much on technology, especially those who live in a bit off the beaten track. I think the carrier pigeon idea is inspired! Let’s just make sure there aren’t any peregrines around Kintyre!

My DS has to say goodbye to one of his lovely cats yesterday. He had a large inoperable tumour on his jaw. We have lost three cats and it never gets any easier to let them go. They still have his brother to chase tinsel round the living room this Christmas, but DS had a soft spot for the other one.

I am going to get cracking on my cards, some of which require a short letter, this evening, but before that I have to work out what we are going to eat! Here’s hoping I don’t lose this post. Here goes......

I think you are right Charley and Smokie won't change but somehow the hope stays alive.

GreyD it is always sad when you have to say goodbye to a beloved pet, at least you still have one left. Our DD has an old pusscat who has been her companion through so much of her adult life since she had her own home and she is keeping him going as best she can for as long as she can.

Ann our last cat was a real thinker and on her return from her first stay in the cattery she totally ignored us for about 3 days before she deigned to acknowledge us. She came to the conclusion after her next stay in the cattery that since it had obviously not worked before and she had been put in clink again she would change her tactics and so she did not leave us alone for a second, she pestered the heck out of us! So be warned, that could well be the next consequence !!

You have to love them in spite of it all!

Poor MrGG . I might tie my DH up in lights to see if he takes me out to dinner too. ?
N&G brilliant idea about the carrier pigeons to contact soop. With your wonderful crafting skills, I expect to see them with little knitted jumpers to keep them warm and little ? for their feet.?
So glad smokie came home synonymous. Perhaps she was romancing.
I’m sure Molly will be ready for a cuddle soon ann. These pets like us to know when they’re cross with us.
I too am worried about the panaches. I hope they are both ok.
How’s retirement going Galen?
TOYA

One festive Christmas tree door stop on its way Galen.

Sorry to hear the sad news about the cat Grey , our pets do some their way into our hearts don’t they ?

Doodle .... he’s reporting for duty ???

Ooh what a handsome chap N&G. soop will be delighted when he turns up on her doorstep. Do you think he can carry a couple of mince pies and a wee dram. I think our soop will be in need of sustenance in her fight with the internet.

You would trust a pigeon with a mince pie Doodle? That’s a leap of faith!!?

I’d trust a pigeon with one of my gf efforts greyd. They make very good decorations of the type you see dusted regularly in National Trust kitchens. Wouldn’t advise anyone to try to eat them .

Very quiet in the kitchen (cannot day the same for elsewhere on GN).

Wishing you all a peaceful evening- calm before the storm of tomorrow ?

Yes, my mince pies too corner . Not sure the pigeon could actually lift mine let alone fly with it ?

Have no fear ladies .... I’ve got a new mince pie carrier.......

Set em’ up ??