Soop's welcoming kitchen for kindly caring folk...

I could see fireworks from here to hell. They started here around 4 pm, Tara was out and would not come in but did eventually when there was a lull around 7 pm. She is not normally bothered when indoors but my neighbours have decided to set off theirs and they sounded like bombs so poor Tara is hiding in another room.

I would like to ban them- they terrify animals and are such a waste of money. Sorry for the rant.
TOYA

A pint of bourbon Galen. Will those who have a slice be breathalised ? Thanks for the brandy snaps.
Soop that Robbie is a lovely and lucky cat. Long may he visit. He really is gorgeous.
Grandmafrench glad Ludo is doing well. Hope you are fully recovered now,
Lins so sorry to hear of your DHs eye problem. Glad it has been dealt with so promptly and Hope he makes a speedy recovery. What a worry for you, take care.
Welcome BladeAnnie . The kitchen is indeed a warm and hospitable place.
Sorry not to have posted to everyone but I have read everything.
N&G come back and pick up those cake crumbs from the floor ?
TOYA?

That Robbie is sooooo sweet. Little round face and big round eyes. I bet you can't wait for a cuddle, soop.

Had a busy day but woke very late and missed the GM thread today. Sorry to hear about your DH, Lins and so pleased it was dealt with as an emergency and he's safely home.

We were expecting lots of rain....it hasn't happened. Lots of warm wind and we've been in the garden shifting and re-potting things. I finally located (hanging in the garage) half a dozen huge blue hyacinth bulbs from friends in Switzerland. Each year they give us such a wonderful display and heady perfume. (The bulbs, that is . ) They've been potted now, the lawn sprinklers have been on again and furniture has been washed. Dogs should have been washed but we decided to sit in the late sunshine outdoors instead of dog wrangling in the bathroom. Tomorrow, hopefully!

This evening we shall watch a film - maybe "Little Women" or "Portrait of a Lady on Fire". Not sure, doesn't matter too much, the choice is endless.

That was a pretty good prediction about the cake being eaten, Charley - except it was poor Izabella's cake and not Galen's and, of course, it was not a Kitchen-related crime! It looks fantastic, Izabella, I can almost taste if from the photo. Maybe you should keep it for Xmas....just marzipan and ice it and put something pretty and Christmas-ey in the gap?

Wishing little H a swift return to his lovely, bouncy little self, Susan. Ann hope you have learned a lesson and are now taking things a little more steadily? So good you are making such progress, though. Kitty hope you are on top form after that hazardous cleaning trip behind the fridge. At least you know it won't need your attention for another 15 years now. Tick it off the list!

Wow! Puzzler my eyes are still watering after reading of your Vet's bill. Poor you...I do hope you came back home with a completely refitted Ruby after all that expense, and a lifetime guarantee as well. Have you had a good day? You too, BladeAnnie. Maybe you'll wake tomorrow to brilliant sunshine - and then again........

Have the best evening, all, whatever your plans. And if there are no plans, have an even better one.

Hugs from French France

Good evening again you lovely people - thank you SO much for all the kind words of welcome. Hope everyone is well on this miserable November evening??

Very best wishes to your DH Lins. His prompt treatment is very good news in these times.
I have opened the door to outside only once today to take in a delivery. It has been dire.
So glad Robbie has found a first class lodgings in time for the winter.
Wishing each and every one of you a good evening.

MacSporran did whatever he does when the computer plays silly bugs and I can now read through all your messages.

A special message for Mr Lins, us lot will be ready, willing and able to give you heaps of virtual tender loving care. Rest and recouperate.

Izabella There is no point in keeping what remains of your delicious looking cake. Best leave it here and we'll enjoy every last crumb.
Galen is a tyke. She won't be sharing her cake. I imagine that Garry will have a large slice in due course.

Good messages regarding our Kitchen Pampered Pets. They deserve all the fussin' we can give to them.
Robbie is snuggled up in the den. He has two warm blankets, a rug and a straw base for additional cosiness.

kitty I dare not imagine what lurks behind the washing machine. I imagine it to be spotless.

I did manage a pile of ironing but I couldn't muster the strength required to finish the bed sheets. Tomorrow afternoon, if there is tennis on tele' I shall sprint through the remains.

Throughout today the rain has been a feature. We did hope to have a stroll. I drove to the village and discovered that it was even wetter and so, I drove home again and we haven't budged since.

I'm feeling very weary. Time to enjoy a and imagine eating some of Izabella's cake. Until we meet again tomorrow, best wishes to to you all. Enjoy your evening.

Lucky Robbie to have found you both soop, he’s landed on his paws!

I took this photo of Robbie about thirty minutes ago. He polished off a hearty meal, went for a stroll and has now taken up residence in the cabin.

Afternoon all.
Lovely looking cake Izabella no wonder your menfolk sampled it. I'm sure your kitchen smells wonderful Galen, love the smell of Christmas cake, I made mine last week.

Mr Lins went to the optician yesterday as he had a problem with his eye. After an examination, she sent him straight to hospital as she suspected a tear in the retina. The hospital doctor diagnosed a detatched retina and an immediate op. He arranged for Mr Lins to go to the Bristol Eye Hospital by 8 am this morning. Our son and daughter drove him, he has had the operation and is on his way home. He has to go back tomorrow morning but did not want to stay overnight. I am not superstitious but it was a bit of a nightmare Friday the 13th yesterday.
Thanks to all who wished him well on the GM thread and thanks to you annsixty, will know more when he gets home.
Hope you all have a restful evening and TOYA.

Well, I was looking for cake and see Izabella has brought us a lovely looking one.

The weather here is abysmal and I planned to sit and watch TV until DH pulled the fridge out to change the filter and I realised that we have had it 15 years and I don't think it occurred to him to clean behind it all the other times he's pulled it out. Anyone got a spare HazMat suit?

Nice to see you here BladeAnnie. The kitchen is lovely!!

Hi N&G #waves madly. Galen, shall I test your cake too?

Ann, take it easy with your exercising - you are doing really well.

Soop has Robbie been back?

Right, time for to go with all this cake and brandy snaps - which I assume are filled with double cream.

Oooohh Izabella - were you intending to ice it for Christmas?

A word of warning. If you make Christmas cake HIDE IT. this is the site that greeted me this morning after the men of the house congregated.

A warm welcome BladeAnnie the more, the merrier.

MacSporran is about to disconnect the computer because, since I first tried to use it, it has conked out on me over a dozen times. The air is purple with extremely bad language.

If he manages to sort matters, I shall return to catch up. In the meantime...ironing to keep me out of mischief.

Cake now has to rest and be fed until just before Xmas, when I will marzipan and ice it. Then I’ll bring whatever is left into the kitchen after Gary has had his helping!?

Morning all,
No hope of me catching up with you lot so I'll just wave ( grab some cake) and say hope you are all doing well !! x

I do sometimes get muddled with the Good Morning thread so refer to things posted on there.
Lins all good wishes to your H.
Hope all goes well.

Good morning all.
Dull and damp here in Stockport.
I am slightly shamed by all the baking talk.
I made a cake every year until recently and made puddings , one for us and one for friends until the man of the couple died, she didn’t eat C.. pudding.
Alas no more, I just haven’t the heart anymore, C... is no longer a favourite with me.

I must try and get a short walk in today, on Wednesday I stretched myself and did too much, I was tired out and in discomfort.
I won’t make that mistake again.

Best wishes to all, sorry Henry is unwell again, it must be a constant worry for you all Susan.
To everyone one else whose tales I can’t recall just now but I have read all your posts, keep on keeping on and take care.

Morning All. We’ve managed a squally walk to the corner shop which will be about the extent of activity here today. Should have been with our bubble-son, sadly we all agreed not a good idea in view of the covid outbreak in his office. Sensible heads are on, still disappointed though.

Hello BladeAnnie, good to see you. Your cake sounds superb Galen, I fear I cannot say the same for my attempt this year. Not sure what happened but suspect it will be better with custard than icing .

Robbie is making himself comfortable soop, delighted for you all.

I may stir myself and do some sewing, simple enough stuff. Mr C is engrossed in what I am assured is the most difficult jigsaw ever . Definitely a quiet day ahead here.

TOYA. Be careful out there.

Puzzler there is little point taking a photo of Galen's delicious cake because it will hardly hit the worktop surface before it is in the kitchen and I would give it 2 minutes there and it will have been demolished by these greedy guzzlers.

Welcome BladeAnnie

soop I am so pleased that Robbie is returning regularly for food. Once he realises it is a regular occurrence he will stop stuffing himself and calm down.
TOYA

That is excellent value Grandmafrench.
We pay Pet plan insurance - the monthly premium for lifetime cover rises every 2 years with the age of the pets.
We still pay the first 20% of each “new condition” claim.
We don’t have a menagerie as you do ? but we had 2 sister cats for 21 years and now Ruby for the past 6.
We would have gone without food for a week to pay some of the highest bills this year for Ruby’s scans and op. (£3,000 plus).
She is worth it though ...... ?
Hello everyone who visits the kitchen today. Galen do you have a photo with smellyvision of your boozy Christmas cake??

Morning all! Still in bed with the cat at my side and DH well away. He was still awake at 4, so I won’t wake him yet.
When we first moved we did so much work around the house but have let it all slip rather. Must do better! There are lots of indoor jobs to keep us occupied over this damp weekend but then again, there are two rugby matches this afternoon...
Have a good day everyone.

How I wish I could drop by for even a coffee, Grandmabatty - and meet the little chap who likes "durdies", of course!

About the Vet fees., puzzler. Actually the fees have always been something to celebrate here for us - speaking as a family who help to keep Vets' surgeries running. This evening, the Vet came out and gave the receptionist the figures (as she was printing out our bill) Consultation,€22, taking of blood €20 and processing in the "magic" machine for results ( a "contrôle" €22) and a month's supply of thyroxine for Ludo, €44.

No charge for the Consultation and the taking of the blood sample, he said. So he generously gave us €42 discount!

Currently there are moves and petitions to try to stop the Government charging VAT of 19.6% on Vets' bills. Scandalous.
It is hoped that changes will be made but at the moment the Vet's fees still seem to be a lot less than we would pay in the UK.

You should bottle that lovely smell, Galen.

Well, the cake is out of the oven and my kitchen smells marvellously christmassy

Welcome BladeAnnie??this really is a lovely thread?

I expect your Vet has extortionate fees as do ours Grandmafrench but well done to Ludo for seeing his treatment through and getting such pleasing results.
‘Durdies’ sounds so sweet from a little one Grandmabatty.
One of ours struggled with the letter ‘c’ at age 2, and would ask for a “tup of tea”.
(They grow out of it).
Have a lovely evening all. Glad to hear we’re all going to have a drink ?- there has been news worthy of raising a glass to this week.