Soop's lovely warm and friendly kitchen

One of the hardest if loving decisions we ever have to make. I’m so sorry, Charley. A painful time for you .

I am so sorry Charleygirl such a loss for you, everyone knows how much you love her, she will always be in your heart.

Charleygirl my heart goes out to you. It's hard losing a pet. ?

Very sorry to hear that Charleygirl you think things can’t get worse and then they do. So sorry.

Oh Charleygirl, my heart goes out to you.
We all know how loved Tara is.
Some very painful hours for you ahead.
My thoughts will be with you.

It is a long story but I discovered this evening that Tara has had a second home for years- in another street but very close by- no busy roads to cross. they called her Felix!
They found her in their rear garden, unwell and lying still. They took her indoors and the minx drank water there. They eventually found where I lived, the catflap being the clue- asked a neighbour and then left a note. I had spent 7 hours in OPD and it was around 5 pm by then.

She spent Saturday night at the vet surgery and I have made arrangements for her to be put to sleep tomorrow late am. I am so sorry it could not be today.

A very sad time for both of us as she has been a faithful companion. I love her to bits as you know.

Granddaughter - Mummy of Mila and Toby, has just this minute phoned. I am wearing a huge . I am wishing to share that same with you. Until tomorrow, stay warm and thank you for being there.

Nannytopsy The answer to your question is in the affirmative.

I'm also sending good wishes to Panache and her dear husband.

You are ALL included in my best wishes. Without you here in our kitchen I would feel a whole lot sadder. Especially now that we are, yet again, in total lockdown. Our neighbour heard it on the lunchtime news. She rang and asked Mr Soop to get his Tesco bags ready and buzz off into Campbeltown for a last minute shop. Such thoughtful friends. A blessing.

That sums up my day Nannytopsy ??

Hello Kitcheners! Anyone else had this kind of day? ?

Good afternoon everyone.

So annoying about the car soop but glad you have good people around you to help out.A few years ago our car broke down and we had to be towed home.The RAC man shook his head mournfully and said the car would probably be a write off.Our trusty mechanic looked it over and it was a screw that’s had come loose.A grand total of £9 to sort it out.I waist the same for you.

I understand your worry about equity release soop but am pretty sure Mr soop will do his research and make sure all the legalities are in place.I think there is a lot more legislation in place now that the schemes are more common place.

I have managed to keep the glums at bay today.I think maybe it was my turn for a wobble.We have taken the decorations down and cleaned the house from top to bottom.I have also made several lists!DH sits with his head in his hands when I make lists but I do like a list or two to be working on!

The grandchildren are all doing ok thank you Grandmafrench.Our crèche reopens tomorrow unless Boris changes the rules.I have to write a letter to Matilda from Owen the elf to say he has gone back to the North Pole until next year.He hasn’t been a bad little elf just a bit cheeky.

Doodle could you let Panache know that DH and I are thinking about her and Mr P.I have hesitated to PM her as she seems so exhausted and I didn’t want her feeling obliged to reply.

Hope all goes well with your consultation tomorrow corner??

Wishing I could wave a wand to make all the worries and buggerations go away ?

TOYA

Soop that is very annoying about your car. It sounds like you have a keeper in Macsporran though. Don't fret. It might be nothing much and fixed quickly. My son in law is having problems with his car at the moment and it's just been towed to the garage. In addition, their hot water cylinder has broken down again. They're having a lot of financial worries just now. Doodle I hope your dh continues to improve and puts weight on in all the right places. I have made an enormous pot of chicken and lentil soup with lots of vegetables. I'm going to make a curry shortly. I'm having rather a lazy and gloomy day. I suspect the latest news about a lock down is contributing. I'm sure it'll pass though. Take care all.

Well it’s so dull here in my little corner of Essex, the lights have been on most of the day.

I am now ensconced on the sofa snuggled under a throw with the fire blazing. I am accompanied by my iPad and kindle. A real do nothing day!

Doodle I do hope your DH benefits from your spoiling and cosseting. soop you seem to be going from one buggeration to the next.

I wish I could wave a magic wand and make all our kitcheners troubles and ills disappear.

TOYA

Another cuddle coming your way from me soop. ?
I’m sure MrSoop wouldn’t consider anything that would compromise your lifestyle.
The car malfunction is a buggeration too many at the moment isn’t it? No wonder you are having a low day.
Please hang on in there dear soop. ?

Oh soop I’m sorry you now have additional worry with the car. Last thing you need. Mr Soop it shall be and I’m glad that he is there ready with his cuddles.
Hope you get your car fixed or a new one, whatever you decide is the right action to take.
Much love to you both x
TOYA ?

grandmafrench DH is on the mend but I don’t think he’ll be walking outside anytime soon. The chair to the bathroom is about as much as he can manage at the moment. He now weighs less than me ....I am not impressed ?.
Hope you are well and keeping safe.
I too wonder about izabella
Panache doesn’t post so much now as she is having a difficult time at the moment and is very weary looking after herself and her dear husband who has been in much pain.
She posts in the Lockdown Gang and you are welcome to catch up with her there if you like. I will mention that you were asking after her.

A bright but chilly good afternoon to you lovely lot.

The car is going nowhere. Computerised engine message flashes alarmingly. Phoned our friendly garage in Campbeltown. Willie, the boss, will motor the 22 miles to sus out the likely problem on Wednesday afternoon.

Still no broadband. Continuing to rely on our pal's gizmo. Cannot go to the shops. Thanks to a neighbour, we have assistance with local shopping for the time being. A good pal has offered to do the Tesco shop sometime this week.

We are debating releasing sufficient equity to enable us to replace our present car with something more reliable. It bothers me to go down this route. I fear ending up in the so-called workhouse. I have shed a few tears but, as ever, dear Mr Soop (as he would like to be known) has cuddled me tight and reassured me that I am worrying needlessly. It's a me thing. He continues to be positive. I am wavering between the two emotions. I feel as if I've lost an enormous amount of confidence since March of last year. Is it any wonder?

The correct Scots term for Urmston's 'cloth pudding' is 'clootie dumpling'. It's the most calorific creation on Earth!
Soop, hopefully there won't be a huge repair bill for your car. It could be what happened to mine one night long ago on the M6 when the car suddenly lost power and it took all my experience to guide it on to the hard shoulder. When the AA man turned up, it started! It was an intermittent fault with the fuel pump and easily sorted.
Corner, I'm shocked that a physio suggested squats for your knee - absolutely the wrong thing! Good luck with getting any sense out of a consultant at this chaotic time. My knees which were agony not so long ago seem to be having a holiday from pain and long may it last. They're not carrying around so much weight as they were. [smug emoji]
TOYA and good night

Forgive me for confusing everyone - assessment is Tuesday so please hang on to good luck vibes until then. I quite often confuse myself so not surprised .

Saw some more family today. Haven’t stopped smiling since. This weekend will see me through the next few weeks of restrictions.

Hope the car is easily sorted. Could well be the battery soop.

Sleep well everyone

Hello lovely peeps. Well, maybe it's just Soop's return or maybe the thought of a new, sensible, positive and hopeful Year that has just appeared, but you all sound quite chipper!

So very glad to see you back in the Kitchen, Soop and to hear that you and Mac and Fern and your lovely sons and families are well. Bet you aren't back courtesy of BT, though - but if you are, then I'm surprised. And now car trouble - always something. Fingers crossed it's nothing costly and can be quickly fixed.

Don't hold back on the extent of your knee problem, corner, good luck for tomorrow. You'll doubtless be up and gone to be assessed before I put paws to keyboard in the morning. Looks like a special section will have to be opened in the Kitchen for those requiring New Neez - maybe just to the left of those requiring second helpings of bread pudding/bread and butter pudding or any bready comestibles. [ Nice to see that not everyone is a fan of a slice of melon or half a kiwi fruit. ] The cold weather is definitely not helping the diet. Bread sauce is the weapon of choice in our house. I made lots and since Christmas, I am using every excuse to get a little out of the freezer at supper times. Naughty but nice.

Hope you've heard some recent good news about your GS's recovery, Ann. Lovely to know that however totally fed up you are with the wretched restrictions in life, you managed in all the mayhem to undergo some successful surgery, have weathered all the pain and now have two working limbs. Hurrah! We shall look beyond Spring and to a time when you will be trotting out again. Sad you're not safe in your own Kitchen now, Galen - if it's not falling down it's visiting Nurses!!! . Hope you're feeling better.

Susan do try to keep track of Pollyanna. Life is hard enough with a Hurtling Husband, without risking a visit from The Glooms. May your smile soon return to the fold and happier times arrive and I'm hoping that all the Granbabies are o.k.

How are you doing, Daisy? Let us know when you can, please. Very pleased that Mr Doodle is improving. You must be relieved, dear Doodle. Keep safe, both, especially if the ground is slippy. Safely home, Grandmabatty - you've earned that piece of pie and a nice sit down, I think.

Would love to hear from Panache and Izabella. If you are reading this, blessings for the New Year. Huge hugs from everyone in the Kitchen where there's always something nice in the biscuit tin just in case you turn up for tea.

See you soon, laydees. Be good, stay safe, nighty night and sleep well.
TOYA and hugs from French France ? x

Sorry to hear about the car soop. Hope it’s nothing expensive serious.
Have a good day all
TOYA ?

Hope the car can be sorted soop??

TOYA and hope you all have a good evening and a restful night.

Thank you for the hug soop and for the beautiful picture.?

‘Evenin’ All’ ?

Gosh it’s chilly out! We got back an hour ago from my stepfather’s. We were his ‘first footers’. He is so glad we are home and can form a support bubble.

We had a wee dram of Speyside single malt and he cut us a slice of what he called ‘cloth pudding’ sent down to him from Wester Ross. His second cousin had made it, wrapped and boxed it for his enjoyment! Very nice, full of fruit.

Well that’s my alcohol intake sorted now until 1 February.

Hope everyone has a peaceful evening ahead.

‘Goodnight All’.
?

Hi soop and all who venture to the kitchen today. Am I correct in thinking it was that very kind MacS who has gritted the path to the kitchen door so we might arrive safely? He and Fern are such treasures soop and I am cheered by your sunset photo. It is the flip side of your hard frost. We have only dull, cloudy wetness today.
Not worthy of a photo.

The artic temperatures are not helpful to our two Grans with painful knees, but I hope they get solutions to them one way or another very soon.

Galen good to see you post although unsure it is legal for nurses to attack you with a needle, for your blood, in your own home like that! I trust there is a very good reason?

Cars with run down batteries are no good to man nor beast, and I try to remember to go out and “turn the engine over” each day. Nowhere else to go in it like so many of us.

I hope we’re all having a restful day with the high point being a delicious main meal event. Chicken chasseur for us.

Doodle keep feeding your DH hearty food and build him up ?. You are clearly doing an excellent job of helping him recover.
TOYA.