Soop's wonderful, warm and welcoming kitchen

Hi there Ann and Brooke, not forgetting Soop. I have been very lazy today and had a long lie down this afternoon. I woke up early after a poor night's sleep so I won't feel guilty about it. We had a thin covering of snow when I woke this morning but fortunately most of it has disappeared. I'm not a big fan of snow and ice. Bolognaise sauce is thawed so I'm off to make a cheese sauce and assemble a lasagne for tea. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

Hi annsixty it’s lovely to see you in the kitchen and I hope you enjoy your meal out later with your DGD and friends. Although Chatsworth is beautiful it’s better to be home in the warm rather than travelling just now.
Hoping anyone without power is back on soon, we’ve been lucky here in Inverness as apart from a bit of flickering the power has stayed on.
I’ve just sat down after sorting through all the Christmas decorations and deciding what’s going and what’s staying. Also I’ve got my very first mince pie of the year, sadly not home made but a Tesco finest. As you probably all know by now I did very well urmstongrans school for #lazygrans ?

Good afternoon from a very infrequent poster.
We woke up to flaking snow and it has been continuing ever since.
Yesterday we were supposed to go to Chatsworth but as it was very windy and unpleasant we postponed until today.
That is now cancelled of course and to my shame I am relieved, I am getting very antisocial and prefer my own home.
However I am going out for a Sunday roast with my GD ,her friend and her friend’s mother later, I hope I will enjoy it.
It has been cold all week and I haven’t been out for nearly two weeks.
I hope all are as well as they can be and dealing with life which for some is troubling and hard I know.
My thoughts are with you all every morning when I read this thread and Good Morning.

Thinking of you soop and all our Scottish and northern based Grans who have had the worst of storm Arwen.
I hope you all get back to normality very soon. ?

Two power cuts. Will attempt to catch up a little later.

Hope things are ok at home SueD a lucky escape being away this weekend but hope everyone back home in is managing - must be awful with no power until Sunday night. Hope the water is back on though
Thanks so much for the cupcakes, they look scrumptious ?
Hope everything ok with your brother too nannytopsy
We’ve had a few more snow flurries here tonight but it seems quite calm just now …

SueD I hope your freezer is ok. I must phone my brother in Shropshire and see if they are ok.

Another busy day with the family today! It’s so nice to see them. On my travels I’ve had an excellent doughnut from a local bakery and some rather lovely cupcakes iced with a Christmas theme so I’ve ordered enough for everyone in the kitchen.

Things are apparently very difficult at home, where post-storm Arwen, there is no power, internet, mobile signal or water! ? They hope to have power back by 6pm Sunday. I hope the contents of my fridge freezer are ok. ?

Come on Urms - share nicely!
Nearly two years ago we were give vouchers for a local restaurant and of course, we couldn’t go, then they reduced their opening times so tables are hard to get. Today we finally had the most delicious lunch there. Jay Rayner reviewed it a while ago and now I know why he was so impressed. My only comment is that my meal had Jerusalem artichoke 3 ways, so there are gales inside as well as a storm outside tonight. ☺️

Great news Urms that must be so much better for you, now pass over those malteesers please! ?

Urms that is excellent news! I'm very pleased for you.

‘Evening All’

Well my good news is that today my anosmia (sense of smell & taste) has CLEARED! Yay! How fantastic do I feel? I’ve just eaten chicken curry with rice and coriander naan bread and truly it was the Food of the Gods.

One full week without which was horrid but I’m so grateful I’ve got it back again.
?

I think I keep dipping into a box of Maltesers next to me on the bed just to keep testing all is well.

It's freezing here in Cheshire. The thermometer at the back door said -2 when I last looked. This morning there were pockets of snow on the garden and the shed roof was white. I have been hibernating, but sometime I will have to venture out to Lakeland shop for supplies for my Easiyo. And it might be good for some Christmas treats for family members. Some are not easy to choose for: DS2 now vegan and DS1's partner gluten and lacto-intolerant. Yesterday my lovely neighbour brought me a box of very chocolatey biscuits. I do still have some a few left...
Sorry I can't help with your windows, soop. Mine are done outside by a window cleaner. Inside, they are a disgrace, now that the afternoon sun is low in the sky.

Soop I'm the only person I know who can leave windows dirtier after I've, allegedly,cleaned them so I'll pass!

I'm another one who can leave windows. Am quite houseproud in some ways but can ignore windows.

We’ve a light covering of snow here in Inverness and it’s been a very cold day! ? so I’m very pleased to be in the warm kitchen now
It was snowing when I took 6 year old DGD to her dance class. She looked so cute wrapped up for the walk with her Unicorn ear muffs and matching scarf and gloves and then catching snowflakes all the way there..bless, my heart just melts? DH and DGS went to Waterstones to spend a gift voucher that DGS had received for his 8th birthday, he spent ages looking all around the different books then settled on even more of his favourite football stories as he really is footy mad! We all then met up with DD2 and SiL for soop and sandwiches for lunch in a cafe - very busy though and we were lucky to get a table for 6
Your trip sounds brilliant Grannmarie and pleased you enjoyed your proper coffee
I’ll be along to do the windows in the morning soop and I’ll get the fire going for a cosy afternoon cuppa

What a beautiful sunny day it turned out to be but my goodness what wind last night, hope everyone is ok.

In our area trees were uprooted and there was lots of stuff blown around including the builders’ toilet; contents generously coated the drive, pavement and road. Hosed down all that we could but the aroma is persistent.

Hope the weather calms down! ?

TOYA

Sounds like you’re having a wonderful time Granmarie, so pleased for you all. People can be remarkably generous if they know what’s needed soop, good luck with the crowdfunding page.

I didn’t sleep well last night, it was so noisy and it’s been too stormy for me to go out today. I have done some laundry, tidied the bedroom and spent the rest of the day curled up in a comfy chair, wrapped in a fleecy blanket listening to a book. I had to miss out on the Lancashire Maker’s Market where local farmers, cheese makers, gin distillers, brewers, bakers, etc all have stalls and lots of lovely goodies on offer. I am wobbly at the best of times, but strong winds finish me off!

Hope everyone is OK, TOYA

I think the gremlins are about - I just wrote a long post apologising for not joining you for the last few days etc etc and it's disappeared off into cyberspace!! I'll need to go back and read everyone's busyness too! So pleased to see the crowdfunding is going to be come a reality - hurray soop ?. We have a very good window cleaner - I wonder if he might come along to the kitchen?? Enjoy the rest of your Saturday whatever you may be doing

Ha! I shall leave you with my love and best wishes for a peaceful and pleasant Saturday night. Will raise a glass of G&T to you later.

I went out to buy a few items. I had intended to go to the new Aldi not long opened but decided for an extra couple of £££ at Waitrose I would prefer to stay alive as it was so windy here.

I keep feeling the radiator to make sure the heating is still on. It just feels so cold. I may have an extra early shower and be snuggled up in my night attire, ready to watch Strictly with food on my plate.

Sorry soop I cannot remember when my windows were last cleaned so there is little hope of me taking a trip to your abode although I may do to see Sweetie pie!

Fingers crossed for your Mum maddyone ?
I think the Windy City sent it all here Grannmarie sounds like you’re having a great time.
I’m so pleased you have some help soop from family and friends. Not much help from me for your windows, ours need doing with no excuse of salty winds, I’m just a tad slobby.
An extremely lazy day today, boiler man came and has temporarily fixed our boiler pressure, I’m happier. It was working before, just struggling, last thing we need with these harsh temperatures.
I’ll pop back later x

Are any of you lovely lot available to clean our windows? after yesterday's storm they are coated in a salt-laden film. Likewise the car.

maddyone I also send good wishes to your Mum. It is a terribly stressful time and she has already been through a ghastly time.

Grannmarie Hello from uptown Campbeltown. Nowhere near as exotic as your location but it's home sweet home, and that counts for a lot. I, like many of your friends, are delighted that you are having a very well deserved and happy experience.

Our Sweetie Pie [feral pussy cat] called yesterday late afternoon. She devoured three hearty meals, spent the night in her cosy apartment and wandered back into the forest.

We await the visit of the pal who will help us to set up a crowdfunding page. We have been heartened by some very generous offers of help from family and close friends.

Are any of you lovely lot available to clean our windows? after yesterday's storm they are coated in a salt-laden film. Likewise the car.

maddyone I also send good wishes to your Mum. It is a terribly stressful time and she has already been through a ghastly time.

Grannmarie Hello from uptown Campbeltown. Nowhere near as exotic as your location but it's home sweet home, and that counts for a lot. I, like many of your friends, are delighted that you are having a very well deserved and happy experience.

Our Sweetie Pie [feral pussy cat] called yesterday late afternoon. She devoured three hearty meals, spent the night in her cosy apartment and wandered back into the forest.

We await the visit of the pal who will help us to set up a crowdfunding page. We have been heartened by some very generous offers of help from family and close friends.