Soop's wonderful, warm and welcoming kitchen

My solar panel men have got galed off!
They hope the winds have decreased by Thursday to complete.
Having spent many years trying to cut down on electricity usage, I’m now trying to replace my expensive gas heating with my cheap electricity. I’ve invested in a big battery and the emergency switch over to the battery if the power supply goes down. Many years ago I was a girl guide! Be prepared

Galen I only have ordinary solar panels, not PVC but I do save a lot of money throughout the year getting free hot water. The sun does not have to be shining, a bright day is fine.

Good luck when the fellows come back, with luck brighter weather will return.

Storm Barra has arrived with a vengeance in Cheshire. I came home to find the bins overturned and recycling contents spread around the garden; and yet another fence panel down. I'd been for a consultation with the plastic surgeon about my BCCS. I had half expected to have the procedure there and then but pleased to meet such a pleasant and friendly consultant who explained the procedure and answered all my questions. He will try to get the job done by the end of January but I won't hold my breath!
Oh Galen, what can we do with you? Another fall - I prefer to call it 'taking a tumble', but a rose by any other name... You might have some competition for the services of your 'dishy' gardener. I could do with someone who understands plants and isn't just a garden maintenance company. Look after that broken rib. I had a cracked one and that was bad enough.

Afternoon kitcheners. I nipped to town briefly to pick up a voucher for mum then a fruitless visit to the big Tesco as it's known, to get a double issue of the radio times. No luck so I chanced a visit to dd and the boys. It was lovely, cuddling a baby then a toddler. I am very lucky. Then a Christmas catch up with friends in the diary and home through a blizzard. I have the heating on, a pumpkin spice candle on and have had a late lunch of lentil soup. And I ordered the radio times directly so a good day for me. I'm going nowhere this afternoon as it looks horrible out. Fortunately the snow has stopped. Maddyone I hope your boiler is sorted quickly. It's typical it would happen at this time of year. Have a good day all.

Snow? What’s that? Haven’t had any down here for centuries

Just popping into the kitchen for a cuppa and a chat - thanks for the mince pies muse yummy, that brandy is hitting the spot
Galen please take care and hope and the pain eases soon ?
Sounds like you’re doing really well Blossoming well done!
Its blowing a gale out there and already quite dark. I really don’t like these short winter days. No snow here for us yet, I think we’re missing most of Storm Barra this time, thank goodness. But thinking of SueD and hoping things are ok this time and Anno, Tilly and everyone else too please take care
Hope the boiler gets fixed tomorrow at the latest maddy it’s too cold to wait any longer - brrrrr ?
Yes thanks Grannmarie we had a good journey home yesterday from Cambridge, a long day but no problems or delays. I was happy to get back to my own bed though and slept really well.
I hope you enjoyed your special cuddles grandmabatty and are keeping warm this afternoon

Hope you get the solar men back soon Galen. We have had PV for nearly 40 years now and are just replacing our batteries with one of the modern type. It will last us out! Our new build will have solar thermal panels for hot water too. Winter back up is a diesel generator (a few hours each night) but now in our 70s we need something that's hopefully reliable so will be connecting to the grid in 2022. Cable was laid to us late last year. I'll stop hogging the post with my renewable energy gushings. Hope you are less sore today with that rib Galen.

Always hopeful here in Cornwall for a flake or two Grandmabatty.

Glad you're wrapped up well maddyone. Interesting to read how everyone "keeps warm" on the thread by that name.

I've had a text today from my Pilates tutor. Classes at the village hall look like being cancelled as numbers in the hall are being massively cut back. Busy time of the year and far too many are still taking risks. With this variant being the worst one for speed of spreading, I'm glad the hall manager is taking even greater precautions. With MrM expecting his hospital operation date soon, I will stay put.
No news from DS.
Thank you for all the compliments about the wreath. It's still on the door?. The wind was strong but my knot held tight.

Hello. I've come here looking for some kindness. I have multiple health issues and am stuck at home. I don't want to dwell on my health and bore anyone. I am just looking for somewhere nice to chat about tea and cake or country walks or grandchildren or to look at pictures of your christmas wreaths. I hope I have come to the right place.

Welcome to the kitchen EnaSharples.

Welcome Ena Sharples -yes you have definitely found the correct kitchen, very cosy and extremely pleasant.

I do not bake but I do sneak in and pinch the odd slice of banana cake or whatever takes my fancy. I have visited for around 10 years and nobody has thrown me out of the kitchen yet.
TOYA

Welcome EnaS come in, take a seat by the fire and be assured there are always caring Kitcheners popping in and out. We all share our troubles as well as our happy times. It is true “a worry shared is a worry halved”.
I will be back with Stollen for all who like it (unfortunately not home baked, but Lidl’s finest ?).

The warmest of welcomes to EnaSharples. You are now officially one of us lot. Share with us, if it helps. There will always be a kind response. It's what we are here for. That and . XXX

Night night. Stay safe and keep cosy. Until tomorrow.

Oops, made a blooper. It is Aldi’s rum Stollen.
Please cut a slice of it’s your kind of thing. ?

A very warm kitchen welcome to you Ena you’re most definitely welcome here anytime

Good afternoon dear kitcheners on this wild and wet afternoon ?☂️?. Welcome Ena - the kitchen is always a warm and welcoming place where you'll be among friends. Stollen sounds lovely Tilly - I am feeling a little peckish. I had a routine appointment at the eye clinic this morning so have had to work this afternoon. Just logged off the laptop and need to pop down to the utility to collect the laundry. Duncan was most put out that he had to get out if the basket earlier!! ?? Enjoy the rest of Tuesday - keep warm and dry

Thank you Tilly one of my favourites

I love Stollen. Thank you Tillytrotter. But I will only have a wee piece.

Hello Ena, how nice to see you. Do you relate to your namesake? I gather she was quite a character although I didn’t start watching The Street till after she’d left. Look forward to hearing your news.

Hello Ena. Welcome. I'm quite a quiet one on GN but I read every day and usually say " Good Morning"

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202112/medium-107528-68193c70-7783-48f9-aabb-8ca76bf63c21.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202112/medium-370517-db57ffa1-7826-42f0-835b-6aa46c3e4d63.jpeg

Two Christmas trees decorated, undecided as to whether I will put one up stairs.

Welcome Ena

Weather is horrible in my corner of S E Essex, best get off of GN and cook DH’s dinner, nightie night ???

Hello and welcome EnaSharples. You have certainly come to the right place as far as I'm concerned. I joined GN in January looking for support and a bit of hand holding. A poster called Doodle told me about the kitchen. So many lovely posters have helped me through my and MrM's health issues and MrM's have been plentiful. They given me support when worried about my two grown up children and their children.

We get a good variety of photos too. Watch out for the photos of soop's lovely sunset photographs.

There's stolen tonight. Brilliant. Thank you TillyTrotter.

See you tomorrow. Safe night everyone, I hope you are all surviving the storm.

Wow it’s been a wild day out there. Hailstorm this afternoon, hail stones still frozen, look very pretty.

It poured while we were waiting outside the dental surgery, horizontal rain. Our new dentist has probably left school . Think he’s a keeper if he stays in the surgery. Very gentle and kind also the clincher he’s very easy on the eye (Mr C said he didn’t notice, one of us certainly did ), Even better he declared our teeth to be in no need of his skills. Phew.

Hello Ena, good to see you in the Kitchen. You’re very welcome. Hope the boiler is sorted soon maddyone, being cold is no fun. I’ve felt for the people still without power after the first storm. Hope the roof is safe again soon galen, good to have it finished.

Where did all that stollen go Tilly? Looks like I may need to raid our stash. Well, it is nearly Christmas. .

Take care everyone, stay warm.

BladeAnnie poor Duncan having to look for another place to rest his eyes. If he would like a holiday here he will be cherished and cared for, he is so gorgeous.

I have not tasted stollen for years, I do like it but it is very fond of my hips and appears to stay there, unwanted.

I really should have my supper, sirloin steak and trimmings with a glass or two of wine.

Lovely trees grannygravy