Soop's wonderful, warm and welcoming kitchen

Thank you Tilly
I second everything you’ve said. I’m warm enough in the living room, so much better off than all those poor souls whose electricity failed. ?crossed he’ll be back tomorrow with the part needed.

Oh no! The boiler can’t be fixed till tomorrow or even after that. He’s got to get the part first ?

We have the hatches battened down and the storm has arrived.
Isn’t it marvellous that from my armchair I can wish soop all the luck in the world for her fund to reach target,
plead with Grandmabatty and Galen to take care of themselves while they are below par, send positive vibes to maddyone for her much needed heating to be fixed,
and to wish all kitchen peeps the best day they can have?

All from the comfort of the fireside.

When it works, technology is “blooming amazing” as Raymond Briggs’s Father Christmas would say ?TOYA.

Hurray, the boiler fixer man has arrived. I hope he can fix it today. The boiler failed yesterday, but luckily we still have the gas fire in the living room and a little fan heater upstairs. Fingers crossed he can fix it today because it’s throwing it down outside and feels very chilly.

Marydoll Tyke! My fireman has been warned to ignore your shouts for "assistance". He knows, you know.

Dearest you lovely lot, healing vibes winging their way to Galen and Grandmabatty and any Gransnetter feeling very much under the weather. If I had a potion to share that instantly restored good health and vitality I would leave a vat full in the kitchen.

Thank you for the mince pies, muse I'm willing to bet that your pastry would put mine to shame. I have a reputation that is often mentioned in the Argy.
I love the Christmas wreath. It is perfect.

Thank you all you lovely kitcheners for your kind messages. I slept well last night. I woke at six and then dropped off again for a couple of hours. That's unheard of! Galen I'm sorry about your broken ribs. I fell and badly bruised my ribs a couple of years ago and the hardest part was trying to turn over in bed. I felt like a tortoise on its back! It's very painful too?
There's been a lot going on in the kitchen. I'm not sure I can catch up. Muse the wreath is lovely. You are very talented. Blossoming as a diabetic of over ten years, I wish I had had a course like that. I don't manage my diet well. I have lost weight since my original diagnosis but need to do better. Think of me as not so much a good role model, more a terrible warning!?

Good to see you galen. Ouch, broken ribs aren’t fun. You’ll miss Gary’s help even with a dishy substitute in the wings. Hope all the renovations go to plan, it will seem like a new house.

Get well soon grandmabatty, that wreath is lovely muse, do you take orders?

Dental checkup for us both this morning after lateral flows. It’s made me think how these tests are a normal part of life now, who’d have thought it. Weather forecast is foul so we’ll be back home afterwards with hatches battened and no plans to go out again today.

Look after yourselves everyone.

muse don’t worry, we do see a fair bit of our step grandson. Mr M runs every Sunday mornings at the park run with him. The two boys do enjoy each other’s company, but our step grandson’s favourite person in the world is our daughter’s youngest child, who is now in New Zealand. Our step grandson regularly asks when R is coming back. He misses him.

GrandmaBatty I hope you’ll be feeling better tomorrow. Sick bugs are horrible.
Galen fractured rib, ouch! Hope it’ll be better soon.
muse that wreath is gorgeous, you must have green or artistic fingers.
To everyone in the kitchen, have a good night and sleep well.

Hello to all kitcheners. I'm replenishing the cake shelf with mince pies. Beware there's brandy in the homemade (not mine) mincemeat. A kind friend sent a jar a few months ago. Ready made pastry too. Daren't give you my pastry ?

Galen. Broken ribs are so painful. Take care. Gardener replacement here too. One day a month to do all the heavy, constant bending type tasks.

Grandmabatty and soop. Ironing is forbidden. Mine might see the iron tomorrow but it can wait another day. I remember saying that last Friday or was it the Friday before!

GrannyGravy13 and others who have been writing their cards, you put me to shame. I normally make a few personal ones but find I have some left over from previous years. I just have to pick up a pen.

I've always fancied making a Christmas wreath so on my walk with Mya today, I went armed with black bin bag and secateurs. I'd bought an assorted bag of wreath decorations on my visit to the garden centre last week. MrM found me the glue gun and two hours later, after a little cursing, I had a wreath.

No news from DS but I try not to let the anxiety get to high Grannmarie. My DD rang today. She had had a narrow escape with the counsellor who tested positive and today, she heard that her work partner and whole family have covid. She is due into work on Wednesday. Another close shave.

All the best for January Urms. Looks like a positive result with your thread about EV?

Hello Galen! Lovely to see you! Sorry to hear about the rib and hope you are more comfortable soon.
I’m glad I am not the only one who hasn’t started the Christmas cards yet!
Sleep tight everyone!

Hello Galen I hope you feel better soon, falls are horrible and shake you up so much.

Glad you enjoyed some quality family time and got your Christmas decs moved to ground level Grannmarie.

Good news Urms I hope you find it as useful as I am.

Goodnight dear Kitcheners, TOYA

‘Evening All’.

I’ve had a lovely snuggly PJ day. We had originally thought we were picking up the grandchildren from school but plans changed. I’ve been reading ALL DAY with the radio on quietly next to me.
#lazygran

Which reminds me ‘hi Grandmabatty’ ? I hope you’re feeling much better.

Oh and I got a letter today Blossoming inviting me to join a class, 2 hours a week at a local church hall to participate in the X-PERT Diabetes Prevention programme. I shall be following in your footsteps starting the last week in January!

Himself posted all our Christmas cards when he went down to Aldi in the square for the lamb chops I fancied for tea. This is the most organised I’ve ever been.

Brook, I hope you and DH are safe home now after your special family visit to Cambridge.

Hello Soop and all you lovely ,*Kitchen people*! It's great to see your GFM progressing so well, it just goes to show how well thought of you are.

Gagagran, well done, you are so organised already.

And GG13 you have finished your cards, fantastic!I haven't started mine, I'll all behind since Chicago.

Blossoming, great to hear happy news of your niece's expected baby, so much to look forward to. Your Zoom class sounds very purposeful, an action plan already!

Jaxjacky, lucky you, not one but two prizes! Buy a lottery ticket on Saturday.

Maddyone, what a lovely musical ? family get together. I'm glad that you can see your DMum soon.

DSs 2 and 3 and families were here for lunch yesterday, we had a great time and they went up in the loft and brought down my Christmas tree and decorations. I don't go up in the loft anymore, not as nimble as I used to be!

Muse, that's good news about your DD. I hope you hear from your DS soon. If they are OK, we are OK.

Kalu and Soop, stand away from the ironing/dry washing! My attitude to ironing has mellowed somewhat since the pandemic....I used to " iron for Scotland ", every single thing in the house... now I am much more selective!

Grandmabatty and Galen, you poor things, I hope you both feel much better soon.

Apologies if I haven't mentioned everyone, it's tricky on my phone.

TOYA, NNGB, ???

Galen, I wondered how you were getting on. I'm sorry to hear of your troubles.
Would you mind sharing the dishy gardener? I have bulbs still to plant, but if I get down I will need a hunky fireman or two ?‍? (I live next to the fire station) to lift me up! ) I am willing to share!

I’m still lurking, have been hampered by another fall and a fractured rib! Painful!
In the middle of having solar panes fitted, then a smart meter, then a new carpet through all downstairs then new curtains.
Following all that I suspect darling daughter will insist I sell and go into care! NOT GOING!
Unfortunately Gary s retiring end of month. I’ve found a young dishy substitute gardener at over twice Gary’s price! (. Gulp )
He’s very keen on green stuff so suits me.
Love to you all.

Grandmabatty Plenty of fluids. Stay warm and allow yourself to heal. Comforting hugs from me.

Ironing done and put away in the airing cupboard. Time for a brew and catch up with 'The Repair Shop'. One of our favourite programmes.

You’ll be home in no time Brook. I thought about Christmas cards too Jax, I may think about them again tomorrow! I may go and admire my dry washing pile when I finish drinking my coffee, the washing machine should be finished by then.

Sounds dreadful Grandmabattykeep up the fluids, hopefully you’ll recover quickly. The ironing can wait, you’re not going anywhere, so rest and stay warm please.
I’ve had my fringe trimmed at last, the local barber did it, a bargain at £4 and no trying to do anything else.
Also booked to get my ears cleared out, I’ll be able to see and hear properly at last!
I did think about writing Christmas cards, honestly.
Too much ironing soop. Firstly, call it dry washing, secondly if it’s shirts or blouses, wear jumpers over the top, you just need presentable collars, problem solved!
Catch up later all.

Good afternoon lovely Kitcheners, 2nd NDPP Zoom meeting today was very useful. Emma the instructor did a quick recap of last week and then we talked about our own personal risk factors and what could we do to reduce them. This naturally led on to setting goals, steps to be taken and measuring progress. I’d already been thinking about this so am making a plan!

Great news about the house progress Muse and am pleased for your daughter.

Sounds like a productive day GG you have definitely earned those chips!

Hope you feel better soon Grandmabatty stomach bugs are horrible.

You poor thing grandmabatty I hope you’re feeling much better soon, Those sickness bugs are dreadful. I hope you’re staying nice and cosy inside today
We’re well on our way home now from Cambridge, past Newcastle almost at Edinburgh. The train is warm and comfortable and I’m passing the journey reading, playing online scrabble and munching away at a bag of chocolates - which I’m hopeless at resisting

I’m looking forward to seeing some pictures of the new build muse and hope you’re in before too long. Also hope your DS gets in touch soon

Good afternoon kitcheners. I'm proper poorly yesterday and today with a horrible sickness bug which has left me with a headache, cold sweats, and stomach pains so forgive me for not being quite with it. The bonus is I don't want to eat so I might lose weight, although it's rather drastic! Soop I have a pile of ironing to do but it'll have to wait til I'm better. Muse your new home sounds lovely. It won't be long til you are in. BladeAnnie and Grannmarie, Urms and Tillytrotter and JaxJacky I'm waving feebly to you all, and anyone else I've missed out.

My deepest sympathy Dogsmakemesmile. I well remember the impact of losing my own father. ?

Ironing is the bane of my life Soop. I confess to saying a much stronger response upon the sight of the ironing mountain and it isn’t drat! ?