Soop's welcoming kitchen for kindly folk...

Good afternoon dear kitcheners and thank you so much for all the birthday wishes for yesterday. I had a lovely day with friends and family and I was made to feel really special 🥰. My DGD (3 going on 23 but in the most adorable way 💗) came in and said "happy birthday nanna - you're 6"!! Bless her little heart 💗. Duncan who is usually the most sociable boy saw small people and it was his cue to go and hide....😂🐱. So now I'm getting ready for my birthday road trip. Off on Wednesday to the northern coast of Scotland 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 - just the two of us in a little remote cottage. The weather is not looking favourable but it is November after all!! I was sort of hoping for a glimpse of the northern lights as there's recently been lots of sightings in the area; but I think it probably won't happen on this holiday. Duncan will go and be looked after very well at our lovely local cattery 🐱. Enjoy the rest of the weekend and I'm sending a gentle group hug to all kitchen friends. TOYA 🌷

Soop....is it this one.

Just realised after copying and pasting text around in my message, I forgot to delete the first one. Oh well, MrMuse deserves two mentions for using the dishwasher🤣

Good night Kitcheners.

A late happy birthday from me bladeannie

Non stop activity here today. The garden quick tidy took a couple of hours, after lunch a (far too long) walk to local shops for bits and pieces before a bus ride home.

Goodnight all. Sleep well.

Hello everyone. Congratulations to all those celebrating, especially Urms’ car! I had a lovely lunch with my friend who causes scenes in restaurants - she didn’t today! We met in a beautiful old pub in the middle of nowhere midway between my place and hers. The pub had been bought by the villagers when the brewery threatened it with closure. We had a delicious lunch. When I got home son and his family were already there. My granddaughter opened the door and asked if I had any sellotape! No, hello nanna. Son cooked a delicious Mexican feast for dinner. I’ll cook tomorrow’s lunch. Maybe raspberry crumble for pudding. So, there’s at least one world leader who Mr Sunak is taller than. Unless Mr Zelensky was standing in a hole.

Oh the joys of heating, Jax! ❤️ We had no boiler for a month in the winter of 2021, with temps going down to minus seventeen some nights. We wore more clothes to bed than we did in the day! It’s remarkable how can you can bath with so few kettles of water, though. Then last winter we had no electricity/phone/water for almost a week after Storm Arwen. That’s what pushed us into moving nearer to civilisation. It was the right thing to do but that was confirmed again yesterday when our previous home area was hit by storms and flooding and power cuts. Poor things.

That squash looks grand, Muse, not too many seeds!

We trundled into town this afternoon where there was a Christmas weekend going on, with the shows, live music and stalls etc. Lots of people around, which was good to see. We met up with my dd and family then did a bit of shopping. Best of all, it didn’t rain so we didn’t get wet!

A quiet evening for us and I hope for you all, too. Xxx

The family will get together but it will be very laid back.

I like the sound of a ‘laid back’ Christmas very much Blossoming.
All the joy.
None of the stress.

GG13 I wish I was getting one of your adult Christmas gifts with ribbons, bows, mini pine cones etc! A friend I have always makes her presents special and they look wonderful. One year she just used brown paper, string and tartan ribbon. My book (I could tell by the shape) was my nicest present to open, knowing she had spent time and care wrapping it.
😊

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202211/medium-734659-tpqftihfsoymka6daiekg.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202211/medium-337849-y0vpzhc0tsvyxld09a9aw.jpg

Hello all.

Congratulations all round for BladeAnnie and SueD. I can just about remember my 60th birthday . Hope you've both had a great day.

More congrats to Urms too. A grand age for your little car. It deserves a pat on the bonnet.

Wishing your GS a quick recovery Shazza.

That boiler man deserves a pat on the back Jax. Well done for surviving days with no heat or hot water.

I'm still transferring things from cottage to new home. Down to the smaller items now. I am suitable impressed with my induction hob and MrMuse's days of doing all the washing up are over. He is now responsible for emptying the dishwasher 😀.

Had a break this afternoon to make some butternut squash soup. My DD gave me a plant this year and even though it produced lots of flowers, only one squash grew to a decent size. I've saved some seeds to grow more next year - but outside this time. This plant was in the polytunnel and didn't like the hot spell we had. I am suitable impressed with my induction hob and MrMuse's days of doing all the washing up are over. He is now responsible for emptying the dishwasher 😀.

G+T time 👋.

Oooh thank you for the birthday cake BA and the cinnamon rolls Grandmabatty delicious ness all over
I like that idea of a fireman’s pole Urms 🤣
We’ve wandered all around Granada today ticking everything off our sightseeing list, we’re back in our apartment now for our last night here. It’s been an amazing experience and I’d love to return one day. When we were in the depths of lockdown and not allowed to go anywhere I made a resolution to travel as much as I could as soon as it was allowed. So that’s why I’m always on the go somewhere! DH and I are both so lucky that we can still get around unaided so I’m making the most of it whilst we can 😀

Oh I bet your kitchen smells divine Grandmabatty xx

I made cinnamon rolls with sticky vanilla icing. They are amazing (blowing my own trumpet) so I'll leave some in the kitchen. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

Good evening lovely Kitcheners.
Hope our lovely birthday girl is having a splendid 60th celebration.

Thankyou for your good wishes re grandson. He’s been over with daddy today and he’s as lively as ever. Son said he was sick just the once but obviously they wouldn’t have wanted him at school yesterday. Back to normal on Monday.

Hope you are all enjoying your Saturday. We are heading to our friends who are cooking for us. Snitzel I think. I’m enjoying one glass of wine now then I’m driving home later tonight so will just drink sparkling water. Enjoy your evening. X🌻

Good evening dear Kitcheners. Thank you very much for the slice of birthday cake BladeAnnie 🍰 I will save it for supper. Duncan is a beauty, cats and boxes go together

Hurray for the boiler man Jax! Shazza I hope your poorly GS is recovering today. Great news about your car Urms.

My belly seems to have settled down, I had porridge for brunch and Mr. B is making sausage and mash later. It’s been very cold here, I’ve been speaking to my sister about Christmas plans. The family will get together but it will be very laid back.

Enjoy your evening all x

Happy Birthday BladeAnnie 🎂🥂

I have had a busy day, local food shopping, picked out my new glasses (boy varifocal transition lenses are so expensive) I have spoilt myself with designer frames along with having reading lenses put in a previous pair of varifocals.

I have then spent the afternoon wrapping Christmas Gifts, I really wish I was not so fussy with paper and embellishments as each one takes so long.

Will try and catch up with all the kitchen news

Wishing you all a good evening whatever you are doing 🙋‍♀️

‘Evening All’

Our good news is that our 18y old little Peugeot has passed its MOT. It’s had a full service too for the winter and needed a replacement belt of some kind. To celebrate we are nipping downstairs to the bar below us before it gets too busy with Saturday night revellers ~ some of whom call in around 7pm before crossing the road and catching a train into Manchester. It’s amazing to see these 20y olds in their sleeveless dresses and short boots going out without a coat in this weather. Yes, I’ve officially turned old, thinking “brr! Rather them than me”.
😁

Right, there’s a large glass of Pinot Grigio Blush waiting down there with my name on it and a well deserved pint for Himself. We will chat and people watch, then come back up in the lift. The new manager in the bar said he could install a fireman’s pole for us so we could slide straight in!

Belated birthday wishes to you BA I do love your photo. Duncan is the most handsome leonine looking cat. I bet he purrs loudly too!

Hello purrs to beautiful boy-cat Duncan. Aren't cats entertaining whenever there is a box to nestle in?

Shazza wishing a speedy recovery to your icky grandson.

We bought a few packs of delightful Christmas cards from the Red Cross shop. Also, some from the foot and mouth artists. How on earth does the disabled artist manage to produce such fine art?

Friends called in earlier. After which, I spent a lazy afternoon watching snooker. I shall now empty the washing machine and prepare for a leisurely Saturday evening with a delicious G&T at 8:30. As always, I shall raise the glass of cheer to all our dear Kitcheners.

Until tomorrow

Happy Birthday BladeAnnie Hope your having a great time.
Happy Golden Wedding Sue Donim, enjoy.
Must be nice to be warm Jax.🔥
Enjoy your evening everyone.

Did someone mention birthday cake? Yum!
Happy birthday BA and Happy Anniversary SueD.
It’s gone very chilly here in Suffolk. I have a gardener coming on Thursday and I would like a frost before then please. Once the dahlias have been knocked back, we can dig them up.
Another afternoon of rugby on TV. Come on England! Glad to see Scotland playing against 12 men!

Dear BladeAnnie hearty congratulations on reaching the amazingly young age of 60. I remember mine. It was fun and I loved every moment. (hugs)

We have heating and hot water! Boiler man came at 8 (getting out of our warm bed was hard) and it was up and running by 1:30. Hope you’ve still got water BA and your birthday open day is going well.

Many happy returns of the day BA. Hope you have a auperday.

And congratulations on your Golden Anniversary, SueDonim .

Soop, how are the buggerations coming along?

Happy birthday, Bladeannie - I hope you’re being spoilt! 🎂

Shazza 😂

Happy birthday BladeAnnie I remember mine well because it was a few days before I retired and I could not wait to go.

Poor Duncan obviously does not have a decent bed!!!!

they appear to make a beeline for cardboard boxes or piles of discarded paper! He looks as happy as ever.

Happy birthday BladeAnnie . Have a lovely 60th birthday. I hope it's a birthday which goes on all weekend!