Soop's welcoming kitchen for kindly folk...

Good evening Kitcheners. Urms your lights are very twinkly and you also say the nicest things to make a grandma happy. Kittylester and Baggs I'm sorry you are both feeling so low, for different reasons. I wish I could give you a big hug. Muse that sounds both painful and buggersome for Me Muse.
Day two of childcare completed, thank goodness. Dgs1 is definitely not himself. Lots of big emotions today and then hyper at other times. He wanted a nap then didn't. We started out for a walk and floods of tears so we had to turn around. He just wanted mummy, wee soul. Dgs2 was his normal riotous self. Their dad came to pick them up as the weather is so foggy. They were away five minutes when I realised I had the loaf which dd had asked me to get so I had to drive anyway. It was fortuitous that I did, because when I reached the car in the drive, my driver's window was fully open. That would have made tomorrow interesting. I'm just about to have steak and chips with a glass of wine. I deserve it! I hope you are ok Soop and that you are still enjoying your holiday Brook. Until tomorrow.

Thank you, YiaYia.

Good evening, Soop and lovely Kitchen people !

I hope Soop's appointment went well, such a journey. Thinking of Hellogirl, Baggs and Kitty, hoping tomorrow is a better day.

I'm relaxing for a wee while before packing for my weekly sleepover at DS2'S, childcare day tomorrow. I've made chicken noodle soup for tomorrow's lunch. I've also got wee DGS2's white chocolate Advent calendar, and I always get a Nativity one too. I gave DGS1 and DGD theirs when we visited last week, although they are older it's still our tradition. The motorways will be quieter soon, I prefer driving through at this time rather than spending twice the time in rush hour traffic in the morning. I'll drive home around 7pm tomorrow evening.

I found the dehumidifier I've been searching for on John Lewis online- it was out of stock on Amazon and Argos. JL give a 2 year guarantee and free delivery!🚚

Must get gathered now, TOYA and wishing you all an early NNGB.

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Good evening dear kitcheners from the Kyle of Tongue, Nothern Highlands. We are sitting in the dark (just had a picnic and flask of coffee - all tasted delicious) - waiting to see if the aurora makes an appearance tonight LOTS of sightings on the eastern side of Scotland last night but we weren't in luck. However, the beautifully clear starry skies, incredible scenery and the huge number of wild reindeer we have seen have been enough to make this a wonderful holiday. soop I do hope everything has gone well at your appointment today. kitty be kind to yourself - it is common to feel low in mood after a physical illness. Don't be afraid to seek help. Sending a gentle group hug tonight together with a few photos from beautiful Scotland TOYA 🌷

I am sorry I haven’t been much in evidence although I have been following you all. My heart has been too full to find the words I wanted for all of you with such sad problems. It would be invidious to name some and miss others - but you know who,you are and my heart goes out to you all.
I have missed being part of the kitchen - feeling like the little match girl peeping through the window - but I know the door has always been open, so there is no excuse.
Hoping for encouraging news from Soop although I remember too well the massive incision hernia Paw developed after a somewhat botched bowel resection. Towards the end it looked like a low slung 7 month pregnancy even although the rest of him had dwindled away, especially his legs and bum!
He had to have new suits made for all of the DS’ weddings as he could not get trousers to fit. Eventually he ended up wearing a belt to support it as well as protect his “insides” as the muscle wall had completely disappeared and also the strain on his lower back was considerable.
I sincerely hope it doesn’t come to that.
Thinking of you all xx

Beautiful pictures BladeAnnie, thanks for sharing.

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Hi to all lovely kitchen pals, and definitely a group hug and support all round, especially for Baggs and Kitty ❤️💐

I am really loving Malaga, thsnkd Urms it’s just got so much to offer hasn’t it! A really beautiful city, albeit a bit busy just now with the beautiful Christmas light shows etc but everything is so easy to do and there’s so many places nearby to visit. Today we ticked off another bucket list trip, the Caminito del Rey, always wanted to experience it and it didn’t disappoint. Blue sky all day long and the most stunning scenery. A bit scary in places and had to hold on, DH had to take all the photos as I was scared I’d drop my phone. I’m tired but happy tonight with a quick pizza and wine in the cosy little apartment
I don’t actually know what orange flowering vine it is SueD it just looked so pretty that I took the photo
Your holiday photos are so lovely BA - I don’t think you can really beat Scotland for scenery. I hope you get lucky with the northern lights. I’ve only seen them twice from Inverness but if you get a good show they’re amazing.
Hope all has gone well for Soop today and TOYA

Maw lovely to see you here and sending ❤️❤️

Ah I love that plant brook it spills out over the walls and looks stunning doesn’t it? Here’s a photo of it up close that I took a couple of years ago. I posted it on Mick’s thread a couple of years ago and the knowledgeable grandMattie told me the name of it SueDonim. ... but I’ve not remembered it. Perhaps she or another green fingered gran will remind us what it’s called.

It’s so beautiful with its waxy flowers.
For ages I kept this photo as my screensaver!

Lovely pictures brook but no way! According to my plant app it’s a Cape Honeysuckle SueDonim.
Thank you BA very peaceful pictures.
(It’s half time!).

My (limited) detective work says it’s a flame vine.
Orange trumpet vine (Pyrostegia venusta) but I could be wrong.

Thanks Urms it looked exactly like your picture, good idea to have it as a screensaver!

I’m half watching the football, I very rarely watch it on TV but I’m interested to see which teams go through.

I’ve just Googled flame vine - there are some spectacular photos of it covering entire walls! How gorgeous, especially as it’s winter-flowering where it grows.

I love that area of Scotland, BA, it’s so unlike further south. I lived for five years in Thurso, which was an experience!

Hello, Maw.

Today, my son-in-law is in trouble. My dd got home to find he had cut the baby’s hair and now the poor mite looks like Laurence Olivier as Henry V! I think a divorce might be on the cards! 😂

We now have two sets of curtains up in the house and they make it look so much cosier. Also, they’re a splash of colour, I’m so fed up of looking at boring white walls.

Take care, everyone. Xxx

That rang a bell Urmstongran so I did a quick search. It was in a Gardening thread and annodomini identified it as pyrostegia venusta

Bingo❗️
Well done Blossoming (aka Miss Marple). 😊

Quick whizz in. A hug and for baggs and kitty. I do understand that affronted feeling kitty, been there and Mr C is bang smack in the middle just now.

Hope all went well for soop today. Good to see you maw, we all have times when posting is just too difficult, hope there’s some brightness now.

🤞 for you bladeannie, we’ve been lucky enough to see those elusive lights in Norway, hope you get to share the magical experience.

Oh heck sued, at least hair grows. Having said that I used to wield the scissors when our two were young, a very similar outcome I suspect.

I have read all your doings but many apologies, can’t possibly respond to all, the head resembles a sieve.

Look after yourselves everyone. Hoping for a decent nights sleep for us all.

I remember the strangest facts, useful in pub quizzes

My children have been known to text me in the middle of pub quizzes because I know loads of really random stuff. I was known as the fount of useless information.

I know they were cheating!! But I was flattered nevertheless

Kitty my nephews - university educated, good degrees - always pick me for their quiz team . I find it quite funny.

Morning everyone! Everyone’s asleep except me, even the baby. The dog has taken the space where my legs should be so I can’t get back into bed and I don’t want to wake everyone!
Looking forward to r news from soop.
Have a good day!

Good Wednesday afternoon greetings to you lovely lot.

Haven't you all been busy. Sending hugs to Baggs and all our dear Kitcheners who are feeling sad or concerned.

It was a long day yesterday. The hospital visit was well worth the effort. The stoma specialist said that the hernia was a "big one", It measures approx 17" in diameter. We were given new products to help us best manage it. Unless the bowel strangulates, she said that the surgeon would be reluctant to operate and re-route the stoma. We are to do our best to manage it. The people who will be making a bespoke support are in England! The nurse has been in touch on several occasions. I have a telephone appointment booked with the same nurse next Tuesday. In the meantime, I have ordered a support recommended by her.

I have some on-line ordering to do on Mr Soop's behalf. He sends all "his ladies" special hugs.

Soop that sounds awful. Poor you. 💐. It's very foggy here again and after visiting mum this morning, I've been hibernating this afternoon. A good evening to all the kitcheners, those who post and those who lurk.

I’m very glad you got some answers Soop. Onwards and upwards. I popped into Oxford today and upgraded my iPhone. The new one is purple and I’ve had to order a new case. I bought just one Christmas present, had lunch in John Lewis and drove home. I’ve just seen that Australia are through to the last 16 so must send my brother a message!

On our way home after 24 hour visit to DD - well to DGS really! 🤣 He’s been in a delightful mood, with lots of chuckles.
It’s pitch dark now at only 5.15 but not long until the nights start to draw out again. 💐for soop - probably not the news you wanted.
Hope everyone has a good evening.

I have managed to get Mr Soop's online orders completed. My mobile phone remains out of action. A buggeration when invited to quote a code when using PayPal. Need to dash from the computer to the phone in another room. Not ever so convenient at times.

I thank all of you for your messages of support, especially one Gransnetter who has to deal with similar setbacks and concerns.

I've almost caught up with household jobs. By tomorrow, I hope to be back on track.

Thank you for your company. Goodnight with my love until we meet again tomorrow.