Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for kindly folk...

Happy New Year everyone! Better late than never 😉
It has finally stopped raining, so I nipped out and planted my garlic, then had a wander around the garden and depressed myself - there is so much to do! Did some WI admin (smug!) and got the ironing board out. It’s still waiting …
We are still coughing, DH much more than me. He has been poorly for about a month now, which stops us sleeping well. It can’t last much longer!
Hoping to pop out to the coast tomorrow and get some fresh air. It will do us good, if we make it.
Sleep tight everyone 💤

SueD As you have been generous enough to add a duck egg blue velvet sofa to the kitchen, I shall add two matching fireside chairs. These are for our new friends who joined us over Christmas.

Grandmabatty Your sense of humour and forbearance in the face of a hell of a lot of flack is testament to the decent daughter that you most def are.

Urms Awww! X

We stayed up late last night. Watched James Bond. Extremely clever and well acted. I didn't expect him to die. Kept thinking that he had escaped the explosive ending.

Nannytopsy Our friend phoned this morning. She had endured the same strain of chesty cough to which you and your husband have succumbed, A right buggeration for numerous people with the similar symptoms.

I was shocked to learn that tomorrow, Tuesday, is another Bank Holiday. I intended calling a halt to eating the remains of the calorie-rich festive treats...starting tomorrow. Hmm. Now I must make a serious decision. Do I enjoy an extra day of festivities. Or not. Answers courtesy of pigeon mail.

Lovely comfy squishy sofas here in the kitchen, I’ll just settle down here for the afternoon if no one minds…
I forced myself out to the gym earlier and had a really good time, mostly chatting with my gym pals and a bit of light exercise thrown in. I feel so much better for it as I’ve not really done much these last few days
I went into Tesco and they had lots of the Christmas wrapping, gift bags and cards etc at really low reduced prices so I bought a few things ready for next year. I also treated myself to one of those light up led indoor birch trees that I’ve had my eye on for a while. I’m going to put it on the corner of the dining room when I take the Christmas tree down. It’ll be part of my winter lights that I enjoy during the long dark evenings here!

Good afternoon dear kitchen friends. We've enjoyed a lazy day - just watched Call the Midwife (one of my favourites) and I'm doing a bit of knitting while Mr BA concocts a cottage pie for tea. I've lit a couple of candles and the fire is gently warming. Lovely - much to be thankful for. Thinking of everyone struggling with life atm. TOYA 🌷

No bank holiday here in England soop son back to work, daughter and grandchildren back to school tomorrow.
We were a bit more dynamic today, I cleaned the kitchen thoroughly, moved dust and hoovered while MrJ had an outside sweep up. A local charity collected our lovely tree to recycle for a donation, I waved goodbye 🙂.
My cold is now just a bit of a runny nose and a loose cough, very much better. Hope yours improve soon Nannytopsy
Off to M&S later to collect some bits ordered online, including seriously soft socks, my others are worn and Santa forgot them!

Good afternoon dear Kitcheners. Mr. B and I have been to Glasson Dock this afternoon for some fresh sea air and a little exercise. We had big bowls of porridge before settling out. Now back home with coffee and biscuits, time to snuggle in my Oodie and watch the winter sunset/moonrise. I hope all those nasty coughs and colds are improving x

Good afternoon kitcheners. I have been to first foot dd and the boys. Sil was at the football. I took a box of red wine, trifle, cheesecake and a hedgehog ( pickled onions, cheese and pineapple on cocktail sticks) as requested by sil. This afternoon I have de- christmassed the house. I enjoy putting the usual ornaments back out. I've sorted the new calendar too. I'm having leftover steak pie for dinner. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

This is where I say a fond farewell to you lovely lot. Although it's chilly outside, we have enjoyed a sunny day.

A few phone calls and much blethering. Time for a refreshing and a small slice of cake. Well, it is a Bank holiday here in Scotland. If I'm wrong, you can tell me so tomorrow.

A group hug is called for.

Christmas decorations down and all laid away. Good to be back to a bit of normality. Made a big pot of Scotch broth feel free to help yourselves if you need warming up! Left over steak pie and trifle tonight and I think that is almost everything except chocolates used up. May need a bit of help with them!

We went to Orford and had a pub lunch then sat in the sun and watched the world go by. A lovely way to spend a couple of hours!
Redshanks, heron and egret and marsh harriers were very obliging!

‘Evening All’

Well, we had a bit of a crisis day with my stepfather’s nose bleeds (haemorrhaging really’. He was up for four hours during last night, poor man. Anyway, all’s well. We went over first thing, took him straight to our local hospital (ringing 111 was less than useless and Himself is more a fan of old fashioned action). He was home by mid afternoon, thoroughly assessed, bloods taken, the results read and explained to him and treatment organised. The NHS at its very best in a time of great need for a frail, weary looking man of 90y. He’s so much reassured (as are we tonight).

I ‘slammed in the lamb’ earlier - well more a ‘gentle push’ as it is only half a shoulder of lamb after all! 😁
It smells delicious now so I’m about to dish up.

Life’s rich tapestry. And all’s Good.
Thankfully.

Oh, lucky you, Topsy. We always go to Orford when we stay in Aldeburgh. Hope you're both feeling better.

I went to Sainsbury's today- on my own!! I had a little nap this afternoon and then cooked dinner.

I'd love to dechristmas too, gbatty but, apparently, it's against the rules according to dh!

Crumbs, Urmston that sounds grim! I’m glad he’s had good treatment. At the other end of the age spectrum, my youngest used to get nosebleeds when she was a tot. She had a white cot and many a morning I went in to her to find her room looking like a murder scene, with tiny, bloody hand prints dotted around. 👀

Those chairs are a great match, Soop - we can all relax in comfort. Speaking of soup, I’ve just made two bigs pots of vegetable soup so help yourselves.

I’m with you on the Bank Holidays, too. I forgot to take a returns parcel with me to post today but then said to Dh that the PO wouldn’t be open, in any case. We went into WH Smith’s and much to my astonishment, the PO was indeed open! There was no one in there so obviously no one else knew it was open.

*Brook, your garden is gorgeous. My son down south has protected woodland backing onto his garden and it makes his own garden look enormous. They even have a gate with private access into the woods. ❤️

BA I watched CTM last night as well as All Creatures - a lovely, undemanding evening’s viewing.

We had a massive frost last night, everything was frozen solid this morning. I managed to defrost my car and we went out for some fresh food. We didn’t take down the Christmas decs, though, because that would have meant multiple trips over icy paths to the garage where we keep them, and it seemed a risk not worth taking. Maybe tomorrow.

TOYA. Xx

Oh my goodness Urms so pleased all is sorted now with your dear stepfather - I thought I’d not seen you on the GM thread this morning so I was hoping all was ok 😀

Thanks brook it was a bit of a skedaddle first thing getting ready & driving over. I just hope he gets a good night’s sleep tonight - he’s shattered. But at least he’s not worrying something nasty is lurking - that was a huge weight off his mind. And he’s been shown how to properly stop a nose bleed if he gets one. Bend forward (not back), pinch the nostrils together very firmly for a full 15 minutes without once releasing the grip, breathing through his mouth, coughing if necessary. I think he’s altogether more confident about the whole situation. And the steroid cream should help too.

Fingers crossed.

I hope the cream sorts it Urmstongran for him, it’s scary, I’ve had mine cauterised 3 times. Seeing someone at our GP’s tomorrow about it.

It was indeed a bank holiday throughout the UK today! But you Scots also get tomorrow whereas in England we are back at work all we get is strikes! Not that you can tell the difference.

Gosh Urms, it sounds like you had quite a day. Hopefully your stepfather will be a happier bunny tomorrow. Have a peaceful night all.💤

Your poor stepfather Urms. I hope he's alright now.

What a scare Urms, so glad your stepfather is reassured now. I hope everyone has a restful night x

Nannytopsy Thank you for sharing your beautiful, peaceful photograph.

Scapal I may follow your example and pack away the Xmas decorations this afternoon. You made my mouth water when you mentioned steak pie, trifle and chocs.

Urms That most certainly was a scarey episode for your dear father-in-law and the family. Thank goodness he received prompt medical treatment.

Urms My apologies. I meant to type stepfather.

Milo and I are having a rest on the sofa. I went to Oxford today and bought my sister’s birthday present and a card. I also bought some wool for my latest knitting project - a tunic style jumper. They didn’t have enough wool so I ordered it on line while having a quick lunch. I can click and collect it tomorrow. In a moment I will make a start on de-Christmassing the house! Have a peaceful afternoon/evening.

Llfl When you are ready to de-Christmas your home, I'll gladly cuddle Milo . Purrs.