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

Well done Kitty! I'm sorry I brought down the mood. I'm fine now and so is my friend. I'm at the end of the Christmas food, thank goodness. Gammon, red cabbage and chips for dinner,followed by trifle. I'm out for lunch tomorrow with other friends so I will be sensible after New Year. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

Hi all, what happy children soop.
Good to see you Blossoming not good you’re so tired, maybe small chunks of information, resting between.
Very tough grandmabatty 💐
I’ve caught ‘the cold’, drippy nose and cough, my daughter has too, but hers is improving after two days, I’m hoping I’ll be the same. So, I’ve done very little, MrJ will support local business later (f&c shop) for an easy dinner, I’m sure mushy peas count as one of my 5 a day!
Have a pleasant evening all x

Hello! Younger son was given a bottle of Barbados dark rum for Christmas. He made a jug of rum punch (rum, freshly squeezed lime juice, sugar syrup, angastora bitters and freshly grated nutmeg). We had two tumblers each and it was lethal and delicious. I’ve got to make dinner somehow! All the furniture is now in the right rooms and I did a Waitrose shop today. Have a good evening folks.

Good on you kitty very well done with the driving

Lovely to see you blossoming but please rest and take it easy
Ive had a lovely day, a good catch up with my pal this morning and then pampering at the hairdressers this afternoon. I couldn’t get an appt before Christmas so today was the first chance I got. There was only me in the salon so I had undivided attention, a good chat, coffee and a mince pie! I’m looking and feeling a bit better now that my hair is done.
Sorry to hear your friend is having a bad day grandmabatty, I’m sure she appreciated you just being there though. I too always count my blessings every day

You think that way because you are British, soop. I agree with you.

Batty, I'm sure your friend will have been so pleased to see you.

Blossoming, I agree - listen to your body.

I have driven twice for the first time since I went into hospital in early September. I am exhausted and my body is telling me to have a big sit down and a big and I'm definitely going to listen.

Blossoming Listen to your body. If it says rest, then that's what you need to do.
We've been watching a Dad's Army film (have done so several times over the years). No matter, it is light-hearted humor, minus all the expletives. A refreshing change.

Grandmabatty Be gentle with yourself.

Away to partake of yet another slice of delicious Xmas cake that our neighbor baked for us.

Can someone tell me why it is that I think that humor and neighbor should be neighbour and humour? I am confused.

We'll meet again tomorrow. Wishing you a cosy evening.

Thank you Soop. My friend is slightly younger than me and we have been friends for 59 years. We are very close and I think, there but for the grace of God...

Good afternoon dear Kitcheners, just dropping in to say hello. I have been trying to catch up with your posts but am very tired and finding it hard to concentrate. It’s raining heavily here and we have nowhere to go and nothing to do. Now watching a very interesting vid about The Galloway Hoard. I may nod off but it doesn’t matter.

Dear Grandmabatty, your Mum sounds a lot like my late father.
Your visit to your friend with cancer will have been very difficult. As you say, not being able to help (and wanting to make a difference) is something we all feel at some time. We have two friends who are receiving palliative care as they also have terminal cancer.
We should all count our blessings. A big, warm hug from me to you.

Afternoon kitcheners. I hope you are all well. I have visited mum who is preparing for cancelling New Year's Day dinner by telling me how sick she feels and how unwell she feels whilst eating toast and then chocolates. 🤣She cancelled Christmas Day dinner at my dd. My son in law dropped off the full meal and she sent my brother for more gammon on Boxing Day. She is something else. I visited my friend with cancer and she's having a really bad day. I feel helpless as I can't do anything useful. Then I collected the steak pie for New Year's Day dinner. I'm home and counting my blessings with a cup of tea and Christmas cake. Have a good afternoon kitcheners.

I have enjoyed reading about all your festive activities. Time to reeeelax. I cannot think of a more appropriate way of preparing for New Year's Eve. The Scots go wild. After which, I shall welcome slipping into a normal routine. I am happy with normal routine.

Grannmarie You are so right. Our health is our wealth. It is the one gift that I wish for all our friends here in the Kitchen and for their nearest and dearest.

Hello all! Well, our daughter has gone back to London. After we dropped her off at the station we went and bought a new bright red kettle and a new kitchen light fitting. So, we can now make tea again and actually see what we’re doing!

A late visitor to the kitchen - wanted to say goodnight everyone; hope you sleep well 💤💤 TOYA

Never satisfied- my first night at D's and the Birmingham Three I slept really badly (no actual idea why, perhaps the drive plus an early start) and (whisper it) thought longingly of my own bed + Rosie but then I had a wonderful- if full on - C'mas Day and Boxing Day and now I am home and sorry it is all over! Mind you, those three could put WW111 to shame when they kick off. It's often quickly over but having grown used to the peace and quiet of a 1 dog household , it can come as a bit of a shock when they all talk/shout at once! (Bless!)
Did anybody see "Motherland"? I have just had a little sniff as it's quite poignant.
Back to normal now and actually it is quite nice!

‘Evening All’

We’ve enjoyed our day in wet Urmston. We walked round to wish our younger daughter a HB. We thought about going in the car. 5 minutes ... how lazy! The walk through the park did us good there & back and I took 4 takeaway coffees round.

I like that saying “there’s no such thing as bad weather only inappropriate clothing”.

On the other hand I don’t like to be flippant as my thoughts are with those very many people who have died in NY State this past 36 hours during awful blizzard conditions. There are no words. Tv coverage tonight has been frightening.

Himself is about to watch Man. Utd play Notts Forest in the Premier League. He’s glad to be ‘back to normal coverage’. ⚽️

I plan to settle down in the bedroom to watch BBC catch up on iplayer.... there’s a film I missed on Christmas Day. Something about a horse, a mole etc.

Cosy down kitcheners and lean into a restful evening if you can. x

Popping in to catch up on all the news...
Soop you set the bar very very high for Christmas glamour!!!! and beautiful great grand children.
LLFL... That looked like a lovely walk..
So good to read that health is on the way up for some of our poorly folks.
Nannytopsy... Nothing beats a Christmas cuddle...I miss my Grandchildren every day but at Christmas it's even harder. We went to Mass on Christmas Eve and it was the children's mass... Our priest came down off the altar and sat on the steps and chatted to the children and then they sang Away in a Manger.. In afraid I lost it.. so many memories flooded back...DD3 being the Angel Gabriel and singing a solo...DD4 slowly unravelling her costume while singing We three kings.. I did pray for a Christmas miracle...but it has to be two sided doesn't it.... So no matter how much I pray they will get in touch...unless they want the same... It's not fair to ask. But as they said during the pandemic... Even though everything seemed to be cancelled....Hope wasn't and for me never will.
On a more upbeat note ..I whizzed out the door at 7.15 this morning to be at Aldi for 8am to pick up an electric clothes dryer...and I got one. Needless to say I'm pooped now...DOH got such a look when he said... It's good to be up and doing isn't it....at 6am on a Bank Holiday.... If my face didn't advise him differently.... my response certainly did!!!!

A beautiful photo of an elegant lady * Soop* your DH must be a proud man

The last snuggle with DGS2 this morning and all visitors had gone by noon. We have achieved little today and it’s gone cold again.
I have has a message to expect our heating oil delivery from 6.30 am!! Nooo!

Gorgeous great grandchildren, Soop, they look like they are good pals and enormous fun!
YiaYia, what a perfect gift from Oscar, he knows you very well.
Annsixty, the visit of the very tiny baby will have done you good, there is something very special and magical about a newborn.

Wishing everyone good health and peace of mind in 2023. Our health is our wealth. 🥰

Good evening all.
I hope you have all had an enjoyable time.
Very quiet here but had a lovely visit this afternoon from my next door neighbours very new GC and her extremely proud parents.
She is two and a half weeks old and very beautiful.
GP’s are over the moon with first GC.
I think she will be very spoiled but worth it.
At last some really good news.

Such lovely photos Soop.Beautiful children.

Just chilling today.We’ve had a hectic but very happy Christmas.Christmas day at DS1 lots of lovely food,wine and silly games.DS had to rest his leg but it is improving.
Boxing Day much of the same at DS3, our turn at the weekend.
My gift from GS Oscar was a very large diamond art canvas,thats going to keep me busy in the new year!!
Have a relaxing evening everyone.

Night night, dear Kitcheners. Time to relax with a brew and another slice of Christmas cake. Thank you all for your company. Stay warm. Stay safe. I shall return tomorrow.

Thank you, soop, for that lovely photo, adorable great-grandchildren you have.

After a dry day, it's started raining here, we are hoping for a dry day on Thursday. We need to check up on the NW Norfolk coast.