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

Hellogirl I would ask family members (very nicely) for information regarding where your precious book may be being cared for on your behalf.

GrannySomerset I am well shook-up. That estimate sounds totally crazy.

Baggs You are a trooper.

kitty Both concerning news regarding your dear brother's health and heartwarming, oh so proud news of Bertie's 11th birthday. I imagine that he had a fabulous day.

Brook You have been far too busy Although I've achieved several indoor tasks, I have not done so without having to rely on my arm crutch for balance.

Blossoming We have been having in-depth discussions with the company who will make the hernia support. So much detail. Many measurements. We have been told that it will now be made and it should be ready in about a month. We've waited patiently thus far, and will continue to do so.

The lady for whom I painted the cat portrait is, in her words, "ecstatic". The portrait now hangs on her sitting room wall. I'm a very happy bunny.

Cold wind. Choppy sea. No snow. Do take good care of yourselves.

I shall return tomorrow.

Good afternoon lovely kitcheners, I’m just home from a browse around the shops in Inverness. Not much happening really, it was very quiet and the pavements were so icy and slippery. I almost slipped outside TKMaxx but managed to stay upright. There are a few yellow sticker bargains in M&S but nothing that I wanted so wasn’t tempted
That’s really expensive grannysomerset anything to do with cars often ridiculously priced. No worries about posting on the right or wrong thread, you’re always very welcome in the kitchen

Sorry - posted in the wrong thread. My sympathy, Hellogirl, hope you ca. find a way through this tricky problem

Am reeling from the estimate for dealing with the car’s computer reporting something wrong with the lights - water in the front offside headlight will cost almost £1000. Added to the roofer’s estimate and January is looking decidedly bleak. Think I need a cup of tea!

Thank you to all who replied. I suppose my intentions were purely selfish, but I wanted folk to write in the book so that I would always have their remarks. My DIL had already decided that she wasn`t going to provide a condolences book. I`d also feel guilty if I replaced it, as it was a gift from my friend.

Oh dear. Situations like this are so awkward. There are some good suggestions from Gners. Good luck, hellogirl.

I went for my second swim yesterday. Did more lengths. Banged my head again at the end of a backstroke length 🙄. There are no obvious clues on the ceiling as to where you are in the pool. I shall have to have a good look around next time and see what I can use. I'll mention the problem to someone there too.

I thought I might need to buy a swimming cap and cut a hole in it for my plait because hair was still getting in my eyes. I solved the problem by using a "Buff" headband thingy.

Chilly here today again. I've lit the wood stove.

Hellogirl, I'd ask her if I could have a look at the book to read the remarks. I'd add that I'd like to add some photos to the book as X bought it for me. See what her response is and act accordingly.

Hellogirl I’ve checked and Amazon sell the book you’ve described for £9:99. Perhaps you could buy a replacement and fill it with photos as you intended?

Hellogirl could you send a message saying that a friend gave you this book and describe it. Ask if she's lifted it by mistake.

Happy 11th Birthday to Bertie Kitty he sounds like a really lovely boy. I hope you can enjoy those special hugs and cuddles for a good while longer yet!

Hellogirl I can understand that you’d like the book back, it’ll have a very special place in your heart.
If your Dil is easy to talk to I think I’d just be honest and tell her how you feel. Hopefully a solution can be found that you are both happy with. Sending ❤️

I only seem to post when I have problems these days, sorry. I`m after some advice actually.
Just after my son died in November, a friend who I`ve never met sent me a book, all black, with "In Loving Memory " written on the front cover in gold. I intended to put some photos of David in it, but first I bought gold and silver gel pens and left it on a table at the wake. When I left, there were quite a lot of folk still there, so I left the book on the table. I was told that my DIL, David`s wife, had taken it home, but it hasn`t been mentioned since. Do I ask her for it, or what? One of my daughters says that technically it belongs to my DIL, as, although it was bought for me, the remarks written in the book belong to her. I really would like it back, but don`t wish to cause any trouble. What should I do?

I'm here too having been missing for a few days as my brother has not been well. We thought he had had a tia but test said otherwise. The medics think it might be a vacant seizure. Time will tell.

Today is Bertie's 11th birthday. I am, of course entirely non-biased, but he is a lovely boy and gives the best hugs!!

Hi everyone, I’m just home after being out most of the day. I braved the cold snowy weather and went to the gym for a Dance aerobics class and then a dip in the pool. I’m so lucky as the water there is lovely and warm, just like getting into a bath! After a quick swim I sat in the jacuzzi for a while and had a good blether with a few of the ladies there and put the world to rights. I met up with my pal afterwards for a coffee in Starbucks and sat there most of the afternoon. We found out that the imminent closure of that Starbucks branch has now been postponed for a while so we’re still ok just now!
Enjoy your beans on toast blossoming it’s always a good tasty standby in our house
Hope you get an early night nannytopsy you deserve it!
Pleased your friend was a wee bit brighter today grandmabatty I’m sure she really appreciates your visits

Good evening dear Kitcheners. Today has been much the same as yesterday, remaining cold, bright and icy. Mr. B has done the shopping, I have washed bedding and towels. Spent most of this afternoon snuggled up in my lovely Oodie. Beans on toast for tea later, neither of us feeling particularly creative!

I hope practical help is on the way Soop.

Dear you lovely lot, you are wonderfully supportive. Bless you. The cat portrait is now mounted and framed. The lady in the village will receive it tomorrow. She kindly donated a handsome bed to Sweetie Pie because her two new cats "didn't wish" to use it. The painting is a thank you pressie from Sweetie Pie.

Urms Talk about whooping it up. Go girl! Have yourself a wonderful treat.

It remains chilly. The late afternoon sky is an equal mix of towering cloud and clear blue patches.

Yia I am nodding my approval for your last night's super supper dish.

Llfl We were also awaiting delivery of a parcel this morning. Ours was delivered before the appointed time. Samples of new stoma stuff. Then we had two phone calls relating to the hernia-support garment. More measurements required. It's all go.

Please continue to remain warm. Please avoid slippery surfaces. You are all very precious.

Away to watch 'The Chase'. We do manage to get a few correct answers.

I'm here too. I've been very lazy this afternoon. I've felt really cold so I'm in my big snuggly hoodie and my slipper boots. The Snow is thawing quite quickly which makes me happy as I don't like walking in it anymore. I'm having a peaceful afternoon watching old black and white film on tv. I visited my friend this morning and stayed for an hour and a half. She was up and had managed a shower and to wash her hair but that exhausted her. However she sat on the couch rather than her bed so that was an improvement. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

I’m here! I’ve been up since 7 am waiting for a parcel which should have been delivered at 7.30 am but finally arrived at 4 pm! It is WI tonight. A Chief Librarian is giving a talk. I have to find a photograph for the competition. I think OH is cooking Waitrose chicken Kiev for dinner. Hopefully the rest of you will have an peaceful/interesting evening.

A very quiet kitchen. DGC are glued to their iPads, we are making up for a 6.30 alarm ‼️

Brilliant pics on here tonight.Soop the cat portrait is just right.
All quiet here a cold but bright day.We had chicken thighs tonight stuffed with sausage meat and apple cooked in the air fryer with sweet potatoes and peppers very tasty and easy.
Sleep well everyone.

‘Evening All’

Again, I’ve ditched ‘Dixon’ just to help you ‘place’ me. This is the foyer of our apartments.

I had a lovely afternoon with my ladies (who wine). We had a lot of catching up to do. I enjoyed myself very much.

I came home and we ate at 6pm. Tortilla from the Carrefour, pinged for one minute with a can of baked beans. Eat your heart out Delia. I’ve got my pj’s on now & have taken off my make up. Himself is about to watch the Liverpool -v- Wolves game and I will read my book on Kindle.

We’ve been here since Saturday night and haven’t had the telly on yet. Strange how we lead 2 different lifestyles between our 2 places really!

soop I love the photo of the mountains over at Jura. And your photo too Blossoming at the marina. I think living beside water is life enhancing. Thank you for sharing.

And that cat portrait looks pretty damn perfect to me soop. I wouldn’t meddle with it for fear of spoiling it. I think you seem to have captured the personality and the appearance of that feline very well indeed. You probably look at it with a very critical eye. Stop, woman!

Love the mountains and your cat picture is purrfect (sorry!), soop.
Proper snow brook I’d be out in it, briefly, with my snow boots, we missed the last decent snow here, 2018, as we’d gone over to France.
No sunshine here today, just grey, not like your sky Blossoming, briefly went into a + temperature, very icy, lots of accidents locally, so a rather lazy day.
We’ve got separate leftovers for dinner, I hate throwing food out, but refuse to freeze portions for one, they just take up space and as I’m remiss on labelling, end up a lucky dip.
Enjoy your evening all, we’ll be watching football x

Good evening Kitcheners. Some beautiful photos. Soop and Brook and Blossoming wintry, chilly scenes indeed. Ladyleftfieldlover your soup looks very tasty. It's definitely the weather for soup. Soop the cat portrait is lovely.
I have got the busy grandma badge for this week. Dgs2 was brighter today although still coughing and still having horrible nappies but napped well this morning and had a wee nap this afternoon. I made butternut squash and sweet potato soup and he and I enjoyed that for lunch. Dgs1 was looking forward to a sleepover at his granddad's tonight. I lost my phone earlier and hunted high and low. I finally found it slipped down behind the couch cushions. It was a relief I can tell you. I'm in obviously too attached to the blooming thing. I have made cottage pie with the last of the mince so I'll look forward to that later. Have a good evening Kitcheners.

Good evening dear Kitcheners, loving all your beautiful photos. I agree with MrSoop the cat portrait is lovely.

It’s been very cold with a bright blue sky here, another frosty night in store. We had a little snow here, unusual as we are on the west coast and benefit from the Gulf Stream. If it freezes I will be unable to get out so it’s back to the exercise bike.

My view today

That cat has something on its mind!