Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for friendship...

A lovely family lunch and very reasonably priced too, so good to have the 8 of us together, the three children behaved impeccably and we all waddled out into cold drizzle.
You’re going through the mill hollysteers I hope your daughter recovers quickly from the crisis and has fully support and treatment moving ahead.
A glimmer of hope neine 🤞
I’m ruthless too Grannmarie MrJ less so, but he’s learning!
A TV evening in, it’s miserable outside, enjoy yours.

Evening everyone.
Neine that’s so good to hear you must be on cloud nine.😀

Thinking of you Blossoming please take care.🌹

What a dreadful week Hulahoop.Healing thoughts for your daughter.💐

*Granmarie your brave culling your wardrobe, well done.

DS1 and family came for dinner last evening.First meal for them in our new home.It was so nice to have them but very tired today.I think the injection is helping less stiffness and pain,fingers crossed.Ive spent the afternoon making my Christmas cards.
Hope you enjoyed your family meal Jax.Have a good evening everyone.

Granmariei could do with someone culling my wardrobe.
Blossoming 💮🌻.
Thank you all sending good wishes to my daughter ,I wish I could help her more she does appreciate any help. I brought home some ironing today .Glad you enjoyed your get together Jacjaxy

Good evening Kitcheners. I'm frozen tonight! It's been a raw, foggy day. Blossoming 💐 for you. Annsixty I hope you let your dgd know how expensive energy is! Neine that sounds like a lovely chap. Brook I love how your grandchildren take it in turns for sleepovers. Grannmarie I'm like your sister! I am ruthless at decluttering. Jaxjacky and Yiayia so lovely having family meals.
Today I looked after dgs2 for a couple of hours while dgs1 was at a party. He was very easy and went for a nap. Later I visited mum who was sitting up and quite bright. I have more roasted vegetables and salmon for dinner in a while. I've been making a few tentative social plans for December which I'm looking forward to. Have a good evening to you all.

‘Evening All’.

Oh dearest Blossoming. Sometimes there are just no words so I won’t even try. 💐

Neine that must have given you a boost - and hope for the future perhaps.

We’ve had a good day, albeit quiet. Cosy, relaxed and very grateful for what blessings we have to count. x

I can’t get ‘Dixon’ to load. Never mind he can have the night off. 😁

Sorry hulahoop got the name wrong, but the wishes are for you and your daughter.

I hope everyone is tucked up nice and warm. It’s certainly letting us know the seasons have changed!
DS and the little family have been to tea - a huge mountain of roast potatoes disappeared in no time, along with lots of gammon. DGS is a vegetarian (as is his mum). He used to love steak pie, so I created a pie for him, with his favourite potato, cheese, baked beans and veggie sausages, with a puff pastry top. A hit! And there’s a spare in the freezer 😊.
A hug for Blossoming - hard times.
Hope the Corners are improving - there’s a lot of Covid about. DD tested positive today. Her husband and DGS have been coughing too.
I have had a falling out with the bathroom scales for a couple of weeks. They are electronic and have been giving exactly the same reading to a 1/10 of a pound. Today they capitulated and after one little wee, they dropped 3 1/2 pounds! Result!
I think its time for coffee. Good night all. 😴

So pleased you had a lovely family lunch Jax and you too Yia , family times are definitely the best,
It’s been so cold here today too, a quick wander around the garden but couldn’t do much because of the frost.
We picked up DGS earlier and he’s just gone through to bed, he still enjoys his bedtime story 🤣. Thanks grandmabatty they’ve fallen into a pattern of DGS staying over on a Sunday and DGD on a Wednesday- seems to suit everyone fine. They’ll miss a couple of weeks though as I’m down in Cambridge next week and then the Glasgow meet-up on the 6th.
Sorry to hear about covid in the family nannytopsy, hope they’re not feeling too bad. That’s some result on the scales - well done!

No, I’m not asleep and very cross I am too! The good news is Mr C was heaps better today, oops I mean yesterday. Me? Haven’t turned that positive corner yet. Can’t decide if I’m hot or cold. I’m sure I’ll improve soon. We’re fascinated at how different our symptoms are and have been. Hope for a mild dose for your family nannytopsy.

A difficult and stressful time hulahoop. I hope your daughters partner doesn’t have covid, you don’t need that as well.

What a wonderful encounter neine. One day your grandchildren will make their own choices.

As ever I’m envious of your trip to Cambridge brook. We are experimenting with a short coach holiday next year which will give us a day in Cambridge. That’ll do . Hope your journey is trouble free.

May I please borrow your sisters granmarie? I open the wardrobe door, look and then close it again.

Oh blossoming, just be as you are. .

Have you had words with your granddaughter about thermostat adjusting ann? We’ve a son like that

Once the world is functioning I must make a couple of phone calls to cancel commitments for the week ahead. I’ll not risk being out and about if there’s a chance of spreading this horrid virus. Other than that I foresee a dozy day for me while Mr C will be into a new book.

Hope you’re all sleeping soundly. TOYA.

Oh corner you need some sleeping lessons from me. I could fall asleep standing on my feet. I have the odd difficult night but they are few and far between.

My largish front lawn which resembles a field, looks dire. A fellow pitched up yesterday to strim and cut it but he did not bring any tools. He advertised himself as a gardener and did not live too far away. Back to the drawing board or the scissors.

shysal I shall follow your advice. Thank you.

After Mr Soop returned from the recent AGM he started to shiver. He wore his anorak and hat for some time on arriving home. As the evening progressed he became shaky and unsteady on his feet. He really was out of sorts and I checked on him a few times as he slept (in his recliner chair, in the sitting room).
The following day he felt a little improved. Today, he is cleaning the windows, much against my advice.

It is a glorious day, weather-wise. Crisp and sunny with no hint of a breeze.

I send you lovely lot my very best wishes. Stay warm and, if the pavements are icy, take special care not to fall.

Jaxjacky I spelt yours wrong has well so we are both as bad😅 no apology needed.
My Dd is doing ok sleep is a problem has she can't lay down,her partner is still vomiting so Dr ringing teatime
Oh is just going to take ironing back and to pick up click and collect she has ordered ,one of her friends is picking up little one from school .
We have another roof leak so just had a roofer for a quote trying not to think how much it's going to cost😯
but needs must. Sorry this post is just about us .

Good afternoon all.
It has been a wet and miserable day here.
I went shopping with my friend across the road but didnt achieve much.
Or big M&S has been revamped.everything moved, new huge food dept and new cafe which was packed out.
I was totally lost and just got money out of the cash machine.
I did get some bits in Boots for my GD's stocking but that was all.
We then went to Next and had a sandwich in the Costa there but it was rather disappointing.
That was the sum total of the outing.
However it was lovely to get out and about, I am always grateful for that.
I hope you are all warm and cozy and the poorlies and their carers are doing okay.

Good afternoon, Soop and lovely Kitchen people. I'm sorry to hear that MrSoop was unwell, I hope he is on the mend now. Such a worry for you, dear Soop.
Did I say I recommend hot toddies for all sorts of seasonal ailments? Honey, lemon, hot water and a generous dram, stirred not shaken...purely medicinal, of course!😉 One for the patient and one for the carer.

Hulahoop, you and yours are having a time of it, thinking of you. Thank goodness you are near enough to help your DD and her partner through this. I hope you get your roof sorted OK.

YiaYia, I hope your injection 💉 has brought you some relief from pain. Glad to hear that you could make your cards.

Nannytopsy, I'm impressed with your bathroom scales, wish mine said that! Many of the clothes in my charity bags had ' shrunk in the wardrobe ', IYKWIM 🤣

Cornergran, I hope you've managed a nice dozy day, to catch up on your disturbed sleep.

I wish all the Covid patients a speedy and complete recovery.

I'll watch out for you at the Glesga Grans meet up, Brook, I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone cos I missed the last one, DH was in hospital.

Grandmabatty and Jaxjacky, I wish you could bottle and sell your decluttering ruthlessness! After a big clear out I always intend to keep on top of things... but life gets in the way. I must be on the ' road to Hell', my Mum said it was paved with good intentions!

Sending kind thoughts to Blossoming, Baggs and her DD, Urms and Himself and all facing sad or difficult days.💕🙏

Wishing everyone a peaceful Monday evening. Sausage, eggs and beans for an easy dinner before the TV 📺 quizzes. TOYA

Hello 👋 Annsixty, I'm glad you enjoyed getting out and about. A wee change of scene does you a power of good.

Good evening Kitcheners. It's been a day and a half here at Batty Towers. Dgs2 woke up too early and fell out with dgs1. There was much screaming. (This was an early childcare day) after I dropped off dgs1 at nursery,I hot footed it home for the door exchangers who duly arrived after nine. They worked away well, so dgs2 and I went out for a walk. On my return I was perplexed because the door bore no relation to the one I thought I'd ordered. Checking the email order, it was definitely not the one I ordered. A quick conversation with the fitters who phoned the owner who verified that the factory had got the order mixed up and has sent the wrong colour for the front door and for the replacement panel for the back door. It's a beautiful door- just the wrong colour. Oh well, the owner came round to apologise and in the meantime I have a brand new brown door with everything else black.
I've dropped off the boys and I'm having a rest before cooking dinner. Have a good evening Kitcheners

Oh my goodness grandmabatty what a day you’ve had! Hopefully you’ll get the right colour door soon enough without any hassle
Sorry to hear MrSoop has been poorly but good that he’s on the mend now
Corner hope you get a better nights sleep tonight and you and MrC are much better soon. It’s good to have a holiday to look forward to
I had a busy morning, we dropped DGS off at school, he was doing cross country running for his school this morning in the cold with pouring rain with lots of mud. Poor thing - but he said he was looking forward to it. Then a quick volunterring session and then a splash around in the pool at Aqua aerobics at the gym. All good fun. This afternoon I’ve made a start on putting up some Christmas decorations. I know it’s a bit early but as we’re away from tomorrow in Cambridge I wanted to get some up before we go.
I miss going to a very big M&S ann there was one we used to go to regularly when I lived in Stockport, I think it was near Handforth, and there was a John Lewis close by too
Thinking of you and your DD hulahoop, hoping things improve a bit soon 💐

Good heavens, GMbatty, what a tale about your new front door! 😂 Hope the,new one is in situ asap.
Granmarie, I’m a firm believer in the power of a hot toddy. Taking one at bedtime and then drifting off to sleep.
Don’t you just hate it when shops move everything around, Annsixty? Finding what you want takes twice as long.
Poor Mr Soop! He’s been in the wars. If my Dh began cleaning windows, I’d think he was delirious!
It has been a bit parky here in Scotland, hasn’t it, Brook. 🥶
Wretched Covid, Cornergran.
Blossoming such sad news of your friends. There aren’t really any words of comfort, are there, all we can say is that we are indeed thinking of you.
Neine how wonderful that chance brought you such a pleasurable moment. I hope you will now have many more of them! ❤️
That’s scary, Hula, you must be so worried. I hope your dd improves soon.
Good news that the injection is helping, Yia. The dinner sounds lovely!
Hello to the new folk! 👋

I was up out and about early this morning, as Dh took his car for a service and I went to bring him back home. De-icing the windows was a shock to the system! Luckily, I have a nice new coat which is very warm. It also has many pockets, I’ve discovered six so far! It also seemed the right sort of weather in which to buy a Christmas tree so we did that. It’s not going up yet but we’re going away this week until 10th Dec and I thought only the scraggy ones would be left in the garden centre by then. Then as I was in the garden with the tree, I decided to empty a couple of plant pots while I was there and fill up the bird feeder as well, so that’s a few jobs ticked off the list.

Over the weekend I’ve wrapped all the presents I’ve bought so far, though two more have arrived today. I’m taking presents down to our ds next week and I’ve almost got those all organised. Just need to remember to take them with us, along with his Christmas cake and puds.

We’ve been looking after our GC, as usual. The ‘baby’ (he’s two now ) is very adorable right now, so smiley and happy! It’s our GD’s birthday tomorrow, so we’ll be visiting to see her presents and have cake. I’m having my hair and nails done tomorrow, ready for the big wedding we’re going to at the weekend. Oh, and Roman blinds were fitted to two of the bedrooms on Saturday. It’s so nice to have some colour in there, I’m fed up of white everything. Maybe we’ll decorate next year, though don’t hold me to that!

We’ve also been watching a bit of TV, catching up with Call the Midwife, All Creatures Great and Small and the second series of Yellowstone, which has an extraordinary body count. ☠️ 👀 I do find I ‘lose’ tv channels, though. I had to phone my dd to help me locate where Yellowstone had disappeared to. Sometimes I long for the good old days of turning on the tv, choosing one of three buttons and simply sitting back and watching.

That’s all from me for now. Take care everyone. TOYA. Xxx

That is the one brook Handforth Dean.
There is a large Next next door to it now.
John Lewis is just a few miles away at Cheadle Royal.

My D did her M&S management training at Handforth Dean about 25 years ago - it seemed huge to me then!

Gosh, it is quite well known then.

Thanks ann I remember it well and used to shop there quite a lot - wish I could go back for a visit one day! We used to alternate between John Lewis and M&S .. is the Sainsbury's still next to John Lewis there ?

My son might have been there at the same time as your DD rosies, he had his first part time job at that M&S when he was studying his A levels, would have been about 1998 or thereabouts … happy days!

Yes brook the very large Sainsbury’s is still there.
The one in Stockport is closed now but we have our own decent sized one here in Hazel Grove.

Thanks ann 💐