Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen for kindly folk.

soop good luck with your appointment. I hope you get sorted quickly.
Everyone has gone home and it’s just us two again. I can re decorate the tree now, because at the moment all the baubles have been moved to the top third!
I hope all our northern grans have electricity and the storm is not causing too much trouble. 🤞
There’s a chocolate log on the table - help yourself!

We're back home after spending a couple of days with our DD & family, DS & his family should have joined us on boxing day but DDIL tested positive for Covid so they stayed at home.

I hope your doctor can be of help to you soop, that pain is worrying. Hoping to hear better news from you soon.

That storm sounds bad, with high winds & no power, brook, fingers crossed it passes quickly without more damage.
Don't send it here, after a lovely dry & sunny day yesterday, today has been dark, rainy & windy too, here in N., Cambs.,

Warm thoughts to you all.

Dire brook good refuge strategy, I hope you can return home safely soon with all utilities, I see the A9 has problems, as usual.
Fingers crossed your GP has diagnosed an innocuous problem easily fixed soop.
We retrieved a duplicate present from my daughter’s house and it was swiftly despatched for a refund. Otherwise we caught up on missed TV and generally slobbed, due at quiz later but we’re 50% short on our team, hardly anyone else is going and the pub is very short on beer (a successful Christmas).
Back to healthier ways tomorrow.

Hi kitchen pals, we ended up having an unexpected enjoyable afternoon at DD2s with games as usual & quizzes. Back home now, power is partially restored but it’s very low voltage, dim lights, patchy internet and slow buffering TV. The kettle is taking ages to boil but we’ve got wine, cheese and crackers. Heating isn’t working but luckily we’ve a log burner which we can light with candles on the hearth so quite romantic 🤣
Hoping the doctors appt went ok Soop
Keep warm and safe everyone x

‘Evening All’.

Another Good Day here for which I’m grateful.

It’s our youngest daughter’s birthday (43) and we drove over at teatime as asked to, for when they got home from the pantomime. We got there a few minutes ahead of them. I have a key. Put the lamps on, their Christmas lights and asked Alexa to play ‘Happy Birthday’ by Stevie Wonder so it was belting out as she came in! Hugs and champagne followed.

One happy mum tonight. I’m very lucky in many ways and I don’t take it for granted.
x

Hello all! Granmarie you did a lot of travelling on Xmas Day - were you following the star in the east? 😁 It sounds lovely.
Hope your son is feeling better now, LLFL.
Urmston my dd2 gave my Dh a Cadburys Creme egg as part of his Xmas present! They saw the fresh crop for sale in a motorway service station.
I hope the GP has been able to find thr source of your pain, Soop.

It’s lovely to read all your Boxing Day/27th activities - or inactivities in my case! I’m sorry for those affected by this latest storm. It woke me up this morning, with all the noise. The rain was torrential and the roads round us were rapidly being closed so we didn’t go on the excursion we’d planned. Instead, I ventured as far as our garage to get some vegetables from the spare fridge. It’s quietened down now but more is forecast for the weekend.

I’ve already forgotten what we did yesterday! I think we just lolled about, I watched Call the Midwife and we all saw Top Gun2 and we ate stuff.

Today we had a visit from the people dealing with our flood damage. I wasn’t expecting them until tomorrow, so that was a surprise. 😳 They took photos and catalogued the damage done. Dd2 and her BF have begun one of their jigsaws and we all watched The Dig this afternoon. Dh and I will watch the Agatha Christie in a few minutes.

I think we’ll be venturing out tomorrow - we’ll be going mouldy if we don’t!

Take care, everyone. Xxx

We’re back home after a trip to see my Dad who lives in the Midlands. It was a horrible journey both ways in torrential rain. We took him out for lunch in a nearby pub where we all enjoyed the Festive menu. I think DH was glad to have someone to chat about football with as I’m not really interested. As he no longer drives we took him to the pharmacist to collect a prescription as he’d had a mix up with it on Friday that has left him running short of one of his meds.

As we were still full from lunch we’ve only just eaten. Picky bits and pickles using stuff up. I’m slightly regretting that small piece of Christmas cake.

Off now to watch Inside factory on TV it’s
filmed locally.

Gosh Brook what a day . Hope you keep warm and safe.

A very quick visit. Just waiting to pick up the ex lodger who is arriving soon. Christmas has been very disjointed this year. The steward at the Conservative club we go to now and again had a heart attack so we ended up helping out for 2 hours on Christmas Day. Plans to go to Kent yesterday were aborted as the weather was too severe to think about driving the moho any distance for the first time. We were due to go to my soon to be SIL and and family and stop in Henrietta overnight but the trial run on Christmas night after dinner at our friend's did not go well. The dogs were really unhappy and cold too. They decided the only place to be was on the already much smaller bed with Mummy and Daddy...who then couldn't sleep because of the numbness induced by 2 small ISH heavyweight dogs laying across a. DOH legs and b. Wrapped round my head. We managed to do our stint at the parish meal for folks on their own at Christmas and then when I had finally settled down to relax and watch Call the Midwife...I fell fast asleep. We are hoping the next few days will be slightly more festive... That's if the wind and rain subside too.

Awake at silly o’clock, Mr C had s coughing fit and then of course went back to sleep. Me? Wide awake.

Sorry your plans didn’t work out neine. Your night in Henrietta sounded to be a challenge. We were in what felt like perpetual motion for two days although lucky with travelling weather goodness it was tiring. Hope the next few days work out for you but oh the weather, hasn’t it been foul?

Don’t envy you that journey grandmad, it must have been a relief to make it back home.

It’s been good to read about everyone’s activities, I’m in awe of those taking mass catering in their stride, more than six and I begin to panic. Thank you all for sharing.

Your family time sounds delightful urms.

Cream eggs? Never I thought until I saw some on sale yesterday. Just as well I don’t like them as we’ve got far too many Christmas waist expanders here already. Hoping to deposit some with our family on Friday. The teenagers seem immune to the broadening effect of calories.

I’ve been thinking about your GP appointment soop. Hope it helped

That was quite a storm brook Is the power fully restored? Thank goodness you could retreat. A large area around us was without power yesterday. Not good at any time but worse I think with the wind howling and the rain beating on the windows.

Now, can I get back to sleep or will I begin a new book. Suspect the book will win although sleep could be good as we’re having coffee with our neighbours this morning and I’d hate to drop off mid biscuit.

TOYA, and please be careful out there.

I'm seeing a strange message on every post across GN? Can't read anything?

Thank you so much to the kind Kitchener who pm'd me with advice to switch to desktop site, now I can see your posts!
I shall return later as my sisters and I are preparing to check out of our spa hotel, where we had a relaxing overnight.
TOYA

Anybody else not able to read posts?

www.gransnet.com/forums/site_stuff/1330883-GNHQ-site-update

neine

Good afternoon, Soop and lovely Kitchen people.

I'm home now, DSis2 did all the driving so that was a treat in itself! I'm finding the desktop site a bit tricky to navigate on my phone, I must go and charge my kindle and see if I have a familiar layout on there. I'm not good with change.... I feel quite discombobulated without my regular fix of tea and GN!
Thinking of all with worries, illness or sorrow. 💕🙏

Congratulations to all our Kitcheners for coping with all manner of Christmas travelling, entertaining and, for some, horrendous weather conditions.

Our village burn has broken it's banks and the low lying areas are severely flooded. The filling station/village shop has had to close. Police were diverting motorists. One of our friends has a garden that resembles a lake. We are blest by being removed from the flooded area. Although it isn't something to cheer about when so many of our friends are battling the elements.

My chest pain is Costochondritis. It is neither catching nor fatal. I have been prescribed Naprosyn to take together with Paracetamol, the combination deadens the pain that doubles me over when I sneeze or cough. I return in a week and hope to be recovered by then, although the condition can be bothersome for some weeks. Buggerations aplenty!

The wind is howling outside our window. We received a second phone call today instructing us what to do in the event of a power cut. Candles and torches are within easy reach.

Please remain warm and safe. I shall return tomorrow.

Good afternoon kitchen pals, good to hear you’ve got a diagnosis Soop and hoping the pain eases soon. Sorry to hear about the flooding in your area, what awful weather we’re all having
Your Spa break sounds brilliant grannmarie, just what’s needed this time of year.
The power has been ok today thanks corner, yesterday was such a challenge. It’s still cold, windy and wet but nowhere near as bad as yesterday. Hoping you sleep a bit better tonight
I had a wee wander around the garden this morning just to check things over and picking up a few branches that had blown down yesterday in the storm. Luckily everything seems ok for now

Seems like most of us had good Xmas we had a lovely boxing day with all our family lots of gifts exchanged and good eaten .The wind and rain has hardly stopped here in West York's floods all over .Hope all poorlies improving .

‘Evening All’.

We went over to see my uncle in Oldham this afternoon, picking up my stepfather en route. It was nice to catch up on family news as we haven’t met up in months owing to circumstances. That said, I find myself somewhat melancholy tonight as the visit stirred up a lot of ‘times past’ emotions.

I need to set our alarm for the morning as we have an appointment at The Christie hospital.
x

Hi kitcheners, it’s pleasing most kitcheners are now safely home after various travels up and down the UK, including those who had to decamp.
I’ve had that soop very painful, but a relief at the diagnosis.
Very windy today with a few squally showers, but nothing compared with others further north.
We must tidy away some ‘stuff’ tomorrow, we were fortunate with gifts and I love our festive decor, but it’s verging on irritating now.
Must attend to dinner, good luck tomorrow Urms.

I’m glad everyone is home safe and sound. Suffolk has been pretty windy with a bit of rain but nothing compared to the rest of you. soop I am pleased that you have had a diagnosis and medicines to help. I hope it clears up quickly.
Neine it sounds like the dogs are going to be fair weather campers!
We have a nicely redecorated tree now that the toddler has gone home and the outside Christmas lights are back on, now that his dad’s car isn’t plugged into the socket!
Floors have been vacuumed and mopped, utility room tidy and the tablecloths washed. All this and we had a lie in too!
Sleep well everyone! 💤

Good evening, Soop and lovely Kitchen people.

Dear Soop, I'm so glad that you have a diagnosis and helpful medication, hope you have relief now. You and MrSoop are well prepared for all eventualities, I hope you don't lose power.

Brook, I'm glad you're getting back to normal now, thankful that you had your woodburner.

SueD, I hope your insurance assessor gets things moving quickly for you. You're right, we did some driving on Christmas day, first West then east! DH actually drove, most he's managed since he was ill last year.

Yiayia, thinking of you both. I hope you and MrY. can enjoy a belated Christmas soon.

Blossoming and Annsixty, hope you are both keeping well and enjoying your festivities in the comfort and cosiness of your own homes.

Cornergran, I agree that the travelling plus the wild weather is stressful. We had to change route a few times yesterday because of flooded roads. I share your love of a book at bedtim. Santa brought me two new titles, the latest by Victoria Hislop and Richard Osman. I'm looking forward to those once I've finished my annual Christmas read, How far to Bethlehem by Norah Lofts. This was a GN recommendation a few years ago, now a much loved tradition.

Neine, I'm sorry you had to alter your plans. I'm sure you and DOH and the dear dogs will enjoy Henrietta in the better weather.

Jaxjacky I know what you mean about getting fed up with the Christmas decorations. I'll keep them up until the Epiphany though, the only time I took them down early was the year we went to Australia for New Year.

Hello, Urms and Himself. Great to hear of all your family get togethers. Best wishes for the appointment tomorrow.

Sounds like a lovely family day, Hulahoop.

Grandmadinosaur, I'm glad you enjoyed your festive meal with your Dad, despite the dreadful driving conditions. Lovely to see you back.

Grandmabatty, I'm glad you're enjoying some restful days over the festive season. Recharge your batteries.

Nannytopsy and Gillgran, I agree it's lovely to spend time with family and friends, but its nice to get the house to yourselves again!

I had a great time with my sisters, we spent yesterday afternoon in the spa, at one point venturing into the huge outside hot tub on the deck, but we were robbed of the stunning views across the Clyde by low cloud and mist. We had a delicious evening meal, then played quizzes in our rooms until 1 a.m.! Accompanied by a wee post prandial Glayva... I am very thankful that my sisters and I are so close, geographically and emotionally. I'd be lost without them.

TOYA, NNGB

Family have returned to their homes, four beds stripped and remade.

Ironing pile is resembling Mt Everest…

Wishing you all a good night 😘

Hello kitchen people. I’m typing this from my bed!
OH came to bed early. He’s had a difficult day. He woke up this morning feeling very dizzy and nauseous. He wasn’t actually sick but couldn’t walk around easily for a while. He felt odd for the rest of the day. If it continues he will get in touch with his GP.
I shopped in Waitrose, did my ironing and cleared out the fridge of a few Christmas leftovers. Younger son offered to cook dinner but OH said he would as it was chicken curry. At the last minute he wasn’t up to it so I cooked.
Not sure when younger son is going back to London. He is on holiday until 8 January. He has been entertaining us with tales of the Civil service and its shortcomings! … He is a Civil Servant by the way.
Urms - I hope tomorrow is a good day.

Good evening Kitcheners. I'm also typing this in my bed. I'm not long in from a pleasant evening with friends and former colleagues. I've dropped off one pal and then came home. The roads have a lot of surface water on them. Grannmarie it sounds like you have had a lovely time. Soop glad to hear that you have a diagnosis. Urms good luck tomorrow.
I have the electric blanket on and can hear the rain battering against the window. It's a lovely feeling being cosy. Good night all

Good afternoon kitchen pals, I’m just home now after a couple of classes at the gym and a trip to Tesco. It’s already going dark here so no plans to go out into the garden, I’ll potter and do a few jobs inside instead and then settle down to watch something on TV.
I hope all has gone ok with the appointment today Urms and hoping your DH is feeling a bit better soon llfl
It’s just started raining here again, all the snow has now gone but the ground is still frozen. It’s such awful weather - I really wanted to go out for a walk but it’s so miserable with the wind and rain so cba 🙁