Soop's kitchen for caring and sharing...

FGT Hole in the Wall and another I think Cafe Royal, certainly Cafe something.
They were great.
Many happy meals there.

Thank you all for your kind words it means a lot.
Dh has inhalers now Grannmarie, plus lots of other meds.He stopped smoking cigars 20 years ago.It seems that COPD has decided to show its ugly head now!!
Thinking of you SueD 🌹
Have a good evening all sleep well.

Hello kitchen people. I’m snuggled up on the sofa wrapped up in my ‘borrowed’ British Airways blanket!

OH is at his Shooting club so I’ve delayed my dinner. I’m re-heating a beef stew from the other day with some vegetables.

Have a good evening. I’m thinking of those of you who are having difficulties.

You’ve both brought back really happy memories FGT and Uttb, I grew up in Didsbury , Manchester and often went into town on a date for a meal at the Berni Inn - I think the Hole in the Wall was the most frequented one. I remember the fish and chips and the steaks and of course the schooners of sherry. Also I used to like the Tia Maria liqueur coffees with the cream floating on top - many moons ago !

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I must remember to buy the Radio Times tomorrow Jax
We enjoyed a lovely walk by the river in Inverness this afternoon, followed by a festive coffee in one of the hotels. It was decorated beautifully for Christmas, so nice at this time of year
Take care driving in the fog grannmarie we’ve had the really low sun in the sky today, difficult driving too when it’s shining straight in your eyes

I was horrified to see on television last week that, once opened, a bottle of sherry should be used within a few weeks! I’m sure I have a least one bottle that’s been open for months! When I get home I must have a decluttering session in the drinks cupboard. I remember the sophistication of ordering a schooner of sherry!
yiayia I’m sorry your DH has another health problem, hopefully inhalers will help his breathing.
fgt after such good news I’m sure you’ll enjoy every moment of Christmas.
I’m still ordering presents online, several deliveries today and more tomorrow. I started wrapping presents today and will carry on tomorrow while the grandchildren are at school. I’m using the kitchen worktop as I don’t have to bend to get to it, but can only do a few presents at a time as I get tired standing up.
Have a peaceful evening, night night.

What a pretty walk brook the coffee made me smile.

It seems to be definite so I have cancelled the Christmas visitors and changed the Christmas orders. The DGC will go to the Panto with mum and dad instead of us. We are thinking that they can all come for a late Christmas lunch (12 of us) on the 4th January then go to the Panto. I won’t be cooking, but I think I should be ok to sit around and issue my orders!
Best wishes to everyone. I like HBC at Christmas too FGT. I usually have amontillado.

Goodness nannytopsy I hope all goes well on the 24th, presumably you’ll have to stay in hospital Christmas Day or will you be allowed home ? It’ll certainly be a different Christmas this year for you, good that you can adapt your plans and it’ll all be over with by the New Year ❤️

Thanks Jax 😉

Thank you, brook for the beautiful photograph.

Nannytopsy Onwards and so on. Best to have your treatment and, once you are back home, have the "team" rally and wait on your every need. If you need a peeled grape...someone will oblige.

It is a very chilly day. No place to go, so we'll stay cosy and attend to a few tasks aboot the hoos.

A group hug for you lovely lot.

Good afternoon kitchen pals and a very special thank you to soop for the group hug , I’m sure many of us could do with one just now ❤️
I’m just home from a busy day, a bit of an up and down day so to say. Volunteering this morning that didn’t really go as well as it could but then a lovely afternoon with my pal just sitting and chatting over coffee. A couple of missing eBay parcels to sort out and a Christmas present to return that I’d already wrapped up. It turns out that ex SiL had bought very the same present for DGD so I thought I’d best return it and think of something else 🤷‍♀️
Hoping everyone in the quiet corner is doing ok, sending much love
I’m happy that I remembered to buy the Radio Times Jax and grandmabatty so I’ll be flicking through that this evening 😀

‘Evening All’.

Oh yes ‘The Hole in the Wall’ utbb thank you for putting me out of my misery! And brook I’d forgotten the ‘floaty coffees’ with Tia Maria! Delicious. Warming all the way down - then we’d get the 83 bus back to Stretford. Gosh. 50 years ago now.i can remember it as though it were yesterday. Makes me sad for some reason. Times Past eh?

I enjoyed a coffee with a friend in the square below at lunchtime. Came home to find Himself had set up the coloured (natch, reminds me of my childhood - you can keep your contemporary white lights) big pear bulbs lights on our little balcony! So festive! Then at 4pm we went down into the bar below us …. too bluddy handy … and I had a mulled wine. Nice. On dark nights and it’s cosy in there, they light pillar candles on each table at 5pm.
Then I had 2 glasses of merlot!
Blimey.
One extreme to the other tonight! Oh well definitely none tomorrow! “It’s Christmas!” I said to myself ….😳

Hi all, another cold day, a man came to box in pipes, in and out of the back door, a good job done though.
I’ve already been through it brook lots of good programmes for us.
Our tree is coming in tomorrow, Mr J will position it, get the lights on while I’m at stretch class, I can decorate. He’s also going to paint my nails in red glitter varnish, a first, although he does my toes in summer.
Never a good time topsy good it’s happening though, you’ll be fine, get a little bell to ring 🙂
Last episode of Shetland tonight.

Good evening Kitcheners. Nannytopsy fingers crossed that it goes well for you. Jaxjacky I've been through the Radio Times too and marked possible viewing. It's an enjoyable activity. Brook I'm sorry that your volunteering wasn't good today. Next time will be better.
Today the temperature hasn't hit 0° and it's been foggy. I went to the retail park early this morning and motored through my list of presents. Then home for hoovering, ironing, washing floors and writing the Christmas cards. I'm relaxing on the couch tonight as my hip was a bit achy earlier.
Tomorrow I'll hit the bookshop for the literary presents, then call in at dd. Her front door isn't working too well and her tumble dryer has broken. Great timing for her. I'll take some washing away to dry, then I'll post my cards and start wrapping the presents. The weekend is being devoted to making a painting for my aunt and uncle, so I want as much done as possible before. Soop do you still paint? You haven't mentioned any for a while. Grannmarie I hope your dodgy knees and hip aren't too painful in this weather. Have a good night all

Good evening, Soop and lovely Kitchen people. 🥰 Thank you for the group hug, Soop, just what I needed! After reading your recent posts, I'm adding Radio Times and HBC to my shopping list, thank you!

Not so foggy today, although below freezing, so I took my friend to Mass this morning, and DH to Specsavers this afternoon. Santa is bringing him two pairs of smart new glasses. 👓 👓 ✅

FGT, you will sleep well tonight!😴

brook, it sounds like you coped well with a difficult day, well done you!

Thank you, Grandmabatty, my knees are not bad just now, certainly much better than they were during the summer. I hope your hip doesn't give you too much pain. You're wise to put your feet up when you can, that's what my physio advised when I had the OA flare up, elevate, rest and ice!

Jaxjacky, great idea to have your DH paint your nails! 💅 DH has never done that, although he used to iron my long, thick wavy hair! I'm looking forward to Shetland too. 📺

I'll write some more cards before settling down to watch Shetland. Final episode of the Jackal tomorrow!
Wishing everyone a peaceful Wednesday night and a good sleep. TOYA NNGB.

Chilly here today. A good one though. We had a Christmas lunch out with our friends in our little garden centre. Excellent food and a fun setting. We’ve definitely enjoyed their company and hope they have enjoyed ours.

A very long day yesterday, out of the house for 14 hours, was a wonderful Christmassy time. Sadly dreadful traffic held us up going, no one’s fault, just much busyness. Comfortable coach, brand new, nothing to dislike. After a tasty lunch we headed for the cathedral and a moving traditional carol service. Explored the majestic building afterward before enjoying mulled wine and a huge mince pie.

Lazy start today. Can’t think why .

Goodness you’re a busy soul grandmab. I’m worn out reading about everything you do. It’s a shame volunteering was less positive brook, I’m sorry to hear it. Good for you for making plans brrok. You’ll certainly be able to supervise but maybe not play hide and seek .

My eyes are closing now. We’re all set for a fairly early night. Sleep well everyone.

Hello kitchen people. It’s good to be snuggled up in bed,

My hairdresser did a good job of colouring my roots and then a cut. OH reckons it looks a bit like a page boy style!

After lunch I finished writing the cards and accompanying letters. OH will be in charge of buying stamps and delivering the local cards by hand.

It was the WI Christmas meal tonight. It was good fun. The restaurant provides feee transport there and back.

Sleep 💤 tight.

Lovely Kitcheners...I am in the quiet corner where it is cosy and restful. Wishing you all a peaceful day.

Good afternoon kitchen pals, it’s been a really cold day up here in Inverness.
Hi to soop and all kitchen pals in the quiet corner, sending virtual hugs and friendship ❤️
We’ve not had any water since 5am this morning due to a burst water main at the top of the road. It looks like a new loch has appeared overnight there’s so much water sloshing about. Scottish Water have been very good in delivering lots of bottled water and knocking on doors so we’ve been fine for making drinks but no good for doing the washing and showering etc. In the last hour they’ve brought along a tanker which is now connected to the pipe network so we’ve at least got some water restored to the taps albeit low pressure. Hopefully it’ll be fixed soon🤞
Lovely to have your hair done llfl I always feel much better when mine is done. I try to last about 8 weeks between colouring roots but tbh it always needs doing before then
Sounds like you’re having such a good time with your friends corner, I’m pleased for you all x

Goodness brook what a pain, let’s hope that’s permanently fixed soon.
My last stretch class until the New Year, it was cold getting there, then the instructor opened the windows!!
My ears were de waxed this afternoon ££, I’ve been having it done since my teens and miss the NHS supplying the service free.
Tree up this afternoon, very cosy.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the last day of your visitors corner

We had our WI lunch yesterday too LLFL. You did well to find a restaurant with transport - we had a fleet of husbands instead! Today didn’t go to plan, tooth discomfort sent me dashing to the dentist just in case it was an infection. I didn’t want to cancel surgery but it’s OK! Phew.
Are you all ready for Christmas? What about you people in the quiet corner? I bet you have been surreptitiously writing cards and wrapping presents!
Have a peaceful evening everyone.

The tree looks gorgeous Jax thanks for the picture. Pleased your can hear again!

Good that your tooth is ok nannytopsy and you got checked out quickly .. I’m not quite ready for Christmas yet, Im waiting on a couple of Amazon deliveries that I’ll need to wrap but I’m mostly done, thank you. Oh except the food! That’ll be next weeks job
Still no proper water, the tanker is parked up outside churning away - it disappeared for 10 mins so the water went off again but it’s back again now .. 🤣

A relief for you, Nannytopsy, that your TKR surgery is still on course to go ahead. It will be worth the wait, my 2 knee replacements are still good after 13+ years.

My Christmas cards have now been written, I'll post them over the next few days. I've bought some, but not all gifts, (none wrapped)....yet!
This is about normal for me, I always catch up by the 25th

I hope your water gets sorted brook, we don't realise how much we use until we don't have it on tap.
Thank you for the virtual hugs & friendship. x

Thanks for the group hug soop, always welcome.

Warm thoughts for you all. x

Phew. I’m shattered. Our friends departed with smiles on their faces, it’s been a happy few days. I’m relieved no food poisoning, Definitely out of practice with this cooking and hostessing lark.

Two irritations to whinge about. Our little development has largely had no letter post for two weeks. One person found her post in a neighbouring empty property. Someone from a different road walked a letter round to us as he could see it came from a hospital. Not a Christmas card has arrived here. I’ll try to harass the sorting office next week. They only open to the public for an hour a day. Lots of unhappy people here. Secondly my hospital appointment for tomorrow to have the lupus diagnoses confirmed or not was cancelled this morning. An emergency appointment needed the space. Fair enough, I’ll just have to be patient. It should be 27th December instead, soon enough but I did want to know before Christmas. Whinge over. There are worse things for people to deal with.

I’d say no water fitted that category brook. Hope it’s sorted soon. The TKR will make such a positive difference to you nannyt 🤞 all goes smoothly. Lovely tree jax, it looks good by the window.

Go gently everyone. TOYA.

‘Evening All’.

I’m back home from watching L’il Miss (leggy now and not so mini, 8y next month 😁) at her swimming class. She’s a neat swimmer with a good front crawl. The class were practicing diving in and at her turn she performed a spectacular belly flop which made her grin when she bobbed back up!

Gorgeous tree Jax!
Hope your water issues get sorted soon brook. Could’ve been worse … Christmas morning! I know, I’m an irritating Pollyanna. I always mitigate what’s happening against a worse case scenario. Helps me put things in perspective. Mostly.
Thank you for the group hug soop.
So many of us having trials and tribulations at present.
👋 to everyone in the quiet corner. I hope those of you with anxious minds are reassured soon.