Soop's kitchen for caring and sharing...

Good afternoon Kitcheners. Baggs there's no quick fix for grief, is there?💐Redcar I think you are doing really well. It can't be easy. Dgs2 isn't 100% yet and has had a couple of nose bleeds today. DD is keeping an eye on him. Jaxjacky a lazy day is allowed. ☺️
I have pottered today. I decided to leave Aldi to tomorrow and focused on washing and housework. I've stripped the bed,washed everything and remade it, polished, hoovered and cleaned the kitchen and bathroom. The washing is up to date too. I've also wrapped quite a few presents. My neighbours called with presents for the boys and cards. They are very nice people. I'm having chicken curry later and enjoying a sit down at the moment. Enjoy the rest of your day

I am emerging from almost five weeks in the quiet corner. I came back from Cyprus with a chest infection that has been very difficult to shift however feel I am getting somewhere now. I did have sympathy with Camilla though. Damp and dreary here but at least the freezing fog has finally lifted after three days. I am rather behind with Christmas preparations but will get there eventually no point stressing. I also have my birthday to fit in this coming week . I have been sorry to read of some of the health worries and other problems some of you have been having. The run up to Christmas is not always the happy jolly time it is made out to be. I feel very lucky to be able to have a warm house, enough food and money to buy presents without the worry of some.

Scapa 💐 please take care of yourself xx

We had unlit candles too, Baggs, no lights until we had our own tree, and then as now tiny white ones (Habitat generation, we are). I had forgotten those tin clip on candle holders until just now.

Baggs thinking of you ❤️

‘Evening All’.

I’ve so enjoyed today. I offered to have L’il Miss for a few hours. It ended up 5 in total as she’s such a pleasure to be with. We’ve been in and out of shops buying nothing but enjoying chatting about everything that caught our eye. FC will be here soon so all I bought her was a comic called ‘Cuddles’. At £4.99 it wasn’t cheap (😮) but for a 7 year old it was brilliant. Literally fun all round with 2 gifts that weren’t just plastic nonsense) so I’ll buy one regularly for her now.

Her mum picked her up at 4pm so Himself and I dived into the bar below - Christmas lights, music and a well deserved mulled wine for grandma!

Baggs 💐 sorrowful time.

Good evening kitchen pals, I’ve enjoyed watching the Strictly final this evening, what a great show with some beautiful dances!
Sorry to hear you’ve been so poorly Scapal but pleased to hear you’re improving now, take care 💐
We enjoyed a longish walk this morning and finished off with a warming soup at the NT Battlefield visitor centre, we sat looking out of the window near the Christmas tree which was very festive and then I promptly fell asleep when I got in 🤣
Sounds like you had a lovely day FGT special times
Fingers crossed for the parsnips Jax
You’ve been very busy grandmabatty, well done but don’t overdo it!
❤️ to Soop and everyone in the quiet corner

Sorry you’ve been ill Scapal I hope you’re back on form for your birthday.
I don’t call that pottering Granmabatty! That’s domestic work 🙂
Watched the first episode of Black Doves, not sure yet.
It’s going to warm up a little tomorrow, but I think back to the grey.

Special love to Baggs and Scapal.

I did not sleep a wink last night. It was like a living nightmare. Mr Soop sleeps soundly in his reclining chair in the sitting room. Had I paid a visit to the kitchen for a cup of something or other, I would have disturbed him. Therefore I lay awake and longed for daybreak. What a mega buggeration!!!

A few cards to write. After which...I shall take my exercise bike for a wee spin.

Just popping out of the quiet corner to suggest a gentle group hug might be in order.

I've got Vertigo after a flu type virus, dh has a worst cold, we've had to cancel visits to see Christmas productions and the children's bedroom is stacked with presents that need wrapping. Apart from that, everything is going swimmingly.

Actually, maybe not a group hug in view of all the bugs about.

kittylester have a hug from me 🤗.
I was at Aldi this morning then visited mum this afternoon. The gammon is cooked and I'm going to sort cabbage and potatoes soon. I'm having a lie down on the couch to rest my hip after wrapping some presents. Enjoy your evening Kitcheners

Nannytopsy my brother-in-law had knee replacement on Friday he came home Saturday afternoon it's amazing when I was working knee replacement patients were in hospital about 10days !
Glad you have water sorted Brooke.
Soop that's a long journey for me Soop sorry you had a bad night.
Neime glad to read your mood has lifted.
Granmarie the service for your aunt sounds lovely.
Baggs sending (hugs))

A virtual group hug would be most welcome kitty I’m sure most of us could do with one just now ❤️
soop you must be really tired, hoping you’ve had some rest today
A mild day here, I’ve been out in the garden this morning and enjoyed every minute. We sat outside on the decking in our little sheltered winter garden watching the birds busy flying to the feeders and back. Simple pleasures but so calming. This afternoon I’ve been sorting out old paperwork that I’d just shoved in the drawer, so I’m feeling a bit more organised now

Hello kitchen people.

Gosh, some of you are having a difficult time. I’m thinking of you all,

Elder son and his family went back to Kew this morning. It is lovely to see them. Hopefully we will see them on zoom on Christmas Day from France.

We had a massive pre-Christmas dinner yesterday so tonight’s meal is egg, bacon and mushrooms on toast! No pudding.

It’s the final part of Wolf Hall tonight. Eek. We all know how it ends, but

Have a good evening everyone.

I don’t know how you function with no sleep soop you must feel rotten.
Dire kitty I’ll be fingers crossed you both recover swiftly.
Milder here too brook the magic of nature, I went to a Christmas market today, I bought some beetroot pickle and damson jam.
Our dinner beckons, chicken with root veg in red wine and herbs, mash, sprouts and cauli.

A group hug is always welcome kittylester, I hope you soon feel better.

We're, relaxing now, having had our (SEN) DGD here today "helping" to decorate our Christmas tree!

Warm thoughts for all in soop's friendly kitchen. x

*Evening All’.

A delightful day here. The Boy Wonde’s ⚽️ team won by a convincing margin this morning and Himself thoroughly enjoyed watching his grandson play. We had a delicious roast turkey dinner this afternoon with my stepfather at a very Christmassy pub. Himself watch Man. Utd beat Man. City on tv in their local derby game and I watched the last episode of Wolf Hall. Oh, when Rafe cried in Cromwell’s arms I did too LLFL. 😮

Thank you for all your kind wishes there seems to be a lot of bugs about. Hope everyone affected recovers soon. Quiet day here, made lentil soup, I do like any homemade soup. Take it easy Grandmabatty you want to be able to enjoy the Christmas activities with the boys. Hope you get a better sleep tonight Soop. We had rain today Brook so no sitting out here! Your dinner sounds yummy * Jaxjacky*

A hug from me too kittylester. Timing eh?
It’s pants.

I hope everyone is feeling much better, from all of those nasty viruses. A virtual hug will do nicely thank you.
DGD and DGS are here again, as both parents at work tonight. They have reached the stage when DGS teases constantly, so that his sister overreacts and then goes into a massive sulk. Such joy 🤣. It will be an early start as we have a long detour because of road works. Replacing a small bridge over a stream started in the early summer. In about October they realised there was a problem with the concrete foundations. February is the current prediction. The official diversion is 19 miles, although we disobey and go by the back lanes.
I hope soop and the 3am girls sleep well tonight. DH is a 3am boy.

There are some really nasty bugs about at the moment, difficult to avoid them when everyone is so busy with Christmas preparations,
soop I hope you have some sleep tonight, the nights are very long when you can’t sleep. I’m still at DD1s and often awake for hours in the night. I don’t dare go downstairs to get a drink because I’d wake the dog, who would wake the whole household.
Tomorrow I’ll be wrapping more presents, easier to do when the grandchildren are at school and either DD or her husband are working.
I’d enjoy a group hug kitty, perhaps we could wear masks to reduce the chance of catching cold!
Night night everyone.

Baggs thinking of you
Dear Soop sending love to you and MrSoop
NannyG4 come join me in the quiet corner if you like.
Hugs to all who need one ….except those with germs Kitty
Hope you and MrKitty are feeling better soon.

FriedGreenTomatoes2

*Evening All’.

A delightful day here. The Boy Wonde’s ⚽️ team won by a convincing margin this morning and Himself thoroughly enjoyed watching his grandson play. We had a delicious roast turkey dinner this afternoon with my stepfather at a very Christmassy pub. Himself watch Man. Utd beat Man. City on tv in their local derby game and I watched the last episode of Wolf Hall. Oh, when Rafe cried in Cromwell’s arms I did too LLFL. 😮

It’s pleasing that just months after Cromwell’s death, Henry realised he’d made a huge mistake.

… and didn’t Mark Rylance play the part well?

Early visit today. I hope everyone with the lurgy starts to feel much better soon. Our neighbour wanted to pop in with a belated birthday present for me on Friday night and she is 6 days in with something horrible. She sat on the other side of the sitting room and kept her scarf around her mouth but we still did the brandy up our nose ritual when she left ( I made doubly sure and took some internally too🤣). Saturday was a mad dash to the PO to post off the cards. £25 plus for 15 second class stamps and 4 overseas ...
Whilst there we bumped into a friend who was a lodger with DH when he first came down here before we moved. He is going to emigrate to Canada in March and is selling his car. We are thinking it might be a good alternative to the mini for DH.
Decisions decisions. Yesterday was an early start as we were off on our competition win to Winchester. We both fell asleep on the way.... Not used to being driven. It was a lovely mild day and the town was buzzing. The Christmas market was fun if all the usual things...handcrafts...gin...cheese...tree decorations...mulled wine by the vat ( literally)...but no Christmas refresher oil or nativity scenes...we were going to visit the cathedral but the entrance fee was £13.50 and we didn't feel we would be able to stay long enough to justify the cost. We did buy a garden feature ( robins on a pole thing that rocks) DH took charge of carrying it as he said I would be dangerous holding the spiked pole...he was probably right to be fair. It was a lovely end to what was not the greatest of weeks.
Sending lots of love to Brook...Doodle ... NannyG4...a very difficult time for you all.
Soop...I hope your amazing man got on ok with his marathon trip and you have managed to get a proper night's sleep.
Redcar... Good luck with present wrapping...I do mine on the ironing board as it is just the right height and saves my back going into spasm.
FGT....a perfect day for you all...♥️
Gillgran...I'm sure your ' helper 'has made the tree look extra special.
Kitty and Scalpel....a big hug and healing thoughts for you both.
I've got to fly now as I've got try and track down a box big enough to take all the presents to send to the in-laws. We've decided not to travel down to Hampshire on the 27th as we would only be able to see DHs sister and family for a few hours before they need to return back to Kent so I'm parcelling up all the gifts we would have exchanged. Well I will be if I can find a big enough container. Wish I'd gone with my original idea to give gift cards!!!!!

Good Morning Lovely Ladies.....
Just popping in to sit in the quiet corner....wishing those who are finding life difficult at the moment, I pray for you . Those of you who are entering into the spirit of Christmas embrace it.....

Sending love to you all......the sun does shine above the clouds .

Fondest love xx