Soop's kitchen for caring and sharing...

‘Evening All’.

We’re just home having dropped my stepfather off after our Sunday dinner and calling in at Teacher Mummy’s house to drop something off. Had to smile (and took this pic) as L’il Miss was sat in the snug room in her pj’s watching Tv in front of the sofa where all her Barbies had been set out - dressed and with their accessories as “they’re all at the cinema grandma”. Seven is such a sweet age isn’t it? 🥰

That’s lovely FGT. It reminds me of the imagination of another little girl from long ago.

I’m intrigued to know where the little baby ones came from on the end.

A bitterly cold day here, but bright for most of the day then inclined to rain. My DDs took the grandchildren to a candlelit carol service in their local church, which they all enjoyed, although DD1 got burnt from hot wax dripping from her candle. They didn’t allow the grandchildren to have lighted candles fortunately, otherwise there would have been an accident. I stayed at home although I would have liked to go.
Very windy at the moment and feels cold in my room, so I’m tucked up in bed with a hot water bottle!
Night night.

Beechnut I’ll ask her tomorrow. They looked cute didn’t they? I also liked how she’d had the Barbie & Ken couple hold hands.

Thought we were going to be blown away this morning. Thankfully our sons journey was uneventful. 99.”% of the food vanished, a real joy to see stick thin teenage girls tucking in. It’s been a tiring but wonderful day. Feels like Christmas now.

Back to the mundane tomorrow. Blood test for me, ironing followed by cleaning up after todays food fest. We may well slope off for a coffee after the blood test, after all I’ll need to recover .

Take care everyone. Healing thoughts to all poorly folk. . TOYA.

How nice to see clothed Barbies, FGT. My GD removes all her Barbies clothes as soon as she gets them and they have to shiver in the cold Scottish weather whilst enjoying their adventures.

Soop you’re an example to us all. I hope MrS’s wound is healing.

I’m sorry I’m being fairly ‘absent’ from here. I’m trying to keep a lot of balls in the air, which is taking up a lot of my time. I’m simply going to wish you all a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year. TOYA. Xxx

Hello kitchen people, and especially those who are resting in the quiet corner.

It was fun to use my new food processor today! OH and I went out for lunch but on our return I hit the kitchen! One pint of bread sauce, another two dozen sausage rolls and a batch of stuffing balls.

Sleep 💤 tight.

Well...slutty housewife who has booked in to stay until after the New Year had to be given her marching orders as without warning a bright yellowish thing appeared in the sky and oh my goodness did it show up that the domestic goddess had gone on a sabbatical. Dust dust and more dust. The wine rack resembled an ancient cavé in deepest France. Does anybody actually hoover the inside of their tumble dryer on the Sunday before Christmas....one tradition that I will not be repeating any year soon. In fairness I had just tumbled a dogs blanket. Talking of dogs who I blame for all things covered in a layer of dust and the occasional waft of wet dog. Having persuaded DH that it was a really good idea to take the carpet washer up to the top of the cottage and wash our bedroom carpet...In all conscience when big lumbering dog ( not naughty puppy or the dark destroyer) puked on it at 4am it had to be me that leapt ( well it felt like it) to clean it up. Now I can deal with major motorway accidents but sick is a no no and I actually needed tea afterwards. Sod and his law that she didn't do it yesterday morning before DH lost half a stone restoring the carpet to a light grey. I made it up to him though by suggesting a pint of Doom bar at the pub ( unheard of). Ah well seeing as how well the Dom God performed yesterday I've let her stay on and given her a Christmas Pinny and she's made Chicken Liver pate in-between making her own wonderfully scented Christmas pot pouring by dehydrating all manner of stuff in the air fryer. She's asked me to pass on a salutary Christmas lesson though....always check you have actually picked up and used the moist toilet tissues and not the general multi surface wipes. Ouch. I'll be back to read and catch up later.

Dear Neine, I love your posts and would love them even more readily if you could have the occasional paragraph break to make them easier to read. They are so worth it!

Hi all, a busier day starting with the farm shop at 7am, I love it, driving in the dark with Christmas lights shining, festive music on the radio. Veg collected, including a sprout stick, aren’t they lovely and white cabbage for a friend, boy it was cold though.
I came home and when MrJ had surfaced had a hot bath, changed, then cup of tea number three went down well.
Gammon now cooked, glazed and in the fridge too, an easy dinner of oven f&c as it’s Christmas quiz later.
We have my daughter, son and fiancée joining in tonight 🙂🎄
I’ll come back later.

Happy Christmas to you SueD and breathe!

Granny Somerset....I will and Thank you. X

suedonim my daughters barbies , and the granddaughters barbies were/are always undressed, despite having lots of clothes!
neine poor you, having to clean up after the dog at such an ungodly hour! One wet wipe looks much the same as another doesn’t it!
A restful day for me today, I felt very tired after a disturbed night. I’m a bit concerned about managing at home on my own at the end of the week, as I can’t walk very far yet. I managedvok when I had the other hip replaced, so I should be able to cope if I take my time.
Hoping for a better night tonight.

Hi to all kitchen pals, I’m now safely home in Inverness after a very enjoyable weekend with DD1 and family in Cambridge. We had such a brilliant day yesterday in London, new experiences for me as I’m not used to the big city. The Christmas lights were magical, everywhere was so busy but with such a buzz. We saw a show, enjoyed lunch at the Hard Rock Cafe and saw lots of the sights all lit up in the evening. A trip on the underground was also ok, no need for a ticket just tap your card on and off and away you go
Today’s journey home was good too with everything on time so that was a relief
I’ve a few last minute things to get tomorrow and then we’re sorted
Thinking of everyone in the quiet corner, take care all x

‘Evening All’.

I’ve had a wonderfully slothful day. 🤣
#lazygran

Binged watched “Dopesick” on BBC iPlayer all afternoon and all evening. Not exactly festive viewing but it’s based on a true story and came highly recommended by one of my book clubbers. Himself in the main room watching his choices on the big TV. No wonder we get on so well …

Re the Barbies: this dressing up of them all has only come with maturity. (cough) 8y next month and L’il Miss finally sees that dressing and accessorising them is all part of the fun. Younger kids don’t get it! These were all lying naked around until a month or so back! Beechnut I forgot to ask about the tiny baby dolls. I’ll add it to tomorrow's ‘to do’ list. 🤣

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas…”. 🎵 🎶

Back again, 14 teams at quiz, we came fourth, an evening full of laughter.
Welcome home brook
I’m sure you’ll be fine Redcar thinking about it makes it worse .
Sloth has descended here FGT and neine, I plan total inactivity tomorrow, until the 5pm Christmas draw in the pub..night all

Hello kitchen people.

Well, I iced the cake. Royal icing, a touch of trellis work and the decorations I’ve used for years.

A quick shop in Waitrose. Parking the car took longer than the actual shopping. Mayhem,

OH collected our daughter from the station. I cooked us beef stew and dumplings for dinner:

Younger son is due tomorrow and will cook us all fish pie as usual on Christmas Eve. He is an excellent cook.

Sleep 💤 tight.

Hello everyone. Quick whizz in to wish you all the very best Christmas it can be.

We’re off on our first family visit tomorrow, our not so Littlest and his minders. Visit two the next day takes us further afield to our elder son and his daughters who are providing copious quantities of Christmas dinner. Yes, it’s a lot of to-ing and fro-ing, we’ll be wearing the motorways out, but goodness it’s worth it. Do it while we can remains our motto.

I’ll not be in for a few days but will most definitely be thinking of you all. Happy Christmas.

nannytopsy I think today is the day of your operation? I do hope all goes well and that you’ll soon be home with family being looked after.!

Good luck today Nanny Topsy.

We’ll be thinking of you nannytopsy 👍

Well I've caught up on all the news finally.
FGT.. Seeing the Barbies reminded me of how painful it was to step barefoot on one of their shoes. With 3 daughters born within four and a half years there was always Barbies, Sindys, Sylvanian families and enough My Little Ponies to set up a toy town Aintree on Grand National Day . When daughter 4 arrived 8 years later ( I was distraught initially... I'd just got down to 9st 4lbs and fit and planning to study midwifery) she inherited all of the above and more.

Granmarie..I hope you can enjoy Christmas and the specialness of the Mass later today or tomorrow. We are going to be singing...I saw a star high above the heavens. It's a lovely carol sung to the tune by Roger Whittaker which I can't remember the title but the chorus is ."for you are beautiful and I have loved you dearly..more dearly than the spoken word can tell"

Redcar..Try not to worry too much... you'll get there...each day will be a little easier.

Brook.. Your trip sounded wonderful... Anglesey Abbey was on Antiques Roadshow this week...I think it was Lord Fairhavens home. The burgers at the Hard Rock cafe used to be the best ever...with blue cheese sauce ...first sampled over 50 years ago..oh my.

LLF.. Finally you got your new processor...I have got 2...a traditional Kenwood chef one with a balloon whisk thing. ( It was on a doorstep with a note saying please help yourself...no longer needed...so I did) and the other one is moulinex type one with a screw on lid and the base has to be in place correctly before it will work. That one was in use yesterday when the Dom God made pate. Enjoy.
Jax...well done on coming 4th...my brain can only just cope with my shopping list at the moment. Enjoy sloth mode too. Fingers crossed Imogen feels much better soon too.

Happy Christmas SueD....I hope life slows down a little bit so you can relax a little. X

Corner...safe travels over the next few days..the M4 and M5 are a bit manic just now aren't they. Enjoy your special time with your family.

For some reason I'm feeling the absence of my daughters and Grandsons in my life more than at any time in the last 5 years. Tears never far away when I think of them...I try not to think if that makes sense but then something creeps up and that memory rolls out of my eyes and down my cheek. Cherish your special time with your families this Christmas.

Soop.. I'm going to add my words to those already posted. I don't think you realise just how special you ( and Mr Soop) are to us all. You have given us all this unique special safe place where we can be ourselves and share the happiness and sadness of our lives and know that the love and support we receive is as real as if we were given it face to face. Sit quietly in the corner with your beloved brave man and let us support you until the buggerations...well just b..gger off. Xxx

Hoping all goes well today nannytopsy 💐

From the quiet corner, heartfelt best wishes to soop and all her special friends who make this kitchen the wonderful, gentle, soothing place it is.
Peace and goodwill to you all.
Happy Christmas .

Popping in before it gets hectic.
Good luck Nannytopsy you will soon have a shiny new knee.💐
A very big hug to Mr and Mrs Soop for giving us the comfort of this wonderful kitchen long may it continue.
Sending fond Christmas wishes to each and everyone one of you.Thank you for all your kind support this year, so many times you helped me carry on.

Our apartment is now full to the brim with presents and food most to offload to DS1 tomorrow.DS2 and DiL had a harrowing drive here yesterday.A journey that takes about 3 hours took nearly 6 not good.Tomorrow morning I plan to go with DS1 and fed the horse,goats and stable cats, hope it’s not too muddy.🤣DH is feeling better and enjoying having his son here.My cold is still hanging around but coping with it.
🎅🏻🎄❤️

I hope that you all have a happy Christmas tomorrow and those who have health or personal difficulties are able to have a peaceful one.
Now I have found this lovely space I hope to visit more often xx