Soop's kitchen for caring and sharing...

That is a beautiful photo Brook !
You are so lucky to live there !

Good afternoon kitchen pals, we’ve had a good day up here in Inverness, it stayed dry and wasn’t too cold or windy
We decided to drive down the side of Loch Ness, stopping for coffee along the way and then a trip to Urquhart Castle, always nice to look round and reminds me of many a picnic in the past there on a bench in the rain with the DGC
We’re back home now ready for a relaxing evening
Good to hear you’re back home redcar, hope you manage ok on your own after being so well looked after
Lovely to have something to look forward to nannyG4 ❤️
Hope all went well today corner
A bit of roast ham, chutney, salad and tomatoes is all I’m feeling like just now and a nice mug of tea

That was kind fgt, although it’s left me wondering wondering how the gentleman got home again assuming he lives where you scooped him up. Honestly I always find something to worry about

I chatted to him and picked him up in the Sainsbury’s queue. He’d got a taxi there (time and a half he said - Boxing Day rates) and was hoping to be able to get a bus home from our town centre back to Stretford.

How kind of you FGT, the kindness of strangers, we don't hear enough about them.
I hope all that are experiencing difficulties at the moment have managed a little peace over their Christmas, it's a hard time .
I'm spending the time with my family. Tomorrow my daughter, granddaughter and myself are going into London to see the Vogue exhibition...a present for me...
My son bought me tickets to see Alison Steadman at the Faversham Literary Festival in February which I will look forward to. I've forgotten what it's like to look forward to something!!
I'm now going to sit in the quiet corner and watch the world go by....
My love and prayers to you ALL , you've helped me through the past few month for which I am eternally grateful.

I’m now home, surrounded by bags of presents, clothes and stuff I’ve accumulated while at DD1s! Thank you for your encouragement jax, brooke and granmarie. The machine has done its first wash for seven weeks, more to do tomorrow. I’m trying to pace myself unpacking it all and finding homes for new things. It’s very quiet here, without the granddaughters and the dog!
nannytopsy I hope you enjoyed being in your own bed last night. Let others wait on you and help you if you need it.
Have the best day possible everyone.

Thank you, Cornergran, I hope you managed some sleep. 😴

Today felt very flat after two days of family company. No pleasing me, I was relieved to get home yesterday evening but miss them all so much today. A brave face has been glued on, it’s been a gentle tv catch-up day in the main other than a misty walk along the river, very atmospheric - and damp .

I’ll have to buck up tomorrow, an early hospital appointment when I’m hoping to find out whether or not I have systemic lupus. We’ll wander further for coffee and a garden centre browse, hope for a walk and a fish and chips lunch before shopping for some grocery bits and pieces on the way home. There may also be a stop at Dunelm to look at their sale bedding. No matter what the consultant has to say it will be a decent day.

That was kind fgt, although it’s left me wondering wondering how the gentleman got home again assuming he lives where you scooped him up. Honestly I always find something to worry about.

What a happy, family filled day granmarie. One to treasure. Understand you’re worried about coping Redcar, I’ve every faith in you, it’s just the anticipation which is mostly worse than the reality. Just be careful and you can do it.

We also have a not yet begun Christmas cake jax. I’m threatening to take the decorations off and put it away for Mr C’s birthday in February .

Time I tried for sleep. It’s elusive at the moment, no matter, I’ve several new electronic books and one can keep me company without disturbing Mr C.

Goodnight everyone. Sleep tight.

Thank you, brook, sounds like you had good fun with your DD and DGC.

Redcar, you have been so well looked after by your DD and her family, but there's really no place like home, I understand you're ready to return. Best wishes for your continued recovery.

Kind thoughts to all in the quiet corner. 💕🙏

Take it easy the first few days back home redcar, it sounds like you’re well organised
Hoping nannytopsy is doing ok too and maybe home by now

How lovely that you managed to see all your family yesterday grannmarie, it sounds like a wonderful day making happy memories ❤️

Good evening, Soop and lovely Kitchen people.

Blossoming, how lovely to hear from you. I hope you enjoyed your afternoon tea. So sorry to hear about your condition. 💐 Best wishes to you and MrB.

Nannytopsy, wishing you well for your speedy recovery, hope you get home soon.

Very kind of you, FGT.

I hope Christmas Day went as well as possible for everyone, especially those finding it difficult this year. We has a great day, DS3 joined us for breakfast and presents, his poor girlfriend is still unwell. We then drove west for light lunch and presents with the Wee Boy and his Mummy and Daddy, he was delighted with all that Santa had brought him. It was lovely to see DH, DSs 2 and 3 and the Wee Boy all playing with his Hot Wheels racing track! Nice to see DDIL2's family too.
We left mid afternoon, DS3 laden with gifts for his girlfriend, DH and me driving an hour east to DS1, DDIL1, GS1, GD and Grandpup... we were spoiled with gifts and wonderful hospitality, DDIL1 is a super cook and baker. We enjoyed the traditional turkey with all the trimmings, and Yorkshires! Followed some time later with a delicious selection of cakes and hone made Baileys ice cream. We drove home late evening, tired and full but very thankful to have seen all our loved ones on Christmas Day.

Today has been very lazy, first day in weeks without an alarm, so I enjoyed a long lie. Spent the day watching TV 📺 (Wallace and Gromit, Call the Midwife, Gavin and Stacey) sipping Baileys, munching Purple Ones and having a good rest after weeks of to-ing and fro-ing. Tomorrow we'll join my sisters and most of the family for a festive quiz and curry night.

Wishing everyone a peaceful Thursday evening and a good night's sleep. TOYA, NNGB.

A good day today, calmer than yesterday! We ate a lot of leftovers for lunch, then visited friends this afternoon. The friends have young adult children, one of whom had rather a lot to drink last night. She was unable to help the others in playing with my four granddaughters who are considerably younger! But a good time was had by all. More leftovers for tea and then a quiet evening. I’m mostly packed ready to go home tomorrow, a bit apprehensive about it, but no doubt I’ll cope. I’m sure DD2 will call in over the weekend, as her Mil lives near me and they visit her regularly. A milk delivery on Friday night and a food delivery on Saturday and I’m all set!
Night night everyone.

That’s really kind of you both FGT, I bet you made his day!

‘Evening All’.

Re: ‘caring and sharing’.
This afternoon we were on our way to my stepfather’s for a chat and a glass of malt whisky (me, anyway). I decided to nip into the larder downstairs for some flowers and decided to pay at the quick speed till where lottery tickets are sold. I’m in the queue and the elderly gentleman behind me asks if I know whether there are any buses running today? Hmm. Not sure but don’t think so. We moved one up in the queue. “Where are you hoping to get to?” I asked.
“Stretford”.
“Well my husband and I are driving there now we can give you a lift if you’d like?”
This 86y old man, recently bereaved apparently, says “that’s very good of you thank you”.
He grinned when I said “it will be if you trust us not to hijack you or steal your wallet!”. 😁
A good deed happily done by both of us, a grateful passenger and a nice feeling for the end of the year. We’re chatty souls ‘oop North!

Hi to everyone in the kitchen today, thinking of those in the quiet corner and everyone finding the days difficult just now
We’ve not done much today except a short walk by the river in town, the water levels were quite high but it wasn’t flooded anywhere - just big puddles. We’re eating up leftovers today with an occasional chocolate now and again. We’ve not yet opened the Christmas cake but that might be a treat for later
Love the picture Jax especially the footprints!
Well done to your DGDs cornergran it can’t be easy fr them both
Hope you’ve enjoyed your afternoon tea Blossoming, sorry to hear you’re struggling so much, sending ❤️

Delightful to see you Blossoming you certainly have your challenges so your message is a treat, enjoy this afternoon.
I hope Nannytopsy is doing well and may be homeward bound, whilst Redcar is girding her loins to do exactly that, good luck both.
Brief panic yesterday evening as the fridge was having a wobble, seems to have settled today 🤞
Wonderful time yesterday here, the meal went well, my daughter and MrJ mucked in and the grandchildren helped. Son and family made a brief visit, running a pub at this time of year is tiring.
Picture from some years ago
Enjoy your Boxing Day all

Quiet one ahead for us after two days in perpetual motion. We loved every minute, blessed to spend time with our family, very well fed too although it’s very strange to be barred from the kitchen after 50+ years of cooking a Christmas meal.

Our carer teenage granddaughter found her shift draining yesterday when she realised for most of her clients she was the only person they would see on a day that for her has always been filled with loving family. Its a mixed time for both granddaughters as their Mum is away helping care for their grandmother who is now very separate and volatile as dementia advances. There was a heartbreaking FaceTime call which they managed beautifully, we’re so proud of them both.

A treat to see you posting blossoming, thank you for being here. Afternoon tea sounds just right. Take it steady nannyt, hope you’re comfortable.

No matter the shape of your days I hope there is something to enjoy for everyone.

‘Evening All’

Lovely to hear from you Blossoming just sorry to hear of the deterioration in your health. I do hope you enjoy the meet up with your family tomorrow.

We’re not long home. It was just perfect. One of the very best in so many ways. Eleven of us for dinner at 4pm. That said, I always prefer Boxing Day. Shh! Quieter, no pressure, calmer altogether. I like waking up tomorrow and remembering ‘it’s done’. My lovely mum knew this and every Boxing Day morning she’d ring me (I used to host everyone in our house back then) and say “Well it’s as far away now as it’s ever going to be!”. I miss my mum very much.

I hope all Kitcheners have enjoyed themselves. x

Good evening dear Kitcheners. The last couple of years have been a struggle as my vision is quite bad, screen use is limited and my mobility is non-existent. I now have an assisted wheelchair so that MrB can get me to appointments, etc, as I can only manage a few steps with my stick. Tomorrow we are going out for an afternoon tea with our lovely family, no little ones just us oldies 😊. I hope you are all doing well, I wish you a happy Christmas and New Year 🌹

Evening everyone. Hope you have all had a good day or the day you wished for.

We are not long home after going to son and his family for lunch. We had a wonderful time, Big relief as the presents for the GC were a big hit and kept them occupied all afternoon. We also received some lovely gifts and one or two you think why? DIL cooked a beautiful lunch. She sent us home with home made sausage rolls and hm chocolate log which we will be having soon so that I can enjoy a chocolate or two. Oh well it’s Christmas diets can wait 🤢

Just popped in to say I hope everyone has had a good day. And the Topsy's knee is letting her enjoy the day.

UTBB, I hope you have had a peaceful day. And, those of you with sadness and worry have had the best day possible.

DH and I have been at home on our own but busy fielding and replying to messages from children, inlaws, out laws, brothers, nieces and 8 grandchildren - it's been full on but lovely.

A Very Happy Christmas to everyone in Soop's kitchen. Have a lovely day xxx

Well done Nannytopsy
It’s all over now, just recovery which I hope is swift and relatively not too painful.
Mine was really good and such a relief.
Just keep positive and persist with the exercises.
It it really worthwhile.
Happy Christmas to you all.

Wishing you a speedy recovery Nannytopsy.

Best wishes to soop and all in the kitchen for a happy Christmas Day and for good health in the coming year🎅🏼🎄

Good news from you, Nannytopsy, take care as you recover.
You'll be looking forward to getting back home.