Soops warm and welcoming kitchen for kindly folk 🎄

Good evening! It’s another chilly evening but we are tucked up in front of the TV. I did a wreath making activity on Saturday morning, so this afternoon I used the left over rings and greenery to make two rings and three boughs ready for decorations in the church. 😇
We have done some clearing of the house, ready for Sunday lunch with the family. Always creates chaos! Once they have gone, we can start to get ready for Christmas.
We have had a few Christmas days on our own Yiayia and enjoyed making it different. Out for a walk after starters, then home for our mains. Found a really good film to watch in the evening. At the moment, with 13 for Christmas lunch, including 3 toddlers, it sounds appealing!
Thinking of you all, particularly our dear soop.

For you Yiayia - it’s understandable you are torn between your family or your newly adopted sweetie-pie Spiros.
As lifelong cat lovers and rescuers we would choose to be in our own home with our adopted cats.
If we all had a feline-lover Charleygirl nearby we would invite her to stay and keep our precious cats company.
Our dear pets depend on us to put them first, especially at holiday times like Christmas.
I hope you spoil yourself at home and enjoy the companionship of your darling Spiros , he is a a very beautiful cat.

Thanks TillyTrotter Much as I would like to, I would love to adopt another cat, but the practical problems are many, as I can no longer drive.

I will be on my own at Christmas, and Spiros and I would get along just fine. Nobody around here owns a cat so I rarely see one locally.

It breaks my heart to read so many are dumped in this cold weather.

So cosy, to be sitting here all warm and comfortable, and 'chatting' to lovely Posters.
Yes, cats are precious.

Good morning all.
My cat Molly is loved by us all and is a huge comfort to me.
I am not feeling any better today, in fact I think I am worse.
I have cancelled meals out tonight and tomorrow sadly.
As my family know, I now expect every Christmas to be my last, so having to cancel social plans which would have been enjoyable is a blow to me 😉😉
I hope none of you succumb to this bug, whatever it is.

I’m at DD1’s today, keeping the dog company and collecting grandchildren from school later. DD2 very kindly drove me here, put my Christmas tree up for me and took me to the garden centre on our way! Unfortunately the dog has an upset tummy and had left us a little “present” on the kitchen floor. Fortunately DD2 cleared it up as I would have struggled to do it! My neighbour’s cat just used to leave half eaten mice on the doormat for us, not sure which is worse!

utbb I’m so sorry that your cold is worse and that you’ve had to cancel your planned meals out. I do hope you feel better soon.

Utbb are you sure it isn't flu? It's apparently particularly bad this year. Take care x
Nativity was good this morning. The singing was very strong. Dgs1 spoke his lines beautifully. I've done the food shop and I'm having a lie down before late lunch then the Christmas carol karaoke curry night.

Afternoon, I was overtaken by tireditiss last night and retired early, woke to frost this morning, then it rained!
I’ve been to stretch class and awaiting food 🚚.
I do hope you can book Yia it’ll be a different, but special Christmas for you both plus one 🐈‍⬛.
Dose up and stay warm utbb very disappointing for you, I understand.

Hi kitchen pals, a quiet day here today but I really enjoyed pottering about in the garden for a couple of hours, clearing leaves and generally tidying up. It seemed to get much colder mid afternoon so I retreated indoors for a warm up, I meant to get on with some housework but fell asleep on the sofa instead - oh dear I think everything is catching up on me. I woke with a stiff neck so I’ve been for a warm shower and now got my pjs on and looking for something to watch on tv
I hope you’re feeling much better soon uttb, such a shame you’re missing out on your events, rubbish timing
DH has arrived safely in Manchester, all the men are going out for a curry tonight, echos of the past!
Well done to your DGS grandmabatty, hoping your curry night is going well, and the singing too

Evening all! I hope you have each had a reasonable evening. I’m still coughing too much but otherwise ok. I hope you are improving UTBB.
We had curry too tonight, from the freezer. I really need to make some more space for Christmas goodies.
Time for bed I think!

Nice I love this ❤️

Trying to catch up. Apologies, my brain won’t hold a lot of information just now. Family issues continue, we can’t see an end so I must adapt.

I hope your daughter can enjoy her future utbb, not quite the same situation but we’ve also had a family member financially mistreated in divorce proceedings. Fortunately a while ago now. Like your daughter they got to the point of just needing it all to end. I’m sorry you are so unwell and missing social events you were looking forward to but good for you for staying home both for yourself to help you recover and also for others. I hope you feel much better very soon, you do sound proper poorly. I also wish the coughing and sneezing folk sat near us on a coach today had copied you and stayed home. 🤞 we ducked that bullet.

In any case it was a good day, our pre Christmas outing. Don’t laugh, we went to the Harry Potter studios, the fourth time we’ve been. Yes, this will be the final visit - probably . Mr C is a big fan and I must own I also enjoy it. Interesting and also fun. We see something new each time. The first time we went I rode a broomstick. No heckling please - the evidential CD is hidden! A long day though sadly with caffeine after lunch (Mr C forgot to ask for de-caffeinated and returned from a very long queue looking more than shame faced ) which means sleep is more elusive than usual. As I usually have no caffeine at all it doesn't take much to upset my internal apple cart. Oh well. Saturday won’t need much brain power so not the end of the world. The iPad holds no less than three new library books. The challenge will be deciding where I begin.

Hope you all rest well. TOYA

The mind boggles-where were you going on the broomstick? Were you leaving Mr C behind? That's a bit harsh.
I agree, People have homes they can stay when they cough and sneeze.

Birdbrain is alive and well, thinking I was still due my WFA. I double checked and I was paid 3 weeks ago. How I missed £300 is beyond me.

A podiatrist visited for the second time. I had told her about the disastrous lunch out with friends, then she asked me how many carers visited here! She saw I was walking independently so where she got that stupid idea, I don't know.

The Harry Potter studios sounds like a brilliant day out corner, good on you both for going - 4th time is impressive! Its a bit far from here but I’d love to go, both DDs and families have been and thoroughly enjoyed it
A quiet day for me here, a bit of shopping this morning and then a bit more tidying in the garden this afternoon. It’s very quiet with DH being away so it’ll probably be an early night after watching Strictly and then maybe a Christmas film later. DD2 phoned earlier but it was just to have a whinge so I just listened and agreed then left her to it. I think she just needed to offload on someone and its usually me 🤷‍♀️
Easily done when there’s lots going on charley at least you know you’ve definitely received it
Hoping all our poorly kitcheners are feeling a bit better soon, take care all x

I'm watching Home Alone while eating dinner. Then, like you Brook, I'll be watching Strictly.
I went to the garden centre this morning and picked up Christmas presents and cards. Then home to strip the bed, do the washing etc. The washing is all complete and the bed has been remade with winter bedding. The house has been polished and hoovered and the bathroom cleaned. The kitchen is tidy. Everything is ready to decorate for Christmas which I'll do tomorrow. Like your dd2, * Brook*, I expect a visit from dd and the boys tomorrow to use my tumble dryer. Mum comes in handy! Enjoy your evening Kitcheners.

Hi all, a tiny spot of rain today, so nearly dry, not so tomorrow, a full 8 hours sleep last night, it makes a difference, sorry you struggle corner. But what a lovely day out toHP, my daughter took the children a while ago
Library today, 6 books, that’ll be me for a while, we only read books at bedtime or on hot holidays. I picked Imogen up and dropped her at the local for work, MrJ was with friends watching football, it was busy, work pay an Uber for Imogen home.
I hope you’re feeling a little better utbb, I’m also thinking of those in the quiet corner and our soop ❤️
Have a gentle evening all.

We are watching Thorne on ITV X while eating our lasagne. A very acceptable meal.
It’s church tomorrow - we have monthly services - and it’s my turn on cleaning and flowers. DH and I went up and cleaned, set up the advent candles etc.
DS and family coming for lunch tomorrow so pork is defrosting. DH will do a mountain of roasties. 🤣

Good evening everyone, 🥰.
I've had a busy day, Christmas cleaning this morning then decorating the tree 🎄 and the living/ dining room this afternoon/ evening. I needed a wee rest in between! I'm just catching up on Strictly now. I'd been procrastinating all week as DH and I used to do it together, but I asked Alexa to play Christmas songs and just got on with it. So relieved it's done before DS and lovely girlfriend come for curry tomorrow evening.

Grandmabatty, your Curry / Karaoke night sounds great, lovely to have all the family gathered.

Well done on your gardening brook, mine is quite neglected these days. I hope to manage a tidy up during the week, my ancient hellebore ( it was my Mum's) is in bud so it needs a wee top up of compost and some feeding.

Cornergran, DH and I loved the Harry Potter experience when we went to Florida with the grandchildren years ago, out of this world!

UsedToBeBlonde, I'm sorry you're not well and missing your planned outings. Hope you recover soon, better now than at Christmas.

Your family lunch sounds delicious, Nannytopsy! Enjoy!

Jaxjacky, all my working life I only read at bedtime and holidays. When I retired and realised that I could read during the day, I felt quite decadent!!

Redcar, I hope the wee dog is OK now.

Thinking of our Soops, FGTS and all with illness, worries or sorrow.
Wishing everyone a peaceful Saturday evening and a good night's sleep. TOYA, NNGB.

grannmarie apparently the dog ate her dinner later yesterday evening
(She turned her nose up at it when I put it down for her) and is fine now, thank you.
A pottering day for me, changed the bedding, including the duvet cover, washed and tumbled it dry. I finished wrapping the granddaughter’s Christmas presents, and some treats for the dog. I need to do Christmas cards now.
I started to decorate the Christmas tree, I haven’t done it for years, my daughters did it when they were young and now their daughters like to do it. I’ve put some decorations on and whoever comes over tomorrow can finish it!
Thinking of those who are poorly and hope they have a good sleep tonight.
I hope that soop and her DH are keeping warm and comfortable.
Night night everyone.

What a quiet kitchen! DS, 2x DGC, his step daughter and her toddler came to Sunday lunch and have not long gone. DH is already asleep in his chair 😆
My cleaner is coming tomorrow and the plan is to clean ready for the Christmas decorations. We have a pre Christmas do on Saturday, so need to make a start. We will not get the tree yet or the needles will have fallen by Christmas.
Hope you’re all having a good day.

I’ve written our Christmas cards this afternoon and I’m just enjoying a ‘wee dram’ of Dalwhinnie malt to celebrate. I’ve culled some names from the list. It was an executive decision.

Two dozen cards on the hall table, stamped and ready to go.

I’m so very grateful again this Christmas to have been able to write both of our names on the cards. That truly meant a lot to me. 💕

cornergran I love Harry Potter studios, especially this time of year when the hall is fully decorated with all things Christmas 🎄

Pork is in the oven, I have had a busy day catching up on my Saturday chores. I had a fabulous day in London with my sister yesterday (National Theatre to see Ballet Shoes, dinner afterwards and putting the world to rights over a very nice wine)

Thinking of our dear soop 🎄🤶🏻

Oh FGT2 your Christmas cards have brought a tear to my eyes 😘

Hi all, a drizzly day, farm shop - where a small potted tree fell in my car - plus the veg I went for, I stepped in a very deep puddle and one foot was soaked.
Hoovering and dusting completed, I yet again faffed with grocery delivery lists, I keep remembering essential items, like mint imperials 🙂.
FGT 🥰

Good evening Kitcheners. Fgt keep on keeping on. ❤️ Jaxjacky a wee Christmas tree fell into my car yesterday. It's at my front door and is sparkling with lights.
It's been very wet here, particularly this evening. I was glad I made myself go Christmas shopping this morning. This afternoon I did the Christmas tree and decorations and I'm glad that's done too. Dinner was chicken and leek in a cheese sauce with mash. I have enough for tomorrow too. I should write the Christmas cards but I think I'll leave them til tomorrow. Enjoy your evening Kitcheners