Soops warm and welcoming kitchen for kindly folk 🎄

Well it’s over for another year! Just to clear up the mess now. I hope everyone has had a good day, especially those who aren’t well, are alone, those who are unhappy and of course, those caring for their loved ones, perhaps on that path no-one wants to tread. X

I hope soop and all kitchen grans have had the best possible Christmas Day. Peace and goodwill to all.

Happy Christmas all. Bit late in been out all day. Love to the Soops and all who are poorly or lonely.

Merry Christmas, Soops and the kitcheners. I hope you have had the best day possible.
All went peacefully here, for which I am grateful 😊

Take care all

I’m sorry I didn’t make it yesterday - it was very hectic! A belated Happy Christmas to everyone, especially the soops. I am glad most people got together with their families. We had a rude awakening at 6 when DGC (3) woke up and took himself downstairs. He was frightened when nobody was there and it was dark. Also distraught that his cousins weren’t there to play with. Poor little soul.
Order has been restored and he’s having breakfast with his beloved Baba (grandad)

Good morning all.
I hope yesterday filled everyone’s expectations.
We had a lovely day, very lazy morning for me.
Present opening and then my GD and her BF went to have breakfast with his Gran and my two GS’s went to see their older brother and their baby nieces, my GGC, but a difficult relationship with their mother means I didn’t see them but I sent presents.
I shall not get a Thankyou but hey ho, I do what I think is right.

We then went out for lunch with friends, my GD’s close friend and her parents, we have got to know them very well and the H and my GD’s boyfriend are fellow golfers and get on very well.

It was a delicious meal, better than expected and the restaurant was very busy but oh such a lovely atmosphere.
We then went back to their home, I stayed two hours but then came home and went to bed for about 8:30 tired but happy.
The other two came home about 12:30.

Football today for one , dog walking for my GD with her friend and absolutely nothing doing for me.
In another life the family would come for a buffet meal with cold meats and salads and I would be so busy, remembered with the fondest of memories but not sadness or regret.

Enjoy your days everyone and kindest thoughts to you all.

Sending my good wishes to the soops and all the Kitcheners this Stephen’s day.
May the day be kind to you all.

A quiet day for me with some time with a friend later, so different from Christmases past when DH insisted on a Boxing Day walk whoever was staying with us, including former DIL’s American mother who lived in Arizona and thought trainers suitable for a muddy December walk. Hope everyone’s day goes to plan and without friction.

I drove ds home in the early afternoon then went for a nap. It was lovely to have him stay, but I like my own space to myself these days. I've watched old films and had turkey and ham leftovers courtesy of dd. I could tidy up the kitchen but I suspect I'll leave it til tomorrow. Such laziness! I hope you all had a nice Christmas Day and Boxing Day too.

Hi all, another cold day, more exercising, walking about, mostly on one crutch, I’m getting a little stir crazy though, might get MrJ to take me for a drive tomorrow.
My son is at my daughters, with friends, playing games and eating beef, he will stay there.
I hope you’ve all had a lovely day x

I never got dressed today.
I knew no one would visit so I “slobbed”, it has been glorious.

The last four Christmases were at DD’s as I’m now widowed. The first without DH was spent in floods of tears, unfortunately distressing the whole family. I would have preferred to be alone, but would have hurt DD dreadfully if I hadn’t joined her and family.
The next two were with fewer and fewer tears.
This one? I cried some and teared up some but generally had a good time. I suspect that it was because there were fewer of SiL’s family around. I’ve never been very good in busy groups, especially if I barely know them, however kind.
The teenagers were sweet, the parents in law were generally pleasant although the usually kind MiL was quite thoughtless at times. She speaks before thinking, and talks for England, but was generally fine.
I hope that you had as good a tim3 as possible.

Hello everyone. I’m still at DD1’s, tucked up in bed with a hot water bottle and reading your posts. It seems that an enjoyable day was had by most Kitcheners. We were at friends of my daughters this morning and for lunch, their children are now in their early twenties but very kindly play with my DGDs. A good time was had by all. My DD2 couldn’t join us as she had to go to a cousin of her DH (reluctantly).
I’ll go home tomorrow morning, with a pile of washing to do. The prospect of having to cook for myself isn’t that great, but I’ll make a New Year’s resolution to vary my diet and cook proper meals again!
Thinking of those in the quiet corner and hoping that the soops and fgts and dragonflys have all had an enjoyable time over Christmas.
jaxjacky, I’m sure a little drive would lift your spirits (obviously not you driving!). Well done for getting around on one crutch now.
Good night everyone, sleep well.

We have had a pretty lazy day apart from a mountain of washing up! We have entertained DGC but our DGS has hit the terrible twos now that he’s 3 and oh boy have we had some tantrums! In between, he’s been delightful 😍
We have just had a classic Boxing Day supper with cold meats etc - yummy.
I hope you all had a relaxing day and sleep well

Another one having a very lazy day here, just DH and I chilling out on the sofa, eating a few too many chocolates and watching festive TV. Hopefully a more productive day tomorrow
No harm in having a PJ day from time to time Uttb and good to hear Christmas was a bit better for you this year gMattie
Thinking of everyone in the quiet corner, take care all x

We’ve had a confusing and confused time while loving hosting our son and granddaughters, albeit at different times. It’s years since anyone was under our roof at Christmas and goodness, have I missed it.

Much to my surprise I thoroughly enjoyed cooking our meal and wasn’t at all stressed by it, although the timing had to stay flexible as it was driven by others. We’re discovering blended families have lives of their own and all we can do is hang on and wait for the chaos and uncertainty to settle. A challenge for someone who likes to plan to the nth degree and have certainty.

Today shaped itself into walk and a (late!) buffet for an extra four. All manageable. The two days have given so much pleasure in the chaos. We just hope our still sneezing son hasn’t left any bugs behind him! 🤧.

I’m shattered now and will try for sleep. Hope tomorrow is a good day for everyone.

Night, night. TOYA.

We were at Chesil Beach today on a walk along the shingle beach, , up through a field to somewhere called Labour-in-Vain farm and back to West Bexington for lunch.
At least that’s what 4 out of the 6 did, I found plodding through deep shingle several degrees worse that deep snow or even wading through deep mud, so GD and I turned round half way and ploughed our furrow back while the others plodded on through the shingle, mud, puddles and all!
Great lunch then we chilled at home with Trivial Pursuit, picky bits and champagne.
I’m off home tomorrow , it’s been short visit but at the same time long enough, it’s nice to get back to “normal” isn’t it?
I hope everybody has found joy and love this Christmas, no emergencies, no alarms, no family fall outs but many happy memories.
“When times are hard, lean on the happy memories”

I remember walking along Chesil Beach Rosies and how very difficult the shingle is to walk on! A lovely place though
Corner I think that’s really sound advice re blended families, such a positive and flexible attitude. I’m still trying to get used to the differences with my DGC now that their mum and dad have separate lives and their dad is in a new relationship. Times change though so we just have to go with the flow

🤔have I missed something here? What or who is Soop?

shill29 soop is an elderly lady who started this thread many years ago. Sadly she is very unwell at the moment and only uses a desktop computer (I believe) so finds it hard to post very often. As the title says, it’s a warm and welcoming place for us to chat, share our experiences and be comforted if in difficulties.

I hope I’ve explained it correctly, no doubt others will add to my post.

I came home from DD1s this morning, my back is complaining about all the different chairs I’ve been sitting in since Christmas Eve. I’ve done my washing, tumbled it dry and now of course have to iron it. I’ve put away most of my Christmas presents - I have far too many boxes of biscuits and chocolates, if I’m sensible, they’ll last me several weeks!
Enjoy the rest of your day everyone.

Our lovely soop started the kitchen as a haven when GN was going through a bit of a torrid time.

I wouldn't say she is an 'elderly' lady but a sparky, funny and very caring older lady.

Regardless of the heading of the thread, in my head, it is always Soop's kitchen.

Sending love to the soops and to baggs who is our gobetween.

Hope all kitcheners have had a good Christmas we had family Boxing day after a quiet Christmas day,today we have spent cleaning up and relaxing .
Take care all .

My apologies to soop for calling her elderly, I hope she isn’t upset about it. I hope she and her DH have enjoyed a happy Christmas together.

Good evening Kitcheners. A quiet day for me. I met my friend at the local garden centre for breakfast this morning. Her daughter joined us and insisted on paying. We had a lovely breakfast and a blether with lots of laughs. This afternoon I watched Some Like it Hot, one of my favourite films. Dinner was chipolatas with red cabbage and mash. Plain but tasty. At the moment, I'm lying on my bed because my leg is a bit sore, but I'll get up in a bit to load the dishwasher. It's nice to recharge my battery sometimes. I hope you are all well.

It’s been so lovely having everyone here but they went home this morning and peace is restored! We have their dog until mid January but she is pretty good, apart from wriggling into bed with us if she gets cold. 😆
Cold turkey etc shortly - a meal I very much enjoy.
Have a good evening one and all. X