Soops warm and welcoming kitchen for kindly folk 🎄

Oh Brook, as you say they is always something isn't there? I hope she feels better soon, Christmas will be a good distraction I expect too.
Redcar... You are good doing all your ironing, while searching out the Christmas Decs in the basement I came across my ironing pile that included the shirt that DH wore at out wedding 6 months ago. Eeek.
Blossoming , It's lovely to read that you are back to your daily walks and waving to the Santa Trains. Whenever we visit Dunster and the West Somerset steam trains pass by I wave like mad and always think of Jenny Agutter shouting 'Daddy my Daddy at the end of the Railway Children.
NannyT...from past experience it might be a wee bit of a waste of time tidying up with littlies and a dog arriving 😱
Granmarie.. What a lovely present from your sisters. I hope you have had a lovely time and road tested lots of Gluhwein. Safe journey
home.
GG... That's not nice to have to be on steroids, if only they had listened to you earlier. I hope you feel better soon and are able to enjoy the festivities.
Safe journey to my neck of the woods RAHM, I hope the cakes survive the journey ok too.
UTBB...Well done for surviving a supermarket, we could hardly move in Aldi and Waitrose... You'd have thought a famine was imminent rather than a 2 day break in shops opening. Enjoy your stilton, I have to say cheese made with coconut oil sounds particularly revolting.
Jax.... Every day you'll see and feel a little improvement and getting your appetite back is brilliant news. You can enjoy all the lovely Christmas goodies ( and even better you won't have to cook them 🙂)
We have come away in MoHo Maeve and are spending Christmas in Pembrokeshire. We saw a sign yesterday that said' You me and the dogs ' and that describes us perfectly.
MoHo Maeve is very luxurious I have to admit and we have some sort of awning thing( I call it the annex) which has made a huge difference as the dogs can be towelled dry etc rather than actually in the Moho. It's also good for dumping wet coats and muddy sandy boots. I cant remember if I told you all about my bargain buy from the charity shop...it was a brand new still in its packaging dress like thing made out of a sort of soft snuggly teddy bear material. Is that a oodie?
Anyway if you had told me 2 years ago that I would be walking to a shower block wearing such item and spending Christmas in a MoHo I'd have declared you insane but I did and I am.
DH said the jury is still out on his opinion of my Pooh Bear outfit...he said it could all change if there was something exciting underneath it on Christmas day.!!!! I think the look on my face told him all he needed to know!!!!!
I had my weepy day ( missing Christmas joys of past with my girls and Grandsons) last Friday, DH blames himself for the estrangement which is wrong and I didn't want him feeling bad so I told him I was crying because of the hip pain and dodgy hormones due to a change in HRT.
I gave myself a good talking to and slapped on 2 patches instead of 1 and I felt much better the next day. It will always hurt but I am very blessed in so many other ways. Watching the dogs careering across the beach at my beloved Tenby yesterday with DH at my side ( making sure my dodgy hip didn't give way) my heart was full.
Just between you and me I did pack a little red number to wear under the oodie on Christmas morning too. Oops to much information probably but I bet it made you all smile. 😄

I hope the poorly girls have a good Christmas regardless. A good day here - mostly wrapped and ready, so we have tomorrow morning to finally tidy up before the two littlest arrive with their minders and the dog tomorrow afternoon.
Hoping for a good night’s sleep …

Thank you all ❤️
I remember you letting us know about your DGD Rosies, poor girl, I hope she’s healing well - lovely cakes, very impressive 👍

DGD not GDG

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202512/medium-8i6q5v-img-20251211-wa0000.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202512/medium-5oxh99-img-3849.jpeg

Oh poor DGD Brook, maybe she and my GD Pippa could commiserate with each other?
(Although my GDG is apparently milking it for all it’s worth eg “Mummy I’ve left my book upstairs” etc etc! )
I hate to tempt fate but I think I’m ready! Presents wrapped, shopping done, village cards delivered and the booze (which I’m providing) also delivered by Mr Waite and Mr Rose.
This was my last job, Christmas cakes for the girls and one for me.
Just got to take Rosie to kennels tomorrow and drive myself to Somerset on Christmas Eve.

I am here, on steroids, have put in a complaint with GP practice manager regarding my appointment with trainee GP / Associate Physician

Fortunately the Practice Manager is also asthmatic, she listened, understood and agreed.

Nightie Night folks

Poor GD brook I hope she soon gets back to normal.
Good work with the ironing Redcar
I don’t think I know where mine is!!
I buy clothes specifically for their no ironing label.

I hope you have a good sleep grandmabatty.

granmarie lovely photos of Bratislava, very festive! brook your poor granddaughter , 6 weeks will feel a very long time for her, but I bet she’ll soon be charging about on her crutches.
utbb well done for having an outing to Sainsbury’s!, glad you enjoyed it.
jaxjacky you must be pleased to have your sense of taste and your appetite back in time for Christmas! Lovely to have help with the wrapping.
Today was unexpectedly sunny, so I had my usual walk and met some dog walking friends. Then I took some flowers to the churchyard for my DH’s grave. I met a friend there, doing the same for her DH, so had a hug and chat with her.
This afternoon I did the ironing, then another friend called in, so a sociable day!
Dentist for a checkup tomorrow morning!
Enjoy the rest of the evening Kitcheners.

Thank you, grandmabatty I hope you get a much better nights sleep tonight x

brook poor girl. I hope she's ok. Grannmarie lovely photos.
I achieved almost none of my tasks today. After a very bad nights sleep, I ended up having a two hour nap this afternoon. I've gone to bed now in the hope I can sleep for a few hours. Tomorrow will be busy. Enjoy your evening Kitcheners.

Lovely pictures grannmarie thank you for sharing and enjoy your last evening in Bratislava, safe travels home
Good to hear you’re gradually getting a bit better, Jax, what an ordeal
Just back from DD2s, she’d taken DGD to the hospital as she’d hurt her foot at the weekend on a trampoline - turns out it’s fractured so she came home with a boot on and with crutches - poor girl, they’ve said 6 weeks - there’s always something!
Lovely presents for your DH blossoming
Thinking of everyone in the quiet corner, take care all x

Well done utbb very determined!
Pretty Grannmarie pleased you’re having an enjoyable time.
My progress today has been recovering taste and appetite - just in time.
Granddaughter came round do to do some wrapping for me, a very happy hour or so.
Enjoy your evening all.

Of course it was medicinal Grannmarie I hope it worked.
Out of my recent comfort zone today, I-got up early for me (9am) and got dressed straightaway, had a small breakfast and got a taxi up to Sainsbury’s.
I haven’t been for ages.
I needed cash from the machine and there is a Timpsons kiosk and I wanted a small repair on y watch strap.
Of course I had to go in the store for last minute bits and pieces.
It was very busy but not enough to phase me as it can do sometimes.
The pin my watch strap need won’t be in until after Christmas of course and because of my poor eyesight I came home with a packet of 4 cheeses “ manufactured “ from coconut oil instead of milk.
That’s probably in the food waste, fortunately I did get mature cheddar and Stilton.
I also got enough cash to see me through the next couple of weeks, maybe more as I hardly ever use it.
I enjoyed my little outing, came back ready for a sit down and a cuppa but felt pleased I had made the effort.
Kindest thoughts as ever to those who would love to go out but can’t and to the not so well and their carers.

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202512/medium-dcimkp-20251222-160820.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202512/medium-53wjuv-20251222-120436.jpg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202512/medium-5o1pc-20251222-114508.jpg

Greetings from grey and damp Bratislava, just like home weather wise! We've been out all day exploring the castle and Christmas markets, very festive atmosphere in the old town. I'm exhausted with the walking, I've been so short of breath since I had Covid, must build up some stamina in the New Year. Photos show castle, markets and hot rum with honey and lemon, purely medicinal!!

Home tomorrow, last minute things to do.
Wishing everyone a happy and peaceful Christmas, thinking especially of our Soops, FGTS and all with illness, worries or sorrow. TOYA

Good evening dear Kitcheners. FGT2 it’s so good to read your more upbeat post, hope your man continues to do well. MrB and I have had a quiet weekend, walking and watching Santa trains. We didn’t need to go anywhere so we didn’t 😊. I haven’t been able to do any of the things I used to do for past Christmases, which I enjoyed very much but no longer have the strength or energy for, so I’m concentrating on what I can do. The only wrapping needed is MrB’s presents which I hope he’ll like. I splurged on some very expensive noise cancelling headphones from John Lewis and have also got him some Christmas chocolate treats from Kennedy’s and some posh skin and beard care products. I haven’t sent any cards, I have made a donation to Crisis as the plight of the homeless is getting to me at the moment. So many people without food or shelter in a country as rich as ours is disgraceful. I can’t volunteer my services but I can donate, so I did.
Wishing you all a restful night xx

Hello everyone, a fairly grey day here and raining again now. One of my sons in law came over this morning to continue to sort out the email saga! I realised last night that although I could receive email, I couldn’t send any on the phone or iPad. The pc was ok though. Anyway, all well now except I think the tv isn’t connected to the internet. Not a problem as I generally only watch terrestrial tv. First world problems again!
Had my usual hour long catch up phone call with my friend in Kent.
No doubt I’ll be thinking of her problems for half the night!!
jaxjacky it’s always difficult to get all the components of dinner cooked and ready to serve at the same time isn’t it!
Night night everyone.

Oh Jax you poor thing ❤️

Hoping you’re doing ok Jax and you sleep well tonight, sounds like Mr J is looking after you very well
A busy morning here with DGS, took him home just after lunch then did a bit more food shopping. I’ve still got my cough but it’s gradually easing. Tomorrow I’ve promised to help DD2 do some tidying up, she’s up to her eyes in wrapping and shopping etc and still working until Christmas Eve - I remember those days well. I enjoyed our regular Sunday morning video call with DS, he’s just off on a skiing holiday and then we’re meeting up briefly in Edinburgh just after Christmas
I think it gets to us all uttb, these days I just tend to go with the flow and enjoy the best bits, with little treats along the way
Thinking of everyone in the quiet corner, take care all x

I’m too scared to sleep any other way utbb

JaxJacky at least you have someone cooking for you, good on him.
I hope you soon feel better and recover well.
I think your op and aftermath is worse because it wasn’t a straightforward replacement.
The accident must have made the operation trickier.
People I have known who have broken their hip, several actually, have just had a repair so I feel you had a forward thinking surgeon.
Do you find sleeping in your back a problem?
It was the worst part of recovery for me I think.
I hope all our kitcheners sleep well .

Hi all, MrJ a little out on dinner timings, just serving.
I hope Granmarie is having a lovely time and GG13 is feeling ok, she said her chest was tight.
A busy day with visitors, grateful, but tiring.
Enjoy your evening.

Hello kitchen people.

We all seem very busy.

Younger son and I cooked lunch. Beautiful roast beef with the best gravy, Yorkshire pudding, vegetables, roast potatoes. Raspberry and blackberry crumble (I made two the other week) and lemon ice cream for pudding.

I drove younger son to Oxford to catch his train.

I feel a bit zonked now. I might make a beef sandwich for later and watch an old ‘Foyle’s War’.

Have a good evening.

Thinking of the Soop’s and the FGT2S.

Good afternoon.
The last of the local cards have just been delivered for me by my GD, I have ordered two last minute gifts from Amazon Prime which will be delivered tomorrow.
I have sent my S money to his bank to give to the two teenage GS and I am done.
It really gets worse every year and I have decided I am too old for all the faff.
I went out for a meal last night with my friend across the road and am I now indoors until we go out for Lunch on Christmas day.
I have not actually been out Christmas shopping this year, I had the virus for 10/12 days and it all went over my head.
Much as I would really like to shop locally I can’t so Amazon and Boots have been my friends this year.

We have two Christmas trees up and some outside lights and this morning I have put the cards received up.

I feel like Grinch this year, old age or just apathy?

I hope sincerely that those of you who love the season are enjoying and all our dear friends with illness to cope with, for themselves or loved ones are doing ok.

Thank you, brook, although I still feel I've forgotten something!

Glad you're feeling a bit better, look after yourself well and have a lovely Christmas.

Have a wonderful time grannmarie and well done in being so organised ❤️