Soops warm and welcoming kitchen for kindly folk 🎄

Hello kitchen people. Hello GM!

My toe is 99.9% better so I’m pleased. I drove to church - the smallest in the Benefice. Just five in the congregation plus the priest and the organist.

I cooked a tasty dinner. Chicken cooked in milk, garlic, nutmeg and lemon zest - a Diana Henry recipe. Served with a pilaff. Pudding was an old fashioned Queen of Puddings.

I hope all is well with the FGT2S.🌹

I hope your appointment goes well tomorrow jaxjacky.
I’m pleased your toe is better llfl, you must be so relieved to be more comfortable.
Thoughts to those in the quiet corner and hoping that all is well with the soops and fgts
Night night everyone.

Jax all the very best for tomorrow and I hope all the "poorlies" are slowly getting better.

Hoping all goes well tomorrow Jax, I’ll be thinking of you
We’ve had another busy enjoyable day here, we went to the Botanical gardens, not that much to see in January although they did have a winter interest garden which was quite pretty, the glasshouses were open and they had loads of snowdrops in bloom throughout the gardens. It wasn’t sunny but felt quite mild and we even sat outside at the cafe for coffee and cakes. I’ll be travelling back home tomorrow, the flight isn’t until the evening so I’ve all day to gradually make my way to Gatwick.
Good to hear your toe is better llfl
A late Happy Birthday to Bertie kitty and well done to him with the coaching
I’m also thinking of soop and the fgts and hoping all is well

Good luck for tomorrow jax.

The January blues have hit here. I’ve been getting steadily more grumpy for a week. No patience. Nothing pleasing me. Little things seem mountainous. To cap it all I bashed my head on the open fridge door and dropped crumbly cheese on the kitchen floor. What a mess. Poor Mr C can do nothing right. Family uncertainties are getting me down and I’m worried about Mr C. It also doesn't help that I’m so bone weary. Oh well. Tomorrow is another day. I’ll give myself a shake and do better. I’m ashamed of myself.

Good news about your toe ladylfl, pleased for you.

Super news about Bertie kitty. A real accolade. Isn’t it wonderful when positives just appear for the family?

Thoughts as ever are with the soops and fgt along with all with personal mountains to climb.

Night night everyone, sleep tight.

Cornergran, 💐.

Good evening kitchen folk. Cornergran I feel for you. Brook I suppose you are on your way home. Safe journey. grannmarie I hope you are ok.
Today has been ok. I had a rotten night but I've managed ok today. Dgs2 was very much in tantrum mode thus morning and made the morning difficult. However he settled down eventually. Both boys were good after school. I worked in the school library in the afternoon and dgs2 joined me and helped put books away. I had bits and pieces for dinner and finished up some food in the fridge.
Tonight I'll have an early night after my early start. Enjoy your evening

We have The Imp here for a sleepover, he is fed and bathed.

He has never really eaten much meat, but knowing his big brother always has steak when he is here asked if he could have steak, chips and salad for dinner. Of course we obliged, he cleared his plate.

Tomorrow for breakfast he has requested boiled eggs and soldiers.

As you can probably guess we are total pushovers as far as the GC are involved.

cornergran I know what mean regarding January blues, I am rather down.

Cornergran I don't know what to say except perhaps you are fortunate and live in London so can't pop in to sort you out!

If you don't like to dine out when it is cold and dark, maybe you could order a takeaway and open a bottle of wine? One less meal to prepare.

I have been nowhere and done zilch except order some bargains on Bonmarche, a top for £3 to name one. I need what I ordered like a hole in the head except a scarf, possessing none!

About to dine and then watch Lynley. Look after yourselves.

I’ve had a quiet day today, went for a walk and met up with my dog walking friends for a chat. Didn’t do much else, some washing and ironing, then caught up with yesterday’s papers.
I was tempted to do some gardening, but decided not to do any just yet, it’s still too cold and muddy outside. But I’m itching to get out there and make a start.

When I went to my godmother’s house at the end of December, I brought back some notebooks. They contained the minutes from the local Conservative ladies group that she belonged to. It took a while to decipher her writing, but were quite entertaining!
I’m not sure what to do with them, but I can’t imagine that they’d be of interest to anyone but me! Most of the ladies are sadly no longer with us!

cornergran today was supposed to be “blue Monday” so hopefully your mood may improve soon!

jaxjacky i hope your consultant was encouraging today.

I’m tired this evening, after laying awake until about 1 o’clock last night and waking up at 6.15 when the heating came on!
Night night everyone.

Thanks grandmabatty I’m home now, the flight was on time but the train journey from Cambridge to Gatwick was fraught with problems. But all behind me now and I’m pleased to be home. We saw the most amazing Aurora lights over Inverness this evening, a really stunning show. I think they’re still ongoing but I need my bed, DH is outside in the garden somewhere getting a few photos
Hope those suffering the January blues feel a bit brighter soon and there’s some sunshine in the days ahead
It’s always hard to know what to do with things like that Redcar but maybe hang onto them for a while, there may be someone who is interested
Good appetites there GG how lovely 👍
Hope everyone sleeps well, take care all x

A late good evening to all in Soop's kitchen.

I hope that Cornergran managed some restful sleep, that Jaxjacky's appointment went well, and that brook had a good day in Cambridge and a smooth journey home.

Wishing for better days for our dear Soop, the FGTs and all who are suffering in any way.

Thank you Grandmabatty, I'm OK. I'm glad you're OK too! I think OK is as good as it gets just now, I'm just lacking in energy and motivation, can't make the simplest decision, wish I could order some "Get up and go" from A****n!!

DSis2 and I counted the parish collections this afternoon, so fingers crossed 🤞 for Aquafit tomorrow. Counting on a Tuesday morning left us too late for the class. I went shopping for birthday cards afterwards, seven upcoming in February!

I enjoyed my TV quizzes, very close University Challenge! Hope you get back to your quiz soon, Jaxjacky, you must be missing it.

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

Evening all!
I have been to a Benefice Council Meeting ( think of an oversized parish council). Yawn!
Having eaten too many Jaffa cakes I came home and had cheese and biscuits. Diet? What diet?
I should have gone out in the garden again but it was chilly. Maybe tomorrow?
I hope everyone sleeps well tonight x

I hope those with the ‘glums’ are feeling a tad better. We had sunshine today which improved my mood no end.

Wishing all those with medical matters to cope with a time of calm and quiet, esp Soop and FGT.

Redcar you could ask if the nearest Conservative association wants the note books, or you could offer them to your local museum or library archives, for their local history files.

Wishing you all a quiet night. Xxx

Evening all.
Grannmarie, if you find any get up and go please send me some. Got up this morning with the intention of doing things on my to do list. What did I do? All of the puzzles in the paper, played games on iPad and then it was lunch time. The best laid plans…….
I enjoy the Monday quizzes too.
Thinking those with health or family worries, especially dear Soop and the Fgts
Early hair appointment tomorrow so hopefully the walk there will give me the incentive to actually do something 😂 about my ever growing list.
Sleep tight.

I’m late in again. Been busy doing very little today.

A better day including being warmly welcomed by a volunteer in a charity shop when we staggered in with a huge bag of donations. We were told it was just like Christmas. Made my day.

Mr C had his hearing aids sorted so there will be less fraught conversation between us. Always a good thing. An excellent hot chocolate rounded off our trip out nicely.

After offloading the detail of the weight I’ve been carrying to a friend I’ve felt more resilient. I’m so grateful for her non judgemental support. Nothing has gone away, I’m just better able to edge around it. Onwards and upwards now.

Sounds as if the trains weren’t cooperating brook but how wonderful to be treated to the aurora lights. We were fortunate to experience several displays while on a trip to the top of Norway, sadly not in a good geographical spot to see them in the UK. We found the whole experience awe inspiring.

Hope today went well jax and you’ll sleep well tonight.

Know what you mean about decisions granmarie, frustrating isn’t it? The ability I prized to assess quickly and make sensible decisions seems to be in hiding. I’ve promised I’ll be kind to it if it just reappears .

Those notebooks are social history redcar, hang onto them, the right place for them will appear in time I’m sure.

Best settle for sleep now. A financial meeting in the morning will need concentration, we know some folk are very cross and it will be contentious. Oh joys. There will be a need for a treat afterwards.

Sleep well everyone.

Hi kitchen pals, it’s another cold day up here in Inverness
I’m just home from the gym, I really struggled earlier with the motivation to get there but was pleased I’d made the effort. I think for me the social side is as important as the physical benefits as it was lovely to see such friendly welcoming faces. I did an aerobics class then had a coffee with my pal and then an hours line dancing class. I’ve got home, made a cuppa and will probably take root on the sofa for a while. I’m feeling slightly fed up as I seemed to have developed yet another chesty cough, I don’t feel ill but the cough is annoying. With one thing and another it’s not been a good start to the year but I know many on here have many more worrying things to deal with so I’m definitely not complaining.
I’m the same with decision making these days grannmarie and corner, I used to think nothing of it but it’s hard there days with lots of ‘what ifs’ .. I’m also finding that my confidence is taking a bit of a hit too … oh well the joys of ageing!
I hope Jax is doing ok
Hope you got to Aquafit today grannmarie
Thinking of our dearest soop, the fgts and everyone in the quiet corner, take care all x

A quick visit from the quiet corner to catch up on your news and report on mine.
After a positive post on the visit from my GS, his partner and the two young GGD’s that was as far as it went.The older one was 2 on Saturday, we sent cards, small presents and photographs via WhatsApp of larger presents we had bought saying they could take home what they would like and we would leave some here for when they visit.
No reply, no response at all, I am disappointed but my S, their Grandfather is very upset.He has really tried to bond with the partner but she really doesn’t want us in their lives.
One reads about estrangement but never ever expects it will impinge on your own family.
I know we are not alone but that doesn’t help.
My GS who lives with us, very autistic, overslept this morning, because he was so stressed he then took an hour in the bathroom, it is a good job we have a downstairs shower room as he couldn’t be persuaded to come out.He was an hour and a half late leaving, I am not looking forward to him coming home.
I do not need this.
January is proving as difficult for me as for many of you.
Will next month be any better?
We can only hope.

Oh uttb my heart goes out to you, I wish things were much better for you, sending a virtual hug ❤️

Hello kitchen people. I’m so sorry to hear of your difficulties UTBB.

The oven valet guy came this morning and spent two hours valeting our double oven and did an excellent job.

After lunch I popped to see friends. It looks like I have another two funerals to attend😢. I have a funeral this Friday - he died before Christmas but obviously Christmas and New Year hold things up. Then a lady I know who was looking forward to her 100th in the summer, died at the weekend. Finally, a lady from WI whose 90th birthday cake I made died yesterday. Two other ladies from the village also died in the new year. Do you think people hang on to celebrate Christmas?

OH is going to his shooting club tonight. I think we’ll have soup and cheese toasties for dinner. I will watch a couple of Yes Prime Ministers on BBC4.

Have a good evening everyone. Special thoughts to the swoops and the FGT2s 🌸🌺🌹

Ladyleftfieldlover how very sad RIP 💐

Just back from taking The Imp to his swimming lesson, he done well.

Spaghetti Bolognaise with garlic bread for dinner (always have the sauce home made and in the feeezer)

Usedtobeblonde sorry to hear you are having a dreadful start to 2026. I can sympathise with you over your autistic grandson, our darling boy only needs one little thing to make him out of sorts for the rest of the day. He is such a dear boy to those who he knows and trusts.

Thinking of our dearest soop and her man.

(((Hugs))) to all in the quiet corner of this friendly kitchen 🙋‍♀️

So sad llfl sending condolences to their families and friends 💐

Good evening kitchen folk. Utbb life can sometimes feel overwhelming. I really feel for. Llfl goodness, that's a lot of losses. I feel for you too.
Today I made a steak casserole in the slow cooker. It smells wonderful. Dgs1 was disconsolate after school because he wasn't picked as one of the class winners for reciting their Scots poem. He's a very competitive child. He did get over it. Dgs2 sang Scots songs at nursery and entertained his lunch table with ' Ally Bally, ally bally bee.' 😂 i dropped them off at home and picked up more tumble drying. My sil has shaved off his beard for work purposes, and looks about 17- the age he was when he met dd. He's now approaching 34. I'm having a quiet evening watching TV and maybe having a glass of wine. Brook I'm glad you enjoyed your active day.
Enjoy your evening all.

llfl, I’m so sorry for you. Too many in one go.
I think they do hang on until after something.
My DH, although comatose, seemed to know that DS was away, but died three days after he came home. DH could/should have died at any time - and curiously, it was on the same date as DS2 had died a few months earlier. Coincidence?

When OH’s sister was in a hospice in a deep coma, she hung on until he was able to fly back from Albania where he was working. He was able to sit and talk to her for a couple of hours and after he left she died.