soops kindly kitcheners and perfect pampered pets.

And before I go to make another cuppa would just like to say how cosy and lovely it is in here. Thank you all.

Oliver is just gorgeous, but, I hasten to add, all cats are gorgeous, wouldn`t want to offend any touchy felines.
There`s a pop up keeps showing at the side of the page here, it`s for some diamante trimmed towels from Damart. They`re really pretty, and I`m trying to stop myself ordering some!
Soop, your kitchen feels considerably warmer than here, as soon as we leave this room, we practically freeze, everywhere else is so co-o-o-o-ld!

Have put the rest of the scones in the freezer so that there are some left for next week. Hopefully everyone will be feeling chipper by then. Just warming my toes here by the range and writing a couple of thank you letters. Early night tonight after a lovely but tiring day.

Has crafting fainted yet? Hope not. Oh good! Here, crafting, get on the outside of one of these flapjacks, or even two. You'll feel a lot better very soon, I promise.

Oh at least two I think. Delicious . Thanks bags just what I needed.

soop I don't think it matters what anyone says outside of the kitchen. We know that all the kitcheners care about the troubles and worries (and share in the happiness) of others. This might be a virtual kitchen but the caring and support are real enough. Thanks to you soop, there is a warm welcome to any who venture over the threshold, and as an added bonus...a bags flapjack too

I've spent too much time reading other threads recently and have become quite downhearted at some of the vitriol that masquerades as discussion and debate. Thank goodness I can find solace in the warmth of the kitchen, along with a comfy chair, a cheese scone and a glass of red. If I nod off for 10 minutes would someone just throw a rug over me please ...

Swanny if you have a rug thrown over you, when you wake up you may well find Rory "resting" on your lap.

I really do not care what many others think about us- we get the odd bit of rudeness but that person soon leaves. Many have been stung by the vicious remarks made- I do not bother to read the threads of the ones I think may bite back.

Thanks to all for kind words
My neighbour came round tonight and cooked me scrambled egg on toast. I feel better after that. Hope to get up and dressed tomorrow.
Meet you all tomorrow in here.
Sleep well

Galen that is decent of your neighbour because as you know it would have been a trial for you do do such a simple thing. Do you have to go to work this week? Are you up to it? Please look after yourself.

glamma, what a handsome cat Oliver is. His coat looks as if it must be quite 'deep pile'. Does he need a lot of combing? I once had a grey cat, but he was sleek!
galen, thank goodness for your neighbour. I wonder if you will really be fit to go on a course on Wednesday. Is it vital?

Pleased you have had something to eat, galen, please don't rush the convalescence, you may need more scrambled egg to unscramble the virus. Wishing you, and everyone, a good nights sleep.

Charleygirl I wouldn't mind in the least if Rory found my lap comfortable!

I do miss having a cat around but it's the one negative in my life now - no 'large' pets allowed. I could have the likes of a goldfish (DGS would try to catch it or throw in plastic sharks for company), a budgie (can't stand to see caged birds and don't like them flapping too near me) or a hamster-type thingie (another caged creature and they move too quick for me). I inherited a stone tortoise in the garden, also have a large plastic snail courtesy of DGS, so maybe I'll have to adopt a pet rock for indoors

My late MIL 'tolerated' cats and dogs as long as they kept away from her. Unfortunately we had one cat who really took a liking to her and was always trying to jump on her lap. On one visit to see us MIL nodded off in the chair so puss promptly joined her and we quietly took a photo. Thankfully MIL woke slowly so puss was able to sneak away but MIL was horrified when she saw the photo!

Good morning all !!

Bit worried about you Galen , glad to hear your neighbour cooked you something but you sound far from well enough for work. I suspect you will push yourself to go as you value it so much but be careful, don't push yourself back into your sick bed !

I love Malta Bellasnana I lived there for a while as a child in Valetta and it remains close to my heart.

I had a second go at my rice pudding ( in the slow cooker this time) and if anything it was a little too milky , so I'm going for the 3rd attempt tomorrow adding 1/2 more rice...this will not defeat me !!

Grampy is not overly enamoured of pets Swanny except for Sam maybe who has adopted him as head honcho. But every pet we have ever had has immediately fallen in love with him. We had a cockatiel called Saffy who adored him and would happily sit on his head tapping him with his beak . I , on the other hand who fed and cleaned out the damn thing was attached crazily if every I got near !!

Talk about bite the hand that feeds you.

Well I am off for a lie down, I had early doors blood tests this morning ( fasting ones so not even a coffee first thing) and I feel rubbish . Unlike Galen I am NOT made of sterner stuff so I'm back to bed with a Beechams Powder and my book ;-)

I had early blood test too N&G but not a fasting one. GP is checking my liver function is recovering. Only had a banana so far today though - still very wary of eating in case of a recurrence of the agonising pain. I've lost 2 stones since November. Mashed potato and gravy for lunch for me today.

Galen I hope you can manage to eat a bit more today. My Mum used to say "Strength goes in through the mouth" and I think she was right - as in so many things!

Called at the library to restock after the blood test so I can now settle down for a good read. One of my favourite things and the weather is so wet and miserable it seems like the best thing to do.

Hope all our poorly kitcheners are soon feeling better.

annodomini Yes he has a very dense coat but it does not need combing as such he cleans himself then does a quick "shake" he does however lay next to Poppy when she is groomed daily and will let you brush him whilst he lays on his back.

Ouch gagagran that is NOT the way to lose weight.
Your spasms sound not unlike what I get but blessedly only occasionally and I find that Ranitidine and rapid breathing (breathe in hard blow out, breathe in hard blow out) for several minutes helps to ease it. I tend to panic though and walk around in circles trying to "get away" from the pain. Did you say you were "under" the Royal Free? No better place IMHO for gastro and liver treatment. World class specialists.
Wishing you all a pleasant day, Christmas is now safely behind us, the fridge returning to normal (but there are still assorted bottles of nice stuff lurking...... )

Good afternoon to you lovely people. The daffodils shoots are about 6" high and the snowdrops are already clustering around the base of the leafless trees. An uplifting sight on a mild, damp day.

callgirl1 The postman delivered a parcel addressed to Master Rory & Miss Bracken...on opening it, and seeing the contents, Rory went into an ecstatic spin. Dreamies and Felix Crispies (all his favourite flavours) in one perfect parcel. If Rory could say thank you, he surely would. He's a well-mannered and grateful feline. Now, the thing is...which will he consider sharing with Bracken. He's considering the options. It's a difficult decision for an alpha male to have to make. As Rory is grateful, I shall say a mighty big thank you on his, and Bracken's behalf.

It seems to be the day when everyone wants our blood. I had an appointment to see my GP at 9.10 to talk over the results of my last blood test. As my inflammatory markers remain too high (nobody can work out why), he took another two vials of my precious blood to send off to the lab today.I'd agreed to meet a friend for a brew at 10.30 - but no show. She has just turned up at the door to explain that my email to her turned up at 1am. It was sent at 10.45! So she replied when she was half asleep. She'd gone to the café at 11, just after I'd left! Talk about crossed wires!

Well I've got up and dressed. I'm going to undertake the long journey into the kitchen to get some orange juice and see if I have any babybellle in th fridge.
I may be a little time!

Returned safely. Two babybelle in glass. One carton of Tropicana sanguinella clutched to bosom on left. Crutch in right.
This getting old thing ain't easy folks

Crafting Thank you.

bags You are a star. Your flapjacks are winners too. I would love several one right this minute.

Swanny Rory only ever sits on MacSporran's lap. Never on mine. He waits and watches for the lap to become available. When it does, he's there in the blink of an eye, and there he'll remain for as long as MacS remains seated.

Galen We're all relieved to hear that thanks to your kindly neighbour, you've at last had some proper nourishment. Please give yourself ample time to fully recover.

Gaga Your dramatic weight loss needs to be curbed. DaphneB knows that the hospital treating you is the best in it's field. Settle down with your book, rug over your knees and enjoy a peaceful and pleasant afternoon. Please keep us updated.

NanaandGrampy I was nodding in agreement as I read your post regarding pets and their of-times peculiar habits. You are unwell. That much is obvious. Bed is the best place for you. Stay cosy and enjoy your book.

MacSporran is to have a scan to monitor the aortic aneurism tomorrow morning. Thankfully, we haven't to travel a great distance. I shall not be visiting the care home. In a way, I'm relieved. A large number of residents are confined to bed with awful chesty colds and coughs. I therefore think that I must be sensible. I would be mortified if I picked up the bug and passed it on to MacS

Galen What are you? A tyke!

anno Now I'm worrying about your too-high inflammatory markers. Your GP is on your case. That's a very good thing.
Sorry to hear of the mix up with the arrangement to meet your friend. Something was very wrong with our internet connection all day yesterday. It took over an hour to access the GN site. I was far from amused.

Perfectly Pampered Pussies stole 4 sausages, how they got them from under heavy cloth beats me!

grannylyn65 You cannot blame those gorgeous cats. How old are they and are they related? What are their names?