Soop's Kitcheners

bags my Italian stepmother taught us Canasta when we were kids. I remember it now, she would always stand up triumphantly to deliver the winning hand.

Sounds good, soop! I hope you enjoy you new machine.

I have just eaten the last of our cold roast lamb in a brown roll with lashings of my friend's homemade marrow chutney.

Does anyone else play the card game Canaster? We have been having a tournament.

Hello fellow kitcheners! Hope no-one is snow-bound. We have not had even a flake here on the south coast and for that I am truly grateful.

I have some exciting news! After 10 years without a puss-cat, DH has finally agreed to give in to my pleading and I am now awaiting a pre-home visit from the re-homing centre to see if I am a suitable adopter! I have had cats all my life but when we retired and our last furry friend died, DH said that we should give up having one to give ourselves more freedom for ad hoc trips etc. At the time I could see the sense of that, so agreed. Regretted it ever since!

Well not many of those trips have happened and I just ache for a feline friend so can hardly wait to get the go-ahead to go and choose one (or maybe even two!) I shall be very upset if I do not pass the test!

A lady is coming on 7 January to give us the once-over so keep your fingers crossed for me! Now I need to think of a name.

soop the characters in Kirsty's book are fictitious so probably just a name she came up,with. The real Pringle family are Borders folk. If you get the chance to read this book I'm quite sure you would enjoy it.

I have a tassimo in the kitchen, my favourite being Crema Intenso which gives a lovely frothy top. It can also be cheaper to order the pods online. Enjoy

Any luck Charleygirl ?

soop, I have found the car paperwork but I am going to continue blitzing this house now that I have started. When I eventually peg it I would like whoever has to clear everything out can at least find what is required.

Tara was very upset to begin with but as the house has been in disarray for days and the shredder working intermittently, she has settled down and accepted the new life which I hope will be temporary.

The newspaper man, brother of the shop owner did not deliver my Sunday Telegraph today. I wonder if this is because he did not receive a Christmas present?!! I pay to have papers delivered, it is the Scot in me coming out.

The charity shop will be the benefactors of a few decent items, including electrical goodies.

The sun is shining here but it is very cold. Tara is lying in the sunshine, next to the radiator but on top of an armchair. There is not a more comfortable spot that I can see!

A frosty day in bonnie Kintyre. Lots of sparkle and the road surface was a wee bit dodgy earlier today. As we walked through the village, MacSporran tightly held my hand.

The novel sounds interesting, Agus Would Elizabeth Pringle have been connected with the knitwear company? Funny that you should have mentioned the storyline. We bumped into a friend in the local shop this morning. He and his partner have been bequeathed a beautiful property near Stirling. The gentleman who left the house had no family. The men had been pals since their boyhood. So, our pal and partner are to move away. Perhaps we shall be invited to visit when they've settled into their new home.

Charleygirl have you located the documents for which you've been turning the house upside down? I had to chuckle when you said that a burglar wouldn't bother to linger. Just think how tidy everything will be...eventually. I was given some perfumed drawer liners this Christmas. I shall therefore enjoy turning stuff out and having a jolly good sort through. No doubt I shall come across some wee treasure that I stored away and then proceeded to forget its whereabouts.

Iam64 It's good to have your company. The old Cranks cookbook... is it still in print? We've been given a Tassimo coffee/tea maker from our boys, together with a box of samples. We took an extraordinarily long time to read the instructions. After which we had to "flush" it through. All very "new age"...as we're terribly old fashioned...or so we believe. Anyway, after a relatively short spell, we coped with producing the first cup of coffee for me and MacS opted for hot chocolate, which he said that was magnificent!

Just popped in to catch up with you lovely kitcheners, always a cheerful and positive place to visit. I've brought some Christmas cake, it's from the old Cranks cookbook and is the 3rd I've made from that recipe and the best yet I'm relieved to say. I've finally got used to my new (last year) fan, electric oven and adjusted to not having a gas oven. Today we took the dogs a long walk near youngest daughter's new home. It was great to be out in the snow and ice, great views over moorland and hills and especially good to see youngest and her partner so settled in their cottage. Sitting with a glass of wine, so cheers x

Ooooo, I could eat lamb any day of the week soop, especially lamb shanks. Yum

Hope you find your paperwork Charleygirl

Well, I have had an extremely lazy day. Just started my new book, The Legacy of Elizabeth Pringle, Kirsty Wark's debut novel. It's about a lady who leaves her beloved house on Arran to a complete stranger whom she knows loves the house.

Still quite full of Christmas Fayre so not too hungry tonight but I see it is time for a glass which may give me an appetite. Slàinte.

Rory is a very lucky fellow. That was very kind of Mac S to buy him chicken breasts, but there again, nothing but the best for his boy. It is good that today is a normal day for him and that means chicken.

Tara has been a bit wild eyed during the Christmas period but has settled down again. I am looking for something specific which I will need next week so I have taken the house apart. I even brought the wheelie bin which houses papers and bottles etc indoors so that I could empty it to be doubly sure that the paperwork had not been thrown out.

If a burglar visited, he would leave fairly rapidly because I have boxes and carrier bags everywhere.

There is nothing on TV, I am in the mood so strike while the iron is hot.

The end of an ordinary (thank goodness) Saturday. The snow caps on the peaks have started to melt. It certainly feels chilly outside the door. Rory has discovered (at long last) my tartan armchair. Suddenly, he has taken a great liking to it and has abandoned his chaise...at least until MacS returns from shifting "stuff" in the loft. We all know where he will make himself even more at home - that's right - on MacS's knee.

As we had a joint of lamb for our festive meal, there was no chicken to roast for Rory's Saturday night supper treat. MacS visited the village shop and returned with chicken breasts. Rory is sitting close to the cooker. He knows that all is well...

I'm away to tidy a few bits and bobs that appear to be lolling aboot the hoos.

I shall say goodnight to all our Kitcheners and hope to catch up with your news tomorrow. x

HELLO my lovelies. Phew! Today is going to be special. How? Because life returns to a normal and much-appreciated routine. As pleasant as some aspects of the holiday are, I actually prefer the usual much-tested, tried and true, easy-going atmosphere of every day life. Right! Enough said.

kitty Trust Mum to upset the apple cart.

anno well done. I trust that you can now put your feet up and have some quiet time. Or, is the house still buzzing with activity.

Charleygirl We are still without a landline. Also, the computer keeps closing down and re igniting. The air is a delicate shade of purple.

AlieO The Xmas day dinnertime conversation will have been cathartic. It doesn't hurt to air certain family issues - providing the outcome remains harmonious. I would like to think that it closed with a group hug.

The only snow in Kintyre is on the Paps of Jura. I'm pleased that our family members chose to stay in their own homes. Had they attempted to reach the west coast of Scotland from central England, they would, at some point, find themselves in difficulties on the return journey.

We have a few very special friends here in Kintyre. Christmas Day is when we all gather at our pal's home and the ritual is one that is appreciated by each and every one of "the gang" ...Boxing Day is spent with four of our dearest pals. At this time last year, one of the pals had no idea that she had lung cancer. Her twin had not yet suffered a heart attack and stroke. MacSporran was unaware that he had leukaemia and so on...even so, the gathering was filled with optimism and light hearted banter.

(I had a great day yesterday at my daughter's, but missed out on taking turkey home, as we got in a rush. I'll collect some frozen next time!)

We developed an extraordinary kind of conversation after dinner.
I, my daughter and partner, sister and partner started to talk very deeply about our and other family relationships, and went on for about two hours in what we afterwards referred to as a kind of 'counselling session'!
I've never had a family Xmas dinner like it.
I think it was helped by a certain amount of alcohol, but everyone was being honest and what my daughter today referred to as 'real'.

I am hoping to sell my car on Monday so I have spent yesterday and today trying to find the paperwork! This has taught me a lesson and next year filing is on top of the list. I raked through 3 box files, shredding what I could, a large black bag full. Some papers were dated 2002 so as you can see I am up to date! Still no joy. Only 3 bedrooms to dismantle.

I have no excuse not to continue because I have "no signal" on my TV for channels 1-5 and any associated with them. I normally have a signal at least on BBC1, never all of them. I live at the bottom of a famous hill and school (Winston Churchill went there) and also it is raining.

Hi All, I come bearing yet more cold turkey, some delicious gammon with a maple and mustard glaze (cooked by DD2), pigs in blankets and a delicious stuffing terrine. We have mince pies and brandy butter!

We had a bit of a funny day yesterday as Mum was admitted to hospital with severe breathing difficulties. She was put on an antibiotic drip and nebulised. Luckily my brothers and I had our meals planned at different times so we were able to do a shift each from 11 am to 10pm. Unfortunately I had to forgo the Bellinis as I had to drive . Mum was rude to all the females and flirted with all the males! She is going home on Sunday.

Family all together today. GC 7, 9, 10,12, very amicable. Two DSs both nodded off in the afternoon of course! Now gone to pub for a 'quick drink' with OHs. Granny keeping eye on GC or is that vice versa?

Bowls through the kitchen door wearing a paper hat with a weird holly berry wotsit drooping becomingly over one eye. Cheeks flushed. Blame the Champagne. Hair very messy. Blame the breeze. Tummy round. Blame the goodies. Smile from ear to ear. Thanks to the gang of pals with whom we've spent a day filled with laughter. I'm off to remove my glad-rags. Pyjamas and dressing gown and slippers at the ready. Light the fire. To enjoy watching a tape recording of the life of the conductor Sir Thomas Beecham. Timothy West plays the part of the maestro. Very funny!

We have no landline. From time to time, I'm unable to log on to Gransnet. You lot are never far from my thoughts. Tomorrow will be a day to relax and unwind from the business and such of Christmas. For some it will come as a welcome relief. I am aware that there are far too many people without company or anything much to celebrate. In many ways, I feel a sense of relief when life gradually returns to normal.

Lots of love to all our Kitcheners

Crafting I would not say no to a turkey sandwich for lunch. I had steak and trimmings because that is what I fancied. Also the turkey I saw had to be demolished by today- fat chance and my f/freezer is groaning because it is too full, a lot of it vegetables.

I do not think that I will joining the AA any time soon because I opened a bottle of red wine on Monday and it seems to be bottomless.

Your happiness is coming through in your post Lona. So pleased for you.

Crafting you really must keep your weight off your ankle, keep,it elevated and try a packet of frozen something on it to help reduce the swelling. I'll give your kind offer of a snack a miss, couldn't look at another morsel for a while

Had a lovely day too with DD1 and both GDs who were on great form and entertaining as always.

Crafting get a cold pack on it and get it raised the perfect excuse.

When DD came for Christmas last weekend I found my gel cold blocks.
They were in the "secret" freezer bag compartment at the very top of the freezer. About the only place I didn't look.

Elegran The jar of cranberry sauce I dug out was BBF 2010 so there!
It tasted of nothing much so I ditched it. Do I get a prize for the oldest.

Glad you had a good day Lona we did too. I am sitting here exhausted now with a and a rather swollen ankle again. It was bad last night then absolutely fine all day (which was fortunate as I was doing the cooking) and now has swollen up again. Oh well, I'd better rest it, so that's me out of the washing up duties .

Hope you all had a good day. Anyone like a turkey sandwich or a sausage roll.....I've plenty left

Well, I've had a wonderful day with my family, we've laughed and played games, eaten mountains of food and all had a great time.
I am so happy, I can't quite believe it!

Excitement is over rated Nelliemoser. Hope you enjoy your day. I have time for a quick glass with you. Slàinte

Hello all with not much exciting on today. Let's live it up in the kitchen. bring out the bubbly and party or just enjoy peace and quiet company,

Charleygirl. I have decided to forget about it for today and see what can be sorted out tomorrow. It's one of those times I wished I lived in a Country where everything went back to normal on Boxing Day!

No washing! The last thing you and Tara need is a flood to contend with. Enjoy your day whatever you are doing. Slàinte