Soop's welcoming kitchen...

Love that top! If I can lose some weight, can I have first refusal?
I never used to be bah humbug at Christmas, but I really didn`t want to do Christmas last year, and feel pretty much the same this year, but the family say I should, so........

Youngest GS is in his final year at Junior school so I'm really conscious that this will be the last year for helping with class parties and going to their lovely Christmas carol services. After being a very hands-on granny for the last twelve years the end is in sight, which is very sad. I know I should be grateful for having had so much contact with the boys but we will see so much less of them when they are both at secondary school.
Been helping to prepare for the Christmas Fair today. They always have a cake stall at these events and I'm ashamed to admit that I used a packet cake mix instead of making my usual proper lemon drizzle cake. Actually, the packet mix turned out better than my own.
Had to make two in actual fact because the first needed a couple of minutes longer in the oven but I got so engrossed on my phone that it had an extra 20 minutes by the time I remembered it.
I couldn't risk sending it to school because you have to label the cake tin and I didn't want anybody knowing that it was mine. OH and I had to eat it instead and I'm sorry to say that it was delicious smothered in butter icing and we gobbled it down in two sittings.

I do like Xmas. But as darling daughter likes to celebrate it at her home with dgc, and I can’t manage in her house and all she suggests is I stay in a hotel near. ( none of the standard I like. Premier Inn?)
And I would have to drive to and from so no booze. Also she’s vegetarian.
Not my idea of a fun Xmas

That’s a keepers piece!

No crafting ! I bags be the Christmas fairy. I've just been looking through my wardrobe for something sparkly to wear to a certain GN meet-up and come across this ancient top. Do you think it will be suitable? I know some people say that you should get rid of a garment that you haven't worn for a year. I must have bought this about 30 years ago but I can't bear to part with it. Just love tacky sequins.

That is a superb cruise. I have lost count in my past life the number of times I have visited the Canaries. The weather will be very warm at this time of year.

We’re off to the Canaries. New Year’s Eve will be spent off Madeira watching the wonderful fireworks display they put on.
I think I’ve enough pearls thankyou.

Glad you are still coming into the kitchen maw. Your brooch is lovely. Will you wear it with your new outfit? Hope, now that you have solicitor involved you are not staying up so late with paperwork and are getting more sleep. x

I do understand ann and nellie, we’ve some family uncertainties as well. A real challenge to my personal belief system, I am having to accept that what I anticipated is actually Christmas past for our family. So, I’m trying hard to accept what is and focus on what I can do. I plan to make our home how I want it to be and take my enjoyment from the lights, which I do love to lift the darkness, I hope that doesn’t sound smug, I’m not, I’ve been very, very squashed but I am trying (very some say) to make what I can of it. I hope everyone with a discomfort about Christmas will be able to find some joy somewhere, even if it’s fleeting,

Oh charley, have faith in that little boy. He’ll be the star of the show. Well, maybe .

I like the name "soopers" too but be careful when using it as my iPad just corrected it to snoopers which we certainly are not ?(pardon me while I remove my FBI glasses ?)

Galen and Bella hope you have a great time on your cruise. Is Father Christmas bringing you more pearls Galen?

I'm sure there could be a quiet corner for all the Bah humbug soopers to have a share of our Christmas goodies even if not into the rest of the festivities.

N&G if the position is still free I would like to volunteer to be the fairy on the top of the tree (if you would accept someone who is more sugar plum fairy than Christmas fairy)

Where are you travelling to this time Galen? Sounds an excellent idea to get away from it all here as like me you are not a lover of Christmas.

One of my neighbour's children is around 20 months and will be an angel in the nursery play. Angel is not the word I would use, his main word is "no". I cannot see him staying on the stage if he sees his parents in the audience. He will fly off the stage crying and shouting. I am amazed he spends a day away from his mother.

It’ll be lovely on the ship where you don’t have to lift a finger ( as long as Bella pours the vodka for me)
All the decorating will have been done, the food will be cooked to perfection, and all we have to do is enjoy!
Father Christmas will come down the funnel and distribute presents to all the children on board.
We can track his inward journey on the ships chart.
So long as our fellow table guests are nice it should be good.

Annsixty my Christmas will be much the same. DD is working some shifts and her Mother in law's family who live abroad are coming over. I cannot complain as I see more of my DGS's than she does. All four small kids will enjoy being with their cousins. I will see them between Christmas and new year. I think?

Not exactly a Bah Humbug but I don't look forward with much anticipation. It comes and it goes, not when like when the family were around.
I will see My D and GC for a few days the week before Christmas but they like Christmas at home and my S may or may not be here. If he is here it means he is not seeing his children, long story best not told.
I am happy for those of you who love it, just that I am no longer one of you.

Galen can I please join you in Bah Humbug . I was feeling very much like that at about 3am last night .
Can we have a corner of the kitchen for those who do not much enjoy this season when everyone else is full of jollity . My household does not really do jolly. I need a Christmas fairy with a good sense of humour. I know it's only a week.

A buggeration that we are all too familiar with soop. Better luck tomorrow.

As you might recall my campaign for a dog has fallen on Mr C’s deaf side. I’ve always secretly harboured a desire for a standard poodle, they just look regal. He would be black, I’d call him Ben, short for Benjamin. He’d be very quiet and well behaved if he’s allowed in.

Goodness, our two used to watch skippy - on Betamax tapes. Anyone remember them? Lovely memory jog.

I can only agree with other thoughts, why wouldn’t you feel rudderless, maw? Just be where you are each minute of the day and be gentle with yourself. Love the sound of your proposed outfit. A little shopping never does any harm. Yes, stay by the fire in the kitchen, I’ve been hiding here on and off for ages, it’s a good place to be.

Tree of Life jewellery is beautiful, I wear a piece each day, Mr C is Welsh and I’ve been lucky enough to be given a couple of (small) pieces with a tiny bit of Welsh gold. I find the image calming, just as well as I often need calming. .

Hope your next orangery quote is less scary, n&g. They are indeed things of beauty.

Well, I’m writing this in the car on the way back from our friend. No, not driving . I’ve never had motion sickness but if I continue I think I just might so best be off.

Take care everyone.

P.S. My parents owned two beautiful Boxer dogs. Bruce and Major. Both soppy!

I am not a happy bunny. As soon as I returned home this afternoon, I came into the kitchen and played catch-up. I went away to reconsider the painting that I continue to dither over...have popped in to tell you that I'm now re-focusing and THE bloody previous message has gone! Buggerations galore.

I'm so sorry but I have no time in which to repeat all that I said. What on earth is it that takes our stuff and decides to post it off into the ether.

Tomorrow afternoon I shall return. In the meantime...lots of love to all our "Soopers". I like the title that Baggs bestowed on us.

I used to love ‘Skippy the bush kangeroo’ Grey!

I tried a call for help with Sam today, first of all he brought me ‘ratty’ to throw for him, then as I directed him to get Grampy he brought me a bonio ( obviously in case I got hungry)! In the end after much toing and froing I settled for the bonio and a cushion!! So there’s no hope for me!

The shopping sounds very successful Maw .

We got our first quote for the new orangery and Grampy had to sit down ! I kind of guessed it would be well above what he thought we would spend, but it is lovely. We have 2 more quotes to come then we’ll see if we need to sell a kidney to afford it!

Oh I do like the idea of a virtual dog, please can mine join the kitchen crew, she’s a spaniel called Toby - I thought that would fit well with the gender fluidity that’s hitting the headlines these days
I didn’t get to drop in yesterday, am I too late to put in a bid for one of those pies if there’s one going spare greyduster? Somehow there seems no clear plan for dinner tonight, the day has somehow passed in a flurry of nothing terribly useful. But I did get a pat on the back from the nurse when I had my annual asthma/BP review this afternoon. She was very pleased with both my BP and the 11bs I’ve lost in the last few months. Needless to say I celebrated by going straight to Waitrose for coffee and a pastry ?
With all that’s gone on for you these past few weeks and months the warmth of the kitchen is what you need just now maw. Rudderless is a good description of that nothingness sort of feeling mixed with ordinary things like buying an outfit- then remembering what you’re actually buying it for, all a bit surreal yet at the same time poignantly very real indeed. As n&g said be gentle with your soul, it’s taken a battering lately. And since you asked, I don’t think there’s a problem in the marble department!
soop your tree of life idea sounds a lovely one. I have no doubt it will all fall into place in it’s own time and be greatly appreciated by the recipients too.
Right then I’m off to put the oven on, just in case there’s a pie wending it’s way here as I write!! Have a pleasant evening all. x

My virtual dog is a boxer like we had in my teens. He looks so friendly that I have called him 'Chummy'. As boxers are such bouncy dogs, I am getting him a virtual trampoline for Christmas.
The tree has to come out of its box pretty soon. I can't now remember if I carried out my intention of buying a new set of lights in last year's post-Christmas sale. That box may contain a few surprises - or disappointments!
We have sunlight today. Cheers, everyone!

N&G a more likely scenario is that it will be me in tweeds and waders, calling for Henry to go for help (as in Lassie or Rintintin, or Skippy the bush kangaroo) as I struggle to haul my a**e out of the river. He will, no doubt, survey the scene stoically as dogs often do, and wander off in search of some bit of dead animal to entertain himself with, leaving me clinging to a branch trying not to get washed away by the spate! Right, now I really am going!

Yes, your marbles are still intact Maw, but stress can stop us thinking clearly; everyone will understand.
However, I'm glad that the shopping gene is still functioning correctly, that sounds lovely.
Let others who offer to help or are used to dealing with all this play their part - the solicitor may cost but is probably well worth the money rather than you becoming more frazzled.

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Thinking of your Tree of Life, soop, Paw bought me this Tree of Life brooch some years ago, I do love it and he was always happy to see me wearing it.

I might have to change my computer settings so that only this thread and you lot come up as I see someone is still banging on about something so I am retreating gracefully.
As a reassurance that I am still “me” however, as DD and I were heading for the JL loos in Birmingham ‘s Grand Central, I (actually she) spotted a lovely dark charcoal boiled wool “coatigan” in their Modern Rarity range. Did I need it? Not really, did I buy it? What do you think.
So with a pair of straight charcoal grey trousers and either a pale grey or ivory roll/cowl neck and HEELS (low) I am at least ready in that respect.
You need to really worry about me when the shopping urge totally fizzles out