Soop's welcoming kitchen...

I watched the tennis. Well played, David Goffin. The game was very exciting.

The village craft fair was held today. I have missed it this year. There is a plethora of talent in the village. I knew that I would not have wanted not to buy from a number of stalls. However, I'm saving my pennies for the arrival of the new babies at the beginning of 2018.

This morning, I left a small saucepan of cranberries simmering for far too long. When I returned to the kitchen, I was greeted by a blue haze and an eye-watering ruined saucepan, caked solid with blackened fruit. Although I liked that particular saucepan, it was beyond redemption.

Wishing you lovely lot a peaceful Saturday evening. I'm logging off until tomorrow.

I had my car washed and hoovered out/valeted today - goodness thatvwas embarrassing, it took them AGES
I have booked someone to fix or polish out the assorted scratches on Monday, so much was put on hold since back in May while paw was so poorly that I feel I need to regain some control of my life.
SIL brought the little boys and littler DGD down today and helped me with the more obscure (to me) aspects of the “big pooter”
The children happily tackled a big 300 piece jigsaw of a map of the world and I could not get over how good and undemanding they were (7,6,3) playing happily on their own. The boys and I took Hattie for a walk to the playground so that they could let off steam too, really one of the easiest DGCs visits ever.

Glad you had a good time with the little ones maw. What would we do without them? (Hug)

The young ones are just so ‘normal, they put the world the right way up again, even if just for a little while. Sending love maw.

Very best wishes Maw and how lovely that your family are rallying and supporting you , it is heartwarming to know.
If it wasn't for the supportive side of GN which we all do and receive, I would almost have had it with the site.
Earlier today I said that someone had been very unfair in criticising someone, by name, for their spending at Christmas. I was castigated by the poster who said I posted my own views often.
I agreed with her and that was that. I was then criticised for posting against a generalisation, which it wasn't.
Why don't members read posts before stepping in?
I realise this is paltry on my part but I am getting tired of criticism from new members who know nothing about us and this is not a rant about how new members should know their place. All I want them to do is please read the whole thread thoroughly and then post.
All new people are very welcome, join us and participate but don't judge us straight away.

ann you have described why I on the whole stay here. I sometimes wonder what on earth I have done to upset one or two so much so I stay well clear now.

Same here

(Some) people do seem to jump on one from a great height do they not?
I saw that thread and thought it best to avoid because between the “spend a minimum of £250 per person or you’re a skinflint” and the “I unravel old sweaters to crochet crinoline lady toilet roll covers for everybody” there seems to be no agreement or “right” answer.
In fact why ask at all? Bound to cause dissension, nearly as bad as the loo roll facing in or out topic!
I think some people (at best) are insecure and seeking reassurance or st worst just nosey and likely to castigate others whatever they say.
I saw that interchange annsixty and wondered why YOU caught the flak!

Thank you for hoping we enjoyed Scheherazade. We did. We loved it. It was fantastic, an early part of my birthday present from Mr Baggs. The orchestra was the RSNO, Scotland's National Orchestra with guest cellist Aleksei Kiseliov who was the best I've heard since I was at the Bruges Harpsichord Festival in 1977 when I heard Nikolais Harnoncourt playing viola da gamba. The conductor, Thomas Søndergård was also fabulous.

Live music is so much better than even the best recordings.

The BurgerKing Aberdeen Angus burger and banana & strawberry smoothie we had before the concert was great as well. Don't anyone dare say Aberdeen Angus burgers are junk food in my hearing! ?

At the station waiting for our homeward train I spotted a man wearing a scarf whose tartan I recognised (I only know a few). I didn't ask him about it to check my guess at first but then I spotted a Saltire flag abandoned on one of the benches. He commented that it was a good one and I said I'd rescue it and give it a good home. Then I felt able to ask him about his scarf. It was the Ancient Green Douglas that I thought it was. I recognised it because that was the tartan I chose for my dem dancing sash, sadly moth-eaten last time I got it out so donated for recycling.

Just popped in to say, I have been dreaming about Maw all night. I don't know what the dream was about, but she was definitely in it. . I couldn't decide whether to post here or on the Insommniacs' thread.
I think I am spending too much time on GN. !

Hello the Sunday kitchen. Glad you enjoyed the concert, Baggs. I agree with you that there is nothing like live music. I went to see Freddie Kempf play Rach 2 and, in spite of having a very good recording of him playing it, it took it to a whole new level.
Ann sorry you got a bit of a mauling. I read that and thought it was completely unnecessary. I started a thread myself recently (God knows why - I should have known better!) and thought one poster’s remark was rather unnecessarily offhand, but let it go over my head. I’m no good at verbal fisticuffs.
Maw my SiL uses a car wash at their local Tesco and they do a great total valet for £25. There seem to be an inordinate number of these businesses popping up around here and I have no objections to them as long as they are legitimate, but of course, as you say, we have no way of knowing.
I went to our annual city art show yesterday. The standard, once again was extremely high, but, unusually, there was very little in the way of wow factor this year. Out of over 800 pictures i only saw two this year that I would call arresting. There seemed to be a large number of pictures of Stanage Edge! I shouldn’t complain - all were better than I could aspire to. A bonus was that there was an exhibition of paintings by Eric Ravillious and his contemporaries in one of the adjacent galleries and that was really worth seeing.
I had better go; still in bed and we are supposed to be going out!! Black looks are winging my way! I will look in later.

Morning all in the kitchen.

ANN, I didn't see that thread but I'm sorry you were got at and I so agree with your sentiment about newcomers jumping in with no know ok edge of us.

Maw, it is great to see you here. And, getting a bit of order going would help me in your circumstances too. How nice to see some dgc.

So glad you had a good time Baggs. I love a good beef burger but they are not often gf so have one for me when you can.

Back later after some initial Christmas shopping - now, dare I go and check how much we should be spending?

KatyK,

With respect We were all newcomers at one time.

I takes a while to get to know who is friends with who and in which 'group'they converse.

I was taken to task by one member[x] for correcting some other poster.
She was a friend of[x], and I should have known better.

I am not aware of any rules for newcomers joining! It seems here the rules are the more the merrier as that gives the site income

My phone is playing silly so and as lately and I should preview.

Ann - I didn't mean to shout your blame and the gobblegook just after should read 'knowledge'!

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Morning all !!

I am ashamed to say I only woke up about half an hour ago but in my defence we were on the road by 0620 yesterday to go and see our GC and a few other things besides !

We had a lovely time including seeing the Christmas lights being turned on in our old town ( it was a sorry affair I'm sad to say but the little ones never noticed as Grampy plied them with plastic toys , candyfloss and carousel rides !!) I've added a picture of the motley crew!!

My brother did a sterling job and nearly finished off Grampy who works at a far more leisurely pace but we now have blinds up and most of the boxes stored until the New Year AND bunk beds erected for small visitors.

Sorry to hear your adversary is still leaving you messages Corner but you are handling far better than I would I am sure.

Oh Charley you cannot bah humbug as I am on a mission to cover the kitchen in festivity ...so I'm looking for volunteers

Love the picture grannie , I have found a camera club here and may give it a go in the New Year. I always wanted to be better with my photography.

Hope the car is not too expensive soop !! ooops sorry to hear about the saucepan - ah well one less one to wash.

I had to laugh about your crinoline lady toilet covers comment Maw. We have a tradition in our family of circulating one of those that my Nan treasured. Each year it gets 're-gifted' [laugh]

Ah Baggs my favourite burger too. I had a Black Forest Hot Chocolate from Costa Coffee for the journey home last night and can heartily recommend it !

Havent read many other threads for a few days but its a dog eat dog world out there ann , I'm all for the quiet life these days

Right, boiled eggs and soldiers are on their way so I had best go---Happy Sunday all !!

And a very HAPPY Sunday to you lot.

Our granddaughter who is expecting her first baby in January, included a fabulous photo of her together with her husband at a friend's wedding. She looks mightily mother-to-be-ish. I so wanted to share the photo. It's a Great-Nana in-waiting thing!

N&G I loved your photos. No wonder the boys have fun with you. If I were their age, I'd tag along and pretend to be a long lost member of the family.

Baggs We're pleased to hear that your treat was one that you'll remember fondly. When we lived in Plymouth, we attended an orchestral concert given by The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. As we were leaving I spotted Vladimir Ashkenazy who had been in the audience.
I remember seeing a photo of you twirling elegantly around on the dance floor, wearing your Ancient Green Douglas sash.

Maw It really is lovely to know that you have been spending time with your nearest and dearest. Your grandchildren did themselves proud. Bless them for making you smile. And may I please add a mighty big but gentle (hug).

ann Darling girl, us lot will always welcome you.

Galen I miss your sardonic wit. Please visit a little more often. You make me

soop please do not forget that tennis is on again today but much later. I am not sure of the actual time but it is around 18.00 hours. Yesterday's was very good- I did not expect that result and I do not think that Roger did either judging from his remarks when interviewed.

N&G I am here with my tinsel and fairy lights and a large Christmas tree! Ready when you say the word to trim up the kitchen! We agreed a while back to enjoy the Christmas traditions I think? Must be others who will join in! I am happy to play some carols on *Soop's" piano and will bring some of my world famous mince pies along on "D" day.

Count down has started Grans - whoops! Forgot to ask Soop if she is happy for us to deck her kitchen with boughs of holly etc! Maybe leave it for a couple of weeks?

But we can plan quietly in the background Gaga! Before they know it we’ll have them tied to their chairs with tinsel, awash with mulled wine and mince pie , wearing dodgy Christmas hats !!!

?

Charleyg I'm going to root for David Goffin to win the match. I like him a lot.

Gaga Please feel free to enjoy yourself in "our kitchen." There be no rules. Did you mention mince pies? Yay! I'm rather fond of several one/or two warmed up and served with real cream.

Our granddaughter has given me permission to download her photo and share with you lot. Her baby is due in January. Here she is with her husband at a friend's wedding. Erik was best man. I'm not certain what the tartan is.

Granddaughter's sister's baby due in February.

soop what me sardonic? I can only spell it because of spellchecker. And as for wit? Two wit two woo is as close I get. I’m thinking of changing my name to grumpyoldgraggy.
Well I shall see dgc on my birthday weekend. Their last visit had to be cancelled as darling daughter contracted a nasty case of influenza two weeks after she’d had the vaccine.
And before anyone asks:- no, I haven’t!.
It wasn’t invented in Galen’s time!

Christmas!! NOoooooo!!!! Give me a few weeks; i’ll come round to it - maybe January?

Thank you for the Black Forest gateau recommendation, N&G! I do like to keep tabs on chocolate cakes and give them marks out of ten. Do you have a Patisserie Valerie near you? If so, try their delicious vanilla slice. They call it something else but that's what it is and it only scores half a point less than the ones I knew in my teens made at a local Lancs bakery.