Soop's welcoming kitchen...

Nativity play - 20 months? Cuteness alert! ?
Littlest DGS has taken a fancy to Paw’s walking sticks which are like a shepherds crook to him and all he needs is the tea towel on his head and he could be a tiny Nativity shepherd. Alas he doesn’t start nursery until January so it will have to wait another year -perhaps just as well!
I am however going up to B’ham to see little DGD in her nursery “Jingle” in 3 weeks. Kleenex alert as I blub at the first noteof Away in a Manger at the best of times ??

Aw maw that is such a lovely pic.

Well he’s obviously getting plenty of practice in, Maw. Gave me my first smile of the day!

Flynn is really growing Maw. A lovely age.

In another year, he will be a well rehearsed shepherd. Lovely wee boy. xxxxxx

On the virtual dogs front, when we first considered a second dog, it was to be my choice as first dog was all DH’s choice. I envisaged a black, male cocker spaniel, who would be called Enzo. Why then, did I get sidetracked onto a white & lemon female cocker who is wired like the D***cell bunny? Still, she is very beautiful and has proved rather more biddable on the training front that her housemate.
Being a bit bah humbug myself, we are going away at Christmas, just us and the dogs, for long (cold) beach walks and a non turkey dinner. I am, however, drawn to buying one of those laser lights that throws coloured patterns onto the side of the house. So not all humbug

Awww, Maw, your photo has made my day. Torben would also use my stick whenever we visited. He would run up and down the passage way and whacked everything that he could reach with it. The umbrella stand took a many a mighty whack. He also tried several times to push it up the chimney. Soot all over the hearth. ...I also love your brooch. The perfect keepsake.

Galen and Bella Do the boat crew know who is to be on board. If so, there could a chap ready and waiting to pipe you aboard. Have you packed the pearls and diamonds?

Oldgoat I used to have a top like yours. All glittery it was. Go ahead and wear it at the Gransnet gathering. I shall wear a long taffeta skirt and whatever flashy jewellery I can find to go with it.

Because two of our best pals are in the care home, and one has died, and another is awaiting hip surgery, the usual Christmas day/Boxing day get-together won't take place this year. Instead, those of us who wish, are invited to a New Year's Eve party in the village. A taxi will take the party goers home in the early hours. Providing all the family are safe and well, we'll speak over the phone and be happy on their behalf.

I am feeling doubly bleak so bear with me (alternatively have a piece of )
Just doing a mini supermarket shop for myself and found myself unable to pick single size portions off the shelf. I am not in the mood for cooking so it is going to be eggs, something on toast or sandwiches but it felt MISERABLE , me usually being the Queen of the supermarket sweep.
Secondly I had a card, charity donation and letter from my sister in Canada whose writing has deteriorated to something like 7 year old’s . She apologised saying her “brain and eyes are no longer working in sync” and she can no longer read a newspaper.
This knocked me for six and I felt so sad that my big sister should be suffering like this and secondly because I could not share this with the only other operson who knew her well yes, paw
Ringing Canada tonight to find out what is wrong, but I do have a very lonely feeling
Also furious at the Life Insurance people who having sent me a claim form etc for Paw’s policy at the beginning of the week, saw fit to write today about the cancelled direct debit “ why and did I want to restart it”?
They got the rough edge of my tongue for utter crassness but it upset me too.
Oh dear, not doing as well as I thought.

Evening all !

Love the sound of all our virtual dogs ! Any other virtual pets also welcome. We had a chinchilla when our girls were small, lovely thing but when you picked it up it was a bit nervy and could shoot little round poos out like a machine gun .

Nellie you too can be an honorary Grinch, we have reserved a quiet corner, simply pop on something green so we know how you're feeling and you can avoid the tinsel and such.

On a slightly more sensible note, I am sad for all who are not really looking forward to Christmas , Id like to gather you all up and serve up a little old fashioned fun. I truly appreciate all the reasons though and hope that you all find a little cheer in the most saddest situations.

I am liking the sound of the cruise though Galen maybe we should all go?

Crafting you are officially elected 'Head Fairy' !! Now will you be wearing the obligatory tut or a slightly longer length outfit? I just need to know whether it would be wise to not be wearing my specs so no unexpected close ups !!

Lovely picture of the ever gorgeous FlynnMaw .

Sounds like a fun New Year soop !

Our next quote cancelled 15 minutes before arrival as he was taken ill. We did dither with just going with the quote we have ( after some harsh haggling on my behalf) but we have been sensible and rearranged todays no show !

I am off to do dinner , Grampy is in his element with his most favourite meal EVER - Shepherds Pie and I take comfort that he'll eat the majority of it as its so far down my list of favourites its fallen off the bottom.

I'm a good wife ;-)

That sounds like a lovely idea soop but sorry that your usual plans have gone awry.

The Canaries sound wonderful Galen but I find it discombobulating being warm at Christmas. I'm a simple soul.

Love the top OG but you might need a vest under it and, maybe, a liberty bodice. Our DGS is in his last year at Junior School too and seems to be growing up apace. I have looked after him and his younger sister since he was 6 months old, just one day a week, and will continue to do so when he goes to senior school but he will walk home himself and have his own key so I'm almost redundant!!

Great photo of Flynn, Maw. I hope you are feeling marginally less rudderless. It;s great to know you are still in the kitchen even if not always posting.

Corner, I'm sorry your Christmases are not as you would like them. Hopefully, a new type of Christmas will evolve that is just a good.

On the subject of virtual dogs - I'd like two afghan hounds please. We had one when we first got married and the walks and grooming were a nightmare with small children so I will need a virtual groomer and walker too please. We have decided not to have another dog but the temptation is HUGE!

I'm actually hiding out in this kitchen to stay away from my own. We had Bertie and Persie today as they both have awful coughs. They have been 'making' on the kitchen table. Persie has been making (mostly a mess) with orange paint. Dh is now scrubbing furiously at the seats on the kitchen chairs - which are now also fairly orange!! I keep saying that they are only kitchen chairs but he's obviously deafer than I thought.

I hope he doesn't make the seats too wet as we have a friend coming for supper and I was hoping we would be able to sit down to eat!

Anyway, off to make anchovy butter and peel potatoes. I like it when people come for supper rather than dinner - we can eat in the kitchen (chairs permitting), I don't have to do a starter and Aldi provide the pud!

So sorry Maw. It is early days, and you are bound to feel overwhelmed at times, especially now you are concerned about your sister, on top of everything else you are dealing with.
Sending (((hugs))) and and

Dearest Maw I can feel your sadness and understand that you are not in a good place right now. I would love to hug you. We could have a blether and maybe share some cake. Do you have any in your cupboard? If not, I would bake you something delicious, and we'd share it with a glass of fine wine.

N&G If the rest of us lot could spend an hour or two with you, we'd all be hooting with laughter. And may I add that shepherd's/cottage pie are favourites of ours. In fact we had our cottage pie yesterday. MacSporran

It's 5:30 and all that I've done since returning home from Campbeltown, is fret over that promise I made to myself to paint a wondrous Tree of Life for our great grandchildren in waiting. Why did I not take your sensible advice and leave it be for a few days or so. Because I'm stubborn. That's why.

I wish every one of you a peaceful evening. I shall return to our kitchen tomorrow.

MacSporran made the pie.

Sorry to hear today wasn’t the best Maw . Maybe a trip to M &S , at least their ready meals are better quality ? Or perhaps an online shop? I have just ordered a subscription to Cheese Posties ! You get all the makings for a different cheese toasted in the post monthly .

I’m sorry to hear the insurance people are plainly morons!!

Kitty .... been there with the whole chairs, paint, small people Grampy thing!! It’ll be fine :-)

Sorry, my post took so long that I didn't see your post and my post now looks heartless. I think you were worried about your sister a while ago but it must be extra sad for you at the moment.

Like the sound of Cheese Posties N&G and I know a son who could get a subscription.

I now have an urge for Shepherd's pie. We are having plaice - not the same!!

My first paragraph was to Maw. I obviously can't multitask.

So have I. I’ve frozen mince in the freezer but I can’t get it done in time for supper.
Have to be an omelette if I cba

maw if I was really the Head fairy I would magic something to make you feel better but I can't. I can't imagine how tough things are for you at the moment. When you have shared your life and thoughts with someone you love for such a long time it must feel like half of you is missing. Please try to eat well even if you have no interest in food at the moment. I am sorry to hear about your sister too. Hope the news is not as bad as you fear.

If you would like me to give the Insurance people a mighty whack with my broomstick let me know (I obviously have a split personality being both Head fairy and wicked witch. I will bring into force whichever is most suitable at the time. Perhaps I could turn them all into ?'s!)

N&G as Head Fairy I think oldgoat should be Fairy on the tree as she has such a lovely sparkly top. For myself, in keeping with having such an important role in the Christmas festivities, I think I will wear one of my longer length tutu's in gold lame with diamanté embellishments. I will also dust off my very best wand in case we need some assistance in hoisting wafting oldgoat into position at the top of the tree. Memo to oldgoat, wear thick knickers to protect delicate parts from the pine needles ??

kitty do you think your virtual Afghans could dress up as reindeer and pull Santas sleigh for the Christmas party?

maw, my heart goes out to you. I also could do damage to that insurer, there really is no excuse. Combined with your sisters message it sounds like the last straw, a day to pull up the drawbridge. On a brighter note your photo of Flynn made me smile and brought a happy tear all at the same time.

I’ve been conjuring up the broomsticks and legs of lamb again today, pleased to say the smile was again in evidence.

We love a cottage pie, never the shepherds version here as the cook dislikes lamb. Sorry n&g, maybe single portions in future with something you love for yourself.

I’m coming to terms with the new style Christmas we anticipate this year and subsequent years, thank you for thinking of it kitty. I’m determined not to be miserable, will try for the matter of fact approach soop shows with the changes she describes.

Oh soop, do give yourself a break from those trees if they continue to displease you. Better than a headache.

I’m sorry but I had a huge grin reading about chair-gate. We have a granddaughter who can’t eat, draw, paint or even breathe without turning our cream seat cushions into a delightful rainbow..

I admire your restraint in holding out for more quotes, n&g. Good not to give in to the temptation of a re-negotiated price.

Sadly there seems to be a corner-bug alive and well. Mr C is lifting the roof with his sneezing, I’m croaking away with a sore throat. Sympathy, please

I had a phone call after my husband’s death, insisting they had to speak to him not me!
I responded’ well you’d better get a bloody good medium then!’ And slammed the phone down.

Sympathy by the gallon from here

the same thing happened to a friend of ours galen, horribly upsetting. I’m sorry it happened to you, too.

Determined not to be depressing I thought I might lower the tone instead with a wee offering
(Don’t Worry, not original so a certain person elsewhere needn’t bother to start a thread on it.)

SCOTTISH CHRISTMAS FAIRY

I am a little fairy
On tap o' the Christmas Tree
It's no' a job I fancy
Well how would you like tae be me
A tarted up wi' tinsel
It's enough to mak ye boak
An a couple o' jaggy branches
Rammed up the back o' your frock
An' these wee lights a'roon me
I canna get my sleep
An' there's the yearly visit
Fae Santa - Big fat creep!
On Christmas Day I'm stuck up here
While you're a' wirin' in
An' naebody says "Hey you up there
Could you go a slug o' gin?
It's nae joke bein' a fairy
The job's beyond belief
You've got to go roon' the wean's beds
An' lift their rotten teeth
But o' a' the joabs a fairy gets
An' I've mentioned only some
The very worst is sitting up a tree
Wi' pine needles up yir bum
When a' the fairies meet again
By the light of' the silvery moon
Ye can tell the Christmas fairies
They're the wans that canna sit doon
The Christmas tree's a bonny sight
As the firelight softly flickers
But think o' me I'm stuck up here
Wi' needles in my knickers
So soon as Christmas time's right by
An' I stop bein' sae full o' cheer
I'll get awa back tae Fairyland
An' I'll see yous a' next year.