Soop's very welcoming kitchen...

Quick visit from me, too.

soop thank you for making the kitchen such a safe place in a stormy world. ‘Sometimes’ is a poem I hold dear, very appropriate for a new beginning. I’m sorry your friend is ill but you know a quiet evening in front of a warm fire sounds just the thing tonight,

Blowing a gale and pouring here again. There are no plans to venture out, NYE tends to be quiet. A meal, a film and raising a glass at midnight to all we love, my virtual GN friends will be included.

I’m sorry today hasn’t been as you hoped kitty, ‘doomy’ sounds a good word to borrow if you will permit, hope the feeling lifts very soon.

Thank you all for your company, it’s meant a lot. Thinking of you all, especially those carrying sadness and sending my wish for a year that is as good as it is possible for it to be.x

I'm just rushing in to wish everyone a very happy new year and a peaceful, calm and healthy 2018.

Thank you all for your love, support, laughs, advice and so much more during the last 12 months.

I'm feeling a bit doomy (a Lester family expression) today. Maybe because the restaurant we went to for a posh breakfast wasn't open!

We expected worse weather here but it is relatively quiet, it was rather wet earlier but I have just peeked out and seen the moon.
The 'Wolf Moon' (don't ask me) tomorrow night will be a Super Moon, looking larger than average.

Apparently a Wolf Moon is the first full moon after Yuletide.

The rain and hail are so loud here in the conservatory I can hardly hear the tinkle of ice in my G&T, not a night to be going out.
Happy New Year to you all.

oldgoat your post has reminded me that I bought (yes, I know) some red cabbage and we haven't eaten it; now, where did I put it?

goes on a red cabbage hunt

A Happy New Year to you soop and to all kitcheners and may 2018 bring peace and good health and, dare I say, joy.

We shall be having a very quiet evening here - probably until just after midnight when the phone may start ringing, we hope.

With best wishes to all and cheers

Wishing you,*Soop*, and MacSporran a happy and healthy 2018.
And to all members of your Kitchen.
A lot of festivities have been cancelled here because of the weather (high winds).

No need to get all dressed up. The new year party has had to be postponed. Our lovely friend has been stricken down with an awful stomach bug. We are to light the fire, have ourselves a cosy, simple supper and a wee dram at about nine o'clock. We shall wish ALL our Granspals good health and peace of mind. It is very likely that we shall take to our beds before the bells. Never the less, no matter, in whatever way our Soopers are celebrating, may you enjoy the evening. And thank you for being a lovely lot of comrades.

oldgoat Oscar looks as though he is in need of a cuddle or two. He would get lots here and would not be sitting on his own!

Just popping in to wish all my virtual friends on Gransnet a Very Happy and Healthy New Year. It's a pleasure to be able to share the comings and goings in the kitchen and an even greater pleasure to have had the opportunity to meet some of you in the flesh.

DS and his family are coming to a belated Christmas lunch tomorrow so I've been busy preparing loads of vegetables and still have to make the braised red cabbage. We'll be eating bubble and squeak for days.
Meanwhile, OH has been cutting down some trees in niece's massively overgrown back garden. He absolutely loves chopping down trees and has to be closely watched because he can get a bit carried away...

Well, better bash on - time flies once I check in here for an update.

All the Best for 2018 from me and Oscar
X

Baggs Like minds...or something like! It is a poem that I love for many reasons. It is my 'Poem for the Day' two Andrew Motion selection.

I too would like to wish everyone a Very Happy New Year. Thank you for all the love and support that is Soops kitchen.

TY (teenagespeak for thank you; Minibaggs finds it amusing when I use this stuff ?), soop! Lovely sentiments in that poem. You'll never believe how I got to it: India Knight's column in the Sunday Times magazine via a recommendation by Katie Hopkins. And I came on here to post it just as you have!!

I'm all misty-eyed. For the right reasons. More to you all.

Me too, Callgirl

Thank you for the lovely poem Soop.
Just in case I don`t get back on here today, may I wish everyone in the kitchen a happy, or happier, New Year.

Nipping in during a lull between one bunch going and another crew arriving! What a lovely poem soop, it’s always good to travel hopefully especially at the end of the year and approaching a new one - with whatever it may bring for us all and those we love.
I’ve enjoyed the company and friendship of the kitchen this year, thank you to all (especially the lovely soop) who make the place it is, with laughter, tears and all the stuff of ordinary life thrown in for good measure. A bit like favourite tried abs rested recipe really.
Wishing you all good things for 2018.
Special thoughts for any with a sad heart or a tear in your eye xx

I do hope that 2018 is a better year for everybody I have had the privilege to "know". We have had fun times but also some heart rendering ones. It has been one of the worst years of my life so next year can only be better.

I have loved the photos of the children and the pets, not forgetting the wonderful views and sunsets. We will all stay together next year also and I hope that those with health problems slowly improve.

Thank you, anno and Greyduster.

A lovely uplifting poem. Food for thought.
I have just popped in to thank Soop and all the kitcheners for their company this year - it has been a privilege to share your joys and woes, gentle philosophies, wonderful family and other photographs and, often downright bonkers, views on life! Let us look forward to sharing them anew in 2018. Peace and happiness to you all.

Thank you for that poem, soop. There are times when we need to be reminded that good things do happen. A happy and healthier new year for you and McS.

Today, the final day in 2017, I am sending you my love and best wishes through a poem that I think sums up my hopes for all those who are facing challenges of one kind or another.

Sometimes by Sheenagh Pugh

^Sometimes things don't go, after all,
from bad to worse. Some years, muscadel
faces down frost; green thrives; the crops don't fail,
sometimes a man aims high, and all goes well.

A people sometimes will step back from war;
elect an honest man; decide they care
enough, that they can't leave a stranger poor.
Some men become what they were born for.

Sometimes our best efforts do not go
amiss; sometimes we do as we meant to.
The sun will sometimes melt a field of sorrow
that seemed hard frozen: may it happen for you.^

I print out all the months each year, and staple them together. There is space on each day to write appointments etc on (so long as you keep it short!) and you can tear off the months that are over. No nice piccies, but you can't expect everything when it is free.

Thank you Elegran that is a good idea. There is moth or year option. It will certainly keep him happy until I can get out to get one, he crosses each day off every morning to know what day it is.

Annsixty Could you print out the calendar on this webpage (or another) so that he has one in front of him?
www.timeanddate.com/calendar/monthly.html?year=2018&month=1&country=9
If he complains that there is no nice photo on it, tell him that you got one without a picture on it this year because you liked last year's picture so much you are going to keep that as well.