Soop's very welcoming kitchen...

charleygirl oscar is sitting on his favourite bean bag. He goes round and round, pounding it with his feet until he's created a crater in the top. Then he slumps down and goes to sleep - though he'd rather be on our bed.

In your post maw you said "Dare I say love"? Yes maw, you do. Isn't it strange, most of us soopers have never met but thanks to the influence of the lovely lady herself (and MacS of course) we find a great attachment for each other. Weep for each others pain, feel pleasure and happiness for their joy, and support and help where we can. This wonderful kitchen has seen so much in the last 12 months.

I wish you all a happy New Year. It will bring many things I am sure. For those among you with no belief, please forgive me if I say to all, God Bless you and Peace be with you x

Just poking my head around the door again to wish every one of you a Happy, Peaceful and Healthy 2018. X

Happy New year to all those lovely people in the kitchen.
Soop it was so lovely to meet you and McSporran in Edinburgh and I hope we get the opportunity to meet again.

oldgoat a few years ago Tara took over a double bedroom and loved the bed that she decided was hers and none of those cat beds for her. A few months ago I decided to move that single bed into the 3rd bedroom and expected Tara to move with the bed but she was not amused and for weeks slept on my bed until I suppose I was so restless that she wanted peace and quiet so she moved to the single bedroom.

A Happy New Year to all, I am about to have a shower and have an early night.

Happy New Year to all the Kitchener, especially soop for her unfailing good cheer and friendliness.

Happy and healthy New Year to you all. Especially soop and MacS for opening their lovely kitchen to all of us.

I've enjoyed seeing two of my favourite poems quoted as well.

Soop it’s nearly midnight and I’m just looking in to wish you and MacS all the best for the new year that’s nearly upon us. Above all I wish you health as I do all the other Soopers and look forward to a long future with you in your kitchen. X

Happy New Year to all. It is dull but dry here- at least the high winds have left, if only temporarily.

I am hoping that we do not have any more fireworks because last night they were still going off after midnight. The displays in London and Edinburgh looked fabulous- hopefully tomorrow brings a normal day again. I have almost forgotten what that is.

I’m popping in to see you all at the kitchen today - here we are, 12 hours into the new year already. Wishing everyone a ‘Guid New Year tae wan an ‘a, and mony may ye see....’
I’m not a regular poster on any of the threads these days, but think if I join you in the kitchen, I might get my mojo back! ☺️

May I wish you all a happy new year x

Oh my goodness! I've read through all your kind messages and I admit to being in tears. I cannot thank you lot enough for all you do to make our kitchen the friendly retreat that it most certainly is. YOU have made it so. I am somewhat emotional at the moment. I shall have a cup of coffee and gather my thoughts. In the meantime...Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

A happy and healthy New Year to everyone in the kitchen. May 2018 be the best of years!

Worth a try Marelli, we'd love it if you did join us.

A happt 2018 to all Kitcheners , especially our hostess Soop xxx

A very happy and healthy new to one and all, but especially to Soop and MacS.

In spite of a wee breather and all that, I haven't fully recovered from reading so many kind messages. I guess I'm a right softie. Yep! That's what I am.

I have started to paint a new watercolour of a mother and baby deer. The light is dimming and, if I attempt to continue, I shall botch it. Common sense says...leave well alone.

Our friend, Bobby, is to be cremated near Glasgow later this week. He was born in the village. He was one of the most colourful characters to live in the village. There will be a whole host of villagers who will travel to bid him a final farewell.

When we first met Bobby, we were struck by his deep love of nature. I've looked out a verse written by Lord Byron which I enclosed in one of his birthday cards. He said, on reading it, that is so true. I believe that it will be included in the service.

'There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,
there is rapture in the lonely shore, there is society where none intrudes,
by the deep sea, and music in its roar; I love not Man the less, but Nature more.'

Tomorrow will be care home visiting day. The friend who accompanies me, (she visits her husband) is waiting for a hip replacement. She is in dire pain. Should have had treatment yonks ago but...couldn't bear to be unable to visit her husband or put her dog into kennels. Her dog has since died. Now we understand that at the pre-op assessment, her heart trace is unsatisfactory. We'll be taking her to Oban for a further scan very soon. PLEASE let her undergo the surgery she needs, because if and when she falls, she will be incapacitated for a very long time.

Storm Dylan didn't do too much damage. Today's weather is very much calmer. We managed a walk after breakfast. Didn't see a single soul!

At the risk of sounding utterly boring (which of course I am) all I wish to add is yet another thank you to all of you who make my day more special. I wouldn't wish to be without our kitchen. So there!

We've just experienced the tail end of your Storm Dylan. It has brought very high tides on the west coast of France,but we're further inland. Still gales and driving rain.
Most people here batten down the hatches and huddle around their log fire. Our border collie was upset we couldn't go for a walk, she want out as normal to do her 'business and have a sniff around. What's all the fuss about?
I like that Lord Byron quote, Soop. We're going to miss 'Nature ' so much.

May I wish all the soop kitcheners, and especially dear soop and MacS, a very happy and healthy new year.
The kitchen is an oasis of friendliness, which is a much needed place for many of us to visit.
Thanks soop for being the hostess with the mostess!

HAPPY NEW YEAR to the kitchen, especially to Soop and MacS.

It was nice, after the midnight fireworks, to hear Auld Lang Syne sung correctly for a change, until the crowd joined in and it went all to pot again!

Happy New Year all!!

A good time was had here and I still have the panto to look forward to tomorrow ( oh no you don’t......oh yes I do!).

I’ll catch up with you all when I get home .

I’ve been trying to catch up with everyone’s news and have failed miserably, so will have to pick it up as I go along!
Christmas and New Year have been very quiet at Marelli and partner’s household. Have done little, other than a walk round park in the village each day, as long as weather’s not been horrendously cold or windy. DH is awaiting a triple heart-bypass, and though he’s always been quite active (long walks, gardening etc) that’s had to come to a halt until he has had his op and worked through his recovery period.
I’ve been quite fearful, but have been careful not to show it!
I’ve just read the poem that soop included in her post. It’s so very true, isn’t it - to be out, wandering- it puts things into perspective. ☺️

Happy New Year soop, Macsporran and all kitcheners!Let us hope that 2018 is a peaceful one with health and happiness is abundance.

Our DD and her family were here today and DH had prepared a quiz for them, which went down well. The girls team won! M&S food was all lovely and I managed to pace myself so that I haven't collapsed with exhaustion. Just hope that this is the end of the nasty cold we have both had and it is finally on its way. I need my energy back!

Thank you for your generous hospitality soop - this kitchen is always an oasis of kindness and gentleness and that is down to you.

Marelli I hope your dh doesn't have too long to wait, you must be jittery to say the least!
Nice to see you in the kitchen xx

Thanks, Lona - (and kittylester). He goes on 11 Jan to discuss the op with the surgeon, so hopefully he’ll get a date quite soon after that.