Soop's very welcoming kitchen...

Thank you maw. Kind of you to think of me when you have so much sadness of your own x

So sad for you all Crafting especially your SiL
He is at peace now and you all have your memories of him at his best. Thst is what you must hold on to.

A wonderful summary of all that made up your brother crafting. I’m sorry for your loss, your brother was a much loved man. Look after yourself.

Sorry for your loss, crafting; sounds like your brother was a lovely man.

So sorry Crafting, the lovely man is now at peace.

Soop, it would be lovely if you could find my calendar, thank you, but I don`t want to put you to any trouble. It does have a name, but not sure exactly what it is. I`ve not had one for a while, used to buy them when I was up there, but can`t remember where from, it would have been either the Tourist Info Centre at Campbeltown harbour, or a shop in Tarbert.
I think Eleanor will be with us soon, it`s been very windy today, and we have an amber warning from midnight until 10pm tomorrow. Mia won`t be wanting to go anywhere if it gets really rough.

Sad news Crafting. Your description of your brother is lovely.

What a lovely tribute to your brother Crafting, he was very much loved by the sound of it.

Thank you all for your kind thoughts. Dementia/Alzheimer's such a sad illness for all concerned.

Your brother sounds like a lovely man indeed, it must have been hard for you all to lose him in stages over the years. A sad time for your family.

Crafting, your brother loved and was loved, to the end of his days. He sounded like a good and fine man. x

So sad Crafting

Please accept my condolences too, Crafting. I'm glad you have happy memories to help you.

Very said news Crafting

Sounds like your brother was a lovely man, one who made a real difference to people's lives.

Please accept my condolences

Good Morning all from a very weary Nana!

Just picked up Sam from his 3 day stay and never have I seen a dog more grateful to be home. The kennels are reputable but you never know what's going on do you? I really think we'll have to look at a home sitter for the boy next time.

Sincere condolences Crafting your words tell the tale of a much loved man. I'm so sorry for your loss.

Hope your DHs op goes well Marelli and he returns to full gardening fitness !!

The panto was fabulous . I cant recommend it too highly. Some fabulous special effects with magic carpets and such and Laura was entranced for the whole 3 hours !!

Hope your grumpiness has passed grey and you're back in fine form !! Id love a needlefelt robin, they are such wonderful birds anyway and I am a great admirer of the skill of felting.

Disaster occurred New Year Eve night when a faulty cage meant snowball ( the newly arrived hamster) escaped at my daughters home !! Much tears ensued and our last update was that Daddy had lifted the floorboards in Laura's bedroom and there had been a sighting but no capture....watch this space for news of the slowly dismantled house !!!!

We will start the task of taking down the lights and decorations today. First person to offer this as a service can count me in as a client. Its a job I hate !

We had a lovely, lively slightly alcohol fuelled New Year . It was lovely to be with them all and the surprise was perfect . 3 weeks till we see them all again and I think we will need every second of that to recover !!

Happy day all x

Crafting Your dear brother has left the finest legacy of all. He was good, kind and caring. He was loved. Now he's at peace.

I shall return.

callgirl1 We shall pop into the harbourside Tourist Information Centre tomorrow. If we can get a calendar you shall have it, with our love. x

Afternoon everyone. Still blowing a gale here, huge waves on the seafront this morning, another flood alert out for the next high tide. What you might call lively weather.

Have a very tired granddaughter with us today, could do with n&g. Her craft abilities are rapidly outstripping mine. She does a lot of sighing. .

Hope the escape artist hamster is caught while the house is standing. I remember it well, we had to remove the gas fire to retrieve one. So good at escaping.

Have done the usual. Packed the Christmas things back in the loft, put the ladder back, sat down with a restorative cup of tea and spotted the one that got away. Oh well, there will be somewhere to put it safely - so we never find it again. . .

Take care everyone. Keep warm and well.

Piano stool, corner! That is where my ‘ones that got away’ Xmas decs have been stashed - among the mouldering music to the King and I and other forgotten gems! Having now got rid of the decorations, DH is having a blitz on the smallest bedroom which is next on his to do list for decorating. Oh joy!
N&G a hamster Houdini is bad news - DH’s (much) younger brother had one which escaped and I’m afraid they never found it in spite of intensive and disruptive investigations both above and below ground. I hope that is not the case with Laura’s hamster! I am glad to hear your New Year celebrations went well and that Sam was none the worse for his stay in temporary quarters. I am not surprised you missed each other. Our friends had a dog in quarantine for six months and said it was one of the hardest things they have ever had to put up with. We put our cat in a cattery during one holiday - she barely ate all the time she was there and when she came home she would wail uncontrollably if we left her - she even followed us to the toilet!! We never did it again.
I have been baking this afternoon, so there is banana and walnut tea bread going. I was under strict orders not to produce any more cake but there were bananas going to waste, and it was a distraction for an hour or so.

Thank you for all your kind thoughts.
I wish I could say that I will pass on the walnut and teabread dreyduster due to my post Christmas diet but I have no will power and it sounds so nice. I'm sure there is a small space inside me somewhere where a slice of you delicious tea bread would be welcome

Well you can have DH’s slice, crafting; since he was the one who sent forth the “no more cake” edict, he deserveth not a crumb!

How old is your granddaughter Cornergran ? I recently bought some airdry clay from Amazon . Its strange stuff , a bit like melted mozzarella , but you mould it and then leave it and it dries solid BUT its super light . Our 11yr old makes flowers with it and then we glue them to cards. Might be something she might like.

Let me know if you want the link and Ill PM you.

The Houdini hamster is still on the loose.... why would it want to go back in the cage? BUT it is still alive just not caught. I shall keep you all appraised !!

Many, many years ago I had one whilst stationed in Northern Ireland. The little chap fitted nicely into my flak jacket pocket and went everywhere with me ( a great icebreaker when out working !) . Sadly, he came to a sticky end when I fell out of a transport vehicle and....well you can guess the rest!!

Yes please to the cake Grey ! I am not feeling the ticket so anything yummy is gratefully received.

Sadly, I let Grampy out with a sharp knife--- 3 plasters later it is decided we will not put the decorations down today.

At New Years Day lunch young Cooper ( aged 3) confided in me that he calls his cousin Stevie( aged 8) Dangerous Boy. Why is that I asked? 'He's allowed scissors' replied Cooper.

I think he probably feels the same about Grampy !!!

So sorry to read about your brother,*Crafting*. From your description, he must have given much in his life to others.
Soop I've just read a post of yours from yesterday about our collie. She has a strange name, Uddi. She was born in 2003 when french alphabetical rules dictate names should begin with 'U'.
I have lots of photos and will get husband's help to post one (hopefully). I'm hopeless at posting photos.
She's a real friend, tries to talk to us, and has a big variety of vocalisations, each with a special meaning.

I just love cooper , n&g. He has a way with words. Our champion sigher found Mr C nodding off this afternoon so hilarious she woke him up with her laughter. She’s nine, sounds just the thing, a link would be great, thank you.

I’ll help with the tea bread greyd. Sometimes you just have to .

I hope your hamster was mentioned in despatches, N&G!?.