Soop's very welcoming kitchen...

Adding my wishes for a positive outcome today morethan, totally understand the nerves.

Can’t better your words maw, I understand the truth of them from personal and observed experience. Sometimes, just sometimes wouldn’t it be a relief to know in advance when they would arrive and in what guise?

Exciting times ahead n&g, here’s wishing you cheerful and competent builders. The biscuits and sandwiches will help. . Having said that we had one lot who wouldn’t accept either, just gallons of very, very strong coffee with heaps of sugar. Had to go out and replenish the sugar on day two. Oops.

Very emotional funeral this morning, a warm and loving feel to the service. Back to the mundane now, car to the garage next.

Just had a healthy soup lunch which will shortly be offset by tea and cake while the car is being attended to. Oh well, 50% healthy isn’t bad

Take care everyone. Wishing all poorly people a speedy recovery. Look after yourselves.

Welcome pinto, you’ll find almost anything is quickly eaten here.

Hello the kitchen! Welcome pinto, pull up a chair!
I am stir crazy today as we are supposed to be out walking but it is so foggy I think we would be walking round in circles. Hope it clears in the next hour. My DD has offered to lend me a fitness tracker so that I can track my steps. I am trying to think of an excuse to turn down her kind offer. I would feel shackled to it and would develop a terrible guilt complex from having my idleness thrust in my face on an ongoing basis!! And she would want to know what the readings were and I would be ashamed to tell her and have to lie......! I would stand with my hands behind my back, hanging my head and shuffling my feet as she took me to task! a bit of deja vu going on here!!!
Love the ducks’ bums, N&G!
Welcome back to the world of the connected, Charley!
I will look in later.

pintogrigio WELCOME I hope that you have found a comfortable, crumb-free chair in which to loll and share the left over praline. We appreciate anything sweet and tasty. Please keep visiting the kitchen. The more the merrier.

corner 50% healthy is as good as it gets (in my estimation).

Welcome back Charley...we've missed you.

Just back from ironing duties. Need coffee and something that's good for the flagging energy levels.

morethan Please keep us updated.

N&G Another wonderful photo. Thank you.

Did I hear talk of praline? Hope you lot have left me some!! Welcome pinto, please come again especially if you are bringing goodies.

Glad the funeral went ok corner. They usually do but the prospect of going to one makes me feel weird too. I am pleased you are going to be (or have eaten!!) cake. It's good for the soul! Not for the hips but, heighho, one can't have everything.

GD, I foolishly asked for a fitness tracker a while ago. If I really set my mind to it I might be able to locate it - but don't hold your breath! All the DDs have one! I keep saying I'm too old!

I too love the DAs in the photo N&G. Cherish your builders, what are this lot doing?

Glad to see you are ok Charley - you gave us a bit of a fright!

(((hugs))) Maw, Ann, morethan and anyone else who feels in need of one.

Right, I'm off to do incantations to blight the life of The Idiot, who has messaged DD3 to say that he is too tired to transfer the children's maintenance or, as he likes to call it, 'your money'. Of course, instead of messaging, he could have used a similar amount of energy to go on his internet banking account and transfer the beeping money!!

Sneaks in with the latest photo of Mila. Today is her daddy's birthday. She kept him awake all night long.

What a gorgeous, wrinkle free baby!
My calendar has arrived Soop, many, many thanks xxxxx
Thinking of you and yours today Morethan.
Welcome to the kitchen Pinto.
I`ve just finished off the last of the mince pies, sorry ladies, but there were only 2 left.

She kept him awake all night long.
Show them who's in charge Mila
What a gorgeous little girl!

pinto yes please and I will vacuum up all the crumbs, my NY Resolution is to keep busy and be useful

callgirl1 Good! That was quick. Only posted yesterday in Campbeltown. Post awfully sluggish on occasions.

kitty Commiserations. That man is beyond belief.

Log off time. Thank you lot for your company.

Jalima you've made me chortle.

We can when we've done our stint years ago!

Praline for all, not good for my teeth although it has softened a little in the jar.

Don’t want to be responsible for broken teeth so perhaps I will bring a sponge next time

Lovely photo Soop! And welcome Pinto - I like praline too! Anyone for a florentine? They are the last packet of Christmas goodies

Ah, kitty, think of all the steps you could rack up walking round the house trying to remember where you put it!
We did get out this afternoon; a rather uninspiring local walk, just over four miles but with all the mud it felt twice as far. I was on auto pilot for the last half mile and near home we met a lady with a dog that seemed to take an inordinate amount of interest in my left boot (probably all the goose poo we had been walking through in the country park). She asked me where we had walked and when I told her she said “Blimey, well done! If I walk five hundred yards I have to sit down for a week!” Right now I’d take her five hundred yards gladly. I am pooped! Need to get some sort of regime going again (she said, stretching out on the recliner and wondering how long she can get away with not thinking about sorting out a meal).
Soop your GGD is a real sweetie, and of course daddy will get used to the sleepless nights that come with the territory! Early days!
Okay, thinks: can I get away with giving Himself an omelette? Hmm!

Evening all !!

Missed your post, welcome back Charley you were missed . Makes me wonder what would happen if something happened to one of you - how would we know? I don't like the idea of any of you just disappearing :-(

Sorry to hear you were unwell on your cruise Galen and it wasn't quite up t snuff.... I know ....lets go on a Gransnet cruise :-) You have quite a choice of characters across the site and we could take care of you if you're poorly OR drink champers with Bella

You could pop in here Corner with Mr C- he can go and be grumpy with Grampy ;-) .

WHAT !!!! No hula hoop sandwiches ???? I'm surprised there was no picketing...or at least some strike action ;-) Nellie

I agree Maw and ann but also if you look back - you DID get through ( even if it took a Belgian bun ) so maybe God hasn't over estimated you as much as you think. My personal favourite it ' What doesn't kill you makes you stronger' and you're both pretty strong ladies I suspect.

Hello Pinto was something mentioned about praline????

If our second lot of builders are as hardworking as our first then I'm blessed Corner but boy they could eat!!! I'm a firm believer in treating tradesmen like family , so if we have lunch , they have lunch. They're working outside in all weathers , a sandwich just doesn't always cut it !! So soups on the go - butternut squash and pancetta and plain old tomato. I've got rolls to pop in the oven and Grampy is in charge of tea and copious biscuits which I believe he checked for freshness this afternoon. .

This lot Kitty are going to put the walls, and lantern roof and finish off the orangery. On Friday the fencers are here all day too - making a total of 8 workmen !! Note to self : make more soup!!

ah Kitty there is a large area due to be dug up, a patio laid and concrete poured........so that's a BIG hole....should you , on the off chance, think of anyone anything that could go in there .....just saying !"!!!!

Beautiful baby soop , just beautiful.

Did you mention Florentines Jane? My favourite !

time to go and burn dinner( in our house if the smoke alarm goes off its done !!)

Have a nice evening everyone x

Evening all. DiL consultant really please. Secondary bone cancer is contained and her liver is clear. Still has ongoing treatment, immune therapy, injections for bone cancer ect but no more chemo for now. Phew.
Welcome Pinto loved the picture of the ducks and your baby is gorgeous sooplucky you. Glad the fog cleared for your walk Greyduster it’s was a lovely day here too. Took my DiL out for lunch after hospital. It’s so nice to indulge in everyday chatter with her. My 6year old grandson is due to arrive soon for overnight stay, so cuddles for me(he’s a cuddler) homework and school run tomorrow. Have a good evening all.

Lovely news morethan - you can all breathe again.
Isn’t modern medicine marvellous?
Very happy for you all xxx

So, so pleased for you all morethan long may the status continue, you have us all behind you.

Fabulous news morethan. Enjoy your cuddles!

n&G, do not tempt me!! anyone got a leg of lamb I can borrow?

Gorgeous baby soop! Must take after her great granny!

morethan that is excellent news! Onward and upward! Good luck with the homework - getting our GS to do his is like pulling teeth!
If I come wearing overalls and a flat cap, and walk about with a plank or something, N&G, will I pass muster for a builder sufficient to warrant lunch? No? I didn’t think so! Oh well!
Jane I bought Florentines for both my children at Christmas but forgot to get them for us, and I love them, so if there are any left please save me one!

morethan that’s really good to hear!
soop, she’s just gorgeous!

Excellent news morethan the family must be relieved.

soop what a cutie. I bet she has her dad wrapped round her little finger already

JaneD3 I really love Florentines. I shouldn't really after all pinto's praline but if you insist, send one this way

Managed tribunal today. 2 more to go then 4 next week.
This is ridiculous!
Won’t be posting much as too either too tired or reading papers.
Catch up when I’ve time to myself again!
Love to all

soop she’s a little angel!