Soop' s warm and welcoming kitchen.

I'm just popping in to say that our internet is down, probably I'll Monday. I hope this posts - it didn't the last 3 times.

Whilst I have spent the whole day in my fav` jamas...........and I am not ashamed to admit it.............though please don`t tell anyone else!!!

Soop I am ashamed to say I am wearing my pj's and a reindeer onesie!!

It's been another of those days...we all get them, and deal with them, and breathe a sigh of relief when we walk through our own front door and kick shoes off. In fact, I am now wearing baggy pyjama bottoms (so much more comfortable than tailored trews.)

I won't bore you lot with the whys and wherfores. You have more than enough to deal with.

Dear Synonymous What more can I say? The consultant knows best. It must be a very tough "best" to have to deal with. Shelve all the unnecessary Christmas "stuff". There is no point running yourself ragged for the sake of a couple of days. If you can...relax. Enjoy some peace. As will we.

Maw I applaud hattie's taste regarding programmes on tv. Both MacS and I thoroughly enjoy the Secret Life of Farm Animals. We would rate it as being one of our top programmes. Aren't animals amazing? That wonderful ram that accompanies the cows to the milking shed! I could watch a double episode of such entertainment.

Doodle Galen's dumplings are a wonder to behold taste.

We've just been told that our new neighbour who had the heart attack is to have major heart surgery on Tuesday. It was thought that a stent would suffice. Apparently not. She is in her early sixties.

Izabella You certainly have a poetic turn of phrase. I could also enjoy the scene that you described.

Panache Thank you for your caring post.

I'm away to do a few odd jobs. Hope to return before too long.

Panache the praise was not due to me, but to my granny. It was her recipe!
Shows that although we all try to be ‘healthy’ these days, sometimes the non pc way is much nicer!

As I have a real craving for mince pies and am on a strict fat free diet.....or else!............I really appreciate those baked by your own fair hand Dragonfly............mmmmmmmm!!

Believe my inners are a true test of telling whether they are truly fat free!

Galen I was always taught self-praise is not on........however even your description had me licking my lips!

Quite a marathon there Synonymous but understandably life is moving a pace in your household........and yes I can rather expect seeing the home truths of his condition and what lies ahead must prove quite hard to well and truly swallow.......for you both.
So many radical changes to your present day tough enough living.

However the other half of your posting brought an uplifting message,saying how you are making all the preperations to drive off to spend several weeks at your DD, whilst halting on the journey for an overnight break,all beautifully organised down to the delicious meats you will bring as your contribution to your yule tide stay.

So good hearing you can and are able to carry out such a break,a complete change,allowing you to have a much needed breather whilst there is nothing quite like Christmas with family........even though you miss out on your own Church family.

I can but wish you a very safe and troublefree journey and a truly precious Christmas time surrounded by family.

Callgirl.........am on my way to deliver a tree erecting service for you!!

Good luck with your techy excercise Maw and I think you might find you manage better than you ever imagined..........just take your time .......there`s yet time before Christmas so that you can sit watching with Hattie........all the special animal programmes!

Izabella.............you well and truly set before us a real treat ,a view of our great country painted with words, and indeed you did the scene proud with your choice of words............I feel much better already!

Charley I don`t much like your reference to Corner regarding her extraction presumably!!!! but indeed I do truly wish you well Corner......for the final time!!!

I honestly have to call a halt as am feeling rather tetchy today after the mauling of two days ,whilst the cold weather has certainly chilled my every bone!!
Now I am enjoying the warmth of my own home and do not intend budging until the darned weather warms up outside!!!

Dear friends of the kitchen I can but say keep smiling through those bleaker times and hopefully all will appear better for you whatever the issue..........blessings and love to all.

Hi everyone just popping my nose round the door to say hi. I can never keep up here but I was pleased to read that Dragonfly had uplifting news and others are dealing with things we all go through at some point but with support from family friends and GN pals we somehow keep going and hope to reach the other side intact. IYKWIM ?

The hot chocolate is very welcome as it is -1C here. Thankfully I do not like mince pies.

Corner all the very best for tomorrow- I could do it cheaper for you but I suppose you want a professional.

Just to thank everyone for their amazing support over the past few weeks I have put some spiced hot chocolate on the side for those feeling the cold and some fat-free mince pies (if there is such a thing) xx

Izabella that sounds like a scene Joseph Farquharson might have painted but without the sheep! You paint so well with words you don’t need a camera.

Morning all. I was feeling sombre first thing after the funeral yesterday. However as I pulled up the blind it was obvious mother nature decided I needed cheering up. The most amazing sight met my eyes. A vermillion and bright blue sky, frost dusted sparkling trees and grass and white dusted roofs over the other side of the valley. Someone had a fire in their cottage and the smoke was spiralling thinly skywards. The pond was frozen with the reeds upright and rigid and awaiting the thaw to enable them to resume their swaying and rustling. Just so stunningly beautiful and it was indeed my moment of the day. It brought a tear to my eye and reminded me of the marvellous writing of Thomas Hardy (poem The Darkling Thrush ) and the descriptive prose of John Clare.

Ann the skating sounds wonderful. I always had illusions of being an ice skater when young, but to this day it is something I have not tried. I am not built for grace but I still have dreams!!

Gq is that a snap of Ladybower I spy taken from the road as opposed to the cycle tracks the other side?

dragonfly still pleased as punch about your news (I have posted to you on another thread.)

Well I need to take more mince pies out of the freezer as friends coming tonight. So, as ever, support and kind thoughts to all who are struggling and in need of help and understanding.

I hope that Hattie has forgotten her previous life. She has fallen on all 4 feet in her present abode. Of course she is intelligent, I am amazed she is awake long enough to watch a TV programme.

One of my little neighbours is 3 years old and he loves his scooter and is really proficient. I asked him if I could borrow it to help bring home my shopping and amazingly he handed it to me. I would break the thing if I stepped on it but he is not normally so generous. It was so sweet of him.

???

Of course Maw how could any member of your family be other than highly intelligent

I am hugely amused by the fact that Hattie really likes watching other animals on TV
Not just dogs either.
David Attenborough’s Dynasties saw her snuggled up beside me but her eyes never left the screen
Same thing with the Secret life of the Zoo , Supervet and tonight’s Secret Life of Farm Animals.(photo)
She can clearly disguise animal shapes from humans and reacts to sounds from animals or birds.
Is it a sign of intelligence I wonder?

Not sure that came out quite as I intednded ?. Does Gary like your dumplings too galen ?

dragonfly so pleased the results were good. Hope you can relax a bit now..
synonymous a lot to deal with. Hope your DH is adapting to the idea now.
ann lovely to hear you are out and about.
galen I like the sound of your dumplings.
My mum made good ones too.

Very good news Dragonfly

Cooked a beef and vegetable stew for Kate and Gary on Monday. I decided to make dumplings with it, and instead.of making semi healthy ones with vegetable suet.
I followed my granny’s recipe and made big cannon ball ones with beef suet.
They were gorgeous and so big, light and fluffy, I couldn’t believe it. They all vanished in minutes!
Good old granny!

Maw that is a good mental picture!
As for you coping that is very good and Paw would indeed be proud of you continuing your journey. Don't be angry but just be grateful for all that you two had. You had so much more than many others will ever have. I do understand in a small way though as part of what we ourselves are facing is the possibility of me being left on my own and it is something none of us want to even contemplate. The reality you are now facing is indeed hard and I hope that as time passes the rawness will lessen and you will continue making new memories with your family. (((hugs)))

Just had a quick foray into the v e t and Smokie hardly said anything and is now back in front of the fire having been thoroughly 'updated' with all the potions you can think of!

Dragonfly I`m SO pleased to read your news today, after being a bit afraid to log onto GN today. Do go and enjoy your Christmas now.
Sar, glad to read that your little granddaughter is feeling a little better, hope she has a great Christmas.
Ann, lovely to read that you are enjoying a trip to Nottingham, I used to love it there at Christmas, but haven`t been at this time of year for quite a while.
A friend of mine died nearly 2 years ago of cancers in several places. Her hubby has now been told he has an enlarged prostate, and an MRI has found spots on his prostate, so he has to have an operation some time after Christmas. He`s only been keeping going because Mavis made him promise to take care of their 2 little dogs. He seems OK, but he must be worrying inside, bless him.
I only have presents to wrap for 3 people now, and 3 of them to post on Saturday, so I`m up on my usual run up to Christmas. Then there`ll be the tree to sort out, H-E-L-P!!

Honestly there is so much to catch up with when you take even a few hours’ break!
Synonymous I have a wonderful mental picture of a car covered in bells and whistles tootling down the motorway! Don’t try speeding, they might just notice you!
I have been out at a fascinating talk on jewellery, its history in art, especially in Royal portraits of the past, this morning. Some very nice bling!!
Then I was invited to lunch with dear friends, Paw and I knew the wife at university and their daughter and DD1 were coincidentally best friends at primary school.
All lovely, then I went to our city centre to collect the “big” computer and am just attempting to set it up.
It was so very much Paws* it has made me tearful, I like to think he would have been proud of me coping with this (as a total technonumpty) but then I found myself feeling so angry that I am coping on my own
These feelings can just come out of nowhere can’t they?
Anyway, encouraging news from Dragonfly and Annsixty
I wish you all a peaceful evening (while I wrestle with assorted cables and the like!)
How on Earth do I lose Apple’s choice of screensaver ?

Dragonfly I have been out all day and my heart was in my mouth when I logged in
I AM SO PLEASED FOR YOU

I hope you can now breathe again, relax, enjoy your Christmas and that your treatment will be both not unpleasant and effective
Whew!
xxx

I haven't been in the kitchen other than to keep an eye on 'you lovely lot' so have been reading and running I am sorry to say.
Both of us have been so tired and only doing the bare necessities. Himself received the report from the Consultant yesterday which knocked his socks off to have everything set out in black and white. It made me have a big swallow too and I am not the patient! It is very helpful to have that report for next Wednesday when we go back to see DH's own Consultant as it will give us something concrete to discuss with him. Himself has a pretty dreadful sense of humour and has been making appalling jokes as in, " Well, at least my socks will last twice as long" so I really do know what he is thinking about. Hard to know what to say to that kind of thing.
Well this is just a quick foray to say hello and leave mince pies, hugs and some mulled wine.
I have done absolutely nothing towards Christmas, no decorations, no food - zilch! The DC and DGC are having money popped into their various bank accounts and as for ourselves we need very little nowadays so Himself and I have picked out an additional heater for our sunroom which we had been thinking about for ages. It will be ordered online after our return from DD's in the New Year and it will be very useful. The best thing about all of that is no wrapping!
A week today we are going off to DD's for a couple of weeks and will stay overnight on our way down and on our way home in order to make it easy for me as I am having to do all the driving. Fortunately I love driving and have a lovely car which has loads of bells and whistles and is easy to drive. I have been working out the meals between now and when we go and we seem to be going out rather frequently which is good for avoiding cooking and washing up!
When we go we will take meats etc from our local farm shop as our contribution towards the festivities so that will be job done and I am not feeling in the least guilty. The only thing I will miss is our own Church Christmas activities but we will go with DD to hers and we have many 'extended family' there so it will be lovely I am sure.
Smokie is going into the cattery next week for the very first time so I wonder what he will make of it all. It is a long time to be in jail poor little thing. I hope he doesn't think I have given him away! I am about to take him for his first booster innoculations as it is a year since he first had them so he will not be thinking very kindly of me all round I don't suppose.
Must go, enjoy the mince pies!

Smelling salts!