Soop' s warm and welcoming kitchen.

That`s exactly how I feel when I leave Mia at the cattery Synonymous. Then when I get back and take her home, she gives me the cold shoulder for the first few hours!
The other day I sent early congratulations to Mr & Mrs Dragonfly and Mr &Mrs Panache. May I now send slightly belated CONGRATULATIONS? When it was our 50th, my husband was in hospital awaiting his first operation, so we cancelled the family meal that had been booked. When the ward sister found out, she said "You should have said, he could have gone out for the evening and then come back in afterwards!" DUH!!
Kitty, that`s one lovely photo, butter wouldn`t melt.
I`m heartily glad not to be supermarket shopping in Boston today. Word has gone round that if anyone goes to Tesco they won`t be home in time for Christmas, lol!

Just lost my post! Buggrit!
Congratulations to both of our golden couples and very best wishes. I wish you were in happier circumstances.
Our travellers have made it home via Stanstead instead of Gatwick, 24 hrs late and several hundred pounds poorer. The airline with the harp know how to charge! Their booked airline wouldn’t guarantee get them home for Christmas!
The children were so pleased to see them and we have gracefully made our exit to our comfortable bed! Grandog to collect tomorrow. Cat will be pleased to have her back - not!!
I am in awe of those doing last minute shopping - yet to make a list here!
Sleep well everyone!

Also just lost long post.
I won't repeat it, just to say I have had a lovely evening out with friends, feel I am back in the real world. Then the guilt trips in.
Good night and God bless to all.
I hope the GWA's were quietlt celebrated with a sense of acheivement.

Dear Ann please do kick that guilt right back where it belongs ... i.e. far, far away from you. You deserve every ounce of enjoyment out of life x

Evening All. Where did the day go?

ann I just can’t express how delighted I am you are having some relaxed, happy times. You certainly deserve it and please, no guilt, as guilt is as nappropriate as it’s possible to get.

Love the photo kitty, made me smile.

Pleased your travellers have returned nannnytopsy, we’ve some food shopping to do tomorrow, sounds as if you might be joining us. Elbow sharpeners anyone?

Good to hear you arrived safely synonymous, you can relax now. Your daughter has everything in hand so sit back and enjoy it all.

We’re in perpetual motion over the Christmas period. Not sure how that happened, don’t recall volunteering for it, but if the stamina holds out It will be lovely. The weekend is ours then it all begins. May need a stop watch, oh yes, the phone has one so we’ll be fine .

Good luck with the hospital dragonfly, hope your day has had golden moments in spite of the pressures.

Been thinking about panache and her husband on their special day and hoping much needed help has been found.

Ahh. Laundry! Now where does it come from? Constant here, you’d think we were washing for a family of 15 .

Apologies for the inevitable omissions, time to try for sleep now. The tooth extraction site has decided to let me know it’s there today, so painkillers are on board with a hope that tomorrow it will behave.

Take care everyone.

Annsixty I can understand the guilt feelings. It took me very nearly the whole year not to think every time I went out or away overnight, that Paw had had to die for this to be possible
This has worn of and while I am sad that he cannot enjoy things with me or that there is nobody to tell about it when I get home, that guilt was a part of the same grieving process you are going through.
Don’t beat yourself up, but having recognised the emotion, go “with the flow” and it will not be long before you realise that you have a right to enjoyment and relaxation - and he is cared for and comfortable in his Care home and the two are not mutually exclusive.

Very belated GWA best wishes to both couples - just wish circumstances were better for Mr & Mrs P.

Synonymous Smokie will be so glad to be home when you collect him but be prepared for either scenario of him never leaving your side or ignoring you completely - I've had both over the years! I hope the rest will do you both the world of good.

Kitty lovely photos. I do love a Christmas jumper

Ann I'm so pleased to hear you are starting to enjoy your new found freedom - there is absolutely no reason to feel guilty and I'm sure your husband would be the first to tell you to go out and enjoy yourself if he was able to.

Soop where do you find all your energy from! I should be doing all that work too but don't seem to have had the time the last few days.

We went to do the big Christmas shop yesterday - I could tell from the minute we got into the supermarket and Mr W couldn't get past the throng of children in the doorway with his trolley it possibly wasn't going to go well. They were collecting for charity and a group were singing although we only heard one actual carol. They were very good though. The place was heaving and tempers were fraying all around especially Mr W's! As we finally struggled out there were dozens of cars pouring in - madness really isn't it?!

We went to York last night to meet friends and SIL & BIL - there was an horrendous accident on the way with what looked like 8 emergency vehicles so we had to turn round and take a different route. Two ambulances came flashing past a little later obviously from the scene - it quite upset us both - some poor people and their families will not be having a good Christmas. I just hope there were no serious injuries.

Today we have to tackle the A1 to visit our son 2 hours away - hoping all the Christmas travellers will have gone on their merry ways but we are expecting it still to be very busy. I'm pleased your family have returned safely NannyT.

Corner I hope your missing tooth pain settles down - possibly all the rushing round has caused it.

Hope you all have a good, restful day before the big push tomorrow!

Ann it does get easier. As long as your DH is happy in the care home you should feel no guilt. He is being well looked after - probably better than you are. It is now time to also look after yourself knowing you did the best you could.

Morning all !!

Its bright and crisp here today ! I am slightly envious of all who have finished their shopping. We are hosting new Year so although all our actual Christmas shopping was finished a while ago we will be having to go out between Christmas and New Year to collect things. That can never be good !!

I agree with Dragonfly Ann , you made the difficult decisions for the best for you both. Enjoy your life as he would want you to I'm sure.

Love the picture Kitty , and that you have one little angel and a little elf in the picture !! She looks like she is thinking of mischief lol

Glad the family are home NannyT , bet you are too.

Last day of quiet here tomorrow with packing taking place and a general tidy then we're off for the period. Christmas Eve is panto day for us , so we're looking forward to surprising the children ( Oh yes we are !!).

I'll pop in an out when I can , so stay safe, enjoy whatever you have planned and pass the mince pies !!

Yesterday I said I had ironing to do. I still have! I am the world's best worst procrastinator. Going to meet a friend later for coffee, or rather, in my case, hot chocolate. Otherwise, I have no excuses. There are still presents to wrap and I need to work out how to fit them into my suitcase for my journey south tomorrow - not much room for clothes! No shopping for me today . Luckily DiL is a Waitrose manager, so there should be plenty of goodies for all of us, though she, poor dear, will be totally exhausted and by the end of Christmas Eve will be in need of a strong G&T. DS will doubtless have last minute shopping to do and will try to rope me in. I predict a slightly chaotic Christmas!

a LOVELY DAY HERE- THE SUN IS OUT.







A lovely day here- the sun is out. I picked up 4 perfect wine glasses from the charity shop and then to Waitrose to go to the ATM. This was mid morning and already the traffic was horrendous so I was pleased that was all I needed. I could be a recluse for many days to come but I must get to grips with my kitchen cupboards.

Oh dear, my finger must have slipped.

Still battling to get my mum out of hospital.
She is ready to come home but will not stand or walk. She can be very stubborn.
The care home are dealing with it though and ringing the hospital to make arrangements. I feel helpless but there is nothing I can do.
I go away tomorrow so hoping it will be sorted by then.

The very best of luck Dragonfly
I would have thought that the hospital would be doing their very best to get as many people out as possible.
Please get away for Christmas, you really need it.

Good afternoon my lovelies. I have read through all your messages. For those of you who are stressed...deep, meaningful breaths. For those of you with travel on the agenda...I wish you a safe journey. For those who have treats in store...enjoy them.
Our Christmas will be a gentle, low-key event. We do not do stress. Our family do whatever they wish. As long as they are safe and thriving, that is enough. We shall speak to every member of the family on the telephone. We have one outing that we enjoy every Christmas. We help to celebrate a close friend's birthday. She was born on the 25th. The gang get together and contribute towards the celebration. A taxi collects us at the end of the evening. From thereon, we relax by the fireside. Listen to our favourite music. Enjoy a small selection of treats. That's more than enough for us.

A partial rainbow appears to be dropping into the sea. It's a beautiful, ethereal sight.

Your Christmas sounds perfect Soop!

What a lot of busy little bees ! I'm more than happy, elated in fact, to be staying put and pottering in my own time watching the hordes on the news reaching or trying to reach their destinations.

Take great care while travelling and I hope that you reach where you go in one piece.
I've done it all in the past, airports on Christmas Eve, the lot !
Slithering and sliding on ice-packed roads at 6am in the morning on journey's that have taken 3 times as long as normal.

The furthest I'll be going will be the local M&S first thing Monday morning, though I envisage a " bun-fight " once inside for the last lettuce leaf. I love it though !

soop like me you "do" warm, cosy and comfortable, one cannot beat it! There should be something on TV for me to watch.

Oh yes, Charleyg...the Christmas "oldies" are the best. Never tire of Morecombe and Wise and Dad's Army.

ann and maw you have no need to feel guilty. Life has been very hard for you both in different ways. You must take every ounce of happiness and joy that you can.

That is a truly uplifting post, Doodle. Straight from the heart.

The ironing board stands ready for the next batch of laundry. There will be rugby on a little later. Best save the task until the match begins. I like rugby.

Hello the kitchen! It is a horrible day here with squally showers blowing in and out, but we are sitting listening to some music before I take myself back into the kitchen where I have been making sausage rolls and a filling got a vege wellington I am planning to cook for DD’s Christmas main. I have to try it out before the shops shut down for the holiday in case I have to nip out and buy one. I am using half the filling for a trial run which we will have for supper. It looks rather odd. DH is eyeing it with that “If she turns her back I can make a bolt for the door, buy fish and chips and sit in the car and eat them” look! I shall put a six inch nail through his foot if he tries it! Watch this space!

kitty I loved the picture of your GC in their Christmas jumpers! I think I shall have to get one, or make do with my hat (which doesn’t light up any more☹️).

Dragonfly I hope that you manage to go away with the peace of mind that your mum is back safe and well where she needs to be. You can do with as little stress as possible right now.

Ann I’m glad you’re finding your feet again and starting to enjoy some normality. It’s natural to feel guilt, I suppose, but you have absolutely no need to and you need to pick up the threads of your life again.

Soop can I join your gentle low key Christmas? We are committed to two nights away and the thought of not sleeping in my own bed is weighing on me! I hope you and MacS have a wonderful time.

Well I had better get on - chocolate cake and shortbread to make! Tomorrow, chicken curry for Boxing Day!

Food shop finished. Hooray! Waitrose was very civilised, almost enjoyed the process. Second positive is I’m in much less discomfort today, a bigger hooray for that .

We’d had a very nice, quiet lunch out in a small cafe attached to a nature reserve then came home to two messages. My last remaining Aunt is critically ill in hospital, too far away to visit, she wouldn’t recognise me as dementia has taken her over but it feels weimg not to be there for her and for my cousin. The other message was to tell us our daughter in law’s lovely Mum has been taken to hospital by ambulance with suspected heart issues. All a bit flat now and superstitious me is waiting to hear the third piece of bad news. Daft I know.

I’m sure the vege filling will be delicious greyd, have faith . If there’s any shortbread going spare can I be first in the queue please?

I’m sorry your Mum is still in hospital dragonfly, the care home sound proactive so I’m hopeful for you.

Your Christmas plans sound just right soop, a birthday celebration adds to the enjoyment.

Bargains for you today charley, always good.

As worrying will change nothing we’re about to watch a soppy Christmas film. Take care everyone.

Having lost two postings, I am giving up with Kindle. Hold on while I return to the computer.