Soop's warm and welcoming kitchen...

Off to my retirement dinner.
TOYA

Dressed up like a flipping dog’s dinner!

Lovely pearls Galen! Enjoy your evening.

You do look lovely , and you do suit pearls enjoy the evening

Evening all!

Looking very swish Galen ! Have a wonderful evening!

Good luck for your apt Lins . Hope it all goes well.

Hmmmmm that cake Soop ....well it’s like this ......?- gone!
I have no idea how that happened ?

For those of you of a delicate nature look away now...... we put our Christmas tree up today . In our defence we are busy this weekend and we are away for Christmas to to get maximum enjoyment we thought we would put it up early. We aren’t doing the full monty of decorations this year , so this was a nice compromise.

I feel very festive now, so leaving some homemade mince pies on the side for anyone who wants to steal a march on Christmas ?

Have a lovely evening one and all .......and Ho ho ho ?

Galen you do look smart and your pearls are lovely.

You look absolutely lovely Galen. Hope you have a very good evening.

Have a lovely evening Galen and a long and happy retirement.
Lots of cruises to enjoy now.

You look really nice galen hope you have a lovely evening.

You look lovely Galen,have a lovely evening.
Lins hope your appointment went well.
Panache,sending love.x
TOYA

Looking majestic, Galen. Your pearls are just like the ones the Queen wears. I hope you are having a memorable evening and that you'll enjoy retirement.

You look great galen, hope you are enjoying your special evening.

No tree here just yet n&g but I did get the decorations from the upper storage area and we have installed (warm white) lights in the shrubs front and back. They will stay there until March, cheering the dark evenings is the theory. I’m probably feeling more Grinch like that festive just now but I do like the lights.

Wishing everyone well, TOYA and take care.

I am so glad your outdoor Christmas lights are in your shrub, Cornergran
Some years ago my good friend and “next but one” door neighbour nearly had an accident of the Tena lady variety when I meant to tell her I had put my outdoor lights in my pyracantha outside the front door, but misguidedly referred you it as my bush.
She still sometimes gives me a sideways look to see whether I am “walking funny”

Morning all.

Its crisp, bright and frosty here and I think its going to be a tad chilly in the West Wing this morning ! However, needs must . I have a list as long as my arm of things I need to get done.

That made me chuckle Maw - Grampy and I still laugh at a conversation we had whilst on holiday when he said' The lady next door is trimming her bush in the garden' ! It takes very little to have us laughing hysterically!!

I like the sound of the light bedecked shrubbery Corner . Grampy has a small breathing space before he needs to get our outside lights up ready for our small visitors.

Sam is feeling a little poorly this morning. The result of him snaffling something whilst out on his walk and its given him and explosive tummy! He will look even more forlorn when he realises that cheeky snack will result in 24 hrs with nothing !

Well, time to get a start on our day - hoping you all have a good one x

Good morning all.
It was such a heavy frost here this morning that I thought it had snowed.
I am feeling better thank you all who inquired but truly facing reality about my age.
I had my sofas and armchair cleaned yesterday, not exactly to my satisfaction.
Firstly they were very grubby, cream is not a good choice and my poor H had spilt and rubbed the arms so they didn’t look good.
The chap wasn’t to “my liking” he wittered on and the furniture was so wet when he left, I think he knew I wasn’t too happy, however my GD says it looks so much cleaner now so perhaps a result.
I am thinking of marydoll on her way to NY and hope she has a lovely time.
To everyone else TOYA today.

corner your garden will be lovely. I could not/would not dream of doing anything like that here- they would not last 24 hours. A few years ago I had solar lighting outside and each light was removed. I have more in the shed but they are safer there in their boxes. It is not an easy rear garden to access- whoever stole them would have to leap over a 6foot fence which I cannot add spikes to because of Tara.

N&G I do hope poor Sam is feeling better. It sounds as though he and Hattie should come to a home where both will be loved and cared for!

Ann these furniture cleaning folk usually have the cheek to say everything will be dry within an hour when you can see it is all sopping wet.
TOYA

Wonderful evening, although I have to admit to feeling rather stressed.
It ended with me being presented with a Mont Blanc pen, something I’ve always coveted.
Waiting now for the little angels to arrive and create havoc!

Bon courage Galen
The thing about being retired is that the excuse “I have to work” is no longer possible.
However I wish you peaceful days of good books, flexible getting up times, hunkering down in inclement weather - and if all else fails Netflix

NETFLIX? Heavens forbid. I only tend to watch the news, history programmes question time and reruns of MASH

Thank you, Lins Good to hear that Wilma has been framed. x

Oh Galen...you look amazing. Those pearls are so you. Beautiful photograph.

N&G Wot! No cake! Am I surprised? Nah!
I was about to do a flounce and then...I sniffed out the fabulous mince pies. You are forgiven.
I hope that poorly Sam makes a swift recovery. x

Ann Had I known that you wanted your upholstery cleaned, I'd have done it for you. I'm a dab hand at that sort of thing.
How is your granddaughter?

Galen The Mont Blanc pen will certainly be a well deserved, much treasured memento of your days "on the bench". How lovely for you.

Panic stations here...neighbours are coming in for drinkie poos and nibbles a little later this afternoon. I need to flick the duster hither and thither in readiness.

On election day, I've an appointment with the aneathesist to be sure that when I "go under" for the umpteenth time, I'm likely to come round after the rootle up the nethers. Something to look forward to.

Providing the neighbours leave before evening, I shall return to say goodnight.

Maw Tyke!

Good afternoon kitcheners, I have absolutely no chance of catching up with all your news, but promise to "do better".

We have been home a few days now, and I am missing the Kenyan sun and our eldest AS and DIL.

Our youngest daughter and GS have moved out whilst we were away, I know it is best for them, her new man is really kind and so good for her (they have been together for two years) he adores our GS and they are so looking forward to their new arrival in January. I miss them terribly, the house seems so quiet and empty.

However, this weekend we have my sister and her husband, our middle son, his wife and two children staying here. The whole family are going out to dinner this evening to celebrate our Mum's birthday, she died 2yrs 8 months ago, but rather than marking her death, we celebrate her birth, (I hope when my time comes they do the same for me). We shall be 15 in total aged from 69 down to 3months.

Galen wow I have pearl envy!!!

Marydoll behave, but enjoy New York.

TOYA

I'm sorry that Sam is poorly NanaandGrampy spaniels will snaffle up anything as you say. Following the 24 hour abstinence, try giving him chicken and rice. This was the advice given by our vet when Wilma was similarly off colour recently, it worked.
I haven't had my Consultant appointment yet Susan, I went for a bone scan yesterday. The appointment is on the 12th, Election Day. My postal vote was delivered on Thursday.
Enjoy your dinner GrannyGravy13

GrannyGravy Have a very happy meal with your family. I think that it sounds like a perfect way to celebrate your Mum's life.

Lins Thinking of you.

Marydoll Have yourself a wonderful visit to New York.

We are now about to relax for the rest of the evening. TOYA

Phew! Just sitting with a drink to watch our brave Tigers v Saints on recording. We have had two extremely tired and stroppy DGC for the day because mummy was poorly. I have Dgd’s cold too so Grandpa had to bear the brunt!
We have iced gingerbread men, made pizza dough and done homemade pizza then watched SO much Paw Patrol and Peppa Pig! Tomorrow we have visitors arriving for a few days!