Soop's new kitchen being built while she's absent!

Another here worried about the panaches. We haven’t heard for a long time.
dragonfly glad you are feeling a bit better today. Take care

Just back from a lovely Italian meal with my GD.
I am thinking of everyone tonight whether in good spirits or not.
Really worried about Panache and her husband.
I hope we soon establish contact with soop it seems so odd without her.
Dragonfly and Isabella best wishes to you both and sincerest good wishes to you both.
Australia and New Zealand have long been on my wish list to visit, regrettably I fear "that ship has sailed" however I will visit secondhand.
TOYA

Glad you had a good time with your GD ann. Was it very busy? This time of year places get booked up with people having Christmas parties.

I am meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow in an Oxford Street store and I am not looking forward to the journey there and home again, that is if the tubes are running.

I would have preferred to have left it until after New Year. Last year we met on January the 2nd at Brent Cross, I could not wait to get out.

I am about to leave I hope for my last knee appointment as I am so pleased with the latest replacement. The fog has gone and there is some sunshine- all I want now is a parking spot. I do not ask for much!
TOYA

Oh dear please can I have the chair by the aga?

I have just spent over an hour updating my on-line Waitrose order for Christmas, I have used words I didn't know I even knew

I wish I had the will to actually go into the store, but it is the only time of the year that I come close to "murder with a frozen leg of lamb" in the dairy isle!!!!

Off to get my car cleaned and fill it up with fuel, then a relaxing manicure.

Picking up GS from school then going to see Father Christmas with my friend and her GC, (I was at school with her husband, three of our C were at school together, one of our ASs lives in the same road as her AD, and now the GC are friends)

Then we have to pick up eldest GD from Stanstead Airport at midnight, she will stay with us until we drop her off at Heathrow on Friday for her flight to Africa to spend Christmas with her parents (AS and DIL)

Send virtual hugs to all kitcheners in need

TOYA

About to decorate the tree which made me think - is there a tree in the kitchen? I have left a 5 foot tree in the corner. It is potted so can be planted after twelfth night. I have put on some foil covered chocolate baubles to start the decorating off. Now it is up to you lot what to add. We will put the star on the top for soop’s return. ?

I shall bake some gingerbread bells ? and Christmas Trees ? to hang on the tree.

A silver angel from me to watch over all GNs who are struggling at the moment. I am struggling at the moment, but only with packing becauseDH thinks we can fit a quart into a pint pot!!

Forgot the Grrr!!!

Some rather nice glass drops on the tree, look like little icicles. No room for them on ours, so off to the Kitchen with them.

Went to a wonderful and tissue needing school Christmas concert yesterday. So enjoyed it all and by pure fluke sat where we could see our Littlest and more importantly he could see us. Once spotted we were studiously ignored .

Ups and downs again here, we’ve heard a young friend has liver cancer, diagnosis came out of the blue. Treatment options not yet know. It is a large lesion, worrying.

Hope our soop is back with us soon. Breathe greyd, just make sure anything important to you is safely packed in the car and let mr greyd worry about the rest. Good luck with the crowds Charley, it does seem unreasonably busy out there.

Lunch now then Christmas drinks with a neighbour. There will be no more sense from me today

TOYA.

Feelingmyage sorry, I have scoffed all of the chocolate baubles and as I do not possess a tree I cannot replace them with "normal" decorations. You should have realised that anything edible would be snaffled.

corner that really is awful news- especially that part of the anatomy.

That is lovely if your little GS saw you both even if he ignored you, he still would have derived comfort knowing you and Mr. C were there.
TOYA

The little silver angel came from Harrods many years ago on a trip to a concert at the Albert Hall. We christened her Hark, because she is Hark, the Harrods Angel??! I bought her and a very small pack of smoked salmon and was broke for the rest of the day!?

About 100 years ago when I first came to London I was able to afford to get my hair cut at Harrods. It was very cheap then and beautifully done. Perhaps somebody recognised the error of their ways because all of a sudden I had to look more locally.

I suppose it is the type of store where the clients do not have to give a thought to what they are buying and the cost. If they want it they buy it.

The parking attendant found me a parking space (free) and I have been discharged from that hospital. Only attending another three hospitals!

I cannot believe Christmas Day is one week today.

charleygirl you don’t sound contrite enough so I am putting you in charge of daily watering and needle sweeping. I won’t admit to how many I ate while hanging the chocolate - one for the tree and one for me ???. I have replaced the with wooden Santa’s - try getting your teeth the into those???.

I suppose it is the type of store where the clients do not have to give a thought to what they are buying and the cost. If they want it they buy it.
Charley I think you’re right; while I was waiting to be served with my meagre helping of smoked salmon, an elderly lady in front of me chose a kipper - just the one - and asked for it to be delivered. The assistant didn’t turn a hair, said “Of course, Lady ***.” No money was exchanged so I suppose it went on her account. Every time I think of it, it makes me smile!

Greyduster it probably cost Lady X a fortune (to you and me) for delivering one kipper. I have never lived in that world so I do not understand it.

I read online locally that Katie Price, who is filing for bankruptcy spends £1K a week on groceries. Her dogs devour I think around 9 chickens a week but even so, dining on salmon, caviar and champagne with the odd fiver for cleaning materials I would not manage it I do not think.
Another world- I will stay in mine.

feelingmyage thank you for our lovely Christmas tree ?
I will donate some wooden decorations from Norway.
What would be the icing on our Christmas tree (! ?) would be if soop were able to join us for Christmas.
corner sorry about your friend. That is sad news.
I wish we had news of the panaches I am worried (as we all are) that something is wrong.
TOYA?

More sad news in the kitchen

I am beginning to fear for the Panaches.

My house is gleaming from top to bottom, we are going to try and have a nap before setting off to the airport at 11pm to pick up eldest Granddaughter, her young cousin has positioned his favourite cuddly toys on her bed to greet her. I doubt that she will be overjoyed to be woken up by a bouncing 4 year old when he pops in on his way to school tomorrow [tchshocked]. I do not think 18 year olds surface much before 10am when they have not got college or work ?

The tree is beginning to look extremely bright and festive.

TOYA ???

Leg of lamb needed in Suffolk please. I leave DH alone for one night and he decides to help with the laundry. A considerable number of my socks, including just one of several pairs, have been tumble dried. Lots of little socks now.
Hmmm!

Well yesterday turned out to be one of those days not mentioned and best forgotten. Suffice to say I made a complete idiot of myself but will spare you all the details. Totally down to ‘Al’ and his mismanagement of
My grey matter.

However today was another day and much more pleasurable for both of us. An amazing drive from the Coramandel down to Gisborne. We passed the White Island volcano which understandably is the talk of the town there. Very sad. Also waterfalls, gorges and beautiful scenery.

Off to the harbour area now for hopefully some wonderful seafood. I am lighted to report CH has improvement in his knees. Nothing to do with my “nagging” regarding the taking of analgesia then. ?

Toya as ever and hoping life is not too difficult.

Delighted

Is everybody out? The kitchen is quiet and empty.....

I’m here, dozing in the corner.

I’m here too. Also having a quiet snooze. Sorry about the snoring Granygravy ?
izabella sorry you had a bad day yesterday. Hopefully a better one today. Hope it’s not as wet where you are as it is here.

Pittcity my apologies, I have been out for mid morning coffee and then lunch.