Good Morning Friday

Happy Birthday * Auntieflo*.

Gilly I'm sorry, I totally forgot!!!

Happy birthday Auntieflo. It's a bit strange having what feels like a non-birthday in lockdown (mine was this week) but we're here and that's all good. A trip out and a nice meal will cheer you up and seeing your DD will be huge boost this afternoon.

Happy Birthday Auntieflo have a lovely time and enjoy your special day ! ??????

....oh and speaking of cakes Marydoll I would still like that chocolate cake recipe sometime

Happy Birthday Auntieflo . I have missed your posts . Enjoy your wander round the garden centre today. Hope you manage to find some icing or cream for that cake ?. Have a lovely day

Auntieflo, I'm so delighted to see you back! ?

Have a great birthday, ??
I have icing sugar and condensed milk! Sorry to rub it in!

Have a great day!

Good morning from the NE coast where we have had heavy rain overnight and now have gale force winds. Woke up to some of my pots blown across the garden and a couple of plants broken and battered. According to the forecast the winds could reach 50mph today .

Managed to get DH’s missing prescriptions sorted yesterday . I’m seriously considering changing our pharmacy . Not even the hinting of an apology .

Spent a few hours at “that place” yesterday doing some paperwork and wages runs etc. Sitting in that dark lonely office I was reminded how much I hate it all over again.

Well no one can say you haven’t been a wonderful Foster mum to Dexter Dragonfly . He has been through the wars and you have been there for him all the way. I bet you will miss him when he goes .

Pleased to hear that your DD is looking to set a new wedding date Marydoll that seems like real progress . She deserves for it to be the most magical day ever.

I could’ve reached into my screen and picked those juicy skewered prawns right off your plate yesterday Urms . They looked delicious . Glad things are returning to normal for you in your beloved Malaga

Oh Puzzler what a kind and thoughtful gesture by your sister. If you can’t go to the cream tea, then the cream tea will come to you . Dee-bloomin-lishus .

Will have a bit of a catch up while I drink my 3rd cuppa of the day . Do take care everyone and I hope Friday is kind to us all.

Much love, Gillybob x

Good morning Mick, Annie and all,
I am creeping back on here after weeks of hiding in the undergrowth. Maybe it's because there is a glimmer of light at the end of this very long tunnel
It's my birthday today, and the first time I shall have a cake without filling and topping, as I have no icing sugar.
DH will take me for a wander round a garden centre later, and cook my supper this evening. (courtesy of Cook Shop)
DD will pop by this afternoon, for a socially distanced cuppa.
Thank you all for keeping me going. I have been reading posts most days.
Thinking of Gillybob and wishing her struggles would disappear.
Also dear Annie for her shout out every morning.

Morning Mick, morning All. Overcast start to our corner of Somerset. Sunshine promised later. A couple of masks to pick up at some point and will continue attacking a huge shrub rapidly evolving into a tree in our neighbours garden. Yes, we do have permission . That sounds a wonderful evening urmstrong, there are bound to be mixed emotions about Dexter going home dragonfly. Be gentle with yourselves everyone, stay safe.

Good morning, Michael and all GNs from a damp, breezy, overcast South Yorkshire. It rained quite heavily overnight, for which I am grateful - the garden was starting to suffer in spite of all the water we have put on it. We made some elderflower cordial yesterday with elderflowers picked in our back lane, from what seems to be the only shrub for miles. The smell of them lingered in the kitchen all day - they should bottle that instead. Gorgeous! But what the cordial will be like is anyone’s guess! Ironing for me today. Oh joy! Have a good safe day, folks.

Good morning everyone from another hot and blue day in S of France. Happy Birthday Mr Brunette - great that your Wife has made you a special ? in these not-so-special times. Enjoy your day!

Well, it’s once more into the breach today! The dreaded shop followed by the even more irritating cleaning of the shopping! Almost 2 weeks have passed since the last time. Shame we can’t have lunch out as normal and so hard to imagine those days coming back again and the lovely pavement life, buzz of conversation and bustle of waiters as they start their 12 noon service. We can dream, I suppose.

Everyone (who is working) will be ‘making the bridge’ to ensure a 4 day weekend (starting yesterday with the nationwide day off for Assumption). Another day taken as a holiday today will ensure a 4-day weekend. How they love their Fête days in France! Beaches would normally be crowded but if you’re not prepared to be ‘dynamic’ i.e. constantly moving as in walking, running or swimming you’ll be moved on. No leisurely reading or picnics allowed....no sitting down at all. Social distancing is a joke. 2 metres is proved not to be enough but helps a lot. Here it’s one metre.....hardly arms length - which possibly explains why I always feel on edge.

So, time to get on and into the day. To all who are stressed or unwell, wishing you a much better day. Hope that some sunshine will fall into your lives this weekend - it does make everything seem loads better. Keep smiling, everyone. Bye bye, little Dexter - be a good boy. X ?

Friday hugs ?from ????

Good morning from a very windy Morecambe Bay. No walk this morning as it was raining as we were thinking of setting off. Maybe later. We had planned to garden for people today, DH finishing of a job he started for a lady yesterday and I was going to do a garden I do about 4 times a year. We are watching to see what the weather is going to do as it seems much worse than forecast. There’s always Monday!
Not sure what we will do if we don’t go. Maybe get the sewing machine out.
When I was teaching I always avoided the youngest pupils, so I understand where you are coming from Marydoll. I’d jump at the chance to do a bit of home schooling with my granddaughter though. But it’s not going to happen as they live too far away for it to be practical.
About 5 weeks agoI made the mistake of ordering a pair of trainers from a Facebook advert. I thought it was small UK company but it seems they are coming by snail back from China. I occasionally get a tracking update but they are still moving around China. I thought they were a bit nearer when I got an e mail from Hermes this morning, but when I looked it’s just a gardening tool I ordered only yesterday. I will be so glad, like most, when I can go out and buy what I need.
Take care and stay safe everyone.?

Dragonfly, 12 year olds, definitely! My favourite stage.☺️

Towards the end of my career, I didn't have a class, but in an emergency I would have to step in to relieve a teacher.
It always seemed to be Primary one PE day, I was traumatised, trying to help 4 and 5 year olds look for missing items of clothing, including missing underwear!!?

Good morning Mick and all his followers. Cool and dull in Suffolk with a breeze, which should make gardening a bit more comfortable. Met half the village in the middle of the road at eight last night. There were at least 8 of us all spread out!
Click and collect today - how exciting!
I hope the day is kind to everyone.

Morning all from a damp North Leicestershire. There are black clouds overhead too.

I was intending to do pots today as we had a delivery of herbs and Busy Lizzies from the nursery recommended by dragonfly.

I think I'll do some phone calls instead and then disinfect the Sainsbury's shop.

Had a fabulous video chat with Bertie, Persie and Wolfie yesterday but it does make me miss them.

Steak with stilton sauce this evening.

Take care everyone.

Good morning from an overcast Colchester. The breeze is picking up. Refreshing after yesterday's heat and humidity.
Changing the beds is today's highlight.

Good morning from the Shropshire borders where we had heavy rain overnight.Today it is very windy but looks like the sun is trying to come out.

We have finally finished rearranging,sorting and decorating our upstairs.It has only taken 12 years?it has taken lockdown for us to have the time to do it.We are just waiting for the carpet and new furniture for our bedroom now.

Dragonfly,you will miss Dexter and I’m sure he will miss you.I would love to see his reaction when he sees your daughter.When we have looked after DD’s dog when they have been on holiday he has always been happy with us but reaches a whole new level of happy when he sees them.He seems to sense when they are nearly here and goes crazy running in circles and then sitting by the gate waiting for them.??

Bellasnanna,I am the same as you.I haven’t been in a shop for eight weeks but if my hairdresser called and said she could do my roots,I would be there like a shot!

Today I am planning on cutting DH’s hair.Will report back tomorrow?

Marydoll,like you we will be looking after grandchildren when the schools go back.I don’t know if they are expecting us to teach?The boys are not school age but DGD will be starting in reception.She will be attending the school DH did his teacher training at many years ago.

Take care and stay safe everyone.

Good morning folks from the Scottish Borders where it is blowing a hooley. I forgot to take the washing off the line but it's OK , it brought itself down. And I left the greenhouse open, all because we had a wonderful long video call from our NZ family and I had to do my 8yr old DGS' quiz .
There's an idea Marydoll let your DGD set the questions and do her schooling that way.

I feel a new excitement in the air on GN.
Dexter is well enough to go home!
Marydoll's DD has a new wedding date.
Urmston has been eating out.
Who knows we may get Gillybob's Friday girl soon.
I really hope we do.

I come on to check what day it is but I am enjoying living vicariously - so keep it up!.

My garden is better tended than it has ever been. Several friends have started to come and sit in it and have a chat as they don't need to go through the house. Just as well as the house has not been well attended.
Hope you all have a good day.

Marydoll talking about teaching reminded me of the time I taught near Glasgow. I taught 46 12 year olds in the morning and 45 5 year olds in the afternoons. Fortunately it was only for a term!

Good morning from the NE where we had overnight rain.
Developed pains in my right hand last night so now both hands are painful, not sure how I am going to manage.
Yesterday was warm enough to sit in the garden, read novel and have drinks on the terrace.

Take care, stay safe.

Good Morning from a dull and cool Fife, however the rain is not here as I thought it would be. It is DH birthday today and like so many will be having a quiet one, never mind we shall make the most of it. Made a Victoria Sponge yesterday with buttercream and jam filling so hopefully that will pass for his birthday cake. Have the boiler being serviced today, so Utility Room all clear and back door will be open to let him in/out with no contact, strange times right enough. I'm hoping today is as good as we can all make it. Thinking of those a bit down, we've all been there. Dreaming of better days. Keep your chin up.

Good morning from an overcast Suffolk coast. No wind yet but I think it will blow in later. We have planned a picnic today with our two neighbours. A place called Haylings Pond only 2 miles away and have never been there. Don’t even know how to get there. Really looking forward to it so hope the weather holds out for us. We have lived here (partime) for 20 years and holidayed her for 20 years so it’s about time we visited this local beauty spot.

Little pooch was groomed yesterday and looks like a sheared lamb. Nice and cool for her though.

Ventured out to our nearest Tesco - first time as we’ve been shopping our our small local store. No queue so straight in and had a pleasant shop stocking up on things we couldn’t get in our small store. When we came out the queue was round the car park. We timed it just right. Although it was midday.

Your tapas bar visit sounds lovely Urmstongran . What a nice change for you after all this time.

Puzzler your cream tea sounds delicious. What a lovely thoughtful sister.

Have a worry free day if you can. Best wishes to all ?

Good morning everyone from Malta where the weather is similar to yours in Malaga, Urmstongran ?

I agree with you about sitting down and being served instead of struggling with your shopping whilst queuing, then trying to struggle with a tray. Not easy on one’s own.

We have restaurants and hairdressers opening today but I can’t help feeling it is a bit premature. They have to adhere to strict cleaning routines and distancing, but I won’t be eating out any time soon. However, vain as I am, I’m risking having my roots done tomorrow! Definitely not ready to embrace the grey just yet.

I’m going to give my outdoor furniture a good scrubbing today. Everything is covered in dust, but it is nice enough to sit out so definitely need to get some elbow grease going.

Wishing you all as good a day as possible, hope you won’t miss Dexter too much, dragonfly . It is easy to get attached even if he has caused you a lot of extra worry.

Good morning Mick and all x

Grey and overcast with a slight breeze and a definite drop of temperature here in S E Essex, hopefully our local beaches will be less busy today!

Phones norsat'seem to have a mind of their own!

dragonfly I expect you will really miss Dexter, he has been a big part of your life these last few months!

Urmstongran you are fortunate that life is beginning to return to normal in your part of Spain, so pleased for you and Mr,Um.

Mick it will be good for you when the markets you visit have your favourite stalls open again. A return to normality (all be it with social distancing )will be good.

Off to our local farm shop today, might get some plants to pot up whilst we are there. The fishermans wife delivered some beautiful fresh skate yesterday afternoon straight from the boat so that is our dinner for this evening.

Our little GC had a phone call from his class teacher yesterday he proudly told her that he could now peel potatoes and apples, was very good at sweeping up in GrandpaGravys garden and helping!

Let's hope that Marydoll has had a pain free night and that gillybob has managed to sort out B****y Barclays.

Keep safe and well folks?