Good Morning Saturday

Good Morning all from soggy wet Harrogate
Marydoll, you may not have to wait so long for your foot to be seen - I saw a foot specialist beginning of the year and had my op in August! Apart from getting a bone infection, it's fine now, have had no pain since!! Hope that will cheer you up!
Yesterday was GS's 7th birthday. Of all the toys he had, he played with some perspex packaging!!
Today is my crumble day! I shall make three crumbles, one to start today the others to freeze. I make it using oatflakes and oatmeal instead of flour, Yum!!
Hope all those who have problems, they ease away.

Good morning everyone from north Kent where it is bright and very breezy. Rain on the way later so have skittled outside and galloped up and down with the lawn mower. Certainly blown the cobwebs away. Now taking a well earned break having a coffee tucked away in a sheltered corner.
Our outdoor soirée yesterday with two friends was a great success. They were here all afternoon until it started to get dark. Home made pizza (DH’s speciality) and a couple of bottles of wine made the time pass very quickly.
Sorry to read that some of you are struggling; can only offer good wishes, virtual hugs and the thought that “this too shall pass away”. At least Grandmafrench hasn’t been eaten by the lion ?!
I too support Northampton Saints BlueSapphire and hope they all do well. Being half Welsh I always enjoy a good game of rugby.
? for those struggling. Hope those out and about enjoy their trips. Have a good Saturday. Stay safe.

It's almost Eleven now, and there's no abatement to the dark, wild, wet and windy weather in the North East. I stayed up until 23:15 finishing some Halloween pyjamas for my 5 year old grandson. I am pleased with them, but I will never make pyjamas from knitted jersey again - what a faff! Tomorrow, we are booked for a 6 person Tier 2 beach party at King Edward's Bay in the shadow of Tynemouth Abbey and Castle. Food is from the wonderful Riley's Fish Bar - a shipping container kitchen at the base of the cliff, rated as 9/10 by food critic Jay Rayner. We book deckchairs on the beach, and the tables are industrial wooden cable reels. The food is whatever fish they've bought at North Shields Fish Quay that morning, wonderful bread they make in their trad oven, and fabulous herb salad and dressing. It will be the first time I have been with both daughters, partners & grandson since March. But what will the weather be like? I very much hope it's reasonable, as it looks as though we will all be in lockdown from Wednesday!

Good morning all from a rainy North East. Thanks for the info on Newcastle Annapops & Georgesgran, will give it a miss this year. Don’t think I want the hassle. It was bad enough in Durham a couple of weeks ago but that was mainly large groups of students. Stay safe everyone.

A wet and windy morning here in Newcastle. Annapops and Georgesgran I know exactly how you felt about being in Newcastle recently. I was there earlier this week for a sight test at the opticians in Eldon Square. Usually I would make the most of all the shops but apart from buying some fruit from the stall in Northumberland Street I left asap.
And then..... last night my phone alerted me that the Track and Trace app had identified that I had been in contact with someone who has tested Covid positive. I must isolate until 1 minute to midnight on monday November 9th. I don't know who, when or where I came in contact but I do know that I wont be going anywhere for a while. It may be longer,of course, if the country goes into full lockdown.
I hope everyone, especially those with health and other worries has the best day they can in these strange times

Morning from wet and windy S Lanarkshire, although worse further north. My Oban daughter phoned this morning and said their house was quite literally shaking in the wind during the night.
The children were pleased with the Halloween video email I sent, it was ‘savage’ evidently, my daughter said that was a compliment!
All my primary age grandchildren went to school dressed up and with carved pumpkins, wild with excitement. Well done the teachers making the best of an otherwise low key Halloween!

I really feel for you Marydoll, what a prospect. x

Good morning from a wild north of Scotland. I went out very early to buy a few items I cannot get on my supermarket order. Then I drove to a beauty spot and watched the wind and waves. That’s me in for the day and I might be reduced to doing some housework. marydoll I’m sorry about your news. it is bad for the spirits as much as the body. Since you bake so often and have already given us some good recipes what about the “cake of the week”? maw I hope you feel a little better today. To you all, a smile and my good wishes.

Good morning all,

It's very blustery and showery here in South Yorkshire.

I've been up and about for ages but had to pop out to collect a new cooker hood to replace the damaged one. Goodness knows when we will get it installed, however.

So sorry to read your news Marydoll. It's so hard to remain upbeat when so many curved balls come our way, but I hope it consoles you a little bit to know that so many GN's are thinking of you and supporting you. ?

This afternoon, whilst DH watches the rugby, I'm going to finish the Christmas cake. Yesterday I weighed out all the fruit and soaked it in brandy, a la Delia, so today is the day to mix it all together with the other ingredients and bake it - the best part, as the smell is divine. ?

Take care, everyone, ?

Good morning Mick and everyone. No ? on the Angus coast today. Just rain. And gale force winds. It's not a motivating sort of day and I've been awake for nearly two hours without having any urge to get up! However, up I am and a load of washing is on the go and aiming for the tumbler. I was almost swayed by Mick's and Elizabeth's breakfasts but I'm managing to stay on the straight and narrow with my muesli. I'm going to make a big pot of chicken soup later (Thai chicken coconut soup with noodles) so I could succumb to a fried egg sarnie as well at some point later in the day!

What restless sleep so many of us are having these nights. It was at least 2.30am before I dropped off, yet I was still awake with sun up. I laughed at your dream Grandmafrench, although I do realize it was actually scary. I wonder how loud your roar would actually have been. I remember waking myself up by screaming (no loving partner to stop me) and then lying waiting for the neighbours to come and see what was wrong. They didn't of course - not because there's nobody that near, but because what in my dream had been a full-throated scream was just actually the tiniest whimper!

This second wave of covid is becoming very worrying - enough to have us all screaming and roaring in our sleep! I am realising that tomorrow when I meet up with DD and DGDs in Perth will probably be the last time this side of Christmas. Even now I will have to take a much longer circuitous route to avoid going through Dundee, which is in tier 3 with travel in and out "discouraged". I noticed Ellan saying that it will be 2022 before we're back to normal again, and I don't think that's being pessimistic.

Sorry, that's dismal talk. Caused by the weather and a simultaneous WhatsApp family discussion about rugby and Covid restrictions. I'm getting all confused and I'll be telling you all to enjoy your Guinness and give a cheer from me in a moment!

Marydoll I'm so, so sorry you're having such a hard time. I think you should set up a Blog entitled "How to stay up-beat against all the odds". You'd have a massive following ??

More bad news came in while I was typing this. DD's F-i-L is dying and MiL has been told to 'prepare for the worst'. But she's not allowed to visit him, and she needs this probably more than he does! He's been in hospital for weeks, with no visitors, (but not covid-related) and still he has managed to contract the virus. There must be so many tragic situations such as this around the country. What times we are living through.

MawB I didn't read your post yesterday until well into the evening so sent you a hug through the ether. I hope you are feeling a bit better and less alone today ?

Now I was going to finish on a more upbeat note by attaching a photo of one of my baby boys all dressed up and ready to enjoy his rugby fest today. But in line with a world going haywire it refuses to upload!! Hey ho. But let's all try to find something to cheer today. ???

Hi ? I’m very new to this!

I would very much appreciate any suggestions or advice.

I am a 48 year old Nana to our 2 precious girls - 4 and 2. We have always provided childcare while our daughter and son-in-law work. We have always been guided, as grandparents, by the wishes of Mummy and Daddy.

Before DGD2 came along, our DD worked very long hours, sometimes leaving the house at 5am and not getting home until 8pm and our son-in-law had to leave for 6.30am too. DGD1 would quite often stay over so her bedtime routine wasn’t interrupted. She always slept very well, in her own cot, both here and at home. When our daughter went onto maternity leave, she started climbing out of her cot, so they tried to get her into a bed so that she wouldn’t get hurt. This didn’t go down very well and she ended up in bed with them. During this time she still had occasional sleepovers at our house (because she wanted to) and despite having her own bed here, she ended up sleeping with us. Around 12 months ago, DGD1 began having night terrors.

We both watched our beautiful DGD2 come into the world and then exactly a week later, we were with my father-in-law as he died. Our DD found this extremely hard. We weren’t able to physically be there for her as much this time around, but she did an amazing job and never complained, despite the baby being a terrible sleeper, waking for hours on end every night! She still does this to this day! Our DD had 12 months maternity leave this time around, specifically to have as much time as possible with both her babies before she went back to work. When she did return to work she did 3 days a week.

She was only back at work for around 6 months when COVID-19 started. Due to health problems my husband has been shielding, so our DD was furloughed, then her partner was too. For the first 2 weeks of the national lockdown, we didn’t physically see the babies, other than me dropping groceries off at the door. This was the only time I left our house (being lucky to get online delivery slots) and because I was able to get their groceries when we got ours, they didn’t leave their home either. At the start of week 3, DGD1 became very down and was extremely distressed at not seeing us. I know everyone was in the same boat with the restrictions, but our DD likened our relationship with our DGD1 to that of a split family, so we decided to let her come for a sleepover. We knew there was absolutely no risk to my husband as none of us had been anywhere. She packed her own little bag and I picked her up. She went running around our house and garden, checking everything was the same, stayed for around 3 hours and then wanted to go home before dinner. A couple of days later she wanted to come again and she did end up staying over.

We carried on like this, when she wanted to come, she did. Can I just say at this point, she’s not a spoiled brat. Our rules at Nana and Grandads’ house are exactly the same as at home, always have been. Our precious girl is a worrier and a deep thinker.

In August this year our DD started a new job. It’s full time, spread over a 7 day week, for a six month probationary period, after this she can do part time. It’s mostly working from home, so there’s no travelling involved and her and our son-in-law have been working their rotas so that we don’t have to have the girls for 5 days, but when they do come DGD1 will say she’s having a sleepover or 3 and then she’ll go home.

Which brings me to now. For the past 6 weeks or so, it’s become increasingly difficult to get DGD1 to go home. Each time getting worse and it’s very distressing for all of us. She doesn’t want to go home, begging and pleading with me not to make her go home, like she’s absolutely terrified. It took me nearly an hour yesterday evening to get her into the car, Grandad drove them home and she screamed for me all the way home. When they got there she kept locking the door to try and stop them getting her out. When they did manage to get her out of the car and calmed her a little, my husband FaceTimed me like she asked him to as she wanted to see me and he said ‘see there’s Nana’ and she said ‘yes but I can’t touch her’. My husband and DD sat with her to again try and get to the bottom of why she’s feeling like she is and she said that ‘she just loves Nana, that she likes to cuddle Nana, Nana’s got a nice couch and Nana’s like her Mummy’. This is heartbreaking for our DD. I know her Mummy and Daddy adore her. Daddy plays with her for hours on end, but she just wants to be here.

I know it could be any number of reason, which is why I’ve told you our life story for the past 4 years!

But what do we do? Is it a phase? Do we let her stay when she wants to stay, even though she wants to stay all the time? Do we continue forcing her to go home?

We genuinely don’t know what to do for the best.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post, as long as it is! Xx

to Maw.

Nansaqid, I'm sorry to hear of your worries. However is a daily thread and you probably wont get answers. It's not meant for giving advice.
However, as you have already started an identical thread, I'm sure you will get answers there. Fingers crossed.

Marydoll sorry to hear your consultation didn’t go so well. I can’t get my head round the difference in you now to what I remember ( very fondly) from school. Age and ill health are the pits. I’ve chased up my MRI from two weeks ago. Letter in post so I’m told.
Pouring rain and high winds in Ashford and the news today that we will be in lockdown by Wednesday. DH is off this week for his birthday, just as well we didn’t book for the New Forest ( he was brought up there). Been to library , first time since March 23! I’ve managed to get Richard Osman’s book, couldn’t wait for it as ebook! Waitrose shop - not as busy as I thought it would be.
Rugby this afternoon, Times jumbo xword and pizza for supper.
Hope you feel ok Mary love and best wishes to you! X

Thanks my dear old schoolfriend. I was just indulging in a spot of wallowing. I'm working off my bad mood by steam cleaning my cooker. If anyone wishes to request deep clean, just contact me! . Oh no, that won't work, I'm not allowed out!