Good Morning Tuesday

"several days ".
See, I knew I should have Previewed

Good morning Mick, Annie, and all. Dh has a hospital appointment this morning and is being picked up by a volunteer driver in roughly 30 mins. So I have an 'empty' ?
I haven't posted for a couple of days, and so had to go back through several cays of 'Good mornings', to find out whether Marydoll was OK and back with us. She is, but was sorry to hear that she has been through a bad time recently.
BlueSapphire, glad to hear that you are feeling slightly better this morning. I have had very similar, and finally gave in and am seeing a physio this afternoon. The pain has been awful, you can't do anything without hurting, and I do sympathise.
I must go back and read all the posts properly, without skimming.
Have a good day one and all

Good morning all from a full damp mild Angus coast. There's a little bit of blue lurking behind the grey, but I think it's only a tease.

After a week of not being able to sleep until 3 or 4am (and in one case 5am), last night I slept a full nine hours!! There's no rhyme nor reason for it. I had just read that there's a new thread started for Night owls which I thought I'd partake of, but sorry, I slept.

I haven't got time to read all the thread this morning as I have to prettify myself to go out for a coffee with a friend and that could take quite a while. And also once I'm prettified, I have to video a birthday greeting for my great- niece's 40th birthday. I am really much too young to be a great aunt to a 40 year old, you understand. But there's no avoiding it I suppose. I am also amazed by the posse of great-greats that accompany her!

Have a good day everyone, and I'll catch up later. ???

kittylester

Morning all from a brightening but cloudy North Leicestershire!

We are going to the small market in a pub car park in the next village to see what's on offer. Also, I have to sort out my Christmas shopping slots as I appear to have ordered more or less the same things from both Sainsbury's and Waitrose - to arrive on the same day.

Have the best day you can everyone.

Good morning all - irs sunny and bright here but not guaranteed to stay that way.
The reason I am quoting Kittylesters post is that I did precisely that one year just a couple of weeks before Christmas ! Thinking I had somehow “lost” my Ocado ordering when amending it, I panicked, checked Waitrose and found a slot - to my huge surprise- late in the evening in Christmas week. You can guess the rest.
I could have opened a shop with the contents of my fridges, freezer, cupboards, the garage .....
Fortunately it was a cold winter and I have a cold garage so all the veg and non-perishables went into big lidded plastic boxes - and kept us going throughout January.
Wishing you all a pleasant day - whether busy or sitting back and watching the world go by.

Good morning,

It's a brightish but chilly start to the day here in South Yorkshire.

Later I will pop outside and wrap up the last of the plants that need a bit extra protection before the frosts arrive at the end of the week. I've done most of them, but a couple remain to be mollycoddled ?.

The puddings are cooked - I took them out of the slow pots last night and left them to cool, so all that remains now is to give them a fresh covering of greaseproof paper and foil before storing in the fridge. The mincemeat is done too, and placed into jars (halving the recipe resulted in 3 jars, which is plenty for us).

I've only flicked through the posts so far, but your baking caught my eye, grandMattie. It all looks delicious. Can you freeze it to keep for Christmas or is that a trial one to have now and make another at Christmas?

I'll go back and read all the threads properly now.
Keep safe, everyone and ?to all who need them today.

Good morning from a dry and quite mild NE.
Another reading marathon in the spare room, 4.30 job so I will be tired today.
Sainsbury's order to collect, meals have been getting quite imaginative from store cupboard.
Awaiting delivery of laptop for GD, I get twitchy when they take a long time with expensive equipment.
Some parcels just never arrive like the Christmas cards, you go on the website and they say they are there for immediate delivery but they never arrive.

Good morning from sunny Guernsey.
Somuch going on for everyone, reality and dream world, I can relate to both. I too have been early for bloods today and did a lot of dreaming last night......I always seem to talk in my sleep ?

Wonderful news ginny???

Just found the 10 month old in the shoe cupboard under the stairs he was throwing the shoes out.........it’s going to be a very long day.......

Elizabeth1, I had trouble posting on another thread last night so I logged out and back in again.

Good morning Auntyflo and all x

Good morning everyone from a bright Northampton. Feeling slightly better this morning as the pain from my trapped nerve has eased slightly. Yesterday was a complete write off as I could hardly move, and I have never known pain like it. About the only thing I could do was sit on the sofa with my kindle tablet and order Christmas presents. Some of them were vouchers, so I had a go at printing them off on the new printer. After a couple of hiccups all went well.

Today I will text DD and DS for their Christmas baking orders, mainly mince pies and sausage rolls. The cakes and puddings are done and maturing nicely. I had better get baking ingredients in so that I can get on with things if I have a good day.

Will attempt to change the bed today; was reading up on ways to treat a trapped nerve and was advised to sleep propped up on lots of pillows, with one under knees and one for the painful arm. Glad to say it seemed to work, so will try more of the same tonight.

Well must get a move on, or will be here all morning! Hope all have a good day.

Hello from a lovely morning in south Cornwall, so mild. I was on my patio swing seat at 6am with a coffee, watching clouds skudding by and hearing the farmers' market stalls being erected down the road.

Elizabeth, could you compose your message elsewhere and cut and paste it onto this thread? If that makes sense. I use my Android phone for everything as I don't have a computer but even that has a notebook function.

I've noticed some mud talk on here... on Sunday my son's family went to some exotic gardens where the play area was a complete quagmire. The photos of the 3-year-old rolling around in mud in his one-piece waterproof are gorgeous. I blame Peppa Pig of course.

A blood test and then another walk on the beach today. Walking on sand is such good exercise for my silly hips, without having to go any distance. Have the best day you can, everyone.

Good Morning All x.
A dark, cloudy but mild morning, unlike yesterday which was lovely and sunny and managed to get my washing done, which didn't exactly dry but was nice and fresh and is airing on the maiden.

Well I hardly had time to breathe yesterday and made two attempts on the thread and gave up. First of all there was a delivery at 8am and it was a heavy box which the mailman carried in the hall for me. After giving it a wipe over I cut all the strapping off it and it revealed heaps of art and craft.

This is the bid I won last week on Ebay and was originally intended to go between two GGC but I'll have to thin it out a bit and share some with the other GGC. However, I'm pleased with it all as it's ideal.

Then I sat down again and finished my tea and the phone went, so another half-hour chatting. I'd made another cuppa in between as the first one went cold. Washing in machine, let all the cats out and fed the old Tom cat outside and a neighbour was hanging out her washing so another long pause as we hadn't seen each other since September. We had a good catch-up---at a distance and she'd said it was the best she'd felt yesterday. This is the neighbour who'd lost her son to suicide in the summer.

Another short pause, then D was outside ready to take me to Asda and although I'd been writing things down on a list by the time I got back I realised there were still one or two things that I'd missed so all being well D will call again today and we'll go back. What a nuisance, never mind as this happens because she called on speck, so I'll make sure I finish this post just in case. It's all or nothing

I've got a letter to write to go inside a Birthday card for the weekend so I'll have to start it today to make sure I get it done----albeit in fits and starts as I can't seem to put my mind to things as I used to do. I'm a bit stop and start

A friend in Sheffield rang me out of the blue and I was thrilled to hear from her and how she was doing because I know she's not a well person but it was good to know that she's doing alright.

I'll read through the posts as I go in case I'm " rudely interrupted " again or I'll never catch up with everyone.
I feel rushed again somehow and also keeping my eye on the weather because neighbour left her washing out which will be dry but not if there's a sudden downpour so I'll bring it in.

Hope all is well with everyone and stay safe whatever you do with your day. Thoughts to those not feeling too clever, Gilly too xx

Good morning from North Yorkshire. Another lovely sunrise today. Hopefully it will stay dry and I can get out for a walk later.
I took a car load of rubbish to the tip yesterday and am now near the end of sorting the loft contents. So much rubbish! The new insulation is making a difference to the temperature upstairs.
Have a good day everyone.

Good morning from w/York's hope everyone is ok and ?to anyone still having problems .I am waiting for a delivery I got email from delivery company saying they had problems delivery yesterday can't understand had I was in all day !!

That’s it my message has disappeared AGAIN! No more posting for me it’s a waste of time bugger.

X posts - wonderful news ginny! ?? ?

Good morning everyone from Malaga where a watery sun is up but looking out of the front door at the mountains we have heavy black cloud! Rain tomorrow with thunder and the same for Thursday. Is this good timing to prepare me for a chilly Manchester or what?
?

The washer is on. I did bedding, the throw on the sofa and cushion covers yesterday. I’m using the opportunity to get it all dried in the sun.

Breakfast in Juan’s for us. He told Himself yesterday he has decided to close after today until the NY. He usually has a month shut down in February but the bar is much quieter at present with no tourists and locals saving up for Christmas. I’m glad we know that today he closes as we like to give his 3 staff a Christmas tip.

You are such a productive lot aren’t you? Baking, crafting, sweeping leaves, bike rides, starting calligraphy .... I feel exhausted just thinking what you all busy about with! I’m sure I can find a book to start this afternoon ...
#lazygran

Hope Tuesday is good to us all. Keep safe everyone that’s the main thing. x

Good Morning all. There is blue sky outside and watery sunshine in N.Bucks.

I haven’t read all the posts , will go back and do that. I just wanted to tell you my news.

Our youngest DD has had 3 miscarriages over the last 3 years and after a rather bumpy start , involving a number of tests and hospital visits she is expecting a baby in May next year. A very welcome sibling for DGS .

Well, a quiet day for us, maybe a walk while the sun is out.

Hope you all find a ? today, especially those feeling sad or poorly.

Morning Mick and All.

A bit of blue sky here in South Bucks.

Thank you all for your kind wishes after my tumble. I am waiting for my bruised lower rib and knee to reduce but everything else seems to be working. I think the fact I was wearing a thick winter coat, leggings and trousers helped soften the fall.

I signed up for an online 4 week course in QiJong (similar to Tai Chi) through the WI. I was pleased to hear from you grandMattie that this technique can help with balance. Anyone can join these varied classes not just WI members. I am listening to a Talk on Dickens tomorrow and it only cost £5.00 and £20.00 for the 4 sessions of QiJong. Those stollen cakes look scrumptious grandMattie which you did with the WI. Just look at the Denman site if you are interested and have Zoom.

Hoping that our Marydoll feels better today. ?

Good morning from Colchester where the sky is brightening. Slightly warmer than yesterday.
Waiting for deliveries today... No hardship as I wasn't going anywhere.
Looking forward to knowing about the new tier system so we can finally make some plans.

Good morning from Staffordshire.We were up and out by 5 this morning to drive over here to look after DGS.I drive here and DH will drive home later.Fish and chips for tea.

Glad you are both feeling better Marydoll and Cherry and that your treatment has finished dragonfly.

NanKate,hope you are feeling better after your ‘tumble’.I bought my first pair of Ugg boots last year, they have an arctic grip sole and I do feel safe when wearing them.I would definitely recommend them.

Thinking of everyone with family members who are unwell and as always thinking of gilly?

Good Morning from a dull and grey Black Country.

Had a bit of a shock yesterday. A friend who lives about 4 miles away text to say she had just spent 5 days in the acute Covid ward. Didn't think she would make it at one point and is now home and extremely tired. Of course I was oblivious to all this, and I cannot even go and visit! The list of people I know about are growing now. It is quite scary. Don't like to phone and disturb her at the moment though.

Our family have decided that we will not all be meeting up, at Christmas, despite what the goverment allows. It is just not worth the risk.

My partners daughter had some good news yesterday. She is halfway through her Phd and had an exam yesterday online, which she passed! Another hurdle over.

I hope you are feeling less sore today NanKate and hugs to Marydoll . Gilly is always in my thoughts, and hope she can be back with us one day.

Here is the stollen reciipe. Be warned, it is HUGE and very sweet. Needs tweaking for my not-so-sweet tooth. Oh, and it can take forever to rise - mine took about 4 hours for the first rise and two for the second.

CRANBERRY AND ALMOND STOLLEN WREATH

INGREDIENTS
2 sachets x 7g dried active baking yeast
175ml milk
1 large egg
75g caster sugar
7g salt
75g butter, softened
350g white bread flour
50g sultanas
50g cranberries
100g glace cherries
175g diced mixed citrus peel
200g pkt marzipan
50g icing sugar
50g toasted flaked almonds/cinnamon to finish

METHOD
•Preheat oven to 180 C / Gas mark 4.
•Place the yeast, milk with the egg, caster sugar, salt, butter bread flour in a bowl and mix
•Place the dough on the table and knead in the cranberries, sultanas, dried cherries, and mixed peel. Continue kneading until smooth, about 8 minutes.
•Place the dough in a bowl. Cover with a damp cloth and let rise in a warm place until doubled in volume, about 1 hour.
•Lightly grease a baking tray. Knock back the dough. Roll the marzipan into a rope and place it in the centre of the dough. Fold the dough over to cover it; pinch the seams together to seal. At this stage it can be shaped into a wreath or as a loaf shape
•Place the loaf, seam side down, on the prepared baking tray. Cover with a clean, damp tea-towel and let rise until doubled in volume, about 40 minutes.
•Bake in the preheated oven for 10 minutes, then reduce heat to 150 C / Gas mark 2 and bake for a further 30 to 40 minutes, or until golden brown.
•Leave to cool on a wire cooling rack. Dust the cooled loaf with icing sugar, sprinkle with cinnamon and finish with toasted flaked almonds.