Rufus, I'm so glad you decided against walking on water even of the frozen variety. Just think what we both would have missed! Spent a fair bit of time in Scotland myself. Great place.
William and Catherine’s Anniversary Photo
Hello Everyone 
New thread here.
Thank you all so very much for your company on the first thread.
I'm looking forward to our half asleep, woozy 2am chats 

Rufus, I'm so glad you decided against walking on water even of the frozen variety. Just think what we both would have missed! Spent a fair bit of time in Scotland myself. Great place.
I remember it snowed one day in June 1976. I wrote it my diary.
The Big Freeze of 1963.
www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-21189863
Just think what we both would have missed!
Kim I know what you would have missed, all my exotic lunch menus for starters, but I feel I hardly know you so I can't imagine what I would have missed, though I suppose I could try! 
OoRoo
The Big Freeze of 1963.
lemsip Thanks very much for that BBC documentary! Fascinating and full of memories; the "popped" milk bottles said it all! 
As they say, "A picture tells a thousand words". something like that anyway, and it's worth noting that film was shot in the South of England.
On the same note, how did "the Beast from the East" compare with 1963?
Cheers
Hello any NO out there. I've done the reading, caught up with the telly and now I'm here. I've my first ever on line funeral to attend today and I think I'm perhaps trepidatious about it. Fingers crossed. Did a huge amount of cutting back of overgrown ivy yesterday. Feeling very virtuous. It was decidedly cold but sunny and the energy required combatted the temperature, thank goodness. I'm not a cold weather gardener. I will enjoy my trip to the tip to dispose of it. Exciting week for me in that I've a group zoom meeting and my second jab on Wednesday and the longed for haircut on Saturday. Certainly is an all or nothing world at the moment but, happily, is starting to open out. I even have a lunch date booked for the 26th. Can't wait. Small steps indeed.
Good morning Kim19. Just popped on to check something and noticed your post. You do have a busy week planned! The hairdressers sounds very exciting.
Great job with the ivy. I too hate gardening in cold weather and only do what is absolutely essential.
An online funeral - What a strange world we live in at the moment. I'm sure it will be ok. Try not to worry.
Must have a quick read and try to nod off.
Had a new experience yesterday. Attended the funeral of my dear friend via the zoom method. Kinda horrible and somehow wish I hadn't watched and left the proceedings to my imagination. However, I daresay I'd have regretted it if I hadn't 'attended'. Agree with Princess Anne who has recently said that, even when you know a death is imminent, the reality is so much worse. Sleep is evading me and I'm not a bit surprised. Trying to think happy thoughts but struggling. Later on I'll take a walk along the river banks near me. Find that seriously calming and refreshing. If the temperature is not too unkind (and it has been recently) I'll also try for a bit of progress in the garden which is usually deeply satisfying.
Hi there, Kim19
I've been up since 4am and am not best pleased about it!
So sorry to hear about your zoom funeral. We had to attend one and it's an unsettling experience.
It's so true about a death that is expected still being a massive shock. Life can be so hard at times.
I hope that your happy thoughts manage a breakthrough. I've heard that the weather should be warming up slightly this week, so fingers crossed. The time last year we were having glorious sun and high temperatures.
I do hope your day passes by ok. I'm debating going back up to bed once my OH wakes up. Whether I sleep is a different matter.
Been trying to book a specific restaurant now that the system is about to relax. Blimey! Lunch is either 1145 or 1500 and even these are difficult to come by. Going to have to take a punt or find a different dining companion if the date I secure isn't suitable. New rule is that they want a deposit on reservation. Never experienced that before. Never welched on a booking either. Strange new times I guess.
Seems as though we have very few poor sleepers these days and that is very good news. My excitement is that I had a very unexpected call from SP yesterday asking if I would like a family visit today. Oh yessss....... can't sleep for thinking about it - not that I'm much of a sleeeper at the best of times. Forecast here is for sunshine with a semi reasonable temperature. That'll do me!
SP? But yes a visit is exciting. I'm visiting my best friend on Monday. I will bring a rug and hot flask just in case it gets cold.
I hope you have a lovely time Kim.
'Morning Owls ?
I realise that I've been a bit remiss of late (aka asleep) and rather neglected the thread.
Thank you Kim for keeping the Night Owls' kettle on the go 

Hello Rufus if you are about, we hope that you are okay, drop in and say hello
Hello nadateturbe I'm just trying to catch up on the posts.
I hope that you had a really lovely time with your bestie on Monday.
I've been thinking of you with the current situation where you are
Good morning FannyCornforth
Thank you for thinking of me. I'm glad you're sleeping more, good news indeed. Makes one feel more cheerful I think. I hope you and your husband are ok.
Everything is relatively quiet here since Prince Philip's death, although there was an attempted murder of a policewoman yesterday which is very sad. I think schools starting back has helped.
But we have had no night time noisy overhead helicopters recently, which usually alerts us to the fact that something is happening.
I had a lovely time with my friend, thank you. She lives in a cottage in a country lane with lots of trees and birdsong. We had tea and scones with jam and cream, and exchanged Christmas presents. We quite exhausted ourselves chatting. I envy her living in such a lovely peaceful location, but I would feel scared at night with no street lights. I remember we rented a house in a very isolated area near Cork and I hardly slept the whole week. (I'm such a coward. My husband says I am like Piglet)
My husband is hopefully going tomorrow to get the caravan aired and ready for the reopening in May.
Must try to get back to sleep. I hope you have nodded off again.
Just about to have lunch here, can’t work out the time there. Too hard for my dull brain. Anyway the sun is out today, better than yesterday’s gloom.
Just use Google nanna8.
Awake again. I seem to go through phases of sleeping 3-4 nights, then awake 3-4 nights.
Oh well, hopefully read a few pages (finish this boring book) and nod off.
Glad you're all sleeping well.
Hello nadateturbe your day with your friend sounds fabulous! It reminded me of Miss Marple type settings. I find that I'm becoming a little bit obsessed with the inter war period - I'm becoming a bit of an expert on the Mitford Sisters and Wallis Simpson!
And how lovely to have a caravan - I'm very envious.
I remember staying in a cottage on the West coast of Ireland. We had to walk back from the pub in total darkness - something that I'd not experienced before. It's alarming how scary it is
Best wishes to you, hope that you have a good day whatever you are up to
Hello to all NO. We seem very thin on the ground at the moment which can only be a good thing if the majority are sleeping well. Great stuff! My present days are very calm and somewhat successful in that I'm doing a total rehash of my garden borders. Long slow and laborious but certainly satisfying. I've at last managed to pace myself and applying common sense rather than over enthusiasm which only results in various aches. Slow learner indeed! This current spell of decent weather has really helped big time. Gradually returning to the outside world of activity as the rules relax. Tried for a garden get together with friends but, foolishly, couldn't locate the address so just carried on with various bits of desirable shopping and had myself a very satisfying day to ease the initial disappointment. Same invitation is extended for next week. Think I know where I went wrong so I'll re try. I've my first commercial lunch planned for Monday when they re-open. Meeting my cousin. It's been a year so we will definitely enjoy catch up. Oh yes. Off now to do some tv catch up and perhaps even nod off again at some point.
Hello Rufus if you are about, we hope that you are okay, drop in and say hello
Fanny C and all owlets! Thanks for the invite and sorry I haven't responded earlier what with one thing and the other.
Yes!, I'm still about; about to organise dinner in fact; 
"Homestead pumpkin soup,
Penne Napolitana
Chocolate Mousse (just been delivered by kind neighbour)
Washed down by something or other!
"Lovely Jubbly!
Hope you've all been good during my incarceration!? 
Fanny a while back you said you'd "get back to me"
About what I know not!
I've been shaking in my thongs ever since. How much did you want? It's OK because my pension is stockpiling; simply give me your bank account No. for a cash transfer! 
Good Health
OoRoo
Ha ha! Hello Rufus! Yes, I did say that; and then I didn't!
I just wanted to check that you were ok after your hospital stay.
Enjoy your dinner 
Good you’re back Rufus, you cheer us up.
Good you’re back Rufus, you cheer us up
Nanna8 Thank you for that!
My dear Vera had "Always look on the Bright Side of Life" at her Service and it's worth trying to live up to it, although "demeaning" has become the latest "buzz word" bandied about by sad sacks!
I had to hesitate recently to consider whether a joke about a dumb hedgehog was demeaning to hedgehogs! 
Fortunately I managed to get away with it! 
Apologies for going on, but did you see SBS doco this evening about the tunnel under Sydney harbour? Fascinating, and what I found interesting was how relaxed all the engineers were. They're very well paid of course, but I could never have done that, for all the tea in China 
Let's hope we have a warmer day tomorrow!
OoRoo
No night owls posting so I'll take that as a good sign.
Will read another chapter and hope sleep will follow ?
I actually think this site is fizzling out which can only be a good thing as everyone must be sleeping better.
'Morning! Don't speak too soon!
To tell the truth, it's not just this thread that is quiet - it's the entire site.
Registering is free, easy, and means you can join the discussion, watch threads and lots more.
Register now »Already registered? Log in with:
Gransnet »Get our top conversations, latest advice, fantastic competitions, and more, straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily newsletter here.