Good Morning Wednesday 23rd February 2022

Evening all! I have done lots of admin today. I’ve also got on with some knitting with a complicated 8 row pattern. We are going out for dinner shortly. A local restaurant has a weekly steak night and this is it.

Lovely to hear from you madeleine45 it sounds like a busy day x

it is dry but very wild and windy here in North Yorkshire. Have only come to look at all the news this afternoon as had a rotten night, and ended up going for a very early swim at Thirsk. The day has been turned a bit topsy turvey. Due to my back problems I dont usually book a swim in advance because I dont know until that day how I will be. as the numbers allowed are limited by covid rules I also do not want to be unfair and book a space and not go when someone else could have the place. So what seems to usually work is whenever I wake up I can go online and book a swimming slot and as it can be 4am usually there is space at the time I would like.that has worked out quite well until this morning, when I knew I couldnt hope to do much else and decided I would go to the 6.45am slot. If I am lucky by the time |I have done a few lengths I improve a bit and they get me in and out with a chair, so I can sometimes do something I want to do later and have had a bit of exercise with few people about. However today it stated 8,30 am the earliest available time. I double checked but it still would not offer an earlier time, so got ready to go for 8.30 and started doing a little other job. The reception staff are there from about 7am so I sent an email and also left a message on the phone about this as it seemed strange. Good job too as she emailed me and said the 6.45 had been open etc. so then it was move as quickly as I could and off to swimming. so something is going wrong with their booking. Good job I told her or they might have lost quite a few bookings and it is half term. Is the robot booking site having a glitch or is it a devious idea to stop anyone swimming? anyway it was a help to swim and then there is a small rural arts co that have a cafe so I was able to get some lovely home made thai curry cauliflower soup with fresh bread. Sounds mad for about 9.30am but when you have been awake since 4am it is lunch time! So pleased I managed to go and they were glad to be warned of the booking problems. Put the towel out to dry with 4 pegs and have just been up to get it and there was only one peg left and it was swirling madly around on the line. Tomorrow I have the new bridge class to go to and before that still wading through endless papers and hunting for stuff in the depths of files and boxes, but today just mentally seemed to be very good. It is at last that sense that this is now home, and that I am part of the swimming group, not the new person all the time, and we have some signs of snowdrops and crocus and a little more daylight. You are also part of it, and I enjoy reading all your news and while I still feel quite a new contributor and dont always understand some of the initials or what has happened to people in the past it is great to hear all you are doing. I do hope that Mick gets his trip to York ok, the waters do seem to be receding fortunately. Havent been down there for a few weeks but soon you will get the wonderful daffodils all growing round the walls. Dont know how long you will have there but there will be lots to see. we have our wonderful Swaledale Festival last week in may and first week in june and the programme is online now but tickets not for sale yet. It is walks, and concerts and recitals and all sorts of things un round swaledale and wensleydale we have it then because our wonderful haymeadows that have never been touched are in bloom then and wonderful to walk through. also a tip for those of you who have a bus pass. You can use your bus pass to have a wonderful ride up swaledale from reeth, with a good view and no worries about parking or whatever. I sing with swale singers and we start the festival off with the first concert of Messiah in Ripon Cathedral so it is all cheering thoughts of getting out and singing again and all the opportunities to do poetry and folk music and all sorts. It is lovely to feel positive today and not be trying to be positive which is quite a different thing. so hope everyone is having a reasonable day and that the weather wont get too bad this weekend.

Good afternoon. Do you ever have one of those days when everything seems really muddled and difficult?
It's been like that today. And I've just come back from a busy Tesco and my back is protesting loudly so I'm lying flat writing this.
Tomorrow will be a better day. Son coming for an overnight visit. Yay!!!

Good afternoons Mick and all his followers. ? for you York trip.
We are going later to see the new step great grandson, born yesterday, at 02:22 on 22/02/2022! We shall just pop in. I have made coffee and walnut cake and cheese scones this morning for the WI coffee morning tomorrow and now I will make a chocolate cake to take this afternoon. That will empty all my flour tubs except for bread flour.
Hope Iris is ok, and best wishes to everyone.

Good morning Mick and everybody. It’s dry but cloudy in my corner of Lancashire this morning, currently 8°C.

I hope your York trip can go ahead Mick.

Fingers crossed for Iris GrandMattie and hope the bank problems are soon sorted.

Your hat sounds fabulous Marydoll you will knock ‘em dead.

Speaking of ‘lockdown lard’ I am pleased to report that mine is now noticeably reduced. This morning I’m wearing a top that had become too tight. It is now quite loose Hurrah for the Glasgow University eating plan. It wouldn’t suit everyone but it’s based on 2 of my favourite foods so I’m finding it quite easy.

I had a lovely long lie in this morning, much needed after my recent sleepless nights courtesy of Storm Franklin. No plans for today other than sorting some paperwork.

Wishing you all the best possible day. May all those with worries find some comfort and all who are under the weather find some relief. ?

Good Morning to you all from a bright, dry, N.,Cambs.,

We are off to get car serviced (& MOT) today, have to drive back to the garage we bought from, as, although it's now 4 years old, it's still under warrantee. So it's a day out for us, luckily there is a retail area nearby!!

I hope that your trip goes ahead Mick, nice to have a break away.

grandMattie, warm wishes to you & your family, thinking of you & of Iris as she has surgery.

Kind thoughts to all, sorry that some of you & your families are poorly.

Good morning Mick and all from Cloudy Chambers northwest coast.
I’m sorry you are having difficulties with your trip Mick, hope it works out, it’s good to have a change.
My cabin crew DD had a bumpy landing from USA at Heathrow in the winds recently, said it made her queasy, there are rumours of more bad weather abounding too…
Off to lunchtime concert as per, hope the bus stops this time, flew by recently and I only take the bus once or twice a week. I enjoy it.
Had a fairly early night for me, but didn’t sleep well. Don’t remember this as a young un!
Thoughts to Iris and anyone with troubles.

Good morning from a very sunny W Kent. Off to friend for coffee and then more book sorting, it seems like hundreds of books have come off the shelves but they are still full!! Good wishes to Iris and everyone dealing with life's problems.

Urm you do make me laugh with your #lazygran lessons.

I forgot to say that the original reason for my visit was a very long postponed 40th birthday present for DD. We gave her a flight to see the Aurora from the air. COVID and various other things came in the way. And now Iris’s operation. She decided to take the flight up anyway.
I’m included,? and we’ll miss the lecture to give DD a chance to be with Iris when she emerges from anaesthesia, but take the flight. Sadly the Aurora forecast is rubbish ?

Good morning everyone from south Manchester where I’m just enjoying tea and toast with my favourite Scottish marmalade in bed. ?

Himself asked if we were having eggs for breakfast but as that would have involved exertion on my part I cunningly said I didn’t fancy them this morning!
#lazygran (lesson no.4, students are you paying attention at the back?)

It’s a sunny start here but looks chilly out. We are taking my stepfather to M&S food hall at lunchtime so he can stock up his fridge and freezer before we fly off on Sunday. Obviously I don’t need much at all but spied some peanut brittle the last time we went and it’s been calling me ever since ...
?

Enjoy Wednesday all who can. Love that you call it ‘hump day’ Ashcombe!

Good morning Auntyflo and all x

Good.morning from a bright, sunny and calm Northampton. Makes a nice change from the blustery weather of the last few days. My garden fence has survived the storms, and in a few weeks I intend to get the fence-man in to strengthen the posts. My neighbours at the back have not been so lucky; the.fence between them and their next door neighbours is down completely, and the panels are piled up on their patio.

Had a good walk yesterday afternoon; we kept a briskish pace, and did 3 miles in our hour- long walk. Then we repaired to the cafe for a much needed drink and chat.

Had a visit from the man who is coming to clean my suite, and he gave me such a good quote that I accepted it on the spot and he will come to do the job the week after next.

Book club this afternoon, so will do a Covid test later this morning. Don't know what our plans will be when we are unable to get hold of tests. I heard on the radio this morning that people are stockpiling them.

Beans on toast for lunch, and Bolognese for dinner, nice easy meals.

Take care and stay safe everyone. Hope that Iris's op goes well, grandMattie, and that you manage to get away for.your York weekend, Mick.

Good morning from sunshine and blue skies in South Yorkshire. Today's plans include a trip to Doncaster to see my mother which will involve an hour's train spotting with DGS1 at the nearby junction. He's very excited bless him.
Hope all goes well with Iris's op Grandmattie
Have a good day all x

Good morning from a lovely sunny Black country.
Just put the washing out still a nip in the air so should dry a treat so it looks like I'm ironing later.
Don't know what to have for tea I'm getting a bit fed up of cooking will see if I can persuade DH to go out.
Hope all goes well for Iris?
Best wishes anyone celebrating and virtual hugs where needed and may you all find some ?.

Thanks for good wishes. Iris was worried the bone graft would come from the opposite hip, due to pain for sleeping. Reassured that all will be the same side. She will also have a very strong local in her leg, so won’t feel pain for some 24 hours, but have a dead leg…

Gaga, curiously, this time, it is the bank playing silly beggars, not the solicitor. Keeping ?that all is now being settled.

Good morning Mick and everyone from bright and breezy Carlisle where I suspect showers will occur later. Yesterdays heavy rain had disappeared by mid-morning so I went out to lay weed control fabric in the garden. Cue rapid appearance of heavy shower so a retreat indoors. I was soon out again and got the fabric down but frequent gusts made it a right wrestling match. I weighted it down with various sacks of stuff until I could get the bark mulch laid on it. The air was blue at times! Fortunately all looks good this morning. I've plenty of the fabric left but obviously I can't lay it down without having the mulch to put down immediately so another trip to the garden centre is due, probably tomorrow. My small car can only carry a few sacks and the centre currently is unable to deliver. It will get done in time.
Today I have no definite plans. If the weather is reasonable I will be out finishing off my veg/fruit border as some strawberry plants are on the way, if not I have 2 pictures remaining to hang plus some admin.
I hope you all have a pleasant day and best wishes to Iris for her op.

Good morning from North Yorkshire. A dry and breezy day here but the ground is still very wet.
DGS is coming today brought by his Auntie S, DD2. They are here till Friday. Really looking forward to it. Roast dinner tonight!
Thinking of Iris. Hope the op goes well and she is soon home again.
Have a good day everyone.

Morning all.
Tell me Cornergran are you all testing before family meeting up?
We have family get together planned this weekend; 5 households. One family refusing to test putting the whole gathering at risk of being cancelled ?

Here’s Matt.

Back later!

Morning Mick and all

The sky is blue and there is no wind here in S E Essex. I am off to the gym, then back home to slow cook a gammon joint in the oven for dinner this evening.

Thinking if Iris grandMattie I do hope your DH is able to sort out the problems with the sale of Phillips house.

Marydoll you could always change hats after the ceremony, with a different one for the meal ??

(((Hugs))) for all in need of them

Keep safe and well folks ?‍♀️?

Good morning from sunny Leicestershire. Sitting up in in bed enjoying the wonderful views from my newly vamped bedroom!

So sorry to hear of your trials Mattie I hope it gets sorted out. My thoughts are with Iris who will be in theatre by now.

My SiL and her husband are coming for a few days. I have already prepped all the meals so should be fun.
Hoping everyone has a good day.

Oh dear gMattie such incompetence causing unnecessary angst. Hopefully no eggshells will materialise and you’ll enjoy your stay.

Good morning Mick and everyone from a sunny dry breezy Hull. grandMattie hope Iris’s op goes well. Hoping your trip to York goes ahead Mick.
We have our DGS coming for the day today. First thing he’ll do is work his way through all the Julia Donaldson films on I Player with the matching books. We’ve not seen him for over a week due to potentially us having covid which never appeared so thankful for that. They live close so we see him most days we are lucky. Can’t wait to get hold of him for hugs. Enjoy your day everyone. Hope today brings moments of joy.