Good Morning Sunday 28th August 2022

We retuned to Southampton from our cruise yesterday. We’ve had a great time but it seemed very strange being back at home. Loads of washing to look forward to. It was very rough on Friday in the Bay of Biscay off Portugal, cold and windy so the top decks were closed off. However Saturday was hot and sunny again. We saw loads of dolphins alongside the ship off Brest including a couple of babies.

Yesterday was GD3’s 4th birthday. We didn’t see her as they enjoyed a family day out but will attend her family birthday party later on. The theme will be Frozen. My other children and GC will be there too.

So sorry to hear about Cooper Ashcombe- it’s so hard losing a much loved pet. Coffee and walnut cake is my favourite. Yours look lovely Grandmattie.

Have a good day all.

Beautiful sunny day here in the north of Scotland. The new neighbours invited me over for a glass of wine yesterday and we all got to know one another better. This is a friendly village and they are keen to settle in and make friends.
I am enjoying the cruise photos. Very tempting.
Ash poor Cooper. ?
Have the best afternoon you can folks.

Good morning all from sunny N Bucks.
So sad to hear about Cooper Ashcombe we love our animals like family don’t we, but how much kinder to fall asleep in the arms of someone who loves him than perhaps frightened and alone. Not much consolation, I know. It’s hard.
Pleasant surprise to find D2, SIL and GS are stopping off here tomorrow on their way back from Devon (it’s going to be a long journey) and staying until Wednesday. TG I’ve been keeping Rosie out of the spare rooms recently as she makes a bit of a disaster zone of the pillows and duvet
So, todays exciting job is to clear the laundry and ironing - as they’ve been camping I suspect they will have some for me to do, - and a bit of advance cooking.
But first coffee with a friend at our local nursery once my shopping has been delivered.
Wishing you all a pleasant Sunday wherever you are and whatever you are up to. ?

Good morning from the Angus coast where the cloud is now beginning to break to show a tantalising glimpse of blue sky and the occasional ray of sunshine. Not warm though so I am still in my (very pretty) PJ's and "deddydown" until I decide what is best to wear. Decisions, decisions.
So sorry to hear about Cooper, Ash. And lovely to see how well Iris is doing Grandmattie. Great photos of cakes and Santander today too!
Yesterday was glorious here and while Lovely Gardener cut back the front hedging I even dared to put on a second load of washing. All dried and awaiting the iron now.
DD is away down south visiting New Man this weekend, leaving her girls 'home alone'. They are almost 17 and 19, so they're fine. My redundancy has arrived! The 19 yo is back at College next week for her second year of dance and 'can't wait!'
Enjoy all your travels, visitors and outings today and keep well x

Good morning Mick and everyone. It’s sunny in my corner of Lancashire, currently 19°C.

We had a wonderful time yesterday at the wedding celebration. It was lovely to see almost all of our extended family in one place, the sun shone all day and felt so happy. We were very late home last night so today will be a restful one.

Sorry to hear your news Ash .

Have the best day possible all ???

Good morning all from sunny W Kent. Off to DS and DIL for lunch at the local pub. Looking forward to seeing adult GC, always a special treat.
So sorry about Cooper Ash.
Looking at all the lovely cakes makes me think I better get baking, maybe tomorrow......
Best wishes to all

Wow the cakes posted look delicious ?.We are going for a walk by local canal later it's a lovely day .Have a good day .

Good morning all from the Scottish Borders. Dull , overcast but is going to be a warm day we are told.
The DS & co who are staying with me are away at his DS in the Highlands. Photos of them all Loch swimming Brr.
Meanwhile I stocked up on Summery items in the sales yesterday for my forthcoming French holiday.
I tried on some "one size fits all" but they were tight!
So sorry to hear about the demise of Cooper. Ash but so glad you were with him at the end.
Iris is growing up fast grandMattie. If she's anything like you she will be an accomplished lady.
Loving your cruise photos Blue .

You made me giggle Marydoll with the DIY shenanigans. Watching DS take off the child safety catch on the undersink cupboard yesterday was a picture Michael Crawford special . The handle fell off with it and he couldn't find the right screwdriver and was trying hard not to lose his temper.
He's a good lad
Quiet day for me. Hoping everyone has a good Sunday.

Good morning Auntyflo and all x

Good morning from a bright N. Bucks.

Sorry to hear about Cooper Ash..

Not much on today apart from taking the dog to the field for a good run.
DD1 will call in this afternoon to drop off our car and collect her own after the few days away with her Grandma.

Those coffee cakes look delicious Grandmattie.

Hope Sunday is a pleasant day for all.

Good morning from a bright,& trying very hard to be sunny, Sefton.

So sad to find your beautiful ginger tom,*Ash*, then lose him again. Kinder, but the downside of having a loved pet. It's always heartbreaking.

A lovely afternoon yesterday at a fundraising BBQ for a local musical theatre group my AC are involved with. Perfect weather. Many children, only1 boy. Something in the water?

A 'do nothing' day today. Ah, just remembered the empty fridge. Better do something about that. Dislike food shopping. It just gets eaten & we have to shop all over again, & again, & again......?

Take care & have the best day you can.

Sago we stayed near Carcassonne in May this year, a beautiful area, enjoy your holiday x

Good morning from Essex by the sea where the sun is shining.
We are going out for breakfast later, I think I will have the pancakes with fruit, sounds delicious.
DD1 and two oldest granddaughters went to London yesterday to see the show 'and Juliet', apparently it was excellent according to 10 year old C.
DD2 and family arrived safely in Spain for a weeks holiday.
I'm sorry to hear your news about Cooper Ash, RIP.
I'm another one who has loved reading since a very young child. It is one of my favourite pleasures in life.
Have a super Sunday everyone, enjoy the day whatever you may get up to xx

Good morning all from the Black country, slight cloud but sun breaking through.
Ash sorry to hear about Cooper so sad.
Perhaps do some gardening later, the rain we had in the week has made the weeds appear.
Enjoy your Sunday everyone and may you all find some ?.

Good morning Mick and all from Sunnyside northwest coast.
I’m due out soon for big exhibition, time slot booked and paid for with close friend. However I have severe trapped wind and painful spasms when I move. Don’t know what brought it on. Have had emergency surgery for adhesions, have a hernia and IBS so not sure how I’m going to cope with over twenty miles to the city etc…
Yesterday was the same, but my son was here and helped sort out the situation re some mysterious investments left by DH which I’m pleased about and I carried on sorting family photos, so many over the years. No one wants to be left with that lot.
So sorry about Cooper Ash, poor darling and upsetting for you.
Hope you all have a mellow Sunday.

Good morning from Durham. Looks as if we are in for another fine day. CH timer has broken, so no hot water! Spent time yesterday with DD2 and family at a sunflower ? event. She is 39 today and DD1 is 43 and a half - we do half birthdays, so will meet up later to exchange gifts, after I’ve had morning coffee with a friend.
Saying goodbye to ?and?(any pet) is so sad Ash I’ve given up having them! Loved to the end.
Last Sunday in August - the year is flying by!! Enjoy the BH. X

Morning all from sun and 16 in S Hants. Family lunch went well yesterday, my baked cheesecake went down well, not as pretty as your cakes gMattie though.
A short, hefty shower of rain about 7:30 had MrJ and I rushing out to move the chair cushions.
A quiet day today.
So sorry about Cooper Ash.
Belgian Grand Prix I think Urms!
Glorious pictures again Blue thank you.
Have a good day all ??

Good morning all from Glasgow, with a cooler start of 12° C ,where the sun is trying to peak through the clouds.

Ash, sorry to hear you so upset this morning.

Yesterday's restful day turned out to be anything but.
On going to bed on Friday, we discovered the bathroom door wouldn't shut, something metallic was stuck underneath and was scraping the tiles.
Unusually, DD and SIL didn't appear, so I had to take on the roll of the carpenter's apprentice.
The door had to come off and I was required to hold it steady, while DH removed the hinges.
At one point he disappeared to look for a screwdriver, leaving me, for what seemed like ages, holding the door! A good workman (not DH) always has the necessary tools ready in advance and unfortunately, DH forgets that physical tasks like this are no longer possible for me, so it was an ordeal. ?
The culprit was a large staple, stuck to the bottom of the door, we have no idea where it came from. At least now we can shut the door.

The next job was sorting the loose toilet seat, this time I became the plumber's apprentice.?
Why are modern toilet seats so difficult to fix??? Mr MD has been trying to fix this one for days.
The professional apprentice intervened, watched a You Tube video, issued step by step instructions, voilà, sorted.
The fact that I have a man's brain and I enjoy problem solving did help. ?

Just as we finished that DS2 and DIL arrived. We rarely see both at the same time, so it was a real treat.
ĎIL is very creative and makes the most fabulous cakes, including her own wedding cake. She was overjoyed, when I offered her my Kitchen Aid ice cream bowl, no longer needed, now that I have my Ninja. It was only after they left that I realised I had forgotten to give her the paddle.
I think there is another part missing, so guess what, I'm going to watch a You Tube video on ice cream making, to see what part is missing! ?
Much to her delight, I also offered her a crystal bowl, (she collects crystal) which had been my mother's. One less item for my family to dispose of, when I'm gone. ?
DD has taken away, a China tea set, which belonged to my mother.
My family have all become recently become very sentimental, consequently, my Swedish death clean is very going well. ?

After Papa has watched the football today we plan to visit Dollie, who is eagerly awaiting her newly made, mint chocolate chip ice cream. Instead of choc chips, I broke up mint Matchmakers, it is delicious, according to papa, whose idea of praise is fine. I have to admit, it is rather moreish, not bad for a first attempt.
I also bought mangoes to make some mango ice cream for DIL as a surprise. I will start that off today.

I had planned to make one of DH's favourite meals, chicken breast wrapped in Lorne sausage meat, and wrapped in pastry.
Unfortunately, much to his disappointment, I forgot to buy pastry and there is none in the freezer. Oh dear nil points on Trip Advisor!!!
I will have to make Eton mess to get back in the good books! ?

Wishing you all a pleasant and peaceful Sunday.

Morning Mick and all

Blue sky here it’s still warm, but not as hot and sticky as it has been.

So sorry to learn about Cooper, Ashcombe pets become part of our family and it hurts when they leave.

Oh Urmstongran I really need a fly and flop holiday ??(to answer your puppy question, yes, they are the same breed Australian Doodles)

We have a lazy morning, then it’s granny duty at our son and DiL’s for GC (5 and nearly 3) which will involve a walk round the corner for dinner at a lovely little family run Turkish restaurant.

Enjoy your Sunday folks whatever you are doing ?‍♀️?

Good morning all,

It’s a lovely, bright start to the day, similar to yesterday. I expect the temperature will rise in the same way - it was lovely yesterday. We had a family gathering and were able to sit outdoors for our food. It dropped cooler when the sun went down, but it was a very pleasant to afternoon.

So sorry to read about Cooper, Ash. So upsetting for you. ?

I think it may be some work in the garden today, the small amount of rain has meant that the grass has greened up and put on a growth spurt in patches, so needs a very light haircut. Some weeds need attention, too.

Other than that, a fairly relaxed day ahead, I think, with just a load of washing to peg out. That can be ironed tomorrow.

Santander looks lovely, BlueSapphire. Your whole cruise seems to have been very nice and quite relaxing. Enjoy your remaining days of it.

Well, I’d better go and get myself some breakfast. Take care, everyone.

Good morning from Shropshire.

We will finish the laundry and packing the camping equipment away this morning then hopefully a restful afternoon.

The coffee cakes look delicious grandMattie, they remind me of the cakes my dad used to make.Lovely to see a picture of Iris.Our DGD loves reading too.I agree with you that reading is like breathing, it is my favourite thing to do and has been since I was about seven years old.

So sorry to hear about Cooper Ash and olddudders?

Have a good day everyone??

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 13° and some blue skies above. It's very calm. Ashcombe that is such sad news after your joy of finding him yesterday. Grandmattie lovely cakes. Those are my favourite.
Yesterday I had both boys in the morning to let dd and sil get organised for their holiday. It was fun but hard work looking after a toddler and a baby.
Today I'm going out for lunch with mum, my brother and aunt and uncle. Mum has chosen the venue and it's her favourite place. It's very traditional and it's a lovely old building. The service is fantastic. Sadly the owners are retiring and selling up so if you have a couple of millions ... My wee family are away on holiday for a week with sil's parents. Dgs1 is beyond excited as he's never been on holiday before and they're going on a plane. He will have lots to tell when he comes home. The boy talks from the minute he wakes until he sleeps. A bit like his grandma ?.
After lunch I will potter and just have soup at night. Have a good day all.

Good Morning Mick and everyone from Hull.

Ashcombe so sorry you had to say goodbye to Cooper in the end after finding him.

grandMattie your cakes look divine and good to see Iris looking so well.

Yesterday we had a lovely visit from DD and GDs. Us girls sat on the grass painting our nails while DH watched Leeds with baby B asleep on him. GD opened a new blue nail polish of mine rather excitedly and dripped it on the rug getting a telling off from her Mum. Luckily it came off. That’s why we went outside.
Today we are going to visit sister in law and her partner on their boat on York Marina. We will have a sail up the Ouse into York. We are having a late lunch at the Marina restaurant and staying in York tonight at a premier inn.

Have a lovely day everyone. Enjoy those holidays and ? to those who are worried or poorly ??

RIP Cooper?

Good morning, Michael and all GNs from South Yorkshire where the sun is breaking through. I’m so sorry to hear about your Cooper, Ash. We have lost so many cats - it’s a huge wrench.
Not much going on here at present. Life is very quiet. GM’s cakes may just have spurred me on to do some baking. I have my late sister’s recipe for coffee cake somewhere.
Have a good day, all, whatever you are up to.