Good morning Friday 16th December 2022

Good morning grandMattie and all to follow.
-5 here in the NE this morning.
DD arrived in the UK safely with only a 30 I use delay on the train up from King's Cross.
Did a Sainsbury's shop yesterday morning and an Aldi one in the afternoon and bought all the non perishables, next week will just need the fresh produce.
GD2 left for her ski trip at 3am this morning, now on her way to Manchester airport.
Quiet day today so will do some cooking to go in the freezer.
Have a good day.

Hello from me. It’s still very cold, temperatures hovering ar 0C. No snow or rain…
Had a surprise visit from my lovely Spanish teacher who came to collect her Wise Men. She says she makes a big fuss at Sunday School for Epiphany, so they’ve come at the just right time for her.
I have nearly finished her first shepherd, having decided to just do nothing yesterday, after visiting my old friend.
She is so very pathetic, having been mostly abandoned by her blood family, ditto step children, and, of course, the very many people she has been so good to locally. She was delighted to see me, but I didn’t stay long as she tires very quickly.
Today, I’m off on a dog walk, then my lovely friends from Deal are coming to help me move sofas, etc., to put the house back to normal, before I go away next week.
May today bring relief to those in sorrow or pain, and joy to everyone. Carpe diem. 🦩🦩🦩

Good morning from a still chilly Torbay. Thank you for opening up, grandMattie. What lovely vibrant colours for the Magi! How sad to read that your friend has been abandoned by those who should care about her.

Yesterday morning I had to venture out for a blood test but found the cold impeded progress despite being well wrapped, including a scarf around my face as recommended, Susan56. Having shopped for a few essentials, I was glad to hibernate for the rest of the day.

I shall be glad to see milder weather from Sunday, despite the inevitable rain, as I hope to resume the regular walking needed for my recovery, which I’ve had to abandon due to the cold.

Have as good a day as you can and keep warm! 🦩⛄️🎅🏼🎄🦩

Good morning! Gosh grandMattie I love those little figures, are they very fiddly to make? I have knitted soft toys but I really don’t like the sewing up and stuffing bit (that’s why I haven’t finished a reindeer I started 4 or 5 years ago 🙄😊
It’s another very cold start here, thankfully I don’t need to go out other than DDog walk.
Yesterday I had my (new) annual health MOT; apparently I have shrunk by 1cm, gained weight but my waist is smaller 😳. The last check was 6 years ago!
Then I delivered some cards and spent the rest of the day knitting the requested sparkly socks for DGS1. I’m not sure if I have sufficient wool so have ordered another 50gm skein 🤞🏻
Today there’s nothing in particular happening but I will cook a ham hock in a maple and cider sauce courtesy of M&S 😋 for lunch.
I hope today goes well for you all x

Blue, not as fiddly as I expected.
I loathe sewing up knitting and try to knit in the round as much as possible, but surprised myself at how much I was enjoying it all!

Good morning from a cold (-7) Oxfordshire.

Shopping delivery today, apart from doing some ironing and walking the dog I have a free day, although the oven looks as though it needs cleaning.
I feel better than I did yesterday, not sure what that was all about, but not eating until late afternoon seemed to have sorted me out.
Hope Mick is having a good time and able to keep warm.
Love your Nativity figures GM
Have a good day everyone. Hugs for those who aren’t so chipper today. Stay warm.

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently -3 and snowing. There's quite a covering. I'm not going anywhere as I have tested positive for covid. I feel very unwell and my Christmas plans are up in the air. Have a good day all.

Good morning all from a still freezing North Leicestershire.

Exciting day today - I have a flu jab at the chemist. While we are out, we will do all the bits and pieces like taking the ironing, dropping some food at the church collection point and taking some returns to the post office. Our cleaner should make some headway while we are out - possibly!

I hope you feel better soon GmBatty.

Good morning from -5 in S Hampshire, tea made and heating is doing its stuff, not even opened the downstairs blinds yet.
Thanks for opening gMattie you sound lighter of heart.
Grocery delivery this afternoon and hopefully not icy later so I can get a walk.
Hope you recover smartish Grandmabatty.
Enjoy your day all if you can 🦩🦩

Good morning, it's another cold day here, but it comes w/ sunshine.
Having luncheon out w/ DH, at a place we haven't been before, & then picking up a few items that were unavailable in yesterdays' "click & collect".
GrandMattie, those wise mens' robes are so vibrant - I'm sure yr friend (& others) will be delighted w/ them!
TOYA.

Good morning from another very frosty day in Essex by the sea.
Hopefully by the end of this afternoon we will have our hall floor finished and we can start to move furniture from the spare room back to where it belongs.
My 13 year old DGD is unwell again and missing all the end of term Chrismassy goings on. I really worry about her and wonder if another doctor's visit is on the cards.
DH and I are hoping to find somewhere new to go for lunch, hopefully somewhere with a nice roaring fire.
Have a fabulous Friday everyone and stay safe and warm xx

Poor you, Grandmabatty! That is bad luck. I do hope symptoms ease soon and you feel better. I found paracetamol alternated with ibuprofen was helpful. Take care. 💐

Morning All from a misty, frosty, freezing corner of Somerset.

Decent day yesterday included a bus trip to our nearest city. Enjoyed looking at the countryside sparkling under blue skies before a wander in the Cathedral and tackling two markets. Bought not a thing, a first. Mr C remains in shock.

Today an early hair cut, not such a good idea in the current -3 and mist. Just a short walk thankfully.

Oh heck grandmabatty, get well wishes to you and everyone feeling unwell.

Hope Friday is kind to us all.

Grandmabatty, I'm sorry to read that you're so poorly! Try not to fret about Christmas right now - just concentrate on resting up & getting better!💐

Good morning from yet again, a very cold & frosty Sefton. It looks very treacherous underfoot.
A lovely meal last night in a local (very fancy) restaurant. DH & I treat ourselves to a "works Christmas do " every year despite being retired - a good excuse for a night out.
Usual Zoom exercise dance class this morning. No plans for the rest of the day bar a bit of food shopping.
Oh dear Grandmabatty what rotten timing. Hope you feel better very soon. A virtual ((hug)) & 💐 for you & everyone feeling down today.

Good morning everyone from a dry but very cold North Yorkshire. Would have liked to stay in bed a bit longer but have to pick DGd up to deliver to pre-school. My cough/cold seems to be in retreat now, thankfully. Had the best night’s sleep for a while last night. Today will consist of a bit of local shopping, maybe clean our bedroom and maybe wrap some presents. May actually start on sorting out those old photos, likely will not get round to it again. Hope to get some stuff in the post today as postman back at work I think. Have a good day folks, and stay warm.

Good morning from Durham where it’s still dark and very cold.
I’m waking early (5am) most mornings and finding it impossible to go back to sleep because it’s so cold.
Coffee with a friend this morning and appointment with DD2 this afternoon for Christmas nails.
Presents still to wrap!
Best wishes to all. X

Good Morning grandMattie and everyone from Hull with what looks like another heavy frost.

Not too much on today I’ll do a zoom yoga if I can be bothered. I’ll be picking up GS from school later. We’d love to think he’s excited for Christmas but we never know. We think he is.

I’m so sorry you have covid Grandmabatty as other grans have said lots of rest and plenty of fluids.
My son in China has finally succumbed to it. He’s trying to keep his distance from my pregnant DIL. It’s racing through the population now.

Wishing everyone a lovely day. Big virtual hugs to those with illness, stress or family worries. 🌻🎄

Good morning from a below freezing Colchester. I am still under the duvet and would love to stay there but we have a full house today.
DS came home feeling unwell last night and we have DGS1 for the day as he has no school.
I have DS's uniform to launder and extra groceries for hungry men to purchase while DS sleeps and DH and DGS go fishing.
Love to all 🦩x

Good morning everyone from Inverness where we’ve still got lots of snow, ice and slippery roads, no thaw in sight yet
Today I’m off to the gym for a quick class and then back home. It’s DGDs 8th birthday so I’m looking forward to us all going out later for a meal to celebrate. I’d bought her birthday present online, it eventually arrived yesterday but the box was so badly damaged and squashed I didn’t want to give it to her. They’re sending a replacement but it’s not going to arrive until next week so after a quick check with DD2 I’ve swapped her Christmas present to birthday and vice versa - sorted thank goodness
Hope your DGD feels better soon Sar such a shame she’s missing the end of term Christmas events. Hoping you’re better soon too grandmabatty 💐
Thinking of everyone with worries and struggles, hope today is gentle and take care all whatever the day brings 💐

Good morning all and yes Sar a very heavy frost again.

We had a lovely winters walk over the common yesterday and Dh did well. His walking hasn’t been good but he managed a good hour.

Today I have my chimes group . We’ll have coffee and mince pies and give out gifts to the leaders. Lovely ladies.

We’ll then go to meet our Friday friends for lunchtime drink and toasted sandwich around the log fire. It’s always only us 9 there and the elderly landlady joins us. We’ve been going there for over 40 years now. I think LL is around 87 so what will happen when she gives up , goodness knows. 😢.

Back for the school run and have little gd for tea. Dh is taking Dd to view a house, two more tomorrow. Everything crossed for success. Time is running out! .

I’m not sure if we’ll go to our cottage by the sea on Sunday now, but my lovely neighbour has popped in to make sure everything is ok.

GM love those kings.

Grandmabatty sorry to hear you are poorly. Take it easy.

Sar I hope your gd recovers for Christmas. It’s a shame when they miss out on the festivities.

Take care all and no slipping over. ❤️

Good morning all from a chilly Glasgow, where we gave a covering of snow, with more forecast.

Grandmabatty, I'm so sorry to hear you are unwell and your worst fears confirmed.
Wee Dollie reminded me yesterday, that they had previously had Covid at Christmas and how disappointed she had been. Such a shame for you.
Get well soon.

I forgot to mention yesterday the incident with our Nativity crib.
Some of you may remember, that over the years, we have collected figures from abroad, (including the holy pizza maker, holy turkey, etc) for our crib.
The night she was staying, a very indignant Dollie came looking for me, holding a small Star Wars figure in her hand.
GRAN, GRAN, SOMEONE HAS PUT A STAR WARS FIGURE IN OUR NATIVITY STABLE. THATS TERRIBLE, ITS A HOLY PLACE!!!
I had absolutely no idea, where it had from🤷‍♀️.
I tried to blame DD, then Dollie informed us that it was 40 year old Uncle T, DS2, because he loves Star Wars.
She insisted I call him, and gave my son a right ear bashing for being so disrespectful.
This was coming from the child, who as a toddler, broke the holy donkey and the holy goat's leg. She is not entirely innocent.
DH and I were bent double with laughter.
I could hear DIL2 giggling in the background, who informed me that my son had been planning this for weeks. It had been in the crib for a week and I hadn't noticed.

Normally, I would go down to Church today and do some admin, but Mr MD has banned me from going out, due to the intense cold.
I know he is right, but I hate being so vulnerable and the cold is affecting my breathing.
My plan had also been to get the watch, I bought him, engraved. He would have been none the wiser, thinking I was busy churching. 😉

Enjoy your day everyone, whatever your plans.
For all those struggling, take care.
Susan, I hope you are ok, after the tragedy concerning your poor neighbour.

Good Morning everyone from Severnside. It’s frosty. Fingers crossed that this is the last cold day and temperatures start to rise.

Lovely colourful wise men Mattie.

I’m going to wrap presents today so that I can tidy up etc. I’ve lots of tiny pieces of paper all over the craft room floor. I do aim for the bin and then when they miss somehow they get stuck to the bottom of my slippers. 😆

Now I’ll go back and read all your morning news. Have a good day all 🎄🦩

Morning all

It is below freezing here in S E Essex and not expected to get any warmer.

I am off to London later with nine really good pals, we are going to see Jack and the Beanstalk at the London Palladium (it has Nigel Havers, Dawn French, Julian Clary along with many others, I gather it has an adult theme rather than the normal pantomime) We are going to an Italian Restaurant afterwards, no doubt some wine might be imbibed 🍷🍷 Fortunately we are going by coach, as the trains and tubes are mostly on strike.

Grandmabatty sorry to learn you are poorly, I do hope you are on the road to recovery quickly.

Have a fab Friday folks 🎄🤶🎁☃️❄️🙋‍♀️