Good Morning Friday 30th June 2023

Good morning, it’s cloudy here in south Gloucestershire this morning.
A bitty day yesterday, not a lot achieved but I did enjoy art group in the afternoon, a lovely group of friends.
DH discovered several tiny froglets on the patio by the pond yesterday so we need to watch where we’re walking. The hedgehogs are back too! So pleased even if they completely baffle the dog 😀
I’m going to do some painting today, I need to sit down and focus, something I am finding increasingly difficult to do for some reason.
I hope today goes well for you all 🌹

Good morning from Cornwall where we have proper rain (oh bliss). My art 'student' has cancelled today so it's coffee with a friend this morning and my daughter-in-law will pop in this afternoon for a good old natter. My knee surgeon confirmed yesterday that he will do the much needed replacement in December, yippee. So all being well that's goodbye to my crutches in January, two years after acquiring them. When I dream I walk freely without them, which is wonderful.

Good morning from a cloudy and cooler s somerset

I had a rubbish sleep last night so I need to compensate today and will only be doing household essentials and lots of knitting, not forgetting a short brisk hilly walk this morning. I will try and have a nap after lunch, so that I can stay awake this evening

The blackbirds are out in force and mr blackbird has brought his wife and teenagers. It is on-going and they are taking my blueberries, even while they are green and on the turn. They are scared of nothing and I need to adjust my mindset as I won`t win. First year here I had enough to last a whole year, several kg. Last year a lot less and this year will be similar or worse, in spite of the branches being laden. My mindset will need to change, to be glad of the lovely tall healthy bushes standing in a row in very large matching tubs. They alone are attractive and the autumn red is attractive.

Have a lovely day

Good morning all from the Scottish Borders. A lovely bright day so far.

My shop day volunteering today and tonight it's the local Am Dram who dunnit at the hall next door.
Can you grow your fruit under a net Karmalady?
I hope you'll soon be getting out and about again Mick
That's great news Mizuna

Enjoy the day as best as you can everyone.

Good morning from the sunny South Downs . Rain forecast later.

Finally finished taking in my trousers, and ordered some wool for a long cardigan for the winter. Must decide on a pattern for trousers and top to go with it. The cardigan is a dark coffee colour so I will try to get a dark cream crepe for the trousers I think, also line them as I prefer lined trousers.

The blackbirds needs are greater than yours karmalady 🙂 I just love the privilege of the wildlife coming to the garden. I started to feed a local fox with the food the dog left, and of course I am now buying cheap dog food if I haven’t sufficient to give him. He now waits every evening, but the trouble is it is beginning to be a race between the fox, a herring gull and a cat! None of them seem to dominate so whoever gets there first keeps the others off. I hadn’t intended that but hey Ho. As the evenings get darker at least the herring gull will be roosting😄.

Vegetable curry today. Good time of year as everything is from the garden - cauliflower, courgette and carrots - not onion quite yet though.

Enjoy you day

Good morning from a dull Torbay with the possibility of rain!
In fact, on closer inspection, it’s already drizzling!

Taking things slowly now will pay dividends for your long term recovery, Mick.
Your garden sounds like a haven for wildlife, RosesandLilac! How lovely!
Great news about your knee, Mizuna! How frustrating regarding the blueberries, karmalady, but the song of blackbirds is some compensation, perhaps!

On Tuesday, cones appeared stopping any parking on our road as the Gas Board would be digging up the road. By the end of yesterday, the cones had gone and the hole must have been dug elsewhere! Brings to mind The Gasman Cometh…!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1dvAxA9ib0

More drama early yesterday morning when our lovely window cleaners were busy with their task. An oddly dressed bloke, possibly high on something, attempted to steal from their van! I was alerted to this by raised voices and the guy being chased down the road. I went out, still in pyjamas (I’m sure in their job, they’ve seen worse sights!) to offer tea and to ring the police but they declined both, the latter on the grounds that the miscreant had “fallen over”.

Later, I’m going to Whiddon Down for a couple of nights at my static. Happy weekend, everyone! 🦩🥰😎💐🦩

Good morning from Siberia.
I am glad you are having a peaceful time.
I went to the gym this morning. I don't usually join a group class, but today I did. It was "stretch" and I appear to have wooden joints and no flexibility at all(
I am meeting a friend for tea before going to work.
The weather is sunny then rain.

Good morning from sunny Colchester. We got plenty of rain yesterday but it looks like good weather for drying washing today. DS has left a pile next to the machine for me. I also need to stock up at Aldi.
Love to all 🦩 x

Good morning all from a cloudy North Leicestershire.

This morning I need to go to the butcher's and Waitrose. DH is taking my car to the body shop so they can assess the damage done to the front wing. We have no idea what happened, or where, and will have to pay the excess and lose some of my No Claims Bonus. Seems unfair really but hey ho.

DS2 is popping round to help DH realign my shower door. Big sons come in handy.

Good morning everyone from a cloudy Severnside.
Oooh proper rain Mizuna, I’ve almost forgotten what it looks like. No doubt at some point I shall be eating my words 🤣

Off to do the weekly shop and then visit my sister in law. This afternoon I will have a play with my new cutting dies I bought yesterday. While out I had a look at some curtains in Dunelm. I really want to get some off the shelf even though I’m going to have to shorten them. They didn’t seem to have many pencil pleat pairs. I then went to B&Q and was in the till queue when I spotted someone with a tin of garden shades which reminded me that was one of the things I had gone in there for. I had to reload my trolley and go off to find paint. Better that than later to be mad at myself for forgetting.

I expect you’ve got a bit of cabin fever by now Mick. The shops and your favourite cafe will still be there. 😃

Have a good day all 🪷

Morning from an overcast S Hants, rain/drizzle due later.
Enjoy your weekend away Ashcombe.
Lots of wildlife in your gardens, some more welcome than others, we’re at last seeing some bees and butterflies.
I’ve netted my brassicas karmalady against pigeons and cabbage whites.
Tesco delivery later, I think MrJ might go to bowls this evening.
Happy Welsh holiday llfl.
🦩🦩

Your tale of the van Ash reminded me that when my daughter moved to a somewhat rough city suburb she was warned to post someone (me) by the removal van as otherwise the contents would disappear in the short time the removal men were inside her flat.

Good morning all and it’s bright and sunny here in Essex.

We’re heading up to Suffolk this morning and will shop for the weekend.
DS2 and family will arrive this evening in their courtesy car (after DIL was crashed into in theirs last week.) a local garage has found the perpetrator’s car on their CCTV with a man and woman stealing petrol. No wonder he was in such a hurry speeding away. Hope they catch him but it’s probably a stolen car.
We haven’t seen DIL or the girls since Easter so will enjoy their easy company for a couple of days. ❤️.

Juliee the weather there in Siberia seems very similar to here, at the moment? Will you still be there in the winter?

Good news Mizuna
Take it steady Mick
Lots of wildlife in your gardens - how lovely!

Take care all 🌸

Good morning from a dull and much cooler NE.
Nothing planned for today so must catch up with housework and do some food preparation for tomorrow.
Don't be in a hurry to go out shopping Mick, it takes a while to recover and carrying weight is not recommended.
Enjoy your weekend away Ashcombe, and thinking of poorly people.

Good morning everyone from a sunny morning (so far)here on the east coast of Fife,

I’ve to rest up for the next 70Hrs as advised by my surgeon who removed a small basil cell carcinoma from my right leg.. honestly the thought of this procedure has driven me mad these past few weeks.

I had nothing to fear, all went very well I only felt a slight nip when the needle went in then nothing at all. Resting up today will suit me just fine I’m never happier than lying prone watching tv.

Thinking of all those living in fear, my heart reaches out to you .

I’m only sorry I can’t meet up with my gransnet friend today but this is on hold - the day will come soon enough

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 14° and very cloudy. Rain is forecast from the west so my Glasgow pals might have it already.
Ash enjoy your weekend. Karmalady we used to grow blackcurrants when I was young. Every year we would come back from holiday and the bushes would be stripped bare. Mum blamed the neighbours!
Yesterday I did all my shopping and visited mum at night.
Today I have to pick up my prescription then a bit of hoovering and polishing. I have friends coming this afternoon. One of the three cancelled last night which is fairly typical. My dad has made a beautiful birthday cake for one of the ladies who had a big birthday a couple of weeks ago. I'll put a photo on tomorrow. It'll be nice to see them. I haven't entertained at my house for some time, given various folk's illnesses etc, so I'm looking forward to it. Have a good day all.

Where is GrandMattie?

Good morning from a rainy Brixham.
We have a trip to Bigbury on sea planned today so hoping we won’t get too wet.
Have a good day all.

Good morning all from a cloudy Glasgow, where it's 12°C and more rain forecast. I have had a restless night due to my painful shoulder. Wide awake and Ibruprofen gel and painkillers in the middle of the night, now I just want to sleep.!

Mick, you sound frustrated, that is the downside of online deliveries, but a godsend to those of us, who at times, are confined to barracks.

Yesterday, I had a visit in the garden from the Ebay queen. I had been sitting on a bench at the front, (get dizzy bending) trying to plant a couple of things from last week, when her DH spotted me. I am thinking of writing a book, Garden bench Gardening For those Who Cannot Bend, or Can Bend And Not Get Up Again ..
A few minutes later she appeared round the back, where I was sitting having a break. She always makes me laugh, as she scrutinises everything and wants to know its provenance and cost. She is not in the least bit embarrassed.
We had a good old natter, albeit a short one. She did invite me for a cuppa and to see her new Kardeen flooring, which I declined. I wasn't up to even walking across the road. That and a Dolliegram from Portugual was my social interaction for the day.

Karma, we too are having a dreadful time with something stealing our fruit, but it is mainly my big, fat, juicy strawberries. In our case, I think it's magpies. 🤬
My gooseberries, rasps and blackcurrants are intact as of yet. 🤞

Today DH has offered to take me to Silverburn for a coffee, if I feel I am up to it. He must be feeling sorry for me, because he absolutely loathes it, (unlike me), but knows I am going stir crazy, confined to the house.
Unable to drive and not allowed out unaccompanied, is a pain in the neck.
There are lots of seats, if need be, because I tire easily. I won't be shopaholicking, I've already done that online, 😉 but will seize the opportunity to drag DH into M&S for new chinos, while I have the opportunity.

As always, keeping all those, who are struggling in my thoughts and prayers. Hoping Oops is on the mend. So many talented ladies on here. I'm most impressed, working with crepe would be difficult, I imagine. Looking forward to hearing of all your busyness.
A special mention to those reading, but not posting, who have their own burdens to shoulder. 💐
Enjoy your day folks.

Good morning from a dull & damp Sefton. Proper British rain here too. Mizuna. I can almost hear the garden gratefully slurping it up.
A last minute request for bit of “child minding” yesterday whilst mum & dad attended a meeting in DGD1’s school. Always a pleasure to spend time with our 2 DGDs. It was the reason we moved back to Liverpool from Llandudno.
Most of this morning will be spent on Zoom - first an exercise class, then a stretch/mobility class followed by an update on our 30 plant based foods/week challenge. That will do for today.
Thoughts with those of you with family and health worries snd struggles. Take care.

Morning all, the sun is trying to come out here in S E Essex, haven’t looked at the weather forecast.

We have the 8yr old today as non-pupil day fell on one of the strike days next week so it’s been brought forward to today. He will spend this morning with DH as I am off to the gym.

Picking up The Imp from pre-school at lunchtime, if the weather is good they will both don their swim trunks and be in the spa pool after lunch.

This evening DH & I are off to a local tapas restaurant, no cooking yippee 👍🏻

Have a good day folks 🙋‍♀️🦩(((hugs)))

Good morning everyone from a cloudy Northampton, but the sun is trying its best. Have just had a shock to see two foxes, bold as brass, trotting happily past my kitchen window! I knew they were around in the area, but have never had the pleasure of seeing them until just now. I live right next to a disused quarry,.which is now a little pocket park, so an ideal home for them.

Had a lovely day yesterday with my dear friends; I don't think we stopped talking, haven't seen them since 2018! We spent a lovely time at Coton Manor Gardens, which they were very impressed with, and had a nice light lunch there; the weather was just perfect.

Off on my usual shopping trip this morning, a coffee and snack in M&S cafe, then my top-up shop; I fancy a baked chicken tikka tonight, so need chicken thighs and yogurt for the marinade. Must also get gift wrap and bag for DGD's birthday tomorrow, and a card for my great-nephew who turns 16 next week.

Now listen to our advice Mick and take things slow and easy, and you will soon feel strong enough for your outings.

Happy Friday everyone! Will go and get my phone and post a couple of pictures, haven't got them on my Kindle tablet.

Good morning from a sunny Suffolk. DH is off to London for the day to have lunch and spend time with an old friend. I’ll take him and collect from our nearest station only 4 miles away. Our dog will miss him as he is her very favourite person but she managed when he was in hospital for 10 weeks in late 2021 so should cope with a day!

Hoping to do a bit of tidying up in the garden. The peonies which have been glorious are looking way past their best as are the irises so they’ll both need some attention.

Hope there is some sunshine for all today.