Good Morning Thursday 30th November 2023

Late to the party but overslept and had to rush to be ready for U3A book group meeting here. Excellent discussion on Ian McEwan’s “Lessons” which I will have to read again because it is a long and complex book which requires my full attention rather than a few pages before sleep. Lots of challenge about the first part (simply not possible) but lots to like too.

Need to get to grips with cards and outstanding presents and finalise arrangements for The Day, but it is still November so no need to panic (yet!).

Good morning everyone and happy St Andrew’s Day to all our Scottish grans 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

It’s sunny and bright here in south Manchester but cold at only 3°C. Thursday = date night for us. Once again we are using it to double bubble with dear friends who used to be neighbours when we lived in a house. We’ve been good friends for over 40 years. I’m so looking forward to seeing them again. This summer has taken its toll in so many ways.

Here’s Matt.
X

Mizuna my DD is in Cornwall and she has snow!

Morning all from a frosty West Oxfordshire.
Book group today over lunch at our local cafe. I will pop round to a friend’s house this evening. Oh, I’m posting the Australian presents today. I’m expecting a hefty bill
Have a good day and put plenty of jumpers on!

I remember meeting you that day Pittcity.

I’m just catching up with yesterday’s thread.

I’m quite envious of your day out Maw, it sounded wonderful.

Sorry I missed sending you both my best wishes on your anniversary Kalu. I welled up at the thought of your DH opening his eyes to see a red heart balloon.

Good morning Mick and all from a frosty northwest coast.
Saw consultant yesterday (40 mile round trip) re my hernias (two apparently) and I am being referred for surgery for my hiatus hernia and keyhole surgery. Rather dreading it, but the recovery time not too long with keyhole surgery and it certainly won’t happen for a while…
Wasn’t impressed with my driving at in the dark coming home at notorious complicated roundabout and will take a more straightforward route next time.
It was nice to snuggle down with some heat and a book after being away for a week and I’m looking forward to a day at home after busy times.

Hope your BIL is ok Oopsadaisy1 and your brace works out well Mizuna Thoughts to all with worries 🌺

Good morning everyone from a brightening and very frosty Northampton, 0°C outside. Have been leaving my thermostat on 20° the last couple of nights to keep the house warm and blow the gas bill!

A lovely book club yesterday where my mince pies and Prosecco were well received. We probably managed to talk about the book for about 20 minutes, and spent the rest of the time in general gossip and setting the world to rights....

Phoned my brother-in-law last night to let him know about my DSis, now in a care home and diagnosed with dementia - even though his wife (my late DSis) died over 20 years ago he still remains close, and a much loved member of our family. He was very saddened, but not surprised. We had a long chat and catch-up, and he will probably visit me after Christmas.

Sainsbury's delivery this morning, and then two dance classes after an early brunch/lunch. Although I think it will probably be a late breakfast of porridge and fruit followed by toast.
Have just put two weeks worth of towels in the washing machine, but they will be tumble.dried today.
Macaroni cheese for dinner tonight.

Take care and wrap up warm to anyone venturing out today; and a happy At Andrew's day to our Scottish grans.

Good morning from the NE where we have snow again. Heating stayed on overnight.
Waiting for the plumber to visit and give me an estimate for all the work I want doing.
Have a good day all and keep warm.

Freezing up here in the cold north. Snow came again overnight and I’m already dreaming of next summer. Nit starting work till later so hopefully not too much de-icer needed. Have some family visiting abroad and sending me lovely sunny pictures grrr! Have a good day all! Fab bargain luluaugust!!

Good morning from a very chilly Co Armagh!
I have to go out soon , my walker has brakes , but I can see me skidding downhill !
Liberty we have a doubled skinned oil tank which needed replaced this year . Son in Law borrowed a pump and a spare container and fitted it himself
When putting the oil in the new tank it wouldn’t fit , we worked out that the leaking oil was contained in the outer skin , so hadn’t been wasted leaking on the ground
Keep warm and safe everyone , I hope we all have our Heating allowance now

Brrrr, 1’ and very frosty outside.
Good morning to you all.
This morning I must put final touches to our craft clubs tree for the festival this weekend.
DH has decided to have a go at baking a Tunis cake . I can’t remember him ever baking before! It’s easy to do and can be frozen for Christmas then a good layer of chocolate put on top. Some of the family prefer it to a heavy fruit cake.
This afternoon is sewing club. I shall watch the weather as it is a country drive to the venue.
Wishing everyone a good day, take care out there and keep warm.

Good morning from Durham where it’s below freezing and there’s a covering of snow. I woke up convinced it was Friday! Thankfully not, so no real need to go out today, as I am the highest house on the development and our road gets no sun, so it can make for ‘interesting’ driving!
Yesterday’s babysitting went well, although DGS2 had a dreadful cough and with torrential rain and sleet, there was no point in going outside. A long stint and although weary when I got home, it was still 4am before I fell asleep.
Cards will be written today and some gifts wrapped! I’m too disinterested and easily distracted.
Best wishes to all. X

Good morning from North Yorkshire. A light sprinkling of snow overnight but now a lovely sunrise.
Off to meet a friend later. I must write her birthday and Christmas cards to take with me. Other thank that a bit of housework then hunkering down with a book and my knitting.
Happy St Andrews Day.

Good morning all from another very frosty Glasgow and a beautiful crimson sky.
Happy St Andrews Day 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Thank you for your kind wedding anniversary wishes, they we much appreciated and meant a lot. All things considered, we had a happy day, one I didn’t dare hope we would share together.

I have a podiatrist appointment this afternoon to remove a persistant corn. Ouch. I had a lucky find yesterday, a warm white pre lit 4ft outdoor tree for half price. I wasn’t looking for one but couldn’t resist the bargain and plan to put it in the porch.

Get better soon baubles and I hope your DH receives good news re his X-ray.
I find it so frustrating not being able to go up ladders to do the job myself Grammaretto I have a small list of such jobs which DD1 is helping with.

Wrap up well and be careful if you are going out today, have a pleasant day with kind thoughts as always to those with struggles and worries.

Good morning Mick and everyone from a very frosty Carlisle. It is warmer this morning, the temperature has gone up to -3°C!
My train journey to Newcastle yesterday was very pleasant...all the fields well frosted and hundreds and hundreds of sheep to be seen. They certainly needed their woolly coats on. There must be far, far more sheep in Northumberland than people and, come the spring, even more. I don't know how the farmers cope with it all.
Today, into town on various errands including refuelling the car, I've let the tank get rather low but probably not a bad thing as the price of fuel has come down.
I shall return to a bit of housework and the eternal admin, but now, get that car defrosted!

Have a good day everyone.

Good morning from foggy N Bucks and a hard frost.
If I were wearing a hat I would take it off to our poor binmen whom I hear outside. Not a job anyone would envy on icy foggy roads at sparrow fart. 👏👏
Final Architectural History today - George Gilbert Scott - so a few of us are meeting for lunch beforehand. I’d better write a few cards to take with me as we won’t meet again as a group until January .
Haven’t read through the thread yet , so I am hoping poorlies and those with their mountain to climb are bearing up, and thinking of you.
And wishing everyone a happy St Andrew’s day 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Morning Mick, morning All. From what I can see our corner of Somerset has a clear sky overhead and frost underfoot.

Still feels like a plague ship here. It’s all very one step forward and two back. Oh if only the dizziness would go. I’m getting very twitchy about things not done that need doing. Looks like they will have to wait a bit longer.

Hope your new brace helps mizuma, enjoy baffling the students maryd. Breakfast on the beach merlotgran? Wrap up warm, could be fun.

Hope Thursday is kind to us all.

Good morning from a very frosty Essex coast. Everything is very white.

Food shopping this morning and relaxing in the warm this afternoon.

Take care everyone and have a good day xx

Good morning all. We have 1° rising to 3° today on the Angus coast but it feels less cold because the wind has dropped.
I'm not a great fan of public transport, probably going back to the time I got to the station to see the rear lights of the last train disappearing in the distance! Luckily I was with a friend and could stay at her place as there was, in those days, no way home after the last train as the road bridge hadn't been completed yet - and I didn't fancy a two mile swim! Anyway, it left a deep impression - and a vivid picture - on my mind and I prefer my (t)rusty old banger. Hearing loss makes chance conversations very difficult anyway so I wouldn't gain the lovely social benefits described by Mizuna. I hope that new leg brace does you proud, by the way - I do so admire your resilience.
This Christmas, presents seem to be to a theme of keeping warm as I have no fewer than four requests for a heated throw! Trouble is, they will all have to travel south with me in DGD's little car!
Interesting to hear of Chrissy decs going up. I shall be away for Christmas, then home for a few days over New Year before going off to the Lake District for DD's 50th celebrations, so am resisting the temptation to decorate. So far 😉
Off to tai chi and the fish shop soon - what a breathtakingly exciting life I lead! So have a good day everyone x

Good morning all 🥶.
Very frosty and still, out here in Essex.

Yesterdays charity lunch went very well. I don’t know how much they made but it will be ‘alot’. About 100 people catered for.

Today is dog groomers so no bowls for me as Dh has the car and is breakfasting with two of his old school pals.

I might walk up to town to get a housewarming card and some gift bags. Some housework needs to be done and a chicken casserole to be prepared for the slow cooker.

Take care and keep cosy. 🍁🍂

Good morning it’s a heavy frost here and -5 at the moment, I think it’s warming up!
Off to see MrOops sister this morning and her family, MissOops is coming too, hopefully BIL is ok, he was looking so good the last time we saw him. Fingers crossed that the chemo has stalled his cancer.
Large Christmas gift is in the car already waiting to be delivered to our little Grt niece, can’t wrap it so it will be as early gift for her.
Eldest daughter put her cottage on the market last Thursday, she had 7 viewings yesterday ( she went out all day and left the agents to it) she has several cash offers ! The agents will now sort out who will be the lucky one. As she wasn’t expecting it to sell for 2 years it’s thrown her into a bit of a panic.
I hope everyone has a good day, enjoys some sunshine and stays warm.

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 0° and dry. Keep the snow further east Grammaretto! Happy St Andrew's Day to all who hold Scotland in their heart. Ash I'm struggling with cold feet and legs at night so commiserations from me too. Susan I hope your visit to your mum goes well.
Yesterday I had a lovely catch up with friends which involved late birthday presents for me. That shows that we hadn't met since September. We are planning to meet up for coffee next week. I visited mum afterwards but she was very forgetful and sleepy. They had been trying to get her to sit in a chair and that always tires her out.
Today I'm out for lunch again with a couple of art friends. A trip to Bridge of Allan this time. Near your stamping ground Scapa. Then later a Tesco delivery. And that will be Thursday done. The days are rushing by. Have a good day all

Good morning from a bitterly cold Suffolk where it is minus 1.

Positive news I think on a replacement oil tank. The firm DH has been dealing with has been very helpful. He will probably confirm the order today as we have to decide between a metal one which they make or a double skinned plastic one which they have in store AND can hopefully fit in the next 10 days.

Given the cost I suggested this is our Christmas present to each other.

Off to my stretch class along icy lanes I suspect and then to a friend’s coffee morning where all the proceeds are for the NSPCC. She makes the best sausage rolls and mince pies and we are promised cake and mulled wine so quite a treat.

Thinking of those with worries or ill health.

Good morning from snow covered South Lanarkshire, well my bit anyway. Glad things are improving a little baubles, at least enough to enjoy your crafting, I hope for a good report for your DH.

Grammaretto, I saw the lovely anniversary picture of your DH on Facebook last night and some of the tributes to him, I hope the day passed as well as it could.

Mizuna, you are an amazing example of positivity and your humour and ability to turn adversity into opportunity is inspiring.

I only got round to reading yesterday’s post last evening so can I add my good wishes to other’s on your 49th wedding anniversary Mr and Mrs Kalu

I had a lovely lunch with DGD1 in Glasgow yesterday as well as continuing my 100% record of Subway drama, next term I will find a bus!!

This morning I am hoping to watch on Zoom, DGS play St Andrew in the junior school assembly. To say he is throwing his heart into his performance is putting it mildly, I may watch the crucifixion scene from between my fingers😂

Wishing everyone the best possible day.

A quick Good Morning from the chilly south coast. I’m off out for breakfast at a cafe on the beach with my allotment pals. Brrrrrr! We must be mad.

Hope everyone has a good day. Take care!