Good Morning Monday 11th December 2023

Good morning Mick and all from a dark northwest coast 6c.
Off in a moment to take the car in for an oil filter change then back to carry on with Xmas stuff. Cards done. A busy week ahead one way and another.
The cat jumped on me at 5 for food, then 6 to be let out and I wanted to sleep through…
Apparently chewing gum calms the nerves? But better not to be noticed chewing away😨
Thoughts to all with worries and a good sign you are putting some weight back on Mick 🌺🎄

Morning Mick and all from a dry S Hants, the wind has gone. Yesterday was quiet, my daughter and grandson called in, last week of school for both of them.
Today is the voluntary phone, library and quiz tonight. MrJ will bring the tree in and get the decorations down from the loft, I’ll fit in a walk at some point.
I hope you feel better as the day goes on Grandmabatty.
Good luck tonight Ashcombe break a leg!
🦩🦩

Good morning everyone from a dry Northampton, 7°C outside, and a few sunny spells forecast.
Not going to yoga this morning - three reasons: my ankle is still a bit painful; my friend who gives me a lift is not going; and I really want a whole day in to get the rest of the decorations up.

Really enjoyed the Leonard Bernstein film "Maestro" yesterday , but it was very emotionally draining, and I felt quite tearful at the end. However spirits soon lifted as we all went for coffee afterwards and set the world to rights for an hour or so.
There was a Leonard Bernstein evening on tv last night; I watched the first hour and then recorded the rest to watch in small doses; couldn't face another three or four hours in one go!

Thinking about baptisms, having been brought up in a family where it was the norm to be christened, and having had DS and DD christened, it is surprising how far the pendulum has swung the other way in a generation or so. My DGDs (now 16 and 13) have not been baptised, but I wasn't really surprised, as they are nor a church going family. I suppose the thinking now is to say let the DC decide when they are older.

Well, must get going with my day (not a child washed in the house, as Terry Wogan used to say!), and sort the decorations out, plus washing up from last night to do. Then after that, settle down with my new book, the first of The Cazalet Chronicles series, highly recommended by my fellow book club members.

If there are to be any surprises today, let's hope they're all good ones!

Good morning all from the Black country dry at the moment.
Must make a start on wrapping presents today a job I do not enjoy so usually wrap a couple a day, but started yet another book yesterday and that's got a bigger pull.
Enjoy your meet up Kitty.
Hope your meeting with cardiologist gives a good outcome Marydoll.
Have a great day everyone whatever your plans and may you all find some ☀️

Good morning from a bright W Kent. I am starting to count my blessings that I didn’t break any bones, interesting bruising on my face looks like I have two sets of eyebrows!! My foot is easing slightly so another bag of frozen peas should help. OH frightened us both this morning by wobbling on the stairs, we really need to have a good think in the New Year about housing. We love where we are most of the time so it would be a difficult decision.
Marydoll all the best for today
Best wishes to all

Good morning everybody - and the least said about the weather, the better! I've been putting off going out to buy rolls of wrapping paper as it would get wet on the way between shop and car but wet or not, today will have to be the day.
I too have a dislike of people chewing gum, mainly because of the need to do so with the mouth open. Yuk.
Today for me will be a day of just battling on with cards and wrapping. It will all be done with love, honestly! But the Christmas spirit, growing fainter with each passing year, has failed to materialise at all this year.
I hope you're feeling better today after your tumble Lulu - and the same with all poorlies. Good luck with your consultation Marydoll.
Sorry your meal was such a disappointment ladyleftfield. My friend and I complained about our meal last week - we were told to be careful, the plates were very hot, but unfortunately the food on the hot plates was only lukewarm! Copenhagen it was not!
Well, the sun has just risen here (well shrouded by black cloud of course) so the day must begin. Enjoy all your doings and stay warm and dry - and enjoy that sunshine, those who have it!

Good morning from a dry and almost sunny Oxfordshire.
Good news on the weight gain Mick
We had a terrible journey down to the West Country yesterday, the M4 was closed for a bit, luckily I’d looked online early to check it was ok but our Junction was closed, fortunately MrOops knew of a quicker diversion than the one posted by TVP, so it only took us half an hour, then the wind and rain started and so we had to go so slowly, anyway once we got there we had to find somewhere to park, eventually giving up and parking on the road. MissOops has her disabled badge so we found somewhere close to the restaurant so she didn’t have to walk very far. The meal went off well though, GCs were both well and the restaurant put us at a tucked away table with birthday hats and table decorations, each of the wait staff came up and wished the Birthday Girl a happy birthday which was nice, they also bought us plates and forks for the cake that I took with me, which was good of them, although I took plates and forks with me.
Then off to GSs Halls to leave him with baked goods and transfer the Christmas presents to MzOops car for her to take home.
Then an easy journey home in the sunshine. Phew!
Cornergran I’ve spent 10 weeks coughing, started with an Asthma attack which the GP thought was caused by a virus, he suggested a numbing spray from the chemist, although as it was a persistent cough he organised an X-ray for the next day, which put me on the 2WW pathway with a CT scan. So it’s worth calling your GP and getting an appointment. My cough has just gone, after 10 weeks. He had told me that it could take 3 months for it to go. I sympathise.
Marydoll I hope your Consult is useful for you. My fingers and toes are all crossed.
Good to hear of posters going out for Christmas meetings.

We are off down South to see BIL this week as his Chemo hasn’t worked, they have suggested Immunotherapy, but will decide after Christmas, he looks and feels so well, it’s hard to believe that he has such a short time left (according to the Doctors very few weeks) but their whole family are now living locally and so they have their support and with a new baby plenty of things to occupy them, although having been down the whole Lung Cancer route recently I wasnt as cheerful as he is and he is very ill.
Christmas cards to post and then off to try to find MrOops some boots, the elusive boots that he saw and bought a pair of some 30 yrs ago, no other boots will do to replace them, of course we have found some, almost £150 and he refuses to pay that amount. Some day ( soon hopefully) he will either give up our pay out for a new pair, until then we are still searching. I pointed out to him that he bought the original boots in a sale for £50 which then was a lot of money ( he thought) so the price now isnt too bad.
Hope everyone has a good day. Best wishes to those who aren’t feeling so chipper today.

Good morning from North Yorkshire. DD2 is here, she drove us back yesterday in the pouring rain. We decided not to go to watch DGS play football because of the weather.
I have started to put the decorations up, and will finish them this morning. DD is working upstairs. Hairdresser is coming later, colour for DD , cut and blow for me.
I then have a dermatology appointment.
Wishing you all a good day.

Good morning.
We had a lovely lunch and afternoon with family for DD2s birthday .
Today I shall plough through the list of ‘ things to do’ including making a start on the Christmas decorations now that birthdays are all done. DH is not playing golf today so he will be around to help.
Hope all appointments and meetings go well. Wishing all a good day.

Good morning everyone from a dry and sunny south coast. Work has started on the empty bungalow next door so banging and crashing at 8am on the dot this morning. I don’t mind though as it’s been empty for years and vermin was a problem last winter! The new owners knocked on my door last week to apologise for any future disruption. They have bought it as an investment and will sell it once it’s renovated.
Thoughts are with anyone living in Ventnor on the Isle of Wight this morning. A land slip has occurred very close to my old home. My Facebook page is buzzing with news and pics. 😮😮
My pic is of the allotment gang’s decoration on the U3a Christmas tree at the festival in my local church.
Hope everyone has a good day.

All the best, MD. Hope you get some extra help.🫂🥰

Good morning from Glasgow.

A quiet day today which I will use to put up indoors decorations . I can’t remember when we last had real trees indoors and now make do with decent looking artificial ones. Not so heavy and no more pine needles, they are still festive and look the part.

I hope today isn’t to arduous for you Grandmabatty and you feel better as the day goes on.
Good luck for today Marydoll for a better outcome than you expect.

Best wishes to all for a good day.

“Merde”as they say in France, 🇫🇷 Ash

Sunny morning after a wildly windy night and a book group meeting this afternoon the only fixture. Must motivate myself to start getting ready for a Christmas I think - I am impressed at how organised some posters are. Fingers crossed for Marydoll today and for everyone’s activities today.

Good morning from Durham.
Another lost post!
It’s glorious here - wall to wall sunshine forecast until dark - honestly!
A busy week, with something on every day - nothing exciting, just the usual. Coffee this afternoon with a friend, so laundry and admin this morning.
I hope Marydoll’s appointment isn’t as unhelpful as anticipated.
Best wishes to all. X

Good morning from West Wales.Dry and sunny at the moment although the forecast isn’t great for our journey home later.

We have two of DH’s aunts to visit this morning then after lunch we will visit MIL in hospital then drive home.We have visited lots of DH’s family, drunk a lot of tea/coffee and eaten a lot of cake!

DD2 is back from a weekend helping in the refugee camps in Calais.A lot for her to process.She enjoyed the days volunteering but the reality of the camps was very distressing.

I hope your appointment is more successful than you are thinking it will be Mary.

Grandmabatty I hope you feel better and have a good day with the boys.Our grandchildren are very good at sharing their germs aren’t they😷

Have the best day you can everyone🦩🎄🎅🏼

Good morning from a dry and bright Essex coast. At least it is not cold, small mercies.
We are going away next Monday, to Madeira, for Christmas so this week will be spent washing, ironing and packing. The weather there is in the low 20's so not sure what to take with us.
I hope all those with illness or worries have a good day xxx

Good morning everyone from south Manchester. We had a lot of rain during the night and the wind certainly whipped p again. It’s mild enough here at 7°C. We have no plans at all for today. Presents are wrapped but I might trim them all up this afternoon.

No Matt = Monday.
But saw this and it made me chuckle!
x

Good morning everyone from Severnside. I can see blue sky 😃
I love that one Urms. Other similar ones always raise a chuckle.

I didn’t enjoy my outing yesterday because of the rain. I got soaking wet and it certainly dampened 🤣 my experience for looking at things. Not to worry though as I did get what I went for. I came home, poured a drink and carried on with my festive decorating.

Have a good day all 🎄🌺

Good morning Mick and everyone from dry Carlisle where it may brighten up and we may get a glimpse of that elusive sun.

I'm a tad grumpy this morning as my kidney infection is back once more. I can't ignore it so it's probably back to the antibiotics once more....if I can ever get through to surgery. My first attempt at the e-consult form was rejected and I was told to seek urgent help from the surgery. No! I don't need that, just some pills! And try getting the surgery to answer the phone in the morning anyway. My second attempt, phrased more simply, has gone through but don't expect a reply today I was told. We'll see. Meanwhile, I shall keep calm and carry on which means stripping the bed and doing the laundry and housework. I like to get as much of that over and done with on a Monday then the rest of the week is more enjoyable.

Hope your consultation goes well Marydoll even if you don't expect it to.

DS1 wondered why I didn't get rid of my CDs and stream music Urmston but they're mostly classical music and World music or I would do, they fill a whole cabinet. I've got some earmarked for the charity shop but you can currently count them on the fingers of one hand...

I hope we all have a good week, Christmas is coming, the goose is getting f**, no, that's me, I've started munching those mince pies!

Good morning from South Lanarkshire. It’s wet again!

BlueS thanks for reminding me of that expression which my late Mum used frequently.

All the best for tonight Ash.

We had the loveliest of days yesterday at DD’s house. I thought we were going for a quiet lunch but she had all of DH’s siblings, as well as many of her cousins and their children. Twenty adults and twelve children for buffet and drinks with entertainment provided by the guitarists and fiddle players in the family. It was a wonderful surprise, I loved every moment.

Wishing everyone the best day possible.

Good morning from N Bucks where it has cleared up and we have sunshine and blue skies.
Finished writing Christmas cards yesterday so a walk up to the post box this morning and hand delivering to the village on my way back will double as Rosie’s morning walkie.
My Art History class are meeting for our Christmas lunch today - the food won’t be great but the atmosphere and friendship will more than make up for it.
Funny how we are all different, I love red cabbage LLFL , perhaps it’s my middle European heritage and also cauliflower but while I like purple sprouting broccoli, would leave calabrese on the plate! And would not dream of serving them together. I have come to dislike this habit (especially in pubs) of piling a whole range of vegetables on to plates without thinking of whether (or not) they complement each other. Less is definitely more.
Wishing you all a peaceful Monday.

Good morning from Eden the sun is shining south of Carlisle as well, I can see blue sky.
Operation Christmas decoration this week,a sort and throw as I go, we have decided to go down to a minimum.
We went into the country on Saturday to our favourite Chocolate shop only to have the rain start and not stop until yesterday afternoon.
We heard a peculiar noise at dusk and when we went outside there was the largest murmuration of starlings I have ever seen. We'll be looking at dusk today. After Googling we realised they often collect in a village near us but appear to have changed their flight path over our village this year, the car might need washing as well as the clothes!!!