Good Morning Monday 11th December 2023

Good morning, Michael and all GNs from a dry but dreary South Yorkshire. DD and the menfolk came for a roast dinnner after GS’s football match; parents took much thawing out after standing on a freezing touchline! When lunch was cleared it was almost four o’clock, so DD and I went for a walk round the estate to look at all the outdoor lights. Some were quite spectacular. When we got back, the boys had been into the loft and brought down my Christmas tree and decorations. That will be a task for today. It will be a pared back effort compared with when DH was here - he really went to town on the decorations, but at least I’ll not let the side down!
Have the best day you can folks.

Just to say - we had lunch yesterday at a restaurant I have wanted to try for ages. It has won awards and has a very good reputation. Well, we gave it 7/10. First the service was appalling. The waitress told us they were fully booked and were having problems in the kitchen. When the starter finally arrived it was delicious. Pheasant terrine. Our mains weren’t bad. OH complained that the pork he had wasn’t an awful lot - I had masses of beef and gave some to him. The vegetables included red cabbage which I don’t eat and cauliflower cheese which I only enjoy with added broccoli. Then tiny roast potatoes and other vegetables which seem to have been diced! Finally the Yorkshire puddings, which I spoke to the waiter about. Very brittle and practically burnt. The puddings looked delicious but it was nearly 3 pm and we had things to do. They asked us to put a review on Trip Advisor, but we’ll see.

Morning all from West Oxfordshire where it’s still dark.
MaryD I do hope you have a more positive meeting than you are expecting!
I finished off the Christmas baking for the freezer yesterday. Another two dozen sausage rolls and a batch of chocolate spiced muffins. I decorated some of the muffins with chocolate fudge icing and chocolate Holly and will take them to my friend’s craft group this afternoon. We are all taking nibbles and will be making a Christmas cake decoration. Before all that I will do a Waitrose shop. I would like to go to the larger branch but fear the road may be flooded again.
Have a good day everyone.

Yesterday wet & windy. Overnight wet & windy. This morning wet & windy. Good morning from a very soggy & windswept Sefton.
Didn't venture out at all yesterday as it was so wet & windy! Singing group this morning, then WI Christmas lunch. Recover this afternoon.
Take care all.

Marydoll ((hugs))

Good morning all and it’s fairly mild and dry here in Essex.

Yesterday Dd, dgd6 and I spent the afternoon making Christmas elves with Dh judging the finished items. Little gd said ‘ I love my cheeky little fellow’ which made us laugh. She took them home to decorate her bedroom with.

Today I have my chimes group and we’ll play Christmas songs and carols. Played ‘properly’ it can sound very festive. 🤣.
Our lovely, (patient) teacher will make mince pies and we’ll enjoy a glass or two of mulled wine (alcohol free).

Only one more present to buy apart from a few small gifts and food for Boxing Day buffet.

Enjoy the day as best you can. 🤶

Morning all, it’s meant to be dry and mild here in my corner of S E Essex

Off to the gym this morning followed by a tea and catch up. Hopefully the builders will start laying the tiles today.

Good luck with your cardiologist Marydoll

Have a good day folks 🤶🏻🎄

Good morning all from Glasgow, where it is 2°C.

The chewing of gum is indeed disrespectful, but not a rare occurrence here. What is rare is that the young man wanted to have his child to be baptised.
Our parish is having a spate of older children being baptised, because First Communion is looming and parents are regretting not giving it done, when they were babies.
Yesterday, the Deacon told me that in the middle of a Baptism last week, some of my former pupils were present and one excited person, on spotting me pottering, called out my name! 😂
I said I only wanted to know what was said, if it was positive!

As for the wearing of jeans, that is common too. At least people are coming. Our church was full both at the Saturday evening Vigil and yesterday morning.
Parking has become a nightmare, despite two carparks.
Yesterday, I spotted an abandoned car, blocking the car pack. I don't know what stopped me putting a note on it, but later I discovered it belonged to the new curate!! 😂

At last I am seeing the cardiology professor today. I have low expectations and any support will be a bonus. I have been up half the night coughing and being sick. This has become the norm and I am extremely grumpy to say the least! 😁 It may be better not to post on GN today. 😉
We will need to leave early, because one side of the tunnel is closed and its causing jams. However, DH is golfing first, so it will a bit of a rush.

Have a good day folks. I hope you are feeling better Luluand that things are better with Mr Dusty .

Good morning from the South downs where a fine sunny day is forecast.

Housework today.

Yesterday was very pleasant indeed with excellent food and fine company.

Sausage and aubergine lasagne followed by rice pudding for supper.

Peace and harmony to all.

PS my DH chews gum because the medication he is on gives him a very dry mouth. Not keen but needs must. There are times and places though!

Good morning, it’s dry-ish here on the edge of the Cotswolds. I have no idea what the forecast is for today 😊
A very restless night so feeling really ropey, very tired and my ankles and feet are very painful despite taking painkillers.
Yesterday I finished unpacking and cooked dinner, today I must write Christmas cards to a couple of people and wrap a few presents. My enthusiasm is decidedly lacking.
Little on this week except meeting my sister for coffee one day.
I hope you all have a good day 🌹

Good morning from a mild, calm Torbay. I’m later than usual - I think my busy days have caught up with me!

Yesterday, we had a final run through of Cranford at Christmas ready for opening night this evening. I think we need the buzz of having an audience now to give our performance a lift. Tickets are selling well for our week long run with some houses nearly full!

It’s good to read of all the Christmas preparations and activities in which people are involved. I hope you soon feel better, Grandmabatty - your family depend on you and I can imagine how you want to keep going going for them. Please take care of yourself.

I hate to see gum chewing, too, grandMattie, but I guess the chap might have been nervous or chewing a nicotine gum. Good luck with the toddler party!

Our final session of Move It or Lose It today will be a party type event with some suitable music to our exercise routines.
A few more decorations to organise here then the ironing beckons.

Have a good week! 🦩🎅🏼🎄🧑🏻‍🎄🦩

Good morning from a dark, but dry for now, Black Country.

Absolutely tipped it down yesterday on my walk to the gym. Zumba was cancelled as the Instructor had hurt his ankle, so usual use of machines.

Today I am taking Mum and we are meeting DS in town in his lunch break, so we can swap cards and presents, and he can give me DD's birthday present which is next week.

Never understood gum chewing, but obviously by the footpaths in town it is popular. That's another thing I don't understand, why throw it down on the floor!

Simmering chicken to make stock for soup. Just chopped all the veggies and now back to the kitchen.

Wishing you all the best day (hopefully dry) possible

Morning Mick, morning All. Our corner of Somerset seems calm and dry, a relief after the wind and rain

Yesterday was quiet, sausage rolls made and shared with a neighbour as I always do. Mr C left a few for the freezer, I’ll make another batch in a few days.

Will drive Mr C to the first of his cardiac rehab classes and then potter a shop or two until he’s ready to return home. My cough is still troubling. I’m inundated with well meaning advice, I know everyone means well but please stop now. Cleaning this afternoon I think and perhaps write local cards, or maybe just catch up with some tv.

Hope today brings something to make us all smile.

Good morning all from Nottingham where it's dry and dark after a windy night. I'm heading home today.

I was thinking the gum chewer was nervous GM and smoking would be worse. ☹️

Hope your cold doesn't develop grandmabatty

How nice to have a GN meetup with cake kitty
Enjoy the day everyone.

Good morning from s somerset and it promises to be a lovely sunny day

My roses and gooseberries were pruned yesterday, I am using a new way for my roses, not taking much off at all, like my gooseberries. I tried it on two last year and had glorious big flowerful bushes.

I drove to wells yesterday and there are many fields which are temporary lakes. It did not stop raining until after lunch and I was glad to get home safely. The sun enticed me out to garden during the afternoon

Royal mail will be picking up a small parcel today and I will be out after that, walking around town outskirts, fast paced for some needed exercise.

Have a good day

Good morning from a chilly but dry North Leicestershire.

We got soaked yesterday even though we were singing in a gazebo with sides. The wind was fierce.

Today, I am off to to meet 2 other gransnetters at a garden centre that has a brilliant array of cakes!

Good morning from a dark, dry but not especially cold Cornwall. Made lots of origami roses yesterday, need to garland them today. But first I'm off by bus to M&S to buy a biscuit tin that projects lights onto the ceiling, by request of my daughter-in-law, who can't get there herself today. A bus stops near their house on the way back, so that's an easy delivery.

(Maybe the gum-chewer was nervous or a smoker.)

I suspect it's my loathing of chewing gum which is driving my feeling of disrespect!

It sort of is.
But I think also, I would have been very happy that they wanted their child baptised.

People wear jeans to church now. Well they do where I am. In my mother's time, she would have thought that disrespectful.

Anyhoo. Dry today here down South.
Am at a balance point in Christmas preparations. Dont want to be ready too early else may lose some Christmas spirit. But I can get caught out by how long things take to get ready in reality, so I will plough on for now.

GrandMattie I loathe chewing gum in general but that seems highly disrespectful.

Good morning Mick and others from Polmont where it's currently 4° and damp.
Yesterday was a good day with dgs1 but in the afternoon I felt unwell. Probably a side effect from the covid and flu jags or the cold I seem to be harbouring.
Today I have an early start for childcare. I'm rather congested which meant an interrupted night. Lots of picking up and dropping off today. Lentil soup for lunch. Dgs2 enjoys it. And steak casserole for dinner. We'll probably go out for a walk too. Have a good day all

Good morning from a dry Bristol. It rained a lot last night, but we are promised sunshine today. It’ll be mild.
Church was heaving with noisy children yesterday as there was a baptism. I was distressed to see the proud father chewing gum throughout the ceremony.
Now on the home straight with my quilt. It’ll be finished in a few days.
I’ve got the church toddler group Christmas party this morning, the nothing. As I’ve been awake for nearly three hours already,I’ll really need a nap in the afternoon.
I hope this week doesn’t hold any nasty surprises, and that your Christmas preparations go well. Carpe diem 🦩🦩🦩🦩