Good Morning Thursday 14th December 2023

Good morning from Bristol. I haven’t looked out, but, after a cold wet start, we are promised dry weather today.
Most of the mess outside my flat has been sorted but I’ve still got barriers right outside my door, making getting in and out a bit difficult.
The painter has done some painting, and put up one of my blinds. It is a blackout one and, having no curtains, I can vouch for their density.
The lunch was ok, but my deafness doesn’t help socialising, with the noise and chatter. At least, it wasn’t my turn as always to sit next to the bore. The food wasn’t bad, but not especially exciting, and was expensive for what it was. Curiously, the pub was cold. No one had told me, I was expecting the usual overheated rooms.
Today, I have to get those wire thingies for net curtains at the local haberdashery, then last tai chi class for the year. The painter will finish my bedroom, touch up the doors and put up my big house numbers. The ones on my doors are small and hard to see.
Mayall your festive preparations go well, your health be good and contentment fill your lives. Carpe diem 🦩🦩🦩🦩

Good morning from Cornwall where it's raining and mild again. Here's my £1.50 box from Lidl's yesterday. Today I think I'll venture to the sea front and walk on the beach and have a coffee in the beach café. All my Christmas present prep is done so I can now look forward to enjoying the next 10 days with our church's various celebrations.

An email yesterday to tell me that my fuel bill is increasing. By £1 a year! Shock horror. 😂

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Good morning from a dry but chilly Torbay.

Another successful performance last night in which the audience joined in enthusiastically with our carol singing. A few cast photos attached, taken backstage; I’m the one in the cream crocheted cape. We are delighted by the size of the houses but it makes it difficult for the Front of House staff as they attempt to have all (nearly 200) watered and back in the auditorium within a 20 minute interval!

Today DH is returning here after four weeks back at his home in France so it will be good to be together again. He will be boarding his first train about now and be in Torquay by early evening. 💕

Wishing you all a good day. 🦩🥰🎄🎅🏼🦩

Looks fun, Ash. Bon voyage to oldd!
Lucky you, Mizuna. I received a similar one and my electric bill will increase by some £15 a month!

Good morning all from a wet North Leicestershire.

Today I intend to get some post Christmas meals prepped and in the freezer. DH has a volunteer drive this morning and we have a Sainsbury's delivery at teatime.

Have the best day possible everyone.

Good morning, wet at the moment and dry later in s somerset. It was 2 degrees out when I got up at a ridiculous hour

My organic box has been delivered, I have an open porch and it is always left there. I don`t get many things these days, my appetite has changed to a small appetite. I made scotch broth yesterday, not pea and ham soup and this time I remembered to soak the grain, lentils and split peas. It was a most delicious soup and I didn`t need anything else. I think that was the reason for me waking early, I felt hungry at 3am

No appointments today, I will be walking to town later, for the fresh air and a caulie to wrap and store in the fridge. Knitting has priority, I am on my second sleeve now and I will be making a matching hat with the leftover yarn. I will be done and dusted by tomorrow evening

Have a good day

Morning all from a dark and dismal West Oxfordshire. OH is already up as he is waiting for some paving slabs to be delivered. Elder son is coming tomorrow to help him move his bee hives to a new location and they need a stable base.
I’m having my roots done today. The road to our nearby town is still badly flooded so I’ll have to go on a diversion. Afterwards I’ll pop into Sainsbury’s and buy the cat’s favourite catnip flavoured Dreamie biscuits.
Have a good day.

Morning Mick, morning All. Our corner of Somerset looks damp although a fine day forecast.

Enjoyed a couple of hours chat with neighbours yesterday morning before a relatively tedious committee meeting in the afternoon. Only stopped proceedings once with a spectacular coughing bout. Oops

Hope to head off to a national trust property this morning, always beautifully decorated this time of year. Will have 🤞 their accessibility transport is running. Such a change from last year when the walk was no problem.

Love the costumes ash. Safe travels to your husband and all on the move

Hope Thursday is kind to us all.

Good morning everyone from Inverness where it’s dark and looks a bit wet outside
Lovely pictures Ash well done with the production, safe travels to your DH today
We’ve got DGD here, she stayed over last night and will be up soon. So it’s the school run first thing and then the gym. Later I’m looking forward to going out with my pal for a festive lunch at a local hotel. The workmen are still here doing the new en-suite so it’ll suit me to be out most of the day.
Thinking of everyone with worries and struggles, hope today is gentle and take care all whatever the day brings 💐

Fun pictures Ash. 🤩

Good morning everyone from a very dark, dare I say it’s slightly warmer today here on the east coast of Fife,
After reading the newspaper we’re meant to be getting a snow bomb sometime soon.
However I’m well stocked up with salt for my paths since the last bout of snow.
Tonight I’m off to see my friend singing Christmas carols, It’ll be a very emotional evening as it’s the first Christmas without my dh.
My friend from Ireland is going into my loft today to bring down some forgotten memorabilia. You’ll see from my photo how tidy the loft is as my dear daughter and son in law cleaned it up during their last visit.
Have a good day my friends no stressing over Christmas sit back and enjoy the true meaning.

Good morning everyone.
A wet morning here in south Gloucestershire, chilly too.
I slept very badly, luckily I don’t have anything much happening today.
Yesterday a lovely catchup with my sister, I managed to not spend any money in the garden centre apart from coffee.
First a dog walk, I enjoy being out in the fresh air 🌹

Good morning, Michael and all GNs from a still dark South Yorkshire. It’s cold at the moment. The boiler is doing its best. I got all my Christmas cards posted yesterday. A first for me - it’s usually a last minute rush. Had a very good session with the writer’s group yesterday a feast of Christmas poetry, some of it extremely funny, and ghost stories. We will not meet again until January. I have a lot to thank them for this year. I am meeting DD in town today for shopping and lunch. I hope that will get all the present buying out of the way.
Happy landings to Olddudders, Ash! Lovely photos!
Have the best day you can, folks.

Good morning from a dark, but dry Black Country. I think this is the 3rd day now without rain!

A great lunch out yesterday with some of the family. My cousin who is in her 50's and recently decided to retired, so may see more of her next year. Already arranged for me to take Mum over to hers in January.

Today is walking for health group at a local country park. Afterwards hot pork rolls, and a mince pie and coffee at the cafe there, seeing as it's nearly Christmas!

Lovely photo's Ashcombe . I hope Olddudders has a trouble free journey back to UK.

I have the same problem gM. Wearing hearing aids, they pick up the background noise, making it hard to hear conversation. I can press a button to lessen the noise, but it's not 100% effective.

Wishing you all the best day possible.

Good morning all and hopefully it will be dry today.
Yesterday was successful - Dd and I shopped and lunched - she’s feeling better but still has aches and pains and still waiting for results! 😤.

I left her in town and went for my blood test results which were all fine apart from high cholesterol. I must try hard to get this down as I refuse to go on statins.

Bowls club today and then wrap the rest of the presents. Nearly there.

The Cranford play looks so good Ash. I hope Oldd has a trouble free journey back to you.

Mizuna what lovely fresh veg and such a bargain.

Enjoy your day and take care 🎄

Morning all, I am in going to the hairdresser this morning for my Christmas cut and colour.

Later today I am visiting Father Christmas with DD, The Imp and 8yr old.

Lovely pictures Ashcombe wishing your DH a safe journey. Mizuna your veggies box is a bargain.

Have a great day folks 🤶🏻🎄

Good morning from a dry, chilly Colchester where a bright orange sunrise is just beginning. Sunshine and showers is the forecast.
I'll finish our few Christmas decorations today and get the laundry and housework up to date. DH is out fishing.
Love to all 🦩 x

Good morning from east Kent. Hopefully a brighter day weather wise. I might venture out for a clifftop walk later.I do love watching the waves on the sea come to shore. A hot chocolate from the little cafe will help keep me warm😊

Good morning everyone.
Damp but not too cold in N. Bucks.
Nail appointment this morning and then our Christmas meeting at sewing club.
We will have smallest DGS for a couple of hours whilst DD3 and SIL go to see his brothers school play. He is a Roman soldier and has a song to sing. I’ll look forward to seeing the recording.
Hope all your plans go well and thoughts are with those who are poorly , sad or struggling in any way.

Good morning from Durham. Returned from babysitting at DD2’s with Little Dog late last night in sub-zero temperatures. The house was Baltic, so I’ve slept using two duvets. I’d describe my cough as explosive Corner.
I’m expecting a delivery between now and 1pm, so up and about.
I’ll walk Little Dog before dark, but that’s about it.
Best wishes to all. X

Good morning from a dry Suffolk where no rain is forecast for the next few days. Let’s hope that’s right.

Off to my stretch class soon and then I should visit the garage for a quote for some damage my car sustained when parked in a friend’s drive when I attended her charity coffee morning recently. I only noticed it when I was going home and no one had popped back to the house and admitted the scrapes they had done squeezing past my car. Not only an expensive outing but disappointing that no one held their hands up!

But given the problems faced by many today,it seems to be a minor irritation.

Hope today is a calm and pleasant one for all.

Good morning from Shropshire.

We had a pleasant day yesterday visiting Chirk Castle for lunch and to see the Christmas displays.We used the accessibility transport for the first time yesterday corner and as it climbed the very steep hill we were glad we had done so.We enjoyed the walk down!

DGD was highly commended yesterday by the Bishop of St Asaph for her entry in the diocesan Christmas card competition.There we’re 1400 entries so she did well.She was surprised but happy to be chosen.

Today is a day at home.We are hoping to finish wrapping gifts and Christmas prep.A busy time ahead with DGD’s dance show,family meet ups and five medical appointments before the end of the year😖

I hope Grandmabatty,Marydoll and Mr Doll are all much improved today🤞🏻

Safe travels to olddudders.Lovely pictures Ash, looks fun.

Have the best day you can everyone🦩🎅🏼🎄

Good morning all from N Bucks where it is (for the time being) dry. Colder last night though.
I had a magical afternoon at Island Hall yesterday. East Anglian grans may know it so I’ll try not to drone on.
It’s a Georgian mansion right in the centre of Godmanchester which has been beautifully restored by its owner, one of those tall lean types of man who is the seventh generation to live there . He is clearly fascinated by both the history of the house and of his remarkable family, and a natural raconteur. We had a delightful afternoon tea (Crown Derby, I recognised it, my mum’s favourite) dainty sandwiches, ginger cake then a private tour with the owner. It was all beautifully decorated, ( very Jane Austen with oil lamps and candles) and they hadn’t stinted on “decking the halls”.
I do recommend it to anyone in the area and I believe the gardens and island are stunning in summer. Backing on to the Ouse I imagine they are pretty much underwater today though.
Anyway enough. I have serious loft envy Bonnybank - do you rent your DD’s loft clearing services out?
Arts Society today (Shephard’s Christmas) then I am making some GF nibbles, probably cheese straws, for tomorrows Book Group.
Wishing you all a peaceful and pleasant day.

Good morning all. I believe that it's going to be a brighter day today on the Angus coast (after a dank start). The ground is completely waterlogged, as it must be everywhere, and there's huge lakes where there used to be fields - I pity the poor farmers. Even my small road to the main road was closed yesterday due to flooding, the first time that has happened for at least 15 years.
Lovely photos Ash - so glad it's all going well - and trouble-free travels to Olddudders.
Enjoy your beach walk today Mizuna.
I so enjoyed Dancing GD's show last night - the standard is very high now that they've reached their degree year. Each student has choreographed a piece and I'm back again tonight to see GD's piece. She's very nervous as one of her dancers is off sick and she will have to take her place herself.
The drive in the dark to and from Dundee was a doddle, thanks to new 'night time driving for seniors' glasses I bought from Mr Amazon. I held out no hope for them, just bought them to try in desperation. They were certainly put to the test - it was raining and I was driving against the lights of the rush hour traffic coming out of the city - and they are so effective! I feel as if I've been given my freedom back!
Today at tai chi we are uniting all three morning classes for a joint session before walking along to a hotel for our Christmas lunch. I'm not overly excited about the lunch, but it's going to be interesting doing tai chi with so many crammed into our small hall!
Then it's on with the night driving specs and off again to Dundee. I'm loving all this activity but not sure how long this old body could keep up with this pace - it's certainly rebelling against card writing and present wrapping 😉
Enjoy your day everybody x