Good Morning Thursday 14th December 2023

Happy 70th birthday baubles🥳🍾🥂

Happy birthday Baubles 🍰🥳

Good morning Mick, Annie and all. It is not quite so miserable here, yet! I had a good night's sleep, after my treatment yesterday, but I was chilly when I got home and promptly fell asleep, all wrapped up in my cosy crocheted blanket.
What a lovely bargain basket Mizuna. Do you have to be up early to find one of those? I am afraid that my 'up early ' days are very few and far between now.
DH is out later this morning. I don't know whether to go out as well, and just mooch, or stay in and marzipan the cake.
Shame about your car Liberty. Has your host friend got a Ring doorbell by any chance?
Hope that all who are poorly soon feel better.
Have a good day one and all.

Good morning from South Lanarkshire. I think we’re in for another drizzly day.

Today is my 70th birthday and I fully understand what people mean when they say growing old is a privilege. I’m glad to be here.

DD held a family party for me on Sunday and this morning has sent me lots of video messages from my family in Ireland which she organised. DH and I will have lunch out and this evening DD will pop over with whichever grandchildren are available. I’m counting my blessings.

Wishing everyone a good day. I’ll go back now and read the thread.

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 6° and dry. A clear sky overheard. Ash lovely photos. Susan I'm much better thanks. Like Cornergran I'm prone to occasional coughing bouts. Grammaretto I sympathise with your lack of sleep.
Yesterday I met up with a couple of friends for afternoon tea. It was in a large garden centre and I wasn't expecting much but it was very tasty. The catch up was very nice too. One of my friends has sleep apnea and needs a machine at night to help her. She was telling us all about it and some horror stories of folk who have sleep apnea and nearly caused car accidents.
Today another outing to a friend's house for afternoon coffee. I'll pick up my friend who no longer drives and take her home. If I get organised, I'll finish writing cards this morning and post them all too. Fewer and fewer each year now, sadly. Stovies later for dinner. Have a good day all

Good morning from a grey W Kent. Indoors again but hope to do a bit of ironing if I can stand up long enough.
Anyway the bruises are going all sorts of wonderful colours now so I really must be patient.
Sorry about your car Librrty what a thing to happen at a charity event.
Wonderful costumes Ash
All the best

Good morning all from the Black country dry at the moment after overnight rain.
More present wrapping today and a quick trip to Aldi see what the Thursday specials are.
Haven't read through yet tablet been charging so may I wish best wishes to anyone celebrating, safe travels those on the move and virtual hugs where needed.
Enjoy your day everyone whatever your plans and may you all find some ☀️.

Good morning everyone from Severnside. It’s a wet one.

Yesterday I went out for a few hours to run some errands. I also bought some treats for my new granddog who I met at lunchtime.

Today I think I should tackle the mess in the craft room and hopefully do some admin.

I’ll go back and read all the morning news now. I haven’t been getting up very early these dark mornings. Not too many left now 🤣
Have the best day you can all 🌺

Good morning all from the Scottish Borders. Mild again but I am tired after another poor night.

Last yoga class followed by coffee at its local café and U3A Christmas party with talk and quiz😞

Yesterday's community lunch was a complete festive meal mostly using rescued food.

Well done Ash ! It all sounds brilliant and professional.

My increase is to be over £300 for fuel. You can see why I must downsize. At least I tell myself it would have been worse had I not replaced my boiler and my Rayburn. It doesn't seem warmer but more controllable.

Shame about your car Liberty 🥺
Wishing everyone a good day.

Good morning from North Yorkshire. It’s dry and we have the remains of a pretty sunrise.
Out for coffee this morning with my friend who had radiotherapy. She will have the results of the latest tests so I have my fingers firmly crossed.
This afternoon it’s the charity Christmas party, afternoon tea in a local hotel. Should be fun!
Love the photos ash. Hope oldd has a good journey.
Have a good day everyone.

Morning from a slightly damp, chilly, S Hampshire. Cracking pictures Ash enjoy your reunion later.
Hair cut yesterday, I’ve just washed out the ‘product’ they put on, lovely at the time, Worzel Gummidge after a nights sleep.
Ears were suctioned again, twice this year, I now get a discount at the pharmacy.
Lunch today in Winchester with two friends, we worked together, I’m being chauffeured by MrJ as parking will be horrendous.
Hope the poor lies are recovering 🤞
🦩🦩

Hairdresser first thing then must collect prescriptions but then the day is clear for present wrapping (not many these days). Not a great deal to look forward to at the moment so need to take the initiative and organise something.

Splendid pictures, Ashcombe, wish I could see your production; hope your DH has a good journey back to you.

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

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 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 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 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 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 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 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

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 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 🎄

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, 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 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 🌹