Good Morning Sunday New Years Eve 31st December 2023

Good morning all - North Leicestershire is soggy but no rain at the moment.

Yesterday was not quite what I expected. My friend who has lymphoma has become very agitated in the last few days so I went and kept her company while her DH had his regular dialysis. She became more irrational and, eventually, her son called 111 who suggested that 999 would be more appropriate. I then spent the afternoon with them until the paramedics turned up. It was so sad to see my lovely, polite and very ladylike friend become so different. Also, my brother has been diagnosed with viral pneumonia- hoping 2024 gets better.

Happy new year everyone - I doubt I'll make it to the bells.

Another wet day in West Oxfordshire, last night the rain was torrential. I long for dry, cold, bright days rather than this never ending rain.
We are not much into big New Year celebrations and are unlikely to stay up, but I hope everyone who is celebrating has a great time.
Today will be another wet dog walk, I will try out a new chicken recipe from my new book and once again, light a big fire. It'll be back to work on Tuesday so I'm making the most of it!

Good morning all from the Black country where it is raining yet again.
Mizuna look forward to seeing the dolls house when you have finished renovating it, and I do like your tablecloth it's very cheerful.
Quiet night in this evening our days of partying no longer appeal will watch the fireworks from the bedroom window.
If you are celebrating have a lovely evening and best wishes everyone for the New Year🎉🍾☀️

Good morning from a soggy East Midlands. No rain so far but the clouds are gathering. Happy New Year 2024 when it gets here. Have a happy and peaceful evening.

Good morning from a wet and windy Oxfordshire, we had power cuts most of yesterday evening, when it went off at 11.30 we went to bed, it’s on again now, but I’ll do a cottage pie for dinner tonight, I have some small gas hobs that I’ll fetch from the garage, if the power is off we can still have something hot to eat. If I cook it early I won’t have any way of heating it up, no gas in the village, so all electric cooker here which I hate.
MissOops will be here with the dog later as they will be surrounded by fireworks, we don’t usually hear any so fingers crossed.p as the dog freaks out and becomes very stressed.
Thank you Mick for opening each morning for the last year, it’s been appreciated.
What’s the saying ‘ this year has been worse than the year before, but probably better than the year to come’
Let’s prove them wrong.
I hope we all have a good 2024, best wishes to you all.
🎉🥂

Best wishes for a good New Year to everyone.

Good morning Mick and everybody from a clear-skied Carlisle. The nearly full moon was shining when I pulled the blind up.
It's a welcome change from yesterday. I went out early for a few things, it was still dark but dry but as I reached the garden centre it started raining. It rained all day, often heavily. The garden centre remained deserted whilst I was there, it's normally full of folk treating themselves to a full English on a Saturday morning. They'd probably realised what a miserable, cold, wet day it was and decided to stay in their cosy beds! I was just there for some plant pot covers and saucers and, for once, found no plants to tempt me.
My foray into the delicatessen for venison steaks was unsuccessful , I expect they'd all been snaffled up for Christmas so I treated myself to some local lamb and local bacon instead, the latter is the only bacon I can find that doesn't have white stuff seep out of it when cooked. I went home and enjoyed a bacon sarnie for lunch.
A Tesco delivery arrived in the afternoon accompanied by two people not the usual one. They told me Tesco had cut the number of vans down, fewer deliveries are being booked.
Today, I might venture into the garden, I have two flowering heathers that would look better in the borders. Apart from that, I intend to have an idle day reading the papers, magazines and books that are accumulating. In the evening, I shall probably resume binge-watching the new Reacher series, it's not too mentally challenging!
I won't be staying up celebrating, if any of you are, have a good time, and have a pleasant day everyone.

Good morning all and there’s ‘no’ weather here in Essex.

Yesterday the Ice Show was brilliant, very spectacular! A long day , lots of hanging around at the O2 and then couldn’t find the coach when we came out, wandered around in the rain, but eventually found our transport. Poor DD was exhausted but pleased we went. The cost of the merchandise on sale was exorbitant! Little DGD was extremely good and didn’t ask for anything. ‘Father Christmas brought me loads’, she said 😇.

Today ds1 will come round early to take the outside lights down and put the decs up in the loft for us. We don’t want to leave it til next weekend , so todays the day.

Roast chicken for lunch and a restful afternoon 🤞. Reading my book and snoozing I think. Might stay up for the New Year , we’ll see! 🥂. Happy celebrations to those who do. 🍾🎆🎇.

Let’s hope 2024 is better/good for us all. 🙏

Good morning from a soggy looking Suffolk. A quiet day ahead for us which will end probably before midnight. Our days of parties or watching ‘ The white Heather Club’ celebrations on tv ended several years ago as did the days of DH joining the priest in the church at the bottom of the garden to ring in the New Year.

Thank you all for your warm and friendly morning jottings which I look forward to continuing in 2024. Hoping for a more peaceful and positive world for all in the New Year and especially for those who have struggled with worries about their own health or that of loved ones.

Good morning. Another late morning I’ll come back to read later but at least it’s not raining at the moment.
Still coughing but we will be seeing the New Year in with two long time friends this evening. They know about the cough and are happy to come.

I wish everyone a Happy New Year.

Good morning everyone from south Manchester where it’s damp and still out. Well here we all are at the end of another year. It’s been a tough one for us that’s for sure. I said to Himself last night ‘I’ll be glad to see the back of this year won’t you?’. He replied ‘well we had the Bad News but without the treatment I wouldn’t be here’.

We’ve been invited over to spend an hour or so with our little family late afternoon which is always a pleasure and we’re looking forward to it. A nice end to 2023.

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 4° and dry. Baubles I'll be interested to hear what you think of Cinders. I'm going to see it in a fortnight. Mick thank you for always opening this thread. I wish you and all followers a good new year.
Today I'll make lentil soup which will do me for days and is an easy lunch. I have bedding to change and floors to wash. Then the house will be ready for 2024. I'll probably sit up for the Bells then go to bed. Have a good day all

Good morning from a damp NE after all day rain yesterday.
Sister and BIL visited and I opened a bottle of Champagne as I will not see them again until next week / year.
DD and SIL are coming this afternoon and staying overnight, I am going to make a vegetable curry for dinner. Looks like I will be seeing in the new year and probably be watching Rick Astley on TV.
Have the best new year you can.

Good morning from Shropshire.Still raining.

We had a lovely day with the children yesterday although several diversions due to flooding when we took them home.DD had made a meal for us and then the same tricky journey in reverse.

A quiet day today.We will stay up until midnight although I am sure I will nod off at some point.

MIL’s funeral is planned for just under three weeks time on what would have been her 93rd birthday.She would have been delighted with the neatness of physically entering and leaving the world on the same day.

Have the best day you can everyone🦩

"Good morning Mick!
Sounds like quite the eventful day in Brackley and Bicester yesterday. The traffic through Bicester town center to Bicester Village must have been quite a sight with everyone in search of bargains. A classic car display in Brackley town center adds a charming touch to the day.

A Chinese takeout sounds like a tempting and delightful plan for the evening. Enjoy your quiet day, and I hope you find some time to relax. Take care and have a great day!

Morning Mick, morning All from a miserable, soggy corner of Somerset. From the colour of the sky it could well be 6pm, so dark out there and pouring - again.

A chatty day yesterday. A friend called for a couple of hours, she’s too busy with work, studying and an unwell teenager to see much of her so a real treat. She was followed by a long FaceTime chat with my cousin, she and her husband are coming for a day soon, I promised her I wouldn’t fret over food - I will!

It’s our Christmas lunch day here as we were elsewhere on the day. I’ll potter this morning, we’ll enjoy our lunch with the Christmas lights and do little later, we’ve a film to watch this evening and no, won’t see the new year in unless still reading. We’re not ones for big celebrations now

Wishing us all the best day it can be and all good wishes for the year to come.

Good morning from a wet and cold Essex coast. We arrived home about 7 last night a full 24 hours after we should have done.
Lots of washing to be done before a meal out with friends this evening. We also need to stock the fridge at some time.
Have a great day everyone, the last of 2023 xx

@Andrewwalt - a newcomer to this thread? Welcome.

Good morning everyone from Severnside.

I’d like to wish you all a Happy New Year especially Mick for starting us off every morning 🎉🍹

Yet another grey and rainy morning - I feel that I haven’t really seen proper daylight for days. Church in our village this morning and nothing else planned but there will be a Sunday paper and some catch up television so a leisurely day even if a bit dull. If next year is no worse than this has been I shall count myself very lucky.

Morning from a brightening S Hants, five minutes ago we had a squally shower, I think that’ll be our weather today.
Another here Mick very grateful for your daily opening, enjoy your trip out today.
Our tree will come down today as it’s shedding needles, usually they last until twelfth night, disappointing.
My daughter tested +ve for covid yesterday, we may have to help out, hopefully she’ll not be too bad.
Our days of pub fancy dress or hosting crowds are long gone, it’ll be peking duck with the extras for two tonight. We will see the New Year in, my annual Tia Maria over ice.
🦩🦩

Good morning from a cold and dull Boggy Brae, though the sun is making an effort!

Yesterday we had a blizzard of snow and then rain. This convinced MrB about something I said two months ago – that we should get new winter tyres on the car. The current ones are still legally okay but not good enough for getting up our hill in slush, as he found. The car is parked, as he says, "round the corner", carefully missing out the "at the bottom of the hill" bit 😂. He had to carry three bags of groceries up – good exercise.

I made my best ever cheese fondu for tea. Tonight we will drink some fizz to the New Year and eat home-made cheesy puff pastry ring-shaped rolls. And then MrB will go back on his low-carb diet.

Watercolour painting continues. Good day wishes to all 🦩

Good morning from East Yorkshire it’s a dry but overcast on the last Good morning thread of 2023. I for one will be glad to see the back of this year.

Yesterday was eventful day with GS getting stuck in the toilet when we were out for a meal to celebrate his birthday. Apparently it had also happened to him on holiday. He went on to enjoy his birthday with many friends there. He is a popular boy.

Today we are going over to our holiday lodge to spend the evening with DS and family. I’m doing a buffet and we will stay up to midnight and then head to our beds. Not sure what time we will be woken up early hours as GD didn’t sleep well at her other Grandparents last week. Hopefully the country air might do the trick 🤞

I too am delighted to see Rafa Nadal back on the court NanKate

Wishing you all a very Happy New Year 2024 and thinking of ones for whom 2023 wasn’t the best.

Good morning from a much brighter Black Country, where it has been non stop rain for days it seems

Popped into town yesterday and it was very busy, people buying food for NYE I suspect.

Zumba this morning, then pottering! Not going out tonight (first time since we have been together since 2012). MrJ is cooking a lovely marinated beef meal, we shall probably watch Jools Holland till midnight.

Wishing you all the best for the New Year

Good morning Mick and thank you for opening and keeping this friendly thread going. As a "live alone-er" like yourself I do enjoy having someone to chat to first thing in the morning - very grateful.
Today is Dancing Granddaughter's 20th birthday - how on earth did that happen! Still following that dancing dream. 2024 will see her graduation, and then? Who knows? But the dream will continue, I do know that, and she'll follow where it leads.
It's 6° here on the Angus coast and as I've been writing this I've been watching the mist rising up from the ploughed field. There's also a finger of white mist above the water and in the hollows between the hills. Very beautiful and such a contrast to yesterday's wild weather.
That's a beautiful picture you posted Andrewwalt. Welcome to the thread.
Now off I must trot. I shall let the Old Year out just before midnight and let the New Year in with The Bells - accompanied by the 'music' of the boats hooting in the small port down the hill and watching (if visibility is good enough) the fireworks being set off here and there around the countryside and in the town. Sounds like a plan!
All the best to you all for health, happiness and contentment in 2024 x