Good Morning Thursday 25th January 2024

Liberty yes, approx £2000 plus VAT and installation costs, or £3000 plus VAT and installation costs. Extra costs to remove oil and put it back into new tank and taking old tank away.

Phew!

Good morning all. The sky is gradually lightening but it's a rainy day forecast for the Angus coast I'm afraid. Yesterday was glorious - a beautiful Spring day and the garden looks ready to bloom - well, in about 6 weeks' time anyway! I have one daffodil which for years I have noticed is always first to bloom - usually around 9th March - and it is now showing leaves along with its 'nose'. The giant azalea and the rhododendrons all have profuse and large flower buds, the lilac's leaf buds are well advanced, and the fish are beginning to rouse and are swimming groggily around the pond - a time of real hope. And snowdrops are everywhere of course - shouldn't forget them!
I usually live a very quiet and contemplative life, which I love, but suddenly my social life has moved into overdrive. I'm meeting my niece for lunch on Saturday, going for lunch with a couple of tai chi friends on Sunday, a friend and her husband are popping in on Tuesday, lunch with a group of friends on Wednesday and a "Boozy afternoon tea" in Edinburgh with DD on Friday as part of her 50th birthday present. And hard on the heels of all that is our tai chi annual Chinese New Year banquet coming up! I shall be ready for more contemplation after all that!
Today is tai chi and veg and meat shopping - and I shall remember to 'attack' the High Street by a very roundabout route to avoid all the roadworks after Tuesday's aborted attempt to reach 'my' shops!
Have a good day everyone, safe in the knowledge that Spring will soon be springing, keep warm - and feel better those of you in sick bay x

Good morning everyone from Severnside. It looks a bit misty in the distance but it’s probably rain.

Had a good morning outside weeding yesterday. In the afternoon after I sorted out some fabric to use I got carried away with sorting two drawers of cables, small speakers and techy stuff. I’ll run some of it by my brother before getting rid of it.

Off to do the weekly shop later.

Choose something sparkly for the tour Susan 💃

Have the best day you can all 💐

Good morning everyone from northern Tenerife, another warm and sunny day is forecast about 23º
Hoping your DD feels better soon Gingster such a shame she’s felt so poorly this time
Bonnybanko you’ll love it when you get here, pack lots of summer outfits and suncream 😎
Today we’re venturing up Mt Teide, hope to get some good views and see a different landscape.
Hope you can get the problems with the wall easily sorted Bellasnana and it doesn’t cause you any more sleepless nights
Your garden sounds so gorgeous Taichinan I’m looking forward to seeing what’s happening in ours when we get home
Thinking of everyone with worries and struggles, hope today is gentle and take care all whatever the day brings 💐

Good morning all from a showery Glasgow, where it is 4°C. Yesterday, was a miserable day, this rain is relentless.

Just before I went to bed, I thought I heard the boiler making strange noises, indicating the boiler had low pressure.
This is DH's job, because I need steps to see the gauge.
Where was he? Fast asleep! 😡
I had to get the stepladder out to add water, or we would have had no heating this morning.

I felt awful yesterday, due to the lack of sleep and as a result did very little. Also, there was no contact from DD, who was driving to Newcastle for business in the torrential rain. I am a dreadful worrier about my family. Eventually I heard from her at 5.30pm, when she sent a photo of the bath in the middle of her hotel room!

However, I did go for petrol, when I realised I would need fuel at the weekend.
I did have a bit of a laugh at the petrol station. The pump I was using wouldn't reset to zero, despite everyone else going in and out with no problem.
I eventually went in and politely jumped the queue to ask for help.

Assistant; Have you pressed the button to pay at the kiosk?

Me: I've been coming here for thirty years, and there has never been a button.

Back out I went and sure enough, there was a button! Where did that come from.🤔
I was filling my car up, when an handsome ambulance driver came to ask if I had managed. I laughingly tried to justify myself, saying I usually used the pump at the far end, where his ambulance was parked.
He thought for a moment and told me that pump indeed did not have a button for paying at the kiosk.
I told him it was all his fault for stopping at my pump!
He went away laughing loudly. 😂

When I went into pay, the assistant looked at me as if I was a dottery old woman. I have my pride friends and felt the need to explain that I am actually allowed out on my own!
He started smiling and finally admitted that not all the pumps had pay at kiosk buttons. I was vindicated! 😉

Bella, that is a worry for you. Is there no-one else who can look at the wall sooner?
Gingster, you poor DD. Sometimes these investigations can be quite distressing.💐

I need to have a resting day to get back on track. Some bits and bobs of parish admin and then some Turkish TV dramas. They are far superior to any British ones. My excuse is that I am a linguist and am always keen to learn new languages. 😉

Grandmabatty, I hope you are feeling a bit better and best wishes for all who are struggling, in whatever way.

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 5° and wet. Susan what a nice present! Definitely sparkly.
I have the same virus that dgs1 has and I have a very sore throat and I'm achy all over. Dgs1 is recovering now as you can see from the photo taken at his other grandparents house. I only had three hours sleep so I'm not at my best. My brother is coming in later to discuss guardianship for mum. It will probably be a difficult conversation for all sorts of reasons and I can't say I'm looking forward to it. Macaroni cheese for dinner. Have a good day all

Good morning from South Lanarkshire where it’s only a bit damp which is an improvement.

My sorting and culling in the craft/piano/book room is going well, another couple of bags ready to go to the charity shop.

A catch up with a couple of friends yesterday evening was sobering. One friend is going through a dreadfully painful and difficult time with one of her offspring and it’s taking a toll on the whole family. Sometimes there’s just nothing helpful to be done.

I’ve a Dexa scan appointment today and will make sure that I don’t take the calcium supplement which scuppered the last appointment.

Have the best day possible everyone.

Good morning everyone from a damp but mild south Manchester. It’s 5°C at present according to Alexa. I’m meeting a friend for coffee in the square late morning. Then I thought we might walk up to our independent bookshop as I’d like to buy her a book as it was her birthday last week - this way she can choose it herself. I thought maybe nicer? She’s one of our book clubbers.

Here’s Matt.
x

Grandmabatty I hope you feel better as the day goes on.I find the effervescent paracetamol helpful as they soothe the throat on the way down.I hope the meeting goes better than planned.It’s very difficult for you.

Ladyleftfieldlover

Morning all from West Oxfordshire. I’m still in bed so haven’t peeked out of the curtains yet.

My stained glass course was fun yesterday. I am making a lantern with purple, green and orange glass. I’ll paint a pattern on it, which will be fired. I had forgotten how fiddly it is cutting glass. I only cut my finger once!

It is my village book group at lunchtime. We meet in the local cafe. The theme is books we received for Christmas. I received half a dozen and will talk about the one I’m reading at the moment - The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See.
It is my turn to cook tonight and I promised OH I’d do something a bit different. What?

Have a good day everyone especially those of you with overwhelming difficulties and worries.

Good morning everyone. I hope it’s a good day for all and that those with worries find comfort.
I usually just read, but have popped on to say ‘ The Island of Sea Women’ by Lisa See is one of the best and thought provoking books that I read last year. I hope you are enjoying it Ladyleftfeildlover.

Good morning Mick and everyone from greyish Carlisle where there could be a glint of sun later.

Only a few little jobs to get round to today....when it pleases me...or not...
I'm also popping out to deliver my old dvd player and speakers to someone who wants them but I won't be stopping out otherwise, my Tesco delivery comes at lunchtime.
In the afternoon, I should finish my book. I ought to return to my bookshelves to see if there are more tomes I could clear out. There are bound to be some I know I won't read again. Meanwhile, there are still a few I haven't yet read for the first time....How I ever found time to go to work and bring up children, I don't know! I guess I need more time to do things these days.

That's stressful for you, Bellasnana, I hope that it proves an easy job to sort it.

Have a good day everyone.

Good morning from dull and cloudy N Bucks where I see we have had rain. That will have been good for the 200 “in the green” snowdrops I planted on DH’s grave yesterday on the first sunny and not freezing or blowing a hooley day we seem to have had.
My D and GD went to the Strictly arena tour last weekend Susan - I wish I could show you the pic of GD’s face - it said it all! Have a lovely time!

Susan thank you. You have your own problems to deal with, I know. My brother is a very difficult man and I suspect is panicking about money. He has mum's bank card and won't give it up easily.

Gala I did that on Tuesday doing housework and am still suffering. Cancelled my Pilates class Tuesday evening and not sure about my class tonight. Think it’s time to organise a cleaner. No dgd today so will take it easy.
Thinking of all with troubles.

Still coughing. Thought it sensible to do a Covid test. Thankfully negative. Upon thinking about it, both of us have swerved it thus far. Same for my stepfather.
😊

Good morning everyone from a wet Northampton, but should clear up by this afternoon.

My blood test went ok yesterday and I had time to pop into the village tearoom for coffee and a toasted teacake before catching the bus home.

Then a friend rang to say she couldn't make our lunch out as she was feeling poorly. I rang my other friend to see if she still wanted to go, and the result was yes, and could she bring her DH instead?
Of course I said yes, as I have known them both for over 50 years. We had a very delightful lunch at the pub, and then they came home with me afterwards for coffee. I was glad I had had a swift tidy up earlier!

Sainsbury's delivery this morning and then a trip to the shops this afternoon, as I am busy for the next three days and unable to get there, so giving my dance classes a miss today.

Home-made Bolognese from the freezer for dinner tonight.

Wishing all a pleasant day.

Good morning from a wet East Yorkshire. After such a lovely yesterday too.

I have some online admin to do today, maybe a small shop and GS to pick up from school.

I love that photo Grandmabatty children are so inventive with a cardboard box!

Enjoy Teide * brook* I went there about 40 odd years ago. I was relieved the cable car to the summit wasn’t operating due to winds🤣 it was my first venture abroad and we were based in Puerto de la Cruz so often went past where you are based on our trips out.

What a brilliant present Susan I’m very envious as you know I’m a big SCD fan. Enjoy.

Thoughts to poorly grans and ones with poorly family members 💐

Oopsadaisy1

Liberty yes, approx £2000 plus VAT and installation costs, or £3000 plus VAT and installation costs. Extra costs to remove oil and put it back into new tank and taking old tank away.

Phew!

Gulp.

Good morning from Glasgow. It’s damp and dreich this morning , just hoping the storm has moved on. I found the missing Adirondack cover under a deep hedge at the bottom of the garden.

Hairdressers today for a blow dry and the usual blethering with some laughter which never fails to brighten my day. DH’s appetite has picked up again and as it is Burns night I will ask if he feels up to a small portion of haggis, neeps and tatties.
GD2 was given an excellent Parent’s Night report last night and as a well done from us, as her riding boots are too small now, we have offered to buy her a new pair. She may be more excited about the new riding boots.

Have the best day possible all.
With love and strength to those with difficult times to bear.

Morning from a damp S Hants, good luck today Grandmabatty tricky.
Impressed with my surgery, blood test at 2 yesterday, txt from GP at 8:30 this morning.
Lunch out with a friend later, tonight my brother and wife are here for haggis.
Enjoy your trips out.
🦩🦩

Just popped back to say that thankfully a new care home has been found for my DSis, not far from the one she is in at the moment. Hopefully this one will cater for her advanced dementia, and she will soon settle in. It is still close to her elder daughter thank goodness. But I am aghast at the cost - almost £1500 a week, which luckily she can afford. But it is care she needs, so has to be.done.
I was reading up last night on the symptoms of vascular dementia, and sadly she is a classic case.
Sad to see my bright feisty DSis unable to care for herself, confused and frail.

A relief, Bluesappire.

My father had it and was cared for by my mother at home. My parents were married late in life and I was still living at home. It is an awful condition.

Good morning Mick and all from sunny Lancashire, currently 8°C. I don’t think it will stay sunny for long, I can see clouds heading our way. Rain forecast for the evening.

The storms seem to have departed for now and I slept much better last night. It’s so calm now and I can hear the birdsong again. Looking forward to getting out for a walk, fingers crossed.

Thinking of all suffering from illness themselves or loved ones, or dealing with stressful situations.

Good morning everyone from a very wet East Midlands. Back home last night after a hysterectomy on monday. Taking it slow with hubby being my carer.

Morning from wet SouthLanarkshire but at least no wind at the moment. I’m having a chat with my neighbour this morning about our damaged boundary fence and we’ll get it sorted out.
In addition I’ll need to find someone to fix the fastenings on my heavy garden gate. My farmer SiL will be screening my calls soon!

I also have problems with my kitchen and bathroom lights but I’ll need to get a proper electrician for them. At the moment I’m ‘managing’ with the cooker and under the cupboard lights but adding my poor eyesight into the mix, it’s not ideal!

Respite at DD4’s tonight and a sympathetic coffee with a friend (whose son is an electrician) this afternoon should help

One of my son in law’s who’s hobby is cycling went up Mt Teide a couple of years ago Brook, he said coming back down was terrifying!

As always, holding Kalu, Urms and their husbands as well as Gingster and Baggs and their daughters in my prayers