Good Morning Sunday 22nd December 2024

gMattie
Just popped in to say how lovely each nativity scene looks.

We have a knitted nativity in our village church.

Madeleine what a dreadful time you have had! So glad you are now back home

What an ordeal Madeleine. I hope things can only get better for you now you are home.

Good morning everyone,
A blustery one here, with intermittent wintry showers. I hope it doesn’t develop into proper snow.
Church this morning and an outing this pm, so a busy day ahead.
I hope everyone has a good day.

Good morning. A flying visit from me as I am off to Church for the fourth Sunday of advent. Family arriving this afternoon so it will be busy, noisy and a whirlwind.
Wishing those of you unwell some relief and lots of help .
To evertyone the best day you can.

madeleine what a dreadful time for you I am glad you are through it and back home

Good morning from a very quiet County Durham.
It seems so still, where has that wind gone?
We've had a busy two days with two GC sleeping over. They are cousins with only a year between them and play together beautifully. Both are quite imaginative and creative so other than providing them with an audience now and again they are no bother. Their latest idea was to create an art gallery. I now have numerous works decorating my kitchen cupboards.
After they were collected yesterday I began with the Christmas tidy up in preparation for our family get together. Thankfully DD birthday party earlier in December provided a rehearsal for seating, although this time we'll be cooking.
The last of the presents require wrapping. When I met up with GD1 in the city earlier in the week I could not resist buying Beamish Cluedo for each of the three families. I've always been drawn to the game on display in their gift shop but thought it overpriced. Anyway, I have succumbed, it's something extra they will enjoy and probably wouldn't have bought themselves, plus we all love the museum.
I'll finalise my Tesco delivery later. Then we have GD1 gymnastics show to attend. It's always spectacular. Youngest GD will also be performing in one of the recreational groups. It will be lovely to see how she is progressing.
What a beautiful knitted Nativity GM. I wouldn't have the patience for that. I have completed two knitted wreaths which I found fiddly enough with poinsettia flowers. I think yours requires much more skill.
Wishing all a peaceful day.

Madeleine what an absolute nightmare for you. I'm glad you are back in your home.

Good morning from a bright but chilly and icy Black Country.

Taking DD for lunch today at a pub in her village for her birthday which was last Wednesday. I have made meatballs for the rest of her family to eat. Will be good to have some mother/daughter time for once.

Beforehand need to take Mum food shopping! I imagine Lidl will be heaving!

Wishing you all the best day possible.

Liberty, we normally did hang on to Jesus until Christmas Day, but things are no longer normal for me.
The first two nativity sets I made for DD and a friend who runs Sunday school have several spare Jesuses in case of light little fingers…

Good morning, good morning to all of you from a still but very cold north yorkshire morning. There is not a breath of wind and the tree outside is silhouetted against the lightening sky but with the moon still shining through. I am so happy to be joining you all today and have enjoyed reading your news. There is much to catch up for me as I have been living a bit of a nightmare until friday . I am type 2 diabetic, so try to follow the rules and not go about bare footed, but wear slippers always. On the 9th October , I had to get up to go to the bathroom and such a short journey on carpet didnt bother with the slipper. Suddenly in the hall I felt the carpet wet underfoot. Stood quietly to hear if there was a leak or dripping water but no sound. Couldnt do anything at 3.15 am so back to bed until the morning. A friend, fortunately, knew a dependable and good plumber and lucky for me (but not his wife) he was at home trying to do a job there. We asked him if he could just come and find the leak and turn the water off or whatever was needed and then we could manage until later.
Mike kindly came straight round, and first all the airing cupboard was emptied and water tank checked. So then he carried on and on and on. Very bad news! The bathroom was tiled, with underfloor heating. It ended up that there was a leak from behind the tiles from the toilet soil pipe, so it was contaminated water, but the tiles meant that it wasnt noticed until it reached the hall. I stood there at 2pm, with no loo, no water, absolute chaos and of course unable to stay in the flat. Tried ringing hotels and no room at the inn, and had to go through booking .com to get a bed for the night. Naturally , just when I could have done with a bed, two very good friends have recently left to live near their families. My family had been away and my sons partner and my grandson had covid. Couldnt collect clothes and paperwork I might need with me , as I couldnt even get to drawers or wardrobes with stuff being piled there out of the way.
I was lucky enough to get a room in the hotel in the town, but it is a listed building and has no lifts and a long thin carpark. Anyway thinking it would be a temporary situation, I was grateful to have a bed for the night. It has ended up that I have been there for 10 weeks, and of course they are booked up in advance , so I have been the nomad guest, having to move rooms when they needed my room. They have managed to keep me on the first floor , and the housekeeping staff have been very helpful, but still difficult.
Total bathroom had to be cleared out. Then there was some asbestos in some tiles , a weeks delay to deal with that, Then the sanitisers cleaning it all, followed by dryers going 24 hours a day. The plumber was ready to work but the timing with the dryers is "how long is a piece of string" as they had to keep testing the walls and it appears it has been leaking for a long time. They were there for three weeks .!! Then the great plumber worked extremely hard and long hours , installing new shower , a a new toilet with cistern and pipe visible this time! Then we had to get a qualified electrician to come and do his work, followed by the plumber and I having quite an interesting time working out seating heights and grab rail positions etc. He has had to put the shower at the opposite end of the tray to the previous one, so I have had to get used to the different way of getting in etc. In the meantime I have been stuck in the hotel with poor wifi and phone signal, and had about 3 sets of clothes to wear, as I couldnt get into my wardrobe or to my desk. I had to go for a cancer treatment, during all this, and suddenly realised, one day, that my car insurance would be due. I never automatically renew, but make a note on my calendar to check about 3 weeks before. With all this going on, I hadnt thought about it, so had to spend most of the monday morning, just renewing with the same people just to be covered. Then my car needed MOT and the garage are very good. I take the car there and they run me home and then ring me when it is ready. So thank goodness it passed but oh no ! It needed new brakes and pads so another £345 gone. Oh well I am covered and safe now. So the insurance have of course been dragging their feet. I have always had freehold properties and had one insurance company to deal with. This is a leasehold property and so the landlords insurance are involved in this as it is building , not content. They promised to give me an interim payment so that I could pay the hotel something. on account. I owe over £5000, or rather the insurance owe them. They are not saying they wont pay, but that doesnt help me. I like to pay my debts promptly. Anyway the hotel trust me , and know the minute the money is paid I will pay them but it wont be before new year. I felt very odd and awkward going with all me things to the car, not having paid the bill!! So the saga comes up to date.
I am so happy to be able to sleep in my own bed, use my lovely new bathroom and to be able to cook something. However I have no hall carpet (thrown out of course)cant yet get into the wardrobe with shelves in it, as a bookcase was put there in the panic stage and I cant move it, Half the long curtain is down as something was stood on the bottom of it The lounge is covered with bags and papers and stuff of all kinds. I have no christmas food prepared, nor cards or anything arranged or organised. But it has been a joy to at last sit in my own chair (surrounded by chaos) with a cup of coffee, made the way I like it, in my china mug, and beloved J
J S Bach as composer of the week. I have had offers from friends to spend christmas day with them, but right now it is so lovely to be here, listening to the programmes I enjoy, and no stairs to struggle up. Have to go back to dr's on monday, as my leg doesnt look good, maybe cellulitis again. Well considering I havent been able to follow my routine of resting it raised, and having to struggle up stairs, not surprised! Yesterday was the first day I was able to enjoy looking at the lights etc. Today I am going to shut the door on the chaos and going to church with a friend . Then the best medicine of radio3 music of my choice, and revelling in the joy of being home. Tesco had a good offer on lamb 1/2 price with the clubcard. It has been so expensive I havent had any for ages and I love it. So I have bought a small leg and shall be having lovely roast lamb, roast potatoes and parsnip and onion, peas , cauliflower and mint sauce of course. It will be a great christmas day feast, with some cold to have with a jacket potato etc. Looking forward to it,and going to carol concerts and singing and getting my life back. I thank you all for letting me be part of this, and have missed being able to keep up with what is happening in your lives. Well the sky is bright now and a bit of a breeze as the branches are moving. Looks very cold though. Wishing you all a very happy christmas, may you spend it with the people you love, or may you be able to be in touch with those who live away from you. I wish everyone a Peaceful and Healthy new year and look forward to hearing more of the saga of your lives. Dont forget whatever happens right now, some minor disaster or forgotten shopping, you are still way ahead of me! I was the only person shopping for basic things on the market and in the shop yesterday smiling at people and thanking people for letting me pass on my buggy. The good thing is that for once I have a very good reason to have forgotten something or not sent something in time. I cant say that I recommend it though!!! The hotel had no bed for me this friday anyway, they were totally full. I did ask if they had a stable at the back of the inn. After all there was a very good precedent for this , I thought if the inn couldnt put me up, I might go up Swaledale and look at the sheep and see if a shepherd could put me up.!!

Lovely knitting gM. I’m without any such talent - couldn’t knit myself out of a paper bag!

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 4°, dry and windy. GrandMattie your lovely nativities reminded me of mum's. She made three and my two children have one each. RosiesMaw your cake looks great.
Yesterday I met my friend for breakfast at the local garden centre where the staff were decidedly grumpy! I the afternoon I wrapped nearly all the presents until I ran out of labels. Later my aunt and uncle came round for a visit. My aunt has a bad cold which I hope she keeps to herself.
Today I'm out to Aldi soon. Then a friend is doing a present drop off. I'll catch up with her properly during the holiday. In the afternoon I'll visit mum. Chicken pie for dinner. Have a good day

Morning everyone, we have rain and wind forecast, oh well 🤷‍♀️

Waitrose delivery early this afternoon, then DH and I will get the train to middle son’s for dinner. Have alerted our local cab driver of needing him to pick us up thus evening. It will be good to see the teenager boys, they will all be here on Boxing Day but I imagine all the cousins will be in the play room until they are hungry🤣

Lovely nativity knits gm

karmalady I am exhausted just reading your post!

🎄😘🤶🏻

Good morning all. Beautiful Nativity figures grandmattie - what talent! And Brook what a perfect pre-Christmas you are having with your Cambridge family - enjoy the show today.
I'm glad your food-processor has been traced and you have it back llfl. FB has its uses!
Well, I completed the marathon present wrap yesterday and all is ready to load on the sleigh. Take-off time is 7.30 tomorrow morning but as it is forecast to be raining at that time I shall probably do the loading late this afternoon, by which time the wind is forecast to have dropped. What a good and helpful thing an accurate (🤞) weather app is!
So today is a house-cleaning and packing marathon.
DGD3 is driving us to Notts tomorrow, bless her. DGD1 is working and will follow on Tuesday. We're all due back up here in time to celebrate her 21st Birthday on Hogmanay - it's a non-stop time of year!
Enjoy your day everyone 🎶🎁🎄

Good morning all from a dry and still Suffolk where we are about to surface after a great few days with our lot from Bristol. Although we saw them during their October half term holiday,the 3 teenagers have all shot up and their daily routine resembles that of our AC when they were teenagers….. up mid morning,huge breakfasts followed by toast an hour or so later…and so it continues through the day!

The weather for their first couple of days here was very cold but bright and we had a beach walk,much enjoyed by our dog and theirs. We won’t see them probably now until Easter as we are away during their next half term and DGS1 is off to Portugal then on a football tour.

Love your Nativity figures gM. My mother made several sets,the last one going back to Australia with DD2’s in-laws who were here for Christmas many years ago and were delighted to see it.

We have a tradition in the family that the youngest here on Christmas morning puts baby Jesus in the crib. DGD2,now 17, did the honours about 15 years ago and so obviously loved the tiny figure that she took it out of the crib to play with and then couldn’t find it.

We did,several weeks later,down the side of an armchair in the dining room.

I’m out of touch somewhat having been off social media for a few days so I hope all is well with all and continues to be so throughout these festive times.

Good morning from N Bucks where it is sunny, cold and very blustery.
A day of finishing off bits and bobs for me today, some emails to unexpected card senders (oops) and general tidying up. Presents are all wrapped for taking to Birmingham, cake iced, only got to pop its ribbon round it, sausage rolls in the freezer, just the red cabbage to do but as my freezer is chocka I didn’t want to cook that too early. Last Thursday was not the best time to get a delivery of a months worth of frozen dog food as that takes up a whole drawer.
Only three sleeps to go! 🎅
Kind thoughts especially to the poorly and in pain or those missing loved ones.

Good morning everyone from south Manchester where we had torrential rain with high winds in the wee small hours. Actually heavier than when we had ‘named’ storms! There’ll be some flooded fields here about sand I bet the River Mersey is topped right up this morning, perhaps sloshing into the flood plains alongside on Turn Moss. Alexa tells me it’s 4°C rising to 8°C later,with showers forecast.

Camilla Tominey for me on GBNews in an hour with a second TIB. Sunday dinner with my stepfather at his favourite Italian restaurant, table booked for 3pm. A nice easy day.

Bracing myself for a supermarket foray but no other plans as the only local church service is already happening and I don’t do 8 o’clock services these days. Am impressed by the hard work and creative talent demonstrated on this thread, especially the lovely knitted nativities - very clever. Hope today is a good one for everyone.

Good morning all and it’s fairly calm here at the moment in Essex.

Yesterday I dropped little DGD home by lunchtime and intended to park up in town to do some food shopping in M and s. I couldn’t get parked anywhere so drove home, had a sandwich and coffee and took my trusty trolley up that steep hill . I got everything I needed and ran back home. I was shattered and dozed while Dh made me a cuppa and mince pie.

Today we have my two brothers and one sister in law coming for lunch . One only lives 15 minutes away but the other is an hour and a half away. I hope the drive is ok for him . 🙏. He’ll want to leave by 3 as it’s a tricky journey with lots of country roads and he’ll want to get home before it’s too dark.

GM those nativity figures are a cut above! So beautifully made! How are some people so talented. I’m still looking for my special talent’.😢.

Safe journey to all who are travelling and healing thoughts to poorlies and infirm. 🙏

Take care 🌟

I always read the good morning thread but never post. I just had to write and say how talented you are grandMattie. Amazing work.

Good morning Mick and all from Berkshire where I am staying with DD until tomorrow.
Nice day yesterday, I tagged on to a Christmas lunch with DD and had beef Wellington which I love but don’t often see on a menu. I didn’t know anyone but very good company.
Then on to Eton high street looking very festive and a browse around.
Then another social gathering at DDs’ friend for drinks but didn’t stay too late. Terrible cramp for me in the night which seems to be exacerbated by a couple of drinks…

Today into London
with DD and friend to Italian restaurant followed by carols at the Albert Hall.
Thoughts to all🎄

Good morning all from a very dark, windy and rainy day here on the east coast of Fife

I’ve a friend taking me to church today, I’m looking forward to singing Christmas carols and meeting friends.

Later I’ll come home and watch Netflix, I believe the “children on the train” will be a good film it’s about poor Italian children being evacuated to other families who are very much better off than their own. I’ll have home made lentil soup for lunch and the obligatory bottle of water

Have a good day my friends or as best you can,, look out for these horrible scams which are going about don’t let them catch you 🤬🤬🤬

Good morning everyone from a very windy but dry Northampton.Hoping it stays dry as I am off out this morning to a carol service with a friend - hope no-one listens too carefully to my singing.... I used to sing in choirs all the way through school, college and when we lived in Australia joined the local Chorale, but nowadays I find it so difficult to croak a sound out!

Shall have a light lunch when I get back, then intend on making Mary Berry's Christmas tray-bake - the apricots have been soaking in brandy since Friday!

Out at the pantomime last night to see DGD1 dance in what is probably her last pantomime; it was a lovely retelling of Peter Pan, and the flying scenes were done very well. The many children in the audience were so entranced and into it, and I enjoyed watching their reactions. Of course I only had eyes for DGD1 when she was on stage!
Ash, she had been thinking of trying for dance school after GCSEs, but changed her mind to stay on and do A levels. No idea what she plans to do after sixth form.

Time to make some toast before I head out to the carol service, so I will wish all a pleasant Sunday.

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

Another disturbed night of upsetting dreams and pain, I am so woolly minded this morning.

I spent to much time catering for everyone's needs yesterday, that I never got a single present wrapped. So after Mass today I need to tackle them.

Glad to hear you are taking a step back tonight GM, I wish I could take notice of my own advice.

Brook, a lovely day ahead for you with your family.

Wishing you all a pleasant Sunday.