Good Morning Tuesday 14th January 2025

Good morning everyone from a cold Northampton, looking like a dull grey day today. At least there's no frost.
Yesterday was bitterly cold with a really chill wind, so I had a hot chocolate after yoga - it was good to see everyone in class after Christmas.

Had a rush of blood to the head when I got home and mopped the kitchen floor, don't know what came over me....
Still, I recovered by reading all afternoon!

Early lunch today then being picked up by DD to go to a friend's husband's funeral. The lady is a member of our wine club, and I have known her for over 30 years. Her DH (in his early 80s) died suddenly just before Christmas after a massive stroke. We have been asked not to wear black, so I will be going in my bright orange winter coat.

Planning on making a sweet and sour chicken in the slow cooker before I go.

Wishing all a pleasant day.

Good morning from Oxfordshire where its (apparently) 3 degrees and will climb to 8 ! Wow almost tropical, we also switched the heat over to just once a day yesterday, from being on 24/7 it’s now on 6-10.
We kept the dog again last night as MissOops has the builders in this morning so another chilly walk later but no frost or slippery roads, we have half an hour to get out and back before that blasted bird scarer goes off so it’s a brisk walk without too much sniffing, that’s the dog, not me🤗
Hope GMs procedure goes well.
Hope Whiff is back home and can get some rest.
When MissOops comes over to collect the dog I think we are going to our local Garden Centre for coffee and cake which will be a nice trip out.
Have a good day everyone.

Good morning Slightly warmer but a little breezy here y N. Bucks.

I have a manicure. booked at 10.00 and DH has a haircut at the same time.
Afterwards we are going to my Sister in Law. We’ll be helping with some sorting out and some more lessons in using technology. My brother used to do all things admin.
Wishing all a good day and hope Grandmattiesprocedure goes well.

Good morning from County Durham.

What a mixed day yesterday was. First of all my Lego ebay sales reached a surprising conclusion. It's amazing what some people are willing to pay the most for. A broken pirate ship, sold for spares with presumably lots of missing pieces, which was mentioned when advertised, sold for over 100! A dress I have had on the site for over two years sold too, at a much more modest price. I was about to throw it in a charity bag!

Later in the day disaster struck. We got in the car for the school pick up and our faithful four year old hybrid repeatedly told us,"it wasn't ready to drive". It certainly wasn't going anywhere. We hadn't used the car for several days and can only assume it's a battery problem due to the very cold weather. Like all modern cars this will be no quick fix. We'll see what we can sort today but I think it's going to be a lot more expensive than our newly acquired ebay funds! Fortunately we did manage to arrange a quick safe pick up for the children.

A little tidying, then knitting will be the order of the day. Shepherds pie for the children's tea after school.

Tuesday night is usually, "glass of wine night". It began as our reward for two full days of childcare with three under fives . However we're doing dry January. So far, so good. Let's see if we manage to make it until the end of the month.

Wishing all a peaceful day.

Good morning all. The moon is shining brightly in a clear sky and the sun is beginning to show over the horizon. Love mornings like this!
Off to tai chi this morning so no time to read your posts before contributing. Nothing really to report. My great-niece and her family are still not back to their home in LA although they do know everything is OK with their house unlike all those thousands of people who have lost everything. And here's me moaning because I'm going through a 'no sleep phase'!
Thinking of grandmattie this morning and hoping all goes well with her cataract op.
End enjoy your breaks in the warm sunshine all you holiday makers. Take care everyone and see you tomorrow x

Good morning from the NE where it is 8 degrees.
Just been out to unlock gate for window cleaner and it felt quite balmy.
I have been awake most of the night having had a severe reaction to a vegan meal, I had to check the ingredients and discovered it contained konjac which is not good for people with gut problems 🤢
Thinking of grandMattie.

Good morning all and it’s milder here in Essex.

I had a nice catchup with my friend whose Dh has Parkinson’s .
As I knocked on the door, her and her kindly neighbour were picking him up after yet another fall. He was ok but this is a daily occurrence now. She needs more help.

Today I’m out for most of the day and will leave Dh with little pooch again. He doesn’t mind - seems to quite enjoy it 😂.

Take care ❄️

Good morning from a milder Suffolk which I’m hoping will last. Yesterday’s ‘scratch’ lunch was both delicious and very enjoyable with nearly 4 hours of interesting conversations and lots of laughter.

I’m meeting 2 friends today at the cafe in the local arts centre for lunch . They will get the bus and I’ll then give them a lift home as they no longer have a car given up because of health problems by the 1 of them who drives.

Hope today is a positive one for all.

Good morning all from a cloudy Glasgow, where it is 8°C.

I hope all goes well for GM.

Grammaretto, you are doing amazingly well!

Yesterday, I got a shock at Mass. There was a funeral on and I had said to the curate that I did not recognise the deceased, who was a few years younger than me.
It wasn't until the priest started to do the eulogy, when I had a light bulb moment.
He talked about where she grew up, her school and a job she had in a men's social club.
I grew up there, went to that same school and met DH, when as a student, I was second in charge in that club. Looking at the family, I noticed twin adult men, I had taught them and my mother knew their grandmother..
It all fell in to place and brought back so many troublesome memories of my mother and my difficult past. The lady had been a very troubled soul, with a difficult life. It had taken its toll on her and although younger than me, I was shocked at her appearance, when her boys were taught by me.😔

Then, my young sacristan protégé unexpectedly appeared and we managed to get some jobs done. My other sacristan friend was serving at the funeral, but was very agitated. His son's car had refused to start and he had managed to drive it to church to boost the battery, but was worried that it would not start again. He asked if we could wait, in case he needed to jump start it again. The car ended up in the garage, needing a new battery and alternator. Ouch, an expensive business!

While we were pottering about, the two sisters, who do the linen came in. Borrheid, they were in our convent school, you may know them. It was like a parish social event. I have missed the social aspect of going to church.
Life at last is returning to normal. Until the next episode.

brook good to hear you are enjoying your break.

Have a good day folks and hugs for all, who need one.

Lovely Cleaner and the chiropodist both due shortly so I am on
parade early for me. Bed changing and laundry today’s priorities and then back to the book group tome, Antonia Byatt’s “Possession” which I didn’t like when it came out and still don’t but need to have something more constructive to say than pretentious, which is how it still feels. Hope gM has a successful day.

Good morning from a milder 4 degrees Cambridgeshire.

I had one of those nights waking at 2.30 am and then managed to fall asleep around 5 ish to be awoken by my phone at 8 am (very unusual for me to be asleep then) by DD2. She was on the school run and giving me an update on hands free phone from her car on traffic 🙈

A walk is planned across the fields this morning with a friend and a coffee together and school pick up this afternoon.

Susan hope you find all ok with your Mum today. My sister and I used to go together to give each other support. There always seemed to be something even though it was a lovely home.

Talking about birthday daughters and snow my DD1 was born Christmas 1979 where heavy snow laid on the ground and DD2 arrived in a heatwave a few years later. The years go by so quickly don’t they.

Wishing a happy Tuesday to all

Good morning Mick and all from a warmer 9°C northwest coast.
Just an Aldi ‘big’ shop yesterday, avoiding the middle isle of delights and watching an excellent documentary on Picasso in the evening.
My cat wakes me up very early miaowing, not sure what she wants as she has food, water, cosy bed and doesn’t want to go out…

Today to music club and I in charge on the desk. I will sing for the first time in three months after my op’ so need to have a war, up and decide what to sing. Something easy methinks🎼

Hope GMs procedure goes well and thoughts to all🌺

Warm up

Good morning all from a much milder Black country.
Yesterday's trip to eye hospital was eventful taxi late picking me up, bumper to bumper traffic and all lights on red. Arrived there just on time. But it was lovely to see the receptionist was an ex work colleague so during my long waits between treatments did manage to have a chat. All tests appear to be ok but will have to see what consultant has to say.
Today a trip to bank with DH he hasn't been since it moved and needs some accounts bought up to date.
Thinking of gM hope all goes well.
Have the best day you can everyone ☀️

Good morning everyone from south Manchester where Alexa tells me it’s 6°C with mostly cloudy skies and will be 9°C later. Himself has just dressed, shaved and left to walk to the MacMillan Centre, a nice half hour stroll through the park, for the first of six complementary reflexology sessions. He had six last year and thoroughly enjoyed the feeling of deep mindful relaxation during each hourly session.

I have no plans but might wander across to our super independent bookstore as the 3 books I ordered have arrived. However that involves getting dressed so it may well be this afternoon before I venture out - there’s no rush.
#lazygran

Morning, a late one from a balmier S Hants at 5, there was a light frost earlier, I’ve already had two phone calls and updated stats online from yesterday.
Domesticduties today of washing and cleaning, I’m also sorting out a restaurant for ten, family weekend away at the end of February.
Happy Birthday to your daughter Ashcombe
You’re probably all done now gMattie hope it’s gone well.
Sounds delightful brook
🦩🦩

Good morning, Mick, and all. West Sussex by the sea is calm and sunny today. I was up early to be on hand for a heating engineer for my neighbour - her heating broke down on Saturday of all days. He has stuck a broken part together with sticky tape and blu-tak! He will come back tomorrow having sourced the replacement part. My neighbour is terminally ill and has little energy for phoning round repair firms.

Having started earlier than normal, I have achieved little apart from reading some longer articles in Saturday’s paper, washing the breakfast dishes as our dishwasher has given up and vigorously scrubbing round the handle of the lower door of the fridge freezer which, I noticed with shame, was decidedly grubby - it must be the sunshine 😳

I made a rather late decision to go to Glasgow for the opening weekend of Celtic Connections. We are travelling up by train on Thursday for the opening concert. I’m looking forward to a few days in Glasgow and am relieved the weather has warmed up.

Hope Grandmattie’s cataract op goes well.

Glad to read of you supporting your independent bookshop. FGT. Hope you enjoy the books 🙂

Morning all from a bright Kent! Marydoll I saw on the parish bulletin the funerals for this week. Yesterday’s may well have been a distant cousin of mine as the family name definitely appears in my family tree. And tomorrow’s, I think, is a very well known lady to my mother. Even in Kent, I am drawn back to my home town.
DH on holiday this week as it’s my birthday on Saturday ( don’t know why he takes the time off as we don’t book a holiday!) He has booked an appointment with Hidden Hearing tomorrow and has a cardiologist appointment this afternoon. Yesterday, we were at Dobbies for supplies for his beloved wild birds. I was able to visit M&S next door for a few extras. I will tag along as he turns to me to answer all the medical questions and my blue badge makes parking easier. I do have my uses after all!
Don’t know what - or even if- he has planned anything for Saturday. It’s my 70th and I said weeks ago that I was not planning anything as I had taken charge of my 40th (Fuertaventura), 50th ( black tie party for 70 guests) and 60th ( family party). Given my dilemma with him at Christmas re surprising his family, I am not holding out much hope!
Have a good day all!

Good morning from a dull Co Armagh
Loving the milder weather, which I would normally think is freezing !
Local shop had soup vegetables yesterday , so the freezer has 8 portions for future needs , I find it handy for those days when I can’t be bothered cooking , today is baked potato with chilli sauce I found while putting in the soup 😉
I’ve to get a card for eldest granddaughter who will be 21 next weekend
Enjoy the day , yesterday is over , tomorrow will be fine 💐