Good Morning Monday 10th March 2025

Good morning Mick and everyone from sunny but frosty Carlisle. It won't be T shirt weather today!
Yesterday was largely spent outside. The grass has suddenly sprinted up so I had a quick mow, avoiding the snowdrops which are now seeding and the crocuses which are still giving a great display. Then I put some summer bulbs in the front border, after lunch, perennials in the back.
After that, you'd think I would sleep well, but no, it was a long night of broken sleep and acid indigestion so I'm a tad frazzled this morning. Nevertheless, I shall ignore it and carry on with the usual bed-changing and vacuuming etc, followed by an afternoon of reading.

Have the best possible day, everyone.

Good morning from Cambridgeshire. After such a warm sunny day yesterday it is cloudy and misty and drizzly rain expected. Hoping to head out for the first time in many months on my electric bike for a spin around the countryside tracks and lanes. Will need to check in on DD2 first to see if any help is needed as following a very nasty flu virus in Feb she seems to have gone down with another odd debilitating virus.

Wishing a good day to all 💐

Good morning all from Glasgow, where it is 5°C.

Sallyforth, traditionally Mick has always started this thread and everyone waits for him, before posting. In the past, he has always posted just before 6am, but at this rate, he will be posting at midnight.😉

DH is off to play golf, without his partner, who has been diagnosed with blood cancer. This is the first time he has played in months and it will do him good to get out of the house. He has become a tad reclusive.
I hope he can find enough energy. I kept him awake most of the night, the dreaded cough is back with a vengeance.😡 My mouth still hasn't healed, so coughing is pretty painful. I am continuing to lose weight and for the first time in years, I noticed I have a waist, due to being unable to eat.🤣

The glorious sunshine yesterday drew me out into the front garden, where I did some gentle pottering. Hopefully, we can get the rear garden back into order, once the roof is repaired tomorrow and the scaffolding comes down.

There is a funeral at church today, which I suspect will be busy, so I will be supporting the duty sacristan.
I am also looking for a set of missing keys, which the parish busybody decided to help, when someone left them down. Now no-one knows where they are.

The funeral, which took place on Friday was the busiest, I have seen in many years. Our church holds seven hundred people and was packed to the gunnels. What a testament, that so many thought so highly of you..
I will be lucky if two rows are filled at mine!🤣

Corner, I had a painful shoulder for months, nothing dulled the pain and it impacted on my sleep. Mine was caused by my RA and the only thing, which eventually helped was starting biologics. I can empathise, it was so debilitating.

hope that those feeling below par feel better as the day goes on.
I wish you all the best of days.

Good morning everyone from Inverness where it’s grey and raining
Hoping your painful arm eases soon corner, take care
Yesterday I enjoyed time in the garden but as it’s wet today I’ll go to the gym this morning. Later this afternoon there’s a drop in session at the volunteering centre so it’ll be good to have a coffee and a chat with some of the other volunteers.
Enjoy your trip Pantglas, lots of things to look forward to, sounds good
Thinking of everyone with worries and struggles, hope today is gentle and take care all whatever the day brings 💐

Morning from an overcast S Hants, up early as MrJ is working this week, I’m back on the voluntary phone.
Yesterday was another of glorious sun, washing dried outside, washed floors quickly too and the first daffs opened in our garden.
Quiz tonight.
I hope Auntieflo is comfortable and Ashcombe improving. I miss Mizuma and her Cornish news
🦩🦩

Good morning everyone from mid Essex where it’s cloudy and 6 degrees. Forecast is for sunshine later, but not as mild as yesterday. As I’d seen the family on Saturday I didn’t see anyone yesterday. One of the granddaughters had a gymnastics competition yesterday morning, the first she’s participated in. She did well but didn’t win anything, but she enjoyed herself, which was good. DD2 had toothache all day, hopefully she’ll get an emergency appointment today. I had a walk in the sun, then did a little gardening. Had my usual long phone call to a friend.
I have to return a parcel via Evri today, so a longish walk for me to the collection point. I have a pile of ironing to do, so will start on that later.
susan good that your mum was pleased to see you yesterday.
grandmattie the buds on my camellias are beginning to show a little colour now. It’s been dry here for several days and yesterday I watered all the plants growing in pots. I watched the Pottery Throwdown and also felt that the wrong person won…
Have the best day possible everyone, enjoy the last day of mild sunshine for a while!

Good morning Mick and all GN's from a grey and misty north yorkshire morning. A little breeze but just looks damp and miserable.

Another rubbish night but no surprise given feeling uptight about tomorrow. I am waiting for my Bach before 7am to lift my spirits and then am going to make a determined effort to do some very mundane jobs to at least keep myself occupied and less time for thinking.

I know how to put things away in drawers and to make lists and put them by for later. I just wish I could do the same with my brain and lock up the "eye and hospital " worry bit. Well will use my old counting back in threes from a thousand, which does make me concentrate on something else for a bit.

So yesterday at least I was able to do more shouting and yelling at the tv screen watching the rugby. Quite enjoyed the match, but it was actually more about releasing some energy really! I also was able to enjoy much on the radio both on radio 3 and 4. I find that it is "sods" law that there will be programmes I could enjoy on both channels , at the same time, and on one day there will be lots and lots I can choose from and then another day there seems nothing much.

Same with the tv too. I enjoy monday evening sort of BBC quiz night with mastermind and only connect and university challenge. Tonight there is going to be a new thing about chess, so will look at that and see if it is worth watching. done a little chess before , but it has been picking it up from various people at different times. They have just started a beginners course at Upfront on a friday morning, so I booked myself onto that. My plan is to go through it from the start and so hope to reinforce good things I have learnt and to try and stop bad habits. My worst thing at the moment is I have no problem remembering pawns only move forward in a straight line but tend to forget that they take on a diaganol. As I used to play draughts quite a bit too I have to concentrate on not thinking of taking several pieces at a time. So plenty to learn and practise and right now a good thing to concentrate on. Dont think I will be in the Bobby Fischer class at any time in the future but as I am not so able to get about outside it will be a way to keep the brain moving I hope at least.

By the way, I mention Upfront a bit , and I am lucky to have found it. It is a community place here, where you can do all sorts. So if you get a letter from the tax people or any official department, they have people who can help you go through those long and complicated forms; They do all sorts of groups and classes over the week, so there are craft groups, and various groups, a womens group on a thursday or wednesday evening, to which all women are welcome, with no need to book or commit to a specified time. Since I moved here I have found it a very useful place to find out things and get advice on a good plumber etc etc as we all help each other. ~So whilst I am a beginner at the chess on a friday on another day I am teaching simple whist - which I have played since I was 4, to other women. I found it quite amazing recently to meet 2 women in probably their 50's who dont even know the names of the suits of cards. Whilst I can understand someone not playing cards it seems strange to find they have never come across them. But my aim with them is to get them up to speed in simple games and then they can come to the whist drive and play. There is a super techi chap who is there on a tuesday morning, so if y our laptop drives you mad or whatever you can talk to him. We all contribute to help each other and so know the advice we get is not trying to make us spend money and we can trust the information we get. A brilliant scheme in my view, and when , fingers crossed, my eyes ar sorted out, I shall be joining their car service to take people to things such as medical appointments and also to be able to visit places or people who are not on a bus route etc.

Well the joy of Bach is now cheering the morning but the weather outside is not joining in. it looks wetter and even more grey than before, so indoor plans will be the order of the day.

Bellasnana, hope you put your alarm on in time for the tennis, and get some sleep beforehand.

Ladylfo Hope your sleep pattern gets back to normal soon. I used to find putting the alarm on for the same time each morning helped. Even if I felt shattered I would try and get up then just to help my body to remember the pattern, although of course, I often fell asleep in the afternoon!

Wishing everyone a productive and happy day and a peaceful night

Good morning all from NorthWales, but not for long…I’m off on another little jolly with my friend to spend our bingo winnings (that came up as wings 🤣). Manchester watch out!

A mooch around a decent sized TKMaxx, primark, MandS etc - we’re easily impressed us country bumpkins! Cocktails, cinema and a curry 🍛. Train back tomorrow evening after a tootle around a museum or art gallery and afternoon tea at the Clayton 🥂!

Have a great time here in Snowdonia Hollysteers, I’ve left things all clean and tidy and ordered 🌞 for you too x

Will catch up with all your doings in between supper and sun up tomorrow x

Good morning from a dull and cloudy Black Country.

Up early as chopping veg and simmering chicken to make soup.

Yesterday was a gloriously sunny day. I put on 4 loads of washing and all was dried. MrJ was tidying the garden. From Saturday lunchtime I felt quite unwell, achey etc. Seemed to pass off by Sunday afternoon.

Walking group walk this morning if I feel up to it, then Line dancing this afternoon.

Love the name Sallyforth

Wishing you all the best day possible.

Good morning all from a misty North Leicestershire.

We have to ring the vet first thing while we are both around to sort out an appointment. It will take both of us to get her into the basket.

DH has the gym this morning and this afternoon we have the 2nd week of our latest Carer Learning course. We have 12 participants which is really too many. But, the waiting list is so long that something has to give.

Have the best day possible all.

Good morning everyone from a dull and overcast Northampton, a sudden drop in temperatures from yesterday. Spent some time in the garden in lovely sunshine; the cats loved being outside and ate lots of grass, but after half an hour or so were waiting by the back door ready to go back in. I then got the secateurs and cut back the huge vine that rambles over my pergola, then attended to a few more plants that needed tidying up. It was lovely being out in the sunshine in a T-shirt, feeling the sun on my skin again.

Went back in at 2.30 to watch the rugby where we had five Saints boys playing the back line; heart in mouth time, but they were allowed to play their usual Saints game and had a huge hand in England's win.

Yoga first thing then home to tidy up after the weekend - a pile of washing up awaits from last night's dinner.

Have a good day everyone.

Morning Mick, morning All from a mild if damp looking corner of Somerset.

A peaceful day yesterday, enjoyed a short walk in the sun after lunch, can't but wish I had more energy though. An unexpected phone chat with our former daughter in law contained an invitation for tea and cake on Thursday when our elder granddaughter will be 19. She’s off to Australia on Friday for four and a half months. I’m happy for her but goodness she’ll be missed.

Mr C has turned into my dresser, my left arm is incredibly painful, so hard to raise it above shoulder height. If it doesn’t settle in a day or two I’ll complete the dreaded e-consult for the surgery physio team. I’ve truly had enough of medical appointments and want no more.

A quiet day ahead. I’ll give our neighbours a lift to their coach as they’re off on a short break, do some tidying, perhaps get back to the photos now the big computer is moving faster than I am.

Thinking of everyone finding life difficult. Hope Monday is kind to us all.

Morning everyone, no idea what the weather is like today, haven’t opened the curtains as DH is still soundo 😴

Will get to the gym this morning, limited in what I can do, but feel so much better for trying.

Thinking of all our absent and poorly morning friends 🙋‍♀️

Good morning from a dull, cloudy spot in south Glos, it should be drizzling according to the BBC 🙄 then getting colder.
I do hope my new bank card arrives today, I have some travel medication for the dog awaiting payment and collection from the vet and they keep sending reminders despite me explaining that my card was used fraudulently and has been cancelled.
I did several hours of embroidery yesterday while listening to an audiobook, very pleasant.
Today it’s a long dog walk this morning, I think I might be a bit optimistic hoping it’s in sunshine again.
Take care everyone and sending hugs to those who need one 🌹

Good morning from Shropshire.Another sunny day forecast.

We got quite a lot sorted at mum’s yesterday.My younger brother turned up too which was good.Mum was very tired when we visited her but happy to see us.Grandmabatty we are happy with how mum is looked after but communication with the home isn’t good at all.

DH has an early appointment at the orthopaedic hospital this morning.We are going about his right leg but the letter received on Saturday says left leg🤦🏼‍♀️I just hope they accept he knows which is his bad leg🙄

Thinking of our absent posters and wishing everyone a good day🦩

Morning all from West Oxfordshire. I seem to have been in bed for ages but without much sleep! Jet lag is a pain.

We had Sunday lunch out yesterday at one of our favourite restaurants.

Our cleaner cannot cone today but the house isn’t too bad apart from the cat fur everywhere!

I will do a Waitrose shop this morning and then pop over to my neighbour’s after lunch. It is her monthly craft club and I think we’re doing tapestry.

The church I attend is starting a Lent group this evening. I think I’ll do the Zoom option.

Then tomorrow - I signed up for a V&A study day on Women Artists, but I’m not sure if my jet lap would have cleared sufficiently to get up at the crack of dawn, drive to Oxford, catch a train, a tube or taxi, and sit through several lectures! I think there might be a Zoom option.

Have a good day everyone. Spring is on the way.

Good morning, Michael and all GNs from still dark South Yorkshire. I think today will be the last day of mild spring weather for a while. Yesterday I went to watch GS play football in warm sunshine with a light breeze and thoroughly enjoyed it although the result didn’t go our way. They are all young men now, but it’s nice to chat to some of the parents I’ve know from years of standing on touch lines together. Then we went out for a late afternoon/early evening meal so that I wouldn’t have to drive home in the dark.
My car is being picked up this morning for a brake fluid service and its first MOT. There shouldn’t be any nasty surprises but you never know. I can’t remember when we last had a car long enough for it to have an MOT! Those days are gone.
Have the best day you can folks.

Good morning from s somerset, dull, cooler and showers today

Yesterday I finally put my seed things into the garage, they had been all over my utility room and on my dining table. I did sow more seeds first and did some relaxing transplanting. A perfect day for the washing too

My fermented beet pickles are wonderful, the sort of taste that lingers, my visitors will enjoy them next weekend. I had an excess of kefir so made some curd cheese, which I am going to flavour with dukkah. It will keep a while in the fridge

Today the weather will be perfect for fridge-sorting, I have a large free-standing fridge, I need to free up space for the veg and salad arriving later this week and I am going to start moving the individual drinks bottles in, nothing alcoholic and rather special organic drinks, only one of those each and they will be nicer cold

Tbh I am making things as easy as possible on myself for this gathering, been there done that with the running around to the point of exhaustion, not this time. It is a tricky one including vegans and sesame/peanut allergies.

Have a good day

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 5° and dry. Early childcare day for me. Then a couple of hours in the school library. I'm not feeling great, to be honest but hopefully I'll pick up as the morning goes in. I'm another who hopes Ash is feeling better. Have a good day all.

Good morning from a dry, mild Bristol. It hasn’t rained here for some time.
As I was walking for my paper, I saw several magnolias, both stellata and soulangeana buds showing colour. They will burst soon. I love magnolias.
Yesterday was quiet after church. I made myself a French onion soup for lunch. My neighbour came down for a cuppa. We saw another set of neighbours in the sheltered sunshine. Sadly, I don’t get afternoon sun in my flat.
I enjoyed the Pottery Throwdown, but felt that the wrong person won. His amphora was by far the best…
Today, Tesco, then planning my very busy week, which includes baking for three different events. I’ll try to bake only once as electricity is expensive.
Have the best day you can. All with sorrow and sickness are much in my prayers. Carpe diem 🦩🦩🦩🦩

Goodness Mick, you're up before the lark this morning! I'm often up at this time too.

Yes, it's still dark here in Cheshire, but the moon looked amazing this morning. It's saying it's about 4C outside but forecast to warm up by lunchtime.

Got lots done in the garden yesterday and found a few surprises like lots of buds on the camelia and on the tree peony. The daffodils are at their best at the moment too.

I have promised a neighbour a lift for the early London train, so off to get breakfast. Have a good day everyone. Kind thoughts to all with worries of any kind.

Good morning Mick, morning all from dark South Lanarkshire. I think it’s dry at the moment.

Another beautiful day yesterday, it really lifts the spirits to feel the warmth of the sun.

I’ll do a bit of this and that today. DD has asked us over for a birthday tea for her eldest whose birthday is tomorrow.

Wishing everyone the best day possible.

Good morning from Malta where it is hazy and a high of 20°C is predicted.

I’m off to look after the boys as usual. They enjoyed themselves yesterday as the restaurant we went to has a lovely play area so we hardly saw them.

I survived the day although did not enjoy driving as the traffic was horrendous and parking difficult. I’d had enough about two hours before we all parted company and was glad to get home by 5pm.

There is tennis tonight, well actually at 2am tomorrow, so I shall have a very early night in order to be awake to watch it. Nuts I know, but I love tennis.

Hope you all have a good day and a good week. Thinking of you Ashcombe and hope you’re feeling in less pain.☀️