Good Morning Wednesday 19th March 2025

Thank you Litterpicker - re the tai chi instructing, I do try 😉
Yes, F is hoping to get home today if his bloods are good. DS1 says he's on good form, full of smiles and laughter - but very tired. He certainly has the right, positive, attitude ........

Good morning from the sunny south coast - but I went for a haircut at 9 and the north-east wind is still blowing. Where is this warm weather we were promised?

I have a pan of ham stock from Sunday so will make some lentil soup. DGD (10 year old) has a dance show this evening so DH and I are picking little sister (6y) up from after school club, feeding her and persuading her to go to bed at her usual time 😂

We need to prepare for our first trip of 2025 with the camper van - up to Scotland with a stop on the way to explore somewhere new but haven’t decided where yet. We are setting off a week today and will be away for 3 weeks.

Marydoll, hope you are feeling better today.
RosesandLilac, hope you feel better once you get going and have a good journey.
Taichinan, I wish I could come to your TaiChi class. You sound such a lovely teacher. I hope your DGS is soon back home and stronger after his transfusion.
Kalu, your DGDs are lucky to have you as a gran.
Karmalady, I love the photo of your wool - I felt I could almost touch it.
All those I haven’t named - I’m thinking of you too, in your joys and sorrows.

Good morning Mick and all from Sunnyside sand dunes northwest coast.
Enjoyed the music club yesterday and there was cake and small cakes galore against my birthday, which isn’t until next week, but much appreciated as well as the singing of happy birthday.

DD stayed home in the evening and my pork casserole went down well. I then watched some trashy tv with her. She leads me astray in this way, hooks me on to some dreadful series and returns to the south 😁

We are off to a model village gallery soon and will have lunch in the cafe there. She is driving the 40 minutes or so drive, which I like.
Thoughts to all🌺

Lovely and sunny good morning to everyone, I’m off out again to Wed club ,
We had a rather heated meeting yesterday , I hope ruffled feathers have settled today ,
I’ve stew simmered and now cooling I’ll portion it and freeze later , my freezer has a bit of space , so handy to have something handy for a quick lunch
Wishing for peace in our homes and to spread xx

Himself is such a canny shopper. Our larder downstairs was charging £4 for Bisto gravy granules. He walked over to Home Bargains and paid £2.79! A big difference on one item. So he bought 2, thinking ahead. 😇

Good morning all! I hate to say it, but I'm late again and always will be!. I woke to a beautiful sunrise, a pinky glow in a blue sky, and a very thick frost, then having admired that greatly I went back to sleep 😁
So of course I haven't read through the thread properly. I have picked up on my quick scroll down, that today you're off to Wales to meet your new little dog Rosesandlilac. I hope all goes well and you fall in love with each other.
And Susan what a worrying time you are having with your poor mum
Yesterday's tai chi class was very satisfying again as we discussed what we were doing and how and why a move could be improved. One man, who has only been doing tai chi for about two years, came up to me after the class enthusing about how much there was to learn within each move - that was my day made!
I came home and sat by the pond in the sunshine. I wish there was a way to bottle this glorious weather for darker days!
On a more worrying note, DGS1 (L'le Ollie's daddy) is back in hospital, this time for a blood transfusion. I know this can be par for the course after the chemo, but you can't help worrying ..... I wish I could give them all a hug, but they're too far away.
Anyway, on with today and my To Do List - if I don't write one, I don't Do.
Enjoy this wonderful sunshine everyone ☀️x

Good morning from sunny Wiltshire.

Will tackle cleaning the conservatory today I think. Then more drop off and collections from M&S food hall. I do wish clothing sizes were consistent. I recently ordered a size 12 jumper from them which was like a tent even though it wasn’t a loose style. I swapped it for a size 10 which was fine. Today it’s an M top (12-14) which was a little tight so swapping for L (16-18) 🤷‍♀️.

Susan56 and Grandmabatty sorry you are both having a torrid time with unwell mothers. Marydoll hope you improve soon you’ve been ill for so long.

Wishing you all a good (and sunny) day.

A very disturbed night for no good reason so I am distinctly lethargic despite a beautiful, if chilly, morning. Only singing this afternoon in the diary, always cheering, but otherwise an easy day.

Good morning all from the Scottish Borders. Sunny here too!
I'm running late as I overslept what a treat

The gardener is about to arrive and talk about what needs doing. If I get PP to build a house, there's no point in planting tatties
Last week we fixed the new windows into the greenhouse and I have a growbag in the car to get set up. It's annoying being unable to carry heavy stuff anymore. Mustn't grumble eh Rosiesmaw 😉

I do hope your meeting with the little dog goes well Roses

And the wine event BlueSapphire


Goodness Susan How awful to lose your mum! 🌼 🌸

Hoping everyone has some happy times today and can enjoy the Spring sunshine.

Morning, the sun is burning off frost, beautiful morning. Safe journey Roses I hope you feel better.
Grandmabatty good luck with the room viewing, quite a few of us have been there.
Yesterday I got my early potatoes in, car washed, sorted out some more seeds (telling myself no sowing yet) and had a long call with a friend. MrJ cut the grass, it looks much better but is spongy with the damp moss, it is green though!
We’re out for dinner tonight, no particular reason, I'm hoping for venison.
🦩🦩

Good morning Mick and all GN's on a very bright but very frosty morning here in North Yorkshire. The sun is glistening on the frost everywhere and so far not much sign of it melting.

That put paid to my plan of a very early trip to shop, market and possibly meeting friend there and having coffee with her. My eye is a little better today, but will need my sunglasses on , because of the glare and need to wait for it to warm up a bit. I am still very creaky and slow walking about. It is very annoying as I am desperate to get in the garden or go for a walk round and look at the gardens , but good job I have the yellow peril. Dont think there would be a chance of me being able to walk round today and still not driving.

Anyway lovely to see the sunshine and lighter mornings, so we can finally believe that spring is on the way at last. Tonight I am planning to go to the whist drive, if my whist friend can pick me up. It will be good to catch up with what is happening and enjoy a game. One of the things I want to find on the market is a good plant in a pot. We have a local nursery that takes a stall , and their plants are sturdy and well grown in this district , so you know that it will grow well here. I want to give my kind driver a small present for her help and fingers crossed should be able to drive there myself next time.

I have sorted out 4 fiction books that I dont need any more. We have a new stall that is selling second hand books but all in very good condition. They said that they buy books too, so taking a selection to see what they offer. Dont think it will be much but it might provide me with a way to just swap books there, as I can never pass a book stall without looking. It is nice buying a new book in a shop, but I love the unknown surprise in a second hand book shop. You see old favourites and authors you already know , but that great prize when you discover someone new, and even better if they have written a series of books. I like a wide range from biographies to travel to gardens and of course watch out for any librettos I might be lucky enough to find. When we used to sail, especially round the Hebrides they had a good scheme. So you might be at a small harbour or anchored near little town and there would usually be a bookswap, either in the harbour somewhere or in a local cafe. It was simply put a book in and take one out. I loved it, as you just never knew what you would find and in what language. So I enjoyed looking through them and finding treasures. Then of course as you sailed elsewhere you took that book to a new island

It is the bin men today and the recycling one. I feel quite proud of my three filled bags today, as it does tell me that I am making some headway clearing things out, although cant say the flat looks much tidier. Dont know where I found all the stuff.

RoseandLilac Hope you have a safe and pleasant journey to Wales and all goes well with the little dog
Bellasnana I am glad you have a day off today. Hope you can have a bit of a rest and enjoy meeting your friend.
Granmabatty Good luck with your operation and comisseration about the Swan Lake. I have seen Matthew Bourne on tv but not live and would like to see it if it comes this way. I think it is always sods law that you never have to miss something boring like a committee meeting or a dentist appointment but always something you have looked forward to!
Susan56 You are having such a rough time. It is bad enough having to sort things out and be worried how things are going without all the added hassle. Hope between you and your brother you can get things sorted and be in a better place knowing what is happening.
Marydoll Hope you are feeling better now

Well the grass is beginning to look a bit greener now and the daffodils look lovely, so think it is about time to risk a trip not to the mighty Limpopo but to the market. Hope the weather stays fine and everyone has a good day

Good morning from sunny South Lanarkshire.

A good day yesterday, the shop was super busy so the afternoon flew in.

DH made delicious, garlicky king prawn linguine for dinner before I went to my yarn group where the chat was funny and upbeat.

A change to our childminding this week. We’re going today instead of Friday but not till later as it’s a 3pm pick up so it should be a much more relaxed day.

Have the best day possible everyone.

Good morning from Cambridgeshire. Another cold start but should warm up here. DD 2 is coming after the school run this morning and we are planning a walk and catch up together. Life is quite challenging for her at the moment and a few problems to chew over and hoping I can cheer her up. We were going to go on a shopping spree but she is working the night shift tonight and since a recent nasty bout of flu is having to rest more and didn’t feel up to rushing around especially as she needs to be back to collect the children from school. Hopefully a walk and some fresh air followed by a coffee and maybe cake will help.
The day is then mine as DH is off on his weekly jaunt on his bike with his old friend and they will have lunch and a beer together before returning.
Happy Wednesday to all.

Good morning from a sunny but frosty NE.
Spent yesterday morning on the computer sorting out odds and ends.
After lunch I had some time in the garden, next doors palm trees always drop their leaves in my garden so I bagged them. I noticed the weeds were growing thick and fast so did some spraying too.
I rewatched the first series of ten pounds poms to remind myself of the story before starting the new series.
Perusing FB I saw that Waitrose 25% off wine offer ended last night so went back to the study and did an order. They always have my favourites.
Sister and BIL are visiting today and will take me to the supermarket. Didn't get to see them last week as BIL was birdwatching.
Have a good day.

Good morning from N Bucks - blue skies, wall to wall sunshine and evidence of a hard frost last night. Perfect weather really!
My cold seems to have abated but can’t believe how rubbish I felt for 72 hours! Still, as the late great Terry Wogan used to say “Mustn’t grumble!”
More on “Nixon in China” on Opera Plus this morning and Film Studies this afternoon but the washing machine will be whirring away while I listen and learn and I’ll get things out as and when.
So much dreadful news this morning - Gaza, Trump/Putin, an innocent bystander killed on the Strand yesterday by a drugged van driver, the boy in Luton who murdered his mother and siblings and planned to massacre 4- and 5-year olds at a local primary school - I despair but try to take comfort in the little things, the daffodils, the dawn chorus earlier this morning, my lovely Rosie sleeping peacefully beside me as I write.
Wishing you peace and joy too.

Good morning everyone from a very bright and sunny 🌞 but slightly frosty Northampton. Another very busy day ahead for me today, preparing to host my wine tasting this evening.

Yesterday was full on, a visit to the shops for the last essentials, followed by an afternoon of cooking and baking. Four dozen sausage rolls made, and a ham cooked; a vast pile of washing up followed! Thank goodness for the dishwasher which was.full to bursting, but still a great mound of hand washing-up to do.

DD-out-law and DGD2 called in to collect her school blazer, and I sent them home with a bag of sausage rolls!

I have a list of jobs to do today, the table to lay, with all the right plates, cutlery and serving dishes, last minute vacuuming, the.bins to empty and put out as it is bin day tomorrow, a macaroni cheese to make, snacks and nibbles to prepare, and last but not least the wines to chill.

DD will be over late afternoon, as she is a member (and also treasurer) of our wine group, so shall have a bit of last minute help. She will stay overnight which will be nice company.

Hope the day goes smoothly for all, especially Marydoll, whose days seem full of unexpected adventures!

Good morning Mick and everyone from a very frosty Carlisle. The birdbath, which I topped up yesterday, is frozen solid and it is still only 0°C.
Yesterday was a busy chores morning followed by a walk in the park after lunch where quite a few folk were enjoying the warm sun, though there was still a chilly breeze from the east. The swans don't seem to be nesting yet, both pairs are still swimming around keeping clear of each other at opposite ends of the Pond. I came home and thought my exercise deserved the thawing and eating of one of the hot cross buns I made a few days ago for Easter. Will any make it that far? They are tasty though I say it myself!

I'm having to re-think my planned winter holiday, the one I wanted is fully booked, I dithered too long so it's back to the drawing board.
A few little jobs today then I plan to catch up with reading. I have also dug out my resistance bands as the gurus seem to think strength training is valuable for us older persons. Increasing amounts of my time (and money) seem to be spent keeping myself ticking along to my centenary. (It's not that imminent!).

Have a good day everyone especially if you have troubles of any kind.

Good morning from a bright sunny Suffolk. I’m off to my keep fit class in about an hour. I haven’t been able to go since early February for various reasons and I hear from pals in the class there are several newbies.

DH and I are then meeting a friend we met years ago on our dog walks. The pub in the village run by the community has just started a coffee and cake session on Wednesday mornings so we are going to try it out.

I’m off to Bradford tomorrow to meet up for a long weekend with my school friends of 68 years….always such a wonderful and special time together. We are all Bradfordians and since it is the city of culture,it was the obvious place for our early spring get together.

Gingster I applaud your shopping for your DH whilst you are away. In spite of my leaving some chicken soup in the fridge and a freezer full of things he could cook,I know that his diet will be mainly cheese,bread and fruit! As long as he is happy with that…..

Good morning all - sunny with frost.

I have school run as Dd has a docs appointment. Her immunity is so low and she can’t shake this flu off.

I’ll meet my friend in town for a coffee and go to M and s for food for Dh while I’m away. Otherwise he’d live on sandwiches!

Hair appointment later and sorting out train times for Friday.

Take care and enjoy the sunshine.🌱

Good morning from N.Bucks where we have blue sky although it is cold.

9 o’clock appointment for my nails this morning . Afterwards home to finish the prep. for this afternoon’s craft club .
I will be changing the way the tables are set out which will cause a stir. People are creatures of habit. 😁

Wishing all a good day with a smile along the way.

Good morning from a frosty sunny W Kent. Just dashed? outside to move the car for the workmen coming as I want to go to my small, once a month, art group. So trying to draw breath.
I am also hoping to see a friend for tea later.
Chatted to DD1 last night and worrying news about DSIL who is type 1 diabetic. Eye tests next week.
Hope you travel ok rosesandlilac not good feeling sick
Susan hope there is better news today
karmalady beautiful wool
Best wishes

Good morning everyone from Inverness where it’s another gorgeous sunny start to the day
So lovely to chat with your DGD about your DH Kalu I’m sure it helped immensely. Good luck to her in her French exam too
I’m off to the gym this morning then I’ll walk by the river back into town with a friend. I’ve a new favourite cafe so I’ll treat myself to a cappuccino and sit for a while before getting the bus home later.
Enjoy your time in Wales roses and hope you feel better soon
Susan56 hope there’s better news about your mum
Thinking of everyone with worries and struggles, hope today is gentle and take care all whatever the day brings 💐

Good morning all from the Black country, frosty start but the sun is now shining through.
Playgroup duty again today I think I shall be needed for one more week to cover holidays.
No other plans will see how busy the morning is before deciding what else to do, there is some ironing but nothing in there that's needed.
Enjoy your day everyone whatever your plans and may you all find some ☀️.

Morning all from a beautiful but frosty West Oxfordshire.

It is the monthly U3A lunch today. We are meeting at a new venue. On our return OH will visit his bees and I’ll finalise everything for tonight’s WI AGM. After the actual AGM we are having Puddings and Prosecco. I made a chocolate dessert cake before I went to Australia. I will defrost it and whip some cream to go with it.

Have a good day, especially those of you with difficulties.

Good morning everyone from mid Essex. Another lovely sunny, frosty morning, with a high of 16 degrees forecast for later. Unfortunately the sun is showing how filthy my kitchen windows are, so that’ll be one task for this morning. Also need to take a repeat prescription to the pharmacy, I’ll walk there, the exercise will be good for me.

Yesterday I was at DD1s all day keeping their dog company while she and her DH were in the office for meetings. DD2’s OH collected all the grandchildren from after school club and nursery and delivered two of them to me to look after. I gave them some dinner, and DD1 & her DH got home at 6.30. I drove home after that, in the dark.

rosesandlilac I hope you have a pleasant few days in Wales, getting to know your new little dog.
susan I hope there is better news about your mum today.

Have the best day possible everyone, enjoy the slightly warmer weather.