Good Morning Monday 21st July 2025

Good morning all from a bright North Leicestershire. We had fantastic thunderstorms last evening and some rain overnight.

I need to try to find my desk today.

Have the best day possible everyone.

Good morning Mick and everyone from sunny Carlisle where we are supposed to have rain today and tomorrow. It certainly looks unlikely at the moment and I hope we don't, enough is enough for now.
I took yesterday gently, a day for reading my book and the papers with the exception of an hour in the garden before lunch. I planted my autumn potatoes so fingers crossed for a decent crop for once. I've never thought of planting them at this time of year before.

Today, the usual round of routine housework and laundry, this afternoon, possibly a walk after lunch if it's dry, my step count yesterday was dire.

Lovely card hollysteers

the best possible day to you all.

Morning all from West Oxfordshire.

We had a good day yesterday, I went to church (me, vicar, his wife and the Churchwarden!) Lunch out was good.

Our cleaner will be here this morning. I have the usual Waitrose shop and will also collect our prescriptions.

I have been invited to take part in a diabetes prevention course so I will go to that after lunch. It started last Monday but I was on holiday. Apparently one of my recent blood tests concerning blood sugar levels was borderline.

I have more admin to do and one or two telephone calls to make.

I’m thinking of those of you with difficulties.

Good morning from grey and damp Lancashire.
We had torrential rain for most of the day yesterday which put paid to a BBQ planned for GCs birthday. However DD had planned for the weather and made the decision to change the food to chilli, hotdogs, wraps and the like. They have a small house so some of us still ended up outside under the gazebo but it was still a nice get together.
I'm expecting to see complaints on the local FB pages as DH said that some idiot started fireworks last night which went on for 20 mins at one in the morning. I was aware of DH getting up but without my ears in wasn't aware of the racket. Our housing estate is on the edge of falling into the countryside so any local horse owners and farmers not to mention dog owners won't have been happy about the disturbance. At least in November people can take steps to minimise the discomfort to their animals and pets - not so easy when someone decides to randomly have a firework display.
More rain is forecast for today and the local school breaks up tomorrow so we can have a few weeks of freedom from the school runs. It becomes chaotic round here when cars are parked abandoned with no thought for free traffic movement or the residents.
I have a few odd jobs which need paint, sandpaper and filler so may take myself off to B&Q - if I have the tools and means then I have no excuse to keep putting them off.

Morning all from a sunny south coast. I have a meds review with a pharmacist at 9 so I will do my Aldi shop straight after as it’s almost next door to the surgery. After that just the usual housework. I didn’t finish sorting out the spare room yesterday so I’d better do that as well.
Hope everyone has a good day. 💐for Bellasnanna and best wishes to FGT

Good morning, Michael and all GNs from a sunny - at the moment - South Yorkshire. Washing machine is on. Yesterday was very wet here. I unpacked, did a short grocery shop and spent the rest of the day wondering what to do with all these bloomin’ plums. I have lots of jam jars so I suppose it will have to be jam, but the last time I made plum jam I overcooked it and it set so hard, you couldn’t scoop it out of the jars.
Today I need to pick up my meds, make a chilli con carne for dinner and find all the paperwork I need for a meeting with my new FA tomorrow.
Have the best day you can folks.

Have woken up in a lovely little house in rural Yorkshire after a long journey yesterday splendidly driven by DSiL. We are off to Harewood House to see the Turner/Jane Austen exhibition and have lunch so must join a queue for the shower soon. We met some awful weather yesterday and are hoping today will be drier. Funny how quickly the joy of the long awaited rain has vanished! No pleasing some of us.

Good morning all from a wet Glasgow, where it is 16°C.

Mick, I hope you have a positive cardiology appointment today.

Bella.💐

I have no plans for today, apart from a few tidying up tasks at church, which I didn't feel up to doing yesterday. The bone numbing fatigue of RA and a general feeling of being unwell, are making life difficult, there is so much I want to do, but fail.
The church was full again and the Mass very long, it didn't help that I was avoiding people, because I am so embarrassed at being unable to hear a word, they are saying and apparently I am shouting, instead of speaking.
At the moment, I am living in splendid isolation and am considering joining a silent nunnery. At least, I will be in good company there.😉

However, I had a brainwave yesterday, when it came to cleaning the thick, ingrained, pooled wax, from six very large candlesticks.
The cleaners have blocked the drains, by pouring hot water on them and then disposing of the waxy water into the sink ! 😡
I end up, trying to clean the drains, because they fail understand why it is a problem!
However, it looks like, we now may need the services of Dynarod, the drains are totally blocked and the plumber has given up!!!
I took my hairdryer, sat on a chair, with the candlesticks on the floor, (they are large and extremely heavy), melted the wax with the hairdryer and wiped clean with kitchen roll.
Genius!

I was thinking, GM, could one of the congregation or even the vicar help with transporting the jars? It is a bit much, expecting you to lug them to the church, when you are supporting your it.
Our parishioners are very supportive and frequently help each other with lifts etc., because our church is too far for them to walk to.
There is a network of parishioners, who are cars owners and often bring people to Mass..

I wish you all a pleasant day, whatever your plans and hopefully a gentle one for all, who are struggling.

Good morning.
We had lots of rain yesterday and more forecast later today although the sun is out at the moment.
Washing and hopefully a potter in the garden this morning and an afternoon with my watercolours .
Wishing all a good day .

Good Morning from Durham. Heavily overcast, although expected to reach 21 later. DD2 attended a Sing-along Wicked last night - hugely enjoyable, but wet. As a result I had Little Dog for a sleepover.
Today, I’ll take him home and drop off DD2’s clean laundry. We are sharing a suitcase on holiday, so I’m taking a few items to start off that process. Then on the way home, I’m paying my HMRC bill at the Bank. Still no Sky tv - not happy.

Hope your appointment is ok Mick
A difficult day Bellasnana 💐

Best wishes to all. X

Oh dear Marydoll you did have me worried for a bit.
You were talking about the problems of not being able to hear properly and then you said you had a brainwave. You started talking about getting the wax off the candlesticks and I thought you were going to employ the same treatment to your ears… boiling water, Dynarod and hairdryer. 😱
I realise your hearing problem may not be to do with wax (I don’t read every day so not aware) but I did begin to wonder. I know how inventive you are.
I think of you a lot. Please take care of yourself lovely lady.xx

Thanks for the greeting glammagran. Just sat down with coffee and waiting for sausages to cook for breakfast so catching up again. Been awake since before 4am so this seems like lunch time rather than breakfast.

Well mindful of the wretched scammers and thieves about, I dont say where I am going or the dates etc, and keep quiet until I am back home. Hence no info from me before. Now all can be revealed!!

Some months ago I had decided that I would hopefully have one last big trip at least, and usually do all my own organising. But this time I had decided to go to Canada, not been over there before and so enlisted some assistance and Hayes travel are very good here. The thing was that I would be 80 on July 10th. I wanted to do something to prove I am still the kind of person who can go around and travel and meet people as I always was, but of course where they get you in the short and curleys is the wretched insurance!! I have no problem with costs going up due to medical reasons, but the outrageous way they put the cost up by age is maddening and there is very little you can do about it The cost in your 70's is bad but say you are 80 and it costs as much as the flipping holiday!! So when in doubt use brain! When I was 79 and three weeks I took out an annual insurance, which cost enough as it was. As they will always wriggle out of it if they can during the year I contacted them for things like when I had my cataract done. They of course say they didnt need to know that , but I have covered my back that way. So the insurance covered me for anything during the year and then I was able to contact them and say I would be 80 whilst away in Canada but hoped they were not going to charge me extra for the 5/6 days left on the policy!! So that worked well., and got my canadian visa ok

I worked for an airline and could have gone to usa whenever but never wanted to go there, but should have gone to Brazil and instead ended up in Syria. So now it was up to me and I organized to fly from Manchester - rail direct from here no changes, and to arrive in Toronto lunch time. This would enable me to check on where my train went from the following day and go to my hotel. I booked to go on this Via trip 3 days and nights across to Jasper. I wanted to see the countryside all the way over etc and it was booked as a recliner chair and a bed for the nights. Then I was going to visit the Athabasca glacier, Banff etc et but ending up with my real treat of 2 days on the Rocky Mountain journey, where I would be treated as I should always have been treated, waited on hand and foot, marvellous view and great food and glass roof etc. !!!

After I had booked it all and paid for it, I then had quite a bad patch physically and my back was so bad could hardly walk about . Felt very depressed etc etc., and am very independant and hate having to ask for help. Began to wonder if I had been mad to set it up but was very much helped by an extremely annoying man at a meeting I attended. When I explained why I would not be at the following meeting, he had the cheek to ask if I was being rather selfish to risk such travelling etc etc. when someone might have to come out to get me!! He was so patronising that I am afraid I replied that as I spoke several languages and had moved round the world, whilst he only spoke english and expected the world to do everything for him, and that I would of course be fine and left in a huff.

I did begin to wonder when my planned journey to manchester airport by train - get on and direct no changes - was not possible as it was the one day they had shut the line for whatever they needed to do and so had to get someone to drive me there. Not the best start. Well got in and the flight was with Air Canada and they ushered through to the departure lounge before announcing that the inbound flight was about 3 hours late and consequently stuck for several hours in the airport and only arrived in Toronto at 8.30pm!! No chance to check out train for the following morning and just to hotel .

Following morning went straight to the station to be sure of the train and they were not boarding for 2 hours but no matter I was not going to miss it - as the rest of the trip depended on that train. So eventually we got going and I found my seat ok. Not a lot of room, and with all the hassle with the flight my back wasnt so great. Asked the attendant about my sleeping berth and she replied that they didnt have any free and so I was on the seat only for 3 days and nights!!! Wasnt their fault , they were doing the best they could. Anyway things could have been better, but I really enjoyed meeting all sorts of people and getting to see things as we went along.

The train was going right across the country and there Freight is King, so rather than the freight pulling into a siding, we were the ones doing that . The freight trains were amazing, some had 2 containers on top of each other on a flat bed. There were 5 children , very well behaved, and they counted this train as it passed us and there 181 freight wagons!! Then another bit of a problem for me was that if we pulled in somewhere , they were basically sidings. There would be a platform sometimes, no coffee shop or anything and you had about 20 minutes or more to walk to the shops in the little towns. So the attendants would tell you you had an hour or whatever and people went off or just got off to have a walk round, but with a long drop to the ground I didnt dare try and go anywhere as couldnt do the walking and be sure of getting back in time.
Still it was a trip worth doing. They had an observation car, and so I spent most of my time there. I had taken my cashmere jumper , light and warm, and it was colder , as it was all glass, up there so people came and left as they felt too chilly, so that became my space. An amazing cross section of people, obviously not got the money to use the plane, so met all sorts.

Dont know if you know the Amish people, but they do not use any modern things, cars planes trains etc and dress very modestly etc. Well I thought I must be out of date or something as there were a group of people travelling who definitely looked Amish. So there were two ladies and the children who were counting together, and we got talking and I found out that they were not Amish , but Mennonites, who have quite a lot of similiarities with the Amish, but do obviously use the train. These were an established group who were going across country to greet and help a new group to start building a new colony. They also had a phone between them, but it was not for calling friends etc, but there was a lady who made videos about their way of life etc to encourage people to understand and perhaps join them. I later met a lady who was both the equivalent of our GP and also a farmer out in the midprairies. So I was glad that I had had the experience but if I get the chance to ever go again I would go to Vancouver and all the things that I liked the most were that side.

Well I have to get going , am due out, but will say a bit more about th e Athabasca glacier etc etc later. Things were a bit tough with all these bits and pieces, not the end of the world but problematical. However for me it was very positive as I found that I am still capable of sorting myself out and dealing with whatever comes or goes, which has been so cheering and uplifting after the last few months.

Whilst it may have been one of the toughest physical trips I have had mentally it put it all back in kilter. The pleasure of meeting new people, learning all sorts of new things and seeing somewhere new is worth all the hassle.

Have a good day folks whether it is going off to the wild blue yonder or down to the swimming pool.

Regards Madeleine

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 18° and damp. Bellasnana I hope it goes well today.
Thank you ladies for your kind words regarding my ill health on holiday. Yesterday I got the washing done and sorted a Tesco delivery. The driver was incredibly helpful. He remembered I'd had cataract surgery and asked how I was doing, offered to bring the boxes in and was just generally a sweet boy (he looked about 12). The majority of the day was spent sleeping which I obviously needed.
Today I'll get the ironing done if I feel up to it and put away the clothes. My tummy is a bit better but my appetite is very poor, so little and not very often is the plan. Have a good day all

Good morning from a fairly sunny morning.
Yesterday was wet most of the day.
My friend and I had a decent Sunday lunch out but her deafness was a real problem to me.
I was so tired repeating every sentence more than once and having to shout, not good in a busy pub.
I do feel very sorry for her but….
I hope my meds are delivered today, time between ordering and arriving gets longer every month.
I shall soon need to order on delivery day.
We are supposed to order when we have 7 days left.
Need at least 10/12 now.

A lazy day today, most of them are to be truthful, my GD is working from home today so plenty of company.
Have the best day you can.

Madeleine just wow!! I’m in awe. What a fabulous journey.

Good morning everyone from sunny Lancashire.

We will enjoy our usual daily walk this morning. Rain is forecast for mid afternoon but we will be back home with no need to go out. I am going to attempt to make some beaded bracelets for a local charity for their summer fête. One-handed jewellery making is always a challenge and I haven’t done any since my recent illness so am starting with something simple.

Yesterday started sunny then turned cloudy and wet. MrB and I took our usual daily walk, then when we reached the Dock gates the heavens opened so we headed home. I managed to change the bedding without mishap, it took me about an hour and I was exhausted afterwards. Another achievement

Hope your appointment goes well Mick.

I have an adjustable bed Glammagran, so I raise both ends of the mattress, pop the sheet over and then lower the mattress. It still involves a fair bit of tugging and tucking, but I wouldn’t be able to lift the mattress myself. MrB is happy to help but I like to try and do things myself.

Glad the fête was a success GrandMattie.

Bellasnana.

A warm welcome to any new posters I may have missed.

Thinking of our poorly Grans and families, as always.

Have the best day you can everyone 🌹

Great stuff, Madeleine ! An inspiration to those of us who start thinking of giving up sometimes.
I still like to travel on these challenging trips and, sometimes, during a sleepless night, wonder if it’s worth the worry and hassle. But it is always is worth it!
I once met a feisty Canadian couple on a cruise throughout the Northwest Passage.. they were 92. I do hope I’ll be doing that sort of thing if/when I’m that age. All down to luck and good genes I guess.

madeleine i am in awe of your adventure! I look forward to hearing more! My next door neighbours (in their late 60s) did the journey in reverse, starting in Vancouver and travelling across to Toronto.

What a wonderful journey Madeleine, my DB has recently done it a youngster at 74

Doodle, I never thought of using a hairdryer on my ears.
Now there is an idea! 🤣

Great trip Madeleine I did Via rail Toronto to Vancouver many years ago, it was wonderful, well done you.

I’m really enjoying reading about your holiday Madeleine.
It sounds such an adventure and I think you are very brave. I can understand how doing it has given you such a boost mentally. What’s that saying? “Feel the fear and do it anyway”.
Kudos to you dear lady.

Simply riveting Madeleine and well done for inspiring others to step out of their comfort zone.
It is too late for me, I am several years older than you but you are making me regret my lost opportunities.

Such a wonderful holiday Madeleine thank you for sharing with us all
You’ve inspired me, we were last in Canada in 2004 and really enjoyed it so I’d love to go again
Well done to you x

Thanks Madeleine, both inspirational and interesting.x