Good Morning Thursday 7th August 2025

Good morning everyone. The sun isn’t up yet here in Carmarthen, but the sky looks clear.
I am going to concentrate on finishing my edits today…100 pages still to do. So no housework, or washing etc. Head down and get on with it.
The trees across the way are turning orange so the sun is coming up. Have a lovely day everyone.

Good morning, Michael and all GNs from a very grey South Yorkshire. We may get a shower or two this morning. Fortunately we got the big hedge at the side of the garden wall cut back yesterday. The bin men emptied the green waste bin in the morning and by two o’clock we had filled it to the brim again. It’s mostly pyracantha and absolutely beastly to deal with, but GS did a sterling job with the hedge trimmer. We also stripped a lot of ivy off the wall as I don’t want to encourage it to get a hold on the brickwork. Several ladybirds and some small snails were carefully rehomed! We cooked a very good dinner between us and watched an episode of Game of Thrones.
Today, as I am unable to get up there myself, I shall send him into the loft to make some sort of inventory of what’s in all the boxes and bags that I haven’t seen for years. I feel we must start thinning it all out. I also have a new freezer for the garage being delivered at some stage this afternoon. They’ve given me a four hour time slot. I shall be so pleased to have a freezer again.
Have the best day you can folks.

Good morning Mick and everyone from a cloudy morning in Cheshire. It has rained in the night but it's mild. I was awakened by loud tinnitus and have taken my meds an hour early hoping for some calm. I have learned not to panic as it will calm down in time.

I'm not able to drive to painting with this noise so will carry on with my crochet. I've promised a baby blanket for a neighbour expecting a granddaughter soon. I was very touched when she said her sister has kept one I made for her daughter 30 years ago.

Enjoy your day whatever you have planned. Kind thoughts for those with worries.

Good morning from the Essex coast. I think it's going to be sunny and cloudy in equal measures today.
I'm off to meet up with DH in Holland today after nearly 4 weeks apart. I shall get the train to our local airport then it's only an hour to Amsterdam on the plane. I then have a 2 1/2 train journey to Middleburg where the boat is moored.
I'm looking forward to seeing him and having a couple of weeks of relaxation. The weather is looking good too.
DD1 rang from Singapore yesterday and we had a long chat. They fly home tonight after 3 weeks away. They have had a brilliant time but are all ready to come home.
Well, I must drink my tea and get on with all the small tasks that need completing before I leave.
Have a lovely peaceful day, best wishes to all xx

Good morning from an overcast but dry Bristol.
I have “overslept”. My sleeping, always erratic, has suddenly decided to improve a little. I have felt so tired and “old” recently; everything has been a bit of a struggle.
My jaunt to the WI sewing sale was a damp squib. I was expecting a mountain of fabrics, etc. Instead, there were 1950s baby and adult knitting patterns, jars of buttons, some surgical scissors (!) and other bits. Very few fabrics, but my friend who took me enjoyed her morning, so all was well.
A very new resident, whose wife died a fortnight ago, came to thank me for my little note of encouragement and sympathy. He is so very sad and lost, poor old thing.
Today, taichi and I might cut out a pinafore dress in black needlecord.
I hope you all have a reasonable day, with the odd chi k,of metaphorical sunshine.
Carpe diem 🦩🦩🦩🦩

Good morning all from the Black country.
An early start the car is showing an engine fault so need to take it to dealership, they have moved to the other side of the city since we first bought it. It was booked for 10am but an email has arrived bringing time forward to 8am.
Friends coming this evening so go over to club for a few hours.
Sar have a safe journey and anybody else on the move.
Enjoy your day everyone whatever your plans ☀️.

Morning Mick, morning All from an overcast corner of Somerset.

Enjoyed time at Dyrham Park on the way home yesterday. As the wasp sting thumb wasn’t enjoying holding a steering wheel it was over to Mr C to navigate two busy motorways , once home he slept for two hours while I dealt with unpacking. Routine stuff today, laundry, a grocery delivery, some life admin.

The family have landed back from Australia, the next challenge is to work out when we can see them before they all fly out again. Our granddaughters for a holiday with their Mum and our son for work.

Safe travels sar and all on the move.

Have the best day you can everyone.

Good morning from a dreary looking Torbay. No rain but no sunshine either.

My condolences to baubles on your very sad news. Words are inadequate.

I didn’t post yesterday due to an unexpectedly late night on Tuesday. Two unknown men turned up on the doorstep, one carrying a nearly empty wine bottle, to enquire if anyone owned a blue VW for which they’d found a set of keys. Initially, I gave them short shrift but then realised that they were trying to be helpful, although ringing all seven doorbells at once did not endear them at first! We took the keys as we soon discovered they belonged to one of our young neighbours who was out in a friend’s car. A quick text to her resolved the issue - in her rush to leave she’d left them on the wall by her car. She was lucky that they were found by two honest chaps. There followed a happy social time with my upstairs neighbour and a late night! 💤

Safe travels to you, Sar53 and a joyful reunion with your DH.

Have a good day, if possible, everyone. 🦩💐🦩🥰🦩

Good morning from a damp northwest coast. Another quiet day ahead of decluttering. I need to catch up with a few people by phone too.
My cat is ‘talking’ to me more than ever, I wish I knew what she was on about.l.
Thoughts to all 🌺
Acrylic I’m working on.

Good Morning fr MS - forecast is sunny & hot. Our regular coffee date w/ the beach birds, & then I'm going to the farm supply store for a box of glass jars needed for my jam-making later this month.
Susan: I hope you're "sprung" from in hospital much sooner than expected!

Good morning from breezy and damp South Lanarkshire.

We spent a couple of sunny hours with the Edinburgh gang yesterday. We were able to sit in the garden and watch the children play on the climbing frame. They had been watching the street entertainment on the Royal Mile earlier so were putting together their own little show.

Today we will visit DH’s brother and family again. Thank you for all your kind messages yesterday about our nephew.

Wishing everyone the best day possible.

Good morning all from a bright and windy start to the day here on the east coast of Fife.
I’ve lost my first post so here’s another one. I’ll be having cereal with a half banana, tea and fresh orange juice for breakfast followed by a mug of tea.
Later on I hope to go out visiting my friend with my carer.

Take care my friends have a good day - be kind and smile 😁😁

Good morning all. All was calm with a beautiful sunset last night so promising however, this morning grey, wet and windy again.

After a previous sleepless night, I had a full nights sleep last night and feel more energetic today. A few things to go over with my FA this morning and then another bank visit to request a new PIN number again. They sent me the same number which no longer worked twice now! Hairdressers this afternoon, hoping the rain stops.

Best wishes to all for a good day.

Good morning from south Glos, clear skies here.
My favourite dog walk early yesterday followed by breakfast at the village cafe, delicious 😋
Housework as usual then I received a message that I was being fully refunded for the faulty mattress with a credit note so off to the store I went!
I spent an hour trying out mattresses and I have chosen another. So a very satisfactory result.
It won’t be delivered for 5 - 6 weeks and they will take the faulty one back.
Have a lovely day 🌹

Good morning from N Bucks where it is bright but still fresh as yet.
I have a chest x ray this morning thanks to an efficient and enthusiastic young doctor who decided I was due an “MOT”when my Melanoma was first being investigated, so blood tests, BNP (don’t know what it is but Tommy Robinson didn’t feature) x ray and ECG in early September. More attention from the NHS than I have had in the last 7 years since Paw died.
Inspired by my sparkling and organised fridge, I hope to do the same with the upright freezer beside it. That should be enough domestic goddessness to last me a bit.
Wishing you all a pleasant day, safe travels if out and about and respite for those in pain or with worries.

Good morning from mid Essex. We have broken cloud with a little sunshine at the moment but a cloudy day is forecast.
Yesterday was a lovely warm sunny day and I sat in the garden for a little while. Went back to my house to pick up the post, most of which went straight into the recycling bin. I picked a few tomatoes and gave the plants a drink.
Today is my last day of dog minding, she has settled now but still isn’t eating properly. Family will be home in the early hours of tomorrow morning. No doubt they’ll be exhausted, their flight isn’t due to land until after 2.00 am! I hope not to be awake when they get home!

kalu a good sleep makes you feel so much better doesn’t it.

I hope your wasp stung thumb is better today cornergran.

sar I hope you have a pleasant journey to the Netherlands and enjoy your holiday with your DH.

Have the best day possible everyone.

Good morning from s somerset, dark clouds all day

I had easy sustained energy all day yesterday and went from one task to another, I wanted to get things finished. Mission accomplished and without any aches, although lifting and bending was involved. It was a very fulfilling and satisfying day and I had a nice chat with two little boys, brought to the allotments by their smiley dad

The last, impulsive, task of the day, was to go around the whole garden and trim my ground cover sedums using a battery, hand- held grass cutter. I did that at 5.30 it is only a once-a-year job and the shears were sharp. I went around much more speedily than I expected, up and down often from my kneeler on the ground. Shear is now greased and put away for next year. The sedums are interlocked and done like big sheets of plants. I do love being grounded, me with nature

Naturally my kitchen was untidy but who cares, I did give it a quick tidy before bed and sterilised my jars for my lactobacillus R, creamy similar to yoghurt, which is ready in 2 hours.

My yarn is all plied and ready to finally skein to use but first I must measure a thinner skein, I need to work out roughly what length I have made, I will need about a mile as the yarn is probably worsted but I need to check on that later too and then look for a pattern

R and R for me today, grateful not to have any more aches after the awful hip and leg pain. The exercises did work and so did the other practices, which I will continue for good. I had a glimpse then of being old, weak and incapable of holding myself upright. I did not like it but it was a vision and a good lesson for me

I am going to visit a special young oak tree, my late husbands ashes are there, a young memorial wood. It is a special day and will be nice to visit, that tree is now, 9 years old and already looking majestic

Have a good day

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 10° and wet. It's still quite breezy too. Ashcombe the helpful drunks made me laugh although I might not have been happy about the hour! Sallyforth I hadn't realised that tinnitus could be so debilitating. That's rotten for you.
Yesterday the car was serviced and passed its MOT without issues. I then taxed it and the insurance renewal kicked in. So that's it for another year. I had toyed with getting a new car but this one is not costing me lots,so I'll hang on to it for now. On the way to the garage to pick it up, I passed dgs1 and his grandad playing football in the green space we had been in on Tuesday. We stopped for a quick chat. I started cleaning the rooms that are going to be painted.
Today I have an opticians appointment as a follow up to my cataract surgery. They cancelled the first one. It always seems to take ages. They will insist on checking for glaucoma using the puff of air machine and then panic when my results are high. If they read my records they would know I have thick corneas. Apparently it's a thing! Anyway, I will put up with it with as good grace as I can muster. After that, I will get back to cleaning Have a good day all.

Good morning all from cloudy North Leicestershire.

Today is DH's 80th birthday so we are going to the marina for lunch with the two (temporarily) resident granddaughters and then a walk on the sculpture trail.

Sending sincere condolences to Baubles and her family.

Have the best day possible folks.

Good morning all from a wet Glasgow, where it is 15°C.

Bauble, I couldn't stop thinking about your family yesterday, no words are sufficient. ♥️
What a disappointment, regarding the sale GM.😪

I had a lovely day with DD yesterday, helped by a light lunch and a glass of vino. DS works around the corner from the pub, but we were were disappointed that he couldn't join us, due to a day crammed with meetings,

My watch got a new battery, at no cost, which was the main reason for my trip to town. The assistant offered to polish the face it now looks like new, despite having been purchased in Berlin about twenty years ago.
DH used to buy me a Swatch watch, whenever we were abroad, I loved to collect unusual ones.

You may be surprised to hear that I didn't trail DD around the shops, I didn't dare, but did buy a long sleeved, denim, sale dress in JL of course, it is miles too long!
I can't get used to my dramatic weight loss, still picking up my previous size and then amazed when the item is too large.
DD wanted to visit Kiko for a lipstick, and I regaled her with my tale of visiting the very first one in Milan Airport, just after it opened. The fashionveditors flocked to it, when in Milan for the fashion show and were raving about how cheap the prices were in the magazines.
I turned round to find the shop assistants were gathered next to me, listening to my boring tale. 🥱

M afternoon ended as it always does, doing the Metro
crossword on the train. I am a creature of habit. I have never seen Central Station so busy and felt quite overwhelmed by so many people and no room to move.
To my surprise, DH was waiting for me at the station entrance (I usually have to go looking for him) and took my bag. I was relieved, as I was seriously flagging.
Of course I fell asleep, when I arrived home!

Today we have Babydoll, however we have decided to go with the flow.
I am finding it physically more challenging, but love having her here.

Wishing you all, a pleasant day and safe travels. James and John, happy editing!

Good morning everyone from a sunny Inverness, not that warm yet but at least it’s dry
Happy 80th to your DH Kitty enjoy your lunch and day out today!
DD1 and family arrived safely yesterday, it’s lovely having them here. Both DGC are already up and playing together in the lounge, DH is making tea and I’m here. DD2 and the other DGC will be round this morning so will see what they all want to do
Thinking of everyone with worries and struggles, hope today is gentle and take care all whatever the day brings 💐

Good morning from a dull but warm Black Country.

A frustrating day yesterday. Mum has 2 sets of hearing aids, NHS & Private. One pair needed new tubing, but somehow I had lost the photo showing me which was which. So into town to the private company who said they are not ours. So over to SpecSavers who provide NHS ones. Said there would be an hours wait. So I perused shops, had a coffee and went back. To be told they are not ours! So back to private one, a different person also said, no they are not ours, as we do not provide that make. I said they must be, she paid £4000 and NHS informed they are not theirs.

So onto computer with her details. Oh yes they are . They cannot change the tubes there, someone needs to come out to her house. So appointment made for 22nd August. Just as well she has the NHS ones to fall back on.

Walking group walk today, then home for lunch and probably pottering and reading.

Happy birthday to MrLester

Morning from a grey S Hants, no rain due.
Safe travels Sar and a happy reunion.
Happy Birthday to your Mr kitty 🎂
A quiet day yesterday, a couple of long phone calls to my brother and a friend, picked more tomatoes and bemoaned the hosepipe ban.
Must book MrJ’s car in today, it needs an oil and filter change, collect meds from the machine outside the pharmacy and move some money about online.
🦩🦩

Good morning Mick and all GN's up and about on this sunny breezy morning in North Yorkshire . The weather is looking good but promised showers later but I am in a cratchety mood and struggling.

Have got the bedding in the washer at least. Last night I went to whist, and had to give in and ask to stay at one table , as I was in such a lot of pain that moving round would have been too hard and in any case I would have been so slow I would have held up proceedings for everyone. Didnt win and no great hands more being pleased at making the best from lousy hands such as one with no trumps at all and another where the highest card in any suit was 8!! But it was good to see the crowd and it helped take my mind off aches and pains, except for the fact that the light over the table I was sat at wasnt working properly and had to ask other people to fill in the score as couldnt see well enough to do it correctly.

So came home, and sat down to check some papers, then put the tv on for the news, but it was on another programme that was interesting so sat to watch that. Somewhat fatal given my sleeping pattern at the moment. The next thing I knew it was about 4.30am, I was stiff as a board, the programme had long since finished of course, but it was very bad for me as I had been sat up all the time with my feet on the ground. Absolutely NOT the recommended way to sleep for me. Every bit of me ached as I shuffled off to bed and my knees and legs ached so badly I didnt really get back off to sleep, and my eye hurt and just generally fed up. So gave up about 5.30am and have the bedding in the washer and every move is taking me longer and is more painful, so I am not best pleased with myself.

I have two meetings to go to this morning, and both have important things happening. I had planned to be very efficient and go to one which I hoped the subject I am interested in was first on the agenda and then disappear off to the other meeting. Well now with both body and mind working at the speed of a tortoise, I will be lucky to get to one meeting at this rate. Why is it sods law that for days nothing special is happening and then two things at once?

So hopefully once I have had some breakfast and loosened up a bit I wont be such a grumpy so and so, and can make the most of the day. Yesterday I was pleased to find a new to me Alexander McCall Smith book in a charity shop , so that will be something to enjoy. I got some washing dry yesterday too, but at the moment it is one step forward two steps back. Glad to get things clean, but just not up to doing any ironing or struggling putting things away in drawers and cupboards, and certainly dare not be stupid and get up on any steps. Frustration is the word for the day!!

I have never done air b/b before. Did join a little while ago, as I thought it might be a way of being able to go over and see the family for a reasonable cost. All I want is a clean bed and a shower to get into , and find the hotels and so forth are so expensive and those that are very good, I dont stay around enough to use the facilities and some others I have tried I have begrudged the cost with a rubbish hard bed etc. So I dont like blackpool and never have, so wouldnt want to stay there but I do like Morecambe and the villages round Lancaster. Having a look the other day, found what looked to be a good match, so slowly and carefully followed instructions as to how to book it and blow me it wouldnt take my money. When I looked at it I have changed my bank since I put the details in, so that had to faff about putting the new information in. By the time that was sorted the one I wanted to stay at was fully booked!!! Not being my day is it??

Anyway will leave it a day or two and give it another go. If it works ok I would really like to go and see the new RHS Bridgewater garden near Manchester. Too far to drive in one day and so this might give me the chance to stay overnight and see the garden at my own pace. Well will report back if it works well. Have any of you used airb/b and do you have any tips for a new venturer into the scheme?

Fortunately Jessie will be coming this afternoon. I was in that cant win situation, where I can struggle to pay the bills, but with something ridiculous like £10 over the limit am not entitled to any benefits. Heads you lose tails you lose! But a very switched on lady at the group said that she was sure I would be entitled to attendance allowance. I rather bristled and said I want to run things myself and be independant, but she explained that with the difficulty I have now moving about and trying to reach things from the floor and cant stand for ages etc that she thought that I qualified, and after a bit of a faff about it was sorted, and I do qualify. So it now means that I have some one come once a week, and especially when I am in the state I am in now, it means that she will turn the mattress over, (which I cant do now) and remake the bed in double quick time. She picks stuff off the floor for me and puts things where they should be , and it is not a long time, but it is physically cheering to see things tidied away and mentally just to be able to think , When Jessie comes I will ask her to do this or that. I was an idiot, could have had this bit of help ages ago, anyway grateful for it now. Most of all because it lets me keep the illusion that I am living independantly still.!!So these days rather than thinking I had better climb up the steps to that cupboard I can just make a note to ask her to check it out for me.

I have to accept that I will not be dashing about anywhere soon, but hope that I can manage to go and look at a garden at the weekend. well shall see how the days goes. I got a small piece of pork to roast from (of course) the reduced bit in Tesco, so that will be the grand effort this afternoon. I can sit on my stool to do the veg and then make a nice roast dinner . There will be plenty for that and to have cold meat and salad tomorrow, and a jacket potato will be easy to do, so that has saved me thinking what to make and what I can make that doesnt require me to stand up for ages . Even have a bramley apple to make sauce with. That is one thing we have that you never get abroad. I love that tartness and yet smooth sauce you can make with bramleys. When I lived in Portugal I had to get an eating apple and put some lemon juice with it to get something I would enjoy.

Hurray for the mute button on the tv. I want to hear the news but any thing that begins with Dictator Donald Duck Trump, is an immediate switch off or rather mute button. What a shame there is not an actual mute button in real life to press!!

Oh I am in a Victor Meldrew frame of mind. Hard luck if anyone comes to my door trying to flog me wretched Zoom or whatever they will get short shrift today!

Greyduster, how satisfying for you to get a lot of jobs done, and every time you look out you will be pleased to see the efforts in the garden. Sar53 hope you have a good journey, and enjoy the meeting up with your husband.

I hope everyone has a good day and has something nice to enjoy. speaking of which I am off to make another cup of coffee to cheer my morning before I creak off to the meetings. Hopefully I shall return in a better frame of mind! Lucky I live on my own at the moment , no one else has to put up with me!