Good Morning Friday 26th September 2025

Good afternoon, Michael12 and everyone!

It's 12:30 pm, and this morning I did something I seldom do! There's a Crown & Cushion Inn 2 minutes from my flat, so I was in there at 8, basically as soon as they opened, and guzzled a huge glass of banana milkshake and scoffed a Full English Breakfast!

I know 2 of the staff there, one of whom is a cleaner.

It was all very delicious!

I walked in and wobbled out!

Well stuffed!

Marydoll when my brothers were still at 55 there was a driveway! It was very convenient when we visited as it’s always difficult to park at the shops during the day. ( GNers - my mother lives opposite Marydoll’s hairdresser.) Londoners rent out their driveways!
Not having a good day today. I am tapering off steroids and suffering the consequences. Still waiting for an appointment with the rheumatologist.
Have a good day all!

Bellasnana Thank you x

Good morning everyone from sunny Lancashire. It’s another beautiful early Autumn day here. It’s one week today since I left hospital and came here. It’s a very nice place but I’m looking forward to being back in my own home with a new stairlift.
I will read the thread properly later.
Condolences Harrigran, such sad news.

Good morning from a sunny Co Armagh,
I’m hoping it isn’t too chilly as I’m off to painting class and the heating doesn’t come on till October
Getting a different lift to class , and hope I don’t miss her in her car , I’m hopeless at recognising cars !
Thinking and praying for all who need it
💐

peli I love watching films where houses have a verandah! I know it was filmed in Detroit (because of the connection to the car industry) but I loved Clint Eastwood’s house as Walt in Gran Torino. They always look so homely somehow. I’m off to Google pics now!

Morning from a cloudy S Hants, no sun due, it was glorious yesterday.
I have a busy day, pick up granddaughter, she has a day off college, to come here and wait while I go to stretch class, then we’re off to the local pub for McMillan coffee and cake, she’d asked to come with me.
I’ll drop her home via the farm shop, we need potatoes and greens.
Tesco delivering this afternoon, I have three phone calls I must make, pub tonight.
I do hope S improves sar she goes through so much.
harrigran 🥀 how very sad.
FGT
🦩🦩

Good morning all from Glasgow, where it is 3°C,

Condlences, Cornergran.♥️

Bella, you will be lost, without your boys!

Grandmabatty, it is easy to say, Try not to worry, this has happened to me a few times. 🤞💐

*Good to hear from you, Borrheid. Parking in the Arc is only for Arc users, as has already been pointed output to me!
Pity your mum doesn't have a driveway.😉

Yesterday was exhausting, but full of fun, joy and meltdowns.
BabyD has been in difficult toddler mode for weeks and the fact that she had a snotty nose and eyes didn't help,

She had left Paddington bear at home, telling DS, P could stay with mummy, Ten minutes after DS left, she decided she wanted him and was trying to get out the front door to look for daddy's car.
She was distraught.
This was the pattern for the day,

We had to go to the bank in Paisley, (our last one shut a few months ago) and I wanted to visit the pie shop. I was dosed up with painkillers and anti spasmodics ( I did consider tranquillisers, because DH was driving) )
BabyD, wanted to Walk, walk, walk, because mummy and daddy let me walk,,
There was no way, we do that, given the heavy traffic, the shopping and me struggling,
Cue another meltdown, To make matters worse, she does not want Papa ( her favourite) at the moment and will not let me out of her sight.
Everytime I entered a shop, I could hear Little Miss Foghorn (previously known as Little Miss Fickle ) , shouting, Ga,Ga at the top of her voice,
I could see DH getting very frustrated,
To make matters worse, the sole came off my expensive Italian loafer (£5 new, complete with box on Ebay 🤣) and I was waddling like a duck,
DH of course was racing ahead with the pram, totally oblivious to my plight. 😡

After dropping off the shopping in the car, we let her walk to the café, she was like a different child, running carefree in the grounds off Paisley Abbey.,I think a polite way of describing out granddaughter is that she is a free spirit! 😉
She was like Fr Jack in Father Ted, except her mantra was Cake, cake, more cake!,
This wee besom, charmed everyone in our favourite coffee shop and caused much amusement, because she insisted on wearing the shark thened backpack, I keep in the car full of nappies,
Everyone, who commented on the bag was given a presentation and demonstration of the purpose of
the shark's fin on the bag,

It was such a glorious day, we put her in the garden, where she got a hold of the hose and was running amok, before papa could switch it off,
Unfortunately, I was in the line of fire at the time.😱💦💦💦💦💦

Fortunately, DIL was working from home yesterday and we took her home an hour earlier.
I don't think I could have lasted another hour, I was beginning to feel quite unwell again, shades of deja vue and another faint coming on.

Dollie and her parents are off to NYC today, I of course will worry the whole time, while they will probably not give us a single thought.😉
We have a standing joke about DD having to bring the Brownies' owl home and take it everywhere. I hated that nuisance of a grubby owl.
Dollie has been given the pack owl to take to New York!! 🤣

I wish you all a pleasant day, happy holidays and prayers for all, who need them.

Stilllearning I very much approve of your itinerary! Two of my favourite places!

I first visited Taormina in 1981 and have lost count of the times we’ve been back over the years but I still absolutely love the place!

There’s another village even higher up the mountain called Castelmola which is also worth a visit. The views are stunning with Mt Etna always puffing away in the background.

Harrigran what sad news. May your dear cousin rest in peace.💐

Good morning all from the Scottish Borders
Blue sky. Autumn in the air.
I woke with a streaming cold which was not in my plans.
I've to drive the car 15 mins to the garage and hope for a lift home.
Volunteer shift at the community store may have to be cancelled but worst is I'm expecting my DB plus 5 from Denmark for the weekend and was intending to cook and clean today. They can't cancel and I am excited to see them all.

Ah well. Best laid plans and all that.

Thinking of GMB, MD, Susan, FGT and others today who have real worries and cares.

Your holiday plans sound amazing Stilllearning and others too in exotic places.

Wishing everyone a good day.

Good morning all and no sunny start in Essex today. Cloudy and chilly.

Very thorough examination at Specsavers yesterday for my post cataract op. No waiting around which is unusual but quick professional service. Another op due in a couple of weeks. 👁️.

Today I’m meeting my two old school,pals at the Stratford Olympic Park. We’ll have coffee, a walk and then lunch. It’s a convenient place for us to meet as one of us lives near Wimbledon. We have to catch her while she’s in Blighty as she travels around the world.

Sar so sorry to hear about poor S. She really goes through it. Hope she’s home soon 🙏.
Liberty your trip sound lovely. Interesting with beautiful weather.
Bellasnanna you’ll soon get into a new routine. Your little chaps will always remember the times spent with you before school started. Find some lovely things to do for yourself. Find a passion for something.
Condolences Harrigran 😕🥀.

Hoping you all have a good day. 🌻

Last night

Good morning from Sunnyside sandhills northwest coast. The decorator is getting on nicely with the bedroom and is so easy to have around, I’m thinking of refreshing more rooms.
The long awaited plumber might appear this afternoon for my bathroom’s slow leak, so fingers crossed.

I’m beginning to realise that the first soprano line in the opera company is not working for me now and must think about singing second. I don’t mind, but not sure if I can have it ready for the concerts. The top line is tiring me so much and as I said to my sister in London lady night, I don’t want to sound like a cat in a mangle or a fire in a pet shop😁

Off to art group soon and tonight into the city to hear DS and DGD play in their band. Back again tomorrow night for meal etc with old friend. It’s all a bit too busy at the mo…
I’m sorry your quilt was not received with the thanks it deserved GM.

Condolences harrigran, good travels Ashcombe and thoughts to all🌺

Good morning everyone from an overcast Northampton, feeling quite chilly this morning so have put the heating on - I do like a warm towel after my shower!

Yesterday was lovely and sunny but a chill wind. The bedding on the line dried nicely. I do feel much warmer with my autumn 7.5 tog duvet on the bed. Tidied up nicely downstairs and damp dusted all the bedrooms, thinking about where I can put stuff next week before the carpet fitters come to do the second bedroom.

The gas service engineer came early afternoon; he was a local man and we had a nice chat. I was cheeky and asked if he could give me the name of a reliable plumber to fit a new shower in my en-suite, and he duly obliged. (My usual plumber didn't want to know!) I rang the number later on and spoke to a very nice chap who asked me to send photos of the current shower which I did. I am now waiting for him to get back to me.

After that I went out and cut the front grass and cut back the Portuguese laurel. Then watered stuff in the back garden and cleaned and refilled the bird bath.

Dinner was easy, just reheating the last of the chicken soup. Watched the first episode of the new 'All Creatures Great and Small' series last night, and thoroughly enjoyed it

Dance classes this morning, but I have a bit of backache so I'll see how much I'll manage. Then coffee afterwards in the village bakery with my dancing friend.
Making a keema curry with pork mince for dinner tonight.

Wishing all a pleasant day.

Good morning Mick and all GN's on a still slowly brightening morning in North Yorkshire. Looks as though it could be very chilly out though. No signs of squirrels, pigeons or any other life moving about out there.

Have had a horrible night, with yet more wretched cramp and also where you darent move easily as it is liable to start again. Feeling rather cratchety, short of sleep, sore throat and the usual creaks and aches. A friend is coming today and the plan was to get all the various plants put in the borders and the honeysuckles put up the wigwam thing I have got. Well , I still want to get them done and the borders weeded as best as possible, but right now I have had a job to make a cup of coffee! Even todays Bach before 7 was not a piece I particularly like, so I need to drink my coffee and then shake a leg and start collecting my tools together but will put the folding chair outside so if necessary I might be gardening from the chair!! Once I can get myself moving, need to go out for the local paper and a couple of bits, but one great thing that happened yesterday is that at last the key to the yellow peril (my mobility scooter) has turned up so watch out on the market tomorrow!!

Yesterday I slogged away as best as I could, getting rid of more dresser stuff, but the cramping did not help me. By evening I felt very weary and although I could see a large pile of paper that I had got rid of it still didnt look much to show for a whole day. So I did give in in a way, as I saw that the Railway Children was on the tv and it was the best one with Jenny Agguter as Bobby not as the mother and the lovely Bernard Cribbins as Perks the porter. Very appropriate too as today it is the 200 year anniversary of the first paying passengers on the Rocket. There are quite a lot of things going on in Shildon and Darlington with all the train stuff. The original Rocket is in the museum, but they have built a replica which is taking the same route as the original route today, so no doubt there will be many railway buffs taking the day off at least to come and see it. I expect it will be on the local news too. We have various trains runningsuch as the wensleydale line and the one over at Keithly which is where the Oakworth station used in the film is. When I passed the scholarship, the first year we went by steam train to Beverley, to the school, so that really does make me feel ancient!! We had quite a long walk to the station and then had to go up over the bridge and down and if we were a bit later than normal the train would be just pulling in to the station so that we would be covered in steam and smoke as we charged over the bridge and our friends had the doors open so we could just get in in time. If I didnt feel so rough I might have gone out to see it.

This weekend there are a lot of places in York open to the public which normally are not, and I had wanted to go down to that too but dont feel up to it now. They are at least forecasting some good weather with a few showers over the weekend so everyone is rooting out their coats and gloves. The dog walkers in the cafe are now muffled up when they arrive. I cant really do much walking at the moment, but at least I can get a bit of fresh air on the buggy, as I need to get a few things and collect my prescription, as am totally out of one tablet. Dont like it when that happens, but it is so annoying that all the manufacturers seem to decide themselves whether they are doing 28 or 29 or 30 tablets , so that you start with everything matching and then getting out of sync and having to get them at different times. Someone asked me why I dont have my nhs online, and as I said, when you can trust them to have foolproof systems maybe, but not where they have rubbish security old systems that probably a 10 year old could crack. Toay there has just been yet another thing where hackers have got into the nursery group. I was seen as too much of a cautious person about things like this but I am glad that I have not given my details to many people. Not that I think that they cannot get my information, but I shall make it as hard as possible for them. I have always done so much troubleshooting that whenever there is a new idea or scheme, I am afraid I immediately think of what could go wrong with the system! Well I shall very slowly get myself going and hope that I warm up like the day!

Hope you have a good trip to Bicester Mick and meet some friends. Good to hear you are a bit better Susan56 , hope it all continues to improve.GranMattie, you are keeping very busy, I couldnt keep up with you at the moment. Hope that the mincemeat sells well. I am resolutely ignoring that C word and look away from various displays in the shops!! I will just look forward to Bonfire Night , which is my next special date in the year. I understand the need to have some preparation in advance especially for shops but oh dear , it feels as though the children have only just gone back to school and they are already rushing ahead with the year. I want to enjoy scuffing through leaves and walking in woods first!

May your day go well whatever your plans

Good morning, it is rather overcast in my little corner of S E Essex.

It’s all go here at Gravy Grange, the 10yr old has had beans and hotdogs on toast for breakfast (still haven’t got a kitchen, only kettle, toaster and microwave in laundry room) making his packed lunch when the plumber arrived (cloakroom loo stopped working 🤷‍♀️🚽)

Then it was a palaver to get his bike out (there is one house between us and his school, but he likes to cycle whether he is here or at his house, which is only about 30 houses away on the other side of the school 🚲)

Builders arrived at same time, I am now hiding in the bedroom until my dentist appointment.

Will read the thread now 🙋‍♀️

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 7° and sunny again. It's been sunny and cold most mornings this week then heats up during the day. Ash safe journey to Crewe. Still learning your trip to Sicily sounds lovely. Harrigran I'm sorry to hear about your cousin. GrandMattie a prodigious amount of mincemeat! Mum always made her own mincemeat before she was unwell. Sadly none of the family eat mince pies.
Yesterday I picked up the boys, fed them and took them to school. They were particularly delightful yesterday. Bellasnana my childcare days won't last forever either. 💐 I weeded some of the front garden and the council duly arrived and removed all the rubbish from the drive just as a neighbour came with a flier. He's very much into local produce etc and is part of a group who have organised an 'apple day' in the community centre. We chatted about that for a bit.
Today I slept late for me. I was up in the night for a little while but slept for a few hours after taking cocodamol. I've just remembered it's garden rubbish day and I haven't put out the bin yet! I'll probably go to the school library for an hour. Then I want to get washings and the housework done. I'll possibly weed a little more too. So a quietly busy day. Right! Off to put out the bin. Have a good day all.

Good morning Mick and everyone from sunny Carlisle.

Yesterday's dental check up went well, nothing has changed.
Then I picked up my vital pills from the pharmacy but I shall have to return for others tomorrow. One I take has recently been licensed by the NHS so, as the assistant confirmed, people now want it prescribed instead of paying for it, causing a supply problem.
I treated myself to coffee and then a ready meal from M&S and then home. I went through more clothes, trying on my summer trousers and finding them getting tighter due to the steroid caused weight gain.
Today I went out into the garden early and was delighted to see my beer trap full of monster slugs. I'd moved it amongst my potato plants which have started to be ravaged by them. These plants are supposed to be very poisonous in all parts bar the tubers, evidently not to slugs! I'm wondering whether it would be cheaper just to buy the spuds from the supermarket rather than keep these guys in beer....
I shall have a relatively easy day today, just pootling around with a little wiping and tidying as the fancy takes me.

Do have a good day everyone.

Good morning from a grey W Kent. A trip down memory lane today as we are going to see DGS5 after school and have a meal with him and his sister who is off to University tomorrow. I hope she settles in as well as DGD1.
Sar I hope S is better soon
Safe travels Ash
Enjoy the film ginny
All the best

Morning all from West Oxfordshire.

Our daughter is here at the moment. It is good to see her. We will take her out to lunch today. OH has croquet this afternoon and I will take daughter to a nearby interesting house - the one I volunteered at for a few years.

My book group was fun yesterday. There were ten of us having lunch and talking about debut novels.

Have a good day everyone. Thinking of MaryD and the FGT2S. Harrigran so sorry to hear your bad news. 🪻

Good morning from my bit of a South Lanarkshire. I’m up early for me because I intend to stop procrastinating and pack for my holiday this morning. I have always left this till the last minute to prevent constantly unpacking to check, this in spite of using lists.

Sorry I didn’t reply right away to your question Bellasnana. I have had an incredibly busy few days, too much so actually. One task was to have wax cleared from my ears where I found unfortunately that doesn’t seem to be problem so will now have to check further with audiology.

Anyhoo, back to you Bella, thanks for asking about my plans, I hope you approve my schedule😊
We’re going with a tour and are visiting Agrigento and the Valley of the Temples for the first couple of days and then spending the rest of the time based in Taormina. I’ve heard that is really lovely?

Not actually leaving till Sunday so will continue to keep up with all the news till then and as ever keep all needing support in my mind.

Wishing everyone the best day possible

Good morning from a cloudy Buxton where the sun is forecast to appear soon. We have been blessed with wonderful sunny days since we arrived on Tuesday.

We had an interesting visit to Eyam,the plague village,after a morning in Matlock on Wednesday. We last visited Eyam many years ago but since then,a museum of the history of the plague of 1665 has opened in the old Methodist church which is beautifully done and very interesting.

It was a first for us last night ….a tribute evening! I had looked at the programme for what was on at the opera house here and saw,for 1 night only,a tribute evening to Whitney Houston. DH loves her voice and some of her music and so I booked tickets.

It was excellent with a very talented singer and musicians. We must have been the oldest by far in the audience and remained seated for a lively couple of songs towards the end whilst almost the whole of the rest of the audience shimmied from their seats. The opera house is a beautiful Regency building, and extremely and authentically preserved.

Off for breakfast soon and then to Castletown for the morning. Hope those will worries and ill health have a peaceful and comfortable day.

💐harrigran

Good morning. Dull but dry here in N. Bucks, probably the same most of the day.
Must pop out to get some carrots and onions that I forgot yesterday , I need them for a casserole to put in the freezer.
Quite a bit of sorting for various craft club projects to do. I must put all supplies in separate bags:boxes for each project. I can then put them in the spare room until required.
A walk this afternoon. I really don’t enjoy walking, but I know I need to keep moving. I’d rather be painting or crafting.
This evening we are going to the cinema to see the Downton film.
Wishing all a good day with special thoughts for those with illness or problems to deal with.

Good morning everyone from Inverness where it’s bright and dry with a sunny day forecast
So lovely your grandson thinks to ring you and keeps in touch like that greyduster
I’ve a volunteering session this morning and then I’m calling into DD2s afterwards for lunch and to help her out with a few jobs. I’ll catch up with the DCG news too
Hope the injection goes ok Susan and enjoy the well deserved party later
Safe travels Ash and everyone on the move today
Thinking of everyone with worries and struggles, hope today is gentle and take care all whatever the day brings 💐