Good Morning Monday 1st December 2025

Good morning from N. Bucks where the rain and wind of the night is still continuing.
I’m off with DD3 and some friends to make Christmas door wreath this morning.
This afternoon and evening will be mince pie baking for the freezer and some gift sorting.
Wishing all a good day with a smile along the way.
Photo is of the folded book page decorations from last weeks craft club

Beautiful decorations Ginny.

Ginny your decorations are beautiful

Good morning Mick and all GN's on a very wet, rainy and still very dark morning in North Yorkshire. On a morning I wanted to get up and go, I am frustrated by a rubbish night, followed by a start where I thought about what I wanted to do and my body ignored or moved at an infuriating snails pace. Not a great start to December, but I did remember to say "white rabbits" three times before anything else. It might be all rubbish, but I aint taking no chances!! In the meantime I shall just hope that Bach before 7 and a decent cup of coffee will work their magic and I will be able to get going.

Yesterday was a very mixed day. At least it was dry which helped. I had been going through paperwork, and still cannot find my MOT info and havent had a reminder from the garage, so will need to ring them first thing today to check. They did it last year, so hopefully will have my details there and can check. I now am not sure about the date anyway. Normally if I change my car I get things all on the same day so know that everything is due at the same time, but think there was some time left on the MOT so need to check, as I may be rushing about for no good reason. Whilst I was looking for this I was at least doing quite a bit of sorting and ripping up and so forth, but as usual I still think I can accomplish tasks quicker than I can now do. Consequently there are still piles of papers that need to be filed in the correct place and my list of dates to remember for things like insurance dates and renewal things , needs bringing up to date. I must make a new years resolution to be more organised and efficient . I used to be a very organised person, lists of stuff in the freezer, so I knew what I had used, I also ran the family dates on a white board calendar, with three different colours of ink. That way you could tell at a glance, who had an appointment and who with and so forth. How come now there is only me to get organised I am much less efficient.? Definite drop off , but partly I think as more of my appointments are things like hospital and doctors I havent got the social whirl to add to it to cheer me up!!

So I just plodded through the day, thankful for my grabber to reach things from the floor and at the back of a shelf. But then made matters worse by dropping the grabber, which of course could not just fall to the floor, but caught the edge of a pile of things which promptly fell down too. I was so mad with myself, but had to just leave it for a while, have a coffee and a sit down before taking a deep breath and sorting the havoc out. I had planned to try on my mended and sorted trousers and then get them ironed and hung up, but they are still sat there waiting for some attention.

All plans for today are off, as a friend rang last night to say they had had a fall and sounded quite shaken, but fortunately nothing broken. So I am going to see how they are, and be available to drive them anywhere and do whatever I can to help, whether making some lunch or getting shopping or whatever, but will be glad to see for myself how they are. The rain is now chucking it down even more so I shall plan to get my things together by the door, and then do a quick ferrying stuff to the car in one go. Hopefully by the time I am actually fit and ready to set off it might ease for a bit. We have already had a flood alert so I shall have to think about which way to go to avoid bad spots too.

Well did any of you get some marvellous bargain on black friday? I have been offered wonderous bargains from holidays to coats and freezers, none of which I have succumbed to, my biggest buy was from a charity shop , of a very nice glass vase and a book, neither of which counted for black friday, so have saved thousands of course!!!

Mick hope your diabetes check goes well and you are smiled at for your management of your diet. GrandMattie your advent candles look very good, and hope you do well in your search for ingredients for your pickle. Piccalli is something my other granny used to make and it is the one pickle I cant bear, but maybe I might take the chance to try it again, as sometimes we avoid something for years and then find we like it now. It was very good to have a post from Marydoll , and hope she is continuing to improve. RoseandLilac think you will definitely need your wellies today. Perhaps your DH forgot the time. My husband knew when I optimistically said I am just going in the garden for 10 minutes he would have to come and call me and say werent you meant to be going to the doctors or whatever and I would say oh that is ages yet. To which he would reply you have been out there over half an hour and I would have to shoot in and catch up with whatever I was meant to be doing!
Sar56 yes it was me asking about the boat. I still miss mine very much, but we had some wonderful times in particular sailing in the scottish islands and the sands were wonderful and the water a beautiful colour. We also used to sail british gas yachts and take new sailors across to france etc., we used to say that there was a groove where we went to and fro so often. One of the reasons I have always supported the RNLI in any way I can, so that is one of my charities that I help . I decided a few years ago that I would pick 3 charities that I could support in a proper way, and then other charities I would put money in tins whenever I was able to, but with a limited amount , thought I could make more of a difference by not just offering cash but I sell flags and poppies and donate whatever I can to their charity shops. It is hard to not be able to support other things that matter to me . I cansee why charities want you to make a promise to give them so much per month. Of course , done properly, they can then have a steady income they can rely on and get the tax back etc. But I also think they can lose out too. In the days of cheques I used to save change etc in a tin and when it reached £10 would then send a different charity this as a donation. However then I would be deluged with letters asking for more money, to commit to every month etc. I could not afford to commit set amounts every month and then tended not to give them odd amounts either, because of this , so I then just put money in tins now. Karmalady I am glad you got your little tree out, enjoy it.

Anyway yesterday I went down to the garden centre, which of course was full of christmas trees and decorations of all kinds, with some very nice wreaths and pots with a lovely wintery display of flowers and berries . All looking very nice but wow what a price a christmas tree is now! With the weather we have had this year, the trees have not grown so well and I think that shows and also the price is higher. I looked at one rather lovely tree but not very tall and they wanted £80 for it!! I have always been a firm believer in a fresh tree, love the smell of it. Years ago we had two small trees that we planted in the garden, so that every other year one would be dug up carefully and brought in to be decorated and then the following year the other one would come in. My son was about the height of the trees when we first bought them but rapidly outgrew them. We used to put decorations for the birds on the one that stayed in the ground so peanuts and fat balls etc etc buthe used to insist on a star on the top of the tree and a couple of red baubles too, so think he thought it would let the birds know that the tree was ready for them. Wonder if they are still growing there now?

Ah well the day is moving on, a bit lighter outside and can see the tree but also the horrible rain relentless at the moment, so I must shake a leg as they say, get myself fed and watered and ready to get off to my friends. May you all enjoy this first day of december and keep well, safe and dry. I will probably look in later to see what else has been happening on here. Have a good day all

Clever Ginny very effective.

Good morning from Suffolk where the wind and rain have just started after a very sunny day yesterday. Sunglasses were needed for the drive home in the late afternoon after our lunch out with DS and family because of the low lying very bright sun. The DGC were in great form and kept us laughing throughout the good meal.

Today I have an appointment at the audiology dept at the nearest hospital. The parking,at many hospitals is impossible especially at visiting times so I will probably drive to somewhere where I can pick up a bus.

Hope today is a good one for all.

Good morning all from a very wet Black country.
Today I have the dentist and hygienist this morning followed by an appointment at the eye hospital. I shall pop something in the slow cooker so dinner will be ready on arrival home, the last eye appointment lasted hours.
Madeleine you can check your MOT on line just put in your reg.
Good to see Marydoll posting hope she didn't over do it yesterday.
Hope everyone has the best day they can, safe travels those on the move and virtual hugs where needed ☀️.

Good morning from a wet and grey corner of S E Essex

I am off to the gym first thing, then bed changing after a weekend of GC, ready for The Imp tonight and the 10yr old in Thursday. Christmas bedding will be put on 🤶🎄

Then I shall continue with putting the Christmas ornaments and garlands around the house (and sorting out the bits that the GC helped with yesterday 🙀)

Today is the first day of meteorological winter, keep warm and dry morning friends 🙋‍♀️

Good morning from a very dull Wiltshire.

Had a really nice weekend. DD1 and her DH came over on Saturday, missing all the bad weather which had been forecast. DD1 made a gorgeous coffee and walnut cake (our favourite) for DH’s birthday which was on Thursday. We went out for an Indian a few miles away. At 6:30pm it was packed but it is the best in a very large area.

Yesterday was lovely weather wise. DD1 and her DH called in to to see DD2 in the morning (they’d had a gathering themselves the day before) and her family for an hour and then we met up with DS and his beautiful goldendoodle at a farm shop in Hungerford. It was warm enough to sit outside in the sun with drinks as there was no breeze. I’ve never seen so much cheese from the cheese counter there in my life. We did buy some but the prices omg!

I hope MD gets over her chest infection asap. Kalu 💐 for your anniversary.

Have a good Monday everyone.

Good morning all and it’s a wild morning here in Essex.

Today I am going to a friends funeral, who I’ve known for 50 years. We weren’t close friends , more neighbours, but I liked her very much. 20 years ago she became my art teacher , so we had more to chat about.

I only go to funerals of people close to me, but feel I would like to say goodbye to this lovely lady.🙏.

This afternoon we have our U3A Christmas concert where our Chimes group is performing. 😬. I hope all goes well, especially for our leader who makes our sessions such fun.

Dd is coming in to spend a good part of the day with her dad.
She’ll walk the dog and get Dh some lunch. Not much chat will go on (she’s a chatterbox , Dh isn’t). 😂 but they do love each other . 💕.

Lovely Christmas decorations on here. Let’s see some more. I’d like to see a pic of your scandi tree Karma.

I hope your trip to the hospital is problem free Liberty.
🤗.

Take care in this horrid weather, everyone
☔️

Good morning all from a cloudy Glasgow, where it is 9°zC.

Thank you all for al your good wishes, yesterday, they meant a lot to me.

I've had a pretty rotten night, partly my own fault. I was exhausted, but my brain was racing and I couldn't sleep.

Our fundraiser surpassed all of our expectations. We think we have made about £2,500 for the Restoration fund.
Everyone was raving about how enjoyable it was. So much so that after four hours of merriment, I had to put out the lights to encourage people to leave! They didn't!!!

There was much hilarity and laughter at the stand up bingo.
Attendees, who could not stand, held up walking sticks instead of standing and can you envisage 150 ladies all standing and singing Five hundred Miles and Loch Lomond, at the top of their lubricated voices.?
It was an eyeopener.

A few former parents and ex pupils were there, there were hugs and photos taken. I was quite tearful.

However, it not without drama.
Just before I opened the doors, I decided to check the toilets, when a friend said she thought there was a problem with them.
I went to check, they were indeed blocked and flooding. 😱
We have had problems with tree roots previously and I think that may be the problem.
I phoned the P.P. His first words were My God, one hundred and fifty women and no toilets, they will need to try and hold it in. 🤣
His last words, when I said I had comnandeered the gents , would open the church and go to Tesco for some nappies.
His response, God Bless!

Later on, I found myself limping more than usual, A volunteer came into the kitchen with, what looked like a dead biscuit. It was the heel from my shiny, patent shoes.

As for being Queen for the day, that of course didn't happen, my eighty year old friend and I were last to leave. The younger ones were too tired continue.
We had to give up, so some tidying up needing done today. I will as Father to ask for help from Massgoers this morning, to carry bin bags, of which there are many.
Fortunately, I checked them last night, two had the beautiful damask tablecovers in them and they would have ended up in the bin! 😱

Once I get my meds, I shall read properly. My cough has teturned with a vengeance.
Liberty, good luck with the hospital appointment and Mick, I hope there are no diabetes issues.

My best wishes to all my GN friends.

Good morning, Michael12!

I apologise for putting this in capitals, but I'M FREEEEEE!

From 6 pm last night to 7 am this morning, I did my FINAL SHIFT!

I'll miss my job and all the long, exhausting hours, my beloved disabled residents and the never-ending exhaustion, but I won't be missing the awful management, the skinny 4'10 witch I mentioned before or a male carer.

I handed in my keys, uniform, etc., this morning when I finished, to management, and she wasn't the slightest bit pleased, still trying to get me to tell her what I'll be doing after, which I refused to tell her!

So now I've got a whopping 10 weeks of basically doing nothing until I start my new shop management job in February in wonderful Whitby!

So, now I'm sitting here just around the corner from my flat at The Crown and Cushion, scoffing a Full English with a huge glass of strawberry milkshake and cream, and reading Criminal Shadows by David Canter.

When I've finished here, I'll go next door to Spar for 2, 650g boxes of Coco Pops, then walk home, and crash into bed with 2 hot water bottles under a fat duvet and my beloved PercyRoboKitten and just sleep, sleep and sleep!

Have a good one, all of you!

Well done for sticking it out to the bitter end TheWeirdo!
Enjoy your ten weeks of freedom.

Good morning from a grey, wet and windy NE.
Yesterday we had some sunshine which brightened the day.
DS visited and we looked online at holiday cottages, we are looking for one in Scotland for July, like to book early as the luxury ones go quickly.
GD was too poorly to visit, she stayed at home.
I believe SIL is having a parcel delivered here today but no time slot mentioned yet.
Have a good day.

Morning all from a damp West Oxfordshire - and of course it’s December!

Usual shopping trip plus posting the Australian presents. I dread to think what the cost might be.

Our cleaner should come this morning.

I am expecting various parcels which I will have to wrap. The cards need to be written too.

Slight moan - OH buys and wraps one present - mine! I write all the cards and he will deliver the local ones. I do all the rest of the present buying, cooking etc. etc. Moan over,

Have a good day. It is good to hear from MaryD. I hope the FGT2S are doing well.

Am having to log in every time I want to join in - why? Is there something people aren’t telling me?

So glad things went well for Marydoll and hope she is in recovery now and NOT DOING ANYTHING but resting. It all sounds terrific. We have our big church fund raiser next Saturday and the forecast is dire but we will soldier on. Mince pie making this week and I am hoping my arthritic hand will allow for pastry making, the only culinary skill I possess and have five dozen ordered.

The emergency gas engineer came yesterday, reset the boiler and so far all seems well but I will be having words with the boss as the boiler is less than two years old, was serviced in September and shouldn’t be playing up. Meanwhile I am doing the washing and then going out for lunch with a couple of old friends which will be great. Hope the day is kind to everyone.

madeleine, I can't stand piccalilli or any of these chutneys, but my late DH loved them, as do many parishioners, so I carry on making them. I used to say to my DH that the taste was "too English" and he'd accuse me of racism!

TheWeirdo well done. Enjoy your peaceful time before your new job

You’re on the up, TheWeirdo ! Best wishes for the future.

Good morning from the wild, west midlands.
A lousy wet & windy day here today. I've just spent ages following-up a return, such a faff!
All I want is my lunch but "Every cloud" as the saying goes; I actually have time for elevenses, huzzah!
Wishing everyone a safe & peaceful day.

Good morning everyone from rainy Lancashire.

It’s been pouring nonstop, nonetheless we have been out for our usual walk.

I got my blood test results this morning, my sodium and potassium levels are perfect but my kidney function is still deteriorating. GP will contact me to discuss. I’m disappointed, such is life.

Thinking of our poorly grans and those with troubles, as always.

Wishing you all a good day, whatever you’re doing 🦩🦩🦩

Good morning from windy West Sussex. 1st December - scary. I have written no cards and bought no presents. I was going to write cards while stuck at home with the kitchen installation so why didn’t I?

Lovely decorations Grandmattie and ginny.

I’m so glad your fundraiser went well Marydoll - stand up bingo sounds great fun. I hope your exertions have done you no harm.

TheWeirdo, enjoy your freedom (and the coco pops). Your residents will miss you but your situation sounded impossible.

I am trying to decide what to put where in our new kitchen. It is not completely finished as we are waiting for a replacement outlet tube for the extractor as the original arrived with a bash in it. And a post and door for a corner cupboard which also had minor damage, spotted by one of our keen-eyed fitters.

I had a lovely lunch on Saturday, with fellow volunteers of the charity I support - the first Christmassy event of this year.

DH had a tooth extraction on Friday and is still feeling a little delicate so he’s sitting here watching Rumpole of the Bailey on Talking Pictures Tv. Before that there was children’s serial, The Flockton Flyer, with a young Peter Duncan (Blue Peter). All very nostalgic. I really must get up and do something from my very uninspiring list 🫤.

I hope your diabetic check goes well, Mick. Best wishes to all and strength to those struggling 🌷

Hooray theWeirdo ! I can feel your delight. Enjoy every moment of your retirement 😊.

What a result Marydoll well done you and the 150!