Good Morning Wednesday 14th January 2026

Up early for me as lovely young decorator is due shortly to paint the kitchen walls and cover up the darkish grey paint which I should never have chosen with a much lighter shade. When I have finished my tea I must start emptying the dresser into laundry baskets and moving as much clutter as I can. This looks like three days of disruption though might be less as it is literally only the walls and not skirting boards or ceiling, but will be worth while.

The clouds are a beautiful pale pink, not something I often see in the morning, a great compensation for being up so early.

Good morning, it is frosty here in N.Bucks, dull and dark again.
After my eye test yesterday I turned up 10 minutes early Fromm my manicure only to find I was 24 hours early !
So back down to town this morning.
Not much else on today, change the bed, a Bakewell tart to make and then relax with some art and craft.
Sorry your holiday was a bit of a flop Brook.
Thoughts with all our poorlies and a good day wished for all.

Good morning Mick and everyone.
I'm in a bit of a rush this morning so just wanted to say I'm thinking of you all. Especially those who are going through difficult times.

Good morning from Kent where it is two degrees and forecast to be sunny later.

I didn't have a very restful sleep as I was awake with acid reflux and a headache. I think I know what has caused this, and it is self-inflicted: poor food choices. Well, mainly the protein bars I have been eating for the past five days. They are full of unpronounceable ingredients and my gut tells me I should not be eating them. I'll have a very natural diet today and should feel better by the end of the day.

Speaking of food, I so wish I attended your church grandMattie as your home baking sounds delicious.

Good morning, a heavy frost here in south Glos, I just hope it isn’t icy underfoot.
I’m delighted that the television is now working, DH has been like a bear with a sore head after 4 days of no tv. When the engineer pulled out the aerial from the box thingy on the skirting board water ran out! So he replaced the entire cable and all’s well. No charge is under a five year guarantee which was a huge relief.
I didn’t get much done yesterday, couldn’t settle to anything, so hopefully today will go better. I quite fancy going to the village cafe for a coffee, it’s dog friendly so I can walk one of them at the same time, don’t know if DH will come to walk bigger dog or whether I’ll have to do two separate walks again.
Best wishes to all 🌹

Oh heck brook. I’m sorry you had such a rubbish time. Take it easy now you’re back.

Morning Mick, morning All from a cold, frosty corner of Somerset. A surprise after yesterday’s milder, rainy day. More rain due later.

Enjoyed our wander round just a few city shops yesterday, bought not a thing, came back sooner than anticipated as I’d begun to feel unwell. Hot, dizzy and nauseous, other than being very tired for the rest of the day whatever it was disappeared. We’ll go back soon-ish, as long as I don’t do it again according to Mr C!

An eye test at the optician this morning, I’m so pleased to be able to have some new reading glasses. At the most recent hospital appointment I was told there is now sufficient stability to make this sensible. Otherwise some dust removal is on the cards.

My thoughts go to everyone facing challenges. Safe travels to those on the move and a hope Wednesday is kind to us all.

Good morning Mick and everyone from frosty Carlisle.

Yesterday I returned from a few days in Surrey. Maybe I would have postponed the visit if I'd known I would have had such trouble with the trains, I needed all my username to stay cool!
One problem at the moment is that there is no direct train through to London, we have to take a diversion on the old Settle line and change in Preston. It didn't go well, starting with my early train being cancelled and my subsequent re-booking wrongly affecting the return trip. That wasn't the least of it, it's a long story I won't bore you all with. Suffice it to say, I will be having strong words with the train company shortly.

Today, a load of laundry to progress and quite a bit of admin. Then a call to the dentist as I lost a crown whilst away and then a search for an electrician as my back door PIR light is faulty. Once activated, it doesn't go off and is set off every night by, presumably, cats. There's nothing I can do with it so I'll get it replaced, hopefully by a non-PIR light.
After all that, I'll try to carry on with my book if there's a leisure moment somewhere.

Have a good day everyone if you can.

Good morning all from the Black country where it appears to be a heavy frost.
Early start today I'm at toddlers, numbers may be down as some were due to start nursery.
Best wishes to anyone celebrating, safe travels those on the move and virtual hugs where needed.
Have the best day you can everyone ☀️

Good morning everyone from Inverness where it feels cold and looks like it’s been raining
I’m so very pleased to be home, our holiday wasn’t the best with cancelled flights, bad weather, I got an allergy to something then we both got an awful vomiting bug. We just about managed to travel home ok feeling very delicate and I spent yesterday in bed. Hopefully on the mend from now on and apart from visiting DD1 in Cambridge I’ll definitely be staying at home for a while.
I’m really out of touch with everyone’s news but I do hope to catch up today
It’s good to be back here on GN, wishing everyone the best day possible 💐

Good Morning from a slightly frosty central south coast. Only about 7 miles from you this morning Ash - hope you have a calm crossing and are both feeling better.

We achieved everything on the to do list yesterday. Poor Dh was soaked to the skin loading and then unloading the garden waste at the tip. The heavy rain was indeed heavy! He dropped me off at the big Tesco en route to the tip and I enjoyed the first potter round there for ages. Managed the trolley and bagged a couple of new products which were enjoyed later.

I had just appeared in the undercover carpark when he returned to pick me up, we got petrol and then off to the library on the way home. Still raining!

Better news of my sister this morning. She is moving a bit better and enjoying the hospital food. They hope she may be fit enough to return home on Friday if the improvement continues. My wonderful, caring niece is keeping me posted and will be there for her Mum as she has been for a long time now.

Dh is out with his cycling club today and I have a quiet day with choir tonight. It was the first rehearsal of the new year last week but many did not attend, including me, due to the extreme cold and feeling under par because of it. The meeting place is never very warm and I knew it would be as cold inside as outside last week. I can't sing in cold air due to my asthma. Looking forward to seeing everyone tonight though.

Hope there is better news from our sick list Grans and their dear ones and for anyone else having difficulties of any kind.

Good morning everyone from mid Essex. It’s frosty out and no doubt there will be a lot of ice on the pavements and roads after yesterday’s rain. I need to go out, so will wait until the frost has gone before I go.
I had plans to do some housework yesterday, but had a lot of post (the first delivery for a week), some of which needed immediate attention. Bt the time I had dealt with it all, it was lunchtime, then I visited my dementia friend. So I’ll attack the housework today.

ash I hope you have a calm crossing to Ouistreham, and a safe journey to your DH’s home.

grandmattie how frustrating for you to have spent the day waiting for the plasterer. I hope the FAB cafe is well attended today.

Safe travels for those on the roads and trains today. Thinking of all those in pain and anxieties today. Have the best day you can everyone.

Good morning from Sheffield it looks cloudy outside but at least it’s above freezing, just.

I have woken this morning with a horrendous sinus headache. I mostly have them under control with inhaling steam.
The trouble is they last two or three days and painkillers don’t seem to touch them. I’m also working ,it’s going to be a long day.

On a brighter note, I have got two new coverless duvets.
We have a super king bed but we have separate duvets ,that in itself is a game changer.
I love the coverless duvets and I don’t think they’re any much more trouble to wash. They dry really quickly. I tend to hang them over the banister for a couple of hours and then shove them in the dryer for about half an hour and they’re perfectly dry.

Take care everyone

Good morning it’s 1° clear sky and a bit chilly here in S E Essex.

Have been awake since 3.30am, but hey ho that’s life on the dreaded but necessary steroids 🤷‍♀️

Started in my wardrobes yesterday, apparently I have 23 pairs of jeans, none of which made it into the charity bag. They are sorted into colour, style etc. I will have a look at dresses today, I wear a lot in the winter, but I have been browsing the sales online, need to cull before I buy (so I say)

Off to the gym this morning, nothing strenuous just a gentle stretch class.

Safe journey Ashcombe and DH

Thinking of all our morning friends not posting and with ills and worries 🙋‍♀️

Good morning from Malta where it looks cloudy at present but the forecast predicts a sunny day with a high of 18°C.

I was up and down in the night but have now woken late feeling as though I haven’t been to sleep at all.🥱

Safe travels Ashcombe and happy birthday to your daughter. My DD1 turned 44 yesterday and also spent it working. (She’s a radiographer and specialises in MRI’s).

How infuriating having to wait in vain for the plasterer grandMattie. I hope today is better.😊

I’m another Wordler! I also do other puzzles on line to keep my brain working.

I was out yesterday morning as it was such a lovely day and I had a few errands to run.

Appointment with the notary in the evening to deal with a couple of questions regarding my Will and also to have her sign a few things for my UK bank. I was there 45 minutes and she wouldn’t charge me! Such a lovely person.

No plans as yet today but will see how I feel once I’m up and about.

Now to drink my tea whilst reading madeleine’s post.

Hoping you all have a good day.🤗

I wish there was the equivalent of WD40 that I could use on my back and knees. Have you tried Voltarol or Flexiseq, Madeleine ?

Good morning Mick and all GN's from a cold, frosty but dry North Yorkshire morning, A rubbish start to the day, I wish there was the equivalent of WD40 that I could use on my back and knees and now today my wrists are joining the union of not wishing to work well!!

Yesterday I did not start the day much better and it took me a shower and about an hour creaking around before I was up to doing anything. I went out to see if I could find the wretched spare key, but no luck, so today must involve literally , going through all pockets, shining a torch in all corners etc, so that I can then decide whether I shall have to change the lock, which will be both expensive and annoying, especially this month when have already had the expense of the buggy etc.

However I managed to do a bit of sorting and get the rubbish out for the bin men. Then I went to see a friend and we had a very nice afternoon together. For a change I had a salad for dinner and I enjoyed it , as it wasnt too cold. I seem to have been living off stews and mince and curry as it was just so cold I had no real inspiration . Living on your own, you do miss that helpful suggestion from someone else, of something you havent had for ages, I did a little more sorting out of paperwork, but just was not physically up to doing much which was quite frustrating,

So today, I have various things I need to do. A meeting at the bank to go through my account to see if everything that is on it is necessary and any brilliant ideas that the bank may have to improve things. Shant hold my breath and actually I do try to keep up and check things so not expecting anything brilliant. However they offered this so might as well go as it wont cost me anything except my time. Then I have a meeting with Nichola about 12, and hopefully I shall also make contact with the person running the Talking Newspaper for the Blind , and find out how their scheme works and see if I can grasp how to do it all on Zoom. So that will be plenty to organise today and tonight it will be the whist drive, so unless the weather is very bad I shall look forward to that.

I have a couple of snowdrops out and it is making me long to go and visit a garden, and probably go to Harlow Carr. The yellow book isnt out yet so cant make many plans for garden visiting yet, I would love to just get on a long distance train and go right down to cornwall and enjoy the sight of daffodils already. Ah well this is the worst part of the year, hopefully soon we will have a little more daylight to enjoy the countryside and I do enjoy the trees in all their glory, so that for now you see the tracery of the branches against a sunrise or sunset and it is lovely to look at. So need to get these jobs sorted so that when things improve I am ready for the off.

Hope you have an uneventful trip into Bicester Mick. Ashcombe hope you get off on time. When people say they would have liked to live in other times, the possibilities available in medicine dont usually come into their calculations. You must have been very thankful for the help with such a large baby. GrandMattie how frustrating for you waiting in for nothing. In these days of mobile phones I can understand when something happens and people cant come when they tell you, but they should at the least ring you and not keep you waiting in . So frustrating. Hope all your baking goes well today. No doubt your cafe will be filled with hopefuls looking forward to your cakes. Hope your trip to Edinborough goes well Baubles.

Wishing everyone a day of positive outcomes and meeting friends

Good morning all from a chilly North Leicestershire (regardless of what the weather person on the BBC says)

DH is off to the gym at 9 and our cleaner is also due at 9. I shall stay in bed, out of the way.

Have the best day possible everyone.

Good morning from a frosty NE.
Been awake since 3.30 so I guess it is going to be a long day.
DD was subject to delays on the Eurostar so was late getting home to Brussels.
She is still waiting for further repairs on her house due to water ingress, thankfully the strategically placed buckets appear to have done their job.
Nothing planned for today, maybe tidy a few cupboards. Yesterday I emptied my bathroom cabinet, cleaned it and all the contents. The cabinet is huge and covers the whole wall.
Have a good day.

Good morning from a dry but icy Black Country.

Need to be at Mums for 10.00am as a Social Worker is coming to hers to see what she may need. Will be leaving early as apparently there are roadworks everywhere surrounding our town.

Then we are meeting her younger Sister and Niece for lunch.

How annoying gM that the contractor didn't turn up. Seems par for the course these days.

Safe travels baubles

Thinking of FGT's

Good morning from s somerset, bright this morning before the deluge

SD loaf is in its banneton in the fridge and it will stay there for a few more hours. The bread prep went reasonably well but I am certainly not over confident, I used to get the most perfect loaves. I know I can buy these SD loaves locally, we have 5 shops that sell them in my little old-style town but the challenge is ingrained. I will bake around lunchtime

My home spun jumper is completed, with short sleeves, it looks good and feels lovely on, I went down a size. I do need to unpick a sleeve rib and lengthen that one sleeve by a few rows, my row-counting went wrong at that point.

I did a bit of sorting and de-clutter in a bedroom chest of drawers yesterday, I did get rid of a few things and have released a bit more space. I have a cosy soft jumper in there and that is also too big, I am not going to waste the yarn and will unpick it later today. It is a nice skin-friendly Falklands merino. I will ball it up and put into a labelled moth-proof bag to knit up for next winter

The bed is going to be put back to how it was, wedge is going back under the spare bed. My residual hip ache has gone but I am too confined on a slope so didn`t sleep well again last night. Perhaps I will take a bit of cbd this evening, I have a box full in my fridge

Today, walk, frog, knit and bake

I was really sorry GM to read about the contractor. I hope there are no further problems and that the roof is fixed by now

Have a good day

Good morning from damp South Lanarkshire.

I too do Wordle everyday Mick, as well as several other puzzles.

A very busy shift yesterday as we were changing the layout of the shop, making more space for bric a brac and reducing the dvds and books.

I’m already having coffee as we have early start today for our day in Edinburgh.

Have the best day possible everyone.

Good morning from a frosty Bristol. We’re back on the temperature roller coaster!
As half expected, I spent the entire day for the plasterer who, naturally, didn’t show up. The amount of work is small, but two 8” strips of wall in the wrong depth of plaster is not very aesthetically pleasing!
To be fair, it’s not directly Anchor’s fault if their contractor doesn’t show up. I’ve reported it…
I have managed to do quite a bit of assembling of my quilt - this is the really boring part. I do it slowly. It’s a double bed size, so will take a long time.
Today is my busy day, with morning prayers, FAB cafe and library book group. As I know you’re always curious to know what I’m offering, baking served today are lemon biscuits, peanut butter cookies and flapjacks.
I hope everyone is safe and warm - safe journey, Ash - feeling better (their coughs receding, etc.) and has a pleasant day.
Carpe diem 🦩🦩🦩⭐️🦩

Good morning, Mick and everyone else from a calm Portsmouth following a wet evening.

Thank you for all the wishes for our trip. Our journey here went well until the last few miles when road works combined with the rush hour caused hold ups. We enjoyed tasty meals at Sovereigns, the pub adjoining Travelodge before retiring. Our ferry sails to Ouistreham at 0800 so an early start is necessary.

DD2 is 47 today but, being a Headteacher, she will be at work. When she was growing up, she used to enjoy hearing me retell the story of her birth. It was quite a dramatic one, culminating in an emergency caesarean section, mainly due to her weighing 10lbs 1oz! (I was rather petite)

Happy hump day! 🦩💐🦩🥰🦩