Good Morning Thursday 15th January 2026

Morning from Bristol after a milder night. Blimey, it was frost yesterday. I slipped on the ice, but only my pride was injured!
The FAB cafe has really taken off. Despite the weather, we were 18. MD, I haven’t been told of any nut allergies, however, we do have several people with a gluten intolerance.
As usual, I went into the hall to pick up the dirty tea towels. I have yet to have such seen a large number in 4 days -there were 31! Only two left in the drawer. This meaner that I had to wash and iron them immediately, it was a full load, so as to return them today.
The book group was good. Normally, there is very little discussion if people like the book. This time it was enjoyed, but we talked for over an hour!
I took the opportunity to fill in a form to change surgeries. I am tired of battling to speak to someone - fortunately I am very healthy and have yet to need help. Despite all the posters asking patients to be polite to the receptionists, the reverse doesn’t seem to apply!
Taichi this morning. Dinner at DD’s tonight. Yesterday, I was told it was her MiL’s birthday. I found a very pretty bandeau thing against the cold. I hope she likes it.
Must do my Spanish homework today, probably before tai chi.
I hope that everyone’s doing ok; that the travellers arrived safely, that the unwell have improved. Carpe diem 🦩🦩🦩

Good morning from Malta where a sunny day is forecast with a high of 19°C.

Walked up to the Post Office yesterday as my notary had advised me to register the letter to my bank. I was flabbergasted as it was just a normal sized envelope and cost €12 to register!

Took myself for a coffee to get over the shock and sat outside as it was a beautiful day.

I’m awake early today as I’m meeting a friend for coffee at 9.30 and need time to get going.

Hoping you all have a good day.🤗

Postage is exorbitant in the UK, bellas, but I hadn’t realised that it was the same in the EU!

Good morning from a still dark corner of La Sarthe where we arrived safely yesterday late afternoon following an excellent journey.

We had a smooth crossing on Guillaume de Normandie, one of Brittany Ferries' new ships, which is hybrid. This was our third journey on her. Whilst waiting to board, we saw Borealis, one of Fred Olsen's ships, being off loaded. Unusually for us, we were first to disembark at Ouistreham, through immigration and en route for DH's home within ten minutes of docking!

All is fine at the house and will be made complete when we collect the one remaining cat, Perry, from the cattery. Lola, aged 20, was pts in November.

Thank you for the good wishes for our travels. I have driven 260 miles since leaving Torquay on a mixture of roads in both countries. I had one altercation yesterday: a driver of a white van who took exception to me hooting at him for drifting into my lane without signalling. This led to various gestures from him which needed no translation! Obviously he felt more insulted by the fact that I was foreign and female!!

You sound busier than ever, grandMattie! I hope the birthday present was well received. My DD had a good day for hers and I was pleased to speak to her yesterday evening when she described how she’d enjoyed the day with her “school family”.

I was sorry to hear about your holiday woes, Brook and hope you are recovering well now you’re back home. So disappointing.

A good day to all, especially those who are struggling for whatever reason. 🦩🥰🦩💐🦩

Another cold and cloudy day in Sheffield.

School pick up day for two GC, then joined by their parents and DS2 and his family for tea . I am very inventive at thinking of meals to feed a crowd that are economical but tasty and different.

Food is so expensive these days. But then again everything is.

Take care everyone

Good morning, Michael and all GNs from South Yorkshire where it is 5 degrees outside. CH is about to kick in. I didn’t go to writers group yesterday - one of those days that I suddenly didn’t want company - so I took myself off to the garden centre, driving through the backwacks in the sunshine which was very pretty. I have a pigeon aloe that badly needs repotting so I bought another pot and some cactus compost, and also some rather expensive bird food. I hope they appreciate it! I had a mooch round and coffee and cake by which time it was getting rather late but I sat in the car for a little while as the sun was getting low and I never realised what a perfect place it was for watching the sun set over the moors, though sadly I couldn’t hang around that long.

As it is drying today I shall go out with the walking group this morning, call in on DD and then I have a hair appointment this afternoon.

Have the best day you can, folks.

Good morning from s somerset, we are expecting a deluge along with grey skies

Good sleep last night after another bed adjustment. I took the electric blanket off because I slightly felt the wires. The wedge has gone direct onto the mattress and all is covered with the wool bed protector and fitted linen sheet. The slope is now more gradual. Nice pillow on the highest part and the slope never changed all night. This is promising

I knitted fingerless gloves yesterday, presents for people and very cosy because I used smaller needles, from the leftover merino/alpaca that I spun. I baked my sourdough and the power went off without me noticing, oven temperature fell. An ok loaf but more work still needed on strengthening the starter. I am starting that today and changing the type of feeder flour slightly.

GM my ds has a peanut allergy. You need to put a warning notice up if ever making anything for public consumption that has been made in a kitchen where peanuts have been handled. MD is correct.

Indoor day today but calm and relaxing with a bit of this and a bit of that

Have a good day

I keep the cookies in a separate tin, only opened if I am asked for a gluten-free item. Is that still dangerous?

yes *GM*, you make cookies and cakes in a kitchen where peanuts have been used. Just a whiff can cause anaphylactic shock. People with allergies need to know

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 6° and damp. It feels quite cold this morning. GrandMattie I think it's terrible that you have to clean all those tea towels.
Yesterday was a productive day. I worked in the school library for most of the morning, sorting displays, processing new books and tidying shelves. In the afternoon, I made leek and potato soup, a chicken curry and a loaf. Dd popped in for her tumble drying and took some soup away with her.
Today I'm having a quiet day in the house. I might do some cross stitch as I have a number of small kits unstarted. I'm working up to clearing out the hall cupboard which is full of stuff. Dinner will be some of the chicken curry. I have frozen some and also frozen some soup. It'll stop dd getting her hands on it.
Thank you for the messages about the film which many sent me yesterday. I'm sure Greer would be delighted it has been so well received. Have a good day all.

Good morning everyone from mid Essex, where it’s damp and mild out. We are forecast a very wet day. My back was very uncomfortable yesterday, but I did go for a walk. Dusted the downstairs rooms and hall and vacuumed them.
I’m at DD1’s today, keeping her dog company and then looking after the grandchildren when they come home from school. As the weather forecast is for heavy rain, and as my back is so uncomfortable after I’ve been driving, I’m taking a taxi this morning. My son in law will bring me home this evening.

grandmattie i hope your DD’s Mil likes her birthday present and you have a pleasant evening.
ash I’m glad you had an easy journey yesterday.

Have as good a day as possible everyone, best wishes to all in the sick bay!

Good morning, my cleaning fairies are here first thing, I need to get a move on.

Will come back and read over my coffee 🙋‍♀️

A quick Good Morning from me. Babydoll will be here soon and I am having internet issues.

We are off on an adventure on the bus with her.
DH is making is reluctant to drive to town, so we will park half way and get the bus.
We will park, where there are a good selection of buses available.
I offered to drive, but it would be too much effort to change he car seat to my car according to DH. Huge sigh!

Karma, my son nearly died from anaphylaxis, he didn't even swallow the nut. I totally agree with everything you have said.
We decided that the best way forward was to make our coffee mornings, nut free.
However, you cannot be sure of that. We have parishioners, who still donate baking containing nuts. They just don't understand the dangers and think it is a fuss about nothing.

Have a good day folks, I need to dash to open the hotel kitchen.
No pancakes for breakfast today, I have made a fruit loaf in the bread maker and Mars Bar cake for DS, to make up for the lack of pancakes. I think he will prefer the Mars Bar cake.

Have a good day folks and as usual, best wishes for all our mountaineers.

Good morning everyone from Inverness where it’s about 4° and looks dry
That sounds like a very good journey Ash shame about the rude driver though!
Thank you all yesterday about your kind comments about our disappointing holiday, we’re just putting it down to experience and pleased that nothing serious happened. I’m feeling much better today so fingers crossed I’ll be ok to travel to Cambridge for the weekend. I’ve not seem DD1 and her lovely family for a while and I’m missing them. I’m going to try to take it easy over the weekend though, let the family get on with their many activities and just be there in the background - that’s the plan anyhow
Greyduster - it’s good to have a spontaneous day and just go with the flow, whatever you feel like doing
Thinking of everyone with worries and struggles, hope today is gentle and take care all whatever the day brings 💐

Thank you for all your advice. I shall probably stop baking because I eat seeds and nuts every day.

Good morning from Shropshire.A dry day gorecast with mist and drizzle towards evening.

We were just about to set off to collect DGD yesterday when I had a message to say she had been unwell at school all day so she wouldn’t be going to dance.We finished watching the latest series of Patience instead.

Today my friend is coming round this afternoon which I am looking forward to.

I am feeling quite overwhelmed at the moment with all I have to do.We have had an offer on mum’s house so it needs emptying.DH and I have done about half with my daughters help but at the moment it takes all my time to keep up with our house and life and doing mum’s admin and visiting.I am having an iron infusion next week which I hope will give me more energy but think I will need to get a house clearance firm in to help.Sorry for the moan, the middle of the night thoughts are still with me.I will feel better once I get going.

Grandmabatty I watched the film to amd really enjoyed it.I thought your interview was really good.I would have been stuttering and stumbling😂I love your picture.

Thinking of all dealing with illness and family struggles🙏🏻

Wishing everyone the best day possible🦩🌻

Good morning from Kent where it is eight degrees. Rain forecast for later. I will be staying indoors all day because I have caught a bug. Yesterday I couldn't concentrate to even read which is very unusual for me.
Best wishes to all today.

Good morning Mick and all GN's on a very dark chilly morning in North Yorkshire. I cant even see the outline of the tree at the moment. Yesterday I did see quite a lovely dawn about 7.30ish so that gave me some hope but here we are today back to
"bible black".

Yesterday I felt very weary all day, and couldnt seem to find a really decent time to have a proper rest. I had the meeting organised with the bank, sadly of course they didnt find that I had £2000 stashed away forgotten. But it was good to go through things and they gave me a couple of things to think about, but no heavy pushing and I am satisfied that I am running my account to the best of my ability. I have some paperwork I need to check out, as there might be a small change I can make that could improve things. Then went for a much needed coffee. I had gone on my buggy as the paths were lethal to walk on, as there had been a very little snow then it had frozen and so underfoot felt totally unsafe. If I slipped it would at the least pull my back and make it worse, so was only safe going on the buggy. Then went on to another meeting. Arrived at the door I usually use, where a notice directed me to another entrance as work was being doing on the first door. Went round to other entrance, where the lady told me that the buggy wouldnt go through that way and to go back to the first door and she would unlock it and let me in. So duly did that and after all the faff around I worried I was now late for my meeting with Nichola, but found that she had been delayed and wasnt yet in the building. I was actually glad to just sit for a time and wait. So amongst other things, she updated and sorted some bits on my phone, and made it easier to use, but I need to go through it all and check things out. Then got some shopping and home and hardly time to put stuff away before time to go to whist drive. I had to stay at the same table as in so much pain with my back couldnt move around. Had an enjoyable evening but rubbish cards for much of the evening. However it did let me calm down a bit and then home and just went to bed as very weary and coughing a lot.

So apart from the usual creaking about, I actually feel more in charge of myself this morning. Have the washer going, had my shower and begun a list of things I need to do before going to my morning meeting.

Fingers crossed the cleaners will be here this afternoon, and whilst I am quite pleased with the amount of things I have managed to do, things like giving the carpets a good hoovering and bending down under things, picking various tins etc from lower shelves and putting them up on a higher shelf that I can reach and turning the mattress over, are all things that I have not been able to do myself . At least it does make me feel that I do really need them, and it is not that I am lazy , not doing things myself. They will make a good job of cleaning up so that by tonight I should be in that rather nice place, where everything is clean, the bed remade, and I will have caught up a bit and hopefully back on more of an even keel, and start thinking about the one off jobs that I would really like to get done, but it has to wait until I am in the right mood to tackle things. Anyway we shall see.

Hope your day starts right by the bus being on time Mick. GrandMattie your cafe is going great guns, but I think there should be a notice put up that says "Tea towels do not wash themselves!! You just wonder how they manage to use so many yet not think of washing them at all. Dont blame you changing doctors. It is difficult enough these days to get an appointment and speak to people without rude receptionists adding to the problems when you are feeling ill. Bellasnana, do check but I used to send letters Recorded delivery, rather than Registered delivery. As far as I remember , the recorded delivery is one they have to sign for and you receive the notification that they have received the letter. This is for important papers but not things of value like gold or whatever. So I think that would work for any future letters but do check in case that is another thing that has been cancelled.! Ashcombe glad you had a good trip over and arrived safely. Yes , you certainly still get some men who hate to be overtaken by a woman. Many years ago we were travelling down to Portugal to live there so there was the two of us plus the back seat filled with all those bits that got forgotten with the removal men so quite full. We had bought an export model think it was a ford escort, but not sure, but had had the higher engine put in. Due to delays we had not been able to run the car in before setting off so I was driving a steady 50ish mpg across the high sierra in spain, when I overtook a man in a matching looking car. He looked across from his car, with no extra luggage and only him in the car, and as we went down a hill swept past us . I just continued on my way and every uphill bit I would overtake him in my obviously much fuller car, and quite enjoyed seeing his rage and bafflement as to how I could keep passing him, so that went on for hours with him rushing past downhill and me overtaking him uphill! Karmalady glad you are finding better ways of sleeping, I think Imust try to work out better ways myself, but alas I cannot think of anything that might help at the moment.

Well wishing everyone a good days success in whatever you aim for today. I just want to have a calmer day and take things steady. At the moment I dont think I have forgotten anything, but must have another go at looking for the wretched spare key. I cant remember the name of the saint of lost things that my catholic friend used to say definitely worked for her, and she usually did retrieve the lost item.
Well a little daylight now but very cold through the windows and curtains are going to stay shut for a while longer. Enjoy your day everyone

Good morning from the NE where it is 4° and dry at present.
Slept for almost eight hours which is unusual these days.
Sister and BIL are taking me shopping this afternoon and I need to collect a prescription.
Have a mood day.

Morning Mick, morning All from a dry corner of Somerset. Rain due soon.

Had a good chat with the optician yesterday, she had made the urgent eye hospital referral, two years ago now. She was delighted with the progress my eye has made, worth those injections and traipsing back and forth. My new reading glasses will be ready in a week, I’m very excited at the thought of reading comfortably again. Long sight is still almost perfect so happy with that.

Mr C has an emergency dental appointment at lunch time, I’ve a meeting to go to this evening. I always grumble about turning out for these meetings while inevitably picking up useful information about our area.

Best wishes to everyone. Hope Thursday is kind to us all.

It would be a shame for you to stop baking grandMattie.Would it be possible for you to bake in the church kitchen?

My grandson has severe allergies so agree with what others have said but hopefully there is a way for you to keep baking as it brings so much enjoyment to yourself and others💐

Good morning from a murky, wet hillside in south Glos, foggy and dank.
Yesterday’s dog walk was treacherous, I should have put my grippy things back on my boots. Despite my ongoing efforts tiddler pulls like a tank and I dread falling, not because I will break something but because I would have to pay for someone to clean and cook and dog walk. My husband wouldn’t even make a drink for me let alone toast or a meal if I am unable or ill.
Today I’ll do a village walk, keeping to the lanes and enjoying seeing the views however foggy it may be.
I hope today goes well for everyone 🌹

Good Morning from the south coast where the hatches are well battened down ready for the deluge we are promised.

Had a really good choir rehearsal last night even though there were still some absentees. Our MD couldn't be with us and our brilliant accompanist was off sick so our regular stand-in both played and directed us. He was great fun and we always enjoy it when he takes us.

My dear sister was taken back to her sheltered housing flat yesterday as the rehab ward have decided that she can manage there. Her daughter lives close by and has the kindest heart and will keep a close eye on her Mum. I shall try and ring her today but she is quite deaf so it is not easy to chat!

Sending positive vibes and kind wishes to all in pain, sorrow or difficulties. Spring is definitely on its way now - promise!

Morning all from a ‘dry for now’ S Hants, heavy rain expected later.
Never saw the logic in ferry unloading at Ouistreham Ashcombe sometimes we were off early, others later, glad your journey was smooth.
My world has shrunk since hipgate, so not much to report, but great news from our granddaughter Imogen. She has been offered a place at her University of choice, she’ll be studying an avenue of police work, possibly forensics.
MrJ had an aborted hospital trip yesterday for an endoscopy, admin error, appointment to be re issued.
Beef casserole for dinner tonight.
Thoughts with those struggling today.
FGT
🦩🦩