Good Morning Saturday 24th January 2026

Good morning from Bristol. I haven’t looked out, but it seems damp and not very cold. Is there another storm brewing/on us?

I have had an incredible nights’ sleep, I have no idea why. I’m not going to complain as I have a rather full day ahead.

I collected my onions at the same time as I got the paper. Goodness, 20 large onions are heavy! Thank goodness for my trolley. It’s been worth its weight in gold to date.

I asked for a lift to Spanish yesterday as I didn’t feel like getting too wet - it had stopped by then. We were four, which tends to be really hard work. Although we don’t follow the book much, we go off in tangents and have fairly long conversations, in Spanish of course.

I peeled and then decided to cut the onions 🧅 in the afternoon. I didn’t use all of them but still managed to fill a large storage box. I’m hoping to get someone to pick them up - I can’t get the box in the trolley and it’s too heavy for me to carry. Besides, surely someone can pick them up.

Today, serving coffee in church, then getting those onions caramelised for the gravy at the ceildh tonight. I’m serving but not staying.

I hope everyone has a good weekend, including fgt and md. Carpe diem 🦩🦩🦩🦩🧅

Good morning from La Sarthe where we seem to have escaped the storm afflicting the West coast of France and SW England.

The seafront road was closed at Torquay yesterday all day and they closed the railway line between Dawlish and Newton Abbot from 8.30 pm as a precaution. Earlier, a particularly large wave had smashed a carriage window at Dawlish! We hope the weather will have calmed down by the time we cross the Channel on Tuesday!

A trip to Lidl is planned today to stock up on supplies (wine!) to take to my home. It’s quite chilly currently so we shall wait a while.

Wishing everyone a good weekend and thinking of our missing regulars. 🦩🥰🦩💐🦩

Good morning from s somerset, oh dear the weather will be atrocious again today and floods are building

It is hard to say what I did yesterday but I was happily busy all day, starting with my hilly town walk. This time of year shows me how much my fitness has disappeared, I was still fast enough pacing up the hill but with longer recovery. I cannot wait to be out and about on my bike, no chance of that with muddy roads, I hate the cleaning, especially the chain

My car is loaded readyfor the first appropriate day to get to my allotment and there will be several more plot-holders chafing at the bit. Any day now!

So another quiet day at home, no doubt I will easily fill today, I always do and I have the baking surprise to look forward to, my sourdough loaf is on its overnight fermentation in the fridge. Will it have good oven spring? I am in experimental mode and will be putting it in the cold oven, covered with a lightweight cloche. Safer than preheating a very heavy dutch oven. I always burnt myself with that

Knitting for dd`s present is progressing slowly, I must speed up as it needs to get to her early february. That is a target for today and I will light some candles, in safe hurricane glass. Yesterday was gloomy weather all day and today will be worse.

I will be like Mrs Josephine rabbit, pottering, making sure the house is ship shape and getting on with my comforting satisfying hobbies

Have a good day

Good morning from Sheffield

I have an empty today.

DH is going to the match. I think I will take it very easy. I’ll find a good film, I’m fancying the 1958 Nuremberg film with Spencer Tracy seeing as I watched the new one this week.

I have some crocheting and there may be some chocolate involved.
Take care everyone

Good morning Mick and all GN's on a very dark and still morning here in North Yorkshire. Physically am really struggling this morning but mentally very happy. For a start the wonderful Bach double violin concerto was on this morning, so an early extra Bach to cheer my day. Well it helped me struggle up. There is a saying "take what you want - and pay for it!" Well that is definitely me today, but I dont care. It was definitely worth it.

Yesterday turned out to be a lovely day for me, as despite my promising to myself to get things sorted and jobs done, I did none of them, for good reasons. At last a bit of sun came out and it wasnt actually raining, so I ditched all plans , for the much more cheering going up swaledale. I have felt like a caged lion, between being ill and the weather etc. So it was a case of throwing all sorts of clothes and things into the car to cover rain, cold or whatever and including my sunglasses and with a sandwich and fruit and my binoculars I set off.

It certainly was a journey of variety of scenery, weather, and views. To begin with I had to stay on the main roads, as my preferred side roads were likely to be flooded. There was standing water in many fields and the rivers and becks were full and overflowing, to the point of having ponds and lakes in fields, which the geese and ducks were making the most of.

The roads were very quiet and then the main road towards Leyburn was shut so a bit of a diversion , but then got onto the road I like to travel on anyway, and it was exhilerating to be swooping up and down through the flooded fields , with the weather ever changing, now some rain, then mist, then turning a corner a lovely clear view. The trees were traced out against the sky, and there were branches and the odd tree uprooted but not blocking the way. When I got to a favourite place to stop, beside a beck with a little bridge over it, no possibility as the whole area was flooded out.

I journeyed on enjoying the freedom, and noticing all the little changes as I went. Saw the home of my friend who died had a sold sign up, so there will be someone new to meet there eventually. Had a lovely trip over the Buttertubs with no one about apart from one keen cyclist making his way over the tops. Then I went on right up to Keld, feeling so much calmer and better for being there. Turned and came back to my favourite place, where I sat for a long time.

Looking over the dale, with the occasional rainbow and the sheep and the birds was wonderful and both calming and cheering. I ate my sandwich, and looked through my binoculars at all the beauty around me, so glad to be there and knowing that the trip there was like a medicine to me, reminding me of all that is worth living for, and thinking of my husband and many friends.

Eventually I started back down Swaledale , still taking my time and noticing all the different changes. I had planned to call in somewhere for a coffee, but then as I came out of the dale I put radio 3 on and low and behold the wonderful J S Bach, B minor Mass was on, so my lovely day complete as I listened to it all the way home.

Of course I was very weary, and instead of making the meal I had intended to, got some curry out of the freezer and heated that up with some rice, too tired to do anything more. Then I spent most of the evening looking at the local paper, marking up anything worth looking at and went to bed early.

So this morning I am definitely creaking around, and need to try and do a bit of exercising to get the muscles moving and my back to allow me to do anything, but who cares? To have such a lovely day as yesterday to cheer me up and look back on , when stuck in with the rubbish weather , is worth its weight in gold. I wish that everyone of you can have such a day that pleases you and gives you something to hold onto when days are bleak.

Mick , hope you get your earlier bus and see friends today. GrandMattie, I should hope someone WILL collect you and the onions, when you have done all the work. I would have thought your vicar or committee people would have the courtesy and thought to arrange for someone to help you , whether it is with transport or washing tea towels. They are very lucky to have you and it does rather look as if they are taking you for granted. I think you need to become a bit of a commander rather than the worker, and issue instructions to your vicar, so that you say something like " I will be coming in to caramalise the onions, so can you make sure that there are twenty onions peeled and sliced up ready for me to do" or "Can you make sure that clean tea towels are put in the left hand draw when they have been washed" In that way you tell them that they cannot expect you to do everything and to stop taking you for granted. The alternative - which I am sure they would not like - is to say that if you have to do all the onions or tea towels there will be no time or energy to make a single cake for a week!! Ashcombe I remember many many years ago being on that train from Dawlish and a rogue wave hitting up at the window as we passed the beach and all the red cliffs etc. My goodness I am talking about 60 or more years ago! Karmalady you too are a very busy lady, getting so much done day to day. I think all of us who love our gardens are chafing at the bit to get out and do something. But at least we are looking forward to more daylight and hopefully surely some better weather must arrive soon!

I hope everyone has a happy and successful day today, whether it is meeting friends of getting jobs done. It has been lovely to talk about a great day yesterday instead of moaning about whatever, and so if nothing else I shall get the Yorkshire Post and sit with coffee and read that and then come back later to see what new posts there are on here. I hope that all those in pain, physical or mental have a better day today too.

Good morning everyone from a still dark and damp Northampton, but hopefully dry day ahead. Didn't really want to get up, but I have decided.to have a trip to Rushden Lakes, so need to be on a bus by 9.15.
I am after a voucher for DSon-in-law 's birthday from somewhere like Mountain Warehouse. Also need inspiration for DS's birthday. Shall have a lunch out and may be involved.

A very enjoyable dance session yesterday, three classes of tap, ballet and barre, then repaired to the bakery for coffee with a dancing friend.

Enjoyed Traitors last night and the result was what I wanted. Very pleased for the winners.

Wishing all a pleasant day.

Good morning all 👋. I’m another who’s had a brilliant night’s sleep grandMattie - a whole 9 hours uninterrupted and it’s made me late for my walk but I’m not complaining.

Will pop in later and read of everyone’s bizzinesses and hope you all have something good report 🤗

Good morning, dark and damp here in south Glos, I presume more rain is expected today?
I have a zoom art session at 10, looking forward to 6 hours of tuition with a break for lunch.
I went to art group yesterday morning, several people were away with flu or Covid, there’s so much going around.
I tentatively asked the premises owner whether their company would be interested in perhaps being a sponsor for the estate playground and she said they would definitely consider it! So, that’s brilliant.
Unfortunately this solicited an unpleasant tirade from my friend about how it will be vandalised, encouraging teenagers to congregate in the middle of the night, drug taking etc. To say I was flabbergasted is an understatement. She has 5 grandchildren on the estate who will directly benefit!
It completely soured the morning for me and made me rethink about the friendship. I still feel shaken by it this morning. I have no idea what the others in the group thought.
I told her to put her concerns in writing to the committee chairperson.
Anyway, looking forward to a day of doing painting.
Have a lovely weekend everyone 🌹

Good Morning everyone from the south coast. Not sure what the weather is doing but whatever it is it will no doubt change soon. It always does.

Had an anxious morning yesterday as DH departed for his filming appointment. Couldn't settle at all wondering if he had managed the journey on foot and train and then the gym session.

I need not have worried. He came home mid- afternoon thrilled to bits and had thoroughly enjoyed both the train and the filming. Best of all he could do all the exercises (designed for those suffering pre or post cancer surgery). DD reported that he had done really well and all the team filming had been impressed! DGD commented that the film was just in time for the Oscars which made us smile!

Today he is off on his bike again with his club, for a coffee and cake morning ride into the South Downs. I shall catch up on the things I meant to do yesterday but didn't, as I waited to hear he was OK.

Good luck with the onions GM - they always make me cry so do not envy you (but I do like eating them when cooked).

Kind thoughts to all carrying a burden of any sort - hope it's a better day for you.

Good morning all from North Leicestershire where it is 4° and not currently raining.

A quiet day in prospect here. I may walk into the village for the first time since my op. I might need to nip to Waitrose.

Have the best day possible everyone.

Good morning, Michael and all GNs from South Yorkshire where it is dry at the moment but I think rain is forecast for later. It was very wet yesterday. I was hoping to walk to school but no. My reading group were in good form yesterday - very engaged.

DS and DiL are coming down today so I have booked a table at the local pub as I don’t feel like cooking. It will be nice to treat them for a change - they usually take me out. I have to go to Aldi this morning to top up on a few bits and pieces. When DH was here we never ran out of anything. I’m very lax!

Have the best day you can, folks.

Good morning from a just lightening S E Essex it’s 5° and cloudy all day.

Off to the local butcher and shop first thing, then I am free to do as I please. Probably involve my favourite chair and Kindle for a reread of a what I call a comfort book (I have a dear friend on my mind and finding it difficult to settle into anything that needs any amount t of concentration 🙏🏻)

Thinking of our morning friends who are not posting 🙋‍♀️

Good morning from a brightening W Kent. A visit to a farm butchers shop this morning followed by a quick visit to DS to deliver a camera DGS3 wants to try using. Having no oven is causing a rethink on what to eat this weekend.
My back is really playing up not sure what to do about it other than pain killers and exercises I have used before.
Best wishes

Morning Mick, morning All from a wet and getting wetter corner of Somerset.

Volunteering was punctuated by worried and worrying calls from our goddaughter as her Mum had an ambulance crew on the way summoned by a nurse at the Home. The detail remained far from clear, the outcome was after assessment and advice our friend was deemed better to remain where she was with regular observations. Nothing to be gained by a transfer to hospital where she would be terrified. Aspects of the call triggered so much concern in the crew they have raised a safeguarding report. I’m sure I’ll hear more today. Our goddaughter and her husband stayed until early evening needing to chase staff to carry out observations. I’m beyond worried for them all.

Messages continued through a very good fish and chip lunch after which we were able to successfully return a faulty item and have a bit of a wander. The weekly telephone catchup with our Welsh friend and a call from a son filled the remainder of the afternoon before a thankfully quiet evening.

Today? Soup to make, perhaps some more sorting even helping (interfering!) with the wretched jigsaw. I really wish Mr C would just put it back in the box, he’s lost interest but won’t as he puts it give up. I’d see it as not wasting hours of my life on something I don’t enjoy! Some emails to send. I may encourage a venture out for a cuppa and cake at some point, see how the wind and rain are. I’m sure more updates will come from our goddaughter who is worrying us both. Just one of those times!

Best wishes to everyone, have the best day you can.

Roses wrap a bubble around yourself. It seems to me that your friend is energy-sucking. You are doing a very good thing for your community and you handled your response perfectly. Draw a line across that ` friendship` life is too short and you don`t need anyone draining too under the guise of being a friend. Her true colours showed, loud and clear

Corner💐💐

Good morning everyone from mid Essex. It’s a bright morning here. The sun has just come up, hope it stays for a while, we haven’t seen it much this week. Yesterday was showery and felt quite cold. Bingo at lunchtime was fun as always, and the lunch was good, if a bit heavy on carbohydrates! I had my hair trimmed later in the afternoon, and a good catchup with my hairdresser.
Nothing planned for today, both DDs are busy today, one going to IKEA, looking for a wardrobe for DGD1, the other going to London to Tate Britain, then the London Aquarium. I may see both tomorrow.
ash Storm Ingrid is still battering Devon and Cornwall, and I’ve just seen a forecast which indicated you may have a choppy journey back in Tuesday. Fingers crossed it won’t be too bad for you.
grandmattie I hope you can get help in carrying the onions to church, and hope the evening’s event goes well.
rosesandlilac, an unsettling meeting for you yesterday, especially coming from a friend. Enjoy your painting today.

Have as good a day as possible everyone.

Good morning everyone from Inverness where it’s cloudy and about 3°
What a lovely day for you yesterday madeleine
I was tired yesterday after a busy day, I slept for ages when I got home. A quiet morning today but then this afternoon there’s a line dancing social event at a nearby village hall which I’m going to with my pal. It should be good fun with lots of friendly ladies and there’s teas, coffees and home baking etc to keep us going.
Sorry it’s such worrying times corner
Thinking of everyone with worries and struggles, hope today is gentle and take care all whatever the day brings 💐

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 6° and looks damp. I'm very envious of those of you who have slept well. Last night was a particularly disturbed one for me. I hope there isn't another storm coming, especially for those further south who seem to have been hit quite a bit. GrandMattie fingers crossed that your onions can be picked up. You do so much, it doesn't seem a big ask.
Yesterday I headed to Aldi early and stocked up, ready for the weekend. Dd was waiting for me when I got back, so she gave me a hand in with the bags before collecting her washing and my Kitchen aid. I then headed to the school library for an hour. More new shelving had been built so we made a decision about where it was going and what to put on it. The library is part of a multi purpose space and is growing. Apparently the music teacher isn't happy but she only uses it one day a week- the rest of the week it's a functioning library, so I try not to feel guilty.
Today I'm having the boys for a sleepover. It will be mayhem. Dd and dsil are taking his gran out for a steak to a prestigious restaurant nearby. I already have dgs1s dinner requests. This morning I will make soup for dgs2. There will be popcorn after dinner and a film before bed. I have no doubt both boys will want a bath. They love playing in my deep bath. Dgs2 has recently discovered the joy of making potions, so I'll look out wee bottles stuff he can use. Have a good day all.

Good morning all. It is partly cloudy in Kent and mild for this time of the year.

Yesterday while out on my walk a robin flew across the path right in front of my fave. I think he must be a gardener's friend type of robin to be that tame. Or maybe he was warning me off. Whatever the reason it was lovely to see the glad of red so close up. I was walking my young dgs in his pushchair so it was and adventure for him too.

Today I am spending time with DC probably having a walk then lunch and lots of conversation in between.

Wishing everyone a beautiful Saturday.

Good Morning everyone from the East Coast.
We have a quiet morning today I’m not sure if the GDs are calling in on their way back from swimming lessons DD said they might.

This afternoon we have our best friends coming over for a hot buffet we will start with a platter of chicken, pigs in blankets and stuffing and build out from there. Our friend who is ill likes to pick little bits without a large meal forced on him so that’s why we do it and he loves being with us all. Our other friends who had their treasured dog put to sleep the other day are feeling very raw so it will be a very emotional afternoon.

I am going to get up now it’s DHs turn to make breakfast this morning so I’m looking forward to his avocado, egg and bacon on toast.

Hope Saturday brings many moments of joy to you all. 🌼

Good morning from Durham.

Yesterday went to plan apart from the Travel Money counter in Tesco being closed when we went to collect euros (family emergency we were told). Will try again today.

I now have four very tidy organised bedrooms. Such a relief as so many odds and ends have been lying around without a home since Christmas. My sewing room is tidy and having got rid of the remaining childrens books and games-now age inappropriate-I have more storage space. One charity bag plus a mirror and kite are waiting in the hallway for collection.
Today a walk is planned. If it's wet I'll wrap up well. It's so good to see the daylight lasting that little longer. I too am looking forward to making a start in the garden.

madeleine how I love reading your posts. They are always full of such positivity and joy. Even when you have a little grumble at yourself due to any aches and pains you still make me smile with your love of life. You are a treasure.

Wishing all a peaceful day.

Good morning from a dry (for now) Black Country.

Busy day yesterday, as I had to be at Mums for 9am as someone was coming to remove ear wax. Then Occupational Therapy came to visit, to see what her needs are (this all results from the rush to hospital 6 weeks ago). From not knowing of her existence, all agencies now are clambering to see her. We have 4 hospital outpatients appointments now too.

I had rung the Care Company last week to cancel Fridays visit, but she turned up anyway. Mum was in the Kitchen and shouted, Jan there's a lady in here! Bearing in mind she has been visiting now for 6 weeks, Mum had no idea who she was. She doesn't even remember anyone coming each day! So sad that her memory is so bad

Then waited for Wiltshire Farm Foods delivery. The driver came in and put the meals in the freezer.

Then Mum and I went for lunch, then a small shop at Lidl for her.

The drive home is fraught as 2 lots of roadworks!

Wishing you all the best day possible.

Good morning from a grey and rainy NE.
This weather is really miserable especially with the chilling wind.
Yesterday's lunch out did not go well, when we arrived at the restaurant they said they had no booking in our name. My friend turned to me and asked if I had rung, of course I had. Turns out she had written it down for next week. They did give us a table but the service was poor and the waitress was rude to us. They have lost two customers and perhaps many more when we talk to friends and family. I paid the bill but did not leave a tip.
DS and GD2 are visiting this afternoon, DS brings his mandolin and plays before dinner and GD plays the piano for an hour or so after dinner.
Have a good weekend.