Good morning Mick and all GN's on a cold very dark but still morning in North Yorkshire. There was talk of ice and very cold day, and we already have many flooded fields, but also lots of small floods on the roads, which are likely to freeze over and the big puddles on paths everywhere are also a probably danger of freezing , so it is rather a dodgy day to go out early.
I am creaking about and rather weary but felt pleased with my choice of what to do yesterday. With the awful forecast - which was true, endless rain, miserable windy cold day, it was either stay in all day, or use the day to go to the Designer Outlet in York. So I had to ring them to secure a disability buggy to get round first, and put a sandwich together but also put boots, coats, different jumpers and sunglasses in the car, to be prepared for anything and off I went.
My goodness, it was a bit of a wild trip, but sticking to the A19, was the safest way to go. There were some localised flooding , which needed negotiating carefully. One idiot in front of me charged straight through what he obviously thought was only a puddle, sending water everywhere and his car wavered about through deep water, which did give him a bit of a shock ashe then drove more sensibly. It was a slowish trip, but allowed me to see all the flooded fields and the rivers overflowing their banks etc. Anyway got there safe and sound, collected the buggy, stashed my bags and mac and tidied my windblown self up and first need was coffee and to plan my route. As it was such a horrible day, you could see there was that mixture of people. Not very busy there anyway, too near the end of the month for people to have a lot of money to spend, but there were the purposeful ones, walking briskly to their intended goals to get whatever they had come for, and then quite a few, who had obviously thought the same as me, that with such weather , it was warmer, drier, and a better opportunity to do something useful with the day. So I travelled round and up and down, checking out things, and went to the M@S outlet, where I collected together what looked like a good selection of possible buys.They do have a good disabled changing room there, where you have enough room to move about and try things on comfortably, which makes a great difference.
You are only supposed to take ,I think, 3 items in with you, but I say to the lady, I cannot cope with getting dressed and undressed several times, so can I either take everything inwith me, or leave things with her to exchange as I go along. Also I pick a quiet time, but say that if anyone else comes to use the disabled changing room I will immediately come out and let them go in. So the sensible lady in charge was quite happy to let me take everything in at once. I get very organised, trying on all t shirts and jumpers etc and then put my top back on and try the trousers etc. So felt rather exhausted, and a bit disappointed as most of what I tried was no good, but did get a couple of items sorted out and also got one or two packs of things like pants etc ., so it wasnt all wasted time.
Then having got the main place sorted I wandered around all the shops, in the dry and warm and so was then pleased to get out of there and get going home, as it was the games night at the pub.Somewhat shattered by the drive home, but made it to the games night in time , so feeling that I am getting back to normal Not a lot of people there, and we played a game I have played before, thank goodness, as after the day in York , I wasnt up to complicated games and thinking hard.
So today is definitely a sorting out day at home first. Still , very annoyingly, cannot find my reading glasses, and need to resort out my bits from yesterday. Then I want to bring my box in from the car, and wash everything in there and check it out, so that I have all the right plates and cutlery etc in anticipation of hopefully trips out in the near future. Tonight it is whist night, assuming the roads are passable , so that is more relaxed , as I have played for years, so hoping for a steady day, with jobs getting done, and hopefully finding the glasses.
Hope you get back in time to enjoy your cycling Mick. GrandMattie, will you send us a picture of your quilt when it is finished? Hope you have an easy journey home Ashcombe. Bellasnana , I see you are ready for Valentines Day with your nails. They always look so elegant and neat. I used to wear nail varnish and take some care doing them, but these days, I find my nails break easily and of course when I get round to some gardening, I just try to keep my nails clean and usually short too , so just enjoy looking at other peoples elegant efforts now. How very sad about the poor young girl. Pantglas , hope the move all goes well this morning. You will be glad to sit down this afternoon.
Wishing everyone a safe and dry day, and hoping no one is facing flooding in their homes today. Take care
