Good Morning Monday 16th February 2026

Good morning Mick and all GN's on a cold clear still morning in North Yorkshire. Looks very chilly out but no actual snow or frost to be seen.

I said good morning to the snail rushing past me this morning! It has been such a struggle getting going today, when I wanted to be up and doing. It is stupid to get annoyed that you cant do things quickly, doesnt improve matters at all, but I get so frustrated when there are deadlines to meet. Still better to get annoyed that give in and weep!

My plan for today is to go to the makaton class, and use it to keep up and see that I am following the right patterns and instructions. which will then hopefully help me to keep practising until I can get on the next available course. It should get me a little ahead of the game and help me learn more and a little bit quicker. However after a rubbish night, waking up too many times, and the wretched coughing is back, it has been an annoyingly slow start. Plans to get a bit of shopping on the way to the class are relegated, and I will just be glad to get there on time!

Yesterday was another quite slow day, and bitterly cold, never improving at all. I saw no one and had no phone calls, but was quite happy to try to restore some sort of order to the flat after my day out . Of course , I got less than I optimistically planned to do. However I did get a good bit sorted out and even made a lamb curry which included various odds and sods of vegetables, and though I say it myself turned out very well, and not only that but there is enough left for todays meal, so tick tick for that!

Desert Island Discs and Private Passions accompanied my efforts and I felt quite pleased but very weary, probably from my exertions on the buggy, and my knees are still complaining today, adding to the hobbling gait this morning. On my next jaunt I must devise the best way to sit, or maybe I need to stop and get off every so often as it is not at the comfort level of the yellow peril. Another thought has occurred to me, in that I need to check about the insurance situation. Of course my car is insured, and I have contents insurance here, but the buggy is going to spend most of its time ready in the boot of the car, so I need to check that it is covered whether on the ones I have now, or another special one. It would be a disaster if the car was stolen, or someone ran into the back of it and destroyed my precious new buggy. As insurance companies are notorious for wriggling out of paying whenever possible I must make sure that I am organised and sorted on that front. It is my biggest outlay for many a year and I cant afford to have to fork out again, never mind the absolute disaster of having no buggy to use. Another job to add to the pile!

I felt very tired by late afternoon and the efforts got slower and slower and after my very nice curry, I ignored all the things still waiting to be done, didnt even wash up but creaked to my chair with a drink and sat and watched a little of the olympics but then went into suck a thumb mode and watched Call the Midwife and then listened to some music on radio 3 and was ready to go to bed early. Didnt do much good, as a poor night and broken sleep. Perhaps I need to get a friend to call and bonk me on the head with a big hammer , like they do in the cartoons!

So today I shall hope to get something positive from joining the class and hope that my coughing will have slowed down or stopped before I get there. (Must look up the sign for "sorry" as it will no doubt be useful in the future!) If all goes well with the class I may go on for a little shopping and award myself a coffee at Neros. Alternatively if I am no better it will be back home asap and try and stay warm and hope for an improvement. How glad I am that I went to Saltburn, and have that to cling onto and hope to repeat soon. Longing to go up Swaledale but it would be very stupid to attempt to go at the moment with the weather and how I am feeling in myself. Ah well see what the day brings.

Hope you get some good cycling on the tv Mick.Hope your Tesco trip goes well GrandMattie. Chairs in church halls or places like that seem to range from reasonably comfortable but heavy and difficult to lug about or those light stacking chairs which are easy to handle, but horrible to sit in. Someone somewhere needs to get devising a light but comfortable chair preferably with castors on that would be a blessing to all organisers and probably make them a fortune as everyone would be glad to get them! Bellasnana, hope you will feel brighter as the day goes on. Georgesgran I have also noticed that they are taking disabled bays for the EV points and no doubt thinking it is the easiest way to deal with them, not how difficult it was before they took any spaces never mind how it diminishes our chances to go anywhere if there is no parking available. Greyduster sorry to hear about your back and hope it improves over the day. Melanie61 good luck with getting the mess sorted out today.

Well the time is rushing by and I need to creak on. Hope everyone has a good day and manages to do something that they want to besides all the inevitable jobs that need doing. Enjoy what you can of the day. and hoping all those in pain and ill improve today

Good morning everyone from Inverness where it’s cloudy but dry.
Sorry to hear you’re not feeling too good today grandmabatty, it sounds like it could be a long day so hope you manage ok, you too Bellas
A few jobs and some housework this morning, I’ve a dentist check up this afternoon and then out line dancing at the gym this evening. Should keep me busy for the day
Thinking of everyone with worries and struggles, hope today is gentle and take care all whatever the day brings 💐

Good morning everyone from the east coast and I think we are going to have a bright day.

This morning I am picking up DGS. My son’s partner is going to message when GS is ready to come as he likes laying in. I said to my son last week when it’s the holidays I will two 2 half days with GS and mornings to help you out. They pass quickly and GS likes to do different things at different houses but each is a strict routine. We will go to the zip line park and to see the ducks at another park. He loves to throw stones in water. Someone will pick him up at about half 12. If it GSs mother picking him up she drags it out as long as possible before she comes for him.

We aren’t looking after the girls tonight so I asked DD if they all wanted to come for dinner tonight and it was a resounding yes so I’ll do a roast. Their daddy has been home for nearly a week in the middle of a four month working away so we didn’t see them as they all needed precious time together.
I have offered to have my GD on a Friday in the holidays to help DD when their daddy is away. The other Grandparents do so much child care too and they are older than us so I said I’d take a day off them to help. DD snapped my hand off and it saves money on an out of school club. GD2 is still at a private nursery until starting school so it won’t be both of them yet.

We had a nice visit to our friends yesterday. It’s sad to see our friend needing oxygen now just for standing up. We were all upbeat and chatting away. We offered to help in anyway we can and in fact I think we are all going to help paint their kitchen when it gets plastered out.

Thinking of friends who are not well, sad or in pain today💐
Hope today brings many moments of joy🌼

Morning Mick, morning All from a dry, windy corner of Somerset.

Little achieved here yesterday other than moving laundry about, we both needed a down day.

Today is a blank page, nothing much on the ‘we must’ list other than some life admin and a little ironing. It’s a shame the garden is too soggy to touch. Perhaps a coffee at a cafe we’ve been wanting to try for months. See how we feel.

Look after yourselves, especially the poorly folk. Have the best day you can everyone.

Good morning.
Yesterday it rained (poured ) for most of the day.,.DS1 and DIL took us for coffee at RHS Hyde Hall. Not many people wandering the gardens - they were all in the cafe.☔️. It was nice to sit and watch it pouring down outside. Good coffee and cake.

Back home to watch the Olympics. Very tense at times.

I must try to get a docs appointment for Dh. He has a nasty place on his chest which had been there for a long time but is now much worse. He, at last, has allowed me to get an appointment.

I have my RSV vaccine at our local pharmacy .

Take care and enjoy the day, as much as you can. 🌱

Good morning from a cloudy W Kent. Cleaner this morning and a quiet afternoon. Like so many I am still coughing away.
Best wishes to all

Good morning from a quiet Torbay, weather wise, although traffic sounds have brought us to life. A recently joined neighbour appears to work on roadworks overnight so we have the sound of his pick up truck's reversing beepers to wake us most mornings!

Our church heating also wasn’t working yesterday morning, grandMattie, so my fingers weren’t happy to be tickling the freezing ivories! I was glad to be greeted by DH with a mug of steaming coffee on my return home!

Good luck to all with half term childcare duties, especially those struggling health wise, such as Grandmabatty.

I hope your DD2 is successful in her appeal regarding the parking ticket Georgesgran; the museum authorities seem to have skewed priorities. Good luck with the dentist!

Lidl shop for us this morning but not as early as sometimes as we shan’t be ready very soon since we’re only just having TIB.

Missing news of Pantglas…..

I hope this week is one that brings brighter skies in every sense. 🦩🥰🦩💐🦩

Good morning, there are black clouds scudding across a brightening sky here on the hillside in south Glos. We had lashing rain yesterday evening hammering against the windows, I half expected it to be a thunderstorm.
I didn’t seem to get much done yesterday but I guess it didn’t really matter, did it?
I have primed a canvas board to do another painting but little inspiration so far!
Best wishes to you all 🌹

Good morning from Sheffield

I am going to prayer group this morning

I have a condenser tumble dryer and have to empty the water tank every time I use it. It came with a drain pipe that you can attach to drain the water away if you want to.
Well we tried and tried to attach this pipe. Not a chance.
So we put the dryer back in position and decided to leave it draining into the tank.
The trouble now is the utility room looks as though we have been robbed with the cupboard contents all over.
So that is today’s task, sorting all that out.

Take care everyone

Good morning from a cold day here on the Essex coast.
I have an appointment to collect my new glasses this morning. DH will drop me off in town and I will get the train home.
I have lots of club admin to keep me busy when I get back.
Have a good day everyone, best wishes to all xx

Good morning Michael and all GNs. Still dark outside but looks damp.

DS was full of cold yesterday so didn’t journey down to see me. On a visit to the supermarket to pick up a few small items, I managed to put my back out. It doesn’t need a reason to go, but I was struggling for the rest of the day and, though I did eventually manage to sleep last night, I shall struggle today too, but the only thing to do is to keep moving. It will have to sort itself out today as I have an early appointment tomorrow that I must drive to. Hey ho!

Have the best day you can folks.

Good morning from a dark, dry Durham.
Parking ticket yesterday for DD2, which she’ll appeal, but I’ll pay if needed - sadly if it stands, it probably rules out taking DGS2 to that museum, as parking isn’t suitable for DD2. There used to be 6 disabled spaces, but 2 are now marked for taxis and 2 for charging EVs.
It’s D Day for the dentist - I’m fed up with the work being postponed every time I go - it should’ve been done and dusted before Christmas!
It’s half-term for both DGSs, but they have various Clubs and activities to attend all week. Their parents are well prepared.

Hoping Marydoll’s DinL has continued to improve. Again, thinking of the FGTs.

Best wishes to all. X

Good morning from Malta where another cloudy, very windy day is forecast with a high of 15°C. It really has been disappointing weather for the Carnival enthusiasts.

Yesterday was a wasted day really as I felt rotten and so tired I dozed on and off most of the day.

DD3 has asked me to watch the boys today while she goes to visit her friend who has a new baby. I haven’t decided if I’m up to it yet.

Grandmabatty I’m so sorry to hear you aren’t feeling good and I admire you for looking after the boys when you are not at your best.

grandMattie please be careful heaving chairs up and down from the stage. I hope it’s not just you doing it and that some help will be forthcoming.

The tennis in Doha starts today so I shall be watching that later if I can drag myself to the sofa!

Hoping the day brings some joy to you all.🤗

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 3° and dry, I think. Yesterday I ended up looking after dgs2 for a couple of hours. He was very good.
Today I'm like a washed out rag. I've been awake most of the night coughing. However I have both boys all day as its half term. Oh joy. I dont feel ill enough to cancel on dd. I'm taking them to soft play this morning then to the retail park to the toy shop to buy a toy then back to my house. Dgs1 will be picked up first to go to football training then dd will collect dgs2 on her way home. I will then collapse into bed. Have a good day all.

Good morning from Bristol. The “rain” yesterday evening sounded more like hail, but I was too lazy to get up and look!
Church was fairly empty, it being half term and due to the weather, many wrinkles wisely avoided coming out to an unheated church.*Ash*, I hope your church piano playing was not too scary.
Lunch with my neighbour was very pleasant; the rest of the day was quiet.
Tesco this morning with same kind neighbour. WI this afternoon, we’re having a CPR team, should be interesting. But I wish the chairs were lighter. Not only do we need to lug them around, but they live on the stage, so need heaving up or down!
Thoughts to all those with troubles, especially fgt. 💐
Carpe diem 🦩🦩🦩🦩🦩