Good Morning Friday 28th August 2026

Good afternoon everyone
My first post. Wondering if any of you play Picle. I enjoy doing it every day…some easier than others. Any suggestions for any more challenging puzzles?

Oh Madeleine, what a terrible mess, poor you. I hope you and Nichola can sort it out ok without too much more stress. This man sounds horrible. People who do that sort of job must be a certain type of person I think, but they really don't need to be so unpleasant.
I keep a journal. Most of the time it is boring and mundane - the most interest is the weather that I note daily. However, I do it because it has been invaluable a couple of times for very similar incidences. I only keep brief notes of where I went, etc, but it proves where I was at any time I may need to.

Good afternoon, Michael12 and all!

hollysteers - what gorgeous flowers!

Had another really bad night with meno again last night; it got to the point where it felt like I was kicked really hard in the guts and liver, then I was physically sick this morning about 8! Didn't know where to put myself! Two Paracetamol went down my throat with a gallon of cold water!

I seriously considered putting the Do Not Disturb sign on the door and flopping back to bed, but I won't let a stupid condition ruin my well-needed holiday!

So I walked down to Asda in Silver Street and bought a 1L bottle of Baileys, so that was £21.00 well spent, and I got a huge bargain on a pack of 12 coloured Sharpie Pens, which was £13.00 but dropped to £6.50! I can never have too many cream liqueurs, Thatchers Cider or Sharpies!

I was a total zombie walking to Asda and being in there, frazzled, dog tired and with an exhausted brain. Hair is always combed, but this time it was combed but a bit strange, like I'd been caught in a whirlwind!! Very slow. Toddled to the checkout and got tangled with the 2 items + some cucumbers, my purse, and money and receipts. Couldn't keep my eyes open. Boiling hot with sweat pouring off me. Apologising to the man on the till for holding him up, and he said ''You're really not with it today, are you?!''

I replied ''That, my dear young man, is an understatement!'' He laughed! I laughed! Waddled back to my room.

On my way there, I made friends with the most gorgeous little Jack Russell! White with brown patches, and we kissed and cuddled, and I rubbed her back and belly!

It's 12:17 pm. I've put the DND door sign on and am crashing back to bed for as long as possible!

See you all... urm....whenever!

I agree about the coverless duvets.
I have both winter and summer weight now.
Mine are called Night Lark for anyone interested and they are superb.

wet outside at Bromyard. it rained most of the night been dark this morning but no rain as such. its come out quite muggy but rain forecast for later.
have managed to get my new hoover together quite a miracle for me who needs a man!
booked my community transport for next Friday's appointment at Kidderminster hospital.
put the dishwasher on and filled washing machine only do 2 loads a week now and 3 when i do the bed. who invented coverless duvets needed knighting! with my back hip knee and wrists its fab to just shake and place!
hope you are all well

Just caught up on the thread while waiting at the hairdressers.

So pleased your grandson has settled at school Grandmabatty.Such a relief and well done to him on his award👏🏻

Glad to hear you sounding more like yourself madeleine and I hope things improve on all fronts throughout the day for you.

Good morning everyone from cloudy 17° Lancashire.

The worst of the storms has passed us by. We’ve had some rain, at times heavy, and plants are starting to perk up. MrB and I have had a pleasant walk along the dockside. No footbridge today as the storm gates are open.

I checked my blood results on the NHS app. All good except for kidney function which has not deteriorated. No Change is the best result I can hope for with that one.

I hope you get some relief from your pain soon Marydoll and your mouth settles down.

Wishing you all a good day whatever you’re doing 🌹

Trying to catch up quickly whilst laying on a sun lounger by the pool.

Weather has been glorious as has the company of family. We have all been very lazy, eaten too much laughed a lot.

Sorry to read madeleine45 and Marydoll are poorly wishing you both relief soon 🌺

Good Morning from a damp Co Armagh, the base for the new greenhouse was finished and got a wee bit of drying time before the rain started , it’s still raining !
Going to get my new specs adjusted , all seems well in the shop , then later niggles start
So happy for you Roses
Hang in there Madeline but do rest that leg ,
Marydoll I hope your mouth improves

This all sounds much more like you, Madeleine so onwards and upwards!

R&L so pleased to hear your positive news

Hallo again GN friends and supporters. Many thanks for all your kind and supportive comments. I am now into a better frame of mind. The most important medication for me each morning is a beautifully made fresh coffee in my china mug and Bach before 7. Whatever is happening, that combination raises my spirits and shows there are still some lovely things to enjoy in the world. I am still struggling with pain and the swelled and red shiny leg, and after yesterday feel like I have done 10 rounds with Mohammed Ali! However, after my restorative coffee and Bach, I hobbled into the bedroom to get dressed and wearily start to think what I need to do first today. I put the tv on to see the local news, and had left it on a channel - cant remember which - but joy oh joy - never mind the news , that will be repeated endlessly during the day - it was English National Opera singing G and S HMS Pinafore.

Whilst I love a lot of more serious operas G and S have been part of my life since a child. I usually take part in one about every two years. Every time I am in one, I wonder why I dont do more, but by the end of rehearsals and performances , I am happy to wait for the next time. So have sung over the years different roles from the heroine to Buttercup and it was the perfect pick me up for this morning. I am now dressed and into "sort out "mode. For me, I think rather than be given antibiotics for things, I should be prescribed a Rosenkavalier or Cosi Fan Tutti, and as an added bonus of a Mikado to add joy!!

So , seriously, I now am slowly putting things into some sort of order, collecting together paperwork for different things, and writing a list of things I need to get to today. Only last week I had given a card into Upfront, thanking all the staff for their constant help to me and to everyone else. Every town could do with a place like this, and it actually must save a great deal of money for things like NHS too. It is a community action group, where there are a few paid members of staff, who really know their job, and many volunteers too. So you can be both a client and a volunteer at the same time, as they have club meetings, run a pantry where you can buy various things and some of the local supermarkets give them short dated food, which works very well. Decent quality food is used , so providing some variety and a guaranteed meal for those who are struggling. Then there is a womans group and a Mind group, you can borrow from the jigsaw and book pile etc. The staff have appointments to see people and other work they do running the community car scheme etc, but it is the ability to go there 5 days a week in a crisis or stressful situation and know that you will either be helped by them to deal with whatever, or they will point you in the right direction.

So in particular, those endless forms that people have to fill in for benefits or whatever. They then change the form or some small thing chances and there are people whose skills at reading dense gobblydgook forms are poor and that is again the sort of panic moment when they receive a 10 page document that they now have to fill in again. The majority of people have no intention of being dishonest, but the way questions are worded, it is easy to misunderstand what you should be writing. That is something I can shine at , as English is my degree and am used to running departments and advanced classes and TEFL, so besides reading through something complicated and giving my view as to its meaning, I have also been able to speak on their behalf to the dup or whoever and explain in icy tones that even with my level of english I could read point 2 in 3 different ways and what exactly do they mean!!

They also have information about whatever is going on locally and support a womens refuge and much more. So , while I am fiercely independant and dont want to have to ask for help, on occasions like this they are a godsend. The added stress of knowing you are being treated unfairly and should not have to be sorting it out, and what really enrages me is , when I contact them and state categorically that this is wrong, I am an honest person, and can actually prove that I was in a meeting in North Yorkshire on the day they insisted I was doing whatever in Ealing!! To call me or imply that I am a liar is definitely "red rag to a bull" and the steam can be seen rising from my ears. But of course, they say that everyone says it isnt them or whatever, and no doubt there are people who do try and con their way. But in my case, surely commonsense would prevail, and if you owed money genuinely, the quicker you pay the better so that it doesnt get these huge amounts added on and on.

Anyway enough of that. I know that now I am calm enough and organised enough to check on the progress and see what happens. The fact that Nichola works for the community group, tends to hold more sway than me saying the exact same thing. Well I love the autumn time and as an ex teacher this is the time for a sense of action and order, so with the help of G and S and of course GN's support too, I shall weather this storm .

Very grey outside and quite misty too so just the day to be going in offices and ringing up departments et etc. By the way, despite what was going on, when I spoke to the wretched man on the phone, after Nichola had spoken to him, and he said he wasnt interested in anything than getting the money, and if he didnt get a phone call from the people he worked for , he would be coming to either clamp or take the car. I was so incensed by his attitude that at least I was able to very coldly, (and hopefully with menace) tell him that I had taken photos of my car etc etc. that I may need it to go to hospital if a problem I had did not improve. If I came out and found my car either gone or clamped, or the slightest scratch on it , I would not only be sorting out the mistakes made by them, but I would then definitely be suing him, for unlawfully causing problems when I had told him the situation. Once it is sorted out I definitely will be writing a letter - sent recorded delivery- an email and intend to write to local papers and on local radio, about not just the actions but the deliberately menacing tone of the letters and the stress caused. Who knows I may have found myself a new hobby - sorting out jobsworth types who obviously chose the job as they think that gives them power over people. Well in the long run , you will not beat me mate! I am not small or slim enough to be called a yorkshire terrier, but "by gum" I definitely wont let go , when I know I am in the right!!

It has gone 9am now and lovely Hummel concerto to add to the pleasure of the morning, and I need to get out and do a bit because it looks as though we might have rain soon. The yellow peril can rest in peace , I will go in the car, get the local paper, do as much to ing and fro ing and probably come back make something to eat and fall asleep.

Ah ha . Have just seen my squirrel friend run along the fence and is now darting about on the grass, starting to think where he is going to hide nuts. Two pigeons are walking sedately around pecking at fallen leaves. It really looks as though it should be the first day at school

Wishing you all a successful and pleasant day. Oh to finish on a mad note, I did see en passant that the demented D Trump has decided that he is going to rename a lake and take it over from the canadians. So I am following his example and I now pronounce the place he lives in as the "Oval Lunatic Asylum" and could suggest that his sidekick Farage could join him there!

Hope that by tomorrow all I have to tell you is going down the market.

What an awful day, Madeleine, I do hope today brings relief on all fronts - so unfair, and actually wicked to cause such stress. The promised rain has missed us again so lugging watering cans continues for the foreseeable future, though the plants in pots, which is all I water, are looking as though they are planning for an early demise apart from the pelagonias which are spectacular and huge - and only cost £3.50 each in late May.

Oldie’s coffee morning and possibly bridge though I’ll see how I feel about that. Very glad not to be coping with the awful problems being faced by some of our correspondents.

Good morning from Sheffield
Another poster here that has lost her post, never mind I’ll try and remember what I said.
It was our last day of childcare for the two Grandsons so I said they could choose anywhere to go as a treat. They chose to go to a trampoline soft play . Little did I know that it was £20 each per child and then another £4 for the socks they had to wear. Two slushies and two coffees later I was decidedly poorer.
I had to say yes, I don’t like going back on my word, especially to children. I don’t treat them that often.
It’s a usual Friday today, cleaning working and my friend coming round.
It’s stopped raining at the moment. You can almost hear the trees slurping up the moisture. Take care everyone

Rosesandlilac that's such heartening news for you.
Dragonfly yes, he has settled after a difficult start. Dd had to peel him off her. However his teacher told me she didn't even know he struggled to go in. He was so enthusiastic and keen to learn.

Such good news for you R&L now you can relax a little.

Positive news RosesandLilac 💐

Beautiful paintings, Hollysteers and ginny.

I'm sure you feel reassured by your medical assessment and treatment plan, RosesandLilac and I hope you are continuing to take life carefully.

What a ghastly experience regarding your car, madeleine! I wonder if it would be worth involving your MP over this. My MP, Steve Darling (partially sighted - you see him with his guide dog, Jenny, in the chamber) was most supportive to me when I was having a difficut time with SW Water a couple of years ago. I hope your celulitis sooon responds to treatment.

Good morning from Stockport.
Yesterday was wet with just a couple of rumbles of thunder ,it sounded a long way away.

My GD’s friend is away in Dubai with her partner and her D who is two and a half is staying with her Grandma who rang to see if they could come to visit.
R is the most delightful child, very pretty and very bright and we all marvel at the change in her as she was a most difficult baby, she screamed for hours, hardly slept and we all remember her mum confessing she loved her but didn’t really like her!!
At least twice she had her to A&E in the middle of the night, convinced she must be really ill.
The change when it came was such a relief and suddenly she became a joy to have.
It has put her off more children though.

The cleaners came at lunchtime, two nice and very efficient young women.
I was very pleased with them and will be having them every two weeks while I can manage in between but weekly when I can’t.
Now with good cleaners and gardeners, also every two weeks I am feeling much happier.

Poor Madeleine my S had a similar situation when he was supposed to have broken the law in Bath, fortunately he was at work on the day which was easily proven and it was soon sorted.

Tea in bed at the moment no need to rush this morning for the first time this week.
Have a good day and a good Bank Holiday, I shall be staying at home as usual.

Morning, cloud has cleared to sun in S Hants, ultrasound guided cortisone injection for my hip this morning, Tesco delivery this afternoon. We’ve had no rain, not a drop.
Madeleine I do hope that muddle gets sorted.
Positive news R&L with no spread 👍
May you all have a gentle day.
🦩🦩

I hope you get it sorted out Madeleine and your leg improves over the weekend.

Good morning I was up at 4am dealing with maggots in my bin - don’t ask!

Today we are heading south to DD’s where we will spend the weekend with her and DS and GC!

So pleased you have found a house you love Grammaretto.
How lovely it sounds as if your GS has settled well at school Grandmabatty.
Good news for you R&L.

Wishing everyone the best day possible.

Good morning from Wiltshire. No thunderstorms here. We had a heavy shower for about 10 minutes in the early afternoon. It’s very humid.

Today is GD3’s 8th birthday. We will see the family on Sunday when DD2 is hosting a family party so it will be nice to see everyone. She and her brother were great when we had them on Wednesday. Back to school on Tuesday.

I’m furious on your behalf Madeleine. I hope you get all this sorted and cancelled very quickly. How could this not be picked up by a DVLA search seeing the car that has been ticketed doesn’t match yours.

Every best wish for your cellulitis improving rapidly too.

Have a good day everyone.

Good morning everyone from a bright and sunny 🌞 Northampton, but rain forecast this afternoon. We had a very wet morning yesterday but cleared to sunshine mid afternoon, still not enough rain!

Did very little yesterday; did not manage to take the Shark upstairs, but instead decided to shorten a new dress, which was quite restful and satisfying.

Dance classes this morning then maybe a coffee at the bakery over the road afterwards.

Wishing all a pleasant day.

Good morning all from Glasgow, where it is 16°C, with showers predicted.

Madeleine, I am sorry to read of all your trials. I hope you get it sorted. 💐

Another bad night for me. The pain in my mouth was so unbearable yesterday, it was throbing so badly, I removed the dental plate.
I cannot see any signs of infection thankfully, but the many injection sites are still very painful.
I keep worrying something is wrong, that wouldn't be unusual. All I want are a few normal days, with some respite from pain and feeling unwell.

In the afternoon, as I was getting into my car, I spotted my friend coming out of her door, on the way to pick up her special needs grandson from his bus She was delighted to get a lift.
It was just like the old days, when we used to go work together. We would to spend ages in the school car park, gossiping, except this time, we vented about our respective husbands.😁
Her husband recently spent two weeks in hospital in Spain, then two weeks in hospital here, after picking up a serious bacterial infection. He is still very ill.
Like DH, he is being very difficult.

In the pharmacy, I bumped into a parishioner, who, at seventy five has just been diagnosed with RA. I ended up showing her, exercises to help get out of a chair.
I taught her granddaughter, a very troubled soul, so we have connection.
We sat in the pharmacy, chatting for twenty minutes. The staff joked, that they were about to bring us coffee! 😂

I need to go to M&S foodhall for a few bits and pieces to tempt DH, his appetite is so poor.
Later, I will sort out my fascinators, which are going on Vinted to be sold to raise funds for the Restoration fund. I do not expect to be invited to any more weddings.

Baubles DS is building a mud kitchen in the garden for Babydoll, I dread to think of the consequences. 😱
I hope all goes well at the dentist.

I wish you all the best of day. My very best wishes, to all my fellow mountaineers. 💕