Good Morning Saturday 26th September 2026

Good morning Mick. Looks like we are the early birds today. Its dark still and very quiet in N Surrey.

A warm day yesterday.
I travelled home from NLondon at about 8 pm on the train and it was like a mid summer evening on the walk home. Well not like this summer's evenings as they were often still in the 30s.

I should really be fast asleep as I didnt got to bed till 11.30. But only slept till 4 am. So an early night tonight.

Today I will tidy pots in the garden. Dig out dead stuff and trim back living plants, renew their compostnd give them a good water. I will throw away any pots looking shabby or cracked. Less is more now. I have too many and this summer they were a burden. One hydrangea sadly is completely scorched so that will go. The rest have survived and they can come out of hiding in the shaded side of the house.

I was given a box of 6 small pink plants. Two baby chrysanths, two cyclamen and two unidentified but look like primulas. So they need to be found a home. Perhaps in the hydrangea's pot when empty and cleaned.

This last week for many reasons I have felt very down and realised that the garden is my saviour and of course this summer it was far too hot to potter out there. Once out there hours pass in a flash. I had almost forgotten what a comfort it is.
I hope everyone has a good saturday and are all still tucked up asleep.

Good morning from Malta where the forecast is for isolated thundery showers and a high of 27°C.

It poured down yesterday morning but the sun came out again by the time I went to the hairdresser for my colour.

Went to buy some throws for the living room. The shop was full of autumnal decor and Halloween items. It’s still too hot to feel remotely like autumn.

I watched the Laver Cup from the 02 Arena in London. It’s a lot of fun to watch and the players seem to have fun playing in teams as well.

My niece has, at last, named her new baby girl and I honestly have never heard such an unusual name! I googled it and it is Norwegian apparently. Poor child is going to have to go through life explaining how to pronounce and spell her name.

I really must get to the PO today as I need a stamp for the US. My daughter asked me if I would send a card to her friend’s daughter who has Ewing’s sarcoma and is trying to get a card from every State and further afield if possible. It’s the least I can do. She’s a teenager and sounds very brave the way she’s facing her illness.

I’ve got my treasures for their weekly sleepover tonight. I think they might have to watch tennis with me unless they are in bed early!

Sorry to hear you have been feeling down HelterSkelter. I’ve been the same. The boys are my saviours, we all need something. Glad you have your garden.🤗

Wishing everyone the best day you can have.☀️

Thank you Bellsnana. The blues can really get a hold and often the Autumn can be a bit melancholy as Keats wrote. And Keats is at the forefront of my mind as I actually saw his house yesterday. We didnt go in as Dd and I had her dog with us, but the garden was lovely and peaceful with many iron benches dotted about. Hardly anyone there at midday.

Enjoy those boys. I expect they love staying with you and will do for many more years.

Good morning from s somerset, a pleasant day is ahead today

I am up too early today, I had hoped to get more than 6 hours as I had a total of 10 hours yesterday. However the painkiller demon of heartburn has struck, it started during the evening not long after taking ibuprofen. I kept on top of the heartburn by sitting up but it came back again and woke me

I cannot take the gaviscon tablets right now because of the bits getting into my tooth socket and the clot inside. My brain went into gear this morning and I drank some slippery elm, which was in the back of a cupboard. I can also make some cabbage juice later but first I need to pick the cabbage from my garden

It is a blooming nuisance but I always thought it might happen with the nsaid and because I have to eat pappy foods which don`t line my stomach. I am doing my utmost to avoid a dry socket and won`t be out of the woods for around another 5 days but fortunately will not need any more ibuprofen as the pain is manageable with paracetamol now

I am so wanting to get back to normal life, I did insert sleeves into my dress last night because I wanted to be upright and moving. I could vacuum today as that is movement but no strenuous walking for me yet

HelterSkelter I completely agree about gardening being medicine for mental health and for the soul. That is why I applied for an allotment, I have a half plot and it is very much my refuge, while also having other people in the vicinity who will chat or wave with a smile

I just want to get through the day, dampen down this lurking heartburn and get to day 4

Oooh I tell a lie. Have just read Keats' Ode To Autumn and he doesnt say melancholy at all. Mists and mellow fruitfulness. Well no mists yesterday but a lot of the fruitfulness.

Good morning from a still dry Bristol. No rain for ages.
I had a strange morning yesterday - washing and bedding done and hung out to dry. I didn’t expect it to be done early as there was not a breath of air.
I walked to my friend’s, but had forgotten her house number. Up and down, up and down… didn’t have her phone number, so I called the church office. The administrator is her neighbour; it went straight to voicemail. In desperation, I emailed her. Her reception was dodgy, but I got one back and was only 15 minutes. In turn, she knows I’m very punctual and was wondering where I was!
After a good hour together, I took a bus home - guess what? I went to the wrong bus stop! Got to the right one just in time. I then purchased a few viola plants together with cyclamen and a heather. I hope they settle in and give me colour over the winter.
The afternoon was spent reading, translating and trying to understand a short story by Isabel Allende for my Spanish class on Tuesday.
Today, I’m getting and arranging vegetables given to me by the generous local greengrocer for our harvest festival service tomorrow. I make chutney/pickle with the vegetables and try to give him a jar or two. It’s also the vicar’s last sermon after 24 years here and his retirement service is next week.
Quiet afternoon. I’ll finish my Spanish and do little…
bellas, babies today seem to either be given extraordinary names or have the most popular name; no one is called for example Mary or Peter any more…. I’m glad you are finding gardening soothing, helter; enjoy your day mick.
Carpe diem 🦩🌹🦩🦩🦩

Good morning from a still dark Crewe where we are staying in Travelodge to visit my family.

Instead of coming by train, DH decided to drive us here in his relatively new Puma. The car went well but we encountered several slow patches so our journey from Torquay took over seven hours!

We met up with the family for dinner at a nearby pub where DGD, nearly 14, regaled us with her thoughts on various topics learnt in school. She is a most interesting and interested person and excellent company!

What a time you’re having, karmalady! I do hope the gum is healing well.

Happy weekend, everyone! 😀

I find a drink of hot water helps heartburn Karmlady but of course it doesnt line the stomach which is what is needed.

Would thickish custard help even mixed with mashed banana?
I do have liquid gaviscon in the cupboard, but of course if you havent got it my saying that is not much help in the middle of the night.
As you say being back on just paracetamol will help.

I read and then again Keats poem about Autumn this morning not having read it in full for many years. Such a wonderful poem and easy to read aloud. I don't think I appreciated the words and scenes it evoked at 14.

Good morning from Sheffield

Karmalady, these first few days are very trying. I have recently had a lower molar removed. I was surprised at how much pain I was in for the first couple of weeks and like you I was terrified of losing that clot. You sound as though your pain is improving though, hope you heal quickly.
We had such a lovely day at Renshaw hall yesterday. The tour was very interesting. A very eccentric family. The gardens were past their colourful stage but still beautiful.

A quieter day today although we may go for a cycle ride this afternoon. We don’t cycle in the winter so I want to get a few more in before it gets too cold.

Thinking of those lonely or poorly this weekend