Good Morning Monday 14th September 2026

Good morning Mick and others from Polmont where it's currently 14° and dry. Still dark.
Yesterday the boys were picked up at 10.30. Dgs1 was great company, dgs2 was still difficult. Lots of slamming doors and screaming. I love the boys very much, but this wasnt an easy weekend! Dd looked exhausted. She said that she had slept very badly. The rest of the day was quiet. I went back to bed for a while, then stripped the bed and washed it. I cleaned the kitchen and the bathroom and tidied away all the toys. Dgs1 had done most of the tidying in the living room. Dinner was chicken and chips because I couldn't be bothered making steak casserole.
Today is early childcare day. I'll drop off the boys at school then home to make the steak casserole and lentil soup. This afternoon I will go to the school library and tidy before picking up the boys. Then take dgs1 to football training and hand over dgs2 to dd. After that, home for dinner and an early night. Have a good day all.

Good morning from a dark and damp Bristol.
Yesterday evening was a bit of a kerfuffle after a quiet, unexciting day.
Around 1/2 past 7, when I was watching the last episode of my Spanish murder on TV, all the lights went off. I checked the fuses, and one had tripped. I checked the neighbours, all their lights were on. I called the electricity bods, and there was nothing wrong on my connection.
I must have walked miles back and forth, resetting the fuse then it would go off between 30 seconds and a minute. I realised that it was only the sockets affected; I only use a standard lamp in the evening, so the “big” lights were working.
I switched off all the sockets, and the jolly thing still tripped.
All their lights were sockets, that is, except the oven which I didn’t know where it was and the washing machine, which I had started, which I couldn’t reach as it is very heavy, especially half full of water…
Eventually, I called DD who didn’t answer the phone; ditto SiL! What to do? She called back, said she’d come over, bringing her FiL with her for muscle power. She’d just collected him from the station.
When they arrived, it was getting quite late for me…. They went through the same rigmarole as me, agreed it must be the washing machine which needed emptying before pulling out. Water all over the floor! Machine pulled out. Bummer! The Lino is torn - rats, just what I didn’t need. Mach8n3 unplugged, fuse reset, all hunky dory.
Problem solved, the go off. The doorbell went within seconds; FiL had left his manbag with his glasses, etc., here. Cue a search everywhere. We finally find it in the shoe rack - the “most obvious place”, not!
Having tried very hard to be independent, I was mortified at needing help from DD and was so very apologetic. She was gracious, but… who knows - pleased to have been asked for help, or annoyed to have been called at night, on a Sunday, after she’d just done her evening church service in central Bristol?
Delighted that it’s only the socket that’s not working, I plug the washing machine in a different socket, it fills, does two swishes, then back to square 1; fuse tripped AGAIN! Re-empty the wretched machine, mop the floor and completely give up.
By this time, it’s nearly 10 pm. I’m so wired that there’s no way I can get to sleep. So I finish watching my programme before going to bed…
This morning, I must all the electrician and hope he’ll come fairly soon; ask a neighbour if they could deal with my wet washing and finally, go to the supermarket.
I’m exhausted by this little “adventure” . I hope the new week is less annoying for you all,that you are feeling better, happier,more cheerful…. Carpe diem 🦩🦩🦩🦩

Oh no GrandMattie! That's a horrible situation. I hope it can be sorted out easily

Good morning all from the Scottish Borders. I'm awake far too early.

Yesterday I had an antique collector and trader come to poke around. I hoped he would take books but he was far more interested in my quirky "collectables". I just hope the books don't get end up getting pulped.

Exercise class first thing and I must get a present for my DGD who's about to be 9. She says she wants money. I asked her why and she said she would buy herself something. I'd much rather buy her a surprise.

This afternoon I'm expecting a charity to call and take a load of books. This evening my pottery studio is to be next for sorting out with the help of 4 potter friends.

I hope everyone has had a good weekend and the week ahead goes well.

Good morning from Malta where it has rained overnight and the forecast is for more thundery showers with a high of 28°C.

Grandmabatty I thought of you a lot over the weekend as we were both having our treasures to stay!

Mine were actually no trouble apart from the non-stop eating! Dgs2 loves to help with things like emptying the dishwasher, handing me pegs when I’m hanging laundry (the pegs have to match in colour and shape!), and pressing the buttons to start the washing machine.

DD3 picked them up at 1.30 having enjoyed her lie-in and time to do some of her assignment.

I tidied up and cleaned after they had gone. It seems so quiet without them, they are so full of energy.

It seems the weather has changed at last and we had rain in some areas which caused flooding in parts of the island. Not a drop fell near me until nighttime.

I watched the first set of the US Open men’s final but was underwhelmed and went to bed. I think it was the most lacklustre US Open I can remember.

No idea what I shall be doing today but will find plenty to do once I’m up and about. First, tea in bed.

Hoping you all have the best day possible.☀️

So sorry to hear of your drama with the electrics grandMattie. Things like that are extremely tiresome. Hope you can get an electrician to sort it soon.💐

Good morning from a bright, calm Cornwall with sun forecast today. I'll need to water my patio plants soon, with no rain around.

Well, what an interesting couple of days! Had a lovely full day at a sewing workshop on Saturday, where I was helped to reconfigure a pair of charity shop jeans. The beautiful sewing machines available to us purred rather that chugged.

Then in the middle of the night my arthritic hands fumbled a full hot water bottle before I'd added the stopper and I scalded the soles of both feet when I stood amid a puddle of water with my feet stuck to the vinyl floor. Can't even begin to describe the pain and subsequent shock. 111 sent paramedics who came in no time, cleverly negotiated the padlocked security gate using our spare hidden keys, and then video-called a specialist burns doctor. They stayed for nearly two hours till 4am. Such wonderful care.

Yesterday I was at our local hospital to have my blisters punctured and my feet bandaged. In two days I'll be back there to have the wounds checked. My youngest son, who incidentally was known to one of the paramedics through his photography work, came with me to the hospital and amused the nurse in the treatment room by photographing my blisters. On the way home we collected a Macdonalds meal. He's such lovely company.

Today if I'm comfortable enough I'll take a bus to the new sewing group I've joined, using the crutches I bought following my knee replacement. And then I'll look at ordering a heated under-blanket! It's time to accept that my clumsy hands are more than a bit unsafe but thankfully I can still wield a needle which is nice.

Meanwhile a huge thank you to the NHS for exemplary care.

Good morning Michael and all GN's on a very dark still morning in North Yorkshire. Cant even see the vaguest outline of the tree yet. Well I have been up since 3am so no idea how today will pan out. I tried to go back to sleep, but lots of aches and pains and itches etc . Eventually gave up and got up and put some washing in and caught up with your posts from previous days etc. So no idea if I will fall asleep in a couple of hours or what!!

Yesterday, I took the morning slowly and carefully, but by the afternoon had decided I would sally forth to the Bowes Museum, which was one of the free open heritage sites. I havent been there for quite a long time and there were the usual pictures to see, plus a good exhibition of Norman Cornish very good drawings of brilliant people and dogs in a mining area. Some beautifully drawn whippets etc. But I really wanted to go and see the Silver Swan again. So I had a very pleasant drive in a very autumny landscape and was able to flash my blue badge and go to a nearer parking area for disabled. Good job too, as it was very busy and I was really struggling to even walk the shorter distance. I arrived there alittle after 2pm and made my way straight up to the silver swan, which was due to perform at 3pm. There was only one row of chairs with backs on and I needed that , as I couldnt sit without a back on a chair and was in enough pain anyway. So I was quite happy to sit and look around and talk to neighbouring people. The place filled up with a whole range of families and the swan duly perfomed beautifully. Then I went on to go to the Norman Cornish exhibition. The weather was very kind to us and there were families in the museum and wandering the grounds. I do hope that this will encourage them to come back.

I had thought of coming back via Swaledale but accepted that I had done enough and made my way home via quiet roads. I am sure this free weekend is worthwhile and introduces many people to places that they may go back to.

Was home very weary and made myself something to eat and started to watch the antique road show with the promise of the Vigil episode to follow when I promptly fell asleep and only woke for the last ten minutes of the play. I felt so annoyed ! Consequently I then was full of aches and pains sleeping upright in a chair and had trouble going to sleep. Then woke at 3am and here I am!!

Well am in good time to put out my recycling stuff which is due to be collected this morning, and then go to the washing lines and hope that stuff will dry.There is so much needs sorting and I am so out of kilter with y pattern for sleeping, I think that I will go for a shower after this letter, in the hope that I might relax a bit later.

Today it is getting the washing on the line, tidying up and making an effort with some paperwork that was abandoned yesterday, if I can be bothered, and if I dont fall asleep again! I also have to contact the surgery and find out just exactly what this specialist appointment is for. For all the effort I have put in, and a big bag of recycleable stuff got ready, there seems little evidence of my dilligence! Fingers crossed there are less hospital visits this week. I might get to the swimming pool to organise my years ticket for thereto get me started again.

I still havent found a suitable bus trip on a day that suits me yet. I want to give it a go and see how my back and leg are from a trip on a bus. If it turns nasty I have an idea that I might go down to the designer outlet in York tohave a mooch round. Going there I find either feast or famine, so we shall see. The cost of fuel has risen so much lately that every journey has to count!

Hope your day goes well Michael. Sounds as though you could do with a rest today GrandmaBattie, before they descend on you again. Well can finally see the outline of the tree at last and the odd birdsong, so time to decamp tothe shower and get ready for what the day brings. wishing you all a good day and may problems be solved or be little ones you can handle