Good Morning Tuesday

Good morning Mick and All.

Misty and really chilly here in South Bucks.

What a great photo Ashcombe. It seems to me most people are making a great effort this year with their Christmas decorations. ?

Grandmattie thinking outside the box, would it be possible for Iris to have a temporary bed put on the same floor as the bathroom so that she could use the proper toilet, if being in a cage allows this?

What a truly difficult time you and your family are experiencing. When I was going through a very difficult time a couple of years back a very wise friend said to me ‘In one year’s time things will be very different’ and she was right.

Hand delivering some of my cards today.

Good Morning from a bright and frosty Black Country.

Good news is that my 9 year old DGD's Covid test was negative. She still has to stay off school though, will be able to go back the last day of term.

Just watched the first person to have the Covid jab. She has the same first name and is the same age as my Mum
Hopefully this is the beginning of us having some semblance of normality in our lives.

So sorry Iris is struggling grandMattie it sounds like a very challenging time for all the family. I hope they can have the support they require.

Lovely window Ashcomb and very effective. I could do with your artistic talent!

I echo everyone else Mick please talk to someone today about your odd episodes!

Wishing you all a safe and happy day. Special hugs for gilly if she is reading

Good morning from Staffordshire.We had an icy two hour drive to get here this morning to look after DGS.I feel exhausted already!DH slept while I drove so at least there was no back seat driving!

Not sure what we will do today, we will be guided by the two year old.

Sorry to hear things aren’t great for Iris and family.From my own experience with our younger daughter,hydrotherapy was a turning point,hopefully it will be the same for Iris.We will keep you all in our thoughts and prayers.

Have a good day all and stay safe.

Good Morning. Another cold, Misty start here in N. Bucks.
Mick ignoring the symptoms you have had will not make them go away. Please speak to someone.
grandmattie I hope the situation with your family improves.
Ashcombe your window is very pretty.
Today, we are attempting to take MIL to a couple of shops for some necessities. We have told her that if we consider the shops too crowded, we will not be going in. Should be an interesting morning!
Otherwise just bit and bobs, maybe some gift wrapping.

Hope you all find a ? today.

Good morning and the fog has cleared here in My part of Essex. Sar hopefully it will clear for you . Always takes a bit longer by the sea.

Poor little Iris. What a tough time she’s having. ! It’s so hard to tempt children and she needs her sustenance at this time even more. Each day should bring a little more relief as she heals and gets over the trauma of such a major op. The family definitely need professional help and I’m surprised that isn’t being given. Difficult for you - at a distance and of course you don’t want to ruffle feathers with suggestions. Try not to worry too much.

Mick I think the same as Marydoll, don’t chance going out until you’ve been checked out. It’s so cold and damp out there. It won’t do you any good.

Ashcombe your window looks so pretty.

I haven’t stopped sneezing since I got up. I’m itchy and have some little red areas coming upon my skin. Could it be my little real Xmas tree that I’m sitting beside? ?.

Yesterday I had a call from my DN . His dad(my DB) is 80 just before Xmas and he wants us to have a Zoom party! (I hate Zoom)?. He asked me to find some photos of DB so I spent a n enjoyable day going through old pics. So many happy memories and thinking ‘where have the years gone’?.

90 yr old lady had the first COVID jab this morning at 6.30. Hoorah for her and all those fantastic scientists/medics who have worked so hard this year.

Wishing you all a happy day ♥️

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202012/medium-935467-8d986fca-d687-4855-ae50-aadffba5f49f.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202012/medium-71761-21b7e2bc-ec36-4cbd-8846-c645a205e18d.jpeg

Good morning from Malta where the weather looks fine at present.

So very sorry to hear poor little Iris is not coping too well. I think it is not unusual to feel depressed after such a big surgery but can imagine how difficult it is for the whole family.

Just had a message from DD3 to ask me to go to Valletta with her. I haven’t been all year so will be happy to get out and see the Christmas lights. My DH was from Valletta and he loved it.

I’m adding a photo of DD2’s tree which I think is lovely and far more artistic than my feeble effort! Their dear old rescue dog, Laz, is posing in front of it. He was saved from a kill shelter in Atlanta the day before he was due to be destroyed. A more loving and sweet natured dog would be hard to find. He’s 12 now.

Must get up! Take care everyone, Mick that goes for you too. We’re all worried about you so please don’t ignore your funny turns. ☀️

Good morning Mick and all his followers. I hope you are able to make some progress today Mick.
The fog has lifted in Suffolk and it is a beautiful morning but very cold. The trees, fences even the washing lines, are still coated in the hoar frost which came down yesterday. It took DH 15 minutes to defrost the car before he went out for a hospital appointment. It means I have an empty!
Acupuncture this morning, which seems to have made a big difference to my arthritic knee. It won’t make it better but it is much more mobile and less painful day to day. Walking more than a few yards is the main problem now.
DGC this afternoon for a sleepover so better get cracking - steak pie for tea with roasties.
I hope the day is kind to everyone.

Good morning from a very cold but dry N Hants. Nothing planned, just a food delivery and start wrapping presents.

I’m so sorry to hear about Iris, GrandMattie, I know you’re doing a wonderful job sewing for her, but you must long to be able to help out in the home. Just be on the end of the phone for your family, long distance support is better than no support at all.

Good morning all
Dark and wet here
Waiting for a plumber, somethings not right with the underfloor heating
Mick I stopped coffee and feel better without it but I had a bad headache till my system got used to the lack of caffeine!
Poor Irene , it will take some time to get used to the cage , but it is so frustrating for her parents , they must be so tired . The Children used stay in hospital with the cage till they coped , but how cruel was that !

Good morning Mick and the GM team from east London, where it is bright and possibly not as cold as yesterday.

Well, my friend was having a garden based birthday party, with a fire pit and an outside loo for guests to use ... but Hancocks letter has put a stop to that. Mixing with a number of people is just multiplying her risk. We are going to Zoom at the appropriate time, instead. I am going to wear my sequinned wrap for the Zoom call and raise a glass to her birthday.

Our opportunities to meet family and friends over the festive period are diminishing rapidly. I know that as we have been shielding so carefully, it would be ridiculous to take risks now ... but it’s disappointing.

Sorry to hear Iris and her family are having a hard time Mattie. It’s a huge adjustment for her to deal with and I agree she is asserting the only control she feels she has. I am sure things will gradually improve. ??

Wishing everyone a pleasant day. ? (Good morning gilly).

Morning all from a wet north Wales where more of the dratted stuff is promised ?

BlueSapphire, I’m another who sorted her Christmas cards yesterday (I don’t start xmassing until after my birfdae ?) but is it just me who noticed I’m sending a lot less this year or has it just caught up with me?

Welcome back Ginny42 from Cheshire- I have a map in my head with coloured pins of where folks are and you’re the first white pin ???????over the border! Us Welsh ???????are in red (LauraNorder, Cherry, Lins, Chewbacca, Anniebach etc), the ???????are all dark blue (you know who you are!). Do we have any Irish with us? It gets a bit complicated when I think about our faraway friends......?

That window is really inspiring Ashcombe and all your trees have been beautiful folks - I checked my baubles etc yesterday and need some different colours this year to coordinate with my new settee covers, so a trot to The Range in Bangor is on for this afternoon.....DH will pull a face until I promise ☕️ and ?!

Stay safe everyone x

Bellasnana beautiful tree, with lovely colour coordination.

I love Laz, who is obviously taking Christmas Fairy Duty very seriously. What a super boy.

Good morning Mick and all

I can confirm your weather forecast Gingster I need to motivate myself this morning, The hand washing has accumulated and is calling me (I detest this job)

GrandMattie poor Iris, do you think
she is worried and frightened for the months ahead? Maybe she has not come to terms with the enormity of her operations and the journey ahead (apologies for the journey word)

Beautiful window Ashcombe

Keep safe and well folks ??

Good Morning everyone. Overcast but warmer today here in S of France. DH brought me some tea and remarked that the dogs and cats were all wearing swim shorts and lolling around sipping pina coladas when he got up this morning. His way of pointing out that I forgot to turn the heating down when I went to bed. The heating system is separate for the bedrooms, so I wouldn’t have noticed! Bad Mummy!

Lovely window, Ashcombe. It takes time to decorate like that but it’s so worth it. We have a lovely rope of outdoor lights which we normally string across our gates. “Joyeux Fêtes” - I feel it could sound a bit sarcastic this rotten year, so the jury’s out on that one at the mo’.

Anyone like me given some serious thought to a big celebration in the summer if things are truly better by then? I suggested it over lunch to my normally sociable DH and for a moment he looked quite ? shocked. Then he rallied and said, I suppose we could get 100 just around the courtyard. My turn to look shocked ? ?. These are the happy thoughts that keep me going.

Sad to hear of Iris’ distress GMattie. It must be such a shocking amount of adjustment for her - and she’s possibly quite anxious about all the changes. Naturally Mum and Dad must be struggling. What about more distraction? After all, she’s only 8. Does she listen to you - might you manage to be a better influence than her 24hr parents at this time? I was thinking that if you could talk to her - FaceTime? - make her laugh, get her input on some new clothes, colours etc., just to get her in a better frame of mind, and bring in maybe a grown up chat. Telling her how proud everyone is of her dealing with this, so much so that she was ‘allowed’ to leave hospital so early, she might grasp that any progress now - eating, moving, drugs, etc., must prove to her doctors that she is doing well. Otherwise they would want her to be in hospital. Of course, scaring her with talk of being back in hospital is the worst idea, but what small child would want to risk missing the family Christmas, when all they need to do is co-operate a little? A little praise and encouragement would go a long way with any child at this time of year, if the alternative might be continuing care in hospital. Use some Grandma’s wily ways - it might work. If I were her parents, you’d get every brownie point possible for working some magic if you could change her mood and help keep her buoyant.

Hairdresser today - after 9 weeks! I am expecting, no demanding, a Christmas miracle. Lots of laundry needing attention and it’s time for doggy shampooing.

Have yourselves a good day, you all deserve it. Stay safe and find that smile.

And Mick we now just want to hear that you’ve spoken to your DOCTOR. No more delays, or excuses PLEASE !

Hugs from French France ???

Good morning Auntyflo and all x

Good Morning All x.
Still dark but I heard rain before so it's a damp day and less cold than it was yesterday.

It is a very challenging time for Iris's parents, though not unusual for a child to refuse food especially under these circumstances. Patience and encouragement is needed as all children are different and Iris too is probably feeling stressful with the situation. We all know that she'll have to eat at some point to give her strength but you can't force the issue because the more you do the more she'll refuse.

I'd start by saying " I'm going to have chicken nuggets for my lunch " then wait for a reaction, instead of offering the child any. Squeeze an orange and put the juice in the fridge.
For the toilet issue, I'd be looking at short term use of Pampers to save more stress from Iris in case of an accident----which won't matter if she's protected, if it's this which is holding her back from eating/drinking.

More deliveries today I suspect and get the cards finished and out of the way then I can heave a sigh of relief. I'm glad it's only once a year ! I've got two Birthdays coming up as well and it's certainly been so frustrating not to be out doing the picking and choosing of cards and gifts. Ah well.

I hope everyone's well. Take care and stay safe, don't bother going out if you don't have to, it's rather wet out there. xx
Thoughts to Gilly.x

Good morning from Morecambe Bay where it is now raining. It was frosty at half two. I know this because I was awakened by a couple of bangs so I jumped up to investigate. It was just the milkman! I am not usually disturbed by him as he has an electric van but I think he must have dropped something.
I will investigate shortly in case there is a bits of glass to clean up. He has done this before, he picks up the’heavy’ but leaves shards of glass and a puddle of milk.
DH shouted he was off on his run, but then returned as the rain was too heavy. He doesn’t mind if rains while he’s en route but he won’t set off in the rain.
Must get the cards written and posted. Also to think of something for DS3’s birthday. I still haven’t had a reply from PayPal about my double payment.
Poor little Iris it must be awful for both her and her parents. I do hope they can sort something out.
Take care and stay safe everyone ?

Good morning from North Yorkshire. It’s dry and clear.
Went walking with a friend on the edge of the moors yesterday. It was very foggy at first but cleared. Good to get into the fresh air.
Sorry to hear about Iris. I hope she and the family have a better day today.
A quieter day for me, a couple of gifts to pick up and some fresh veg. Otherwise book and knitting.
Stay safe everyone. Have a good day.

So sorry to hear that Iris is struggling and feel for the rest of the family who will be shattered. Surely there is some community nursing support for a child in such circumstances? Worth asking the GP practice, I would think. Someone outside the family will probably have more influence and not be seen as somehow responsible for Iris’s present pain.

Cold bright morning here. Wonderful cleaner has arrived and we have discussed doing the tree next week - I will need her help to get everything out of the garage and into the house. For myself I don’t think I would bother, but DH would be horrified, so we will act as if Christmas will be normal.

Wishing all GM posters a good day.

Good Morning from the Scottish Borders where it took a long time to get vaguely light and is raining.
I have a list of things I could or should do today but I am listening to all the advice flowing in . ie "Look after yourself" I have decided that means I do yoga on zoom and have a walk later. Other things can wait.
So sorry Iris is struggling. grandMatte She will have been so excited to get home only to find the pain is still there and now she has a worried, tired and troubled family for company.
Maybe she's constipated? Drugs can have that effect. I hope someone outside the immediate family can see her and help. It is still very early days. In the old days, after weeks in hospital there were convalescent homes - by the sea - for recuperation. At least my DM was out of action for a long time after a spinal operation.

I have chosen to go to my DD for Christmas whether she wants me or not! so won't bother with tree and decorations here. I can enjoy your photos. Keep them coming.

Good morning all. It's dry and bright here in Derbyshire.

Sorry to hear little Iris and her family are finding things so difficult grandMattie

I like the idea of a map with pins in for all our locations Pantglas
During tv weather forecasts I find myself looking beyond just the centre of England on the map, to see how the weather is doing for all my GN friends in their areas where they live.

Have a good day everyone.

Good morning from Durham. Grey and overcast but sort of dry (for now). Going to hand deliver a few cards, then collect a parcel from Argos and nip into V****n Money as DH needs funds to pay his fishing syndicate fees.
Must, really must get the rest of my cards written and posted, then onto A****n to order a list of gifts.
Sorry to hear Iris isn’t doing so well - DD2 spent 9 weeks in hospital at this time of year when she had a stroke - it took some time to get her out of ‘ward’ mode and back to school in her wheelchair.

Onwards and upwards - I’m not dressed yet! ?. X

Good morning Mick, please follow the good advice, borne of concern, speak to the doctor and rest a little.
Good morning everyone else.
grandMattie, poor Iris, what a tough time for such a little girl. How old is her sister? Must be hard for her too with all the attention having to go to Iris.
Your window decoration is lovely Ashcombe.
GrandmaFrench your husband’s way of telling you off about the heating made me laugh out loud. Great sense of humour.
Well, hurrah, a good day for all with the first of the vaccinations taking place. Light at the end of a long tunnel.
Forgot to say, dry and chilly in Anglesey, no rain yet, no renderers again but the joiner is out there fitting gutters on the finished sides. We’re getting there.
Must write and post Christmas cards today and will enclose invitations for a big summer party in July for 51st wedding anniversary seeing as the golden one was covidised.
Hoping you all have a better day than yesterday.

Good morning all from rainy Lancashire. Our local hospital has started vaccinations today, fingers crossed it’s the start of something positive.

Good morning everyone. It's a beautiful clear winter's day in the Gower.

I haven't long got back from the optician's, collecting my new glasses. It's the first time I've had varifocal lenses so it is a bit strange ?. My WP is due to have his stitches out tomorrow and my neurologist wanted me to have a telephone consultation at more or less the same time ?, the receptionist (they breed then that way I'm sure) was not impressed that I refused. I explained that I can't be in two places at once, I can't be alone that long (he had to travel several miles to have them removed) but she was adamant that the significance of my appointment outweighed frivolous concerns . I insisted it wasn't and stood my ground! I have to ring back after 5m today.

So difficult for Iris grandMattie, you're right it's her way of exercising control at the moment. I think Grandmafrench has some good ideas, one or two of which could be adopted. ? for Iris

Love the pin map Pantglas and apparently I suit red so I'm happy with that ?

Please listen Mick and tell the nurse what has been happening as she might arrange for the GP to ring. You need to speak to your doctor!

I'm pleased that you have chosen to go to your DD's for Christmas Grammaretto. You are still in my thoughts.

Take care everyone and be kind to yourselves ❤️