Good morning Sunday 11 December

Shall relate my day now.
The papers were horribly late yesterday. I had to go back for them around 9am, the Mirror group was even later!
DL had arranged to get taken to the church Christmas coffee morning. I waited about an hour before going myself. Her first proper outing “in public” since her amputation.
On the whole I have stayed away from big gatherings since Philip died, I’m not terribly unto crowds at the best of times. It was ok, but I never enjoy such things. I didn’t win anything on the raffle despite 40 tickets,DL did having bought about 10! A lady at my table won 3 with some 15 tickets. Life isn’t fair. 🤨
DL is still having problems with the purchase, but is now agonising over whether it will snow or not. Th3 odds of it snowing are very slender, despite the temperature being sub-zero, I spent the rest of the day rationalising…. It feels unkind, but my empathy is wearing very thin.
I hope everyone enjoys their Sunday and stays warm. Carpe diem 🦩🦩🦩🦩

Morning all from a dark S. Yorks

I was wondering how Mick had got on when he didnt start the day.

You are clearly doing your very best with DL, GM. Worrying about the weather is probably diverting from deep worries, but difficult all the same.

Woke early after bad night with tum problems (TMI areas, and waiting list for referrals so long its unquantifiable) so glad to come down for my nice first latte and "joining in'.

Quakers today: maybe he gym, as per. had a nice WhatsApp from DiL last night, their next holiday booked is close by in the High Peak so's there will be joint outngs.

Good morning everybody - it's a cold one! Yesterday the 🎄lights were successfully untangled & draped/flung into place! Kalu, how did yours go?

Another achievement was opening this yrs' jig-saw (see pic) & turning each bit right-side up...no pieces were actually put in place, don't want to overdo things, lol!

I hope it's cozy, pleasant day for as many as possible - & a kind, gentle day for those w/ troubles.

A very quick good morning from frosty South Lanarkshire.

I’m so very tired but have to leave in less than an hour to go to watch DGD’s gymnastics display in the capital.

Will catch up later. Have a good day everyone.

Morning All from a cold if snow and frost free corner of Somerset.

Thank for opening grandmattie, I share your lack of luck with raffles, on the other hand my Dad always but always won something. Our elder son is the same. Hope Mick is enjoying his break.

Thoroughly enjoyed yesterday, such a treat to see the grandchildren together. Aged from 7-16 they all get on well. The return journey was tiring, freezing fog, worth it though.

Quiet one today. I’ll finally wrap some gifts. Mr C will be happy with his Christmas jigsaw, far too much snow in it for a swift completion.

Thinking of everyone with sadness or worry of any kind, hope Sunday is gentle with us all.

Good morning from snowy Wiltshire! I certainly won’t be going far today.
DH said it’s about an inch deep so far.
Yesterday I started taking up a pair of trousers, I will hem them today, and knitted several inches of sock#2, I hope to get it finished in a couple of days.
Today apart from cooking dinner I have nothing in particular to do.
I hope you all have a lovely day.

Good morning. Very frosty outside where we are staying in Suffolk. The chickens are calling for their breakfast so M hopping for fresh eggs. They gave us 2 yesterday.
We shall make our way home today after a visit to Sutton Hoo, weather permitting.
Late afternoon we have a family dinner for DD2s birthday which is at a pub on the way back not far from home.
Hope everyone is keeping warm and today brings some smiles.

Good morning all from a frosty Black country.
Thanks for opening up grandMattie I do hope Mick is enjoying his break.
Family coming for lunch today so need to make a start we dont usually eat until early evening.
Best wishes for anyone celebrating, safe travels those on the move and virtual hugs where needed.
Take care all and may you all find some 🌞.

Good morning from a very frosty Essex by the sea.
I had a lovely day yesterday with both daughters, one SIL and four of my five granddaughters. We started off in Covent Garden, had lunch, luckily booked by DD1, then walked to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park. Everywhere was so busy. We spent a couple of hours there then DD2 and eldest granddaughter and I had to walk back to Victoria as local tube stations were either shut or heaving.
I finally arrived home just after 9, tired and footsore. I did over 20,000 steps yesterday !!
It was lovely to be with everyone, the girls all get on and the older ones really look after E who is 7.
I won't be seeing DD1 and family til February now so we were both a bit teary eyed when we parted.
No plans for today. DH's boy's rugby is cancelled as the ground is too hard.
Roast pork later and a day trying to keep warm.
Have a super Sunday everyone xx

Good morning all from a slightly warmer Glasgow, its 1°C.

For our newer posters, Mick never posts when he is away.
Whoever is up first, usually takes the initiative. I used to do along, with Maw, and Nan Kate, but was always afraid of multiple GM threads. Restless nights, these days, means I'm usually dozing off at 6am!

We had a lovely time at Dollie's ballet show yesterday and of course she was the most beautiful child in the show!
DIL sat in tears the whole time and I admit to shedding a few myself.
DD freaked out when she heard that it was The Nutcracker. For some reason she has a phobia about Nutcracker dolls and DIL2's home is full of them at Christmas! 😆
The drive down, icy twisting windy roads wasn't so pleasant!
However, I got talking to some villagers, ( no surprise there) and they told me of a village shop, run by a Polish lady, who made hand made, embroidered leather slippers and natural lotions and potions.
I popped in for a moment and the smells were amazing. However, the menfolk were becoming impatient, so I shall need to go back for a proper look.

No plans for today, I am very fatigued from a busy week and the chores have been piling up. I need to try and do some today. I used to be like the Duracell bunny, its so frustrating to be restricted.

Wishing you all and enjoyable day, with grandchildren shows, trips out and family visits.
Hope you are enjoying yourself, Mick.

Good morning everyone from a frosty but not yet snowy North Yorkshire. Didn’t sleep very well again because of this b****y cough. Got the tree up yesterday, we bid for it in a charity auction, unseen. It’s a nice tree but not a Norway spruce which I prefer. Anyway it will be decorated today and the lights will go on which is my favourite bit of Xmas. A fairly quiet day planned unless the twins turn up with DS again. Good luck for tomorrow GM, I think it’s your freedom day isn’t it. Have a warm Sunday everyone.

Good morning from frosty Colchester. Below freezing all day again with snow forecast for later.
Tree and a few decs put up by DGS yesterday.
No plans for today except for a roast chicken dinner.
Keep warm and love to all 🦩 x

Good morning from a very frosty Torbay but no snow although there has been some further North in Devon.

Thank you for opening up, grandMattie. Your Coffee Mornings sound similar to ours, especially in terms of the raffle. Yesterday we won a candle and a Christmas Pudding shaped make up remover (still to be investigated!) Not long now until DL moves out. 🤞

DH and I are due to be on Front of House early afternoon, with him as Manager and me sitting at a table, distributing pre-booked tickets. I’m not ready to be a steward just yet, which carries more arduous tasks. Last two pantomime performances today. (Oh yes, it is!!)

Safe journeys to those venturing out and take care in these Wintry conditions. 🦩❄️🦩⛄️🦩

Another good morning from S Lanarkshire, like the rest of the country, very wintery, thank God to be able to get up in a warm house even if the thermostat will be turned down soon.

No lunch with pal yesterday, after waiting half an hour for the bus in horrible conditions, I called my friend and headed back home. It’s a very poor service now.

Anyhow, not a wasted afternoon, I pushed on and actually got lots of things on ‘the list’ done! I then went to the Vigil mass and as a result, have a more relaxed morning now.

This afternoon I am treating DD and youngest DGC to A Christmas Carol the Musical performed by our very talented local youth music and drama group, I do hope they enjoy it. I believe they are coming dressed for a Christmas show😳

Hope your DGD’s gymnastic display goes well baubles and your journey across the country is okay.

Good wishes to everyone for a pleasant and safe Sunday 🦩🦩🦩

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 0° and looks damp. Thanks for opening Grandmattie and I hope Mick is enjoying his trip. Sar the time will pass quickly, I'm sure. BlueBalou chilly photo!
Yesterday I had a lovely day. After an early trip to Aldi, I was off to Edinburgh with a friend to the ballet. He parked at my house and we walked to the station which is about 15 minutes away. The station was busy because of cancelled trains. Fortunately the one we wanted arrived and we all squeezed in somehow. Edinburgh looked very festive if very wet. My friend is extremely fit so he decided we would go up Fleshmans Close. I am decidedly unfit and was embarrassed by having to stop for a breather halfway. The ballet (The Snow Queen) was excellent. On the way back to the station we descended the Scotsman steps with lots of others and it was more manageable but my knees were complaining when we reached the bottom. Waverly station was heaving! I don't think I've ever seen it so busy, even at the Festival. We piled on the train, to be told to all get off and go to another platform for a bigger train. Once back, we stopped at the local chippy and shared a fish supper. I appreciate this post is full of names many of you won't recognise, but I suspect some might be wincing in sympathy with my knees!
Today I'll do the washing and housework I didn't get round to yesterday. I'm making a large slow cooker ragout so I'll have some with garlic bread for dinner. Have a good day all.

Good Morning everyone from snowy Severnside. I stayed under the covers a tad longer this morning. I wonder if Mick has snow on the beach?

I half heartedly put up some decorations yesterday so now I have to finish off today. I then did some message chat with family.

Today also brings some admin to do.
That jigsaw sounds challenging cornergran. I have a snowy one of Castle Coombe.

Have a good day all and thanks for opening Mattie 🎄

Good morning from a cold and snowy NE, bright moon shining too.
It did not get above zero all day yesterday and then started snowing as I was getting into bed.
SIL supposed to be coming for dinner, his bad cold made his asthma worse so he may not feel like venturing out.
DIL suggested I bought gift vouchers from various shops as gifts for GDs, might be convenient, went online last night and one company said they had run out of actual gift cards.
Take care if you need to travel.

Good morning everyone from Inverness where it’s freezing cold and we’ve had some more overnight snow.
Thanks for opening up gM and hope mick is enjoying his break. I never have any luck with raffles either but your prizes sound fun Ash!
No plans for today, I’ll probably have a lazy day. I really want to get out into the garden and see what’s happening but there’s no chance of that with the snow. For some reason or another I don’t really feel like going for a walk although I’d probably enjoy it if I made the effort - will see
Well done to Dollie with her ballet show marydoll and good luck to your DGD for her gymnastics baubles
Thinking of everyone with worries and struggles hope today is gentle and take care all whatever the day brings 💐

Morning all

Thank you grandMattie for starting us off in Micks absence.

It is foggy, cold with a heavy frost here in S E Essex, along with Kent we have a forecast for snow tomorrow.

I shall endeavour to sort and tidy the toy room this morning (dreading it as I know I should cull the toys but they go back to my eldest right down to things we have purchased for The Imp, so I will just be moving things 🤣)

This afternoon it is son No.4’s birthday celebrations at his house with DiL’s parents who we get on with really well. I cannot believe he will be 37, he was born on Friday 13th, where have the years gone…

Sar53 sounds like you had a fabulous day with your girls, wonderful memories made 🎄🤶🎅🏻🎪⛸️🎠🎢🎡

Wishing you all a peaceful Sunday 🙋‍♀️🎄🤶🎁

Good morning grandMattie thanks for opening up for Mick who we hope is having a good trip.

It’s like Antarctica in South Bucks. I shall not venture out today.

So pleased Marydoll that your beautiful little Dollie made you both so happy. My lovely 11 year old DGS FaceTimed me from the home of friends of our DS where a number of children plus parents had been invited to supper and to watch the ‘footie’ match. It was a large house overlooking the sea in Hove (Brighton). Well you would have thought he was an Estate Agent there wasn’t a room he didn’t film 😳 I just hoped the owners didn’t mind.

Morning all from West Oxfordshire. I looked out of the window at 8 am and behold, a winter wonderland! It is still snowing. The roads don’t get cleared in my village so I hope we can drive to our lunch venue later on. For various reasons OH needs cheering up. I am going to London tomorrow so hope I can get to Oxford to catch a train (Freud exhibition at the National Gallery and daughter’s concert in Pimlico). Snow is beautiful but it isn’t unknown to be trapped in it! A few years ago I couldn’t get to work in Oxford for three days. Oh well, onwards and upwards. I bet my two cats are cheesed off! Have a good day.

Good morning everyone from very cold south Hants where it’s currently minus 6 (again!). Thermals will be worn again - I stupidly arranged to get my hair cut today so will have to go out and and will no doubt end up with ‘hat hair’ whatever style I opt for! 🤣
Have the best day you can everyone - keep safe and warm.
Hugs and 💐 for you all.

Good morning all -4 and heavy frost in S Hants. Thanks for opening gMattie.
We had a lovely evening with my son and his partner, apart from the result of course, they got an Uber home as they have cats.
No real plans today, it’s remaining freezing all day, beef stew in the slow cooker for dinner.
Enjoy your day 🦩🦩

Good morning all from East Yorkshire.

Yesterday we popped out for a couple of things I needed and had a sandwich lunch in the cafe at Waitrose. Back home we sat down for a quiet afternoon when we heard a knock at the door. It was DS and the GC who had bought me flowers. Didn’t say what they were for. So in they came for a couple of hours. DIL joined them after getting her nails done.

Today I need to wash my hair. My blow dry won’t quite last until tomorrow. Going to see The Snowman with a live orchestra this afternoon with DIL and GS so I’ll need to look decent! Looking forward to it.

Have a good day everyone.