Good Morning Friday 11th September 2026

Good; very early morning from Leamington.
DD1, DGD2 and I are off at 5.30 to drive to Swansea for their University open day, a 3 hour drive. Wish us luck.
DGD2 wants to study paediatric nursing next year.
Have a good day everyone xx

Good morning, Michael and all GNs from South Yorkshire where it is, of course, dark at the moment. I’ve been awake for a while.

I had lunch with DD after my Thursdsy walk yesterday and then brought GS back with me for an overnight (his idea). We called at Morrisons and did a (very expensive🙄) shop for dinner, then he set to and cut and trimmed the back lawn, and cut the long hedge while I swept up. We just managed to get finished before the rain came on. He’s off back to uni on Monday so I’m making hay while the sun shines! We cooked our evening meal together and then settled down to watch a film. I have to get him up early as he’s playing golf with his dad later this morning, and I have an electrician coming in at eight to put some new led lighting in my garage. Another long overdue job.

Today will be mostly preparing for visitors who are coming tomorrow.

Have the best day you can, folks.

Good morning from a dry Bristol. Although we have had a few showers, we haven’t really had much rain, but that’s been enough for the grass to green up again.
Yesterday’s meeting was interesting, fairly helpful until a few residents started to bang on about how wonderful the last permanent resident manager was. (She was an old fashioned care-type) but the employment criteria have changed. The manager is allowed to do anything outside office hours only for fire or flood, otherwise the residents are on their own. Try getting that into their thick skulls. The constant harping about the past drove me away after 2 1/2 talking.
In the afternoon, I had planned a careful bus timetable to go from A to B to C. Bummer, I realised half way that I had left my sunglasses to be adjusted, at home. Ah well, the rest worked out ok.
At DD’s, I had promised a takeaway of “Eat a Pitta” which meant that no cooking was required. Iris was planning a cake order. Her acquaintances/neighbours pay her for celebration cakes. She’s doing well with that and her cat sitting next door.
They have found out that her NFM2 has caused mild scoliosis atm and a twisting of her spine so the poor girl is in constant pain. A full body brace will be made for her in the not too distant future, to be worn for minimum of 22 hours a day. What a problematic condition. At least, she isn’t disfigured like the Elephant Man whose condition she shares.
Today, sewing this morning and a First Aid course for the FAB cafe in the afternoon.
All the best to one and all. Carpe diem 🦩🦩🦩🦩

Good Morning from a very warm New York. Just gone 12.30am on the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, one of those events where we remember exactly where we were and what we were doing back then.

Best wishes to all. X

And the world changed forever, Georgesgran. A sad day to be in the Big Apple.

Good morning from Malta where it is still dark but a sunny day is forecast with a high of 36°C.

I had Dgs2 yesterday morning then DD3 dropped me in the village. I was a bit early for my appointment with the doctor so went for a coffee first.

I was very impressed with the doctor, who I haven’t seen before. She was lovely, very thorough, kind and caring. I’ve to see her again in a week.

It’s very easy to see a doctor here but the system is different from the UK. Most pharmacies have doctors who can be seen either by appointment or on a first come first served basis. It is not free, costs from about 15€ upwards.

To see a doctor without paying we have poly clinics in several locations where it is similar to A&E in that the most urgent cases are seen first so you may have a long wait.

The main hospital is free and there are several private hospitals which are quite expensive, although much less so than in other countries.

I’ve got Dgs2 again this morning as his brother has occupational therapy after which I have my hair appointment.

Good luck Sar🍀. Hope the drive goes smoothly.

Wishing you all a good day.☀️

Good morning from Belfast where it is dark and that's all I know.
Yesterday I was preparing for Autumn/winter.
Range is lit in kitchen. Bed has brushed cotton sheets (my day it was flannelet) didn't put feather duvet on I'll wait a while.
Today I'm going to be ruthless in my borders and take out a lot of plants to make room for bulbs.
To night is pizza night.
Going to Sainsbury's later I'll pick one up there.
A sad day remembering 9/11 . Yes I remember where I was.
Thinking of all .

Good morning from sunny Greece. A quiet day around the pool yesterday and then drinks in the evening looking out over the bay at sunset.
We had a lighter meal of salad. The three course meal of the night before, lovely as it was, would be too much for me night after night and I didn’t feel a hundred per cent. I think my fall by the pool had discombobulated me a little….

I’m still old fashioned and enjoy writing postcards, now to find stamps and a postbox.

Thoughts to all and my sketch on the plane here of DGD asleep next to me.

Good morning from s somerset, a typical autumnal day today

I did a quick 2 hours on the allotment yesterday, another bed is prepped and sown with green manure and protected with net until the seeds germinate. 6 of my squash are in my garage now and curing on wire shelving

Later I did a sorting session of my big stash of spinning fluff and yarns, two hours on that but I do now know what I have and where it is. Some things did get cleared and I do have a little more space but a realisation that I need never buy any more fluff, not ever again

I have washing to do today, to hang out for 10, when the early drizzle might stop and after that I will cycle to the allotment, I need to pick a couple of leeks, some parsley and prep a small bed for broad beans. The last two big bags of landscape bark need to be opened and spread today, I do like my paths to be well protected and comfortable for me

Some bargain fabrics arrived yesterday and I am beyond pleased at the good quality, most are for use next year but I serge the edges then pre-wash before putting them away. Pre-wash gets the shrinkage out of the way and removes any additives etc. I also have the last stages of sewing, to complete the final Maddison top. I will soon be cleaning my sewing room and machines, ready to pack away for winter when I do more knitting and spinning, downstairs in front of my log stove and tv

Good morning all from the Scottish Borders. So dark. The midnight cereus has flowered for the third time this year.

My volunteer shift this morning and then more book sorting with my kind friends this afternoon. The homeless charity Shelter has offered to collect books next week.

I had a lovely visit from Stilllearning yesterday and after coffee and scones we walked along to my new house. She approves. ☺️

Safe travels today Sar.
That's hard for young iris grandmattie
All the best wishes to her. 🤞

Bellasnanna

Hope everyone has a good day.

Good morning from a bright but chilly Rugeley.

I haven’t slept well due to being near the door to hotel reception so there is a door which bangs as guests arrive or leave.

My DGS3 did well in his part in the play but overall the youngsters were not well directed or loud enough! A very young director apparently.

My journey home today via Birmingham New St is not one I relish.

Have a good day, everyone! 🥰

Good morning, somewhat chilly here in south Glos but sunshine is forecast for today.
I slept badly, again, for no obvious reason. Just as well I don’t have anything going on today except a phone consultation with a Haematologist re my weird blood test results which are indicating Lupus 🙄🤷🏼‍♀️
Next week I have the dentist and a hospital appointment for an ultrasound for a swelling on my lower leg (7 months after the GP referral!) then hopefully that’s the end of it health problems-wise! 🙏🤞🏻What a year this has been….

I’m thinking that my outdoor tomatoes aren’t likely to ripen now that the temperature is dropping so I might just pick them and bring them indoors to ripen? Is that the right thing to do?

Anyway, I hope today goes well for you all x
🌹

Good morning from Cornwall where it's bright-skyed and very still. A warm day ahead I think.

Yesterday I finished clearing my denim stash and feel very smug as it badly needed sorting and I can now find any of it in seconds. A call came from the NHS to inform me that my neck scan is next Tuesday at a distant hospital but an interesting train and bus journey will get me there. Am impressed at how quickly it's been sorted by the fast-track cancer team.

Today is my first venturing to an Arts Society meeting where I'll no doubt see people I know or was at school with!

Ash, don't you book assistance on the trains when you're on your own? Their designated lounge at Birmingham New Street is useful.

Good morning everyone from Lancashire.
On the day of 9/11 toddler DD and I had just finished watching an episode of a Thunderbirds video after lunch. I switched it off and it reverted to BBC. I can remember saying to DD, " oh, that's an odd choice," thinking it was a mid afternoon disaster movie and then realising it was a real event.
I switched off because I didn't want DD to see it.
By the time we arrived at DS's primary school for pick up a couple of hours later another parent said one of the towers had collapsed which seemed just so unthinkable.
God bless all those who died that day and those who have had to live with the memories. 🕯

I love your pictures, Hollysteers. You are so talented. The one of the young man with curly hair looked so real. It's the fact that you have a range of subjects, not just that you are good at drawing flowers or buildings.
There are a lot of talented people on this thread and I enjoy reading about what you get up to.

Greyduster, you've reminded me that we need to get the faulty light inside the garage fixed before winter.

We had a nice meet up with my well travelled friend yesterday. She's off to the Adriatic in October. We're seeing a different friend today. She's had a busy summer so she'll have lots of news to share.

Wishing you all the best day possible. Madeleine and Marydoll, I wish I lived nearer to either of you just to be able to offer a bit of practical help from time to time. You're both stars in the face of adversity. 🌻

Good morning from N.Bucks where we have blue skies at the moment.
DH is off to golf in a short while. I’m aiming to get some ironing done first cakes to make for Sundays scrapbooking group. .Then carry on with a good turnout of my craft room. It’s a big job but desperately needs to be done. This time I shall be labelling boxes with what is in them. Surplus materials will go to a friend of DD2 who works in a children’s nursery.
DD1 is calling in for a cuppa and chat later this afternoon..
Wishing all a pleasant day with some relief for those who are suffering illness .

Good morning from a chilly but sunny N Surrey with a bright blue sky.
Twenty five years ago today we were on holiday on a small island in the Med in a rustic villa with no mobiles, radio or tv so we didnt know about the Twin Towers tragedy until the following day.
It was a sunny day like today. We watched those horrifying tv news clips on our return. My friend said she was watching midday tv at the time while preparing lunch and thought it was a disaster movie and changed channels...to no avail.

Twenty five years ago and still I feel a chill at the horror of it.

A quiet day today with just an eye test. My mountain of washing has been conquered by my new washing machine and sunny weather.

Mmmmm brushed cotton sheets. I will dig out a cosy flat sheet to have between me and the duvet. It was a tad chilly last night.

A good day to all.

Good morning Michael and all GN's from a slowly lightening, still , grey morning in North Yorkshire. I am holding my breath (not literally of course!) that despite still having had a rubbish night of odd sleeping times etc, that this morning I am in a bit less pain, and risked having my shower straight away, instead of having to gauge when it was safe to do so. Elgars Sea Pictures are on radio 3, which is a piece I have always loved , would like to sing along with it, but am mindful of other members of the flats. So thankful for a bit better start to today. Hopefully this is the end of a rather horrible patch and I can get back to doing a bit, and being able to kid myself that I am about 50 and of course can do all the things my brain tells me I can do.

Well I am actually in another disguise at the moment. That white haired woman hobbling about looking very innocent and not likely to hurt a fly , is actually really in Valkerie mode and ready to attack and charge the selfcentered and cheapskate people round about!!

Yesterday was a rotten painful day, and I know when I am in that state, my temper will be on a short fuse, so I tend to avoid crowds or situations that might get me going. However, due to all the hospital stuff etc I havent been to the womens group meeting for several weeks, and it is usually worth going to , whether there is something on that interests me or simply meeting the group, and often hearing of something happening that I hadnt heard of and coming home with an intention to do something. So yesterday for a change we were meeting at a hotel, which has recently been done up , and was only the other end of town so that everyone could get to it ok. It looked quite pricey to me, and as I live here, and am happy with the various cafes and restaurants round about have had no cause to go there. But another problem was the steps up to the front door. It was an old police station and I think has some preservation orders on it. However a friend said that she had seen a sign for a disabled entrance down the side, so I said that I would go.

Well I was not in a good state, and if I hadnt promised to go, my choice would have been to stay at home. A promise is a promise , and so took an extra painkiller, and set off on the yellow peril. The journey there did not help, as the uneven paving and potholes caused me more pain and a struggle. Still I arrived in time and looking at the quite smart facade, saw the notice stating the path down to the carpark and disabled entrance. I duly went down there, and firstly saw a quite short and not very wide slope to a doorway. There was a rail along and the usual stupid 90 degree turning with sharp corners. So there was a very short entrance with a necessary sharp turn left onto the ramp. My buggie is a large one, but I am a seasoned user of it and if there is a way to go I will find it.

I looked but no camera letting people inside see anyone waiting there and it stated this was the night door for visitors. So it took me several awkward turns too and fro to even get round the entrance with the corner jutting out making things worse. I arrived at the door, no normal bell push or intercom, but a marker with two bells , one for the bar and the other the manager. The door was shut and would have been very difficult to open anyway, as again you had a 90 degree turn.

I rang one buzzer,it continued to ring and ring but no answer. I rang the other, the same. Now I am going to be late, which I do not like,and have had a difficult time and no success. Then I thought perhaps I am mistaken and there is another better entrance for disabled further round. I then had another difficult job getting out but as Ginger Rodgers said not only getting out but backwards. After the effort, which of course did not improve the pain level, I then drove right round through the car park and the exits for pedestrians etc. Nothing! I sat at the bottom of the steps, and called out Hallo and rang my bell a couple of times, as the door was open and I hoped that perhaps a receptionist would hear me. Nothing!! I had to accost a passing member of the public and ask them to go up the steps and tell them I was there, which they duly did. Another black mark to the hotel as I hate having to ask for help, being of the "little red hen" type. A woman came out and said " Didnt you see the entrance notice to the side?" a very condescending attitude , implying that I was either incapable of reading or of following instructions. I fixed her with a very severe teachers gaze and said in an icy voice exactly what I had already done, and that their idea of disabled entrance was neither true, nor did the provide appropriate things such as a camera to see people waiting or an intercom. She came down with me and I wont bore you with the saga but take it from me there was much faffing around, manoeuvering etc etc. She then tried the excuse of saying to me Well you have a very large buggy, to which I replied I was not aware that legislation demanded that we only have small buggies, but that I have one of those as well ,to which she replied oh well it will be better if you use that next time!!!! Anyway I finally got into the group, but had missed quite a lot , was in a lot of pain and fuming at the whole hassle, but didnt want to be stroppy with the group. Well after a decent cup of coffee and we had a quiz , which I did quite well that eased off. But I most certainly havent finished with the hotel yet and will be engaging battle with the company for stating they have good access, and the council for letting them put that there without checking that it worked etc etc. Anyway I did various things and went home, having had plans for jobs to do , but in too much pain and the cleaners were not coming as they were ill and didnt want to bring me any bugs. Not my day was it?

So I was very pleased to just collapse in a heap with coffee to hand. Had plenty of jobs that needed doing, but I actually did very little, and have much to sort out today. It actually was very good to just realize I hadnt got to do anything more and so I didnt feel like even cooking much, but had that favourite meal to comfort me, and had one of the lovely free range eggs I won at whist, with lovely fresh bread and butter soldiers. I even timed it to perfection, and really enjoyed it.

Ah just been watching the morning entertainment. The pigeon is slowly and stately wandering around pecking at the grass at times, whilst the squirrel today is having a definitely mad half hour, where he was is dashing up and down the tree and fence, flashing his tail and then making little holes but not actually burying things but dashing back up the tree. The pigeon takes no notice and carries on its way.

So today, I am going to the library where they have some seated games. You may remember I managed to go at the wrong time last week, but will definitely be there at the right time, and hope to find some things I can do and get a bit of exercise too. Then, of course, off for the paper to check up on what is happening around here. Life is always feast or famine isnt it? The heritage week is on where you can visit places free and often do things like go back stage at the Georgian Theatre in Richmond or visit the Elite cinema in Thirsk which is run by volunteers and is , I think, 1930's and was used in the James Herriot films etc. But we also have quite a lot of other things, local agricultural shows, the harrogate autumn flower show and harvest festivals in various places. Even I cant cut myself up into pieces to go to everything, and oh, having to choose is difficult. Well , whatever I would like to do, will have to be tempered by how the wretched cellulitis goes. Not so painful this morning, but still very swollen and hard .

Hope you are having a better day today Mike and will enjoy your bus trip. Welldone GrandMattie that you have had any success with Teflon man. I often think we should have a sort of code word such as "Return!" which is a word that can be said in meetings when people get off the point etc. I have sat in many meetings where the frustration level gets very high, with people going off the point. Especially when I became head of communications for Bass Charrington, where I committed the sin of a) being a woman b) knowing more about my part of the business than any of the male board members did c) was there to provide the company with up to date and efficent telecommunications, where there would be men pontificating that they had used such a system for many years and it still worked well and why did they have to change! I was sorry to read about Iris needing a brace, but hope that it will improve things for her and prove less painful for her. Georgesgran Yes a sad day to remember today, and it doesnt seem like 25 years ago. May such a dreadful thing never happen again, and thinking of all those who will be so sad today remembering loved ones who never had the chance to live the lives they should have. They will be in our minds and prayers today.

Well the sun is coming out, and that lovely autumn day that looks the same as a summer day but feels quite different. May you all have a pleasant day and by now have recovered from all the caring duties over the holiday and can sit and enjoy a coffee with a friend and with no clockwatching. Fingers crossed that this sunny day leads into a good weekend and feeling better in both mind and body for everyone.