Good Morning Wednesday 16th September 2026

G’day from Rye in Australia. Bit cold here and evening is approaching.

Good morning from the East Midlands where it’s dark and dry.

Good morning from south Glos, cool, dark and dry here, a starry sky too.
We had a lovely lunch yesterday, SIL and her husband came and we caught up on all the news. A very pleasant few hours.
Today the cleaner comes, so I’ll retreat to my Shed and DH will take bigger dog to the village cafe for a couple of hours.
I don’t have anything else going on so a nice quiet day.
Faggots, mash and peas for dinner (the faggots from the farm shop are delicious!), I’ll make onion gravy too.
Best wishes 🌹

Good morning from Shropshire.Dark and drizzly at the moment but due to be another warm day.

We are back to our Wednesday routine of collecting DGD from school then into town for something to eat and then onto her dance class.We all enjoy the few hours on a Wednesday just the three of us.She is such a joy to be with.

Thinking of all with worries and illness and wishing everyone the best day possible🌻🦩

Good morning from Malta where the forecast is for a partly cloudy day with a high of 32°C.

Yesterday DGS2 walked up to the village with me as I needed to go to the post office and to the pharmacy after which I took him for a drink as it was very hot. He was a trooper as it’s quite a walk for little legs.

DD3 and DGS1 joined us after his final occupational therapy session and they gave me a lift home before going off to do a harbour cruise.

I watched 7Up last night, being the same age as the participants it has always felt nostalgic to watch them growing up. How the years have flown.😞

I’ve got a hair appointment this morning then I’m having the boys whilst DD3 has her course.

I hope you all have a good day, especially my friends in the ‘blues club’. Also hope Marzipan’s poor feet are getting better after that nasty accident, 💐

Good morning from a dark,dry Bristol.
After a dreadful night,I’ve only just woken up. I’m annoyed both by the bad night and late awakening as I have another busy day ahead and need the extra time an early start would have given, but , hey ho!

Good morning Michael and all GN's on a very dark and still north yorkshire morning. A very poor start to this day as I was woken by awful cramp and still very bad, so that I am having to take great care with how I am sitting right now.

Another rubbish night and my eyes feel gritty with lack of sleep, and such weariness. Well I may get some ironing done shortly, as then I would have at least a choice of something I like to wear. Today is going to be quite a busy day, and I need to make my list of things that have to be done, and things I would like to get done.

Yesterday was a varied day. Definitely hobbling around first thing, and it seemed to take forever to dismantle the laptop and get it all put in the right parts of the bag, ready to take to the techy genius that is Artie. When I got to Upfront, there was a veritable queue of mobility scooters, and I had some difficulty getting mine parked up etc, and then hobbling in to my appointment. There were a lot of minor problems , rather than one specific thing, and between us we were able to at least make some inroads and deal with various things, and he showed me hot to remove messages, without losing the whole lot such as NHS things. I had so many and varied things on my phone etc., but was worried in case of trying to remove one thing I deleted it all. So there were still things that we couldnt sort out, but generally glad to have both cleared up some problems, saved some space, and been able to feel that I am not an idiot because I couldnt sort it all out myself!

The weather stayed quite warm, and breezy, so after leaving there, I was able to go up the high street , doing various bits and pieces and then making my way to Lakeland. I had a voucher for 25% off if I spent £50 on full cost items, not those in a sale already. Well I had been looking round previously and had plans for certain things I wanted to buy. I had waited until the school went back to hopefully have a quieter time to go into the shop, and as I was having a tough day, no chance to walk round but had to carefully negotiate the shop on the buggy. Naturally when I arrived they had just received a delivery and there were various boxs scattered round the shop, that they were attempting to deal with. Couldnt leave it until another day as yesterday was the last day of the offer.

So a more complicated trip around, grateful for my mirrors etc. Anyway I was pleased to get another good thermos flask, that guarantees to keep things hot or cold for 24 hours. Have one like this already and it is very good, so this is going to provide me with my autumn picnic requirements so that I can go far up on the moors away from town and have something warm to eat or drink. So besides that I bought about 6 in a group of sealable bags for use in the freezer or fridge, and a couple of other bits and pieces, and was pleased to have saved £6 on the overall purchase. The staff apologized for the chaos on the shop floor, but obviously , were also just getting over the holiday things and trying to get the shop stocked for autumn. I managed to get around without knocking anything over or causing them more problems, but I do wish wretched designers would think , or ask disabled people for comments. There were quite a few stands, where the bit on the floor was an absolute square with a ninety degree angle on the bottom part of the stand. If they just rounded those corners off, it would make very little difference to their efficacy, but give you that little bit more room to maneouvre, without getting these corners jammed and having to do innumerable to ing and fro ing to get round.

Anyway I was pleased with the effort and rewarded myself with a coffee and apricot croissant as my lunch in Cafe Nero, as the morning had flown by. I was really struggling with my back, but was pleased to find that a sense of peace had descended there, with the schools being back and the regulars sat in their usual places enjoying the peace and quiet, with dogs back to their normal places. Ah , what bliss to have a comfortable seat and the new lady, efficiently remembering my usual order, and delivering a much needed coffee very quickly! Eventually I rather reluctantly wended my way homeward to catch up with a few jobs.

I am still in militant mode regarding accessibility , and so then went off on the yellow peril to the council office, for the first part of my next plan of action. I wanted to check that the council or someone definitely follows up hotels claims to have provided things, and does not just let them announce things willy nilly. They provided me with the phone number and address of who to check up with and so todays action will be firstly to contact trading standards and then go from there.

My hassle with the hotel after my other problems with the library has now goaded me into militant mood generally and I shall be making it my mission at the moment to check on the various promises of disabled access whereever I go to locally. The hotel doesnt know what will be hitting them shortly. Yesterday, after careful consideration what to say etc., I sent off a detailed email to the library explaining my tale of woe and the difficulties that are there for disabled people, that I considered that members of their committee should attempt to do my journey over bumpy yellow lines and grit and the appalling effort on the ramp etc. I later received a very nice email from the librarian thanking me for my detailed information and saying that she was using all this to fill in a complaints form for the council etc and would be letting me know of any outcome, and thanking me for saying that I would be happy to test out any plans or intentions before they spent money on things. So that was a tick for one thing, and I had been careful to say how very good the library was once you had managed to access it, that the staff were all helpful and pleasant etc etc., as I do try not just to be a Victor Meldrew type moaner all the time and praise where I can, So pleased with the result of my efforts on this front, today is going to be the first attack on the hotel front, and see what I can do for people there.

This morning there is someone , quite reputable as far as I can tell, coming to a village hall nearby. They buy gold and silver and broken jewellery etc. I have spoken to someone who went the last time they came and so have collected several bits and pieces, with a plan to go down and see whats what. There is no pressure to sell, so this lady tells me, but they do value things and more to the point ,can tell you if what you have is genuine whatever or paste. So on a previous occasion she sold a couple of broken necklaces which had just sat in a drawer and she didnt like them enough to get them mended, and then they gave her a valuation on a brooch, which she didnt choose to sell then, but later got in touch and sold it . So it sounds worth a look. I shant be holding my breath waiting to find I have a diamond necklace worth thousands, but I do have one or two things from my great aunt. I have never seemed to find the occasion to wear them, and they dont have any great sentimental value, so if they would add to the petrol money to allow me to go off upto Swaledale or to the coast, it might prove worth while. we shall see. Doing that first will allow my mind to work out my next port of call for action on the wretched hotel and the awful potholed roads and paths.

Ah, I think I shall appear as that wretched woman on the yellow peril yet again, to the dread of the various officials in council offices all over. They have already learnt that ,whilst I am very polite, and understand that they personally do not make the rules, I am not to be fobbed off, and will return again and again until something is sorted. My next plan of action is to give them a reasonable time to do something and then I shall be out in the town photographing potholes and vans parked across the dropkerbs on the market days etc. All grist to my mill when I start my campaign to have a letter in the local paper every week about one thing or another until they are glad to sort it and get rid of my moans and groans! Perhaps I shall become Vera Meldrew!! I also intend to galvanize other buggy users and anyone with problems in the womens group to join me in contacting councils and appropriate people, to get the message across that we expect and intend to have action, and that we will not rest until something is done. Ideas of the group of us trundling on our buggies down the street singing Jerusalem and "I shall not rest " etc come to mind, which I may save until I see which way the wind blows and then on a quiet week for news invite the local paper to take a picture of us all descending on the council and encouraging others to join us.

Well I felt very weary, and too tired to do any ironing, but did get shopping put away and a couple of jobs done before it was time to go to the games night. Havent been too well for a few weeks and not been down there , I had to hunt about for my bright yellow cover to go on the back of the buggy to ensure I was visible on the road, find the torch and generally begin to get into autumn mode, but it was quite warm, so didnt need my coat on. I was greeted very nicely by the group and enjoyed playing a game I had done before, but it was quite hard to remember three different areas at once. However it got the brain going and took my mind off plans for action. Got home in time to flop down and watch the repeat on an early Downton Abbey. Just the thing to calm down ready for bed and the great Maggie Smith presenting the dowager duchess at her most superior. I am adding some imperious tones and looks to my next planned visit to the council offices.

So , here I am folks, just about ready to cautiously get into the shower if my leg doesnt cramp up again, then need to clear the kitchen and wash up etc so that I will be ready for an early trip down to the market. I am planning to take my oven gloves with me , or rather one of those with the two handpockets and the material in between them. I want a longer one and just looking doesnt work, so having the old one with me will allow me to clearly see if something is longer as I want. Ah I am Miss Organised today, and fingers crossed will find something I need.

It is whist night tonight, and I am pleased to feel better than the last couple of weeks, and will enjoy meeting everyone, and will take the opportunity of gathering more people to my "sort the disabled access" group. Their are several who need to use mobility things, so hope they can give me more ideas of problem areas. This time of year used to be a time or organising the school year and my new class. I am now transferring that effort to sorting out things for the disabled, before it gets too dark in the afternoons etc.

Well there is much that needs sorting here too, and I wouldnt want anyone arriving just now to see my piles of ironing and correspondence waiting to be dealt with! I need to use this rare readiness to sort things out to best advantage! More to come later.

Well at last it has lightened enough to see the outline of the tree against the grey sky, no movement in the branches so far, and no sign of the squirrel, but dont know if I just cant see him yet or if he is still snoozing. Hope you have a good trip into Bicester Mike and meet some friends.nanna8 good to meet you and hope you enjoy joining us.

I hope that today is a good day of plans succeeding for all GN's whether it is for the much anticipated meet up with friends or the grand tidying up of a child free room, that will actually stay tidy when you have finished it! Enjoy it all while you can

Blast, posted too soon. 🤬
The Spanish class went well, with a very pleasant, affable teacher. The class was very wary, as they have become well established but I know someone from the next village, which made things easier. In fact, one of them gave me a much needed lift home.
This gave me time to have a leisurely lunch before my meeting. The inspection of the manager’s property was jaw dropping. It’s disgusting. Apart from the last manage4 having had 3 month#cro clear it out, it wa# filthy, with dirty mattresses left behind and all sorts of bits and pieces. As for the garden, ‘nuf said! How they could liv3 there beggars belief. And, worse, the property wasn’t inspected during tenancy, and before vacating…
We then retired to a flat to discuss our findings. Of course, my new washing machine arrived, without notice, in the middle of this!
The old machine removed, the new one installed and tested. It is very vocal and “sings” at the drop of a hat…. Is it normal not to have anypaperwork these day? Not even an instruction manual? I muddled my way through the first wash and hung the stuff out on the line - it’s still there, I forgot to bring it in…
FAB cafe this morning, after morning prayers. I hope there aren’t as many punters today; 23 was a lot last week, although, I’m delighted at the success of the venture.
After a quick lunch, I’ve got the ladies’ guild with an interesting talk about taking/making/history of tea.
Quiet evening beckons, thankfully.
It seems that you feeling a bit better, bellas; so pleased. r&l, try to take things easy. Have a good day all, full of the little joys and pleasures of life. Carpe diem 🐦‍🔥🦩🦩🦩🦩

Morning all from Italy. We are off to Lake Orta after breakfast on our last full day. Tonight there will be a special dinner.

Have a good day everyone, especially those of you with difficulties.

Here is Lake Como where we went yesterday.

Good morning from Morecambe bay where it sounds breezy out there. I think it may be cooler today.
Belated congratulations to Monk on your anniversary yesterday. I hope you enjoyed the day.
I’m off to Manchester this morning where I will meet DS2 and we will visit my parents grave before heading back into town for a bit of shopping- I need to stock up on my stash of coloured candles, then lunch and a wander round Manchester Art Gallery before heading back home. I hope the trains are behaving. So far they sound to be racing along the nearby West Coast mainline without any problem.
DH will have to manage to limp round the woods with CDog by himself as I need to be away early.
Yesterday I met a friend for coffee at the Art Deco Midland Hotel in Morecambe where we sat in the veranda watching a rough, high spring tide roar in. The original railway hotel was restored some years back but is now in need of TLC. As it’s been taken over by a chain everyone is afraid it will lose its character in the revamp. Its position is right next to the new Eden project, where work has finally started after a few years of delays and wrangling. It will be much smaller than the original design and bid but hopefully will help improve things for the area which has become quite run down in recent years like many coastal towns around the country.
Wishing everyone a pleasant day free of worries and pain. Take care🌸

Good morning everyone from Wiltshire.

Shingrix vaccination wasn’t entirely straightforward as I booked the appointment by phone and I’d heard 2:15 when it was actually 2:50. The receptionist didn’t ask me why I’d turned up so early. As I didn’t get any notification by text I didn’t realise. I ended up waiting an hour. I’ve woken up with a sore and stiff arm and pain in my armpit and not 100%, wiped out and with a temperature of 37.6c so not too high.

The GCs had a medical person come into school to assess the classes as individuals. GD3(8) is on the 20th centile for weight and height for her age and GS2(5) exceeds the 90th. DD2 was not happy to hear he is considered overweight for his age. There isn’t an ounce of fat on him. He does have a very muscular build. His calves are rock solid. And he is nearly as tall as his sister. He is built for rugby but his parents won’t allow him. DD2 is a skinny mini so he will probably overtake her soon the way things are going. He has taken up Jujitsu recently to hopefully curtail his boundless energy.

UTTB I would leave a review on a site like TrustPilot saying the gardeners had done a good job but have not returned to finish the work you have paid upfront for. I do hope they turn up to complete.

GB Ouch!! thinking of your poor GS2 and his finger. He was lucky not to amputate it. I hope he feels better asap. And that your gall bladder pain disappears too.

Monk8 Happy Anniversary. What a lovely photo you posted.

I’m sorry that you feel your world shrinking Gagagran after your horrible fall. I hope you get your mojo back very soon.

Have a good midweek day all.

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 9°, dry but feels cool. The heating is on. GrandMattie I'm glad your new washing machine was safely delivered and is working well. Susan enjoy your day with your dgd.
Yesterday I picked up the boys as usual and brought them to my house for breakfast. They were very chirpy and happy and made me laugh. No tantrums yesterday! After I dropped them at school, I came home and tidied up and made a white loaf. So lunch was homemade soup and homemade bread. I picked up the boys and we were practising our French in the car. Dgs1 said French was his favourite lesson but spelling was boring. So we spoke French going home. Dgs2 can say je m'appelle ... which is pretty good for a 4 year old. He then spoke 'french' to us which reminded me of the episode of Friends where Joey speaks gibberish.
I watched the final of The Sewing Bee at night but I was very uncomfortable with pains in my feet and gallbladder. To crown it all, I woke at half one and could not get back to sleep, so I was up, having a cuppa. I ended up watching a programme about Alec Guinness which was very interesting.
Today I have an eye check. It will go as usual. The glaucoma check will flag issues. The optician will do an extra check which shows I have thick corneas and they will try to sell me expensive glasses. Once that's over, I will head home and try to sort out continuing problems with my bank card and contact people to clear my garden of outgrown toys. Have a good day all

Good morning, Michael and all GNs from South Yorkshire where we have a moody sunrise going on and it is decidedly cool. Good to see you on here Nanna8.

The electrician finally put in an appearance yesterday and fitted a new strip light in my garage. It is so bright in there now you need sunglasses, but it revealed swathes of spider webs which I shall have to remove! School in the afternoon, where they still haven’t assessed the new year three children so it was more treading water with last year’s group. In the evening, one of my neighbours came round to give me an update on the neighbour who has had a stroke. Sadly, it’s not looking very good at all. We were both upset, for her and for her lovely family.

I’m going to our city museum early this afternoon for a talk on repatriations, which is something I’ve been thinking a lot about recently. DD works near there at the university, so I’m meeting up with her in her lunch hour. I may drop off in the town centre on the way home and go to Waterstones.

Have the best day you can, folks.

Good morning Mick and all, the sun is shining in my little corner of S E Essex.

I have got Callanetics this morning, then this afternoon I intend to get the holiday ironing finished - hopefully.

Good morning , blue sky here at the moment but I don’t know the forecast.
Uncomfortable night as I had done too much knitting in the evening and my arthritis was not happy.
Hopefully I shall finish the big craft tidy up today .
I have a manicure this afternoon and must make a couple of fruit cakes and a birthday card.
Wishing all a good day.

Good Morning everyone from the central south coast. I think we may well have a sunny day today which will please DH as he is out with his cycling club.

Our cleaners are due in about half an hour and will do their usual efficient clean through . We are very tidy and that must make their job easier.

Think I have vacated the blues club today - well I hope so. I am naturally an optimist and hate feeling low spirited.

Kind thoughts of all GNs with struggles or worries of any sort and hope for a good day for us all.

Good morning all from a cloudy North Leicestershire.

Today is DS1's 55th birthday!!! He has an annual medical review at 8.10.

Our cleaner will arrive at 9 and when she has finished in the kitchen I will make a vat of chilli for the freezer.

Have the best day possibke everyone.

Good morning everyone from mid Essex, blue sky and sunshine at the moment. We may have a few showers later, but probably won’t see them here. Yesterday was dry and I got a load of washing dry outside. Ironing beckons today.
I think parts of my “lawn” could do with cutting, so I may do that later. Otherwise just the usual vacuuming to do.

I hope those who are poorly feel a little better today.

llfl enjoy your last day in the Italian Lakes. Lake Orta is interesting.

Have the best day you can everyone.

Good morning from Cornwall where it's dry and warm and sun is forecast. I spent a lot of yesterday in my cottage hospital waiting room with four lovely ladies, all of whom had hurt their ankles. We chatted as strangers do when thrown together and I discovered that one of them was at school with my daughter. Eventually my turn came and a nurse removed the skin from the sole of my foot. Ouch.

I asked her if she knew why I couldn't move when the accident happened. She told me about the fear, flight and freeze reaction. I knew all about the first two but not the last. She described how once she'd watched her son heading towards danger and froze, unable to help. Anyway I now know why I stood helpless in the puddle. I like to make sense of things.

I'm going to have to lie low until Friday when I see our surgery nurse for the next dressing change. It's just too ouchy (as my son used to say) to walk outside. I hope to finish my patchwork jeans today. They'd better look wonderful as I bought them for £1 and spent £75 on the sewing workshop learning how to reconfigure them. I will post a photo of them but they're not exactly haute couture, more haute hippy.

Talking of which, I loved the Sewing Bee last night. What brilliant finalists.

Good morning from a chilly but bright and sunny Torbay where the condensation on the cars tells us that Autumn isn’t far away.

Yesterday, I found little to do at Props because the others were sorting out rugs, most of which were too heavy for me to lift. Nevertheless, I found a few other members in the building to chat with and we had a steady stream of people coming in to buy tickets for the Agatha Christie play being staged this week. It promises to be a sell out on current trends. It is the week of the Agatha Christie Festival in Torbay so our offering of one of her plays is always well supported. This time it’s The Mirror Cracked which I haven’t seen before.

Happy hump day. 🦩💐🦩🥰🦩

That does sound ouchy, Marzipan! You’re being very stoic! Sending healing vibes. 🥰

Good morning from s somerset, a slow and steady sliding down of temperature, very pleasant weather again today

A bit of sewing last night and then followed by a good sleep. I had to make myself stop sewing and this new dressing gown of mine is almost finished. The pattern is very easy but the fabric is difficult and hard on the machine, I broke a needle within the first five minutes. It is an upcycled cotton waffle blanket and needs the walking foot, also edges need finishing while single fabric, with the knife out of action on the overlocker. The needle broke during the test on a doubled scrap

A lovely easy day yesterday and today I will be getting the bus to Specsavers, to collect my new glasses. I meet some nice people on my bus journeys and always there are interesting conversations at the bus stops

Good morning everyone from a bright and sunny 🌞Northampton, a mainly dry day ahead, but may get the odd shower.
Up early because I am expecting a Waitrose delivery from 8am.

Yesterday I was like a whirling dervish trying to finish all my household jobs before cataract surgery tomorrow; cushion covers replaced, downstairs swept and vacuumed, all hard floors washed, then upstairs with the Shark to do the same, also doing the staircase as well on the way back down.
Then I had a quick lunch and went out to cut the front grass.

Late afternoon yesterday I went down to my rugby club for their open day; lots of improvements made to the outdoor social area where fans mingle before a game; more space, new tarmac, a few more food trucks and bars, lots more seating, a lot of it under cover. We were given food vouchers to spend on the evening - I went for a Mexican food bowl which was very tasty/spicy.
Then into the stadium where we watched a club training session and a short game. I got talking to the lady next to me and discovered we had several things in common. Players were then available afterwards for photos and autograph signing. As it was getting dark then I headed towards the bus stop where I didn't have to wait too long. Sat and enjoyed the 7Up programme

My only tasks today are to deal with the cats' litter tray and put the bins out.

Late afternoon DS-in-law will pick me up to go over to theirs, as DD is hosting our ladies wine evening. I will stay overnight and then DS-in-law will take me to the clinic for my surgery in the morning. Then home with an eye shield on after hopefully successful surgery!

Wishing all a pleasant Wednesday, and a slightly less frantic one for me!

Greyduster I am very sorry about your neighbour, similar happened her over 3 years ago, out of the blue, a lovely male neighbour had a stroke and three years later is still in a care home, he is feeling very frustrated. His house had to be sold

I hope the healing is quick Marzipan