Good Morning Wednesday 26th August 2026

Good morning Michael and all GNs from South Yorkshire where it is still dark. The forecast is for a dry day and a wet evening.

Yesterday I had a difficult morning but dragged myself into town in the afternoon just to get out of the house. It was a mistake, even though I bought a new sweater from Marks and a book from Waterstones, and took in an art exhibition at one of our galleries I couldn’t wait to get back home, and felt ill and exhausted all evening.

Today I have writers group at the library and will do a bit of shopping at the mall before I come home.

Have the best day you can, folks.

Good morning from Bristol. It’s still dark and very gloomy due to thick cloud. The thunderstorms forecast are not until tomorrow, and only up to 50% chance of rain. Curiously, the night time temperatures have risen while the day one are much lower.
Yesterday was quiet, I went into the fabric shop and got some pleasant nautical fabric. The only one I saw was scarlet and very colourful, not at all the calming blues and greens I had imagined. I put a picture of a few blocks.
The rest of the day was quiet. It’s been a very solitary fortnight.
DGD has invited me to lunch. It’s the first time I’m seeing her since the end of her exams; I’ve seen the rest of the family once since the end of July.
Being FAB Cafe, and the day we have a meeting with Teflon, it has required some juggling and calling in favours.
The Teflon meeting is going to be a corker if it goes to plan and he isn’t platitudinous, or passes the buck tone of the infinite other areas. The painting which was due to take 10 weeks isn’t even half way, and really badly done; scaffolding is all over the place, unused as we haven’t had painters for nearly a month, etc. and that’s before we start with the empty manager’s house…
I was saddened to read of Dolly Parton’s death. She was an amazing woman.
Have a good day all. Carpe diem 🦩🦩🦩🦩

Good morning from Malta where it is dark, already 29°C and today’s high is forecast to reach 43°C.

Walked to the dentist yesterday for my 6 monthly check up. All good, didn’t even need a clean so I was very relieved. Only cost €50 for the x-rays so my bank account was happy as well!

Took myself for a coffee and was sitting scrolling through Gransnet when my phone rang. It was the delivery man with my bottled water and I had forgotten to put my empty bottles out.

I rushed back home, soaked with sweat as it was scorching by then. Phoned the delivery man and he came back with my water. A really pleasant young man from India.

I had changed my clothes and was sitting down to cool off when DD3 messaged to say she was going to do her shopping and would I like to join.

I didn’t need anything but went anyway and enjoyed the company. The boys were at summer school so we were able to chat! Needless to say, I came out with two bags of shopping including two pots of petunias which will probably die in this heat!

No plans for today. I love the heat but when it’s over 40°C I don’t go out unless it’s absolutely necessary.

Thanks for the lovely comments about Phoebe yesterday. I shall look forward to meeting her in November when DD3 and the boys will join me for a trip to Bulgaria.

Wishing you all a good day.☀️

Good morning from a dark,dry NE.
Been awake since 4am, my sleep pattern is getting ridiculous.
Yesterday my hairdresser came and we chatted, her DS got A* for his Al levels and will be going to Newcastle University. I have had the same hairdresser since she first qualified but now she comes to the house.
Sister and BIL will visit today and we will go shopping.
Have a good day.

Good morning from s somerset, still warm, cloudy but no rain in the forecast

I need to potter, starting with a quick sort of my tall freezer, I have space that I intend to fill with batch cooking of meal components. I will be making tomato/garlic/onion/basil sauce today and have been soaking cannellini beans overnight, ready to cook for freezing

Sewing is still calling me so I will take advantage and get the 12 buttonholes made, last hurdle to finishing my dress toile. I did an hour sewing yesterday and almost dropped my iron, caught by my wrist and hand and my skin burnt. I had to use the burn gel which I always keep in my fridge, one of those items that you never need until you need it, the burn took all evening to fade the pain but it is fine now, not even a mark. It was instinct to catch the hot iron

A walk around town is on the cards today and I might get some knitting done this afternoon

Good morning from South Lanarkshire. The sky is beautiful, streaked with shades of pink.

Yesterday morning I met a couple of friends for coffee in the next little town then went to on a bit further to Lidl, which we don’t have locally, for some shopping as I was out anyway. The excitement of a new supermarket.

Last night our yarn group removed our summer display from the town centre. The next one will be the poppies but we are a much depleted group now and I fear that we are not able to produce as much as we used to.

No plans today.
I hope you feel better greyduster.

Wishing everyone the best day possible

Good morning, good morning Micheal and all GN's at long long last! and hurrah hurrah!! It has been infuriating, and driven me quite mad, as I firstly had some problems with my laptop, which decided to move the page sideways, which it then would not let me reset. so I could do emails after a fashion, but couldnt get onto GN. I then had to wait until my techie genius could sort it, and even he said that although he finally managed to deal with it, he had no idea really what he had done to change it and didnt recognise it as a common fault.

So after much faffing around I lugged it home yesterday and sat down to catch up on news and views and so forth. Grr! Grr! ##### ! It then allowed me to read some posts, but had me locked out. I gave up until this morning and have just spent the last 40 minutes, including changing passwords and all sorts, but at last the prodigal GNer has returned!!! Missed you all and so today will have much to read and write in between doing jobs. So I am glad to be back.

The sky is getting a little lighter now and the branches of the tree are standing out against the sky. I can see slight movements , so a bit of a breeze, no rain. Yesterday it was quite a blissful day weather wise, as it was warm enough to be out in a T shirt and trousers off on the yellow peril, but that real sense of autumn warmth. Comfortable to move around in, but that different sense of the heat, and we are already having a few leaves dropping and gardens certainly looking as though they are now in autumn mode. I do love that time but oh dear it should be the end of september before we start that. Winters always drag out and seem long to me but this year we will have an even longer one, and that sense that autumn is here already and the children are not back at school yet!!

So , to bring you up to date , with my saga of woe and happenings. I think we had got up to where I went off to the drs to get something done about this cellulitis. Anyway I spent most of friday toing and froing and trying to get medication etc etc., but finally did get the antibiotics and started taking them. My leg had swollen even more, was painful, and this also meant that I was not walking in a normal manner, so my back(never good at the best of times ) started to complain and add to the misery.

Got home rather exhausted and just could not face dealing with the defrosting freezer, So that now means that my friends dog is going to be delighted. Given my rather precarious state of health at the moment, and mutterings about taking care - watching out for signs of sepsis from surgery, I dare not risk taking a chance on food having defrosted and re frozen or meals that I had already cooked and frozen. So I will just have to bite the bullet and get rid of it all, and my friends doberman Dolly, who is very well behaved and controlled properly by my friend, will think it is her birthday as she devours pork chops and my precious small joint of lamb!! Ah well , tomorrow the cleaners come, and I will be able to get them to give it a good clean, and check that it is now working ok and then slowly restock. It is a combined fridge/freezer and was here when I moved in, and built in. At my last home I had a big tall freezer with shelves and it worked well for me, as when I was well enough and my back not too bad I would have a day of baking and so forth, get a big amount of best steak mince when on offer. Then I would divide it up into 3. One lot made into bolognaise sauce, one into beef curry, and one into my own version of savoury mince. Then I would pack them into containers some for a double amount, some for a single amount and hey presto efficient annie! I could combine one of each size to have the right amount for the family, a single amount gave me some choices when I couldnt stand etc, and even if I had pernickity visitors , or a friend of my son was having a meal and didnt like something I was like a cafe and could offer a choice of three .Just what I wanted to be able to make life simpler etc. Well the problem here is it is a smaller kitchen with things built in so even if I thought it was worth forking out for a bigger freezer to suit my way of working, I cant really see where I could put it.

Anyway the food situation had to be put to one side, and I have really been struggling. The medication did not seem to be having much success and my leg swelled even more, which of course in turn, added problems to my back and movement. So even less sleep, and I literally could not manage to even walk into shops, but when I went for my bread, I had to wait outside the bakers and as the door opened for someone , call in and ask them to bring me one to the buggy. They are very helpful and happy to do it, but I just feel so frustrated . I try not to show how little I can do, and on bad days, dont go out, but had no choice.

So all in all , with the hassle of my leg, little sleep, and no GN.s or even ordinary emails, an inability to go and see anyone and jobs piling up that I just cant manage at the moment the laptop episode was the last straw. So never mind I am slowly getting back into control. I am already more than half way through the antibiotics and my leg is not getting any worse, but doesnt look much better either, so not sure that this one lot will be enough, once I am not taking any more , it might flair up again. Ah well cross that bridge when I come to it.

My halo has brightened a bit, as not being able to spend hours on here and having to try and sit with my leg up etc etc., I have cleared up quite a bit of paperwork, but there is still quite a bit that needs sorting still. It has been a way of letting off steam, as I have enjoyed ripping up letters quite viciously, muttering words about my present situation whilst I do it. Today I need to take it steady and not try to do too much, it is market day so I think I shall be an early bird on the buggy. Then I am happy that I plan to go to the whist drive tonight. Need to look out for my small torch now though, as the nights are darker as you come out from anything.

I am trying to organise a meet up with my son and family asap, as havent seen them for a while and my grandson is moving from junior school to senior school so a big change for him and the family. It is a lot for any child to have that move, but my grandson is autistic, and so change is difficult for him anyway, so quite a big pressure for him and of course my son and daughter in law will be trying to help him in the best way they can, but will be a bit tense as they are aware of the strain it will be to settle in.

So before all this hassle I had planned to go over and to take him out for a day just with me. I had wanted to drive the route the bus will take , and give him a chance to see what the journey is going to be like and then planned to take him for lunch somewhere he liked for a treat etc. Sadly I havent even been able to do that and the days are passing so quickly. It doesnt seem five minutes since I was getting my son ready for the chance, and hunting for wide fitting clarks shoes , and cursing sewing labels into pe kit etc My son will be 51 on 8 september. Surely I cant have a son that old??

Well I am in desperate need of a good cup of coffee, and some breakfast so I will do that, look at the news and hear my beloved J S Bach at 6.55am to set up the day in a positive way. Then I shall be able to read your posts not only from today, but for the last couple of days to hopefully catch up with all your doings.

I hope you have all been well and that your plans have been going well. Looking in the radio times, I expect that Mick has been having a field day with the various cycling races, and not sure but I think there is either a tour de yorkshire,or a tour of england coming to somewhere near here soon.

Wishing you all a good day and for those off early on a day out, hope the weather is pleasant. Only another couple of weeks and the sigh will be going up all over Britain, as the children all go back to school and grandparents everywhere can meet up with friends, sink into a comfortable seat in a cafe and have a peaceful and restful coffee. There will be time to get the leaflets out and see what courses and clubs are starting up a new year and in my case see enough things I want to do that would need a bank loan to pay for, and I would be out every day of the week. That has to be whittled down to a more manageable amount and of course, the one that you really want to do is on a day that you are not available!!

Very sad news that the lovely Dolly Parton has died. I am not a great country and western fan in general, but sing a few songs in that genre , but of course the wonderful Jolene, and 9 to 5 and coat of many colours and so many many others are songs I sing and have heard her sing so many times. She was a very intelligent and lovely person. Not only did she write many songs besides singing them, she knew exactly what she was doing with her style of dress etc., and by george, she turned the tables on people who thought she was a "dumb blonde" A genuine decent person too, who gave so much to support children learning to read and gave a lot to the research into the vaccine for Covid. She is a shining light, to see the poor background she came from, and how it shows you that with grit and determination you can make your way in the world despite circumstances and people trying to put you down. RIP Dolly, I have your music in my head and will be singing them today and thinking of you and your family.

Time for that coffee, will be back later

Good morning, heavy cloud here in south Glos, no rain forecast until perhaps the early hours of tomorrow and only a 21% chance then 🙄
My SIL arrived bearing cottage pies and cakes, she really is a very thoughtful person and great company.
We sat and chatted for several hours, a very nice way to spend the morning.
I didn’t sleep well for no particular reason, exasperating but no big deal.
I will have bloods taken this morning for kidney function, then I guess I’ll be told the next steps for renal failure 🤷🏼‍♀️
There’s an Ocado shop coming midday, enough to keep us fed for two weeks so that’s good.
Sending best wishes x
🌹

Good morning from a moist Torbay where the dampness on the cars makes it seem quite autumnal. We had a few showers yesterday afternoon.

I hope you’re feeling better today, Greyduster.

It is sad to read of Dolly’s demise but what a legacy of music and charitable works!

Yesterday it was busy at the theatre where we have a new set builder leading the team as they prepare to construct a set for the Agatha Christie play next month, having taken down the set for our last production.

Happy hump day, everybody!
🦩🥰🦩💐🦩

Good morning all from a dull Black country where we have had overnight rain.
Today we are booked on the Churnet Valley railway for lunch so no cooking and a pleasant few hours on the steam train.
Have the best day you can everyone whatever your plans, will catch up with your happenings later.😎.

Good morning all from a dullish North Leicestershire.

Up and going early as our cleaner is coming and doing a double session and the gardener is coming for the first time for ages.

A friend is coming for a catch up this afternoon.

Have the best day possible everyone.

Good morning from Wiltshire. Weather seems very uncertain for today.

Today is our last day of childcare before GD3 and GS2 return to school into Year 4 and Year 1 next Tuesday. The family have been away on a 5 day break in Devon.

GD3 will be 8 on Friday. She is the youngest (and smallest) in her year group. GS2 was 5 in April and is one of the tallest in his year. There is little between them now.

Went to the N.T. Courts garden in Holt yesterday as it was very warm. Unfortunately, the many apple trees in the orchard have failed and stress has caused all the fruit to fall off. We picked up and few from the ground and the tree but all were full of insect holes. I guess it’s a source of moisture for them. Such a shame.

Bellasnana, that kitten is really beautiful. As far as I can ascertain from the photo it has quite large ears and looks like the markings of a Bengal Cat. We used to have one living opposite. Do you know what breed it is?

R&D I’m sorry to hear that your kidneys are not functioning at 100% efficieny. I hope it is temporary.
You sound like you are resting more.

Have a good day everyone. Thunderstorms look likely in the small hours for many.

Good morning all from Polmont where it's currently 14° and cloudy. Quite a bit warmer than the last few days. Madeleine it's good to hear from you. I hope your leg improves.
Yesterday dgs2 ran about playing at tig with his brother and others in the playground before school. A big step forward. I intended to do so much back home but felt a bit unwell, so went for a lie down. After I had picked up the boys, I felt better and they were in good spirits, so that made me lighter. I tidied everything last night which means the house is as it should be this morning.
Today I will go to the school library for a while then home. I have a man to phone to collect stuff from the garden and I might weed. I'm another who was sad to hear about Dolly. She was a superwoman who transcended her humble beginnings and was such a force for good.
Have a good day all.

Photos didn’t go in previous message

Good morning from a wet W Kent. More rain later apparently, I am having a haircut this afternoon so better take an umbrella. Visiting my friend this morning who is still struggling after her foot operation, she knew it would take a while but perhaps not this long.
Spoke to DD1 last night and she is now back in the nursery and still trying to decide about retirement I find it odd to think about her retiring but she is older than I was when I retired.,
Love the fish gM
Madeleine what a difficult time hope the antibiotics really kick in
Best wishes