Friday Smiles 2026 # Week 3

Strange how it took me ages to get used to writing 2025, but somehow 2026 seems quite natural. And as usual we seem to be hurtling in to it, so I have little news this week, but still have a few smiles to share.

On Sunday I went to church again and this time the full choir were there after their New Year break, so we enjoyed some good music. When I got home our son Jonathan came round to collect a shoe rack we did not need and he did, so it will be well used. 

I usually have my alarm set for 8.00 though it is half an hour earlier on days when the builders are coming. But on Tuesday we were up even earlier. Chris had a phone call to be at Shrewsbury Hospital for some tests, first thing, so our son Mike picked him up on his way to work. As I opened the curtains dawn was just breaking and the sky had a straight line drawn across it and with the grass white with frost, it looked lovely.

I saw Chris off (I stayed home to see the plasteres who were coming in to work on the utility area), and then got my breakfast. By the time I sat down to eat it the sky was red and my whole room glowed.

Sadly it soon disappeared and we had a chilly, drizzly day, but at least I was up to enjoy the sunrise first.

They didn't get all of Chris' tests done so they kept him in overnight, and after tea, Mike drove me over there with his pjs, washing kit and medicines. Fortunately they did the main test the next day and eventually he came home. He has to wait for a date for one more test and will see the consultant the first week in February, so they are getting things moving now.

As I was on my own all day I had a long video chat with my sister in the afternoon and we had a good catch-up.

When I went out on Wednesday I saw how much my spring bulbs are growing. I put all sorts of bulbs in very randomly in the front garden and in between the pansies in the planters under the window. I saw a few shoots on the day it snowed, but now that has all melted away, I can see they are growing fast.

Then I walked through the park and spotted my first snowdrop. Such delicate little flowers but so resilient in the winter weather.

The plasterers did an excellent job in the utility, and soon all the discoloured walls and old brickwork was boarded and skimmed, so it is ready to be tiled and/or painted. Today the builder was back and he has spread a levelling compound on the floor so tomorrow it will be dry and he can lay the tiles on the floor and start on the plumbing and a little bit of woodwork and next week the cupboards and machines will go in.

And finally here is a true promise of Spring. I treated myself to a small bunch of tight daffodil buds on Wednesday, and look at them now. Aren't they lovely. I know they won't last long in our centrally heated room but they were only £1, so I can afford to replace them quite often. They make me smile every time I look at them.