Thank you for opening up, Bear... I will try a lumberjack coffee. Thank you. 😊

After a few wet, windy and grey days... it feels like spring here today, although I know it won't last. Apparently, the temperature touched 18C/64F yesterday, not far from where I live in the South of England. It is also not far from a record high temperature for December. 😎

PS: This morning, I caught up with reading the Advent competition stories. If you're looking for something "a little" different to read. I do recommend Darksides: The Nativity

With mine in, and 22 competition entries in total (and counting) published. It has given me the chance to enjoy reading, each one... There are already some excellent submissions (in my opinion). 😊

At a guess, it won't be far shy of a hundred entries by the time the competition closes. 🙄

Quote by David_LeRoy

Final score 44-17

And the Rams pulled their starters early in the 4th quarter

Good morning, Rumpee's I wondered what the final score was. I turned off and went to sleep before the start of the 4th quarter. Currently, I'm catching up with the comp. stories. We have up to 21 entries this morning, and I highly recommend reading Kimmi's submission.

A mug of Yorkshire Tea, please, Bear. Thank you. 😊

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Bills won! Watching Rams now! Chiefs tonight!

Rams are on here, too. Touchdown as I type. 😀

Quote by sprite

i thuoght of an idea. it's up for grabs to whoever donates money to a food bank. or... i might just come out of retirement. pondering.

I would love to see you come out of retirement and write another "Ellie." 😜

I have been on and off Lush all day while trying to watch sport and wrap Christmas presents. The weather here has been a bit like me: not sure what to do! But now the clear nights' chill has taken over. 😨

My Advert competition story has been published, and I have one more story to submit this year. That will make it 48 stories in 2025, one more than last year. For 2026, I plan to write a little less; my priority is to write a story in the 4 genres that are needed to obtain an Ominon badge. These are Trans, Supernatural, Medical and Teen, although I have written over 100 Teen stories, and yet, I put them all in the Novel genre. 😳🤣

Bear, can I have a mug of Yorkshire Tea, please? Thank you. Out tomorrow, so I won't be online most of the day. 😊

My Advent competition story has been published. The Sex Days Of Xmas

If nothing else, it is bang on theme. 😜

Quote by Shyexhibitionist

I'm wondering the same thing. Though I'm so childish that I want a badge! Right now my mind is a total blank. (pretty par for the course!)

Well, my slightly tongue-in-cheek story has been submitted. One thing I can say is that it is bang (or banging) on theme, if nothing else. Oh, I'm right with you, Shyexhibitionist. I mainly enter for the badge! 😊 🤣

I am now ready to begin reading and commenting on the other entries. 😀

A cup of Yorkshire Tea, please, Bear. 😊 After a bright, sunny day yesterday, we are back to windy and grey, with rain moving in later. The temp is 10°C / 50°F.

Quote by JamesLlewellyn

If you're in the stock market, my personal recommendation would be to – get out.

Or at least move to a very conservative, defensive posture.

If you want to know more, PM me. It's what I used to do for a living.

I have been wondering about this too. The stock market has been booming this year, and I, too, feel it might go a little wobbly soon... My pension is invested on it. I probably will email my financial advisor and see what he says. I'm getting to that age where it is probably the right time to lock into something more defensive.

I have spent some time today working on a comp. story. Not sure yet about it, or if I will even enter. 🙄😈

Good night from this side of the Atlantic. 😊

I have just dropped into Rumpees for a cup of Yorkshire tea, thanks, Bear. 😊 I am actually drinking that in R/L, so I'm getting the full Rumpee's three-dimensional effect atm.

I'm not sure about the new competition, even with the tight time limit, I expect there will be over 100 entries. 😳😎

Quote by kistinspencil

200

but who's counting?

Congratulations on reaching 200 stories. 😊

I take a pass on Mr Yummy Buns... so girls (and guys), you can have my share. 🙄 😊

Just a pint of the local beer for me, Bear. It is wet and extremely windy here. In the unlikely event we get snow this year, I will take a photo... 😊

An excellent, well-written story, which takes you to a different place, another time. Congratulations on your EP. 😊

Good morning, Rumpees. I was away yesterday, out with family and friends. Flash floods, David, that looked scary. Sorry to hear your car was totalled. 😕

Just a quick coffee, please, Bear or Lion. Thank you. It's a beautiful, bright, and slightly frosty morning here. Not sure what I am doing today... except watching some sport later... 😊

Quote by fuzzy1954

SAY HER NAME:

SARAH BECKSTROM

RIP,

Army National Guard Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, 20 years old, 2 year Army veteran

Sarah, your sacrifice will not be forgotten.

Please join with me in sending prayers to her grieving family and friends.

My thoughts go out to her family and friends. 💔 One thing I can assure you, Fuzzy, is her name, and the tragic events have been widely mentioned on this side of the Atlantic. 😢

Quote by David_LeRoy

I'm sorry both the Lions and Chiefs came up short this week. I'm hoping my Rams fare better.

I've taken a few days away for some emotional healing but Wednesday night I got an unexpected invite to spend the holiday with one of my stepdaughters. Things had been a bit rocky since her mom passed so we had a chance to really put some things to rest.

I'm trying to catch up on some reading today. I'm hoping I'll gain some inspiration to write something myself

Have a pleasant weekend wherever life finds you

That's wonderful to hear, David. 😊

Thank you for finding time to read and comment on my story.

Quote by techgoddess

Drinks on me today, Mr. Bear! I’ll be sure to settle up my tab before the end of the year. I promise! 🥰💋

Thank you for the free drink, Kat. 😊 I'll have a pint of your local beer, please, Bear. Thank you.

The gutter clips I've been waiting on turned up last night, and I managed to clip the last of the outside lights in place this morning.

Later, we walked (parking is a big issue here, too, Kimmi) to our very local Garden Centre, which is currently decked out like a winter wonderland. Maybe not as lavish as you do in the States, but good for the UK. We bought two nutcracker ornaments for our tree, hung them up, and then declared that our Christmas decorations are all complete.

Last night, I did see the end of the Lions game, but the Chiefs game was on too late for me. I'm sorry they both lost. As mentioned before, I tend to loosely follow the Chiefs, as my business colleague and friend was born in Kansas and was an avid fan. 😊

Hugs to everyone...

Thank you, Kat, for your kind message, and thank you, Bear, for opening up, Rumpees. That sounds like positive news about your granddaughter. 😊 A cup of Yorkshire Tea for me, please. I've just been putting the Christmas lights up on the drive side of our house (in the drizzle). I need the tea to warm up. Thank you. 😀

Ah... Heart of Glass, one of my favourite songs... 😊 I also realised that I must be getting older, or my eyesight is not so good, as I noticed the cupcake long before I noticed the beautiful blonde lady drinking coffee! 😳

I have just spent a few hours putting Christmas decorations up, but I need a few more gutter clips to finish outside. The first tree is up, though (we have two)... will finish it all tomorrow. Thank you for the music, Lion... and the cupcake. A strong coffee for me, and of course a second cupcake... I earned it, honest. 😜 Thanks, Lion. 😊

If I'm not in tomorrow, Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends. 😎

If you are looking for a slightly slower-paced story with plenty of depth, a little humour, and maybe something you weren't expecting, why not give "Cash in Hand—5: A Special Date" a try? Or at least go and read the comments this 4-part story has received. The story covers are below.

Here is the link: Cash In Hand 5 - "A Special Date" - Part 1 of 4

Quote by KimmiBeGood

It’s never too early, David! Christmas threw up all over my dwelling last week!

And I have picked out my Christmas avi… that I will switch to on Friday.

Kimmi, you sound like my oldest daughter; she would have them up all year long if her fiancé would let her!

At least I don't have to climb onto the roof, as he does, and put up a Santa Claus and his reindeer. 😳

A Christmas avatar, now that I can do... but it will not appear until December 1st. 😊

Good Morning, Rumpee's,

Question: Is it too early to put up Christmas decorations?

I spent this morning getting out of our loft area, then getting downstairs. It seems to take me longer every year, which either means we keep getting more decorations. I am told not. Or the route is getting longer. Unfortunately not. Or what seems most likely! I'm slowing down... 🙁

Cup of strong coffee, please, Bear, while I ponder on the question.

P.S. In case I don't drop in tomorrow, Happy Thanksgiving to my American friends. Have a good one! 😊

PPS. Drinks are on me... I have just made it to 150 stories here.

I have just had the final part of my latest "Cash in Hand-5" series published. Maybe I raised my game, but I've been surprised by how well the first three parts have been received. I can only hope the members who follow me will like the "slightly" unique way I finish part 4.

As for the future, with CIH 6 and 7 are finished, and in my drafts folder, I will be finishing off the last 3 CIH stories. Then, next year, I will write a story in each of the two genres that I have left to obtain the Ominium Badge.

Here is a link to the first part of CIH 5: Cash In Hand 5 - "A Special Date" - Part 1 of 4

Quote by techgoddess

Heading home today. Had a lovely little break from reality. Just what I needed.

The Lions pulled it out in overtime. Loved that!

Will be catching up on Lush stuff on my drive home. If I missed any stories y’all want me to read, send me a message! 😘

I'm pleased to hear you had a lovely break, Kat. 😊

Bear, thank you for opening up Rumpee's. I'll have a cup of Yorkshire Tea, please.

Yesterday it was an afternoon of watching sport for me.

First football (soccer). The North London derby, that is Arsenal v Tottenham. I'm an Arsenal fan, so I am smiling today, having won 4-1 and then the Las Vegas Grand Prix. It was recorded, having taken place at 4 am in the morning for me.

Lastly, I watched the last quarter of the Bears (your team, James?) vs the Steelers. The Bears won. I was neutral.

Thank you for opening up, Bear. A large mug of Yorkshire Tea for me, please. Thank you. 😊

I hope Kat is enjoying her cruise too and that the weather is warm and pleasant. It's wet and breezy here, which makes it writing weather. I'm hoping the final part of "Cash in Hand-5" is published today, and this evening I'll be watching some sport. Thank you for the tea, Bear. Enjoy the market. 😎

Quote by techgoddess

Thanks Bear!

Enjoying a pre-cruise breakfast this morning. It feels decadent to be focusing on just the two of us. It's been a hot minute.

TGIF all y’all. 😎⚓

Enjoy your cruise, Kevin and Kat. 😎

Quote by David_LeRoy

My nephew and his wife just gave birth to their first chikd, Charlotte. I'm so tempted to list a picture but I know that for good reason, that isn't tolerated on this site.

I've been away

Most of the day monitoring her progress but it sucks having to be so far away.

So, now I'm a great uncle.

What a great day

Congratulations to you, David, and of course, the happy parents. 😊 I have three children, all in their mid-to-late twenties, but I am still waiting to become a grandad. But I am a great uncle (1 x over) thanks to my niece having their first child a couple of years ago.

A cup of your finest Yorkshire Tea, please, Bear. Thank you. 😊

Quote by KimmiBeGood

Hiya, Rumpies

Me lovin’ the cooler weather and even grey skies.

I’m at a crossroads with writing. Trying to decide what to focus on. I deleted my last story here. Just felt like a confusing mess to me. Couldn’t get across what I wanted. Apologies, Kat, for wasting your time modding it. I’ve written so much here, and enjoy readers so much, it’s hard to completely let go.

Anyways, I’m thinking a new comp will come for the holidays. I expect to sit out, but love reading comp entries!

Is there anything we can do to help you, Kimmi, apart from virtual hugs? [: hug:]

P.S. Maybe you could help me make emojis. I tried to do a hug, but failed. 🙄

Quote by techgoddess

I’m going on cruise Friday and will worry about finding a different specialist when I get home.

In the meantime, thanks for all the good vibes. 🥰

Enjoy your cruise, Kat. 😊 There will be more good vibes waiting here at Rumpee's when you return. 😘