Where are you attempting to print from? The message as you wrote it, in the Write window, or are you going to your Sent folder?

The Sent folder may be on a server and there may be a tangible delay before it is updated, which might be why the controls grey out for a time. BTW, how long is "some time after"?

My initial reaction was that the Write window is a special case and most definitely is not wysiwyg and printing from there might be problematic. But having just tried this myself, it seemed happy to print, so I need to rethink that. However the printout doesn't seem to include useful things like addressees and time, date or subject, so is of limited value.

If a mail server is the cause for any delay then maybe you could set Thunderbird to use a local Sent folder (in the Local Folders Account) so it doesn't need to wait for the server. Tools|Account Settings...Copies & Folders

Other options (admittedly rather ugly) are to copy-and-paste the message text into a file and print that, say in Notepad or Write. Or maybe take a screenshot (PrtScr), paste it into Paint and print that.

Thanks Zenos. I usually go to the File-Print menu after pressing Send in the Write window, and waiting for the sending process to complete. The Print and Print preview options are always ghosted (although I think this is a fairly recent development). I then go to the Sent box and open the message, then check File-Print, and it is still ghosted. If I come back later, say 10 minutes or so, it is usually unghosted and ready to print. However the delay is annoying as my wife wants to see what I have sent and I want to assure her the message was transmitted (these messages are, for example, birthday wishes or condolences and result from some discussion between us).

Thanks for your suggestion to use a local Sent folder, I will try that. I have used the cut and paste when desperate, but of course I then have to retype the transmission details which is pretty clunky. I am sure my wife trusts me to send the agreed messages, but as a retired editor and manager I know she appreciates seeing the authentic detail, even though she cannot call it up on a computer any more because of disability.