Here I am, awaiting the snow machine to crank up again Sunday afternoon. Expecting 8 to 12 inches new snow on top of 3 or 4 we still have from last storm. Oh bother! Can you tell I'm not very enthused?????
So to pick up from the last of our thread:
Annette: Do tell us how the Pale Male movie was, please.
Some fascinating new news on the Peregrine Falcon front from Derby Cathedral (it's snowing there as I watch at 11:15 p.m. Chicago time) where they've finally let us in on the secret hinted at in the blog from last month.
http://derbyperegrines.blogspot.com/
I believe I'm off for the night now. Happy Sunday to all!
Thanks, Caerann, for setting us off on another word journey.
Diane & OG – Dau#2 enjoys the Fringe but she was complaining about the high prices of some events. When it began quite a lot was free. So much of it seems to be the eccentric, the experimental, the wayout. I find most things these days are so LOUD that I don’t enjoy them. (When we went to grand-dau’s combined school choir, I stuffed cotton wool in my ears. The child comperes YELLED into the microphones and the singing was amplified too loud.) Also I have trouble walking (arthritic knees) so that makes getting to and fro rather slow. Poor old crock!!!!
Auntie – I did try to send the sun your way. It just won’t co-operate. Cooler today but humid so it doesn’t feel much better.
So Aussieland won a gold medal at the Olympics. Poor girl had to repeat her run 6 times the other night. And there were no other competitors. Oh, I see, that’s just our Aussie one-eyed TV presenters replaying the same thing over and over and over and . . .
Continuing SA history . . . Officials in London were not pleased with Governor Gawler’s spending. When government funds were exhausted, he was criticised. Governor Grey arrived on the same ship as Gawler’s recall. Grey cut spending, cut salaries & wages, dismissed many. Assisted passages were suspended, so migration almost ceased.
Luckily for Grey, copper was discovered at Kapunda (about 50 miles north of Adelaide) in 1842. This was Australia’s first copper mine. Then in 1845 shepherds found copper at Burra Burra (90 miles north). The distant areas of the colony were occupied by pastoral leases with shepherds tending flocks of sheep. As Burra was located beyond the surveyed areas, regulations required that land could only be purchased in blocks of 20,000 acres and Grey required the full purchase price of £20,000 to be paid in gold.
With less than 20,000 inhabitants, no group or bank in the colony could find enough cash. Eventually two groups, nicknamed the Nobs (large capitalists) and the Snobs (shopkeepers, merchants, tanners, ironmongers, etc) combined and raised the cash. They did not agree to work together but drew lots. The Nobs drew the southern section which did not produce much copper. The Snobs drew the section containing what became known as the "Monster Mine".
Hey A.Q! Nice to see you online and I'm enjoying all the SA history, btw!
We need another web cam to watch, right? How about one that is for a Kingfisher(s) then?!? I happened across this while looking for the de Mortel Peregrines and the film clips are just delightful! I believe there is only one male Kingfisher but the site is Dutch so I'm totally lost other than with the photos and clips.
Please be sure to watch the 25th June clip entitled "Druk, druk, druk" with the most beautiful birdsong being sung in the background while the Kingfisher bathes and bobs his head and tail. Such a beautiful, fairytale-like scene!
http://www.beleefdelente.nl/ijsvogel
Hi All. Thanks Caerann for getting us started. A Chat Extravaganza no less!! Can I rise to the occasion? Not tonight. The Legend of Pale Male was wonderful - it's a new (2009) film by Frederic Lilien, the Belgium filmmaker who produced Pale Male for PBS back in '04. It chronicles the story of Pale Male (the indisputable star of the film) and his various mates, but also the people whose lives became intertwined with the birds with such amazing results. I'll probably be more coherent in the morning, but tired and heading for bed now. Take care all.
Morning all. Not sure if this weather can be described as extravaganza but extremely unpleasant it sure is. Temp -21 snowing and hard wind which adds some 10 to 15 degrees.... But enough of my weather, I`m having a day off (actually all week) so I can stay indoors and will be popping in and out here all week long!
Annette, I think you fly around so energetically during your days so absolutely can`t have energy to fly in your dreams LOL
my photos in flickr
Here is a story about an osprey in distress. Sad outcome. See http://www.dunedinospreycam.com/index.php?pagecontent=Osprey+Photos&user=9&adcode=159
Tiger Signature
Annette –pleased you enjoyed Saturday’s breezy walk – and hot chocolate. Glad the film was as good as you hoped.
Caerann – thanks for starting us off on the new week. Well, Dianne told us you would be in the path of snow – and here it comes – take care! We’ve just had a few flakes drifting down, but it gave up – that may mean it will come later, but our forecast is actually rain. Really intriguing story from Derby Peregrines – thanks – and enjoyed the Dutch Kingfishers too.
AQ – do agree about loudness of performance these days – and my arthritis also leads to a really uncomfortable evening if we go to G-Daughs’ school shows, so I never really enjoy them. Thanks for continuing the history of SA. I thought Snob was an alternative name for Cobbler/Shoemaker.
Auntie – do stay warm indoors!
Tiger – sad Osprey story – just one of so many casualties.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Morning All. Woke up to a White Winter Wonderland today, we were surprised as we thought it would just be frosty. Snow is about 4" deep.
Was supposed to be having a busy day yesterday, but after completing boring food Shopping Mission first thing, sat on the sofa most of the day under a blanket, as I seem to have a temperature. Bit of a headache & limbs ache a bit, but otherwise no other nasty symptoms, so am hoping it is going to go away soon.
Husband has gone on errand to visit his sister, to do some DIY for her. I darn't go in case I give the germ to her, and she is going away for a weeks holiday soon. Alan: Yes, he was a bit disgusted with his teams performance yesterday, after all, they spend enough money on the 'best' players, don't they? !
Annette: Glad to hear you enjoyed the film, but not surprised given the content. (I'm so jealous!!)
Will spend today pottering now, with three layers of clothes on to stop shivering. We go away ourselves (abroad) soon for a while, so have to pack some stuff for warmer climes. Have a Good Day All, & keep warm! except for AQ of course, but especially auntie!
Have just been reading back on the threads to catch up. Thanks to Alan for the clips & links (cute baby osps!) & well done to Sue C for spotting the bird up on Chichester Cathedral tower. Sorry to hear that little Sassy did not live, but we were expecting that sort of outcome as she was obviously not thriving. Wonder if that's why Hummingbirds have several clutches of eggs a year, if they are hard to rear?
Lindybird - enjoy your Winter Wonderland - from inside the windows! Sorry about the shivers and aches - take care and get well soon for your holiday.