Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), Sunday 04 August 2013

HAPPY NEW WEEK!

Last week's Weekly Chat thread is HERE.

The code for this new week's thread is WC040813 (in case you ever need to search for it from the search box).

  • Mulberry - Love the bubblewrap stories. You definitely have a knack for storytelling!

  • bjane - nice to see you again! Thanks to all for your pics, posts and stories. Always enjoyed, this is the first place that I look each day. Diane - Thank goodness that everything is OK and that the tree has gone. Like others, I can understand the feelings involved but your safety and that of your home is paramount. We have huge (to us) eucalyptus that must go, simply because it is too big for our small suburban garden. I rather think that our neighbours will be glad when the deed is done--- My OH is incorrigible. Despite waiting for a cardiac perfusion scan he WILL NOT STOP working. He popped outside at 4pm telling me that he was just going to do a bit of pruning. HA!! When I next looked he was up a ladder, chopping and pruning a full sized cherry tree. I give up. Take care all
  • aquilareen said:

    My mother said "lick & a promise" too. Diane's tale of weeding a snake reminds me of another saying - "mad as a cut snake". And then there is "mad as a meat axe". I think the last is Aussiespeak.

    Here, if someone is very angry, he or she is "mad as a wet hen". Apparently, even after the eggs are removed, a chicken may continue to sit on an empty nest. So farmers would dunk the hen in water a couple of times, which would reset the hen's biological clock. She would react angrily but would begin producing eggs again. (Poor hen!) I think that's the origin of the expression. My Mom used it often.
    AQ: I've heard both of your expressions used in my family, though. I think this area has some Aussie expressions left over from when Australians came here to work in the coal mines. My great-grandfathers were both coal miners early in their lives, so my family would have picked up that language.
    Back later, all.
  • Good evening, all!  We got back from Wales this afternoon - I've just been through my pictures and I'm delighted at how well this one came out:

    Isn't he gorgeous?  We went to a red kite feeding session near Aberystwyth and it was just amazing.

    Our herring gulls are red listed birds.  Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.

  • CLARE  Love Red Kites. See quite a lot in this area.

    All this talk of white peaches has me wondering, are we talking about white flesh peaches? M&S and others have the choice of white or yellow flesh peaches. For me the yellow wins every time

  • dibnlib, I also love yellow peaches but cannot forget a wonderful dessert we had in Normandy a few years ago . Sweetest of sweet white peaches poached in peach liqueur served with raspberries and a proper vanilla ice cream, seeds and all. I tried to replicate it when we got home, but the peaches just weren't as sweet. I think that the ones we buy are often picked before they are fully ripe, so that they don't get damaged in transit.
  • Good to hear from you again, bjane:  glad all is OK with you, although you are busy.

    Clare:   What a cracking picture of the Red Kite - sounds as if you have enjoyed yourselves.

    Another hilarious story from mulberry!!  Laughed  a lot at that one!!  Give NiteOwl a hug from me!

    We have had a visit to the Vets:  Buzz has been drooling a little, and off his food a bit (unusual as he is usually so greedy). He has also had very bad breath recently, although I put that down to his advanced age and the fact that the last time he had a check up, the vet said his teeth were getting rather a lot of plaque.   Anyway, we were concerned so took him down for a vet to take a look at him.  They are always amazed at his condition for his age, which they know roughly as he has been on their computer since year 2000, when we got him.  But when she looked into his mouth, she found a growth inside his cheek which needs removing:  its in a difficult place for them to take a biopsy so it was decided that rather than give him a week of antibiotics and then still not be sure, it would be best for him to go in and have it removed. He is now down on the list for Friday, so we are glad its not long to wait.

  • Mulberry – did you see the Fortingall Yew when you were in Scotland? Part of Perthshire’s “Big Tree Country”, along with the Birnham Oak, Dunkeld Larch and the Birks of Aberfeldy, etc. You settled a “discussion” in our house, because I always say bubbles inside and OH says bubbles outside!

    Linda - I got caught out by the forecast again – showers, they said, so washing hung in the bathroom and it was a lovely dry day!

    AQ – good that LM was able to enjoy an unexpected visit and a muddy time with Grandpa, and still has the botanic Garden to look forward to! Pleased you had a good day in the library again.

    Bjane – good to hear from you again; pleased you are keeping well. You sound awfully busy!

    Heather – much better that your OH is keeping busy than moping around waiting to hear from the hospital – not sure ladders would be recommended though!

    Clare – beautiful Red Kite photo! Did you get to Dyfi?

    Dibnlib – I really don’t like peaches at all – it’s the texture of the flesh which puts me off.

    Linda – so sorry about poor old Buzz. Pleased the vet decided to go for the immediate operation option – a worry for you, but best to get it over soon. Will be thinking of you all.

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • Must admit OG I've not seen the Scottish old trees, at least not knowingly. We do have a very old tree around here, Major Oak in Sherwood Forest. But that is only around 1000 years old, a mere sapling!

    Great pic Clare - You are seeing some great sights this summer, what with the dolphins and now this trip.