Weekly Chat, Sunday, March 14

Hungarian Vizla is Crufts winner. All the finalists were great but I particularly liked the Scottish Terrier from Russia which came second.

I am slightly horrified at the intrusion of Streetview, never thought they'd come along my lane... but they did.  The postman was there at the time, and my neighbour is putting her washing out.  Ideal for prospecting burglars, I would have thought.

Just took this screenshot at WV Richmond high rise falcon cam:

Busy day – both got loads done – even sowed some salad in the cold frame!  Some shrubs and perennials have definitely passed away in the winter, others have been trimmed and left to see what happens – but amazed at some which have survived.  Apart from having grass which is a pale ochre shade (I believe it will come green from the roots if we feed and scarify it), most of the plot looks like a garden again.  We are expecting complaints in the morning as OH has pruned the Chaffinches’ Lavetera bush!  I hope everyone who celebrated Mothering Sunday had a good time.  I had a card from Dau#1, a phone call from Son to tell me he will be posting a card he made with his young people at work last night – and I shall probably get a card from Dau#2 tomorrow, because she always posts late!  We feel quite sorry for our family in March, as we also have both our birthdays two weeks apart.

HeatherB – so glad your Daughter heard from her husband – hope your Grandson doesn’t suddenly regret not taking the opportunity to talk to him.

Annette – our childhood fried bread was done in whatever meat dripping was handy – but bacon dripping is best!  Haven’t had any for years, but loved “dripping butties” made with pork dripping – although I didn’t know them as butties until we moved to Lancashire!  All that Cholesterol!!

Alan – I notice the (Scottish) Osprey sighting at Bassenthwaite is not on the Birdguides site – where did you find it?  Great Falcon pic in Richmond WV.

Diane – I hope you are feeling somewhat better by now – but still take care.  I haven’t had time to watch the trucker yet!

Terry – I thoroughly share your view about Street View – I am sure there are many inner city and suburban areas where it will help wrongdoers to plan getaway routes.

Unknown said:

I am slightly horrified at the intrusion of Streetview, never thought they'd come along my lane... but they did.  The postman was there at the time, and my neighbour is putting her washing out.  Ideal for prospecting burglars, I would have thought.

Terry, we've had Street View in Australia for quite some time now, and there was a lot of shock/horror at what some people saw as invasion of privacy.  As Google point out, on every screen shot there is provision to contact Google if you are unhappy about faces, insides of houses, etc being visible.  Google will, as promptly as possible, blank our or cover the offending bits for you.  They do audit their own photos, but with the billions of photos involved with Street View, it could take a long time for the photos to be edited unless the problem ones are pointed out to them.

With the first photos that were taken of our street, our garage doors, and those of our neighbour, were open.  Neither of us saw any harm in this, as nothing was visible in the dark interiors.  Actually, we were all ov the opinion that anything in plain sight from the public area of the road or foot path was fair game, so we did not notify Google.  However, some time later we noticed that there were completely new photos, with a white shape, matching the shape of our neighbour's garage front placed across it, while our garage, some distance off and in deep shade, had just been darkened off into oblivion!  I'm just hoping that some time soon they take fresh photos of North Adelaide, as the shot of the place where my father was born has a big white truck in front of it!  ;-)

Evening all: Got a lot of weeding done today - and had to water a couple of the shrubs that have all-day sunshine.   Watched Phoebe off and on, there appears to be a crack or something like that on the left egg and saw that Trucker dude is parked at a motel until tomorrow when he's on the move again.  Had a sit in the garden and watched a hawk silently gliding back and forth overhead; referred to my Sibley's guide and it seemed like a good match for a red-tailed, but not really sure. And now - the ironing!  Ta da!

I didn’t get back yesterday as planned –a loooooooooong phone chat with Dau#2 and oops it was time for tea. The engagement party went well. I behaved myself and circulated as per D's instructions. Although I’m not sure if I spoke to everyone once or spoke to one-third three times. LOL.

Diane - Oh no, not unwell again. I wish you a speedy recovery. I’d send you a cheery photo of my red gladioli, but you would only get the dreaded white square, so you will have to imagine it.

Ospreys are near - I can feel the excitement on these pages.

Continuing SA history . . . Concern about Russian expansion in the 1870s led to plans for a defence system. In SA three forts were planned, connected by Military Road built behind the coastal dunes, to protect Port Adelaide. Fort Glenelg was never built. Today Fort Largs is the Police Academy. Fort Glanville’s military role ended in 1901 and it has since been used for various purposes (military detention, ammunition store, Depression accommodation, Boy Scout HQ) and is now a tourist attraction. A Torpedo Station was located in the Port River. The cruiser "Protector" was built in 1884. In 1900 this boat was despatched to assist the British forces in the Boxer Uprising in China. However they arrived too late for action.

Australia assisted the British Empire in the Boer War in South Africa 1899-1902. Some men served in mounted units raised by the six colonies, others also joined British or South African colonial units in South Africa. Recruiting was also done in Australia for units already in South Africa, such as the Scottish Horse. Harry ‘Breaker’ Morant enlisted with the SA Mounted Rifles.

Hi all and thanks for various pics, chat etc. Probably sounding like a broken record but weather here still same: night temps -12C and now (9.30) -4C but sun is shining beautifully. Sunrise 6.40 sunset 18.23. Off to mom`s today so nice driving conditions.

Just can`t wait the LG cam to start!!!

Have nice day everybody!

Thanks, night people, and good morning, day people.  I wonder how much Annette’s ironing pile has reduced?  No sign of Diane – she must still be snuggled up with mugs of her special tea!  AQ – pleased the party went well – any comments from Daughters about your hair?  Auntie – hope you are having a good day with your Mum – is she a long drive away?

It was mild and cloudy, sun now breaking through.  Shopping mission to Dumfries today –- see you later.