Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey Topics), 30 March 2014

HAPPY NEW WEEK!

Welcome to all new and returning folks! Nice to see everyone!

Last week's chat thread is here: http://www.rspb.org.uk/community/placestovisit/lochgartenospreys/f/915/p/110807/847720.aspx#847720. The code for this week's thread is WC300314.

Past data would suggest that Odin will arrive this week. Of course, we know that his rival Blue XD is well on his way back.

Today, Sunday, is the New Moon. Today's moon is special for two reasons:  (1) It's the second New Moon in a month, which some folks call a Black Moon or a Blue Moon, and (2) this moon will produce a lunar eclipse on the night of April 14-15 when it becomes full. The lunar eclipse will be partial in the U.K. and total in the U.S.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/total-lunar-eclipse-for-the-americas-on-night-of-april-14-15

I hope everyone has a great spring week!

(Sorry, since I changed computers, I can't make smart/posh links.)

  • Thanks, OG - had a dry day today with occasional sun peeping through and almost no wind. Have done our weeding of the rockery opposite, and went for a seafront walk. Not surprised but sad to see that some of the seafront path has been washed away, where we have often strolled in the past.
  • Nice to get some long posts, but sorry I can' t reply to all. Rita - hope the injection does the trick. Margo - glad you enjoyed J Brown. Diane - please take care!!
  • Hi, all. Just popping in. This post is for Annette, Clare, Limpy and other folk who like the corvids. It's a really nice webcam on a raven nest at Wellesley College (U.S.). It's very good quality.

    www.wellesley.edu/ravencam

  • I take it Margo that is Joe Brown and the Brothers which was the original group - am I right.

    Do hope you enjoy the concert.

    Hope all of you are OK, doing fine here and managed 2 trips to the gymn again this week. Not sure for how long though as the cricket season is almost upon us and OH could be doing some commentary (for the blind) down at our County Ground during the weeks ahead but not sure yet.

    Yes, its term end too down here and Dau is off now for 2 weeks but loads of work to do catching up on doing files for key kids. Mind you, she is hoping to work at least one day in the hols and get paid, she isn't paid when the schools break up.

    By the way, confirmed that we have a new minister at the church I attend and he will be inducted on 21st June - still a bit of a wait but he has to tie up loose ends down in Stevenage where he is the local hospital chaplain.

    How's it going OG with the family tree. Through the miracle of the computer and AncestryUK I am finding branches of the family tree all over the place. Recent finds have been in America.  Fascinating finding out distant relatives and all that.

  • Unknown said:

    Hi, all. Just popping in. This post is for Annette, Clare, Limpy and other folk who like the corvids. It's a really nice webcam on a raven nest at Wellesley College (U.S.). It's very good quality.

    www.wellesley.edu/ravencam

    Aren't they beautiful?  What a fantastic bird to see on a webcam - thank you so much for sharing this!!

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

  • Good Morning - Rain again, here, but we don't mind. Off out for a coffee & shopping later. Sorry to see Sir Bruce is leaving Strictly, but better to go now than later when people start being critical of your performance. Now I have to worry about who they put into the job, as its a crucial part of the show. See that the famous David Letterman is also retiring, in the US after over 33 years was it? He is a shrewd and quick thinking presenter.
  • Just heard about the death of Bob Larbey - love all those old comedies, Ever Decreasing Circles, The Good Life, The Likely Lads etc. He will never be forgotten.
  • We have new neighbours here - right next door we have a couple we already know, who are pleasant enough but the lady is rather how shall I put it - chatty!? Two doors down we have a caravan which has just been sold so we are looking forward to meeting them, as they only arrived here late last night. There are several empty plots here as the whole site is being redeveloped, and changed around, so more changes ahead, but none which affect our end of the property. New lodges are being put on the seafront plots, but they are very expensive as the same sum would buy a nice house here in Wales, where prices tend to be low compared to rest of UK in the main.
  • Diane - thanks for the Ravens - great birds.

    Lynette - quite pleased with the family tree - now adding details on various in-laws.  We have still done better on mine than OH's, apart from his main male line which went well due to excellent parish records from Cambridgeshire.

    Linda - I was surprised at what you said about Sir Bruce - I have been asking for about four years why he didn't go before he got doddery!  I hope your new caravan neighbours will be friendly but not over-chatty!

    Now going to check on various birdcams.

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • Good morning all and what a miserable day, we have heavy drizzle which absolutely soaks you. OH was planning to mow the lawns again but that is unlikely as  it is supposed to be wet again tomorrow. Didn't realise that OH had gone out with Billie earlier but she only had a quick trip down the drive checking to see if there were any cats on her territory. I got up and made her go again and didn't understand why she wasn't too keen Unto OH told me she had already been out. Wondered why I got one of her looks.

    diane after all the snow melt and now a large quantity of rain it is no surprise there is some serious flooding. A relief to know that you are OK apart from the creek overflowing. Do hope you manage to,catch up,with your sleep. Thanks for the link to the raven cam, another one to add to my must watch list.

    rita hope the steroid injection will bring some relief for you and you will be able to do the things you want to do. Shame the weather is holding up your garden plans, especially as it had been nice for a couple of weeks. Yes the air pollution problem has gone for now, just the red dust on the car remaining but hopefully the rain will remove some of it.

    OG hope you are going to have a relatively easy weekend giving you time to recharge your batteries. Fingers crossed that your Alder tree will link good as it grows. Fingers crossed for your bed delivery tomorrow.

    Lindybird pleased you had a dry day yesterday. Not so good today though but at least you can go shopping where hopefully you can keep reasonably dry.  Sorry about your rather chatty neighbour hopefully you won't have too many intrusions. not surprised that the cost of a holiday lodge could buy a house in Wales. have a safe journey back tomorrow. It is going to be difficult to replace Sir Bruce, at the moment cannot think of anyone that could do It with same success. There are some people I can think of that I hope will not be doing it. We were sorry to read about Bob Larby. We have been watching Ever Decreasing Circles on one of the satellite channels and enjoying the quiet, gentle humour. 

    Lynette yes it is that Joe Brown still pulling in the crowds after all these years. Still has lots of fans who like us appreciate good musicians. His son is a member of his band and produces all the CD's and the drummer has been with him for over 20 years. The other 2 guitar players are quite recent replacements. They are all exceptional musicians and I always come away wanting to hear more. You must be pleased that finally you have a minister in place after quite a long time without. As your say cricket season nearly upon us hope weather is better than it is today.

    OH on his way back now so better get ready to put  the shopping away. Have a good day all and take care.