Welcome to a new week from Sunny South Australia.Though there was mist/low cloud near the river as I went to church. Our days are getting longer, nights a wee bit warmer. Dau has been approved to have nanny help for 5 days x 13 weeks due to PN depression. Such a relief for me as I have been struggling to cope. T’other g-m is going away on holidays & I thought I would have to do extra. Now I can just drop in for an hour or two. More of a visit than an ordeal. Last Thurs I copped a full day as Dau was not well. As I fed, burped, settled & repeated over & over, I muttered that there seemed to be more than 2 babies. However I was firmly corrected by LM.
Annette – Kitchen called & I didn’t finish answering you. I travel with a good Friend, so we are sharing a sleeping compartment. We don’t spend all the time together - when we wander a town, she may go one way & I another. I would not share with a stranger, having seen some oddities on my travels. Eg Fancy sharing with someone who spends 2 hours in the bathroom each morn!
Linda – I haven’t gone yet, not for 4 weeks! Just had our pre-tour peptalk. On the other hand, hm, I do a have a day bus trip next Sunday. Photos I hope later.
Brenda- It’s a 10 day tour, train, bus, feet & plane.
Ain’t it just so <sigh> now that I have time to gaze at nest, the birds have flown. I should go for a walk to get fit, it’s a lovely sunny day again, only 14 C so far. I didn’t notice it cold last night – down to 2.9 C. The irises, bluebells & black lily are blooming. Of course the weeds are rampant. Walk or weeds?
AQ: I'm so glad that your daughter will get some help and you will get some rest and relaxation! I have a patch of stinging nettle weeds growing that you can pull! :-)
Annette: I'm just glad you're okay. I see that there's been over 60 aftershocks and more predicted. 170 injuries -- awful! I big quake hit Peru, too. I frequently look at the USGS page for the Central U.S. -- watching the unrelenting earthquake swarms in Oklahoma (and region), caused by fracking operations. http://folkworm.ceri.memphis.edu/recenteqs/Quakes/quakes0.html
Temperature was 94 F or 34.4 C here today. Very high humidity. I went to get groceries today, and the clouds looked like they were resting right on the fields. I had turkey vultures circling me as I was unloading groceries. I think they were hoping I'd expire from the heat. I laughed and swore at them. LOL
Hi to everyone and take care!
Morning all:
AQ: I saw on CNN.com this morning that 5 (I think) of the top 10 most livable cities in the world are in OZ, with Adelaide coming in at #5 and Perth, where you're coming, making a good showing too. The rankings were by the Economic something-or-other group.
Diane: Don't think I'm not keeping an eye on those earthquakes. Maybe the vultures were hoping you'd drop some of the groceries...
HI! We came back yesterday afternoon. Time away was mostly good, with decent weather - heavy showers Saturday, but we never got wet! Visited Bowes Museum at Barnard Castle on the way: will need to go again to see more of it: excellent. Accommodation was as good and convenient as we knew it would be from an earlier visit. On Friday we went to visit Durham Wildlife Trust's wetland reserve at Rainton Meadows, which we enjoyed with loads of Lapwing and other birds, then we got lost looking for another wetland area! We learnt about mining history in Spennymoor Saturday morning and rested in the afternoon. The Ceilidh was mediocre, although the band was excellent; it was good to see eldest Grandson and his Wife again, and our soon-to-be ex-Son-in-law; they were the only members of our family who were there apart from ourselves and J, and of course the hosting Family who were busy circulating among another one hundred people. I was sorry not to see the Niece who, at the last minute, couldn't come, and really missed our other Daughter. On our way home Sunday, we stopped at Lanercost Priory near Hadrian's Wall, and J called in at a Guitar Fair at Rheged near Penrith.
Seven laundry loads through the machines today, but only the last one (just finishing) will need ironing after hanging out to dry tomorrow. OH has done some tidying in the garden, but I was too tired to join him. J seems to be getting used to the routine (and sometimes lack of it!) at his new school, and seems to have a good rapport with his main pupil.
Excuse general lack of replies, but must say I was pleased to read that AQ's Daughter has been diagnosed and can therefore receive help rather than relying on the goodwill of grandparents. It will be nice to go visit and enjoy them without having to be busy all the time.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
OG – Memories! Bowes Museum and Lanercost, Two of the scores of favourite places I saw on my travels. Now I must drag out my photo albums to indulge.
I haven’t heard from Dau; after all it’s only early on the 2nd day of nanny help. I usually let her phone me when she has a lull.
Evening all:
OG: Welcome home; great that the trip was good, although too bad a couple of family members couldn't/didn't make it.
AQ: Dare I venture to say that, re daughter, no news is good news? Let us know how things go with her.
Did some garden tidy up today and caught up on paperwork; just finished ironing. Planning a day's escape with Brit friend on Wednesday.
Hope everyone is doing well.
AQ - pleased I sparked a couple of memories for you; Bowes had changed a lot since our previous visit some 35 years ago! Lanercost isn't far from us, but I am ashamed to say this was our first visit! I agree with ANNETTE that it is probably a good thing your Daughter hasn't needed to call you, but I hope she will call you soon with good news.
ANNETTE - I had a long chat with second Daughter about the house situation, although nothing much has changed yet. She asked about the Ceilidh and the rest of the family. We are hoping to make a short visit to see her fairly soon, or maybe meet them halfway.
A very bright sunny morning, so off to hang washing out.
Hello all hope you are all OK. Will try and find something to talk about tomorrow that does not include illness. Battling on but difficult. Had a good 4 days with OH,always more relaxed when he is home.
Diane lovely card with a beautiful donkey. Thanks so much.
MARGO - pleased to see that you had a good weekend with OH. Maybe he could start working from home a few days a week, or just one to start with. I know it is a difficult step to take, but it might help if you had less weekdays on your own. Continuing with thoughts and prayers, even if I don't always say it!