WEEKLY CHAT (non-osprey topics) SUNDAY NOVEMBER 9, 2014

Good Morning, All. Wet & dark here. I slept in late this morning after a late night last night, trying on clothes & finding tea making equipment - we know that this hotel does not provide any in the rooms & our first cuppa in the mornings is vital!! Today is arguing with my OH about which shirts he needs, plus my trying to sort out my shoes!! I have several pairs bought specially for abroad trips as they are very light!!! ;-). AQ - glad the trip was so enjoyable, & TWO bakeries sounds ideal!! Thanks to Diane for the comet info. They have just played the sound it is making, on our national news bulletin.

My Friend & I were hoping to get to the cinema today to see "Turner" at last, but as her dog is now seriously poorly, we may have to call the outing off. Sorry if I've not replied to everyone, have to rush off now & do stuff.

Good morning all and we have had another night of very heavy rain. Brightening up now and looks as though it coukd be dry for a few hours for a change. Last day of chemo for 4 weeks and feeling quite good, just a bit weary and not much appetite but that will improve over the next week. OH is off to London tomorrow. Meeting up with his Mum and brother. Can't believe it but she is 85 this year, I kept thinking she was 83. They are taking her for a meal and it will be good that she will have both her sons with her. Bit too much for me at the end of chemo week, just getting off Waterloo Station involves a long walk.

AQ terribly high temperatures for you so early in the season. Thank you for another trip report, will look at photos later. Hope you managed to enjoy something from the bakeries you visited.

Lindybird sorry to read that your friend's dog is so poorly. Loved the wheelbarrow full of puppies. Good to read that OH's ear problem can be solved. It must have been such a surprise to meet up with your previous neighbours. Just proves what a small world it is sometimes. Hope you manage to sort OH out over which shirts he should take and your decision over shoes will not be a difficult one.

Lynette  must have been a really difficult day but hopefully time will heal the heartbreak for her fiancée. Thanks for the eagle capture, is this the Romeo and Juliet nest. There are quite a few eagle cams up and running in the USA, something to watch  through the winter months.

Brenda I could not believe how badly Andy Murray played. The spectators certainly did not get value for money. I think he played fat too much over the past weeks and some thought to a new coach should be given. We are bid fans of Neil Diamond. We were  lucky enough to get tickets for a radio show he did a few years agomand he was excellent. Hope OH's blood test goes well and it will not be long before he gets a much needed cup of tea.

Have  a good weekend all and take care.

I have just looked at Scotlands pics on the BBC News site and there is the most wonderful picture of the tombolo between Mainland Shetland and St Ninians Isle. We walked it often and never ceased to be overawed by the wonder of it.

Quiet on here today - everyone must be looking for my shoes LOL! Margo, hope you recover from the chemo enough to enjoy your weekend. My OH agreed on my choice of his shirts, and didn't even fuss when I produced a new one I'd bought a while ago. I've done all sorts of things, and in between hunted high & low for a little travel clock I bought a couple of months ago....where on earth did I put it!?

My Friend rang at teatime with the sad news that they have had to have their dog put down. I have never put his photo on here, out of respect to my friends privacy, but he was a whiter version of Alan's super little companion, Hamish, now also sadly no longer with us.

Hope I am allowed to post this. It is a photo (on Scotlands pics) of one of the most amazing beaches. There are some wonderful beaches in Scotland and this one  has to rate the top at

Lindybird sad to read your friends dog had to be put down.

Taking a break from Children in Need for some very quick comments - don't think I'll be staying up tonight to watch it through!

I have been reading the posts.  Pleased to see that MARGO had a good week around the chemo; don't try to get too busy while your OH is up in London tomorrow; pleased Billie recovered from her infection.

Enjoyed the baby photos from both LINDA and AQ - and Miss 3 looks such a lovely little girl now, with a super look of concentration on her face when she is busy!

Sorry about sick husbands and poorly dogs.

I hope Linda and her OH will enjoy the up-coming holiday.

I know I have missed a lot of people out, but have enjoyed reading.  Ours has been a busy week; OH has been doing indoor odd jobs so I have been doing routine stuff and trying to be in the right place to help if needed and keep out the way the rest of the time!  The new lounge curtains came - very quick once I had actually got around to placing the order - so they are now hung and we are very pleased with them (makes me want new ones in the bedroom now!)

We were out three evenings running!  Tuesday was Gardening Group - an illustrated talk by one of the members on Colours of the Seasons, when she followed a whole year with garden and landscape photos; a short discussion of our favourite seasons followed, with the conclusion that the highlight of most seasons was knowing the next one would follow!  Wednesday we went to Bird Club and heard about the Arran Bird Map, with lovely photos as well as some interesting facts and figures.  On Thursday, there was a lecture by the boss of BBC Scotland, looking at the future of Broadcasting, mainly in Scotland, but also in the UK generally; this was very informative and the discussion at the end was quite challenging.

Today we were at a conference in Carlisle from mid-morning into the afternoon (buffet lunch included).  This was all about the Solway Coast, on both sides of the estuary, cross border co-operation, and inter-agency partnerships.  It was a good conference, covering a good mix of topics, but quite demanding on the brain!  On the way home, we stopped for a snack at The Old Tollhouse on the border, and then saw the Gretna Starling murmuration; this year they are again in the reedbeds on the marshes behind the small village of Rigg, rather than at Gretna Gateway where they were in 2011 and 2012.

Tomorrow morning, we are manning a charity stall at Lockerbie Farmers' Market, selling needlecrafted goods made in Ecuador; some of these are Christmas items, and all are sold to raise money for the women involved to raise their families and hopefully send them to school.  I have already announced that I might well sleep most of Sunday after such a full week!