Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 4 October 2015

Another wonderful warm sunny day!  OH trimmed two box bushes in daughter's garden to match their shapes, while she weeded a decorative patch, then he reconstructed the stone edging of that patch - I supervised just as I do at home!  We left their house earlier this evening as they need to get ready for work tomorrow, but we shall see them again in the evening for another meal out, and then it won't belong till they come to our house next week ready to take \oh down south!

Looking forward to seeing Dibnlib tomorrow - will get to Tiso for 12 noon.  I've ordered continental breakfast again tomorrow since we shall be eating out twice during the day.

Glad that all is well, OG! Enjoy your last day in the Highlands, tomorrow. I'm so glad that you have had good weather during your time here :-)

Public holiday (Labor Day) today. Welcome to Hotober. Adelaide is expecting 36 C today. Luckily for my bus trip yesterday didn’t quite reach 30 and it was much cooler in the Hills. Our bus went up Belair Rd, past Windy Point (a good spot for viewing city). In Blackwood we had a short walk looking at biggish houses before coffee, then a drive to top of Mt Lofty to see city spread out below us. In 1800s many wealthy people had summer houses in the cooler Adelaide Hills and from the bus we saw some of these, some restored after bushfires.

Lunch stop in Crafers where the beautiful Anglican church high on its hill was still open, so you-know-who captured the stained glass. Then on to Norton Summit and another climb to the church on the hill. Next stop a walk to see back of Morialta House, once a big house, then a childrens home, now a church camp and inspected the old piggeries and farm buildings which are under restoration.

Another drive around the lovely views until we reached Marble Hill. This was the Governor’s summer residence 1878 until 1955 when it was destroyed in a bushfire. The gov, family & servants survived by sheltering under a bank in the drive, covered in wet blankets. After many years derelict, a couple are restoring the house & grounds. They began by making the garden fire-retardant, now the tower is being restored. They hope 5 years to restore house. [More info here or Google “Marble Hill ruins”and look at Images.] We had a tour around the outside of the “building site” followed by afternoon tea. By then, Heather, I was walked ragged (!) and I didn’t go on the wildflower walk. Homewards down the winding Norton Summit Rd. Another enjoyable day. It was pleasing to see so many young people on our bus. One couple had moved to the district & wanted to learn its history.

Annette – Miss4’s birthday was “low key” with just 2 friends to a play cafe. Of course friends were accompanied by parents & siblings, so 16 altogether. I expect it was play, cake & chips for an hour or so. Dau had made a cake in shape of sleeping puppy, Miss4’s favourite animal, borrowing my small pudding basin for its head. By the time I see them tomorrow I hope most of the excitement to have calmed down!!!

MissL is definitely a toddler now. She doesn’t hesitate to walk wherever. MissJ aka The Explorer is the boss. I’ve seen her take on Miss3 for possession of a toy and not give up. Because of Mon holiday & t’other g-mother on holiday, I am swapping to tomorrow. I had faint hopes that I would get a day off!

Brenda: Glad you got to see the deer! Awful about the Indonesian fires.

AQ: Glad you had a nice little holiday! Sounds interesting.

Heather: Wonderful that your OH had help with the trees.

OG: Have a safe trip home. Nice that the weather has been kind.

Margo: I hope you enjoyed the concert.

Annette: No worries at all about the map post. I hope you continue to get rain. I was just watching live coverage of the "1,000-year flood" in South Carolina. Ghastly. Highways crumbling. Coffins floating down the streets. Giant sinkholes. Destruction everywhere. Just gruesome.

Evening all:  Three-quarters of an inch of rain today (seriously puny I know), but still enough to wake up the plants.

OG/dibnlib: Have a good visit.

AQ: Had a peek at a couple of places you mentioned. Was that shell of the Marble Hill residence the result of the fire? What a nightmare that must've been. Also saw some vineyards.  Must agree it is nice to see young people interested in local history. Who sponsored the outing?  It'll be very interesting to see how the dynamics between those three young ladies develops!  :-)  Here's to a quiet nanny day.

Diane: Saw your post, then "lost" it (of course it was right under my nose).  Watched video of the S. Carolina floods - houses flooded to their roofs. Poor people.  That weather pattern is headed your way, but assume it will lose most of it's punch by then?

Have a good Monday everyone.

Annette: My local forecasters are not predicting that I'll get any of that rain/flooding. My thoughts are with all the people of the Bahamas, Bermuda, and U.S. East Coast (France, too).

The damage to the East Coast infrastructure is massive! The disaster is a Federal Emergency and rebuilding will take months.

But it's highly likely that the U.S. government will shut down in mid-December when funding runs out. That may mean no more funds for disaster relief and repairs (or anything else), and it could be a long shutdown.

Good morning all and thanks for your continued support. Last week has been a bit difficult to say the least. when I wake up each morning I feel very panicky because nothing has changed and things will stay this way. After the long chat I had with with a specialist cancer nurse last Thursday I understood why they could not do a bone marrow transplant. The course of intensive chemo they would give could kill me. She assumed me that I will get all the necessary palliative support I will need and blood transfusions will keep me going for a while but cannot say what my life expectancy is. To that end we are both making every day count. Billie seems to sense I need a lot of support as she sits beside me most of the time and so glad she came into our life. She is so adored by both of us.  Chemo starts again today and it wifi continue for as long it shows i am responding a little to it.

diane thanks for the lovely card. I guess winter is on its way for you.

dibnlib enjoyed your photos.

Annette pleased to see you have had some rain, would thing any rain is welcome.

Heather you have no idea how much your humour cheers me up.

Lynette hope you enjoy your break.

Brenda good job you managed to get a few things done in the garden. It is very wet here at the moment.

george hope to,hear from you soon.

Finally Bryan Ferry was absolutely awesome. This was the third time I have seen him and he was just excellent. He is now 70 but is sill a class act. The whole audience was up dancing (including me). My next target is Joe Brown in February. Will also be having another family get together in a couple of weeks time.

Waiting for electrician to arrive now, we are having new light fittings in our front room. Will finish here but take care of yourselves.

Margo x

nice morning, though quite cold.  BBC gave our weather at 0800 as 2 degrees and Dundee as 12!!!!

pics to follow are Benson with a big stick at Loch an Eilein on Friday and Loch an Eilein

Good Morning Everyone. As forecast, a wet morning. Rain due to last for 48 hours.

Annette, Pleased to see that you got some rain. As Diane says, our thoughts and prayers have to  be with those poor people who have had their homes and infrastructure destroyed by the " weather ".  

AQ, Sounds like a very interesting trip. Hope you have a quiet nanny day.

Margo, You obviously had a great time at the concert. Pleased to hear that you were dancing.

I have heard from Linda. She is beginning to feel more rested and enjoyed a walk yesterday.  

I am playing indoor bowls this afternoon but need to food shop first. The freezer and fridge seem to be low in stock.