Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 8 November 2015

Good afternoon, people, on a sad day for Paris and the world in general.

Linda – I can’t say I enjoyed the CiN show last evening – it really has become very bland; I probably won’t even try to watch it next year.  Glad we have Strictly to look forward to this evening.

Rosy – so where were you before SW London – did you move out from the city or in from the country?

Brenda – GD isn’t sure if she wants the post in Glasgow.  She didn’t get an interview originally, and has made her arrangements for Switzerland March to May, then she got a late call up to Glasgow, and thought it would useful experience to attend.  I think it leans more towards mental health, whereas she seems more interested in children’s health and lifestyle psychology, if I correctly understand.  And she definitely doesn’t want to cancel Switzerland!  Re the weather – we are on a flood warning – not personally, but our region could have coastal and river flooding and a lot of surface water if much rain falls on saturated ground.  We had a lot of plentiful bird visits this past week, between storms; they seem to have avoided Mrs SH who gave us a wonderful view during lunch one day.

AQ – your trip to Robe sounds very interesting – and I am on the edge of my seat wondering if South Island will tempt you next October; would be interesting to see the reconstruction work in Christchurch!  Pleased you managed the dinner date with OH at last.

Liz LFW – good to see a post from you!

Diane – good to see you spent time with your Brother and his Family; pleased to see your Nephew is still singing.

OH is outside dismantling the runner bean supports, rather belatedly as they were suffering in the wind.  I am getting back gradually to normal duties – just baked some cornbread, flavoured with cheese.  Kitchen smells appetising!

Linda, Your poor OH, having to work in the rain. Bonnie is very shrewd at finding any gaps to escape through. Surely she will get too big and broad eventually. She definitely has an excellent hunting instinct. The fear is what she would do if she caught a cat. I remember our dog trapping a squirrel. He then turned around to look at me, as if saying, "what do I do next ?". I think the chase is the fun. He left it when I told him to ' leave. '

Diane, The blackbirds appear to have left, but the rain also turned heavier.
Pleased to hear that you enjoyed a meal with your brother, his ex wife and family. Do you think that he and his ex will marry again ?
We do drink iced tea, here, but usually only when the weather is warmer. LOL

OG, I wouldn't want to cancel the chance of Switzerland either. She sounds quite capable of making the right career decisions.

I did notice that D&G were mentioned on the weather report. Too much rain forecast !!!

We haven't spotted a SH for a while now, although we know we have a pair, who frequently hide behind the feeders. They do miss the tree next door, which the builder felled earlier this year.. As a point of interest, we learnt today that the said builder hasn't yet purchased next door. Maybe, within the next month. We are still waiting for his site management plan.

Morning all:  Heard about the Paris bombings on the train from Bellingham to Seattle last evening. Awful and ghastly can't even begin to cover it.

The train to Seattle gained an hour so we were just two hours late arriving. Friend picked me up and we repaired to nice motel where she (travel agent) had secured a small suite at very, very reasonable price.  She'd also brought along champagne, wine, wonderful cheese and bread and, of course, chocolate to accompany our late-night catch up. :-))  Next day we puttered around town; yesterday I went to Bellingham on the train and spent another day nattering nonstop to the friend (actually the niece of good friend) I hadn't seen for decades. Then back on the train for another late-night natter. Today is another putter-around, eat, drink and natter day before I start the trip home tomorrow.  Somehow I've managed to miss the rain while out and about, but it's been wonderful to be in the mild moist air - very much like England.

Margo: You, your dear OH and Billie are very much in our thoughts. Hugs and more...

Rita: Lovely roses for Margo.

Lindybird:  A belated welcome home. Ancient and religious buildings, dog poop, litter and crazy drivers offset by friendly people? Sounds very much like many parts of Mexico.  Doesn't sound like you'll be going back any time soon. :-)

OG: Was granddaughter as interested in the position after the interview? Ah, just saw your response to Brenda.  My granddaughter seems to have the same long-term career goal.

AQ: Those were cute pix of the twins, but I can imagine they're quite a handful at times. Glad you made it out to dinner.  What's this? Thinking about NZ? Will OH go with you?

LizLFW. Nice to see your head popping up and will look forward to hearing more of your news.

Diane: Hope your bro isn't still doing that awful commute.  Thanks for starting the next thread.  No flooding in this area, but I know they're worried about the rivers in some parts of the state.

Off to make myself presentable for breakfast.

Unknown said:

Yes, OG, I do now live in south-west London. We moved here in 1999.

Lindybird,    Your comments about Malta were interesting. I have never been there,

and don't think it will be on my list of places to visit now. Glad you found some good things there. Don't think I fancy the transport arrangements.

Rosy - don't think my comments would go down well with the people from Malta tourism!  However, the sun shone and we lazed around in the afternoons with our books, after walking each morning. When I put on my pics you will see what we discovered. We had a full day out in Valletta (and slept like logs afterwards!) and had fun one morning at the National Aquarium, which is a 2 year old building and very modern, so quite a contrast.

Nice to hear from Annette, with some details of her "puttering and chattering!"  Glad you're enjoying your trip and the change of climate.

Its been raining here, which does not help when you try to dry laundry.......   Just had nice chat with our Youngest, who has been tending his sick family this week, as they have all caught some bug from each other.  Also talked at length with my Friend, who had knee replacement surgery on the same day that OG was having her op - she was not allowed home for several days because her Warfarin was then imbalanced, even though the op had gone well. She has also had a lot of pain but hopes she's over the worst now.

Good evening All -   quite a lot of snow on the top of Ben Wyvis  today, looked very beautiful but made me feel that winter is now here.   It is quite cold today, I went shopping in the village and wished I had gloves on.

What terrible news from Paris, very sad with so many bereaved people.

I watched the Lord Mayors Show on TV this morning, I always enjoy it and it brings back memories of going to it when I was young. 

Liz LFW -  How nice to hear from you.   I have not been volunteering at the Botanical Gardens lately as the Cactus house has a lot of steps but I feel I can manage it better now so will go back in December. The extended cafe is up and running and gives quite a bit more space.

AQ - Loved the photos of the twins!   Glad you enjoyed your Dinner out, it sounds delicious.

Diane -  I have not had iced tea for a long while now, but when I was young and living at home , we often had tea in the garden when the weather was hot and my mother always made iced tea.

Annette -   Glad you are enjoying your trip, a nice change.

Lindybird -   What with all the downsides to it, I am not sure that I would want to visit Malta, but I will be very interested to see your photos.      Hope your friend recovers quickly from her knee replacement.   I had read that the first two weeks would be very painful and they were! but after that it gradually eased up.

Have a nice evening everyone, I'm looking forward to 'Strictly'.

LINDY, Sorry, I just flagged one of your posts in error :-(

Lindybird - Have to wonder if you really meant Pres. Hollainde on the steps.