Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 17 January 2016

HAPPY NEW WEEK!

Last week's chat thread is here.

I saw R. T. Hawk on Thursday. It's been so cold here that I had to put the battery charger on my car for a long while. I went out as the sun was setting to remove it. R. T. screeched at me when I went out the front door. When I closed the car bonnet/hood, he screamed at me loudly and flew around his tree. I think he was telling me off for disturbing him when it was time to roost in his tree. He called more gently when I went indoors. :-)))

Everyone have a wonderful week. Roll on spring!!!

Lotus Flower
Labelled Public Domain (Copyright Free)

  • I should mention I snapped a few birds today - click on this lovely blue tit for more:

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

  • Glad your OH is getting better, Rosy.  Mine has a slight cold, which we keep thinking has gone away but which comes back mostly as snuffles in the evening - possibly because of the central heating?

    Read stuff this afternoon, whilst my OH went out to the Bowling Club where he can watch football on a big screen. Then tried a new recipe for Cauliflower soup, which was delicious.

    I see that the launch of the new rocket was successful, Diane, but not quite so the landing:  a shame, as they had high hopes.

    Our snow has nearly all melted now but it's still just about freezing and might stay the same for a few more days. Will send you some cooling winds, AQ!!

  • Nice pics of Helen and the horse, Clare. Will go back now and see the others.

  • Clare memories of happy days with youngest and horses.

    She had a Welsh section d bought as a foal with a super mum and dad she brought on and evented from age 16. Did all the usual exams and went off to NZ to work for an Olympic rider 6 months. Came back a resolved never to work with horse ever again as winters far too cold. Washy is retired I have her dog and she is having fun!

  • Rosy – felt fine Saturday; not so good today.  Usually good for treatments – I think I feel safe there!  Pleased your OH is getting better.  Temp here still above freezing.

    Chrisy – we are almost down at sea level, which is why snow just here is a rare occurrence.

    Wendy – good for you to get out and about; I walk so slowly that I can’t keep myself warm (much less mobile than when we met).  Here indoors I am wearing short-sleeve tee, long-sleeve tee and a tracksuit top!  Think I’ll have to hug a hot water bottle tonight, then chuck it out when I start a night sweat!

    Clare – lovely photos from yesterday and today.  Also good to see Helen aboard the horse!  Not an expert myself, but she appears to me to have a good “seat”!

    Heather – Baptism is a good family event to look forward to, and weather should be better by March.  I tried to arrange a visit to Daughter#1 at Easter, but it probably isn’t convenient for them, but I did my bit in trying!

    Linda – OH and I have ben snuffling a while now – blaming that on the heating being on.  At night, we have the heating on to keep warm but the fan to circulate some air from the open window! 

    Going to bed earlier tonight – the others too, so they won’t be disturbing me just as I fall asleep!

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • Unknown said:

    Diane: Watched the launch online; daughter said her house shook (rattling china, etc). We heard it down here (50 miles away) even through lots of cloud cover. Went on for about 5 or so minutes, like constant distant urmbling thunder. I've set my timer to watch the landing. Am always struck by the formal NASA presentation and the hang-loose, hip group that does the SpaceX broadcast!

    Annette: That must have been so exciting to hear the rocket launch!!! That would be a little unnerving to be as close as your daughter was to the lift-off -- especially if someone didn't know the launch was scheduled! I also like to watch the SpaceX broadcasts.

    I was glad to hear that the Jason-3 satellite that the rocket took to orbit has a good mission: it will research human impact on oceans, monitor global sea level rise, and collect data to aid in the prediction of hurricane intensity. Yay!

    The hard landing of the booster was a shame, but still an amazing feat to even get the booster on the platform.The precision required is extraordinary!

  • OG try to keep with it as such for Daisy's sake..

    Suffer from Ranauds just as my mum did and youngest does. Very painful and have tablets on standby to help. I gather they open up blood vessels which is good. Downside hot flushes. Never had one never want one so will persevere and keep in drawer.

  • OG: I'm so sorry that you're feeling poorly today. I hope the early bedtime tonight will help. Be careful walking on the snowy surfaces tomorrow. Sending you healing energy. Be kind to yourself.

  • You, too, Diane!  The winters there sound so extreme to us, I worry about you!

    Just eaten the last of the bits of chocolate from the festivities. Now we must 'be good' and try to lose some of the excess pounds before spring.......

    I was interested to see that there have been discussions about finally fixing a permanent date for Easter. It's certainly overdue, it ends in a muddle with the schools holidays.

  • Evening all:

    OG: Hope roads are good for you tomorrow - and yes, muscles are great for heavy work as you no doubt know having J on hand to clear the paths.

    Rosy: Exactly how large is the garden? Don't know, but we're on a corner and the house is back a bit from the road so the entire front lot is planted with shrubs.  In addition to pruning those, we're taking out a couple of large shrubs in the back garden that have become increasingly difficult to keep looking nice. I'm replacing them with ones I know that require infrequent, minimal care!

    ChrisyB: Hope you're doing okay.

    Lindybird: Have to smile - you've been celebrating the festivities for the longest time. You'll be having chocolate withdrawal symptoms!

    Clare: How's Helen doing with her jumping?

    Diane: Anyone who lives near Vandenberg is familiar with launch noises, etc.

    Wendyb: Isn't Reynaud's Syndrome connected to chilblains (I used to get terrible ones when I lived in the UK).  My daughter has Reynaud's, which is one of the reasons she was told to move from the higher elevations of the Sierras (she used to live at 7,000ft).

    Am trying to stay awake for Downton Abbey, but and knackered from working in the garden so may end up having to record it.  Anyway, have a good Monday everyone.