Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 31 January 2016

Glad the tree is now down, Wendy. Pity it took them so long, but they will have their reasons.

Heather, We have had problems with our internet today. It was completely dead for about two hours at one time. I heard they have had widespread national problems today. 

EDIT - Just seen it being confirmed on BBC news headlines, Heather

BRENDA. I felt happier when I realised it wasn't just us! Not talking here about possible weather issues but the thought that our BT hub might have expired!

Yes Brenda we quite understand as different guys do different things and I think 3 teams involved doing their own very necessary risk assessments .

No problems here with BT even plugged in old fashioned phone attached to cord that worked whilst no power.

2 tin cans and a string came to mind!!

BT's problem only affected the broadband, Wendy. Our phones were fine. The computer even said that I was connected to the internet, but I definitely wasn't, so I turned off the wi-fi and then turned it on again. It all connected fine, but no internet. Very unusual.  

Oh broadband was also fine Brenda....

Margo – I hope you are feeling top-o-the-world.

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Heather – Ouch! Be careful brushing your hair.

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Annette – Eucalyptus are notorious for falling or dropping limbs, especially after heat stress. A cool change swept in here early Mon and the evening news had the usual pics of squashed cars, roofs.

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Port Lincoln & few places were flooded Mon. We had ½ inch rain, great for the garden but the weeds I missed will be gloating! We must have had a brief power failure overnight as the stove clock was blinking this morn.

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Brenda – I hope your new fence doesn’t remain. Since we have our new backyard fence, I feel “hemmed in”. I can hear & not see neighbours – so unfriendly but OH & neighbours wanted 6 foot.. We still have the other side to upgrade, but I’m happy to wait until fence falls down (!) or new neighbours initiate work.

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Nanny day Mon was exhausting – 2 loads of washing, dishes, refereeing, took wee ones outside to help with pegs & later to play. MissL who has been reluctant to go down the small slippery dip, decided to go head first. Sometimes on tum, some on back. Then MissJ copied. I was having mild panic as I grabbed legs to steer and/or slow. When I’d had enough & brought them inside, I discovered that “head first” is forbidden. S-i-l will dismantle s-dip and put it away until they forget. Ha Ha.

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OH has had his nanny time cut on Tues to 4-6 pm. Dau now manages 2½ days on her own and is gradually trying to do more. Unfortunately I am too helpful and I think I shall be on call for Mondays and half Fridays for a while longer.

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Miss4’s comment yesterday. "It was the best kindy day EVER.” Actually it was her first kindy day, except for a few trial part days. Her day is long, from 8.30 to 3.15 and no nap. My girls had 3 hour kindy. Even their school day was shorter than Miss4’s day. All to assist the working parents, never mind the child.

AQ, Pleased that you have had some rain, but so sorry that places have been flooded. There is so much publicity when people homes are flooded, but it can be a year before some folk are able to return to their homes.

The fence will be removed when the building work has finished, but we have no idea, as yet, how far ahead that will be. The original bungalow hasn't yet been demolished.

I did laugh that you had allowed the slippery dip laws to be broken. Trouble is that you were so worried and obviously had presumed that the parents were allowing the game. I knew you were a gran of great fun. LOL

Unknown said:

Hi Diane, Do we presume that you are now feeling better ?

It's a rheumatoid arthritis flare up, Brenda. I expect it to ease off soon. Thanks.

Evening all:

OG: Gosh, your outings to Carlisle end on Thursday? Amazing. Where did the time go!  Bought a Grewilla Occidentalis (native to South Africa). We have a few that do a fab job of covering the ugliest garden wall in the world and are easy to control.  I stopped impulse buying some time back - at this point, I'm only getting tried-and-true plants.  I'm also looking for an upright-growing pincushion plant. We have three of these and they're marvellous: Zero maintenance! Yay!

Wendyb: Sounds like the poor tree was dispatched very efficiently. They do leave a big hole in the landscape though.

AQ: I'm wondering what the management at our gym is thinking now that one of the eucs has come crashing down on the car park. It's a bit like "10 green bottles...."  but with much more scary liability potential!  Here's to more cool days for you.  Also really good to hear that there may be light at the end of nanny-duty tunnel. We will all breath a sigh of relief when you start doing less.  Also good that Miss4 is enjoying kindergarten. Our Ms D (great-granddaughter) is still on three-hour kindy schedule.

Diane:  Our storm from a couple of days ago is now in the Midwest, but it looks like this one will go north of you. Do you avoid certain foods that might trigger the RA?  What, if anything, helps?

Wonder who organized that pile of ironing on my horizon....