Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 7 February 2016

I put myself on “light duties” since Thursday as I knew I would be sitting down less with no car journeys to do!  Friday I just pottered around with various small tasks.  Man came to measure for bathroom blinds in the afternoon.

Saturday morning, OH painted the final wall of the shower room!   Apart from ironing a few things, I saved myself for the evening out, which was a Scottish Night at church – meal at 5pm followed by a concert by the Border Strathspey and Reel Society (directed by our church organist).  Imagine my surprise when we were joined at our table by one of the fiddle players who just happened to be “Robert the Bruce” – remember him from the forum some four to five years ago?  He is still volunteering locally with RSPB and the Cumbria Wildlife Trust.  The supper began with choice of soup or juice, a generous (unless you spoke up quick) portion of haggis, neeps and tatties, then cheese and biscuits.  That was the total published menu, but shortbread and chocolates had crept in too!  Although it wasn’t billed as a Burns Supper, we were assured that one of the church ladies who is a member of a Burns Club had addressed the haggis while it was still in the kitchen!  It was all beautifully prepared and served, and a good social gathering.

The concert was also excellent, with a good selection of traditional music from the Western and Northern Isles, the north and south of Mainland Scotland and parts of Northumberland.  It was interspersed with segments from our own Rainbow Tribe (kids’ choir) and Spectrum (young ceilidh band).  The Rainbow Tribe had been at a big Burns competition during the day, and came back with a selection of medals, but they were not too tired to sing with gusto and they danced around the audience during the final set of reels, showing that there is hope for traditional music in that generation.

Lynette – sorry about your OH’s basal cell carcinoma – quite a simple op, I believe (and hope), being on the outer ear.

Brenda – I too don’t watch Osprey cameras during our winter – don’t want overload to put me off our “own” birds!  Sounds like you have had a difficult time over the past few days, with the night-time noise from the building site!  And now the storm down your way; terrible that you need to escape for a night to get some sleep!

Linda – sorry to that Bonnie bolted after a cat when she came home from her walk the other day; she needs to learn for her own safety!  I hope all the fencing precautions are working to prevent her more general exploits.  Read about Taiwan earthquake, then received a message about latest 5.5 aftershock in Kathmandu – still leftovers from the big Nepal earthquake!  Sorry about OH’s bad back after all the fencing work.  (I hadn’t realised that the puppy chewing is continuing as well as the escape activities!)

Heather – should you have been so busy on Friday?  I thought you were resting, not running around for everybody!  Not too wet here today, and none till afternoon – I think it was further west – but the wind was really rough.  Sounds like there will be more in South of England this time.  Had to laugh at your middle Daughter’s childhood antics; will never understand how one child in a family can be so different!

Annette – sorry about high temps coming – I hope the recent rains won’t all evaporate!

Diane – take care in promised snow – however few inches, we don’t want you falling and adding extra pain to your joints!  Thanks for starting the new week.

Margo – pleased that you had such a great evening out; thanks for telling us about it.  I hope the family gathering the next day wasn’t too much for you after an evening out and then a trip to the hairdresser!

Chrisy – good to hear from you – and pleased you got some sunshine for a change!

Well, I seem to have caught up again.  Looks like I might be making a trip to see nurses at Dumfries tomorrow re skin reaction – will phone them first and ask advice.

OG- I'm fine,thankyou did the rest bit for three days which was boring and full of energy now. Scar is very itchy, must be healing! OH offered to take a photo of it to show me, I declined!

Heather B said:

Actually LINDY my middle daughter's middle name should be Bonnie. She flushed a good bra of mine down the loo, ate lipstick and cat food, threw china out of the front door just to hear it smash, smeared my make up over walls and escaped from home the minute a door was left open. None of her three siblings did anything remotely similar. Fortunately the last time she escaped from home was when she was 18 :-)

LOL The last time did you change the locks?!!!

OG: Yes, I remember Robert the Bruce - what a nice surprise. The evening sounds really pleasant.

We are watching the new Foyle's War series; Honeysuckle Weeks has changed quite a bit.  

Worried about Lightning again; she's not eating much and seems very slow.....  :-(

I hope everyone stays safe during the winter storm Imogen. It looks horrific. Sending good energy to you all.

Brenda: I'm sorry that you had to leave your home, but it was probably a wise decision.

Annette: I'm so sorry about Lightning. I hope she's on the mend soon.

Good Morning.  Wet again here. We don't have too much of the storm here: we're in the middle whereas the worst of it is in the south of UK. Hope all of you who are affected are OK.

Annette, sorry that Lightning is not too good. Perhaps she's just having a couple of "off" days.

Thanks, Diane!  You havn't said if you're feeling improved after your bout of being poorly: hope you're a little better.

Heather -  Laughed at your descriptions of wayward daughter!!  I'm sure she's a model citizen now, LOL!!  

OG -  I remember Robert the Bruce:  a great chap and very keen on the Ospreys.  Sounds as if you had a good night!!

Sorry you've got to seek help with your skin now - it seems quite common to get localized damage. I'm sure they can help you with advice. (My OH was fine but had less sessions than you, plus he has tough skin as never gets sunburn etc.)

Sitting here awaiting a phone call – I phoned specialist nurse to ask for help and she said I should try the practice nurses here!  Got to be triaged by phone to see if one of them will decide to see me!

Heather – pleased the head is healing; I would have accepted OH’s photo as I prefer to know what things look like!

Annette – sorry about Lightning – maybe she needs permanent injections, although I seem to remember she had a voracious appetite before treatment; so it sadly may be that she is just getting old.

Diane – did you get that snow at the weekend?  Storm Imogen is mostly to the south, but we had some really strong gusts of wind in the night, accompanied by more of the wet stuff – and white stuff further north.

Linda – good morning!  How is the curtain shortening coming along?  We have a lady here who does alterations, and she does them from the top, so she re-makes them shorter with new tapes – but are these the ones which Bonnie damaged at the bottom, so you have to take that part off?

Nurse just phoned, will see me at 2pm – pleased with that as it means I can have a shower first in case she bans me for a day or two (although I hope not as other skin will start breaking down!)  So now will have some coffee and send OH to Tesco – not easy as he is “busy” watching videos of The Flying Scotsman’s visit to Carlisle!