Hi everyone. Tired from long day; just saw LOTL blog and not sure I can watch the cam. :-(
Off to check out previous posts.
Afternoon all: Congrats on the England win all footie fans!
Contractors using what sounds like a dentist drill outside the windows as they smooth over top of wall in preparation to replace the top bit. Powdery dust now wafting over entire garden and settling on plants, bushes, patio, even the walkway to the front door. Sweeping will not get rid of this; we'll have to hose it down later.
AQ: Practice hairdos sound fun, if scary. I remember coming home from salons in my younger years and immediately washing out everything they did; also did the same after cosmetic counter make-overs. Heehee - brilliant advice to Lindybird re Buzz's 4th foot (nearly fell of the couch laughing at that one!) Re osprey-watching taxes and passport requirements, here in the US we'd make everyone wait in line for hours and then go through a body search before they could log on. We have Florida brand orange juice in the supermarkets here - what a nerve! When Wimbledon is live on telly here, it starts at 6 a.m. in the morning.
Lindybird: Streptocarpus sounds contagious - or at least invasive. But it's a close relative to the African Daisy (at least that's what Wikipedia told me.) Lovely photo again. It looks a lot like where my sister lives in Lincolnshire. Trees in son's garden, eh? We have a lot of tiny, tiny little offshoots of our ailing Chinese Elm, but every time we spot a would-be sapling and start paying lots of loving attention to it, it dies.
patriciat: Good luck with the ISS. It's sounds so nice until you have to drag yourself out the door - and at 2 a.m.? I think I'd wait for a few months for more nightime hours. :-)
OG: I remember Gorgeous Gussy at Wimbledon - she was something of a sensation in (I think) frilly underpants. Wow. Busy day for you. Have fun and hope you get some rain. Too bad about little goldfinch. Good grief! Had no idea tomatoes had such a dangerous side; sounds like something Stephen King could work into a novel. Cooking lips definitely not an option.
Alan: Sounds like a very pleasant day. Reminds me that we had a very funny interview on the news the other night with a Brit called Roger Bennett (I think) who does World Cup commentary for ESPN, our sports channel. He quoted someone saying that there were two things wrong with the French team: One was the coach; the other was the team! Our guy asked him how he figured England's chances and he started off by saying "Well, I love the England team as much as any sado-masochist....." Anyway, good they one their match and we're all happy the U.S. won its game too!
Just swept front walkway in an attempt to clear some of the powder so the folks who are delivering a "media cabinet" this p.m. won't track it all over the carpet. The cabinet is arriving - can the flat screen be too far behind?
Take care all, back later.
Lindybird: Thanks (sort of) for the update on the Whaling Commission. Wonder what's happening with Australia's lawsuit of Japan....
Margobird: Three hundred pound at a dentist? Sounds like U.S. prices! Well, at least it's done; just don't risk those fillings with any chewy toffees.
‘evening all - had a good day in Dumfries – all missions accomplished. Started with a milk shake at the ice cream farm on the way. J M Barrie exhibition at the museum was very good – and we watched a video of children playing Victorian games in costume – looked like it was filmed somewhere in the Cotswolds of England – had to admit to knowing most of the games!! Bought Son’s (very practical) birthday present. Chose the kitchen lights and decided we should buy them while they still had them in stock. Dinner was excellent – 3 course set price, but not too much of it - still gave some of mine to OH. Had blueberry crème brulée for pud – I know theirs is small gently crisp on top - not rock hard as some are – and blueberries are very good for one! Usual evening tasks in garden tonight.
Alan – pleased to hear the warmer weather reached you – we had cloud today (no precipitation) and a lovely breeze off the Firth. I think you deserved your Osprey, tennis and football timetable after cleaning the car!
Lindybird – glad you were able to help your Son before the Triffids took over!
Margobird – lots of money for your fillings! We had to go private when we first moved here, then Scotland invested in dental clinic 10 miles away and state-of-the-art Dental Centre in Dumfries. I have a special dentist at the centre, who is very, very good. Margobird – you must love tennis to sit all that time – apparently a great match, and continuing tomorrow!
Annette – I hate it when workers are drilling – makes my teeth ache! I had some when the painter was sanding last week, but not as bad as your job. And the dust – yukk. “Media cabinet” sounds very up-market – and I didn’t know you’d made your minds up yet!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
I've been up for ages catching up on osprey news - I woke far too early (now 7 am). No excuse not to find time today for the weeds. It will be 20 C. Our tasting dinner was great. They brought 3 plates of each entree (we were 6) and the same for the main course. We sampled each others and declared we weren’t sure and would have to return for further testing. LOL. I’d better not detail the menu as I believe it is to be a surprise at the wedding reception. (Will tell you then.) They do not plan dessert as there is to be some special Cake. But last night we had dessert to follow. Difficult choice - choc tart, lemon tart, forget other. As I know so many of you like it, I had to have (!!!) a rhubarb creme brulee. It was divine. Nectar of the gods cannot compare. A great fun evening. The hairdo was a success. I intended to photo the result but the hairdresser did that, at different stages so she can reproduce it. I’m very impressed with her.
I just caught up with the news of That Tennis Match. Those guys are amazing. A pity they can't both go on to the next round. But will the winner be fit to play next round! I also hear Aussies are out of that football event. After all the hype!!!!
Morning everyone. I have been absent from the weekly chat since dear old Marge or Lady as she is now widely known took ill. Things have improved way beyond expectation at LOTL and I now feel able to relax a bit and wander round a few other threads although simultaneously I have been keeping a close eye on LG too. Yesterday (23rd) was the last day of school for my eldest daughter (18) and today is the day that she ‘officially’ joins the FPs. I have had a seemingly unending list of functions and events to dress and fund her for in the run up to this momentous day and happily we have made it. Yahoo! This day coincides with my birthday (which everyone including myself has forgotten about because there have been so many other things going on) so I now have the delight of pleasing myself for most of the next 24 hours although I will be working for 3 or 4 hours much later on this morning. Younger daughter (15) goes to cadet camp on Friday so I have some preparation for that to do tomorrow which is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. Hope you are all well and I look forward to catching up on all the weekly chats (tennis, football, etc) and daily updates at the weekend by which time I will have heaved a huge sigh of relief and notched up another year. Soon be time to name and ring those chicks at LG as well as tag the elder two. Boy its breezy there tonight although its also very warm so EJ will probably appreciate the wind blowing through her feathers. Emma.
Evening all: Can't believe that tennis match; that's what being young does for you.
OG: Milk shake at an ice cream farm? They didn't have those when I was growing up! And blueberry creme brulee - never had that; sounds yummy. "Media cabinet" sounds grand, but basically a TV stand with glass-doored shelves for cable box (a necessity here); DVD player, CD player, and tuner. I don't know if the UK has discovered "great rooms" yet. It's the new term here for the living room. When we were interviewing kitchen remodeling folks last spring, one of them referred to our "great room" and I had to stifle a laugh because we are not in a part of town (such as Montecito where Oprah Winfrey and other celebs live) where homeowners have such things.
AQ; Oh good. You enjoyed the tasting dinner - how many return trips can you get away with? :-) OMG. Now a rhubarb creme brulee!! Double yummy. And a nice experience at the hair place; hairdresser sounds smart.
Emma Peel: Happy Birthday! Saw your reference to "various celebrations" on the other threads. A lot going on - but what is an FP?
Diane: Did you feel that Canadian earthquake? It was only a 5.5 and up near Toronto, but they said a lot of folks in the States had felt it too. EDIT: Barbara Jean: What about you?
Happy Birthday Emma Peel. Enjoy your "me-time", you deserve it. Please what are FPs? (Finished Persons, perhaps? <grin>)
Report in our newspaper that the International Maritime Organisation has banned big cruise ships, those that carry heavy fuel oil, from Antarctic waters from next August. Only small vessels which carry 500 passengers or less and use lighter oil will be allowed because of fears of potential damage if a ship collides with an iceberg. The no of passengers is expected to drop from 15,000 last season to 6,400 after the ban. So maybe this precious area may be safe from mankind's mess. Just heard the latest "mishap" with BP's oil. A collision!!!!!!!!!!!! Really?
I gave myself a Brownie point for attacking weeds this morn. Then I cancelled it because I don't remember thanking you, Lindybird & OG for replying to my query about regulations on DIY work at home. I suppose the Grand Designs program may have edited out such troublesome details. We have different laws between our states in Aussieland, despite the colonies originally being governed from London. So it does not surprise me that regulations in England & Scotland are different. (Aren't they different countries, she whispers.)
AQ: Yes, their underwater thingy bumped into the containment thingy, but just read on CNN that it's back in place. Finally, someone has made a sensible decision re those monster cruise ships. Our news here today was dominated by Obama's firing of McChrystal - can't believe he was so clueless in that interview! Don't let Alan hear you ask if Scotland and England are different countries! :-)