Weekly Chat Sunday June 27, 2010

Evening/morning all:

Lindybird; Yes!! What was the Drama next door?? Oh by the way, remember the "Tiger Woods" event down the road where somone drove into a neighbor's garage?  Well, heard it was yet another neighbor's young son, totally potted (drunk) who was coming home late and somehow mistook the gas pedal for the brake!!  Apparently, the Fire Department was there, etc., and had to cut the (uninjured) perpetrator out of the car because the garage door collapsed onto the car.  They've just completed the repairs.

OG. Ooooh. Another lovely butterfly. Thanks!

Alan: Watched the US/Ghana match - felt so bad for the U.S. team (but if they'd won, would've felt bad for the Ghana team!)  They started off so lackluster; then picked up in the second half, but then hit (to me at least) a sort of slump toward the end of the second half, but picked up again in the overtime, but to no avail.  It doesn't matter which team/player I support, I always feel bad for the loser. These people put so much time and effort into their games....  Soccer is so much more exciting than U.S. football where, as I've noted before, the players are all done up like Michelin men and spend most of their tiime in a pile.....

AQ: We had floor heaters in our church in Watford, and everyone huddled over them (and roasted!) during the winter months.  I missed the "red card" reference in your response to Alan....."

Our new back gate got installed today. I worked in the garden (after footie!) and managed to decimate a Potato Vine. Was trying to "re-install" it on the wall, but thought I'd be clever and trim it. Big mistake. Oh well, it'll grow back.

 

  • Evening all - back to a full day's gardening with OH today after having to go in to office to cover for boss last six weeks (although he was back last week, he had to go for tests Friday so I still had to go in on my normal day off).  Great to be outside again, I've missed all this lovely dry weather.  Actually, when you're working in it it's not so good, too hot OH says, and I find the dusty grass sticks to your sunscreen and makes you look really furry LOL.

    OG, MiL lives 300 miles "down south" near the Chilterns, it's a long way to go down M6 or A1, no fun. We have friends there to see but moved here in 1992 so we gradually drift apart, and if he's supposed to be mum sitting he shouldn't really leave her for too long. I'm taking the time off work but probably not going down, I find it easier to look after cats/hens/garden when he's away if I don't have to rush around going to work too!  Also, it's a break for me to do what I want, when I want, and don't have to cook too much.

    Lindybird, I saw your pic of yourself behind the camera and I see what you mean when you said dibnlib's pic could be you ;))

    Annette - here is an article from the Daily Telegraph explaining about men and large tv screens.  I have a friend who covers his over with a tasteful small patchwork quilt in various shades of brown, they do look a little imposing as a blank screen.

    http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/nigelfarndale/7806076/When-a-man-has-to-have-a-42in-HD-television.html

    Patriciat - have you seen the ISS yet? I have been quite successful in deducting 95 minutes from the early hours times, it's just dark enough at 10.30, which is about when it's due here tonight, a little earlier for you I guess.

    Terry in Cumbria

  • Hi, all. Couldn't get on the site last night, but seems fine today. Have been looking at new computers. I can't believe how quickly technology evolves. I've had to do a lot of reading just to be able to understand the options.

     

    OG: I continue to send good energy to you and your son. Sorry you have to wait for a resolution to the issue. Must be so stressful for you. Hope the big, fat osprey chicks are giving you some respite.

     

    Lindybird: Your eyeglass saga sounds like the kind of thing that happens to me. I always try to be nice and patient with the employees, while my blood pressure rises. I think you should post a picture of you in your new "bees knees" sun hat and new sunglasses. ;-)

     

    TerryM: I hope you enjoy your time off from work and your solitude. I think everyone needs to be alone sometimes.

     

    Patriciat: Good luck in your search for the right mobility equipment for your husband. I hope you find exactly what he needs. I'm going to have to start considering some other options for my Dad.

     

    Margobird: I, too, wonder how professional dancers can have such stamina and endurance. So glad that you have been enjoying the shows you've been attending.     Brenda H: Welcome back. So sorry about your neighbor. That's very nice of you to offer bedrooms to the grieving family.     Alan: Thanks for the Mylnefield link. Interesting to see that place. You were a very hard working young man to cycle 4 miles and then pick berries at piecework rate!     AQ: I so love "The Theory of Insufficient Reluctance." In my younger days, I often suffered from Insufficient Reluctance Disorder. But since I've gotten older and meaner, I can say no to people who want me to do tasks I don't want to do.     

     

    Auntie: I'm so glad that your mother is progressing in her recovery, and it's lovely that she has returned to her hometown. She will feel much better, I'm sure. By the way: I confess to having an entire dust bunny army in my house. This is the size of my dust bunnies:   http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2007/01/giantrabbitEPA0301_468x722.jpg   LOL LOL

  • Annette: I can't imagine trying to buy a new telly. The vast number of choices would make my brain explode. I didn't realize how behind I was in the new computer technology.

     

    Sorry your Wimbledon-watching didn't go as planned. Did you invent any new cuss words? LOL

     

    By the way, I think you should leave your patio door open for the woodland creatures. :-) I have a rabbit who's been hanging around my front door. I think he would come in for dinner if he were invited nicely and I served salad.

  • Yesterday pm, I couldn’t raise this site, even via the back door. Then, very late I watched the tennis - or as much as our TV programmers permitted (first match began one hour into the match b*#@*). By the 3rd set of the Murray match, it was so late that I fell asleep, waking in time to see his interview. Not mentioned on morning radio news, so I had to find score on ‘net. Later what really got me feeling quite grumpy was my yahoo email. It would not recognise either my new or old password. So I’ve gone thro’ the whole process again. If I disappear one day, it is not that I am deserting you, my friends, but that the gremlins have done for me.

    Thank you Dibnlib, for the mention of Peter James. I found one of his books at the library and I am enjoying it very much. Woo hoo, another new author for me!

    Large TV screens? Himself has one so big I want to push the chair back through the wall. It also has so many gadgets to drive it & the sound system that I don’t attempt to drive it. (I claim one needs a pilot’s licence). My TV is an antique one inherited from an aunt. All this fuss about digital and there are still so many rubbish programs that I don’t want to watch. Give me a book any day.

  • Some Universal Laws to brighten your day.

    Law of Gravity - Any tool, nut, bolt, screw, when dropped, will roll to the least accessible corner.

    Law of Probability -The probability of being watched is directly proportional to the stupidity of your act.

    Variation Law - If you change lines (or traffic lanes), the one you were in will always move faster than the one you are in now.

  • Oh heavens. I just did a long post and hit the wrong button and lost it.   Darn.

    TerryM: That Telegraph article was a hoot - I've forwarded it to my OH.

    OG: Doesn't matter what age our kids are, we worry about them (they didn't tell us that when we were expecting them, right?) Hope the trip north gets things sorted out.

    Diane: Rabbits stopping by for salad would be okay; not so sure about the skunks and possums!

    Sorry if I missed responding to anyone. Must check out the Daily Update - am late.

  • AQ: If you disappear, we'll send out a search party!  In fact, we'll form our own.  

  • Morning all! Another hot day on it’s way here, and yes Annette over 20 Cs is hot here LOL ,everything is relative eh? And if you need volunteers for AQ’s search party - sign me up please!

    Must be frustrating, Lindybird, that you have to make extra efforts to get your eye were as it should’ve been right in first place

    OG, thinking of you and yours

    Margobird, it must have been a joy to see Rhys, it is amazing how fast babies grow

    Alan, wasn’t that Holland - Brazil match something, I suspect Holland might go further in World Cup than I first thought. BTW Holland will be Finland’s first (or second) opponent in coming qualifications for European Championships…

    Patriciat, how wonderful that your OH has made his mind up and want’s some “gadgets” to better his life, it must be a big relief to you too

    BrendaH, so lovely that you let your late neighbour’s relatives use your spare bedrooms, I’m sure they really appreciate your helpfulness

    Diane, had a good laugh with your dust bunny pics LOL and in various colours too

    AQ, those Universal Laws are sooo true, especially the Law of Probability!!!

    I had a great day yesterday, went to Pohtiolampi and saw ospreys in flesh (so to speak) for the very first time in my life! I saw three ospreys fishing and it is truly magnificent sight, the hovering and dives, big splashes etc. I was in a hide about only 30-40 meters away from that pond and really had to struggle not to cheer out loud LOL Saw some other birds too, but nothing really special that I don't see here on daily bases like common swifts and white wagtails, but I really had fun watching one Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) who thought s/he owned the pond and kept chasing the common gulls away.

    Have a nice Saturday all

  • Morning All:  As you can see, I'm running late, & I also have the Saturday Shopping Mission to do!  Did have such a good laugh at Dianes  dust bunnies!!  Love 'Em !

    Will write more later....

  • Nice day again here so far – have hung washing out - well OH has.  Lots of chick-feeding happening on the deck – Chaffinch, Sparrow, Goldfinch etc.  Even Dunnock seems to have four little ones in tow!  OH says we are getting short of feeds and we might have to call in at LG when we are up north this coming week because they probably can’t wait for our planned later visit.  How about that, going to LG because we need to!

    Terry – thanks for that article about men and their big screens – also enjoyed the side issue of why they become once-every-four-years football fans!

    Diane – new computer choices are very difficult, I am sure a lot of the changes (and to other hi-tech equipment) supposedly to “improve” things are actually to increase sales and profits – but then, I am just an old cynic!  Laughed at the giant dust bunnies, but those rabbits do look freaky – what are we doing to animals, breeding Giant Rabbits and Micro Pigs as fashion accessories?!!

    AQ - please don’t disappear – I would sign up for Annette’s search-party.  Enjoyed your Universal Laws!

    Auntie – so pleased you made your trip to Pohtiolampi– and saw the Ospreys fishing!  Lucky you.

     

    Here is another news story - from Florida - the kind of thing which happens when we let loose non-native species!  Headline “Snake bursts after gobbling gator”

    http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/4313978.stm

    I hope I haven't already shared this picture.  There are loads of wild Orchids growing on the town byepass, and they self-seed (possibly via birds) into our garden.  This is one of the Spotted ones - spots on leaves and inside individual little flowers - a bit bigger than the more common Marsh Orchids.  My litlle camera used to turn them blue, but with the Canon and a UV filter i am getting the true colour. 

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!