Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey Topics), 12 June 2016

HAPPY NEW WEEK!!!

Last week's Chat thread is here.

Seems like a lot of folks on this thread have been facing adversity of one kind or another. Sending you all best wishes and good energy.

Have a wonderful week everyone!

  • Oh dear, DIANE. Thanks for letting us know. Let's hope all will be OK for Annette and her OH, and their neighbours.

  • Yeah, Lindy, I don't want to be fear-mongering about it. But that wildfire is now making all of the national news headlines here, and the conditions aren't good for getting it under control. I've never been to Annette's area, so I don't know the terrain. I have no understanding of how difficult it could be for the fire to spread out of the canyons. I do suspect that the air is awful.

  • Those wildfires are scary, Diane. Like you, I hope Annette is not affected.

    The air quality must be very poor for some distance around.

  • ANNETTE - thinking of you there - do heed any warnings to move from your area - don't hang around!  Stay safe - you, your family and your friends!

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • Heather,  Yes, we had to embroider the badge, as well. Also, make a head band (to keep the hair out of the food preparation)!

    We had to use red gingham. I look terrible in red.

    I am sure we  still called the subjects 'cookery' and 'needlework' in those days.

    I gave both up as soon as I could, at the end of the fourth year,( as it was then).

    Maths and English were far less stressful.

  • Strange, Rosy, ours were red gingham too (and they had smocking on them) - but before the cookery apron we had to make our own "housewife" (pronounced "hussif") to hold all our cookery gear, and in the final term of first year we made a skirt.  I was then forced to drop needlework and never, ever did cookery because I was streamed (grammar school) into Latin.  I did a little bit of voluntary year four needlework when I was in sixth form and had free periods to fill!

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • I remember 'Domestic Science' and having to make an apron in blue gingham, I think with some cross stitch decoration on! Compulsory - for girls! - in the first year or two. I rather enjoyed the cooking though.

    Those fires in USA sound worrying!

    The wedding last weekend was lovely and the weather managed to stay dry for the essential time and then rained again while we were all in the pub for speeches, food and music! The drive down to the Peak district on the Friday was not good as heavy rain and slow traffic. It was lovely to see all the family having a fun time. My 14 year old niece had shot up since I last saw her a year ago, and is quite a young lady now.

  • Annette,  I hope all is well with you.

    I did laugh over your nightie/sleeping bag!

  • Shocking how they grow, Chrisy.  Glad you enjoyed the wedding, in spite of the weather and the traffic.

    It's certainly worrying about the Californian fires: thinking of Annette and her neighbourhood.

  • Evening all and thanks to all for concerned comments:  Fire did grow a lot last night and we woke up to gentle shower of ash, which just floated about and resettled when swept up. Tiresome because given the drought, we aren't allowed to hose down any hard surfaces. Daughter got the train down here with no trouble, but I ended up driving her back home earlier than planned coz we were worried that if the winds blew up early in the evening, they'd stop the trains and shut the highway and she'd be "stuck" here with dog, bunny, and ducks all on their ownsome at her house.  We drove past the fire on the way - it did come all the way down to the highway and several canyons are burnt black all the way into the foothills.  The casualties so far (apart from wildlife and some cattle) are several avocado and citrus ranches. It's proving hard to create a boundary around the fire because of the rugged terrain.

    Diane: The quality of the air waxes and wanes with the direction of the wind. Not so bad but my eyes are scratchy this evening.  It was odd to drive my daughter to her car at Surf station this afternoon to pick it up and find ourselves in thick fog at her beach.

    Heather: They threw me out of Domestic Science long before the O levels. I went on to be the bane of the Math teacher's life. Thank heaven for English, Geography, French and Art.  Oh and of course, Religious Instruction, which none of us dared fail.  Like OG: I got streamed into Latin, which I didn't enjoy or do well in at the time, but it turned out to be a wonderful preparation for German.  Your son's logic re driving home from "Mom's" house is irrefutable when you consider we really don't know where they are most of the time...  

    Lindybird: Mental Health also gets the thin edge of the wedge here when it comes to funding...

    ChrisyB: So glad the weather held for the actual event; who cares what it's doing when you're celebrating in the pub.

    OG: If I don't post in time tomorrow, have a lovely time away. I'll be thinking special "good weather" thoughts for you.

    Margo: Hope you're doing better since the transfusion.

    Have a good Saturday all.