Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 1 January 2017

  • Evening all: Getting back into routine. Tomorrow it's desk work.

    Clare: No doubt you did the right thing with the injured gull, especially as its shoulder couldn't be fixed. It would only have suffered. I'm sure most of us have been in the same position.

    Take care everyone.

  • Good Morning, All.   Cold again here, but clear skies at the moment.

    Getting back to 'normal', whatever that is, here, too.  Packing up the last of the stuff today - I was delayed yesterday by an offer to go to The Sales with my Friend. Came back with two neat tops, plus a silky blouse in a classic style which may prove useful. Also went to the Lakeland Shop to buy a new kitchen timer, and bought several items in there!

    We watched the brilliant film Captain Phillips the other night, which we had recorded from TV over the festivities. I like any film starring the clever Tom Hanks, and this was one of his best - very tense, and this is kept up right to the end.

    Have a good Friday, Everyone.

  • Good morning, all.  Off to Minsmere today - and naturally, the camera is coming with me.

    Just had a beautiful robin in the garden - awwwww.

    Our herring gulls are red listed birds.  Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.

  • Good Morning, everyone.

    Thank you for all your pics and posts which I have been following with great interest.

    I haven't felt much like 'chatting' myself, though, which I know you will understand.

    Each day brings a new challenge - both in terms of emotions and practical tasks. Today, first visit to the solicitor since OH died. I have gathered together all the paperwork that I think is relevant but I'm sure that he will ask me for the very thing that I haven't packed.

  • Good morning.  No frost, rain very early this morning, dry now but low cloud and 6 degrees C.

    LINDA - when you identify "normal", do tell us!  I must say, it's good to see the rooms looking clear and larger, as they do after the festive period - and clearing Ch seems to have inspired filing/flinging in both of us.

    CLARE - is that a volunteer day at Minsmere, or just a pleasure trip?  Enjoy, anyway.

    HEATHER - good to see a post from you.  I don't envy you the paperwork, and I hope you won't have to make an extra visit with further files and papers.

    Builder is here!  2 men arrived at 9:20, and started first coffee break at 10:30!  That may have been interrupted now as OH has just come back from Tesco.  I've been making a 2-day Minestrone soup - very rustic as it's mostly gathered leftovers from the freezer!

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • Heather - I hope that all has gone well at the solicitors, if you're reading this afterwards. I had to manage both of my parents affairs, after they left us, as my mother could not cope when she lost my father. My OH was a great help, in both cases. I hope you've had some help from the family with all the running around needed. It's amazing how much has to be done.

    OG - Great that the builders are getting "stuck in" to the job, as we used to say. If it were here, it would probably have been called off by now as we had a lot of rain after I wrote above, that the skies were clear this morning!  I'm trying to be good, as we pack stuff away - have already put some indoor lights on one side to be given away, as we had been putting them up in our front porch and I don't think anyone even noticed them!

    Clare - Hope you enjoy Minsmere. We have a couple of robins in the garden, and I never tire of them.

    Went out for food supplies and resisted all the lovely chocs on offer at half price. Came back with a lovely piece of reduced price lamb, though, which we'll enjoy tomorrow.

    Hope Margo is feeling better today and is having cuddles with the lovely Billie.

  • LINDA - builders didn't last long.  Coffee break ended at 11:15 and rain stopped play at 12:00!  There was lying water, by then, which was washing mortar away as they laid it!  They have started at the back with a level access to the decking - and the first paver looks secure.  They will (!) return tomorrow (?).  Our Wren, Robins and Dunnocks are all around as usual - and the Sparrows and Starlings paid no heed to workmen.

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • Unknown said:
    CLARE - is that a volunteer day at Minsmere, or just a pleasure trip?  Enjoy, anyway.

    I've been on Reception this afternoon.  I had a good look at the reserve this morning and I'm now uploading the photos!

    Our herring gulls are red listed birds.  Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.

  • Lindybird said:
    Hope you enjoy Minsmere. We have a couple of robins in the garden, and I never tire of them.

    I always enjoy Minsmere - it was full of robins today, you would have loved it.

    Our herring gulls are red listed birds.  Think about that the next time you hear some flaming idiot calling for a cull of them.

  • Solicitor visit went OK. The first meeting I've had where I haven't ended up getting weepy. He chatted about Bill and some other mutual salmon fishing pals for a while before we got down to the nitty gritty. Made me relax :-)