Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 1 January 2017

  • Good Morning, All.

    Damp here, but not actually raining properly.  My OH has resumed his Tuesday golf, so I have a morning pottering around alone.

    Annette - I remember housecoats. Never heard of a brunch coat, either!  Nowadays the shops & TV here seem to promote Leisure Wear which is loose clothing, often in cuddly materials, for slobbing around at home in. I think I mentioned once that I have a furry jacket and cuddly trousers, but I don't wear them very often!

    Lynette - Nice to have a holiday to look forward to - often the anticipation is half the fun!

    AQ - Laughed out loud at your newspaper quote!! Enjoy your freedom from nanny duty this week!

  • Good morning.  Everyone worked well taking church decorations down yesterday, so OH and J aren't required today. This afternoon, we shall be doing our own, but we actually started last evening. I suggested that a combination of a charity bag to fill (one which actually invites bric-a-brac)and surplus boxes of decorations was the way to go.  The bag was due out this morning, so the decision had to be made and, wonder of wonders, we picked out some which we had used this year, and  many stored items which hadn't seen the light of day for years!  

    Weather is grey but dry - and normal temp for time of year (and I did sleep better last night).  Yesterday I did some ironing (now, where did that come from?) and also made some urgent birthday cards and a new-home card.  Sent OH to Tesco early, as I need veg to cook for lunch - been having main meals lunchtime when we can - more digestible.  J will return to work Thursday and then everything goes back to normal, and a quiet week this week too.

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • Had a pleasant chat to our elderly neighbour yesterday, but it's sad to see his decline: physically, he is not doing too well and needs a live in carer to cope, but he's had an interesting and varied life and his brain is still very sharp. He just spent Christmas with his daughter who lives some miles away, but a year or two ago he lost his other daughter which was very sad.

    On a lighter note, here is a pic of our little Amber, enjoying the easel we bought her for Christmas:

    (Some of the symbols drawn by adults)

  • Just been back to look at your pics, Clare - what a lovely visit you had. Some great bird studies there, especially the wings on that mallard.

  • Lindybird said:

    Just been back to look at your pics, Clare - what a lovely visit you had. Some great bird studies there, especially the wings on that mallard.

    Glad you like my photos, Lindy.  You should also check out this thread - Whistling Joe has just posted these and they are well up to his usual standard.  I should also mention that I'm still laughing after looking at them myself!

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

  • Clare, thank you so much for more great photographs - your captions also add a certain piquancy.  And thank you as well for the link to Whistling Joe's pictures.  I'm still smiling!

    Annette, I could have done with some of your temperature this morning as we set out for golf at minus 5!!!!  A golf ball behaves very strangely when it hits solid ground, and even more strangely when it hits solid water.  The score was rubbish, but it was an entertaining and unpredictable morning ...

  • My OH had a very damp mornings golf, Pat. But we seem to have frosty early mornings predicted for the next few days, so he may experience the same as you on his Thursday game.

    Clare - loved those bathing beauty pics!

    Been tidying up, and have gathered up a few decorations, although I can't put them away properly until we get out all the storage boxes.

  • Three guesses what I've been up to today........yes, more photography!  Click on the redshank to see a few more:

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

  • ANNETTE   I think many French people (inc Parisiennes) make a point of not speaking English.

    Swam again this morning, good to get back to the habit. This afternoon we went bed hunting(for Benson as his is a bit tatty. You would have thought it was for ourselves, the amount of effort we put in. We went to 3 shops and then as usual made a purchase from the first one. When we took it home he took a quick look, then asked for his supper - an hour early. OH offered him a walk and once again he refused. OH will try again once B has eaten his supper at 1630.

  • dibnlib said:
    I think many French people (inc Parisiennes) make a point of not speaking English.

    I think these things vary from country to country.  I have family in Germany and I find that if I try to speak a bit of German, the person is likely to respond in English as they are pleased you've made the effort.  France can be funny, though, and there are places in North Wales where locals will all switch to Welsh the minute someone English is about.  A past manager of mine experienced this - that must have been awful for him and his family.

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