Welcome to the new week everyone. Harelady updated us on her return to Suffolk today (Sunday) and she'll be returning to London next Sunday for funeral services the following week.
Lindybird: Thanks for the lovely photo of the poppy.
Pat O: I enjoyed reading about your power-golfing holiday. Hope you have a good trip home.
OG: When do you expect the deck to be done? (Is it a wooden deck or a patio area?)
AQ: Disconcerting that the snowflakes (snowdrops?) are so very early.
Meanwhile, while took Ms D up to the local Natural History Museum last week where, among other things, we enjoyed a visit with some injured and rescued raptors, now living happily ever after in the museum's gorgeous grounds. In the first photo, Ms. D is cozying up to a peregrine falcon that had been shot (she looks a little uncertain, but I know the guy who handles it and he assured me there was no problem). In the second photo, she's looking a lot happier being friendly with a gorgeous barn owl.
Good Morning, and thank you to Annette for starting us off.
What super pics of Ms. D, and the birds. She's grown again, already!
It's drizzling here and we're not sure what to do with our day. I want to go to see the Glaslyn Ospreys but we usually combine it with a visit to that part of the coast, and a walk on the beach. Maybe we'll go and see the Glaslyn chicks tomorrow.
Here's today's pic:
"To the left a bit.......aaaah, that's better!"
Good morning. Dry for most in UK I think. Still breezy, and promise of a cooler night then another dry day Monday here - suits me for getting to church today and hospital check-up tomorrow.
ANNETTE - thanks for setting us off on a new week - where is the year going? No idea when deck will get done - and OH won't get a chance to phone man Monday morning. It is a wooden deck - stripped right down including rotting supports, then new posts, joists and deck boards. Good photos of Miss D - she does look apprehensive in first photo - her eyes looking sideways at the Peregrine Falcon - but very happy with the Owl. Did she get a chance to hold the Barn Owl?
LINDY - I am sure you will think of something to do if the day is a damp one - and both Glaslyn and the coast will be better on a dry day.
Need to think about getting ready to go, allowing time for getting to car and then into church building. OH will be reading and may be doing projection again today - nobody knows whether regular guy is back from holiday. Then still catching up this afternoon; front garden remains good and weeds in lawns are dying off well, but it will soon need revisiting - a gardener's work is never done!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
I have been trying to post for several weeks now but for one reason or another time hasn't been on my side. Among other many things we now have a new extension to our hallway with another loo, we have had service engineers (several times) to fix a fault with the tailgate system on the car and an engineer to do a routine service on our security system. All our own routines have had to be changed around these events.
Harelady: you have our condolences and you have been in our thoughts. One thing that kept me going when my brother was killed last May is that he was finally out of pain and and at peace. He had been suffering from bad shingles for several years.
I discovered that a combination of permanent sinus irritation, asthma, hot weather and high pollen levels is not clever! Today is now a comfortable 16C outside and a drop of rain with more forecast later so we will probably get wet when we go round the corner to our village pub for Sunday lunch.
We have made a hard decision that this will be our last visit to LG as the long drive up is becoming hard to do any more. We have a week booked at a disabled access cottage near Truro for a week in November and my youngest stepdaughter is coming with us to help sort out any problems. If it works we will book up for next summer for all the family.
This led on to reminiscences: I have been a carer for 26 years, the last 7 being 24/7 and we have been married for 24 years in August, the last 14 living in the Forest of Dean.
Current sit-rep on our dealings with my brother's estate: we have nearly finished! The pension company has finally agreed that I am indeed the final surviving member of our family and am due the lump sum payment. It has turned out to be a double edged problem as we were not expecting a six figure sum and certainly not of that size. We cannot give it to my stepdaughters as they would be liable for 40% tax on it if we died before seven years. The house has been sold at a price higher than the minimum we wanted so the girls are happy. All that remains is dealing with the insurance company over the bike insurance after the trial is over. That will now be 9 October. It has been dragged out because the defence were trying to use the medication my brother was on as it is used to treat epilepsy (it is also used in a mild form to treat shingles) and he should not have been on the road. The judge threw all this out saying that the bike rider was not the one on trial. Thats me up to date (I think!)
FORESTBOAR - I hope you are both enjoying a tasty pub lunch! How difficult having to decide not to attempt LG after this year - but good that you could decide together and the decision wasn't forced upon you by changing circumstances. I hope the Cornwall cottage will turn out right for you. We aren't attempting to go anywhere this year, but this is still temporary, so maybe next year we shall get to see our Great Granddaughter and our Daughter's house. Is there a way you can put your inheritance in trust for your stepdaughters, to minimise tax? Sorry the trial is taking so long and causing delays on finalising everything.
Hello all and thank you ANNETTE for starting us off. Love the pics of Miss D! Agree with OG, she looked a bit worried in the first pic:-)
I'm happy that you managed church today, OG. I'm assuming that J went to his 'own' church?
FORESTBOAR - as OG says,there are several ways to minimise or avoid Inheritance Tax. If you have a good solicitor, he/she will advise. For example, family trusts and also insurance policies. Of course, will incur costs and not just a one off but you could put money aside for these. I hope that you will be able to sort something out.
I'm expecting eldest daughter here soon, having evening meal with them at their home. Youngest and her girls got the train back to Elgin at 1230 hrs. We enjoyed our time together. Now have four days at home and hoping for good gardening weather. On Friday I'm going to Elgin to attend Mia's end of term stuff, church service and Prizegiving. Saturday, Isla' s birthday.
HEATHER - you are right - J did go to his church today - he went to an ecumenical meeting yesterday too, but we didn't. I've ben so lucky with the weather not interfering with plans. Enjoy dinner with another part of the family, after time with the younger ones, and then the trip to Elgin after gardening - but don't do too much!
Good to hear from everyone.
We had a good day. An hours plus walk at the canal. We enjoyed chats with people waiting to go through the lock and others on foot. The weather was pleasant. Home via Tiso and Simpsons for some seaweed oatcakes for lunch. We then spent 3 hours watching the tennis mens final at Queens. It was a very exciting match. Looking forward to Eastbourne and then Wimbledon of course.
Glad that you had an enjoyable day, DIBNLIB. Also wondering about LINDY, did the weather clear?
Thanks Annette for starting us off. Miss D has grown up, delightful D. Snowflakes (Leucojum) have little bells with green spots, not the same as snowdrops (Galanthus) whose petals are more like propellars.
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It is lovely read of all everyone’s weekend goings-on. Thinking of Harelady as she prepares for a difficult time.
Overnight we had some rain, less than 2 mm, enough to wet the paths. And probably enough to deter OH from going out. He dislikes rain. I say “It’s only water!” I’m meeting Travel-Friend at Murattis tomorrow. Today I was planning to post my photos of Malmsbury from our Victoria trip, but I see she posted same place yesterday. I’ll delay mine and have switched to Lancefield instead.