Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 1 October 2017

Another catching up day – where did that weekend go?

Linda – sorry Bonnie didn’t settle too well for you last night, hope tonight will be better.

Heather – you’re right that Sunday was our membering service – unusual to have the Moderator do it, usually someone local.  Pleased you coped well with your quiet weekend.

Blood tests this morning – my usual phlebotomist is back full-time at last.  We both got our flu vaccine while we were there.  Then a busy afternoon – rain had swollen a lot of beans beyond use, but still managed to rescue three meals – and eight courgettes (off one plant too, as the other one gave up two weeks ago).  Also completed some rather nice (tho I say it myself) birthday cards.  Need to do a few for men and can then start the Christmas ones.  Visiting Garden centre Thursday which also has a craft centre – hoping to gather ideas to use up some of the spare elements from past years.  Have quite  a long list to buy there, and will have lunch.  Also getting lunch out tomorrow on way home from Rheumatology appointment; getting more exercise now, so not, thankfully, gaining weight!

Dibnlib,  Very pleased that you are happy with the way your Mum is being looked after. I am sure that this gives you peace of mind.

AQ,  I am fascinated by all your photos and descriptions of your travels. I haven't looked properly at the latest ones yet, but intend to soon.

Annette,   Wishing you a good journey tomorrow.

When we first saw a notice  about guns not being allowed in a restaurant in Cincinnati, we thought it was a joke. Sadly, that was not the case.

I hope you enjoyed the lemon sole, Heather. I rather like that myself. OH thinks

it is too bland. He is a strong flavour  man. He likes spicy and salty. I never add enough salt in cooking for him. He should not  have too much.

Enjoy your lunch and Garden centre visit, OG. I admire you for making greetings cards. I am not at all artistic. I wouldn't know where to start.

Lindy,    Had you been on such a big ship before? ( It looks big) Were there interesting things to do when 'at sea'?

I wasted an hour this morn waiting & waiting to sort out a muddle with our Medicare. Suddenly G-dau#1 had been attached to us. Long wait due to apparent lack of staff. There were 2 greeters, 1 guard and 2 “serving”. Surely it was quicker in Ye Olden Days before computers? Then off to garden/hardware store. After long weekend, stocks were low or out, but I managed to get my 2 tomato plants plus perpetual spinach & rainbow chard seedlings. Last year’s plants are going to seed but I rarely have any luck growing from seed. Replenished reading from library on way home. Last two nights have had no TV worth watching.

Hope Annette has a safe journey.

PS to trip saga. I meant to say that I had no problems driving (nearly 700 km). Traffic was low. Quite a few caravans as I was mostly on the Barrier Highway (to Broken Hill NSW). I hadn’t realised that NSW school holidays were a week earlier than ours. The worst stretch was the 15 km from Snowtown to Lochiel, where traffic impatiently piled up behind me. I detoured briefly at Lochiel to capture some ruins and when I returned to the highway, only one car came behind on the next 30 km leg. Weird. I would have liked to stop to photo Lake Bumbunga, looking pretty pink, but no stopping places and vehicles behind too close for comfort. Locals have planted old tyres to represent Loch Eel (Lochiel).

Good morning, all.  Very sad to read about the death of Tom Petty at only 66 years of age - check out this link to hear this brilliant duet he did with Stevie Nicks in the 80's.  RIP, Tom.

Good Morning, All.  I was sad, too, Clare - I've been a big fan of the Travelling Wilburys for some years. And he was no age.

Wispy grey clouds here, no rain.

Today's pic:

I may have put this one on before, but aren't they cute?

Ha ha AQ -  looks like Nessie (the Loch ness Monster). One of our biggest tourist attractions.....

ROSY - my OH used to say the same thing about lemon sole , also plaice. His big favourite was proper smoked haddock (not dyed). I used to make a chive and butter sauce to serve with it. Without fail, he asked for a poached egg on top because that is how his mother served it!

CLARE - will you think less of me if I say that I had never heard of Tom Petty until yesterday?

LINDY - I had a long telephone chat last night with our friend in Wales. She has just returned from Madeira. One day recently, she and her son were on a road trip and stopped in a village (she can't remember the name) and came upon friends, unexpectedly. They were on a P and O cruise and it might well have been the one you were on. On our last visit to Madeira, OH and I used to sit on our balcony watching all the cruise ships coming in and out of Funchal. We told my stepson that he should get a job there, since the pilot didn't seem to have to do much work, for very long. Quite unlike the Firth of Forth. He did tell me the reason for Funchal ships needing such a short pilotage but I've quite forgotten. Probably deep waters very quickly.

Heather B said:

CLARE - will you think less of me if I say that I had never heard of Tom Petty until yesterday?

Of course not.  You've undoubtedly heard of many singers that are equally unfamiliar to me.

If you haven't done so it's worth checking out my link as it's one of my favourite songs of his.  Stevie Nicks is really good on it as well.