WEEKLY CHAT (non-osprey) SUNDAY, OCTOBER 29 2017

Welcome to the new week. Hope all the UK types remembered to put their clocks back. We'll do it in another couple of weeks.

  • Hi all, quite remiss of me for not popping in earlier.  Do hope that you are all OK.

    We went down to our local TA this morning to try and look into cruises but the terminals were down. However, an email was sent this afternoon with details and pricings on 2 particular cruises we had looked at.  We think we will be taking a Carribean cruise next October so after the Christmas rush it gives me time to try and save!!!!!! OH said he wanted to do it properly as it will probably be the only one we will do and it is for a special occasion.

  • Of course Halloween is All Hallows Eve, day of remembering and then followed by All Saints Day.  Don't "celebrate" Halloween but local church puts on a "Bright Lights Bash" representing Christ the Light of the World which is far nicer.

    Thanks to you all for your news snippits and to AQ and Lindybird for your travelogues. Won't get that trip down the River Tagus now , still can't have everything.

  • Do love the lastest daily pics, they are delightful.

  • Thank you Linda for a look at the stunning Jeronimos Monastery. You did well as it is difficult to take pics when there are crowds around and so often the lighting is contrasting dark-light. My previous camera did not do very well inside. I have heaps of pics kept for personal viewing only and many more were deleted. As for those ornately decorated churches in Europe, when I visited I wondered how anyone could concentrate during a service!!!

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    I finished the vacuuming that OH started. I know I should be de-cluttering but not in the mood. Instead I’ve gathered stray balls of 5-ply wool. Once upon a time I was intending to knit a striped jumper for a young g-son. He’s now much too grownup to wear Gran’s hand-knitteds, so I am considering whether I have enough to produce 3 striped vests for the Little People. Predominately pink of course <sigh>. I did finish my winter jumper, in time for spring and it has not been cold enough to wear it. I am back knitting baby jackets & beanies for charity to keep me sane.

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    Yet another Aussie pollie finds he has dual citizenship by descent. This is beyond ridiculous.

  • Evening all:  Busy day here.  Have read all news re carpets, cruise plans (Lynette, what's the  special occasion for your cruise?), doctors' visits, smiled at tales of Littlies Down Under and admired Lindybird's lovely pix (I remember learning about Vasco de Gama).   Off to bed shortly!  Have a good Friday all.

  • Good  Morning, folks.  A bit misty here. I must dash as a trillion things to do.

    Annette, I think Lynette meant she and her OH have a special Anniversary next year.

    AQ -- You could try knitting me another pair of shoes....   .... stripes would be nice! LOL!

  • Today's pic:

    "How about me, for a cute award?"

  • OG   At least you will both have really enjoyed it.  Hope J cooks for you both sometimes.

  • Good morning all!

    Linda – Lisbon looks a great place – maybe better to spend a week there rather than trying to cover it on short coach trips from a boat.  I hope you get some Welsh sunshine this weekend for some nice walks on your pre-winter visit.

    Heather - J was always difficult to feed but seems to have got worse lately – he has eaten Salmon and Risotto before, but not together!  We have decided he can have frozen breaded Haddock (which he will smother with Tartare Sauce) when we have Salmon, and frozen Potato products when we have Risotto, and no messing about!  I guess I am a bit fussy myself, and no way would I ever eat Duck!  I sent mine back when it was shoved under my nose by some Nuns at a conference – they thought they were giving us a treat!  My Grannie wouldn’t say “belly” – not polite enough for her – so we had to say “Streaky Pork” – rather fatty I seem to remember.

    Lynette – was trying to work out why you were looking at cruises at the Territorial Army – then realised it was a Travel Agent – I am sometimes quite dim about unfamiliar things, although I did once buy a train ticket (Taunton to Crewe) through an agent!  Our church back in Lancashire used to do a “Light Party” for All Saints, but most of the kids had been out begging in ghoulish costumes the night before!

    AQ – does OH give up after starting vacuuming, or does he not do it right?  Our Dau#2 used to do household chore badly so she was never asked to do them again – known in our family as the “K**** principle of work”!  I am sure your Grandson appreciates not getting a jumper with pink stripes!

    Annette – you sound tired again – please slow down a bit!

    Dibnlib – J likes to cook occasionally, but it’s usually things he likes!  Then, I suppose that is only what we do!   I am finding normal portions too much to eat!  I gave half my Salmon to OH last evening – and one-and-a-half can’t be good for him.  We discussed this morning whether to cook one between the two of us in future (I left over half a huge piece last time we were at the theatre too (“The Fizz” concert two weeks ago).

    I just burnt a pan of pasta intended to be salad for our lunch – really burnt, so the pan bottom burned the tea-towel I put it on – good thing it wasn’t the kitchen work-top.  Think I must be getting past multi-tasking!

     

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • Good job, OG that it was a relatively inexpensive food item that got burned! I think that appetites seem to diminish as we get older. OH came to that stage before me, of course. When he used to say that one steak or one anything could be shared between us, I found it a bit strange at first, even though I've never had a big appetite. It was much easier when it was the sort of meal that could be served in small portions and the left overs frozen. It took me ages to get used to cooking small portions of macaroni cheese, though as I have never frozen that successfully!

    Have I remembered correctly that your mammogram is today?

    A lovely bright day here so more attention to roses. I found myself speaking to them yesterday as I chopped. Something along the lines of 'If you don't grow back next year, tough'