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.

  • LOL, Dibnlib!   --  I often laugh at such expressions, apparently we used to live in the Dark Ages!!!

    Enjoyed my outing with shopping Friend - she bought lots of stuff in John Lewis including things on her list, plus a glittery green top to wear during the festive season. She's bought a lot of clothes lately, perfectly justified though, as she's lost so much weight. Her knee is healing nicely and she's getting better all the time at walking.  I bought three fun Ch*****s tops for the grandchildren.  We had a nice bowl of onion and herb soup, with a crusty roll for lunch.

  • Halloween has turned into a celebration of sweets/lolly collection and a chance to dress up. This year the commercial interests have extended the “necessary” decorations; suburban houses display large spider webs. I assume they are lit after dark but by then I’m safely in my pjs with my library book! I enjoy the giggling costumed apparitions – not a phone or i-thingie to be seen – and pleased with the good manners. As for remembering the Dead, usually on Sunday nearest All Saints & All Souls Days, there are services in a few cemeteries with blessing of the graves.

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    Food shop this morn, nanny duty this arvo.

  • Saga continued. Across to coast to visit Weeroona Island. This view from causeway, behind us are the Flinders Ranges.

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    Originally intended as a port but it would have needed a 3 km jetty, holiday camp set up 1929. Now it appears to be a place of Grand Designs, especially those on top of hill whose many large windows have stunning views. To the east. To south is Port Pirie about 10 km. The 205 metre smelter (lead, etc) chimney stack towers over the town.

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    View to north with background of Flinders Ranges.

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    View a little further to right of last pic. Sorry about the bus headrest!

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    Back on the highway & into Port Pirie for lunch (a healthy salad roll). It may be SA’s sixth largest city & 2nd largest port but it was very quiet in the main Sunday lunchtime. We are off again southward, a brief visit to Tickera (-33.79, 137.71) on the coast, then to Wallaroo where I have been many times. Yet I managed a find a new church. I was unable to learn what use the building had before purchased by the Greek Orthodox community. Obviously a hall or suchlike.

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    Homeward bound, around top of Gulf St Vincent, usual pit stop at Port Wakefield and back only 25 mins late. So glad I went, I enjoyed new & old scenes. Alas no more bus trips until March. Also it is unlikely Chauffeur Friend & I will venture to country now the hot weather & bushfire season has arrived.

  • Good evening everyone.

    I wrote a post on Sunday, but I lost it and didn't have the will to start again!

    It was mainly to say thanks to AQ and Lindy for the interesting photos and holiday descriptions.

    Lindy, your post about visiting Tenerife was most helpful, because we have booked  a cruise for January. We never thought we would go on a large ship, but circumstances change.

    We will stop in Madeira, where we have been before but will visit the gardens again. You cannot go wrong with gardens, I think. OH is not as obsessed as I am, but he will be happy enough.

    After your report on Tenerife, I think we will do our own thing and wander round the port. I do not fancy sitting on a coach to get to the other side of the island.

    Went with OH for a hospital visit today. More tests to be done. He was told he would get an appt. in two to three weeks, but he later had a text giving the date as April 14th. Oh well, keep taking the tablets!

    Interesting  to hear others news. I am impressed by all those herons you saw, Dibnlib. There are some herons nests nearby, but I have never seen more than three at a time.

    There are a lot of cormorants on my stretch of the Thames at the moment. The most I have seen  at any one time is nine, but that was a couple of years ago.

    I agree that what (most of us) were doing fifty years ago is definitely classed as 'olden days' I won't say any more. Old Person Alert!

  • Good  Morning.  Dry here.

    Sorry to hear about yet another 'event' in the USA which has cost lives. It seems that these things are going to be with us for years to come.

    Rosy - Glad to be of help. There are a number of attractions to see on Tenerife, and you'll be offered various different outings, some of which are not too far away: Its a matter of personal choice. Annoying about your OHs appointment - this doesn't seem unusual these days.

    Edit:  AQ - Thanks for your latest pics, glad that you enjoyed yourself. Pity you have to wait for March, now, before another.

  • Doorbell rang only three times last evening (quite early so probably little people); none of them persisted, and OH is just about to check outside for graffiti and car damage.  Thanks for input on my question yesterday!  Agree that current Hallowe’en is a scrambled derivative of various ancient traditions and practices, but also know that even the Latin American “Day of the Dead” is a form of ancestor worship, and cannot agree with synchronistic belief systems.  I find it hard to even dismiss “tradition” when it changes to suit each generation!

    OH finished skirting in hall yesterday, so should begin walls today.  I had a bad day, but feel a bit stronger this morning – halfway through these stronger ABs which really do make me ill!

    AQ – enjoyed the sculptures on your trip, AQ, and the amazing cactus garden.  Have a good Nanny-day!

    Linda – pleased Friend’s shopping trip went well!  I could imagine sitting in that John Lewis restaurant – so good!

    Rosy – long wait for your OH’s hospital tests – I hope he had the chance to say he would accept a cancellation – but not in January, of course!

    Going to have a clothes-flinging session now, so there will be less stuff to move for bedroom carpet fitting.

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • OG:   We didn't eat in John Lewis! -- have given up on them, as they totally changed their cafe this year, and its all serve yourself and not half as much choice.  You have to wander around a large area, bumping into other people with your trays, looking for food, and the sandwich choice is abysmal. It's not too bad if you just want a coffee, but you still have to tackle using the tea/coffee machines yourself, and the cakes although delicious, are all laid out on a big table where you feel that everyone has been coughing and breathing all over them. All in the cause of saving on staff.  My OH said that he would rather have paid another 20p on each item than have it the way it is now. (I'm sure they're losing customers).

    We went to a garden centre on our way home, instead.  There, they made a mess of our order due to a very young member of staff getting it wrong, and brought out a replacement sandwich for Friend, which was also wrong, and she was cross by then! Eventually it was put right but by then I was halfway through my soup before it got cold.  It was all good food, though, and Friend bought a sweater for her daughter on the way out.

    Hope you can get through taking your ABs and they sort out your problem. I do disapprove of the huge commercial takeover of what in our day was a simple apple bobbing, pumpkin carving and ghost story telling night.  The shops are all full of tat and dreadful displays.  However, I do keep in some sweeties for any littlies who knock on our door.  This year no one did, so we ate some chocolate ourselves.

  • OG - Happy that you feel a bit better today. OH had unpleasant side effects when taking them, but after an unsuccessful course of trimethoprim had to move up to the stronger ABs. Re Halloween - I was worried in case you thought that I was being patronising but you know me quite well enough to realise that wouldn't have been my intention!

    Hoping to do some preliminary pruning of roses today. They are very 'leggy' and my book advises doing this in order to prevent any winds rocking them during the winter. I notice that a neighbour has cut his right down to six inches, already.

    The discrepancies in my bank account have been addressed and rectified by the bank. I've had two phone calls from them, apologising for the error.

    After talking about carpet replacements the other day, on here, I now notice that the carpet in the office here is quite worn underneath OH's chair!  Lots of feet rubbing when studying the finances online :-)) To be fair, it was very cheap and off the roll. I can't see how it could be replaced easily, as his desk is a big fitted one, goes into a corner, sort of L shaped and must have been assembled in the room? I get so fed up when contemplating things like this. It would almost be easier to sell up and move. I hate upheaval of any description, though, so that is probably never going to happen!

    Your day out sounded good, LINDY. I'm glad to hear that your friend is making progress and especially glad that she is off the morphine.

  • Had to smile as I was crossing car park to Tesco I spotted a 4x4 and the no plate was AB (didn't note the number) FAB. I wonder how much that one cost????