Diane: Will REALLY miss you on here. Like Heather, I enjoy your updates on RTH and other critters.
Spoke to niece in Newport Pagnell today via Facetime; saw pix of her cats snuggled by the fire and snow piled up in the garden.
Have been shopping for a new laptop and a replacement iPhone (an older model) so I can pass on mine to one or other family member with an even more ancient and failing model. My laptop screen keeps dimming plus odd video symptoms pop up and it turned itself off the other day. Costco has a really good deal on one and I do like what they call their "concierge" service that adds another year to the manufacturer's warranty. They were a great help in resolving a problem with a new TV we bought some years back when the manufacturer and local service person flaked out - they arranged to have someone drive up from Los Angeles to sort it out (we ended up with a replacement), but Costco handled the whole thing.
Have a good Sunday everyone.
Always sad to say goodbye to a car you've had for any length of time, OG :-(
Hope you can both enjoy the new one.
Have a lovely Anniversary/Wedding event. I will look in on here whilst away, as will be taking this tablet with me in order to research accommodation for future use - we have told our usual apartment owners that we will not be requiring it next year, as where we stay is wonderfully remote, but we're beginning to think that we'd rather stay in the nearby small town (more like a village in our terms). Then we can just stroll to nearby cafes, shops and restaurants without getting the car out every time. So will be looking upwards at all the apartments available, this time, so I may return with a crick in my neck!
Morning everyone .. I noticed the Queensferry Crossing being mentioned! It truly is impressive. I was very fortunate to be one of the 50,000 selected to walk it and did so 3 September.
Here is a photo the official invitation we received
The whole event was so well organised - we arrived at a designated car park and after walking through security there were buses waiting to transport us to the bridge. Everyone had an hour to walk over but no one was hurrying us, we just walked over at our own pace. The height of the towers is unbelievable also the cables and wind breakers at the side must be about 12’. It is a pity the windbreakers block the views but it is a working bridge and during high winds the bridge has stayed open so they do work! At at each tower there were huge signs telling us facts about the bridge. After we completed our walk, buses were waiting at the other end to take us back via the Forth Road Bridge to the car park. What I enjoyed most about it was that it was open to everyone regardless of ability or age. The inside lanes were cordoned off and little buggies ran up and down for anyone who was struggling walking that they could just get on and get a lift.
It truly was an unforgettable experience. Here is one of my many photos which hopefully gives an idea of the towers, cables and windbreakers.
What a wonderful experience, Karen. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I saw the new bridge from the 'old' one last year and it was pretty spectacular then, even covered with containers and heavy machinery. I look forward to crossing it next time I'm in Scotland.
Well, yesterday was interesting. We had been thawing out and younger SD made it here as per a Monday and I was able to get the main shopping in Monmouth. The day passed as usual and she left around 10pm. 11pm she was back. The only route would have been to go to Newport, get on the M4 and then go back up the M5 as all other routes were impassable due to road closures or flooding. She left at 9 this morning!
Thawing going well, our road is now clear. We have even got to the heady heights of 4C.
Karen, thanks so much for posting! and especially your lovely pictures of the new bridge. We saw it on TV but its not the same as seeing it for real. What a wonderful opportunity you had to walk across it on that day. It looked well organised when we saw it reported on The News.
ForestBoar, glad you're thawing out but it sounds as if you're still getting more than your fair share of road problems etc., there. Its much warmer here now and we can put all the really bad weather to the backs of our minds as a bad memory.
KAREN - Thank you for the pics and your description of what must have been a fantastic opportunity to be amongst that group!
LINDY - safe journey and have a lovely holiday. Looking forward to hearing from you when you return. I don't blame you for refusing to go with that travel agency again. He lied to you when he denied any cruises had been cancelled before and now taking too much time to finalise booking your new choice. GGRRRR!
OG - Well, I didn't know about the problems with the old bridge. Just as well, because my stepson has had to drive across it twice a week at least, for years. I'm sure he must have known that there were problems, though, as his work with Forth Pilots means that he is constantly sailing under it and bad news travels fast on the Forth!
ANNETTE - yes, new dryer on order. It may - or may not - arrive up here on Thursday. All depends on the roads and any backlogs of deliveries due to last week's weather. Sorry to read of the hassle with the new laptop....
GEORGE - it was good to hear from you. The old lady next door was in Portugal on her extended winter break when we had our last harsh winter, several years ago. I had a key and checked her house, daily. The condensate was freezing and I had to make an executive decision to have some sort of heated wire installed through all the pipes, right to the outside. Thankfully she was happy to pay us when she returned home!
Regards to all -
Hello again. LINDA – the late March event isn’t the combination one. This is Grandson#2’s wedding near the Forth Bridges (although it happens to be the weekend between our two 70th birthdays). The combined celebration for wedding of Daughter#2 and our 50th anniversary is not until the summer! Of course, there are some overlaps in the guest lists, so will be seeing quite a few varied relatives and acquaintances! How sensible to think of more convenient apartments for future springtime trips – especially as you enjoy walking anyway – and more chance to pop out and buy what you fancy for a meal, instead of having to think ahead all the time.
KAREN – how wonderful for you to be able to do the Queensferry crossing on foot – brave too, at that height!
FB – I see your daughter got to your house Monday morning, but couldn’t get home last night – does this mean you were still getting snowfall though the afternoon and evening? Do you live at very high altitude for it to be so bad? I see you shop in Wales but go to Cheltenham for hospital – does this mean you live on the English side of the border?
HEATHER – I hope the dryer arrives on time and you can catch up with drying from the girls’ weekend stay! What are you looking forward to next?
Car is ready to collect, so OH will be setting out and then get back for cooking dinner – lots of veg tonight so lots of peeling and chopping!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
OG: snow stopped Friday but didn't start thawing until yesterday. SD was caught out with overnight road closure on one route and floods on the other two. Yes we are high – 770ft. You are correct, around half a mile.
Morning all:
Karen: What a thrill to walk across the Queensferry Crossing. I was reading about that when I Googled the bridge after OG's mention and thought it would have been a real treat to do that. Thanks for the pix. It makes me think of Rupert Brook's poem (The Great Lover?) that mentioned "the cool impassioned beauty (of a great machine)" - not exactly a machine, but still so impressive.
Forestboar: Wow, swimsuit time at that rate. Hope lunch goes well tomorrow.
Lindybird: The shift to a small town sounds smart. I like the idea of puttering off to a cafe or something and then strolling back through the streets rather than having to drive everywhere.
Off to catch up on masses and masses of 'to-do' stuff. Have scribbled notes and Post It reminders all over my desk and really have to get with the program!
Sorry, OG, I wasn't concentrating. Of course the wedding is later on in the year.
We've had bad news about my cousin's husband, who is extremely poorly in hospital. He has had a bad heart for many years, and recently collapsed in the snow. I hope my other cousin will keep me posted as to how he is getting on, and hopefully recovering.
Bonnie has left on her "holidays" so it's very quiet here. We just weighed the cases and were not over laden: I've packed two pairs of Birkenstock sandals, one pair of crocs for the beach, one pair of Skechers comfy shoes, and will travel in some trainers - a total of only 5 pairs! -- a very low amount for me!