Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 6 May 2018

Hi!  Lovely dry and sunny day right through here - feeling lucky!  And agree with LINDA - a good feeling to have the front looking tidy!  We didn't manage Scottish Strawberries, which would be our favourite, but these were from Lancashire, where we used to live, so didn't mind too much.  Knee has definitely not been so intense today, so still hoping to go away!

LYNETTE - was this the same fall you mentioned last week, or yet another one?  You really shouldn't have mats/rugs where you can fall over them - I know 70 isn't really old (have to tell myself that) but it is an age when trips and bumps can so easily start happening - and it's best to do a risk assessment and remove all hazards!

DIBNLIB - I hope Benson's groomer will be able to attend to him soon, and that all will be well with her husband.

HEATHER - sounds like everyone will feel better with that tree removed, much as we miss old trees when they have to go.  Had email from Dau to thank us for wedding card and some soy-free organic choc I had sent for her.  No other news.

Hello all. I have been somewhat quieter than expected, not my fault! A couple of weeks ago OH went to turn on the front room on one of our apps and turned off the office system while everything was running. PC refused to boot up. That went for surgery. No problem as laptop is set up to do all the essentials of the PC. Two days later it decided that it was not going to power up. PC now back and fuly functional, laptop declared probably not repairable, a situation I had anticipated and have now ordered a refurbished LeNovo which had all reviews as 5 stars. That will be set up with, oh dear, Windows 10 – gulp and Linux for all the household stuff.

Now to domestic news. Older SD has been told she is fit enough to drive and finishes radio end of next week. She should be fit for working again 2-3 weeks after that. So we see her next week so she can get the car serviced and MoT and cam-belt. Guess who pays for her car servicing!

Finally everything is coming together and younger SD can concentrate on moving to her house and helping us more.

That’s all for now got to go back to the kitchen. Thanks to everyone who has been thinking of us.

Oh dear, FB, you could do without computer problems on top of everything else, but it sounds as if you have found solutions all round!  Pleased your elder SDaughter is doing so well - hope that continues through the last week of RT and that her Sister can get on with her plans and yours!

HEATHER   We have enjoyed some lovely evening weather and glorious sunsets. Long may it continue.

FOREST BOAR   Glad to hear that things are improving for you and your family.

OG   Bensons groomer called a wee while ago. Her OH has not been kept in hospital, but has further tests to be done. He recently turned 50. Luckily she has a vacant slot on Tuesday so Benson is booked in for that.

OG: I am just glad we are coming back on track with life. Obviously we will still have hiccups but that’s better than the last few months! Thanks Dibnlib

Evening all:

Lindybird: Yes, the trains are comfortable. In Coach class, there's lots of leg room and reclining seats.  There's a snack bar (on this train - the Empire Builder - they had some fairly healthful snacks, soft drinks, wine, beer) and there's a full-service dining car.  The sleeping cars (I had roomette, which has two comfy seats that face each other and slide down into a good-sized bed plus an overhead bunk that is let down at night).  The toilets are at the end of the car and there's a shower on the lower level.  I had a shower on the train, but the shower attachment kept drifting from side to side with the movement!). Other sleeper options include larger accommodations with toilets and showers in the room, but they're more $$$$s. All meals are included in the Sleeper coach fares, except for wine and beer.  Too bad you all have to go through these machinations due to AC's visit.

Lynette: Have you been able to go swimming (it is you who swims, right?)  Are you wearing dark glasses to avoid curious stares?

ForestBoar: I have Windows 10 and once you get rid of all the extraneous bits it's pretty straightforward.  I do miss Windows Live Photo Gallery though - why do they keep "fixing" things that aren't broke!!!  Hope the upward trend chez vous continues.

dibnlib: Hope groomer's husband gets the all-clear and that normal routines resume.

AQ:  Here's to cooler days Down Under and that you'll be rid of the snuffles soon too.

OG: We had some English strawberries when I was there. I was surprised as it seemed so early. I think they might have been better a month or so on...

Heather:  Modern and noisy?  That does it! I'm on my way over to ask her to keep it down.

Hit all the grocery stores today!  Ironing on the list for tomorrow, but it's so nice to be not lugging suitcases hither and yon I don't mind.

Have a good Friday all.

Annette: Thanks for your reply about your trip. Sorry you didn't arrive until late and couldn't go out exploring on Thursday evening. Chicago is a fascinating city. It's dangerous, though. And expensive -- for hotels, food, museums.... I'm glad you had a good time on Friday. Congrats to you for being able to walk all those miles. Dang! You must be in great shape! $25 for the Art Institute is pretty high, but I'm sure you enjoyed it. I'll bet it was a great walk around downtown. I liked the Museum of Science and Industry the last time I was there (a long time ago).

Too bad you couldn't take the Chicago river cruise. I've never been on one of those, but I've heard they're nice. Lake Michigan is beautiful. The Indiana Dunes State Park on Lake Michigan is very pretty and wild. They have a wonderful new bird observation tower - platform. You can see hundreds of species during migration times.

Wow, that new waiting area/lounge at Union Station sounds posh! Much nicer than the little shelter building in my local town. LOL! The only way to get free refreshments there is to dig around in your handbag for loose M&Ms. LOL!

I really hope you enjoyed your train journey! It sounded wonderful. 

Here's a video of a Barred Owl saying, "Who cooks for you? Who cooks for you all?" Also HERE.

Everyone: Hello to you all. I'll do more replies tomorrow. It's getting late here. It's also very hot and humid. Take care, everyone.

Diane, I've been following your links to the barred Owl - they are so gorgeous! Thank you.