Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 28 July 2019

ANNETTE - pleased you enjoyed the parade so much, and did your bit for international relations. Sounds as if you found a wonderful place to park yourself, too, with the breeze to keep you comfortable. Sad about lack of humming bird visitors - hope the theory about availability of natural foods is correct.

LINDA - I hope your exotic visitor finds his way home.

DIANE - thanks for setting out the situation re healthcare in the US - we do need to remind ourselves how lucky we are in the UK!

Well, we did spend time in the garden this afternoon - even more tidying up of bulbs to store, dead-heading and general weeding etc. We then got late showering and J arrived home to find he had to wait for his meal.

Its a shocking situation, Diane. We are warned that if we visit the US, we will need good insurance, and it's expensive for those reasons you give: if we investigate our possible travel insurance, it has different quotes for "European travel" "USA travel" or "World travel" -- naturally, we usually get European travel!!

Dreadful that those not able to pay should be treated as Second Class. Something we are trying to fight for in the UK.

LOL Annette, can't imagine trying to hold onto this beautiful bird. One thing I didn't mention is that when I turned on my tablet this morning, someone on a local forum (started when we had a local party for the last Royal Wedding) said that they'd spied the bird in their garden. I replied saying that I'd spotted it, and reporting on my progress in trying to find the owner.

Had to sort out several boxes of papers and junk, to clear the study for Amber to sleep in this week. Must get on with tidying and chucking out a lot of stuff in future, so that its not such a chore. We keep it in the garage when she comes.

Bought lots of cute small yogurts and her favourite Cornflakes today, then when I got back from shopping, remembered that I should have bought blue top milk for her visit - we usually have semi skimmed. My OH says he will pop out for some in the morning.

OG - how frustrating for you but at least the pork was nice.

Lindy - well done, you managed to give the sparrow its freedom. I must admit if I have captured a bird inside its often by its wing initially until I can get hold of it properly to free it.

Annette - that sounds a lot of fun, the parade and being part of tourists pictures - fame will come to you!!!!

Weather has been warm, sunny and cloudy the last couple of days, at least its not oppresive heat.

HeatherB/Diane - reading about the state of hospitals over there it just makes us all the more thankful for our Health Service over here. Although we have problems at least you can walk into a hospital and receive attention or be referred to a specialist one, particularly in the cases of emergencies and don't have to pay. Pity they can't think about giving free health care over there with people perhaps paying what they can along with those who can afford insurance. Notice your drugs are more expensive too. We are lucky here. No easy answers at all.