Weekly Chat, Sunday August 22, 2010

Hi all. Haven't had a chance to check out most recent postings from last week but will do so tomorrow.

  • Brenda - What a sad time for your DiL, so glad though, that you managed to arrange a quick flight for her, so that she could be with her Mother. Yes, especially with her Dad ill, her Mother will need and so appreciate support.

  • Brenda - sorry to hear what a sad time it is for your family.  At least you could help in some way, by getting her on the plane.  A rather sad end to your son's nice surprise of turning up at home.

    Don't worry about the baby clothes - some of them are for age 9 months - mine I remember  grew at an alarming rate, and were huge anyway to begin with!  (on reflection, not comparable with the amazing growth of an osprey though)

    georgeg:  We had a nice piece of lamb tonight, courtesy of M & S - and very good it was, too!

  • What a lovely day it turned out to be here – but I have been thinking of our friends in the south with the threat of flooding!

    Alan – what  a lot of picnics you seem to enjoy – we haven’t done that for ages.  When we returned stuff to kitchen after the recent work, we did make the picnic plates etc more accessible – so … maybe … some day …!

    Lindybird – so glad you are feeling better!  I wouldn’t say our garden is a riot of colour – but there is usually something in bloom.  I was thrilled today to find that the Crinodendron Hookerii (Chilean Bell Flower) has not only revived after the winter and spring, when we though we might have lost it, but it is now showing its buds for next year in the normal way.  So glad we didn’t chop it down when it appeared dead – we just pruned to the bits which looked less dead!  I think we might put fleece on it this winter if it is as frosty as last.  So pleased you have allowed yourself to buy some clothes for little Sweetpea – especially at half price!

    Brenda – I’m so sorry that your family has yet another bereavement to cope with, and how awful for DiL and her mother, with her father so ill.  Pleased you managed to get a flight for DiL, who I am sure appreciated being able to be there to support her mother - and I hope your Son will be able to join her soon.

     

    Took the camera on the drive to cream tea today to take a couple of views to share.

    This is from near the M74 bridge at Junction 20, about 5 miles from us, and is a fairly typical view of Annandale.  The hill with the flat top is Burnswark, which has extensive earthworks and other evidence of an Iron-age Hill Fort from about 450BC.

     

     

    Then a more modern scene of Minsca Windfarm,  which I find so beautiful with the sun shining on the Turbine blades against the cloudy sky (I was just lucky with the clouds in that direction, because it was so clear behind me).

     

     

    And now the lucky shot.  I’ve not seen a Gull do this before: it was playing in the thermals over the motorway, rolling and tumbling, soaring and diving – but it definitely was a Gull, and from the colouring I’m saying Herring Gull:

     

     

    And so now, Goodnight all!

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • Gremlins again, so I had to come in via My Page. Since I didn’t post yesterday, I had to guess who may have posted to get to Daily & Weekly pages. Not hard!!!!

    The cocktail party was fun. I busily took photos - not for general scrutiny, just for Dau#2’s private amusement. A by-product is that I can memorise a few names & faces and hopefully attach them correctly at the wedding. I am hopeless remembering names - better at remembering who wore what. And people just don’t wear the same the next time I meet them . . .

    When Himself was called this morn, he advised the broken-beaked-magpie delegation that he would fetch some mince. He left the front door open. When he returned one had wandered inside!!!!

    Overcast morning, paths wet, rain promised. I’m not taking any chances, washing straight into garage as I am going to lunch with a friend. Looks like we won’t know results of Aussie election for 10 days. It will take that long for postal votes to come in. Already horse-trading talks as it seems neither of 2 main parties will have a majority. The balance of power by 3 Independents & 1 Green. Hm, perhaps the zoo pandas’ selection of a Greens win was not far off! Heron - An item in today’s paper indicated 5.6% of votes were informal (up 1%).

    Linda - A good idea to snatch bargains for Sweetpea when you can. I still have a few clothes & toys that didn’t get passed to current gr-chn. They will be ready for the future!

    Brenda - Sorry your family is having such a tough time lately.

    OG - Lovely landscape pics. Yes, I’ve noticed some pics taken same time, different direction have a quite different sky. Sometimes the colours are changed with the different light. I like looking back over my travel albums. It keeps the memories alive. But I didn’t do an album for my last trip as I took so many photos (digital), it would take about 3 albums. LOL

    I wish all the unwell and injured a speedy recovery.

  • Evening/mornng all:  Now, finally, a chance to read yesterday’s and today’s posts.

     

    AQ: We too are on a “Do Not Call” register, but get inundated at election time and some charity calls are call centers acting for not-so-brilliant charities. Wonder why it is that market research folks can call.  Love your “we don’t have a phone” etc., excuses! I remember those lilies from last year.

     

    Lindybird:  Sis-n-law’s party sounds lovely but oh dear, not feeling well. Surely it couldn’t been something you ate at party?  Maybe the cheeseboard?  J

     

    OG: Thanks for explaining difference between leucism and albinism.  Must try and work that into a casual conversation somewhere…  J  Pretty anemones. Those pink ones look a lot like some cranesbills we’re planning for our garden - but ours are paler.

     

    Margobird: How’s that cough? What a shame you missed Oklahoma! Good that your OH went anyway and enjoyed ice cream treat.  Maybe close your eyes every time you go out in the car to practice getting used to night-riding?  Your OH sounds like a real sweetie.

     

    Alan: Rocket Alarm clock sounds like huge fun! 

     

    George: Lovely shot of Dysart.  Diane: Don’t see those butterflies here (or at least I don’t).

     

    Heron: I heard that woodpeckers travel in families/groups. We get four at a time here - what a racket!

     

    BrendaH:  Poor Dil - her Mom will need her support. Is she the only child?

     

    Sat out in garden today but when sun got too hot, went to put up umbrella only to have it collapse around my head!  OH had to come and lift it off and now fixing it. Spoke to sister in the UK this morning and all well there.  Off to scout something for dinner - a sort of Greek salad with various modifications.   Take care all.

  • That reminds me that yesterday at 1 pm I had a call from someone doing research about recyling. Now while I am in favour of recyling and have been for ever so long, I get a wee bit stroppy about calls on Sundays. So I was a wee bit terse. Then went out and vented my displeasure on my weed garden.

    The latest fashion. Modelled by Annette in the south Californian sun. An umbrella.

  • Hey AQ:  Sunday calls definitely not good.  I hate dinner-time calls too.  At my last job we were doing reader surveys and the organizers insisted that was the best time to catch people at home - wonderful, just when they were beginning to relax for the evening!  Umbrella is dark green canvas - did look rather fetching with my lighter green shorts I must admit. 

  • I was just on the New Forest website. They recently had a webcam on a nightjar nest, and a fox attacked the nest. Don't worry, the birds all survived and are thriving. The footage of the attack and the little chicks' escape is extraordinary. Click on Fox Attack Video on the right side of the screen.

    http://www.newforestgateway.org/Wildcam/LiveCameras/tabid/117/Default.aspx

    There's actually three pieces of footage together: the real-time version of the attack, a slow-motion replay, and the return of the fox.

    On my way to sleep. I'll catch up with everyone tomorrow. I was too scatter-brained to post tonight. :-)

  • Diane      Wow. That is one of the most amazing pieces of footage I have seen in a long time. Thank you for sharing it!