Weekly Chat, Sunday August 22, 2010

Morning all ... I went out this morning to do some shopping before the rain that was forecast for after lunch .... and guess what ... I got wet     :-(((     I feel sorry for all you folks who got the torrential rain and winds.

Linda - I just love the Monday Smile - appeals to my sense of humour! When I see things like that on a Ryanair plane I'll know its time to stop flying with them   :-)    Having said that I can only say I have never had a bad flight with them, contrary to what many others say. Three years ago I flew from Newcastle to Dublin every 10 days or so, for six months when my aunt was very ill and I must say I had no complaints ... but it is definitely 'no-frills'. That was also in the days when you could get a return flight for 2p!!!

Annette - poor you, having a fight with the umbrella .... I used to do that with the old fashioned deck-chairs!

Diane - wonderful fox attack video ... thanks for the link.

margobird - oh dear ... another bad night for different reasons! I hope it is a peaceful night tonight.

BrendaH - sorry to hear of more bad news for your family.

OG - lovely photographs ... the godetias are a gorgeous colour ... I haven't grown them for a few years, I must put them on the list for next year!

george g - thanks for the info about your lovely photo ... I was there a long time ago and remember lots of pretty little harbours on the Fife coast.

Well the rain is fairly stotting down now ... can't hear myself think for the noise on the conservatory roof!

Take care

Afternoon all and we are in the middle of a major thunderstorm at the moment. Lots of thunder and heavy rain and we have the lights on. Feels as dark as December. Luckily Hamish has had his walk and is settled in his shed.

BrendaH : Sorry about the bad news.

OG : Nice pic of Annandale and the gull. 

Diane : I was aware of that video but had not actually watched it. Brilliant clip and although I like foxes, I am glad the Nightjar and chicks survived.

Not done a lot today as did not sleep too well with the heavy rain last night battering on the window and early morning traffic and pigeons cooing to keep me awake.

Thanks to all I have not mentioned for the chat etc.

Good evening everyone - I have flitted in and out over a very busy family weekend and as usual, although I have read all your mails, I cannot reply individually because I am brain dead. The weekend was fun, nine of us including three children. Youngest SiL helped OH with cherry tree pruning and garage roof repair which seems to have worked. A lot of rain last night and roof seems watertight. I received a phonecall on Saturday from the daughter and family of our friends in Bavaria. They are holidaying in the Highlands and wanted to spend some time with us. So, I suggested today. We have spent a very enjoyable afternoon. Having never met this family before, I was more than a little nervous, but all went well. Weather here is pretty wet and not warm. My son and family are holidaying as we speak, in Cornwall. I have warned OH that if the rain etc gets worse down there, they may up sticks and make the long drive North! Weather won't be any different but at least they won't be in a caravan and of course, we would love to see them up here. Son left home to join the RAF at age eighteen, he is now 42 and in all the years I guess I've only seen him twice or at the most, three times a year, when he has had hols. To me, he is still 18. That can cause problems---

Thanks to all for the chat!

Evening, All:   Sorry to hear that some of you especially margobird, had such a bad night with all that rain.  It was forecast to be bad, but must have been just awful for you.

Heather:   I know its hard sometimes to realise that your children have grown up, and to such an age!  Hope your son does indeed come to visit, and that you can all have a pleasant time together.  I don't see as much of my two sons as I would like, one is rather far away and the other although nearer, is always 'busy' - everyone tells me that I should be glad that they are both well and happy, which of course I am, but of course I would rather see more of them. We have to just enjoy them when we do see them.

Meant to say that the elderly lady next door came home last Wednesday and is apparently coping alright on her own, as a Carer comes each day to help her.  We asked her if she was going to wear one of those 'call buttons' on her chest on a string, but she said "not likely!"   She still has one arm in a sling, as it was such a bad break, they are still waiting for it all to knit together - it takes longer when you are elderly.

We have had rain, but intermittently and not as bad as some southern areas.  Just have to look out of the window at my poor roses going all soggy as they open from their buds.

Went to the Dentist today, and he put me all back together again - chips off teeth, back flllings gone wrong & a new filling at the front, all in one go - trouble is, the bill was also of monumental proportions. Still, have to have teeth, don't we?!!

Went shopping via garden centre for some indoor plant food and to choose spring bulbs – also had hot chocolate and carrot cake.  They now sell backyard hens and equipment for keeping them, so I had to go and look at the sample hens  - you look at them then order what you want.  We shall not be keeping hens in our suburban garden – I’d love to have some laying hens and their eggs, but then they become old non-laying hens and I couldn’t bear that!  Weather showered on and off but we didn’t actually get wet.  Shopping mission was mostly successful (just deficient on maple syrup), and reasonably comfortable since we were after the post-school afternoon rush.

Margo – sorry you were still feeling unwell and then had a disturbed night with the stormy weather.

Alan - pleased Hamish had his walk before the thunderstorm – hope he gets another dry one this evening.  Sorry you too had a bad night.

Heather – so pleased you had a good weekend with some of your family and were able to welcome visitors from Bavaria today.  And now you may have a visit from your Son in place of his Cornish holiday – you’ll need another holiday yourself!  There have been times when we see very little of our daughters – Dingwall Daughter (D#2) has moved around so much that she has often been busy moving in somewhere new!  Have always lived nearer D#1 – only 40 miles when elder GDau was a baby, but usually 60 to100 miles – but even seeing them is quite erratic – probably last saw them in March, I think!  Have always seen more of Son, maybe because he is younger, unattached and often needs things – even to the extent of returning to live at least four times since he first left!!

Lindybird – pleased that your neighbour has accepted some help now she is home – but how silly not to have an alarm thingy to wear, and not really fair on friends and neighbours – she was lucky to be found when she fell this time, she ought to realise the outcome could be worse next time.  Glad the dentist was able to fix everything – and all in the one visit too - especially good that the tooth with lost filling did not need to be extracted.

The rain and wind did arrive last night, but somehow I slept through it all. OH and neighbours say it was so noisy. I am usually a light sleeper and hear every sound. The garden is littered with leaves and twigs and looks like Autumn.

Margo, so sorry that you had such a worrying night.  Alan, also sorry you didn't sleep because of the weather. I see that they are saying we will have a repeat performance Wed / Thursday.

Our son will be joining his wife in Scotland tomorrow. Dil has a sister who is away on holiday with her husband and their two children. (2 & 4 yrs.old) Their mother is an only child so I am sure will be happier now her daughter is with her. We have always been so happy with our son's choice for a wife. It is just like having a second daughter.

Linda, So glad all your dental problems have been solved satisfactorily. ( except for the bill ! ) 

Heather I feel tired just reading your weekend and also today's activities. I hope your son is able to visit.

OG, For a moment I thought you were going to say that you had ordered some hens!  I agree with you though. I would end up with a large number of non laying hens. I couldn't let them be killed.

I feel tired again tonight, so must say Good Night and 'see' you all tomorrow.

Another cold wet day. Washing still hanging in garage as wet as it came out of spin-dry.

More words of wisdom from our friend Anon:

There are two kinds of people in life:
people who like their jobs and people who don't work here anymore.

Teamwork means a lot of mindless morons doing exactly what the boss says.

Teamwork means never having to take all the blame yourself.

Hire a consultant. Go wrong with confidence.

TerryM - You reminded me that I never did get around to re-posting that pic of Burra that the gremlins didn't like earlier this year. So here goes. . .
Burra from the site of Hampton in Nov 2007. The mine in the background, with the open cut to the right of the restored engine houses. In the valley in the centre can be seen a few grey roofs of the former Redruth & Aberdeen. Kooringa is further along the creek, away to the left of the photo. Trees were taken from the hills for the mine and haven’t regrown.

EDIT  Kooringa, Redruth, Aberdeen & Hampton were a few of the dozen or so villages which made up Burra.

Hi, all. Sounds like many of you are at risk for flooding and extreme weather. I hope you all stay safe! Also hope that you can all get a good night's sleep. Glad you enjoyed the fox attack video. I was relieved that the birds escaped, but like Chloe, OG and others, I also felt sorry for the fox. Predators have to eat, too. I wanted to offer him one of my soy burgers for his dinner. :-)

BrendaH: So sorry about your continued family troubles. Very stressful for your loved ones and for you. Take care of yourself.
OG: Keeping laying hens has become very trendy here, especially among yuppies, but I've wondered what will happen to the birds when people lose interest in the fad and tire of caring for them. Loved your flower photos, especially the godetias. The landscape pics were also great. I don't know how you managed that photo of the gull in flight. I was never able to take good pics of flying birds. You're an awesome photographer.
Lindy: I'm so glad that you were able to take care of your dental problems in one visit, but sorry that the bill was so expensive! I've gone into shock over a few dental bills myself over the years. Not a fun way to spend money at all! I loved the Monday smile. Lovely that you saw a sparrowhawk.
Heather: Hope you are able to see all of your family.
george g: Loved your beautiful photo of the harbor. Hope your BiL is as comfortable as possible.
Margobird: I hope you are recovering and that you can sleep well tonight.
Alan: I definitely must have one of those rocket alarm clocks. Awesome!!! You commented that you haven't seen many butterflies this year, except for the white ones. I was very surprised to see the tiger swallowtail here, because we've had very few butterflies in the garden this season. I worry about what is happening to the butterfly populations.
AQ: I thoroughly enjoyed that story of the magpie who wandered inside. He'll be helping himself to the food in the pantry. LOL
Annette: You okay out there? Hope your husband has settled in and rested up from his long trip. I assume that you've been able to fill him in on events while he was gone. Hope he'll be a comfort to you. Also hope you're taking care of yourself. V.P. Joe Biden was in Indianapolis today, so everyone was all aflutter over his visit. Hope you're not eating any eggs. Looks like the recall has been expanded again.

Sorry if I've missed anyone. Happy Full Moon everyone!

AQ: Love the Burra photo!