Weekly Chat, Sunday August 29, 2010

OG - finally found out where we are going in September, or nearly.  The house, Leithen Lodge, is apparently off the B709 going out of Innerleithen. It is a private road but how far along not sure until we get the directions from the company we're going with.   Sounds as though its in the thick of Glentress Forest though.

Looks wonderful countryside round there with lots of undulating hills and valleys.  Have been to the Border Country quite a few years ago and found it very pleasant.

Some comfort for those longing for next season at LG. Statistics can be presented depending on the message one wishes to convey, so, take the average age of our juveniles 100 days, double it...with a factor of two it roughly gives the number of days to the start of next season, which is estimated at just over 200, possibly 206 and a few hours.

The time our chicks were with us seems so short to most of us.

Morning all,

Thanks for all the earlier posts, not had time to read yet. Just a couple of things to post now:

Twitpic of Hope:

http://twitpic.com/2js5c7

Link to the Bassenthwaite tracking latest news:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ospreywatch/

Hello, Everyone:   Sun is trying to glimmer through here, on the last day of what's been a damp August.

I'm off out (again!) so will try to find time to write on here later.  Thanks for more interesting posts....

Good Morning Friends,

Just returned from Montrose Station after delivering a grandson to the train - just -  on route to an Aberdeen Uni open day - any advice on how to raise a teenage "loon" (doric) from bed early in the morning!

Actually standing on the platform there reminded me that my only sightings of ospreys, apart from visits to LOTL or LG, have been by chance, one time this spring, being at Montrose Station which has excellent views of the Montrose Basin. I have also seen an otter there. The station manager tells me that otters are sometimes seen on the security camers there, at night. On another occasion several years ago I was driving north of Monifieth on the coast road north, and spotted one roosting in a tree beside the road near a trout fishery. Perhaps the most unusual sighting was in Luxemburg, October 2009, where we had good views of an osprey sitting on a branch overhanging the River Sauer.

Have a good day.

Claire M

Good morning, all.  I hope sick and injured are feeling better, and all are enjoying the same lovely weather. 

Am thinking of George and SiL today – I hope they find some comfort in the funeral and can then start coming to terms with their loss.

Annette – I don’t know when you find time to read!  I have several half-read books around –the one in the study I bought the first time we went to Loch Leven’s Larder and is about farming in Fife, the one by my armchair is about the Aberfoyle slate quarries – with another about workers on the Hydroelectric schemes queuing up nearby!  It’s nearly time for the Wigtown Book Festival, so more will find their way in!  Re wedding gifts – some people circulate a gift list with the invitations, some stores have facility to hold a list, which ties the guest to the store, which is usually an expensive one! 

AQ – pleased the car passed – guess you’ll need to save up for the front feet – they are very pricey here.  Like the idea of dropping wedding gifts into a box – guess you could use cash and be anonymous!  I suppose money gifts partly come about because they have already set up home together anyway.  One couple the hairdresser mentioned wanted to raise enough money to pay off the loan they had taken out for the honeymoon!

Patricia – there seem to have been an awful lot of boating accidents recently – you’d think they would learn!  But maybe its just because there are more people holidaying at home in the UK so the same percentage of accidents per number of people gives a larger absolute figure.  But some people do seem to enjoy taking risks.  The simple pleasures we enjoyed as a holiday treat are now everyday and become mundane, so they have to go a step further all the time.  (rant over).

Heron – loved the picture from LG.

Dibnlib – hope you are enjoying the swim – good luck with hospital review Thursday.  Take care.

Lynette – hope you too are enjoying your swim.  My first ever visit to Scotland was to the Borders – based at Selkirk.  Should be some wonderful autumn colour in the forests (have I said that before?!?).

Alan – thanks for links – looks like Hope has Gordon smitten!  I hope SiL is doing ok.

Lindy – have a good day!

Claire – good to “see” you.  I sometimes try the Montrose Basin Webcam, but have never picked up Ospreys there.  Hope to have a holiday up that way sometime – it is an interesting area.

Heron, that is a beautiful picture of Loch Garten!  Thanks for that!

Good Morning All, The sun is trying to shine but keeps hiding behind the clouds. Still rather chilly.

As OG says, my thoughts are with George and family today.

OG, Thanks for all your photographs, From sheep to oystercatchers. Our nephew asked for money towards a months honeymoon, as a wedding present. They already had their home and furnishings.

Alan, I hope you hear good news about your S-i-L this morning.

auntie, Great that you saw five ospreys. I feel rather jealous.

Terry Thanks for the video. it was really lovely to watch.

Patriciat, Sorry to hear you have also injured yourself.

dibnlib, Although I know you are still swimming marathon lenghts, in spite of your shoulder injury, I was amused by your remark, 'Will have a one sided swim this am' , I have visions of you going round in circles.

Paul, Thanks for the LG nest picture. I still look in each morning. I have only spotted a chaffinch though.

Heather, It was lovely to read of your celebration meal with your daughter. I really am so pleased for you all.

Lynette, Hope you are enjoying your swim. I always feel more energetic after I have done some real exercise.

I must go, but will continue to catch up later.

PATRICIAT   tobogganing downstairs not a good idea, please don't try it again.

ALAN wish lady Ps sister well.

MARGO   have a great time in Cornwall Theatre trip sounds good, love any G & S. Did Iolanthe and Pinafore as part of the school operatic society.

you learn so much on this site, love the pic of the Auzzie birds and how they pluck bulbs from the ground 

Must do a bit of gardening before lunch. OH on the golf course at Cawdor. It is a truely beautiful day so he will enjoy himself