Weekly Chat, Sunday November 21, 2010

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Quite a bit going on today I see since I came on last around 9.30am.  I love the new countdown clock.  I thought the IT folk had been threatening an update for ages now, or have I imagined it?

Lindybird I hope the new stove arrived safely this afternoon and it is all raring to go.  I wouldn't dare suggest a date, my experience of such things is purely anecdotal!!  What a beautiful poem too.  I am still hoping to see a waxwing as well.  It would be a first.  My goodness, what a whopper of a caterpillar.  I know nothing about them, but we have had a privet hawk moth caterpillar on one of our lonicera shrub two years running and it was as long as my middle finger.

Alan I trust that Lady P's shopping expedition was successful.  I always threatened to get organised with cards and presents and to have them bought and wrapped/sent in the early part of December, but year-on-year I fail!

OG I absolutely love your tufty duck, the photos are so clear and sharp with the water droplets across its face.   You were lucky to catch the whoopers flying past too.  Brilliant shots!  I love the Barnacle Geese, although I doubt I could have identified them in flight.  And well done Tiger on the flying swan – highly appropriate!

Alan thanks for flagging Richard's latest piece.  Lovely to see the Centre once more!  At least when I was there we just had to change the gas bottles supplying power for the heat (important for the night shift!) and the gas burner for the coffee and morning porridge!  Ha ha for the wedding news item for 29 April 2011!!  Like it.

Tiger thanks for THE wedding news!  I see you got the priority right by mentioning EJ and eggs!  I was there on that date last year.

Gary sorry about the tractor and plough problems, but at least you will be prepared.  We have been snowed in on a couple of occasions.  The wind tends to blow the snow off the fields and fill in the track making it impossible to drive up the slight incline to the lane.  The local farmer is extremely good is getting us out.  OH found himself well and truly stuck in the lane one year with the car sitting on the snow at the front end and the suspension fully stretched.  The tractor had to hitch a tow to the car and drag him out backwards – very undignified!  Yep, I am a tennis fan – one very good thing about being retired when Wimbledon is on.  We don't have Sky so have to rely on BBC for other international coverage, such as it is.  I know your SiL would have enjoyed the Nadal match.  From what I have read I think it was probably the best so far, going to three sets.  Today's match, Murray v Federer was a walk-over by Federer.  He was playing so well that poor old (young) Murray really didn't stand a chance.  I did detect a few wry smiles on his part, almost acknowledging the brilliant play of Federer.  Is your photo of Lida?  Very nice looking.

Brenda I did watch a few TV programmes of small penguins on an island somewhere fairly recently – perhaps with Rolf Harris commentating?.  It followed the life of one youngster.  Would this be the same place?  A trip certainly does sound in order!

Beautiful shot of the tits on the feeders Joan.  We won't forget your birthday then!

Wendyb Can you really see Ben Nevis from where you are?  I never can understand the Scottish holidays.  Edinburgh and Glasgow never seen to match each other.  Isn't there a difference between Scotland and England for say Good Friday, too?  Hope the tennis didn't put you off the ironing!

I hear that the gritters are getting ready to go out down here tonight!

SheilaFE   Sorry wrong Ben and wrong side of Scotland. My Ben is Ben Rinnes and it is only a baby as it is a Corbet. Many years ago as a tour guide for a local ddstillery the season was coming to an end and I was a bit naughty as I was saying to visitors if the came back next year it might have grown and therefore become a Munro. The last 3 years of guiding I was doing the nosing and tasting tours and we were allowed to be out for around 2 hours. My boss and I used it as a competiotion to see who could be out for the longest and still have fun.....I think 4 hours was the record.

Gary Ironing 1 (won) Tennis 0 (a lot of nothing)

Bank holidays up here are on a do as want free for all. My gym in Inverness has got a Bank Holiday at the end of November. Not sure if they have got Christmas booked for the wrong month this year.

Sorry to hear the tennis was so disappointing, Wendy.  Don't think that Murray is on form this autumn.  He was playing better earlier in the year, even tho he was unable to make a dent in the Wimbledon challenge.

Laughed about your mountain becoming a Munro when it grew a little!

Linda, I gave her a real pat and some apple:) She says thanks very much. Hope the stove has been delivered by now. No clue on the caterpillar but it sure is big!

Shelia, the picture is of Clover, our older horse:) sounds tricky where you are, getting stuck in the bad weather. Nothing wrong by being rescured by a farmer. Me and my tractor had to be rescured by my neighbour and his bigger tractor a short while ago! They clear the roads very quickly here so it isn't too bad.  Sorry the tennis wasn't much of a match.

Wendy, the tennis must have been bad, if the ironing won. Heard from my SIL who saw Nadel (or so she tells me) Couldn't tell me anything about the game but his biceps are something else apparently.... lolol

Gary   Your SinL was watching a match with best bits!! Andy Murray's adams apple does nothing for me. I am surounded by farmers and it is all down to the size of their tractors. My Christmas shopping from Asda (on line supermarket) and being snowed in and without a 4x4 is proof that every man needs a tractor...oh and a shed. 

This afternoon, Trucker Steve is traveling through my area. In a couple of hours, he'll go right by Crawfordsville, the town where I get my groceries and other supplies. http://www.bigrigtruckcam.com/

Also, President Obama and Vice President Biden are in central Indiana this afternoon. The president is giving a speech here in just a few minutes. Big day in Indiana. LOL!

Back later to definitely catch up. Thank you all for your very, very kind wishes for my Dad and I.

Wendy  I thought it strange, but I have only heard of Ben Nevis referred to as The Ben!!  Silly me.  Your time at the distillery sounds a real hoot.  OH's favourite whisky is Talisker, and I bought him a bottle of his year of birth for his 40th.  He has a nip on each birthday, and I am allowed a sniff!  I have checked out the year from one supplier so I could get one in for his 60th, but it suggested there was none remaining, and if it were I think it might have been just too expensive!!  I may have to consider another distillery.  Wasn't there a film called "The Englishman Who Went Up a Hill But Came Down a Mountain".  I think it was something to do with a resurvey of a hill in Wales, and in order to be called a mountain the villagers took up earth and built a cairn on the summit!

Diane what a day in your State!

SheilaFE   Yes it was the best time...I retired from banking to come up to the Highlands and got bored and to be quite honest it was the best time at work I have ever had. The only way you will get a good single malt of aged 60 will mean you have won the lottery and if you do that I will be your very best friend. Whisky only matures in the cask and not in the bottle once opened it can deteriate from oxyginisation so just drink it don't look at it but a cask is organic and dependant on the wood the spirit and it area of maturation and the the theory is the older the whisky not always the better. The oldest and the best I have every had the privelidge to try was a Macallan 55 year old Lalique....£7000 pounds a bottle and £600 a dram  at Gleneagles...long story but right place right time.

The second part of my story was take some stones and make the Cairn even taller...how spooky...and I do think I remember the film.

HOW excited am I a nice delivery man has delivered my new computer...7pm...2 hours for him back to base. It is tomato red and not PINK too Barbara Cartland!!! It is a bit chilly so warming it up before the fun begins.   

Good evening all at long last.  It has been a hectic couple of days for me.  Thanks to every one for all the chat and photos, always a pleasure to read and look at.

Lindybird what a lovely poem summing up your thoughts and hopes for Sweet Pea.  Everytime I log on I am on tenterhooks to see whether he/she has arrived yet.  Goodness knows how you must be feeling.

Diane so sorry to hear your Dad is still not well, will be thinking of him and wishing him better soon.  Take care of yourself won't you.

Heron 77 OH and I are great fans of Dars.  The match last weekend was just fantastic.  Fortunately we do have Sky so get to see all the darts and really find it quite exciting.  Big money game now and so well managed too.  It amazes us that it commands such a large audience now and also that not all darts players are rather large.

Had a really hectic couple of days.  Rhys was an absolute joy yesterday.  He is the happiest little boy you could wish for.  Smiles and laughter all the way with him and fascinating to watch him trying to work out how to get into things he shouldn't be getting into.  Just loves his food and I so hope it stays that way.  Eats every vegetable he is given, and as yet it seems there is nothing that he does not like.   Hard to believe that In January he will be a year old, time goes by so quickly.   

Today my I went on the Christmas shopping expedition with my sister and we had a good day and apart from a couple of small items have got all my presents for family now.  Of course we had to go and buy Rhys some more clothes, can't resist it as there are so many nice clothes for little boys now.  Got him a pair of Thomas the Tank Engine slippers, some slipper socks and pyjamas to go with a bit bucket of bricks of all shapes and sizes.  Also got his birthday present as well so feeling rather pleased with myself.  OH mentioned he wouldn't mind an Ipod for Christmas so went to Currys where I knew one of their very helpful staff would point me in the right direction.  I have an Ipod myself but only know how to make it work so wanted to know the best one to get without it costing a furtune as I am under strict instructions not to go mad with presents this year.  Also got the docking station for it which is also a radio and alarm so I think he will be pleased with it.

Must admit to feeling slightly shattered now but I had to come and catch up with everything.  We are out tomorrow night, Thursday night and Saturday.  Just keeping my fingers crossed that we don't have too much snow at the weekend.  Would hate to get stuck on the motorway in a coach.  We won't be getting back here until about 2 early morning and I will be a bit worried as to whether the roads are icy.  Hopefully councils will be a bit quicker off the mark at gritting this year.  Last year they seem to wait until several accidents had occurred until they decided to put grit down and of course by then it was too late.

OH away tonight so will be having an early night and hopefully I will sleep. I never seem to sleep very well when OH is away.  Nobody to warm the bed up before I get in.  Not a pretty sight but I will probably put socks on as my feet will be freezing. 

Hopefully I will be able to post a bit more now and reply individually but it was really busy on here yesterday and today.  Have a good evening or what it left of it and keep warm.