Weekly Chat, Sunday November 21, 2010

Tiger: I am not sure the word is idyllic as it is 3 weeks earlier than last year and according to "postie" it is going to last for at least 2 weeks...but we chose to live here and still love the area. As this is Cairngorm country it is to be expected. A struggle for some people but OH works from home and I am retired. Lots of snow for skiers if only that could get there. Not looked at the travel highlights yet but if I see Cockbridge to Tomintoul road closed then nobody is going skiing.

Had to laugh as "postie" brought my winter fuel notice perfect timing....mind you I do get cross with my friend from Devon she goes to N.Z. for 5 months drains down her water so no heating expense and she still gets it...rant rant.

Tea break over more snow shifting.

Hello all! Weather here has been a bit colder than usually in November, today -11C and with a wind feels like -19C, brrr….and should get even colder at the night time

Margobird, how wonderful for you to get to go to LG next June, I am so happy for you!

OG, great to know your darling OH’s name now

Daisy Ray, so sorry for your daughters accident but glad she wasn’t hurt

WendyB, been reading of the snow situation in your area and was wondering do you change winter-tyres to your vehicles? Or is 4x4 the only way to get mobile if snowy roads? Looks like you guys are having more snow at the present that us ‘up here’ And great pics from you and alicat

Linda, just love your suggestions for this weeks brain teaser LOL I usually figure out something like that too. And nice to see you and your hat :)

Have a nice Saturday everyone

Afternoon all,

Great pictures of all the snow Wendyb. We only have a few centimeters and most of it has gone now. I was able to clear the paths and driveway with a brush.

OG : Hamish only takes his blanket out when the grass is dry. He is too clever to drag it out in the wet.

Alicat : Thanks for your photos. They were just great.

I have taken Hamish for his walk so will be watching the footie this afternoon.

I though Gary would like this as he is a great fan of this particular device:

Tiger - couldn't agree more re the wireless keyboard and mouse having gone wireless years ago. I found the clutter of cables so restricting and no way would I ever choose to go back to corded. As you know, I even have a wireless printer these days so can place it wherever I want and can print wirelessly from any of my machines.

Yes I love my Dymo too. I used to hate writing addresses on envelopes from a printed list and gave up on printing labels using my pc and printer as I found the sheets would often cause a printer jam when they had been used a few times for odd labels. I wasted so many sheets of labels that way. Not only is the Dymo simple to use and prints labels out singly but doesn't use ink for printing. Once you have the machine (ok, they can be expensive unless on offer) all you have to buy are replacement label rolls.

I managed to solve your puzzle for Gary :)

Hello all from a very cold, frosty and misty corner of the country - but no snow!  What a lot has been written along with some wonderful photos of horses and cats and birds and water and Lindybird and ..... for which I thank you!  Welcome too to Eagle Eye and Osprey.  Funnily enough I was coming to the conclusion of a link between OG and Eagle Eye, too many hints!!  Wow Gary, a very brave rider who I take it is your OH?

There are just too many items I wanted to comment on, I cannot possibly reply to all, but I really must say thank you Tiger for the APOD link to the Aurora Borealis.  It was stunning.  I have forwarded this link to a number of my friends too!!  I've been to Spitsbergen twice where one would be able to see them for real, but we have only been in 24 hours of daylight!!  Not much chance then!  Diane I love the new avatar.

Wonderful news Margobird!  You will have a really fascinating time. If I can tell you anything from my experience last year, let me know.  I travelled by train, so like you had no transport the other end.  Hope you have a great time in London and OH enjoys his birthday treat.

Wendy I'm loving your stories of life and times on the Spey, with distilleries and dogs!  I learned on our local news that Adnams (wonderful beer) from Southwold, have set up a distillery and I think it was gin and vodka that they have now ready for sale.  Whisky will be available in three years' time!  It will be interesting to see what it is like, but somehow Suffolk whisky doesn't have the same feel as Scottish with water gathered from a bubbling burn! I believe that Adnams have over the years bought out other breweries and they use the water from the location.  I have just come up to you news on 12 inches of snow.  That is absolutely amazing.  OH and I were due to go to friends in North Yorkshire on Friday, but we and they called it off on Thursday.  They have nearly a foot if the photo I received is anything to go by.  They live in a village on the edge of the Moors - up a hill!!  Oh even more wow now with your scene this morning.  I hope you are keeping safe in all of this!

OG what a carry on with your road works!  I hope you don't receive loads of the white stuff to foul things up even more.

I should say a belated happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the US.  Gary, having heard our news yesterday I know understand about Black Friday.  Some years ago we had a Black Monday when millions/billions were wiped off the market, and Black Wednesday when Britain was forced out of the ERM.  So black friday is an excuse for a shopping spree, is it?!

Oh Tiger how do you find all these fascinating little bits of information.  So the engaged couple have moon-links eh? I am sure I too can remember the eclipse in August 1999, I had a new boss who had just joined the Institute I worked for and I think he was somewhat surprised to see everyone walking outside to  watch and experience this amazing phenomenon.  It was so eerie as the light faded.  Nothing I had ever experienced before - and my the sound of it won't again!

AQ love the cat and dog. I am more a puss person myself, although  don't have one now.  What beautiful markings it has.

Lindybird I'm impressed that you usually have your cards ready before the end of November.  I always mean well, but it never actually happens.  The list seems to get longer too:  once you are on it it is hard to shove you off!  Ha ha for the answers to the brainteaser.  Nice one!

dibnlib, wendy and joan love the talk of cookers, stoves etc.  Although only 1.5miles from our village, and a couple from south bound  motorway we are actually quite isolated with a septic tank, calor gas for central heating and a bore well for our water.  My pride and joy is an Aga which also helps to heat the kitchen, iron the sheets, and dry the socks, and I am sure if I had a dog it would take up residence by the warm oven!  It took some time getting used to two ovens with fixed temperatures and I burned many a dish because you cannot smell it, but I love it.

joan what fantastic photos of the lighthouse at Tynemouth.  Now, that is my type of scenic view!!

brenda I was really interested to hear that you lived in Berwick.  My paternal family was Berwick based and ran a greengrocer in Hyde Hill, later opening a minimarket in I think possibly Tweedmouth but not sure.  Only person I can ask is my aged aunt who went into hospital yesterday having been found at the foot of stairs, and I'm not too sure she would remember.  I do remember staying in the flat over the shop when I was about 10 which had gas lighting!  My great aunt lived there on her own:  she didn't bear the family name so I imagine was a widow.  My father repaired the bellows on a pedal organ.  I cannot remember what the bathroom arrangements were!  I have every sympathy with you and your back.  Take care.

Alicat so glad you had a good time on your birthday, and didn't suffer next day.  Plenty of water before bed helps!  Nice to see you sober in charge of Casper by the lake!  Where was it taken? Oh, I see you have said Windermere.  Lovely.

Brilliant Coundown for Margobird Chloe.  Such talent!

Annette many years ago I was advised by a friend to put baby oil on stainless steel.  I use it on our coffee maker and it seems to work!

Linda you must be so looking forward to that telephone ringing, but I bet you jump when it does.  Hope all goes well.

I love the leaf blower Alan!  I rely on the wind.

Whew, I've got to the end at last, but I apologise for the length.  The cloud has lifted and still no snow but a northerly wind.  Murray and Nadal playing now.

aquilareen said:

 

Brain teasers
11 P in an A R F T
150 S in the H of R
5 S in the S C
4 D in a P C

11 P in an A R F T

11 Players in an Aussie Rules Football Team    (except of course that is not right for Aussie rules)

150 S in the H of R

150 Senators in the House of  Representatives

5 s in the S  C

5 stars in the Southern Cross   (Hence my link to Advance Australia Fair  above)

4D in a PC

4 Digits in a Post Code  (Australian style of course)

Not sure about 7 L A

Alan   Nice picture of Hamish.

Now since you have started it I can publish an animation I was holding back on.

Hi Everyone: Still snowing and my back has decided enough is enough with snow moving.

No snow tyres no 4x4 but this is only the 2nd worst in 9 years we have never felt the need to change but that could all change.

Went for a wander down bay the Spey and spooked a heron. There is a bench there ,I took a photo the other day and will post the new picture later and to take the photo the snow was up to my thighs ( I am 5'6" not 4'3")

Being outside we have been entertained by the Loch Garten geese making their way north towards the Moray Firth probably around Culben forest as they are more likely to find something green. I should think around 4 skenes(?) with well over 100 in each. Oh and a lonely swan.

Birds eating everything put out for them and my pheasants are a very sad site huddled by the fence,when they come across the lawn they totally vanish.

Tiger: Just seen moving thingy....how did you know I was doing a post about geese. Psychic powers I suspect.