Weekly Chat, Sunday 28 November 2010

Margo: Newly in from clearing about 3" of that Christmas snow, we like to keep on top of it as you never know when you need to go out next. I Like to clear snow off of garage roof as the pitch is such it slips in front of doors. Yes evry one seems to help everyone else and as for the 4 ladies at the school I expect they have all been in a similar situation.

Try and make it to Arne BEFORE the Ospreys as the 2 guys in charge are so enthusiastic and with the coast and the common there is a bit of everything eg about 18 Ospreys flying around at one stage on their migration. They do a variety of walks all season and when I am down next I would like to go on the Nightjar walk.

Woodburner on and now for tea and a scone.

Afternoon All, thanks for your kind words had a bit better night last night OH didn't wake me up till 6.00am this morning

Certainly will try to make it down to Arne but not until the weather improves a bit.  I know from the osprey sightings posted on the blog that a lot were seen this year.  Another place they are seen is Christchurch Harbour where we do visit to see the bird ringing that they do there.  One of most amazing little birds is the reed warbler, it is so small yet flies thousands on miles on its migration.    Sedge warblers do the same.  I never stop marvelling about nature.  It is just wonderful to watch and observe the birds in my garden especially through this extremely cold weather.   I notice that they are now starting on the berries in a tree which is laden so that should help keep them along with all the food I am putting out.  I wonder how many inches of snow you have now cleared and you said in your earlier post it has started again.  We have not had anymore snow but I notice it is getting a bit foggy now and of course it will be freezing fog so that will make driving even more difficult.  Will be glad when OH arrives home tonight safe and sound.  He doesn't worry like I do and says as long as he takes it easy it is quite easy to get up the steep hill from our bungalow to a main road.  Thankfully the gritters have done very well and most major routes are quite safe.  Think they learned a hard lesson last year when we had snow although it was not as much as we have now. 

OG  great bird pics as usual.

LINDY  love your poem as always. hope the weather doesn't stop you visiting your Grandson. Really like the chosen name bye the way.

Great to hear from you all. We were meant to be going to church tomorrow to help with "The Great Big Free Give Away" but the way OH is at the mo I think we will have to give it a miss, otherwise people may leave with cold germs to add to anything else!!!!!!! Not good.

I must admit my youngest who lives the other side of Wool and works nights at a house for autistic children in Corfe  Castle was a bit worried about getting in as she lives down a country lane. Give her her due it doesn't matter how old they are you always worry about your children and she did give me a text on arrival.

Birds and pheasants ravenous as usual might have to be some more if we get out tomorrow as I am not sure when my RSPB order will get to me.

Good Afternoon ALL.     It has been a cold but sunny day here. We have just spent three hours clearing snow from the front of the house. Snow was even deeper than I thought, but it was good to be out of the house and doing something physical. OH needed to go to the post office this morning and said he would post the overseas Christmas cards, but unknown to me, he decided he would post all the cards !! People are going to be very surprised to receive their cards so early. The post office man told him that there has not been a collection of post since Tuesday and obviously no idea when there would be a collection so at least I know people will not receive their cards until hopefully mid next week at the earliest.

OG, Lovely picture of your garden birds. Can't wait to see some photographs of the pups.

Alicat Sorry to hear about your OH and I hope the medication works soon and you both are back to your happy selves again.

Linda, I hope you are now enjoying seeing your grandson for the first time. Your emotional poem is so beautiful. I am sure you will compose another one after you have seen and held him. 

AQ, I think I have some of the answers to your brainteasers but still working on the remainder.

Sheila, Glad to hear that your Aunt is being cared for in hospital.

Margo, You were colder than we were last night. we only got to -9c.  It warmed up to -2c this afternoon but getting dark and colder now. Take care when feeding your birds. There is thick ice under the snow.

Tiger, Some lovely pictures. I really do like the 'glowing woods' one.

Wendy, Good to hear you managed to get your paper today. I think most people will help drivers in this weather and don't give it a second thought.

Thank you so much for all your news.

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Hello all, thanks for your posts and have just caught up with them.l

Alicat - have missed what happened to OH but do hope that he has been relieved of his pain and is making progress.

Aqualireen - lovely brain teasers, I'm hopeless at them. Its a good job we've got brainy ones on the site, I mean that nicely.

Lindybird - what a beautiful ode to your grandson, may he bring you and your OH much joy.

OG - loved the pics of the birds and hope you don't mind but have copied to use as a background from time to time.

Must say, I tend to hibernate when the weather is cold like it has been. Still not let up but at least we haven't got the volume of snow that some of you have.  Keep seeing pictures on the news - it all looks fairytale like but it is reaking havoc in some places.  Petrol stocks are low in some areas and shop shelves are also getting low, whilst they all wait for deliveries.  Let's hope that those areas will be relieved before too long.

Got to go into town tomorrow to try and finish off Christmas shopping, done most of it on the internet though. Daughter has to go in so thought I'd take advantage and pop in with her. It'll probably be chaotic as there will be hoards doing their CS. Never mind, it all makes for variety of life!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope everyone had a good Friday. Started off at minus 10 here this morning but has warmed up to zero. No snow yesterday or today until this evening when it was raining with snow in it, but now it’s all snow. So that’ll be nice and slippery tomorrow : (

I was very jealous when OH told me yesterday he had seen two nuthatches around the feeders, I’ve only seen them at Bassenthwaite since moving to Cumbria, I believe they are rarely seen as far north as Cumbria or southern Scotland.  So I was pleased today to see a pair of bramblings on the feeders, never seen one before, let alone in my garden and on the seeds!  We also have had 8 blue tits, 4 robins (rather annoyed with each other for being there) 5 goldfinches, 3 great tits and 4 pairs of chaffinches.  I think the word has spread that we have extra servings here.

Alan, love the wagtails, we used to get them but haven’t seen any in the garden for years, only other people’s gardens and on the street.

Wendy, do you feed the pheasants? How exciting to come home to a flock of them sheltering in your garden!

Have just seen AQ’s and OG’s lupin pics, one of my favourite flowers, especially the wild ones. Have just made OG’s my wallpaper but then reading back through last week (because Ireally must see those portraits of various of you) and now I want to use the swan’s pic, oh dear!  Save it and remember to use it later, I hope.

Annette, I keep forgetting to tell you that I’m reading La’s Orchestra saves the World, and actually I finished about a fortnight ago, oops, that memory!  Quite enjoyed it.  Did you know he plays the tuba?  So he does know what he’s talking about.