Weekly Chat, Sunday, December 5, 2010

Morning all

Dear Diane: Oh dear - you've been so, so good to your Dad.  You obviously made a world of difference to him in his last years, taking such good care of him and including him in all our blather.  I'm sure I don't know where he would've been without you.  This is absolutely not the "best" time to be dealing with funeral arrangements, etc.  I do hope you have some help and support and maybe a shoulder or two to cry on that isn't a thousand or more miles away. Hugs to you dearie.  Know you have support here - and a small reminder of the enduring beauty in the world to maybe help lighten up these dark days.

STV has a special programme on at 7.30 tonight, Scotland's Big Freeze.

http://entertainment.stv.tv/tv/214615-stv-rips-up-schedule-to-cover-big-freeze/

Hi everyone.

No more snow-fall since yesterday afternoon here, but very cold.  Hope everyone else who is affected by the cold weather is keeping safe and warm.

Diane:  I'm so sorry to hear of the death of your dad.  My thoughts are with you at this sad time.

Tiger:  Thanks for the "how to wrap a moggie for Christmas" link.  That cat seemed quite calm about the whole affair.

Wendyb:  Brilliant Pheasant pictures.  Thanks for posting.

margobird:  I'm glad you're feeling a lot better.

Alan:  Hope everything goes well with Hamish on Friday.

Everyone:  Thanks for all the posts and pics.



Paul.

Diane: So very sorry to hear about your Dad's passing. I'm not surprised you describe the past few days as "horrific", however, in time, I'm sure that you'll be thankful that you were able to be there for him. Thinking of you at this difficult time.

Dear Diane, so sorry to hear of your father’s passing. You were very close and you will miss him but I hope your memories of the good times will bring you comfort. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

I’ve found it difficult coming back on here today after Diane’s news.  Although I had expected it and something prompted me to offer hugs on her page yesterday evening (Scotland) or afternoon (Indiana), I still feel so bereft – I thought of her Dad as one of us, because she shared our chat and pictures with him.

I know I promised the replies I didn’t make yesterday, so will see what I can do – excuse any I miss.

Alan – sorry to read about Hamish’s facial growth – will be thinking of him - and you - on Friday.

Paul and George – sorry to hear about severe weather across Central Belt on Monday.  Pleased you could stay indoors and not have to go out for supplies.

Dibnlib – sorry about your friend’s Husky – was Yola the one who had the big op last year?

Margo – sorry you were feeling unwell – good thing you hadn’t set off to London.  Pleased you felt better today.  Billy Whizz’s hideout reminds me of winter 1963 when we had 3 feet of snow in the upper Thames Valley.  Our Cat had a “larder” under a Lawson Cyprus (I think) which came right down to the ground – she was catching pheasants which were too weak and hungry to fly and storing them there!

Terry – your OH does spot some great birds – I’ve only ever seen Snipe once that I know of.  Sorry about music cancellations – hope the concert can go ahead ok.  Yes, ‘twas Houghton Hall.  Great for lunch out, craft shop, food hall, gifts, aquatics and garden sundries – plants not always up to the mark, and yesterday we thought most of their shrubs looked frosted!  So pleased for you re Bassenthwaite next summer.

Annette – hope you will have good weather (especially no mud) during landscaping.  Definitely do new path now, you’ll regret it if you don’t.

Wendy – thanks for posting pictures of your Pheasants!  I remember a caravan site near Blandford Forum which was crowded with Pheasants which used to come right up close – some handsome Cock Pheasants among them.  So sorry you had a bad drive into Grantown.  Son drove down (?up) to Aviemore last evening – having dug the car out, he is parking it on the public car park opposite the Museum.  He saw an Owl in the tree there when he arrived back!  Our birds have been feeding continuously today, dawn to dusk.

Alicat – pleased your OH could get back to work – I hope he continues to get better.

And here is OH’s Robin in the Willow photo from yesterday:

Hi all, been catching up with all the news.

Diane - First and foremost, so sorry to hear about your Dad. I can well empathise with you after losing mum in mid-Ocober. Know exactly what you must be going through.  My thoughts and prayers are with you and He will bring you through this, have faith.

Woke up to a beautiful frosty morning - the whole area was just covered in a thick frost and going out this morning into town, looking at the woodland we pass and the countryside, it was just a magical scene even if it is very cold.

Heard that the middle belt of Scotland had suffered again with more snow. We are so lucky down here. Take care all of you North of the Border and keep warm.

Wendy B - love the pics of the pheasants feeding - so many!!!

OG - what a super pic OH took of the robin, couldn't resist copying it and will definitely use it as a background.

Hi Margobird - just a little light relief with the sledge to cheer us all up during this cold snap.

Went for usual swim this morning only I couldn't do the full 12 lengths I normally do as I've pulled a ligament at the back of my leg - just stretching it this morning in bed and went a bit too far.  Never mind, will be OK in a couple of days.

Have just written all my Christmas cards, just have to wrap the presis up now!!!!!!!!!!!

Taken this morning of the tree on our front lawn - all around was thick with the frost.

Hello all. Taking a few minutes before bed to post as I haven't had time during the day - dogs almost suffering from cabin fever had to get some exercise.  We haven't had large amounts of snow but what has fallen has frozen and, as we live on a hill (even our driveway is quite ssteep!) things have been difficult enough - not complaining, though, when I see on TV what is happening in other parts of the country

Alan Sorry Hamish has to have an op. - hope it will all go well and the growth prove to be insignificant.  It's good that he doesn't mind the vet.  All but one of mine are relaxed about visits and Indy regards them as a chance to get an extra cuddle!

Have been watching the birds quite a lot.  Late Sunday afternoon we had a visit from a small flock of long-tailed tits.  They are such lovely little birds and flitted about for quite a  while.  I've now ordered a telescope from the RSPB so will be able to get a closer look.  The scope, case and eyepiece were on offer as a package, which is quite a saving.  I went for the lighter of the two scopes as I'll probably want to carry it with me on some expeditions.  Quite excited about it1

All of you in the 'snow zone' take care and keep warm and safe.

Evening all: Sorry haven't had much time to respond to individual posts these last few days. It's been really busy.  They started demolishing some of our old garden stuff this morning; felt so bad for the lizards, who'd been living happily in the jasmine planter for many years and all of a sudden found their house crashing down around them. Adult and baby lizards scuttling about looking for a safe haven.  :-(    Still, our new garden will have drought resistant plants, which means minimal water, which means a happy home for lizards - if they can survive all the aggro for the next few weeks.  And OG, yes, we're redoing the main pathway up to the house - hurray!   Managed to get the Christmas lights up before the workers made everything inaccessible, so we're okay 'til January 6.  My blackbirds showed up again this morning, but if the hawk came, I didn't see it.

Hope you're all okay. Take care.

Morning, Everyone.   The trees are still white here, which seems appropriate as they have now started playing Christmas songs on the radio.

Thanks for all the lovely pics of the last few days - especially OG's lovely Robin in the tree, and the Pheasants from Wendyb  - good enough for a Christmas card!

Annette:  Glad to hear that work is under way for the new landscaping - a bit like when you have work done in the house I expect, just a bit chaotic but worth all the hassle when you get to the end result. Hope you get your way with the new front path, too, and it looks how you want it to.

Several mentions in the last few days of John Lennon's death 30 years ago.  - how time goes, I would've said 20 years or something similar.

Hope you do not all have a day like a Christmas card, today , and that we get a bit of a thaw as promised over the next few days!