Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 9 October 2022

RUSTY – That PCR test delay is terrible. You would be almost “over it” before they let you know. I hope you are soon feeling better. Thanks for the travel pics. Yes please more travelogue.

CLARE - Poor Helen positive too. I do hope that LIMPY’s symptoms are only in sympathy and not covid.

HEATHER - Some men have minds of their own. My OH would be difficult if he had to be tested.

LINDA & OH – Have a great holiday.

Yesterday I visited garden centre for some chard & my sole tomato plant. By the time attendant found the variety I wanted, It was teeming with rain. I grabbed a punnet of 4 and fled for shelter. I have planted 2 and Dau#2 gladly accepted other pair. I see that chard is now named rainbow silverbeet. Ho hum. I called into library for my “fix”. A few minutes before opening, there were two dozen people waiting but only 4 of us masked. Our covid restrictions have almost disappeared, only for hospitals & aged care. Pollies think pandemic over. Yet medical experts predict our next peak 6 Dec.

aquilareen said:

Poor Helen positive too. I do hope that LIMPY’s symptoms are only in sympathy and not covid.

She hasn't tested positive but I'm sure it's Covid - and I'm now in no doubt that Limpy also has it.  Curiously, though, he hasn't got it as badly - his temperature is down and his sense of taste has returned but he's now coughing and sneezing.  He can also do a mean Darth Vader voice at the moment!

AQ - I emailed the Office of National Statistics re my late PCR test result. They sent me a very good explanation. I take part in a survey. Therefore, the analysis of the results has to be in a queue behind the priority medical tests. Normally I am not being tested because I am ill or about to have an operation or something. It is purely for statistics. I can accept that. I should have tested myself I suppose but I didn’t feel ill. I just thought I had a cold!!! Anyway, the rain has stopped and the sun has come out so I am going to have a walk to the post box.

Lindy - Hope you have a wonderful holiday. Look forward to lots of pictures and reminiscences when you return.

Rusty - Please keep going with the travelogue. It's so much better than politics!! I also enjoyed your description of the 'pink day'. We used to do the same sort of thing at my golf club - don't know whether it still happens, as I haven't played for a couple of years, unfortunately. I really don't want to think I've given up - but nobody else wants to play at the time of day I do, and it gets rather boring going round on your own all the time!

Clare/Heather - Hope Covid has not spread to you and yours. It's rife around here - every second person seems to be infected. And 'they' keep telling us it's in the past ...

Clear cloudless blue sky out there today. Yesterday was grey and drizzly - but I still enjoyed my walk around the lake at Hever Castle. Hadn't been for a couple of months and it was good to be back. Everything looks very autumnal - must be something to do with the season!

Take care, everyone. Dodge any viruses that are flying around.

ANNETTE - think your MRI scan was scheduled for yesterday ?

I went on my walk to the post box. I was surprised that I needed to sit down with a cup of tea when I got back. It’s only just about a mile there and back. It’s quiet and semi rural here so very easy to avoid dog walkers etc.

Anyway, I have recovered so here is a bit more of the travelogue.

In the afternoon on the first day, we all “did our own thing” in Lisbon. My friend and I took the funicular up a hill and got a great view of the city. We also had a super lunch up there outside at a cafe.

A lady was selling pina coladas in the actual pineapples!!!!

On the 2nd day we went to Sintra. My friend and I decided to go round the National Palace.

We were really glad we did because we loved the unique decor especially of the ceilings. They had a swan ceiling and a magpie ceiling. Amazing. It dates back to the 15th century

I think if you tap on the photos they will enlarge so that you can see the amazing painting.

They do indeed! Love those ceilings - I wonder why those birds in particular were featured?