Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 12 March 2023

Yes, AQ, they all travel with me in my bag - along with my electrical items - hairdryer, music player, chargers, Kindle, travel clock, etc. You have to show these at security checkpoints. I also have all our medications, some food for the journey, sweeties, etc. My OH has similar plus his big sandals which are heavy as they're strong ones

I've been restrained with my shoes this time: just one pair of lace ups (wearing those) plus 2 pairs of sandals, one pair of soft walking shoes, & one pair of flip flops.

Thanks for all the good wishes. I hope to keep in touch. All take care of yourselves until I get back!!!

Annette: Those storm catastrophic flood warnings for California are simply astonishing. Please stay safe. I've never seen anything like those atmospheric rivers.

Diane: We are fine here; rained all day but not as consistently heavy as feared. We are all weather wimps here and whining about the lack of sun. :-)

Annette - so glad the storms weren’t as bad as predicted. So, you too have a library book tale to tell!!! I blame it on computer ordering systems!!!! Fingers crossed that the landscaping person turns out to be good and at a reasonable price. I am sure you will keep us updated. Fingers crossed also for your granddaughters’s interview. It sounds that if they have any sense they will promote her before the other candidate but, as you say, strange things happen.
Oh my goodness OG - what a few days you have been having. That sounds like a nasty incident in school for J and his glasses. I hope the child in question was “spoken to” J must have been quite shocked. Glad he went off to work again on Tuesday. I hope the chairs have been repaired satisfactorily. Good news that the work in the main bathroom was done well. It’s strange how everything comes at once. At least they have all been and I hope you are having a more peaceful few days. Did I read somewhere that you were going to get an outing this week?
I went birdwatching yesterday with a group down the North Wales Coast. The weather forecast had said “a moderate breeze” Well, if that was “moderate” I dread to think what “strong” would be. It was very bracing but we did our usual walk and saw some nice birds. Most people ate their lunch in the hide but I sat at a picnic bench with 3 others. I have to tell you that when we got back to the cafe after the 3 mile round walk, the hot chocolate was most welcome!!!!
Only half the holes are open on my golf course today so I have decided not to go. It will be heavy going underfoot.

Thought I had better bump us up!!! Osprey excitement is building!!!!

I hope that ANNETTE has not been washed away. Fingers crossed for your granddaughter, ANNETTE.
OG - I thought that the riser/ recliner chairs were not that old. Sorry if I'm wrong ! Awful about J s specs, I hope that he coped alright with such a nasty situation.
RUSTY - please bottle some of your energy and send it to me. I have become quite lazy of late and rarely leave the house during the week. However I did make soup yesterday and have a list of chores that must be tackled.
Sending regards to ALL ...

Heather - I spent all my working life indoors - a lot of it in a room with very small windows. Since I retired I have discovered that I love the outdoors. I am fortunate that I don’t have any creaky joints so I can walk easily. This morning I took myself off for a very pleasant 2 hours at Burton Mere Wetlands RSPB. I find people there are so friendly and helpful. Lots of avocets are back. A lovely sight.

We have arrived safely, after the usual mixture of happy things (good seats on aircraft) and bad (Three quarters of an hour queue for Passport Control in Spanish airport!! :-0 )

Collected our luggage which had been on the carousel for so long it was about to be whipped off to Lost Luggage, then went to collect our little car. We hire the cheapest but when turning up at the designated parking space, checked our paperwork, as they'd given us a good upgrade so we're now swanking around in something full of gadgets -- as usual, it will take a week to work out what everything does!! But nice....

Our apartment is very comfortable & is spotlessly clean, which is good. The views are stunning, we can gaze out at the mountains and the sea is off to one side in the distance but walkable. Had a takeaway pizza last night which was the soggiest ever, but were too tired to care & fell into bed early. Sunshine greeted us this morning- at present it's a pleasant 24 degrees.

View from our terrace, two floors up and across towards the local mountain range only a few miles away. The whole island is full of mountainous scenery,   all volcanic.

Lindy - good to hear from you. I think the good things are definitely outweighing the bad. In fact I could put up with a queue at passport control for an upgraded car and a view like you have. Thanks for getting in touch. Relax and enjoy.