Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 23 April 2023

Oh rats!!! I just did a really long post, copied it so that I wouldn’t lose it and then managed to delete it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sweary words!
So, here is my 2nd attempt.
Dibnlib - what a shame the jigsaw is out of stock. I don’t know how old it is because it isn’t mine. As I said, some friends have lent it to me.
Heather - so sorry you are still feeling under the weather. Hope you are back to full health soon. Glad you could get your shopping done for you.
Lindy - poor Bonnie. It must be worrying for you. I hope the injection does the trick. You often say that she eats all sorts. I have heard that dogs are eating grass just now because it is very sweet. I hope she is better soon.
AQ - I admire you for doing all that family tree research. I am sure it is all very interesting and that you can get very caught up in it. Good luck with the writing up.
I have had a quiet day today (by my standards) as I still feel a bit off after the headache. I had my hair done this morning and then went out to lunch with 8 of my former colleagues (all ladies) It was most convivial. I then called in town to pick up my new prescription sunglasses. I drove home in them as, amazingly, it is actually sunny.
My sis and b in l have driven from Ullapool to Lachcarron today stopping at Inverewe Gardens where they heard a cuckoo. They are really enjoying the whole drive and have found the west coast much wilder and remote.

Morning all:  Glad dogs, cars, people are doing okay for the most part.

Heather:  Allergies causing that cough?  They are really awful here this year.  

AQ:  I love doing research, but (as I think I mentioned before) birth records from Eire, where my mother was born, seem to disappear in various calamities (church fire in her case).  I think that's lovely that you want to pass on the history - there are things I wish I'd asked my mother/sister, but too late now.

Rusty:  Re the lost post, at least you had the energy to repost - I probably would've thrown up my hands. 

Must tidy  up desk, make list of trivial things that I forget and still need to do, then go have a serious talk to the olive trees, branches of which are in danger of getting aggressive with neighbors out for a walk....  Am taking handsaw to make my point.  

Annette - 'I talk to the trees, but they don't listen to me ...' Maybe the threat of a handsaw will make them listen :)

PatO: A recent radio program on National Public Radio played the sound that trees/plants make when they face threats... Lots of clicking. Olive trees didn't protest too much. :-)

RUSTY - I hope that you continue to feel better. I'm also thinking about OG and family.
ANNETTE - Do you harvest olives from your trees? I'm the same regarding making lists of things to do.
LINDY - hope that the source of the car leak can be found ! I'm amazed that your OH is happy to keep two cars on the road - since you often refer to his parsimonious habits :-)
Still coughing away but did get a better sleep last night ( probably the antihistamine that I swallowed in desperation !)
Regards to everyone..

Heather - thanks for the concern. I am still feeling “off.” It’s a very difficult thing to describe. It’s not preventing me from doing anything (although I think 18 holes of golf might be beyond me) but is just have this weird feeling. I did a covid test this morning but is was negative. I think the best approach is to try to plough on through and not give in to it. Having said that, my intended grass cutting has been thwarted by a heavy rain shower. I am glad you got a better sleep. The cough will go I am sure.
I was introduced to a new app on Thursday called Merlin. It identifies birdsong!! I downloaded it and have been testing it in the garden. I am very chuffed with it. I am just learning the song of a coal tit and the app confirmed it for me!!
I hope everyone is doing well this weekend and, like Heather, I am thinking especially of OG and family.

Rusty Glad your family are enjoying the NC500. Inverewe Gardens are lovely. We used to hear a cuckoo every year but no longer. We did hear one last year when walking round Loch an Eilean, that was a real treat. Get well soon.

RUSTY - take care. I know that you will phone the surgery if you are worried.

I forgot to come on here again. We seem to be busy these days. Now there's so much to reply to, I might miss some things out.

Heather - Sorry you're still not 100% Take care of yourself.

My OH fixed the leak in the car - it's years old but when we bought it, it appeared to really have only had "one careful lady driver" according to the log book and it's never given us any other problems. My OH seems happy to have 2 cars although when the tax is due, we often debate having only one. I think he would feel guilty leaving me adrift when he goes to golf two or three times a week, leaving me at home, as nowadays I can no longer walk into the town but need wheels.

Bonnie seems to be getting better. She has somehow looked pale! Don't know how dogs can do that! LOL! Dibnlib - we've never insured her as friends of ours had insurance for their two dogs but whenever they needed to claim, the insurance company always seemed to wriggle out of it by saying it was a chronic condition or something not covered.