WEEKLY CHAT (non-osprey) Sunday, May 14 2023

Good morning LINDA. You appeared while I was typing. Haircuts all round - garden & you!

AQ - thanks for the update on Next Door. Must be frustrating not to be able to see everything which is going on. Your visit to view the stained glass was obviously enhanced by a good guide.
Lindy - I pay “a man” once a year to chop my bushes down so that I can manage the garden for the rest of the year. You are right. It does always look tidier when he has finished. Hope your OH hasn’t overdone it.
Well, I got to the venue for the covid booster by 8.30 to be met by a greeter chap who said “you are obviously not over 75 so must be in the immuno suppressed group”. I was very flattered as I just fit into the under 75 category!! No queue, and after a few questions, was told I didn’t need the booster and would just get the usual jab in the autumn. I had planned a quiet day but am now having a rethink as I don’t need one.

Rusty - Grab a quiet day when you can - they don't come along very often!

Another fine and dry day - so lawn treatment still a hope - after all the indoor stuff is completed.

RUSTY - so are you now actually teaching the French class? I thought you were a "normal" participant!.. How do you feel about not getting a "spring" booster? I am still waiting for mine! Community nurses wanted to come on a specific day when I was already booked for the dentist, so they agreed to put me into the other list for non-housebound people - and I have heard nothing in the past two weeks. Health departments are like that - always expect you to cancel appointments with other specialisms to attend theirs! I thought this was supposed to be an integated health and care system!

AQ - stained glass tour sounds interesting.

LINDA - a busy day in the garden - hope your OH is okay after all that!

Will be going out tomorrow - usual garden centre lunch and shopping at butcher/deli nearby. Need to get some plants for the two hanging baskets and find a birthday present for the wee one. Persuaded OH he is unlikely to sow seeds even when I have died (it was always one of my jobs), so we are offloading seed trays etc at Dobbies recycling. Shall offer the propogators to the gardening group at the homeless drop-in.

Hello all
Not a lot happening here ( what's new!) But good to read your news. I'm waiting for a couple of dry days, so that weeds can be sprayed. I wonder when that will happen...
OG - you asked about my brother. His health seems to be OK, nothing further regarding his kidney cancer and although he is frustrated with slow movement since the stroke , he generally sounds quite positive.
Regarding bread , the biggest problem that I have is finding some with a few days life left in it !
ANNETTE - please be careful when out with Pearl. My brother was pulled over by his dog and ended up with several fractures in his upper body, collar bone,  ribs...., scapula....

HEATHER - glad your brother seems to be doing okay.

Well, moved quickly - phoned the charity (on our High Street) and they accepted the propogators. Conveniently, they are expecting their PAT tester to visit this week, so I sent OH down there straight away! The hardest part was getting him to agree to get rid of anything - took me a couple of years!

ANNETTE: I am familiar with that history of the KKK, and it's true that history repeats itself.

I'm sorry yor hip was hurt on the walk. I hope it's better today.

Morning all:

AQ; What ARE those people next door doing! Hope they aren't expanding their intrusive potential. Haven't seen photos from you for a while, so that will be a treat.

Rusty: I have to look into the latest booster..... have had just the four until now.

OG: How nice to read you'll be out and about tomorrow. Let us know what you get for the hanging baskets. Not sure what PAT tester is but seems like they/it are happy to get your discards.

Heather: Pearl has settled down a lot but the 'wrong' dog at the wrong time can still elicit a reaction (not helped by meandering and somewhat clueless owner!)

Diane: Not surprised at all that you're familiar with that history. And yes, these people are still with us, just hiding behind different names and leaders.

Annette - PAT testing is Portable Appliance Testing. In my place of work, an electrician came once a year and tested all the computers, keyboards, plugs etc and, if they were safe, he would put a little green sticker on them with the date. I had borrowed a small electric heater from a friend because my room was particularly cold. Before I noticed, he had deemed it unsafe and cut the plug off!!!!! I offered to buy my friend a new one but she said she didn’t need it.
If we use the organisation’s laptop for French, it has to be PAT tested so that our insurance is valid!!!
OG - our French group is an Advanced one. Most of us did at least A level and many of us have degrees in French or have lived and worked in France or Belgium. Consequently, we are all capable of preparing a session. We don’t call them lessons as we don’t follow a text book or anything. We just discuss any topic which comes up. We correct each other on grammar etc and help out with vocabulary. When I joined the group a man had been running it for several years. About 10 years ago he wanted to step down (although he still attends and contributes) so I ran it for 10 years. Last year I stepped down and another lady now does the organisation. We speak French solidly for 2 hours.

Rusty: Brilliant; thanks for that - got a whole new education. :-)