Weekly Chat, Sunday December 19, 2010

I came on before tea and said I had survived the road, but it didn't post!  I seem to remember somebody saying we can't do "Reply" to our own posts any more, but I'd forgotten that. 

Couldn't have appointment with my own Doc this week - she's in sunnier climes (or maybe sleeping on a floor in an airport!).   Doc I saw was very nice - actually the husband of one of the hospital rheumatologists.

Morning all: Quick look in in between changing beds and making the place look halfway civilized.

Diane: Thanks for moon pic - 'fraid our chances of seeing the eclipse are zero to none right now.  Hope you get to see it.  Speaking of all things stellar - or moonish - where is Tiger these days?  That owl video is amazing. Thank you!.  Good luck with the house repairs - I'm sure there won't be long lines at the drywall counter right now. :-))

And have I missed Margobird? Anyone seen her?

Auntie: What a sweet Christmas card - that wouldn't be anyone we know would it?  :-)

OG: Have never seen that Jethro Tull clip - very clever; different. Thank you.   Hope your son gets good news re the jobs center.  Love those pix - incredibly sweet (and fat too)!  Oh my; more puppies  - adorable.  Glad you survived the trip to the docs.

Lindybird: Like the beer in the washer - but how does that work with a front loader I wonder.  :-)    Hee hee - love the Rudolph "statute."

Gary: Stick around - I think our weather typically heads east....   Glad MiL made it out of the UK - with the Christmas pud (we can see where your priorities are).  :-)   Rain is better than what they've got in many other places right now - gives us a chance to dust off the umbrellas.

OK Off I go. Take care all.

Diane – I keep meaning to tell you how much I like the new avatar – and such a good clear picture for its size.  Thanks for your kind words about the photos – most of it is down to an eye, the clever camera and computer cropping – no clever technique from me.  Yes, the injection boosts my auto-immune system, energy level and pain threshold for a few months – or at least I think it does, and that’s the important bit!!  I usually lose a couple of kilos from swollen limbs soon after it too, which would be very useful for Christmas!  Are you celebrating with a special meal tonight? I do hope you get a good view of the eclipse – the full moon is showing wonderfully here right now, but I don’t know how much of the eclipse we shall see around dawn, as we don’t have a good west horizon here.  Take care getting out for building supplies – but I hope you can go soon, so that we know you have food in the house!

Patricia – sounds like you were best deciding not to venture down the hill and into the city last night.  We look forward to the holiday treats when you can get them on!  I’ve just eaten a Chocolate Turkish Delight Thin – must be good for me if it’s thin!!!

Gary – pleased to hear your MiL and the Christmas Pud got away from the UK!  I seem to remember some airlines refusing Puds for a couple of years after 9/11 in case they concealed explosive devices!

Wendy – sorry about snowed-in Daughter.

Hi, Annette – sounds like your preparations are going well, didn’t expect to see you again today!  Me too, I’ve been wondering about Margo – I don’t think she’s been on here since Friday!  That video of Solstice Bells was a favourite of Dau#2 as a teenager, and although she kept playing it, none of us tired of it.  I’ve now got it downloaded, and OH has recorded it on a DVD!!!  Said it earlier, but do enjoy your friends’ visit!

Chaffinch just after snowfall last Saturday: 

Wendy, hope you can sneak a look at the photo's! lol That jumping is bonkers. The most my OH did was 4ft and i couldn't watch that!! Sorry your daughter is stuck

Annette, stay dry! LOL on my priorities. Trouble is, you're right:)

OG, thanks for another great picture and glad the visit to the doc went OK:)

Just had another fix of the puppies. They are growing soooo fast

Hi folks, just caught up again with all the news.

Auntie - love your Christmas card, very amusing.

Lindybird -  thanks for the Monday smiles

Gary - Ohhhhhhhhhhhh aren't they cute and growing up

OG - Daughter's puppies are cute as well, do hope they behave themselves and don't start chewing up the furniture.

Mince pies, I tend to do them individually and usually eat them 2 at a time, naughty, naughty, but are delish especially as I first of all empty the large jar of mincemeat into a bowl and then add a good slurp of brandy.

Weather has been very cold again.  Do feel for all those stranded at airports, especially as they all thought they were going to get away from the cold for Christmas.  Hope loved ones that are making their way home to various points on the globe do get there.

Lunar eclipse - read in the paper it will start about 6.33am our time and last 3 1/2 hours, main part at about 7.45am to 8.53am. but unfortunately its best seen in America rather than here.  Look out for it turning a rich pink colour.

Diane - how wonderful that you get the deer crossing your land it must have been quite a sight!

By the way, do you do your own house renovations etc. it certainly sounds as though you do, well done!!

OG - love the pics of the bluetit and chaffinch, have copied to my file, they make such wonderful backgrounds especially with the cold weather we are having.

Lynette, that sounds a great way to make mince pies:)

OK, one for the road..

Gary: Will you please stop all these wonderful puppy photos....I would love a dog but OH is against. Those eyes are just heart melting.

Washy jumps anything he wants to but if it looks like a plank then he can't be bothered. When he was 11 months old he did escape from his new field in the middle of the night over a 5 bar gate. He was found back at the stud he came from strutting his stuff on the oposite side of the field of local stallion. His attitude to life has never changed.

It is 11pm and am newly in from shiffting snow off the drive..we have just had a dump of 4" and I would like to try and get out in the morning and as it is so warm it seemed a good idea. You do have to be a bit bonkers to live up here.

sorry  Wendy. So, you can't pursuade your OH?? lol That is keen shifting snow this late. Well done:) Washy sounds a terrific horse and such a character:) They are escape artists.

Hi everyone.

Huvnae posted for a few days so the individual replies will be a bit sparse.  Don't panic!  I have a nice story.  A Robin briefly entered the new shed today, I'd guess as part of some sort of inspection.  Thankfully he had no use for a clipboard, and was delighted when I scattered some extra buggy nibbles.  All the birds were quite chuffed, in their own sorta mad wild birdy kinda way.

Had a few domestic and considerably boring domestic chores to attack this evening.  So, in a manly fashion, armed with odds and ends, swear word etc,  I set about my work.  Firstly the main aim...... zzzzzzzzzz

Weather has been cold and we even had a wee drop snow fall on Sunday.  Although obviously not as much as some areas.  Trust me if you're affected you have my sympathies etc, as I know what you're going through.  Things are needless to say cold, at times chilly, and even on the rare occasion brrrrrr.  And that's the forecast.

AQ:  I love your 'Health & Saftey' observations. LOL LOL LOL.

Alan:  Glad Hamish is doing well.  Brilliant Pied Wagtail pic.

Diane:  So sorry you're snowed in.  Must've been wonderful to see the deer going for a drink.  It's so amazing to watch nature from the house.  Happy Winter Solstice :-)

Auntie:  Absolutely brilliant Christmas Card!

Linda:  Brilliant Monday Smile, as usual.

Everyone:  Many many thanks for all your information and pictures.

Here's a couple of pictures from a batch I took on the 15th.

Paul.