Weekly Chat (Non-Osprey), 1 December 2024

HAPPY NEW WEEK and HAPPY NEW MONTH and HAPPY NEW MOON!

I hope everyone has a good December and holiday season. A new moon begins the month and another new moon will end the month (and the year)!

On Thanksgiving night, my region had a weak earthquake. People felt the shaking, but no damage was done. It wasn't a big deal, except that folks were talking about how distressed the dogs, cats, and wildlife were before, during, and after the quake. We have small quakes once in a while, and nobody knows why this particular quake disturbed the animals so much. The raccoons on my patch were goofy, running around on the roof, barking, and trying to get in the house. One woman said the ducks on her lake raised a loud ruckus. Lots of folks said their dogs behaved strangely. Many people had animal stories.

We had Arctic cold move in yesterday, and the raccoons have now begun their hibernation (torpor).

Love and hugs to everyone.

  • LINDA – I was thinking my “smaller” tree bought a few years ago could be much smaller. . . now to find a colourful clothes peg. . .

    OG - I hope you can see past the bah-humbug and have a little joy – maybe after J’s Saturday.

    ANNETTE – No matter how many in a family may be available, there is always only one upon whom things-to-be-done fall. I hope your BIL gets appropriate advice & help.

    Singing in the Library was delightful. About 30 children, some obviously not regularly in the choir as they were clutching (& dropping) sheets with words. 9 songs over half hour, last 3 Christmassy, a break and repeated. I stayed for both sessions. I took photos for family album. Obviously I cannot post them here but this is the tree before the children arrived. They were singing in the original library building, now used for functions & exhibitions. It is where I began family history research 40 years ago.

     

    After a horrid 36 C day with nasty hot winds, it is now raining. Good, saves me watering tomatoes & crunchy lawn.

  • OG  Hope all goes well for J next weekend.

  • Good morning from a mild Suffolk and we have some blue sky appearing as well. I've had my Daughter here since Friday so have been catching up on all your news this morning. We had a great day on Saturday in Bury St Edmunds - I had not been before. They had a huge Christmas market set up in the Cathedral with some lovely stalls with unique gifts. The town is full of independent shops, as well as the usual ones. In the afternoon we went to see a film - Conclave - with Ralph Fiennes and Stanley Tucci and it was great.

    Diane I hope you are keeping warm in the cold weather and that the animals have all recovered from the earthquake.

    Rusty - I loved the photos of Chatsworth and my Daughter said its only about an 1.5 hrs from her place in Northamptonshire, so we will be paying a visit for sure.

    Annette - glad you had a good Thanksgiving, but sorry to hear about your OH - I hope he is recovered.

    AQ - Sounds like a lovely visit from Daughter and Trio. My eldest greanddaughter is also 13 and in her first year and seems to be doing well and has made some nice friends. The carol concert sounded lovely.

    Dibnlib - Bravo to Erica - what a great attitude.

    OG - hope all goes well with J at the weekend and that you can all enjoy Christmas.

    Heather, Lindy and everyone else - have a good week and take care.

  • Home from dentist examination – nothing needs any attention – next appt June 2nd – have put in a request for fine weather!  Actually, weather today has been dry since early morning, so not a bad outing, but J asked for a lift into town and managed to be ready to come back same time as us.  We had cancelled the cleaners for today.

    ANNETTE – so sorry about your BiL’s self-neglect – sounds like a very sick man.  And what is it with all these quarrelling siblings we are experiencing?

    AQ – a lovely tree at your central Library.  Great that you could stay for two sessions!  Sorry about the heat.

    HARELADY – I wonder how many years Bury St Edmunds has been holding a Christmas Market?  Nothing like that when we were down that way.  Sounds like a very good day out for you.

    J just came into the study and was reminiscing about Prunella Scales reciting the Twelve Days of Christmas a number of years ago – we still haven’t stopped hoping one day to find a recording of it.  Left me reading the religious explanation of the words – would love to read it in church!  Maybe I will put it in the January Magazine?

  • Lots to reply to and I will come on tomorrow to do so. I just felt I had to comment on the item about the British Fashion awards on the news just now. It is very cold but the ladies are wearing next to nothing. It’s ridiculous and not the image I think women should be portraying. Also, I remember someone commenting on a previous similar item (was it Heather?) that they seems to have run out of material when it came to making the tops!!!!! End of rant!!! Back tomorrow.