Morning all: Here's to a good week for everyone. Check out latest pages of last week's thread to see great pix by OG of a kestrel on a road sign and a signpost for migrating birds and Gary's photos of the lovable Toffee plus his Toffee-proof technology. Just had dinner and managed to turn perfectly lovely piece of halibut into shoe leather! Hate it when that happens, but was busy watching weather forecast. Desk is looking cleaner - can actually see the surface now. Take care all!
Not sure if Phoebe mates with the same male each time but I suspect not.
George : sorry you have been unable to get on to the site. I must admit it has been a bit 'iffy' lately. Sounds like you and Diesel are getting along just fine.
Just witnessed mating at Dunedin Florida
I think I shall be making three separate posts this evening, so here is the first, about our day yesterday. To visit Dau#1 we go east on A69 then south on A68. As we turned southwards across fells between the Durham Dales, there was lying snow and fog, quite dense at times. When we arrived, first news was that OH and Dau needed to go and collect SiL and his car from work in the afternoon – he’d been to A&E and had his thumb Xrayed and had a pot up to his elbow. He had been the only casualty when they took Gdau#2 and 9 friends ice-skating on Sunday as a birthday treat! This was the same thumb he broke about 18 months ago, so Dau’s comment was that at least he’d done it properly this time, because last time the hospital said it was only a crack and just bandaged it, and he never kept it immobile – this time he has no choice! We had a lovely time with them, and admired their new kitchen. It is half-term week there, and it was good to see Gdau#1 relaxing. During dinner, snow started falling and it settled on the garden and the road, so we left quite early, and decided not to go over the fells. We had heard in the morning that one alternative route was closed, so we set off up the A1 to Newcastle, and crossed from there. We never found out how the hilly route would have been, but as we went north, the snow turned to rain, and we had quite a reasonable journey home – and dry West of the Pennines.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
ANNETTE My Mum grew up in the Wirral and was at school with Patricia Routledge (Hyacinth) apparently everyone knew she was destined for the stage as she was amazing at both singing and acting!
Am now reading and taking notes – from Sunday evening forward! How have you filled 8 pages!!!
Diane – that Goldfinch is a lovely bird – such vivid colouring!
Annette – garage door problem is something you could do without!
Lindy – thanks fro Monday smiles – loved them!
Trish – love the idea of warm Doggy shower outside! Your Mrs SH must be finding food somewhere nearby, to be around so frequently.
Margo - sorry Rhys’s visit had to be postponed again – hope his Grandma is ok and that his Mum is managing to rest and recover – sorry she might need further surgery. Pleased everyone is helping so much with your arrangements for LG – but just be aware that mobile reception can be poor in the Cairngorm area!
Alan – another great Osp calendar pic yesterday – today’s absolutely amazing!
Wendy – sorry to hear about your OH – must have been bad, having to go to hospital. I hope the medicine works and that he is mending now. I hope your friend visiting Christchurch is safe. I like your plan to take Margo via Dava Moor.
Dibnlib – pleased the Valentine debacle ended happily! I hope your OH’s folks in Christchurch are okay and can get in touch.
Patricia – I bet you ached after double agility Saturday! Well done you and Tweed.
George – pleased that Deisel stands still to be rubbed down after trips to the garden puddle! I still remember trying to dry two slippery puppies at the same time!
Well, I know I’ve left out lots of people whilst trying to be brief, but I have enjoyed all the chat.
Today was supposed to start a more ordered few days to prepare for Son’s visit. This morning my hairdryer decided to blow up in my hand, so it has been another muddled day! If I did get a shock, it was only a little one, and I did throw it on the floor as soon as it went bang and spat out sparks! I immediately put my hand under cold running water, and all I have to show for it is a blackened area with a very tender spot in the middle – luckily it wasn’t too near my face at the time! We have two hairdryers in case of such mishaps – so I used the one from the guest room to finish drying my hair, and this afternoon we went to buy a new one. They seem to come in weird colours now, and some are very heavy for me to hold, but at the fifth shop we seem to have found a suitable one in a sensible dark grey colour – and I could swap permanently with the spare if I need to.
This evening OH is beginning a sequence intended to spring-clean the fish tank. We needed a new filter, so he is setting it up in the spare tank in the dining room, which will need to acclimatise for a while. Next week the fish will move in while he cleans the old tank completely. Then that will be set up back in the lounge and acclimatise. Finally fish, new filter and timer for lights (which we think we remember is more accurate) will move from spare tank, which will then be cleaned, dried and stored for the next time!
Son will arrive at Carlisle station Thursday afternoon, and be here until late morning on Saturday. The three of us are definitely looking forward to it although it can only be a short visit.
Wendy - 2nd July for 2 fantastic weeks!
Have just about recovered from this Sunday's bike ride! Cycled along an old railway track from near Cockermouth to Whitehaven, which turned out to be 16 miles, ie 32 altogether, and we don't normally do more than 20 to 25 miles. No wonder the last 5 miles felt desperate. I was looking forward to coming back with our usual south westerly but there was very little wind, and it turned to easterly for the return, which was almost head-on. Whitehaven has a beautiful harbour area now and it is the starting point for the C2C - coast to coast cycle route (which I won't be doing unless I get a more comfortable saddle).
http://www.google.co.uk/images?q=whitehaven+harbour&rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7HPND_en&redir_esc=&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&sa=X&ei=yDpkTcn4KIjMhAersMzZDQ&ved=0CHwQsAQ&biw=1224&bih=750
Terry in Cumbria
Raith 1 Dundee 2. Still undefeated in the league since administration.
I have been watching Lily and Hope and babies tonight, what a noise going on just now, usually they are sleeping when I look. Also had a look at Phoebe. Lynette, she moves on to a new nest after each fledging, but refurbishes an old one in the same rose bush, rather than building from scratch each time. Pungh doesn't have to search for her because she's just in that bush and he moves the camera quickly (otherwise he'd lose viewers). Someone mentioned quick work moving on - she fits in about 6 lots of babies between now and November (if I remember rightly), the male is just for fertilisation and as Alan said, who knows if it's the same one.
OG, glad the trip went well and you are looking forward to son's visit.
Just logged on and will catch up in a few mins. Terry, thanks for the info on Phoebe. Have just been watching most of the cams on my list and caught the osprey on the panhandle one. Pic coming up. Also been watching Lily and co.They're making a bit more noise now but caught them resting earlier.
Shortened trip to the gym as we had to go back and forth on an errand for OH then do other things but still got a swim in. Trying to trace some of my ancesters but not having much luck at present despite having some data on them. Oh well, will keep trying.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home