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!
Just in case you have not noticed there is a new blog from Alice.
Prepared bed for Son. Now sitting down with coffee.
Dibnlib – I think the answer re Dolphins will be “you see them when you do, and not when you don’t’’! So we’ll just keep on trying. Looks like April might be our only trip there this year if we are to fit in other things – although we might get back in September – that’s currently listed as “wherever Son is”! Wildlife Park got Walker as company for Mercedes but intending to get him a younger female for breeding later – I don’t think they can introduce a new female while Mercedes is alive, so I guess they never thought she would last much longer –she is very old at 30.
Sheila – not surprised you postponed trip to Aged Aunt until a drier day! How is her care plan working out? Yes, hairdryer is in the garage with other dead things awaiting a trip to the tip (aka recycling centre). Reaction to baking bread is just one of my triggers for allergies, but I can eat it – although not until it is a day old!
Annette – pleased plumber was so quick. Sounds like a busy afternoon after your lunch with friend.
Wendy – pleased to see that your friends are safely on their way back to North Island – good that you know. I hope your OH has a good diagnosis and some helpful advice and/or medication from the Doctor tomorrow. Could imagine the cleanout from the cattle – we sometimes get a whiff here (not all the way from your neighbours, but from about ¼ mile away!) and remark to each other “the cows are turning over again”!
Alan - thanks. Off to read now!
Had an “interesting” time on the phone this afternoon. Someone phoned from the solar company to ask about our level of satisfaction. So I explained all the issues which have left us dissatisfied, including that they have not yet come back to correct the configuration, that one of the clips holding up the panels has sprung out and all the hiccups with the admin and paperwork! An hour later a new “suit” from the head office phoned and asked me to explain it all to him. He did apologise, and did actually have our job-file open and hopes to phone back tomorrow when he has gathered the information which has gone missing from the file!! Watch this space – again!
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
OG : I asked my daughter re the best time to see Dolphins and this is her reply:
"The general opinion is between April and September and we were advised to go 2-3 hours before high tide. tide times are the Cromarty Firth times and are available from the harbour master or tourist info in Inverness (20 mins from Chanonry). We have seen them at other times, June, July seems to be the optimum and we have seen them throughout the tide cycle some days during this period. Last year there was a large pod and they were really playful, jumping right out the water! Its worth it to go and just sit for a while, there is a campsite overlooking the sea, about 15 mins walk along the beach from Chanonry and they can be seen from there. It is a popular choice for those in the Camping and Caravan Club"
Have to put this on here because this is quite momentous:
23/02 20:59 DEVON : Osprey, Powderham [S]one at Powderham Castle by lake yesterday afternoon (22/02 14:00)
Alan – thanks for checking re Dolphins – I have the tide tables and it looks like high tide around mid-day when we are there in April, so definitely worth another try. Please thank you daughter – does she live on the Black Isle? Thanks also for the Powderham Castle Osprey report – as you say, quite momentous! Makes the arrival seem so much closer!
Unknown said: Diane: Just read that Indiana's proposed "right to work" bill has died and won't be put back on the legislative agenda this session, so is it safe to assume that you won't be making the trip to the state Capitol? Assume you haven't been harboring any missing House members in your garage? :-)
Diane: Just read that Indiana's proposed "right to work" bill has died and won't be put back on the legislative agenda this session, so is it safe to assume that you won't be making the trip to the state Capitol? Assume you haven't been harboring any missing House members in your garage? :-)
Just back from the capitol. 1,000s of people there. I got very tired. And no, no. It's not over here. The "right to work" bill is only one of several sweeping measures advanced by House/Senate Republicans (largely Tea Party). The bills in dispute affect education, labor, jobless benefits, ... http://www.wthr.com/story/14083800/indiana-statehouse-standoff-continues?=#WNPoll104785 And, nope, I don't have any fugitive legislators in my garage. :-) They all fled across the state line to Illinois, where they couldn't be taken into custody by the State Police and returned to the Statehouse. They remain there.
Good for you Diane! Have been watching the Wisconsin excitement so missed the intricacies of the Indiana debate. What a to-do - and it seems to be spreading. I'm waiting to see what Governor Moonbeam has in store for California!
OG: Hope your solar suit comes through with fixes!
Alan: Ospreys en route! Brilliant.
Had nice lunch with friend, lots of chat, then puttered around before heading to the gym with my book for a long session on the stationary bike! Now home to excavate refrigerator and see what I can serve that will pass for dinner.....
Lynette - Don’t worry about not progressing with your ancestor search. I’ve found that there are dull times, but when I least expect it, a breakthrough. Some of us believe the ancestors are deliberately making us work for the info!!!
Diane - "Lizardas" are not aggressive, tho’ they can bite if they feel threatened. They say they make good pets and we suspect ours is an escaped or abandoned ex-pet. http://www.mooloolabapets.com.au/html/blue_tongue_skinks.html
After many months procrastinating, I finally upgraded my Internet Explorer. He-Who-Knows-Everything could not confirm that my Favourites would transfer. Hence the delay. I finally culled some, made a note of important ones and, hey ho, they all transferred. At least they've been springcleaned. LOL. Now I can watch YouTube without getting impolite reminders that I’m obsolete.
We went out last night for a meal at Bistro France. Lovely decadent French food with lots of cream, butter & naughty stuff! I chose from the specials. Rabbit (fell off the bone) with Dijon mustard sauce. Plus a "tourte" - potato, bacon & onion in cream topped with pastry. Followed by raspberry parfait. Mmmmmm, delish. http://www.bistrofrance.com.au/
AQ: Just checked out Bistro France. Yum! I could spend the whole day there!
Annette - I did try last night to suggest we return today. LOL