Morning all: Much ballyhooed snow didn't materialize, we had a sunny day but very cold tonight with temps just below freezing. Spent the first couple of hours today online with Dell Tech Support after a website I clicked on (via Google) delivered a spyware program disguised as an anti-virus program (one of those things that suddenly lights up your desktop with alarming messages about threats to your computer). I ignored it and immediately launched McAffee to scan my computer, which found nothing. However, the spyware program (called Internet Security Essentials) wouldn't go away until Dell's remote support took over and did a super-scan and clean up (LOVE that service! So glad I signed up for it!)
Trish: They said it will take a while for the autopsies on the dolphins. Glad your OH remembered his training and sat still, even if Mia forgot!
Diane: Have never heard of the Nevada Triangle. Will certainly keekp an eye out for the program - we're watching DVD of The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets' Nest right now. The UK is (it's rumored) is warmed by the Gulf Stream, which perhaps accounts for the daffodils, etc., while you're still dealing with weather from what I believe is called the Canadian Shield...
AQ: Our plants are in danger of drowning right now; have moved some of the potted plants under the eaves to protect them from any frost.
Lindybird: Had big laugh at image of you scraping your pizza off the floor - I'm a firm believer in keeping our immune systems challenged!! :-)) I shall be tuned in to the Oscars from the silly "red-carpet arrivals" pre-show all the way to the final curtain call, although I must confess to shouting a lot at the telly during the entire show. I think The King's Speech will do OK; Colin Firth was nominated last year for A Single Man but didn't get it; think he stands a good chance this time round (and if he doesn't get it, you'll hear me yelling at the telly all the way to the UK)!!
Margobird: Your sister sounds like a real gem.
OG: So glad you had a chance to make various plans with son.
dibnlib: "My fried egg has landed upside down on the floor?" Maybe that happens a lot in Russia? :-))
Hi to all I missed. Have a lovely Sunday!
BrendaH: I used to love standing on the back of the trolley and whizzing up and down the isles but now they are full of shelf stackers and online shopping trolleys and my fun has been curtailed.
Todays osprey advent calendar pic:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kim/4443990421/in/photostream/
2 ospreys on the Panama City cam:
Alan LOL have a mental picture of you causing havoc in supermarket isles.
Great osprey pic today and thanks for the capture of the Panama ospreys.
Margobird
Alan think the nest in Panama City needs a lot of work yet. Not one of the best looking nests at the moment. Saw one osprey though.
Sun never did break right through. Delivery man just been – was the new bathroom extractor fan, so that is another job to be done. Not sure whether gardening – definitely coffee time now and OH needs to empty old fish tank having successfully moved all the fish on Sunday. Also, long story, but I ended up with an unplanned baking session so probably shouldn’t do much more - - oh, yes, there are a few bits of ironing to do. “No rest for the wicked!” as my mother used to say. Our use of “bun fight” is any sort of every-man-for himself type of refreshments at an event! Never heard it for a real fight, fun or otherwise! … … Googled it and found this on World Wide Words site – so all are “correct”!
If it sounds to you like a Victorian children’s nursery at teatime, that surely must be the original allusion behind it. Imagine children having tea, inevitably squabbling over the buns, teacakes, muffins and — this being a British expression — crumpets. Two similar expressions are known from the middle of the nineteenth century: crumpet-scramble and muffin-worry; these haven’t survived.
Interestingly, some of the early uses of bun-fight (these days, also often bunfight) borrowed the idea of afternoon tea in the nursery but left out the fighting: it could refer to the most decorous of engagements, such as those one was invited to by elderly aunts of the Wodehousian persuasion, at which squabbling over food was inconceivable. Then, as now, a bun-fight could more generally be any occasion at which food was served, it often being a sarcastic term describing rather formal ones for which guests had to dress up. In 1994, a newspaper report told of a British MP who turned up improperly dressed (in a lounge suit) at an engagement that was described as the “annual bunfight of the Institution of Electrical Engineers, at which black tie and decorations are de rigueur”.
Another sense of bun-fight, also still with us, borrowed the fight sense but left out the food. Often this refers to a heated altercation, but one that the describing observer feels is of no importance, rather like the nursery squabble that started the expression off.
Margo – good to read about further progress with Billy Whizz. Sorry about your Sister’s bronchitis –presumably caught a nursery bug from her Grandson and then it affected her chest. I suppose she can’t really rest to get over it because of doing the child-care for her DiL.
Brenda – I too am always pleased to get home to my own bed – never sleep for the first two or three nights away, and then don’t seem to catch up until I am home. Nice that you have family meet-up to look forward to. Hadn’t heard of bun fight as occasion for formal dressing either – but guess that could be related to the event thing.
Alicat – thanks for heads up re Blog. How are you and OH and wee Jasper?
Alan – before he was SiL, daughter’s boyfriend loved to embarrass us in supermarkets by declaring “I need to wee on the trolley” – and then set off along the aisle standing on the trolley shouting “Whheeee”! But, “Reader, she married him”! Don’t know if he still does it!!
Ironing calls!
Extra: Just found this on BBC Oxford news. I grew up near there, so maybe I got it from this "real" bun fight!:
Thousands of currant buns will be thrown from the roof of the Abingdon County Hall Museum to mark the marriage of Prince William and Kate Middleton.
Buns have traditionally been thrown from the top of the building since the coronation of George III in 1761.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Hi all, just caught up with the news. Usual sort of day for me so far. Housework in the morning, doing little else in the afternoon except catching up here etc.
Alan - lovely pic of the ospreys on the Panama City cam. Also, a sighting already in Scotland - wonder who it is, it will be interesting when they find out. Hard to get on last night but managed to catch one at the Panhandle cam and of course Mrs. osprey is sitting at Dunedin.
Diane - it looks like you've got it all sown up - being prepared and all that. It reminds me of when I was a Girl Guide. I still try and keep some of the things we were always supposed to have on us in case of an emergency. However times have changed so one or two items have changed as well.
Alicat - I think it was you who said there was a new blog - will look at it presently.
Off to choir this evening for an evening of friendship and fellowship - always like our time together.
http://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/things-to-do/wildlife-webcams/loch-of-lowes/
RSPB Giving Nature a Home
Morning all: Quick look in and read before I start the to-do list. OH off at his volunteer "job" (advising would-be entrepreneurs on how to set up small businesses, get financing, etc) and then he's taking a history class this afternoon, so have most of the day to myself at home. Rain showers forecast for most of the next week. Back later to answer posts!
Just caught an osprey on the palmetto link and the panhandle-florida link. Not much happening at Lily's but there are some murmerings, so maybe its feed and playtime again. One of them is giving a right squeal.
Happy Ending: The Cooper's Hawk that was trapped in the dome of the Library of Congress has now been released. She thrived at the sanctuary and regained her weight, so they released her in a Virginia park. Video here: http://blog.virginiaparks.org/blog/southwest-virginia-museum/library-of-congress-coopers-hawk-released-at-sky-meadows
OG Older people here used to refer to those occasions (often Church events) with plentry of food as 'bun-warries' - similar to the reference you found to 'muffin-worries'. We've had 3 fine, sunny days here so the walking has been more pleasant (and less slippery!). Between the walks and the dog training, my arthritis gets quite bashing - mean to ask the consultant orthopaedic surgeon who attends our church whether it's better to continue with those activities or 'save' the joints. my view would be that one could die waiting for surgery or the development of a miracle cure, so go ahead and enjoy life now. I use a trekking pole when 'off-road' which is a great help.
Margobird I used to inject myself with steroids for asthma - it's womderful what you can get used to! My mother used to say 'Must do' is a hard master.
Forgot to say my neighbour told me that a sparrowhawk has been sitting on the fence at the end of my garden. Haven't seen it yet but many years ago we had one take achaffinch out of a pernettya bush (the first shrub we planted in the garden.
Patriciat our Mrs SH hasn't been around for a few days as far as I know and the little birds have plucked up courage to come back and feed. She's probably lulling them into a false sense of security before making a surprise return.
Margo wonderful that Billy is getting so much braver. Maybe you'll soon be able to get a picture of him to post for us.
Off to read Richard's new blog now then tea. Hope this posts ok as half way through I somehow managed to make it go really small type on the screen so we'll see.