Weekly Chat, Sunday March 13, 2011

Just seen some bullying at the Hampton nest. The eldest chick is really feisty:

Unknown said:

 Hatch at Hampton at last. Not seen the chick yet but the eggshell has been removed from the nest cup. Fantastic!!!
http://www.wvec.com/marketplace/microsite-content/eagle-cam.html

Alan,  I really am glad to get the web address for the Hampton eagles.  What a great webcam!

Have just seen the two little chicks - so tiny and "sweet" - let's hope they both survive.  Please tell me how you capture a still shot from the webcam. x

Hello everyone and thanks for all your chat, links etc. Not long Now!

OG- am following your solar saga  because we have had solar panels since 1984 (I guess that yours are more sophisticated? Do you sell extra energy or have I got it all wrong?) Ours just give us hot water but all this talk of German has rung a big bell here! Our control panel is German, has always been in Celsius with strange abbreviations! OH seems to know what it all means - I haven't a clue but I know that green light means tanks are working and red means they are not!! In our part of the world the red light is often on in Winter as you might guess. BTW - most service engineers and quite a lot of plumbers just look at the system, pipes, tanks, etc and especially our German control panel with a mystfied expression. HOWEVER - our last boiler central heating service from Scottish Gas - the young man had a look at the solar system and then informed us that our solar tanks didn't have an outside overflow. He assured us that this was potentially dangerous and that (for a FEE) Scottish Gas could rectify this. So, we thought, after all this time and yearly service from SG they now know about Solar Energy. OH is vey unkeen to have them interfere. He reckons that since nothing has gone wrong since 1984 we'll just take the chance. I am not as confident. Watch this space-----

Alan - I'm so delighting in the Hampton Eagle cam - Thank you for the link and photos

Morning all:

Brenda: You're right!  Did not meet talkative friend - she's the ranch owner's wife and we have to call and let them know every time we plan to come through the gate. I breathed a sigh of relief when I got her voicemail!

OG: Grandson  lives with Mom, but she's off in AZ right now.  "Rolling" updates are confusing - I think the all-news channels like CNN feel obliged to fill the time in between "real" updates with reruns and often useless speculation by whatever expert is available that day.....

Alan/George:  Oh dear, that doesn't sound encouraging re the UK team headed for (or back from) Japan. The people on that team must be very frustrated.

Must investigate sprinkler/drip system today to make sure everything working.....also planning visit to gym. Will stop in later....

Afternoon all ... horrible day here, just like yesterday ... foggy and damp!

Cirrus - great to see you got your computer fixed ... just in time for the big day!

patriciat - sorry you have been so poorly, and I hope you are on the mend now.

Alan - great screen shots as always ... and thanks for the links.

Tiger - lovely links to the dog stories and the video link ... thanks.

Chloe - what beautiful pics of your Amaryllis. I've never been very successful with them :-(

OG - glad your son is feeling a bit better, but shame about his car! Like you, I get cross with the 24 hour news ... sometimes I can't work out what is new and what is old!! Pleased that you seem to have your solar panels all sorted.

Thanks to everyone else for chat etc ... I'm getting all excited about the imminent arrival of EJ ... hope she gets here ok!!

Take care.

ANNETTE  I think your Panasonic tv must be a Friday afternoon, can,t be bothered model. We have had a few of those in our time.

OG  hope all goes well with your solar panel reworking. We had a new boiler installed 2 years ago and as it was guaranteed for 2 years we took it off the Scottish Gas insurance policy. After 2 years we put it back on and they came round to check it a few weeks back. Turns out it was not installed as per manufacturers instructions in the first place. The original plumber seems happy to shoulder the cost of the extra work but needs to talk to electrician involved in the original work, so lets hope he agrees.

Woke up to a glorious morning so OH took Dillon for a walk and then to his delight he was told to jump in the car. we then headed for Brodie Countryfare where we had coffee and 1/2 strawberry and cream scone each - and I bought an Alpaca spirit of the Andes Cardi/jacket. Then we set off for Lossie beach. This used to be a regular when OH was based at Lossie. The sun was really warm and the views across the water were spectacular. Then we went to Johnstons of Elgin for a small lunch and a browse then back home via Brodie again. OH did some spending as well, trousers and a summer shirt.  On our walk on the beach we met a 4 month old Golden Doodle (Golden Retriever cross Poodle) so that got us thinking yet again about what sort of dog to get when time is right. Must google them when I have finished todays posts on this site. Anyway the 3 of us had a really great day. Hope all of you did too.

Hi everyone.

For once one of my weather rants has actually worked.  After yestarday's late winter tantrum (the weather that is, not me LOL), spring has kicked winter's backside into a couple of months back.  The birds seem to be loving the sunshine and after returning from the weekly mission to get the messages (shopping), I saw a pair of Goldfinches on the sunflower hearts feeder.  In the spring sunshine, its no wonder a flock of Goldfinches is called a "charm".  I saw two Great Tits flying about my birdtable and nearby shrub, just before I left.  Didn't get time to see the fronts of these so I couldn't say if they were a couple, or just two individuals.  Stunning birds though.  The House Sparrows and Starlings, are fantastic as ever :-)

We're up to 406 people in this group now.  Brilliant!  A very warm welcome to all the newcomers :-)

Tiger:  Thanks for the link to the Osprey videos.  Great images in there.

Alan:  Thanks for  the news on the second bobblehead at Hampton.  Great to hear Hamish is on the mend.  I hope his eyes are fully recovered soon.

particiat:  Sorry you've been so unwell.  Hope it vanishes altogether, soon.

Lynette:  That's wonderful news about the 4 month old baby plucked from the ruble and reunited with her day.  Great to have such a nice story amongst the sadness.  Thanks for the webcam pics :-)

Wendy:  Happy anniversay!

Annette:  That's a great line: "...and watched Hawks on the lookout for dinner." :-)

Diane:  That's a fantastic looking flower pic.  Thanks for posting it.

Cirrus:  Brillliant pic of the Two Harbors Eagle.  Thanks.

Brenda:  Sorry the sunshine in your neck of the woods looks as if its taking a day off.

OG:  Nice to hear your solar panels ar now working.  Glad to hear your son is feeling much better.  Sometimes rest is the best medicine but I must admit to being a terrible patient and even worse convalescent.  Hope you enjoyed the trip to your local museum this morning.

Chloe:  The Goldfinches here hardly give nyjer seed a second glance if sunflowers are on offer.  Funnily enough sometimes the Collared doves feed on the nyger seed feeder.  Its hillarious watching them.  Great pics of your Amaryllis.

george:  The British ambassador in Japan sounds like a right dunderheid as we say in my part of the country.  Surely if kind hearted rescuers are willing to put their lives on the line to help people in an area affected by a huge tragedy, they should be supported and not discouraged.  Nice to hear you're enjoying sunny weather.

Heather:  Not long now, indeed.  I can't wait :-)

Joan:  Sorry your weather has been rotten today.  I hope the sunshine gains the upperhand.

dibnlib:  Glad you, OH, and Dillon enjoyed a nice day today.

Thanks to everyone for all your news and pics :-)

Happy Wednesday!

Paul.

Edit:  Now we're up to 407 people!

A warm welcome :-)

Squirrel for tea: