Weekly Chat, Sunday March 13, 2011

Thanks Annette for starting us off again.
Why is it that I wake at dawn every other morning but sleep in on Sunday? Once upon a time I may have thrown some clothes on and raced out to the car, but 10 mins is a wee bit short for that. I messed around and was nearly late for the 10 am and now the whole morning has disappeared.

Paul - My family often used such comments as you suggest - I thought it was sarcasm rather than reverse psychology!. When our toddlers went through a "no to everything" stage, I was tempted to ask for the opposite.

Terry - I didn’t plan our first overseas trip, just relied on the bus tour. This was a mistake as, when given the opportunity to wander, we didn't know best where to go and wandered aimlessly. Now I am busy checking websites for sights to see whenever an hour or so is likely to be free. Plus for my free days before & aft.

OG - Don’t mention the long flights!!!!!! Going over will take some 25 hours with 5 hr spent in transit in Singapore. Coming back from Vienna (via Munich) will be even longer and 8 hours in Singapore. Strange that every time I travel I end up on same airline. I’ve spent so much of my life in transit in Singapore airport that I have suggested I should lead guided tours LOLOL

Hi again: Some interesting posts on the last few pages, but I'm so tired and my nose is acting up (feels like I'm balancing a brick on the bridge) that I can't respond to all. Can't believe Phoebe has already got two new chicks!

Had a nice day out, bought a stand (used, from a private party) for my new hammock. I'll have to sand it down a bit and toss some paint on, but it's sturdy and was very, very cheap), and - I'm so thrilled about this - found a nonstick top-of-the-line Calphalon10-inch saute pan on the clearance shelves at TJMaxx. It's identical to my old one, which I've used almost every day for eons and is pretty torn up. I've been looking for a replacement for about a year and went into the store specifically to look for it. Perused the regular shelves, where I didn't see anything I fancied, then was ambling down the clearance isle and there it was!  Brilliant.

Anyway, think I'll take an antihistamine and head for bed. Take care all and have a nice Sunday. 

If the Japanese reactor(s) develops a major core breach (a meltdown), the outlook for wildlife, as well as humans, may be bleak. Cesium, a radioactive isotope released by a nuclear emergency, collects in the bodies of animals. Remember the mass slaughter of livestock and wildlife across northern Europe after the Chernobyl disaster? This tragedy fills me with such sorrow.

Annette: I know everyone will think I'm bloomin' crazy, but I'm going to offer this advice anyway: You may want to pick up a bottle of Potassium Iodide to take only in the event of radiation exposure where you live. It will block your thyroid from absorbing radioactive iodides, which cause thyroid cancer, goiter, and other conditions. If the Japanese reactor melts down, that radiation is going to travel to the U.S. on the jetstream. It's not clear where it will disperse. Following the Chernobyl disaster, much of Europe was contaminated with radioactive isotopes. I suspect that the world's governments -- especially the U.S. -- will not tell the truth about the level of risk, because they don't want this disaster to collapse the financial markets. It's always about the money. :-(

I sincerely hope that all available Potassium Iodide will be sent to Japan, but it's unlikely that the product in your local pharmacy would be gathered up for shipment there, so you might as well take advantage of whatever is available to you.

You have to take the Potassium Iodide immediately upon exposure to radiation, or it is less effective. By the time the world's governments admit to the danger, it may be too late to take the supplement and, almost certainly, too late to obtain it! Good brand names for the product are Thyro-Block and iosat. They are both FDA (government)-approved.  Here is a very good article about the dangers: http://newamericamedia.org/2011/03/japan-tsunami-update-nuclear-power-plant-in-meltdown.php  Info on the supplement: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginfo/natural/35.html

ANNETTE  hope you feel better soon and also hope you do not need to take the advice from Diane. Scary stuff!

Had trouble getting on the site yesterday morning. We then went out to fitness club and coffee. On return OH decided he had some work to do on laptop. Some 2 1/2 hours late he decided to take a break and walk Dillon. Haven't actually asked what happened but he lost the lot!!!!! He was actually amazingly calm about it but decided to start again immediately and eventually well into the evening he completed what he wanted with no more mishaps. All this meant that I had to take Dillon out on my own and this time he behaved. It was only a short walk but he was off the lead and I was a bit worried as the last twice I have been on my own he has played me up.

 Off for breakfast and then a swim before church and this aft is "The Calcutta Cup" so of course we will be supporting diffferent teams.

Sunday all! Sorry I haven’t posted recently but everyday life has consumed my “internet-using-time” lately LOL. Trying to comment some posts from last week but can’t do all, sorry

Lynette, yes spring does come later here than there. There can be some snow left on the ground as late as late April - depending of course IF there has been a snowy winter. This winter has definitely been a snowy one. A little bit of melting has happened now but a loads left still, but spring WILL be here too. BirdLife Finland reported that spring migration is on normal schedule - first skylarks been seen! And I just saw a magpie carry a small twig in her/his beak. Lakes and the sea are still covered with ice so it will take some time before our fish eating birds will return

OG, thanks for the info ‘bout live cams in LG and LotL. Hope you are feeling better (sending hugs)

Nice to ‘see’ Wattle again and hope Cirrus get hers computer problem sorted out

Brenda, congrats for The Good Egg - well done and totally deserved!

Annette, you must be so proud of your grand-dau, what a fine young woman! Just had to laugh the idea of Toffee cam, that would be something!

AQ, thanks for the ‘pointer’ according TeeJay’s query, but am afraid can’t be much of help. I haven’t been up north for years… Good for you of booking that Germany trip, I’m sure you will have a wunderbar time. Black Forrest suppose to be a beautiful area. Re those terrific Friday Smiles - they are universal - I heard almost each and everyone when growing up! (and I was such a good tempered and sweet child/teen….not)

I hope Margobird has a good holiday and absolutely wonderful of you to arrange Billy’s ‘meals on wheels’ during your absence

Terry, great news according your volunteering at Bassenthwaite

Trish2, an osprey sighting - grrrreat

Dibnlib, I so agree the power of retail therapy LOL Also think “Death of a Salesman” is a very good play

Diane, I am too so worried about that Japanese reactor situation

Sorry for longish post and sorry I didn’t mention you all! Take care and stay safe - OSPS ARE COMING SOON :)))))))

Gee this site is slow this morning...Anyway it has now been snowing for just over 18 hours...very pretty but very boring. It is only about 4" deep as the ground and the air are warm and the underneath is all slush. Luckily it was going to be a domestic day in readiness for my few days away but it will have to be Sunday newspapers on line ...not quite the same. Can't get the traffic Scotland cameras up but I will wait until Tuesday afternoon and see what the A9 looks like before I make a decision on whether I go Wednesday or delay for a day. Not the end of the world just a day less retail in Bath.

Rugby should be good this afternoon.....shouldn't have said that as it will now be the most boring match of the whole 6 nations.

Everyone have a good Sunday and spare a thought for me on oven cleaning duty. If the sun comes out I will try and get some snaps.

OH computer back up thingy has just blipped...could be on power cut alert. 

A no-weather day here so far.  Will be going to church this morning and at home the rest of the day.

Usual thanks to Annette for starting the week – and sorry you are struggling with allergies.   Great you found the hammock stand, and then the sauté pan on clearance – sounds like a good day.

AQ – pleased you were only “nearly late” and not really late!  I allow extra time, then find something to do (like posting here!) and then end up nearly late!

Diane – not a good outlook for anyone/thing caught in fallout from Japan – and I see another, potentially more dangerous, reactor may also be in meltdown this morning.  Remember Chernobyl effect on animals here – and Chernobyl children – devastating.

Dibnlib – pleased your solo walk with Dillon was safe.  You have a very busy start to Sunday – don’t know how you can do all that in one morning!

Auntie – good to see you whenever you have time – take care.

Wendy – I hope you can get a walk with the camera – sounds much better than oven-cleaning!

Everyone – have a good Sunday! 

Morning all,

Thanks for starting the week off Annette.

Thanks to everyone else for all the chat etc.

Weather is wet this morning but still mild at 9.8c at the moment.

After watching the Hampton eagles  a lot yesterday with no hatch, hopefully today is the day.

Another follow up to a previous eagle story:

http://www.wsmv.com/news/27167223/detail.html

Morning all. I hope all you people in the USA and Canada put your clocks forward last night/this morning.

Looking forward to our clocks doing the same in two weeks time Tiger.

It's lovely here today, dry and sunny, so I'm taking advantage and getting much needed jobs done in the garden. Not before time either. You should see the amount of sprouted seeds underneath my bird feeders.

Has anyone tried the 'no grow' birdseed mixes? I wonder what they do to it so it doesn't germinate? Heat treatment probably. Doesn't sound like it would be as good for the birds so I guess I won't bother. Will just carry on weeding.