Weekly Chat, Sunday April 10, 2011

Link to a story about a Harris Hawk from our local paper:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-13044780

Hi all, first chance I've had today to come on.  Been busy - gym this morning and then some housework to catch up on.  New cooker, tumble dryer and microwave coming tomorrow so will be glad when I can get new things up and running.

Thanks for all your news and updates - Tiger for the link for the bears, at present I have Lily's den up but no pics coming through so will definitely have a look at the link.

Lindybird - Lets hope that Buzz starts to improve and enjoys his eating again and that you don't have to make any more trips to the vets.

Thinking of going to Sri Lanka on one of the tours they do - has anyone been and if so what do they think of the country. It certainly sounds fascinating.

Hi Everyone: Thanks for chat and piccies. Really windy up here on Speyside and most of our birds have been flying backwards. Sun and showers and it said it was warmer than yesterday but with the wind chill factor taken into consideration it felt a lot colder. Feel for the Ospreys as staying on that nest must be a feat in itself.

Took a walk that takes me behind the distillery dam and up over the hill which gives me the most amazing views of the Cromdale Hills and onward the Cairngorms in the distance. There is a derelict house there which looks really cute at present with the daffs all around it. Our daffs are always way behind anyone elses and have only been out a week. Willy my 91 year old neighbour was telling me 2 ladies used to live their and he used to pop in for tea...but that was a long long time ago. 

Once again as yesterday the weather is changing around 5pm the wind is dropping and the sun is out so a pleasant evening for our pair to enjoy.

Overdosed on caffeine today. Friend and I went to Simpsons Garden Centre this aft, had a wander then coffee another wander then I bought coffee, came home and OH wanted to go to Tiso for coffee.Really meant to ask for decaf this time but got talking to member of staff and completely forgot. Hope I don't suffer too much as usually 1 cup of coffee is all I have and the tea we drink at home is decaf, ditto any coffee we drink at home. Off now to get our evening meal, not sure if I will be back later. 

Hello everyone.  I haven't been here for a bit, but I've tried to read and catch up with all the news, the problems, and the pictures. 

Lynette I do hope the scan news proves to be positive, but it must be hard waiting.

Lindy I cannot believe that your OH had a stitch left in after an op in 2009.  It is perhaps very surprising that he didn't feel it once his eye had recovered from the op.  For that I am sure he can be thankful, or perhaps not.  Perhaps it would have been better for the symptoms to have shown earlier and he could have had it removed then!

AQ what a super trip you had.  Lovely descriptions of it all and some super photos too.

I am glad that dibnlib & Wendyb met up for a natter.  Oh yes, and I hope that OG & Wendy enjoy the coffee and no doubt cake at the weekend, and that you have a good trip to your son. Lovely photos OG, particularly the chaffinch, but how wonderful to be able to the osprey.  Lucky you.

OG Is it Grantown your son lives?  I will be staying at the Muckrach Lodge, Dulnain, towards the end of next month for a couple of days and I believe it is near by.  OH and I, and three friends will be staying on the west coast, Inverkirkaig, north of Ullapool, and before we head that way we are staying with the friends near Kinross.  Last year OH decided to cycle from our week on Mull to our rented cottage on Skye beyond Carbost - with the same three friends - so this year's challenge is to cycle from our friends house to the cottage south of Lochinver!  We will stay with the friends for a few days during which he will cycle from there to Perth to get that leg out of the way.  Then we set off midweek back to Perth where I drop him off to start his cycle.  Meanwhile, the plan is for me to go to LG for the day, drive back to pick him up after his day's cycle and stay at Dulnain.  Next morning I take him back to the end of the previous day, he sets off, and I go back to LG for the day!!!  Daft, mad, or what...  The third night is at Aultguish.  I am not sure whether I will be able to have any of Friday at LG or not, but may have to drive on to the cottage to meet up with the three friends and wait for OH to arrive.  He does stress though that should the weather be bad, or the wind in the wrong direction, he will abort the plan!

Margo I am so pleased for you that Billy is becoming so friendly.  That is tremendous news after all your patience.  And there was I a week or so ago, saying you might never get him to be a lap cat.  Shows how much I know!  Well done.

Alicat how has your cat taken to Bobbie?  Cats do tend to be very possessive and generally have the upper hand with the swift strike of the paw.

Alan what a poppet Hamish is.  Sorry Hamish, that isn't exactly what a smart dog like you would wish to hear! But you are lovely.

Thanks for the bear links Tiger.  Since the return of EJ and Odin I have spent less time on non-osprey related things.  There is so much information on these birds on the various threads which have been started and if folk haven't got round to checking them out, I really recommend you do.

Hi Paul I love your chats and comments.

I've done a fair amount of gardening - back and knees (and a ganglion on my wrist) are the painful results.  But needs must.  I don't like to bend too much as I have a dodgy back, and with my knee playing up I is difficult to kneel comfortably!!  The joys of getting older.....  but I will not be defeated!  I may have to resort to a return visit to the chiropractor.  Funnily enough it didn't stop an 8.5 mile bike ride (with a pub lunch in the middle). We appear to have blue tits in both our boxes, but time will tell whether they actually decide to take up residence.  Despite the emergence of insects the birds are still emptying the feeders at a surprising rate.

Hello to those I haven't mentioned.

SheilaFE. I am tired already reading about your hi jinks in the Highlands and beyond.

I pass Muckrach everytime I go to the gym and am always looking for a different place to eat...so please could you give me some feedback on evening meals once you have stayed. It is only about 20 mins from me and my favorite place in G on S The Glasshouse closed at New Year as thye super chef there has relocated to the borders...lucky them!!! 

Lynette D said:

Thinking of going to Sri Lanka on one of the tours they do - has anyone been and if so what do they think of the country. It certainly sounds fascinating.

I have never been to Sri Lanka, but the son of friends of ours and his fiancée (neither of which is Sri Lankan) was married there in a beautiful ceremony some five years ago.  The family and a few friends stayed on after the wedding and toured together.  They loved the country, the food and the people.  Our friends returned there at the weekend for another two weeks, taking some friends of theirs with them.  I believe they have a guide, but I am not sure whether he escorts them throughout or not.  (The happy couple now have two lovely children)

Oh, Wendyb, I am so sorry, and will try to curtail my enjoyment of all things Scottish!  The scenery, the landscape, the sea, the sea birds, the wildlife.....Certainly I will give you a food review, but if I let you know when I'm around, perhaps we could meet at LG?

Serious though, does anyone know whether there are any osprey on the NW coast.  I might perhaps see sea eagles flying around, but I wondered what the chance of osprey?  I clearly am NOT asking for nest sites.  Just whether I might see them between Ullapool and Lochinver.  I am sure I will see eagles, if I am lucky.  And of course I must see otters!!!

WendyB I love it when you describe your walks knowing that I will be able to see some of the beautiful scenery up there.  Our daffodils are just about finished now but added a real splash of colour while they were out.