Weekly Chat, Sunday 22 May 2011

Morning all:)

Sorry I've dropped off the end of the earth! Jane, thanks for the note.

All is well here, just I have MIL staying for a while and that eats into my computer time a fair bit (not that I'm complaining as the food is yummy! lol) Away next week as well, to vermont for a trip so lots to sort out

Diane, hope you are OK. These storms are unbelievable. Hope the worst has missed you.

Take care everyone else

PS TT is fine and has adopted MIL:)))

Good to hear from you Gary and so glad the storms have not affected you. Enjoy rest of MiL's stay and trip to Vermont

Good morning all and how busy it is on this forum now for some replies.

 

Tiger  congratulations on your forum birthday yesterday.  No wonder you have been able to answer the endless questions fired at you and which you always deal with so promptly.

 

ChloeB nice banner for Tiger.

 

DjoanS  pleased that you did not suffer too much damage from the wind and rain but shame about plants that have been lost.  My roses are all in bloom and it seems that every year we have strong winds (although not as strong as you had) and they all get blown to bits.  Have notice that there are quite a few branches of trees laying in the park next to me which have come down in the strong wind.

 

Lindybird I am a bit on edge with this volcanic ash cloud.  They are now saying that it could come  back over later this week so I am keeping everything crossed at the moment.  Flights back on at Scottish airports this morning but of course there are huge delays.  I will get there one way or another.  Sorry you have to buy a new washing machine, they don't seem to make things to last now.  Our fridge/freezer that went on the blink was only 5 years old.  My washing machine is now 6 years old so don't know how much longer that will last either.  Smiled about your comment re shoes.  Of course us girls do need a pair to match all our outfits.

 

Diane  you have every right to have a whinge.  Your weather has been terrible and I am saying a prayer that you will come through the latest bad storms OK.  Hope the shelter you have built will offer you good protection should the worst happen.  Do take care you wil be in my thoughts.

Thanks for the tip about emails, have tried again but still no luck.  I will give up for now.  What I cannot understand is that I had a lot when I returned from Flornce which arrive while I was away so it was working then.

 

Cirrus  I am off to LG on 11 June for a week and keeping everything crossed that I will be able to fly up.  Whatever happens I will get there somehow.  I agree with Jillian for the names of the chicks, Star and Storm would seem very appropriate

 

Alan lovely pic of the clematis and just love the colour.  Hope Tesco shop not too stressful.

 

trish 2 Billie appeared within 2 minutes of our arrival home on Sunday.  She was so excited to see us and made as big a fuss of us as we made of her.  I have to say I am still not ease with the new set-up but hoping I will adapt soon.  I am finding it takes so long to do things now.

 

original goldfinch another batch of stunning photographs.  Lovely to come on and see them all and just love all the colours.

 

Hope WendyB  has a good meet with SheilaFE  today.  At least the weather looks a bit better for the trip.

 

Annette I hope you are not going to have a summer filled with noise and not just that but all the dust as well.  Liked the silly attach. just hoping that the wind will blow it well away by the time I go.

 

patriciat what a good thing that you chose not to go out in those winds with a tree coming down on part of your normal walk.  Someone was looking over you when you took that decision.  Hope the agility training went well last night.

 

Alan thanks for that wonderful capture of the male feeding the female at Milford CT. 

 

Now for an update on Billie.  When we came home on Sunday I had already decided that she wasn't going to go out at night anymore.  I was starting to get a bit worried for her as we have foxes who pass through our garden and not far from us a cat was attacked by one.    Sunday and Monday night I slept in the front room with her and she was as good as gold.  She woke me up asking to go out which I duly did and after she had done what she wanted she came straight back.  Last night I went to bed and it was her first night on her own in here.  We always have to get up in the night so checked up on her to see if she watnted to go out but she declined.  We have got a litter tray for her which she hadn't used but\ when OH got up she asked to go out.  She has obviously been well trained. She showers us with affection now and is a joy to have around.  At the moment she is curled up fast asleep on the settee having spent a couple of hours racing round in the garden and in here.  She has got a bed which she inspects every so often and I think when winter comes she will make good use of it.    She is giving both of us so much pleasure and is a joy to have around.  Wonderful company for me during the day as well.  She is extremely vocal especially when she wants a fuss made of her.  Still find it so hard to believe how things have changed from when she was so timid and frightened of everyone.  I feel quite honoured that in the end she decided to make her home with us.  Next thing we want to do is take her to the vet and just get her checked over.   She seems absolutely fine but just want to make sure and they might be able to give us a clue as to her age.  She still likes to play so I don't think she is very old.

 

Hope you all have a good day and take care of yourselves. 

Bravo Margo, I  am so happy for you and Billie. I so miss having a puss and have enjoyed your tale of homecoming.

Margo- thanks for the update on Billie.  I think she's a very lucky cat to have found you and I think it's wonderful that the 3 of you give each other so much pleasure.  It's the reward you deserve after so much patience.  As for giving up your bed to watch over her at night - well, good practice for LG!!

Just seen that some German airspace is closed due to volcanic ash – Frankfurt not mentioned – I hope it will be clear for AQ to land tomorrow morning!

Funny weather today – can’t make up its mind – not wet but not dry, not bright but not dull, not windy (by recent standards) but not calm!

Annette – don’t worry any more about Monday or Tuesday – today will be Wednesday when you wake up!

Diane – I keep thinking of you – I hope your tornado shelter will not be needed – I see the storm system is going to follow the other one through Missouri (including Joplin) – terrible for those poor folks to know they might get hit again.  You are allowed to whinge about that sort of weather coming your way – and I am so sorry that this one has you scared.  I really like ferns, too – have a few in my tiny “Woodland area” (two trees, deadwood for bugs and woodland plants).  Will PM Betty Boo today – such a pity she is struggling with the site.

Somebody asked about “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down” – I was surprised to discover Joan Baez didn’t write it!  See

http://uk.ask.com/wiki/The_Night_They_Drove_Old_Dixie_Down - Meaning_of_song

Alan – nice Clematis – why hasn’t yours had its leaves and flowers blown off?!  Enjoy Tesco before the summer holidays begin!

Joan – we saw a couple of Sand Martin Banks while driving around last week – great see all their activity, but not a hope of catching them on camera!  Saw Cork trees at the Eden Project in its early days.  Another interesting bark coming in my next post!  I didn’t know you were a musician!  What did you study, and do you still play?

Lindy – sorry about washing machine – but best to hear it from someone you trust!

Hi, Gary.  Pleased TT likes her “Grannie”!  Enjoy Vermont next week!

Margo – lovely update on Billie!

Tiger - help!  Please.  I can't do smart links any more since they changed the system - I am doing just what I did before!

Thank you Margo :)

Hi everyone. So pleased to hear that all you bloggers across the pond are OK. Puts my problems into perspective. Two previous days have been awful but my house is still standing even if the veg plot has been decimated.The worst was finding a dead swallow in the garden. As yet I haven't been able to find out if it is one of 'my' pairs, but I lay some blame on the neighbour's cat as I am frequently chasing it from the garden and outbuildings. Some respite today as it isn't so windy. Thanks for all the updates. Happy anniversary, Tiger. Happy holidays, Gary. Stay safe everyone.

PS. I can't seem to get the clock to work on the still camera. It sticks on the time I access it. Any tips?