Weekly Chat, Sunday May 29, 2011

Almost forgot about starting this one!  Off to read last few posts of last week.

 

  • Lindy – we certainly deserve a “Flaming June” after the disappointment of May!  We shifted the last bedding plants out into the ground one day last week – can’t exactly say we planted them as it was a bit wet, but had to do something before they yellowed-off completely in the pots.  I stood a long time for the Goose to be in the right position for the reflection photo – he kept moving around, or Mrs got in the way, but he turned just right for that little while – although I would have preferred him a bit further forward from the Lily Leaves!

    What do you make of this apparent “Ménage à trois”?  This Mr Goose was always leading around, on land or on water, two females, one with three small Goslings, the other with six older ones.  Could it be that the later brood was his “bit on the side”?  Or did he and his Mrs take a bereaved mother with her babies under their wing?  He is the one with neck up in first photo, and at the front in second.

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • Afternoon all,

    OG : Thanks for all the geese/gosling pics.

    Annette: Nice pic of large flowering exotic plant.

    LInda : Sorry about Man U last night. There was only going to be the one winner in that match. Magic Messi!!

    This morning we went to Fineshade woods at Top Lodge. They have opened a cycle hire place there so it was a bit busier than normal but not too bad considering it is a Bank Holiday weekend. Tokk a walk through the woods to the hide but not a lot of birds about today. Here is a couple of pics I took. Female GSW amd male Pheasant:

       

  • Hi everybody, finally managed it.  Been mowing front and back lawns but left the side lawn for OH to do tomorrow.   He is out yet again down at County Ground doing his bit for NAB. Not there again till Wed then a bit of a break. Umpired yesterday at Uppingham School and took another knock from a cricket ball, do hope it doesn't develop to a DVT.

    Lindybird - What a lovely positive person your friend sounds, hope it won't be too long before she is feeling a lot better.

    OG - what super pics of the geese, have copied one or two to my favourites, they make super background pics on the computer.

    Alan - just love yours as well.

    Dianne - remember reading about Ice Man some time ago and the marvellous scientific research they can now do.

    Annette - a fountain for pleasure and the birds, how delightful and a BBQ to boot (well almost) hope you manage it.

    Now going to order some of the bedroom furniture as it takes about a fortnight with the particular firm I'm ordering from.  Other items only take about a week so can order the rest midweek.

    Have a lovely BH folks, even if it is windy.

  • Alan – thanks for more photos – too windy here to take off birding!

    Lynette – I hope all your intended purchases are in stock and you can look forward to delivery.  I too hope the cricket ball injury doesn’t cause further problems, especially with your OH’s vascular condition already.

    Windy here – but a very warm wind, and no rain since morning.  Last two Glenwhan gardens photos to cheer everybody up, I hope.

    The Millennium Obelisk seen from below:

     

    And finally … I sent OH ahead to be in this photo then he had to climb up again to get me down the steep path!  This photo typifies the whole garden: the combination of differing levels, water, varied tree forms and shades of green, the flowers for colour … and people enjoying it!

    Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!

  • Morning all: Quick look in before I go for a little walk around Lake Los Carneros.  Lovely photos of geese and pheasants.

    OG: Prefer to think Mr. & Mrs. Goose took in Pa-less family. I'd prefer to get a fairly small and modest BBQ but OH has started talking to our engineer friend and is looking at all kinds of options. Don't want an expensive one in case it turns into a "sore point."  My sister has a similar "sore point" sitting on her patio!

  • 2 goals in a minute for Peterborough. Absolutely magic!!!!!

  • 3 - 0 to Peterborough now. Huddersfield thoroughly beaten.

  • OG   wonderful pics from everyone again and esp like yours of the geese.   On BBqs we took ours to recycling last year and as it was used so rarely we are not replacing it but will get one of those disposable ones if the weather ever improves enough to use it.

    Have decided my Meerkat toilet roll holder is indeed a designer holder as I bought it from the Lady Clare Macdonald cook shop within Made in Beauly (they have kitchen roll holders in the same style) Add to that it is actually a wooden Meerkat and not cardboard and cost silly money, so I think it is definitely entitled to  be a designer label loo roll holder!!!!!!!

    ANNETTE   Meant to say that the bike you had probs with had the same braking system as the one I nearly crashed on.  Nightmare!!!!!

    Think I am right in assuming there will only be 2 chicks this year and can anyone explain while the live webcam is only 1/2 the size it used to be. I know I can enlarge it but have to say I am getting less happy with the new format as the days go by. Cannot think of a single improvement on the original site.   moan moan moan.

    Last lunch out for a while today (OH starts new job this week) so we treated ourselves to lunch at In the Park at the Loch Ness Hotel. We both had Carpaccio of Beef with Halloumi cheese, capers, walnuts and blue cheese, then I had Duck and OH had Lamb, all beautifully presented and delicious.also enjoyed a dessert each.  Don't need to eat for a week but guess we will anyway.

     

  • OG those pics of the gardens are fantastic.

    Dibnib - glad you like your meercat loo holder - and why not, it is a designer label to you - enjoy.  Glad you had what sounds like a superb lunch and hope your OH soon settles into his new job.

    Just chilling out this afternoon and finally got around to going through some papers that were my dad's mainly - they were in an old tin box that my brother had to hammer open as the key could not be found, he gave it me back in April but have been putting it off as it seems such a final act.  But, have found out a bit more about a relative who died in the 1980s and when my father was accepted as a Mason, also his first driving licence which at that time had to be renewed every year, 1935 to 1940 and then he signed up for service in the SWW. All sorts of documents - its a bit of social history which is making fascinating reading, I think I will have to put it into an album of some sort for posterity.

    Looking at EJ at present enjoying the evening sun, a bit fidgity and the wind seems to be less blustery now.

  • Have managed to put in some hours in the garden, both back & front gardens, and it all looks a lot better  Sat down after lunch and went off to sleep, even though we had only had an egg on toast!  Must be the fresh air and exercise.....  Coincidentally, we found that on my diary page this week, it says "What a man needs in gardening is a cast-iron back, with a hinge in it"   - Charles Dudley Warner.

    Tried to catch some glimpses of EJ feeding the chicks an hour ago, whilst simultaneously cooking roast pork and veg - not easy.

    Just spoke to Youngest Son, who is Sweetpea's Dad - they have been to a family wedding , where Baby managed to cry during the wedding vows and had to be taken out, and then cried again during the cake cutting part of the reception, so out again....  He was much admired by the wedding guests and relations, though, so they are beaming with pride, now.  We hope to see them again soon.

    Alan:  It's been a bit of a Sport Fest this weekend - we saw most of the Formula One Racing, and they called it a 'demolition Derby' on the news report, after all the crashes and bumps.

    dibnlib:  Glad you enjoyed your lunch - it sounds delicious. 

    Hope you all manage to escape the rain in UK tomorrow - it don't look good, folks!