Weekly Chat, Sunday June 5, 2011

We have had a lovely day here on the Cambs/Essex border.  We have seen the sun and blue sky and we had a lovely and welcome dose of overnight rain.  We had clearly had a wee drop on Sunday/Monday night too, so I'm beginning to see the weeds regenerating but a number of my planted plants suffering from the lack of water while I've been away.  Certainly a clematis in a very large pot has circumbed to the lack of water.  I have been popping in to watch first Murray and then Ward play at Queen's.  Do we have a new star to support in James Ward I wonder - or indeed hope for!  Tomorrow's action starts at midday, brought forward because of the threat of heavy rain from 3.00pm on.  Murray put on a cracking game against Roddick.  Could this year be his year at Wimbledon - rhetorical I think, but can hope.

I loved the photos of the spoonbill DjoanS.  I remember going to Minsmere in the late 70s and being astonished by the sight of one of these super looking birds.  Not sure I've seem once since. 

I wonder how Margo is getting on with her first shift.  Yes, OG, the loos (compostible) are near the entrance, and I think may be locked overnight, but I'm not sure.  I didn't need them until the early hours when the caper watch had started and no doubt they were open then!!!  Not sure I even spotted badgers though, but we did go on a badger watch one night with some of the staff and that was a wonderful experience.  

I loved the exchanges about music.  I remember going to see Julie Fellix in Harlow in the 60s - particularly because she called High Wycombe "High Why combee", but her music was similar to Joan Baez who I also loved.  Back then I had a couple of holidays with friends, one of whom played acoustic guitar and sang beautifully.  The five of us all tried singing the songs of Peter Paul and Mary and  The Seekers along with various other folk.  We had a couple of Holiday Fellowship holidays in Wales and in Scotland together which started me walking in the hills.  The other musical memory was going to see Elton John and then Queen both of which were highly memorable.

Well done dibnlib for getting on your bicycle.  I quite enjoy joining OH on is local ride, but mainly to a pub for lunch provided it is on a fairly level route.  Having said that, true cyclists would laugh at that comment as it really is fairly flat around here!  I remember my first trip from the A frame chalets UP to the Centre!  I had to stop once on that first journey, but it got better the next time.  The bonus was a down-hill trip back to the chalet!

I was particularly relieved to hear that Diane was fine after her awful winds.  I really do feel for you.  To have to hunker down on your own under such circumstances must be terrifying.  So glad to know all was well with you and your house.

I was also pleased to hear about the high whale and calf count this year for Annette.  It is so worrying how our wildlife is suffering one way and another through our ignorance

Wendy and Liz FWC so glad you met up and thoroughly enjoyed the RD talk.  One day  his talk and my visit will coincide!!

Our friends from near Kinross will be staying next weekend to go to a Cambridge college do, which will be fun.  My OH, they and the other person who joined us at Kirkinkraig were all at Cambridge together - they had a common denominator of Guinness and rowing which had held them together, along with a friend who introduced them to climbing hills in Scotland, who sadly died climbing a hill on the continent not long after they left.  No doubt there will be more reminiscing of their times climbing Munros and times at College.  Not too sure what the weather will do for us, but it is the Bumps on Saturday, so we hope to have a picnic to watch the event before a dinner at College in the evening.  The Bumps

It has looked rather wet evening at LG, so hope Margo has brought her fleece and waterproofs!