Weekly Chat, Sunday June 5, 2011

Sounds like everyone had a nice-ish sort of day: pub lunches, lazy afternoons. I did nothing other than feed the washing machine.  Rain finally stopped at 5:30 p.m.

Brenda: Yes, that hawk (or a close relation) is no stranger to our garden; have only seen it carry off one bird so far - probably a mourning dove.  Hard to choose between Federer and Nadal on the court, though I think Federer seems "sweeter" - not that that does any good in a tennis match.

Tiger: Googled Dyfi and got "Did You Feel It?" project from USGS. Maybe we shouldn't ask what you and Chloe were doing!  :-)  Seriously, a Wikipedia entry lower down mentioned a river in Wales. Glad we sorted that out! Good you had a fab time.  In the meantime, the U.S. Geological Survey's "Did You Feel It" project involves online data gathering where people can report intensity/characteristics of earthquakes in their areas.  

Eagle-Eye: Suggest you talk OG into hosting a post-LG-season party at your house.

Margobird: How many hours now?  

Off to see what's happening at LG.

It has been cold & wet here this weekend - after a hot sunny day on Friday, which I did not get the benefit of being at work in my cold office.  Today is cloudy but dry & the sun is trying to find a break in the clouds - & I am back at work for the week.  Plenty to get done this week as well so I will be kept busy.

I was keeping my eye on the news from Dyfi yesterday as my sister & BIL were planning on calling in there on their journey to collect the remainder of my nephew's belongings from uni.  I texted them to let them know the chick was on the way - they were at Glaslyn at the time & hoped to call in Dyfi on the way home.  

I have the webcam page as my home page in IE - & that is all I use that browser for, as I haven't solved the problems I had with that.  I'm currently using firefox for everything else, I wasn't keen at first but I am getting used to it now.

I think that I have mentioned before that I am not lucky enough to get birds visiting my garden here ( I think it because of the number of cats that seem to be around - all the neighbourhood cats seem to congregate at two of the neighbours as they put food out for their own beasts) but my parents have dozens of birds visiting them.  Yesterday they had a bulfinch family visit them.

Janet

Morning, All.  Not raining here, but some showers expected later on this morning. Rather colder than of late.

See that Tiger is back!  & Chloe is perhaps returned, too.  Look forward to seeing some of their wonderful pics later.

Yesterday afternoon lolled about on the sofa watching something we had recorded months ago, about the life of Rachmaninov - he was so sad, as he had been unable to return to his native Russia after writing some of his best works and did not write again for many years,  just peformed around USA & Europe to make a living.  He had a happy family life though, and there were some bits of old film showing them having fun, which meant that his life was not all too gloomy.  After that, watched the rest of the Nadal/Federer match, very exciting.  Not sure who I wanted to win!

Here are this week's Monday Smiles:

--unlike this man, have a Good Week!

Welcome back Chloe and Tiger. How great for your both. Alan has mentioned hatching to us from Dyfi..Will look forward to the photos.

Sorry about your cold office JayMe and especially about your PC problems - I've had my fair share of those.  Have you tried viewing here:   

 
http://www.carnyx.tv/CarnyxWild/WildlifeCameras/Scotland.aspx

I forget who gave us the heads up on this one but it's a great cam and in IE you can alway increase the %  of the zoom (extreme bottom right of screen) to get a bigger pic.

Lindy - I don't see any webbing holding the man safe as he holds the mattress on to the van , Yikes.  Where  do you fnd all these strange photos ?

I must be the only person on the face of the planet not to have watched the tennis match. I watched a movie I recorded weeks ago The Merchant of Venice with Joseph Fienns (spelling ?)  who looks great in mascara and under eye line. And a suitably decrepit looking Al Paccino.

Still light rain here ,after yesterdays and overnight  rain. Think the garden should be very happy now.

Good to see that Tiger and  Chloe enjoyed their holiday. Waiting to hear all about it now and see the photographs.

Thanks for the Monday Smiles Linda. I laughed most at the apple on the computer.

I noted that Eagle Eye recommends a restaurant called OG's. If you could let us have the directions, we would love to try it !

I'm with you there, for the trying of the OG Restaurant, Brenda!

Cirrus - I have an old friend who sends me lots of email jokes and pics (I have just worked it out and I have known him for nearly 50 years - aaaargh!)

Have just found this story, love the picture of the little guy at the top of the page:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/13627796

Morning all ... the sun is shining off and on here, but breezy and still not very warm! The last two days have been positively COLD ... had to put the heating on last night :-((

Alan - lovely kingfisher pics ... have never managed a pic myself! ... and of course the handsome Hamish, looking splendid as ever.

Linda - great Monday Smiles ... that chap with the mattress .... scary!

I wonder when reservations open at OG's restaurant ... there will be a long queue I think  ... it comes highly recommended   :-))

Tiger and Chloe - how exciting to be at Dyfi for the hatching ... looking forward to some pics.

Lynette - hope all goes well for the central heating.

Annette - how wonderful to see a hawk regularly in your garden.

I saw this article in the Irish Times this morning, about a secret Irish project to save the roseate tern from extinction http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/frontpage/2011/0606/1224298471389.html

Thanks to everyone else for chat etc ... I do enjoy reading it all! Must go and continue what I started earlier ... cleaning the conservatory!

Take care.

Good morning all and at long last we had a day of rain yesterday and were so pleased to see it.  Already plants in the garden have definitely perked up.  Billie did not go out very often she doesn't do rain anymore since becoming our pet.  Can't say that I blame her really after all the rotten weather she once had to contend with. 

Had email contact from LG this morning and it looks as though I will have to brace my self for the 2 mile  to and from the accommodation walk as the person I will be paired with does not have a car.  Just hoping I will be able to manage it.  Caroline said they have bikes but not a good idea for me really, haven't been on one since I was about 15.  Could arrange for a taxi but it would have to come from Aviemore so would probably be too costly.  I think I will be OK though as I will have company and the thrill of being there should help a lot.

Can't spend a lot of time on here today as my sister is bring Rhys to see me.  Looking forward to that as I have not seen him for a few weeks.  He is now talking a bit and I expect I will see a huge difference in him.

Lindybird thanks for the Monday Smiles, always a fun way to start the week.

Annette pleased your daughter got home safely.  Hours to go just under 120 now.  Looming up very quickly now.

trush 2 poor little blackbird, perhaps it had been involved in a fight of some sort.  The blackbirds that visit my garden are very territorial at this time of the year and always seeing scraps between them.

Alan  great pics of the kingisher, you must have been so delighted to see that.  Hope Hamish gets on OK at the vet.

BrendaH as you will see we had rain al day, very welcome though for the garden.  Dull and a bit drizzly so far this morning but believe it is going to brighten up later.  Saw a bit on the news last week about red kites and apparently people in one part of the country are starting to complain a bit as they are getting too close and taking food from children.  Hope this does not mean that people will start harming them.

Lynette hope central heating work goes well and you have no hitches.

Have a good day all will be back tomorrow as must go and sort things out for Rhys' visit.

Ah, Lindy -  but how sad. Do hope they manage to conserve the species

That's very encouraging news Joan about the Roseate Tern

OK Margo - understand that will be a bit of a hike for you , 2 miles each way, mmmmm. As you say though it's all part of the adventure and you will have company. Trust you'll both be given wind up flash lights. Enjoy your sister's visit and Rhys'
Red Kites taking food from children - really? Mmmm Maybe the children are getting too close to the Red Kites !

Morning all,

Joan: I was delighted to get the kingfisher pics as I have never managed it before. They are notoriously difficult to photograph. Also pleased that they have returned to Barnwell as I believe their nest got washed out last year due rising water levels in the river bank at incubation time.

Linda : Thanks for the monday smiles.

Margo : Only a few days to go now. I hope you have a great time and the weather is good while you are there. It can be cold in the Highlands in June. It will be amazing to get close to EJ and Odin  and their 2 chicks in the forward hide.

Thanks to everyone else for the chat etc.

Just back from the vets and Hamish does not have to go back so we are pleased about that. The weather is miserable and cold this morning after raining for most of the night. Temp was only 9c this morning. Not a great deal planned for today. We had grand daughter Hope staying last night for a stopover before she goes back to school tomorrow.