Weekly Chat Sunday 26th June

Afternoon all,

GeorgeG : Nice to hear from you and that you managed to get your afternoon walk. I have stopped afternoon walks with Hamish for now as it is far too hot and humid at the moment. Hopefully things will return to normal soon.

Tiger : Sorry to hear about your former workmate.

Linda: Thanks for the monday smiles. The one in the sink reminds me of when we used to try to wash Hamish in the sink when he was a puppy.

AQ : thanks for the next episode of your holiday in Germany. It sounds as though there was a lot to see but not much relaxation.

Thanks to everyone else for the chat and pics.

Weather is very hot and humid. The car temp was reading 32c when we came back from a shopping mission for sundries.  Local temp is now 30c. Going to watch the tennis this afternoon and try to keep cool.

Osprey stamp fetches £11,500:

www.moneylife.in/.../17611.html

Murray wins in straight sets and he played much better today, much easier to watch and next match should be less difficult.

More joyous news: Serena Williams lost in straight sets to Bartoli.

How wonderful to have £11.500 to spend on a, what  ?  oh, a stamp I couldn't use. mmm

Afternoon all ... we've just had a huge thunderstorm and torrential rain! It has been much cooler today than yesterday, but still quite humid.

OG - thanks for posting last night, to let us know you are ok! You often post in the evening after I have logged off ... if there had been nothing I would have wondered!

Tiger - sorry about the death of your friend ... he seems to have been a lovely man, and talented too! Interesting to read about your CompoundX :-)

AQ - I'm enjoying your holiday accounts ... and lovely photos too.

Linda - thanks for the Monday Smiles ... but that poor cat :-((

Thanks to everyone for chat etc.

Alan glad you are enjoying the tennis.  I had to smile nearly as much as your comment about Serena as I did at the Monday smiles!!  I do detect quite a dislike for the Williams sisters.  I must be one of the few who doesn't really follow the tennis but am willing Andy M on anyway.

Another scorcher today.  It was unbearable at work this morning in the uniform as it just does not breath.  Waited til 5 to take Mia round the fields.  It had started to drizzle and I was honestly hoping that we would get absolutely soaked.... we didn't and now it's brightened up again.

I've been starting to gather bits and pieces together for the holiday.

Has anyone had any more contact with Margo?

TRish : Both the Williams sisters lost today. I always think they have an unfair advantage being larger and heavily muscled than their lighter and more dainty opponents. I really am trying to be polite. 

I've always thought that those with long legs have a natural advantage, anyway, Alan!  - and I do miss the old days, when women's tennis was full of little drop shots and twists and turns.

Watched the end of Murrays match, he seemed to be on good form and won easily.

We enjoyed our visit from Son & Wife, with little Tomasz giggling and being passed around the table - we ate in the garden but then had to come in as we got to the pudding course (strawberries, of course) as we had a sudden bit of rain.  He then amazed his father by grinning to reveal his first tooth - so lots of ooohs and aaaahs from us all, and poking around in his mouth!  They are all coming to stay with us next weekend, so looking forward to more cuddles, then.

We have proper rain and thunder now after a very hot and humid day - hope you all get it a little cooler tonight, wherever you are.

Thanks for all posts and pix.  Sorry I was AWOL yesterday and today.  Stupidly believed bad weather forecast Sunday so didn’t go out.  This got us discombobulated for the whole day.

Today we had planned to go north to Wanlockhead, but a poor forecast for the Lowther Hills sent us the other way, and we enjoyed a gentle trip to Talkin Tarn Country Park – east of Carlisle.  The birds were nothing unusual, but the hundreds (literally) of Blue Damselflies were spectacular.  We enjoyed a good walk/ride around the Tarn, part in the open and part under lovely Beech Trees (my favourite) and good food at the café, which has a newly installed lift.

AQ – haven’t had time to properly read up on your holiday in Europe, but I certainly shall – and look at photos.  I hope you are fully re-covered from the virus which you picked up, and enjoying your winter temperatures.

Annette – strange about the folks parking their picnic in the roses last Saturday when there was other shade available!  Son still phones daily!  Since he has to go as far as Inverness on Wednesday, his Sister (ourDau#2) has invited him to go the extra few miles for a meal.  It’s good that he won’t be alone for his birthday.

Trish – don’t like ticks – when we were walking a couple of weeks ago, there was a Tick warning notice (as well as Adders!) and just seeing the warning made my skin feel really uncomfortable!  Son got one in Devon when he was about five years old, and Grandson#1 was quite ill after one in the Highlands a few years ago.

George – good to see you again.  Son will probably only do this first sign on and occasional others in Inverness – when he was unemployed before, most fortnights there was an arrangement to do it by post because of the general remoteness in that area.

Diane – think I might prefer no warning of an asteroid collision than just five days with no time for preparation – imagine the panic!

Tiger – sorry about your close colleague – and so young, too.

Lindy – I hope you had a good time with SweetPea again today – ooooh just seen they are coming for longer next weekend!

No rain here yet – with or without thunder – almost wish it would, to clear the atmosphere, even though we were out there watering some of the essentials this evening!