Weekly Chat Sunday 10th July

I want to give proper  attention to your next episode Tiger so I'm leaving it until I get back this pm - but I look forward to digesting it and thanks.

Just wanted to say ''Hello '' to everyone for the new week 

Thanks for starting us off this week OG. I shall very much look forward to the damselflies and birdies when  you are sorted.

Isidora still in my thoughts and prayers QW

Oh thanks so much for the heads up on ''happy ending '' Diane. Such a truly moving and wonderful story about the Whale. Why don't we take better care of such creatures by preventing that sort of thing happening in the first place.

Gary when ARE you arriving at LG -  I lost the thread somewhere (if  you'll pardon the pun) and can't find my way  ''back'' to find out. I hope I have not left it too late to wish you (and yours) a wondeful holiday . Please post pics here on your returen   ?

I didn't say but I'd missed you too AQ  - just hoped you were too 'busy' to post .. So sorry to hear about your dau - what  a load of officious nonesense - do hope all goes well and ultimately she is able to return to the work she loves. It's so super to actually enjoy one's job.

Out now ...   later .....

Feel like I am there with you Tiger. Really enjoying sharing your wonderful experience and looking forward to the next episode.

The map is a great help.

Morning to All:   And Thanks to OG for starting us off an a new week, this time. (& a smacked wrist for being up so late - what were you doing?!)

Will go back in a minute and read both of Tigers interesting looking reports on his travels. 

AQ:   Relieved to hear that you are just tired - I'm not surprised after such an exhausting trip - not a holiday to come back  from feeling exactly refreshed!       & Daughter needing help, too.      

Dull here, today, but not raining so may do something in the garden - everything needs 'feeding' now.                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Of course the reason behind all these geographical manouvres was to get in place to meet the shadow of  the moon due to arrive  shortly before midday local time on Thursday, 11 July 1991

Here is the local map:

A real “Good Morning” this time!  Actually it is a very good morning – had a good sleep, got up late and more lovely sunshine wall-to-wall.  Son phoned when the Grandson’s set off on their last part of the cycle-ride – over 70 miles today!  He enjoyed having them there and gave them eggs fro breakfast – youngest is vegetarian, so he was following up with bacon on his own after they had gone!  Lots to do today, and we shan’t get to church – haven’t had our breakfast yet!  (QW – don’t worry – I don’t have to be in a particular place to pray!)

Diane – do take care with everything – and try to slow down a bit – we don’t want injuries or a sore back!

Annette – we don’t leave till Tuesday morning, so you have to put up with me right through to Monday night!  BBQ meals are sounding good!  Could be BBQing here in this weather, but haven’t got right sort of meals planned!

(Now eaten breakfast and watched Songbirds scoot from feeders and Swallows leave the sky as a Kestrel come right past the kitchen window!  It spent some time among the roofs around here, then flew off to circle over the by-pass and was joined by another – maybe a young one learning to hunt.)

AQ – relieved to see your post, but sorry you are so “washed out” – any chance of a relaxing local holiday to recover from the more demanding one?  Sorry about Daughter’s sciatic problem – how much longer to new arrival – sorry, I forget when 'tis due?

Tiger – saving up your account to read all together.

Cirrus – Gary comes over for August Meet at LG.  Have a good hike!

Lindy – late evening, I was first replying on here, and then we uploaded photos from three cameras and looked at them!  We too have to feed plants before we go away and leave them – neighbour opposite comes home the day we go, so he will look after Tomatoes, Peppers and Cucumbers in greenhouse.  I think we are going for another Cream Tea this afternoon as a place to offload a backlog of six Cucumbers!  Must now do final ironing ready to pack tomorrow

Rewind to last Sunday at Annan shore.  Almost low tide – when will I learn to check tide table before we go?  Would expect to see waders – result: only a couple of distant Curlews!  Even the Gulls (mixed species) were over near the Cumbria shore:

note: this is one of the narrowest “waths”, as fords are called locally, where people (and English armies!) used to walk/ride across the Solway sands– not now recommended.  There are several deep-water channels (visible in photo) because several rivers and burns enter the Upper Solway. 

What did surprise us was the number of what we know as garden birds!  Little flocks of Starlings on the wet sands: 

A Wagtail with its beak full of food: 

And several Greenfinches on the tufts of grass and thrift just above the summer high tide level (submerged in winter when the rain and melt-water come down from the hills): 

Lovely photos OG, as usual.  Do put on some more.

Have just read both of Tigers accounts of his travels:  am enjoying them very much, Tiger, can't wait for the next bit!

Diane:  How amazing is that, your story about the poor whale tied up with the lines?  I had read the first bit, and was watching the film clip from the link when a fish arrived  at LG this morning, so I broke off to look at that  - will go back now & see the rest of the film about the whale, its fascinating.  Thanks!

-- Today has turned into one of those summer "sunshine & showers" days, here, when we keep looking out of the window at different weather every 15 minutes.

Tiger, I am enjoying following your trip. Would you do the same journey now, 20 years later. You must have been extremely tired.

Diane, What a fantastic story of the 'Entangled Whale'. These are part of the ' silent ' folk, that we very rarely hear about. Sorry you are not feeling 100%. Take care of yourself.

Annette, Ah now you are 'showing off' with your success with your BBQ. You are unusual though. Over here it always seems to be the men who cook on the BBQ.

AQ, Great to hear from you. I think you now need a quiet, relaxing holiday. Your last holiday was far from relaxing and you did have a really bad bug. Sorry your daughter is having sciatic nerve problems. She really is going to be so glad when she has given birth.

OG, Love your photographs. I must agree, I have never noticed starlings frequenting wet sands. Your greenfinch looks like a little 'Orvil', if you remember him.

Going to call in at the bowling green now. It is a tournament day, which started at 9am for teams from Sussex and Kent. We will go and give our team some support.The sun is shining brightly here.

Afternoon all,

QW: Thoughts are with Isadora and her family.

Tiger : Thanks for sharing your trip to see the eclipse.

AQ : Sorry you have not been feeling well.

Brenda/ Annette : Hamish paw is a lot better with only occasional limping. He used to need a haircut every 12 weeks or so but as he has got older it is down to 8 weeks. His coat grows at an alarming rate and cant be comfortable in the hot weather.

Thanks to everyone else for the chat and OG for the pics.

When we were on our way to Barnwell this morning a red kite landed right in the middle of the A605 looking to feed on some roadkill. Fortunately there were no cars or trucks close enough to do any damage but made me wonder how many red kites are now getting killed or injured on the roads. It was possibly the closest I have ever been to a red kite. When we got to Barnwell we saw the swans with their 8 cygnets but once again there were no kingfishers around. Just one pic of the swans from a distance which I cant upload at the moment. We had a nice picnic then returned home. It's a very nice sunny day with temps at 20c.  

Afternoon all. Have got way behind in reading all the posts.  Had a busy few days and no time to read.  Can't possibly comment on all the great stuff which has appeared since I was last on but just want to say, QW, that I'll add my prayers and positive thoughts for Isadora, too.