Evening/Morning all: This week should bring more interesting news about Mallachie. Check the last few entries of the previous Weekly Chat for another photo of Queenie and other input from bloggers!
Hope you all got your clocks, microwaves, coffee pots, TVs, etc., organized for the next six months. And when did BST replace GMT, at least in the summer. In the US, standard and daylight savings time have had a long and fascinating (and apparently often confusing) history, given that we have three times zones for the contiguous states. DST is another matter, with most states changing but some not, but at least we don't have 30 minute increments like they do in Australia!
TerryM: The GE Help window is pretty clear re tours. I do recall that it took several "clicks" to get the thing started. Other folks commented on that and I had the same experience in the beginning but then it was okay. I tried to copy and paste some of the info onto your page, but it included boxes with images and they didn't copy. I'm sure other folks will have more helpful info. Good luck. Too bad lovely Queenie isn't around any more. When my daughter and I were away the other week, we stayed at a place which is a favorite "drop off" spot for folks wanting to "lose" cats. They had three cats when we were there, which hung around the garden entrance to the dining room waiting to be fed (by the staff). One night, the cats were served prime rib, all nicely chopped up for easy digestion!!!!
Alan: So. Are you treating us all to a trip to Loch Garten next year with your lottery winnings or will we be depending on the webcam again? :-)
Gary: Dying to hear about your English food outing (what was it really like?)
OG: We grow tomatoes outside here but my friends who do often fence them and other veggies in to keep various critters, including deer, from snacking on them; not to mention snails. My sister has expressed some frustration with EU rules - specifically not being able to buy French cheese off a market stall (I think that was it). Is following EU rules a bore or do you think it's generally for the good?
Morning Cirrus enjoy your new TV you will notice how much better picture quality is and will enjoy nature programmes even more.
I hope Garten is "loafing around" near to Mallachie and Rothes. Nice to think of them all together. Like you I am longing for the time when EJ and Odin return together hopefully and do the same again bringing up a wonderfully healthy family. Have a good day.
Margobird
Morning auntie sorry you are not feeling to good. I have to have the swine flu jab as I am classed at risk due to blocked artery problems i have had in the past. I seem to have caught some bug, came back from my lovely visit to Denbury Farm with it. My husband thinks I have swine flu but it is not that, just a bad throat and a bit of a cough which always starts up the minute I go to bed. It is lovely to read that you have learned such a lot now about all birds. Personally I love them and spend many happy hours watching them in my garden. As you say it will all help with your English. Take care of yourself and hope you feel better soon.
morning all:) Hope everyone is well today.
Margobird, how was you trip away? Did you ride the horse???????? Sorry you have come back feeling ill. Everyone here can perk you up
Auntie, sorry you are poorly as well. There is a lot going around here and the media are whipping everyone up about the N1H1.
Cirrius, great news about the TV. I'm sure you will love it and as someone else said, all the wildlife programmes will look incredible.
Caerann, I feel for you, for when you were a tele sales person. I feel sorry for those guys. I never buy anything but I'm not rude to them (except when they are rude to me!!)
Dibnlib, good advice on the intructions. The only possib;le flaw is that men don't read instructions very well and press every button in any order and are baffled when things don't work (or is that only me..LOL)
Sorry you didn't get to hear Roy Dennis but sounds like you had a nice evening.
Wet and chilly here again! Won't be able to do the leaves until tomorrow at the earliest..
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Margobird, So sorry to just read you are not well . It’s just awful feeling under par - and sorry too about blocked artery in the past – just not good :( Do hope you enjoyed your trip away though.
Gary, what on earth is N1H1? Thank you both for the encouragement about my new TV. I shall look forward to Autumn Watch this Friday then.
Ah, Caerann – Cranes spotted in the early dawn light?) 11.50 here. Yippee !!
Thanks you Cirrus fortunately this started the day after I came back from my break at Denbury Farm. Indeed we had a great time and looking foward to going again next year.
Afternoon everyone,
Margobird : I am so sorry to hear that you are unwell and hope that you will be better soon. I did not take Hamish with me today but he did get his walk when I came back.
Earlier I went for a walk in Short Wood an area of ancient broadleaved woodland that is designated a SSSI. It is managed by the wildlife trust. Over 35 species of common british bird breed in the woodland. As there are large numbers of deer in the area the wood is surrounded by a 7foot high fence to provent damage to the coppiced trees and ground flora. In the spring the floor of the wood is a carpet of blue with bluebells.
Today walking along the north side of the wood I first saw a buzzard flying across the farmland to nearby Southwick Wood. A few minutes later a Sparrowhawk flew by. Standing just outside the wood and looking across to a house that was featured in Grand Designs I saw no less than 3 Red Kites. One was on the ground and 2 others were giving a magnificent aeriel display. I stood watching them for several minutes through my bins before they flew off behind the wood. Red Kites are my second favourite bird next to Ospreys. Walking back across the field to the car I saw a kestrel perched in a tree. All in all a great day out.
This photo gives you an idea of the wood with the fence around it:
Gary we had a marvellous stay at Denbury Farm. Loved bing mobbed by chickens and geese once they sussed out we had food for them. Of course there was also the horses, the pet sheep Thornton who is just so comical, rheas and emu. The sound the emu make is something to hear. They sound like jungle drums beating. I think it is because they are coming up to breed. There was also a pet turkey would you believe called Dennis (he was called that because he had eyebrows like Dennis Healey the policitian). He would go round at night with the farmer's wife putting all the chickens away and then would sleep himself in the outhouse at the farm. No I didn't get on Arnie's back, just didnt feel confident enough but fed all the horses a bag of carrots everyday which I must say they enjoyed. We were treated to the sound owls eveyrnight calling to each other and a barn owl was spotted as well. Will be going again for my third visit next year.
You are right Gary reading the forums does perk me up. My day would just not be the same without them. Like many others too I am so looking forward to next year, wishing my life away again but the family gave us such a great time this year and up to now all the news is good news and I am hoping it stays that way.
Alan what a lovely walk you had seeing all those bires. The photo is lovely too.I have never seen a red kite but who knows they might appear round this way one day as I believe they are doing really well now.