Hi folks: Don't forget to check the last pages of the previous chat for links, comments, and all the usual twaddle. :-)
At last I have a few minutes quiet time to catch up on what has been happening! We have had family here, with two toddlers. We consulted the weather forecasts and decided to have our early Christmas dinner at lunch time on Monday, since we were expecting a storm and cool change to come through on Sunday night. Didn't happen, of course, so we had full roast in the heat, as usual! The saving grace was that we had our meal at lunch time, instead of tea time, when our west-facing, non-airconditioned dining area was even hotter! Family has now moved on to the next port of call on their Christmas safari, and the house has settled back to its usual peace and quiet.
If it uploads properly, below is my Christmas wish for you all:
Smiles, Jan.
Merry Christmas, Wattle. I hope this cool change we are having heads your way soon.
I got jealous of all the robin photos being posted. Our Aussie magpies, blackbirds & starlings don't look Christmassy, so here is a robin on our back lawn . . .
(courtesy of an overseas friend's card). 'Tis early afternoon and I've ticked everything on today's list. Gee, I wonder I've forgotten. . .
Hello everyone.Just a quickish post before I fly off to roost.Lindybird: Thanks for the nice coment on my snowy garden pic. I actually only started puting food out on that side of the house to make sure that the wee birds got their fair share. That is a lovely poem and I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas.jsb: Brilliant story. Great to hear of a robin brightening up an indoor plant area. Have a fantastic Christmas.patriciat: I bet that 10 minutes felt more like half an hour at the time. I hope you have a great Christmas.Margobird: Have a fantastic Christmas.patriciat: Hope you have a great Christmas. That's a lovely picture, and pass on my Christmas wishes to Tweedy and Indy.AQ: I hope your enjoying the slightly cooler weather. It only rains twice a week in Glasgow, once for three days and then for four days. A lot of manufacturers make electrical items and then place the security tab in the box before sealing it. Been "caught out" a couple of time myself. Have a brilliant Christmas.Wattle: That's a great picture. Have a wonderful Christmas.Have a brilliantly wonderful Christamas everyone and stay safe.Paul.
Warning! This post contains atrocious spelling, and terrible grammar. Approach with extreme edginess.
That made me laugh out loud AQ, very funny
Wattle, nice you've had your meal already loved the tree
JSB, great story, thanks
Paul, hope the snow doesn't stick around too much
Happy christmas eve everyone.
Heron77 said: It only rains twice a week in Glasgow, once for three days and then for four days.
It only rains twice a week in Glasgow, once for three days and then for four days.
Holidaying in Tasmania many years ago, at Queenstown on the West Coast, we were told that it rains for three months of the year . . . and drips off the trees for the remaining nine months.
Morning all: Hi there AQ: Photo is a hoot! :-) One way to get birds in your backyard. Congrats on the tomato; hope the shopping mission went well. You're right about Midnight Mass - wouldn't be the same if it were 10 o'clock mass! Wattle! Lovely shot - is that your house? Lucky you having "it" all behind you while the rest of us are juggling pots and pans. Lindybird: Great poem! You must have everything done to be able to spend time being so creative. Patriciat: Tweed and Indy obviously have well-insulated bottoms to sit on hard, icy pathway!
Have spent last two days trying to buy perfect gift for grandson and this evening finally admitted defeat and bought gift card from nice department store; then came home and have been wrapping presents but about to fall face first onto my computer keyboard so will sign off. Take care all.
Hi, everyone. I wanted to say that I am so very sorry that the foul weather is creating problems and interrupting your festive activities. I hope that all of you are able to safely get where you want to be when you want to be there!!! (And Auntie, I'm sorry that you have to work on Christmas Eve. We should all appreciate nurses.)
Lindybird: What a wonderful poem!!! It captured the spirit of our blog. Well done!
Margobird: Sorry that you have come down with a bug. Take care of yourself and get some rest!
OG: You were right on target with your description of my Dad. Uncanny. I hope you are able to safely travel!
Alan: Thank you so very much for all of the links that you have posted, as well as updates on various birds. I don't always comment, but I always appreciate and enjoy your recommendations! FAB!!!
Tiger: Thanks for the links, too. The photos on the Palemale site are stunning.
jsb: I loved that story of the Garden Centre robin. Why would that bird do that every day?
AQ: You said, "Are you doing all that baking in anticipation of my snow-sightseeing visit?" You come on over, and I will bake you all of the sweets that you can eat!!! And I'll make hot cocoa to keep you warm while we visit the snowy hills and woodlands!
Patriciat: Tweed and Indy are beautiful, and I loved the artful photo with the mysterious path. My Dad liked the doggies, too.
Wattle: Glad that you had a nice celebration, and I wish you and AQ cool breezes and sufficient rain for the new year.
Paul/Heron77: Have enjoyed your enteraining posts.
Gary: I thought about going to Wal-Mart yesterday, and then I thought again and didn't. LOL
Ok, sorry if I've missed anyone. I may not post tomorrow because I have to finish the house-cleaning mission, and I can't find a single elf to help. Sigh. Everyone have a very festive time. I wish you all peace.
OK! Final decision – we are not going. Forecast is freezing fog up the motorway, local police and the motoring organisations recommend essential journeys only. Can’t be bothered to travel Christmas day, and would already have missed most of the entertainment etc – so we unpacked last night. Had decent meals out of the freezer yesterday, and could get by without shopping, but don’t like to be without loads of fresh fruit and veg, so OH says he will brave Tesco in the middle of the day! Thanks for everyone’s kind thoughts, but we really are fine at home.
Son phoned last night – the Job Centre has put him onto the “New Deal” to try to help him get into work (after two and a half years!) – thought that was what they are there for anyway! He is quite pleased that something is happening, but annoyed that two weeks “back to work training” will upset the hours he has booked for the computer course which he is part way through (courtesy of being unemployed). At least he is allowed his New Year visit to us next week.
Will reply to some of the chat later – meanwhile going to do some baking.
Ospreys Rule OK, but Goldfinches come a close second!
Hi,OG. So sorry to hear that your plans have had to be changed- wish I could send you a mince pie over the airwaves. Hope you manage to have a pleasant time, anyway- I think you are sensible as it could have been a bit of a nightmare on the roads, not very nice, & at least at home you have all your home comforts in the cold weather we're having.
Snowed again here, last night, but nothing like some of you have had. Its now melting this morning, as its a bit warmer, at last. I'm down to doing the dusting & searching out the Christmas gravy boat ready for tomorrow. Expecting some friends shortly, as they are collecting some of our home grown sprouts for their dinner- we had a good crop this year, although some of the leeks are fastened tight into the frozen ground so won't be eating those.
Pleased you all enjoyed my bit of a poem- I wrote it a month ago, as I knew I would be busy this week! Its hard to say, but I know we have all found something special in the lovely friendliness of this blog. Lets hope we can keep it up in the New Year (& not many days now till we look once again at the webcam at LG!!....)
Can't reply to all, but have enjoyed the latest pics: super doggies in the snow, Wattles jolly Christmas tree, & laughed out loud at AQ's "Christmas Robin!!!"
BEST WISHES, ALL. KEEP SAFE IN THE SNOW, & KEEP YOUR COOL DOWN UNDER, TOO.