Weekly Chat, Sunday, December 20 2009

Dibnlib What fabulous photos!

OG You are so wise to have decided to stay at home in th awful weather.  Ours has warmed up a little but is, according to the Met Office, the coldest in NI for 28 years!

Margobird Sorry your cold isn't improving.  It's awful feeling bad when everyone else is celebrating.  Take care of yourself.

Thanks to all for the wonderful pictures, links, etc. and A VERY SAFE, HAPPY CHRISTMAS to all you lovely people around the world. 

Dibnlib, what magical photo's, thanks so much:)

DjoanS, thats for the picture as well. Love it when people can have a chuckle.

Re NORAD: Don't know if Gary got his info here, but just saw this on the CNN site ("Behind the scenes with the Santa tracker"): http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/12/24/cnet.norad.santa.tracker/index.html   It's definitely worth a read.

dibnlib: Marvellous photos - thank you! Looks so serene.  And Tx Djoan for the snowbird card! Caerann/Diane: Hope that huge storm doesn't create any aggro for you.

Hello everyone.

Gary:  Not sure when the snow will eventually go but I'm will to wager it'll be sometime next year.  ;-)

AQ:  Fantastic story about the rain in Tasmania.  Hilarious.

Annette:  I know exactly what you mean about trying to buy presents.  At least a gift card is easy to wrap.

Diane:  Thanks for liking my gibberish... erm sorry, posts.  Not an elf to help here either.

OG:  Sorry to hear your trip's been cancelled but I think you've made the right desicion as it's better to be safe.  Hope your son gets a job son.

Lindybird:  Have a great dinner tommorrow.  I'm sure this blog will grow from strength to strength in 2010.

Margobird:  Sorry your not feeling too good.  Hope you feel better soon.

Alan:  That's a brilliant robin picture.  Thanks for posting the Estonian seal cam link.

DjoanS:  Brilliant snowbird picture.

Caerann:  I hope you cold has fully vanished soon.

dibnlib:  The Culloden Forest pics are fantastic.  Very picturesque, and the dog seems to be pleased with things.

To everyone:  Sorry if I've missed you out in this latest ramble but I wish you all the best of health and happiness.  If you're feeling cold keep warm and if your too hot stay cool.


Paul.

To all the people on the Loch Garten Ospreys Blog.  Thanks for all the friendliness and a very mery Christmas to you all.

He also helps to clear the steps.

Paul.

A Merry Christmas morning from fine, sunny and cool (25 C yay!) South Australia. All is quiet out in the street (8.30 am). Obviously we are now an old neighbourhood. No new skateboards or bikes being tested. Not a sound outside, oh, except a quacky with a damaged leg begging for breakfast at the front door.

Midnight Mass was the usual great start to the day, but the church was only half full. Half hour of carols beforehand with 2 guitarists strumming, a violinist (she looked nearly as old as Stradivarius) and the priest on the electronic organ. We sang a number of old faithfuls and a couple of strange new ones (to me) and 3 verses of "Silent Night", one each in Italian, English & Vietnamese (indicates the cultural mix of this parish). I'm glad I went to this church as I was able to give a lift home to a lady in her eighties who has given up driving and was going to walk home about 2 km along a main road. Hm, are main roads more or less safe than back streets at 1 am?

OG - Wise decision. I hope you have a lovely peaceful and warm day. Margobird - I wish you a speedy recovery. Tiger - Alas, our lawn is almost dead because of water restrictions. Yes, some Aussie's have "Christmas in Winter" dinners. Any excuse to eat up big. LOL. DjoanS  - Love the LOTL snowbird. Dibnlib - magical pics in Culloden Forest. Others (too many to list) - Thank you for greetings, wishes, pictures, real robins and everything I've forgotten. PS. Santa is currently delivering in South Africa !!!!!  

To everyone - Have a great day, stay safe and enjoy.

Merry christmas AQ:) Have a wonderful day

Annette, thanks for that link. I haven't finnished it yet but it is the best description I've read:)

Thanks Gary.

Just heard the news of another snowstorm in the US. Our papers have pics of iced-over UK. Here in SA a bushfire 2 days ago near Port Lincoln destroyed 13 homes, plus numerous farm sheds and the local SES (Emergency) headquarters. Most people interviewed were quite matter-of-fact "we have our lives". So terrible to become homeless at Christmas. Makes me appreciate how lucky I am.

Auntie - Our classic music radio station has just played a Finnish hymn "The Holy Wings". They have been playing a lot of Finnish music lately - or is it just I am noticing it because I have a friend (you) there?

As this is my last post of the day and I will probably not be around tomorrow I would just like to wish everyone a very happy and peaceful Christmas.

This link is from the angusbirding website, some great osprey photographs:

http://www.markcauntphotography.com/osprey1.html

Didn't make any specific replies after all today - but a special bed-time (for me) note to Caerann in that nasty storm - hope you and John will be safe and warm.

Probably said this two days ago (before we didn't go away) - A Happy and Blessed Christmas to all friends in this forum - and may the world learn to share and care as we have done here.