Weekly Chat, Sunday 19th February 2012

Evening ALL. Sorry not to have been on here with you all recently, work has been rather busy so haven’t been able to spend as much time with you as I would like.  Spotted a mention from Annette of my birthday so had to read back until I found Diane’s greeting, thanks to everyone and apologies for those who’ve had birthdays which I’ve missed while I’ve been out of forum action.  I have the Blue Jay as my desktop wallpaper now.

I gather J has hopes for a job, OG, so good luck to him, and you are away visiting, have a good trip. So pleased to hear his good scan results, it’s very stressful waiting for results.

Someone mentioned a Brussels Sprout Appreciation Society, which I would like to join too please.

Re haircuts, I had mine done last week.

Reading backwards from the end, I thought Annette’s visitor, Squeaky Pants, was a small new relative, but now I’ve reached page 5 I gather it’s a guineapig LOL.

Brenda, I’m jealous of your bramblings. We had some last year, first time ever, but not one this year, nor any waxwings, I think due to it not being so cold. We have had a few long tailed tits this week (one with a short tail!)

Today I was marshalling on a motorbike and car trial in Whinlatter forest, very muddy and it snowed huge flakes for about 10 minutes, we had little snow pellets for about 5 minutes and sunshine for the rest of the time, pretty chilly too.  OH and I saw the ISS twice tonight, so that’s good after it being so cloudy last time it was around.

Thanks Terry for starting us off. Yesterday 35C, today expecting a "cooler" 31C here.

Diane - Please send me a pair of those blue jays - what gorgeous colours. Thanks for responding to my rather unsubtle hint re your b'day. I shall try to remember!!!

Dibnlib - I'm sure your library book saga was worthwhile as I enjoy Peter Robinson books. Of course, With my reading addiction, I would have put library visit first on the list and let the shopping & swimming take their chance with any time left!

Alan - I can sympathise with Lady P. Medicine ususally affects me. I once complained to my doc about side effects of a particular antibiotic. He looked over his glasses, frowned and said "How badly do you want to get better" and then gave me another.

Heather - I had to sign in this morn - I never sign out either. With no idea what my password is/was, the first one I tried worked. Eureka! I don't suppose I can claim a good memory LOL

bright&breezy - Hey. we're not an exclusive group. The more the merrier. That video is amazing. I wonder how many hours it took to get those views.

Thanks to Sandra & Alan for pics.

Clothes - I always try them on. Last week I gathered a variety of attire of the same size. One was very skimpy & tight. It was the cheapest . . . and it was the one with 2 security tags.
I shall leave you all to fight over my share of the brussel sprouts.

OH was waiting for the midday movie. Running late (what's new) was a series to find Aussieland's Most Gifted Pyschic. Excuse me, but if they were any good, wouldn't they know who the winner would be?

Evening all: Had pleasant lunch with friends though was a bit noisy. I had not-great white bean soup; after, stopped at market and got, as it turned out, not-great salmon for dinner followed by yummy semi-sweet chocolate and mint chocolate bits.  Had to sign in last night, but okay now....

Terry: Thanks so much for starting a new thread. Wow, the ISS twice in one night? I'm jealous.

Heather: You have a grapevine - what kind of grapes? Any chance of wine?

dibnlib: Have a great trip.

Bright&Breezy: Hey there; good to see you and what a fab video; can't get over how strong these birds must be - that last fish must've weighed more than the osprey. Thanks a bunch and pop in any time.  :-)

Sandra: Funny how wildlife can adapt to highway noise and bustle.  I was wishing we could get better cams at LG.

Lynette: Thanks for the bear project videos. (I think they got switched - saw Ted on the "Jewel" video and vice versa, but no biggie.)

AQ:  I wonder if the winner of Oz's Most Gifted Psychic already knows he/she has won.

Diane: I got Cave of Forgotten Dreams from Netflix; fascinating and thanks for the recommendation, but what a shame just a handful of people will ever be able to see them.  I thought the digital imaging of the Chauvet cave was amazing. I was especially struck by the horse paintings and also the lions. Amazed by the talent and perception of whoever created them. Surely not cavemen in the popular sense of the word.

Planning a quick run to the local grocery store for staples in the morning, then home for a quiet day. Rain is forecast - yet again, but....  I'm just hoping the wind stays away for my Monday date with the whales.  Take care everyone and have a good Sunday.

Morning all.

Annette. You would think that LG would have had a more up to date camera by now, like a lot of other nests! The RSPB get a lot of donations from people, which could get modern equipment!

Lynette.

I love those little cubs! There is one that is a proper little crier and has got a temper! lol :-)

Good Morning:    Thanks to Terry for starting us off again.  And thanks to AQ for making me laugh so much at the start of another day....!!! loved your posts....

Diane:   That Bluebird was so, well, BLUE!!    - gorgeous.

Pretty frost patterns on our windows this morning when we awoke:  the sun is shining brightly now, so the birdies are all shouting,  poor things probably think that Spring has come early.

Our Eldest didn't come to visit yesterday, he rang to say he felt awful, and has been coming down with something all week: sounds like a virus to me. We went off to visit Youngest, with his family:  His in-laws were there, visiting also.  So Baby Tomasz awoke after lunchtime nap to find a lot of adoring faces gazing at him. He has grown a lot once again, and is now babbling away in baby language and pointing at things he wants to investigate. Naturally his adoring Staff reach for whatever he wants, and comply with his every request.  That is going to be one spoilt child if we don't all watch out! Here is the latest photo from the many I took, we shall run out of albums before he even reaches his second birthday I'm sure.

Have a Good Sunday. All.

p.s.  behind Tomasz you can see the wooden toy box which my dear Father made for MY children, when they were little. He would have been so pleased to see its still being made use of.

Having a good weekend.  Dau and SiL now reading Sunday papers, and I’m in the queue for one of the showers!  Went to a Craft Fair in local village yesterday.  Bought some Celery Chutney and OH bought me an Osprey for my birthday (not till March, but grab it while you can!).  Photo will follow, eventually.  Dau bought herself a horn brooch of a Swallow.  Played Trivial Pursuit all evening – just one game, but it lasted a long, l  o  n  g  time!  A lazy morning today – and a long breakfast lasting into morning coffee and shortbread!  Going out for late lunch, then they will leave direct from the restaurant, so we shall go to evening service, but J has declared himself not available to play this week.

Looks like I shall have to sign in to post this, so must try to remember my password! … Phew, that was lucky, it was the first one I tried!  Never had to sign in before.

OG  That is interesting about you having to sign in. I had to sign in last night. I wonder if it is a system glitch.

Always keep a copy of your passwords. 

Afternoon all,

Looks like there was something unusual going on with the site yesterday as I also had to sign in.

Linda : Thanks for the latest pic of Tomasz.

TerryM : Thanks for starting us off this week.

Everyone else thanks for the chat etc.

We went to Elton Garden Store for lunch today as it is such a sunny day. Cold wind though with the temp at 6.5. Latest forecast says it could be as high as 16c by thursday. On the way home we saw a red kite floating above a field. I relly enjoy watching them in flight. It is just so effortless the way they float about. No frantic wing flapping just an occasional wing adjustment here or there to change direction. Beautiful bird but unfortunately no camera with me today.

First eaglet hatched at Blackwater:

Aaah!  That's lovely, Alan - how the mum hovers around as the egg hatches. 

Agree with your previous comment about the Red Kites - we love to see the Buzzards and Sparrowhawks just hanging in the air with only a wing flick here and there, its so interesting to see how they conserve their energy.

Hope that Lady P is feeling better today.  (I often seem to get side effects when I'm prescribed anything)

Both of Dunedin's Ospreys on the nest at 3:50pm. I hope the female has had some food!

Hello all- I have not been on the computer much today - started a new book this morning and have only left it to make a snack lunch for OH and I. Very lazy Sunday!

Annette - Our grapevine was grown from a cutting - OH brought it with him when he came to live here in 1982. The parent was/is growing at one of the big estate houses near (ish) to Inverness. It is a black seeded grape ? maybe Black Hamburg ? and although somebody took many many bunches away with them a few years ago we never heard if they had managed to make wine.  Our grows in the sittooterie, one side open to the elements. I did once, maybe two years ago - not sure when - post a picture of it in my Gallery on here. Couldn't work out how to get it on to these pages :-((

Glad that OG's family weekend is going so well. I don't put butter on the panettone, either, OG.

Lindybird - I love the picture of Tomasz, he is obviously very intrigued by something we can't see!!

Glad that I'm not the only one who had to remember a password. I had to create a new one.

As ever folks, thank you for all your pics and posts