Well here we are at Adelaide Airport - next leg under way. Still b....y raining.. warm & sunny in W A! Would definitely recommend the Indian Pacific - v civilized, started the day with a Bucks Fizz & progressed from there! Several folk had booked a package Inc a ferry from Sydney via Melbourne, Adelaide , Hobart, Espérance then Perth where they picked up the train. Looking at the Ghan for a future trip, start saving now .. TTFN
The Tea Shop looks lovely. I think it is great that another two of our Group manaaged to meet up. I'm afraid that Benuga at Waterloo Station isn't in that league.
Parsley 6, I am really pleased you enjoyed your trip on the Ghan. I have to say I was very disappointed because although the food and Service were excellent ,I thought the trip was so boring. Perhaps I was expecting too much It was desert followed by desert followed by more desert--Nullabor (no trees) Plain. I hoped to see some animals but saw very few. When we arrived at Cook it was the middle of the night and we walked to the little shop ,bought one or two mementoes and went back to the tram. I have never been nor want to go on a Cruise Ship and I wonder if I am just a miserable old biddy who doesn't particularly enjoy fine dining (I would genuinely rather eat in Wetherspoon's than The Ivy -having eaten at both . Be prepared on 3rd December ,this old girl isn't your typical elderly lady but then no doubt most of you knew that anyway. I will be on my best behaviour though.
I laughed at your comment Carolyn. My husband calls me a loose cannon. He also says I am a typical teacher which I find insulting. I think he means I am bossy. Oh dear .
Hope no one stands on ceremony at the meeting. Got to be ourselves. Hate best behaviour.!!
No selfies on here. Thought people liked the mystery and didn’t want faces. Sorry to disappoint folks but it’s not soup it’s tea we had andthe table is abandoned cos with all the tea , I had to rush for a wee!!!!🤭 Ruthy sneaked the photo!!
Loving this google chrome at the mo. Still signed in and no problems.
On a previous post PtbY said she had two Archers books for Ruthy so I presume the red bag & 2 books belong to Ruthy & the hat & coat belong to PtbY......or was the photo taken before the books were given :-))
Ruthy + PtbY. Thank you both, for sharing, not only the photo, but your posts about your meeting. How lucky that you were both able to meet up. I bet Ruthy, is even more of an "Archers" devotee, having met such one from the UK.
Yup - BTW - am working from home today nursing a bit of cold - so am able to keep up with posting. PtbY - are you enjoying day of museums? You must tell us what you got up to today - and nice that we are in the same time zone for another day :)
Well LanJan, I for one have not been and do not wish, to go on a cruise, although i did enjoy the Gloucester to Sharpness three day trip on The Edward Elgar. I am also seen ( certainly by my family) as a loose cannon, and have always been labelled as bossy. However one difference I detect, twixt you and me, is the Weatherspoons preference. Oh ! And beer. I don't dislike Weatherspoons, but would generally prefer something a little more elegant or chic, and cider rather than beer, if drinking. However I would not want to eat at the Ivy either. All that pretentious celebrity watching. Very tacky ! I've known and seen an awful lot of celebrities in my time, and a discreet nod of recognition is all that should be required.
As far as W'loo is concerned Benuga will be fine with me. However I do remember your preferred venue in Putney, should we ever manage that and again am happy to comply.
I am so pleased that the meet up in the Montclair tea shop went well and personally don't mind the lack of faces. Selfies also tacky IMO.
And yes CowGirl, agree, assertive. Me too. As well as opinionated.
I am the only one in our family who really likes Wetherspoons,Mrs P. but when we meet in Putney as we will, I don't mind going elsewhere although in truth the W s in Putney by the river is nothing like a typical Wetherspoons. (I heard the man ,who started the chain ,on Desert Island Discs and he sounded such a nice bloke)
Ruthy I love the photo - it’s just perfect. PtbY I believe you are coming to the December gathering so we’re going to meet Ruthy through you, if you see what I mean.
Perhaps we can have other regional fan meetings if anyone is inclined - a north-east/Yorkshire one maybe?
I’m up for north east/Yorkshire meet anytime. So Ruthy, went to the museum of New York City and the Nicholas Roerich gallery/ museum yesterday. New York one....very good. Disappointed in the Roerich one. Was really going for a nosey round a brownstone but it was basically a shell with two old fireplaces in it. Wasn’t too thrilled with his paintings either. Shame.
Today I ended up wandering around upper east side for a bit with a walk in Central Park. Ate my sandwich in there before going down to the “dead rabbit” cocktail bar at the tip of Manhattan. It had won best cocktail bar in the world two years in a row before, dropped slightly this year. Went last year but only the downstairs bar was open then. They then came over to England to do a pop up cocktail bar at claridges in London and I got to the last night of that. So finally made it there tonight. Tomorrow. ..... the neu gallery hopefully to see the Klimt paintings.
Ruthy, I do hope that you will be able to find an image of the Waterloo Station clock ready for our meet up at the beginning of December. No pressure of course.
LJ - have to disagree, the changing scenery on the trip was fascinating - even the Nullabor plain! Started off through the Perth hills & the Avon Valley, beautiful rolling countryside, & the desert had it's own fascination. Lucky enough to see kangaroos, wedge-tailed eagles + a group /mob of camels in the distance. Now in Melbourne, Great Ocean Road tomorrow! bonne nuit
Ah now Parsley16, I did enjoy the Great Ocean Road . We started off very early in the morning and were out all day . The poor driver must have been exhausted. Went in a mini bus Are you "doing" the Blue Mountains when up you go to Sydney? Really enjoyed that trip too.
I am a very happy person tonight! After, yet another visit to the eye-clinic, I have found out that I do not have Glaucoma as such. The eye drops I was prescribed 5 weeks ago, are very effective. I am being booked in for cataract surgery on both my eyes. This is great news, as it will sort out the "bad" one, but the other eye, where a cataract is only just starting, will also be sorted, to keep my vision as perfect as possible. I am very delighted.
That's great, Miriam. I believe dealing with cataracts is usually straightforward. I think Rev. Patrick Brontë had the op, and no doubt it's come on a lot since his day!
I am loving all your tales of trips to OZ. I have never been, but I have family who live there.This was 5 years in Sydney, close to Bondi Beach, and are now in Melbourne. They are now thinking of relocating towards Brisbane, next year. I have never been, but I have seen many photos + videos, via Wattsapp, (from other family members) of The Blue Mountains and The Great Ocean Road. I wish I could summon up the courage, to face that long journey.
Very pleased to hear your news Miriam. If you really would like to go to Australia ,then I hope you do manage to go. You can break your journey either at Dubai or better still Singapore . I am one of these strange people who enjoys travelling by plane. Brisbane is a lovely city as is Sydney and Melbourne. I still wear the shorts I bought from a stall on the Sunday morning market by the side of the river ,almost 20 years ago. I only wear them when gardening now.
I still wear a wonderful straw hat I bought in Cuba, about 6 years ago, which I saw on a market stall in a little, country village. I saw it and loved it, and I queried the price as it was so cheap. The price suddenly went down! It cost me about £5.
PtbY and Cowgirl, great! Might have to be in the spring for me as I’m a bit bogged down with repairs at the moment. We’ve had to book an extra week up here to get more done, and hopefully next time I am up here I can stay in my house albeit camping out a bit. Staying back in my hometown bythesea from tomorrow so at least I can enjoy the beach for another week in snatched moments. No WiFi though, so might be off air.
Is anyone having trouble with the bbc Archers tonight? I can’t access it on iplayer.
Ruthy I expect you will be familiar with catbirds. I had never heard of them until today. Twitchers are descending on Cornwall in droves, some of them having driven throughout the night! One poor lonely little catbird has arrived all the way from America, probably blown here by storm Callum, and is now on a farm at Land's End. Shouldn't think it will be able to fly back!
It’s amazing how on cruise ships when right out at sea, you can sometimes come across a tiny bird perched on a rail. I am convinced they look out for one to have a rest and maybe this will be so for the catbird so that he can get home again!
We have a pair of swans down at the creek where I walk the dogs. They have raised seven cygnets which are currently increasingly white feathered amongst the grey. They are still very much a family although the cygnets are fully grown. It has been lovely to see their progress over the summer. I have also seen a heron and two eigrets down there not to mention the ubiquitous seagulls! I chatted to a man there today who had also spotted curlews and grebes. Of course there are also ducks!
Ev, we often see egrets near us, in the water meadows around Alresford, where they grow watercress. Somehow they seem rather exotic birds to find in inland Hampshire. There are often herons too, but I’m very anti-heron since the morning I caught one standing in our pond, having eaten all our goldfish and koi carp. The pond is now securely netted!
I googled egrets and the ones we see here are little egrets. They have a black bill which contrasts with the pure white plumage. I saw one again this morning as the tide was out in the creek and they love to hunt in the shallows. Apparently they are part of the heron family. The weather was perfect today with lots of sun. At night the stars have been very clear.
I had never heard of them until the news this evening Janice. It was said that the bird was so named because its Cry was like a cat. Well it didn't sound like a cat to me. What did you think.
How is your cold Ruthy? I have just recovered from one with a very dry cough attached towards the end of the 3 weeks I purchased a jar of Manuka honey and it really helped.....😀
Fine by me Seasider, AS PtobY and I live up here permanently I suggest we leave it to you to make some recommendations in the spring. Glad to hear the house is in progress.
Miriam good to hear your news.
Ev , Curlews are my favourite bird. When I lived on the moors in the spring they used to dive bomb me as I walked to the car every morning, a warning to keep away from their nests. Sadly they are in serious decline, I haven't seen or heard any here this year.
Cowgirl,PtbY ,Seasider This time last year I had a short Break in Goathland. I might be wrong but I think that the three of you have homes in the Whitby area.
I am about 8 miles from Whitby, Seasider is about 15 miles further up the coast and if I remember rightly PtbY's nearest beach is Scarborough 15 miles or so in the other direction, so all fairly close.
Goathland is a lovely part, did u go on the train ? I am taking my great niece and nephew to see Santa on the train, a moment to enjoy.
I was brought up in Pickering so know the railway well. I moved all of 3 mile away just over 20yrs ago. So you see I’ve only recently got the travel bug in the last 3 yrs.
HAH. 2:11am. Ha ha. Very witty at that time in the morning. I was fast asleep. We had a phone call last night from my partner's Aunt eager to tell us about the catbird. It is not unusual for migrating birds to end up in Cornwall, blown in by severe winds. I have seen catbirds in the US and an American Robin in Cornwall. Needless to say it is much bigger than our little variety. We didn't go to Cornwall specifically to spot this Robin, but as we were wearing binoculars other bird watchers were eager to tell us where it was sitting. On a visit to Cormwall we once decided to bird spot on the Hayle estuary and a man approached us to ask if we were there to see the Green winged Teal, as we had never heard of this bird and couldn't tell one Teal from another, he spotted it. He had driven all the way from Norfolk just to see a bird!! Some of these really dedicated twitchers will travel hundreds of miles to see a bird, even if it is as common as muck in its country of origin.
Janice: Yes catbirds are regular in my area. They have a call that actually sound like a cat. It's one of the easier birds I can recognize by their calls. The other obvious one is the bluejay. Very screechy and annoying. They are the last ones to leave this area.
I am behind in responding still recovering from cold and now attending a short conference in Philadelphia. MrsP - Waterloo Station - what was the name of that movie? Miriam - great news! LadyR - I will try honey for my lingering cold. It's been a stressful week from work. I will be home tonight back in my own cozy bed. PtbY - hope you made it home without much delay in your travels.
There must be something about railways and the north of England because several films about railways are made there? There are ,I think ,some short factual films about a day in the life of Waterloo Station but that lovely film -Brief Encounter - with the haunting music was filmed at Carnforth Station in Lancashire and of course "The Railway Children' was filmed on the Settle and Carlisle Railway in Yorkshire. The North Yorkshire Railway featured in the Harry Potter films. Are any of you doing what Giles Brandreth suggested and learning a poem for Christmas? The members of the Reading Group I attend are attempting to do just that . My poem is Night Mail by WH Auden.
G'day! Great Ocean Road was superb. More tourists than anticipated however. Must be dreadful high season. Early start then beautiful weather, just hazing over mid afternoon. Such a dramatic coastline, what a monument to those men. Excellent driver (minibus) v droll - tale of cockatoos getting drunk on fermented grain, ripping up the local tennis court... Pint in the Mitre tomorrow, one of Melbourne's oldest buildings, ttfn
Will you be going on the Neighbours set tour, Parsley ? It’s something I would have to do if I ever went to Melbourne. I’ve just been watching today’s episode and it’s always so beautifully sunny there! I’m a bit ashamed to say I have watched Neighbours ever since it first started in the UK over 30 years ago when my teenage children were fans, and I still keep up with it now!
Help! Josh and Jill are not the only ones...... I have just walked into the kitchen to find a small fox lying on the settle. It had got in through the cat flap. We did have a cat flap which only allowed Percy and Poppy in but she wouldn't / couldn't use it so after weeks of trying to force her Mr LJ dismantled the bit which would only allow the two cats in and for several years this has worked-until now. I am in panic mode now. My plan is to get another one like the original and if Poppy doesn't use it then she will have to stay in until we let her out.
Mr LJ is not panicking . I am all for going out tomorrow morning and getting one from a local shop rather than doing what I would normally do and order from Amazon . I would go out now if I could drive in the dark but it couldn't be fixed tonight anyway. Trouble is we can't cover the flap up tonight because Percy (not brought up by us!) comes and goes when he pleases and if he isn't in when we go to bed I need to keep the flap
Get Mr LJ to pee round the back door, that should keep the fox away. He will need to do it a few times till the fox has got the message. I.m afraid it has to be male urine. Sounds unpleasant but it does work
Was the fox having a snooze? Did it leave when you asked? Could it have been a fugitive suspect in the notorious Ambridge poultrycide case? I kept cat-flap closed after first cat died to prevent other cats coming in. There are foxes around. Hedgehogs used to wander into houses if they found doors open. What about a flap controlled by cat's collar? I bought one but cat didn't like wearing a collar.
Cat flaps are a major problem, but it depends entirely on the cat. My pusscat will not wear a collar, nor adapt to a "micro-chip" reader one (due to the mechanism slight noise) I now have a very basic one - but at least pusscat is happy + content. That is most important to me.
LanJan I am so sorry for you finding the fox in your kitchen. And acknowledge your distress and hope that you find a solution quickly.
I would endorse CowGirl in suggestion of male urine around back door. Unpleasant to live with the smell but needs must.
My pusscat, used to a cat flap in his previous home has very quickly come to terms with needing to ask to go out or to come in. He now comes home around 9.30 ten o'clock in the evening without needing to be called in, most nights.
As far as the fox is concerned, whilst sympathising with you, I also envy you. I would probably try to turn my guest into a semi pet. ( though I do realise that it would not be appropriate in suburban London )
When I lived in Malmesbury I had toads hopping around the house much of the time. Unfortunately the hedgehogs never graced our hospitality by coming inside.
Thank you all very much. I have told Mr LJ what he is to do !
Also I have reordered the original cat flap -microchip which we butchered before. Percy will be able to go in and out . Poppy may learn but if not she will just have to wait until we open the door for her. She was off colour two days ago and hid in Mr LJs wardrobe -door was slightly open-overnight having first tipped everything off his bedside cabinet ! Had she seen the fox then? Added to this she is wearing a collar because she keeps scratching at a sore . (This after costly trips to the vet for antibiotics,creams,consultation etc.) Collar was too small so I have made her two more! Pure lambs wool Sleeves from a cardigan.
I have told Percy to come in at 9.30 .as I want to shut them both in tonight.
Do you know we had our Tom for 17 years . No bother Once a year check up.
H at H It was lying on the settle(actually a church pew) and did get off when I went in. Oddly enough I saw what I thought was Sasha cat from two doors away dash out of the kitchen yesterday but now I realise who it probably was. Mr LJ has promised to do his duty if only to keep me quiet.
I could have a cat flap for our two dogs as they are both quite small but we have foxes in the neighbourhood and hear them barking at night. I love animals but do not like them at all. Have heard too many stories like the demise of Jill’s hens! I would be horrified to find one in the house!
All this talk about the problems associated with keeping animals makes me rather glad we took a conscious decision, about 5 years ago, to stop keeping cats. Having always had at least one moggy in our family, and adoring cats, we finally had enough of losing them on the main road outside our cottage, or having them disappear into the countryside surrounding us, never to be seen again. We really do miss having a puss to share our home but until/unless we move to a less dangerous location, we feel it unfair to keep an animal. So it’s just goldfish in the garden pond and regular visits from wild rabbits, the odd muntjac deer and next door’s pedigree felines using our garden as a toilet for the time being!
Ré animals- lost our 4 hens in a TA type incident to a fouine (polecat) last July while we were away. Distressing. Also now down to just one cat.. We've decided to keep it that way for a while to enable us to travel more now I'm retired. Oz wildlife updates - koalas !! king parrots, rosellas.. V interesting few days in Melbourne, great Victorian architecture, explored the National Gallery - Australian artists. Eating Italian tonight, St Kilda tomorrow if it's fine (Melbourne is renowned for its British weather) then the airport tomorrow evening ..
So Parsley and PTBY will be back home soon. Have enjoyed reading about your travels! After my husband retired we travelled extensively and I have many happy memories of those years notably in Nepal where we did elephant safaris and travelled by Yeti Air within the country. We flew past Everest one day. Also we went on the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada followed by an Alaskan cruise. Our last long haul was to Vietnam and Cambodia where we met local people who had gone through a lot but in spite of that we’re welcoming and friendly. Oh, and we enjoyed the USA where we did an Eastern tour from NY to Washington then flew to San Francisco and did a Western tour. We managed three visits to New Orleans staying with friends there. We became great fans of New Orleans jazz and subsequently did several jazz holidays in Portugal and Malta. I could go on but urge everyone finances and health permitting to get out there to see our wonderful world and when travels are over no one can take your memories away! Nowadays I am happy with my art holiday in Italy and for the second year Christmas in Tenerife. Next year Katy and I will have a week or so in Devon where we can take the dogs who will enjoy chips on the beach especially Gypsy who is the greediest dog ever!
Update on Josh's mate It doesn't rain........... Percy didn't come in at bedtime to we left the cat flap unlocked . At about midnight we were woken up by a 'phone call from a man wanting to speak to Mr LJ about a map !??? I couldn't get back to sleep after that and about half an hour later I saw -and smelt -an animal in the room. My hero Mr LJ got up and I followed. Both cats were in and were just curious. Fox ignored them We live in a bungalow and managed to close all the doors except the outside one and eventually Mr LJ with the help of a brush got rid of it. After a cuppa we went back to bed and the usually unsociable Poppy spent the rest of the night on my bedside cabinet for the first time ever. Hoping to get the new cat flap today. "It is on its way " say Amazon! Mr LJ has NOT done his duty yet but promises he will. I blame Josh.
Mr LJ I am disappointed in you. I am sure it would have solved the problem. It sounds like the fox has been encouraged by other humans. I would suggest that you get some sort of deterrent other than your new cat flap, just to keep it out of the garden. You certainly don't want it to make a habit of coming to visit.
Like CowGirl I suspect that this young fox has become used to being with humans.
In my experience a fox will try to ' get close ' to human habitation, perhaps out of curiosity, but remains cautious and will retreat if challenged in any way.
You really are having a rough time with animals this year LanJan. I am sorry.
And yes Mr LJ, get on with it. Please overcome the embarrassment factor for the sake of our friend, bossy Lancashire Janet.
I would like to share the following, because it is so rare.
I went to sleep last night, soon after going to bed. I slept through the night. I think I may have woken, briefly, once. I woke at about 7.30 and felt that I had actually had a good nights sleep and felt refreshed. I got up !
It is now around 11.30 This is the time that I am usually trying to drag myself into wakefulness.
Glad you had this rare experience, Mrs P, & hope you have many more nights like that. What a difference a good, healthy sleep at the right time for the body, makes.
Oh Mrs P I am so envious. However apparently the new cat flap should arrive before 9pm so may be things will improve when it has been put on. I think I will wait until that has been done before I nag Mr LJ again to do his duty. I was heartened when I saw that the fox ignored the cats. Apparently my 96 year old friend's cat is friendly with a fox. The cat waits outside for it. I want a quiet afternoon now.
Poor Mr LJ! A lifetime of being conditioned into using the loo followed by wife nagging him to do it on the doorstep! I had a neighbour who pee ed into his compost heap swearing it made a big difference! He always waited for nighttime though! I think that fox would have eaten my dogs as they are not much bigger than a chicken! One of our neighbours, across the road mercifully for us, does feed them and I think one of the attractions is food more so than human company.
Urine is excellent for the garden, one of the best ways is to pee on a bale of straw. In my fields you can tell where the cows have peed as the grass is much greener and lusher. A hungry fox will take a cat too in extreme circumstances, when I lived in London many years ago I almost lost one of my cats to a fox, just happened to be there at the right time
Great excitement here. I am tacking the new Cat flap which is being delivered from Amazon. A quarter of an hour ago it was 16 stops away. Now it is only 8! The delivery driver is just down the road and has been for a while now. Mr LJ says he is probably ready when he arrives to use the bathroom but if so I should direct him to the back step.
I meant to say I am tracking not tacking. He is only 5stops away so I reckon if I go to the door I could see him. He has been in our road for ages. If you have ever used Uber you can see the little car coming up the road . It is magic. I love it.
😁😁 good for Mr LJ ! He clearly knows how to cope with life's knotty problems with humour & aplomb. Good luck with the cat flap. Despite the loss of Beatrix Hen, we still mourn her, I try not to entertain negative feelings towards foxes, they need to eat like all creatures & must admit to some envy( like Mrs P) at the thought of a fox snuggling down at your fireside, as it were.
So often though they kill and don’t eat the result as witness Jill’s hens. I knew a farmer who lost a whole litter of piglets with their bodies just strewn around. It’s very strange as most animals do kill to eat. I came to regard the beautiful Impala in Africa as the lions’ larder!
The latest about the fox. Please feel free to ignore . When I was washing up at lunchtime I saw the fox on the patio asleep. Mr LJ was watching the football and when it had finished I asked him to take a look at it which he did and it was dead! The flies had started to come. Gosh foxes do smell. Well I wanted it gone but I didn't expect that . I hope it just lay down for a rest and that was that. A hole has been dug and the fox has been buried RIP I now have the new cat flap and have to persuade Mr LJ that it is necessary. Maybe -hopefully-there is not quite the rush to put it in. To be honest I think a period of silence may be a good idea in this house . I feel drained. If I hadn't decided to have a sober October I might have had a G and T this evening I think I might still do so. Thank you all .
Am enjoying it as I type Carolyn. Rather strong and do I care? Not at all. Oh how grateful I am to Ruthy for allowing me to get all this off my chest . Feeling a bit maudling though. I took a photo of the poor animal yesterday sleeping on the settle before I shoed it off I hope it wasn't poisoned . It looked peaceful when it was lying down. I was just worried for the cats . (Mr LJ is reading the instructions for the new cat flap installation.)
Cats and foxes. Living for twenty years on the very edge of Putney Heath ( Wimbledon Common) we lived beside foxes and badgers. Not everybody on estates disposes of their household rubbish responsibly so the foxes would turn up for supper most evenings. My cat Simba, large, longcoated ginger tabby, liked to sit out the front before bed, patrolling the foxes. On several occasions if I had the front door open, the fox would stop, look interested and now and again approach the door, obviously with the intention of entering. Simba would sit still and wait until the fox was about two foot away, then leap up and chase it off. Never did any fox attempt to do anything other than run. Fast !
Parsley16. My niece, her partner plus two lovely cats, lived in an appartment in St.Kilda, before relocating to Sassafras. Enjoy your hols, It sounds fascinating.
Thank you for asking ,Miriam. I have been out today and nothing has been done but now that the fox is not around any more I think Mr LJ probably thinks there is no rush. I am out tomorrow too but maybe Tuesday ............. I did not wish the fox dead and would have been happy if it had just left this house and garden alone but I have to say I am relieved that it isn't still coming in. Having seen it ,I don't think it would have hurt the cats - it was searching for food I expect but there was an article in The Times which said that the "cat killer" in I think Croydon was found to be a fox. Also Poppy had been very upset earlier this week and took to hiding in Mr LJs wardrobe and I wonder if it had been in then and we hadn't seen it The other thing about a fox in the house is the smell which we noticed before we saw it and wondered what it could be.
Yes LJ, you did mention Poppy's retreat to the wardrobe earlier last week. I reckon your right, it had been coming in for several days and you hadn't been around to see it.
I’m home now and jiggered. Just fallen to sleep through strictly so I don’t know who got voted off. Sean or vick. Not that I care for either of them. Had a lovely holiday but glad to be back in my own bed.
Oh Parsley, could you just give my son and his family a wave while you are in Dubai? 😄
Thanks to everyone who recommended I get a smart phone and What’sapp by the way. Using them has been brilliant and I am getting lots of messages, photos and videos from Dubai. They have been moving into their new house over the weekend after their (huge) container arrived last week. I have had a conducted video tour of the house done by youngest grandson, Elliot aged 7. He can see the Burj Kalifa tower from his bedroom which he was thrilled to show me, but the rest of the video was mainly of his feet going up and down stairs as he had the tablet tilted downwards all the time 😂. Great excitement was had when they finally unpacked all the family’s bikes and went for an evening ride along the seafront promenades with all the brilliant illuminations on and I ‘went with them’ via the video! ( had to be in the evening as it is cool enough then)
Thank you HaH . I will bear that in mind. At the moment Poppy is calm but wants either to be with us (she was always a cat who preferred her own company ) or not sit at ground level. She spent much of last night on our bed and on my bedside cabinet. She hasn't got as far as sitting on knees yet though . Poor Poppy has spent the past few months wearing a collar because she kept scratching and licking a sore . She has put up with that and seems to have got used to her customised lambs wool collar. (Percy would spend his life on Mr LJ's knee if he could.) Good luck with your ginger cat ,Parsley16. The sulks won't last long.
.....& then, he'll be all over you like a rash. Had that with a previous cat. He'd scamper up, remember he was cross & it was silk time, but could only keep it up for an hour or so. The current two skip the sulk stage... Have really enjoyed reading your travelogues, PtbY & Parsley, what exciting & varied experiences you've had. Thanks for keeping in touch, but I bet it's good to be home now.
So looking forward to seeing our Merry again - our big boy, il nous manque. Don't worry the sulks don't last long! AP, we're waving from Cadiz tapas bar in the Dubai terminal, slightly out of body experience, helped along by bottle of wine 1/2 price!
Yes, isn’t it. My d.i.l. Sent me a video taken outside the mosque near to where they live, just so I could hear the beautiful sounds. The architecture was incredible too, with the mosque all floodlit in blue and gold lighting.
Archerphile. It is so lovely that you have seen + heard, via a video, what you will soon see + experience yourself, in January. It is not that too long away now.
Yes, thank you Miriam. I’m getting lots of previews before our trip and am able to keep up with all the boys news - so once again, thanks to my Archerblog friends for persuading me to invest in a smartphone!
Ruthy.... no, mr PtbY didn’t watch the AMERICAN football from London. He’s made up for it watching every other blooming match. 🤮
Still catching up on laundry. Been too nice to iron today......tidied garden instead. Mountain of ironing now appearing. Took a basket to father in laws on Sunday to do whilst there......he had an airer full to iron so ended up doing his!!!
I’m almost hoping for rain tomoz so I have no excuse and will have to iron.
Hope your colds nearly better Ruthy and that all fellow archer bloggers are staving off the dreaded lergy’s.
Flu jabs for me and Mr A tomorrow, so hope you are right about avoiding any lergies this winter PtbY. Good luck with the ironing , perhaps you could tune into a good radio play to ease the load along.
This is wierd. I accidentally signed out on my iPad and can not get back in, but able to sign in on my iPhone just keep mis-typing on small screen ( I think they’re both on the same update) Sometimes I feel technology doesn’t like me 😬
I’ve got to admit Ruthy that I iron everything except socks and my underwear. I know people will think I’m daft but I can’t stand creased things. And yes I iron towels and tea towels......everything.
Me also - everything is always neatly ironed, can’t bear creased sheets or duvet cover .... even ironed Mr A’s underpants this morning, but I don’t suppose you wanted to know that!
Re...signing in. I’ve had no trouble at all since using google chrome as my browser. Keeps me signed in and I have both pages open on the main chrome page. Dead easy to use.
I used to iron everything including dishcloths, even in the days that I used a flat iron on the aga, not any more, too conscious of the need to conserve our energy usage. everything is smoothed out and once clothes are on the body the heat removes the creases. I do iron my cotton sheets as they feel better, but that is about it and feel guilty about that.
I'm in bootgums' corner on this topic, as everyone will guess from a previous discussion. We will stand proud, clothing crumpled , clutching dishcloths, scrumpled.
So much for boasting we were going for our flu jabs yesterday. When we arrived at the surgery (necessitating a 15 mile round trip) we were told they had no vaccine, due to a countrywide shortage, and that they’d contact us when some came in ....probably late November!
I know surgeries are busy these days but a quick phone call would have saved us the petrol!
Re flue jabs : Yet again for the second year I was told by my surgery that appointments for flue jabs were available on Saturday mornings only. I do not wish to go into town on a busy Saturday morning. Last year I walked into Boots and was given an appointment half an hour later. I went off to do a bit more shopping, then returned for my flue jab without any problems. Last week, two days after being told only Saturday mornings, during my appointment for my Vitamin B12 injection the nurse asked if I would also like my flue jab now. I of course agreed there and then. I too know that surgeries are very busy, but a bit of joined up thinking from reception would be good too.
My flu jab was due last Wed but at least I got a phone call the day before to say sorry out of the vac, new appointment for the 6th Nov when I will also have the Shingles vac. Be good to get both done at the one appointment. Such variations as to how different Practices go about the Vac appointments. Mine gives out Saturday dates but you can also book. The last two years I have used Boots too and that was an easy bookable process.
We had our shingles jabs a couple of years ago (at same time as the flu jab). I was particularly pleased to be offered the shingles one as earlier that year my sister-in-law had a dose of shingles which made her very ill and she was in a lot of pain for months, all through the summer. She still gets associated pain two years later. However I declined the vaccination for pneumonia - also known as ‘the old man’s friend’. Both my Dad and elderly brother died from pneumonia after months of suffering with dementia and other medical problems. I thought that I might welcome a dose of pneumonia at the end of my life, so will not have the jab. I know this sounds a bit morbid but having witnessed the prolonged suffering of my relatives I know that the lung infection ended things quite quickly and easily for them.
With you there Archerphile on the pneumonia jab refused mine too. My sister succumbed to it, saved her a very unpleasant death with cancer. So hoping it might save me too !!!
Got final load of holiday washing done this morning. Phew. Now downloading 935 photos onto my lap top to go through, edit and name. Little project there to keep me going for a week or two.
I do keep some on my phone because when I can’t sleep I like to look at them. Just think in the days of film cameras you would never have taken that many photos on holiday. Thinking back now to when I was a kid..... out of the 36 pictures on a roll of film half of them would come back with heads chopped off or blurred. It was my mother’s speciality. !!
I love my photos and use a digital camera (with a massive zoom lens) rather than my 'phone. I love this as I can edit the photos, deleting all the duff ones, and then get them printed. The cost is so cheap in comparison to the 35mm film days. I still like my photos "on paper".
Poldark season 4 has finally come to the US. It is being shown weekly on PBS, our local public tv station. I just watched Dr. Enys and Caroline's 3 month old baby died. Finding some of the story line repetitive - feud between Poldark and Warleggan is getting a little tiresome. Though I just love the beach and cliff scenes. And will continue to watch to the last episode.
Who will be interested to pay to watch Lynda's "Drama". I don't feel it will appeal to many, but then what do I know. She hasn't considered the likes of Poppy, Mia, George, Keira, Henry, Jack, etc. who will have to go to Felpersham, to see their Christmas Panto, at a cost to their parents.
PS, This is a duplicate, in a different way, as to a post on the other site.
All my family, from young to old, love playing board games + cards together.. It is always very much fun, and the entire family are interacting and enjoying the company - age doesn't matter. I am waiting for a cribbage lesson from Big Sis. I have a cribbage board, but I have forgotten how to play this card game. It won't take me long to refresh my memory. A card game, which again all the 3 generations play together, is UNO (originally from America) and it gets very competative, from young to old.
I have been busy over the past few days and have only just noticed the comments about flu jabs. I didn't realise that over 65s were different types There appears to be a shortage of those. About a fortnight ago I walked into our local chemist and he did it there and then. Re the shingles jab. Apparently they cost £100 each and I think they are only available to people between the ages of 70-80 but if you are 76 or 77 you can't have one.
The shingles jab is being introduced in the same way as new kinds of inoculation is introduced to teenagers and children. Those of us up to the age of 74 I think are legible along with those of 80 and above. Those of us in between 74 and 80 will be eligible when we get to 79.
I cannot be absolutely sure of those year numbers, but I hope you get the gist. That is, it's being rolled out from the earliest age and from the latest age towards the middle. At some point we in the middle will become eligible. If you were to visit your local surgery you will be able to see a poster explaining properly. Better than I have now I've read what I have written.
flu jab. I was at a patients participation group meeting, apparently the supplies are all coming from one supplier this year and instead of all coming in September there is a roll out programme for Sept, Oct and November, so no shortage just a longer time span.
Ever since being part of the NHS when a young nurse in the fifties, it has been my belief that we had a National ILL Service not a National Health Service. HOWEVER this has changed and the NHS has done a great deal towards promoting proactive health care in recent times. It seems clear to me that various schemes aimed at preventing distressing conditions across the board from childhood illnesses to conditions that are particularly difficult to treat in the older population, are being rolled out with considerable planning at the source. I think it incumbent upon us to trust the health authorities in how they do this, and try not to criticise, or to give false information. Public Health is one of the most important aspects of civilised society. I do take the time to notice and understand the literature available to be aware of what is planned and how it will be instigated. I am prepared to wait until I am closer to eighty before I am eligible for the shingles jab, and understand why I need to wait. Thank you CowGirl for adding to our knowledge with that information.
I will continue to keep my fingers crossed that I do not become a victim of shingles before I am eighty.
Mrs P and others 😀 the NHS site says :- "The Shingles vaccination is not available on the NHS to anyone aged 80 or over because it seems to be less effective in this age group" So be sure to get yours as near to that as possible, which currently is 78 I believe.
Lanjan have I missed your Birthday? Not sure of the actual date but I'm sure I can recall you being more to the end of October to my own earlier date (and therefore a "Scorpio" as opposed to my "Libra pair of scales" 🤗" Anyway warm wishes for when it is (or was) 🍰🍷💐
Thank you ,Lady R You are right.I am a Scorpio. I am not "well balanced " like you and Mr LJ whose birthday is the day before yours. Mine was on Tuesday but one way and other the whole week has been busy including a visit to the dentist yesterday in London when not only was there a rail strike but also signal failure. Lovely day here and am taking it easy Am still in summer clothes but I gather the cold weather is on its way
Lanjan the Daily Mail tv mag says the last day of Libra is Oct 23rd🤔 not that I read my fate these days 😂 and Mags can vary - either way you are on the cusp! Well fancy Mr LJ birthday being the day before mine! Is he indecisive on the small matters in life too..... (I'm sure he is a most charming gentleman 😉) Cold here in Hampshire today, or maybe just me. However it has been sunny and exhilarating to be out in.
I am a definite Scorpio,Lady R. Mr LJ and I are chalk and cheese. He isn't the indecisive one. I used to be indecisive but now I'm not so sure-boom boom.
LanJan - happy birthday - we are wearing Fall/Winter coats here in New Jersey. Night's have been down to low 30's (F). The day's are still warm though. Very nice autumn weather so far. And it is a lovely day here as well.
Thanks Ruthy. Birthdays seem to come round a lot quicker than they used to nowadays. This time last year I was in North Yorkshire and of course visited Whitby. It was not as warm as it is this year.
Ruthy. Here in the UK, there is an Artic Blast due this weekend:- strong cold winds, low temparatures, possible frosts/ice, and snow in Scotland, and high ground in Yorkshire + N.Wales. The "winter woollies", socks, gloves, scarf, Winter padded jacket, warm fleece-lined boots, will be making an appearance.
The sun is still shining here in Gloucestershire today, though not so evident yesterday on my first leg of the Ridgeway walk with friends, which went all to plan. We were wrapped up, but not excessively so, and were not at any time cold. We made a good pace and my friend with very compromised lungs managed extremely well, and was able to do our four mile stint without difficulty. I will test him on another four miles on the next leg, then extend the mileage little by little. I am so pleased to have at long last made this first start on this medium length track and my seven month old new knee held up brilliantly.
That's very encouraging, Mrs P. & well done you, for pushing yourself to, literally, the ' extra mile'. It's great that the opportunity. enables you to resume the distance walking, which you obviously love, which I imagine had been on hold for some time before.
Well, here we are, stinking cold to boot, Aussie springtime a long way behind us.... the same northerly blast as UK about to hit here this weekend, Mr P has taken himself by surprise (essential) & cleaned & prepared the wood-burning cuisinière for service. Must root out the Damart undies...
Nor we have Ruthy! How many bloggers do you have in total now? Although we were all angry with the BBC it turns out they did us a favour - and how 🤗 When I first typed us it popped up as USA how spooky is that. Do you get involved with the USA Halloween celebrations Ruthy 🍊🕷☠
I have asked after Hamburg Gardener at least twice since she told us that she would not be posting ' for a while'. But without any response. Not sure exactly but certainly it is several months now, since that last post.
We have all become such good, if virtual, friends now, that it seems to me, legitimate to be concerned. I miss her.
Hamburg Gardener did respond a while back, busy, but read the blogs when she could. I think she expected to have more time to join in before the end of the year.
Lady R - I don’t join in any Halloween celebration. Could care less that kids wear store bought costumes of the popular superhero or little girls dressed as princesses. I always wanted to ask for the trick instead of giving out a treat and how the kids would react. The only good I see is that time change is delayed until after Halloween.
I don’t like Halloween which has only risen to prominence over the last few years in England. It has been marked in Scotland for quite a while though. It always seems now to be too close to November 5th when we remember the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes and co to blow up Parliament! I don’t think the kids have a trick up their sleevebut just want bucketloads of treats!
In the north east we had mischief night on 4 November when kids would rattle letter boxes and run away or steal dustbin lids in the old days of metal dust bins. I don’t remember participating but I heard people talking about it. It had probably already died out.
It was cold here this morning with a lovely blue sky. So we decided to go to the allotment to burn waste vegetation. The car pinged and told me it was 4 degrees and a snow flake appeared on the screen. Then it started to sleet so abandoned the allotment and came home to light a fire and read the papers and fritter away my time with Archerfans on the blog. Have a warm day everyone.
Cold but dry mid morning, I put out washing on the line. As soon as I came in the rain started and it hasn't stopped since. The forecast shows sun tomorrow. The washing can stay till late tomorrow afternoon.
Puss has been in and out several times today, but not for long each time.
I have missed some TA weekly episodes, at the moment so will catch up tomorrow, on the Sun. Omnibus, which I am looking forward to.
Archerphile. I saw something on-line, a couple of days ago, relating to visiting the UAE. This relates to the meds. which can be taken when visiting. A new "rule" seems to be happening, in that, it is necessary to fill in and then download a form, declaring all a person's meds.being taken in, as a lot are banned. I am sure your son will be able to tell you more, or just look at the Foreign Office website.
Thanks Miriam. Coincidentally, my son telephoned just this evening to tell me exactly that! He is sending me a link to download the new form. Between us Mr A and I take 11 different medicines, including 2 types of insulin for him. So it’s going to take a while to fill in the form! Ev - that’s bad news about the CoCodamol as it is one of my prescribed medications - for arthritic pain - I just have to take two at night, so perhaps I can get my GP to prescribe an alternative.
V nice Ruthy! PtbY 😁
ReplyDeleteWell here we are at Adelaide Airport - next leg under way. Still b....y raining.. warm & sunny in W A!
ReplyDeleteWould definitely recommend the Indian Pacific - v civilized, started the day with a Bucks Fizz & progressed from there! Several folk had booked a package Inc a ferry from Sydney via Melbourne, Adelaide , Hobart, Espérance then Perth where they picked up the train. Looking at the Ghan for a future trip, start saving now .. TTFN
Ah memories ruthy😊
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed parsley 16 for dryer weather for you.
The Tea Shop looks lovely.
ReplyDeleteI think it is great that another two of our Group manaaged to meet up.
I'm afraid that Benuga at Waterloo Station isn't in that league.
Agreed ! Spotless & enticing. A red bag, food & drink on the table, but where are the 2 ladies ? Not into selfies, I take it.....
DeletePanama hat, another bag, possibly a jacket next to the red bag, books, soup rather than drinks - all abandoned....I like a mystery.
DeleteParsley 6, I am really pleased you enjoyed your trip on the Ghan.
ReplyDeleteI have to say I was very disappointed because although the food and Service were excellent ,I thought the trip was so boring.
Perhaps I was expecting too much
It was desert followed by desert followed by more desert--Nullabor (no trees) Plain.
I hoped to see some animals but saw very few.
When we arrived at Cook it was the middle of the night and we walked to the little shop ,bought one or two mementoes and went back to the tram.
I have never been nor want to go on a Cruise Ship and I wonder if I am just a miserable old biddy who doesn't particularly enjoy fine dining (I would genuinely rather eat in Wetherspoon's than The Ivy -having eaten at both .
Be prepared on 3rd December ,this old girl isn't your typical elderly lady but then no doubt most of you knew that anyway.
I will be on my best behaviour though.
Please don't be, Lanjan ! I( probably'we') want you as you are!
DeleteI laughed at your comment Carolyn.
ReplyDeleteMy husband calls me a loose cannon.
He also says I am a typical teacher which I find insulting.
I think he means I am bossy.
Oh dear .
No LanJan the word you are looking for is assertive and nothing wrong with that !
DeleteHope no one stands on ceremony at the meeting. Got to be ourselves.
ReplyDeleteHate best behaviour.!!
No selfies on here. Thought people liked the mystery and didn’t want faces. Sorry to disappoint folks but it’s not soup it’s tea we had andthe table is abandoned cos with all the tea , I had to rush for a wee!!!!🤭
Ruthy sneaked the photo!!
Loving this google chrome at the mo. Still signed in and no problems.
Message understood Carolyn and P tbY.
Delete.
On a previous post PtbY said she had two Archers books for Ruthy so I presume the red bag & 2 books belong to Ruthy & the hat & coat belong to PtbY......or was the photo taken before the books were given :-))
ReplyDeleteRuthy + PtbY.
ReplyDeleteThank you both, for sharing, not only the photo, but your posts about your meeting. How lucky that you were both able to meet up.
I bet Ruthy, is even more of an "Archers" devotee, having met such one from the UK.
Yup - BTW - am working from home today nursing a bit of cold - so am able to keep up with posting. PtbY - are you enjoying day of museums? You must tell us what you got up to today - and nice that we are in the same time zone for another day :)
DeleteWell LanJan, I for one have not been and do not wish, to go on a cruise, although i did enjoy the Gloucester to Sharpness three day trip on The Edward Elgar.
ReplyDeleteI am also seen ( certainly by my family) as a loose cannon, and have always been labelled as bossy.
However one difference I detect, twixt you and me, is the Weatherspoons preference.
Oh ! And beer.
I don't dislike Weatherspoons, but would generally prefer something a little more elegant or chic, and cider rather than beer, if drinking.
However I would not want to eat at the Ivy either.
All that pretentious celebrity watching. Very tacky !
I've known and seen an awful lot of celebrities in my time, and a discreet nod of recognition is all that should be required.
As far as W'loo is concerned Benuga will be fine with me.
However I do remember your preferred venue in Putney, should we ever manage that and again am happy to comply.
I am so pleased that the meet up in the Montclair tea shop went well and personally don't mind the lack of faces.
Selfies also tacky IMO.
And yes CowGirl, agree, assertive. Me too. As well as opinionated.
I am the only one in our family who really likes Wetherspoons,Mrs P.
ReplyDeletebut when we meet in Putney as we will, I don't mind going elsewhere although in truth the W s in Putney by the river is nothing like a typical Wetherspoons.
(I heard the man ,who started the chain ,on Desert Island Discs and he sounded such a nice bloke)
I'm with you there LJ, and I've seen him on question time too.
DeleteDown to earth, speaks sense, and as you say, seems to be a really nice bloke.
Ruthy I love the photo - it’s just perfect. PtbY I believe you are coming to the December gathering so we’re going to meet Ruthy through you, if you see what I mean.
ReplyDeletePerhaps we can have other regional fan meetings if anyone is inclined - a north-east/Yorkshire one maybe?
Go for it Seasider. You can straddle more than one region.
DeleteOh, now I think about it I am straddling more than one region.
Met up with Stasia here in the SW, but still (semi) active in London.
I’m up for north east/Yorkshire meet anytime.
DeleteSo Ruthy, went to the museum of New York City and the Nicholas Roerich gallery/ museum yesterday.
New York one....very good.
Disappointed in the Roerich one. Was really going for a nosey round a brownstone but it was basically a shell with two old fireplaces in it. Wasn’t too thrilled with his paintings either. Shame.
Today I ended up wandering around upper east side for a bit with a walk in Central Park. Ate my sandwich in there before going down to the “dead rabbit” cocktail bar at the tip of Manhattan.
It had won best cocktail bar in the world two years in a row before, dropped slightly this year. Went last year but only the downstairs bar was open then. They then came over to England to do a pop up cocktail bar at claridges in London and I got to the last night of that. So finally made it there tonight.
Tomorrow. ..... the neu gallery hopefully to see the Klimt paintings.
Me too Seasider
DeleteRuthy, I do hope that you will be able to find an image of the Waterloo Station clock ready for our meet up at the beginning of December.
ReplyDeleteNo pressure of course.
LJ - have to disagree, the changing scenery on the trip was fascinating - even the Nullabor plain! Started off through the Perth hills & the Avon Valley, beautiful rolling countryside, & the desert had it's own fascination. Lucky enough to see kangaroos, wedge-tailed eagles + a group /mob of camels in the distance.
ReplyDeleteNow in Melbourne, Great Ocean Road tomorrow! bonne nuit
Ah now Parsley16, I did enjoy the Great Ocean Road .
DeleteWe started off very early in the morning and were out all day .
The poor driver must have been exhausted.
Went in a mini bus
Are you "doing" the Blue Mountains when up you go to Sydney?
Really enjoyed that trip too.
I am a very happy person tonight! After, yet another visit to the eye-clinic, I have found out that I do not have Glaucoma as such. The eye drops I was prescribed 5 weeks ago, are very effective. I am being booked in for cataract surgery on both my eyes. This is great news, as it will sort out the "bad" one, but the other eye, where a cataract is only just starting, will also be sorted, to keep my vision as perfect as possible. I am very delighted.
ReplyDeleteThat is good news Miriam.
DeleteI’m so pleased for you.
Me too Miriam - wonderful news 👁👁🤗
DeleteGosh, that's a relief, Miriam ! Much better news, glad to hear it.
DeleteLovely, Miriam! Jill did well after her cataract surgery and I’m sure you will as well!
DeleteThat's great, Miriam. I believe dealing with cataracts is usually straightforward. I think Rev. Patrick Brontë had the op, and no doubt it's come on a lot since his day!
DeleteI am loving all your tales of trips to OZ. I have never been, but I have family who live there.This was 5 years in Sydney, close to Bondi Beach, and are now in Melbourne. They are now thinking of relocating towards Brisbane, next year.
ReplyDeleteI have never been, but I have seen many photos + videos, via Wattsapp, (from other family members) of The Blue Mountains and The Great Ocean Road.
I wish I could summon up the courage, to face that long journey.
Very pleased to hear your news Miriam.
DeleteIf you really would like to go to Australia ,then I hope you
do manage to go.
You can break your journey either at Dubai or better still Singapore .
I am one of these strange people who enjoys travelling by plane.
Brisbane is a lovely city as is Sydney and Melbourne.
I still wear the shorts I bought from a stall on the Sunday morning market by the side of the river ,almost 20 years ago.
I only wear them when gardening now.
I still wear a wonderful straw hat I bought in Cuba, about 6 years ago, which I saw on a market stall in a little, country village. I saw it and loved it, and I queried the price as it was so cheap. The price suddenly went down! It cost me about £5.
DeletePtbY and Cowgirl, great! Might have to be in the spring for me as I’m a bit bogged down with repairs at the moment. We’ve had to book an extra week up here to get more done, and hopefully next time I am up here I can stay in my house albeit camping out a bit. Staying back in my hometown bythesea from tomorrow so at least I can enjoy the beach for another week in snatched moments. No WiFi though, so might be off air.
ReplyDeleteIs anyone having trouble with the bbc Archers tonight? I can’t access it on iplayer.
Did have trouble with iPlayer around 7.30, but it recovered about 15 mins later.
DeleteRuthy I expect you will be familiar with catbirds. I had never heard of them until today. Twitchers are descending on Cornwall in droves, some of them having driven throughout the night! One poor lonely little catbird has arrived all the way from America, probably blown here by storm Callum, and is now on a farm at Land's End. Shouldn't think it will be able to fly back!
ReplyDeleteIt’s amazing how on cruise ships when right out at sea, you can sometimes come across a tiny bird perched on a rail. I am convinced they look out for one to have a rest and maybe this will be so for the catbird so that he can get home again!
DeleteWe have a pair of swans down at the creek where I walk the dogs. They have raised seven cygnets which are currently increasingly white feathered amongst the grey. They are still very much a family although the cygnets are fully grown. It has been lovely to see their progress over the summer. I have also seen a heron and two eigrets down there not to mention the ubiquitous seagulls! I chatted to a man there today who had also spotted curlews and grebes. Of course there are also ducks!
Ev, we often see egrets near us, in the water meadows around Alresford, where they grow watercress. Somehow they seem rather exotic birds to find in inland Hampshire. There are often herons too, but I’m very anti-heron since the morning I caught one standing in our pond, having eaten all our goldfish and koi carp. The pond is now securely netted!
DeleteI googled egrets and the ones we see here are little egrets. They have a black bill which contrasts with the pure white plumage. I saw one again this morning as the tide was out in the creek and they love to hunt in the shallows. Apparently they are part of the heron family. The weather was perfect today with lots of sun. At night the stars have been very clear.
DeleteI had never heard of them until the news this evening Janice.
ReplyDeleteIt was said that the bird was so named because its Cry was like a cat. Well it didn't sound like a cat to me.
What did you think.
And have you ever seen one Ruthy ?
It sounded even less like a cat than Hilda, Peggy's cat does. It's obviously a very rare bird - catbird; sub species Hilda Ogden.
DeleteLike a crow with a sore throat maybe!
DeleteHow is your cold Ruthy? I have just recovered from one with a very dry cough attached towards the end of the 3 weeks I purchased a jar of Manuka honey and it really helped.....😀
ReplyDeleteFine by me Seasider, AS PtobY and I live up here permanently I suggest we leave it to you to make some recommendations in the spring.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear the house is in progress.
Miriam good to hear your news.
Ev , Curlews are my favourite bird. When I lived on the moors in the spring they used to dive bomb me as I walked to the car every morning, a warning to keep away from their nests. Sadly they are in serious decline, I haven't seen or heard any here this year.
Cowgirl,PtbY ,Seasider
ReplyDeleteThis time last year I had a short Break in Goathland.
I might be wrong but I think that the three of you have homes in the Whitby area.
I am about 8 miles from Whitby, Seasider is about 15 miles further up the coast and if I remember rightly PtbY's nearest beach is Scarborough 15 miles or so in the other direction, so all fairly close.
DeleteGoathland is a lovely part, did u go on the train ? I am taking my great niece and nephew to see Santa on the train, a moment to enjoy.
Yes I did go to Whitby on the North Yorkshire Railway.,Cowgirl
DeleteI have a connection with that Railway.
Oops sorry Lan Jan I forgot, was it your son who was a volunteer on the line ?
DeleteI was brought up in Pickering so know the railway well. I moved all of 3 mile away just over 20yrs ago. So you see I’ve only recently got the travel bug in the last 3 yrs.
DeleteHAH. 2:11am. Ha ha. Very witty at that time in the morning. I was fast asleep.
ReplyDeleteWe had a phone call last night from my partner's Aunt eager to tell us about the catbird. It is not unusual for migrating birds to end up in Cornwall, blown in by severe winds. I have seen catbirds in the US and an American Robin in Cornwall. Needless to say it is much bigger than our little variety. We didn't go to Cornwall specifically to spot this Robin, but as we were wearing binoculars other bird watchers were eager to tell us where it was sitting.
On a visit to Cormwall we once decided to bird spot on the Hayle estuary and a man approached us to ask if we were there to see the Green winged Teal, as we had never heard of this bird and couldn't tell one Teal from another, he spotted it. He had driven all the way from Norfolk just to see a bird!!
Some of these really dedicated twitchers will travel hundreds of miles to see a bird, even if it is as common as muck in its country of origin.
Janice: Yes catbirds are regular in my area. They have a call that actually sound like a cat. It's one of the easier birds I can recognize by their calls. The other obvious one is the bluejay. Very screechy and annoying. They are the last ones to leave this area.
ReplyDeleteI am behind in responding still recovering from cold and now attending a short conference in Philadelphia.
ReplyDeleteMrsP - Waterloo Station - what was the name of that movie?
Miriam - great news!
LadyR - I will try honey for my lingering cold. It's been a stressful week from work. I will be home tonight back in my own cozy bed.
PtbY - hope you made it home without much delay in your travels.
Was it 'Brief Encounter'?
DeleteThere must be something about railways and the north of England because several films about railways are made there?
DeleteThere are ,I think ,some short factual films about a day in the life of Waterloo Station but that lovely film -Brief Encounter - with the haunting music was filmed at Carnforth Station in Lancashire and of course "The Railway Children' was filmed on the Settle and Carlisle Railway in Yorkshire.
The North Yorkshire Railway featured in the Harry Potter films.
Are any of you doing what Giles Brandreth suggested and learning a poem for Christmas?
The members of the Reading Group I attend are attempting to do just that .
My poem is Night Mail by WH Auden.
Ruthy, just google Waterloo Station or Waterloo station clock.
ReplyDeleteAny number of images as well as much information.
G'day! Great Ocean Road was superb. More tourists than anticipated however. Must be dreadful high season. Early start then beautiful weather, just hazing over mid afternoon. Such a dramatic coastline, what a monument to those men. Excellent driver (minibus) v droll - tale of cockatoos getting drunk on fermented grain, ripping up the local tennis court... Pint in the Mitre tomorrow, one of Melbourne's oldest buildings, ttfn
ReplyDeleteWill you be going on the Neighbours set tour, Parsley ? It’s something I would have to do if I ever went to Melbourne. I’ve just been watching today’s episode and it’s always so beautifully sunny there! I’m a bit ashamed to say I have watched Neighbours ever since it first started in the UK over 30 years ago when my teenage children were fans, and I still keep up with it now!
DeleteMy family, who reside near to Melbourne, just hate the climate, as it is so very British!!
DeleteGardeners Question Time from the New Forest this afternoon.
ReplyDeleteHelp!
ReplyDeleteJosh and Jill are not the only ones......
I have just walked into the kitchen to find a small fox lying on the settle.
It had got in through the cat flap.
We did have a cat flap which only allowed Percy and Poppy in but she wouldn't / couldn't use it so after weeks of trying to force her Mr LJ dismantled the bit which would only allow the two cats in and for several years this has worked-until now.
I am in panic mode now.
My plan is to get another one like the original and if Poppy doesn't use it then she will have to stay in until we let her out.
Mr LJ is not panicking .
I am all for going out tomorrow morning and getting one from a local shop rather than doing what I would normally do and order from Amazon .
I would go out now if I could drive in the dark but it couldn't be fixed tonight anyway.
Trouble is we can't cover the flap up tonight because Percy (not brought up by us!) comes and goes when he pleases and if he isn't in when we go to bed I need to keep the flap
Get Mr LJ to pee round the back door, that should keep the fox away. He will need to do it a few times till the fox has got the message. I.m afraid it has to be male urine.
DeleteSounds unpleasant but it does work
PS if you go on Amazon you can get other deterrents for long term use both ultrasonic and sprays etc
DeleteWas the fox having a snooze? Did it leave when you asked? Could it have been a fugitive suspect in the notorious Ambridge poultrycide case?
DeleteI kept cat-flap closed after first cat died to prevent other cats coming in. There are foxes around. Hedgehogs used to wander into houses if they found doors open. What about a flap controlled by cat's collar? I bought one but cat didn't like wearing a collar.
I'm boycotting Amazon until they start paying their tax properly. I don't think they've noticed yet though.
DeleteCat flaps are a major problem, but it depends entirely on the cat. My pusscat will not wear a collar, nor adapt to a "micro-chip" reader one (due to the mechanism slight noise)
ReplyDeleteI now have a very basic one - but at least pusscat is happy + content. That is most important to me.
LanJan I am so sorry for you finding the fox in your kitchen.
ReplyDeleteAnd acknowledge your distress and hope that you find a solution quickly.
I would endorse CowGirl in suggestion of male urine around back door. Unpleasant to live with the smell but needs must.
My pusscat, used to a cat flap in his previous home has very quickly come to terms with needing to ask to go out or to come in. He now comes home around 9.30 ten o'clock in the evening without needing to be called in, most nights.
As far as the fox is concerned, whilst sympathising with you, I also envy you.
I would probably try to turn my guest into a semi pet. ( though I do realise that it would not be appropriate in suburban London )
When I lived in Malmesbury I had toads hopping around the house much of the time. Unfortunately the hedgehogs never graced our hospitality by coming inside.
PS - to Mr LJ - first early morning pee best. Though late tonight should be a good start.
DeleteThank you all very much.
DeleteI have told Mr LJ what he is to do !
Also I have reordered the original cat flap -microchip which we butchered before.
Percy will be able to go in and out .
Poppy may learn but if not she will just have to wait until we open the door for her.
She was off colour two days ago and hid in Mr LJs wardrobe -door was slightly open-overnight having first tipped everything off his bedside cabinet !
Had she seen the fox then?
Added to this she is wearing a collar because she keeps scratching at a sore .
(This after costly trips to the vet for antibiotics,creams,consultation etc.)
Collar was too small so I have made her two more!
Pure lambs wool
Sleeves from a cardigan.
I have told Percy to come in at 9.30 .as I want to shut them both in tonight.
Do you know we had our Tom for 17 years .
No bother
Once a year check up.
H at H
It was lying on the settle(actually a church pew) and did get off when I went in.
Oddly enough I saw what I thought was Sasha cat from two doors away dash out of the kitchen yesterday but now I realise who it probably was.
Mr LJ has promised to do his duty if only to keep me quiet.
I could have a cat flap for our two dogs as they are both quite small but we have foxes in the neighbourhood and hear them barking at night. I love animals but do not like them at all. Have heard too many stories like the demise of Jill’s hens! I would be horrified to find one in the house!
DeleteHope Mr LJ will step up to the plate and do his duty! Hope it works!
DeleteAll this talk about the problems associated with keeping animals makes me rather glad we took a conscious decision, about 5 years ago, to stop keeping cats. Having always had at least one moggy in our family, and adoring cats, we finally had enough of losing them on the main road outside our cottage, or having them disappear into the countryside surrounding us, never to be seen again.
ReplyDeleteWe really do miss having a puss to share our home but until/unless we move to a less dangerous location, we feel it unfair to keep an animal.
So it’s just goldfish in the garden pond and regular visits from wild rabbits, the odd muntjac deer and next door’s pedigree felines using our garden as a toilet for the time being!
Ré animals- lost our 4 hens in a TA type incident to a fouine (polecat) last July while we were away. Distressing. Also now down to just one cat.. We've decided to keep it that way for a while to enable us to travel more now I'm retired.
ReplyDeleteOz wildlife updates - koalas !! king parrots, rosellas..
V interesting few days in Melbourne, great Victorian architecture, explored the National Gallery - Australian artists. Eating Italian tonight, St Kilda tomorrow if it's fine (Melbourne is renowned for its British weather) then the airport tomorrow evening ..
So Parsley and PTBY will be back home soon. Have enjoyed reading about your travels! After my husband retired we travelled extensively and I have many happy memories of those years notably in Nepal where we did elephant safaris and travelled by Yeti Air within the country. We flew past Everest one day. Also we went on the Rocky Mountaineer in Canada followed by an Alaskan cruise. Our last long haul was to Vietnam and Cambodia where we met local people who had gone through a lot but in spite of that we’re welcoming and friendly. Oh, and we enjoyed the USA where we did an Eastern tour from NY to Washington then flew to San Francisco and did a Western tour. We managed three visits to New Orleans staying with friends there. We became great fans of New Orleans jazz and subsequently did several jazz holidays in Portugal and Malta. I could go on but urge everyone finances and health permitting to get out there to see our wonderful world and when travels are over no one can take your memories away! Nowadays I am happy with my art holiday in Italy and for the second year Christmas in Tenerife. Next year Katy and I will have a week or so in Devon where we can take the dogs who will enjoy chips on the beach especially Gypsy who is the greediest dog ever!
Delete..we’re welcoming and friendly! Welcome home, parsley and ptby when you set foot on Blighty again!
DeleteThat should be WERE
DeleteUpdate on Josh's mate
ReplyDeleteIt doesn't rain...........
Percy didn't come in at bedtime to we left the cat flap unlocked .
At about midnight we were woken up by a 'phone call from a man wanting to speak to Mr LJ about a map !???
I couldn't get back to sleep after that and about half an hour later I saw -and smelt -an animal in the room.
My hero Mr LJ got up and I followed.
Both cats were in and were just curious.
Fox ignored them
We live in a bungalow and managed to close all the doors except the outside one and eventually Mr LJ with the help of a brush got rid of it.
After a cuppa we went back to bed and the usually unsociable Poppy spent the rest of the night on my bedside cabinet for the first time ever.
Hoping to get the new cat flap today.
"It is on its way " say Amazon!
Mr LJ has NOT done his duty yet but promises he will.
I blame Josh.
Mr LJ I am disappointed in you. I am sure it would have solved the problem. It sounds like the fox has been encouraged by other humans. I would suggest that you get some sort of deterrent other than your new cat flap, just to keep it out of the garden. You certainly don't want it to make a habit of coming to visit.
DeleteTo change the subject.
ReplyDeleteParsley 16,I wondered if you visited Donovan's in St Kilda when you were in Melbourne.
Wonderful restaurant.
Like CowGirl I suspect that this young fox has become used to being with humans.
ReplyDeleteIn my experience a fox will try to ' get close ' to human habitation, perhaps out of curiosity, but remains cautious and will retreat if challenged in any way.
You really are having a rough time with animals this year LanJan.
I am sorry.
And yes Mr LJ, get on with it. Please overcome the embarrassment factor for the sake of our friend, bossy Lancashire Janet.
I would like to share the following, because it is so rare.
ReplyDeleteI went to sleep last night, soon after going to bed.
I slept through the night. I think I may have woken, briefly, once.
I woke at about 7.30 and felt that I had actually had a good nights sleep and felt refreshed.
I got up !
It is now around 11.30
This is the time that I am usually trying to drag myself into wakefulness.
And now I am going for a walk.
Well done Mrs P. Keep looking for that dog, I am sure it will help.
DeleteGlad you had this rare experience, Mrs P, & hope you have many more nights like that. What a difference a good, healthy sleep at the right time for the body, makes.
DeleteGood-oh! I don't suppose you've figured out HOW you did it? Share the secret if so!
DeleteOh Mrs P I am so envious.
ReplyDeleteHowever apparently the new cat flap should arrive before 9pm so may be things will improve when it has been put on.
I think I will wait until that has been done before I nag Mr LJ again to do his duty.
I was heartened when I saw that the fox ignored the cats.
Apparently my 96 year old friend's cat is friendly with a fox.
The cat waits outside for it.
I want a quiet afternoon now.
Poor Mr LJ! A lifetime of being conditioned into using the loo followed by wife nagging him to do it on the doorstep! I had a neighbour who pee ed into his compost heap swearing it made a big difference! He always waited for nighttime though! I think that fox would have eaten my dogs as they are not much bigger than a chicken! One of our neighbours, across the road mercifully for us, does feed them and I think one of the attractions is food more so than human company.
DeleteUrine is excellent for the garden, one of the best ways is to pee on a bale of straw.
DeleteIn my fields you can tell where the cows have peed as the grass is much greener and lusher.
A hungry fox will take a cat too in extreme circumstances, when I lived in London many years ago I almost lost one of my cats to a fox, just happened to be there at the right time
Great excitement here.
ReplyDeleteI am tacking the new Cat flap which is being delivered from Amazon.
A quarter of an hour ago it was 16 stops away.
Now it is only 8!
The delivery driver is just down the road and has been for a while now.
Mr LJ says he is probably ready when he arrives to use the bathroom but if so I should direct him to the back step.
I meant to say I am tracking not tacking.
ReplyDeleteHe is only 5stops away so I reckon if I go to the door I could see him.
He has been in our road for ages.
If you have ever used Uber you can see the little car coming up the road .
It is magic.
I love it.
😁😁 good for Mr LJ ! He clearly knows how to cope with life's knotty problems with humour & aplomb. Good luck with the cat flap.
DeleteDespite the loss of Beatrix Hen, we still mourn her, I try not to entertain negative feelings towards foxes, they need to eat like all creatures & must admit to some envy( like Mrs P) at the thought of a fox snuggling down at your fireside, as it were.
So often though they kill and don’t eat the result as witness Jill’s hens. I knew a farmer who lost a whole litter of piglets with their bodies just strewn around. It’s very strange as most animals do kill to eat. I came to regard the beautiful Impala in Africa as the lions’ larder!
DeleteLJ - maybe St Kilda tomorrow, will look for Donovan's, good luck with the cat flap, necessary unfortunately. bonne nuit xx
ReplyDeleteThe latest about the fox.
ReplyDeletePlease feel free to ignore .
When I was washing up at lunchtime I saw the fox on the patio asleep.
Mr LJ was watching the football and when it had finished I asked him to take a look at it which he did and it was dead!
The flies had started to come.
Gosh foxes do smell.
Well I wanted it gone but I didn't expect that .
I hope it just lay down for a rest and that was that.
A hole has been dug and the fox has been buried
RIP
I now have the new cat flap and have to persuade Mr LJ that it is necessary.
Maybe -hopefully-there is not quite the rush to put it in.
To be honest I think a period of silence may be a good idea in this house .
I feel drained.
If I hadn't decided to have a sober October I might have had a G and T this evening
I think I might still do so.
Thank you all .
I think LJ that it must have been the same fox, unlikely to have two different animals hanging around the same house.
DeleteSeveral things occur to me.
Perhaps someone has been feeding it, and has included poison.
Perhaps it knew it was ill and was seeking comfort ( ! ? ) or at the very least shelter.
Has it perhaps been hanging around another house, or entering, and been given a kicking or clobbering.
I suppose you will never know, but you can now dine out on the tale of the fox who came for a sleep.
Maybe you should return the cat flap since Percy will not use it anyway.
And I think you deserve that G&T.
Oh ! And well done Mr LJ for dispensing with it.
A relief, I know, but sad. For goodness sake, Lanjan, forget rash decisions & enjoy your g n' t !
DeleteAm enjoying it as I type Carolyn.
DeleteRather strong and do I care?
Not at all.
Oh how grateful I am to Ruthy for allowing me to get all this off my chest .
Feeling a bit maudling though.
I took a photo of the poor animal yesterday sleeping on the settle before I shoed it off
I hope it wasn't poisoned .
It looked peaceful when it was lying down.
I was just worried for the cats .
(Mr LJ is reading the instructions for the new cat flap installation.)
Cats and foxes.
ReplyDeleteLiving for twenty years on the very edge of Putney Heath ( Wimbledon Common)
we lived beside foxes and badgers. Not everybody on estates disposes of their household rubbish responsibly so the foxes would turn up for supper most evenings.
My cat Simba, large, longcoated ginger tabby, liked to sit out the front before bed, patrolling the foxes. On several occasions if I had the front door open, the fox would stop, look interested and now and again approach the door, obviously with the intention of entering.
Simba would sit still and wait until the fox was about two foot away, then leap up and chase it off. Never did any fox attempt to do anything other than run.
Fast !
Beautiful!
DeleteParsley16.
ReplyDeleteMy niece, her partner plus two lovely cats, lived in an appartment in St.Kilda, before relocating to Sassafras.
Enjoy your hols,
It sounds fascinating.
Malheureusement St Kilda will have to wait for the next time.. taxi arrives in 30m to take us to the airport..
ReplyDeleteI wonder how Mr LJ. is progressing with the new cat flap.
ReplyDeleteI wait in eager anticipation, to hear the tale, from Lanjan. 😀😺😺
Thank you for asking ,Miriam.
ReplyDeleteI have been out today and nothing has been done but now that the fox is not around any more I think Mr LJ probably thinks there is no rush.
I am out tomorrow too but maybe Tuesday .............
I did not wish the fox dead and would have been happy if it had just left this house and garden alone but I have to say I am relieved that it isn't still coming in.
Having seen it ,I don't think it would have hurt the cats - it was searching for food I expect but there was an article in The Times which said that the "cat killer" in I think Croydon was found to be a fox.
Also Poppy had been very upset earlier this week and took to hiding in Mr LJs wardrobe and I wonder if it had been in then and we hadn't seen it
The other thing about a fox in the house is the smell which we noticed before we saw it and wondered what it could be.
Yes LJ, you did mention Poppy's retreat to the wardrobe earlier last week. I reckon your right, it had been coming in for several days and you hadn't been around to see it.
DeleteI’m home now and jiggered. Just fallen to sleep through strictly so I don’t know who got voted off. Sean or vick. Not that I care for either of them.
ReplyDeleteHad a lovely holiday but glad to be back in my own bed.
Welcome back, PtbY. I don't think you've missed anything important!
DeleteWelcome home. Did Mr PtbY watch the American football game played in London?
DeleteLanjan, if Poppy is still upset try Feliways spray or plug-in diffuser. Expensive but worth it.
ReplyDeleteR&r at Dubai Int Hotel, wonderful long soak! Now off for coffee & pain aux raisins, home tomorrow! Expecting a dose of the sulks from our ginger cat..
ReplyDeleteOh Parsley, could you just give my son and his family a wave while you are in Dubai? 😄
DeleteThanks to everyone who recommended I get a smart phone and What’sapp by the way. Using them has been brilliant and I am getting lots of messages, photos and videos from Dubai. They have been moving into their new house over the weekend after their (huge) container arrived last week. I have had a conducted video tour of the house done by youngest grandson, Elliot aged 7. He can see the Burj Kalifa tower from his bedroom which he was thrilled to show me, but the rest of the video was mainly of his feet going up and down stairs as he had the tablet tilted downwards all the time 😂.
Great excitement was had when they finally unpacked all the family’s bikes and went for an evening ride along the seafront promenades with all the brilliant illuminations on and I ‘went with them’ via the video! ( had to be in the evening as it is cool enough then)
Thank you HaH .
ReplyDeleteI will bear that in mind.
At the moment Poppy is calm but wants either to be with us (she was always a cat who preferred her own company ) or not sit at ground level.
She spent much of last night on our bed and on my bedside cabinet.
She hasn't got as far as sitting on knees yet though .
Poor Poppy has spent the past few months wearing a collar because she kept scratching and licking a sore .
She has put up with that and seems to have got used to her customised lambs wool collar.
(Percy would spend his life on Mr LJ's knee if he could.)
Good luck with your ginger cat ,Parsley16.
The sulks won't last long.
.....& then, he'll be all over you like a rash. Had that with a previous cat. He'd scamper up, remember he was cross & it was silk time, but could only keep it up for an hour or so. The current two skip the sulk stage...
DeleteHave really enjoyed reading your travelogues, PtbY & Parsley, what exciting & varied experiences you've had. Thanks for keeping in touch, but I bet it's good to be home now.
Oh to be home to a proper cup of tea......
DeleteSo looking forward to seeing our Merry again - our big boy, il nous manque. Don't worry the sulks don't last long! AP, we're waving from Cadiz tapas bar in the Dubai terminal, slightly out of body experience, helped along by bottle of wine 1/2 price!
DeleteOh for a proper brew though.. but good attempt the Aussies..!
DeleteJust hearing the call to prayer - absolutely beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYes, isn’t it. My d.i.l. Sent me a video taken outside the mosque near to where they live, just so I could hear the beautiful sounds. The architecture was incredible too, with the mosque all floodlit in blue and gold lighting.
DeleteHave a safe flight home and put the kettle on as soon as you get in! ☕️
DeleteArcherphile. It is so lovely that you have seen + heard, via a video, what you will soon see + experience yourself, in January. It is not that too long away now.
DeleteYes, thank you Miriam. I’m getting lots of previews before our trip and am able to keep up with all the boys news - so once again, thanks to my Archerblog friends for persuading me to invest in a smartphone!
DeleteRuthy.... no, mr PtbY didn’t watch the AMERICAN football from London. He’s made up for it watching every other blooming match. 🤮
ReplyDeleteStill catching up on laundry. Been too nice to iron today......tidied garden instead. Mountain of ironing now appearing. Took a basket to father in laws on Sunday to do whilst there......he had an airer full to iron so ended up doing his!!!
I’m almost hoping for rain tomoz so I have no excuse and will have to iron.
Hope your colds nearly better Ruthy and that all fellow archer bloggers are staving off the dreaded lergy’s.
Flu jabs for me and Mr A tomorrow, so hope you are right about avoiding any lergies this winter PtbY. Good luck with the ironing , perhaps you could tune into a good radio play to ease the load along.
ReplyDeleteOoh. Archerphile.....you’ve just reminded me.....I have all the last Charles parish to listen to.
ReplyDeleteQuite excited about ironing now!! 😊👍
PtbY - what ironing are you doing? I hardly have any ironing to do these days. Normally just touch up on what comes out of the drawer and closet.
ReplyDeleteThis is wierd. I accidentally signed out on my iPad and can not get back in, but able to sign in on my iPhone just keep mis-typing on small screen ( I think they’re both on the same update) Sometimes I feel technology doesn’t like me 😬
ReplyDeleteOthers have trouble signing in also. So not just you. But am glad you can get on if only on a small screen.
DeleteI’ve got to admit Ruthy that I iron everything except socks and my underwear. I know people will think I’m daft but I can’t stand creased things. And yes I iron towels and tea towels......everything.
ReplyDeleteMe too PtbY.
DeleteI am afraid I iron underwear too.
And I do other people's ironing for my pocket money Ruthy.
DeleteIroning is a most satisfying task.
Me also - everything is always neatly ironed, can’t bear creased sheets or duvet cover .... even ironed Mr A’s underpants this morning, but I don’t suppose you wanted to know that!
DeleteI am so impressed with the ironing of everything!
DeleteI'm not! It's weird!
DeleteRe...signing in. I’ve had no trouble at all since using google chrome as my browser. Keeps me signed in and I have both pages open on the main chrome page. Dead easy to use.
ReplyDeleteI used to iron everything including dishcloths, even in the days that I used a flat iron on the aga, not any more, too conscious of the need to conserve our energy usage. everything is smoothed out and once clothes are on the body the heat removes the creases. I do iron my cotton sheets as they feel better, but that is about it and feel guilty about that.
ReplyDeleteI only iron essentials and try and do it when the solar panels are generating.
DeleteDishcloths!?
DeleteI'm in bootgums' corner on this topic, as everyone will guess from a previous discussion. We will stand proud, clothing crumpled , clutching dishcloths, scrumpled.
DeleteSales of trouser-presses are declining.
So much for boasting we were going for our flu jabs yesterday. When we arrived at the surgery (necessitating a 15 mile round trip) we were told they had no vaccine, due to a countrywide shortage, and that they’d contact us when some came in ....probably late November!
ReplyDeleteI know surgeries are busy these days but a quick phone call would have saved us the petrol!
Re flue jabs :
DeleteYet again for the second year I was told by my surgery that appointments for flue jabs were available on Saturday mornings only.
I do not wish to go into town on a busy Saturday morning.
Last year I walked into Boots and was given an appointment half an hour later.
I went off to do a bit more shopping, then returned for my flue jab without any problems.
Last week, two days after being told only Saturday mornings, during my appointment for my Vitamin B12 injection the nurse asked if I would also like my flue jab now.
I of course agreed there and then.
I too know that surgeries are very busy, but a bit of joined up thinking from reception would be good too.
My flu jab was due last Wed but at least I got a phone call the day before to say sorry out of the vac, new appointment for the 6th Nov when I will also have the Shingles vac. Be good to get both done at the one appointment. Such variations as to how different Practices go about the Vac appointments. Mine gives out Saturday dates but you can also book. The last two years I have used Boots too and that was an easy bookable process.
DeleteWe had our shingles jabs a couple of years ago (at same time as the flu jab). I was particularly pleased to be offered the shingles one as earlier that year my sister-in-law had a dose of shingles which made her very ill and she was in a lot of pain for months, all through the summer. She still gets associated pain two years later.
DeleteHowever I declined the vaccination for pneumonia - also known as ‘the old man’s friend’. Both my Dad and elderly brother died from pneumonia after months of suffering with dementia and other medical problems. I thought that I might welcome a dose of pneumonia at the end of my life, so will not have the jab. I know this sounds a bit morbid but having witnessed the prolonged suffering of my relatives I know that the lung infection ended things quite quickly and easily for them.
With you there Archerphile on the pneumonia jab refused mine too. My sister succumbed to it, saved her a very unpleasant death with cancer. So hoping it might save me too !!!
DeleteGot final load of holiday washing done this morning. Phew.
ReplyDeleteNow downloading 935 photos onto my lap top to go through, edit and name. Little project there to keep me going for a week or two.
I do keep some on my phone because when I can’t sleep I like to look at them.
Just think in the days of film cameras you would never have taken that many photos on holiday. Thinking back now to when I was a kid..... out of the 36 pictures on a roll of film half of them would come back with heads chopped off or blurred. It was my mother’s speciality. !!
Remember well the 36 films PTBY - the excitement of the pick up to find that often only a handful worth keeping. 😂
DeleteI love my photos and use a digital camera (with a massive zoom lens) rather than my 'phone. I love this as I can edit the photos, deleting all the duff ones, and then get them printed. The cost is so cheap in comparison to the 35mm film days.
DeleteI still like my photos "on paper".
Eee, when I were a lass, we only 'ad 8 pictures on a roll of film . . .
DeleteReally! I imagine you ladies as in your 50's at most 😂
DeletePoldark season 4 has finally come to the US. It is being shown weekly on PBS, our local public tv station. I just watched Dr. Enys and Caroline's 3 month old baby died. Finding some of the story line repetitive - feud between Poldark and Warleggan is getting a little tiresome. Though I just love the beach and cliff scenes. And will continue to watch to the last episode.
ReplyDeleteWho will be interested to pay to watch Lynda's "Drama". I don't feel it will appeal to many, but then what do I know.
ReplyDeleteShe hasn't considered the likes of Poppy, Mia, George, Keira,
Henry, Jack, etc. who will have to go to Felpersham, to see their Christmas Panto, at a cost to their parents.
PS, This is a duplicate, in a different way, as to a post on the other site.
All my family, from young to old, love playing board games + cards together.. It is always very much fun, and the entire family are interacting and enjoying the company - age doesn't matter.
ReplyDeleteI am waiting for a cribbage lesson from Big Sis. I have a cribbage board, but I have forgotten how to play this card game. It won't take me long to refresh my memory.
A card game, which again all the 3 generations play together, is UNO (originally from America) and it gets very competative, from young to old.
I have been busy over the past few days and have only just noticed the comments about flu jabs.
ReplyDeleteI didn't realise that over 65s were different types
There appears to be a shortage of those.
About a fortnight ago I walked into our local chemist and he did it there and then.
Re the shingles jab.
Apparently they cost £100 each and I think they are only available to people between the ages of 70-80 but if you are 76 or 77 you can't have one.
Well not quite LanJan.
DeleteThe shingles jab is being introduced in the same way as new kinds of inoculation is introduced to teenagers and children.
Those of us up to the age of 74 I think are legible along with those of 80 and above. Those of us in between 74 and 80 will be eligible when we get to 79.
I cannot be absolutely sure of those year numbers, but I hope you get the gist.
That is, it's being rolled out from the earliest age and from the latest age towards the middle. At some point we in the middle will become eligible.
If you were to visit your local surgery you will be able to see a poster explaining properly. Better than I have now I've read what I have written.
Initially you could only get it if you were 70 or 79 so the range has widened!
Deleteflu jab.
DeleteI was at a patients participation group meeting, apparently the supplies are all coming from one supplier this year and instead of all coming in September there is a roll out programme for Sept, Oct and November, so no shortage just a longer time span.
Ever since being part of the NHS when a young nurse in the fifties, it has been my belief that we had a National ILL Service not a National Health Service.
DeleteHOWEVER this has changed and the NHS has done a great deal towards promoting proactive health care in recent times.
It seems clear to me that various schemes aimed at preventing distressing conditions across the board from childhood illnesses to conditions that are particularly difficult to treat in the older population, are being rolled out with considerable planning at the source.
I think it incumbent upon us to trust the health authorities in how they do this, and try not to criticise, or to give false information.
Public Health is one of the most important aspects of civilised society.
I do take the time to notice and understand the literature available to be aware of what is planned and how it will be instigated.
I am prepared to wait until I am closer to eighty before I am eligible for the shingles jab, and understand why I need to wait.
Thank you CowGirl for adding to our knowledge with that information.
I will continue to keep my fingers crossed that I do not become a victim of shingles before I am eighty.
Mrs P and others 😀 the NHS site says :-
Delete"The Shingles vaccination is not available on the NHS to anyone aged 80 or over because it seems to be less effective in this age group"
So be sure to get yours as near to that as possible, which currently is 78 I believe.
Lanjan have I missed your Birthday? Not sure of the actual date but I'm sure I can recall you being more to the end of October to my own earlier date (and therefore a "Scorpio" as opposed to my "Libra pair of scales" 🤗"
ReplyDeleteAnyway warm wishes for when it is (or was) 🍰🍷💐
Thank you ,Lady R
ReplyDeleteYou are right.I am a Scorpio.
I am not "well balanced " like you and Mr LJ whose birthday is the day before yours.
Mine was on Tuesday but one way and other the whole week has been busy including a visit to the dentist yesterday in London when not only was there a rail strike but also signal failure.
Lovely day here and am taking it easy
Am still in summer clothes but I gather the cold weather is on its way
Lanjan the Daily Mail tv mag says the last day of Libra is Oct 23rd🤔 not that I read my fate these days 😂 and Mags can vary - either way you are on the cusp! Well fancy Mr LJ birthday being the day before mine! Is he indecisive on the small matters in life too.....
Delete(I'm sure he is a most charming gentleman 😉)
Cold here in Hampshire today, or maybe just me. However it has been sunny and exhilarating to be out in.
I am a definite Scorpio,Lady R.
DeleteMr LJ and I are chalk and cheese.
He isn't the indecisive one.
I used to be indecisive but now I'm not so sure-boom boom.
Like they say Lanjan " The old ones are the best" 👏 😂
DeleteLanJan - happy birthday - we are wearing Fall/Winter coats here in New Jersey. Night's have been down to low 30's (F). The day's are still warm though. Very nice autumn weather so far. And it is a lovely day here as well.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ruthy.
DeleteBirthdays seem to come round a lot quicker than they used to nowadays.
This time last year I was in North Yorkshire and of course visited Whitby.
It was not as warm as it is this year.
Ruthy.
ReplyDeleteHere in the UK, there is an Artic Blast due this weekend:- strong cold winds, low temparatures, possible frosts/ice, and snow in Scotland, and high ground in Yorkshire + N.Wales.
The "winter woollies", socks, gloves, scarf, Winter padded jacket, warm fleece-lined boots, will be making an appearance.
Stay warm and safe everyone in the north country!
DeleteThe sun is still shining here in Gloucestershire today, though not so evident yesterday on my first leg of the Ridgeway walk with friends, which went all to plan.
ReplyDeleteWe were wrapped up, but not excessively so, and were not at any time cold.
We made a good pace and my friend with very compromised lungs managed extremely well, and was able to do our four mile stint without difficulty.
I will test him on another four miles on the next leg, then extend the mileage little by little.
I am so pleased to have at long last made this first start on this medium length track
and my seven month old new knee held up brilliantly.
That's very encouraging, Mrs P. & well done you, for pushing yourself to, literally, the ' extra mile'. It's great that the opportunity. enables you to resume the distance walking, which you obviously love, which I imagine had been on hold for some time before.
DeleteMeant 'operation', not 'opportunity', of course !!
DeleteMrsP - very impressive!
DeleteWell done Mrs P.
DeleteI'm quite jealous MrsP, my new hip would cope but the other one definitely wouldn't
DeleteI am very impressed Mrs P. If I can do half as well as you in 7 months time on my new hip I shall be well pleased!
DeleteWell, here we are, stinking cold to boot, Aussie springtime a long way behind us.... the same northerly blast as UK about to hit here this weekend, Mr P has taken himself by surprise (essential) & cleaned & prepared the wood-burning cuisinière for service. Must root out the Damart undies...
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen any comments from Hamburg Gardener. Are you peeking in from time to time?
ReplyDeleteNor we have Ruthy! How many bloggers do you have in total now? Although we were all angry with the BBC it turns out they did us a favour - and how 🤗 When I first typed us it popped up as USA how spooky is that.
ReplyDeleteDo you get involved with the USA Halloween celebrations Ruthy 🍊🕷☠
I have asked after Hamburg Gardener at least twice since she told us that she would not be posting ' for a while'. But without any response.
ReplyDeleteNot sure exactly but certainly it is several months now, since that last post.
We have all become such good, if virtual, friends now, that it seems to me, legitimate to be concerned.
I miss her.
Hamburg Gardener did respond a while back, busy, but read the blogs when she could. I think she expected to have more time to join in before the end of the year.
DeleteA couple of weeks ago I left a message for Hamburg Gardener about my trip to her neck of the woods, where I was born.
DeleteLady R - I don’t join in any Halloween celebration. Could care less that kids wear store bought costumes of the popular superhero or little girls dressed as princesses. I always wanted to ask for the trick instead of giving out a treat and how the kids would react. The only good I see is that time change is delayed until after Halloween.
ReplyDeleteI don’t like Halloween which has only risen to prominence over the last few years in England. It has been marked in Scotland for quite a while though. It always seems now to be too close to November 5th when we remember the failed attempt by Guy Fawkes and co to blow up Parliament! I don’t think the kids have a trick up their sleevebut just want bucketloads of treats!
DeleteIn the north east we had mischief night on 4 November when kids would rattle letter boxes and run away or steal dustbin lids in the old days of metal dust bins. I don’t remember participating but I heard people talking about it. It had probably already died out.
DeleteWe used to knock on doors and run away, great fun in the dark.
DeleteThat used to be called knock down ginger, in my neck of the woods.
DeleteIt was cold here this morning with a lovely blue sky. So we decided to go to the allotment to burn waste vegetation. The car pinged and told me it was 4 degrees and a snow flake appeared on the screen. Then it started to sleet so abandoned the allotment and came home to light a fire and read the papers and fritter away my time with Archerfans on the blog.
ReplyDeleteHave a warm day everyone.
I had ice on my car this morning.❄
DeleteWe had a flurry of snow here in east Cheshire this morning. I did brave the garden this afternoon but spent most of it in the potting shed.
DeleteWest Cheshire is always slightly warmer thsn you in the East, so I was surprised to see ice this morn.
DeleteCold but dry mid morning, I put out washing on the line.
DeleteAs soon as I came in the rain started and it hasn't stopped since.
The forecast shows sun tomorrow.
The washing can stay till late tomorrow afternoon.
Puss has been in and out several times today, but not for long each time.
I have missed some TA weekly episodes, at the moment so will catch up tomorrow, on the Sun. Omnibus, which I am looking forward to.
ReplyDeleteArcherphile. I saw something on-line, a couple of days ago, relating to visiting the UAE.
This relates to the meds. which can be taken when visiting. A new "rule" seems to be happening, in that, it is necessary to fill in and then download a form, declaring all a person's meds.being taken in, as a lot are banned.
I am sure your son will be able to tell you more, or just look at the Foreign Office website.
Co -codamol is not allowed to be taken in in some countries.
DeleteThanks Miriam. Coincidentally, my son telephoned just this evening to tell me exactly that! He is sending me a link to download the new form. Between us Mr A and I take 11 different medicines, including 2 types of insulin for him. So it’s going to take a while to fill in the form!
DeleteEv - that’s bad news about the CoCodamol as it is one of my prescribed medications - for arthritic pain - I just have to take two at night, so perhaps I can get my GP to prescribe an alternative.
Starting new post.
ReplyDelete