Early Risers.

[Rugd1022]

4 hours ago, DaveF said:

It is very pleasing to hear the good news about Mrs NHN.

 

Reading about mosquitoes and diseases carried by insects, snakes, and other nasty animals makes me feel glad that I live in the UK.  Round here I think I am more likely to be drowned by a rogue wave or fall off a clifftop than be victim of an animal.  Even most of the local jellyfish do not produce very serious effects if stung by them - but I stll avoid them.

 

I am bit late this morning as I have been looking at an e mail from a cousin about a photo I sent her, she has identified a number of her mother's family so I can do some captions correctly.  The e mail was odd, the first few lines were written in invisible ink, the words only showed up when I highlighted them.

 

It is very grey here with the breeze off the sea, not cold but not very warm.  Even though the heating is turned down to its summer setting it came on this morning for a short while.

 

Today will probably include more photograph scanning, the current album only has anothe 200 photos to do, and possibly a bit of light gardening if it stays dry.

 

David

 

Reading your post Dave has reminded me to get off my Aris' and renew my search for some family photos which have been misplaced somewhere - they're probably buried deep inside a cardboard box as we're redecorating parts of the house but I'm buggered if I can find them! Its strange how the thought of losing some pieces of paper containing grainy images of moments long past can tug at the heartstrings, but some 'things' for want of a better word, are very precious indeed. There's one in particular photo of my sister and I in our old back garden in 1970, she's a mere babe in arms (she was born in May '69) sitting on a blanket on the grass while I'm nearby sitting proudly in my 'first car', a go-kart bought by Nan who came up from London to visit us.

 

 

 

 

[TheQ]

Uncle Ben's anything I wouldn't classify as food, wallpaper paste maybe.. They are very small portions as well, which is a surprise being an American brand..

 

We had a short heavy rain shower yesterday from about 17:00, but today it's been rain and drizzle all day. The verge mower has just been round , so visibility down the roads is much improved.

 

The temperature has dropped, which is probably why Ben took me for his full long walk..

 

Spent much of the day working on the format of next this year's club accounts, adding a quarterly set of figures to the monies " to date".. Was struggling with adding one more set of figures, but of course now I'm sat on the sofa, the answer popped into brain. Luckily the first quarter doesn't need two sets of figures, so that's long since done and starting to fill up. Also have been reorganising the files into annual folders, there were 8 years of files in one lot..

 

Lots of rats round here, keeping the undergrowth down is a major continuous task..

 

The man from the house of strong ladies has just been, I now have a pack of sticky numbers for the opening hours.. also various tools and bits of tubular plastic , for muddling both at the radar museum,  and on unmentionables,   

 

[Hroth]

 

Speaking of the Strong Ladies, for some reason an order I placed yesterday morning has been dispatched by Royal Mail 24 and will be with me tomorrow, rather than them doing the deed themselves and it arriving on Friday!

 

In a way I'm not complaining, at least if I miss a Royal Mail delivery I can collect it from the Delivery Office the day after....

 

[grandadbob]

A'noon,

Garden centre visited, some plants selected and guess who had the honour of planting  plonking them in the flower beds.  (The Head Gardener doesn't like to get her hands dirty) I was almost tempted into buying some solar lights for dangling on the outside of The Shed but they weren't quite what I wanted so I've resorted to Amazon.  They should be here tomorrow.

No news so far about the broadband changeover.  Cant' be ar$ed to phone them at the moment, I might lose my temper.  Who? You Bob?  I'd never have thought it!  😠

 

Edited May 15 by grandadbob

[DaveF]

A few more photos got scanned but I couldn't get comfortable sitting so I had a look at the garden.  I realised I can't grow the sweet peas where I had intended to as at the moment I can't reach easily across other things to plant them.  Fortunately there will be just enough space in another bed once I do a bit of tidying up but everywhere was a bit too wet to do anything as it had not dried up from the recent rain.

 

After lunch I went to Lidl and found they had a large pile of small bags of compost so I was able to slide some bags off the pile into the trolley without lifting them.  Their compost is satisfactory for what I want and not expensive.  I also got a few other things I "needed".  Putting the bags in the car was easy as they just slid over the edge of the shallow trolley into the car.  When I got home a neighbour kindly carried them down to the greenhouse for me.  So I do not ache any more than I did before!  I would have found it difficult to lift one bag, he moved all three at once.  I shall be very pleased when I can back to normal for lifting and carrying, probably during the autumn.

 

Having done that I tidied up things in the garage and put a pile of books ready to go to a charity shop sometime.

 

This evening looks like being more TV and reading.  It is (not) an exciting life just now.

 

David

Edited May 15 by DaveF

[Ian Abel]

Ahh HUMP day...

 

Yesterday had the Mrs all over with her visits errands etc. Jemma showed briefly whilst out running errands, was her birthday and we had cards and a pressie for her.

 

Work full steam ahead again with new report(s) requested by the hospital layabouts management. Just amazes me that so many people can be sucking money out of the health-care system without doing a single thing to improve anyone's health. All they do is improve the bottom-line, which again seems ODD since they are supposed to be non-profit!!

 

Today, Bob is 17, he's trying to tell me we're wrong, he's MUCH younger than that 😅

 

In other news - I've finally had it with;

1) pigeons (around 8-12 at a time) descending on my bird feeders

2) Rabbits looking longingly at the flowers/roses in the front garden

3) Squirrels all over the bird feeders and scaring everything song bird away

 

So, I went GUN SHOPPING and I intend to convince all these various nuisance to leave my premises. The Mrs, kids and friends all think I'm crazy, but I've DONE IT!!!

I present to you my deterrent of choice...

.

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.

 

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THAT WILL SORT THEM OUT - 30ft range and extended magazine capacity.

 

11c sunny and good air-quality first thing, expected to hit 21c later and some light rain arriving late evening.

 

Carry on.

[pH]

9 minutes ago, Ian Abel said:

I present to you my deterrent of choice...

 

THAT WILL SORT THEM OUT - 30ft range and extended magazine capacity.

Definite upgrade on the used Fairy Liquid squeeze bottles we employed against pigeons on the windowsills of a student flat in the 1960s!

Edited May 15 by pH

[Hroth]

10 minutes ago, Ian Abel said:

Ahh HUMP day...

 

Yesterday had the Mrs all over with her visits errands etc. Jemma showed briefly whilst out running errands, was her birthday and we had cards and a pressie for her.

 

Work full steam ahead again with new report(s) requested by the hospital layabouts management. Just amazes me that so many people can be sucking money out of the health-care system without doing a single thing to improve anyone's health. All they do is improve the bottom-line, which again seems ODD since they are supposed to be non-profit!!

 

Today, Bob is 17, he's trying to tell me we're wrong, he's MUCH younger than that 😅

 

In other news - I've finally had it with;

1) pigeons (around 8-12 at a time) descending on my bird feeders

2) Rabbits looking longingly at the flowers/roses in the front garden

3) Squirrels all over the bird feeders and scaring everything song bird away

 

So, I went GUN SHOPPING and I intend to convince all these various nuisance to leave my premises. The Mrs, kids and friends all think I'm crazy, but I've DONE IT!!!

I present to you my deterrent of choice...

.

.

.

.

 

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

THAT WILL SORT THEM OUT - 30ft range and extended magazine capacity.

 

11c sunny and good air-quality first thing, expected to hit 21c later and some light rain arriving late evening.

 

Carry on.

 

My weapon of choice for dealing with squirrels was a Nerf gun.  A head shot produced a delightful "pock" sound, and the squirrel would scamper off, dazed, into the bushes...

 

Worked well on pigeons too!

 

[grandadbob]

Here's my Nerf super soaker.  Has been used against the enemy including foxes, cats, squirrels and pigeons with some degree of success.  Range is about 30ft.

 

 

 

 

[Coombe Barton]

... Office 365 – as constituted in our university updates are pushed without us poor users knowing what is in them. ...

 

https://johncolby.wordpress.com/2024/05/15/covid-worldwide-marking-and-updates/

[Ian Abel]

1 hour ago, Hroth said:

 

My weapon of choice for dealing with squirrels was a Nerf gun.  A head shot produced a delightful "pock" sound, and the squirrel would scamper off, dazed, into the bushes...

 

Worked well on pigeons too!

 

Interesting... It was a toss-up when I was in the shop, looked like a good option, I may have to ADD one to my arsenal 😀

[grandadbob]

Now here's a possibility Ian!  🤪

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Insanity-Technology-Storage-Rotating-Capacity/dp/B0BS4B8Y8Q/ref=sr_1_28?crid=3KLARZ2S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 15 by grandadbob

[The Lurker]

2 hours ago, Ian Abel said:

Ahh HUMP day...

 

Yesterday had the Mrs all over with her visits errands etc. Jemma showed briefly whilst out running errands, was her birthday and we had cards and a pressie for her.

 

Work full steam ahead again with new report(s) requested by the hospital layabouts management. Just amazes me that so many people can be sucking money out of the health-care system without doing a single thing to improve anyone's health. All they do is improve the bottom-line, which again seems ODD since they are supposed to be non-profit!!

 

Today, Bob is 17, he's trying to tell me we're wrong, he's MUCH younger than that 😅

 

In other news - I've finally had it with;

1) pigeons (around 8-12 at a time) descending on my bird feeders

2) Rabbits looking longingly at the flowers/roses in the front garden

3) Squirrels all over the bird feeders and scaring everything song bird away

 

So, I went GUN SHOPPING and I intend to convince all these various nuisance to leave my premises. The Mrs, kids and friends all think I'm crazy, but I've DONE IT!!!

I present to you my deterrent of choice...

.

.

.

.

 

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

 

THAT WILL SORT THEM OUT - 30ft range and extended magazine capacity.

 

11c sunny and good air-quality first thing, expected to hit 21c later and some light rain arriving late evening.

 

Carry on.

I bought my Mum one of those a couple of years ago to squirt the squirrels - not sure how she has got on with it

[PhilJ W]

Strangely enough we don't get too many pigeons around here, not exactly sure why probably the foxes or the abundant sparrowhawks. 

[The White Rabbit]

41 minutes ago, grandadbob said:

Now here's a possibility Ian!  🤪

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Insanity-Technology-Storage-Rotating-Capacity/dp/B0BS4B8Y8Q/ref=sr_1_28?crid=3KLARZ2S

 

 

😮

[Grizz]

2 hours ago, Hroth said:

 

My weapon of choice for dealing with squirrels was a Nerf gun.  A head shot produced a delightful "pock" sound, and the squirrel would scamper off, dazed, into the bushes...

 

Worked well on pigeons too!

 

I am possibly not going to show you my weapon of choice for the invasive species Sciurus carolinensi. It is designated as vermin and cannot be trapped and released ‘back into the environment’ as that is not legal. 

They are responsible for the destruction of red native squirrels as well as various other nefarious doings.
 

Tree Rats. If they didn’t have a fluffy tail no one would love them. …..Gits.  

 

[Grizz]

1 hour ago, grandadbob said:

Now here's a possibility Ian!  🤪

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Insanity-Technology-Storage-Rotating-Capacity/dp/B0BS4B8Y8Q/ref=sr_1_28?crid=3KLARZ2S

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Aha…
 

I see your Drum Fed NerfGun …..and I raise you…..

 

Hatsan 12 Bore Mag Fed Semi Auto

 

 

Faranchi Spas 12 Bore Semi Auto

 

5.56 AR15 and .303 Lee Enfield Sport. 

 

and…..to quote Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels…..”What’s that????”………”It’s me Bren Gun, init!”….

 

Edited May 15 by Grizz

[Gwiwer]

5 minutes ago, Grizz said:

red native squirrels

Sciurus vulgaris

 

Which sounds worse than the moniker given to those American versions.  Yet it actually means "common" rather than "unpleasant" which was an earlier meaning of the word "vulgar".  It is traced back to the Latin vulgāris or vulgus also translated as "the common people".

 

The Vulgate Bible derives from the same origin namely "prepared for the common people" but also "in general circulation" which is approximately the same thing.  

 

So perhaps we have Holy squirrels in general circulation among the common people.  And those dreaded American ones which are regrettably much more common and in widespread circulation.  Far too widespread.  

 

 

[Grizz]

3 minutes ago, Gwiwer said:

Sciurus vulgaris

 

Which sounds worse than the moniker given to those American versions.  Yet it actually means "common" rather than "unpleasant" which was an earlier meaning of the word "vulgar".  It is traced back to the Latin vulgāris or vulgus also translated as "the common people".

 

The Vulgate Bible derives from the same origin namely "prepared for the common people" but also "in general circulation" which is approximately the same thing.  

 

So perhaps we have Holy squirrels in general circulation among the common people.  And those dreaded American ones which are regrettably much more common and in widespread circulation.  Far too widespread.  

 

 

Some end up more wide spread than others! 

[PhilJ W]

1 minute ago, Grizz said:

Some end up more wide spread than others! 

I've seen them on the A13.

[PhilJ W]

Evening all from Estuary-Land. Catching up as I took a long eyelid inspection this afternoon. Still haven't had dinner yet but an egg and bacon buttie is on the cards.

[monkeysarefun]

4 hours ago, AndyID said:

We had to leave a campground in the Adirondacks PDQ thanks to then. That probably explained why it was so easy to find a space in such a nice campground.

 

 

Do they bite?  Theres no shortage of flies here but they although they are annoying and can completely cover your back where you cant reach them, and  attempt to crawl into the corners of your eyes or into your ears, they don't actually inflict any kind of bite, not even a venomous one, which is nice.

 

 

If they actually did  bite  the country would be ininhabitable!

 

 

 

[New Haven Neil]

Evening.  A celebratory day, nice ride out on the bikes for brunch, and it didn't even rain.  Then ice creams (diabetic) on the way home too - we know how to live.

 

 

Then some general pottering on, and play with those things in the garage.

 

No squirrels here, but the Manx Eagles are rife (seagulls, various) 

[Tony_S]

1 hour ago, PhilJ W said:

Strangely enough we don't get too many pigeons around here, not exactly sure why probably the foxes or the abundant sparrowhawks. 

Very few “ordinary” pigeons round here but loads of wood pigeons. Careful placing of bird feeders is necessary to stop them emptying them rapidly . I have seen them hanging like blue tits trying to peck,at the food. They are not very good at it. 

[southern42]

On 12/05/2024 at 18:09, southern42 said:

I popped down to the garden this afternoon to have a look at the first of the peony buds to open. Then it was a wander around to see other blossoming plants close up...

Snip...

 

Unfortunately, this is what happened to the only flowering Iris, found hanging upside down by a thread, the culprit leaving its trail marks on the leaf.

 

Rescued, the poor thing now sits on the window sill
in an old sardine can.

The stem is so damaged, only time will tell if it flowers...

 

 

But....

10:19 this morning: The surprise of seeing the appearance of a tiny bit of purple 

 

 

And at 18:56...

 

And a few minutes ago...

 

I do hope it can survive to flowerhood after this little peekaboo showing.

 

 

Edited May 15 by southern42