Watcha Doin' - 2016.1 Showing 2,101-2,150 of 3,910

[Kristie, Moderator]

At the airport today! Bringing my grandson on his first plane ride to my my house for his summer visit. :D

[Janice, Moderator]

How exciting, Kristie. Enjoy your time with your grandson. :)

[Kristie, Moderator]

Thanks, Janice! :)

[Sarah]

I think it might have been Australorps Rusalka. They were iridescent green on the back with black feathers and possibly some white specks but i can't remember completely. I'll go check google. Love those Polish ones! I agree about the boat chicken - good source of food but I'm not sure about all the extreme sports he was participating in.

[Tasha]

Kristie wrote: "At the airport today! Bringing my grandson on his first plane ride to my my house for his summer visit. :D"

Have fun!!

[Kristie, Moderator]

Thanks, Tasha! We made it back to Virginia. It was his first plane trip and he did great. :)

[Tejas Janet]

Kristie wrote: "Thanks, Tasha! We made it back to Virginia. It was his first plane trip and he did great. :)"

Nice : )

Love the chicken pic posts, Rusalka. Cheered me up.

[Sarah]

Ack! Totally worried about the EU referendum tomorrow (well today I guess as it's gone midnight). The outcome could be dire.

[Joan]

Chickens are social animals, right? Will chickens of different breeds flock together?

[Cherie]

Chickens are very social.

If they are raised together they will, Joan, but it is hard to introduce "outsiders" to an established flock. They always remain on the "outer edges", if they are allowed to hang around and they are the lowest on the pecking order.

If a group of younger chickens are introduced together, to a group of older hens, they will be accepted a little better because they have their own "friends". Like what Rusalka is doing, the new youngsters are fenced off from her older group, until they get a little older and by then, the older hens will be used to them.

[Joan]

a friend and I are thinking raising chickens for eggs. We are not allowed to have roosters in our town. So we have to get chicks old enough to be correctly sexed. Should we get ones that having been raised together? Nobody around here wants to talk about what happens to the unwelcome roosters.

[Cherie]

Joan wrote: "a friend and I are thinking raising chickens for eggs. We are not allowed to have roosters in our town. So we have to get chicks old enough to be correctly sexed. Should we get ones that having bee..."

I had four Rhode Island Red hens when I lived in So. California and I loved them. We are allowed to have them in the city I live in, but like you - no roosters. My best guess is that they quietly go away???

When they get big enough to start learning to crow (and it is a crack-up to hear them) I guess you either get someone to do away with them, or like many people (and I do not agree with this at all) take them out into the country and let them go. They don't last long. I was lucky, I got all hens my first time out.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Chickens don't care who they flock with, as long as they have a friend. Breeds don't matter at all. Our duck is part of the flock. If you buy all of them at once, and young, there won't be problems about introducing them as Cherie mentions.

You don't need to fence off new chickens to the flock, you just need to make sure they are the same size as the old ones if you let them co mingle. Young birds and chicks can be killed if not separated. We've had chickens that slip in anywhere in the pecking order, and none of our girls have had problems integrating into the flock. I actually don't do what Cherie says, I raise the young birds inside until they are nearly full grown. Then I open the back door during the day and the chickens all come face to face in the garden or the house or whatever, but most of the time they just hang out. Until someone tries to get the food, and then there's a good peck.

If you don't want roosters, buy sexed chicks. You can sex them from when they are born but need someone who knows what they are doing to do this. I do this, and the place we go to gives your money back if you get a rooster. Or you can buy pullets (teenage chickens) when their sexual characteristics start developing so you can sex them by sight. Or hens.

If you do accidently end up with a rooster, people give them away all the time here for free. People who are breeders love free roosters. Otherwise they tend to end up in the pot. Don't just release them, that's cruel. Before you can give them away though, the trick is they can't crow unless they can stand up straight and throw their head back. So when we had one, we used to put him in a guinea pig hutch at night, and then let him out in the morning (as late risers, this was never before 8am). Our neighbours didn't really mind then, as he had to sit down in the hutch, so he only crowed in the day.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

So I went to Lexx's cousin's funeral this afternoon, and came out to a Britain which has voted to leave the EU. I cannot believe it.

[Peggy]

I'm actually suprised that the UK has a binding referendum for huge decisions like this. Around here we only have advising referendums (and I can't remember ever being called out to vote in a referendum - oh wait! not so long ago about Ukraine entering the EU), and only for smaller issues like new laws.

I have to admit I haven't been following the news around the brexit too closely (it's been super busy lately and I never had much interest in most European politics and even less in economics), I just knew that the referendum was coming up. What could be the practical consequences of the brexit for normal people like all of us in the UK and the rest of Europe, you know, things you would notice in day-to-day life? To me it seems more like a far-off political issue, and I'm guessing the Netherlands and Brittain will remain friendly, so I find it hard to imagine the consequences.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

The Pound is the lowest it has been since 1985, which is impacting on the Euro, US dollar, Yen and Australian dollar all crashing/or even ceasing trading. UK house prices are set to tumble as well.

It will mean that it will be harder for you to travel and work in Britain. Just like it will be harder for me to come to the Netherlands to work or for travel. No more unrestricted movement to the UK/Europe.

Looks like there are already calls for Ireland to consider reunifying (so Northern Ireland leaving the UK) as there was more support for staying in the EU than leaving. Scotland voted at about 68% to stay in the EU, and as the No Vote in the Scottish Independence referendum pushed losing EU membership as a reason to stay unified, there are going to be a lot of pissed off Scots. I would say another vote to leave the UK will happen, Scotland will leave, and apply to rejoin the EU.

The UK will have to adhere to all the rules and regulations that the EU have for products and services, although they won't be able to have any of the economic gains from being part of the Union. You can't trade with the EU without adhering to their rules and regs (we do it too), and seeing Britain exports about 40-50% of it's products to the EU, they can't stop (Leave was saying they could not adhere to the rules). So more economic problems.

Just a few there.

Here, you have a referendum on matters that change the constitution, and are binding. We can have plebiscites on matters that are considered important legislation but aren't constitutional, and aren't binding. The conservatives here for example are talking about having a plebiscite on marriage equality, as marriage laws aren't in our constitution for example.

We don't do these lightly in Australia, as voting is compulsory, so you need to have a good reason for a referendum or plebiscite.

[Peggy]

Thanks Rusalka. Consequences will definitely be more noticable in the UK I guess.

I'm not sure about the travelling. Switzerland and Norway for example are also not EU-countries, and it's not harder to travel there than other countries in Europe. The UK was never a Schengen country (which Norway and Switzerland are), so I've always had to go through border control when going to the UK, while I can pass borders to Norway and Switzerland without question.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Fair enough, possibly the travelling only will impact on our side to Europe. The working stuff would be both ways.

Somewhat more British side. Your economy isn't in a vacuum, and is already very tied to the Pound. Europe won't be wanting too much economic instability in Britain, as that will have ripple effects over the continent.

[Sarah]

FUCK!!! I have just woken up to the results! Can I apply for a EU passport please? I don't want to be here anymore. What are the people thinking?! I am gutted. As soon as I heard, I rang my partner. I actually cried!

David Cameron has handed in his resignation which is no great loss but we're fucked. Totally.

I've had endless conversations this week as has my partner with people wanting to leave and they have based their decision on lies, assumptions, misinformation and prejudice and even when presented with facts and statistics, discount them and stick to their guns. I'm appalled.

It isn't a binding referendum - their is a clause which states that ultimately the government has the choice to just use it as advisory. However, if they go against the majority of people it may cause a lot of problems. I don't know how close the vote was.

Brexit affects A LOT! We would have to create our own set of laws which we have up to now "borrowed" from the EU. We would have to create new legislation around chemicals, foods, environment, human rights, work hours, immigration etc. We would have to renegotiate ALL of our trade agreements (not just with EU countries), we will lose Scotland as they don't want to leave EU, Pound will probably drop (it has this morning for sure), another possible recession, companies will probably leave UK for elsewhere if new trade agreements are not favourable or we lose them altogether, no longer able to move freely among the EU including not being able to live, work, retire, claim social security and health care in those countries. We'll no longer receive grant money from the EU so university research will suffer as will a lot of charities and other organisations reliant on funding (including inland waterways), the list is endless. But basically we don't know. But I feel like the end is nigh! I feel our country will become more right wing than ever and that is not a place I want to be :-(

[Sarah]

I see Boris Johnson and Michael Gove running the country in the next 6 months. Disaster!

[Peggy]

I feel for you Sarah :( Those are all very bad things you mention, and it must be scary not knowing how things will go.

I think it was pretty close, 52% vs 48%. It seems that by going through with the Brexit because they can't ignore the majority makes sense to avoid problems, but ignoring 48% of the people is also a big deal..

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Oh Sarah! *hugs*

I must say if I wasn't in a wake when I read my phone, I would have been yelling the same when I found out. I showed my brother in law who is also head of school in my faculty at uni, and he's just looked at it and gone "I never knew Britain was so stupid" (he's Canadian).

I completely forgot about the education stuff. So many projects I worked on with Erasmus, Jean Monnet, etc won't be available to UK universities anymore. And just the trade negotiations with all countries of the world will be decades of work.

Any Irish in you Sarah? These are the Google analytics at the moment.

[Sarah]

It's less the travel aspect for us as we've always had to go through customs and present passports when visiting EU countries. At present, we are able to move to another Eu country without needing work visas or permits and are able to get healthcare, social security, pensions etc. That's why so many retired people live in Spain! All EU residents can do this. UK is now wiped from that list of where you guys could go to live if you desired and we wouldn't be able to go live on the continent (without getting a visa).

[Sarah]

I just saw Ireland and Northern Ireland are discussing the prospect of uniting. I think that would be amazing if they did but it looks like everyone is jumping ship. Wales? Cornwall? Can us 48% live in the South and the 52% leave voters live in the north (or vice versa - I'm not fussed).

No immediate Irish unfortunately. My mum's 4x great grandfather was Irish though but I don't think that will swing it for getting a passport.

What happens to the millions of Brits living in EU countries right now? Will they have to go home? And what will happen to the millions of EU citizens living in the UK now? Will they have to go home?

At least my boat floats and can go anywhere. But how easy it will be to go anywhere is a different matter.

People really did not think things through when they put their cross in the box. Morons!

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Yes. You have to show your passport when entering a country. You have to do that when reentering your own country. You have to go through customs in all countries, including your own.

My point is that you can travel as much as you want without visas for travelling. That may change. For me, this is a major advantage of having a British passport. Visas for travelling are a pain in the butt, and expensive.

[Sarah]

Yes that's right! Ignore what I said! My brain isn't working right this morning.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Sarah wrote: "Yes that's right! Ignore what I said! My brain isn't working right this morning."

Which is completely, and utterly, fair enough.

I'm also involved in many circular arguments on Facebook at the moment about the same thing (apparently I'm residential EU expert for my non-European Studies friends), and I just want to yell "YOU'RE ALL IN SHOCK! We'll talk about it later. It's time for a Bex and a lie down for everyone."

[Lynn]

It's a result that I'm not surprised about but I tried to have hope yesterday and now totally devastated

[Sarah]

I thought about you at the polling station yesterday Rusalka as I turned up wearing flip flops (thongs) and had a beer there (our polling station was at a pub).

Yes I think I need to relax for a bit. There is a lot of hysteria at the moment. We have to see how it plays out. Nothing is going to happen for a good couple of years anyway. It's not like we just left now.

I might have to break out the blueberry vodka I made later. Although we are heading up the 29 lock lock flight at 8.30am tomorrow morning so I best not over do it.

I agree Lynn. I suspected it was how it would play out.

[Lisa]

Britain usually copes well when faced with a challenge. There will be some tough and uncertain times ahead for sure but I think (and hope) we will come through it ok. It's natural people are fearful right now because it's a huge step into the unknown.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Peggy - this just popped up in my Twitter feed. This is how it now impacts you unfortunately :(
"Dutch anti-immigration leader Wilders calls for Dutch referendum on EU membership http://reut.rs/28TlDAC "

Heh thanks Sarah. I just got called tonight to get asked to hand out how to vote cards at our polling booth next weekend. Pub? Ours are at schools, and alcohol is banned within 200m of the booths. My brother frequently takes a beer down with him, and says to the people handing out the how to vote cards he'll vote for whomever minds his beer. They all freak out usually, except the Greens. He loves screwing with everyone, the little jerk.

[Peggy]

I read it too. I wouldn't have expected anything else from him.

Haha, your brother is funny :D

[Sarah]

I remember you mentioning it before which is why I thought of you :-)

Mainly polling stations are community centers, schools, and churches. This is the first time I've been to one in a hotel/pub/restaurant.

Sweden are also calling for a referendum too I see.

[Peggy]

I expect many anti-EU leaders in a lot of countries will want a referendum now.

[Rusalka, Moderator]

Oh have I? Sorry for repeating myself! We're in week 6 of a 7 week election campaign (very long for Aussies) and I can't remember who I've said what too. It's a bit disturbing.

[Joan]

thanks for the advice on chickens.

For those of you shocked by BREXIT, just wait till the US elects "The Donald"! ugh. It's like we are trapped in a dystopian scifi story.

[Kristie, Moderator]

Joan wrote: "thanks for the advice on chickens.

For those of you shocked by BREXIT, just wait till the US elects "The Donald"! ugh. It's like we are trapped in a dystopian scifi story."

We cannot elect "The Donald". ugh. I die a little inside every time I think of it. He is so obnoxious and just everything you DON'T want in a president. He is horrifying.

edit: Sorry to get all political on here!

[Sandra, Moderator]

Time will say, but I think it is a mistake to leave the EU.

[Janice, Moderator]

Yikes! Such craziness. I admit that I haven't been following Brexit all that much until the last couple of days.

[Sandra, Moderator]

My three years old son got wakeful at 4 am... So... we are here... watching Peppa Pig... o.0

[Mariab]

Sandra wrote: "My three years old son got wakeful at 4 am... So... we are here... watching Peppa Pig... o.0"

Oh, Sandra! I hope you get enough rest.

[Travis]

I usually just watch world news now on ABC at 4 am

[Sarah]

I daren't watch any news at the moment, whatever the time. Our government is too busy quitting and or trying to score points against others to run the country right now. So many leave voters are realising they were lied to and wish they could change their vote. So curious to see what a result would be if we had to vote again this Thursday.

We went up the Caen Hill lock flight at the weekend (29 locks in total). We're now moored in unknown territory. We've been up here cruising but we've not stayed for long.

[Lisa]

I watched a bit of the news last night but only because it followed straight after the football. Another (add hefty dose of sarcasm here) fantastic performance by the England team! They were utterly clueless!

[Tasha]

Sandra wrote: "My three years old son got wakeful at 4 am... So... we are here... watching Peppa Pig... o.0"

I remember those early mornings!! The dreaded words "mommy can we go downstairs?" I used to hate that but would often just grab a pillow and go down while she watched her shows. It's hard. I'm not good at 3am...haha! ;)

[Lynn]

Sandra wrote: "My three years old son got wakeful at 4 am... So... we are here... watching Peppa Pig... o.0"

I hate Peppa Pig with a passion. A few years back I was at a house party and stayed over at the pub across the street. The host of the party invited us all back the next morning for hangover breakfasts, which was very welcome. The downside was during that time we had to sit and watch Peppa Pig with the hosts daughter ..... the combination of hangover plus very irritating children's TV programme was not good. I've never wanted to strangle a cartoon character so much!

[Lynn]

Lisa wrote: "I watched a bit of the news last night but only because it followed straight after the football. Another (add hefty dose of sarcasm here) fantastic performance by the England team! They were utterly clueless"

Not a surprising result though, it happens at EVERY tournament. We scrape through the rounds to second place, and then go out in the first game of knockouts.

We are not as good as the majority of the population think we are.

[Lisa]

Lynn wrote: "Lisa wrote: "I watched a bit of the news last night but only because it followed straight after the football. Another (add hefty dose of sarcasm here) fantastic performance by the England team! The..."

True! There was a part of me that was expecting it but another part held out a little bit of hope that we might actually beat them.

We are definitely not as good as we think we are. I think they should stop only picking players from the Premier League and start including players from some of the lower leagues as well. At least they would give it their all.

[Sandra, Moderator]

Lynn, I really like Peppa Pig, but not at 4 am! I can totally see how the combination "killed" you. :)

Tasha, I grabbed a pillow to come downstairs, but finally didn't sleep. I had some reading done, wrote a blog post, and I also started a new futurelearn course on Literature of the Country House (if anyone is interested: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/c... so far really interesting). So it was a productive morning after all. Not that I'm eager to repeat it!

Travis, I rarely watch the news on TV, I'd rather read them on line while having breakfast, what usually is round 6 am.

Sara, I'm amazed at how many people want to change their vote now. Google said that after the results being announced the searches in the UK about "What is the EU?" and "What means to leave the EU?" grew three times. I'm incredibly surprised at how all of this has been manipulated, and how a good amount of people voted blindly. But to be honest, at the same time I know this happens all the time, and everywhere. A flaw in democracies I guess...

[Sarah]

@Sandra - The tabloid newspapers just printed a lot of falsehoods and whipped up a storm. Politicians were no better. SO many people regret their vote and feel betrayed and lied to. I don't read newspapers and I never trust the first article I read on something. I read around the subject then make my own mind up based on the verified facts. But I know not everyone does this and do rely (unfortunately) on The Sun et al to form their opinions. It's embarrassing that people don't know what the EU is yet voted to leave it anyway. Err, perhaps Google that before arriving at the polling station?!? The £ was at a 30 year low yesterday against the $ just shortly after Osborne declared the UK was working from a place of power or something as equally meaningless. I'm quietly optimistic though that Brexit won't happen. No politician wants to touch it with a barge pole right now. Except Farage who's a dick.