Pop in for a chat! Showing 17,951-18,000 of 18,142

[Alicia]

Thanks. I'll see if I can find it.

Found it - Andrew Lupton Wildlife Photographer

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

OMG, got an interview for the library job! They are doing them over 2 days and I got to choose my day and time slot.

Yes, that's the one Alicia

[Alicia]

They will be lucky to have you.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

Yay Desley!

[Jim]

hope it goes well Desley

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, last full day here, we were supposed to be doing a boat trip, but it was cancelled due to the weather. Went for brunch, then we went for a walk, i found there was a wetland centre with a bird hide, so we went there, didn't get to see the black swan, just a white one, heron and some birds. It was an amazing building though. Then did a cliff walk, saw a section where they are trying to build a new fence to prevent puffins being extinct on the island, they are down to 8, from thousands.

Thanks guys

[Alicia]

Did you get to see any puffins?

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Only some they have made out of wicker to help raise awareness. Apparently no new chicks have come back for decades and they aren't sure they get to adulthood, so this new fence will try and ensure they survive, something similar has been done in Australia successfully.

[Alicia]

I hope they succeed.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Me too

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, another nightmare travel day! Flight was at 12.30, bro got me to the airport just after 11, there was a long queue for security, as they got new scanners last week that mean you don't have to take your electronic devices out, and you can travel with up to 2l of liquids and don't have to take them out, but one was broke, so they decided to open the old scanners to get us through quicker. I did have to get frisked this time! Got through and the sign said gate info shortly, then it changed to delayed till 1.20, then delayed till 1.05, then we got called to the gate, queued there for a bit, before being told there was further delays and to go back and wait for instructions, heard some of the staff say the cross winds were causing issues meaning they couldn't give accurate updates. At 1.45, when we should have already landed, we got called back to the gate and actually got our tickets scanned - I was a bit annoyed at having to scan my own ticket, and no one ask for my ID! Think we took off just after 2 and landed about 3.30. Then had to get through the airport, as I was at the bigger terminal than normal, thought I was going to miss the 4.04 train, but luckily it was delayed till 4.07, I got on it with seconds to spare. I'd decided yesterday, that I should have enough time to nip in Primark as I need new leggings, and decided to do it anyway, rather than go back another day and pay another train fare. Got 4 pairs as the queue's are always horrendous, it was nearly as bad as the security queue! Luckily only had a 15 min wait for the train home, nipped in the co-op to get some milk on the way home and hit my step count. Got back just after 6, fed all the cats, then decided I needed a takeaway for tea, which meant I had to go back out. Feel ready for bed now, so suspect I'll be having an early night.

[Alicia]

I'm sure the cats were happy to see you - hope it was all worth it.

Getting your step count - icing on the cake.

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

I saw dolphins today! Very exciting :)
Finally close enough to shore to be quite definite, rather than "that might be a pod" in the distance.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, Lucy has been happy I've been back, we've had some lovely cuddles. Never sure with the girls. Yet again G did some random things (really not sure why she put cat food bowls in to soak with cat food still in them, that wasn't pleasant to deal with, surely scraping plates before washing is common sense), but all the cats are fine, and yet again, they have eaten fine as soon as I got back, when neighbour looked after them, it took them days to get back to normal once I was back, she was convinced it was because they didn't know her, but they've only met G the two times she's looked after them. Did bump into a neighbour on the way home from getting my tea last night, she has a sweet little cat called Tiddles, and she stopped me to tell me that Tiddles hasn't been well, and she thinks she's going to have to take her for her final visit tomorrow, I don't think she expected me to cry, she was very apologetic, so I gave her a hug too. I always remember the cats name, and her partners name, but never hers! Fairly nice day today, didn't have much housework to do, went for a walk to the bird hide, someone on the canal was just catching a pike as I was walking past, she was massive, filled the net, he reckoned at least 8lb! The hook was only wrapped round one of her teeth, so they untangled it and put her back further up so she could rest and not get caught again. No one in the bird hide, but the water levels are up from the pics I took on 29th!! The heron was there, just grooming himself. A couple came in, and we had a chat about the water levels, and extreme summers, they hadn't been up for a bit, so I showed them some of my July pics (although only remembered last weekend's after I'd left them!), and they were shocked, they thought it had got higher over a longer period of time. I do wonder where the swans and cygnet have gone, as there isn't much ground left for them to sit on at the moment. People are seeing lots of deer on the canal though, and even the oyster catchers have been spotted there this past week.

Wow, so jealous R, especially as our boat trip got cancelled, we might have seen dolphins and seals on that one.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, not a good start to the day, was woken up at 4am by Lucy snoring, then at 5am she decided to be sick. I tried to snooze the alarm, but she started fussing (and it's only a 5 min snooze!), so I got up, then she carried on while I was on the loo, I got cross at that point and told her to go downstairs, she must have realised I was serious as she did leave the bathroom! Sunny enough day that I didn't need my coat (though still took it, can never tell these days!), My buddy had been through the last week or so work I'd done while I was off and showed me some minor mistakes, one I was actually really annoyed at, not only had I done it the way the person who trained me showed, but it's also the way the procedure tells you to do it, luckily we are having weekly meetings to see if things can be streamlined, or procedures improved, so I can bring it up. Did a big shop after work, just need B & M tomorrow now, it's weird doing shopping at the beginning of the week, but saves going out again over the weekend.

[Alicia]

When the instructions you're following are wrong, it is SO annoying! You can give them current feedback on that.

Hope Lucy is okay - you sounded more annoyed than worried, so I assume it isn't serious?

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Morning, complete contrast this morning, Lucy came and sat on me when the alarm went off and didn't want to get up! Got shown a new thing this morning, not sure I enjoyed it, as it was sorting out when the service gets cancelled and while there are various reasons for that, some are sad. Really positive meeting though, line manager said we are in a much better position than before I started, so we have the chance to catch up on annual things that have been left due to lack of staff. We are also going to review all the procedures, see if there are things we can streamline, as some of what we input is because it's always been done that way, and unless the manager on holiday uses them, they aren't needed, plus there are some things that they realised made no sense when trying to explain them to me, so going to rename some stuff so it actually makes sense - one number is called 3 different things depending on what part of the system you are in! I have offered to do a couple of things that I've previously done to help in the future, and when she was saying she's lucky to have a dream team, I felt quite bad at the fact I might not be staying. Decided to count the number of stairs when leaving, just from stairwell to stairwell, it was 112, so no wonder I can't walk up them all, as I have other walking to do before and after the stairs. Hadn't hit my step count when I got home, so went round to co-op, and hit it, which means I've hit my target of 120 consecutive days. I feel ?I might manage another couple of days, but after that, I'm just going to do it when I can, as the weather forecast isn't good and I'm fed up of walking in the rain, plus I have 5 consecutive weekends of craft fairs, some will be long days with little opportunity to walk. I've even booked the cleaner to come at the end of the month.

Yes, I did bring it up in the meeting Alicia. Yeah, she's fine, was kind of a fur ball, and why she was desperate to go out so early.

[Alicia]

Glad she's okay. I understand fur balls happen - no personal experience there.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, a nice warm day, so managed to get two washloads dried outside, think that's the holiday washing caught up on. More positivity at work, one of the things that came out of yesterday's meeting was we have the opportunity to update the procedures, as she knows there are errors, but because we now have enough staff, she can look at them, I offered to send her my amended copy, some will be the way my brain sees things, but there are some things that are incorrect, or missing, that she might as well copy from mine rather than type herself. Also, this afternoon, I was dealing with an e-mail that quickly appeared to have been done by my buddy, apart from the fact there was one error and she hadn't marked it as done, checked with her and she was relaxe about it, so if she can still do things wrong after nearly a year, hopefully I can relax when I don't get things right! Nice nature walk after work, as I got to the top of my street, Malachi and his owner were walking past the top of my street, so stopped to have a cuddle and say hello, not seen them since I started work, told her about my interview and she said she was over the moon for me. Saw a fawn in the field next to the canal, not sure where the rest of it's family was, but couldn't watch too long, as the geese thought I was stood there to feed them. Got to stroke another couple of dogs, then on the way back saw another deer in a field I've never seen them before, but someone did tell me the farmer deliberately leaves long grass in a particular part just for the deer, and she's recently built a pond in the next field, can't remember what that was for. Did hit my step count again.

Thanks Alicia

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, got to a high of 26 today, was very nice going for a couple of walks with my sandals and no coat. Nipped to the chemist at lunch, bumped into a neighbour who told me her lovebird died a few weeks ago, but she'd only just felt up to telling me, so gave her a hug in the street too, hope that doesn't come in threes! Got excited when I saw someone has photographed the swans and cygnet today, was wondering where they had gone, the cygnet's funny leg is getting more pronounced with age, hope it will be OK. Had a nice chat with my buddy, she said that she still makes mistakes after nearly a year, which made me feel better, and she also said that I'm still new enough that all my work is checked, so if I do do something really wrong, it will get picked up on, and she said that if I stay, which she hopes I do, then I'll go down to being spot checked. Boring walk after work, but nice to be warm and dry

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, another warm day, if rather windy today, sky is now starting to look grey, rain forecast all weekend, so unless it changes, my streak will be ending today, on day 123. Day started well, my holiday pay was more than I expected. Had a sad message from ratty neighbour, she'd gone to feed the rats to find one of them had died, so that's three neighbours this week who've given me sad pet news. Got asked to do something this afternoon that should have been straight forward, and didn't (it's getting a bit of a joke now that I find awkward cases!), my buddy was on the phone, so sent her a message saying I'll do a, b and c, is there anything else, and she said 'no, your doing brilliantly'. Had a chat with her after, she's checking my work daily, but happy to just go through any mistakes once a week, so they can't be too bad, and our other colleague is part time, so she's appreciating an extra body on a Thu and Fri so it's not all down to her. Did a quick canal walk after work, no interesting wildlife, then went to Lidl to get a weekend treat.

[Jim]

Today is another, 'come in, put all your clothes in the washing machine, and climb into the shower' day :-)
A trifle damp

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, really don't know what has got into Lucy, was half awake about 5.30 when I was aware of really loud purring, opened my eyes to see her sat very close to me, staring at me and purring, stroked her, then she curled up next to me and went to sleep until about 6.45, when she started walking over me to wake me up! Had a hairdresser app this morning, it started raining while I was there, despite having my hood, I still had to dry my hair when I got in, rang G as I haven't seen her since I got back, she was busy but the weather was supposed to improve about 6, so we agreed to have another chat then and maybe get out for a walk. It dried up around 4pm, but I didn't go for a walk waiting for G, she rang at 5.30 and was too tired for a walk, but did need stuff from co-op, so I went with her, and walked the long way home to maintain my streak.

[Alicia]

How sweet of Lucy. Especially to let you go back to sleep.

Yay, STREAK!

[Rosemary (grooving with the Picts)]

I've had a really busy week as it's our local Fringe festival and although the tents and marquees are now all moved away from the harbour to the park the town is still really bustling. There was also the RS200 national sailing regatta on all week, and yesterday the Highland Games too, so that was yet another 15,000 visitors! the streets were full of Kilty McSporrans enjoying our particular Scottish weather - at one point I was applying suncream as the heavens opened.

[Jim]

Hopefully all these visitors will be keeping you busy, Rosemary :-)

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, today was the first of 5 consecutive weekends of craft fairs - I am really enjoying them though, I miss fundraising, but we only do indoor ones, so no more wrestling with gazebos and tables and standing in fields in the rain! Am a bit sore after today's, must remember to move a bit more. It's also nice having venues that serve food and drink, must keep an eye on what I spend to make sure these don't cost me a fortune, but so far cheaper than a night out! This is the second time we've done this venue, and took enough to pay the table and for A to get some profit. There is normally a charity raffle, where all the stallholders give a prize, and each month is a different charity, today's was a hedgehog rescue, the lady who runs it popped along for a bit and brought a pet hedgehog, I got to stroke her! And won a prize on the raffle, not as good as what A won though. It had dried up by the time we got home, so I did a quick canal walk to hit my step count, then made a bolognaise for the next couple of days, and now just finishing my nails.

Wow, hope the extra people result in some sales for you R

[Alicia]

Awww - baby hedgehog! That would have been my favorite part.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

I thought she was a baby, she's either a dwarf or a pygmy, so was 18 months. So thrilled at getting to touch a hedgehog in the flesh though.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, a very wet day today, not impressed at how much I've had to have the lights on today, given it's August! Had forgot my coffee sachet so went to the cafe in the building at lunch for a white hot choc, asked what a Spanish Latte is, and it's made with condensed milk, will have to give that a go! Finally bumped into walking friend in the office at lunch, turns out we sit on the same bank of desks, only I'm on the left hand of the floor and she's on the right hand! And her locker is on my side, so really surprised we've not bumped into each other, she said about going for lunch one Monday. Went to Asda after work. the rain had come down so heavily in such a short space of time that there was some minor flooding in the car park, but luckily had cleared by the time I left.

[Jim]

I'm not surprised at the minor flooding, if your rain was anything like ours!

Intrigued by the Spanish Latte, never heard of it so await reports with interest :-)

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, a complete contrast to yesterday, no rain at all, sunny with highs of 20. I clearly hadn't looked at the weather forecast and went with my usual dress, tights and boots and was rather warm walking home (not helped by doing both Home Bargains and B & M, Home Bargains is up another hill opposite to where my car is parked!) but at least hit step count again.

It was a day of constant rain, with a couple of very heavy downpours! Me too, and when he said it was sweet, I thought it was my kind of thing. They do a turmeric latte too, but not sure I like turmeric, shame as I'm sure it's good for joints.

[Jim]

Condensed milk does tend to be sweet

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening. another nice day, got some washing pegged out. Had both medication and Amazon deliveries, Amazon was getting so late I didn't think I'd be able to get out for my walk but then it turned up just after 6, so did a quick walk, just enough to maintain my streak, as had new monthly update on my game, so wanted to check that out.

[Alicia]

Had a great visit yesterday with a friend from Girl Guides in Mexico City SIXTY years ago. The years vanished - we gabbed for over two hours while having lunch - hope to repeat soon.

[Jim]

Alicia wrote: "Had a great visit yesterday with a friend from Girl Guides in Mexico City SIXTY years ago. The years vanished - we gabbed for over two hours while having lunch - hope to repeat soon."

Always good to catch up :-)

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Wow, that sounds a good time Alicia, hope you can do it on a regular basis

[Alicia]

Some of the memories were so clear they could have been from yesterday.

She told me her mother (who just died at 103) and mine (who passed away at 94 a few years ago) had continued writing each other after her mother left Mexico - as long as both of them were still able to.

The time spent together in Mexico City was in the 1960s!

I am grateful to FaceBook for making it easy to reconnect - and now to stay in each others' orbit.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, another nice sunny day, although when I went for my walk the wind had started getting up, and still sounds quite windy out. Quiet day at work. Went for a short walk through the nature reserve, and saw the heron in a field I've never seen one before, and it wasn't even that close to the stream that runs at the bottom of that field. Then nipped to Lidl for some yoghurt, so still maintaining my streak. Forgot to say that someone got a pic of the cygnet standing the other day and looks normal, so maybe it just likes swimming with it's leg in a weird position. We have had some vandalism in the bird hide though unfortunately.

How great that your mothers also kept in touch as long as possible Alicia, Facebook does have some positives.

[Alicia]

I try not to do anything particularly risky or controversial on FB because I have several groups there I use a lot. Without muzzling myself, of course.

Even most controversial things can be presented civilly.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, another early wake up from Lucy, who then thought 5.30 was a great time for cuddles! Got in the shower to realise I was supposed to buy shampoo when I went to Lidl yesterday, then had to go out at lunch as I was also supposed to get money out! It was trying to rain, so needed a coat, but was very uncomfortable as it was so humid! Had a lovely chat with my line manager, got some interview tips and she is trying to find a way to make a permanent position for me, as everyone wants to keep me, and in the meantime to go for my interview, and if I swap to the library and don't like it, she'll keep me posted on opportunities to transfer back. Really windy today, but the forecast rain didn't appear, so went for a walk after work, was quite interesting, bumped into a couple with 4 dogs, stopped to fuss them (one was a very cute three legged kind of jack russell), and ended up doing the full circuit with them! Got to the part of the nature reserve where all the trees are down, and some fencing has disappeared this week, asked if they knew anything, turns out they live in a bungalow at the start of the path, and that part of the land belongs to them, some of the trees have been damaged in the wind, so they cut them, but opted to leave them in the woods for the insects, which I was impressed with. When I left them at their gate, she said that they'd probably see me again, which I found ironic given how many times I've walked past their house recently!

Yes, it's shocking what people think they can say on Facebook, and bet a lot wouldn't say those kind of things to someone's face.

[Alicia]

Agreed - if you wouldn't say it face-to-face, don't say it, period.

Otherwise, you have just classified yourself as a troll.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, that was a long day, the craft fair we did was about an hours drive away, so we set off at 8am, got back at nearly 5.30. Unfortunately was our worst one yet, there was a lot of people around, but we only had one sale, from a stallholder, took £4! I got a nice fridge magnet and cake, and A got a present, and it was a nice venue and nice bunch of people, so we are still going to one we have booked in Nov. I was surprised to see some Christmas things on people's stalls today. Went straight to Lidl from A's, bumped into ratty neighbour outside it and made the mistake of asking her if she was OK, she was waffling about something, I felt like saying 'let me buy the one thing I'm here for, and we can chat while walking home!', one of my ex colleagues popped in while we were chatting, nice to briefly see her. Got home and fed the cats, only had 2k steps left to hit my step count, so even though I was starving, I went out for a walk.

[Alicia]

Too bad about the craft fair.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, had a lie in this morning, didn't wake up till 7.30, but feel quite drained today, so motivation to do housework has been lacking, I had to do a few things though. Vegan friend came round to get her Amazon order and we had a nice chat. Got dressed after she left, heard rain while I was getting dressed, but it had stopped by the time I put my shoes on, so risked it, did get caught in two lots of rain though! Fortunately part way there I realised I didn't have enough energy to get all the way to the bird hide and back, so the heavy rain was while I was in the wooded area, so didn't get too wet. Dried up, so did manage to get my washing pegged out.

Yeah, we are still going again though. Are you going to be affected by a hurricane I heard about yesterday Alicia?

[Alicia]

I was thinking about rain, too.

It'll hit southern California - from the Mexico border up through the LA basin - and then there are some significant mountains in the way.

But we're in Davis, due east of San Francisco, in what's considered northern California; we have a very cloudy sky, but probably won't see much if any rain. So: not this time.

We had a lot of rain from the atmospheric rivers in the spring - but those dumped much-needed snow in the mountains, and really helped with the persistent drought.

Climate change - more than just the usual oscillations - much of it fueled by human behaviors that humans won't curb or moderate - IS happening, and we don't know where it will stop. If at all. Or how much will self-moderate - ocean currents are changing as well as atmospheric ones, and they all interact.

It makes the Chinese curse - 'May you live in interesting times' - so true.

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening all, the predicted rain has only just started, so didn't actually need to go to work wearing my boots today, we were chatting this afternoon and a colleague said she hasn't stopped wearing her winter clothes yet either! I did look at a summer dress in my wardrobe the other week wondering if I'll get to wear it this year! Tried Spanish Latte today, it was quite nice, not too sweet for me, but I do normally take sugar in Latte and didn't. While waiting, I noticed they had some nice syrups, so will be trying those next. Needed to get my prescription after work, and walked the long way home past Sainsbury's to see if they had any reductions, got a new insulated flask and one for cold drinks for fairs, my hot drink flasks all leak, and only got one cold water one which I like to take undiluted cordial to work, and needing it 3 consecutive days is tricky. Am having doubts about the library job though, hoping I'm not romanticising being surrounded by books all day and it won't be like I imagine, and need to find out how working boroughwide will work, if I'm based in the main one in the building I currently work in, I won't like it, I hadn't been in the building before my interview in June (it opened 10 years ago!), and don't actually like the library.

Glad you won't be affected too much by the hurricane Alicia, but glad you've had some much needed rain.

[Alicia]

It's hard to know which job to take if both are offered. Take your time. If they're so close it's hard to make a decision, probably both would work for you.

If not, maybe it will be more obvious now.

But it IS nice to be wanted.

[Jim]

I can rest easy, I now know what a Spanish Latte is like :-)
But yes, keep your eyes open with regard to the job. Hope things go well in that direction

[Desley (Cat fosterer)]

Evening, another day where the forecast rain didn't happen, so was too warm with my boots on. Had a group department meeting this morning, felt a bit uncomfortable when I got welcomed to the team, given I had an interview 15 mins after the meeting finished! One of the things they went through was about doing disabled adaptations, so I contributed a few things and one of the other team leaders stopped me on the way out and asked how I knew about things, she wants me on her team! Interview was interesting, the e-mail said it would be around safeguarding, when they started, they asked questions around the 6 subjects I'd had to answer as part of the application, which I hadn't re-read! Apart from struggling to find an example where I'd provided excellent customer service, I felt it went OK. The hours are a bit longer than I expected, especially on a Sat. And while they do a two weekly timetable so you know which branch you'll be based at, if someone rings in sick, you might start your day at one library and drive to a different one at lunch! It seems like they are interviewing 16 people over 2 days, but she said I'd know by the end of the week. Then after lunch we had a team meeting with just the 4 of us, which was nice, although a bit awkward when one suggested we have lunch together occasionally and not talk about work, sounds nice, just don't know if I'll be there! Was going to go to retail park after work as I had a voucher for cat litter from Pets at home, but realised I'd left the voucher at home, so just went to B & M to get Lucy's litter, and then realised I needed yoghurt, so back to Lidl, and as I was in the car, decided to try their new cat food. And a bonus, the person who bought melts from us on Sat has posted a nice review and asked for some more, so that's good.

It is Alicia, and made harder by the fact there is no guarantee what I'm currently doing, which I'm enjoying more than I expected to, isn't permanent, but has some very nice pros. And doing the craft fairs is filling a gap that giving up fundraising left, and it's nice that A asks my opinion on products and prices, and I'm not sure how well that would work with working 10-3 every Sat.