General Chat

Hi Elaine, so please you get to see him today. You will be glad come Friday and the op is over. SIL sound great.

Have been with my chickens again today, have to guard them from hawks and a nasty blackbird we have around here. All the currawongs are gone for the year. I have magpies and butcher birds but they never worry about the chickens, though have seen them catch mice.

Very cold here today, 10 C when I got out of bed this morning, and it snowed 20 kilometres from here. So a bit chilly for this time of year.

Love and hugs to all

Gail

Elaine, good to hear you are able to see your hubby this evening, thanks to your kind sil.Will be thinking of him this friday.

Ann, have always loved cows and pigs since staying on a farm in Millstreet, Ireland as a young teenager.They give me a warm, comfortable feeling.Only once was I a bit scared of the large sow called Queeny, when she had piglets, and got a bit grumpy when I stroked her.

Gail, have never heard of a rogue blackbird before.Have seen some fighting each other though recently, and, witnessed some scaring away a buzzard from their nest.That took courage.
What are currawongs?

To all I have not mentioned, have a lovely day, as stress-free as possible.

xx

Hi Claddah, the blackbird we have a problem with is an introduced species, the male has an orange/reddish beak and is black the female has a yellow beak and is a dusty brown. They killed nine of my chickens last year, by going through a hole in the back of the nests used as vents. They did not even eat them just killed them. They start hanging around in the spring.

A currawong is bigger than our magpies, they are an ugly bird, have bright yellow eyes. They are all black with white under the wing and very much scavengers. I do not like them as they pick on every bird that comes in the yard. They are really smart as well, after hunting them from the yard for many years, they now sit in the trees in the neighbours yard, it is like they are watching you.

Paul, doctors are all the same. It is best if you take someone else in with you, then you have a witness. I learnt this the hard way. Unfortunately, you cannot record with out permission. So make sure you have another person with you when you have the review.

Gail

HI Gail,

Do you have other, different coloured blackbirds then? The ones we have here are the same as you mention. Have seen quite a few black-coloured birds with white feathers these last years. A friend who had worked with wild birds and animals for a very long time, told me the reasons for this.How do they manange to kill fully-grown chickens?

Have never heard of blackbirds being killers though.To think we are thrilled when they let out that beautiful fluid-sounding song of a summer's evening, not knowing that they can be vicious too.

Must google currawongs, you have got me interested now.Can't say it would please me if we had them sitting in trees, watching...creepy.

Eileen

Sorry Eileen, the chickens are only small, just out of the egg so to speak. I also breed bantams, and some of the eggs are small.

I suppose they are vicious, but they have a purpose as well. Just a very few I do not like as they are also cunning and sly.

I have a family of magpies that hang around. They even pinch the cats food while they are eating, cats just ignore them. It is so lovely when they sing. Some of them are so quite around here that they come inside if you leave the door open.

Gail

Hé, magpies singing? I have only heard them make that strange sort of scratching noise. They look so arrogant and decadent when they march along.When my cat, Lapje was a kitten, she actually killed a fully-grown magpie and brought it indoors.Eeeek! Poor old Lapje lived till she was seventeen and a half, was put to sleep around the same time that princess Diana died.
When I still had Lapje, blackbirds used to come in and eat her food too.They were not a bit scared of her, would stroll around the garden, almost cocking a snoot at her, as if they knew she couldn't chase them anymore.

My sister used to keep calves and lambs on their property long ago.When one lamb broke a leg, her husband had it put in plaster, but still took it to the abattoir to be slaughtered when it was big enough.

Eileen x

Eileen, what we call a magpie and UK/Europe call a magpie are very different kind of bird. If you try google it will show the difference in these birds.

My oldest cat is a Manx called Lucky, she is 18 year old. She is asleep now under my feet. As soon as the computer goes on she is there with me. She is still very agile for such an old cat. Has trouble grooming now and gets dread locks so has to go the the beauty parlour every three months for a hair cut.

Gail

Have googled all the birds you mention, has been too interesting! I didn't know that the shrike was the same family as the butcher bird.

Your old cat Lucky is just that! I would love to have a couple of cats again, but find it too hard when they die.Last one I had was another lovely, gentle old lady called Hanna.She belonged to my youngest daughter, who found her in a tree during a bad thunderstorm many years ago.Hanna was only sleeping all the time, hardly ate anything, drunk a lot of water.I took her on and had 8 months of pleasure from her, but had to have her put to sleep when she started falling over all the time,and could hardly drink anymore.Am too much of a coward to take on another cat...

Eileen

Hi all, off to the nlp session today :>((

not looking forward to it, haven't written up my diary pages as should have...

forgot to add earlier that Betty pm'd me quickly from the internet cafe and sends her love to everyone, S. still isn't happy with taking his meds so a bit hard for them all at the mo.

catch up with you all later, take care

Paul, sorry you are having a difficult time right now.
Lizxx

Back again, was quite a good session, altho some of the things I had to do were a little strange, I find visualisations difficult - didn't get ticked off about diary, and have some other things to do for next week and I am sure already I have forgotten one of them lol, knew I should have written them down.

Lizx

Was wondering how it would go Liz. I do hope you get what you need from it.

Is it alright if I let off a bit of steam?

Managed a couple of hours in the record office yesterday,Wanted some photocopies from a book and their copier was broken.

Came home to a wheelchair that was juddering and a plug socket hanging off the wall again because the bed had hit it again.

Wheelchair being repaired tomorrow but housing association will not repair socket as it is misuse,so the boy on the phone said.Luckily I have a friend who will do it but he is not an electrician,he is an upholsterer.It needs moving really but I can't afford that.

Oh I do get so wound up!!!!!!

morning everyone ,well i went to see hubby last night he on a drip to flush warafrin out and a heart moniter so they can keep a track of it ,i think he putting on a brave face ,he says his ok but when we left he was fine untill i went bk in as i forgot to tell him somthing and his eyes were all glossy like he wanted to have a cry but held it back so that stared me off ,just want him home ,carnt wait to go bk there to him again gona be a long day today as i carnt get there till friday ,hugs to all elaine x

Morning Everyone, I have been chatting to Caz, she says I should come on here and say hi to you all. so a Big Hello to everyone :o))

I hope you're all doing ok, I am stuck at home with my pc and cat for company oh and a tv when there is something worth watching, I pop out to my hens a few times a day to pick up eggs and to give them greens, brown bread and corn, then later I let them out for a run around the garden.
Apart from that I lead quite a quiet life.

Hugs to all, Gillie XX

Hi to everyone and welcome Gillie. Your life sounds as exciting as mine. I to have chickens. So something in common.

Sharron, that is not going off, not really. Just needed to get it off your chest.

Ealine it is now very close to Friday, just hang in there.

Liz, at least you are doing something for yourself for a change. Just give it time. And you are probably meeting lots of new people. So do not stress over it and enjoy it.

Very cold here today, should not complain as had a great spring so far. But, it is only 4 weeks to summer and I am looking forward to the heat.

I have 5 cats at the moment, all are over 10 years old. They are a lot of fun, OH recons they eat better than we do.

Love & hugs

Gail

Hi Gail, I forgot to say I have 1 cat too :o) a big fat black and white tabby, he's 11 years old now, still thinks he owns the garden and god help any other cat that dares to step inside lol.

What part of Oz are you in? I have a cousin who lives in a suburb of Victoria.

She sent me a lovely hand painted silk scarf for Christma, I had my first Christmas card from her the other day too, I've had to put it up ready even though it's a bit early lol.

Gillie XX

Gillie I live in New South Wales. Pretty close to the middle of the state. Beautiful place though. Victoria, I have visited a few times but can get very cold. Very pretty place as well.

My biggest cat is 12 Kilo, abt 26.5 pounds. The biggest sook you have ever seen. Great foot warmer though. Also have one small cat about 2 kilos, 4.4 pounds, the rest are just normal. My cats are all shocking, let anything in the yard, they even let strays eat their food, just sit and watch them. Two of our cats have allergies, gets worse this time of year. So pills every day to clear the rash up. Honestly I would rather have children at least they eventually leave home. Should not say that as love our pets. Great company.

Gail

Hi all, what are we doing way down the boards?
Hi Gillie, so glad you looked in, and you have met our Gail, Hi Gail, I have not been up to scratch with my pms lately. I suppose you know about last week and the dreaded Morphine tablets, it seems a blur now and I can only remember the sickness and dizzyness, don't even know if I posted. Glad to say these new ones are fine and I am getting a life back.
Loved the story about the chickens and their grub, loved to have seen that.

I am reading most days and keeping up with you all, Elaine I hope you don't let your hubbies teary eyes worry you, he loves you and misses you, that's for sure. So pleased you can see him today.
Thanks for all your pms, lovely to hear from you Betty, I will get round to replying but doc said I must spend the afternoon in bed still, she called in to see me yesterday, to see how I am doing on new tablets and how Wednesdays news affected me. She looked at my ankles and said off to bed with you now, mind you they do hurt when swollen.

Gail I will have a great time looking at the birds you mentioned, I do miss not being able to go up to Ogden and watch the Lapwing and it's crazy arial gymnastics. Lovely bird though.

Mary I hope you and your family have recovered from the flu, (was it flu?), and are back with us soon. By the way my mums maiden name is Davies, when I saw your pm name I thought for a minute my auntie Mary had pm me.
I hope this is not too confusing as it seems to be jumbled, but there again I feel the same if I'm honest,lol.
To anyone I've not mentioned I am thinking of you all.
Love and hugs to all and praying Deanna will be back with us shortly. Plus where are you Joyce P, we need our Toby fix.

Caz xx

hello everyone

I hope things are getting better for everyone

((((((((((((((((hugs))))))))))))))))))))) to all

Gill

Hi to Caz and Gill.

So where is everyone? The boards have been very quite the last few days.

Caz, I will keep you updated on my birds. Yesterday I had a flock of King Parrots in. I had 8 Red Rumped Parrots and a pair of Scaly Breasted Loriketts in the yard. Early mornings, we get the Satin Bower Bird, they hang around under one of the big wattle trees for an hour or so. The male is very plain but the female is just full of colour, which is very different for birds.

Catch you all later.

Gail

PS We had five chickens hatch today, out of five eggs. Only a small hen so could not put too many eggs. Just so lovely.

morning all well today is the day yes you were all right it has come quick ive been up since 5 couldnt sleep so now im off to get ready to spend the day at the hospital ,hubby has his opp this afternoon so im gona stay there all day with him ,can i just ask you all to keep your fingers crossed for him and pray this works and that this is the last opp he has to have he has been through so much these last few months this his second heart opp in 14 weeks i do feel for him ,ive even book a holiday for nextyr as we both need a break hugs to all who need them and ill update you all when i get home tonight all take care hugs elaine xxxx