A new 'tougher' thread... and so it continues

short_bird

mardatha wrote: »

Was idly wondering earlier why nobody seems to be using the canals for transport - would make sense in these days of high fuel costs. I thought English cities were all joined by canals that went right into the centres and is how they moved all the freight in days gone by? You could do that now, once you got the system up and running with a constant line of barges then it would be just as fast as the roads. Bet there's no canals left though.

No, there are canals, problem is with some stretches where tunnels etc have fallen into disrepair. The 4 MPH speed limit could be a problem: then again, I wonder what the average speed is on the M6 at this time of day? Oh, and canal workers were regarded as almost the lowest of the low...

PS I think your bird is trying to fight off a rival and too daft to realise he's fighting his reflection.

Byatt

Awwwe Mrs C, what fab pics. That was the kind of bird that was pecking at my DD's window. Whatever their reason, don't you feel incredibly privileged when they do. It looks as though he's spotted you cooking or something and thought I want some of that!

Mrs_Chip

Well it's not our windows (still in holiday cottage) so I wont have to worry about that . We did shut them for a while and it went away, but came back when we opened them again, but friendly cat sitting on the windowsill seems to have put it off :rotfl:.

Now got two cats, both oblivious of each other sitting here. Cats are sometimes the most unobservant of critters!

We have calculated the remaining fuel and have enough left to light the fire early, so starting to defrost now thankfully. We leave Saturday am, and I'm not leaving any coal behind !

VJsmum

short_bird wrote: »

Has he seen the equipment that's up by the Town Hall for Wings of Desire? That'll get his goat... :rotfl:

OMG - hope he hasn't seen that! I'm up that way tonight (concert at SYmphony Hall) perhaps I'll get him a photo.:D

smileyt_2

Just popping in to say there are some amazing ideas on this website including this pet food dispenser from two cordial bottles!

http://www.weupcycle.com/en/tag-127-gastbeitrag-%E2%80%93-pet-futterflaschen/

I can see that I will never throw anything away ever again .... :eek::rotfl:

westcoastscot

Haven't been visiting for a while due to crap life happenings, really sick of it now
I live by a canal - it's so expensive to use that only yatchies can afford it - however read a brilliant book recently about how women took over the working canal boats during WW2 to keep cargo moving. I bought it when I visited the canal museum - really interesting
WCS

shegar

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

We have got a window pecker! A little bluetit has been hurling itself at our window for the last hour. I can confirm its not looking for insects or putty. I think it can either see a reflection, or thinks it should be able to fly through, when I close the curtains it goes away. I got some pics -

Arhh how sweet, they usually do it cos of the glass,so maybe best to keep curtains shut for a while to save him breaking his neck..!!....You got them pics just right, lovely to see the wings splayed out like that.........My little great tits are still feeding their young hundreds of times a day, but weve got a dam magpie that keeps sitting a few feet away from the box, I keep shewing him away, to his disgust...........My 2 wren boxes also have young inside, and ive now got a blackbird looking quite a lot in a wall climber I have so im hoping he decides to mortgage a nest in there....I get so much pleaseure from wildlife, sometimes I think id rather live with animals than people....!!, I never tire of animals...:D

GreyQueen

Nicepeach wrote: »

I'll see you Ron... Later Ron... I know it's bad but it's one of my favourites... x

One of our family sayings when helping oneself to a bikkie or whatever is to say I'll have one for now and one for Ron. Ron= Later'ron, y'see. *Groan*

Been a bit of a day at the salt mine as the IT gremlins have been following me around all day and things have been going wrong left, right and centre. Was a bit nervous about logging onto my home PC in case I'd brought computer germs home with me but all is OK thus far, fingers crossed.

Was nattering with the folks on the jellybone just before 6pm when the Plod came into the Towers mob-handed and arrested a couple of people. No idea, who, what or why, there was only a little shouting and swearing. Nice to know one gets value for one's policing bucks around here.

I'm tired enough to gibber quietly in the corner and all I've done is ironed 3 shirts and a shift in the mine. Oh, and have thrown together a batch of wholemeal rolls which are proving in the kitchen and scenting my flat with lovely yeastiness, nom nom.

Interesting to contemplate how differently life will have to be lived as we slip and slide down the far side of the Hubbert Peak (peak oil). Will we see sailing barges plying our bigger rivers, and inshoremen up and down the coasts? I live near a river but I don't think it'd get you anywhere useful as it wambles all over the place. Pretty, tho.

My Dad went for a walk in the countryside today and saw something un-blinking-believable. IRRIGATORS going full-blast on a tattie field. You could not make it up. Apparently it's because the supermarkets insist on potatoes all being a regular size, so they can't even be left a day or two without rain or they might not grow evenly. We are truly in the last years of a foolish and degenerate civilisation.:(

Anyway, there are few things which cannot be improved with a pot of tea so I shall go off and sort one out.

Have a great evening, all.

PS. looove the birdy pix.

katieowl_2

Evening all... How are we all tonight? Bearing up I do hope.

All this chat about birdies reminded me I must plug in the nest box camera tomorrow and see if there's been any sign of interest! I loved watching the birds feeding in the garden, but I daren't at the mo. because of attracting the ratties back.

I have another 'day off' tomorrow, and am determined I will spend it at home, but not DOING Housework. I have a parcel coming too...so I do have to be in (From Asian Cookshop...:j) I'd quite like to sort my wardrobe out...

I've just discovered I can trade in my Mr T vouchers 'double up' offer thingy on pet food this time around, so that has to be my best bet. :T we always need dog food.

We are still eating quiche left over from Tuesdays market. I've just bunged on some spuds to go with it for dinner.

I've been LOLLING at the reminiscences about patchouli oil, it reminded me of one of OH's quips. He said by the time I was an old lady, old ladies wouldn't smell of lavender water anymore, they'd all smell of patchouli oil :rotfl:

Kate

Hobsons_Choice

Lovely birdie pics, probably thinks his reflection is a rival and is trying to see him off!
Had a lousy nights sleep last night and today I feel older than the oldest old person in Oldham. My back aches and me get up and go has..well, buqqered orf somewhere. The forecast for this area (via BBC) was dry with a little brightness. Oh yeah? Peed down this morning and hardly a glimpse of brightness all day. Met my friend and dragged myself round our small town, but no enthusiasm for even buying in the chazzers, coz I think my summer stuff's going to last a long long time!
"Wings of Desire" short bird, I'm hoping to go and see that in Brum.
Hope you enjoyed the concert VJs mum...I love Symphony Hall and will be there June 8th.