Good Morning Early Birds!

[waterboatman]

Thursday. It's a bit windy out this morning. Lots of cloud about, but not too chilly. all the prep to do today for tomorrows dinner party, then make the place look like someone cares about it. I'll do that this afternoon/evening.

I hope this warmer weather doesn't wake tiggy up. It's too wet'n'windy for a wee lad.

There are a couple of foxes sniffing about on the green looking for anything to eat. they will find some scraps I've chucked out soon.

Yesterday afternoon It occurred to me that there were no birds about. Most unusual, so i went for a stroll along the lane where I spied a pair of buzzards patrolling over the fields just about 100 yards away from my bungalow. Such beautiful birds, even if they are very efficient killing machines. But they only kill to eat. That's nature. They were about for a couple of hours. It normal to see them over the river.

Have a happy day everyone.

[1ozzy]

G'day Boaty.
Hopefully Tiggy will stay sleeping.
What gastronomic delight will you be serving up tomorrow?
Err we don't feed foxes out here, well a bit of lead maybe.
We get quite a lot of hawks but the Magpies see them off pretty quickly, quite amazing to see birds take on raptors 2 or 3 times their own size.

[waterboatman]

Afternoon oz. I'm starting with butternut squash soup, followed by marinaded fillet of beef with seasonal veg and finishing off with a Basil scented fruit terrine, which I shall make today.

The local foxes are OK, don't often see them.

[waterboatman]

I sent you a recipe yesterday. It looks a bit fiddly, but it's worth it!

[1ozzy]

Shall have a look later thanks Boaty.
Tomorrows meal sounds great, I'm sure you will do it justice.
Problem with foxes here is they decimate native fauna, farmers have problems with them during lambing also.
No natural predators here, not even those people in red jackets on horseback.

[waterboatman]

Thanks oz. I shall do my best. They are very good friends. :o}

Your foxes have a much freer existence than ours. It's rare to see them anywhere too near a livestock farm. They would soon be seen off by mum! Believe it or not, pet dogs are more of a problem to sheep farmers, well, the owners of the dogs really. Some people should not be allowed to own any pet!

[1ozzy]

Got the results back on youngest Ozzys ankle scans today.
Appears he has a fractured left talus, os trigonum also in the left ankle and arthritis in the right ankle due to another fracture some years back.
Oh well off to Sydney to see a specialist, couldn't get an appointment before end of Jan, tad disappointing having to wait about 6 weeks.

[1ozzy]

You are not wrong there Boaty. My neighbourly neighbour has 3 cats that live outdoors.
If they weren't good neighbours they may have none :-)

[waterboatman]

Ouch! Not what you want is it! That's likely to affect him for life mate. He has my sympathy. It must be very frustrating for him. What age is he?

[waterboatman]

Don't get me started on cats! Most of the local moggies know better than to come into my garden. There is one new one that has yet to learn. It will!

[1ozzy]

I'm sure you will "teach it good" Boaty.
Don't mind house cats meself, ones that wander the neighbourhood stalking birds I detest.

He's 17 Boaty, very fit and sporting, apart from the clicking noise when he moves it doesn't seem to cause any pain.

[Old_Geezer]

If you would like riders in hunting pink I'm sure we have some that could do with exporting to the New World. Send us a cheque and we'll shove them in the post for you.

[waterboatman]

It'll go home airmail mate! I object to it using my garden as a toilet!

The young oz will find it will get worse unless the specialist can do something about all the problems with both ankles. I hate to say it but it is likely to curtail a lot of his activities. You're climate will be a help to him however. The cold and damp would not do him any favours.

[waterboatman]

Morning OG. We could even chuck in the hangers on for free!

[1ozzy]

Thanks for the offer Og, think I'll pass this time.
Plenty of "would be blue bloods" here already ;-)

I've got my fingers crossed Boaty.

[Old_Geezer]

Morning. Another disturbed sleep pattern from me. About to turn off light again and try for two more hours. May start one of the 'sleep' apps on the mobile or risk being a zombie all day ! (again) Have a decent day, both.

[Elina]

Morning waterman, 1ozzy, OG & anyone to follow!

[waterboatman]

Good luck OG. I hope you get the sleep you need mate. :o}

I really hope it all goes well for him mate. Arthritis, cold and damp are not happy bedfellows. I speak from experience!

[waterboatman]

Morning Lina xxx How are you this morning? :o}

[Elina]

I'm good waterman. Meeting my son at the airport later, he's home for Christmas. Tomorrow I have my works do. You're entertaining again! I love basil!

[Elina]

1ozzy, hope you're son gets sorted.