Marty

Not meaning to burst your bubble, but I can't help wondering whether humankind is the mistake... Perhaps Nature's way of fixing our mistakes might just involve removing us from the equation... Here's a bit of writing of mine (taken from a much longer piece I originally wrote back in 1997 reflecting on the appearance of the comet Hale-Bopp in the night sky) that looks at the possible consequence of humankind's belief that we are not a part of nature...

Moving along slowly, Albert. Managed to get in a couple of hours tidying the garden this afternoon. Mainly cutting down more brambles and briars, and also managed to make some progress on clearing the ivy that's overgrown part of the back garden. I showed yous all a photo of part of it last November in this photo: But clearing the ivy is slow work; especially considering that some of the stems are around 3 inches (7.5 cm) thick in places, plus the fact that briars and brambles have grow up through the overhanging part of it. Still Rome wasn't built in a day, as they say, and I am beginning to see progress... Back in my rented house at the moment. Think I may have fish and chips for dinner tonight. Then back to the other house to fit a new washing machine that was delivered today - along with a fridge-freezer which is already up and running. That answer your question, Albert?

Hi, Gary.

Thanks, Thorne. I should have known that. Another of my senior moments...

I see exactly the same when visiting Dodger's stories page. Using a Toshiba Laptop with recommended screen resolution of 1366x768, running Windows 8.1 with all security updates, and up-to-date Google Chrome, Version 80.0.3987.122 (Official Build) (64-bit) with zoom set to 100%. And if I lower the zoom in Chrome I still don't see the right hand edge (unless I scroll), or the bottom of the banner (at all).

How's things, Abert?

Interesting first chapter, that's certainly got me hooked.

Hey, Albert Just after midnight here. Probably off to bed shortly.

Home made spaghetti bolognese for dinner tonight... Had no hard parmesan type cheese on hand, so grated some extra vintage cheddar on top.

Not that I ever buy fast food "to go" - but if I did, and found out they got the order wrong when I got home, I would ring the establishment (after Googling the number, if necessary) and ask to speak to the manager.

All good here, thanks, bud. A bit of snow overnight, leaving the surrounding mountains looking white. Too dull a day to get any decent photos of them, though. Managed to get a couple of hours clearing part of the new garden, though, so it wasn't a completely wasted day. After dark here, now. Will probably head out and get a few groceries in a while. But have to make a few phone calls first. I hope all's well with you.

I trust you complained? There seems to be something in the psyche of Irish people that makes them reluctant to complain about things like this. Personally, I would have made quite a fuss if such happened to me. And if they were to refuse to sort it out, I would demand to see the manager and complain even louder.

It tasted damn tasty, as well! (Not meaning to sound as though I'm blowing my own trumpet )

Home made beef curry for dinner. That will be the last food for me until after my doctor's appointment at 9:50 am tomorrow. Having blood samples taken to check how well I am managing my Type 2 Diabetes. I'm fairly confident the results will go well, and the doc will reduce my medication (again)

How ya doing, Gary? You and me both, buddy. It's done nothing but sleet and snow here most of the day. Bit of sun early on, but that was short lived. And Met Éireann (the Irish Met Office) have issued a Status Yellow Snow/Ice warning for the whole of the country overnight, tonight. https://www.thejournal.ie/snow-ice-warning-ireland-tomorrow-5019752-Feb2020/

Hi, Albert!

That must have been frightening. Just glad to hear there were no serious injuries.

I hope you at least had breakfast...

Hey, Gary! Hope all's well with you.

I'm fine, thanks Things are going slowly. A builder was supposed to check the roof and gutters last week, but he's apparently lost his long ladder... 😮 There's some damp getting in, and he's not sure yet how or where... At least he has managed to cut a hole in the ceiling on the upstairs landing and checked that the underside of the roof slates and the main timbers of the roof are sound. Just need to find a long enough loft ladder now to give me access to the loft in the future. The ceiling height is 10 feet (fractionally over 3 meters). No standing on chairs for me if I want to get into the loft...

Hi, Albert Hope all's well with you

It's a common misconception (no pun intended) that only fertilised eggs can have blood spots. They are actually caused by the rupture of a blood vessel on the yolk surface during formation of the egg, or by a similar accident in the wall of the hen's oviduct. The reason they are so uncommon in store purchased eggs is that commercial eggs nowadays are candled to reveal any imperfections such as blood spots. (Candling means the eggs are inspected under high intensity lighting - in former times they were inspected individually by holding them in front of a candle - hence the term). Eggs with blood spots are actually perfectly safe to eat. https://www.incredibleegg.org/eggcyclopedia/b/blood-spots/

My previous experience with keeping free range hens is that it is probably best not to keep a rooster with them. Their loud calls advertise over a very large distance the presence of the flock to distant foxes. Hens will lay eggs whether or not there is a rooster with them.