Jacky And Daisy

[MoggyMad]

Good evening everyone!

I hope you're all okay after last night. Everything's okay here but I can see more of the rail line behind the flat than before. Sue how is the sanctuary and your father-in-law's house. Zola how is conservatory and Amanda I hope you're okay.

We've got a bit of Scottish blood in our family Anjie in that grandad was from Glasgow. His name was John Brown and his mother's maiden name was McNicol. My nana may also have some Scottish blood because her surname was Ross although nana came from Hornchurch.

My friend Helen who lost her husband, Harold, recently also celebrates Burns Night although she comes from Stepney. I, myself visited the Burns museum when I went to stay with my friend in Edinburgh.

Goodnight everyone

Natrah, Sleeping Beauty and Angel Daisy

Hi Natrah
We are all ok. As far as I can see there hasn’t been any damage here. Hopefully the sanctuary is ok. It would have been extremely windy where they are surrounded by fields. When you say you can see more of the rail line than before, is that because trees or other things have blown down?
Pete has checked his dad’s house & the only thing blown over was the bird table! Lucky as the surveyor has been at the weekend so things are moving towards the final stages of the sale.
On the theme of Scottish roots, I did an Ancestry DNA test a few years ago & to my complete surprise I have a 30pc Scottish segment of dna, inherited it seems from my mum. I was completely surprised as out of my two parents I would have thought it was inherited from my dad as he had lovely golden ginger hair, a trait sometimes seen in Scottish & Irish genes. I also had ginger hair when a baby & my sister was white blond! I’ve checked several times & I seem to have inherited the full Scottish component from my mum! This has thrown my ancestry research somewhat!

 

[zolasmum]

Hello Natrah - I am fine in my conservatory, though the floor can get a bit cold -I have several mats, though, and the most important bits - like where my mum puts her feet, have newspaper, as well, as Being by her feet often makes me wee or do a poo -I like to offer her a little present !
We had a good cuddle and stroke by the fire earlier, and I expect she will soon want me to watch tv with her. There hasn't been any serious wind damage to the garden or house - a lot of small branches gone, though.
Lots of love to you, Sleeping Beauty,Angel Daisy, and all my friends
Zola xxxxx

 

[MaNaAk]

Good evening everyone!

I expect Zola is in bed now so I'll say goodnight to him. I'm glad that everyone's okay and that we've all got a bit of Scottish blood. I'm just picturing Sue with red hair. I've got very dark Auburn hair but against the light some of it looks red! Mum used to make remarks about this!

Yes some of the ivy that was covered the fence of the railway has been blown down and it is much clearer. I wonder how all this affecting the wildlife. The fox has been strutting about as I saw him a few nights ago but I do hope that the bats, squirrels and badgers are okay.

I did wonder if Zola got to see the sea. I read something in The Times today about Zola's friend, Jonathan, the 191 year old Aldabra but I having trouble finding the article so I post it later.

Goodnight everyone

Natrah, Sleeping Beauty and Angel Daisy

 

[MaNaAk]

Here it is:

 

[zolasmum]

It is still fairly windy here, but not as bad as it has been. Now it's a bit warmer, we seem to be getting a lot of birds in the garden - a thrush was singing for ages when I sat with Zola in his conservatory. They are quite unmistakable ! Zola is in a strange mood today, and wanted to bash round his room and attack my feet. He wouldn't settle by the fire - for the first time - but I think he has calmed down now. In a way, I quite like it that he isn't always the same - he has a very strong personality, for sure !!
Goodnight to you, Natrah, Jacky and Angel Daisy, and to all our tortoise friends
Angie xxxxxxx

 

[MaNaAk]

Good evening everyone!

Angie that sounds like something Jacky and Daisy would it reminds of the racket that I woke up to a few times last year! I think Sue will probably find that Dickie does the same. Did you and Richard enjoy Haggis? Did you have Haggis as well Sue?

It is my friend Fiona's birthday today and we were hoping to meet up on Saturday but she has a virus so we hope to meet up the following Saturday. I shall still meet up for dinner with my friend Tracy and then on Sunday there is the concert. I have a milestone birthday myself this year and I thinking that I ought to make more headway with looking to buy a flat. However it's a slow process because other little jobs keep getting in the way and now the computer is playing up.

I have to say though that both Jacky and I seem to be settled here although I would like her to have her own garden. In the old house Daisy kept trying to get in the back door and both tortoises used to look for shady spots in the heat of the day. However one particular mum and I arrived home to find the front unlocked and the back ajar. No one was home and we realised that my brothers had gone out left the doors unlocked. We sat down in the lounge which was carpeted and there under the table was Jacky she was the one who had opened the back door! Mum picked her up and said "I don't want to clean your mess!"

Later brother returned and said that he knew we were on our way home so he left the front door unlocked and the back door unsecured. We informed that Jacky had come in through the back and made her way to the lounge!

Have you heard anymore about the house Sue?

Goodnight everyone

Natrah, Sleeping Beauty and Angel Daisy

 

[MaNaAk]

Daisy's ornament now looks at Hyacinths in full bloom:

 

[MoggyMad]

Hello Natrah
in answer to your question, nothing more on the house but the surveyor only came last week so a bit early yet.
The buyer is obviously planning on doing alterations as he has asked how long the house has been empty as apparently after 2 years you can get reduced vat on the cost of the proposed work(?) We think he means empty as in no one living in it which will be 2 years in April. That is when Petes dad went into hospital with covid & never came home again.
Pete thinks by the time the sale goes through Dickie will be awake!
Its difficult to think of moving when you feel so settled.
I suppose with the market value of property having reduced this would be the optimum time to buy though. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to see what’s out there. After all the sorting at his dads house im not sure I’d want to repeat the experience any time soon!
The hyacinths look lovely

Goodnight all

 

[MaNaAk]

Hello Natrah
in answer to your question, nothing more on the house but the surveyor only came last week so a bit early yet.
The buyer is obviously planning on doing alterations as he has asked how long the house has been empty as apparently after 2 years you can get reduced vat on the cost of the proposed work(?) We think he means empty as in no one living in it which will be 2 years in April. That is when Petes dad went into hospital with covid & never came home again.
Pete thinks by the time the sale goes through Dickie will be awake!
Its difficult to think of moving when you feel so settled.
I suppose with the market value of property having reduced this would be the optimum time to buy though. I guess it wouldn’t hurt to see what’s out there. After all the sorting at his dads house im not sure I’d want to repeat the experience any time soon!
The hyacinths look lovely

Goodnight all

Good evening everyone!

Yes Sue I think it would be interesting to see what's out there. I realise that this part of Essex is more expensive than other parts but I would prefer to stay here. I'm just wondering if Dickie's okay because it's been quite mild here. Jacky's okay but at the end of the month I need to plan when to raise the fridge temperature. I wonder if Zola's been to see the sea today and I wonder what he'll be doing on his half-birthday tomorrow?

Goodnight everyone

Natrah, Sleeping Beauty and Angel Daisy

 

[zolasmum]

Dear Natrah - Daisy's flowers are so pretty. My brother sent us some flowers at Christmas (well, he lives in France, so he didn't send them personally) and, amazingly the 7 large pale pink carnations, and 2 of the dark pink ones' are still going strong !! There were sprigs of little white flowers which soon went, and some silver sprayed twigs,which will probably last for years !
We had baked haggis ysterday - plus mashed potato and sweet potato, with a bit of nutmeg in it. It was very nice. I had intended to find my book of his poems, so Richard could read some out,-since he is the Scot -
but it wasn't where I expected.
I hope you've had a good day - goodnight and lots of love to all from Angie and Zola xxxxxxx

 

[zolasmum]

Oh Natrah - I forgot to say we followed the haggis with Scottish icecream -it's made by Mackies and is our favourite, so it seemed appropriate.
Angiexxx

 

[MaNaAk]

Dear Zola and Richard,

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday dear Zola and Richard!
Happy Birthday to you!

Natrah

Zz Zz z z!
Zz Zz z z!
Zz Zz z Zz z Zz!
Zz Zz z z!

Jacky

 

[zolasmum]

Thank you very much, dear Jacky - my dad and I had a nice day, but it wasn't very good weather - really cold - so we didn't go anywhere special. I had a lovely stroke with my mum by the fire for nearly an hour - we both almost went to sleep at times ! She was very tired after her balance class yesterday.
Lots of love to you Jacky, and I loved your snoring song - very tuneful!
Love to Natrah and Angel Daisy and all my friends.
Zola xxxxxxxxxx

 

[MaNaAk]

Dear Zola, Sapphire, Sherman, Ernie and possibly Dickie too,

It's been quite mild lately and Dickie may well have stirred. I'm writing to you all first because you could be in bed soon apart from Sapphire. Anyway below is a picture of Hyde Park and tea in the restaurant here before going to a concert at Westminster Cathedral Hall. Whilst I was Hyde Park I saw squirrels and I heard Parakeets but as you can all see there was a lot of wildfowl as well.

Goodnight everyone

Natrah, Sleeping Beauty and Angel Daisy

 

[MaNaAk]

Good evening everyone,

I've had a busy weekend starting with a meal at Tomassi's with my friend Tracy. She had Salad Nicoise followed by Peppermint Perfection and I had Lasagna followed by Chocobanana.

On Sunday I made my way to the Murray McLachlan recital at Westminster Cathedral Hall but I had a bit of time for tea at the restaurant in Hyde Park. It was a lovely day and I saw squirrels but I also heard the Parakeets. The recital was lovely and it was followed by a buffet before I got the train home. Enjoy the pictures below:

Goodnight

Natrah, Sleeping Beauty and Angel Daisy

 

[zolasmum]

Dear Natrah - I'm so glad you had a good time and that the weather was sunny - and, of course that you enjoyed the music. You must be very tired by now -Zola and I hope you sleep well - we will add that tonight
to the list of goodnight wishes we go through together every night to our friends.
Love from Angie and Zola xxxxxx

 

[MaNaAk]

Dear @Chefdenoel10, Squirt, Sally and GGGGGAAAARRRYYYY,

I know you're there.

Natrah

 

[MoggyMad]

Those are beautiful pictures Natrah.
Pete checked Dickie on Sunday & she still hasn’t moved. He doesn’t want to disturb her so will just keep checking.
Its turned quite cold here unless it’s just me. I haven’t been well since yesterday so feeling the cold more. I have appendicitis & spent most of the day down the hospital today having tests & a CT scan. Tomorrow I go in for the op. Probably wont take my iPad as I hope to be home in a day or two so can catch up then.
Early start tomorrow so I’m off to bed in a minute. Hopefully I’ll get some sleep, I didn’t last night as too uncomfortable.

Goodnight everyone

 

[zolasmum]

I'm so sorry - that's the last thing you need ! I do hope you'll be able to get some sleep, and that everything goes smoothly.

Love from Angie and Zola xxxxxx

 

[MaNaAk]

Dear Sue,

Please get better soon and look forward to another steam train ride at some point. Meanwhile please if enjoy reading the article below when you can.

Natrah and Jacky

PS: Zola have you ever seen a seal when you look at the sea?