The Bluestocking, a unique location for daughters and sisters of earth, frost, feathers, fur, scales and spines

Thanks Android!

A belated happy birthday to Empress Kitty!

Not a tractor, but a very nice bit of kit nonetheless! Thank you!

I wasn’t totally certain it was a tractor but i thought it looked like one.

I’ve only used hello, please & thank you so far, but I’ve understood snatches & been able to read stuff, so pleased with that.

The hotel’s basic but comfy, and I’m up on the 8th floor & have a balcony, which was a lovely surprise. Mine looks over roofs, some of them very interesting-looking roofs (pic 1), & there’s a bigger terrace on the other side of the floor looking out to the harbour (pic 2).

I arrived around 3, dropped my stuff & got out there.

The harbour walk is absolutely beautiful, especially the further you get. Towards the end it’s possible to go up a cliff to where the old fortress & enjoy the views from there (pics 3 & 4). I can see exactly why they’d have put it in that spot.

It felt a bit surreal though, because it’s 17 degrees, kids are playing in the water & I was sitting on the bank with a biscoffi & rum & raisin gelato. I had a huge breakfast at Heathrow & wasn’t hungry for much else.

(Incidentally, SAS Airlines provided free tea & coffee & came round to refill people’s cups every so often. More airlines should do that.)

Catching the 10.30 train to Flåm tomorrow.

Leibherr is a German/Swiss company. They make good freezers, I didn’t know they also made tractors.

Well, first, I’m not sure if this is a Norwegian tractor but I thought I’d better take photos just in case.

An interesting take on cupcakes!

I agree Marie. A vicarious holiday, without all the faffing about at airports!

Have a great trip Kitty. Hope you get to use some of your best phrases 😉

It's very exciting to be sort-of there with you, Kitty
Have a lovely time!

Belated happy birthday from me too, @EmpressaurusKitty - and have a wonderful time.

Ooh @EmpressaurusKitty I am so excited for you. Beautiful place.

Thanks for the lovely birthday wishes everyone!

I’m currently queuing in Arrivals, but the plane landed 20 mins early & it’s a very pleasant 17 degrees C outside.

Yesterday was very productive and today is shaping up the same way: lift provided, dump run done, cooking done, laundry done, two hours work done (and ongoing).

Still on the list:
garden (cutting back, watering)
walk/train B&B
paperwork

Likewise.

I am at one with Mr Frozen-Face on that issue. Get on with it already!

Belated happy birthday, Kitty!

Gosie should definitely take her time with the next chapter(s). Like all creative artists, she has every right to her own schedule.

(Though Mr Frozen-Face would make an exception to the above rule for GRR Martin.)

There's Team Bar-Gerbil, Team Gosie, and then there's Team Get Myrtle Through A Difficult time.
All equally dedicated💙

Hello BlackForestCake, is it you that is new or your username? Ditto Notmybestusername?
It a bit of dilemma - just how much bounce should I put into my Tigger-like welcome to newcomers, if they are in fact regulars who know all about the wonders of the Bluey?
As Edmund Burke - a regular dahn the Staunch Ally, you know - said
'I had rather be thought Tigger-like in my welcome than rational in my reserve'*

Welcome! the food and drink are delicious and magically devoid of any of that troublesome stuff like gluten or calories or the kind of alcohol that triggers breathalysers. They are served by a team of highly trained professional bar-gerbils - some of whom have a side-hustle as International Gerbils of Mystery, but don't worry, service is still prompt.

As JanesLittleGirl explained, there is a corner for everyone and everything in the Bluestocking, Pedantry Corner, Crafting Corner, Moping Corner...
more corners than an old threpenny bit😁

*Some sources have that as 'I had rather be thought insane in my charity than rational in my malice' but I think they are wrong😄

Bore da, all! And Happy Belated Birthday, Kitty! I think you are travelling today (?) so I hope the trip goes smoothly.

Getting things done is so satisfying, isn't it, Deano? I got a lot done on Friday (started my "cleaning and tidying the garden before winter sets in") then was avoiding a migraine (just) all day yesterday, so all my work came to a screeching stop. So far, not too bad this morning, but now I have two days' work to do. Don't know what's going on with my head these days...

Myrtle, I second (or third) : I'm very happy to wait for Gosie's adventure chapters. It takes me a little while to just sit and absorb the previous one anyway. You just go at your own pace.

At least it's going to be dry and sunny today (and possibly 25C!) so laundry, here we come! (no headaches today, please!!!)

HAGADAPA!

HAGADAP yourself, Dean.

Seeing your name reminds me I'd normally be making jelly and syrup from the elderberries this weekend but with all the holiday on the list I don't think I'll get to it this year.

Good morning.

I'm still trying to get my upstairs room fit for human habitation. The shower in the en-suite has been scrubbed clean, I've made the bed, and kept the door open while I was in there so that the cats could examine the new arrangement of movable furniture. I think I'll be able to sleep there tonight. The bed is about a foot further off the floor than the one I've been in for the summer, so I hope I don't sprain an ankle getting out of it.

I've moved some of the old-beds sized bedding into the bathroom, so that will be the site of the next big clearance.

Never ending.

HAGADAPA

A belated happy birthday to Kitty, and that sounds a lovely way to spend it.

Gosie should take her sweet time and not push herself, Myrtle. We'll still be here when she's fully rested.

Yesterday was mostly helping MsPastaJnr sort through her clothes, and fill a couple of bags for the charity shop, doing laundry in preparation for our holiday and utterly unsuccessful cooking from a new cookbook.

MrPasta got the first section of wallpapering done and it looks lovely.

The sleep gerbils did sterling work here until about 5.30, when they must have made a racket as they left...

Welcome to our newcomers. There is always room and I can recommend the cocktails.

Myrtle, you and Gosie don't need to rush. We can all be patient if we need to be.

Is it morning already?😴

Long day yesterday, met some friends at Arley Hall in Cheshire, one of whom had a birthday last week. They have amazing gardens there, beautifully kept. Then a look round a local garden centre before an earlly dinner at a country pub near Jodrell Bank ( I do hope they manage to find the funds to keep it open).

Talking a of birthdays, a belated Happy Birthday to Kitty. Your day sounds amazing too. * *

I like your idea of a party buffet, Magpie😁

And welcome to @BlackForestCake and @Notmybestusername

A large pot of coffee please, gerbils. I'll be in the snug, trying to prop my eyes open.