Thread 10 - TalkLair: “The candle flame gutters. Its little pool of light trembles.”

[Kucinghitam]

Continuation of previous threads (thread 9).

Although the nights are gradually drawing in, the new lair of JTT escapees is all cosy and homey inside. The hearth is glowing, the walls covered in dubious artwork, books by non-approved authors line the shelves, rugs are down on the floors (and assorted pets curled up on them).

We just won’t mention the gnawed bones of our prey over there in the corner of the cave…

We are heading back to port, this phase is finished. There are loads of small birds onboard and during the night, went into the hangar and disturbed a warbler, which flapped about like mad. Once it settled, I looked over and it panicked again.

Quite unlike the robin, which glowered down at me from a pipe, not moving when I got close.

I have seen a black cap, a yellow wagtail, three house sparrows, possibly two greenfinches and a sublimely unconcerned chaffinch, which has been wandering around our feet.

Sadly, I had to bury one greenfinch at sea.

Damn, the photo is too big.

With full honours, I hope, Sinner.

My grandmother always said she liked the idea of being buried at sea (couldn't swim, hated traveling, but loved water). But also that she'd not be bothered if she were just stuck in the bin. Neither were really feasible so she got the dull middle ground of cremation.

Fiddlesticks. It says it's uploaded to Flickr,but I can't see it.

I'm now burning with curiosity to see Sinner's photo

I'll try to load it on the computer next shift. I'm on at midnight.

I thought the feral toddler thread was interesting. This sounds sexist but I do think it makes a difference whether said toddler is a boy or a girl. The ones I’ve encountered who are girls seem much more amenable in the end than the boys.

Yes, just had a look at that thread. My sister had a girl followed by two boys, and couldn’t get over how violent and destructive and LOUD the boys were as toddlers, compared with her daughter!

Same with my DDIL - my first two grandchildren were girls and they are fine. The youngest is a boy, as are his two cousins (who my DDIL nannies for her sister) and they are truly rambunctious. DDIL is doing her level best but frequently tearing her hair out!

Blurry bird pictures...

Aw, cute little bird!

I had a day out with my friend E. (Imp from the old place but we've been friends in real life for over 30 years). She came down from London and we went to my local museum and then sat on the pier with ice cream where we were entertained by the starlings. I now know that I need to be there from around 16:30 - 1700 although I'm guessing it will be a little earlier once the clocks go back. I think that when I'm having a bit of a bad day I'm just going to wander down there and watch them all gather together from far and wide.

Oh and she bought me homemade soup. Some green soup in a thermos, so I had some of that this evening, and leek and potato which I haven't had in bloody ages. The green soup was delicious!

The one on the floor is the fearless chaffinch. The one on the fire extinguisher is the frightened warbler.

We're in port for a bit and they've gone now. And after I scattered hand crushed (unsalted) peanuts about.

[Reposted on correct thread this time.]

I had the best seat on the ferry yesterday (comfy lounger in front of a massive window directly over the bow) and saw 3 pods of dolphins (or maybe porpoises? I'm a bit hazy on small cetaceans, especially at speed).

It's too late @BinturongsSmellOfPopcorn, the other thread will soon be awash (SWIDT?) with porpoise chat.

Aww to your little birds @SinnerBoy!

On a related note, yesterday we spotted a nuthatch walking along the edge of our shed roof. I think it was searching the clumps of moss for hidden insects. It took me a while to recognise it as a nuthatch because it was walking sideways instead of downwards

Oh, the relief! Just sorted out a payment plan for my electricity after nearly 2 years of shenanigans from EDF and nasty letters from a credit agency. I had no idea how anxious it was making me until now I’ve resolved it!

I’m such a procrastinator, it’s seriously pathological.

About 10 flights of geese, honking away in the v-shaped gangs, just flew over the house! They were flying so low (I'd guess not more than 50 ft above the houses) that I could hear the beating of their wings, which was very loud indeed. Canada geese I think, flying due North, with a pair of buzzards gliding above them...

Can a buzzard take down a goose?

Lovely, if blurry, pics! I don’t think I’ve ever seen a chaffinch (although I think I was in the chaffinches in Brownies).

I believe buzzards are more carrion birds than predators, and are rather clumsy fliers. A pair of swallows could see them off, and crows regularly harass them if they feel the buzzard is getting too close to their nests.

When I was on the pier on Tuesday I was admiring a crow and saying hello, etc. A nice old chap told me the crow's name was Harry and that he was a cheeky chap. When I called out "Hello Harry!" he definitely recognised his name. This has reminded me to put some cat treats in my bag so I can start offering food to the many local crows and make friends.

Also Canada geese are probably a bit big for them. I once saw one push a toddler into Barnes Pond. To be fair to the goose, he was being a very annoying little boy, pestering the birds, and I had to stifle my laughter when the goose said "Right! Enough!" and dealt with the problem.

The terrible shooting in Lewiston, Maine, is 30 miles north of me. Apparently the perpetrator has been suffering severe mental health problems since the summer. That's bad enough but the ready availability of guns is what's led to this. Won't make any difference to the gun laws though. I've already seen local people saying "See this is why we need concealed carry."

Heh @Gonners - a dog I had decades ago ran up to some geese who were milling around by a lake/lagoon; the geese reared up en masse, wings aloft, hissing and beak-stabbing. My dog was so terrified he ran backwards into the lake!

Geese do make me nervous. Fabulous guard dogs, I understand.

Oh god, that's so depressing

A goose had at me once and chased me pecking my arse as I tried to escape. They're a menace but I appreciate the total lack of fucks they give.