The Bluestocking Womens Pub in an Adventure with Pirates!

[Magpiecomplex]

New thread. You know the deal - women's pub, men to the Staunch Ally next door.

Some of us are currently on the trail of an international seed smuggling ring, just for background information.

It's been quite a week for Nature here.

At the end of last week I think I saw a little owl, just a glimpse, when driving home at dusk. Nothing else it could have been, really. And I had the same with a ?cuckoo the other day. Not a pigeon. Not a jackdaw. Weird raptor-type wings but not a kestrel or falcon.

And having not seen a fox for over a year, I saw the back half of one. Then I saw 4 muntjac in the space of 24 hours - one crossing the road (young, Green Cross Code not yet fully absorbed) and 3 in the woods, including a buck which stared at me for a few seconds before deciding that yes, he could hear a dog whining and should nope it out of there. Saw a hare this evening going hell for leather over a cultivated field (that hasn't been drilled yet because the farmer's son has buggered his leg).

It's also dog rose and honeysuckle season, and in places the air is heady with the scent of elderflowers. And butterfly numbers are building up.

Besides all of that, the sky... This afternoon, walking B&B, about 60% of the sky was doing that heavenly firmament thing, an almost surreal blue with wisps of wind-blown cloud. The other 40% was threatening doom, and pissing down on a large chunk of Suffolk. As the dogs and I did our circuit, the 40% slowly wheeled around in our direction. We'd have got back to the car in time had I not stopped to admire the lightning and listen to a weather god having a good go on the timpani - 15+ seconds, very impressive. As it was, we only got a little bit wet, and it was totally worth it.

Edith, I hope your Nature Notes books will take their place alongside Myrtle's Gosie the Gerbil books - thank you for another wonderful piece, and that stunning photo!

We got that fierce downpour, it rattled against the windows and for a while it looked like November - I must look at the weather animations to see if it was the same band? burst? of rain.

We have some wonderful writers in here.

Sounds like a wonderful walk, Edith. I thought I might finally get a chance to walk late this afternoon, but it's been blowing and pouring with rain, so not today! I need to stretch after all the lifting and shifting, so I hope tomorrow will be better. My legs start to seize up if I don't get my walks (but my upper body has had quite a workout! who knew I had it in me still? Some heavy furniture shifted around, too)

Many of my "summer" roses have actually gone by already, and the wild strawberry plants are covered in berries. My guess is that the blackberries will be ready in late July this year. Many years ago, it was always September. Recently, it's been in early-to-mid August. It'll be July this year. Crazy!

I finished the second knitted dress today, and have cast on the final dress. This one took me 31 days - the next one is a couple of sizes larger, so will take longer, but I’m hoping to get it done in 6 weeks or so.

That’s great, @SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius.

Are you going to share pictures when they’re all finished?

And to add to the week's wildlife, I was looking out of a window when on the phone just now, and a barn owl flew past.

This is typical of barn owls. You can watch out for them when driving at dusk for months, and nada. And you're on the phone moaning about someone and one flaps casually by, minding its own business, not in a hurry, not caring that it's so close to a house...

The very best is when you end up driving along next to one. They don't seem to mind, they just carry on doing whatever they're doing, and then the road takes you away. It's happened to me maybe twice.

Good morning!

The sleep gerbils were great until 4.30am when someone else must have needed them more because that’s when I awoke. Couldn’t get back to sleep again.

The Walrus got up just before 6 and I asked him if he couldn’t sleep either. “No,” he said,” I’m always up at this time on a Friday to do the weekly shop!” I hadn’t realised he got up quite so early…

Sorry you didn't get more sleep @MyrtleLion but I'm very impressed with the Walrus!

I always wish I could get up and doing earlier at this time of year. But I’m lacking discipline to turn off at a sensible time in the evening to enable that. And MrDragon doesn’t sleep well so often really needs a lie-in.

Brews up!

I was early-ish up this morning and out with B&B by 7.10. No exciting wildlife to report, just the usual of skylarks and jackdaws. Still lovely, though, and one of those fabulous benign mornings - mild, sunny, slight breeze. It's gone all grim and cloudy now, though.

Cheers Errol!
Sorry you didn't get a full night's sleep Myrtle, but you did get a chance to discover another nice thing about Mr Walrus
I hope you have an OK day today, recovering from the disappointment and justified pissed-off-ness about the job and getting your lioness-prowl-vibe back.

A barn owl, Edith? Not jealous at all, no not a bit...

I tracked a vicious-looking patch of rain across Irl/Wales/Eng online yesterday, the weather was coming - at quite a lick! - from the west, so yes, it probably was the same thundery downpour we experienced.

Looking forward to seeing the latest dress, Woley, you put so much work and skill into them.

Sorry but I've lost track of who's doing what - who is house-hunting? is that you Angle? How's that going?

I know Swash is also going through house-related stuff - hope you sorted out the solicitor situation, Swash, having taken time off to smash an international smuggling ringand everything is going smoothly.

Morning all!

I'm on my coffee break after clearing another closet of the feckless niece and her bloke. I found an actual MAGA hat.

I told you they were wrong 'uns. 🙄

Good morning. poo to idiots not choosing to employ Myrtle, cautious rejoicing that Hedgehog's nephew continues to improve, even if not enough (yet).

I had a nice morning at a charity plant sale, got two lemon verbenas (mine died over the winter) two very nice pots of thyme, a small Philadelphus (possibly my favourite scented shrub) https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/534872/philadelphus-petite-perfume-pink-(-p1-)/details, some cowslips, a baby walnut tree, courgette, squash and cherry tomato plants, two phlox, a sweet scented dark purple petunia, probably other things I've forgotten. And had a gluten free muffin with a cup of tea, sitting in the sunshine. Met loads of friends and was greeted by name by many people whose names I could not recall (more know Tom Fool . . . .).

I'd better think about clearing spaces to plant them, just as well really that it is going to be cool and damp for a while.

I will share pictures, @EmpressaurusKitty - this is No1.

That’s lovely! And looks comfy too.

Thank you - it is lovely, soft yarn - nice to work with too. I have overestimated the amount of yarn I need for the dresses, so I’m going to knit myself a shawl with what’s left over.

I also woke up early today - 5:20 and that was it. I have not been so foolish as to actually get up though, and DH is still asleep next to me.

Kitty & I get up at 5 most weekdays, either so I can go to the gym before work or because it’s an office day & doing 7.30-3.30 means the tube is a lot quieter. Also that I can be in in time to bag my favourite desk.

Since she can tell the time but not the calendar, on weekends I usually get up, get her breakfast, open the back door for her & go back to sleep.

Well, I was going to say good morning, but time has flown by and now it's afternoon! Yes, Marie, I'm the one house hunting, but no joy so far, and had a week off this week, doing things for other people's houses!

Very pretty dress, Woley, I'm sure it will be a hit!
It's finally stopped raining, not a bad day, but I'm stuck inside cleaning (and occasionally popping onto MN to see what's going on). Oh, well, has to be done.

And that's exactly how exciting I'm going to be today.

Aah! <collapses onto sofa>

The problem with 'mixed' weather is that, when it's a fine day, you suddenly feel the need to rush outside and do everything, all at once!

Two loads of washing hung out, front and back gardens weeded, a trip to the tip, car cleaned inside and a shop is enough for today, I think. It's due to rain again tomorrow, so that'll be the inside jobs.

A large pot of tea and an Eccles cake please gerbils (heavy on the eccles!) 😁

Shit i have washing in the washer i forgot about.

Been to see my nephew today as had not seen him for three weeks.

He is on a treadmill every morning now with a harness, still in a wheel chair and needs help to get back in bed and still tiers easily.

he has stopped swearing so much, but still is a bit inappropriate at times which is normal.

He is going to be taken home to mum and dads at the weekend for a couple of hours so feeling more positive for him.

it's a huge step forward to spend time at home, Hedgehog even if just for a few hours. I hope everything goes well for him and his parents.

Well, I've invigilated two exams this week, supported a third, done an open event, got up to date with my marking and even managed some teaching! I'm now feeling in need of vegetating.

Senior Master Magpie comes home for the summer this weekend, which will be lovely. His brother then disappears next week for a school residential, so I seem to be alternating sons.

Lovely dress Woley! And glad your nephew is improving, Hedgey.

I'm glad your nephew can get home for a bit, Hedge.

I've packed up another 14 boxes and got a car load for the recycling centre, so sorting out Dad's house for him is progressing. He sorts paperwork, Middle Son is cleaning windows and clearing up outside things, so Dad's feeling very positive about his environment. This is a very good thing.