The Chill Out Zone

[Gate Keeper]

Morning all, how is everyone?

This morning we are going out shopping for essential groceries. The police have lowered the terrorist threat of an attack to no longer imminent. That’s good news, the thing with getting to the shops is negotiating the gauntlet of police stops and bribes. We still have to wear face masks when we are in the shops or whilst we are driving.

On a more positive note, the weather today is sunny and 28C

The GP sent a text last night saying my PSA for Prostate cancer was totally normal at 0.85, a good result.

[FLYING BANANA]

Morning everyone.

Crystal clear morning, so far. Frost overnight.

Getting Banana ready for her breakfast meet tomorrow up North, well into England anyway.

[AndyN01]

Morning all.

Bright with some sunshine here too. Temperature in mid single figures. Rain coming in later but no snow.

The bird seed I ordered off these folks (https://www.gardenwildlifedirect.co.uk/) arrived yesterday afternoon. My first order and had very good service from them. I'll happily use them again.

Off to mix up the food for our feathered friends: Peanuts and dried fruit chopped up in a food processor. Sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts and oats all mixed together with a melted block of lard. The birds love it .

I wonder how long it'll be before Quizzie is chasing off the squirrels - who also love it .

Take care & keep safe.

[Lancpudn]

Morning all, It's grey skies & spitting with rain here.

[trikey]

Morning all lovely and sunny here this morning.

[COLVERT]

Originally Posted by Gate Keeper

Morning John, what’s the story behind the photo?

Doves: we get red eye doves, ring necked doves and mourning doves visit us and the mourning doves like to frequent the family and animal cemetery within our small holding. We have not seen any white doves visit. As you know the white dove is a symbol of peace. Regardless which type they are, I find them fascinating to watch.

Do you talk to the doves you breed?

I've ended up breeding two colours of doves. Those like the one in Jeff's excellent picture and also white ones too.

The white ones I've had are all female.---A bit like tortoiseshell cats that are all female too.

I have always talked to them from the first time their eyes start to open as chicks.----They become totally fearless with you.--I've gone into the aviary, where I've had up to 8 or 9, carrying food for them. Within seconds I've ended up with 4 or 5 of them walking about on my arms shoulders or head.---

If I hold my hands out flat they often land on them and start to sing.

Another thing. They seem quite happy to sing at night as well as in the day.

They are addicted to those Madeleine cakes. They will eat them in preference to the normal bird seeds.

We have local ring neck doves that visit the bird tray in our garden. In appearance the colours are identical. --( No white ones. )---However they have a totally different song.---Perhaps the local ones speak French whereas mine might be imports from South Africa.

[stevestrat]

Morning. Bit wild here, cold strong gusty wind. Threat of some white stuff as well.

I've to take a sample with me on Tuesday so asked Ging to get a sample bottle at work last night . . . . she forgot I'll need to rake along to the chemist. I've to take the sample midstream, there's no streams around here. There's a river a few miles away and the Forth estuary but not sure how I'd get to the middle of them

[Ian G]

Nice start to the day weather wise but I've got a proper snotty cold at the moment so not feeling to bright.

[stevestrat]

Cold bug is something that's doing the rounds Ian. We've both had it, Ging was worse than me.

[stevestrat]

'orrible here now. Cold strong gusty wind getting worse with the added "pleasure" of heavy rain