The Retirement Thread

[Drago]

I have risen!

It's raining here, so better tuck my T shirt into my Y fronts.

 

[PaulSB]

Strange how most of us dislike wasps so much, but these fluffy bumble bees just seem so loveable.

I can hear the rain getting heavier

Yes and they are equally valuable in the environment as both act as important pollinators and wasps as predators as well. I think it's that wasps can be a nuisance around food/drink and then people start flapping at them and the wasp gets angry etc.

My mother used to set wasp traps. A jam jar half filled with water. Jam smeared round the inside of the jar, wasp flew in, fell off while feeding, drowned. I used to take great glee in the body count but I was young and uninformed.

Wasps get angry for two reasons, a threat to their nest or in the autumn when the queens have left the colony begins to disperse and the wasps become confused and disoriented because home has gone!! Quite sad really.

I once got attacked by a wasp swarm.........more later as I'm off for another coffee and snooze..... I hope.

 

[IaninSheffield]

Mornin' all.
^2
The two pigeons extravagantly bathing in the puddles in the road outside seem to be enjoying it. I shall not be joining them.

 

[PaulSB]

Mornin' all.
^2
The two pigeons extravagantly bathing in the puddles in the road outside seem to be enjoying it. I shall not be joining them.

Not even with a bar of Pears???

OK. Snooze time.

 

[Tenkaykev]

It struck me the other day that we’re knee deep in reservoirs but have so few lochs, Duddingston 10 miles away and Linlithgow 20 miles away were the only 2 I could think off. I’m discounting the 2 drained lochs in the city centre that now form Princes St gardens and the Meadows.

Our daughter in Edinburgh has a friend named Lyn. She married a guy who's surname is Lithgow. I was disappointed to hear that they hadn't gone to live there 😊

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Good morning folks.

 

[Dave7]

Have you noticed how often the BBC change the weather forcast even 24/48 hours ahead ?
Last night was showing light showers today and dry tomorrow. Suited me as I am playing golf tomorrow. Now it shows rain ALL tomorrow .
This morning we are off to the Docs to get a prescription sorted for the aunty. Until yesterday it was all done by phone. As of yesterday we have to go in.......even though its a repeat. That means a 3 mile round trip to fill a form in then another one to collect once the Doc has issued it. Really annoying.
If the rain holds off (doubtful) we will then go for a walk in the countryside......are we allowed . Pitty we can't get a pub lunch in.

 

[Paulus]

Morning all fellow retirees,
The rain has just started, it's in for the day now, several days in fact. We do need it though.
A damp walk across the fields with the dog will be had.
My kitchen scissors have fallen apart, the handle has broken, so a trip to our local hardware come sell anything shop beckons later. Failing that Ebay or Amazon hopefully will come to the rescue.
Other exciting news--- plastic carrier bag for life. I have 52 of them somehow from various supermarkets. I found them in the shed, all folded flat. I have contacted the local food bank to see if they are any use to them.

 

[Tenkaykev]

Bumble Bees. I like bees, always had an affinity with them. I love having them in the garden.

We have large numbers of bumble bees in our garden at this time of year, +/- 100 spread over the two beds where all the food plants grow. Along our row the neighbours get virtually none. The reason is most of the flowering plants we grow are quite old fashioned varieties. Modern varieties are often sterile hybrids which don't provide bees with food.

Here is today's interesting observation. Sunday evening I noticed a dozen or so bees apparently asleep inside/on top of flowers. I went back to look about 10.00pm and they were still there. On Monday about 6.00am the bees were still there. Same thing last night and now this morning. So some of these bees are feeding all day and then camping out overnight!!

I've also learnt how to gauge the intelligence of individual bees. It rained last night, still is. The stupid ones are sitting on top of a small flower and are soaked, the intelligent ones are sitting inside large flowers, they're much drier. 🤔

There now you feel educated and informed............well what else can I do at 5.30am on a wet Wednesday lockdown day???

We have lavender in our front garden, quite a bit of it. It's amazing how the Bees love it. There's a low brick wall in front of the lavender beds which I use to stretch my hamstrings post run. I'll notice a few bees amongst the lavender, then notice a few more, then realise there's bees everywhere.

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Strange how most of us dislike wasps so much, but these fluffy bumble bees just seem so loveable.

I can hear the rain getting heavier

I like bees but dislike wasps, last time I was stung by a wasp I ended up in A & E. I was cycling through Offchurch and it landed on my top lip.

 

[Dave7]

BTW Paul & Mo......I share your feelings about bees. I have a colour chart showing all British bees.
Not sure about wasps though. They seem to enjoy stinging people for no reason. We were sat in the garden when one landed on MrsDs arm, stung her TWICE and flew off. Now why would it do that!!!
AND......
Did I say, one of our walks takes in the muni golf course. That has been closed, with guards on the gates, as it was being used as an overspill for the mortuary. I believe it has been re-opened so, rain allowing, we will try that.

 

[Dave7]

We have lavender in our front garden, quite a bit of it. It's amazing how the Bees love it. There's a low brick wall in front of the lavender beds which I use to stretch my hamstrings post run. I'll notice a few bees amongst the lavender, then notice a few more, then realise there's bees everywhere.

MrsD loves lavender. She swears by lavender oil for all ailments. Headache....rub lavender in. Broken leg.....rub lavender in.
Her nick name AND her email is lavendergirl.
Have to admit it really wotks though (not tried it on a broken leg though)

 

[Deleted member 1258]

We have lavender in our front garden, quite a bit of it. It's amazing how the Bees love it. There's a low brick wall in front of the lavender beds which I use to stretch my hamstrings post run. I'll notice a few bees amongst the lavender, then notice a few more, then realise there's bees everywhere.

We have a lavender hedge down the side of the front path, its usually full of insects. Strangely we have grasshoppers in our small front garden but none in the bigger back garden

 

[welsh dragon]

Good Morning folks. Blimey I slept well and didn't have to get up once either.

Dull, overcast and damp here today.

I like bees as well. We have a hedge at the side of the house that has honeysuckle running the entire length of it. When the honeysuckle flowers are in bloom the whole hedge literally buzzes with the sound of the bees. It's really quite loud.

I hate waspy feckers though and always have the bug spray on hand when they are around.

Stay safe folks.

 

[PaulSB]

Well the snoozing bit didn't work. Good morning. Feeling a bit bog eyed right now. Grey, wet, still so not much exciting weather wise.

Stimulated by @Dave7 comment on BBC weather I have been to check. This is a bummer. Three of us picked Thursday as the best day of the week - we planned a 100 miler. Friday I'm due to ride with my sons. Both days have gone from good to wet. 😩 We may revisit our plans.

Aldi run about 11.00. I shall shower now, prepare tea (I can already feel I won't want to do this at 6.00pm) and then iron.

I shall be keeping an eye on bee behaviour. Do they get up on wet days? Simply roll over and go back to sleep? Stay in and do the ironing? 🤔