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Hi, Rusty!
We have been out for a very long walk this afternoon - enjoying the (much) cooler weather - and hoping to beat the rain.
We just made it!
it is now raining very persistently!
According to the forecast, this will continue into late tomorrow evening!
( I think I might have said that earlier?)
I have been looking at the ospreys....aren't they growing quickly?
They should be learning to fly very soon, according to the blog about the first or second week of July.
And did you know that a blue tit chick needs around 100 caterpillars every day?!
How has your day been ?

Hello, Elle!
Rain on and off here.
Got a text from my son letting me know he was not anywhere near the shootings in Orlando.
They fly home later today.
The chicks grow very quickly.
The fish is a high protein diet.
I know nothing at all about blue tits.
I did a bit of social climbing this afternoon.
Went to see my daughter-in-law who lives on top of a hill!
She is not going to the Waterfront as she is hoping her Dad is being released from hospital sometime today, and she shall collect him.

Hi, Rusty!
I hadn't heard about any shootings in Orlando until you mentioned it.
T am glad to hear that your son and his wife are okay.
It appears only too easy these days to get caught up in some disaster.
You must have been very worried until you heard from him.
You will be glad to have them safe home.
Are you going to collect them from the airport?
Goodness, your other daughter-in-law's dad is soon out of hospital?
Will he be staying with her?
I haven't had chance to watch any tennis today!
How did your cycling go?

Good evening, Elle!
Heavy rain here!
I heard the shootings were on an industrial estate in Orlando.
My son and wife have just got to Sanford Airport on their journey home, thank goodness.
My daughter-in-law's Dad had been moved from Edinburgh to here, and may be released tonight.
Not sure where he will stay.
Their house was sold and they have to be out of it in a couple of weeks and I do not know if their new house is ready for occupancy yet.
Today's stage was won by Arnaud Demare in a sprint.

Hi, Rusty!
I was browsing the News on the computer and have just read an article by an ex SAS man telling how he thinks we should respond to being attacked by knife -armed terrorists.
We should fight back, using anything to hand!
He says running away or lying on the floor hiding, is useless as we should be caught and still attacked.
This of course may make sense in theory, but how many average persons would be in a position in which to retaliate?
And how many would have a weapon handy?
The ex soldier says use knives and forks, stools as shields (presumably if we should be in a restaurant or bar) , throw such as a computer bag as the attacker's head......and so on in similar vein..
I can see what he is saying...it is basically "fight for your life"..... but I doubt many of us would be in a position where we might achieve that with any success?
And surely it is not to be contemplated that the general public goes about "armed"?

Hello, Elle,
What the lad says makes good sense.
"Life" is the most precious thing any of us has.
And it is natural to do "anything" to preserve it, I'd say.
So, you would use whatever was at hand to ward off an attacker.
Do you have longish fingernails?
Then claw his eyes out, if possible, that would slow an attacker down and let you escape, maybe?
I would not dwell on it, Elle.
If it happened your natural "survive" mode would kick in, anyway.

Hi, Rusty!
I wasn't viewing this from a personal point of view, though, Rusty.
But more from your average man/woman/child on the streets viewpoint?
Yes , of course , one's natural instinct is to survive...but realistically fingernails against a twelve inch blade wouldn't get any one very far.
( And no, I have very short nails!)
But enough worry on the subject....... we have to get on with our lives and cope with arising situations as best we can.
What time should your son arrive ?
Are you 'checking' their flight?

Hello, Elle,
The odds would not be in your favour but "fight or flight" kicks in.
Put a hat pin in your purse.
Set Mr Jingles on them!
Yes, I am "tracking" the flight on FlightAware.
They took off a few minutes ago and are scheduled to land at Glasgow International at 5.10 to 5.30.
The plane has not reached full altitude yet.
I wonder how Pigale got on at hospital?
Hope she is more comfortable now.

HI, Rusty!
Are hatpins still used in this day and age?
I remember my great - grandmother having one!
Wikipedia tells me that hatpins were used by women in self defence and as a weapon!
Sometimes against assault by men!
Apparently laws were passed in 1908 in America limiting the length of hatpins, in case suffragettes used them as weapons!
No- one seems to mention that the hatpin might be used to skewer the hat to the head!
Yes, I do hope that Pigale is all right.......I think she should have gone to the GP/ hospital sooner, when she first fell.
I am sure she will let us know how she is, as and when she can.
Fingers crossed it is nothing serious.
Yes, "tracking" - that is the word I was groping for!
I didn't think "checking" sounded right!
I hope your son and daughter- in -law have a safe flight.

Hello, Elle!
I cannot quite remember the passing of the hatpin laws of 1908 but I shall take your word for it, of course.
Now, to be practical, there are thousands of hat pins on eBay, so you should have not a bother getting one, or more.
Yes, hope they have a good flight home.
Yes, I am sure Pigale shall post when she is feeling a bit better.
I saw a clip of America's Got Talent tonight.
There was a 12 year old girl ventriloquist (spelling?).
She was quite good.
Simon Cowell was on it, and Mel B.
Her taste in frocks would rival Amanda's!
I know that name but have no idea who she is/was.
I'll look it up tomorrow, if I remember!