Stormy Weather

[marthe]

I like the look of a Cedar Waxwing
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...ng-27527-1.jpg

mercia, they're very engaging little birds, brownish-grey with a crested head. We have a flock of them hanging out in our trees and bushes. Alas, the cardinals (very showy crested birds...at least Mr. is) are nowhere to be seen. We used to have a pair that visited every winter.

[Serial_Apologist]

The green parakeets which invaded W London a decade ago are everywhere around here now! Originating from equatorial forests regions, I believe, they must be pretty tough to survive the low temperatures we've been having.

A cold front sweeps SE across the country tomorrow, introducing cold northwesterlies for a couple of days before milder conditions resume on Tuesday. Anywhere north of Watford could experience snow over the hills.

[marthe]

S-A: the only green (or blue) parakeets I've ever seen were in cages, usually next to the goldfish tank in the pet dept. of the local Woolies! My brother had a blue-and-yellow parakeet named Ambrose who lived quite happily for a number of years. I had a green one that did not last very long. I found him stiff and cold in the bottom of his cage one mornining. At age nine, this was quite a trauma and my introduction to the reality of death. I wonder if a bit of natural selection is taking place in the London parakeet population with the cold-hardy ones thriving and perpetuating that strain while the heat-loving ones die out.

Actually, is there any difference between a parakeet and a budgie? Are these different words for the same bird or are they two distinct types?

[greenilex]

Marthe, you are in the news over this schoolgirl with the Nordic surname.....but don't comment unless you want to, of course.

Rather grey this morning, but not cold.

I think parakeet is more generic, budgerigar a particular Australian mini parrot.

[BBMmk2]

It's blinking warm inside the house at 22c! MrsBBM is feeling cold still!! Don't know wether it's because the poor gal not sleeping well at the moment?

[Serial_Apologist]

It's blinking warm inside the house at 22c! MrsBBM is feeling cold still!! Don't know wether it's because the poor gal not sleeping well at the moment?

Your message chimes with a Christmas one from my cousin, who refers to his daughter in the following way:

"G- now having panic attacks. Whatever next??"

Methinks the two of you would hit it off well, BBM

[salymap]

I always feel too cold because I am too thin these days. Must have some elevenses and coffee.

If anyone still cares - cousin's dead fox has been taken by council, who reconsidered the matter.

PS Anna, cousin is 41, we are not all old in my family.

[Anna]

I always feel too cold because I am too thin these days. Must have some elevenses and coffee.

Saly, as Wallis Simpson said "You can never be too rich or too thin"

If anyone still cares - cousin's dead fox has been taken by council, who reconsidered the matter. PS Anna, cousin is 41, we are not all old in my family.

Well done your Council - and apologies to your cousin, I'd just assumed you were around the same age! Assumptions can be dangerous. Glad I went out early this morning when it was just slight drizzle, rain has set in now and SSW wind at 13mph, gusting at 20mph, not very pleasant,shame there is no rugby to curl up in front of this weekend.

[BBMmk2]

Your message chimes with a Christmas one from my cousin, who refers to his daughter in the following way:

"G- now having panic attacks. Whatever next??"

Methinks the two of you would hit it off well, BBM

Well, thank you SA!

Had a great jamming session this morning.

[vinteuil]

Actually, is there any difference between a parakeet and a budgie? Are these different words for the same bird or are they two distinct types?

the budgie [ Melopsittacus undulata] is, I think, originally Australian -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Budgerigar

the parakeets that have recently been flourishing in south-west London are mainly, I think, Asian in origin - predominantly the rose-ringed parakeet [ Psittacula krameri manillensis ]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/rose-ringed_Parakeet

... but apparently various other parakeets (the alexandrine parakeet, the orange-winged parakeet, the south american monk parakeet) have also established colonies across London...

[salymap]

Don't mention the war [Basil Fawlty]

Well, When we were bombed out in 1940, my mum and I sat under the stairs in the centre of the house, the cat ran into the garden, BUT my two beloved blue budgies were in my playroom at the front of the house and were killed, trapped in their mangled cage. At ten, I hated Hitler for that! It could have been worse though. Much worse.

[Nick Armstrong]

Don't mention the war [Basil Fawlty]

Well, When we were bombed out in 1940, my mum and I sat under the stairs in the centre of the house, the cat ran into the garden, BUT my two beloved blue budgies were in my playroom at the front of the house and were killed, trapped in their mangled cage. At ten, I hated Hitler for that! It could have been worse though. Much worse.

yes saly, but that is a most poignant story nonetheless.

[amateur51]

... shame there is no rugby to curl up in front of this weekend.

That nice Leigh Halfpenny or George North might thus be at a loose end and fancy a game of Twister, Anna

[marthe]

Marthe, you are in the news over this schoolgirl with the Nordic surname.....but don't comment unless you want to, of course.

Rather grey this morning, but not cold.

I think parakeet is more generic, budgerigar a particular Australian mini parrot.

Schoolgirl with Nordic surname? Amanda Knox? Or am I being a bit dense. Thanks for info about parakeets and budgies, Greenilex and Vinteuil as well. I'm not sure what kind of parakeets we had. I expect they were whatever Woolies had on offer! Saly, how sad for your budgies. I'm glad the council dealt with your cousin's dead fox!

On the weather front, back to glorious sunshine and warmish weather. This is the beginning of school vacation week for the local schools. Monday is Presidents' Day (Geo. Washington and Abe Lincoln) which is yet another opportunity for govt. workers to down tools on a Monday! School children will be out and about all week with parents frantically trying to keep the darlings entertained. Newport hosts a week-long festival (called Winterfest www.newportevents.com/winterfest/) for locals and visitors. My organization offers walking tours as part of this. I'll be out and about "streetwalking" with, I hope, throngs of visitors hanging on my every word about Newport's past.

[BBMmk2]

A sunny day down in these parts of the UK! We had some rain yesterday but could do with more. havn't had much rain at all this winter, methinks?