Your day (apart from gardening) what took place ? 2025

I also think that pet animals' reproduction must be controlled. Pets are not part of local ecosystem so should be restricted to where they are part of the caring society setting they will thrive in. A two- way street there, pets (often) get superb care and in particular in case of tribe animals, a very safe and healthy tribe to live with. And we Humans get a very valuable member into our tribe, and a window into another species' life.

A bit like gardening in fact.

We all know that if we have a piece of soil not needed to cultivate plants for survival, the best course of action would be to plant native trees and native undergrowth, aka weeds.

Yet it's the bag of Tulip bulbs we buy come October.

Intentional human interactions with the surrounding ecosystem are important and need to be studied and done right. Zoos are no longer showgrounds but important areas of study and conservation and of returning the offspring from captivity into nature.

I had to check, yes we are in Off Topic so I'm allowed to ramble on a bit

 

Pets do need their reproduction controlled … because we, humans, keep pets. My point is keeping pets means imposing restrictions. We choose to do that to them. I just don’t want to participate.

Re humans, sometimes being a parent isn’t possible, sometimes it’s a choice not to. I don’t see the connection with neutering a pet.

 

The connection was deprivation of the ability or 'right' to breed. If the subject, whether animal or human, doesn't feel a sense of deprivation, why should you? Genuinely interested, by the way...not arguing

 

I think there is a difference between natural infertility and neutering. I also think there is a difference between suppressing one’s own fertility (pills, the snip, etc or even choosing celibacy) and doing that to an animal that has no say in the matter.

There are currently roughly 14 million pet dogs in the UK. Of course, free breeding is not an option, but that is because the situation of there being 14 million pet dogs has been engineered by human intervention.

My original point was a pet has restrictions placed on some of its natural behaviours. By any measure, neutering is one such restriction.

 

And on the subject of controlling numbers, here’s something to keep a look out for this year.

 

Confined to quarters at the moment. Hubby has a cold (or covid?), which he passed on to me. But on the second day yesterday I could hardly breathe at all and was exhausted with coughing. In fact I could not really talk. It came on quickly. So instead of going to the SM we headed off to our local A&E.

Very impressed, after 45 minutes I had been seen by 2 nurses and a doctor. I have been given antibiotics and steroid tablets. Last night was bad as I didn't eat or sleep at all - just sat upright looking at the clock and trying to breathe. It was funny as hubby was in the other bedroom and I heard him come out and saw him coming into my room on all fours with a torch to see if I was still alive!

But 5 hours after taking 8 steroid tabs (all in one go) this morning I was able to have a nap on the sofa without waking up gasping for air. And I can now talk and eat a bit more. These steroid tabs are marvellous.

I do seem to have some long term condition, but don't know what it is yet.

Just worn out, but the lawns are already cut and plants in the GH going on good. So not much to do in the garden and it has been raining.

 

That sounds terrible @cactus_girl, I'm glad you're feeling a bit better now.

 

V xx

 

Goodness, @cactus_girl, nothing worse than struggling to breathe. Hope things continue to improve.

 

Had a surveyor in to measure up for new double glazing. Initial design is "not possible", so having to change our plans.
No doubt, will be more costly.

 

Thanks all for your kind messages.

Update on my useless lungs - had a good 6 hours sleep last night, which is good for me anyway. Did a covid test today - negative. Still a mystery. Will be going back to the GP at some stage.

The weather for Easter is dreadful so it's best to be inside anyway!

 

I saw something very sad on my way home from Carmarthen this morning, I was driving through a village and saw a small sort of carriage on wheels, it was white and had glass sides and was pulled by 4 white horses with red plumes. There were men in tails and top hats by it and lots of people wearing black, and there were some children with them.
I can only think it was a child's funeral because further along the road, by a church, there were some black cones on the road. I felt so sad, I had tears in my eyes ... so sad ...

 

Took a day off from work, my colleagues always say I get so lucky with the weather when I take my impromptu long weekends... I shall never reveal my secret of "The Weather Forecast"

Anyways, we again trekked the lovely Holywell Dene, plopping out to Seaton Sluice where we enjoyed the beach and got our boots full of sand.

Seaton area is old Delaval lands and as the Child volunteers at the Hall we are a bit familiar with the history which makes the exploring very interesting.

Photos of the very steep sided dene never look right, just imagine that the bank full of wild garlic is nearly vertical.



The Bluebells are mostly over but other flowers are rushing in- I find the tiny Pink Purslane very attractive:



Seaton Sluice beach was empty and windy.



I found a perfectly smooth and thin round stone, The Child asked me if I can throw stones on the water so that they hop on the surface (no idea what that is called in English, in Finnish its "throwing breads" for some obscure reason )

Confidently I reminded her that I grew up never further than a stone's throw away from a lake so were not just an accomplished breads thrower but at one time, the Champion Of The Shallow End of The Lake a Bit Left of The Jetty.

There!

Then again, this stone wasn't quite as perfect as I'd like them, but I would be happy to demonstrate the technique to the new generation.

Cold sweat- in real life, I have never managed a hop. Not a single one.

Gracefully I threw the stone and like in a slow motion film, it did the most wonderful full hop ever, and attempted another before sinking. The child was very, very impressed Ah, these precious moments in life!

Just before heading back up for a lunch at King's Arms (they do things like mince and dumplings, spot on after a long walk) I decided to prepare for my future career as an influencer (I like the word) and took a beach selfie. Sadly, I didn't have bikinis nor a fancy drink nor a Chihuahua, but this will do.

Hi all

 

That sea looks lovely !

We used to do this on the canal down the road and see if the stone would reach the far bank - it never did
I don't know what it's called in English but in Welsh it's called 'Ceiliog y Dwr' (you won't be able to pronounce that !) which translated to English is 'Water Cockrell'

 

Here in England we call it skimming stones. Haven't done it for ages.