Welcome to everyday Lets Talk

      So Onesie Man I am all for doing something too, far more fun and interesting and I love to be active so London zoo it is, I checked out the link and the giraffes are a must G       R.  Oh and by the way it won't surprise you to know Pete is a man of few words and I am the     although I can be very   sometimes silence is golden.  In all honesty I am quite shy and introvert until I know people so don't worry at all     Are you thinking of wearing your onesie to the zoo  

Great news about TSP, which I have very nearly finished now and let me know how the editing goes, am I reading the first draft?  

It sounds like you've lots of great ideas for your Iceland safari and it will be quite an adventure.  I think it's incredibly hard to put together a plan when there is so much choice so a trip to the travel agent is a really good idea.

Thankfully yesterday afternoon was   so we had a nice walk in the woods.  I am laughing too about the mustard, and yup you beat WS to it GR.   I did think maybe it was a bit extreme but when I saw Tamu tucking in obviously thinking this is delicious I thought what an unusual dog we have

Lai  

I think that with London I will just spend a couple of days (though may depend on connecting flight options); with the zoo a definite, plus just a wonder around some famous areas (I would like to return to Trafalgar Square for example, I went to London in December 2005). In Iceland a cruise might be a good way to go also.

Just as I feared....no leopards at London Zoo! Grrrrrrrrr!

No, it is okay really  

There are lions, tigers, servals and meerkats. Plus pygmy hippos!  

Maybe I would wear a onesie  I would be like your and Pete's child in that instance I suppose  , but it could actually add to the fun of it all. Any points of major embarrassment you can always just say, "Oh, he's not with us"  

I suppose that it is the first draft you are reading Lai of TSP, though it was actually the same version that I submitted for publication (so I still view it as very professional  ). The final version might be rather different; it's a little hard to tell at this stage. I may end up removing all love aspects from it...well there would still be love aspects, but more so in just a friendship way. This is really what the publisher wants to restrict it to just an 11-14 age bracket, so I will think about it some more. I have aeons of time with it all.

I think that in many ways Lai the version of the book that you have will always remain the most special - no matter what - so consider yourself extra lucky to have it! You know, when the masses have the published version you will have all these other aspects of TSP that almost nobody else knows about  

And in interviews I will lose myself talking about these passages..."but that's not in the book!" "Oh yeah, so it isn't."  

I think that I will surprise the travel agent with just how much preparation I have done for the trip. So I think I will get a lot out of the chat because she knows so much about the country, so when I mention a place of obscurity she will just start rambling about her first hand experience, and that will help to decide the places in Iceland that I do eventually venture to.

Plenty to look forward to  And it's the weekend also!

G  R

P.S. I am 100% sure that Leo would have done exactly the same as Tamu  

I agree I guess it will all depend on your flight connections and how pooped you are by that long flight from Melbourne.  Lots to see in London though for sure  

That's a good idea for a cruise in Iceland as great way to get round bits of it  also great that the TA knows so much about the country, that's a real + and very helpful.

Aha so I have a 'limited edition' yipppppppppppeee when you are rich and famous I can say I read it ages ago when he was a struggling onesie man giraffe boy author.  

The weekend         I can hardly wait, in fact I am doing a half day today so I'm almost finished   

Leo and Tamu would get on a treat, she's always trying to get the greyhounds to play her game which is keeping them at bay like a lion, only they don't appreciate it and just run off which is very mean as they are 100 times faster than her  

Lai S  

PPH how lovely that your mum adopted her when she was pregnant and then to keep two of her pups.........im liking your mum lots   they really are adorable dogs.
Glad that you are ok and you are right, your health is important so you shouldnt over do it, its good to know your boundaries......I just need to learn mine, im good at dishing out the advice but rubbish at practicing what I preach......typical nurse  

Sounds like your trip is coming along nicely GR and im sure you, Lai and Pete will have a ball at the zoo, its the sister zoo to Whipsnade where I go in fact they are probably equal distance from where I am but Whipsnade is more open and rambling. Hopefully if the meeting goes off you and Lai can post some pics for us all.

Glad the weekend is here, its been a mental week and work has been crazy so looking forward to a bit of chilling over the weekend...........or is that just a dream   so much to do really.

Been very wet and windy here, Autumn has really arrived and I feel Winter charging along behind it but I bet Doogs and Safariman are having a ball in Kenya, lucky pair  

Whatever everyone is up to this weekend have fun.

Oh yes Lai, the little horse is coming along well thanks. I think there is a silly trend because they posted about the cat in the paper, then my friends horse and the other day there was a swan I believe who had been shot with an arrow and thankfully was alive. There are some incredibly sick people out there.

littlewid-x-

No matter how tired I am from jetlag I will certainly be able to get up the energy for a trip to the zoo with Mrs Kipia! That's a given  

Perhaps I could even co-ordinate it so that my London adventure is after my Icelandic one? Anyhoo, as mentioned there is heaps to discuss with the travel agent!

Your greyhounds have to use what they have over Tamu which is speed, so we ought to let them. They sure couldn't compete with the Grand Tamu's strength!

It's an OPEN invitation to the zoo for WAA folk so LW you are more than welcome to join us in London!

And then I really could give you that meerkat present  

Weather is not much chop here today, and I think tomorrow will be the same. But plenty of months ahead for the pooches and I to get our sunbaking time  

onesie man giraffe boy author  

P.S. What a name!!

Good afternoon everyone

    the   is shining today  

A WAA outing would be FAB-U-LOUS.  I just told Pete GR and he's up for a trip but reminded me that I am in France for a week with my mum in May, I must check the dates S  

News from Doogs in the Mara.  I text her yesterday to see how she is, this is her reply from this morning.

Hi Lai, we have had rain but it hasn't dampened our trip.  Some great sightings inc 2 x servals, caracal, Bahati, Alama and her 2 subs, Grimace & Ron, Amani on a kill today and Marsh female with 4 week old cubs, fantastic    Hope you are well xx  Sundowners are supposed to be tonight, touch and go if it will stay dry!  

So it sounds like they are having a brilliant time with so many big and little cats  

Have a great day everyone.

Lai

Bother - spoke too soon, a massive     so that's a shame.

Thanks for letting us know about the little horse Littlewid, and you are so right, some seriously sick people out there!  Hope you get to chill a bit after your manic week  

Lai

Sorry LW missed that about the sick !!!!!!!! that shot your friends Horse, they are really not fit to be called members of the Human race.
The weather was the same here Lai lovely sunshine this morning, what I could see of it, I was painting the bathroom  .
I am really chuffed that Doogs is have a good time, she really deserves it, and she seems to have had a great variety of animals to see, and fingers x for a dry Sundowner night ( well at least weather wise  )
Thanks for letting us know Doogs news Lai

WS

Yes, most definitely check the dates that you're in France! It's no sweat though because I certainly won't be making a booking next Saturday of any plane tickets, but just going over options. I may get some dates in mind, but I have to get the okay from work anyhoo before I can put anything in concrete. As I've suggested, it might be possible to have my stay in London before or after Iceland, so we shall see what suits. Overall my trip will probably be from early May to May twenty-something approx.

 for the news on Doogs; sounds really positive which is wonderful for her  

WS, nice one there with the weather wise  joke  

Sunshine is poking out here this morning. Looks like a very pleasant day in store.

Off for walkies  

GR  

Good morning all

Just checked the dates GR and we're away from 17th May to 24th May.

I had another text from Doogs about the death of another leopard in the Mara, which Paul Kirui had also posted on FB. I will add it later as my phone is somewhere else at the moment  

Lai

Text from Doogs

Leopard found dead this morning (fm Paul K), not Bahati or Saba, glad but not good we've lost another leopard  

Worth checking out Paul Kirui's FB page for news and updates.  It seems it is daughter of Pili (Olive's sister) and maybe poisoning.

Lai  

It would be great if you Pete, and GR could meet up, hopefully the dates will work out.
Such a shame that another Leopards been lost  I have'nt checked out FB, but I will do. The weathers not been bad here today nice and sunny with one slight shower, but its certainly getting chilly. Sounds OK where you are GR, but my friends in Momsman Sydney are saying its around 35 Deg  and there are still fires in the surrounding areas, also confirmed by my friends on Ustream Petes Pond Chat. Hope you've all had a good weekend

WS
Ps Just checked Pauls page he said he would give details later

Poisoning of a leopard sounds horrible. Would we have to assume that it was deliberate or could something just have been accidentally left laying around that the leopard unfortunately ate and couldn't stomach?

Leopards have enough against them in nature without any extra barriers thrown in  

Rather crazy in Sydney considering that we aren't even close to Summer yet  The weather was more of the cool side today in Melbourne and we had a little rain. I have a major head cold, and at work my nose was basically a tap that wouldn't stop dripping!  But my energy levels are okay so was able to walk with the pooches before, and that's the main thing. And I just received some really terrific news and that is that my cousin just got his uni degree! This is such a big thing in his life and will hopefully propel him onto a great and happy adulthood. His teenage years were not very happy ones but they are not the ones that matter  

 for checking those dates Lai. I am thinking of a London arrival sometime during the first week of May. Is there any particular day that suits you more for the zoo party? Same to you LW. I can be rather flexible I think as it's not like I am tying the trip in with any public holidays. And for example a Saturday meet up would mean that I would only have to take the Friday off work, leaving on a plane Thursday night or early Friday and I should get to London by Friday night, given the differences in time zones.

Almost can't believe that this 'WAA party' might actually happen! I am feeling pretty chuffed about it! And I think that I will wear a onesie! Leo has already bitten off one button from my flying squirrel. Anymore and I might just order another one in before the flight  

Am now back from Kenya after a wonderful time and some incredible game viewing particularly of the big cats with my lion count well over 50!!! I think I just managed to beat Lai's record with 2604 photos plus an hour of video so I am in for some serious editing over the next few weeks. I managed to see 3 of the Marsh Pride Musketeers so I think I will need Doogs help in trying to identify them!! I will start posting as soon as I have sorted the pics.
I will also try and catch up with all the various posts while I was away, I took a quick look at Lai's Camargue post and the black and white photos of the horses look great and I will look at the slide-show as soon as I have a spare half hour.
Hope everyone is well and not too depressed at the thought of winter!!

Safariman

  Safariman, that is an epic number of photos    you have some series sorting and editing to do    Really looking forward to your stories and pics when you have done them.

GR I will get back to you on dates, for us it is a question of the dogs and kennels unless we are doing a day trip in which case it is better on a weekday as I can have someone come in and feed them.  We are open to suggestions though.

Poor you with a cold, not fun especially if it is summer and you should be enjoying good health and    Great news about your cousin, lots of celebrating now I imagine      Another onesie I feel sure is essential  

Forgot to mention I am in London for a meeting tomorrow so will be AWOL. Catch up on Wednesday  

Lai

 Safariman thats an amazing number of Lion views, tht really must have been fantastic to experience. With that number of photos, and videos you can keep us entertained for ages. Please dont worry about catching up on posts, we all understand when people are away it's not possible to catch up on things, and nobody expects people to do it. It's far better to just come back in, and carry on posting as usual. Really looking forward to see all your news, and pics, as soon as you have time. No Pressure  

WS

Nzuri ya hapa kutoka kwenu Doogs
Glad you had a great time, and looking forward to seeing you back on the forum, and all your photos. As I said to Safariman no pressure  . Have a safe flight home, and see you soon

WS

Welcome back Safariman   sounds as though you have had a fabulous time with lots of wonderful sightings, im so pleased you had a great time. What a lot of photos but it must be so easy to keep clicking with so much wonderful wildlife to see but boy you have a lot of sorting to do by the sounds of it but it will be lovely to see the pics when sorted and also the video. Your time away seems to have gone quickly or is that just me?
As WS says, dont try and catch up on everything as it is hard but yes Lais pics and video are something not to be missed, they are gorgeous.
Great to have you back  

Doogs, so good to hear from you and it sounds as though you have had a wonderful time too which is brilliant and sounds as though you too have loads of pics, we are all going to be very spoilt. So sad another leopard has lost its life, that really is not good. Looking forward to hearing about your close encounter with the male lion, sounds a bit scary though I reckon. Your trip seems to have flown by as well. As I type this I wonder if you are in the air or home? And dreaming of all those wonderful big cats you have seen.
I am secretly hoping you and Safariman have some lovely bird shots as well:bounce: 

Sorry to hear you have a cold GR, thats not good, you only had one a little while back, are you eating all your fruit and veggies young man  
Well done to your cousin on getting his degree   that is good news, what is it he wants to do? I hope he gets to do what he wants to with it.

Its been a mixed bag with the weather here too guys, loads of rain, buckets of it actually and also very chilly, I keep putting my heating on in the evenings so its warm and then nice and toasty when I get up.
Nero is off for a haircut on Saturday, so he will be all dashing again but lets hope it doesnt get too chilly........he has his coats and scarves though.......yes he loves to wear a scarf  
Still mad busy at work, theres no let up, so still having crazy days. Im off on Friday though as my boiler is bei g serviced in the morning about 8.30 and then I am going out shopping and will try and get more christmas shopping done..........must start writing christmas cards though as well, im usually so slow with them  

A WAA meet will be lovely, I will wait to see what arrangements are made.

littlewid-x-

Welcome back Doogs, it sounds as if you had a great time with lots of memorable sightings in spite of the occasional African rain shower!! I certainly look forward to seeing your photos and stories once you have had time to sort them out. I am sure between us we will be able to keep WAA supplied with photos and stories of the Mara well into the New Year!!
I hope you managed to get your sundowners in with your Mum and Dad.

Safariman

 lots happening around here  

More than 50 lions Safariman  And another  Unless you couldn't read between the lions and were just seeing the same pride over and over again  

Regarding your video, I bet we can look forward to more epicness on the levels of that incredible trail of elephants that you shot on a past trip  

Doogs, sounds like you've have a terrific time also which is much deserved. And many great photos to spoil us with no doubt  

Lipstick took your breath away? Man, how much of the stuff did you apply?  

Servals are very graceful creatures, so anticipating those pics, plus of course the 2 x leopards  

LW, I'm eating too many pies and sausage rolls I think  I will be over at my parents tomorrow. Perhaps my mothers cooking will be the best medicine  

Work has been very flat out for me too, often staying back well after knock off time. Am having lots of fun though back in the old office surrounds. I really am very fortunate to work for the company that I do; a really great crew and heaps of laughs to be had (though of course sometimes they are probably laughing at me rather than with me  ). We are having a special Xmas dinner this year for the office staff on December 14, so I've already put my name down for that. Free  and  is totally  the only concern being that they are bringing in a DJ. Not sure if anyone has seen my hoola-hoop dancing yet  

Tonights discussion with the book editor went well, with us discussing a different project of mine this time (I want to write a story about a  ). She was again rather supportive which is great, and just a random idea that she came up with as I was brainstorming will work a treat!

With the WAA get together I am not too fussed about which day of the week. I will probably stay at the zoo for six hours regardless! But I think that depending on people's arrangements and commitments it would be rather easy to just come along for 2-3 hours if you liked. Anyhoo, we have plenty of time to plan it  

G  R

Welcome back Doogs.  Can't wait to hear all about it and oh my word 2000 pics, you are totally  

Sorry in haste but will catch up with this thread properly later, hope everyone else is okay  

Good bit of Swahili there WS  

Lai

 Flippin eck its been  cold here today, and horrible with  as well. According to the forcast there's worse to come next week as well. Might be a bit of a shock for Doogs when she lands  . Hope the weathers been kinder to you all where ever you are.

WS

The bird water was frozen this morning so I guess it was pretty cold last night and it looks like a gloomy day today  

Have a good day everyone and yipppppppppppppeeeeeeeeeeeeee it's Friday  

Lai

Geez, winter really does arrive early for you guys  

Not that there is anything wrong with Ice!

I have created a thread for my holiday next year as I was really  ing far too much to put all that conversation in here. This is the link to the thread:

https://wildaboutanimals.forumotion.net/t2802-waa-zoo-party-in-conjunction-with-my-icelandic-adventure#53800

A lot of rambling about Iceland so far, but I will promise to also discuss London when others post south  

GR