Welcome to everyday Lets Talk

Good morning everyone

Not long now until you are off to Offbeat Mara Safariman Ali and I are really looking forward to our 3 nights there and just sorry that Piers will be in the UK when we visit. Looking forward to meeting up and sharing a Tusker or two + the usual sundowners

Hoping everyone is okay? No news from Littlewid, so I hope all is well with her and she is enjoying Strictly talking of which ............ that jive that Jay did last night it was totally FAB-U-LOUS dahhhhhhhhhhhling!

Moving swiftly on as I know WS is not a fan! We've just been to RSPB Leighton Moss (home of either Sprignwatch or Autumnwatch recently) and what a great place. We went with some friends and had a great time, well worth a visit and we saw Bearded Tits (a first for me) a Bittern (another first) Water Rail (another first) lots of otters Can't wait to go back later in the year.

Enjoy Sunday everyone

Lai

It's been rather quite on WAA again, perhaps everybody is getting ready to hibernate for the winter!!! The weather has certainly turned a lot colder which I detest. As I get older I am more and more a warm weather person.
I am sure that with England being knocked out of the Rugby World Cup so early it will increase the viewing figures for your favourite tv programme Lai and WS!!!!!
You are right Lai, I leave for Kenya on Wednesday, overnight in Nairobi and fly down to the Mara on Thursday can't wait to be there The Nov. rains seem to have started early so I hope it remains reasonable for our visits.




One of the Offbeat females who has been keeping an eye on the Offbeat Mara Camp while I have been away and is ensuring everything is ready for our return!!!!

SM

I'm with you on the cold weather SM, not been good here ail year, we've not sat out once. We had a text from LW just over a fortnight ago saying she was mad busy at work because of people on holiday, and would be having some holidays of her own soon She was hoping to get on, after the Eng v Wales Rugby match, but not heard anything since, perhaps she went into a depression after the result . Leighton sounds a great place to visits, and some nice firsts . Bet your looking forward to the hot weather SM, at the moment its getting over 100deg F in Botswana. I'm hoping the rains come soon for SA, and Botswana. The water situation is dire, especially at Djuma Waterhole in SA.

The water is normally halfway up the dam wall on the right, it's now just a mud puddle, the Catfish that are left have buried themselves in the mud waiting for rain.
Your camp looks nice and safe SM with your lioness looking after it, have a great safe time on your Safari

WS

Ps with you two away looks like I'll be singing Only the Lonely

I've not seen Djuma looking like that before WS. They surely needs the rain and fast, what a disaster for all the wildlife.

Kenya is definitely cooler, looking at the weather there at the moment, but we don't want rain for sure - over night maybe but not 24 hours a day.

Nice photo Safariman, she is certainly keeping a look out on the Offbeat camp

We'll see you there on Sunday over a sundowner no doubt as you'll be out for the day Safe travels.

Let's hope Littlewid is okay and will soon be back to her

Lai

Good Evening Everyone

WS don't worry, you wont be singing "Only the Lonely"......cos i'll be here ......can you stand all the Strictly chat Oh yes......the England v Wales match!!!!!! Dismal display by England......trust us though to win a match once we had lost our group matches.....what are we like ........but on a brighter note......Lewis Hamilton is storming it at the moment
That is a dire picture of Djuma isn't it.....I haven't seen it in a long while but I have not seen it that dry before.....lets hope they get rain soon.

Lai I'm with you on that fantastic Jive from Jay and Aliona.....the thing that got me was they said it was the best dance ever on Stricty and it was brilliant, looked like he was better than some of the professionals.....but he only got one 10......I thought he deserved 10's across the board....he was robbed and I want him to win and he seems iike such a nice guy as well.....for Peter Andre isn't as good as I thought he would be. There are a few I like but its really Jay all the way.

Not long now Safariman until you and Lai get to meet up, how lovely that will be for both of you, it's really exciting. I love the photo of the female Lioness keeping watch over camp.
It surely is turning cold isnt it, in fact tonight has a frosty feel about it.....lets hope not!
I hope you and Lai both have safe journeys there and back and enjoy each others company....looking forward to hearing all the stories and seeing all the pics.

Its been hectic here, work has been mad with colleagues being on holiday and the department being so busy. I am also changing my service so lots of new pathways and protocols having to be written up. Ive also been on holiday. Spent the week catching up with friends and sorting my house out......I ended up with 6 bags of very good stuff for the Dogs Trust shop.

I have been ok, a bit up and down and some medication changes.....working on the going up bit but I am ok.

I do have some exciting news.....as you know I support the guide Dogs and my first dog passed all his training and im now sponsoring my second one. Well My excitment is that I have been invited to a special reception to meet a puppy walker, trainer and guide dog owner and hear first hand how it all works and their experiences and also apart from afternoon tea.......we get to meet the dogs as well. You can take a guest so im taking my mum and I can't wait until 10th November!!!

I will be back on in the week to catch up and bash WS' s ears but incase I miss you Lai and Safariman........have a wonderful Safari

Have a good day tomorrow everyone

littlewid-x-

 Good to hear from you Littlewid, and hopefully you are on the up all the way now

I agree about Jay but I suppose as it was only week 3 they couldn't give 10s across the board.  I absolutely loved it and have watched it lots of times on the Strictly FB page.  Still loving Jeremy Vine as he's having so much fun

It sounds like you've had a busy week sorting out your house and I bet the Dogs Trust were thrilled with the 6 bags of goodies.    How brilliant with your guide dog, and you'll have a fantastic day, what a great experience.  I can't wait to hear all about it.

Hope everyone has a good day, it's a lovely cold day here but poor Rosie has had to go in for an Xray on her foot, the vet thinks she has a broken bone.  She's such a poor little thing with her feet so we've got to wait until this afternoon to hear the result.

Lai

Great to hear from you LW you certainly seen to be very busy at the moment but remember not to overdo it!!
The day out with the guide dogs should be good fun look forward to hearing all about it.

Have just checked-in online with BA for my flight tomorrow morning, so I am all set to go apart from packing. However with the 15 kilo maximum for the small planes in Kenya it won't take very long. Most of the weight is camera equipment etc.

As I will be away I am taking this opportunity to wish WS an early Happy Birthday for Friday. Have a great day with plenty of liquid refreshment. However I should warn you that as you will have reached the dreaded three score and ten I can tell you from experience it's downhill all the way from now on!!!!!

See you at Offbeat Lai.

SM

back LW. I must say YOU CERTAINLY BRING A LOAD OF DUST, AND FILL A VACUME when we hear from you (I'll let LW explain that one Guys Hopefully things will ease up for you now. Great news about your Guide Puppy, and the Dogs Trustl be thrilled with the goodies, bet you, and your Mum will really enjoy the Guide Dog visit. Watched a bit of the strictly rubbish programme How can they compare one dancer with another when they all do different dances ? My only comment is bring back Come Dancing a proper dancing competition.
Poor Rosie Lai she does have some foot problems bless her hope she's ok give her a big from us all. Have a grea, and safe Safari trip Lia in case I miss you.
Thanks for the advanced Birthday wish's SM, I already know about the downhill bit, it's been going that way since I was forty, it just means the slopes getting steeper

WS

WS and just in case I don't get on-line on Friday

and Happy Birthday - hope you have a wonderful day

Lai

Thanks Lai especially for the beer

WS

Good evening everyone

Firstly Lai & SM have a brilliant Safari and enjoy meeting up with each other. I can say from experience that when you meet with someone you have been chatting to for ages and sharing experiences it's like you have always known them and it all feels very easy. When Doogs and I met up at ZSL London it was just such a fun day with no awkward times, just loads of chat and a joint passion for the animals and it felt like we regularly met up, so you two will have a ball when your at the same camp...so enjoy

How is Rosies foot Lai? Poor thing, I hope she is ok......please give her a (HUG) from all of us
I suppose your right about Jay and Aliona, it was only week three but it was a dance that deserved 10's....have you set it to record whilst your away? I do like Jeremy too, he is trying so hard and I think he seems a nice guy.


WS......you watched some Strictly......glad I was sitting down when I read that I know they all do difference dances but over the series they do all do the same types of dance just with different interpretations. I also used to watch come dancing and loved it.

Oh yes....your dust and the hoovering......let me explain everyone.....as you know its a special birthday for WS & Mrs S, so I sent them a package containing birthday cards and a little pressie each...however to make it sparkly for them I also filled the package with lots of little gold stars and multi coloured happy birthday confetti ....hence opening the parcel.....whoosh....and the need for the hoover .....was just making it special and glittery for you both

Don't worry Lai, SM & WS....When ive been to the Guide Dog reception I will tell you all about it and if you are allowed to take photo's I surely will and post them for you to see.

Tomorrow I am off as my boiler is due it's annual check but the annoying thing is they say it's anywhere between 8am and 5pm.....so keep your fingers crossed they come early so I can get out for a scrummy Latte before I do the grocery shop.

We are all good here, furries are fine which is always good its just getting colder in the evenings isn't it and the heating has gone on a few times......it must be time for Autumn watch soon!!!!

Well must be time for bed, I will have more time tomorrow to catch up a bit.......especially if I end up waiting for the boiler man all day!!!!

Good Night one and all

littlewid-x-

Good morning everyone

and a to you WS

 and have a fun day.

I am hoping Safariman will be get used to Ali and I and all our  we always have so much to chat about  

Poor little Rosie has a broken bone in her left foot, it can't be splinted or plastered so rest and walking on a lead is essential (this is not easy with a slightly mad and enthusiastic greyhound)  she's going to the vet with Pete on Tuesday for another check up so fingers crossed it heals cleanly.

 Littlewid, that is just so funny  what a great idea, I bet WS and Mrs S loved it (apart from the hoovering afterwards )

with the boiler man and let's hope he is already on his way, there is nothing worse than an all day appointment.  Oh yes, I posted the start date for Autumnwatch a few weeks ago being mad keen, it has it's own thread so I can't remember offhand but it's 4 days in November. I won't record Strictly but my mum will update me as I always call her every night it's once of those programmes I think you have to watch on the night otherwise everyone is talking about it and you know the result anyway!

Have a good weekend everyone, and hope the weather stays mild.  I'm off tomorrow on the 7am shuttle to Heathrow and meeting Ali and onwards to Nairobi -  so see you all in a week or so

Lai

back Doogs and don't worry, you've been hectic I know and it's lovely you can pop in today.

Thanks and for sure we'll have a brilliant time in Kenya and with Safariman being at the same camp at the same time

Lai

Thanks for the Birthday messages Guys really appreciate them.
Thanks for all the sparkle LW, great idea I must remember that when we send you a Xmas card , and thanks for all the Beer Deer Hopefully you didn't have to wait in to long for the boiler man.
Sorry to hear about Rosies foot Lai, fingers X it will heal ok. Have a great safe Safari trip. Looking forward to hearing about it.
back Doogs that's one of the best presents I've had today, seeing you here, and not to worry about being away, we all know you've been sorting lots of stuff out

Have a great weekend everyone

WS

Good Afternoon Everyone

Really good to hear from you Doogs I know you have been really busy so don't go telling yourself off, we all know what life is like at times, it throws us curve balls that we have to sort out at times so don't stress, it's just lovely to hear from you. You look after yourself and we look forward to you being on more when you can

Glad you had a good birthday WS ......sorry about all the Sparkly mess but I just thought it would make yours and Mrs S's birthdays a little more sparkly as it was a special one for you both.....i'll open my Chrissy card very carefully.......or outside

I know your not here at the moment Lai but I hope Rosie is getting along ok and not too upset with her lead walks, lets hope her foot heals really quickly

I watched the Rugby yesterday and was sorry that Wales lost but they put up a good battle didn't they WS but RSA were just too strong at the end but it was a game that had me jumping out of my seat for sure.......now we just need to hope Scotland win their game......unless they have already played it?

Been a nice weekend here weather wise, not too chilly and no rain and been out and about and got some shopping done and of course some scrummy Lattes and although it's quite early everywhere seems to be getting their Christmas stuff out which I do kind of like as I love Christmas

I'm going to have a nice relaxing evening watching Strictly results and Xfactor .....I know it's not your thing WS but that's me sorted for the evening....a good chill out before being back at work tomorrow

Have a good rest of the afternoon and evening everyone

littlewid-x-

Only joking about the LW . Yes do be careful opening your Xmas card, does your postman call after you go to work, only I was thinking of putting some Cat reats, and Doggy treats in with the card .
Yep great shame about both Wales, and Scotland going out really tough on them both, and Ireland went out to.
Yes your right, but our Carols still in Errrrr so someone told me

WS

Someone told you ....WS your a secret Strictly watcher for sure yep your Carols not doing too bad at all


I'm not telling you when my postman comes .....that sounds like fighting talk WS .......but it's given me an idea for sending your Christmas card

Yep all of the European nations out of the cup now, such a shame but it has been good watching......think I may go for Australia now.....

Wonder if Lai and SM have met up yet and had a few sundowners and Tuskers? hope they are both having a great time.

littlewid-x-

Noooooo I didn't watch it saw a bit on the news that Irish singer Val Doonican was kicked off.
Tough LW that wouldn't go through our letter box
Hopefully SM and Lai have met up now, and had a good , and we'll have loads of pics to look at soon

WS

saw it on the news WS......You crack me up and you knew they guy who had been kicked off........admit it......you are a secret Strictly fan

Won't go through your letter box !!!!!!! You cant kid me WS.......Me thinks your getting scared

littlewid-x-

Hi Everyone,

Arrived back from a great 8 days at Offbeats' Mara north Camp yesterday morning. The BA flight from Nairobi touched down early at Heathrow at 5am and I was back home putting on the central heating and adjusting the clocks 45 mins. later!!!
It was fun to meet up with Lai and Ali and put a face to the name that appears on so many WAA posts. Being a very small camp everyone soon gets to know everyone else as all meals are taken together and the drink flows very consistently!!
Just after Lai and Ali had left to go to Laikipia, Jonathan Scott turned up in the Offbeat Valley hosting a photo safari that was based at Kicheche's Mara Camp. They were looking for the leopard that we had been seeing but without any luck!! The following morning Angela Scott also turned up with her driver and all her photographic gear but again left without seeing anything!!
I am now starting to put my photos and video clips onto my computer for editing and sorting etc so hopefully I will be able to start posting again soon if the washing and ironing doesn't get in the way!!
Hope everyone is well and keeping busy and remembered to change their clocks.

SM

Sorry I haven't been on Guys. I'm one of those 4 Million Talk Talk customers, and I've been busy changing passwords, and updating security stuff. It's been a .
Back SM glad you had a great time, and got to meet up with Lai, and Ali. Lai will be disappointed to have missed Jonathan, and Angela, she is friends of theirs.
Will catch up with the posts as soon as poss

WS

back SM, its great to have you back. How wonderful you got to meet Jonothan & Angela Scott, how amazing that must have been.....looking forward to tales a pictures.....also im really pleased you and Lai got to meet up and also meeting her friend Ali.......those 8 days have seemed to go really quickly......bet you noticed the change in temperature on your arrival.....hopefully the washing and ironing wont take too long .....don't mention turning the clocks back......I had remembered all day until I went to bed and then forgot......woke up in the morning to cats meowing and Nero shuffling around so jumped out of bed thinking it was 8.30 only to discover when I put the radio on to find out it was 7.30 .....silly me

Oh no WS.... thats been quite an issue with Talk Talk hasn't it.....hopefully your account hasn't been hacked....I think they said on the news this evening that they have caught the young culprit......it must have been a real nightmare for you and I hope your nearly sorted with your security and passwords.

Hope everyone has had a happy Monday

littlewid-x-

Good morning everyone

Yes we're back after a really wonderful safari, 3 days at Offbeat Mara where we met up with Safariman and had a great time chatting away and enjoying meal times together - Safariman being the early riser and Ali and I deciding we needed to relax and unwind ie stay in bed and get up at 7am not 6am!

Safariman sorry we missed you at the airport - it was a bit chaotic and as for the flight, I hope you were unaware of the drama where we were sitting - someone was very ill and I won't say too much more but it was seriously unpleasant for the BA crew and the people sitting nearby!!!

We knew Johnnie and Angie were nearby as we were hoping to meet them for a picnic lunch but that didn't happen but we had such a great time anyway.
I hope we'll meet up again Safariman on another safari it was great putting a face to a name

Ol Pejeta was brilliant too and I've 980 photos and 14 video clips to sort through so no pressure but I know Safariman has many many more so we'll look forward to those soon - no pressure

I hope everyone's okay and enjoying Strictly

Catch up soon.

Lai