Quote from: Newportnobby on May 25, 2026, 10:46:36 AMCould you please raise a cup/glass.............

I don't need much prompting and this is an extra special reason to do so. Consider it done 

44 years ago the battle to retake the Falkland Islands was in full swing. HMS Sheffield, HMS Ardent, HMS Antelope, HMS Coventry had been sunk, the Atlantic Conveyor had been hit by two Exocet missiles and 77 British military personnel were dead with numerous casualties.

Since then, many British service personnel have lost their lives, & countless more have suffered, and are suffering hardships due to PTSD & injuries suffered in service.

Any donation you can make, however small, goes a long way. I'm still quite a way from my £500 target that I've set myself.

If you'd like to know more about the amazing work The Veterans Charity does, then please follow the link below.

The other link is to my JustGiving fundraising page.

https://www.veteranscharity.org.uk/

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/MichaelBowler2026?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=020

Quote from: Bealman on May 25, 2026, 08:24:11 AMJust getting all the stuff via the interweb on me phone about the "heatwave" in the UK. 

When I got out of bed the other morning, it was 24° in the kitchen and I put the gas fire on!

Oh, and temps over 30° are expected. Oh no!

Ah yes - I often have similar feelings when I hear these reports from the UK of so-called heatwaves  as I melt here in the land of Wa.

Quote from: Newportnobby on May 25, 2026, 10:46:36 AMHi Folks,
Could you please raise a cup/glass to the memory of 'dannyboy' who would have celebrated his 75th birthday today?
Whether he's 'upstairs' or 'downstairs' (and I'm sure it would be the former) he's probably causing lots of mayhem with his 'Groaners' and I, for one, am pleased that thread is being kept going.
(there's a pic of the lad in reply #19)

I'll raise a glass of something appropriate, maybe a Connemara slightly peated single malt, this evening.

I, along with Mike @Nbodger got to know David quite well during the making of the NGF Virtual Exhibitions a few years back.
He will forever be remembered for ALWAYS being late to join us on our virtual planning  meetings AND for forgetting to turn the sound on when he eventually did log in.

Cheers to you David.

Hi Folks,
Could you please raise a cup/glass to the memory of 'dannyboy' who would have celebrated his 75th birthday today?
Whether he's 'upstairs' or 'downstairs' (and I'm sure it would be the former) he's probably causing lots of mayhem with his 'Groaners' and I, for one, am pleased that thread is being kept going.
(there's a pic of the lad in reply #19)

Quote from: Newportnobby on May 25, 2026, 10:23:14 AM

Quote from: chrism on May 25, 2026, 10:18:36 AMArtic Terns perchance? They are very protective of their nests.

They're the real bigguns, aren't they? The size of lorries, if I recall

Well spotted 

Quote from: chrism on May 25, 2026, 10:18:36 AMArtic Terns perchance? They are very protective of their nests.

They're the real bigguns, aren't they? The size of lorries, if I recall

Quote from: Bealman on May 25, 2026, 08:24:11 AMWhen I got out of bed the other morning, it was 24° in the kitchen and I put the gas fire on!

Fahrenheit?

Quote from: Bealman on May 25, 2026, 09:30:18 AMHaving said that, the top of me head got badly sunburned back in 2023 on Holy Island, Northumberland, of all places!

Doesn't need to be hot to get sunburn, just clear.

Back in the early eighties I went for a nice walk on the Berwyn mountains in Wales. Twas a nice bright day but very comfortable temperature (aided by the altitude) so we were in shorts and t-shirts.

Couldn't do any walking for the next few days - shorts would have exacerbated the sunburn on the legs and long trousers rubbed it too much.

Quote from: Train Waiting on May 25, 2026, 09:46:20 AMalso handy protection from dive-bombing seabirds, of which there are a good few thereabouts.

Arctic Terns perchance? They are very protective of their nests.

I went to the Farnes one summer and the National Trust warden had a speckly white hat, which he told us started the season as a blue hat 

Carrying the camera tripod over the shoulder was a good defence though - if they don't have anything to deposit they will peck any head they can get to instead, and they can easily draw blood.

Quote from: Train Waiting on May 25, 2026, 09:46:20 AM

Quote from: Bealman on May 25, 2026, 08:24:11 AMJust getting all the stuff via the interweb on me phone about the "heatwave" in the UK. 

When I got out of bed the other morning, it was 24° in the kitchen and I put the gas fire on!

Oh, and temps over 30° are expected. Oh no!

Exactly! More than one nice summer's day is now a 'heatwave', with all sorts of health warnings.

And some snow in winter is a 'Beast from the East' or similar nonsense.

Have we forgotten about seasonal weather?

And, as for this new fixation with naming storms - what nonsense.

Your sunburnt scalp on Holy Island must have been a pain. Perhaps the monks carried parasols ... also handy protection from dive-bombing seabirds, of which there are a good few thereabouts.

With all good wishes.

John

I couldn't agree more @Train Waiting .
This is Summer weather and a splendid change after what was, until the last day or so, a pretty dismal Spring.

I for one love the heat so no complaints here.
Mind you, I caught the train to Hayle in Cornwall on Saturday to visit the club exhibition.
Super duper weather all the way but Hayle itself was shrouded in damp sea mist with a temperature of about ten degrees. - brrrr.
That's cornwall for you though - I should know as I lived there for 20 years.

Quote from: Bealman on May 25, 2026, 08:24:11 AMJust getting all the stuff via the interweb on me phone about the "heatwave" in the UK. 

When I got out of bed the other morning, it was 24° in the kitchen and I put the gas fire on!

Oh, and temps over 30° are expected. Oh no!

Exactly! More than one nice summer's day is now a 'heatwave', with all sorts of health warnings.

And some snow in winter is a 'Beast from the East' or similar nonsense.

Have we forgotten about seasonal weather?

And, as for this new fixation with naming storms - what nonsense.

Your sunburnt scalp on Holy Island must have been a pain. Perhaps the monks carried parasols ... also handy protection from dive-bombing seabirds, of which there are a good few thereabouts.

With all good wishes.

John