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Gransnet cafe

Welcome to the *Gransnet Café. This is a non-judgemental space for you to pop in for a cuppa with some virtual friends, seek out advice for a particular problem, or share an update on your life - important or trivial. Feel free to have your say and chat about your day, but please leave any arguments at the door. If you're struggling to find someone to talk to in real life, or are simply looking for a bit of a chat, this is the place for you.

Good Morning From A Newbie

(38 Posts)
Primetime Wed 22-Mar-17 10:18:09

Hi everyone, I'm new here, Hope to join in where possible, play some Games, and enjoy the site, maybe make a few friends along the way

callgirl1 Wed 29-Mar-17 16:18:53

Talking of sparrows made me realise that I haven`t seen a sparrow since we were on Lindisfarne in 2012! All we get here are seagulls, pigeons, and the occasional blackbird and magpie. We used to get a lot of pied wagtails on the riverbank at the front, but they seem to have deserted us now.
I`m saying that we don`t get many birds, but I haven`t included the ones on the river (well, canal), we do have a lot of ducks, plus some geese and swans, and once in a blue moon, a heron.

Bellanonna Wed 29-Mar-17 10:22:28

I agree about the blackbird's song Bumblebee. It's the best. So mellow. I have to stand and listen whenever I hear it. I also like the song thrush's output, with its repeated phrases. Unfortunately I hear far fewer of those now. Yes you have to be careful what you feed the birds while nestlings are around. Even bread should be soaked first. I don't use feeders all year as i think birds can forage for themselves.

Did you have any success with finding the thread we talked about yesterday? Once you get the hang of it it's quite easy. There is also a gardeners' thread which might interest you.

Hope you manage to find some interesting threads as strictly speaking this is just for all newbies, and I feel we know you now!

Elegran Wed 29-Mar-17 10:10:05

I haven't seen any posts in Grandads' Shed for ages. Is it derelict and abandoned? Bumblebee could renovate it and revive the blokier conversations in there.

Mapleleaf Wed 29-Mar-17 09:48:32

Hi bumblebee123. Go to the chat thread and scroll down. You'll find the malapropisms thread there.

bumblebee123 Wed 29-Mar-17 09:17:04

Did you know that dunnocks are also called hedge sparrows?

bumblebee123 Wed 29-Mar-17 09:09:16

Hi Bella, you can get special peanut feeders for the squirrels. Ours are arranged on little platforms so they can get a peanut and sit and nibble on it. Trouble is, the bigger birds want to have their share of the peanuts that are provided. At this time of year, we have to start grinding the peanuts into small pieces in case the smaller birds take a peanut to feed their babies. A whole peanut could choke them.
Blackbirds have the best song and can become resonably tame. Every morning when my wife goes out to feed the birds there is always a blackbird that will settle very close and listen while she talks to it.

nanaK54 Tue 28-Mar-17 14:33:34

Thank you Bellanonna!

Bellanonna Tue 28-Mar-17 13:56:42

You are well and truly a "regular" nana. I've been here two years, so not an original either. Keep posting and don't worry about falling over dunnocks. They skulk around and don't show themselves too much, plus they're fairly dull, but they do have a nice song ?

nanaK54 Tue 28-Mar-17 13:43:04

I have to go now and Google 'dunnock' I wouldn't know one if I fell over it......
Welcome to the 'newbies' - can I stop considering myself as a newbie yet - I have been here for a year now?!

Bellanonna Tue 28-Mar-17 13:39:11

I envy your garden visitors Cherry. I had dunnock many years ago and up until fairly recently the sparrows used to come. Seems they've all flown north. ? We spent two lovely holidays in Staffs a couple of times, in a little cottage about two miles south of Alstonfield with a river close by. It was idyllic. I'd love to go back but health problems now prevent such forays (different criteria these days).

Cherrytree59 Tue 28-Mar-17 12:31:59

We live in Staffordshire Bumblebee and get both Dunnocks & Sparrows in our garden .

Bellanonna Tue 28-Mar-17 09:13:36

Go into "last day" and scroll down to chat. There are currently only 8 items under that heading so you will find it easily. Then just click on malapropisms. Did you read The Rivals at school? Mrs Malaprop was always getting her words wrong and you should find this thread amusing. Sorry I didn't do a link, don't know how to ?

Bellanonna Tue 28-Mar-17 09:08:29

Wow, that's quite a list Bumblebee. No, I haven't had sparrows for a while either. Numbers have been greatly reduced. Quite sad. Unlike you I don't enjoy the squirrel visitors as they nick the bird food. Although, as I said before, I don't get too many song birds but am watching a pair of blackbirds in the garden at the moment. Love is in the air.

bumblebee123 Tue 28-Mar-17 09:05:55

Where do I find the mala whatsit thread?

bumblebee123 Tue 28-Mar-17 08:38:10

Bellanonna, Here are some of the birds we attract.
Blackbirds, magpies, great tits, blue tits, dunnocks, bullfinches, jackdaws, jays, chaffinch, robins, long tailed tits, woodpeckers, crows, collared doves, rock doves, stock doves, pigeons, greenfinches, plus unwelcome visitors like hawks, and this last week, a raven. he really is a big fella. I've missed some out but I mustn't forget to mention the squirrels. They are so much fun to watch. I spend hours each day watching them. Must try and get some photos. Strangely enough, we do not get any sparrows.

Bellanonna Mon 27-Mar-17 23:38:58

Welcome to the new people and nice to see you again bumblebee123. There are definitely a couple of fellas on the forum. Just keep an eye out. Your garden sounds interesting. I know you have bird feeders and wondering what they are attracting at the moment. Here in the suburbs I get lots of wood pigeon and magpie and our own very territorial robin. Great tits are calling all the time now and we do get occasional more exciting visitors but not often. You say you like to laugh. Have you looked at the malapropism (with some spoonerisms) thread? Some are really funny. Just explore and you might run into those elusive fellow males. If not, you'll come across some interesting discussions anyway.

bumblebee123 Mon 27-Mar-17 12:48:40

Hi Primetme, I seem to be the only bloke in here so I am so glad another male member has joined the throng. THRONG? that makes two of us males. What are your interests and what is your ability? I like things that make me laugh and due to a bad fall I cannot walk. WELL, I can manage short distances on crutches. Listen Primetime, I am not looking for sympathy, I want someone to talk to. I'm desperate for someone to talk to. Tell me, whereabouts in the country are you from. I live in South Yorkshire, and have a back garden full of wild life. That's the Gas, Electric, Water Board all demanding payment grin. Enough for now. Look forward to hearing from you.

Primetime Fri 24-Mar-17 08:45:30

Thank you Newquay

Newquay Fri 24-Mar-17 08:15:55

Morning Primetime-enjoy! It can be so entertaining and thought provoking too!
Where do we find local sites-and games come to that?

Primetime Fri 24-Mar-17 05:41:53

Thank you grannypiper

grannypiper Thu 23-Mar-17 15:24:55

Pull up a pew primetime and join us brew&[cupcake}

Primetime Thu 23-Mar-17 08:21:31

Good morning, and thank you Rinouchka

Rinouchka Thu 23-Mar-17 08:19:22

Good morning and welcome, Primetime.

Primetime Thu 23-Mar-17 08:12:51

Thank you Mapleleaf

Mapleleaf Thu 23-Mar-17 06:24:51

Good morning and welcome Primetime from one newbie to another (joined end of last week). It's a friendly site, enjoy browsing the forums. There's always something interesting to look at and join in with. ?