I smiled today ...

Smiled when out to lunch in the lovely - and drizzly - Peak District at Castleton.

*anno*.

another smile yesterday when we saw the nuthatch was back - I can see her (or him...) on the feeder right not- battling it out with sparrows, greenfinches and all sorts of tits... We kept saying they had gone... so hurrah for their return (must go and get on with decorating though!)

... but before I go- I just had to look it up, as those green finches are just so bright yelllow- so I smiled again when I looked at RSPB website and realised they are in fact 'citril finches' (carduelis citrinella) (and in French Venturon Montagnard - or 'mountain adventurer' how lovely).

For the first time in at least 10 years we have a pair of bullfinches coming to feed. It's ridiculous how pleased we are and one or other of us does that whispered shouting, that the other can't hear, to come and look!

aghh lovely. Ours will turn up when the raspberries are ripe- which won't be long- little blighters- but I'll share with great pleasure ;) Do you know that the first ever bullfinch I saw was in the Outwoods- I often used to stop ofr a walk on the way back from school (for those outside Leics- the Outwoods is a wonderful wood, famous for its bluebells, granit rocks and sessile oaks- between Loughborough and Leicester. A wonderful place- quite near Bradgate Park of Lady Jane Grey fame).

I had a pair of bullfinches earlier in the year, and also quite a lot of goldfinches. At the moment the greenfinches have the upper hand claw. Several neighbours also have bird feeding stations. I've had to chase the squirrel off mine twice today and goodness knows what he was up to while I was out. Oh yes, about smiling... I smiled at the very jolly lady who relieved me of three vials of blood!

And I smiled when a friendly check-out lady in Waitrose pointed out that one of my earrings was loose.

goldfinches are here all the time. Sadly not allowed to give blood here! And anyhow have a very rare blood group (AB+).

We have loads of goldfinches too and this afternoon we had a pair of chaffinches which we have not seen for ages either. It's silly how honoured we feel when flipping birds deign to honour us with their presence.

The beeping squirrels, on the other hand.................

And, the pigeons!!

Sorry no smile. I feel right grumpy today. Joints aching.

Nellie; could it be the change in temperature? I'm sure it was mentioned on here a while back that it wasn't just cold weather that caused joint problems but a change in temperature and the resulting change in air pressure [not that that makes things any better I know ] .

Sadly not much to smile about but at least GN teaches us something new every day. I am blood group AB+ and while I knew it wasn't common I didn't realise it was rare. I feel rather "superior"

I wasn't giving blood GJ- am too old now, though O neg is useful. I was having a routine blood test.

sorry anno. But ooops we digress- only 3% of us are AB+ the second rarest group- sadly we can only give to other AB+ but can receive from anyone.

Not allowed to give blood here because I lived in the UK during the JacobKreuzfeld crisis.

So sorry to anyone not wanting or able to smile - we all have days like that- but wouldn't it be nice to keep this little bit of GN for 'smiles' - perhaps x I know people smiling can be hurtful or annoying, etc- when you are not in the mood or hurting- so just don't look in if it might upset you.

I smiled yesterday because, whilst waiting in the surgery to see my doctor, a young woman came out of seeing hers with a young boy and 11 week old twins. She sat near me and said that their routine was now in a mess and they needed bottle feeding. She picked up the baby girl and started to feed her, whilst the boy baby whinged. After a bit of hesitation I offered to feed him and she agreed. My grandchildren are 14 and 17 so it was sooo lovely to be holding a small baby again and watching as he slowly fell asleep - do you remember how they can't make up their minds whether to sleep or drink and their eyes keep closing? The woman kept thanking me and I kept thanking her because it certainly sent my endorphins into overdrive. I am also smiling today, just thinking about it!

I smiled yesterday when the little girl we were minding for the day said....'I love being here Juliette, it's just like being in an Antique Shop'

cheesy grin.....I have got the car today,after being grounded for 10 days,never have I been so happy to walk round tescos

I smiled today because a lovely friend who I wasn't expecting to see this summer popped in unexpectedly. Hooray!

Well, I've been smiling for a few days, icyalittle- because it is so lovely to see you here again- welcome back x

I smiled today because I arrived home after a very busy morning to find my brother had sent me a lovely photo of my mother. She fell and broke her hip last week and had to have surgery. As some of you may recall she will be 90 this year and lives in Australia. She is now back home and the photo was of her sitting up in bed holding the flowers I sent her with a huge grin on her face. Lovely.

I smiled today because the sun was shining (at last)!

I smiled today at the sight of a tiny tot sitting in a puddle in the middle of Swindon and having a wonderful splash....mum wasn't so amused though!

I smiled today after seeing the pictures of the young American boy who has had two hand transplants after losing both hands and feet to septicaemia. His face said it all. Thank goodness for medical advances.

I smiled today because Dh came home early and we managed to have a nice cup of tea sitting in the garden.