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Hello, Elle!
I have not been to Holland, too.
No builders today?
You will miss making them tea etc!
Now, I have no idea why the chicks travel on their own.
I am no expert, Elle!
I hope they get there OK.
There is a high attrition rate with osprey chicks.
I am on the point of ordering a book in which I should learn much more about them, though.
It is called "Lady of the Loch" by Helen Armitage.
Lady was Lassie's predecessor at the loch and she raised 48 chicks over the years, I think.
I suppose Lassie could be Lady's daughter or granddaughter.
But I do not know how likely that is.

Hi, Rusty!
I have just been talking to my daughter.
She works from home on a Wednesday, so phones me during her "lunch hour" to chat.
She starts her new job in just under a fortnight..... and tomorrow has been invited to a "Summer party" at her new firm!
I think that is a nice friendly gesture, don't you?
She is looking forward to it.
I think your book about Lady should prove very interesting and informative.
She must have reached a good age?
Some of the chicks raised will have been with Laddie then?
I have been indulging in manual labour this morning!
The builders were good at "putting things back", but not quite how and where I wanted them!
So this morning I have been rearranging the plants on my patio and the decking to my own satisfaction!
I think I took on rather too much...I am aching now with dragging / carrying tubs of plants about...... and moving storage boxes to a more "suitable" place etc!
Definitely time for a coffee restorative....

Hello, Elle!
The "summer party" sounds very good.
Yes it is a very friendly gesture, I think.
I think Lady was at Loch of the Lowes for twenty years or so.
She did mate with Laddie, and two of her previous partners were Eric and Laird.
But, one Spring she did not return from Africa and Lassie moved in.
Here is some info on Lady.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-26819000
I think I will buy the "Lady" book.
Quite a few copies on eBay.

Hi, Rusty!
Thank you for the info on Lady.....she is indeed a regal old "lady"!
Yes, you should buy the book!
I think you would enjoy it.
I have been back out in the garden again...still reorganising....
I shall have aches in muscles that I didn't even know that I had!
I am well pleased with my efforts and results, though!!
It is very warm and humid here...still fine, a bit dullish....
What have you been up to today?
Oops! I have only just remembered the crossword!
Better make a start....

Hello, Elle!
I have found a "very good" copy of "Lady of the Loch" on eBay for £1.99.
I think it will please me, too.
I have had an easy day.
Going to cemetery tomorrow.
The puzzle was on the easy side for a Wednesday, I thought.
How did you get on with it?

Update, Elle!
Here is an extract from the book about "Lady".
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1377436/Britains-oldest-osprey-Lady-settled-Highland-roost-21st-time.html

Hi, Rusty!
That was a riveting extract from Helen Armitage's book.
You will not be able to put the book down when you come to read it!
Lady does indeed sound quite a character!
Whose birthday or anniversary are you commemorating tomorrow with your visit to the cemetery?
Rather sadly, we only have immediate family remembered at our local Crematorium.
Other relatives were cremated or buried up in Bolton, or in East Dunbartonshire.
I do not even know the positions of their graves or memorial plaques.
Yes, I got on fine with today's puzzle!
It was more to my standard!
I thought that there were some good clues, though, even if the crossword were easier?
And there were two new words for me...."rochet" and "obeisant."
I liked the latter....easy enough to get from the parsing of the clue!

Hello, Elle!
No anniversary at the cemetery.
Just my normal visit to put fresh flowers on and tidy up the grave.
I'll get flowers at ASDA then head out.
I did not know "rochet" or "outfalls".
My Chambers says "outfall" could be the same as "fall out".
It is not a word I have ever used.

Hi, Rusty!
We have a memorial plaque at the crematorium.
It is a marble slab, engraved with the names, embedded flat in the grass, and we ere able to stand plants in pots/tubs, or vases of flowers on it.
There is a general tidying of the grounds.......but we go to clean the stone and trim around it.
I am having a day out tomorrow!
We are trying to resurrect "Ladies who Lunch", on a Thursday, but there will only be two of us.
I shall take the dog out as usual early morning.
And then meet my friend about 11.30.
I need to do some shopping so we shall meet in Bromley.
I am looking forward to it!

Good morning, Elle!
Lovely day here, so far.
Hope your day out goes well!
I'm heading out soon.
There is one very noisy chick at the loch.
He's demanding fish and no sign of Laddie.
He had better soon get used to fending for himself.
It's a tough world out there!