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Gutted to hear about Shaz. She was a stalwart on Sky Poker for many years. Gave me lots of poker/life advice too.

RIP SHAZ 

Very sad indeed.

RIP Shaz

Well I can't believe there is one here without a mate so it's at least 50/50 to be the same one.

Then again, I wonder if both sexes call?

I had to Google this.  They both call, but only the males make the cuckoo sound.  So it seems entirely possible it was the same bird.  Though must add I mentioned this to someone else, and they had heard a cuckoo at the same nature reserve as me the weekend before.  Don't know if this makes it more or less likely that he travelled.  Like if he has hung round for a couple of weeks would he be more likely to move elsewhere or does it just show he is lazy?  They do fly from Africa, so 4 miles is nothing.

Edit.  Had to look that up too;

"100% Fidelity: Studies using satellite tracking have shown that all monitored male cuckoos returned to the same breeding grounds in consecutive years, often within just 1km of their location from the previous year."

So this probably explains why I hear them more frequently than you.  But if you hear one next year, you are likely to keep hearing it.  Also think I just need to get out around the beginning of May to hear them next year.

How very sad, such a positive contributer to Blonde over the years. RIP Supernova, thoughts with family and friends. 😪

Oh my, that's a huge shock & such ghastly news.

She was one of those very rare souls who everyone liked, she did not have an ounce of edge to her, she was just a bundle of lovelyness.

Life had not been easy for her for some time, & especially of late where a whole collection of medical ailments started to build up, especially with her eyesight & legs. In fact her blonde signature, at the bottom of all her blonde Posts, says so much about her...


Armed with two crutches and no fucks.

I first met her around 2008 at an APAT event & ever since we've exchanged PM's on a regular basis. Every year she'd send me a bunch of books on a whole variety of topics. Mostly non fiction - she knew I mostly read non-fiction - but a tremendous range of stuff, & she seemed to know what I'd enjoy.  Then I'd read the books, write back to her, & we'd write to & fro about the books.

The last batch she sent me was March 24th of this year, 6 of them. Biographies of Katherine Graham (she of the Washington Post), Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Fred Dibnah, Virginia Hall ( a female WWII spy), "State of Terror" by Hillary Clinton, and a tome about various buildings in London. Not everyone's taste but right up my street. After I'd read each one, I'd write back to her then she'd reply with some anecdotal stuff, & her last PM to me was late March with a real-life story about the actor who played Stan Ogden.

Part of one of her last Posts on blonde, on Tom's Diary after he had his medical excursion in late March, included this, which along with her blonde signature, summed her up....



I hate taking tablets etc I had to have 2 cups of tea at the same time at one point one for knocking back the meds and another to sip and enjoy.

F'kin middle age huh.

I'm terribly shocked & sad about all this.

Thoughts too to Darren Shallis, her partner, who is "NewportLad" on blonde. Many of you know Darren from APAT back in the day, & he was active on blonde, mainly on the Sports & Betting threads. Darren must be devastated.

A very sad day indeed, the world has lost a good 'un, & she was a terrific friend to me when I needed her most, during my assorted medical episodes.  

RIP Shaz, & God Bless.

xx

What sad news. She was a good friend to the blonde community for many years. She brought warmth, compassion, energy and enthusiasm. She really will be missed.

RIP Shaz.

Probably deserves her own thread.

Sad news, met a few times and was very nice.

RIP.

That's very sad indeed. rip

So so sad,thoughts are with Darren

Managed to dig out the old password (thought id lost this account tbh) but not for good news.

Was sent this when I woke up this morning.

RIP Supernova