Sunday 29 November 2015

Saturday 28th November 2015











Windy, cold and showers most of the day. Pretty dismal then.
Despite the weather I managed to sweep up another load of leaves. Think now just one more session and that will be job done for another year.
           Afternoon and evening spent with Julie and Darren and the Girls enjoying a rip roaring panto tonight. One of the best in the ten years we have been supporting the Corn Exchange in Newbury. Christmas has started for us now so best start doing some shopping I guess.
Pictures are of the Panto tonight.

Friday 27th November 2015






A miserable day. Showers most of the day remaining pretty mild however.
Another day transferring slide photographs to the desk top. My word this is fun. Can't believe we lived in such a dilapidated old house at the time Louise was born as well. Still, we did it and am surely reaping the rewards now.
      Enjoyed a night out with Lulu and Clive at a pub on the Elvenham Estate close to Rotten Green.
Pictures are of 479 taken in 1970/71.

Thursday 26 November 2015

Thursday 26th November 2015



What a miserable day. Drizzled most of the day.
Am having good fun transferring my slides. Today started on the 479 slides that give a complete history from the time we bought the house some 42 years ago. My word, where has that time gone.
Nothing to report today as been tucked away all day working through these slides, about another 2000 to go so about 50% done I'd say.
Photographs today of a couple found from one of my Devon holidays back in the early seventies. 

Wednesday 25th November 2015










After 4mm of overnight rain recorded the day stayed pretty miserable. Was a brilliant sunset however.

Well, not the day I had planned. My blog is primary about garden wildlife and any other activities I have been involved with so will not elaborate on today's events only to say a very close neighbour is in hospital. Wish you a speedy recovery Barry.

Did enjoy the annual Henry Street Christmas Party tonight. Always a great event, two good talks by the Brothers again and a good feast. Good to see Prancer and Dancer made it on time flying in late this afternoon.
Pictures 1 - 3 - Hawky on the look out earlier in the week.
       "      4 - 7 - Heron being bombarded by crows and gulls, it stood its ground and stayed on the roof for some considerable time. This again was earlier in the week.
Pictures 8 - 10 - Henry Street Christmas Show.

Tuesday 24 November 2015

Tuesday 24th November 2015

A very mild and dry day after 3.7mm of rain last night.
More leaves swept up this morning and composted.
Good day for garden birds with a couple of crows ground feeding. Unusual that as normally pretty nervous?
Trail camera had captured the ground feeders so a good record.
Darned Internet, Know How Cloud are updating the desk top tonight, could take 24hrs, what???
Photographs tomorrow due to the know how cloud...

Monday 23rd November 2015

Much milder today and dry.
Another day of sweeping up leaves. Wildlife area overflowing with leaves now so will compost the remaining.
Pairs of Jays and great spotted were again busy today munching away at monkey nuts. Another good day for other birds with a wren, greenfinches and chaffinches added to the list.
        Enjoyed meeting up with Nigel and Lyn tonight in town tonight. Eating at the Strada and a couple of peroni of course.

Sunday 22 November 2015

Sunday 22nd November 2015

Very cold day, first meaningful frost. Bird baths well iced up.
This morning swept up more leaves, probably 50% now.
The afternoon spent clearing the alpine border ready for the Spring. Will re-gravel tomorrow then job done.
          Good to see the blackbirds, starlings, wren, chaffinches, goldfinches returning to the feeders. Robins, blue tits, great tits and sparrows never really left during the summer. Best get some more food in now.
Photographs defo' tomorrow.

Saturday 21st November 2015

Very cold day, in fact very cold. Is this winter now?
Fun day today, decided to organise and index all my photographs from the 1960s - 2006 when I then started using a digital camera. This project Also included all my slides which I will now import to the desk top with my new gizmo. A time consuming job this will be, but interesting.
My word, what a record. Records of No.83 & 479, holidays, Lulu growing up, projects, Terry Toys, weddings, employment photographs and loads more.
                Some good photographs of two foxes last night in the back garden. Great Spotted and Jays busy, liking the monkey nuts. Tufty also busy burying acorns or walnuts.

Internet ok now, some catching up now, hopefully photographs on Monday.

Friday 20th November 2015

Much colder, not so windy though.
Another day sweeping up leaves. Still loads more to fall from the front garden Acer tree.
Interesting news on the 'tench' found floating in the pond earlier in the week. A fisherman studied my photograph today and said, not a tench but a mirror carp. Can only assume now that a heron dropped it when flying over. Just need to spot my tench now but probably hibernating now?
            Enjoyed a fish & chip supper with Sue and Jorge tonight. Caught up with all of the latest ALT gossip now, blimey. Not many of the original staff there now. Would find it difficult to work there now, so many changes in management and technology.

Another day without tv/ internet but did come back to life very late tonight.

Thursday 19th November 2015

Mild and windy. Again wind helped with the leaf sweeping. Another few bags spread in the wildlife area.
Good to see the great spotted and pair of jays about today. Foxy also about last night, blue tit continues to roost each night. The starling however not been seen roosting for domed while now.
Mice also seen in the woodstack via the hide monitor.

No tv / internet tonight, Virgin are on the case apparently.

Wednesday 18 November 2015

Wednesday 18th November 215




A much improved day but did suffer heavy showers at times. Sun also appeared for a while. Actual storm now blown out in this area.
Wind helped with the leaf clearing, all blown into a corner. Made life a lot easier. Another load spread on the wildlife area. Still loads more to fall however so job not finished yet.
Good to see both the male and female Great Spotted today, not seen for a while. Best start with the monkey nuts again.
The sad news was seeing the tench floating this morning. No sign of damage or ill health so think old age caught up with the poor dear, was at least twenty years old so a good life in a well supported garden pond.
Picture 1 - Male Great Spotted.
     "      2 - Deceased tench.
     "      3 - So in love? Mice in the woodstack tonight.
     "      4 - Blue tit roosting.

Tuesday 17th November 2015

What a day, gale force winds and heavy rain most of the day. Not good.
Despite the weather did still venture out. Met family at Mapledurham Golf Course for our three monthly meet up. Good chat, good food and Hoppit on draught. Forgot about the weather for a while.
No time to catch up on garden wildlife today, can't believe there was much about with the extreme weather conditions.

Monday 16 November 2015

Monday 16th November 2015









A mild, sunny, dry Autumn day. Like it.
Annual blood tests this morning, three weeks for full results but was told I had a body of a 57 year old. Or at least I think she said that!
              Good day for garden wildlife, Hawkie appeared after its summer absence, good to see the return of such a wonderful looking bird. Always shows off in front of the camera. 
Foxy appeared again last night and tufty was up to all sorts of tricks this afternoon.
Pretty sure I saw a green woodpecker this morning but not quick enough to photograph. Not a parrot but green for sure and a little bigger than a blackbird I would say. Sadly the trail camera missed the event so eyes peeled now. My old mate who used to be a neighbour has confirmed they were in his garden so looking good I'd say.
Pretty chuffed today...
Pictures 1 - 5 - Hawkie showing off.
       "           6 - Off my seat you.
       "           7 - Foxy on the prowl.

Sunday 15 November 2015

Sunday 15th November 2015



Very mild, almost warm. Still windy with more sun today making for a good Autumn day.
More leaves swept up and spread on the garden. Looking at the tree you would not think any leaves have fallen yet. Reckon will be two weeks on leaf clearing this year.
In the afternoon sun a red admiral appeared on the viburnum shrub. I was indoors so photograph not as clear as one would have liked.
Tufty also appeared this afternoon eating acorns and more surprisingly eating complete seed heads from the viburnum shrub.
Spotted some hedgehog poo today on the decking under the hide so well chuffed with that. Checked the food bowls in the three hedgehog homes and all were empty. Sadly these homes do not have cameras so unable to confirm yet if in fact it was a hedgehog(s) eating this food. Looks promising.
Picture 1 - Red Admiral.
      "     2 - Tufty with acorn.
      "     3 - Tufty with viburnum seed head.

Saturday 14th November 2015

Right mix of weather. Showers, very windy, very mild, little sun.
Managed to sweep up a few more bags of leaves, again spread over the back wildlife part of the garden.
Not able to do much else in the garden due to the weather. A good time therefore to catch up on my holiday photographs. All edited now, another good selection.
The blue tit is still roosting each night but the starling is not to be seen now. Still very mild of course, not sure if that makes any difference however?

Friday 13 November 2015

Friday 13th November 2015

What a change in weather. Windy, showers, overcast and much colder with temp' only reaching a max' of 8c this afternoon.
Blog will be somewhat boring for a while and most days will be spent sweeping up leaves.
As was today, day spent leaf clearing from the front Acer tree. Said leaves now spread over the wildlife area in the back garden.
            Only been home 24 hours and really amazed at the number of greenfinches and goldfinches. Good news this especially as it coincides with the BTO goldfinch survey.
Trail cameras picked out the fox most nights we were away but sadly no sign of hedgehogs.

Thursday 12 November 2015

Thursday 12th November 2015

From Yorkshire to Reading the day was good, mild again with plenty of sun. Ideal driving conditions for the long treck home.
Arrived home tonight after a most enjoyable ten days in the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales.
Now to edit my photographs, job for this weekend I think.

Wednesday 11th November 2015

Mixed bag of weather today with temp' reaching a very mild 16c at mid day. So, very mild with showers getting pretty windy by late afternoon.
Enjoyed a good day out in Wharfedale stopping at the Strid for morning coffee but sadly started to rain so put paid to a walk.
Next planned stop was Linton near Burnsall made famous by the Calendar Girls. The view overlooking Burnsall this morning not do good as so misty, stopped in a passing bay to photograph my favourite Dales view despite the mist.
Arrived at Linton in pretty rough conditions. Heavy rain now so parked up and sheltered in the village pub enjoying a good lunch on a plank and of course the customary pint of local ale.
Picture 1 - Burnsall in the morning mist.
    "  2 - 8 - Linton Falls.
  " 9 & 10 - Burnsall in the afternoon sun.









By the time lunch was over the rain had stopped and the sun was doing its best to shine. Drove the mile to Linton Falls where the river wharfe was in full flood and incredibly noisy. What a site/sight. Enjoyed a walk towards Grassington taking advantage of the improved weather conditions.
Arrived back home late afternoon then enjoying a welcome cuppa brewed up by Paul.
Been another good week staying with Margaret & Paul, family firework party seems so long ago now.
Will be good to get home but will miss my beloved Yorkshire Dales.