Saturday 31st March 2012

A much cooler day with temp' not reaching higher than 12c.
Roger and Wendy's Wedding today, my first official Photography assignment. Hopefully there will be some good pictures. Pictures taken on Littlewick Green Village Green opposite the Cricketers Pub. There was not good picture opportunities at Shute End hence the Cricketers where the reception was held.
                               Robin's still about but no sign of returning to the Nest. Managed a reasonable picture of a Black Cap on the Fat Block. Squirrel spent some time in the garden this morning dodging Foxy that was on the prowl.
                                Enjoyed a brief walk at Fobney this morning, Swan still sitting, two weeks now so babies soon. A Duck (await confirmation on what type) seen on the Owl Box. Last week it was a pair of Pigeon's so not sure who is nesting in the box?
                               Beth has now had the brain tumour removed, lengthy operation. Thankfully Beth has woken with full movement and eyes working ok. Heavily sedated at the moment so do not expect messages from her just yet. Will be in hospital for three weeks so will pay a visit when ready to accept visitors.
Picture 1 - Swan Nesting.
     "     2 - Duck on the Owl Nest Box, help with identifying please Boyo!
     "     3 - Black Cap on Fat Block.
     "    4 - Magnolia Flower in the Front Garden.
     "    5 - Transformation of the Gravel area taking shape, loads more gravel and bricks still to shift.

Thursday 29th / Friday 30th March 2012

Yesterday another warm day. Day spent at the Ideal Home Show at Earls Court. Very dissapointed, went to obtain some ideas (perhaps even to purchase) on a Water Feature for the Decking Area I am creating. Nothing at all. If I required a Sauna or Hydropool then fine, take your pick!

Today - Another warm day, temp' reaching 17c mid afternoon.
Enjoyed seeing Lyn and Nigel this morning , good dinner prepared by Lyn with a Choc Ice for afters, not had one of those since I was a Child.
Their garden looking very good after a period of time making changes with a new additional Greenhouse and enlargement of the Veg' Plot.
I spent a little time in the afternoon moving more gravel, still loads to shift.
Robin's Nest a real cause for concern now, has been completly dismantled and is just spread over the whole box. Robin's are still about so will keep an eye on them for a while now.

Wednesday 28th March 2012

Warmest day yet, dare I say it, rather to hot to work! Temp' this afternoon 27.4c.
With the heat and still feeling very much under the weather, swallen glands, sore throat, mouth ulcers I chose not to do anything today.
           Robin's nest has been trashed, happened overnight/early morning before I had the camera set. Both Robin's still very much about so really can't understand what the problem is.
Watched a Mason Bee busy in the tiniest of holes in a deck post this afternoon. Fasinating to watch. Need to do a bit of research on these fasinating Bees as unsure what is being achieved by flying in and out of such a small hole. Will talk in depth with Doug sometime.
            Collected Drainage Plans today. No sign of bathroom facilities / drainage on these plans dated 1923. Downstairs WC connected to the Well as is the same at 481. My guess now is the Cesspit was constructed sometime after 1923 for the Bathroom.
Picture 1 - 27.4c!
     "     2 - Mason Bee in Deck Post.
     "     3 - Damage to Robinia Tree by the Woodpeckers.

Tuesday 27th March 2012

Yet again another beautiful day with temp' reaching 24c by mid afternoon.
Morning spent shifting 4 barrow's of gravel from the Cesspit area. Using the gravel to create a gravel path through the Wildlife area at the very bottom of the garden.
Afternoon cut both the front and back lawns + the edges. Rather a hot and dusty job and only March!
            Bit worried about the Robin, completed building the nest but has not been near it for two days now. The Pair are about still feeding every day so perhaps just not ready to lay?
Not seen Woody for a few days and few sightings of the Jay. Have not replenished the Monkey Nuts for 24 hours now, was feeding three times a day.
             Magnolia and the Stillata Trees are at their best now, in fact best I have seen them. With no wind or frost the trees have been given a good chance to bloom spectacularly.
Picture 1 - Magnolia Tree in front garden - Wedding Gift from Mum and Dad.
     "     2 - Stillata Tree in the back garden - 25th Wedding Anniversary Gift from Kathrine and Graham.

Sunday 25th / Monday 26th March 2012

Very warm day, temp' reached 21c mid afternoon.
Spent day pricking out 320 Busy Lizzie Plants. Greenhouses full to overflowing. Have had to use space outside, covering up in the evening.
          Celebrated Lulu's Birthday with a meal at the Foresters in Church Crookham early evening. Good meal, Burger, hand made Chips and Salad for me. Cows massaged daily and fed with a feed mixture including Beer. My kind of Cow!

Monday - Almost hot today! Temp' mid - day at 24c.
Morning spent erecting a Bunk Bed for Pam, a near Neighbour. Pam was related to the prev' owners who lived at 479. Pam was able to confirm it is a Cesspit under the Concrete Slab. Afternoon spent clearing further rubble etc from the arround the Concrete. Have now found the foundations to the Cesspit.
The Council have also confirmed they have drainage plans from 1923. Collecting these plans later in the week. My guess then is that Mains Drainage was installed in 1923.
This Decking area is going to take a little longer to complete now!
Picture 1 - Weather Station.
     "     2 - First Alphine Flower out on the new Alphine Bed.
     "     3 - Alphine Bed now complete.
     "     4 - Finding the Cesspit Foundations.

Saturday 24th March 2012

Another glorious day with temp' again reaching 23c this afternoon.
Lost all energy to do much with this wretched throat infection. Did attempt to pressure wash the decking. Gave up after half an hour. Made more mess than trying to clean! Insane amount of water wasted. Never again.
         Quality afternoon with Neighbs over a few pints of Real Ale catching up after  a few months hibernation. Girls grown so tall. Lani at 5'4", Celie at 5'. Bang goes my diet after that session!
          Inspection hole in lawn filled with no answer, again this morning all very wet and muddy. The concrete slab is another issue however, clearly a massive leak somewhere (or a soakaway), await now news from the Council Drainage Department. My take on it is that this is a soakaway to the Well. There is a 100mm pipe entering the Well from the direction of the Concrete Slab.
Picture 1 - Pressure Washer, dead on the decking!
     "     2 - Foxy sniffing at the Hedgehog Box.
     "     3 - Unusual view of the Blackbird.

Friday 23rd March 2012

Have emailed Reading Borough Council Drainage Department over this 'Wet Patch' issue - Reference Number - CON163610

Friday 23rd March 2012

Another glorious day, max' temp' mid afternoon again reached 23c.
Today taken up in trying to find where this water is leaking from. With the hole dug and exposed to the days Sun it is still very wet and smelly.
Over on the concrete slab I smashed a hole through 100mm of concrete to expose saturated earth, very muddy. I was able to push with no effort a metal stake to a depth of 1.2mtrs. This has not answered anything only to expand the problem! My next step is to dig down (Time Team way) on the outside edge of the concrete slab to see if there are signs of a foundation to an old cesspit?
                Robin still busy building, almost complete I think as this afternoon moss was being taken to the box.
                Suffering a bit with this throat infection, not in the mood for much! Lemsip not doing much, must take its course I guess.
Picture 1 - Saturated tree root in 'Wet Patch' hole.
     "     2 - 1.2mtr Metal Stake pushed into the hole made in the concrete slab.
     "     3 - Overview of area of concrete.
     "     4 - Metal Stake used to probe.

Thursday 22nd March 2012

Another glorious day, max' temp' mid afternoon was 22c.
Day spent on the next phase of the decking area, has now been put on hold until a little mystery is cleared up?
Yesterday a wet, muddy patch appeared on the lawn which I dismissed as thought Wifelet had emptied a bowl of water. Today the patch is wetter and muddier and Wifelet has assured me she is not guilty.
Dug a hole directly over the patch, very muddy, smelly with only a tree root to see. On clearing the gravel from the concrete slab in preperation for the decking I noticed a weak spot in the concrete, I was able to clear with ease, about 50mm of rubble before I hit a further slab of concrete. As you can see from the picture it directly in line with the patch in the lawn.
My theory is that this slab is covering an Cesspit with perhaps now a breakdown in the brickwork hence the smelly patch in the lawn? Could be way off the mark, but will not be happy untill I have explored further, tomorrow.
              Robin still busy building with the Jay also now taking building material into the Lelandi Tree.
              Trail Camera picked out a Hedehog last night after hibernation, this is good news as I have a camera set in the Hedgehog Box.
Picture 1 - Foxy by entrance hole under the decking.
     "     2 - Hedgehog on the prowl.
     "     3 - A Tiger in the garden?!
     "     4 - Muddy Patch in Lawn.
     "     5 - Hole dug exposing Tree Root.
     "     6 - Secondry Slab exposed.
     "     7 - View showing Concrete Slab and Patch in the Lawn.

Wednesday 21st March 2012

Another very warm day, almost hot mid afternoon.
Spent day pricking out 320 Petunia, Greenhouses now full to overflowing. Do not want any late frosts now.
                  Robin started building nest at 11.30 this morning but not until a war was won between the Robin and a Starling that kept trying to enter the box. Amazing behaviour.
This Robin started to build a nest in this box on the 18th March last year. It is a nest box I had made for the Swifts that arrive in mid April. In view of the Robin taking over I decided to make a further Swift Box, this I did during the Christmas Break. In this box I shaped a nest base out of two sheets of Kitchen Paper - on checking the garden this morning I noticed a sheet of Kitchen Paper on the lawn forgetting for the moment the Swift Box. Later in the day I noticed a sheet of KP sticking out of the said Nest Box. Now it is obvious a Bird has taken an interest in this box, interesting days ahead. Looks as though I could be making a third Swift Box!
Picture 1 - Robin building nest.
     "     2 - Kitchen Paper in entrance to Nest Box.
     "     3 - Bumble sunbathing on the side of the house.

Tuesday 20th March 2012

Another very warm day, beautiful.
Spent day working on the next phase of the changes to the area outside the Conservatory. Further bricks were removed and used as edging at bottom end of the garden.
Next job is to place the support timbers on the concrete base ready for the decking. Will be breaking up a section of the concrete first to see what is underneath. I have a gut feeling it covers an old sesspit. We shall see!
          During a well earned morning coffee break I noticed a Starling sounding out the Swift Nest Box, after a couple of visits the Robin turned up and had a look about. Interesting days ahead. Think the Swift will lose out again?
Picture 1 - Robin in Nest Box.
     "     2 - Second Greenhouse now full.
     "     3 - Tulip, good display of Tulips this year.
     "     4 - Prepairing for the new decking and water feature area.

Sunday 18th / Monday 19th March 2012

Last two days have been very warm after a very cold start. In fact last night experianced a hard frost. Was out at 12.30am covering the seed trays with newspaper for protection.
           Mothers Day yesterday so entertained Mum for the day, taking her to Henry Street in afternoon. Did enjoy an early morning Fobney Walk despite suffering with a throat infection.
Today spent day pricking out 160 Lobelia and 320 Begonia. Again, will be worth the effort when we see the results during the Summer.
           Jay and Woody had competition with the Monkey Nuts as a Squirrel also took a fancy but was burying them in the lawn!
            Foxy out last night. Trail Camera proved it is indeed Foxy who is livoing under the decking. Have a sequence of pictures showing Foxy entering the dug out.
            Set up the Moth Trap tonight. Think though temp' a bit low at night for a decent result.
Picture 1 - Swan's nesting on the back water at Fobney.
     "     2 - Morning Slither for Snail on the Fobney Tow Path.
     "     3 - Pigeon's nesting in Barn Owl Box at Fobney, last year it was the Mandarin that nested in this box.
     "    4 - Cobwebs on a cold misty morning at Fobney.
     "    5 - Squirel burying monkey nuts in the lawn.
     "    6 - Moth Trap.
     "    7 - Foxy about to enter his set under the decking.

Saturday 17th March 2012

After a very wet start the afternoon was much better with even a little Sun!

Despite the weather I still managed to carry out a bit of work in clearing bricks that was the old Alphine bed. The bricks are being used to edge a pathway through the wilderness at bottom end of garden. The wooden edge that had been there for some 14 years had sadly rotted to just a few odd bits of wood. What rotten wood is left will be made into a 'wood pile'. This picture of a Long Tailed Tit had been winded after a period of mating. Was in this position for some ten minutes before flying into the Lelandi Tree. Will keep an eye now for nest building.  

Friday 16th March 2012

Mild but overcast day.
Enjoyed a morning walk at Hosehill Nature Reserve in Theale. Not very good at identifying Ducks and Geese so will rely on my Good Friend to advise. Think however I have pictured Tufted Ducks and Cormorant.
After the walk enjoyed a Burger and pint of Waddingtons Swordfish at the local Pub.
                       Found time to cut the lawn this afternoon, first cut of the season. Once a week job now.
Picture 1 - Querky picture of a blown Bullrush.
     "     2 - Peaceful picture of Tufted Ducks.
     "     3 - Unable to identify - help Boyo please!
     "     4 - Juvenile Cormorant.
     "     5 - Cormorant.
     "     6 - Fox Burger on the Menu...?

Thursday 15th March 2012

After a very fresh, foggy morning from 11am the Sun appeared making the rest of the day very warm.
Spent day giving the Pond a Spring Clean. Removing all signs of last years dead vegetation. In the disturbance more Frogs appeared which is really good news. Still to spot the Newts however. Bought three fresh aquatic plants to add a bit of colour as will miss the colour of the Fish this year.
           Lorna spent day in London with Lulu visiting the Stitch & Sew exhibition at Olympia. Both enjoyed very much. Had to smile, the only item bought was one ball of wall for making a scarf! I will post a picture when complete?!
Picture 1 - Friends for life?
     "     2 - Just loved the pose!
     "     3 - A GM Frog spotted in Pond this afternoon!
     "     4 - Pond after it's Spring Clean.
     "     5 - Alphine Bed, good eh? Letting it settle before top layer of gravel.
     "     6 - Woody eating from the feeder with the Camera.