Friday 30th November 2012

The first hard frost of the season making for some great photographs (on FB). Rest of the day was dry and cold.
                     Resting day today!  Was good to entertain Tony and Heather to a Fish and Chip Lunch with of course a good pint, London Pride today.
Tony suffering these days with Hip(s) problems. Sad when you think back to the days of playing Rugby and Cricket. Not good getting old.
                      Looking forward to Panto tomorrow with the Joneses. Wonder how many more years we attend Panto?!

Thursday 29th November 2012

A good cold winters day with blue sky for a change!
Day spent on the woodland path, loads to do. Not sure now if I will complete by Christmas. Will completely transform that part of the garden when complete.

Have instructed Estate Agent to remove the 'Sold' board at the Bungalow and to fix a 'For Sale' board. For me it has to be the first with the money.

Wednesday 28th November 2012

Another cold, showery day.
Christmas Shopping at Maplin during the morning, I just love that shop.
Managed to get a couple of hours work in the afternoon on the WDP.  Have made changes to the woodland path, now extended to meet up with the new pond area at the very bottom of the garden. Will incorporate a stile between the two areas.
Foxy was pictured last night checking out his newly refurbished hide-out!
               Enjoyed an evening out with Lyn and Nigel at The Shurlock in Shurlock Row. Been there a few times now. Good food and Real Ale, The Village Idiot was the Beer for me tonight by The White Horse Brewery.

Tuesday 27th November 2012

A cold, wet miserable day made worse by having to deal with a suicidal Mother. Had it with my Father now my Mother. What have I done to deserve this? 
Not a good day.....

Evening spent at the Henry Street Christmas open evening. Talks were on Christmas Table Arrangements, Types of English Christmas Trees available this year and demonstration on types of new garden equipment available in the New Year.
Another great evening with good food/mulled wine, well done lads.

Monday 26th November 2012

A wet, mild and miserable day, again!
                 Morning spent installing the Woodburning Stove. Not easy due to weight, just hope I have managed to seal the flue to the Stove. Had not appreciated the involved instructions for lighting the Stove. Will be a good week before we are able to light a full blown fire. Cast has to be cured first by a series of small kindling fires.
                  Afternoon spent knocking in the site pegs to take the framework for the woodland path.
Pictures on Facebook.

Sunday 25th November 2012

Another wet, chilly, miserable day.
Day spent at Woodford Park Hall celebrating Ann Christopher's 90th Birthday. Despite being hospitalised begin of the week she looked well and thoroughly enjoyed seeing Family again not seen in decades. Pity the day had to end. 
Sad my Mother was unable to attend, missed by many.

Saturday 24th November 2012

A wet, chilly miserable day.
Day spent in London. Enjoyed 100% a Classical Popular Music Concert with a Laser Light and Fireworks show at the Royal Albert Hall. A stunning show, have never experienced such a show before at such a stunning venue.
Photographs on Facebook.

Friday 23rd November 2012

Another Damp, miserable day with a slight chill in the air.
Woodburning Stove arrived this morning. Amazed at the weight, thankfully Robin from ALT was happy to help me in the house with it. Not sure how I will lift in place with the Chimney yet.
              Good to see Steve McD this morning. Turned up for Coffee, have now caught up with ALT gossip!
                Cut down low branches of the Flowering Cherry Tree. Problem caused by the elevated decking.
                 Enjoyed meal out with Sue and Jorge (friends from ALT) at the Beafeater in Southcote. More gossip! Been an Arnold Laver Timberworld kind of day!

Thursday 22nd November 2012

Damp, mild but miserable day.
Managed to fit the Rope Handrail and mark out for the woodland path.

Wednesday 21st November 2012

What a day - wet all day with a wintery chill.
Despite the dreadful weather,( rain finally stopped at 3.30pm) at 4pm there was the most stunning sunset. Sadly unable to post pictures as my picture usage is full. Not sure how to overcome this so a pictureless blog for a while.
               Shopping day today, ALT  for Timber early morning, then Morrisons for weekly food shop. Mid afternoon to B & Q for the Handrail Rope for the WDP.

Tuesday 20th November 2012

Mild but showery day.

A  further 9 sacks of leaves swept up during the morning.
Afternoon spent at the Care Home.

Monday 19th November 2012

Dull, overcast day with rain late afternoon.
Day spent on the WDP,  almost finished now. Rope Hand Rail and the Woodland Pathway just left to do now. This will be in the New Year now.
Picture 1 - Only a few boards to fix now, awkward as cutting round the Tree.
   "2 & 3 - Now finished and showing the Fire Pit cut into the deck boards.
    "      4 - Best we have ever seen the Christmas Cactus.

Sunday 18th November 2012

A  brilliant day, sunny with a slight chill after heavy overnight frost.
Another day spent on the WDP.  25% of the decking now fixed.
Picture 1 - Showing the start of fixing the deck boards.
     "     2 - Orange Poppy.
     "     3 - Yellow Poppy.
     "     4 - Lelandi, Ash and Holly Trees.
     "     5 - Ash Tree.
     "     6 - Been and Oak Trees.
    "7&8 - Been Tree.

Saturday 17th November 2012

A  mild, overcast day but again thankfully dry.
Day spent on the WDP, all Joists now fixed and supported. Electric Cables also in place. Just the Decking to fix now.
                                Enjoyed the evening catching up with John and Hillary over a meal and a pint at the Four Horse Shoes in Checkendon. 
Picture 1 - Fox Tunnel.
     "     2 - Hedgehog House.
     "     3 - Bumble Bee Nest under the green upturned Potting Tray. Holes cut to enable the Bees easy access to the Nest.
Picture 4 - Large Clay Pot with paper shreddings for Mice.
      "    5 - Fire Pit.
      "    6 - All Joists fixed and supported.
      "    7 - Jay digging hole for a Monkey Nut in back lawn.

Friday 16th November 2012

Early morning mist/fog never really cleared all day. Also bit of a winter chill with showers during the afternoon.
                      Morning taken up by 3.5hrs of British Gas surveying for a replacement boiler and temp' valves. Staggered to find the quote total of £4111p. A cost I was not expecting.
                       Afternoon spent filling a further 5 sacks of fallen leaves.

Thursday 15th November 2012

Another good, mild Autumn day.
Day spent on the WDP. Hedgehog House (with camera) re-sited away from the Rat Run. It was clear Rats had intentions of making it their home!
A  Fox entrance now in place, just the Fire Pit to sort before the last joist are fixed. Have also created a Bee entrance in case we have further Bee activity. 
Fingers crossed for a dry day tomorrow.

Wednesday 14th November 2012

What a brilliant day, mild, sunny, dry with a good blue Sky.
Day spent working on the WDP. Hard work as fixing the 225 x 75mm Timbers between the Posts. Can't face another Hernia Operation so under orders to rest tomorrow, we shall see!
                 Have agreed to help with a certain amount of re-planting work on the Fobney Lakes Project. A task I will be carrying out towards end of the month. Sadly a fair number of newly planted Shrubs died during the Summer due to the very wet spring/summer.
Picture 1 - Still leaves to fall from the Ash, Oak, Silver Birch and Bean Trees.
      "    2 - What a contrast - no leaves left on the Robinia Tree with all leaves still to fall from the Bean Tree.
Picture 3 - Looking up into the Front Garden Acer Tree.
      "    4 - Acer and Bay Tree in the Front Garden.

Tuesday 13th November 2012

Mild but a miserable day with showers during the afternoon.


Day spent at the Care Home. Social Services looking at the possibility of Financial help due to the rapid deterioration of Mother's condition with no prospect of improving .

Monday 12th November 2012

A right miserable day, light rain all day.
Morning spent sweeping leaves in the front garden. Managed to fill seven sacks today. That is twelve in total so far.
              Afternoon, I managed to fix a further four posts to the WDP (despite the wet conditions). The large Drainage Pipe is now in place as the 'official' Fox Entrance. Positioned where Foxy used to dig.
The next stage now will be to fix the Posts to the east of the project, at this point there will also be an entrance to the wooded walk.
                 Jays were particularly busy today based on the amount of Monkey Nuts they were chomping through. During my two hour lunch break I watched four Jays (two pairs?) enjoying the MNs. Not burying in the lawn today but flying to the large tree growing on the green opposite 479.
                  Lads at ALT found a Locust on a Timber Stack this afternoon, they appeared on the doorstep with it wondering if I wished to photograph? Thanks Lads for giving me the opportunity to see/picture the Locust.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Capturing latest work on the WDP.
       "     3 - 5   - Locust as found by the Lads at ALT.
       "     6 & 7 - Egret at Fobney Lakes.
                   

Sunday 11th November 2012

After a hard overnight frost the day turned out just perfect.
Day spent walking the Kennet & Avon Canal from Fobney Lock to The Cunning Man Pub at Burghfield with Cath, Steve and Mrs.T.
The walk between Southcote Lock & Burghfield through the woods had to be aborted after a Warden suggested we turned back due to flooding.
The tow path walk was not a disapointment  with brilliant Barge and Tree reflections to be enjoyed.
Picture the atmosphere, Sun, Chill, Smell of Barge Chimney Smoke, Reflections and the anticipation of a Pint of Real Ale! 
After a two hour break over a Roast Dinner at the Cunning Man we made our way back enjoying the Sunset and watching the Rooks flying back to roost for the night.
It has been a brilliant weekend, walk at Dinton yesterday and the walk today.
All pictures taken on the walk today.

Saturday 10th November 2012

 After heavy overnight rain the day turned out mild & sunny, ideal conditions for walking.

A very enjoyable day spent walking the two lakes at Dinton Pastures with Alec, Callum, Emma and Mrs.T. 
The Boys are so interested in Wildlife, it is a pleasure to be out with them. DP did not dissapoint with plenty of muddy puddles, climbing friendly trees and an abundance of Wildlife. Callum was delighted to spot a Heron hiding in the Bushes, he is already using his 'eyes'.
All pictures taken at Dinton Pastures between 10.30am & 3pm.