Wednesday 30th January 2013

Mild and very windy.
Loads more paperwork connected with Mum's estate and Funeral with visits to Solicitor and Estate Agent.

Looking forward to a couple of days in London.

Tuesday 29th January 2013

Mild but showery day.
Day spent on paperwork for Solicitor.

Monday 28th January 2013

Very wet, very mild.
Day spent clearing Mum's room at the Care Home.

Sunday 27th January 2013

Difficult day making phone calls, Lulu and Clive joined us for most of the day.

Saturday 26th January 2013

RIP  Mum, your last few months of suffering now finally over. You really can now Rest in Peace. xx

Picture of Mum and my Sister Jill as she entered the Care Home in October 2012.

Friday 25th January 2013

Mum rushed into Hospital late last night when her Blood Pressure dropped dramatically.
Day spent at Hospital.

Tuesday 22nd January 2013

Very cold, freezing day.
               Time spent this morning visiting Ben for the first time. A beautiful, contented Boy. Look forward to watching him grow up.
                Wokingham Welfare Support confirmed the financial arrangements for Mother's stay in the Care Home. A great relief.

Thursday 24th January 2013

Very cold day.
Hospital sorted out my hearing issues, have been given a DIY Kit so I can deal with the technical issues next time.
              Rest of the day framing my best Fieldfare photograph.

Wednesday 23rd January

Cold but a much warmer day than of late, big thaw today.
Most distressing day, job to accept the condition of Mother.
Picture being the Fieldfare resting on the rope early this morning.

Monday 21st January 2013

Cold but temp' up on the last few days. Snow thawing well now leaving a mucky, messy garden.
Did nothing today except stay in the Useful Room admiring the Bird Life. Good to see the Fieldfare and Reed Bunting again.
              My split screen wildlife monitor is beginning to look good, thanks Neil. Two of the Cameras in operation, once snow has cleared I will re-wire the others. This system also records so Spring Months should be good with nesting activity.
Picture 1 - Reed Bunting and Fieldfare enjoying a feast of Apples.
     "     2 - Fieldfare caught having a good burp!
     "     3 - Can't believe we enjoy BBQ's when you see it like this.

Sunday 20th January 2013

Another cold day with heavy snow shower during afternoon.
             Most of the day spent working on the two photograph and family walls. The Hall and Landing have photographs of places visited over the years.
Downstairs W/C  has 'old' photographs from Father during the War, Granny & Grandad and Lorna's Mother & Father.
Dining Room Wall has Family works of Art whether it be a Painting, Photograph or Cross Stitch.
Useful Room taken over by my Wildlife Photographs.
               My afternoon break was amazing, in thirty minutes I photographed a Jay & Sparrowhawk on a stand-off and a Fieldfare. The Fieldfare was feeding from Apples and in forty years at 479 this is the first time I have seen one. A very special afternoon!
Picture 1 - Jay and Sparrowhawk.
Rest of photographs are of the Fieldfare.

Saturday 19th January 2013

Another cold wintry day, there was a slight thaw which has helped getting about without slipping over.
                  Up and out at 6.30 am for a trip to Fobney. Sunrise not spectacular but snowy scenery made up for that. Not easy but managed walking to Southcote Lock, sadly not much in the way of wildlife. Did see Canada Geese asleep in the field and a pair of Swans on the unfrozen lake.
Ice formation on the frozen lake were pretty good, snow falling on the frozen lake gave it a look of an Island.
Rest of the day spent making sure had enough wood and coal for the Stove and making a further four picture frames.
Picture 1 - Foxy at 10.30 pm last night, this was a different Fox to one seen during the day.
     "2 - 4 - Fobney Nature Reserve at Dawn.
     "     5 - Snow Sculpture on front fence.
     "     6 - A sleepy, fluffed up Blackcap.

Friday 18th January 2013

Another bitterly cold day with heavy snow most of the day. Aside from drifting we ended the day with approx' 75 mm depth of snow. Good day for photographs.
                 Bird Feeders took a pounding today. Two feeders were emptied completely of Sunflower Hearts. Coincided with a delivery of 25kg of SFH and 25kg of Monkey Nuts. Plenty of stock now to cope with a hard winter.
While taking pictures of the variety of Birds on the feeders they all took flight/fright. Looking out for a Sparrowhawk as the culprit I was amazed to see a Fox a matter of 1.8 mtrs away using his snout to find fallen bird feed. Was there for a good five minutes before trotting off down the garden. A great moment. 
All photographs taken in the garden this morning during the snow storm.

Thursday 17th January 2013

Another -2 day, pretty cold. Brilliant walking weather.
After a morning visiting Solicitors it was good to do a bit of winter walking. Spent a couple of hours at Fobney Lake Reserve, flooding receding now but with this cold spell it was fascinating to see the variety of ice formation on the Lake and the winter reflection's on the Canal.
All the above photographs were taken this afternoon at Fobney Lake Reserve and Canal.
                      My Handykam goodies arrived this afternoon, not sure how I will cope with setting this Monitor System up as I am one of those who can't even master the TV Remote!!

Wednesday 16th January 2013

Very cold day, -2 all day.
Bit of a boring day having to stay in awaiting a valuable parcel (didn't arrive) and a visit from British Gas.
Did find time to finish another six picture frames, photograph wall really looking good now.
Another boring day ahead tomorrow as have to visit solicitors in connection with POA and Deeds relating to Mothers Bungalow.
Perhaps I can have a 'Me' day on Friday.

Tuesday 15th January 2013

One word - Cold!
Good to see Mr & Mrs. Blackcap ground feeding early this morning. So many Goldfinches on the Feeders that meant more than ever, birds ground feeding. Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Sparrows and Chaffinches all fighting for ground space.
               After long discussions over the last two months with Handykam I finally ordered a Split Screen Monitor with Recorder, Hard Drive etc. Require a room now to house this equipment! Hopefully will receive tomorrow then the fun begins in setting up. 
                Good to see Kathryn and Graham today to catch up on garden wildlife and share photographs. Never seen so many Goldfinches and Jackdaws as in their garden.
Picture 1 - Mr & Mrs. Blackcap.
     "     2 - Goldfinches.

Monday 14th January 2013

Very cold with an early morning Snow Shower. By afternoon it had turned to rain.
Indoor jobs today, unblocked a blocked S bend in the sink, replaced hardboard facing to kitchen shelves and fixed up a few pictures on the photograph wall.
                 Car in for MOT so some time spent in taking and fetching, at least it passed.
All pictures taken from the garden at 9.30am today.

Sunday 13th January 2013

Very cold day, in fact very cold. 
A  very enjoyable, interesting day spent at Dover Castle exploring the Secret War Tunnels constructed over 200 years ago. Sadly no photographs were allowed in the Tunnels. I learnt more and appreciated the History of WW2 on this visit than anything I had read or seen on TV in the past.
All photographs taken on the Dover Castle Site.