Thursday 28th February 2013

Another dry, cold day with only a little sun mid afternoon.
Day spent preparing seed trays and sowing Radish, Carrot, Onion, Garlic, Marigold, Poppy,  Antirrhinum, Nasturtium, Rocket, Little Gem, Red Hellebore & Sweet Pea. A good start.
Magpie has now paired and started building their nest taking Birch Twigs over to a garden a few doors down.
Trellis Timber arrived, job for next week.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Magpies collecting twigs.
      "            3 - Some of the seed trays.

Wednesday 27th February 2013

Another cold, dry, sunny day. Beautiful blue sky today.
Not a good day - Dental Treatment leaving me somewhat uncomfortable.
Picture 1 - Squirrel in Bean Tree with Pea Nuts. A regular now so have to watch the amount of Monkey Nuts I put out as he uses same table as Woody and Jays.
     "    2 - It was a pair of Crows I went to photograph but in those few seconds a third arrived!
     "    3 - Magpie outside back door.

Tuesday 26th February 2013

Cold, dry, sunny day.
Coffee at Lavers when ordering Trellis Timber. Good to catch up with staff who escaped last weeks redundancy.
                             Good to catch up with Ian and Savitre for afternoon tea. Mrs.T produced a superb Rasberry Cream Cake. Yummy.
                              Wildlife news, Magpie and Crows getting a little brazen. Couple of days ago a Crow dive bombed a Sparrowhawk close to the back door, today a Magpie rested on the Pergola directly outside the back door.

Monday 25th February 2013

A very cold and windy day.
Morning spent at Henry Street purchasing Shrubs for the front garden. 
After two years deliberating we today ordered replacement sash windows from Leekes using Nora's inheritance money. Thank you Nora & Norman.
                  Late afternoon I planted the shrubs as rest of the week is going to be busy.
Picture of the Male Sparrowhawk on its daily visit but with a twist. This picture shows a very stunned Hawk after it was dive bombed by a Crow. An amazing sight, have a sequence of picts' showing the skirmish. 

Sunday 24th February 2013

Very cold day, again spent in the garden.
With a hangover problem it was not so easy for me today but fresh air was certainly better than central heating.
                               Cleaned out Greenhouses and tidied shed ready for the 2013 gardening season. Will soon be ordering from Jersey Plants.
                                Good day for Birds with the Pied Wagtail and Long Tailed Tits returning.
Picture 1 - Long Tailed Tit.
     "     2 - Blackbird with a touch of Albino in tail.
     "     3 - Male Great Spotted Woodpecker.
     "     4 - Pied Wagtail.

Saturday 23rd February 2013

Very cold day but a joy to work out in the garden.
Day spent pruning, cutting back an overgrown Passion Flower and Honeysuckle Climbers.
                  Enjoyed an evening with James and Katherine. Mrs.T cooked a brilliant meal washed down with a few pints of various Real Ales. Will suffer tomorrow.

Friday 22nd February 2013

A cold, dull but dry day.
A day in the garden, lawn cut, remaining leaves swept, log pile sorted Passion Flower trimmed.
                  Brilliant to see a Pied Wagtail at the feeder. Been years since I last saw one in the garden. Male Great Spotted Woodpecker also busy at the fat block today.

Enjoying a cuppa at bbq area of the garden I was startled when a Sparrowhawk swooped over my head (so close my hair moved) and landed by the back door, stayed a few moments before flying into the Ash Tree.
Picture 1 - Pied Wagtail.
     "     2 - GS Woodpecker.
     "     3 - Sparrowhawk (taken from 50mtrs away).
     "     4 -          "            in the Ash Tree.

Thursday 21st February 2013

Weather good again today, bit chilly but at least dry.
             Good to see Lyn and Nigel lunchtime, met at The Shurlock in Shurlock Row for a few pints of Mutiny and a Fish Pie. Agreed to meet again in April to arrange another London Trip in September.
               Enjoyed an afternoon walking at Fobney, staying to see the magic of a Sunset. Good to see a Little Egret on the Lake. A familiar sight now.
Disgusted however to record 27 Dog Poo Bags between the Lock and the Weir. Mentioned this problem at the Friends of Fobney evening meeting, apparently nothing can be done to stop this menace. How do you educate irresponsible Dog Walkers?
Picture 1 - One of the 27 bags of Dog Poo I photographed this afternoon.
     "     2 - Sunset from the far hide.
   "3 & 4 - Little Egret from the far hide.

Wednesday 20th February 2013

Another glorious day.
Day spent Shredding the branches of the Acer Tree in the front garden. Bad news however, it was not the sun reflection I saw but red hot blades, followed by smoke. Oh dear, another expense before the Autumn.
                 The Female Sparrowhawk paid me another visit lunchtime. In fact the longest she has ever stayed, despite many attempts she did not catch a thing.
Picture 1 - Stake out.
   "2 & 3 - In we go.
   "4 & 5 - Where are the bu**ers?
   "       6 - May have a better view from here?
   "       7 - I have had enough of this, will try next door!

Tuesday 19th February 2013

A glorious day, almost Summer like. Slight chill, sunny, clear and dry.
                Day spent shredding branches from the Willow Tree, re-cycled on the new Shrub/Climber area at the very bottom of the garden.
                  A quality evening was spent with my Walking Partner (Doug). Was taken to area's where Doug has been staking out recently on the look out for Owls. Those of you that follow me are aware of Doug's video of The Little Owls, well last night I had the pleasure of watching a Barn Owl in full flight just a few metres away. A magical evening. Thanks Boyo.
Pictures of the Sunset over Bracknell.

Monday 18th February 2013

What a wonderful Sunny Spring Day. After all this rain of late it has been a delight to experience a few days of fine weather.
                  Day spent lopping some rather large branches from the Acer and Willow Trees. Loads more logs for the pile and loads of shredding to carry out which will be spread over the garden.
                   Sparrowhawk made another visit, not for long today and made no attempt to catch anything. Still makes for a reasonable picture.

Tuesday 12th - Sunday 17th February 2013

Mum - you are now reunited with Dad (Bert) and can now truly Rest In Peace after a difficult year. All my love Mum.

David
xxx

Monday 11th February 2013

A cold, showery day.
Departed Forest of Dean mid morning after a hearty English Breakfast after a most enjoyable, fact finding, interesting couple of days.
Again between Bristol and Newbury was fraught with heavy snow. Thankfully no silly buggers on the road and arrived home mid afternoon safe but tired.

Sunday 10th February 2013

Cold and Wet all day so a Caving we went to keep dry!
Spent the morning underground at the Iron Mining Cave system at Clearwell covering some 600 acres.
Records show mining here going back more than 4500 years with tools of the trade covering the centuries being found over the years. Visitors can comfortably walk/climb to a depth of 100 ft, 400 ft with an experianced Caver and at 600 ft it is flooded and is not accessable.
Part of the Cave system collapsed some centuries ago and nature has done a good job with taking over. This area is known as Puzzlewood and is something really special. Moss, Ferns, Trees like you have never seen anywhere else here in the UK. Despite the conditions, after making sure Wifelet was settled with a cuppa, I walked the walk! The safe path system covers a mile but obviously more if you risk a bit of climbing, on a dry day this is achievable.
A 'must do' visit in my mind.
Arrived back at the Pub pretty shattered but a few pints of Piston Broke and a good Steak soon brought me round!
Pictures 1 - 3 - Clearwell Cave System.
      "          4 - Part of Puzzlewood.

Saturday 9th February 2013

Despite driving through the most awful weather, heavy snow from Newbury - Bristol, it was re-assuring to find the weather at Slimbridge at least dry.
After a Pub lunch at the Royal Oak (home for two nights) spent afternoon taking in the delights of the Winter Gulls, Ducks and Geese that are over wintering at Slimbridge. 
The main reason for the visit was to experience the night time feeding of the hundreds of Bewick's Swan at a particular pond at Slimbridge.
It has been 65 years now Slimbridge have been carrying out this feeding task and the Birds have over the years become accustomed to the exercise. At the sound of the keepers whistle at precisely 6.30pm the Swans just turn in an instant and head for his wheelbarrow. It was an amazing sight. Being dark it was not good for photographs but think you get an idea from the three posted above.

Friday 8th February 2013

Dry and not so cold today, milder conditions have tricked some Spring Flowers. Crocus and Iris out today and the Agapanthus have large shoots.
             Most of the day spent in town with appointments at solicitor and the bank in connection with Mum's estate. 
              Looking forward now to three days staying at Slimbridge, Report and pict's on Monday night.
Pictures are of a Spitfire and Bishop's Finger Candelabra I saw at a Pub in Faversham laast week.

Thursday 7th February 2013

Dry, chilly day spoilt by a wet evening.

Unexpected plumbing issue with bathroom basin, sorted but took all day. I am not as nimble in confined spaces these days!

Wednesday 6th February 2013

Dry, chilly day with the most brilliant of sunsets.

Not one of my better days - Collected Mothers Death Certificate.
                                           Copy to Solicitor and Funeral Director.
                                           Chose Family Flowers.
                                           Arranged for final Bungalow Clearance.

Tuesday 5th February 2013

Very cold, dry day.
Day spent lopping branches from front Acer Tree, log pile created in The Woodland Walk area of the garden.
Male Sparrowhawk paid us another visit lunchtime, for some time just sat on the top bird feeder before resting on a deck post for a few minutes.
Picture 1 - Wood Barrow.
     "     2 - Log Pile.
     3 & 4 - Sparrowhawk.

Monday 4th February 2013

Another dry but a little chilly day.
Met Funeral Director during the morning after collecting the Death Certificate from the Hospital.
Unable to register until Wednesday, appointment only.

Flowers sent from the Care Home that looked after Mum. We have asked for Family Flowers only at the Funeral with donations to the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust.

Sunday 3rd February 2013

Cold, dry day.

Day spent clearing out the Loft ready for British Gas who will be installing Loft Insulation soonish.

What a job, with the rooms built into the roof the only way of moving around the roof space is by crawling. Not my idea of fun, not as nimble as I was!

What a contrast to the last few days.

Saturday 2nd February 2013

Dry, cold day.
Spent morning at St Pauls Cathedral before heading back to Paddington for trip home after a very exciting, informative few days.