Monday 29th April 2013

Bit of windchill today but warm in the sun.
Day spent carrying out further clearing of the useful room. Darren collected the base units tonight so almost ready for the demolition brigade now.
Picture 1 - Untidy useful room.
   "  2 - 5 - Spring colour in back garden.

Sunday 28th April 2013

Sun returned, a lovely day. Enjoyed an early morning walk at Fobney, was able to walk through the wood, something not been able to do for some while due to flooding.
Lawns cut, greenhouses plants turned and watered during the morning. Afternoon spent boxing up books from the useful room.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Fobney.
       "      3 & 4 - Front Garden.

Saturday 27th April 2013

Oh dear, how I missed the sun today. Chilly, showery with a thunderstorm thrown in for good measure.
Day spent (between showers) removing the decking and pergola in front of the Useful Room.
                Enjoyed an evening with Sarah and Neil, good food, good beer and good conversation.
Picture is of the useful room minus the decking/pergola.

Friday 26th April 2013

A lot of sun but wind created a chill factor.
Started the job of pulling down the Useful Room. Today was spent removing the decking, managed 50%. 
Bulk of the work will be dealt with by the builders but I have to remove what I deem as re-recyclable.
Picture 1 - Removing Decking.
      "     2 - Nesting Rat under the deck boards.

Thursday 25th April 2013

A beautiful day, plenty of sun. This time last year was as wet as it could be.
Most of the day spent with Janet and Colin enjoying a meal at The Three Frogs. Picked out the most unusual Snowdrop in their garden, standing at about 12". Dug up a good group of them to grow in the wooded area of our garden.
Despite sitting outside for three hours looking out for Swifts I again was left disappointed. Did capture a few good spring photographs however.
Picture 1 - Magnolia Flower.
     "     2 - Acer Flower Bud.
     "     3 - Pigeon sunbathing amongst the blossom.
     "     4 - Sunbathing Wasp.
     "     5 - Bee trying to move a Willow Bud, managed to move it about 6" then appeared to rest. In fact I gave up after 10 minutes.

Wednesday 24th April 2013

Slow start but sun appeared about 11am for rest of the day.
After weekly shop the rest of the day was spent making space in the workshop for all the boxed items from the  useful room ready for demolition of said room.
                   Eyes well peeled now looking out for the first sighting of the Swifts. Sadly not today.
Trail Camera picked out Foxy in the wooded area of the garden. No sign of cubs this year.

The weather just gets better. Not sure when we last experienced it so warm.
For the next two weeks my time is being spent in preparing for the demolition of the Useful Room. Today I moved my stock of bricks to the very bottom of the garden.
                        Today is the day that Swifts have appeared in this part of Reading each year. Keeping my eyes wide open but sadly no sighting today.
All photographs of Spring Buds in the back garden.

Monday 22nd April 2013

A wonderful day, plenty of sun.
Sadly day spent dealing with the plumbing issue, pleased to confirm - job done. Downstairs w/c now working as it should.
                 Had noticed that over the last few days the bird fat blocks fixed to a branch laying in the pond was vanishing over night. Trail camera caught the culprit.
Pictures 1 & 2 - All to show of my Saniflo plumbing skills.
       "           3 - Foxy balancing on a branch to reach his evening meal.

Sunday 21st April 2013

Another stunning day.
Morning spent on finally unblocking the pipework. Job done, tomorrow will be attempting to re-fix and re-lay the floorboards under the stairs.
Relaxed for rest of the day taking photographs of spring buds and flowers. Lucky to see a Tree Creeper on the Silver Birch, managed a rather blurred photograph.
All picts' of spring flowers around the garden.

Saturday 20th April 2013

A stunning spring day with plenty of sun.
Day spent with Julie, Darren and the Girls. After an hour choosing bar memorabilia I am clearing we once again enjoyed a game of Farmyard Golf at Lockey Farm. It was brilliant, such a change to play in the sun rather than the wet & cold of late.
Finished the day with a good Sunday roast at Toby Carvery.
All pictures taken at Lockey Farm.

Friday 19th April 2013

Weatherwise a stunning day.
Another day spent on the scale issue with the Saniflo. Ended up cutting out 4mtrs of 18mm copper pipe which is solid with scale. I had no idea scale built up like this, this is over 6 years. Have removed 50% with acid and help from the pressure washer. Hopefully tomorrow will see 100% removed.
                                     Enjoyed an evening out with Jill & Vic at the Cunning Man to celebrate the sale of the Bungalow. Bit of a pub crawl however. Started at The George in Woodley - full up. Then the Black Boy - again full up. Hence a drive over to Burghfield.

Thursday 18th April 2013

Another good Spring day, mild, dry, a little windy, plenty of sun.
              Not a good day, it was spent trying to deal with the Saniflo plumbing issue. Managed to unblock (scale) to the first bend with help from the pressure washer. This part not easy as under the floor boards.

Wednesday 17th April 2013

Mild (almost warm) day with plenty of sun but gale force winds. Two doors down lost part of shed roof. Roof covering now completely shredded and caught up in neighbours gardens.
               In desperation Saniflo were called out to the downstairs w/c. Local plumber unable to fix. Problem is scale which is not in Saniflo's remit. Back to square one. That is Thursday taken care of for me.
                Photograph is of the Stillata (type of Magnolia) which is at it's best right now. Frost is forecast this weekend which will spoil the look.

Tuesday 16th April 2013

day

A glorious day, sadly spent indoors.
Day spent in the bar making the final changes and final clear out. Looks good and will enhance the Observatory when built. Build still on track to commence w/c 20th May.
                   Two pairs of Blackbirds are busy now feeding young. Both nests are two gardens down. No sign yet of the Robin or Blue Tit nesting, not even a sign of mating.
Picture 1 - First Bee of the season finding its way into the house.
    "      2 - Blackbird collecting worms.
    " 3 - 5 - Leaping Frog Bar.

Monday 15th April 2013

Another glorious day sadly spent indoors.
Needs must, further clearing of the Bar / Useful Room. Can't believe what I found hidden at the back of the bar. Homemade Rhubarb Wine, Sloe Gin, Peach, Coconut & Cherry liquors made between 1994 - 2000. All still tasting pretty good.

Sunday 14th April 2013

A beautiful day, sun from sunrise to sunset. Just loved the day.
Enjoyed an early morning walk at Fobney Nature Reserve. Love was in the air with a pair of Swans, Tufted Duck and Canada Geese all showing signs of looove.
           Second sighting of a Yellow Brimstone and first sighting of a Peacock Butterfly this morning. Brimstone very active flying for some time between gardens.
             All baskets now planted and hanging in the greenhouse until we are clear of frost. Pots and tubs will be planted towards the end of May.
              Enjoyed an evening with Nigel & Lyn at The New Inn, enjoyed good food and a few pints of Firkin Fox, Badger Beers never let me down.
Pictures 1 - 6 - Fobney Nature Reserve.
      "          7 - Hanging Baskets in Greenhouse.
      "          8 - Start of the Sunflower Competition.