Mondau 30th September 2013

Weather pretty good again today. Expecting rain tomorrow however.
Lazy day spent on the laptop making final plans for the impending Scotland holiday. Not sure how I will cope with a Fiat 500 hire car however? On reflection I think an upgrade is called for.
Just hope now the weather is dry for us to explore the Highlands.
               Ordered the four seasons canvas blocks from photobox along with prints of Moths seen this year and a few Fobney Island picts'.
                 Still trapping a few Moths of a night along with loads of Long Legs. Will ease up now with rain forecast rest of the week.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Moths caught last night.
      "             3 - Shield Beetle in the wild flower border.

Sunday 29th September 2013

How much longer is this wonderful weather going to last? Another brilliant day.

Back in town this morning to John Lewis with the IPad that refuses to acknowledge my email contacts. So called technical  boys at JL were baffled and were unsure how I could overcome the problem - they suggested taking it to the Apple Store for them to sort. I politely told them I had paid JL to set up and do not propose paying Apple, in effect paying twice. I conceded and walked to the Apple Store, 100% service and no charge, thanks Apple, will deal direct with you in future.

              Spent the afternoon enjoying the afternoon sun in the garden taking in the late summer garden colour etc. What a week!

Saturday 28th September 2013

A beautiful day, warm, dry & sunny.
Day spent finishing the fruit cage, better be a good crop next year? At least there is a better chance without the squirrel, fox and cats causing mayhem.
            Good to see so many bees about still, mostly on the sunflowers which are really looking stunning at the moment. Wind and rain which is now forecast will no doubt spoil them somewhat.
             Enjoyed another late summer walk at Fobney Island this evening. The sunset was brilliant, keep saying it but this was best yet!
             Handykam delivered my replacement cables for the outside cameras. The original cables were chewed by the squirrel. Will be using conduit for the replacements.
Picture 1 - Fobney Island.
      "    2 - Sunflowers.
      "    3 - Handykam cables.

Friday 27th September 2013

Another good dry, warm & sunny day.
How can I spend a whole day in town when the weather is so good? 
Bought myself an Apple IPad to use just for my photographs, emails and facebook. Just hope I can master this technology, if this week is anything to go by I am somewhat pessimistic! I just hope Virgin have had a problem this week and it is not me?
Enjoyed a lunch at Cafe Rouge and afternoon tea at Malmaison. Actually enjoyed my day in town with Wifelet.
                    Things changed once home however - neither the laptop or ipad would work, thankfully Neil was free this evening and sorted for me. There had apparently been problems with the network during the week but don't ask me how Neil solved the problem! Thanks Neil.

Thursday 26th September 2013

A  slow start but the sun appeared during afternoon. 
Day spent on fruit cage, all finished now bar a bit of tidying up. That will keep the Fox and cats out now.
        Still collecting a fair few Moths each night but must expect a slow down now the evening are colder. 
For two days running now have spotted a bird that I am unable to identify. Very pale with a Nuthatch looking face. Hopefully at some stage I will manage to photograph the beauty.
          Booked a few trips today, Stourhead for Autumn colours, Bletchley Park and a concert at The Royal Albert Hall.
Picture is of the fruit cage in final stages of completion.

Wednesday 25th September 2013

Another beautiful day, war & sunny.
Bought wallpaper from B& Q this morning ready for the decorator when he starts our bedroom later in October.
                           Rest of the day spent again on the fruit cage. One end of the cage now finished. Just another end and the door to go now.
                            Some great fungi appeared this morning. Have noticed all the fungi appears to grow where I have spread the shreddings during the year.
The bigger sunflowers are looking rather sad now. No shortage of sunflower hearts this year and there will be plenty of hollow tubes for the bugs to hibernate in during the winter months.
Picture 1 - Fungi City.
      "    2 - Largest spider seen in the garden this year.
      "    3 - Fruit Cage.
 " 4 & 5 - Sunflowers almost over for this year.

Tuesday 24th September 2013

Another lovely day, misty morn/eve, warm & sunny.
Another day spent on the fruit cage, roof and sides finished now. Also re-positioned the Woodpecker nest box to a much higher position in the Silver Birch Tree.
                      The morning mist showed up some brilliant cobwebs, a photographers dream. Captured nearly 30 from just the back garden.
                       Spent two hours at Fobney Island watching the sky changing from a bright red to pale red and purple and with the mist closing in it made for some brilliant photographs. Being settled on my seat I stayed and watched the Starlings coming home to roost on the telegraph wires way in the distance towards Southcote.

 Picture 1 - Re-positioned Woody nest box.
      "     2 - A  one and only one Bean on the Bean Tree I grew from seed some seven years ago. It is in fact the first bean in seven years.
Picture 3 - 5 - Selection of Spiders Web photographs.
      "         6 - Fobney Island at sunset on a misty late summers evening.                    

Monday 23rd September 2013

Weather brilliant today, warm & sunny.

Day spent working on the Fruit Cage, wire has a mind of its own I have decided, cut to bits I am!

                 Enjoyed birthday meal and a few pints of Poachers at the Inn. Thanks to Neil and Sarah who dealt with the driving duties!

Sunday 22nd September 2013

A beautiful day, warm and sunny 95% of the day. Enjoyed both lunch and dinner al-fresco.
Day spent planting all types of spring bulbs in all areas of the garden. 

Saturday 21st September 2013

Mild but a dull outlook all day but at least dry.
Made sure gas bbq was working for this afternoons birthday celebration with the Joneses. 
Met Julie etc at Lockey Farm for an afternoon of Farmyard Crazy Golf. As is usual at this event there was a fair amount of crazy cheating!
Home at 4pm for the birthday bbq, even if said myself it was a well cooked/presented bbq. Lorna did the honour of baking a superb cake full of juicy strawberries. We were lucky however as the Sparrowhawk swooped to the table just missing the cake, absolutely amazing. 
Happy Birthday for Tuesday then Julie.
Picture 1 - Julie about to blow out the 'dont ask' candles!
  " 2 & 3 - Today's wildlife spotted in the garden.

Friday 20th September 2013

After the dreadful weather of yesterday it was good to have such improved weather today. Warm and sunny most of the day.
                Morning spent hanging the before/after photograph blocks in the observatory. Really pleased how this has worked out. Will order four more now depicting the seasons.
                Afternoon was spent working on the fruit cage, my next project. Do miss not having the strength now, struggled to move the roll of wire, ny new sack truck did help however.
Picture 1 - How much taller will these sunflowers grow? Certainly my best ever year.
      "    2 - Before/after photo blocks.
      "    3 - My next project - fruit cage.

Thursday 19th September 2013

Mild but showers most of the day.
Day spent replacing a back door for a neighbour further down the road. Not easy with tennis elbow. 

Wednesday 18th September 2013

A much improved day, mild, sunny and better still, dry.
                Added a few more photographs to the gallery, will take a few more to fill the wall!
The block prints from photobox arrived tonight, what service. I am delighted with the quality and will be using photobox far more in the future now. Thanks to Doug and Neil for the recommendation.
Has been a funny old day, also bought a rug from B & Q for the Observatory, bought a Cloud from PC World to back up all my photograph folders and did the weekly shop at Morrisons.

Picture of the photograph gallery.

Tuesday 17th September 2013

A mild but a right miserable day with showers most of the day/evening.
                Made a start on the photograph gallery, not as easy as I thought with the pitch of the roof out of comfortable reach!
Placed my first order with photobox for four canvas on block photographs. It is a record of how 479 looked when we bought the property 40 years ago.
                  Enjoyed a superb meal at the London Street Brasserie with Nigel & Lyn early evening. A great way to celebrate ones birthdays, have a good one Nigel.
Picture 1 - Observatory/Patio now complete.
      "    2 - Start of the photograph gallery.

Monday 16th September 2013

A reasonable sort of day, dry, mild with a most beautiful sunset.
               Andrew (painter & decorator) decorated the one plastered wall in the new observatory. This wall will become my photograph gallery.
                Enjoyed another evening walk at Fobney Island taking in the most spectacular of sunsets.

Sunday 15th September 2013

A mild, dull, miserable, showery day.

Pots now displayed on the patio, can't wait to see the Spring bulbs in flower now!

Enjoyed afternoon tea at the Great Western Hotel in Reading as part of the Reading Heritage Weekend. The hotel was built in 1844 as a Railway Hotel and is in fact the only original, operational Railway Hotel in the world now managed by the Malmaison Group.
Picture 1 - Great Western Hotel entrance (original).
     "     2 - Grand Staircase.
     "     3 - Afternoon Tea.
               

Saturday 14th September 2013

A mild, dry day but very dull.
completed the patio project this morning, rope balustrade now in place. Just require a few plant pots now to break up the space.
                   What a wedding we enjoyed this afternoon at Wargrave Church with the reception at the Leander Club in Henley.
Chris and Amy tied the knot in the most beautiful setting both at the Church and reception overlooking the river Thames. Little Brother Ian was best man and both gave brilliant speeches. A credit to Mum & Dad.
Picture 1 - Chris & Amy.
      "    2 - John & Hilary (Mum & Dad).
      "    3 - Ian & Stacy.

Friday 13th September 2013

Not a good day, wet most of the day. 
Made a trip to Henry Street for bags of gravel for the soak-a-way I have created under the patio.
Despite the rain I filled said soak-a-way with the gravel.

Thursday 12th September 2013

What a cracking day, such a contrast to yesterday with warm, sunny conditions most of the day.
Day spent exploring the Jurassic Coast by Steam Train and Boat.
Boarded the train at a Village called Norden alighting at Swanage, a trip of 35 minutes passing Corfe Castle and Town.
At Swanage we experienced (not expected) the Waverley (only operational steam paddle boat in the world) arrive/depart at Swanage Pier. An absolute beauty. Had the pleasure of a trip on this steamer some years ago from Southampton to Isle of Wight.
After a good meal and pint of Chessil Bitter we boarded a boat which sailed the Jurassic Coast to Poole Harbor. With weather conditions perfect it made the trip all the more enjoyable.
Arrived home late and shattered but boy, did we enjoy the day.

Wednesday 11th September 2013

Miserable day, mild but showers during the day and evening.
Managed to do a bit more work to the patio. Just the rope to fix between the posts which will finish the project.
More Sparrowhawk excitement. While working on the patio, once again in the wet, I was somewhat shocked to witness the Sparrowhawk fly into the conservatory by the Alphine border. The sight was something else, the border appeared to be completely covered by the birds wingspan. Once composed she flew into next doors garden to rest before flying back to my bird feeder just waiting for the next meal.
                 Enjoyed a good Steak in town this evening to celebrate Janet's birthday. Colin had arranged this surprise party with us and their daughter/husband, Alison and Andy. 

Picture is of the Patio.

Tuesday 10th September 2013

Much cooler, lack of Sun but at least dry.
Spent morning fixing last two balustrade posts to patio. During this work I was aware my arm and hand had become numb with no ability to hold, pain was also unbearable. Doctor diagnosed Tennis Elbow. Treatment advised was not to lay any more patios!
            Could not resist Fobney Island tonight, the most brilliant sunset.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Sunflowers still growing, best ever year for Sunflowers.
      "      3 & 4 - Sunset at Fobney Island.

Monday 9th September 2013

A right mix of weather, heavy showers most of the day but a beautiful late afternoon/evening. Much cooler however.
                Working in heavy rain on the patio I witnessed the female Sparrowhawk swoop by me resting on the rope a matter of feet away. After a good twenty minutes (I was drenched by this time) she swooped again, grabbed a Sparrow from the feeder and chomped away. Amazing. I have thirty odd photographs taken from the moment she arrived. Preening, looking in all directions, standing on one leg....
                  Before the first of the days showers I managed to repair and re-paint the Dovecote. Should be ok now for another few years.
Rain stopped work on the Patio however, hopefully weather will improve for tomorrow.
Pictures 1 - 5 - Female Sparrowhawk.
      "           6 - Dovecote.
      "           7 - Patio.