Very hard overnight frost, still at -1 at 8am. Rest of the day very cold and sunny.
Could not believe we had to do a Morrison's shop this morning, thought we had loads of food?
The garden was like a winter wonderland today with the frosty look and abundance of garden birds. Even a Pied Wagtail paid a visit today, not seen in the garden for years.
Late afternoon I enjoyed another cold, crispy walk at Fobney. Another good sunset giving good colour formations on the iced up large lake.
Looking forward now to the New Year celebrations in Bristol.
Pictures 1 - 5 - Icy back garden.
" 6 - 8 - Garden Birds.
" 9 - 12 - Fobney Nature Reserve.
A stunning day. Hard overnight frost, cold, crispy and sunny rest of the day.
Morning spent at hospital having ear sensors replaced on hearing aids. Good service again by the RBH.
Garden looked good today in the frost, a good photograph opportunity.
Could see at 3pm there would be a good sunset so headed off to Fobney. How dramatic, absolutely brilliant. I loved the scenery created by the frost and sunset.
Pictures 1 & 4 - Garden in frost.
" 2 & 3 - Sunset at Fobney.
Frosty, cold, sunny. For a winters day it does not get better than this.
Enjoyed a dawn walk with Doug to our old stomping ground being Fobney Nature Reserve. What a quality walk with lots of activity on the large lake. Widgeon, Svoveler and Teal were the most interesting and particularly exciting news for Fobney.
Was also a very atmospheric walk with a good sunrise with a hard frost.
Good to meet up with Carol and Dave again at the Mullens this afternoon. Have promised to visit their wonderful home in Snowdonia sometime in February. Hopefully there will still be snow about.......
Pictures captured at Fobney this morning.
Heavy winds and overnight rain leaving us with a chilly but sunny day.
Day spent clearing up after yesterdays Family party. Finally settled down at 4pm with a NQB.
A Blackbird appeared with what looked paint splattered wings. Not seen in garden before.
A disabled Pigeon also appeared but was soon chased away by the Sparrowhawk. Be interesting to see if the Pigeon re-appears?
Picture 1 - Paint splattered Blackbird.
" 2 - Witch Hazel the best I have seen it.
Frosty start to the day then although on the chilly side there was a fair bit of sun until early evening when it became very windy and wet.
A fun day today with the family, games went down a treat finishing off with an arts & crafts session. All winners with the drawing on a plate, Lucy outright winner with the bells in a box and all winners with the art/craft. Prezzies and prizes for everyone.
It was a fabulous day, really enjoyed it.
Picture 1 - Lucy and Ashley drawing on a plate.
" 2 & 3 - Art & crafts.
" 4 - Pulling crackers.
" 5 - Clive loves his Tshirt.
" 6 - Bet and her new scary slippers.
" 7 - Watching Ratty on the monitor.
Weather not at all seasonal. Very mild and sunny. Lovely day mind.
Father Christmas called with some rather good prezzies. As is tradition we opened our goodies after dinner and before the Queens speech.
On behalf of Santa I was given a rather special block photograph of a pair of Grebes captured by my good friend Doug (Boyo). Also an Insect hotel which includes a solar panel creating light to attract Moths. May fix a camera in it...? I was also given a massive collection of all the Badger Beers that have been brewed in recent years including specials. Called the Countryside Sett. Brilliant.
Feeling very relaxed and full at the moment, been a good day. Look forward now to welcoming the family over tomorrow for fun and games.
Another very mild and sunny day.
After a visit to the surgery to collect my quarterly amount of pills it was a pleasure to meet up with my Old Mate (Boyo) and chat about Rats, Jays and Sparrowhawks! Always good to meet up, looking forward now to a walk at our old stomping ground at Fobney during the holiday.
Over breakfast it was good to see the Sparrowhawk ducking and diving then facing a standoff with a Magpie. Brilliant to watch.
During the afternoon the SHawk returned and spent a good twenty minutes between two bushes and the fence. Not once did he succeed today in a catch.
Christmas Eve now so settled with a Whisky by the wood burner, lovely. Happy Christmas to all that follow me on this blog.
Another very mild and sunny day. Not very seasonal.
Time spent in Reading collecting my replacement glasses. My word, what a difference.
Lorna has the cold now so could be a coughing Christmas this year?
Good to see Foxy back out last night. I actually saw him at 1am nosing in the border like a pig. After worms and bugs I guess.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Foxy.
" 3 - New glasses.
Very mild, windy and pretty overcast sort of day.
Good to catch up on gossip at Lavers this morning. Don't think I could cope with sales pressure now, happy as I am.....
Endured my annual hair cut, why did Mummy's & Daddy's of the world choose today to take their little screaming boys & girls to have their respective hair cut?
Back home, settled with a cuppa and the Sparrowhawk appeared again on the bird feeder. Just love to watch the birds eyes as she looks around for prey.
Ratty still appearing each night at about 5pm, will be doing a three point turn soon to turn round in that flower pot. He is enormous now, when first seen some months ago it was clear this was a young rat.
Heard from Handykam this afternoon, the underwater camera has a fault hence the reason it stopped working. Will be into January now before this is resolved and connected to the hide monitor.
Picture 1 - Tufty.
" 2 - Ratty.
" 3 - Now where's my lunch?
" 4 - Ah, may have spotted my lunch.
" 5 - Yep, I'm going for it.
" 6 - Cheerio I'm off....
Another mild, sunny day. Colder weather due by mid week apparently.
Chilled today, giving the Leaping Frog a bit of a tidy ready for visitors over Christmas.
Gave the feeders a good clean and re-loaded with fresh food. Chaffinches and Goldfinches were the first to appreciate my work.
Looking forward to meeting my work colleagues at Lavers tomorrow but not so happy at the thought of another hair cut.
Picture 1 - Leaping Frog.
" 2 - Ratty tonight at 4pm.
