Thursday 28th January 2016

Not a bad day, fair amount of sun and very mild still.
Should have worked outside but chose to stay in and research a little more on the 479 History book. Going to take an age this to get make sure it makes any sense.
                 No photographs to post but can confirm the bird feeders are busy with what I would expect this time of year. Quite noticeable that the sparrows are missing this winter. Do not understand this as have always had loads about and did so right through Autumn. How can they just disappear?
Not seen any winter visitors yet like the black caps and fieldfares. Still time I suppose?
Foxy not been in the garden for a week now so not sure what is going on there as was so punctual each night. 

Friday 29th January 2016

Windy, overcast, reasonably mild during the day but by jove did this all change tonight. Storm like wind and very heavy rain. Not good.
Not much doing today as spent most of the day catching up with Janet and Colin over a meal and some Argentinian lacquer at CAU in town.
Due to the demand for my book Colin suggested setting up a link so followers could purchase direct or browse for free. Good idea that...

Wednesday 27th January 2016

What a messy day, mild but very overcast and very wet. Getting pretty fed up with this wet stuff now.
Not much point working outside and getting drenched so went through my 70s & 80s photograph albums selecting photographs for the history book. Oh my word, what some gems. Had to post this photograph of me filling the large pond. The liner is an old lorry tarpaulin which lasted fifteen years.
Had also forgotten some of the wildlife that befriended the garden all those years ago, so pleased I kept a photographic record. Will be a good book once finished but I know it will be ongoing for some months yet.

Tuesday 26th January 2016

A very wet and windy day, a right awful day. Dare they suggest a hosepipe ban?
Another day for staying in so selected photographs today for my impending history book. Selected from the 80s & 90s albums. Bringing back so many memories.
             Attended a well supported Friends of Fobney meeting tonight. Representation from Thames Water, EA & RBC, all it appeared were very pleased with the way the reserve has progressed over the last three years but had reservations on the future and money required for the future upkeep. Willow clearance and fencing the main issues. It was agreed a site meeting between the parties was the best way forward, a date to be yet agreed.
I was thanked for my continued litter picking duties, was appreciated and I agreed to continue with this task.

Monday 25th January 2016

A brilliant Spring day in the middle of January. Very mild, slightly overcast, loved today.
Today was all about the book. The finished product arrived today and I am well happy. Could have chosen better in some cases but overall it is a good record of wildlife I have seen in the back garden since I retired. Seeing the quality of this book it is making me eager now to get on with the second book on the history of 479.
             Loads of flowers out in the garden, even a wallflower today. Nothing in mass but good to see what is out as you stroll the garden.
Out most of today, Lulu this morning to collect milk bottles. Eversley Antique centre for a magazine rack (didn't have one) then on to Henry Street for a few alpine plants for the glass wall in the impending alpine house.
Pictures 1 & 2 - The book.
       "      3 - 13 - Spring flowers and fungi.
       "            14 - Collecting for my three projects planned for this year.

Sunday 24th January 2016

What a cracking day. Not much sun but so mild, temp' actually reaching 15c this afternoon. Was spoilt by heavy overnight rain making everywhere so sodden.
Once sobered up from last night I started on my second project. A Ferris wheel bird feeder created from two old bike wheels, thanks Julian. Managed to bolt the two wheels together so next step is making six feeder boxes. Whatch this space...
             Good day for bird life. Both the male and female great spotted were in the garden. Pair of jays and numerous greenfinches, chaffinches, gold finches, starlings, blackbirds but sadly still no sign of sparrows.
Looking forward to hopefully my wildlife book arriving tomorrow.

Saturday 23rd January 2016

Spring has arrived. Very mild, overcast still and pretty wet under foot from all the recent rain.
Today spent in the garden making a start on the first of the 2016 projects. The first project then is creating an alpine house in one of the disused greenhouses. The base wall is being made from hundreds of wine and beer bottles with plants growing at intervals. Managed with the bottles I had to lay three layers on one side of the greenhouse. This will be a long project due to the time collecting bottles. Neighbours are helping by off loading their empties!
             Celebrated Burns Night at Sonning Golf Club with Nigel, Trevor, Lyn & Wendy and Wifelet of course. By heck, what a night. So much whiskey, so much beer, so much red wine, so much haggis , so much dancing- body unable to cope anymore on such behaviour! Was told it was a good night however!
Good one Nigel.

Friday 22nd January 2016

Damp, overcast miserable day. Very mild though.
Spent day making notes for my second book, history of 479. This will be a project that will take me months to fulfill. Following research at Reading library some ten years ago I have interesting information to include in the book but I also wish to record information from each decade so have hundreds of photographs to help me. Thankfully I catalogued all my photographs from when I started as a ten year old. Get it right and it should be a good book?
             Today's garden wildlife took a back seat but can confirm yet another hedgehog food bowl has gone awol with no record on the trail camera. This baffles me beyond words.

Thursday 21st January 2016

Another very cold day, just slightly warmer than yesterday. Frost all but cleared so lawn back to being pretty muddy again.
Spent day indoors preparing for my next book. This one will be the history of 479. In the early days I spent a fair amount of time at Reading Library researching the history and obtained maps from 1877. Will be an interesting book if I get it right.
            Garden still looked pretty wintry this morning with lots of ice still to melt making for some good photographs.
Spawk arrived at lunchtime, despite its patience left after twenty minutes without a catch.
Starling looked splendid against the blue sky, hanging out of its roosting box.
Picture 1 - Starling.
     "      2 - Spawk.
     "      3 - Blackbird and apple. (is this a Scandinavian Boyo?)
  "  4 - 13 - Ice formation.

Wednesday 20th January 2016

A bitterly cold day, coldest day of the winter with temp' this morning showing -6c. Climbed to a steady 1c by mid afternoon! A very hard frost mixed with long spells of sun showed up the garden in its winter best.
Most of the day spent at Fobney, arrived at dawn and greeted by a reasonable sunrise but the frost and water this morning is what was magical. Loved it.
Home for breakfast and the weekly shop to Morrison's before venturing out again this afternoon to Fobney to watch the sun setting. Not the best I have seen but still pretty spectacular.
              Enjoyed an evening out with Jill and Geoff to Barts steak house close to Palmer Park. Meeting Jamshed (owner) again after at least ten years was brilliant, talk about reminiscing. He remembered the days supplying curry in huge vats for our student parties then meeting up again when I joined Lavers and starting to supply Jamshed with timber and joinery for his many restaurant projects around town. Top man he is.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Fobney at sunrise.
        "      3 - 6 -  Fobney at sunset.

Tuesday 19th January 2016

Blimey that is cold. Really hard frost last night. A stunning day, plenty of sun and another cracking sunset.
Another day of very little to blog as day spent at the hospital over my ongoing bladder and prostate issues. Back on three monthly checkups. Nothing to worry about, just a bore I continue to have these issues.

Monday 18th January 2016

Cold and overcast with a cracking sunset though.
        Nothing meaningful to write tonight as day spent finalising the book. Really pleased with result so order has now been placed.
Will be somewhat impatient now, will have to wait two to four days for delivery however.

Sunday 17th January 2016

Woke up to a sprinkling of snow, had all but gone by 10am so no time to produce a snowman. Very cold and bright day, winter has arrived.
       Over breakfast noticed the squirrel was spending a lot if time climbing in and out of the dove cot. Wonder if preparing for a drey. Sadly no camera in the dove cot.
Brilliant to see so many greenfinches ground feeding this morning, just need to see a few sparrows now.
        Book was all ready for the final adjustments this afternoon. Doug duly arrived and made a few constructive comments which I dealt with at the time so all ready now to order tomorrow.

Saturday 16th January 2016

Very cold today with a fair amount of sun. Heavy frost overnight.
Eight hours today working on the book. Looking really good. My good mate Doug visiting tomorrow to help with final adjustments. Good to have another pair of eyes to check over.
           Enjoyed an evening with Neil & Sarah, some good home made beer and a takeaway, was told off for talking to much, that's beer for you!

Friday 15th January 2016

Cold, overcast, dreary day. Lovely.
Into town this morning to sort out the issue with the SD card bought yesterday. Was made to look a bit silly, well I didn't know SD cards came in two parts these days to cover both mobile phones and cameras. No one told me!
             Once home I got straight into the book project. Making the final adjustments now, hopefully will start compiling tomorrow. Have worked out it will be approximately 70 pages.
Not sure what has been going on in the garden today, except to say loads of food has been eaten. Missing taking photographs but also enjoying working on the book.

Thursday 14th January 2016

Winter has arrived. Pretty cold today with a fair amount of sun turning windy this afternoon.
In town this morning to discuss my book project with people who are experts on this type of work, or do I thought. Mary Portas is so right, customer service is a thing of the past nowadays.
Bought an SD card I required and that didn't work do have to return tomorrow. Not a good morning.
This afternoon spent more time on the project. Moths, butterflies, birds and pond life now completed, just the bugs and animals to deal with now. This part of the project will definitely be finished tomorrow.

Wednesday 13th January 2016

Woke to a frost this morning and although the temp' was colder than of late the day was actually pretty good.
Must be because the weather has turned colder as so many birds feeding today, munched through loads including a new fat block. Still missing sparrows however this winter. Not good.
               Most of the day spent on the book project. Have I really seen this many moths over the years, amazing. Thought I would be finding loads of duplicates but not so, not sure what to do now? Think will just choose the best in focus photographs rather than the full collection, will sleep on it.

Tuesday 12th January 2016

Brilliant, a much improved day with a fair amount of sun. Colder and a little breezy but at least dry.
              What a result, plumber arrived late this afternoon. Job done now, replaced ball valve and syphon. Plumbers do appear to be very busy, good trade to be in I think.
               Sadly no news on any wildlife today as literally spent all day in front of the computer. All 879 selected photographs now in a folder and catalogued under headings moths, butterflies, bugs, birds, mammals and animals. I now have to choose the best and delete any duplicates. Looking good.

Monday 11th January 2016

I'm officially fed up with this damp, wet, dismal and overcast weather. Looking forward yo this weekend when apparently we are due dry and much colder conditions.
               Plumber was due today to replace the innards of the downstairs wc. Today's appointment is after three cancelled appointments and guess what, another cancelled appointment. Saying nuffin...
                We have an update on the missing three hedgehog food bowls. One of the bowls appeared empty on the decking this morning. This is thirty metres away from the habitat. Will leave the cameras set for another couple of days yet.
Making my back ache sitting at the computer for six hours a day but determined to publish this garden wildlife book. Spent another day on the project, pretty sure I will have this part finished tomorrow.

Sunday 10th January 2016

A much improved day. A fair amount of sun, mild and best of all, dry.
Most of the day spent clearing out the garage/workshop. Not been used as a garage for about ten years. With miss now beginning to grow on the window ledges thought best to garage the beauty.
By three o'clock I had managed to drive the car in with mm to spare all round. Good job for the beepers?
With the sky looking good it was a good chance for a walk at Fobney so out came the car again! Sadly it was my worst experience at Fobney leaving me pretty frightened. Threatening dogs close to the weir growling at my legs. Thankfully did not bite but left me shakey then while sitting on my seat lose to the lock a pack of lads drinking from cans and speaking loudly in a language I didn't know starting throwing stones, not at me but clearly trying to intimidate me.
I did manage some photographs but not a relaxing walk.

Picture 1 - Before garage clearing commenced.
     "      2 - Garage cleared, car now just fits.
     " 3 - 6 - Fobney.

Saturday 9th January 2016

Had enough of this wet stuff now. Is it ever going to stop? More tomorrow apparently with the rest of the week being much of the same.
The lawn is looking like a ploughed field at the moment and very muddy. May have to resort to laying plastic membrane which allows grass still to grow.
          With colder weather forecast later in the month thought best get some coal in. Did not appreciate how competitive coal is, Locky Farm the cheapest in the area. Collected a few bags this morning and also a trip to Henry Street for the paving slabs I rejected yesterday! Gave the job some more thought and decided to change the design a little to accommodate the square slabs.
Despite the rain I set the slabs under the bird feeder, should solve the problem now of dropped food rotting as will be able to sweep up each day.
            The saga of the missing hedgehog food and bowls deepens. This afternoon I scrapped out the bedding in one of the habitats and guess what? Pulled out an enormous rat. Been dead for a while as only a skeleton. Do not have any poison about so unsure how it died unless it choked on the hog food?

I now have a camera in the house, fresh bedding and more food and with a camera on the outside. Determined to find out what is happening.
Photographs of the rat tomorrow!

Pictures 1 - 3 - Fungus growing under the bird feeder.
     "     4 & 6 - Slabs laid under the bird feeder.
     "            5 - Ratty found in the hog home.