Thursday 30th June 2016

A warm and sunny day, perhaps more overcast than sunny.
Lawn cut, garden chair repaired and laburnum tree re-staked. Rest of the day relaxing in the garden.
Another night of an empty moth trap but plenty about the garden and bird food store. Not so many birds about today, no sign of the great spotted or jay that have been regular visitors of late. Young greenfinch and goldfinch still feeding, starlings thankfully have moved on.
Hopefully now we will have a dry spell so can start sitting out more to enjoy what is about without feeling damp or cold.
Picture 1 - Passion flower.
      "     2 - Six plants have appeared with a height of 1.8mtr and such huge leaves. A mystery.
      "     3 - Moth on the garden table this afternoon.
      "     4 - One of dozens of moths flying about the bird food store.
      "     5 - Bee on splish splash.
      "     6 - Ladybird on a herb plant.

Tuesday 28th June 2016

A stunningly beautiful day.
Up at 5am and home at 10.30pm after a delightful day out to the Suffolk coastline spending much of the day at Southwold. What an interesting seaside resort with multi coloured beach huts, another interesting pier and a lighthouse in the high street! An area I will return to for sure, so much to explore and close to Minsmere of course.
Please not the £79,000 beach hut name after me...

Wednesday 29th June 2016

Very mild but light rain all day. Right miserable after such a stunning day yesterday.
Bit of a mix today, Doctor this morning (all good so can relax again), a meeting with the Whitley Community Manager on future talks and visits and dinner at the George & Dragon with Ian and Savetry. Good for Lorna to catch up on University gossip.
               Last few days have not seen me home much so have relied on the trail cameras for what has been going on and what some surprises.
Foxy out in the early hours, pigeons having sexy fun, a dove successfully nicking all the fish food from the pond. Had not seen a fish this year so left a handful of fish food in the pond to find it had all been eaten. Strange I thought as convinced no fish. Had a rat taken it, no. A dove of all things. Trail camera captured it well. Photographs once sorted.
Picture 1 - Damselfly on the blind cord.
     "      2 - Summer fun.
     "      3 - Moth on garden table.
     "      4 - Foxy sniffing for bird food.

Monday 27th June 2016

Very warm and sunny, ideal driving conditions.
Arrived home 1pm after our day with John and what a welcome.
Not a bird to be seen but moths everywhere except the trap. On the wooden fence, the glass, the conservatory, the iron fence and garden table. Brilliant selection.
Rest of the day relaxing in the garden and thinking about the trip to Suffolk tomorrow.

Sunday 26th June 2016

Very warm day but little sun.
Left home at 10am, arrived in Stafford at 1pm, stopped for a pub lunch before visiting my school friend John in Jubilee Court Care and Nursing Home.
Although John has very little mobility these days he actually looked pretty well, certainly a lot better than I expected. Good on you John, good to catch up on school news from all those years ago.
Staying in Stafford overnight.

Saturday 25th June 2016

What some mixed weather today. Very warm, sunny, dull, dark, thunder, heavy rain and even heavier rain.
Planted out further sunflowers replacing those succumbed to snails, blasted things.
Great to see so many swifts again. So close to the box, got yo be a good year next year? No moths in the trap again but plenty in the ivy hedge, damselflies also busy in the ivy hedge.
Really miss my monitoring system, will have to chase up. Clearly no bird nesting activity now but would love to know if mice are still active.
           This afternoon a visit to Didcot to celebrate a 40th birthday and a 10th wedding anniversary. Well done and thanks to Simon and Jenny for the invite.
Early night ready for the long drive tomorrow.

Friday 24th June 2016 (Brexit)

Very warm and sunny day, we missed the rain.
Day spent in the garden, started to develop the area around the alpine house and sedum igloo. bit more to do yet as will be creating a new path and gravel area for some outdoor alpine plants.
           Swifts were active all day today and still flying about at 6.30pm. Otherwise was very quiet re other birds. After days of frantic activity with young birds being fed it did feel strange for it to be so quiet. 
One moth in the trap last night and a few bugs flying about today, all sulking after the Brexit vote I think?

Thursday 23rd June 2016

Very warm but overcast day. As I type this blog at 17.38 it is now raining and looks settled for the evening now.
A good day spent in town despite my photographs getting me into loads of trouble. More on this later in the blog.
Work progressing well on the demolition of the old civic offices, had a lump in my throat and spent a little time reflecting on the time I worked here as a housing officer. Started in 1973 and was one of the first intakes in this ultra modern office development. Good times.
Walked across town to Riverside and over to Kings Meadow Baths. Again work progressing well but sadly unable to get close as surrounding area waterlogged.
Back to riverside and a cuppa on the tea barge moored close to Reading Bridge before making my way back to the railway station. Impressed with the pop up village, surreal seeing deck chairs set up at the station!
From here a walk to the Oracle and a couple of photographs of the Kennet & Avon canal as meanders through the shopping centre.
Arrived home to see the wonderful swifts flying around the house and getting very close to the nest box. Prospecting for next year?
Picture 1 - Civic Offices, demolition.
      "     2 - Wonderful shop facade along Oxford Road.
      "     3 - Tea Barge at Reading Bridge.
      "     4 - View of river from Reading Bridge.
      "     5 - State of the art cycle racks at Reading Station.
      "     6 - Deck Chairs at Reading Station.
      "     7 - Canal at the Oracle.
 "  8  - 10 - Kings Meadow Baths.
 "11 & 12 - Swifts.

Security gone mad? Fully understood the apprehension today but did just wonder if it was really necessary? Had taken my photograph of the civic offices from the car park roof of the Mall shopping centre. Made my way down to the gents in the shopping mall when I overheard a conversation from a security guard's phone - gentleman with beard just entered wc before placing camera in a blue rucksack. On leaving I was then apprehended by a uniformed guard who said - scuse me sir, have you a camera in your bag, why were you taking photographs, photographs not allowed. Arguing my case I was told to gain permission in future before attempting photography.
Later in the day I entered the Oracle and captured a couple of images of the canal and the stunning flower display. On entering the shopping area I was once again apprehended and asked why was I taking photographs. I explained then I was told I was on private property and all photography was banned. 
I was more than annoyed now so made my way to the management office who just repeated what I had already been told. I then decided to visit the management office at the Mall and here I was explained in detail the reasons and was happy for me to proceed in future but to email him first. What a farce or not?
A lot more was said to me which I will not explain here but does prove to me how sensitive everyone is at the moment on security issues. I will cherish todays photographs!

Wednesday 22nd June 2016

Tuesday 21st June 2016

Very warm with a fair amount of sun. Storms expected tomorrow and rest of the week so made the most of today.
With ongoing issues with water pressure in the gas boiler British Gas were out again this morning and still unable to find where the loss of water occurs. With rad weld poured into the system BG hopes this will cure the problem?
Lawns front and back cut using my state of the art mower and trimmer from the Gtech range of products. Was a dream to use, really are good products.
               So many young birds in the garden being fed today. Goldfinches have overtaken starlings in numbers now. Young dunnocks, blackbirds, great spotted, pigeons, blue tits and great tits all being fed on the back lawn. Lovely to see so many birds about. Shame more didn't nest in the garden.
Swifts appeared very briefly this morning, had disappeared after ten minutes, very disappointing this year.
Pictures 1 - 6 - Beauty in snails.
      "    7 - 10 - Part the Gtech family of products.