Tuesday 28th February 2017

Stunning morning, mild and sunny. Different matter this afternoon, cold and wet.
This morning shred all the dead wood from the hydrangea shrubs I pruned over the weekend.
              Still no sign of frogs or frog spawn, plenty about around the country however.
Spike out again last night, put some hog food out for him tonight. A mouse has taken residence under a hedgehog home, spotted it this morning darting about around the bird feeder.
Wildlife books arrived today, pleased with them but also annoyed at a stupid mistake. Not sure what to do, may well reprint ad will annoy me for ever.
Need to improve on my close up photography as the moths and dragonflies not that crisp. I rush thinking the subject may fly off.

Monday 27th February 2017

Mild but dull and overcast most of the day. Showers this afternoon into the evening.
Waggy has returned, brilliant. Just need to see the great spotted now then all is good in garden bird world.
Trail camera picked out a hedgehog last night so that is good news but may regret getting up so early as another cold spell is forecast?
This morning I sorted out my bird food store as a rat has breached my security! Has chewed a hole in the store framework. Food now in dustbins, bought four bins for this purpose.
               Attending a Whitley Travels meeting this afternoon to agree the final arrangements for the first trip of the season, a trip at Easter to Marwell Zoo. A nostalgic trip for me as displayed there back in my toy business days with the TV program Play School and Rupert the Bear. Many memories of that day.
               My garden wildlife books have now been dispatched so should receive this week now, exciting.

Sunday 26th February 2017

Another mild but overcast day.
Day spent in the garden again, today pruning the buddleia shrubs. The trimmings I replanted to create a buddleia hedge.
Said it before but the alpine house is looking real good. Great result, well worth creating.
             Still no sign of frogs, so surprised. Can't make it anymore pond friendly, amazing actually when you think of the large numbers we did have.

Saturday 25th February 2017

Mild, dull and overcast all day with rain late afternoon into the evening.
Spent day in the garden dead heading the hydrangea shrubs. The four shrubs now showing off their spring buds to perfection.
          Good to see a pair of Jays busy today, not seen the woodpeckers for a while. These two species of birds I find rather special.
Waggy still elusive, disappointing as was hoping for baby waggies this year.
Having a rest in the garden this afternoon and a field mouse appeared in front of me. Kept me entertained for an hour.

Friday 24th February 2017

Beautiful today, such a contrast from yesterday. Today chilly with sun most of the day.
Strangely, hardly any birds about today. Did not have to refill the feeders, perhaps Storm Doris blew them all away to another County?
            Met John and Hilly lunchtime at the Cunning Man where we stayed until 4pm. So much to catch up on, good to talk. Have always enjoyed visiting the Cunning Man but oh dear a problem today. It would have been easier to tell us what food they did have. Crazy situation.
If weather decent this weekend I may spend a few hours in the garden, have rested long enough now!
Geraniums need dead heading, nice easy job.

Thursday 23rd February 2017

Mild and sunny day but by jove what some strong wind. Storm Doris reached us today, loads of damage around us but thankfully no damage here.
Double checked the wildlife books today and both ordered. Expensive these books but do look good and of course a good record of what is seen and recorded in the garden each year.
              Snowdrops beginning to show in mass now, worth the investment over the years. Some good double ones out today.
Said it yesterday but the alpine house does look colourful, a good project that.
               Birds struggled today coping with the wind, mostly ground feeding today. More chaffinches about today but still no sign of the wagtail.

Wednesday 22nd February 2017

Mild and mostly sunny all day.
Spring bulbs again looking pretty colourful as is the alpine house.
Behaving myself after being told to rest for a few days after the lung biopsies.
A good chance to work on the wildlife books. Virtually finished them today but will double check tomorrow before ordering. Do not want mistakes this time.
              Trail camera picked out the fox last night but nothing else other than cats. Not seen the pied wagtail for a few days, not sure why? All other birds I would expect busy feeding today. The male sparrowhawk appeared for a while but left empty handed.

Tuesday 21st February 2017

A mild and overcast day. On the windy side tonight.
Arrived at the RBH at 8.15am and was allowed home at 3.30pm as thankfully there were no complications.
I am now in a position to explain in more detail on what is wrong with me. Week before Christmas after a chest X-ray I received a phone call the next day telling me to visit my GP as a matter of urgency. It was a shock to be told I have the strong possibility of lung cancer in my right lung due to exposure to asbestos. I worked with this material 1963-1967.
It has been a roller coaster ride since Christmas with two further X-rays and a CT scan plus appointments with my consultant.
A partial collapse of the right lung is showing a shadow which required further tests hence today's visit.
I had three lung biopsies which is carried out in the CT scanner. A most interesting procedure, I chose a local anaesthetic so I could watch the procedure on screen. The shadow is a hard lump formed by asbestos where rest of the lung is lined with asbestos. It is this lump that could be cancerous.
More optimistic today as surgeon explained cancer tissue tends to be squiggly where mine was hard.
Have to attend again on March 2nd for results and to explain next step.
Clearly going to be an unsettling year, just fingers crossed tests show a benign growth.
Well, that was an interesting blog eh?

Monday 20th February 2017

Mild and mostly sunny day.
Spring bulbs, snowdrops, crocuses, hellebores and alpine flowers looking fantastic today.
Day spent working on the second edition of my garden wildlife book. Pretty pleased with it so far.
                 Overnight bag ready for my stay in hospital tomorrow, nothing to eat or drink now as early appointment.
Blog for rest of the week sadly will be on the boring side.

Sunday 19th February 2017

Cracking day, mild and sunny all day.
Departed hotel at 9.30am for trip home. Crossed the Humber Bridge in blinding sun for the short trip to Wentworth Castle in Barnsley.
Actually not a Castle as it's called but a large house fit for an Earl. Loads of history but today's visit was all about the 600 acres of woodland and gardens.
Although everything is still in winter mode there was still something spectacular about these grounds which saddens me to understand the grounds are closing at Easter for financial reasons, sums don't add up. Pleased I had the opportunity to visit today.
Arrived home at 6.30pm after a good three days away.

Picture 1 - From the Humber Bridge.
      "     2 - View from Castle Entrance.
      "     3 - Wentworth Castle.
      "     4 - Deer in the grounds of Wentworth.
      "     5 - Castle from the Ha Ha Bridge.
      "     6 - Formal Gardens.
      "     7 - Stainborough Castle in the grounds.
 "   8 & 9 - Lady Lucy's Walk.
 "         10 - Conservatory.

Saturday 18th February 2017

Weather today just so good. On the chilly side but sunny most of the day.
This morning a trip to the quant town of Beverley. Reminded me very much of York, narrow streets full of interesting shops and a town dominated by its Minster. What a structure, I never fail to be amazed at the workmanship in both the carpenters and stone masons.
This afternoon a short drive to Burton Agnes with a visit to Burton Agnes House for the snowdrop woodland walk. Superb, lovely afternoon for such a walk with a stunning sunset emerging at 4pm.
Arrived back at the hotel in Hull late afternoon.
Wentworth Castle tomorrow before making our way home.

Pictures 1 - 3 & 15 - 19 - Beverley Minster.
       "                    4 - 14 - Burton Agnes Snowdrop walk and gardens.

Friday 17th February 2017

A superb day, mild and sunny all day.
An early start, making our way to Sheffield Botanical Gardens for the start of the weekends snowdrop safari.
Arrived in Sheffield lunchtime, Disappointed in so few Spring bulbs showing but the trees and shrubs still in their winter state made up for it. Spent nearly three hours walking around the grounds and the Victorian Glasshouses.
Arrived in Hull late afternoon for our two night stay.
Pictures 1 - 7 - Sheffield Botanical Gardens.
      "     8 - 12 - Hotel in Hull.

Thursday 16th February 2017

Pretty good day, mild, sunny with an amazing sunset again.
Haircut and town this morning. PJ's, gown and slippers all sorted for my hospital stay next week. In for a lung biopsy, more on this 3rd March.

This afternoon packed case ready for an early start tomorrow for a couple of days on snowdrop safari in Yorkshire.
All feeders topped up with extra for Cecil if he is still about.
Cecil tonight appeared in the front garden scratching away at the front door and a couple of attempts at flying into the bay window. If I wasn't going away I would look after him.

Wednesday 15th February 2017

Mixed weather today, mild, overcast but sunny late afternoon with a stunning sunset.
Another spot of painting this morning but could not resist a spot of gardening this afternoon.
Replaced two alpine plants that did not survive the winter and trimmed up all other plants.
              Cockerel still about but in next doors garden now. Going to be an issue I think, if appears in our garden again I will call the RSPCA but being away the rest of the week on the Yorkshire snowdrop safari it will be next week the earliest. Can't believe it will survive that long actually.

Pictures of the Alpine House.

Tuesday 14th February 2017

Reasonable day, mild but overcast with very little sun.
Surprise at breakfast today. A cockerel appeared at the bird feeder and within two minutes a fox appeared in the same spot. Fox just waltzed off leaving the cockerel to itself.
Cock stayed all day enjoying the bird food before roosting in the cherry tree. Not sure what the outcome will be?
            Did some clearing up in the art studio and also undercoating a cupboard I decided to paint to match with rest of furniture.
This afternoon in town for some PJ's ready for my forthcoming hospital stay, can't remember when I last wore jim jams?
              Enjoyed an evening at the New Inn with Jill & Geoff to celebrate Valentine's Day!

Monday 13th February 2017

A beautiful day, cold and sunny most of the day.
Morning spent staining the drawer units so can now confirm, job done.
               This afternoon attended a Whitley Travels meeting at the community centre. Progress was made with more residents getting involved now.
Another day disconnected from my garden wildlife.

Sunday 12th February 2017

Cold and overcast most of the day.
Day spent painting in the art studio, all but finished now. Just the drawer units to re-stain now then Lorna can move in.
No time for garden wildlife today but loads of food eaten so my guess another good day for birds.

Saturday 11th February 2017

Very cold with snow showers all day, never settled however.
Henry Street this morning for wood and coal in case  we are snowed in?
This afternoon sanded and washed all woodwork in the art studio ready for painting tomorrow.
Been a few days now since last study of wildlife in the garden. Hopefully will have some time next week to catch up.

Friday 10th February 2017

Dry but very, very cold. Snow in Oxford.
Drove Colin and Janet to the John Radcliffe Hospital for their early appointment. Spent the day in Oxford visiting the Natural History Museum, never tire of visiting this museum.
Enjoyed a dinner in Oxford with J & C this afternoon before driving them home.
A long day but pleased to help out.

Thursday 9th February 2017

Dry but very cold with little sun.

Day at the Hospital.

Wednesday 8th February 2017

More chilly today than of late but still sunny and thankfully dry.
Morning spent at Citroen while they sorted out the alarm system, fingers crossed I have no further issues.
This afternoon met at the community centre for further discussions on setting up the museum and how we move forward with Whitley Travels. More meetings scheduled for next week.
Worked on the garden wildlife book for another hour this afternoon.

Tuesday 7th February 2017

A good day. Mild and sunny most of the day.
Mixed up day, broke up single bed with a trip to the tip this morning to dispose. A couple of hours litter picking at Fobney and the car washed and cleaned.
No time for the garden but plenty of bird food eaten so my guess is it was a very busy day in birdland.
             This afternoon spent some time working on the 2016 garden wildlife book(s). Unable to increase book by a further 15 pages so will be split now, part 1 and part 2.
Wanting to include trail camera images this year is the reason for the extra pages, important to include as there had been some good results like the green woodpecker and redwing.

Monday 6th February 2017

An overnight frost but soon cleared from this mornings sun. Day remained pretty good but rain returned again tonight.
Day spent at the community centre discussing the future and immanent building work for the Whitley Museum. Also the future of Whitley Travel, another meeting planned for Wednesday which will also linvolve children from a local school.
Seem to be getting a little involved now, ummmm.
         What time I had this afternoon was spent going through hundreds of trail camera images. My word, not disappointed. Cracking images of me and a Sparrowhawk. How did I miss it?

Sunday 5th February 2017

Another good day, mild and sunny most of the day with rain during the evening.
Day spent in the garden. Four bee friendly climbers planted against the new fence, two hellebore plants planted in the stumpy area, six new bird boxes fixed on the new fence and also four hanging baskets. Next job will be to cover the fence with trellis for the climbers. Do still miss the ivy hedge.
             Removed the wire protection on the wild flower meadow as grass is beginning to grow now. Really hope the wild flower seed had survived the winter? Will be some while before I will know that.
The alpine house is looking good with a few plants flowering. The issue is the fact they are April/May flowering plants. Good news however is that they survived as only planted last May.
Was a good day in the garden today but must concentrate now on finishing the art studio for Lorna.
Picture 1 - Alpine House.
     "      2 - Climbers planted.

Saturday 4th February 2017

What a glorious day. Mild and sunny all day.
A trip to Brighton today, my word so pleased for good weather. Main reason for the trip was for a pre-booked visit to the British Airways i360. What an amazing piece of engineering. Looks stunning and on such a lovely day the views were amazing. My problem was in fact the sun, photographs spoilt by the reflections. Did manage some good images from outside and some brilliant sunset images.
Enjoyed a good dinner at the i360 before a walk along the sea front to the Palace Pier. Walked to the end of the pier enjoying the fantastic clear views of Brighton Sea Front from this perspective.
Arrived home mid evening, pretty tired but just loved this day out.
             Will rely on the trail cameras to confirm what was about the garden today.