Friday 7th February 2014

After a further 40mm of rain first thing this morning the rest of the day was pretty good. Plenty of sun, mild with a slight breeze.
Average outdoor temp' 7c.
Average wind speed 2mph.
Dining room completely cleared now ready for the decorator tomorrow.  The observatory is now full of the D/R furniture. Hate being in a muddle, be glad to see the job finished. Still have the living room ceiling to deal with after the damage from the pre-Christmas storm. Now, that will be a big job.
Bob the carpet man measured this afternoon for a new carpet in the dining room.

Thursday 6th February 2014

Weather just gets worse. Another very wet day, in fact it is now official that January was the wettest since 1876 here in the south.
Between midnight and 17.30 32mm of rain has been recorded. The back lawn is flooded, only the second time I have seen this in 40 years. The well is also full this afternoon.
Average outdoor temp' 7c.
Average wind speed 5mph.
Being so wet I used my time working in the workshop framing six of my latest photographs.
Picture 1 - The six framed photographs now ready to be fixed, if I can find a wall?
     "     2 - Flooded back lawn.

Wednesday 5th February 2014

I have lost the will to live, when will we see the end of this atrocious weather? Heavy rain with strong wind (80mph in some parts of the country) all day.
52mm recorded rainfall up to 6pm.
Average outdoor temp' 7c.
Despite the dark wet conditions I was able to capture Woody and a Kite. My ambition now is to capture a quality photograph of a Kite. Looking at today's attempt I have some way to go?
Spent some time in town choosing frames for my latest batch of photographs received this morning from Photobox.

Tuesday 4th February 2014

Chilly wind,  showers, dark one moment and blue sky the next. 
6mm recorded rainfall.
4mph average wind speed.
8c average outdoor temp'.
Day spent sorting out my museum collection, so much stuff, what do I do with it all?
                 Really annoyed now not having my camera monitor working. Handikam unable to tell me when fresh stock due as could be held up at customs. Not happy.

Monday 3rd February 2014

A record has been broken - two days without rain! Another good day with plenty of sun, a little chilly with slight breeze.
Average outdoor temp' 8c.
Average wind speed 4mph.
Ebay account suspended.
MERL & Reading Museums rejected my offer of my museum collection.
Schools rejected my offer of stationary.
Beginning to think a large skip is now called for?
Day was spent visiting these establishments.
Over breakfast was able to photograph Tufty in action again and the female Great Spotted Woodpecker was busy hammering at the Robinia Tree.
                Very sorry to hear my good mate, Doug is in hospital for an appendix operation. I understand all is well with Doug resting tonight. Get well soon matey.
Picture 1 - Tufty entering the box.
      "    2 - Tufty leaving the box.
      "    3 - Female GSW.

Sunday 2nd February 2014

What a brilliant day, plenty of sun, a little chilly but more important - no rain.
A little mooching about the garden this morning, planted out a few strawberry plants in the orchard and removed old, dead leaves from the Hellebore plants.
No sign of Tufty today, bit strange. Perhaps resting in the box?
             A great afternoon walk at Fobney. Only just managed it as Island Road flooded as was the reserve. Plenty of activity, a Buzzard catching fish from the lake. A Sparrowhawk chasing Redwings again but sadly no sign of a Kingfisher. My kind of day.
Pictures 1 - 3 - Fobney Wetland Reserve in flood.
      "          4 - Buzzard flying to Fobney Lakes.
      "          5 - A strike, Buzzard with a fish.
      "          6 - A Sparrowhawk.

Saturday 1st February 2014

See, you can do it when you try weather. A much better day, a fair bit of sun, blue sky, slight breeze and a little chilly to give you a feel of winter.
16mm rainfall overnight.
Average outdoor temp' 6c, did reach 10c mid afternoon.
Average wind speed 5mph.
Most of the day spent clearing the dining room ready for the decorator. Not sure where I am with this room now, Paul (decorator) rang to say his wife was in a coma. She is suffering lung cancer. So much sadness so far this year.
            Tufty very busy this morning building his nest (drey). No sign of him this afternoon. Managed a photograph of him leaving the box, not a quality pict' but a good record.
The afternoon sun helped bring out the best of some spring flowers in the back garden.
Picture 1 - Tufty leaving the nest site.
     "     2 - Tufty gathering twigs.
  " 3 - 11 - Spring flowers.
  "      12 - Cleared Dining Room.