A mild, overcast morning but a wonderful sunny afternoon with temp' reaching a high this afternoon of 9c.
My word, would not want to experience a chest infection when I am really old. Every bone in my body now aches - sympathy please!
Picture framing time of year so today went into town to purchase some specials. Not cost effective these days to make frames as now a very competitive market with four large stores now stocking all types/sizes of frame.
Little shocked to note I had 4954 picts' on the Bushnell, turned out to be a Fox that decided to sit in front of the camera to preen over the course of an hour.
Gulls becoming more brazen these days. The instant a Heron or Kite appears up to dozen Gulls appear from nowhere and the chase begins.
Picture 1 - Gull resting after a Kite chase.
" 2 - Jay resting after a fight with a Magpie over monkey nuts.
" 3 - Foxy out last night.
Very mild but overcast day. Temp' reached a high of 11c this afternoon.
I am officially unwell again with a chest infection. What's going on?
Spending more time again in my armchair does give me the opportunity to watch the number of birds about the garden.
Sparrowhawk made another entrance at breakfast time. Spent nearly 30 minutes between the fence and bird feeder. The Magpie finally chased away the Hawk.
Good to see the Long Tailed Tits this afternoon, only two but pretty sure there must be more about.
My sister who lives in Woodley sent me a txt photograph of Daffodils in her garden. Apparently there are more out in the local park. Mad?
Have you ever wondered just how much rubbish we have sent in the way of junk mail? Well from 31/12/2013 - 31/12/2014 I collected all the junk mail sent to me. It weighed 4stone 5Ib and stacked to a height of 29", how about then?!
Pictures 1 - 4 - Sparrowhawk.
" 5 - Long Tailed Tits.
" 6 - Daffodils in Woodley.
" 7 - A year of junk mail.
Dry, dull and overcast most of the day. Bit like me really.
Can't believe it. Not a cold in nearly four years then two in less than a month. Woke up this morning with throat and chest issues again, not happy.
Did nothing today. Sat about reading and feeling sorry for oneself.
Pictures 1 - 3 - Still some fungi growing in the garden.
" 4 - Female Great Spotted Woodpecker on the peanut feeder.
" 5 - Good comparison between home and overseas Blackbird.
" 6 - Ratty pleased to see me back from holiday?
Mild but again very dull and overcast.
Enjoyed the break but good to be back home amongst the garden wildlife. Not all good news as a fish found floating.
Seeing the Heron on the pond this morning I think who the culprit was. Disturbed by gulls I think, certainly was this morning. The trail camera had also been upended despite being screwed to a post and strapped.
Interesting to see an overseas Blackbird spending the day in and out of the dovecote.
The Sparrowhawk paid another visit this morning trying desperately for a Blue Tit. To no avail today and left empty handed after twenty minutes.
Some very bad, sickening news. It was with horror that I found out about a double shooting at a pair of Swans at Fobney Reserve. One swan died, the other hanging on but is pretty ill. Happened on New Years Day and found by a walker and his child. Terrible.
Picture 1 - Robin singing during the five minutes of sun we experienced this morning.
" 2 - Floating Fish.
" 3 - 5 - Male Sparrowhawk.
" 6 - Injured Swan.
Mild but a rather dull, overcast day.
Left hotel at 9am this morning travelling for a short visit to Cheddar before a lunchtime stop at Street and the Clarks shopping village.
Arrived home at 7pm after a most enjoyable few days in Bristol.
Happy New Year Followers.
Picture 1 - Cheddar.
" 2 - Reception area of the 'old' Clarks shoe making factory.
" 3 - Shoe factory now a retail shopping area.
Dry but a very dull, overcast day. Had been some overnight rain.
Day spent walking around this wonderful City and visiting the SS. Great Britain.
I was simply amazed at the quality of the amazing stone buildings that adorn this City. The detail in the stone carvings was the best I have seen. The marina of course is now full of bars and eating places after the demise of the ship building industry.
No words can describe my emotions on seeing the SSGB in its splendour. I have followed this beast from the day it was decided to ship her back from the Falklands. I in fact visited the ship in 1970 on her return.The museum curators have asked to see the photographs I captured on her return. I remember walking across scaffold planks to reach the inside of this rotten hulk. No H & S then. I then again visited some 15 years later when I took another selection of photographs. 100% credit to the workmen and sponsors who have brought this ship back to original.
With sore feet it was good to see the hotel again to enjoy a good pint before sitting down to a good meal.
A great day.
Pictures 1 & 2 - Sample of the fine buildings that make up the financial area of Bristol.
" 3 - Steam Ship Balmoral moored in Bristol Marina. Another ship we have sailed on to Lindisfarn and the Northumbria Coastline back two years ago.
Pictures 4 - 7 - SS Great Britain.
Left Reading at 9am in very cold, hard frost conditions. Arrived in Bristol at 4pm in dull, overcast conditions.
Stopped in Bath for lunch en route to Bristol for the New Year celebrations with Jill and Geoff. Clearly left all the sun back in Reading as Bath pretty dull but at least dry. Enjoyed lunch and a pint of Bath Ale in the smallest pub in Bath. The four of us filled up the pub!
Enjoyed a good walk around the City and the indoor market areas before setting off for Bristol and the Grand Hotel.
Arrived at 4pm, what some history this hotel has. Records going back to medieval times. The well in the vaulted ceiling bar dates back to the 1200s.
There was a welcome drink awaiting with half a mince pie. A 4 star hotel offering just half a mincy. Not impressed.
A couple of hours sprucing up and we were ready to party. A good evening, good food, real ale, good band and good company. Was in bed by 12.45am to sober up ready for a day seeing what Bristol had to offer.
Picture 1 - Pultley Bridge, Bath.
" 2 - Market area of Bath.
" 3 - Indoor market, Bath.
" 4 - Grand Hotel, Bristol.
" 5 - 2015 Ice sculpture.
" 6 - Jill, Geoff and myself.
" 7 - Party in full swing.
" 8 - Aftermath.
" 9 - This war veteran was collecting for the War Heroes and collected nearly £400 this evening.
Picture 10 - Lorna found the music a little loud.
