Friday 18th September 2015

Another brilliant day.
Trip to M's this morning to order a quantity of Scottish cobbles and pebbles for the pond project. Delivery tomorrow. This company is still good and reliable, been using them since I bought 479 forty two years ago.
            Not able to do much at the moment, pretty painful to say the least. Did manage to cut down all the sunflowers except for the giant that is still in flower. Some magnificent flower heads which will mean loads of seed. Will as in previous years cut the stems into 150mm lengths to use for bug houses.
Did notice a fair few ladybirds hibernating under the sunflower leaves and a ton of snails.
Butterflies and bees still about but are in decline now as we creep closer to Autumn.
No internet again tonight until 8pm so feel now a phone call to Virgin is required.

Thursday 17th September 2015

A stunning day with sun most of the day and temp' reaching a high of 22c this afternoon.
In preparation of cutting branches from the bean, oak and acer trees I bought and assembled a clawed sawing horse this morning. Will start cutting next week weather permitting.
Also today planted up the lodge plant boxes with winter ornamental cabbages. they look a little naf but hey ho!
            Now the bad news of the day. In preparing for my next garden project I began working on the position of the tin bath to create a waterfall into the main pond. Unable to explain as not a clue what happened only to confirm I am in a pretty bad way after finding myself spreadeagled in the pond having first fallen through the balustrade, hitting concrete boulders and wedged between the bath and concrete chute. Pretty wet and unable to move and Lorna out shopping I thought this could be a problem. As luck would have it I had already tied rope to the bath to help with positioning so used this to help me get up and out. Tied the rope to a newel post and pulled myself up. How about that then?!! Laugh at my expense if you wish.
I have bruised ribs and hip, a small cut above the eye lack of movement in neck and arms. Also a fair amount of pain.
I better like this project once finished?!
In attempting to post this blog last night it was to my despair I had no internet again...
Picture 1 & 2 - Ornamental cabbages.
     "             3 - Not where the bath should be but where it ended up!
     "             4 - Clawed sawing horse.

Wednesday 16th September 2015

Me not like the weather today. Mild but by mid day the rain started and as I type this blog at 8pm it is still pretty wet out there.
Despite the damp conditions last night I had a record number of moths in the trap. Not even set the trap tonight as rain forecast most of the evening.
What was noticeable this morning was the large number of birds that appeared on the feeders since the lull during the summer. Goldfinches, Greenfinches, Blue and Great Tits, Sparrows, Blackbirds and Starlings. A Great Tit also spent some time in the squirrel box. Think it well roost here during the winter?
                 A welcome surprise visitor turned up this afternoon who had not seen for 2 years. Caught up on family news and gossip. We used to holiday with Barry and Margaret when the children were young so spent a fair amount of time reminiscing.
Another visitor(s) this afternoon was Leilani and Celie. Leilani to say final goodbye before she leaves for Plymouth tomorrow to start a 3 year music course at Plymouth University. How can she be 19 for goodness sake?
Pictures 1 - 5 - Selection of Moths from last night.
       "           6 - Snail emerging on to a rather wet patio.

Tuesday 15th September 2015

CATCHING UP
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Just a few photographs captured this last week.
Photograph 1 - Smoke bush and ceonothues bush cut down due to old age and no longer 
                           flowering.
         "          2 - Original tin bath to the house found behind the ceonothues. Wondered where I 
                           left it!
         "  3 & 4 - Reading's third bridge almost completed. Taken last Thursday.
         "         5-  Pond dipping, two dragonfly larvae in the net.
         "         6 - Two mice eating together. Only seen this the once.
         "         7 - Fly sunbathing on the pond hosta.
         "8 & 11 - Moth trapping.
         "9 & 10 - Plants around the main pond.
         "       12 - BBQ night last Thursday.
         

Tuesday 15th September 2015

What  contrasting weather sort of day. A mix of showers and sun, stayed pretty mild.
Pleased to say the desk top is now up and running as it should. Been a stressful few weeks but history now so can move on and hopefully have a more interesting daily blog backed up by photographs. Thanks to Mr. Cloud for sorting out the problem.
               Not much else to report today as the complete day was taken up by desk top problem solving. Did de-stress ourselves by enjoying a good meal and drink at the Black Boy Pub in Shinfield.
               Just the one moth again last night, was another awful night so lucky I saw one? 
Big Ears is still out every night, appears to make a bed each night but each morning when I check the bed is flattened. Think will stay up one night to watch what happens.
Only appears to be one young squirrel about now, a local cat was having near misses when chasing them so this cat is number one suspect.
Picture 1 - Can you see a face in this burnt ember. Captured after a bbq last Thursday.
      "     2 - Tufty enjoying a feast of acorns.
      "     3 - A sparrow fluffed up in the afternoon sun.
      "     4 - Frog spotted in the pond last weekend.
      "     5 - Moth in the trap last night.
      "     6 - My winning 4mtr high sunflower.

Testing

Testing

Monday 14th September 2015

A pretty awful day. Rain much of the day. Rest of the week is forecast the same as well.
Worked indoors today due to the weather. Why did it take me all day to connect up a new landline phone? Lifting the hall and living room carpets to hide the cable was easier said than done. Also had to connect up a power socket for this new phone. Still, job done now. Full test will be tomorrow once phone has been on charge for 24 hours.
            Only one moth in the trap last night, nothing on the table or side of the lodge. With such bad weather last night it is a wonder I had even the one.
             Winners of the sunflower competition was confirmed tonight as Lucy and Celie as joint winners. I felt it to be unfair for me to be winner, again so opted out! For the record it stands at 4mtrs with a huge flower head. Thanks all for joining in.

Hopefully tomorrow the blog will have some photographs to show? Have already taken my stress tablets.