John's Jottings.

Saturday the 17th July.

So the sun is shining and we have a full house. The rain and wind, that has plagued the Open Golf at St Andrews has passed by and we are having a glorious evening.  We have just been up the road to Ardnadrochit for a walk.  The cloudscapes were superb.

I have managed to get out between showers to weed the garden, and while it was wet I have been looking through old papers - from when we were in Chronicle, next to the Inn at Craignure - and shredding them prior to burning.  We should have a good pile for November the 5th!

The woodpeckers have been targetting our peanuts, including the two youngsters.  So much so that one of the feeders has all but fallen apart, and I had to make a new one today. I'll replace it tomorrow and let you know how it goes. Not much in the way of butterflies this week as it has been rather blowy, but I did catch sight of several dragonflies after writing last week's blog, on a long walk toward Grasspoint. Great.

Well, I'd better get the table set and help fill the fridge up for breakfast.  Don't come this weekend, but after Tuesday we have a twin room free.  See you soon?

Have fun,

.......  John

Saturday the 10th July.

Well, we have had  a load of rain since last time and I don't think anyone should be short of water now.  Yesterday evening we had a glorious sunset.  The sky was pink from our sitting room, and there was still colour to the north west when we went to bed at 11.30!  Today is dry as well, despite the earlier predicted rain. It looks like we shall just miss out.

We now have two young great spotted woodpeckers coming to the feeder.  Their size difference is amazing with the one being at least half as big (or fat) as the other. Apparently one golden eagle has fledged - possibly blown out of the nest by the high and blustery winds we had this week - and our local white tail chick looks like he may have had a trip away from home.

I had a brief view of Lizzie this week.  She looks very broad in the beam, so I think she must be pregnant.  And yesterday there was a slow worm sunning itself under the rhododendrons outside the dining room window.  He didn't move while I was working nearby, but just kept a beady eye on me.  The big dragonflies that were evident a couple of weeks ago seem to have disappeared.  I don't suppose the rain or wind helped.

So, tomorrow is the British Grand Prix - be nice to see Jenson beat Lewis, but... - and the World Cup final.  Hurray!  We shall be supporting the Dutch, but will be well pleased that it is over.  Perhaps a few more of you will be up to savour the wildlife, the landscape and the quiet.  See you soon.

Keep smiling..

Thursday 1st July.

Gosh, it's a month since I was here!  How time flies.  Well today has seen the first rain here for ages, and just in time.  The land really needs it.  Local farmers have been talking of feeding their stocks as the grass covering is so poor, and we lowly householders want it for their gardens - and for drinking, washing etc.!   We may get a little more today, and then a top up on Sunday we hope.  After that we are back to sun!!!

I managed to get the strimming finished yesterday so at least the so called grassy areas look decent.  Everything has been growing at a vast rate, so that there is still a lot of weeding to be done, and tidying up.  The strawberries are finished - unfortunately as they were very tasty - and so are the redcurrants and white currants - also very delicious.  The blackcurrants are nearly there and the gooseberries aren't far behind.  My toms are growing as you watch them, and I have woolly cucumbers forming.  My late courgettes are now flowering.

All these plants are in the poly tunnel, being watched over by Lizzie the lizard and her new friend Leslie.  Yes, they 'sit' side by side under the old blue sponge and watch me when I go to water the plants in the evening!  Of course I talk to them while I work!!

Today we had a large, and very handsome, red deer stag in the field below us.  He was having a great time browsing on the vegetation until someone disturbed him.  Then he trotted majestically toward the road, hopped over the fence, crossed the road and disappeared (literally) into the field on the other side. In the meantime a young great spotted woodpecker came onto the feeder, staying there for quite some time - and hiding from time to time as the sparrowhawk flew over.  What a beauty he was!

With England out of the World cup, attention is focussing on Andy Murray (who the English are now trying to claim for themselves!), so good luck to him tomorrow.  We shall be watching...   and then there is the Tour de France starting on Saturday. We follow it closely every year as it travels through the best bits of France - and dream on!

So now it is time to sign off. I'll try to get back next weekend - in time for the British Grand Prix and the World cup final....  Until then keep smiling.

Saturday the 5th June.

Talk about flamin June?  Its been sunny... and warm all week particularly today.  Actually, we could do with a downpour for the garden.  I have made the soil in front of the house very free draining since we can get rather more than average rainfall!  In this dry weather it quickly dries out and I have to start watering to save the plants.  In particular, rhododendrons need plenty of water after they have flowered if they are to be good next year.  Maybe I'll get my dripper hose out later, as that gets the water to where it is wanted without wasting any.  The only trouble is putting it down around the plants in the first place.

The poly tunnel is stinking hot today at 35C, but we have loads of strawberries coming on nicely. My tomatoes are  growing well - they need to in order to catch up.  The other day I had a damselfly in there - most unusual.  Today, one landed on my foot as we sat outside with a cup of coffee! Having met son of Lizzie last week, I found daughter of Lizzie there this week.  Well the said lizard was looking rather pregnant, so I assume it was daughter.

The woodpeckers are back at the feeders.  I guess they are searching for grubs etc for their young when they are small but switch to the readily available peanuts later.  They seem to do well on it, and whenever we walk out of the house, there seems to be one flying away.

The white tailed eagle chicks were ringed this week, before they get too big. The local nest was in the cloud/fog when they did it, so we saw nothing of the event.  With this heat the chick appears to be snoozing through the day, until dad brings in some food.

It will soon be time for the annual Mendelssohn on Mull week.  We have two of our rooms full already.  Please see our availability page for further info.

Keep smiling,

Friday the 28th May 2010

Here we are almost at the end of the fifth month already.  Where has the time gone? The island is green again, with all the trees in their finest.  We had to go to Glengorm Castle this week to deliver some of Ingrid's puffins and chicken, and the drive was just excellent. 

The birds are producing youngsters at a heck of a rate.  Siskins in their pyjamas are arriving at the feeders, and even a young blackbird tried to balance itself on top of the feeder and reach down for a nut!  However, we have not heard much from our snipe this year.  We think he was disturbed by someone 'clearing' their garden.  We also heard the grasshopper warbler earlier, but he seems to have gone quiet now.  Although we do hear two others on our regular walk.

I was just thinking about Lizzie yesterday and casually moved a sponge left on top of a log in the poly tunnel.  Who should be under there, but son of Lizzie!  He was surprised by this and moved around the other side of the log, and then watched me as I potted up some plants only inches away.  Nice one.

We are having plenty of sun at the moment, but with a chilly wind.  Nevertheless the days are super and you ought to be here getting away from it all.....

Keep smiling and enjoy your weekend.

Tuesday the 12th May 2010

Gosh, we've nearly got a parliament again!! When will they learn to stop messing about and get on with it?  They are all as bad as each other, so it probably doesn't matter who combines with who.  It's a mess whichever way it goes. 

The weather has continued dry, often sunny, but a touch cold in the wind.  The daffs are going over quite rapidly as they dry out and the rhododendrons are following suit. As the rhodos need water especially just after the flowers drop - when they are making new growth - I have been doing some local watering.  Thursday is due to be wet, so perhaps that will damp down the dust bowl outside my windows?

However, there are quite a number of butterflies around.  Nothing too special - small white, peacock, and orange tips mainly - but a good number.  No sign of any lizards yet, but it is quite cold.  It was -0.5C in the poly tunnel last night. Plenty of swallows and martins looking for insects.  Not much sign of the snipe although we did hear him a couple of days ago, but several grasshopper warblers along our usual walk route.  And we saw the woodcock roding the other evening for the first time this year.  Great.

The wood anemones are just fantastic this year.  We have had a few since we moved in but they have multiplied well and are all over the place now.  I'll try to include a picture next time.  There's loads of celandines also, but the bluebells have yet to come out in force - just the odd one or two in a sheltered place. Lots of siskins and goldfinches on the feeders.

So, you can see what you are missing and we have a room available most nights just now, so give us a ring and see what the wilds are like.

Keep smiling,

Saturday the 24th April 2010

What a week we have had!  Brilliant weather - a bit chilly at night necessitating covering up the rhododendrons with fleece, but super sunshine through the day.

Lots of activity in the nature world with siskins very active, several goldfinches on the feeders, snipe calling, cuckoos arriving, and a bat flying around in the middle of the day!  I thought they only came out in the evening and at night.  Could this one have retreated inside because of the cold and then had to come out to feed or else starve? I tried to look it up on the web, but no-one I found had pictures of them flying.  Not surprising I suppose, as they change direction so quickly, but very difficult to identify. Probably a pipistrelle but not yet confirmed.

I've also spent a good deal of time in the poly tunnel clearing up and getting a few things planted.  There are cukes and toms in their sacks of horse muck, rocket and lettuce in their hydroponic pots, as well as some new strawbs from the local garden centre in Oban in their tall rose pots.

It has been pretty quiet here on Mull this week what with volcanic ash clouds and so on, but its been a good week and looks like being so next week too. Make a date to come up now and see what you are missing.

All the best,

Sunday the 12th April 2010

Well the April weather has arrived - with you too I suspect. several nice dry and sunny days and now it's hot!  Just the weather to paint the house!

There's plenty of butterflies around now and the daffs are looking really good. Some of the early flowers are just being roasted off, and the poly tunnel is a shade too warm in the middle of the day. I've got some toms and cukes coming along nicely.  Our road has now been 'done up' and we have a nice smooth surface - for a while.

Next week I'm off to Glasgow for a couple of days to a travel expo in order to promote Duart Castle.  That should be interesting. I'm back outside to soak up a bit more sun now, so see you soon.

All the best,

Good Friday, the 2nd of April 2010

What a glorious day! We've had bright sunshine all day, meaning it has been warm despite a cold wind.  We saw our first butterfly of the year, and watched a snipe, from our porch window, probing for food in one of our ditches for several minutes.  Super.

We did pay for it with a sharp frost last night at -4C. Our first rhodo has succumbed, although we have saved LUCY with some fleece.  I was weeding under her friend LIZZIE when she scratched my hand - not surprising really!! LUCY has white flowers and LIZZIE has masses of pink ones. ...and there are many more daffs out than last week.

It looks like LEWIS has made it up with Maclaren, although I think they told him to stop winging and get on with it.  Meanwhile JENSEN is quietly getting on with it.  At least last weeks race was worth watching.  Lets hope they do as well this weekend. I'll be watching.

Time to go and get supper.  Enjoy your weekend and come to visit Mull soon.

Keep smiling,

Sunday 28th March 2010

Gosh! How time passes. We've been away visiting our sisters, and clearing up after the winter - and after last season.  For a change we have not had to do anything major in the house, but just a bit of touching up of paintwork here and there. And, of course, we've given the whole place a super hoover and dust.  Just don't tell us if you find any we've missed!

The weather has been quite variable with a bit more rain than earlier, but mostly at night.  There have been very few days this winter that we have been forced to stay in and miss our midday walk.  The siskins have arrived in numbers and there seems to be more coal tits than ever. The odd goldfinch has been dropping in for a feed and one or two greenfinches have made themselves obvious.  Plenty of herons about and the local buzzards hanging on the  wind.  The other day I spotted a female hen harrier across the road, quartering the hillside, and the local white tailed eagles are sitting on eggs.  The temperature in the polytunnel is rising steadily (it has a rock floor which acts like a storage radiator) and the currants, gooseberries and strawberries in there are growing away nicely. The primulas we bought earlier are looking good, partly because I have taken them in when we had some high winds lately.

So things are looking up and its Easter next weekend, so we expect to see more of you up here soon.  The lane up to our house ( and the neighbours' ) is having a new surface put on it this week so we shall be all posh for our Easter revellers.

Enjoy your eggs!

Sunday 21st February 2010

What a super week we've had!  No need to wait until April....  lots of sun and great for being out walking.  OK it's been a bit chilly overnight -2C, -3C, -1C, -7C - ouch that was a bit chilly, but with the sun coming into the house, our sitting room has been regularly up to 23C - with the window open!! Brilliant. 

So I have been out tidying up the paths etc. Nothing like a bit of physical exercise to keep you warm.  One of our robins has been following me closely.  Must be something to do with the grated cheese we put out for him.  The blackbirds seem to like our apple and pear cores, while the woodpeckers consume peanuts like there is no tomorrow.  We've seen the white tailed eagles a couple of times but also an immature golden eagle who seems to be making a bid for this patch.  I hope he stays around because he flies just magnificently.

Shame about Scotland losing to Wales.  It should have been a draw, but hey there's always next time and then we'll get them....  France have the chance of smashing Wales this time and, judging by their last game against Ireland, they should do so.  Let's see what happens next weekend.

Gold for Britain for the skeleton lady in Canada.  Marvellous.  ....and the curlers seem to be doing OK.  Keep watching the Olympics, and then come to Mull.

All the best,

Tuesday 9th February 2010.

Wow! it's been a while since I last jotted.  We have been very busy clearing out books and things that we haven't looked at for years.  Not easy when you have had these 'friends' for so long.  What has been nice is the dry weather we've been having.  We've managed to be out almost every day, and I have also done some clearing up and path rebuilding in the garden.  OK it's a bit chilly but with an extra layer you soon warm up.

The woodpeckers are drumming away every morning now and they visit our feeders on a regular basis.  Three collared doves roam around the area searching for something they never seem to find.  So restless!  A single goldfinch has appeared in the last couple of days, but I've seen nothing of the woodcock that were around earlier. We see ravens croaking their way home most evenings, and the eagles are still around but proving a bit elusive just now.  The sparrowhawk has found a sneaky perch on a rock behind one of our bushes and has been photographed there a couple of times!!

Well, enjoy the weather if you can.  It's almost like April here - definitely the sunniest month in the last two years.  We look forward to seeing you all again.

Keep smiling.

Wednesday 6th January 2010.

Today has been brilliant.  Lots of sun, although cold.  I went for a walk which involved walking along the grass at the edge of the minor roads for some of the time, but all 'main' roads are ice free.  The views across to the 'hills' were superb.  Almost no wind so no wind chill factor, but I was glad to be back home after 40 mins.  The postman arrived about half an hour late, but who cares?  They do a fantastic job in these conditions - and does it really matter if you don't get that credit card statement today?

I see that England is getting plenty of snow - about 40cm where we used to live - while we have had none on the island for a couple of weeks!  So the AA and the police are saying don't travel unless it is essential.  What is essential?  Almost nothing I reckon.  The red cross ladies on Skye have been put on alert for several women who are expecting to give birth at any minute.  That's essential, but hopefully close by, and not the trip right across the country to the hospital in Inverness.  How far do you have to go for food?  If there's a corner shop, then you don't need your car for that, so why scrape four inches of snow off the wretched machine, and then climb in only to run off the end of the street because the council haven't the time, the staff, or the money to salt and clear the road.  Food and fuel deliveries have got to be essential.  Water, gas and electricity repairs (our friend has no heating or hot water until tomorrow night!), and ambulances.  So for goodness sake stay at home, keep warm and don't get in someone else's way!!

Unfortunately it looks like we have lost a number of our feathered friends, as I have less filling of the peanut feeders to do each day. The woodpeckers seem OK, the blackbirds are thriving on my (generous) apple cores, and the coal tits seem be hanging in there despite being so tiny.  I guess the woodcock that has been roosting in the ditch at the side of our road has perished, but maybe he's found a dry, warmer spot.  We've seen little of the eagles, which is strange as they usually like sunny wintry days. And the buzzards are hiding somewhere else. I also found a dead and frozen (feral?) cat in the ditch two days ago.  I hope its not the one that has taken to visiting my garden as he has been keeping the voles in check we think.

So, with another week or two of this to come, we had better look out our long-johns and stock up with coal (nuts), as well as comfort foods like mashed spuds and custard (no I have never had them together!!).  Good luck to you all.  Don't be over ambitious. We are off to Oban tomorrow - it'll take a while before the ferry gets frozen in!!!!

All the best,

Tuesday 22nd December.

Well, that's it!  Yesterday was the shortest day and it's downhill all the way now.  I went down to Lochbuie to try for some pictures of the midwinter sunset from the standing stones.  Yes, there was sun about yesterday, but not now. 

The roads were OK for the most part, but one or two places that had not been in the sun were a bit tricky.  Gilbert, the postie, had four wheel drive engaged and he had problems!  Anyway, I got there a bit late, and started to walk along the shore, managing four or five pictures before it became clear that there would be too many clouds to see the sunset.  I didn't even try to make it to the stones.  Driving back was a bit iffy.  I did most of it in second gear at steady revs to just keep moving steadily - and that worked fine.  The main roads had been beautifully cleared, so the last four miles were no problem.  Despite all that it was worth the trip. Apart from Gilbert I saw only two other cars, a young buzzard perched on a rock by the sea, and a great view of a male hen harrier on the way home (only 5 metres away).  Brilliant.

Today we had a little snow, but no sun at all so its been freezing all day.  I went out for a walk to stretch my legs, filled up the bird feeders - again -, split some logs, moved some pots of bulbs into the poly tunnel, emptied the ash can, and collected in the washing. (I spilled dressing from the salad last night on my - old - trousers, which doesn't want to come out!!  It's either that or chocolate!)  So now I'm here updating these jottings, and sending a last few e-cards to folk who have been forgotten.

Gilbert arrived with a pile of post, doubling the number of cards we have had in a single stroke.  At least one was postmarked the 15th, but he says he had one dated the 9th.  Where have they been?  We sent smoked trout to Ingrid's sister in Amsterdam about ten days ago and that has not arrived yet.  Perhaps it's swimming over!

There have been plenty of birds at the feeders just lately.  Loads of coal tits - my favourites -, the usual chaffinches, and several greenfinches that we don't usually see at this time of year.  One or two blue tits and great tits as well, but nothing exotic.  There are a couple of hoodies (hooded crows) who visit the oak tree on a regular basis, a trio of collared doves who fly around rather aimlessly, and a whole bunch of blackbirds - old ones, young ones and foreign ones.  They get the cores of our apples and pears as well as any overripe fruit. At least three different woodpeckers visit - probably four, and maybe more.  They are very shy though, so you have to be careful not to scare them away. 

So Christmas is nearly here.  We have done all our shopping - including food (probably got enough to last a month I think) - and only have to collect our milk on Thursday, so its batten down the hatches, get the fire going and enjoy.

Merry Christmas to you all, and a Happy and hopeful New Year if I don't make it before then. Keep smiling.

Sunday 22nd November.

Mmm...  I guess I should apologise... for not updating for so long.  You see we have been to France - same place again - for a month, and then the weather has been so foul it has been difficult to be positive about things, but here goes.

As I write, the rain is lashing against the window, and its pretty rough out there, but in here, we have the stove purring away - with coal nuts rather than wood which burns too quickly with a wind - a mug of tea on the table, a chewy biscuit (Mr Tesco makes them that way) for refreshment, and Andy Murray winning at the O2 arena.  And this the day after Scotland beat the Aussies at rugby for the first time in 27 years.  Absolutely brilliant! 

So we're OK really, because when you change channels you hear about all those folk in Cumbria who have been flooded out, and that poor policeman who was swept away. We are doing very well thank you.

Mull has had its share of rain, although there has been some sun, and we have been able to get out for a walk most days this week - apart from Thursday which was wet, wet, wet, but not as windy as forecast, so I did get to go to Oban and back with the shopping.  Lucky me.

The wildlife has been keeping its head down a bit lately, but we have seen loads of coal tits (they are just the best), several woodpeckers, and at least one golden eagle hunting over the field yesterday.  Also quite a few visiting blackbirds with dark beaks.  I believe the beak goes dark when they are low on energy, so these would be from Scandinavia.  I suppose it means they are not a threat to the local blackbirds, and can therefore feed up without being harassed.  Clever eh?

Birchgrove (and I) now have  a page on 'facebook'.  I'm not sure quite why, but it seems to be the in thing which is changing our society, and I thought we should find out a bit more.  If you are interested, please drop into the Birchgrove "page" and leave some comments - about the B and B or about these jottings if you like.

All the best.  Hope to hear from you soon.

Saturday 3rd October.

Well, it's blowing a gale here - literally.  It's dry one minute and wet the next, and I mean wet!  It is very gusty, but the ferry is still running on time.  Well done Calmac!

We have just returned from Glengorm Castle gallery, which is over their coffee shop. We have been taking down our exhibition which started about a month ago and has had a very good reception.  Ingrid sold about eight pieces, Susan (the painter) has sold eight paintings, and I sold three photographs, so we all did OK. then we had lunch together afterwards before heading home.

Now I am just updating here, catching up with the Grand Prix practice, and doing some more packing, as we are off to France this Monday. We've managed to get a deal on looking after someone's house for a month, so we shan't be back before bonfire night!  Brilliant.  We hope to talk to some builders about houses, but cannot do anything until we have sold Birchgrove. It only needs one person/couple!  In the meantime, we have folk coming to stay here, so the house will be kept warm and cosy and there will be someone around if they want to view. If not good old Gilbert, the postie, will show people around.  You can't get more positive than him so it should be OK.

I'll maybe jot to you while we are away.  It depends what sort of a connection we can get.  Hopefully October will have some sunshine here - and in England - I'm sure France will have.  Enjoy yourselves and we'll see you soon.

All the best.  Keep smiling,

Tuesday 22nd September.

Ooops! Sorry, sorry, sorry.  To be honest, at the end of August it was wet, wet, wet, and it was not a good time to be jotting.  Then the Wi-Fi router packed up and it took a while to suss it out, and then to obtain and set up a new one.  Clearly we are here now and hope that it all keeps working nicely.

Yesterday was quite interesting - lots of rain and wind (it is the equinox after all) - and I had to go to the dentist.  Two fillings no less, so I had to have two injections - one up and one down.  I arrived home and collapsed with a curdled brain!  All is better today.  A bit sore where they put those screw things around your teeth to stop the filling stuff going everywhere, but at least the head is back together.

In the meantime we've been trying to clear up the house, and the garden which has been left to itself while all this rain fell.  It's surprising what can be done in a couple of hours. While doing this, I came across a very young slow worm - probably only a few hours old. What a beautiful creature!  About 10cm long, a silvery colour with a black stripe down his back.  At the head end the stripe expanded into a triangle with the point towards his tail. Unfortunately, I was called away on a mission and did  not get the opportunity to photograph it.

Just walking along the path to the poly tunnel, I noticed a lizard flitting away. I was quite surprised as the temperature has dropped considerably recently, and we've had lows of 4C or 5C in the tunnel at night. Also saw a frog or two on the path and nearly squashed a big fat toad the other day.  It's all go!

A while back we had a text from Dave, the RSPB man, to say that one of the young eagles was over our house.  Would you believe we were out at the time!  Aargh!  Anyway a couple of days later we did see an immature eagle, with the start of a white tail, fly over the house very low.  Great.  And then we went to Grasspoint with our lunch and saw both Mum and Dad on the cormorants' rock (you can tell from the droppings). Also one of the youngsters flying towards them over the fields and beach.  The person walking their dog did not see it as it flew a few metres above their head.  What a pity!

Ah ha! the sun is out again so I must go outside for a bit.  See you next time.  Not long now to the end of the season, and then we are on holiday.

All the best.  Keep smiling.

Sunday 9th August.

Wow! That was quite a week.  Choc a bloc all week.  Mixed weather, some days good, some a bit wet, some excellent.  However, the west coast was almost always dry by lunchtime, so there was somewhere for folk to go and to enjoy being dry.

Yesterday, I was just moving things in the poly tunnel and found two lizards under an empty black seed tray.  Both were quite small, but very nice nonetheless.  A nobbly toad jumped lazily out of my way between plant pots, and we rescued several butterflies from the tunnel.  A mouse chewed off three campanula flowers, stems and all, and then left the flowers themselves under the big azalea outside the dining room. A vole was seen sifting through the seed dropped by the siskins.  Mmm! I think I'll remove that feeder when the siskins move on.  Little Robbie is still around, and there is an even younger, and smaller one in the garden too.  Saw our first greenfinches for a while, and heard the geese that have set up camp down at the loch. No eagles for us this week, but our guests have been quite lucky at Grasspoint. We think we'll take our coffee down there one day this week.

This week we both bought new shoes from Field and Trek -  at much reduced prices.  Not before time for me as my others literally fell apart two days later.  And I also got a new shaver from boots.com which means shaving is a pleasure again, and is done far more quickly.  Anyway, I must go and select a few more pictures for our exhibition...

All the best.

Monday 3rd August.

Well, here we are in August already and the weather is poor - down South too my sister tells me.  What ever happened to that dry hot summer we were promised?  I bet its better in France!  Nevertheless there are still plenty of you about - leaving things until the last minute, and then getting in a panic because there are no rooms free on the day.  Be prepared I say - now where have you heard that before?  We have just about organised our trip to France in October - so there......

The new feeder is a great success.  The siskins are on there almost permanently, with two of them sitting opposite each other, often both pecking at the same time, rather like a Victorian toy.  The young blackbirds are hopping around , generally getting in the way, and scolding us when we come too close.  Yesterday I saw a very new robin - we have had a youngster around for quite a time already - so they are doing well.  Young buzzy is making himself heard quite a lot, and we did get a glimpse of him yesterday - when the weather was quite nice for a while - with absolutely pristine feathers looking very handsome.  There have also been toads jumping across the drive, and newts down the path.  It's all happening here.

I am also trying to get some photographs ready for an exhibition with Susan, who paints with acrylics, and Ingrid with her pottery. It is due to open on September the 4th so I need to get a move on.  In which case, I'd better leave you, and hope to see you soon.

Sunday the 19th July.

I'm trying to write this while watching the end of the Open Golf.  Will the old timer, Tom Watson, win.  Old Timer! He's only 59 years old.  He wouldn't even have a 'crinkly' card here.

Summer appears to have deserted us just now.  Its been showering all day, and the temperature has dropped quite a bit, but then it has in Somerset my sister says. Everything in the poly tunnel has slowed down, but we've had currants and gooseberries out of there which were very nice indeed, and the basil from the hydroponics is extremely tasty.

Last week we were given a feeder with thistle seed in it.  I hung it up on Tuesday and the birds have taken all week to find it, but now the siskins have found out how to work it and have been there all day - until now - when all the birds seem to have disappeared for some reason.  The chaffinches are doing well out of the new feeder also, by picking up the seed dropped by the siskins. There was an army of them below it at lunchtime today.  The grasshopper warbler has started up again, singing well today despite the lack of sun.

OK We're into the play-off now, so I'll love and leave you.  Several spaces left in the next couple of weeks, so let's see you up here.  You'll have to be quick to catch the puffins before they leave for the open sea.

Monday the 13th July

That was nice.  We just had a week away. My sister had her 70th birthday, so we trundled down to Norwich to see her and some of the family.  We all had a good meal out, but the next day I ended up helping to put up marquees for another barbeque!  Then we spent a couple of days with a potter friend of Ingrid's that we have not seen for 10 years or so.  Excellent food and good company too.  It was just good to have food put in front of us for a change, and to just sit back and relax.  However, if we are ever uncertain as to how good our showers are, all we have to do is go away.  I can't stand little dribble showers that take ages to make you wet!  We have the best showers ever!!

But what a delight to sleep in your own bed, to sit in your own chair and to drink your own coffee, especially when mr snipe is sitting on the garden fence and talking to you from time to time.  It's nice to go travelling but it's oh so nice to come home.

Today has been sun and rain, but I did manage to strim all the important parts between showers.  Lots of paperwork to catch up on, and lots of weeding to do in the garden.  I'll love you and leave you until next week.  Enjoy life...