A bad day...

Today has been a bad day.

Todays photo of the day

Supper

A warm drink and a bun.

My Tigger cup was a birthday present from Christopher and Hannah about 3 years ago, it is the only cup I use so I am very careful with it.

Until tomorrow...

We have gone from snow to wind and rain, I think I preferred the snow!
It is still cold so there is no real improvement there. I was however warm today as I spent most of it in the kitchen.
I made 3 date and walnut cakes (theres one for you mum) some cornish pasties and some carrot,apple and bran muffins.
I am not sure Tony was keen on the muffins (healthy you see, not his sort of thing).

I have not been outdoors today so I had to find a photo of the day in the flat, so I looked around for a while until I found something I thought suitable, so this is what I decided on...

Todays photo of the day

Mr Wolf

He looks very distinguished in his bowler hat doesn't he?

I will try harder tomorrow until then...

Back in the shed...

The weather is a bit warmer, just a bit wetter.
The sun came out for a while so I took advantage and went back in the shed.
The garden was a little quiet, there wasn't much about to start with. However patience prevailed and the garden livened up. The squirrels snuck in when my back was turned but I managed to catch them. The Blue Tits have been busy flying to and fro we have been keeping an eye on them. They seem to be showing a lot of interest in the nest box on the sycamore tree that they usually nest in every year. Both Tony and I have seen them going in and out of it so we are wondering if they are thinking about getting it ready even though it does seem a little bit early.

I have decided that the picture I would use today is one I like because the bird in question is a feisty bird she is making it known that it is her territory, she is fighting for it, she intends to keep it. I like the background colouring, so here it is...

Todays photo of the day

The Feisty Female Blackbird

I did have a close second I very nearly used a photo of one of the squirrels, so I am also going to put that photo on for you to see, You are so lucky...

Squirrel

Until tomorrow...

A walk through Batley

Todays photo of the day

A walk through Batley

Short and sweet.

Until tomorrow...

A very disturbed night...

Last night I had trouble sleeping the rain was torrential, it poured down most of the night. It bounced of the roof lashed against the windows and kept me awake most of the night. The wind blew and competed with Tonys snoring. Now if I had managed to sleep I would probably of outdone them all, I know I can snore for England as I have often woken myself up doing just that.

So looking out of the window this morning it came as no surprise to see that the 3-4 inches of snow that had covered the back garden on saturday was no longer there. The only trace of it was little blobs here and there, mainly on the shed roof. Hopefully now it might warm up a bit, I hope you all took up the prime ministers suggestion and built your snowmen before the snow disappeared, you know what I am talking about surely his great idea of us all building snowmen to help with the slowing down of the floods! Yes a great idea I am sure you all agree I just don't know how he comes up with them, and he is running the country hmm!

Christopher called in to see us today, he is still looking for more work as the work he has is not enough to cover the bills. He is trying hard he has applied for 7 jobs this week, he gets as far as interviews but then never hears anything which I think is just plain rude.

Well we had a visitor in the garden today we have not seen for a while so even though it is not a fantastic picture, (I know not many of them are just lately) it is going to be...

Todays photo of the day

Female Great Spotted Woodpecker

The wind sounds to be blowing again and the rain is once again hitting the window it sounds like it could be another restless night. I shall fill my hot water bottle put it into bed and prepare myself for the night .

Until tomorrow...

The big garden birdwatch...

Today Tony and I counted the birds in the garden as part of the big garden birdwatch 2013.
As you would have guessed the usual suspects were not to be seen, I could imagine them hiding in the bushes, "no don't go yet the hours not up, they will still be counting, wait five minutes then they will have finished", as soon as the hour was over the garden was full.
I know I could have done it again later or tomorrow but it's done now and submitted on line so thats it until next year.

I spent the rest of the day in a rather lazy way, watching TV catching up on Law & Order UK that I had recorded during the week and reading. I am back to the Roberta Kray books again , the one I am reading is called " The Pact" It is about a 34 year old woman called Eve daughter of a recently deceased conman, her younger brother is in jail and she has made a deal with an older intimidating and powerful con called Cavelli, to protect him but she is now beginning to think she may well be forming a pact with the wrong man...
It is one of the best books I have read by Roberta Kray and unfortunately appears it may be the last for the moment as I cannot find any more that I have not read. So if any one can suggest any good authors to try I am open to suggestions! I am even getting use to reading books on my ipad ( Tony is using it to read at the moment, I hope he doesn't get too attached to it!)

Well while we were counting the birds in the garden I managed a couple of photos so I did get a picture for today so here it is...

Todays photo of the day

The Crow

If anyone else wants to join in with the big garden birdwatch just go to the following link to find out all about it.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch/

Well until tomorrow...

I am so bloody mad I could swear...

Today I got a letter in the post from ATOS, now you may remember back in october I had to go for a medical assessment, to see if I was fit for work. It took them 7 weeks to decide that I wasn't so then I was told that I would receive ESA payments for at least a year. Well let me tell you they tell lies...
When I opened the letter and saw the form saying I had to fill it in and that my incapacity benefit could be changing to ESA I thought they had made a mistake, so I rang them to tell them, only to be told,
it is not a mistake I was only awarded the benefit for 6 months now I have to reapply. I couldn't  believe   it. I wouldn't mind but all this stress makes my condition worse.

Anyway enough of that lets move on to something better...

I managed an hour down in the shed this afternoon the Long tailed tits were in the garden again buzzing around like little bees. There are still loads of blackbirds and one of the thrushes made a short visit.  The little male squirrel popped in but not for long I think it is too cold for them.

Chris is supposed to be coming tomorrow but it depends on the weather, we have been forecast more heavy snowfall overnight in fact it is snowing as I am writing this.

I have decided on todays photo it is a regular garden visitor and a popular one...

Todays photo of the day...

Robin

His expression reminds me of how I felt when I opened that bloody letter...

Until tomorrow...