It's been a while...

It's been a while since I wrote anything so here is a quick catch up!

Tony and I have been to the

 "Isle of Whithorn" in Scotland and then up to "The Black Isle" also in Scotland.

We are safely back home now and settled into our usual routine.

Instead of boring you with too much writing I will put some photo's on for you to look at.

The only things I will comment on are...

The view across the Harbour at The Isle of Whithorn was lovely

until...

the workmen decided to stay at the pub next door and park the van right across the front of our window even though the entire street was empty.

I hoped to see Red Squirrels while we were in Scotland, according to the website it was teeming with them where we were stopping. 

We visited every wood and forest in the area it named, did we see one ? What do you think?

We travelled up to the Black Isle my brother told me where to look. Again we went out hunting them. 

Did we find did ? NO WE DID NOT! 

We set off home my chances of seeing a Red Squirrel all over, but then I could not believe my eyes there in front of me, running across the A9 was a flipping Red Squirrel. Of course no camera no photo but I had seen a Red Squirrel. Just you wait next time I will get a photo, I will just sit at the side of the A9!

Tony with his supper the first night at the Isle of Whithorn.

He bought theses from a man called Andy who had just sailed into the harbour on a boat called Bright Horizons.

Ninians Landing 

This is where we stayed at the Isle of Whithorn.The apartment was very nice inside with everything we needed. 

We called into Wigtown (also known as Book Town) they have a visitor centre which has a live camera watching an Osprey nest. I have to say they don't look like Ospreys to me.

I had some fun with my camera and the sky, I took some different kind of shots that I wouldn't usually take.
I was quite happy with the results I got, I might even experiment more often just to see what else I can do. It makes a change from birds!

Just to finish off here are a few birds it wouldn't be right without them would it?

The last photo has to go to the star of the week

Sleeping or hunting?

It wasn't me !

We were up at 5am this morning getting ready for the car boot sale at York Racecourse. The weather didn't look very promising, the sky was grey and there was a touch of drizzle, but it took more than that to stop hardened car boot buyers like us off.
Elvira picked us up at 6.30am and off we went. Tony sat in the back seat and clicked away with his camera, he was quite happy, it made a change for him not to be driving.
As we approached York the drizzle had turned to a shower, we grumbled a bit like you do, the usual things, " blooming weather" "sod's law" "just knew it would bloody rain" However as we arrived at the racecourse the rain stopped and it didn't rain again all the time we were there. We spent maybe 2 1/2 to 3 hours walking round I bought a couple of books, Tony bought a laptop bag for 20p so he was happy and a watch that he played with most of the way home. Elvira must have been glad when we got there I think.

I decided to change the bedding, stripping the bed was easy couple of minutes done! Remaking the bed, 2 hours yes thats right 2 hours. Then I had to sit down for an hour just to breathe properly, to let my hands go back to the normal size and for my face to return to normal (whatever that is).

Lynsey was supposed to be calling in today but didn't have time, she has gone to Christopher's. They are going out along with Hannah and some friends to celebrate Christopher and Hannah's birthdays. All I can say is look out Barnsley.

This is Christopher and Hannah taken at a Toby carvery were we had lunch with them recently.

This is Lynsey after running in the race for life last year.
She is running again this year, if anybody would like to sponsor her I can give you the link to her site it is

http://www.raceforlifesponsorme.org/lturner2012

Crazy weather...

On wednesday it snowed, it was freezing and the sky was white,
On thursday the sun shone, the sky was blue and it was pleasantly warmish,
Today it is overcast , the sky is grey and it is cold.

You just cannot plan what to do, where to go or what to wear in advance because the weather changes so quickly. Last week we had record breaking temperatures in some places and this week it is below freezing in the very same places. Is mother nature having a laugh or what?

I spent some time in the shed yesterday (Thursday) seeing as the sun was out, I took some photo's I think are good enough to share, so first of all are...


Nesting Blue Tits.

The Blue Tits were back and forth to the box for hours. I got as close as I could to take the shots.
One of the birds is staying very close to the box while the other goes further and returns with a beak full of nesting material. Blue Tits have nested in this box every year since we have lived here.

Then we have...

Robins.

The Robin was sitting on the bush when I went for the shot, he took flight just as I pressed the button and this was the result. Not a great result by any means but I like it.

 I don't know why this Robin is standing like this, but he stood for about 3 or 4 minutes before suddenly giving a burst of song then flying away.

This Robin was flying back and forth from the feeder picking out the suet, then disappearing into the hedge with it. I don't know if there is a second pair nesting in there!

This Robin sang a beautiful song while sitting on the fence. He then flew into the next garden where I know there are a pair of Robins nesting.











Followed by...

Starlings.

This Starling stood on the post on one leg for about five minutes before flying away up onto the roof. I never saw if he actually had two legs or not!

This little fella sang his heart out, flapped his wings and tried his hardest, but the other Starling just ignored him.