Yesterday was a sad day...

Yesterday was a sad day, I learned that Tess Matchgirl and Bassman's beloved cat had passed away.
I was very upset to hear this, I rang to pass on my condolences then I admit I had a bit of a weep while looking at the photo's I have of Tess. By the time I had finished looking through them I was smiling again, thinking of the fun Tony and I had spent looking after Tess when we were cat sitting in Scotland. Tess had Tony wrapped round her paw, he was so soppy with her I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it. Tess will never be forgotten she had a character which was unique there will never be another cat like her, she is a life long memory.

Bassman has written a book about Tess's adventures, he  received an email yesterday to tell him the books were ready for collection from the printers (not good timing), if you are interested in a book or you would like to look at the book please go to the following link...http://www.russellturner.org/acatcalledtess.asp 

From this link you will also be able to find bassman's blog were you can read more about Tess, pinemartens and the world of Bassman.

Shopping lists and signs...

In the car park at the supermarket the other morning I had a little giggle to myself, just a small one mind I didn't over do it. I saw a shopping list in a trolly, I decided it had to be left by a man, see what you think, this is how it read...

Bacon Grill

Pork Pies 

Brown Sauce

Bottle of Whiskey

I was amazed that whoever it was had to write it down, Tony just looked at me and shook his head. You of all people saying that he laughed, I really don't know what he means. Now where was I????

Another thing that made me laugh this week and I did really laugh. We went to B&Q just to pick up some paint and have a look round, something caught my eye, I nudged Tony and told him to look. I usually have a camera with me so I took a quick snap...

                                                                      Only in B&Q.  

Tony is busy painting the staircase and hallway at the moment, I am busy keeping out of the way. 

I am re-reading the Twilight series of books again at the moment. I have read them all before but I am enjoying them just as much the second time round because I have forgotten so much of them, (memory loss is so useful at times). I have seen one of the films but I did not enjoy it they seem to have lost a lot of the story from the book, so if you have seen the films but not read the books read them they are so much better, or thats my opinion any how.

The garden is still very quiet, the Sparrowhawk is still flying around, diving into the garden grabbing a small bird every now and again, the other day he took a Collar Dove, just flew straight in grabbed the Dove and away. It happened so quickly if you blinked you missed it, certainly no chance of photographing it.

The Blackbirds were in a flap this morning a white cat with a few black marking was raiding the nests in the bushes in the garden in the neighbouring gardens. We are not sure if the cat took any young birds but Tony thinks it might have taken a young Blackbird. They really have had a lot of bad luck this year, the Hawk has taken quite a few, the Magpies, next doors cat and now a strange cat. 

 My Friendly  Blackbird

 My Friendly Blackbird

      My Friendly Robin

The female Blackbird and of course the Robin are still coming to the shed for feeding, when the live mealworms run out they are happy with shredded suet. They both come inside the shed now sometimes Junior Robin comes in, he is no worse for flying into the window a few days ago, Robin even comes and shelters from the rain with me if I am in the shed. His favourite perch is still the green filing cabinet in the corner, he has full view of the garden and easy access through either window, he is not daft.

We think the Sparrowhawk is helping to keep the Pigeons away, they don't come as often and when they do they don't stay as long.

We had a bus ride to Leeds a few days ago, there are some pretty strange sights in Leeds. As usual I had a camera with me and yes I took a few pictures but this is an entirely different kind of wild life...

it can be fun just watching people and snapping away with a camera sometimes you surprise yourself with the results and sometimes you dont. I often get a giggle from what I take even if I don't get a masterpiece it gets me out of the flat we have some fun, fresh air and exercise, just what the doctor ordered! 

It's so quiet in the garden...

Things have been very quiet in the garden, even the pigeons disappeared for a day or two. It didn't last they are back and have almost doubled in number!
The garden birds seem to have vanished apart from Mrs Blackbird, a few Starlings, a handful of Sparrows and a couple of Robins. Oh Mrs Blackbird finally brought her youngster out on show and very handsome he/she is too.

I confused the Squirrels the other day, I took the camera and tripod to the other side of the garden. I stood against the wall and waited, it was worth the wait. The Squirrels stopped and looked as if to say "whats she doing over there?" " thats not right"

Well things got so quiet I had to look for something to take pictures of so here are some different shots!

All still from the garden of course.

Where do I start?

 I suppose it should be with an apology...

I have been neglecting my blog, I know, I got a telling off from someone who shall remain nameless, she knows who she is so enough said!

I have been spending a bit of time in the garden, in fact we nearly had bird wars at one point, my friendly Robin very nearly became unfriendly.

As you know Robin has his dish on the shed window sill were he like to feast on live mealworms

A female Blackbird has started to come and eat the live mealworms, I threw some down on the ground for her and she would gather them up and fly away  with a beak full obviously still feeding young chicks somewhere close by.

Then one day when Robin wasn't around this happen'd

Oh dear I thought Robin is not going to like that!!!!!

I was quite pleased the Blackbird felt safe enough to come so close and to allow me to photograph her, but I knew if Robin came while she was there he would not be pleased.

Robin appeared on the fence, he looked in horror at the Blackbird who flew away with a beak full of worms.

Robin jumped in the window and looked at me,

Gave me his stern look,

Then stood in front  of his dish as if to say this is my dish, not a Blackbirds MY dish!

The next day I put another dish out on the floor with live mealworms in for the Blackbird

That made both of them happy.

I am not sure which dish Mr Blackbird took the mealworms from?

While all this has been going on we have had some new visitors, a Thrush and 2 young I only managed to catch one of the young on camera

          The Wrens have been back

The Squirrels are still rushing about like hooligans in fact yesterday evening Tony shouted me to tell me we had squirrels mating on the wall at the end of the garden, 

No I didn't get a picture!

Mrs Squirrel eating a fruit & chocolate chip cookie she is a cookie monster.

Young Mr Squirrel posing typical macho male

Young Mr Squirrel eating a monkey nut (need I say more?) 

Much nicer pictures than mating squirrels don't you agree?

The rain came down...

The rain just never stopped falling yesterday, there were floods round about town that closed roads,cancelled local activities and just caused chaos in general. Living in an upstairs flat has some advantages, although we did keep looking out just to check. It goes to show that the thousands of pounds the Wakefield Council has spent on flood defence schemes has been well spent! (all the usual places flooded, what a waste that was).
This morning the sun is trying to push through the clouds, so we had a bus ride into town to do a little bit of shopping just in case we cannot get out again tomorrow! We called into the bank where we saw Aunty Alice and Vivienne. Vivienne told me it had been her 60th birthday the previous friday and they had been at Bridlington. Aunty Alice said yes I love lobster tails so I bought one £1.40 it cost everybody else had fish and chips, anyway I had just got this Lobster tail and this great big seagull swooped down and pinched it. All it left me with was the tray! Our Gary bought me another and the flipping thing tried to take that one as well.
Aunty Alice and Vivienne had not been out for 2 days because of the rain and floods, when the roads had been closed it had affected where they live. So they sat and watched a duck with her duckling swimming around where the children's train usually runs in the park as it is all under water, the ducks don't mind they have an extra pond or two!

The garden has been quiet today even the Starlings have been low in numbers. My friendly Robin comes and sits inside the shed now his favourite perch seems to be on the green filing cabinet in the corner, he can see through both windows from there and when he leaves I never know which one he will choose, so sometimes I lose some hair as he zips over my head.
I haven't seen Junior for a while so I don't know if he is still around, but I did notice a smaller Robin chick in the garden today so I think we have more babies appearing all the time.
Spot hasn't been seen the last few nights but I would imagine he is staying somewhere dry as long as he can.
The Squirrels are here everyday, the young ones twice even three times, we have been kept entertained with them on the cross bar. The young male can reach the coconut halves no trouble but the female reaches across with her front paws and her back ones slide down the post until she lets go and just swings until she drops. They also have discovered the ball feeder on the side of the shed, they can both reach that and happily hang on there eating the sunflower seeds. (not always a pretty site if it is the male).

By 3:15pm the heavens opened the rain started to fall again but not for long. Lets hope next week is going to be better weather wise,  this is supposed to be summer after all.

 Young Starling in his new waistcoat.

  Hiding in the sparrow bush.

  A very tatty looking Blackbird.

 The young Male Squirrel.  

A visit from Mrs Squirrel

The weather has not been good, I have been suffering with a migraine that couldn't make it's mind up wether it was coming full blown or just hovering around my head. It finally decided to give a full blown attack yesterday, anyone who has migraines will understand what I mean, I am now at the flashing lights and unreal feeling, needing to drink gallons of water and feel sick at the thought of food, but know I have to force some down to get rid of the last of the migraine or it will sneak back up on me.
Right enough about that.

I was sitting in the bedroom doing nothing really when Tony shouted to me, "look out of your window" I did and this is what I saw! Mrs Squirrel sitting arms crossed staring into my bedroom window from the large fir tree outside.

I got the impression she wanted something, Tony said she had come looking for nuts because I had not filled the boxes.

I just had to take the opportunity to take some photo's

I have never seen any of the Squirrels in this tree before, I like to think Mrs Squirrel came to see if I was alright, but I guess Tony is probably right she just wanted to know where the nuts were!