Some very busy squirrels

The two squirrels in the garden have been very busy, playing, emptying the nut boxes, burying the nuts and even coming up to the shed window to help themselves to nuts.

The squirrels payed chase round the garden.

I don't know why but this usually ends up with one or both squirrels hanging from a tree or sitting on a fence with a nut sticking out of their mouths. I wonder if this is a sign that they have won or lost the game?

Nut boxes are emptied and the nuts distributed throughout the neighbourhood.

The squirrels are not tight by any means they bury the nuts in all the surrounding gardens as well as ours. The neighbours can often be seen scratching their heads after finding sprouting peanuts in their plant pots, I can imagine them thinking, "I don't remember planting that!".

Regular rests are needed.

All this running about and nut gathering is very tiring, so of course squirrels have to take regular breaks. Some like to just chill out on the fence, others like to relax with a ready shelled nut or two.

Ready shelled hazelnuts a treat.

The ready shelled hazelnuts are a special treat only found occasionally on the shed windowsill, so only the bravest squirrels managed to get these.

A very special treat.

There was a small Dunnock enjoying some seeds on the table when all of a sudden a very wicked Robin flew over and attacked him. 

Robin looking very pleased with himself.

The poor Dunnock was so upset he left the table and hid in the bush beside it not daring to come out.

Dunnock hiding in the bush.

Mr Blackbird across the garden saw it all

He just carried on eating his berries he didn't want the Robin bothering him!

Even the squirrels seemed to be talking about Robin

I think Robin being a bully in the garden will not be forgotten for quite a while.

We had a visit earlier in the week from my son Chris, his better half Joanne, and my grandson Logan. Logan came dressed as Woody from Toy Story. The only thing he didn't have was a hat. So Logan was very happy to borrow my hat to have his photo taken.

Logan as Woody from Toy Story.

Pepper update:-

Pepper is on the mend. He does not like taking his medication and makes it very difficult for Lynsey when she tries to give him the pills. Pepper still attempts to bite her and at times succeeds. However she still perseveres and asked the vet for an instrument to fire the pills down his throat, now she just has to catch him!

"Pepper what's that smell?"  "It's Lynsey's feet under this blanket Biscuit"

"Oh good I thought it was me or you!!!" 

Until the next time...

Relaxing at home...

Pepper, Lynsey's eldest cat went missing for 24 hours. As you can imagine she began to imagine alsorts of things. She was very relieved when he reappeared. There was a lot of blood on his fur but it didn't seem to be Peppers blood. Lynsey tried to check him over but Pepper was not having that! Every time Lynsey tried to touch him he would scratch, bite, or hiss at her. Having second thoughts about it Lynsey decided to leave him for a while after all he was eating, drinking and walking OK. She decided she would leave it till he fell asleep then try again.

Pepper looking healthy before going missing.

Biscuit Lynsey's other cat didn't seem too sure of what was happening. Lynsey said "Biscuit really isn't helping!" So I asked what she meant? "Well " she replied " He keeps throwing his toys at Pepper!" when I stopped laughing I told her maybe he has missed him and wants to play. I don't think Lynsey was amused with my answer.

Lynsey has just rung to say it cost £77:96 and she has to go back for xrays if he is no better.

Biscuit

Biscuit also has to go for an xray for respiratory problems.

The garden has had a visit from a beautiful Thrush,

Thrush in the garden

The highest number of birds at the moment are Goldfinches.

Sometimes just one

Sometimes in groups

My brother is training for the London Marathon in April, I am a lot more laid back.

Relaxing in my onsie and Doc's.

Until the next time...

School Problems & A trip to Ani-Mel-Haven.

Today has been interesting!!!
having a school at the bottom of your garden that caters for "special children" can be quite exhausting at times.
There is one boy who attends that is more of a handful than most. He is often seen standing on the wall at the bottom of the garden, swearing at the staff, spitting at them or throwing things at them, a really pleasant child. I have had things thrown at me on several occasions when I have been in the garden. He has also spat at me, swears at me on a regular basis, of course, the best course of action is to ignore him.
He has however now got a sidekick. A smaller, younger boy who follows him around and does everything he is told. So now there are two boys swearing, shouting, throwing and spitting at the staff and residents.
Today for over an hour members of staff walked in and out of our garden without asking or even a word to us, when they tried to remove these two boys from the wall at the bottom of our garden. The gate was left open banging shut in the wind, so now it is sprained and will not shut properly. It's not that we mind the staff coming in to the garden, but a bit of respect would go a long way. Once in the garden, they walk all over, across the lawn, climb on pots and boxes to see over the wall and fences on either side. One of the male teachers stood in the garden next door and climbed onto our fence to look into our garden, he had no regard as to whether the fence was strong enough to hold him. Two female members of staff in our garden as well as climbing on things walked around the back of the greenhouse for no apparent reason, walked on the gravelled areas kicking the gravel over the lawn.

This all came to a sudden stop when a neighbour who shall remain nameless ran down next doors garden shouting at the boys, "get back into that school now!". The two boys ran, one into the school and the usual suspect was so scared he ran clear across the playground and up the fence at the other side. He sat there looking back wondering where the voice had come from. Again the voice called out "come back here right now" the boy answered "f#ck off" and booming back my neighbour called "don't you swear at me, you come here right now" the boy climbed down the fence and ran to the school door knocking for someone to open the door to let him in.
There was a round of applause went up from the gardens, as the neighbour climbed back down herself with a beaming smile. Everyone agreed she should have been there an hour sooner. She had done what we all wished we had the courage to do!

Tony and I have had a trip to a caravan sited on a Garden Centre car park. We know how to live!
The caravan was cosy and warm, the garden centre had a small animal sanctuary attached to it, called Ani-Mel-Haven.  There were some beautiful animals in there that had been abandoned or abused.

Plop the Tawny Owl.

Plop was found by some children and taken to a vet. He had fallen out of his nest when he was only a chick, he will never be released back into the wild, he lives inside the garden centre.

Two Rescued Hedgehogs

These two will be kept inside until they reach a set weight, then they will live in an enclosure in the grounds of the garden centre.

 Ruddy Duck 

This Ruddy Duck has been resident for about 7-8 years. His beak turns this beautiful blue colour during mating season.

A Cute Face waiting for a friend.

There are a few ferrets in the sanctuary.

Smile for the camera.

These two wanted to know what Tony was doing, they made an excellent picture.

Butterflies in the Garden Centre

Sitting pretty the butterflies were easy to capture on photos.

Greedy Seagull

This greedy seagull tap danced on top of the caravan until one of us went outside and fed it. The Seagull was an ex-resident of the sanctuary.

 Honey Bunny

We called this little rabbit, Honey Bunny, no matter where we looked he always seemed to appear.

Until the next time...