It's been so long...

 

I think this situation is finally sending me crazy. I saw this on the internet a while ago and I know I have used it before but it sums up just how I feel.

I haven't written anything for so long, because when you are not going anywhere or doing anything, there really is nothing to write about.

I decided that I would just let you know I am still out here and to wish you all...

Hopefully I will write again soon, in the meantime stay safe & healthy.

Until the next time...

Covid-19 has been taken over by the heatwave and thunder storms...

 

The heatwave has given people something else to talk about, it is no longer just covid-19.

I have noticed however that there are more people gathering in neighbouring gardens. The ones that should know better as well. One neighbour who works at Pinderfields hospital had a paddling pool out in his garden yesterday and today with of course children in it. He doesn't have any children of his own, they are children who live further down the street. I don't think I would want my children in a paddling pool with other kids at the moment or in the garden in a large group including somebody that works in the hospital. He is a porter so works in all areas.

Thunderstorms are another topic of conversation at the moment. We have been given warnings but so far have not really had any. There was some rain and a little bit of thunder last night but nothing to worry about, in Wakefield anyway. We have been very lucky, up in Scotland a lot of areas have had floods, de-railed trains, buildings struck by lightening causing them to catch fire. So far it has not been where my brother lives so hopefully it will pass by him and his wife.

Covid-19 of course is still high on the list of conversation, some of the areas near to us have been put back in lockdown, we are on the concern list, so if things don't improve we could be next. I hope not, even though neither Tony or I are really bothered about going out much it's just knowing if you need to you can. Of course I have started visiting my Mum and I don't want that to have to end again. 

Lynsey is not dealing well with this heat, as I am writing this she has had a seizure in town and is in A&E waiting to be checked over. The daft thing is she was only in town because she had a Dr's appointment. 

GARDEN UPDATE

We have twin young squirrels,  they both have brown bodies and grey striped tails. I know one of them is a boy I don't know about the other one yet.

Meet The Twins.

The young dunnock is still in the garden on it's own, I have only seen one this year and I never saw it getting fed by any parent bird.

The Young Dunnock.

Tony took this photo of the Collar Dove family they usually visit on a morning and an evening. There was six in the family but the Sparrow Hawk has taken a couple. We think it was the Sparrow Hawk but we are not sure we think one of them could have been taken by a Peregrine.

The Collar Dove Family.

Tony is not too bad at the moment, he has his good days and bad days, he gets frustrated because he cannot do the things he wants to do. I can understand that because I feel exactly the same. I am having problems eating at the moment but that is something that won't hurt me I could do to lose a few pounds or even a stone or two. I know I need to eat and I do and when I can't manage solids I have soup, rice pudding, porridge or ice cream, lots of ice cream.

Well I am beginning to ramble, stay safe and well,

Until the next time...

 

I just don't know how I feel anymore...

I was quite happy staying at home, going out once a week to do whatever shopping was needed, if Lynsey needed any we would pick her some up too.

Then, Boris has to go and change things, now you can go to the pub, you can go to cafes or restaurants, you can go out in larger groups. Is he mad didn't he realise that it was all too soon, it would backfire on him. Well now there are towns going back into lockdown he will have to think again.

Tony and I still only go shopping once a week, I go to see my Mum once a week (I just could not wait any longer). However apart from that the garden is the only place I spend anytime outdoors. Our neighbours, mix with who ever they want, they have barbecues with numerous friends, that doesn't surprise me because the grandparents have never stopped coming from day one. 

The favourite thing round here at the moment seem's to be hot tubs in the garden.

One of our neighbours has one in the front garden, they have had it for the last year or two. They are not bothered what other people think and can be seen regularly reclining in the tub, weather permitting. The couple across the road have also acquired a hot tub which is also in the garden but is screened by a fence and a roof. There has been stories in the local papers and on-line of hot tubs being stolen over night so I hope they have plenty of security, I would hate for them to loose their enjoyment and  in one case the therapy for medical ailments.

Tony is getting along quite well at the moment no major changes, I am still waiting for my injections, no surprise there.

The garden is busy we have four young squirrels bouncing about like idiots. There doesn't seem to be much birdlife though. We did have some doves taken a few days ago but we are not sure what by. The sparrow hawk usually plucks it and eats it where it takes it, unless it is disturbed, however this time there were very few feathers and it happened so quickly we think it might have been a peregrine. It was about the right time for the Wakefield Cathedral Peregrines to be learning how to fend for themselves. The peregrines have been spotted out this way before it is not far to here from the cathedral as the crow flies or peregrine in this case.

Now for a few photo's...

1.

Squirrel trying to get to the peanuts at the other side of the feeder.

2.

Squirrel with it's head stuck in the peanut butter tub.

3.

  Young squirrel doesn't know how to use his tail as an umbrella yet.

   

4.

  This squirrel had just been having a nosy under the shed.

5.

Ooop's that was close she almost fell off.

 

6.

Mrs Blackbird picks out all the sultanas for herself.

7.

  The female great spotted woodpecker loves the new peanut feeder

The other birds are not too sure of this feeder yet so the woodpecker family have it all to themselves.

8.

The bees are really enjoying the lavender in the garden.

I have my first Buddlia bush this year and it has some gorgeous blooms on it so I am hoping for some shots of butterflies soon.

9.

A regular sight on the roads near us and very nice to see.

I always take a photo, the man tips his hat smiles and waves. He is a real gentleman of the road.

Keep safe and well

until the next time...

I think this lockdown is taking it out of me...

I decided this when I found myself playing hide & seek with squirrel.

He did find some really good hiding places.

Hide & seek with squirrel.

I have been to the dentist today and finally managed to have 1 of the teeth removed that was bothering me, only 2 more to go. I don't know when that will happen , I am going to ask if they will just remove them all, I have more spaces than teeth now so they might as well.

Here are a few more shots from the garden...

A Wren

An unfortunate Dunnock.

Who has lost all the feathers from his/her head.

A Juvenile Dunnock

A Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker

Lynsey has had a couple of trips to A&E in the last week or two, not with the covid-19 situation but with seizure related and other ongoing health issues, she is still struggling a bit but doesn't seem too bad.

Tony is having problems with his legs and shoulder, however, he will not let it get the better of him.

As I said earlier I am getting my teeth sorted, but I am still no closer to getting any injections in my knees. Well I suppose I am, I have been placed on a list to be contacted when they become available. I think thats just to stop me nagging.

I hope everybody is staying safe and well,

Until the next time...

Hmmm

It's been a while but this pandemic leaves me with nothing much to write about.
So, lets have some quick catch ups first,

Health
Tony is still having problems with his legs, he is having a lot of pain in his shoulder and is on water tablets to reduce fluidretention.
I am still waiting to see the doctor for my injections in both knees. I am still waiting to see the dentist, I have two teeth that are in need of removing, and a crown that needs replacing or removing as well. I have a sore gum around a root that is causing me pain I think it might be getting infected. I have my other usual aches and pains, apart from that we are ok.

Garden
We have two baby squirrels in the garden, as usual there is a crazy one that bounces about and throws himself about.

Crazy Squirrel.

Mrs Squirrel.

We have another squirrel that has kits in a drey somewhere close that are not old enough to leave the drey yet. It wont be long before they are, then we will have more baby squirrels.

Unknown Bug.

I don't know what this bug is! I have looked in my book of insects and I couldn't see anything to match it.

 Return of the Holly Bush

Tony pruned the holly bush a while ago. Tony prunes like nobody else, usually it means there is nothing left to see. I didn't expect to see any sign of life from the bush again, however it's back.

I managed to visit my mum, it was so good to see her. I have really missed  my mum. I spent some time with her just talking, when we ran out of things to say we watched the TV, just being in each others company after so long felt good, we didn't need to speak. I stayed quite a long time, I didn't realise how long I had been there. Mum took me home, hopefully I will see her again soon.

I am not sure about how Boris Johnson is doing things, I think he is moving thing a bit too quick. I think it is too early for children to go back to school safely, I think it is too early to open pubs, how are they going to make sure that all the rules are met, a few drinks and people will forget and do what they want. How are they going to supervise the children at school ? How do they expect 5 & 6 year olds not to have contact with their friends? Nursery aged children will want to play together, how do you keep them a metre apart?

See now you've got me rambling again.

Until the next time...

Another week of staying in...

It doesn't get any easier staying in, I know that Boris has made things a little better you can go out for a drive now, or a longer walk. That's no good to me, I want to go and hug my Mum

Before any of you say it no I am not saying we are a pair of monkeys it just amused me.

This week, a couple of days ago something happened,

This man,

This sometimes strange man

Tony saved my life, I was never so pleased that he was there!

We were eating dinner while watching "The Sweeny", I got something stuck in my throat,

I tried a drink to wash it down, didn't move, I tried to swallow it no movement at all. So I tapped Tony on the arm he looked at me, I have never seen him move so fast since I fell in the canal. Tony was straight around the table, dragged me out of my seat and performed the Heimlich Manoeuvre. Tony must have dislodged something because I had to go to the bathroom to throw up. luckily the bathroom is just opposite the room.

That was a very scary experience, certainly one I would not like to have again. I would hate to live alone and that happened because if Tony had not been here I just don't think I would have been able to do anything.

Now on to happier things.

We have had 2 beautiful thrushes visiting the garden for the last week, having looked in my book I think they are Mistle Thrushes.

JUVENILE MISTLE THRUSH

 ADULT MISTLE THRUSH

The Blue Tits have been very busy so there should be some babies soon.

Blue Tit on the feeder

The starlings are late this year I saw one baby on Wednesday, then there were about 6 on Thursday, but usually, the garden is full of them by now. The sparrow babies are beginning to appear, we have a couple of baby dunnocks and a baby robin. The blackbirds have lost a juvenile it flew into the big window of the house next door and died on impact.

I knocked on the door then went to the other side of the door before Mrs B opened it, I told her so the children wouldn't find it first. Mrs B said"oh no not another one that's the second this week." I advised her that they could get something to put on the window to stop birds flying onto it, whether they will or not remains to be seen.

Another thing that has annoyed me this week now I am on a roll is people that cut down trees and bushes at this time of year. Why? In three gardens around us, there have been trees and/or bushes cut down, I don't just mean trimmed I mean taken down to the root.

Our next-door neighbour on one side used to have a really good garden for the wildlife, last year he set a tree on fire while having a fire, this year he has had every tree, bush and living growth removed from his garden, this week! The Long-Tailed Tits, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Robins, Wrens and Blackbirds all nested in that garden. I cannot say for sure that any nests were destroyed this week but I doubt it would have made a difference to the work.

Ok, rant over.

We spotted some canoodling woodpigeons

I wonder if that's why the older ones keep trying to chase Scruffy away because he is still here.

                                       Scruffy the young Wood Pigeon.

That's about it for today, I hope you are all staying safe and well, make sure you look after each other, you never know when you might need their help.

Until the next time...

    

It's like being in a timewarp

Hello,




Nothing much has been happening here, we are still keeping to the rules. We go out once a week to go shopping, we clap for the carers on a thursday evening, I have a quick chat with my downstairs neighbour from our window after. That is the only socialising we do.
I have been in the garden again, there is a young Wood Pigeon that seems to be on its own. There is an adult bird that keeps attacking it, we think it is trying to make the young bird leave the garden.

The Young Wood Pigeon.

We have a squirrel visiting that is pregnant, again. She spotted me watching her and she wasn't sure what to do. 

Pregnant Squirrel again.

After thinking about it for a while, she turned and ran,

Squirrel running up a tree.

A short while later I spotted squirrel again, she was creeping slowly along the crossbar trowards the peanut feeder.

Squirrel on the crossbar.

I don't think she was pleased to see me again.

Squirrel scowling at me.

Squirrel carried on to the peanut feeder, as if I wasn't there. She hung upside  down eating away on the nuts til she had eaten her fill, 

Squirrel eating her fill of peanuts.

then off she ran away along the wall out of sight.

I hope you are all keeping safe and well.

Until the next time...