It was a very sad day yesterday...

We have lived here for over 14 years, in all that time I have fed and photographed the squirrels in our garden. I know squirrels have disappeared and they have gone and died somewhere, I expect this to happen. Then we have new squirrels, young squirrels that appear in the garden running around like lunatics. This is the circle of life I know. However, when Dave who lives next door asks me to go round to his garden to help, he has a poorly looking squirrel in his garden, my heart missed a beat. By the time I got round there, the squirrel had died. I was devastated, I wanted to cry but I stopped myself from doing it. I looked the squirrel over, it was a young female, there were no outward signs of injury, so she had not been attacked by anything. There was no sign of being hit by a car, there was no sign of any trauma at all. I hate to say it but I believe that this pretty little girl may have been poisoned.

A lot of people object to the squirrels digging in their plant pots, burying peanuts in them, burying nuts in the flower beds then digging them up again. Some of my neighbours have told me they don't mind because they like to watch them, it makes their days a bit brighter. However, you then get the ones who say, they are pests and are vermin and should be dealt with like rats.

The Squirrels are very quiet.

Well enough I will change the subject.

I have a new rollator, it is better than my last one, it is stronger, sturdier and it has places to attach footplates so it can be used as a wheelchair as well. I am not sure who will be pushing who.

Until the next time...

We are still on the list...

A rare picture of Mum, telling Oliver flies are nothing to be afraid of.

Oh boy, will I be in trouble now?

 We are still on the list waiting for a bungalow, it has been over a year now. The WDH sent out someone to reassess me to see if I had changed any. The lady had me climbing up and down the steps, climbing in and out of the bath, I was knackered by the time she left. However, a few days later we received a letter telling us we had been moved from Band B to Band A, so we are in the highest band. It won't make any difference to the bungalows they put on, it just means we might get picked out of the hat quicker.

Sometimes as you know I have some friends to keep me company in the shed. Last time it was this handsome little Shield Bug.

Meet my little friend.

S/He wandered around the work surface for about an hour, then s/he walked over to the window and flew away.

Then I noticed I was still not alone.

Meet some more of my little friends.

There were dozens of Ladybirds around the shed, these are on the ceiling, there were more across the other side of the shed and even more on the work surface. Some of them began to drop or fly down to the window ledge where I had removed the window, they stretched out their wings then disappeared across the garden.

I saw this and immediately thought of both Lynsey and Celina.

Until the next time...

It's been quiet in the garden...

The garden has been fairly quiet, except for the twittering of sparrows shooting around the garden playing chase. It gets to that time of year when the birds are pairing up and picking places to nest build. They all act like lovestruck teenagers and all sense goes out of the window.

Sometimes to the advantage of other birds that are about. The Sparrow Hawk has been spotted flying over the garden, sitting high up in the sycamore tree, then yesterday while I was in the shed I. did my usual walk around the garden before I come back up to the flat. That's when I spotted the hawk, it was in Gooseberry's garden, I took a quick look around, no sign of life, I had to do it. I stood in full view of the Sparrow Hawk I had no choice if I wanted to get a decent photo.

I clicked away to make sure I got a decent picture, the hawk lifted his head looked straight at me, and then away back to his lunch. I don't know what he had caught but it didn't take long for him to devour it and then fly away over the school and in the direction of the park.

 

I know I shouldn't take photos on other people's property and normally I wouldn't but this was too good to miss.

Until the next time...

All operations have been done...

 

This makes a change from the 3 wise monkeys.

Tony's operation on his hand went well and is healing nicely.

 Lynsey has also had her operation done but is feeling very fragile. She has a lot of pain. Lynsey told me some of the details of the operation, the one that made me cringe most was her ovary being suspended and stitched hanging out in a space in front of her womb. This was done because her ovary had been fused to her back. Lynsey thinks this might be the reason for the tearing pain she kept feeling in that area. 

Well, I think that it is time to talk about something else. 

I had my hair cut today,

This is how long it had grown.

This is how short it is now.

It even covers the bald patch.

The squirrels 🌰 are in trouble again, the neighbours are complaining about the nuts they keep finding in their plant pots. I don't know what they want me to do! I am not going to stop feeding the squirrels 🌰 nuts just because a few people get upset, I like to see the squirrels in the garden.🐿

This is a photograph that Tony took in the garden one day. 

These are 4 of the last litter of squirrels, there were 6 of them in total.

This young squirrel had found something that smelt good.

I hope everyone is keeping safe and well, I know mask-wearing is not essential now however Tony & I are choosing to carry on wearing ours in certain situations. I don't think it hurts to be extra safe.

Until the next time, ...

Operations and terrible weather.

 Tony goes in for his op on his wrist tomorrow, then Lynsey goes in for her lap on Friday. I know they will both be ok but it doesn't stop me from worrying about them. 

Things have been quiet here apart from that. The squirrels are not very happy because I am having trouble finding any monkey nuts for them.

They keep sitting around the garden looking at me as if to say "still no nuts then?" It's not as if there is nothing for them to eat, they have walnuts and hazelnuts sunflower seeds, sunflower hearts. They get an apple and occasionally even some chocolate. 

We have had all sorts of weather lately three storms one after the other, but at least it meant that there were some photo opportunities.

A very colourful sky.

A Rainbow over Lidl car park 

Snowing 

The war in Ukraine Is very upsetting. Those poor people and innocent children have been killed just because a Russian leader decided he wanted to take their country from them. I hope it is soon over and the Ukrainian people can find a way to keep their country.

Until next time...

Meet my Grandchildren.

 

I thought I would share some pictures of my grandchildren with you. 

This is Aron & Olivia.
( Aron wants to live the rest of his life as a female & to be known as Alison).

I think he is very brave to make this decision, and I ❤ love him very, very much.  Olivia is a beautiful and intelligent young lady, she will do well in life.

                                This is Logan & Willow.

I don't see them very often, but I am kept up to date with their antics on Instagram.  Thanks to mum Joanne.

                      

            This is Keira,Logan & Willow's older sister.

Even though Keira is not my granddaughter by birth, I try to treat her like Logan & Willow & love her just the same.

I am now a great grandmother,  I doubt  that I will meet my great granddaughter as her mother isn't in contact with the family.

This is Harley.

She is very bonny and looks very happy, why do I suddenly feel so old?

Tony has a date for an op on his wrist, he goes on the 2nd March, just a day case. Hopefully he will have full use of his left hand then.

Lynsey has an appointment for her op as well, she goes in on 4th March this is supposed to be a day case as well but it is possible it will turn out to be longer. I hope she will have a lot less pain when this has been done.

I  just seem to be stuck in a rut at the moment, my pain is getting worse, I don't seem able to control it at all at the moment,  but I  have a medication review coming up so maybe something will be done then. Well enough moaning, keep safe & well 

Until next time...

I just couldn't help myself...

 I saw them, I just couldn't help myself, I just had to have them. I had to add them to my already growing collection,  with Tony's help it was possible.
I think these will be my second favourite. I think just in case you haven't guessed what I am talking about yet I had better show you.

My newest addition to my Doc Marten collection.

1490 Vonda Floral

Leather mid-calf boot. Mini gold studs, gold eyelets and gold tipped laces.

Embroided roses, hidden tonal detail & subtle chain detail.

I don't really have anything else to tell you, I went to mum's today, she is well and so is Oliver.

Tony is now on 2 waiting lists for ops. I am plodding along as usual. The weather is still only fit for ducks to go out in & that is about it.

Keep safe & well

Until the next time...