Forget Yesterday Today was Wild!

I said it was windy yesterday, but at least it was dry...

When I went walking at 2pm this afternoon, it was indeed dry, but that was not to last long. Crafty Green Poet reckoned today would be an overtrousers day, and she really wasn't wrong. I was walking  through the cemetery as a pall of grey cloud came scudding over, and had to make a slightly bizarre diversion into the sports centre reception in order to slip on the deeply unsexual overtrousers.

Felt very awkward. But I can't put trousers on standing up.

Had to be done though. The rain began to get heavy straight away, and by the time I got onto the path through the farm fields at the back of Grange Road, it had got really squally and I could barely hear this afternoon's Radio 4 play about post-traumatic air traffic controllers over the wind.

It did stop raining, at which point I started to feel rather sweaty and skanky, and was glad to get home after a couple of hours and jump in the bath for a few months.

Didn't go on my exercise bike. Body just kept saying no.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 08.02.19

More Howling Winds

Plans to visit the nearby alpaca farm, or Langford Lowfields, or indeed anywhere on my bicycle today were rather shattered when I awoke to my windowpanes being  blasted by rain and gale force winds.

It really wasn't at all pleasant out there this morning! So I just walked to the park, around the park, and through the park to the cafe where I was able to have a very large and  hot cup of tea which I didn't spill into my crotch like I did yesterday.

Then after lunch, a long read and a bit of a nap, I went out pottering again as the wind began to drop somewhat, just taking photographs with the light, seeing if dwarf irises were up in the library park, and just seeing what was about.

I note also that today was "Time to Talk" day encouraging people to talk about their mental health problems. If you are struggling, I advise you to do so, and I wish you well!

And to remember the benefits of the outdoors, as I do.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 07.02.19

Sack the Kelham Hall Snowdrops!

With a couple of days off and crisp blue skies, I executed the first of my planned excursions and headed out on my bike to  Kelham Hall to have a look at the snowdrops there.

If any of you remember any of my previous posts about heading out there? White carpets of snowdrops would cover the area by the church at this time of year.

This year it is rather disappointing, although compared to most places there's still an awful lot of little white flowers out there. I was just hoping to give you more of a spectacle.

Anyway, I decided to extend my bike ride and made it a 90 minute affair, going through the villages to the north-west of town; Little Carlton, Bathley, the Muskhams. There was an awful lot of birds around the hedgerows and in the trees; best was a huge and evil looking buzzard I rode directly under although I didn't fear being predated upon.

Speaking of birds there is a farm between the two Muskhams I shall refer to as "Bird Farm". Guarded by a formidable row of haystacks upon which a buzzard is usually sentried, in winter there are thousands of birds flying round the place; pigeons, gulls, crows and starlings.

I'm guessing they are attracted to large amounts of animal feed lying around. I've never dared go up the drive to have a look though!

Maybe next time I should and see what birds there really are.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 06.02.19

The Charming Goldfinches

I've had two walks today, totalling 12877 steps so my phone lies to me, on one of those days where  the sun doesn't get out of bed, and decides to throw a dirty grey blanket over us so we can't tell.

This morning I was down by the park, walking along the River Devon, watching and listening to the numerous song birds working away amongst the trees and shrubs. When I had a cup of tea at Rumbles, a little pied wagtail came to join me, foraging among the bits of grit by the bins where occasionally they put seeds out.

On Radio 4 they argued about veganism.

This afternoon I went up to Beacon Hill reserve, a large green oasis perched above an industrial estate, but there wasn't much to see. The good stuff was in town by the castle and the library, where I came across two distinct charms of goldfinches.

The castle charm comprised around fifty birds, and they circled around settling from tree to tree, never settling for long and never being quiet for a second. In the horrible flat grey light, they barely looked more than dark shapes until they flew, when you could see the golden wing bars.

The library charm was smaller, may thirty birds, but because they were closer the noise they made was even louder, a constant noisy trill that went on and on until a guy in a hoodie scared them.

The flock went off in two opposite directions like the Red Sea at the hand of Moses.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 05.02.09

Walk Away the Hassle

The birds are getting frisky. Today watched a collared dove wooing and cooing a lady friend with co-ordinated dance. He bowed his head low for the "Coo-coo", then stretched skywards for the "coo". Coo-coo coo.

There's a few assaults going on amongst the mallard population too.

Perhaps they are de-stressing. I've had another stressful 24 hours with another landlord visit bringing around a couple of valuers, who went round measuring my walls with a handheld laser rangefinder while I sat on my bed pretending I wasn't there. Typically, after I had gone mad doing a deep clean, they brought in a load of mud from outside. Thanks a lot guys.

So the moment they had gone, I went out for a walk. Just the boring old tour of the two lakes, but it  was a very bright afternoon and the savage cold of the last week has eased from the time being. The days are easing longer, it feels a shade more spring like and I noticed that the odd black headed gull has got its black head back.

Glory of the snow is now making a subtle appearance. The aconites and snowdrops are at their peak; the aconite will be starting to die in a week or two.

Like many things, they are very ephemeral.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 04.02.19

Return to the Nets

As today proved, I'm not such a natural sportsman that I can take 6 months off and come back as good (or average) as I ever was.

Yes, it was the first evening of cricket practice of 2019, on the underground bounce of the nets of the local academy. It was the busiest I've ever seen nets, which was probably a blessing as I didn't have to bowl too much on my plantar fascitis foot which by the way stood up to it ok.

Or at least, it doesn't hurt any more that it usually does.

As it turned out, I bowled ok, once I'd got a rotten full toss out of my system. Clattered the stumps a few times, although every time I tried to field off my own bowling I fell over and missed the ball.

Batting was a different matter. Like any kind of "hit a thing with a thing" sport - tennis, badminton...bar billiars - once I get out of practice, I completely lose any basic ability for a while. The first two balls bowled to me I missed completely and knocked over the three sticks. I then took my helmet off and batted with a cap on instead, and although I didn't get castled again I still couldn't hit the bloody thing.

It was only my last couple of deliveries that my feet began to move anywhere at all.

Hopefully things will be better next week, because no-one else seems to get as rusty in the off season as I do.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 03.02.19

A Cheeky Drink on a Cold Day

It really has been a hard week weatherwise for the birds, although conditions here have been less harsh than some areas. After 4 sub-zero rides to work, I really didn't fancy being outside much today, which is a bit wussy but it I am fed up of being freezing cold today.

However, I was still going to go outside for a bit, again to try and photograph the local birds around the garden, seeing if I could sneak snaps over the fence of birds on a neighbour's feeder.

Having seen plenty of blue tits and great tits around, I was hopeful that they would provide a good photographic target, but of course, the appearance of a camera meant that every small songbird within ten miles of me disappeared. However, there were plenty of blackbirds around, and after waiting for a good few minutes with my camera resting on a fence, one of them came for a drink from a stone birdbath.

The water was frozen, and so this handsome, glossy male was only able to drink from one edge of the bath, and luckily for me he took his time over his pint, so I was able to get some OK shots while a woodpigeon watched over us both from the church roof.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 02.02.19