Evening Skyscapes

After my tumultuous floor mopping exploits yesterday, I was rather knackered today and knowing I was going to have a workout in the evening - 65 minutes on the exercise bike - I took it easy and ended up repeatedly falling asleep while watching Hugh Jackman in "Logan".

Eventually I went out to  sort some library books out, and enjoyed the crescent moon, joined nearby by planet Saturn as the evening darkened.

I may do some astronomy later, or carry on watching Luther boxsets.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 12.11.18

Armistice Day

I was up early today in order to watch the memorial parade (I was hoping there would be a flypast, but there wasn't), do some shopping  and try and have a bit  of a walk on my sore heel.

The memorial parade was the most attended I can remember, and indeed as it turned out it had the highest attendance ever. You couldn't get near the ceremony.

As you can see the people watching were wearing all sorts of clothes, many coats with hoods on a rainy morning. I think service veterans would rather people be there irrespective of what they were wearing.

I then went for a trot round the shops, and the river, and Rumbles cafe, and back into town, buying mops and buckets, and cushioned insoles on my travels.

Walking home, mop over my shoulder, I then found myself suddenly overtaken by the parade at the end of the ceremony as they went back to the muster point. I must have looked like some sort of Dads Army figure as I walked along like a particularly rubbish member of the Home Guard.

A police woman I know was having a right chuckle as I walked by.

The afternoon I tried out the insoles...I've walked 8 miles today and my foot isn't  any worse, but the jury is still out!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 11.11.18

Rain is Coming In

I've had an entirely restful day where I haven't done much apart from go the park for a cup of tea, listen to the radio and watch the various weather fronts come over.

I'm still resting my heel and I'm happy to report that it seems to be a bit less painful today,especially without having to traipse all over our huge work campus. My neck and shoulder are still troublesome however, so I'm having to be careful.

We will see how I feel tomorrow.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 10.11.18

OK, Let's go for a Ride

So, buggered heels and blistered feet aren't affected by cycling, so I decided more or less on the spare of the moment to go out on my clunky old mountain bike, on the old favourite Cotham - Elston - Thorpe route, a hack of about 23km.

Took me just over an hour, and was highly enjoyable. I was looking for winter thrushes and didn't see a single one, but there were some nice flocks of chaffinch ransacking the berries in the hedgerows.

In the ploughed fields herring and black backed gulls hulked about, looking for whatever pickings they may. No buzzards or owls - thought I might see an early owl on the move as the light was fading.

So nothing major seen, but I was glad to be riding again.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 05.11.18

Blisters and Bruised Heels

Well, I've had two walks today for a total of about three hours outside, on a mild day with the sort of light refreshing rain I actually rather like.

I can't run at the moment due to this heel pain I've got at the moment, perhaps plantar fascitis. I thought I'd be  ok to walk though, however, I'm now pretty sore and  just to add to the irritation I'm sporting a blister on my heel.

I'm really hoping my winter training is not going to be ruined by injury, as tendonitis ruined it last winter.

Oh yep, I've been bitten on the wrist by a gnat as well, I noticed them flying around my garden in the mizzley afternoon.

Today, I just took a few photographs of what I saw as I  walked around. Nothing spectacular.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 04.11.18

A Murder Overhead

With the clocks going back an hour and thus hastening sunset through the office windows, I'm getting to see all sorts of stuff just before home time.

The other day, some fantastic low level formations of canada geese flew over the car park, honking away against a deep twilight, flying at speed and looking like an air force. I'm not seeing the mass pied wagtail roost yet, but I'm now on the wrong side of the campus.

I will cycle over on my way home, to the trees that they roost in.

What I'm also seeing in large numbers are big flocks of crows -  probably more likely to be rooks than carrions? - heading overhead usually about half an hour before sunset. I don't know they have been spending the day doing, working freshly ploughed fields perhaps, but they are going over in flocks over a hundred strong, cawing away as they fly towards the sun.

The two shots I've got aren't the biggest sky murders I've ever seen, nor the lowest. They aren't easy to  photograph with my mobile.

But it's what's happening up there!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 03.11.18

Sleeping Invader

Came across this hibernating harlequin ladybird at work today. I doubt it  will be able to sleep here on a window sill regularly patrolled by our cleaners, but I hope it can find a quiet spot.

A passing Polish girl said "Don't they live for the number of years as they have spots?" - I told her if that was true this ladybird was going to live a very long time!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 01.11.18