Storm Dennis Incoming

We have a stormy weekend ahead of us, and already my heaviest plant pot has been knocked over for the first time, so let's see how it goes.

I hope no-one ends up with a tree through the roof here, like happened last weekend.

I have been out a few times, as the rain hasn't been too bad so far, although that is sure to change overnight. Spray was being blown off the river, but it didn't stop the hardy anglers opposite the navigation pub, who always seem to be there at weekends whenever I go past.

There's some bizarrely early cowslips in the lock gardens, as well as vivid primroses and dwarf daffodils. The trees are starting to blossom too, although getting a picture was darn difficult to impossible as the wind blasted the boughs around.

Another flower that has now appeared is glory of the snow, the squill relative I can never remember the name of. Soon its blue carpets will replace those of the snowdrops in the cemetery and friary gardens.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 15.02.20

And then came the Snow

I have to say, after a bright but very cold start to the day with barely a cloud in the sky, I wasn't expecting to open my door after lunch (and a nap) to find fat, wet flakes of snow coming down from the sky like a fall of cotton wool.

I didn't recall seeing that in any forecast.

Considering it no excuse not to go out, rather an opportunity, I decided to take a 90 minute urban walk rather than the stroll to Winthorpe Lake I had planned, figuring it too boggy next to the river to make for a pleasant outing.

Besides, the snow would make for some decent photo opps, and of course, I did capture a snowdrop in the snow, which I knew was doomed to never properly settle.

I was interested to note a sort of quantum effect on the blue lake today. Either I saw the same mandarin drake in two totally different places on the water, or a second mandarin drake has come to join the aquatic party here. I have no way of knowing for certain, but I wish it was the latter.

There were other birds of interest; a goosander which was hard to see when the snow was at its heaviest, and a kingfisher whose flash of neon blue stood out easily against the white and grey.

It has been very cold out, and since returning I've just sat in the warm, halogen heater blazing, and watching Vampire role playing games.

As one does.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 10.02.20

Storm Ciara

Well, as I'm sure a few of you have noticed, it's been a wit windy in the UK over the last 24 hours.

It started getting really blowy here about 10pm last night, before the rain started. It peaked overnight, and was still going strong at lunchtime today, making it sound like Asda was being pelted with marbles when I went shopping.

All my garden pot plants were all over the place, but no damage.

A lot of old tall trees have been brought down overnight here; near my family home someone was probably woken up by a load of thickset boughs crashing into their windows, but luckily no-one here has been hurt. I took a couple of photos as I walked home from cricket practice, where I was all a bit average tonight.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 09.02.20

Baby Daffodils

It feels like it's been a bit of a wasted day today, another of those days where I've been so tired after a busy week at work that I can barely move, although I found my way to the park for a cup of tea.

The plan for today was maybe to walk to Winthorpe, and have a cruise round the lake there; but by the time I'd gotten myself together enough to go out, Scotland versus England was on giving me an excuse to stay inside.

And what a game of classic rugby that was!

I did make up for my laziness by having a very punishing one hour blast on the exercise bike, trying some high intensity interval training hunched over the bars grunting away like Mark Cavendish. I'm going to another session after I've written this.

After all that I don't have a lot to show you today, apart from some baby daffodils!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 08.02.20

Photos from This Week

Well I've had a very busy week, organising a massive annual party for our workers in Lincoln, which all went incredibly well although it was a bit loud for me, and crowded with about 1000 folk there dancing amid the laser beams.

I've tried to keep active at work, taking walks at break times, and seeing what was out there; a kilometre long flock of seagulls heading to roost, rooks massing in the dawn, the harsh football rattle calls of magpies, and the flocks of small finches circling around as daffodils appear in the workplace garden.

Me, I'm sore in lots of places, and fat too, but my training will ramp up, a most gentle of ramping ups however.

I think the weather this weekend will drive us all inside though!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 07.02.20

Helleborine Time

I got a bit stuck today. I had intended to walk to Kelham Hall to see the snowdrops today, but the path was blocked by ploughed field behind the rugby club. Ploughed fields in winter months are no good for walkers, as you end up carrying about half the field with you on your shoes by the time you leave it.

This is a very hatable thing, and I do indeed hate it.

So I just restricted myself by walking around the club and heading back into town, watching the flock of around 200 redwing fly around the ground; they were using the second pitch for feeding and were far too easily spooked to let me get within a mile of them.

Earlier in the day I'd visited the library and was surprised to see no dwarf iris growing in their usual place, but the green and oriental helleborine are in flower. I wonder if it had been a milder day today if any wakeful bees would have been having a feed. It won't be long I'm sure, although we are having a brief cold snap tonight; it is getting very chilly out there, in my garden where the outside bulb has failed and I have taken delivery of a mega plant that was formerly at the parental home.

"Parental" rather than "My Parents". It is so hard to have to write that.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 03.02.2020

Glistening Wet Flowers

I've not had a massive outdoors day today because of cricket net practice; I just went and had a cup of tea at the park while listening to dear old Radio 4 as usual. There's been a fair bit of rain overnight, and the pansies were glittering with droplets, their monkey faces almost drooping with the weight of water.

So yes, I did feel my hip was up to cricketing, and thus I had my first proper bowl of pre-season. I came through ok, although I'm a bit sore now. I was n't exactly going full pelt, but at least I was mainly accurate.

My batting was as usual shaky early on, but better when I could get my feet moving.

To say I walk and run so much, it's odd I can't get my feet moving when I'm batting.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 02.02.20