Blather, Waffle and Poppycock!

[Techno II]

Been a few months since I noticed any Ravens, Red Kites or buzzards.

I expect they'll be about again soon.

Cheers - Phil.

[Duke Speedy of Leighton]

Watched the BBC Stonehenge in the Preseli Mountains documentary last night Phil. Nice to see some of your early sculpts are still about.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000s5xm/stonehenge-the-lost-circle-revealed

[Orcs]

Watched the BBC Stonehenge in the Preseli Mountains documentary last night Phil. Nice to see some of your early sculpts are still about.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/m000s5xm/stonehenge-the-lost-circle-revealed

Personally I thought his Pyramid sculps in Egypt were better -  more precise

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

So it is Phil's signature on Tutankamans sarcohogous then ?

[Orcs]

So it is Phil's signature on Tutankamans sarcohogous then ?

I thought you knew that. that was at least his second, he got bored with the first so jazzed Tutankhamen's up a bit with all that gold. 

[Lord Kermit of Birkenhead]

I thought you knew that. that was at least his second, he got bored with the first so jazzed Tutankhamen's up a bit with all that gold. 

I wuz allus higreant

[Steve J]

By God it's windy here at present! The gale force winds are damaging my crocuses, which I'm not happy about .

[Heedless Horseman]

By God it's windy here at present! The gale force winds are damaging my crocuses, which I'm not happy about .

'When I was a Lad', our Crocus  would stand, strong and brave! Nowadays, they flop in the breeze or 'birds' mangle them... life's like that...! LOL! 

Probably because the thin soil cover of what used to be 'lawn' has reduced over the years and the grass has been replaced by moss... maybe sucking up any moisture in the soil.  What used to be good clumps of Daffodills /Narcissi, hardly flower    What does seem to be thriving, now, is Wood Sorrel. I love this plant... is just wasn't there until a few years ago, and attempts to introduce it failed! Now, it's everywhere!  Dog Violets are doing well, too.  I have always favoured Wild Flowers over Garden Flowers, so some things please in spring. Just wish I'd NEVER introduced Wild Garlic as a 'little patch' LOL! !

[Heedless Horseman]

As far as Avian Predators go, we have had an occasional pass through of a Sparrowhawk. Given the tree cover, it's flight skills are amazing! 
I am not really a bird watcher, but have been delighted at the variety of species which have appeared in the last 20 years or so. As well as the 'normal' Robins, various Tits, etc. we now have Woodpeckers, Nuthatch, Treecreepers, Goldcrests, Wrens, Bullfinch and occasional Goldfinch or Wagtail! And, sometimes, a 'rather lost' Duck!    (We have a small stream!).

Bird populations have varied, over the years. In regard to the 'nuisances', The Collared Doves seemed to be chased off by Big, Fat, Woodies... until 'The Cat' took up residence... so, now seem to be making a comeback!  There used to be a lot of Jackdaws, until Magpies appeared... nesting in next-door's chimney. Now,  one or two Crows have appeared... and the Jackdaws / Magpies are much fewer. At least we don't have Gulls!

Things change... 

[Heedless Horseman]

Re the reintroducton of 'Large Predators'.  MUCH as I would love to have 'wild' populations of Wolves and Bears... WE just do NOT have the 'wilderness'!     VERY LARGE, enclosed areas, fine by me... but people will live there, or next door, too... so WON'T be happy! As to possible predation on Humans... well, people get killed by cows! BUT, although 'livestock' kills could be'compensated... (Farmers ARE a hard-bitten lot... They Have to be... my family were!)... (But by whom?)... there WOULD be a loss of cats /foals, etc which would result in too much 'heartbreak'. 

Lynx are 'possible', and I would definitely love to see increased populations of Wildcat... (I MAY have seen one, once, near Allendale... but was probably just a VERY big Moggie! ).

It is a few years back, now, but I was ABSOLUTELY OVERJOYED to watch a pair of Otters 'messing about' in my local river, (The Pont), when on my way 'down the pub'! When I was a kid, they were on the way to extinction!

What REALLY DOES GET MY RAG UP, now, are the 'human' predators. 
On Facebook, a couple of friends post 'lost/found', 'stolen', 'watch out for this guy/van', stuff...mainly in regard to dogs/horses...but also cats, etc. I scroll through 20-30 of such every day... SOME, I may share... hoping it 'may' help. BUT 'Animal Theft! The UTTER SCUM who inflict such suffering to both the animals and their tortured owners...    'Bring back the Wolves and Bears... '! 

[Steve J]

Daffodils and other bulbs often need dividing after a period of time to encourage them to flower again. If they keep coming up blind (no flowers) dig them up and replace them. Somehow I think we have Wild Garlic in our garden, so I've got a lot of weeding to do soon, as it's spread everywhere .

[Steve J]

Covid jab went well and in and out in less than 5 minutes. All OK for first 36 odd hours, then last night felt very tired, run down etc which is a common side effect. Still, far better than having Covid.

[Techno II]

Good news, Steve !

Not sure whether we'll get ours tomorrow, now.
Von seems to have managed to get the Winter vomiting bug. ...Poor lass.

I'll have to check with the surgery as to whether they'll want us to turn up.

So it is Phil's signature on Tutankamans sarcohogous then ?

You KNOW it is....I did put "Techno was here" somewhere in all the hieroglyphics.

Watched the BBC Stonehenge in the Preseli Mountains documentary last night Phil. Nice to see some of your early sculpts are still about.

I really must go and finish those off one day.

Personally I thought his Pyramid sculps in Egypt were better -  more precise

Yes....It's far easier to get nice straight lines with Milliput. 

Cheers - Phil.

[Raider4]

. . . At least we don't have Gulls!

Lucky! We usually have two or three nests on chimney stacks in our little triangle of houses. Noisy buggers at 04:00, and real pains when the chicks fall of the roofs into gardens and the parents then go mad trying to protect them.

[Steve J]

Fingers crossed you can both get the jab Phil.