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They are obviously still staying at hotel Jane. :-D

You are right there Ann :-D.We have also had our solitary Moorhen pottering around today.It tends to stay down the bottom end of the garden and doesn't come up near the house.I'm sure it comes through from next doors garden as they have a small lake .My Christmas tree is up right behind the window feeder so can't see too clearly what is going on .It obviously hasn't put the birds off as it is still being emptied twice a day.They certainly are greedy so and sos .But I don't mind.I just love them :-D :-D

Good morning everyone from quite a nice sunny morning here in Yorkshire. I haven't ventured outdoors yet but it does look promising to dry the washing today.

Still not a great variety of birds here but the Starlings are as hungry as ever and as soon as I fill the window/ground feeders they appear in great numbers and fly off quickly having eaten everything in sight!!

We do see a new little Robin who pops onto the feeder and cheers us both up, very festive and a welcome sight indeed. Our regular Blackbirds come too and then disappear into the front shrubbery but it's good to know they haven't deserted us.

I hope everyone is well and I do thank you for all your good wishes and kind words which mean a lot. Life is still "challenging" here but we do our best to keep focused.

Kandj, How lovely to see you. I hope your OH's health continues to improve now that he is home with you. And I am sure the feathered friends bring you both a lot of pleasure.
We have had a robin and a blackbird in the garden the last couple of days, plus the usual collard dove, only - a bit worrying this- there only seems to be one and they have always been a pair. We also had a big woodie and a few great and blue tits plus starlings to hoover up any scraps I through on the lawns.

Christmas is fast approaching and tomorrow we go up to our daughter's. There will be 7 of us Christmas day, her youngest joins us on Christmas Eve, and Christmas day the married couple join us for the day. It is going to be bitter sweet as, sadly, our son in law has had lung cancer since October 2013 when he was given one to two years to live. His health has deteriorated rapidly this past month so we know this will be his last Christmas. However we are intent on it being a good Christmas, as daughter says a few tears and some laughs. It is all very difficult for us as parents though but we shall get through it together. Especially hard as he was always the cook in the family and produced lovely christmas meals and now is not able to do the cooking at all. He, at 63 is nine years older than our daughter but still way too young to die.

Anyway I will be on line as and when the awful internet there allows. :-) :-)

Oh Ann. <3

M.

Maryanna thanks <3 <3

Oh Ann,yes it will be a bitter sweet Christmas for you all.But I am sure there will lots of fun and laughter .That is just how it should be <3 <3

Lovely to see you posting Kandj <3.I know we are in touch but will still wish you ,hubby and all your family a lovely Christmas xx

OH saw an Owl this morning sitting on top of the dead tree.It was still quite dark but he said the shape of the bird was definitely an Owl.I know I have seen 2 Owls sitting there together a few years ago.
I have stocked up on bird food today,so hopefully have enough in now to see them all through Christmas.I will warn them that they will be on rations soon if they keep eating at the rate they are doing at the moment !!!

Oh Ann how very sad. Your daughter is being brave, and I agree.... a few tears but some laughs and no doubt lots of hugs to share this Christmas too. Take care now x

Thank you Jane, we also are keeping focused and counting off the days.

Message from Kandj

She would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year.

Unfortunately her OH is not too well again so Kandj will not be posting at the moment.
Thinking of them both this Christmas <3 <3

Happy Christmas to sll who visit this thread. <3

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone who visits and posts on this thread.

Have a wonderful time, It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas..............

M. x. :-)

A Merry Christmas to you all too :-D.I think we are just about ready now .Just the Turkey that OH will collect in the morning.Must remember to take all the stuffing and chipolatas etc out of the freezer.That is just the kind of thing I will forget to do :-S
So MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE.Have a wonderful time xxx

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all.

I am very sorry to read about your OH kandj I wish him well.

I have neglected the birds this year :-( even so I'm still seeing plenty of blue tits, robins and black birds :-)

We had another surprise birth in September baby J------ decided she would come into the world at 26 weeks needless to say it meant a lot of toing and froing to different hospitals, J was born in Luton and Dunstable hospital, that was the nearest NICU that had any beds for mum and babe, after about a month she was well enough to go to our local high dependency ward at Colchester general where she became very poorly so off again this time two weeks in the Royal London NICU and so on and so on. J is well at the moment...I hope I'm not tempting fate by saying that...she is still very tiny 4lb 6oz but at least she is gaining weight now.

Special thoughts for you and your family Ann <3

Lesley x

Thank you Lesley

I will be thinking of little baby J at least gaining weight is a good thing, hope the improvement continues. <3 <3

Kandj wishing your oh well again. <3

I hope little Baby J goes from strength to strength Lesley and that you and all your family have a wonderful Christmas.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE :-D :-D :-D

Oh No! we have just had a Sparrowhawk land on the Birdbath :-0 :-0 It's all gone very quiet in the garden now :-S and not one visitor on the Window Feeder.

Jane :-( :-(

It's all fine Ann.The birds are back in their usual numbers :-D.But I have spotted the SparrowHawk flying over the field with the Horses this morning .I just hope it stays over there
:-)

Beautiful but cruel birds Jane