Hobbies and Crafts

That's good Ann.Good too that they live on a hill.I feel so sorry for all the thousands of families affected by the dreadful flooding.My heart goes out to them.I remember so well the trauma my niece and family suffered twice with the flooding in Tewkesbury.They have been keeping an eye on the water levels now because of all the water coming down the Severn from Wales...The 'Ham' at the back of their house is totally flooded and looks like the sea.But it looks like they will be safe this time around.

Yes the family are ok, Grandson and wife seem to be getting to work ok. It is mainly Carlisle and Keswick in the north and kendal in the south. Daughter is on a hill and no river near her i don't think. The main A590 was flooded at Lindal, not far from where she lives, last weekend but I think that has cleared now.

The starling are very greedy Vera and aggressive too. They all swoop down and devour everything in sight here.

The pictures on TV showing the flooded streets and homes just leave me speechless.
Ann, I hope your family are managing surrounded by so much devastation right now.

It is very much brighter and the birds are flying all around and not being blown away.

As soon as I put a home made fat cake out the starlings appeared en masse and demolished it completely in an hour. Well, they will just have to wait a day or two for another one as I can't afford to keep feeding them at that rate.

The garden also seems to be full of collared doves lately as well. They seem to love the bird bath and there are always a couple drinking from it or splashing about in the water. The only other bird I have seen today is a little wren bobbing about on the fence though OH says he saw a goldfinch on one of the shrubs.

That is shocking scenes from Cumbria Ann, I hope that your family aren't too badly affected. It sounds as if you have enjoyed your visit and Luke is lively as always.

Congratulations to your grandson Vera, you have every right to be so very proud.

Is Thomas still being blown around the garden Jane?

Usual starlings, hedge sparrows, pigeons, collard doves, occasional blackbird.
The robin is missing, so perhaps he will show up tomorrow.... we shall see.

I don't think grandson and wife even tried to get to work, the floods are still awful but they are not in Dalton where they and daughter live. So sad for all the people flooded out of their homes.

Luke was in fine form, happy and chattering away and showing us the Christmas tree. He went to see Marwell zoo's father christmas and liked getting a baby penguin for his present and eating a 'fish pie', (mince pie :-D). We saw a big difference since we last saw him.

Hope your grandson and his wife are OK Ann. Did you have a good time with your sister and with Luke? I bet he is getting excited now waiting for Father Christmas to come.

I did put out some new fat cakes for the birds but apart from that I haven't noticed what has been going on in the garden this weekend. I spent yesterday and today glued to the iPad and phone following grandson's progress at the archery contest. I'm exhausted so goodness knows how he feels.

It is just so terrible up there for everyone Ann.Has it been easier for your family today?

My OH has just seen that the Mayor of Keswick is someone he was at school with !!

Yes, visiting Luke tomorrow and my sister today.

Worried about the awful floods in Cumbria, Grandson and his wife both unable to get to work today because of floods.

Is it Luke you are visiting Ann? He will be excited with all the extra activities and parties. Little ones do seem to have a busy social life... certainly better than ours!!!
Good job that your local B&Q is not far away and better still to have vouchers.

Your friends cat must struggle getting very large Pheasants through the cat flap Jane.
Has he been giving Thomas lessons in killing/hunting??

A bit of rain this morning but very windy which is getting stronger. So birdseed will be blown over the ground I think. Hope it doesn't encourage any mice around here.

No outfits, from looking at him on facebook he seems to have been to see that man more than once already and been to parties etc, helped decorate his Christmas tree so by the time we see him he will be well excited. :-D

Have you got the outfits for Father Christmas Ann,or is it a matter of just taking pressies?.One night away sounds good :-D
Yes a Pheasant through the cat flap was not good for my friend...Also Squirrels and Moorhens :-S :-S :-S,plus little birds........Now you know why we don't have a Cat flap in our back door lol.

jane just one night away in Hampshire playing Father Christmas.

Yes it will be worth it in the end.

Ugh a mangled pheasant through the cat flap!!!

Wow Ann.You have been a busy bee.You say you have been packing.Have I missed a post? Where are you packing for?
This time last year we had just finished have out bedroom totally refitted.That was bad enough ,but all your bathroom refit will be far more messy.It wll be lovely once all is done :-D

I haven't bird watched at all today .Although we did have a magnificent male Pheasant strolling around the garden :-D..We just kept out fingers crossed that Thomas wasn't around.Our friend who lives down the lane from us has a cat that has dragged Pheasants in through the cat flap !!! :-S :-S :-S...That would have been something to witness !

So where is everyone?

We had five Goldfinches on the niger seed this morning. We are up much earlier than usual due to bathrorom man arriving on the doorstep at 0830!!! :-(

I have just about packed for tomorrow, after yet another trip to B&Q. This time for mirror, grab rail, bathroom bin, small towel ring for hand towel, otherwise OH will swamp the bathroom when he washes his hands as the main towel rail is a few steps from the sink (or will be when the electrician fits it!). Also bought a new kitchen bin. I am not sure if that is 3 or four visits this week plus one visit to the tile place to collect tiles, and another visit because Alan forgot to tell us to get spacers, we thought he had those, and joy of joys we will be back there next week, I knew we had too many tiles. And we have also made a visit to a carpet warehouse to get cushion flooring for the bathroom. Hopefully only another week to go. not funny climbing downstairs for the loo at night.

Packing was fun trying to cross the landing numerous times, as all the bathroom tools, cutting machine, vacuum cleaner etc are spread over the landing, quite an agility test. Also went to the hairdresser to have my hair washed and blow dried. Cloakroom sink doesn't quite do it!!

All very well having the bathroom costed and we knew about having to buy tiles, but then, of course if the bathroom suite is new you really want all new other stuff don't you, every time we go to B&Q we spend about $50. good job that seems to activate them sending OH a voucher for £5 off £50. (or is that a chicken and egg situation? Anyway, I do think that, aside from maybe a new bath mat set, we have bought it all. :-D :-D time will tell.

We have had two dogs (miniature/toy poodles and three cats during our married life, the dogs and two of the cats lived quite long lives, the dogs both eventually went blind and deaf and for their safety were put to sleep. The two cats both lived past 14 and both had cancer so were put to sleep. The third cat was very wild, not a home loving cat at all and when she was two she wandered off down a local farm track and met her end under a farm lrry. For about 10 years now we haven't had animals as we go away too much and it wouldn't be fair.

What a shame Lucas hasn't turned up yet. Let's all hope that nothing bad has happened and that someone is caring for him somewhere.

These pets are a worry. We had two cats, sisters born minutes apart but so different in looks and temperament. Sadly we lost the livelier, all black one to cancer shortly after moving here a couple of years ago but the quieter tabby has been fine till just over a week ago when she stopped eating and just lay around. She will be 14 this week so I thought perhaps age had caught up with her but yesterday she found her appetite again and seems to be full of beans today. I'm delighted that she seems to be back to getting under my feet again and generally being a pain in the wotsit.

After a couple of cold, windy and wet days the sun came out this morning and brought the starlings with it. Apart from them we only seem to be getting collared doves at the moment.

Another dark cold day here today. We have needed the lights on so it seems like a long day. Lacking in birds too, they are hiding in the shrubbery I think. Best place!

Yes I sort of think that Jane it would be great if he was being loved. And maybe if he is eventually taken to a vet he will be 'found'.

Sounds great fun in your house then Ann :-S..It will all be like a bad dream soon and you will love your new Bathroom :-D

No Long Tailed Tits here.I haven't seen any for a long time....No the Pigeons aren't racing ones .I just don't know where they all come from.I know that a lot sit in the big trees ,but not that many.It is as though they are in panic mode so maybe there are Red Kites ,Buzzzards or A Sparrowhawk that spooks them.It is just the number of them that have surprised me.

Kandj Thomas is definitely not keen on this wet and windy weather.I have had to shove him out a few times once rain ceases.But he is not impressed and gets a real grump on LOL.

Oh Ann,just the thought of a main road and a railway line makes me think something horrible has happened to Lucas.But on the other hand you just never know if someone had taken him into their home like I have done with Thomas.He wasn't chipped .
It is possible that someone has Lucas and they don't want to find out if he is chipped and want to keep him.