Hobbies and Crafts

Glad that you and OH enjoyed a delicious anniversary lunch Jane.

We had white gulls swooping around the street and landing in our garden to eat today.
An unusual sight and much more interesting to see than our usual birds.

We have had a smashing lunch out today .Trouble is we can hardly move now.It is very difficult not to have the 3 courses especially when it all looks so tempting ,but as it is usually a snack at lunch time out tums aren't used to a gigantic meal at midday.

On the way we came across something quite amazing.We just rounded a bend in the road down in the village and right in front of us in them middle of the road tussling with what looked like the remains of a Pheasant were 3 RED KITES !!!!!!.One more was hovering but there was no more room .Needless to say they took off but what a sight !!
It is when you see them at such close quarters you realise what enormous birds they are.

A lovely day with sunshine here. We had only one magpie in the garden today,
good job that I am not superstitious...... one for sorrow???

Ann, a good idea to use just the top of your Mum's old bird bath and keep littlies safe.

An awful thing to happen to your OH on holiday Vera. Their hands should drop off!
I wouldn't like to come home to a dead pigeon..... yuk! A neighbour's cat perhaps?

Have a happy anniversary day tomorrow Jane.

Glad to have you back safe and sound Vera.But I am sorry you have now all the hassle with getting new Bank Cards etc etc.It is a real headache.These pickpockets are so slick .As you say it may very well have been a child(so sad).You really wouldn't think someone could get into pockets like this without feeling something .They are like Magicians.Whip your watch off in a blink.You just wonder how long it takes theives to learn all the tricks .How would they feel if the same thing happened to them???

I have just remembered to write OH's card for tomorrow.It is tucked in the drawer now.
I have a beautiful display of flowers from OH.He gave them to me on Friday as what with it being bank holiday he wasn't sure of deliveries .I think it is actually nicer he chose them himself rather than the usual ordering on line :-) Can't believe it is 35 yrs !!.

The Jay has just been on the feeder again as was the Woodpecker earlier :-D So it has been Big Bird Day :-D

We got back from Majorca last night and had a lovely time in spite of the theft of the wallet.

Ann, the wallet was in a deep pocket, with a flap, on the front of OH's shorts. Not easy to get at unnoticed but these pickpockets are so quick. Because of the position of the wallet on his body we wondered if it might have been taken by a "trained" child. That's a really sad thought.

I still don't know why OH had cards etc. with him. We don't usually use our cards abroad and only take them for emergencies. Mine were in the safe at the hotel. Both my credit cards had to be cancelled as they are on the same accounts as OH's but the bank said I could still use my debit card if I needed to.

When we got back there was a new debit card and a European health card in the post for himself, and a new credit card for each of us. The other credit card which is in my name was blocked as soon as I rang but we couldn't have new ones immediately because I couldn't give them various security details from abroad. They didn't want simple things like mother's maiden name, but they have sent me a letter telling me what to do now I am home.

I also had an email from Ancestry while I was away. I had forgotten that I had agreed my sub should be renewed and, of course, when they tried to get it, the card had been blocked. I sent them an email explaining what had happened and expected some sort of automated reply. Instead I got a lovely personal email back, showing that a human being had actually read what I had written. GR could learn a thing or two from them about customer relations.

Just one or two minor things and OH's driving license to deal with now.

Rambled on a bit, haven't I? Back to the birds....we returned to find part of a pigeon in the garden and lots of cat poo, even on the gravel path. Our cat was in the cattery till this morning, and anyway is a very clean cat who mostly uses a litter tray. On the odd occasion when she does use the garden she scrapes a hole, and then buries her doings. I'm hoping that now our cat is back, the visiting one will stay away.

We sat down for a cup of tea when we got back yesterday evening and out of the corner of my eye I thought I saw a very large butterfly in the garden. OH saw it fluttering about later and said it was a baby wren. I'm pleased there are birds about as the feeders are hardly going down at all.

Jane, congratulations on your anniversary. Have a lovely day on Monday.

Oh, Jane, in case I forget Mo day, happy anniversary, hope you have a lovely day.

Just had a look at your photos Ann.I loved the 'misty' ones. Great pics.It looked like a great holiday there again.
This blooming Jay is becoming a bit of a pest as it is coming to the window feeder so many times in the day now.It is eating so much of the food each time :-S.I bought a 3 kilo tub of suet pellets today.Wonder how long that one will last !!!! The small birds are getting in quick lol

It has been a lovely day here today with almost wall to wall sunshine and really quite hot at times. :-D
Nothing planned here for the BH Weekend other than lunch out on Monday for our 35th Anniversary .

Glad you liked the photos Kandj. I love the ones taken across the mar Menor on misty mornings, they come out looking like Japanese paintings sometimes.

We have had to give up on our stone bird bath, it was my Mum's and about 25/30 years old. The top has parted company with the base. OH says he can cement it together but I am worried that if we ever have little ones in the garden it could fall on them so we are just utilising the bath part next to the water feature.

Just finished washing out the two bird baths, not my favourite job but a necessary one to keep our feathered friends happy and well.

An interesting variety of holiday photographs Ann, and thanks for sharing them all.
My favourites are Mountains in the mist, Pretty bays and Sunset from the balcony.

A wet day here so far but plenty of starling and little sparrows, all very hungry too.
We seem to have lost the unusual marked sparrow, no idea where he came from or where this has gone too either.

Nice to have you back safely Jane. I googled a Jay. I know it belongs to the crow
family and so was pleasantly surprised to see what a pretty colourful bird this is.
Thomas would have had a feast here last week as we had a baby bunny for three
days. It has gone away now, but not before munching on some new aubretia plants!

Enjoy your time in Majorca Vera, it is such a long time since we were there that I have almost forgotten it. How irritating for some horrible person to have stolen OH
wallet so that you now have the hassle of reporting/cancelling cards etc. Not what
you want when you are abroad. I hope you can both enjoy your break anyway.

Ann, I'm off now to look at the photographs of your holidays on the blog. Thanks.

Oh dear Vera what a pain was it in his back pocket? We have started not carrying all our cards when we go out abroad. Hope it is all sorted now and you are managing not having the cards to use.

Vera,I'm glad you are having a good time in Majorca ,but what a shame about OH's stolen wallet.It causes so much hassle when something like that happens ,with having to cancel Bank Cards etc etc..It is upseting too when you think some low life can do that to you.I hope it won't spoil your stay.Your weather sounds much better than ours.Pretty grey day here and on the chilly side :-S
I looked up Jays and see they belong to the Crow family.Not what I expected .It is quite a striking bird .That was nice to see the Egret feeding :-D

Jays are lovely birds. We used to get them in the garden in our old house.

We are in Majorca but wifi at the hotel is poor and I often can't get in. We are having a great time and weather is good. The downside is that OH had his wallet stolen on Sunday. Only about €70 in cash in it but credit cards, debit card, driving licence, Health Insurance card so a real hassle dealing with the Spanish police, card companies, bank etc.

The upside is we saw an egret yesterday and watched him catching little fish and swallowing them.

Back on Friday.

There was a train strike on Tuesday Ann so we were unable to do a day trip from Avignon to Arles .I think every time we have been to France there has been a strike for something.The French love to Strike !!!.
Will have a look at your pics of Spain now.

Glad you got home ok Jane good job you were not driving, did the strikes affect you at all. What a shame it was wet for you in Oaris.

I have put photos of Spain on the photo blog for those interested. :-)

Evening! Back from France and back to normal everyday living .Oh it is so nice to be away and not have to think about cooking ,washing ,cleaning etc.Avignon is a lovely place and the weather was very good.A bit hot for me on one day but then it cooled off slightly.Paris was very wet :-(..The Saturday was hot but Sunday an d Monday a real wash out.

Thomas is home again and back out hunting for Rabbits .There are plenty for him as my son said there have been baby bunnies enjoying a cat free garden !!!

I have a new visitor to my window feeder.A JAY !!..I have never seen one before and was surprised to see what a large bird it is.I will be sending you a pic Ann as I was lucky enough to catch it on my phone.

Hello Caldervale, very many thanks for your information. All very interesting.

Regarding the beautiful coloured male Brewers Blackbird. This used to visit our next door neighbours garden too. They had a fright when It came down their
chimney (thankfully no lit fire) and flew around the room, Peter caught the bird and he put it carefully into a small cardboard box until it had calmed down.
Peter then took the Brewers Blackbird to a man in the village who cares for all
wild creatures. He phoned the next day and said that sadly the bird had died..awww!

Kandj . Brewers Blackbird is American in origin. Named after Thomas Mayo Brewer
American naturalist. Probably an escape from some aviary or blown off course by high winds across the Atlantic. (The poor bird ) We have a bird table which attracts
many varieties. However Green Finch seem to have abandoned the area. We have lived in present house over 15 years. Flocks then but no sign for the last couple of years. Where we live is a medium size town but we are on the outskirts. A large private estate inasmuch it is not council property. We have seen Long Tailed Tits,
Blue Tits, Great Tits, Collared Doves, Ring Doves (Wood Pigeons) more well known name, the three breeds of sparrow, Hedge , Tree and House, Sparrow Hawk, Jackdaws, Crows, Magpies, Starlings (en Masse) Blackbirds, Thrush, Robin
Gold Finch not forgetting the Canary and one Budgie Two tame birds among a mixed bunch of wild ones Caldervale

Kandji. The hedge sparrow is the Dunnock. The head is light bluish grey with brown body. The Tree Sparrow is similar to the House Sparrow except the head which is coppery brown and has a black patch on the side of the head. The House Sparrow
has a grey head and there is no black patch on the side of the head. All three species come into the garden. When we first moved in to present house about 15 years ago the Green Finch was a regular visitor, Seems to have abandoned the district. Other birds include Gold Finch, Blue Tits, Great Tits, Long Tailed Tits, Robins, Lots of Starlings, Collared Dove, Ring Dove or Wood Pigeon usual name,
Crows, Jackdaws, Magpies. Sparrow Hawks not a pleasant site when eating prey.
We see water fowl occasionally, Herons, Swans variety in ducks. A fishing pond is
only a short walk away. House situated on a rather a large estate in a semi rural town. Not a country village. Caldervale

Brewers Blackbird.. American bird named after Thomas Mayo Brewer The one you spotted was the male bird. The hen bird has brownish grey plumage. The eyes are dark. It is not related to the English blackbird. The Eastern species belongs to the
same genus as the American Blackbird This is known as the Rusty Blackbird.
It is unusual to spot American birds in English gardens. Probably the one you saw was an "escape" from some aviary. Just a suggestion. Caldervale