Annabel enjoys bird watching. Our garden has several bird feeding points which give her plenty of opportunities to watch her feathered friends. She had never seen a siskin before, I’d never even heard of one. Recently, she was delighted to find an increasing number of siskins in the garden and was both astonished and delighted to see thirteen of them at the same time. They are very attarctive looking birds; unfortunately, this one flew into a window. We also get goldfinches, which are such colourful birds, and nuthatches along with various tits – blue, coal, great and the dainty long tailed ones. There are golden eagles in the Lake District National Park but I wasn’t very convincing in claiming I’d seen one in the garden!

Stormy weather

The weather has been stormy recently but when I checked the forecast for the south-west earlier this week, I realised how lucky we were in comparison. I’m not sure I’d want to be around with winds gusting into the 80’s and 90’s. My Dad seemed quite complacent about the weather in Weymouth, but he’s tucked up in his room in his care home.

Travel Plans

We have been making some travelling plans. We’re travelling to Oxfordshire for my cousin John’s 70th birthday celebration. From there, we’re heading off to Weymouth for a few days to see my Dad and my sister. While we’re there we have arranged to meet up with a very old friend – he’s almost as old as me! – and his lovely wife. I’ve known Martin since my college days, so that’s over fifty years and we’ve continued to stay in touch over all that time.

Photos at our grandchildrens’ school

Yesterday, Annabel and I visited our grandchildren’s school in a local village, Crosby Ravensworth (they do some cracking names in Cumbria!). We spent our afternoon showing the children projected photographs of the various animals we had encountered in Antarctica and the Falkland Islands a few years ago. Annabel did an excellent job talking (she has a degree in talking) about the wildlife, the snow, the ice and the glaciers. She did struggle somewhat trying to explain why the sun at midday was in the north and why it was still daylight at midnight. Rather her than me! We drove our grandchildren back to their home and had an early tea there feeling quite exhausted.

Camera Problems

Tomorrow, I’m posting one of my camera lenses as it has developed a fault. Luckily, I know a very good repair business – H. Lehmann – in Stoke on Trent, who will sort out the fault and return the repaired lens. The lady I spoke to was very helpful and was able to diagnose the problem with a few specific questions. Luckily, the camera was not at fault, which would have been a real blow.