Country Life

[JENNYJET]

Am I alone?

I have been ravaged by Mosquitoes, despite prophilactics to prevent the consequences of being assaulted by the critters!

I always sleep with Windows open as fresh air is important to me.

I live amongst farms and have slurry, rodents and odours not found within a city environment.

 

[Ashley.S.]

I much prefer living in the Cornish seaside town of Falmouth, to the city life of my hometown of Southampton. While I am still technically living in an urban area, my bedroom view looks across the river towards farmland and you can travel in-land and view the countryside so it feels like a happy medium to me 🙂

 

[JENNYJET]

Storm Babet ? Honestly, was it a storm?

I live in Worcestershire, and nothing happened of note.

I studied Meterology at school and a storm was described as a singular weather event and NOT a climatic incident that can atributed to Babet.

I acknowledge the difficulies endured locally but cannot accept it was a storm.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Nothing here in the east of England either, but the situation was much worse further north, with deaths reported and a B737 off the runway at LBA. These events can be very localised.

 

[JENNYJET]

Despite any media reporting, Worcestershire remains unscaithed however the river Severn is in line for a hit regards to flooding. Worcester, Bewdley and other low level hamlets including Redditch and Bromsgrove are in line for flooding in time.. My area( Astwood Bank ) is on a higher plain and thus is not likely to be affected being upon a Roman Road, ( The Ridgeway ) en route to Alcester ( WARWICKSHIRE), A nice area not affected by weather however it is a windy place.

 

[Aviador]

I live within two miles of LBA where the 737 went off the runway. I wouldn't have called it a storm, more like a typical autumnal day with heavy rain. It was exceptionally heavy though. The surrounding area is fairly hilly and I saw what looked more like a river running down one street but nothing like the scenes in the images bellow from the 50s and 60s. I wouldn't describe the weather as unprecedented and as you can see the area as seen far worse conditions in the past.

Aireborough Historical Society - Yeadon Foods 1968

Aireborough Historical Society - Guiseley Floods 1954

Aireborough Historical Society - Yeadon 1968

 

[Scottie Dog]

Over the last few months we have had a pair of wood pigeons set up home in a conifer in our back garden. Since then we have seen the nest being built, the birds sitting on eggs (well assumed that's what they were doing) and then the hatching of two chicks.
3 days ago the chicks fledged and a sitting on branches as well as flying around within the tree. Now, for your edification here is a photo of our lovely new residents.

 

[Aviador]

I'm not overly found of the wood pigeons to be honest. Last year we were feeding the birds and were attracting numerous species and bringing multiple birds into the garden we didn't normally see. Then the wood pigeons turned up and set up stall pecking away at the feeder leading to nearly all the food being consumed by them and then they excreciated everywhere around the garden . This year the same pigeons tried to nest again in a conifer but after last years experience we decided to discouraged them and got them to nest elsewhere. Good luck with yours, and I'll send ours over to you if you like? 😁

 

[Scottie Dog]

I think we are relatively lucky. The conifer is a general perching area for local blackbirds. We also have resident dunnock and sparrows whilst various type if tits appear occasionally. I don't know what's happened to the Robins this year, but hopefully they will return.
The birds I'm more adverse to are the magpie and sparrowhawk.

 

[Aviador]

I'm not a fan of magpies either but here they keep knocking out the odd pigeon so it has its upsides.

 

[Silvercity]

I'm not overly found of the wood pigeons to be honest. Last year we were feeding the birds and were attracting numerous species and bringing multiple birds into the garden we didn't normally see. Then the wood pigeons turned up and set up stall pecking away at the feeder leading to nearly all the food being consumed by them and then they excreciated everywhere around the garden . This year the same pigeons tried to nest again in a conifer but after last years experience we decided to discouraged them and got them to nest elsewhere. Good luck with yours, and I'll send ours over to you if you like? 😁

They do take over when you feed birds in the garden as I do. The Collard Doves are less greedy.

I think we are relatively lucky. The conifer is a general perching area for local blackbirds. We also have resident dunnock and sparrows whilst various type if tits appear occasionally. I don't know what's happened to the Robins this year, but hopefully they will return.
The birds I'm more adverse to are the magpie and sparrowhawk.

The thing with birds of prey, like Sparrowhawks, its a balance, I know its not nice to see one snatch a small bird, but really its a indication that the small bird population is ok in your area, if it wasn't, no hawks, they are quite wonderful to see I think. Cats preying on birds is a far bigger problem.

 

[Ashley.S.]

I'm not a fan of magpies either but here they keep knocking out the odd pigeon so it has its upsides.

The neighbour below me has a tree that magpies have nested in for many years, you know when the magpies are home as when the pigeons land on it, they are immediately kicked off the tree and you hear lots of noise from the magpies!

 

[Finger66]

Caged feeders, that allow only smaller birds in, but help keep larger birds and squirrels at bay are the best.
Agree that cats are a problem though.
Suppose it's all in a day's work for mother nature.

 

[Scottie Dog]

Warrington Disability Awareness Day - Sunday 13th July at Walton Hall Gardens.

If anybody is going to the above then please do come down to the Bridgewater canal - that runs down passed the entrance - and see the Narrowboat Wizard. I will be helping to crew the boat and would love to meet any members. We are offering 30 minute trip from 10:30 until about 15:00.

Come and say hello to Scottie Dog and learn about what facilities are available for those with a disability in Warrington.

 

[mullion]

Cannot make it to Warrington but Hello Scottie.

 

[Scottie Dog]

A very good morning to you Young Lady and I hope you are coping okay with this hot weather.

 

[mullion]

Sorry mate I`m an old guy ! coping with weather OK as was working in nice air conditioned building

 

[Aviador]

Its a bit too far for me on a day like today but it sounds like you're going to have a great day Scottie have fun.

 

[Scottie Dog]

Sorry mate I`m an old guy ! coping with weather OK as was working in nice air conditioned building

Under normal circumstances I would suggest you bring your wheelchair, or zimmer, as we have a hydraulic lift on the boat for access!! 🙂 🙂 Yes, it promises to be really hot and, apart from a canal breeze, there's no air conditioning on Wizard. Also where we are having to moor is not wheelchair friendly.

Only joking about your wheelchair and, I believe, I'm officially an "old git" at 75.

 

[mullion]

Ha Ha yes you are and and an older git than me, my friend I are off to N1/4 in Manchester tonight.