nature's ways

The blackbirds have nested again in our hedge just outside our kitchen, we saw 3 eggs in the nest, & low & behold the magpies have had the eggs again. A friend in a flat on the other side of the building overlooking where i filmed the 5 foxes a few years ago saw at least 5 last week, some obviously being youngsters. We have seen odd ones about  in our grounds, but we haven't seen them where their den was until last week. It was in the afternoon when they were seen.
   I also put a bird box on the fence, & pleased to say blue tits are in and out of it, so something's going on.

radio caroline

Congratulations to radio Caroline on its 50th anniversary. I was a teenager growing up with the pirates in the sixties, the Beatles etc and feel very privileged to have witnessed a musical revolution that will never happen again, a wonderful era.
There's a link to Radio  Caroline on this page, you can also find all the fabulous jingles which the pirates were famous for.

found foxes Xmas lunch

just using this blog page from now on, but there are still links to pond info etc. I was planting some daffodil bulbs in our raised bed last week, but as i knew the foxes had made a hole & there had been ants nearby, i used my spade to prepare a hole for the bulbs. So glad i did as the fox had buried a chicken there.I've now put a few more sticks in to try & deter them, but now the cats have decided to have a go at rearranging everything, i give up!!

Don't forget to view my Youtube channel, which has a few videos of interest, by clicking https://youtu.be/BbRQ8ZMD_44  or go to under my skin in the useful links

For sheltered accomodation in the Gateshead area, you are most welcome to view the short video clip about life at one of Johnnie Johnsons' finest sheltered accomodation complexes by clicking the following link  https://youtu.be/x7o17bEQ__s

Iplayer on itouch 1st gen

I have an itouch 1st generation which will not upgrade passed os 3.1.3 version. I have always used it to watch odd things via iplayer on it in bed, it was so handy, but a week or so ago iplayer stopped working on the itouch, i couldn't believe it. Whether Apple tried to make us upgrade to a later model or what, it didn't work as i have a xoom which i could use. But my itouch is just perfect for what i use it for, either catching up with iplayer, not long programs but for example if i missed a house on homes under the hammer or something & the phone went, i can always see it on my itouch later. I googled the stoppage & other people were up in arms as well as me, but hey!!, it's working again, so thankyou Apple, or BBC or whoever  messed with it. I do of course also use it for music , videos & photos, it's a brilliant piece of kit, only thing it has no speakers, but i don't need any as i have other equipment if i require speakers, the ear pods are fine, otherwise i wake the wife up!!! Update, as of november 2013 iplayer is off the early models.

strange weather

Well we're into December now & my garden certainly does not look like it's nearly Christmas, the bush lobelia has come into bloom again, the blackbirds seem to be looking around  near to their old nest, bulbs are coming through, i've only just brought the geraniums in, & they were all sprowting new flowers, wow!!
This time last year i think it was slightly different, & very white, but we have had some very strong winds, & more of the same in the coming week i hear. Wonder if we'll get a white Christmas??