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Fancy having to feed that lot!!

not only feedin' 'em Ann, but tucking them up into bed,
also and turning them over as sometimes there are one or two trapped under the rest

the hen is on the go all the time.....at night, every few minutes she is doing something.....

Plenty of open mouths to feed and keep the hen busy Bob.

I ran out of the usual suet pellets today and used wild birdseed in the window feeder which has brought quite a lot of sparrows and wrens and kept them happy all day. It has made a pleasant change for us to watch something different to greedy Starlings!

Fascinating to watch Bob I'm sure.

Kandj, good idea to ring the changes anyway.

Yes I agree Ann..... should have thought of it sooner ha ha.

We both agree that it makes a nice change to see the smaller birds visiting. They are much more "well mannered" than the aggressive starlings and very much quieter too!

Happened to see Jersey during their 'celebrations' of VE day and wondering how Vera is getting on with her cruise. I know they were not able to go ashore in Guernsey today because of bad weather forecast but it didn't look too bad in Jersey, maybe the forecast was wrong.

I hope that Vera and Jane are having a good time and that Maryanna is being spoiled with lots more pressies and a BIG cake for a BIG birthday. Happy Birthday Maryanna!

Fingers crossed that the weather is good enough for you and family to enjoy a BBQ Ann. Did Luke have fun with bubbles or did he manage to knock container over??

We are quite enjoying seeing the sparrows and wrens at the window feeder. The starlings keep trying the seeds and throwing them away. Another job for me now as I daren't risk leaving the seeds on the ground and getting mice around (perish that idea).

Kandj, we don't go to see Luke until next Sunday, don't think there will be a barbecue though as they haven't built it yet.
Definitely not barbecue weather here, very grey, windy and cold out there. Shame as it would have been good to have a sunny gardening day after buying plants yesterday.

Yes, hope Vera's cruise has gone well and that Jane has enjoyed Paris and had decent weather.

And, happy birthday Maryanna for whichever day it is, hope you have had a wonderful time with lots of pressies, cards and CAKE!

Dratted birds...grrr

Almost the last thing I did before leaving for our cruise was to fill all the bird feeders. This morning I saw they were still three quarters full, so thought the birds had deserted us. No, they haven't. They have been feasting on my beetroots and lettuces. There is not one plant left and there is earth everywhere.

When I said how much I was missing my vegetable garden from our old house, daughter bought a "mini allotment". It's a set of large polystyrene containers that you can slot together to make a large "bed" or you can use them individually. I decided to stick with salad items in them and had two with beetroot and two with salad greens. The little plants were all about two inches high and looking really healthy. Now they are all gone and I am just going out to buy a shotgun!

I hope you had a wonderful birthday Maryanna, and that you enjoyed Paris Jane. Our cruise was enjoyable but didn't go quite as planned. Because of weather forecasts we had to go in to Guernsey a day early so we missed the Liberation Day festivities. The following day we were going into Bruges from the port at Zeebrugge. The captain did try to dock but the winds were so high that he decided it was safer to spend the day at sea. There was plenty of entertainment on board and lots to do but it was disappointing not to be able to go ashore.

Sunny and bright here. Have a good day everyone.

11 days old

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Those mouths are getting bigger Bob.

Looking rather crowded in the nest now Bob.

Glad your back safely Vera, what a shame that the itinerary was changed, but if you were with friends I'm sure that the good company and change of scenery made up for it.
I also get cross with the birds some days. I provide food and water and they often poo on the windows......it's not very nice having to clean it all off either!!

How is your daughter coping Ann, will she be in Hampshire at the weekend too?

Hello everyone, I am now back I the Land of the Living after the two most busy weekends ever.

I had an absolutely wonderful birthday and the weather has been gorgeous. I can't remember being on the beach making sand castles and wearing a sundress, on my birthday. for a long long time.

We had a delicious meal out on Saturday, ( fish and chips on Friday ) Sunday , we had a Somerset tea at. Hestercombe, little sandwiches and tasty little cakes and scones, and a glass of Champagne. The garden will be looking its best in a couple of months but at the moment there are plenty of Wallflowers and Pansies about.

We then went back to our eldest sons house, a BBQ had been planned but the weather wasn't too brilliant so we ate inside. More Fizz was involved.

Yesterday, courtesy of our daughter, we had a delicious breakfast, laid out on the table with the best crockery, melon and Strawberries and Mango with yoghurt and Danish Pastries. Oh, yes, and a glass of Fizz.

Then we had some windows replaced and most exciting of all, a new front door, I had a job choosing one as the house is old and they never seem to be if the right era for it, anyway, they mixed and matched for me and it looks lovely and they were very quick, and no more misty windows.

Then everyone else arrived, we went out for lunch in town and afterwards we went down to the beach, the boys all trying to compete with making the best boat or castle or car, which the little one would promptly jump on and break.

Last night we went out yet again, more delicious food, back home for cake and even more fizz. We were all in bed by 11pm, exhausted and nobody woke up until 8.30 this morning.

Those that aren't back at work are all off to the beach again whilst I tidy up, house looks like something has exploded, ( back to Earth with a bump ) back to Surrey this evening as I am back at work tomorrow.

Only about ten weeks to go until I leave work.

At least we don't have a funeral to go to this week, it was all very sad last week, someone I had known all my life, her mum was friends with my Mum and they had owned a shop together when they were young and our grandparents had been at school together as well.

Thank you all again for your good wishes, for both anniversary and birthday.

Ten years and we can do it all again !!!!!

Sorry to hear your trip was a bit different to what you were expecting Vera, you seem to have a right battle on your hands, what with birds and slugs, hope Jane had a lovely time in Gay Paris. Ann you had a bit of a fright in Malvern, could have been nasty. Bob, I know just how those parent birds feel, a weekend with my boys is very much the same. kandj, you seem to be having bird trouble as well !!

Better get on with my tidying !!!! Or I will get moaned at.

M.

Vera, not quite as you expected then, but better safe than sorry and I am sure you had fun with your group of friends, plenty of laughs a tonic in itself. Sometimes the birds can be a real nuisance and make us wonder why we feed them. Are you re-planting? Have you got any plastic cloches you could put over the top? do you have pigeons? they are usually the culprits.

Kandj no daughter won't be in Hampshire this time she is going to Preston to meet up with a group of friends. She is ok, tries to keep busy, has good bad and indifferent days. We are going up to stay with her in July for a week so that will be good, hopefully we can get some walking in.

Maryanna, wow! What can I say, you have had a good two weekends. And I am so pleased that you were lucky with the weather. All that food, does that mean a diet this week now Lol? Nice to have new windows and door as well. Safe journey this evening.

And I am sorry about your friend, even if she was older as I assume she was if a friend of your Mum's, it is always sad to lose friends, especially those who are part of our past. We are worried at the moment as a long time friend (RN colleague of OH's is battling oesophigal cancer. He has had a rather nasty op and is now home recovering. Obviously it is still life threatening but we hope the op has given him a few years. He is 76.

We have just done a grocery shop and put it all away, why is that so tiring??

Exhausted now, back ache leg ache. After doing the grocery shop just spent 2 hours in the garden.

they are more like birds now feathers and wings instead of miniature trussed chickens, a lot of pushing n shoving going on, hoping all 10 are still with us but at times only 9 are obvious........mum n dad are in and out every 30 seconds or so, each feeding and clearing up the poop balls.....but mum dives in often, as if to find one that is under the rest........... have some more pics to offer.....later..

Bob

Thanks Bob, bet you are pleased you put the webcam in now, worth waiting for it to be used. They are so fascinating.

Maryanna, your last two weekends sound amazing hope you have got your breath back now.

Bob, your links are all really interesting, thank you for sharing with us all on here.

Vera, are you going to think about planting again now? Ann's idea of putting cloches over are good to stop the birds having another feast.

Ann, your daughter is obviously keeping herself busy and its good she has family and friends to support her along her difficult path just now.

Is it today that Jane returns home? I hope all went well for them both in Paris.

Rain clouds gathering about here today. A sudden heavy shower wet all the clothes on the line earlier, they are back out again now and blowing in the breeze but I'm keeping my eye on them as I don't want them wetting through again!

It has been a glorious day here today so we are taking a chance and putting bedding plants and baskets out. I have been planting for two days now and have the sore legs and back to prove it. Also put 11 hanging baskets out. Could be a big mistake if we get a frost. So fingers crossed. Packed now for the weekend.

Phew it is hot out there. It was 27 degrees earlier, but just checked and it is now at 20 past five 26 degrees. However, rain and colder weather is forecast for tomorrow. didn't have a clue what to pack for the weekend.

Daughter is having lots of presents from her two cats, so far 10 baby voles, they must have found a nest. Good job she doesn't mind them.