Country picnic snack....

The Starlings circled overhead chattering loudly as their friend struggled for his life.
It took way too long for the little life to be extinguished as the Sparrowhawk was still wary of that defensive lunging beak.
Eventually it was all over. Nature can appear cruel, but it is what it is...

The size, the white eye stripe, and the brownish rather than greyish colouring indicated that this was a female Sparrowhawk. The females because of their larger size tend to hunt bigger prey (anything up to pigeon size) and operate out in the open. The smaller males are more agile, broad but short wings allow them to hunt within the close quarters of woodland. Males were once known as 'Muskets', and in the 17th century, the newly developed, compact, lightweight but powerful 'musket' gun was named after them.
Even after their friends death, the brave Starlings continued to mob the dangerous Sparrowhawk, forcing it to adopt a defensive stance.
This strange 'tenting' allows them to stand on the wings of their prey but remain stable using their tail and wingtips to form a tripod.


Next time I'm out in the countryside, hopefully I'll be able to photograph something a bit more 'fluffy', preferable NOT having it's head chewed off by something vicious!....

The view from the Oak...

From mighty boughs I did fall, my mother proud, ancient and tall.
I travelled by palm from my rural calm...
...to be placed in a pot, and later my own plot.
The decades passed by with no more than a sigh.
Settlers came and went, the cottage no longer for rent.
For the cars that paid, I'd offer my shade.
With shouting chainsaw, you may as well shot me with a gun...
Look, you bloody developers, just look what you've done.

1798 - 2008 RIP...The big old oak cut down in its prime.

Mr. Tiddles won't be home for his milk...

It was a warm sunny day as she lolled, relaxed without a care in the world.
She knew I was there. She had her beady eye on me.
More watchful than normal. She'd spotted me and wanted me to know it....A little extra set of ears lurk in the background.
This is why she was being so alert. The cubs were at play...
The pics and video are a bit blurred and shaky because I was at 35X zoom.
The cubs had got a new toy...
...but I couldn't quite see what it was.


Lots of tiny cub yawns told mum that the kids were ready for a nap. It was time to head back off to the den. She stooped to collect up the toys...
Oh dear, it looks as if Mr Tiddles won't be coming home for his milk tonight!
With a quick glance she checked they weren't being followed and they were gone...

40 years and 40 beers!....

It was Russells 40th and we were all invited round to commiserate...I mean celebrate. There was some really nice champers....
....if only we could get it open!
Lots of cards. I KNEW I'd forgotten something.
Plus balloons. A proper party!
I searched and searched for some 'Lancaster Bomber' beer (Russells current favourite), but couldn't find it anywhere. I later discovered that they sold it at my local wine merchant. Typical, I didn't check there!
As compensation I brought along the 'Drinko-matic-4000' drinking hand to help make alcohol consumption less of a chore.
We were presented with some smoked salmon which had lingered in the cupboard upon its return from Seattle for near on five years. There was no 'use by' date and we reckoned that if we all drank enough strong alcohol any germs would die anyway. It was surprisingly nice, but did later dominate the room and make its presence known!
The automatic drinking hand proved itself to be a versatile piece of equipment being equally competent at handling nibbles.
Although the guidance system needed some tinkering.
As the evening became more blurry and confusing, a shoe appeared on the table. It turned out to be a pleasing strong lemon drink in a shoe shaped bottle. Once wrestled from Jennys grip (she thought it would ruin the look of it if we drank it) it was avidly consumed. Along with a variety of other drinks and chocolate liqueurs.
The drinko-matic hand suited Jon quite well until....
...suddenly and unexpectedly it turned on him. Obviously not conversant with the three laws of robotics, it attacked its master, first going for the eyes then force feeding him with three spring rolls dipped in hot peri sauce all at once. The mechanical hand was subdued. I'm sure the twins will love it.
All in all a top evening.
Thanks Russell for inviting us and turning 40 before me!
Thanks to Maxine for the seemingly never ending supply of yummy eating nibbles.

Bat (detector) Man defeats the 'Evil Black Box'...

Jenny is currently studying for a Degree in Computer Technology. As part of the course she has to produce a project outlining the stages of manufacture of an item. A bat detector (converts their ultra-sonic call into audible sound) was eventually decided upon.
We managed to source all the parts from a really good small electronics shop in Burton-Upon-Trent (that's where I was coming back from when we hit floodwater and broke my car a few weeks ago).
Thankfully a circuit board was included.
There was also a big bag of fiddly components.
It was at this point that I was informed that the study was to be conducted around the manufacture by a third party.... in other words, it was me who had to build it! Great!...
I did my best and was quite pleased with the aesthetics of the end product. Sadly, I was told that this was NOT what was required. Looks like I'd have to use the circuit diagram instead.
As I got to grips with the more serious side, I was very glad of the newly purchased 'Helpy-Hands'.
Why, oh why do they indicate the value of resistors with bands of colour. Very pretty, but if your a bit colour blind like me, they're an absolute nightmare.
"Dear Mr. Resistor manufacturer, can you please print the value of your merchandise in digits. I know you can do this cos you do it on your capacitors. Hell, we even print 'sell by dates' on eggs nowadays. Please keep up with the times...."
I never do get around to sending these sort of letters...
Look! Writing on the capacitors!
As the capacitors, transistors and IC sockets slowly took their places, the board (if you get really close) starts to resemble a little city... You can tell my enthusiasm was beginning to wane and my mind wander at this point.
Next, the fly wires, gain controls, frequency adjuster and IC chips fitted in their sockets.
I can tell you're excited by all this...Oyh! Wake up.
Don't worry, it's almost over...
Speaker, power indicator, battery connector, headphone socket and microphone, all attached.
All this stuff has to be crammed into an enclosure which isn't really big enough. My tip for doing this successfully is to swear loudly and bang your fists on the table. It won't go in any easier, but you'll feel much, much better.
Right, it's all done. I bet you thought it'd never finish....I know I did.
Where's my Degree?!

fingerTIPS FOR PREPARING A SALAD.....

When preparing a salad, don't always assume that big is best. This large, heavy razor sharp cleaver although great for taking the legs off chickens can have its downside.
While using the large, heavy razor sharp cleaver to cut carrots which are rolling around, don't be distracted by images you may see on the TV. Especially don't let your attention be diverted by the cute Canadian Miss Chriqui, because you will miss the carrot and cut through your nail and deep into the flesh of your finger. It will hurt and be very messy...
Firstly, a digit count...9.98, good enough for me, anyway, there's no spares in stock. Practically minded as I am, this seemed the best solution to putting everything back together. After all the packet does say, "Sticks: china, metals, laminates, and much more....", perfect!
Right, tape it up and maybe a zip tag to hold it all together, that should do. I might avoid getting it wet in the shower, wouldn't want anything dropping off.
Conclusion; salads are good for you, cleavers are bad, and girls are dangerous....

"All Around the Wrekin", or, "The long way round"....

The Wrekin is a well known landmark hill and is easy to find despite the unhelpful signs.
At 1335 feet it is a bit of a slog, but pretending to admire the view halfway up allows you to catch your breath. It really doesn't help your self esteem, when, as you slowly puff your way ever upwards, local athletes using the climb as part of their training come bounding past like gazelles....
As I got ever higher the view unfurled itself, mist draped across the valleys.
'The Wrekin' is a corruption of the ancient English 'Uriconion', a Celtic name.
For some time after the Norman invasions it was called Mount Gilbert after a hermit that once resided on its slopes.
The summit is occupied by an iron age hill fort thought to be built by the Cornovii tribe, the same people that created the huge fort of 'Castle Ring' in Cannock Chase. The Wrekin was their capital.
To the West, the tips of the Welsh mountains poked through the low cloud.
We sat atop the sun warmed rock peak eagerly awaiting the spectical of the sunset.
I'd hoped to get a great photo of the hills, mist filled valley and perhaps the snaking glint of the meandering River Severn in the golden evening light, but the clouds rose and obscured the view.
We drank our flasked coffee and nibbled some Hazelnuts I'd roasted on a small fire.
Homeward bound, the toposcope more helpful than the local signs, we headed off....