Home from my mini holiday

I spent my birthday back in Dover, having a week away from work. It was lovely to spend the Sunday with not only mum & dad but Jeremy, Helen and James as well. A bottle of champagne from J & H added a sparkle to the party! It was lovely too, to be serenaded by Emmy all the way from Brunei on the "big day" itself! Later I enjoyed a chilly outing with mum & dad to Port Lympne Wildlife Park. The sun shine was pleasant but the wind was definately cool, so not surprisingly a lot of the animals were a little reluctant to come out and play for the benefit of visitors. Nevertheless we enjoyed watching the gorillas amusing themselves (one thought it a good idea to try and shower us with bits of wind blown straw!), and later eating their afternoon snacks (walnuts, raisons). I discovered that Dian Fossey's description of gorillas odour as "barn yard" was quite apt.
It was also nice to see various types of monkey, one or two small cats (including the fishing cat, found in South East Asia), several barabary lions and some tigers, asian elephants etc.
Leaving Dover on Wednesday (16th) I stopped for lunch with Jeremy, Helen and James, made a brief visit to Reading shopping centre and then stopped again for a birthday tea for the four year old son of a friend. It was good to catch with everyone.
Next morning, back in dear old Gloucestershire I collected my spare keys from my "cat-sitter" who asked me "Have you looked in your pond?". I hadn't, but soon did and lo and behold its got frogspawn in! Let's hope the on-coming cold snap doesn't kill too many of them!

Sunday 6th February 2005

This afternoon I went out for a walk from North Nibley, up onto the hill and around the woodland. This morning's cloud had lifted and broken up to give some lovely spring-like sunshine. I kept a watch out for wildlife. On the shaded side of the hill all seemed rather quiet, apart from one wheezy grey squirrel and a flock of woodpigeons. Round the other side, however was much more lively. I had several sightings of great tits and blue tits, plus a coal tit and several chaffinches. Then I spotted a buzzard near at hand, and a song thrush was in song. The impression of spring on the way was enhanced further with a great spotted woodpecker rapping out its territorial beat down near the bottom of the wood.
Approaching the end of my circuit I arrived a the Tyndale monument, and finding it unlocked was kindly permitted to climb up to the top (the key holders were just about to lock it up), something which I have not done before. It was worth the climb for the experience, but would been even better if the day was less misty....something to remember for a summer weekend.
Then I returned to my car and went home for a cuppa and some toasted potato cakes. Nice!