You are currently browsing the Ramblings weblog archives for May, 2009.
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Archive for May 2009
Hello from sunny Renfrew
31/05/2009 by Aileen.
Logging in from hotel, which has free internet access. How civilised. We’re up in bonny Scotland for Liam’s First Holy Communion, staying at a hotel round the corner from Ali. Yesterday was idyllic. Weather was perfect. The service in St Mirin’s cathedral was really good. I can’t believe how well-behaved the kids were. After the Communion they sang a hymn on their own. It was really sweet.
Back at Ali’s we had tea and a selection of her homemade cakes and buns. Later we had a barbecue. There were several of Ali and Eric’s friends there as well, most of whom we have met. I can’t upload photos yet, as I left my camera leads at ALi’s. This morning we are going to see Liam play in a football tournament, then home to sizzling Yorkshire. Probably won’t make Mass today, unless I go to Hessle tonight, but I’m sure God won’t mind too much. 
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No nightingales
28/05/2009 by Aileen.
My birding group went to Whisby Nature Reserve yesterday in search of nightingales. We did hear one briefly when we arrived, but saw none all morning. I had a great time shooting plants and insects though, and it’s a really lovely place.There’s such varied habitat, e.g. lakes, woodland, sandy sort of heathland. I will put more photos on my Flickr account, but here’s one to decorate this page. (And Michael has photos on his Birding blog - http://eybirdwatching.blogspot.com/ )
My Flickr account is
http://www.flickr.com/photos/wild_thing_09/
Today I’m off into Hul, unfortunately, to get my hair cut for Liam’s First Holy Communion. It doesn’t quite need doing yet, but hey, everyone will be looking at me won’t they! I also need to buy him a pressie, plus a pressie for Martin who is 41 on Saturday. I’m so proud of him. For lots of reasons, but the recent one is that he is taking part in the Blenheim Triathlon and has trained so hard for it. He is raising money for Stoke Mandeville Spinal Unjuries Unit and the Spinal Injuries Association. If any of my thousands of readers want to sponsor him, the page to do it on is
http://www.justgiving.co.uk/hairycat
Don’t ask why my daughter-in-law is ‘Hairy Cat’ and don’t ask why I am ‘Wild Thing’ on Flickr. (Don’t ask as I don’t know the answers) Anyway, I need to shower, and face the half-term throngs in Hull. Bye.
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Catch up time
24/05/2009 by Aileen.
Oops. Haven’t posted for a while. Been a bit tired and flat lately, and John on bed rest a lot of the time is getting me down a bit. He has his laptop in bed, and reads a lot, and he is actually up for more than the four hours the doctor originally said, but this is taking ages. I’ll be glad when we can go out cycling again. Or just a day out somewhere.
Mind you, it’s Bank Holiday weekend, and we make a point of staying in then, to avoid the crowds. On the way home from Mass later I betIll be held up at the Howden roundabout with caravans on the way to the coast.
It’s gonna be a weekend of gardening. I cut the four lawns yesterday, strimmed around bits, and half mooned the edges. Today I’m going to tackle the veg plot, which has been sadly neglected. Then tomorrow I hope to plant up the hanging baskets.
I also need to work on my final essay for Creative Writing. It’s a 2,500 word story about a young woman who has a baby secretly and is sitting in a graveyard wondering what to do. My tutor said watch that it doesn’t become too melodramatic!
Anyway, shower now, then Church. I’m doing Children’s Liturgy today, then First Communion prep. We’re having ham salad for lunch, then roast pork in the evening, washed down with gallons and gallons of wine.
Posted in gardening, health, Open University, church | Print | No Comments »
Two birds. One stone.
19/05/2009 by Aileen.
Well, we went down to the woods last night. Didn’t see any bears, but got some photos. This kills two birds with one stone. I said I would post photos that weren’t grab shots, and I had to do some low light shots for the Open University course. Well, the light wasn’t good - it was drizzling, but dryish under the trees. And here are two shots.
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That’s funny
18/05/2009 by Aileen.
I’ve just read Peter’s email in which he reminds all Viewfinder members that we are going to Raywell Woods this evening. And I’ve only just posted some photos of there, saying they were grab shots as I can’t spend too long on them when I’m birding. So now, I have to get some good shots to prove that I can! It’ll depend a lot on the weather. It’s not 7am yet, but lovely and sunny.
Today isn’t my usual Monday. John has a meeting in Hull and as he’s unsure about disabled parking there he’s asked me to drop him off. (Wimp!) So I can’t get on with housework and I’ll have a couple of hours to fill in. I don’t really fancy shopping, so will take my camera and maybe do my OU assignments. We have to do three types of photo.
- long shutter speed with tripod (to catch movement
- low light (I’ll probably do this in the woods tonight
- high contrast
Oh well, breakfast nearly finished. I’d better do SOME housework at least. That’s after a little more surfing!
Posted in photos, Open University | Print | No Comments »
And another one
15/05/2009 by Aileen.
Grab shot from Nutwood, Raywell. When I’m birding I can’t stop and get lost in photography, I have to point and shoot. Don’t bring a tripod usually either.
Off to Creative Writing now. Bye.
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Wild Garlic
14/05/2009 by Aileen.
Birding was disappointing yesterday with fewer birds than usual, possibly owing to high winds. At least the sparrows in our garden are still at the nest. Nutwood had hardly any bluebells, but here is the wild garlic which was everywhere.
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To compensate
13/05/2009 by Aileen.
As I feel such an idiot I’m posting a bluebell picture from the other night. I haven’t examined them all yet, but this one looks good at a glance. In haste as I’m off to another bluebell wood in a minute. This time for the birds, not the plants.
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(hangs head in shame)
13/05/2009 by Aileen.
Oops! Michael Flowers ( http://eybirdwatching.blogspot.com/ ) says it’s not a pied flycatcher but a pied wagtail. BUT THE SHAPE LOOKED WRONG. AND I CHECKED IN MY BOOK(S).
Oh well. I’ve got birding this morning. Maybe I’ll learn something!
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