All Quite On The Western Front

Its all been very quite around the parish for the last couple of days, with everyone seemingly on holiday. The wildlife though has put in more than the occasional appearance, on Thursday morning last week I saw a beautiful white Fallow deer doe with her fawn right by Jim Smith's place at Shilley Green. What made this even more exciting, was that she just stopped long enough for me to get a really good look at them both before the ran off to join the rest of the herd. Then on the way back to Easthall Farm where the tree close over the road, flying at eye level no more than a yard or so in front of me was a Red Kite, absolutely stunning! What a morning.

Friday wasn't bad either, fish and chips in The Maidens Head at lunchtime,with Jan, if you've not tried the food before treat yourself, its to die for. Best fish and chips ever, it made up for getting soaked by the down pour at 11.15 that morning. Once it stopped raining and I was suitably revived I counted 11 Buzzards above the school, it looked like a couple of families as there was a few younger ones learning to glide. This is another big bird of prey that breeds locally at Myers Corner just this side of Preston.

What makes my job seem like the best job in the world is that I never know what or whom I will see or meet. On Tuesdays I always like to have a chat with Ian the Fishmonger, a real mind of information on things Piscatorial, always ready the explain how to fillet or cook what he has on his van to sell.

Well that's Monday over, I was supposed to be resting this week, but Staff shortages mean no rest week, and I'm at work, still there are worse places to be!

Kingly 1 Dakota and Friend Dennis and John

I had the chance yesterday to chat to a couple of old boys who can be seen in the village, Dennis the baker from Katie's and John from Thrussells the butchers. It was interesting talking to them because they were reminiscing about their pasts, Dennis from Newcastle and John from London both tyring to convince each other that they had had the hardest upbringing. It was like listening to that scene from The Secret Policeman's Ball,they both look so hard done by. I hope a candlestick maker might come to the village, now that would make an interesting picture.

On things bovine, Kingly 1 Dakota is in love, I saw him today with a lady friend, a few minutes later I saw them in a passionate embrace, bless them.

There seems to have been so many babies born in the village this years, I hope over the coming week to take some photos of the newcomers and their mums, to introduce them to you all.

Old Bats In Limetree House

Well what a treat this morning, as I was delivering in Limetree House there was a bat yes a Pippestrell (Hope spelt right) Bat! It was flying around the top floor, it was a nice treat to see such an animal at reasonable close quarters.

Talking of things that fly, I was treated to a stunning flying display by a Red Kite this morning she was only a couple of metres above my head as he swooped down and across towards the Church and back again towards Sue Ryder. Breathtaking.

More things that fly. El Al who started flying into Luton earlier this year from Tel Aviv, are seemingly planning to upgrade from a Boeing 767 to a Boeing 777. This is a big plane, it will call in at Frankfurt for fuel as it would be unable to take off fully fueled from Luton due to the length of the runway. Another new airline to fly into Luton is Blue Air, they are from Romania, and fly in at 22.45 and fly back at 0015, to Bacau. Yet another new airline to make use of our local airport is Wind Jet from Italy, they fly to Forli. Lots of new airlines looking to take advantage of Luton. Just one other thing on the airline front, in times of financial hardship Sky Europe has ascended from the grave. We can once again see the blue and red Boeing 737's overhead. Well done to all concerned who struggled and refused to give up, they had there planes repossed, but clung on and have managed to get a couple of them back and are back in business.

Another strange sight I saw last week was Tom Wilson wearing an Alice band, Well I did make a passing comment, once or twice, and today he was off to get his hair cut. I explained that he could do worse than look at me as a role model, and he has just stopped laughing, no regards for my feelings.

Start of another week

3.08.09
Just as I was bemoaning the missing birds of prey, I spotted a Red Kite on the drive to the Bury. It let me get within 3m of it before it took off toward Whitwell. There was also a Kestral at Stagenhoe Bottom, he normally sits on the telegraph pole and watches me go bye.

Its now August and every youngster I meet is so bored, ah what its like to be young. Everything else seemed very quite today I think everyone away on holiday, Lucky or what!