Awful weather - typical Brits talk

ancientofdays

What a pretty bird!  I have lots but not often anything unusual.
I have found one crocus. Better than no crocus.

Davesnave

It's certainly correctly proportioned for the tree Pippit, but more yellow than the ones I've seen in the BTFO video. It's nearest to what it is than Yellowhammer as the bill is quite pointed.

Better morning here. Off to see the nurse for my Old Fogey MoT now......

in_my_wellies

goldfinches said:

imw - sorry to hear about your mum. I learned bridge at school and enjoyed it but hated the mah jong we had at home. I'm wondering if your mother might like cleaning silver or jewellery or sorting things like my sewing boxes and baskets, also cross stitch kits where the colours are printed on the canvas can be nice. There are some lovely ones here 

You read my mind re cleaning silver, well stainless steel or metal in my case. I just sorted out the cloths and cleaner ready for later on. That should keep her occupied. We did spend an afternoon sorting buttons. I didn't intend to sit but it was mostly her mothers buttons and she shared memories which is rare for mum, even before her illness she was never one to talk about the past, always planning the future. 

Bit brighter today so hoping it will dry up enough to check the boathouse. Landlord will be ringing soon so it's getting urgent. 

I've used this to identify coastal birds:
https://www.rspb.org.uk/birds-and-wildlife/wildlife-guides/identify-a-bird/

Farway

Bright, sunny here, milky sky though

Davesnave said:

Better morning here. Off to see the nurse for my Old Fogey MoT now......

My one was cancelled, I suspect with CV and me really needing a full service plus a new engine anyway, or at least a re-bore

Probably BER but I did have a call yesterday for a CV jab, unfortunately it was not in an easily accessible location for non local old fogey so I turned it down, fingers crossed that was not a mistake on my part

One bright spot, my money tree i[Crassula ovata ] in the unheated conservatory is now in flower, it bakes in bright sun during the summer and is under a regime of benign neglect

Apodemus

I'm impressed with all you folk being offered MOTs!  I last visited my GP about ten years ago to get a sick-line (now euphemistically renamed a fit-note!) and was stunned that, despite being on the premises for 40 mins, I was not even offered a chance to have my blood pressure checked!  Middle-aged males are well-known for being reluctant attendees for medical care and surely you would make the most of the rare occasion when you have them captive in the waiting room?

in_my_wellies

Dave - could the bird be a siskin? Number 32 on here:
https://www.lingfieldreserves.org.uk/index.php/sightings/birds-in-detail
I'm wondering if it's the same as the one I saw on the niger seed this morning for the first time. It does say they eat it. Took a fancy picture with my daughters new camera but can't work out how to download it - maybe later. 

Davesnave

Don't think it's a Siskin but will check those out more later Wellies.

Pensioner MoT was a bit of a dead loss.Nurse had no sense of humour but at least she took blood painlessly. Wouldn't accede  to do Best of 3 in the blood pressure, but luckily it came out OK. I lied when she asked how much alcohol I drank, as my consumption has been a-typical in the last 12 months .....and that was about it. No advice, nothing.

Obviously not doing any jabs here yet as the Health Centre was very quiet.

Apodemus

We used to get big mobs of siskins in the garden and rarely saw a house sparrow.  Now we have house sparrows galore and I can't think when I last saw a siskin.   Do siskins ever venture out on their own, rather than as group?

Davesnave

Apodemus said:

We used to get big mobs of siskins in the garden and rarely saw a house sparrow. 

  I think this bird isn't one that goes around in flocks. I've only ever seen it singly.

Finally got the trellis on the archway this afternoon, so only another 7 panels to make now!

I think that thing is going to outlast me by a considerable margin. We built it in late 2019, omitted to do the side panels, butnow the rose is almost to the top, doing them became a matter of urgency. Not sure what to put on the side where the grass is. We'll bump that off and build another bed eventually.....already have a small myrtle there, getting swamped.

Farway

That looks very sturdy Dave, my choice for the grass side would be a thornless blackberry type, thornless only because it's next to a path

My Merton Thornless is picture when in flower, plus the bee with fruit to follow

A wet morning here so nil gardening

I have my CV jab booked for Wednesday, which should mean by mid Feb it should be a tad safer for me to look in the likes of Lidl & Home Bargains for compost