Busy little homemakers

[pauline]

Horray! the house martins have arrived after their long journey and are busy repairing last year's nest that didn't survive the bad winter. I wonder what they thought when they saw it? Does your heart good to see them. The cuckoo in the wood nearby has been going for about an hour now; wonderful to hear but I hope he doesn't visit the martins nest. Can you imagine a baby cuckoo in there!

[jane jackson]

I haven't heard a cuckoo for years, certainly not since we moved to PZ 4 years ago. Perhaps it's because we don't have a wood near us although there are plenty of trees around but they're lining the bypass and in gardens. I hope your cuckoo doesn't decide to lay an egg in your house martins nest but it probably couldn't get in!

When I let the dogs out last night around 10.30pm I heard cheeping sounds coming from the laurel bushes so I'm hopeful we have a nest in there with some youngsters. Bryan was going to cut some of the laurel back today but now he'll leave it alone. We have a pair of magpies and over the last few really hot days they've been coming quite frequently to the feeding station for a drink then flying back to their perch in the elm tree ~ makes it all worthwhile providing the food and water.

We were at Long Rock beach with the dogs early this morning which was lovely, enjoying the sunshine before it gets too hot. As we were getting ready to leave LR at 8am we had Radio Cornwall on and they played a recording of Callington's church bells, it was really great listening to them while looking at the sea. I wonder if they play a recording of different bells each sunday as we don't usually have Radio Cornwall on that early on a sunday.

[pauline]

Can you imagine what is happening at Minack now. Hopefully house martins or swallows are in the donkey stable and the old car port, assuming it is still there!. Derek said there were always magpies in the wood and I wonder if there is another Charlie chaffinch or Robbie robin busy raising young. Glad to hear you have good weather now as Patricia told me a few days ago that she had had two days of bad sea mist and couldn't see the church spire from her garden.

[gloria townsin]

Yes we had the sea mist here in Mullion as well, in fact the whole Lizard was floating in it. Very odd experience. We did a journey to Falmouth B&Q on Wednesday, went through a clear patch and on the way back re-entered the misty world........
We had a thrush building a nest in the Winter Jasmine at Croxley when we went back last time........although we think she might have abandoned it before laying as we inadvertantly disturbed her by moving the rubbish bins when they were due for collection, bit of a shame but at least she hadn't got any eggs in it.

[tricia2ws]

isn't it lovely listening to the birds, the swifts are well and truely back, the sky is filled with screeching, have seen the house martins too although they don't nest near me, little robin's nesting next door, and there are loads of magpies, we also have parakeets around us, they sqwark away making a real racket, and every night the majestic heron glides back to the brook just behind us. x tricia

[jane jackson]

This afternoon while gardening I saw what looked like lots of seeds or maybe eggs in a web attached to one of the fan type palms. I moved it slightly to see and they were baby spiders!!!!!!! - absolutely loads of them. They all started moving quickly up and down the stems and eventually got back into 2 groups and huddled up together again - fascinating. They were so tiny even I didn't mind them.

[pauline]

Can't say I've ever seen a swift, and DEFINITELY no parakeets around here! We never have starlings where we live and this year sparrows are rare. Wonder whats happened to them. House martin building is very slow and not much progression. pauline;)

[Janet Swan]

This afternoon while gardening I saw what looked like lots of seeds or maybe eggs in a web attached to one of the fan type palms. I moved it slightly to see and they were baby spiders!!!!!!! - absolutely loads of them. They all started moving quickly up and down the stems and eventually got back into 2 groups and huddled up together again - fascinating. They were so tiny even I didn't mind them.

When I used to have net curtains, one day I took them down to wash them - and discovered a small spider with her babies, just like your did, Jane. I carefully carried the curtain out to the garden and tried to put spider and babies onto a bush. When I looked a few minutes later, the little spider was moving all her family to another bush! Just another example of the amazing natural world under our noses.

Janet

[Gill Bilcliffe]

A few weeks ago I saw one swift in amongst many swallows at Whitlingham Lake in Norwich. We have had sparrows and starlings this year in the garden too. Hope they will fly down to Bury Pauline as they have been up here.

[Kath Mulligan]

We used to be swamped by starlings but they have been absent now for two or three years, and we don't see many sparrows either, or finches. Most of the time now we get blue and great tits, robins, blackbirds, rooks and crows, and somewhere around at the moment there is a woodpigeon. I can hear it calling right now but I haven't seen it yet. There are plenty of swallows and swifts in and around the area, but not over my garden unfortunately. I haven't seen my little wren for a few weeks so hope it managed to survive the winter. It is so small that it may now just be well camouflaged in the bushes and hedges.

Kath

[Linda]

We have several starlings nesting in our roof space, by that I mean the gap between the roofing boards they use here in Scotland and the tiles. Its a different style of roofing to down South. These starlings have been coming here each year we have been here I did try to keep them out with wiring but they managed to get past that and all I created was a place for grass to grow in the guttering!

We have half a doz so far of swifts and swallows...these numbers will increased dramatically over the course of the summer...they are busy now flying back adn forth and soooo fast and accurate..I was worried as no midges at first for them to feed on..shouldnt have tho' tonight I have been fed upon! down with midges

We have heard the cuckoo in the forest and our bats are out once more....

Jeff said on Sunday when we sat out on the patio with a cuppa...listen to that and to think when we came here it was silent. Now the sounds of birds are heard all around us and in the distance too.

[adesmith]

We have got starlings nesting in the corner of our roof and guttering. We always used to have some at the flat as well and I think they are rather nice. Not sure what damage they do whilst in there! The lady next door was upset because her starlings didnt come back this year and she thinks that it is because she cleared out the nest over the winter.

[Mary Young]

We have starlings that have nested very near to us. Think in a neighbours hedge as they are feeding from our birdtable and are adults and young ones. We also have lots of sparrows here but not much else. When the snow was on the ground we had some pied wagtails which were lovely to watch but not seen them for long time now.

Mary

[jane jackson]

We used to have lots of starlings on Exmoor and they would often share the perches with the chickens in the hen house which I wasn't very keen on ~ seemed to be mostly the youngsters. It was fascinating when they used to fly across the sky in very large groups to roost in the evenings. We don't seem to have any in PZ or at least not in our road. I do miss the swallows which used to nest in our stables on Exmoor but we have seen some swallows locally just not in our garden.

Linda your home seems alive with wildlife, how lovely.

[Gill Bilcliffe]

We have an abundance of wood pigeons and collared doves probably due to a very tall lime tree where they sit all winter minus leaves. I presume all summer too in the leafy tree as they wait each day for food.

I was delighted to hear a cuckoo last year at Southwold. Another delight living in the city is a rooftop across the way where a gull will often sit. I have a Gull on the Roof!

[pauline]

The house martins have left their partially constructed house and are busy making a new home at the house next to us where the overhang.. is wider. They probably think a new house deserves a better location. Thought we had a rat problem as I had glimpsed something small and furry in the bushes and was anxious Jasper our 15yr rescue cat might be bitten if he tried to catch it. Have seen our "rat" this morning, the cutest bright eyed tiny bunny wabbit, and am now anxious it will get caught by Jasper!

[jane jackson]

We saw a lovely small bunny this morning alongside the railway at Long Rock, so sweet. Think they're quite safe there as no dogs can get through the fence to them, not sure about cats or foxes. There's a very wide stretch of grass and brambles so shouldn't think the trains would be a problem.

Hope Jasper doesn't catch your bunny.

[adesmith]

Gosh, I think I would rather have a bunny problem than a rat problem Pauline! I am sure that we must have lots of rats near us from the river but I darent even think about it!

[Kath Mulligan]

On a similar theme, I was putting some flowers on my husband's grave this afternoon when I suddenly spotted a cute little hedgehog scuttling along in the grass beyond the graves. He stopped to watch what I was doing and didn't seem at all scared of me, then after a few minutes he was off on his travels again. It's not often I come out of the cemetery with a big smile on my face, but he really made my day!

Kath

[jane jackson]

Isn't it lovely how seeing something as simple as a hedgehog or a rabbit really lifts our spirits. That was good Kath that you came away from the cemetery smiling. I do prefer to have a grave to put flowers on and have an actual place to go to remember loved ones rather than a general Garden of Rest, lovely as though those gardens usually are. I had the names of my parents added to my grandmother's headstone although their ashes had been scattered elsewhere so I put flowers there for all of them when I visit Berkhamsted. Luckily my friend Penny is happy to go and put flowers there for me on special dates.

[gloria townsin]

Perhaps the baby hedgehog was meant to be there to give you a smile Kath. There are many things that happen we can't explain but the mystery of them is something to treasure.

[pauline]

Talking of hedgehogs, I once found a very young one during the day time laying in the snow so took it home and put it in a box. It was cold but looked in reasonable condition. When I went to give it some TLC a while later it had died and it and the box were covered in fleas. Fleas, Fleas everywhere and a bad case of them abandoning their host. Didn't have any flea spray so sprayed everywhere with hair spray in the hope they wouldn't be able to jump.:haha:

[tricia2ws]

the sky is now filled with swifts here, we have loads of birds in the garden, robins, blackbirds, goldfinches, bluetits, sparrows, loads of starlings, we also have assorted pigeons and collared doves, watched a sparrowhawk the other day on next doors roof, hope the sparrows nesting were safe, mr and mrs magpie visit all the time, the crows calling always remind me of cornwall, it's funny how certain sounds can transport you back to a place. the parakeets are becoming a bit of a pain, they are increasing in numbers and they think they are wiping out some of the smaller birds, they make a real racket when flying overhead, they are a really vivid green, pretty colour. sadly, i haven't seen any hedgehogs this year, but the foxes are about. x tricia:girl_wacko:

[pauline]

Tricia, just noticed you are in ruislip and not Australia, so am very surprised that you have parakeets. Have you had them for long or have they been released by someone in the area. Usually non native birds are attacked by the larger species. Saw a wonderful fox 2 evenings ago on the edge of the field, just standing there and his brush was black, most unusual.

[gloria townsin]

There were parakeets living in the grounds of the Royal Masonic School for Girls several years ago - and I think they have increased in numbers. Rickmansworth is not that far from Tricia in Ruislip so it is almost certain they have spread that far. As you say Tricia I'm not sure how they affect other species.

[jane jackson]

. When I went to give it some TLC a while later it had died and it and the box were covered in fleas. Fleas, Fleas everywhere and a bad case of them abandoning their host. Didn't have any flea spray so sprayed everywhere with hair spray in the hope they wouldn't be able to jump.:haha:

This did make me laugh! Hope you didn't have the box in the sitting room.....................poor hedgehog though. Did the hairspray kill them or did you just get rid of the box quickly before you found out?

Re the parakeets, I think I wrote on here last November that I'd seen loads of them in the trees at Windsor which was a real surprise but then Gloria said they were in her area too. I thought they were fascinating but then I wasn't having to live with them. come to think of it they were making a mess over the parked cars ~ they were in a car park.

[Kath Mulligan]

Pauline, your method of dealing with the hedgehog fleas had me chuckling too; I had a vision of stiffened fleas trying desperately hard to move! Full marks to you for ingenuity!!

Kath

[tricia2ws]

they think originally someone let a few loose in the Esher area, since then they have been breeding rapidly and spreading further and further about, watched a wildlife sos programme on telly where they were nesting in a floodlight on a local football pitch, they needed to replace the light so had to move the nest, i've never seen such a hugh nest with so many chicks in it, it was massive, it was a communual nest, they took away 30 odd chicks from just one nest, so you can see how they are spreading, the same programme also showed them releasing some back into the wild, there was thousands flocking in the trees, it's a spectacular sight for sure. x tricia

[pauline]

In reply to your question, Jane, the box with all the contents was speedily put out into the garden. Fortunately it had been in the conservatory and not the house thank goodness. :wave:.

[pauline]

There are new tenents in the nest and at present there seems to be a queue flying around waiting to deposit their beakful of mud. One house martin spends the night in there but it is so shallow at present that any eggs laid will fall out . Hopefully they think that too.

Earlier on I was delivering our monthly village news booklet called "The Grapevine", occasionally I have called it the "Wavelength" in conversation (senior moment) and was delighted to see eight occupied nests, all next to each other, on one house. Fabulous.

[Sybille Weber]

Lovely to hear about the house martins' nests, Pauline. Must be lovely to watch the birds. Hope they will have a lot of young ones.
We have two swift nests under our roof. The two pairs have been coming here for many years now. I'm so glad that the weather is just like summer now, as we had such a long cold and wet spell that it was difficult for the swifts to survive as they solely live on insects flying in the air. Now there should be plenty of food for them. We see them now either circling high above in the sky or dashing past our window like an airforce squadron. It's amazing these birds spend their whole life in the air except during breeding season. They even sleep whilst flying. Quite remarkable birds.

[Janet Swan]

Yesterday evening, I was strolling in Letchworth Garden City while waiting for the next showing of 'Sex & The City' (now that's a confession!), and my friend Joan, who is a keen RSPB member, spotted several swifts zooming around above the shops. We couldn't work out where they might be roosting or building nests, but it was quite a thrill to see them (more of a thrill than SATC actually - but just had to find out what happened next!).

Janet

[pauline]

Sadly, the house martins have left and the nest appears empty. It was interesting to see how one sat blocking the entrance until another came and the first bird vacated the nest. Team work at its best.

At the moment we have 2 families of Moorhens visiting us. The babies are adorable with their large clumpy black feet which look ridiculously big for their bodies, but the mother birds are very severe with them, giving them a peck from time to time as discipline, poor babies.

The young blue tits are SO noisy for their size and torment the cat whenever they can. Sadly we have had two fly into our large window with fatal results.

The breeding season seems to have passed quickly this year and even the garden is maturing too fast this year, probably due to lack of rain.

Have just seen several pigeons land on a cable and they are all rocking back and forth uniformally. Marvellous! :tweettweet:

[tricia2ws]

I was reading an article the other day that there is a real decline in swifts this year, they don't know why, your really lucky to have them nesting near you, there are not many in the skies around us, normally we see loads, but this year there is a real lack of them. x

[pauline]

I have never seen a swift or a swallow around here. But can't complain as all the others around at the moment give such pleasure.

Phew! it ain't arf ot ere!

[gloria townsin]

My sister is probably frying then at East of England Champ show in Peterborough.......fresh strong breeze here on the Lizard. About to go to Helston so will see if it's as breezy there. We often find the weather on the Lizard is different, often sunnier than once we are off it.

[Gill Bilcliffe]

Snap it's hot here too Pauline :hang3:
Seen swifts and one swallow at Whitlingham Park in Norwich. Maybe they will fly down the road to Bury.

Gill

[Linda]

anyone want a drop of water...we've plenty to spare up here...getting wetter by the second!

[Linda]

its good for the flowers so I am told... :)

[Linda]

I was reading an article the other day that there is a real decline in swifts this year, they don't know why, your really lucky to have them nesting near you, there are not many in the skies around us, normally we see loads, but this year there is a real lack of them. x


that wqould account for why there seemed to be a great many less here than in previous years...do you think the French and Spanish have been netting more than usual?

[Mary Young]

Still a bit to 'ot ere in Kent to. Its still 31 deg in our garden now. (6.30pm). Mustn't complain though. Think I prefer it to Linda's rain.
Having said that we are coming up to Northumberland on the 19th so hope the sun wonders up that way.

Mary

[pauline]

anyone want a drop of water...we've plenty to spare up here...getting wetter by the second!

Please, please send a lovely rain cloud down here. We are wondering whether to leave the loft hatch open a little as the temperature is SO intense but then we have a roasting hot landing. Can't win.

So surprised that it can rain so much where you are but be so intense here. NOT FUNNY! Won't sleep much tonight.

[Gill Bilcliffe]

Our loft is stifling hot so no way would we leave the hatch open. Not to help matters our main living area is upstairs so no respite from the intense heat. Windows barely open at night so Katy doesn't jump out either. But rain and cooler temperatures is forecast here on Monday. Rain is desperately needed as the grass in East Anglia is the colour of hay. The garden is bone dry despite cans of water being poured on it each day and as we have a water meter to contend with it is no substitute for a drop of rain.
But I am not going to complain there was enough of that in the long cold winter we had. Besides how lovely it is to have a sunny summer.

Gill

[Kath Mulligan]

Not quite as hot here as in East Anglia and the S East, but still 21C outside at 9.40pm and 24C in our living room so feeling pretty uncomfortable. We thought we were going to have a storm earlier this evening, so washing and loungers were hurriedly moved inside but it passed us by without spilling a drop. I suspect sleeping will not be a pleasant experience tonight. Wouldn't it be nice if we could have overnight rain with cooler temperatures, then warm sunshine during the day - a perfect combination!

Kath

[Linda]

I am just a bit annoyed that we had gorgeous weather all through the spring summer term at school and as soon as the school hols started the weather went with it! I was so enjoying that warmth and sun and the ability to go outside and enjoy it too...midges dont like the sun, only clegs to contend with then if its breezy, perfect!

Its raining so much ....our sunroom is flooded and we cant see across the yard!

Can you believe that we had our heating on last night!

Not that I want it as hot as you have got it...we sleep in our loft area.....called a one and half storey house....they say try dampening the sheet as this helps cool you down a bit...?? Not sure if that would work as you might feel stickier still for a while??

[gloria townsin]

Try a 'Chillo' not sure how much they cost now, did look it all up for my friend in Spain a couple of years ago.

Certainly not over hot here at pres. and I do hope Monday isn't rainy - although Stithians is renowned for rain......hey ho.

[Gill Bilcliffe]

Cooler here today a lovely breeze blowing through the house dispersing the heat.
We were in Southwold Suffolk on Tuesday and there was a plague of thunder flies around the seashore. Everybody was covered in them especially a friend who was wearing a yellow tee-shirt. It was quite comical seeing folks walking along waving their hands in the air. The flies soon disappeared as we walked into the town. We were informed by locals that this had not happened before and we missed the local news report about the flies so no wiser as to why or where they had come from.

Gill

[Kath Mulligan]

Try a 'Chillo' not sure how much they cost now, did look it all up for my friend in Spain a couple of years ago.

Certainly not over hot here at pres. and I do hope Monday isn't rainy - although Stithians is renowned for rain......hey ho.

I've got a Chillo, Gloria but have mixed success with it. Even though I put it inside my pillowcase it is so cold initially that it often gives me a bad headache, then during the night I get so hot that I heat up the Chillo as well and lose the benefit of it! Instead my poor pillow gets quite dizzy as it gets turned over every few minutes in an effort to find a cooler spot to allow me to get back to sleep again.

Hope it does stay fine for Stithians tomorrow, after the lousy day they had last year they deserve some good weather this time. Have a great day there.

Kath

[Kath Mulligan]

Cooler here today a lovely breeze blowing through the house dispersing the heat.
We were in Southwold Suffolk on Tuesday and there was a plague of thunder flies around the seashore. Everybody was covered in them especially a friend who was wearing a yellow tee-shirt. It was quite comical seeing folks walking along waving their hands in the air. The flies soon disappeared as we walked into the town. We were informed by locals that this had not happened before and we missed the local news report about the flies so no wiser as to why or where they had come from.

Gill

Gill, are thunder flies tiny black things? You brought back memories of a day out at Hornsea that Vin and I had many years ago before we were married. I was wearing a lemon yellow dress and as we were walking along the seafront I got smothered in these tiny black flies that just wouldn't leave me alone. Vin had a dark coloured shirt on and they didn't bother him at all, but several other women in brightly coloured clothes were covered just like me. It was horrible, we ended up going back to the car, swatting as many off me as we could and coming home. I couldn't wait to get in the shower and wash my hair - ugh!!

Kath

[gloria townsin]

I did wonder how successful a Chillo would be.........no good if it gives you headaches as it would be bound to do the same to me. I haven't felt too hot at night since a couple of weeks ago when we were first down here. But we do have a breeze and it isn't as hot here as it is 'up country'.

[Gill Bilcliffe]

Yes Kath the thunder flies are tiny black ones. Wearing a navy top I was still covered with them as there were so many! John even got bitten. Thankfully this is not a regular occurrence or he would not be going back to Southwold in a hurry. Such a lovely place to visit without the flies!!

Gill

[Sybille Weber]

...............and there was a plague of thunder flies around the seashore. Everybody was covered in them especially a friend who was wearing a yellow tee-shirt. It was quite comical seeing folks walking along waving their hands in the air. The flies soon disappeared as we walked into the town. We were informed by locals that this had not happened before and we missed the local news report about the flies so no wiser as to why or where they had come from. Gill

I remember a holiday in Kent many years ago, must have been in the eighthies, when there was a plague of little green flies. We were used to attracting flies or other insects when wearing bright-coloured clothes, but these flies were all about you, no matter what you were wearing. The air was full of them, you had them on your clothes, in your hair, even in your nostrils and you didn't dare to speak because you would have them in your mouth then, too. It was just for a day or two though, then after a heavy rainfall they disappeared. Also in Kent we experienced a similar thing with daddy longlegs a few years later. I remember how we played golf on the pitch and putt course at Folkestone, and my sister would always go to the hole first and pick out all the daddy longlegs so that they wouldn't get killed when the golf ball dropped in.

[jane jackson]

I hate daddy longlegs!!!!!!!!! Like moths they always seem to fly staight for me and I think I'm going to get them in my hair ~ ugh..........

It's quite close here today but we had rain last night and a few days ago so the grass is very green and growing fast. It may rain this evening but it's supposed to be dry tomorrow so Stithians Show should be fine. Prince Charles and Camilla are in Marazion tomorrow at 10am and going across to the Mount, saw a notice when there a few days ago. It's suppose to rain here on tuesday unless they change their minds again.

This morning I went to Porthcurno beach with my friend and her family who are staying here. I actually wore a swimsuit and went right into the sea with Penny and although it was chilly to begin with (legs went numb) we soon warmed up and the waves were fantastic. I tried swimming but too shallow where I was until the waves came and then one went right over me so I can confirm that sea water tastes salty! I haven't been in the sea like that for years ~ it was wonderful. Last thursday when we went there I hadn't taken my swimsuit so had my trousers turned up high but the waves were really big that day and landing on the sloping part of the sand which acted like a springboard and I got completely soaked. As it was so hot it didn't matter and luckily Penny had a skirt I could borrow until my clothes dried out which they did before we wanted to come home. We wished someone had had a camera as the e xpression on all our faces would have made a great photo. Ben is very tall and managed to lift Anna (18 months) quickly so she was quite happy. Penny and Ben (her son) have gone mackerel fishing this afternoon like they did yesterday so it's mackerel for supper apart from me who's not keen on fish apart from fish 'n chips. It's been a busy week having them all here in PZ but great fun.

[Kath Mulligan]

I wonder if you were in Kent at the same time we were in Norfolk, Sybille - early September - because we had a very similar experience with daddy long legs. We were staying in a chalet at Bacton with the girls and my parents and every day we had to sweep all the floors throughout the chalet to get rid of the invasion of d-l-ls. I had to take the pillows and bedclothes off the beds before we got into them and give them a good shake too. When we shut the door and turned the lights on at night they would plaster themselves all over the doors and windows and the outer walls of the chalet were covered in them every morning. It lasted for several days, then they all disappeared as rapidly as they had come. It would be sometime in the early to mid Eighties.

Jane, you sound to have had a whale of a time at Porthcurno! I've not swum in the sea since a holiday in Folkestone years ago. Not really keen on it cos I'm always scared of things nibbling at my toes, or jellyfish stinging me!! Paddling at the very edge of the water is about as daring as I get these days!

Kath

[gloria townsin]

We had rain as well last night but our lawn isn't very green, but then the lawn is awful anyway. I am deadheading like crazy and said to Eddie they won't be done at all for a while when we go back. Don't want to go though........but I expect there's loads to catch up on in Herts. Glad you are having a good time with your guests Jane.

[tricia2ws]

I don't mind daddy long legs, I pick em up and chuck em back outside, my son runs like mad when I do, mind you, I do the same to spiders too, the daddy long legs has extremely poisonous venom, but sadly for him, he doesn't have enough in him to harm us, how sad am iI for knowing that, the only things i really don't like are the crusty black beetles, don't know what they are called and earwigs......yuk, and come to think of it, moths, blerrggghhh. x tricia

[adesmith]

Gosh, it does sound like you had a good time Jane! I wouldnt mind betting that I will be having a swim at Porthcurno in a few weeks time. I like a few waves to dive under. I have been meaning to get one of those 'shorty' wetsuits. The sea is cold and you cant guarantee the weather but I just love swimming in the sea. I thought it would be better to have one of those and then I can go in whenever I feel like it. They are only cheap. Might get one for Rupert too. Sometimes, although I am not bothered by the cold, you feel a bit stupid swimming just in shorts in not so good weather - silly I know.

I have got the greenest lawn in the street because I have been watering it with a hose - I just blurted that out like a guilty confession! I did say to Rachel that we ought to get a water butt and then I wouldnt feel as guilty. It does look nice though :) No water shortages here yet but if they say the levels are getting low I will stop.

[gloria townsin]

I think wet suits are a great idea Adrian and I would definitely invest in one for yourself and Rupert, Rachel too in fact. They are not at all expensive, or you can hire them from Atlantic Forge in Mullion......at least I think you can, I would have to check that if you wanted that option. They have them at Poldhu as well for sale. But then you can buy them all over, in fact last year Helston Tesco had them......they are extending this store hugely I think they are trying to keep up with the new Sainsburys which opens on Wed. several weeks ahead of time......wish they'd been our builders!! It all looks very swish.

[Janet Swan]

I have got the greenest lawn in the street because I have been watering it with a hose - I just blurted that out like a guilty confession! I did say to Rachel that we ought to get a water butt and then I wouldnt feel as guilty. It does look nice though :) No water shortages here yet but if they say the levels are getting low I will stop.

It must be helping the birds to have a green lawn, Adrian, because surely the worms will be nearer the surface for them to peck and find? I often think how hard it must be for wildlife in a drought. This is the first year I've not found slugs in my garden. Whilst we all know the damage they cause, they are food for hedgehogs, frogs and some birds, so .....

Janet

[Sybille Weber]

I wonder if you were in Kent at the same time we were in Norfolk, Sybille - early September - because we had a very similar experience with daddy long legs.......Kath

It was definitely September, Kath, but I can't remember the year.

[adesmith]

Borrowed my in-laws lap top whilst they are away on holiday and just replied to this thread but it logged me out when I clicked submit reply. Its probably their settings so I have just come upstairs to do it again!

You have eased my consience, Janet! Having said that I did notice that the fields next to the river are very green, I guess because they are on the flood plain. The tides have been very high over the last day or so, in fact its full and still coming in at the moment. It hasnt gone over the top but I imagine that it has some effect on the immediate vicinity.

Gloria, Rachel doesnt like the idea of a wetsuit - I did suggest it. She is not so much of a sea swimmer as me. I love it and the bigger the waves the better! They did actually have wetsuits in the big Sainsburys in Cardiff but didnt have much choice of sizes (I think they have been popular and sold out). We only have a small Sainsburys in Newport but they are in the process of building a huge one. I guess it will have all of the homeware clothes etc which is handy. Its only about 5 minutes drive from our house so quite convenient.

[gloria townsin]

Helston Sainsbury opens today!! Ta Da!!...........so will be interesting to see what they stock, hopefully local products among the other usual items. I noticed Helston Tesco going overboard with bon homie this week.......someone to greet you at the door and lo and behold they are expanding the store.....how amazing.....of course and understandably, there is much said in the local papers about the effect the two stores will have on Helston high streets.....what is the answer?? I wish I could say I support only the local shops but I don't........I need the choice and price of the bigger supermarkets. I do buy locally lots of things and the Spar has fresh meat from Retallack butchers Lizard Town and I buy their greengrocery veg. again some, not all, grown locally, eggs also local. Eddy's Eggs, along Meaver Road, seems to be permanently sold out, so don't know what 'Eddy's' hens are up to. Riveria (the name always makes me smile) Stores is being sold, the owners are retiring and I do wonder what that will be .... there really isn't enough trade in the village for three food stores, although one of them is nearer the harbour so has it's own clientele ... Riveria is a food and hardware shop, some really good old fashioned baking tins the enamel sort, that my mother in law made lovely pies in. I have bought some and really should get anything that is now no longer widely sold. So fancy running a hardware/food store Adrian, there's a change of lifestyle.......has a flat over the top and it's a big corner store.......just an idea.
I'm not a sea swimmer either so understand Rachel, in fact don't swim anywhere, but I did think maybe a wet suit would encourage me to go further into the briny, my usual depth is just over the feet and perhaps up to the ankles.......

[Kath Mulligan]

Wet suits are a great idea - just don't think the world is ready for the sight of me in one!!!!

Kath

[Linda]

..nor me! :)