The primroses have started

Last week as I wrote this blog it seemed we were on the edge of the precipice, thundersnow in the sky waiting to unleash its worst upon us.

But we had a fantastic weekend, and I hope you did too. The weather was beautiful and we were able to get out, get some fresh air and enjoy the countryside. What a change from the lead-up to the weekend.

Ok – it was a little cold to start with, but by mid-day on Saturday it was sunny enough that you could happily stand in it and feel the sun’s rays warm on your face.

It reminded me of a Spanish visitor I once met who described the winter in Spain as cold but dry. The weekend was just so. It makes such a difference to how you feel. Optimism fills your mind and spring doesn’t feel so far away.

Today was pretty similar. Sadly, I wasn’t able to spend it outside, but the sun shone and the sky was blue and once again the buds seem plump and ready to burst out of their shells, albeit it is still a bit too early for that. Our neighbour used the day to build a fence. I watched on jealously whilst I sat in on one teleconference after another.

This is the weather to do those winter jobs in the garden when things have stopped growing, like cutting the trees before the birds nest, or cleaning out the greenhouse or sorting out the pots.

I hope you get the chance to take advantage of some brighter weather this weekend and get outside too.

The cat checks the mounds over to see if there are any easy pickings

Previously I mentioned that our mole visitors had finished the tunnelling phase of their operation and were now going quiet. Well how wrong could I have been?

On Sunday I walked into the garden to find that they had finished digging up the lawn, but now they have started on the flower beds instead. I had never seen a mole dig up the flower beds, but we now have a selection of different sized hills amongst our flowers and shrubs.

It is just as if they have been watching me talking to my wife about the fact that they had stopped, only for them to start digging somewhere else. You don’t know what is watching you in our garden.

The moles get under the flower beds

And just when I thought that we had had a few days of quiet we found another visitor. It was triggered one night in the week as usual by the cats bringing home a play-mate.

This particular play-mate was a common or garden house mouse. As we were watching the television I could sense a new game going on in the hall involving both cats. I quickly spotted the house mouse rushing from cat to cat as they flicked it about.

Scooping up both cats I held them while my wife bravely tried to trap the mouse in a tall glass without getting bitten. She is adept at this, too much practise making perfect.

As she walked outside to release the mouse back into the outside world she found that the cats had already been there and brought us a large brown rat as a present.

Everyone in the UK is supposedly only a few feet from the nearest rat. Even the thought of this fills me with dread. But now we were faced with one directly.

We recently watched the film 1984. For those people who haven’t seen it there is a rat scene involving your worst fears and room 101. It is certainly worth watching at some point. Well, George Orwell certainly understood my worst fears when he wrote that book. Albeit he was also a fortune teller as I wasn't born until 20 years later!

Anyway, back to the rat in hand.

This particular one was at least dead, but it was also on the path under the feet of the postman.  So the following morning I had to go out before the postman came and pick-up said rat and put him in a plastic bag for the rubbish. From head to tail it looked as long as my wife’s arm.

For those people who are tickle stomached when it comes to rats please look away, but the link below shows a hideous collection found in a house in Tooting.

http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/661523/rats-giant-cannibal-home-super-size

If we ever get any like these I fear for our cats. At least the one we found this week was “manageable”.

The bulbs begin to spring

With a few days of nice weather, it has been noticeable how many bulbs are now poking their heads up and growing their necks. The leaves on the flower beds are parting and the elegant stems are pushing their way through.

In the past we have seen the heads too early only for the frost to get them. Hopefully, this won’t happen this year with so many cold days they should be used to the cold by now.

It is refreshing to see though and another sign that spring is closer than autumn.

Sadly the hungry mouths got there first!

A couple of weeks ago I helped someone clear out their garage and acquired a new machine for the house. It is amazing how in helping to clear out someone else’s house you always seem to acquire something for your own. In theory if you invite enough people to a house clearance then you don’t actually need a skip as they will all take one thing home and there will be nothing left. I’m sure that’s how this person acquired most of the junk in the first place 🙂

The new machine has been cleaned and kicked into action. A bread-maker!

Ok – I have dipped my toe into the arts of bread bakery, all that kneading and proving, and enjoyed it. I even had the photos to prove it.

But how easy is it to stick some flour, water and bit of yeast in a box and switch it on. The smell of fresh bread fills the air all morning and the taste of fresh crust on warm bread for lunch. The ideal companion if you are selling your house. (Not that we are!)

To the donor – thanks very much I am moving into further production.

The interesting thing about this story was the reaction of the cats. The noise of the machine kneading the dough had them spellbound. One of them sat outside the kitchen listening intently and as soon as I opened the door he was in and looking around to see what was making the noise. Being the naughty individual that he is he was quickly onto the side to look into the window on the top and watch the white dough going round and round.

Later I sat down to eat my lunch and accidently left the door to the kitchen open. I heard a thud from the kitchen as one of the cats hit the floor.

I walked in to find the other cat also looking into the window to see the new machine. His brother had clearly given him the guided tour and he was still taking it all in.

A great night's entertainment

Last weekend we went to our local concert hall to see Rumours of Fleetwood Mac. For those people who weren’t alive in the 70’s, that was the music that you heard everywhere from 1975 until 1980 but this time done by a tribute band. This tribute band is introduced by the original drummer from Fleetwood Mac, Mick Fleetwood and recommended by all of them.

They were great and the show lasted a good two and a half hours. However, the best part of the concert was the second half when they went back to their really early stuff from 1969.

I attach a link below. It really is worth a listen now, but is also much better live. It will either make you nostalgic or hopefully help you discover something forgotten by most of us until now.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b19PcuJsQbA

For the picture round, I have once again included a few pictures from holidays. See if you can guess where they are, the answers will come out tomorrow.

Have a good weekend!

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