Diary Summary Week Ending 31 July

[pharmaT]

Started a post last night, not sure what I did with it was so tired.  Work more tiring than usual this week because the first week in a new place.  Trip to the shops thanks to now not so wee one's growth spurt.  Good chat with cousin and was updating her on our shared line on the tree.  She was inspired to talk her husband into a run to see where some of our ancestors lived.

Not much sleep due to another issue playing on my mind though.

[Maiden Stone]

Fine & warm all day yesterday. A blue butterfly was briefly in the back garden at noon, probably Holly Blue. I haven't seen many butterflies this summer, I blame the wind. Big Butterfly Count is on. I was dead-heading around 5 p.m. when a blue butterfly landed on a scabious flower beside me. I kept very still while it drank from 2 flowers. 
Bad news on bird flu. Council waste management dept. has collected 500 dead birds from beaches. Local pet shop has advised customers not to feed birds. 

[pharmaT]

The bird flu thing is worrying isn't it, there was an announcement of an outbreak a few months ago and it seemed to be subsiding but flaring up again.  I've warned the girls to stay away from any dead birds they see even though we're not within the main watch zone.

[Maiden Stone]

Bird flu seems to have arrived here during the past few weeks. This summer is the first time I've heard about so many dead birds being found. I used to feed birds in my garden but haven't for the past 3 years. I saw a woman stroking a cygnet in the park the other day; not something I would do in normal times and certainly not when there's bird flu.

[Roobarb]

A huge number of birds have died from it on the Farne Islands, it's not that far from the coast of Scotland so perhaps it's spread from there. We had it not far from here last year, haven't heard anything about it recently.

I wouldn't stroke a cygnet either, she's lucky the parents didn't go after her!

[River Tyne Lass]

Hope you sleep better tonight Pharma ..
I've just got in after a 12 hour shift and I feel absolutely jiggered.  I'll have a cup of tea and then I'll call it a night.
It is quite a warm night here and a beautiful formation of clouds with a pink tinge could be seen as I walked home through the park.

[Viktoria]

Exactly Roobarb!
Swans are excellent parents and very protective ,a blow on the arm from an angry swan’s  wing could means broken bone.
Besides ,who knows what we could pass to a swan, and it is not unknown for  cygnets to be rejected by the parent birds, if handled by humans.

Not heard of any Bird Flu hereabouts .

Look after yourself Pharma, hope you get some good restful sleep.

A grey mizzley day here. Not cold though.

Neighbour’s daughter phoned to ask me to keep my eye on her Mum.
Daughter and Hubby in York tonight .
Carers etc on alert.
I took her her usual treat from me, which I do each weekend, but she had forgotten where her fridge is!
Oh dear, she is such a love , and a good neighbour .

Well , I hope all are O.K.
I know some have illness and hope they are at least comfortable.

 Not seen the twins for a bit.
Baby Kyra is crawling and of course would like to go after the dog!
Not allowed. Babies  have a snatch and grasp instinct, that stays with them
up to at least one year old.
Stopped them falling out of trees !

Salmon for tea tomorrow. Asparagus and new potatoes .

Cheerio everyone, thanks for the news, and look after yourselves .
Viktoria.

[pharmaT]

Woke to sunshine this morning but now it has clouded over.

Found a couple of great pictures that include the shop one of my ancestors ran.

Slept a little better but still had nightmares.  You know when you tell yourself to not worry about something it doesn't actually stop it dwelling on your mind.

[Maiden Stone]

I wouldn't stroke a cygnet either, she's lucky the parents didn't go after her!

Daddy swan grabbed my thumb last year while I was feeding his brood, got too close to cygnets and didn't notice dad was beside me. He killed 2 seagulls which tried to attack cygnets last summer. This cygnet is big, 3 months old.