Tuesday 5 April 2011

All sorts

A couple of weeks ago, this little lady came for breakfast.

SG102477_edited-sparrowhawk1

The next day, I went for a walk on the marshes and saw pink-footed geese, whooper swans, a mad march hare and a stoat in ermine! Of course, I didn’t have my camera with me, doh!

When I went back the next day, just in case I got another glimpse, I was disappointed to find something that had not been there the day before.

Image008Fly tipping isn’t something we usually have a problem with here, so I took photographs on my mobile and reported it to the council. It’s still there…

Since then, David has been in the Lakes for a week, taking part in a Summer Proficiency Course. He got very wet and blown about. He also was not impressed with the Terra Nova Voyager Superlight, it bounced off his head all night and was soaked through. Hey ho, could have taken mine.

I took a walk down to Findhorn and around the bay, in the hope of catching a glimpse of osprey. Sadly, none, but I did see this noisy crowd on the sand bank.

SG102488_edited-seals1Trust me, they are seals.

As I walked home along the cycle path, I had an interesting encounter. I always walk tucked in to the edge of the path, furthest away from the road, a habit I have picked up to avoid major puddle splash from inconsiderate drivers and to allow cyclists to pass without tinkling their bell and giving me a huge fright! However, apparently I didn’t leave enough room on this occasion and the Psycho Cyclist that came towards me just kept coming. And coming. Even when I leapt into the long grass the two and a half metres to the left of me was still not enough room and he followed me onto the grass! I politely yelled, “Excuse me!” as he sped away. I still can’t quite believe how close he got to hitting me, I’m convinced he’d been to the pub.

I’ve been to check on ‘my’ osprey nest, but no sign yet. I’m worried about what happened to them last season as they disappeared mid-season and I’m just hoping they come back. I’ll pop back for another look in a few days time.

Walking has been less in the last week, due to various appointments and time miss-management. The next two weeks will be tricky as the children have two weeks off school and life gets mundane, but there are plans afoot for Friday and I’m really looking forward to a stroll and a natter.

5 comments:

Alan Sloman said...

In situations like that I always walk with my poles flailing all over the place, to let the idiot know that if they get too close they will suffer. There's nothing like a razor sharp carborundum tip to persuade badly behaved cyclists or motorists to change their course.

Cyclists and motorists are supposed to give way to pedestrians.

If they do get too close, then it's going to be their fault if they suffer injury or damage. Better them than you. If they complain about their damage you can justifiably say that they were riding / driving dangerously.

Poles make short work of the rude cyclists' spokes.

If they get snotty with you, take a picture of them and call the police. They soon get the idea that you mean it. Always, always get them to apologise and get them to mean it too.

I would never let a yob get away with it, be he / she a cyclist, another walker or a motorist.

Laura said...

Me too!

Louise said...

I think what really surprised me was that he was about mid-fifties, not some youff.
I really must sharpen my reactions, but it all happened in a flash.

sally in norfolk said...

Findhorn bay.... now there is a place from my past , I was married in Forres and lived at Kinloss for a while .

used to love walking round findhorn bay such a beautiful place :-)

Louise said...

Hi Sally!
It is a beautiful place, an amazing amount of wildlife to see if you take the time and on a clear day (like today!) you can see for miles.