Blog Feed: Random Ramblings

The English drought of 2012

Published on 2012-05-16 02:33:00

The Winter was considerably dry and with the lack of usual rainfall in the previous Autumn that meant we were reliant on heavy snowfalls and a wet Spring to top up the water table. We did have snow but nothing like the quantity we needed for ensuring plentiful water to be deposited in rivers,lakes, canals and reservoirs. Winter tumbled on into March and suddenly we had Mediterranean weather – beautiful sunshine and temperatures in the lower 20’s (Celsius). People tore off their Winter garb a [..] > read more

May be?

Published on 2012-05-09 15:49:00

This is the first year that I can remember, in such a long time, that English bluebells are still flowering well into the ‘merry month of May.’ Every year, as a child, my father would take me bluebell picking. Most of the bluebells in our area lined country lanes and grew in thick masses on the far side of brooks, streams and deep ditches, all of which supported tall, broad-leafed stinging nettles. For every other bluebell picked came a soft hair brushed against naked skin, a piercing pain [..] > read more

Wasp wave

Published on 2012-04-26 02:34:00

A warning was issued yesterday that we may well be in for a swell in the number of wasps and wasp nests this year owing to the type of Winter we have experienced. When anyone mentions the word wasp most of us think of the yellow and black insect that dons a painful punch in the form of a sting. There are however many more varieties the largest of which is the Hornet (Vespa crabro), followed by the two versions that we see around sweet sticky foods and fruits the Common wasp (Vespula vulgaris) an [..] > read more

Granite grey

Published on 2012-04-25 02:05:00

Today has begun with dark clouds hanging low, a persistent rain and a forecast of heavy winds – a sure sign that a drought was announced the other week! A fair portion of Britain is now under a hosepipe ban and so it is almost as though our ancient ancestors decided upon a rain dance, for the showers of April are becoming more and more heavy. > read more

Kit cat

Published on 2012-04-24 14:11:00

There is something wonderful how a cat has perfected the art of exercise. A stretch here and an arch there, an occasional stroll, an optimistic purr and the creation of a lean, athletic living machine paddles joyfully at the arrival of each new day. The cat managed to stroll, stretch and nap .. all in between the April showers! > read more

Will this be the year of the Ladybird?

Published on 2012-04-12 09:32:00

Every so often a specific insect population takes the top spot. I’m not sure whether it has anything to do with certain weather conditions or whether insects just have cycles. Judging by the amount of early Ten-spot ladybirds there are around at the moment this could well be the year of the ladybird. If we are to have wonderful plagues of this small brightly coloured insect, it couldn’t have come at a better time. The reason I am so excited at the prospect of having swirling masses of one [..] > read more

The year marches on

Published on 2012-03-31 17:38:00

March was a strange mixture of warm sunny days, dry,dry ground of drought and colourful tapestry detailing pin-points of new life. For the first time in recorded history, English bluebells have bloomed in March. > read more

Solitary snowdrop

Published on 2012-02-23 15:29:00

There are now all sorts of shoots and sprouts pushing their way through the soil to greet the air. Along with the old perennial faithful’s, I now hopefully have one or two new offerings that were planted in the late Autumn and hopefully will flower this year. I also do have a mystery. In one of my flower tubs there has suddenly appeared a solitary single snowdrop. It has never been planted and I am left wondering where it could have come from. Snowdrop - Galanthus nivalis > read more

The Washing Song

Published on 2012-02-12 12:34:00

� As I was going to the fair, I met a maid with golden hair. The sweetest smile on rosebud lips; The bluest eyes to sail the ships. Where did she come from? Where did she go? I’ve often wondered .. But I’ll never know. With a heigh-nonny-nonny-nonny-nonny-nonny-no With a heigh-nonny-nonny-nonny-no! > read more

Our universe!

Published on 2012-02-03 09:55:00

Bit of fun with Eric Idle ………. Galaxy facts that will make you blink!!!!! > read more

Shorter nights

Published on 2012-02-02 13:03:00

It is wonderful to think that the nights are now getting shorter and the evenings lighter. The birds though are still flying right up until the very last snip of light is present in the sky. The other day it was so near dark that a late flying blackbird almost got mistaken for a very large bat, fortunately he tut-tut-tutted his single note warning call to tell the world that he was indeed a blackbird. > read more

Jobs, job titles, occupations

Published on 2012-02-01 16:19:00

I accidentally came across a site which listed the titles of jobs and what they were over the ages and found myself intrigued. It must have taken an unearthly amount of time and dedication to have found so many varieties of jobs and patiently list them all alphabetically. I felt that it is something that shouldn’t remain hidden and so I would like to share it with you. Please dive in, visit the site and be lost in this time machine of life a long time ago: Full list here: Old English [..] > read more

Early prune for prolific bloom

Published on 2012-01-27 17:18:00

Country gardeners try to prune their roses on the last week of January. This usually ensures many more buds and flowers forming on the roses later in the year. The old saying is: January prune for July bloom. Bush roses are best pruned right back to within a few inches of the ground. The small buds should be appearing on the stems and to help the bush to form pretty and symmetrical shapes it is best to look for an outward facing bud then snip slightly above about half the width of [..] > read more

Happy Chinese New Year to you all - 恭禧發財 Gong Hey Fat Choy

Published on 2012-01-23 14:38:00

It’s the year of the� Dragon�…. 福壽雙全 “May your happiness and longevity be complete.” 23rd January 2012 > read more

Coeliac Disease–pronounced ‘see-lee-ack’

Published on 2012-01-20 14:38:00

Coeliac disease can occur at any time in life, from when a child is weaned, during adolescence, in their twenties, thirties, forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, eighties and nineties. In fact, it can occur at any point during a person’s life time. It often runs in families and so if one person is diagnosed with the condition it makes sense for all members of the family to have a simple blood test to make sure that they are clear of the disease. Coeliac disease is an autoimmune disease. This [..] > read more

January jumble

Published on 2012-01-18 02:05:00

What a month! It is a helter-skelter, a waltzer, a ride of changes. There have been highs of double figures followed by crisp-crunch frosts and now it is warm once more. Robins sing eerily through the night alongside distant long hoots of owls. Some nights the sky dances giddily with clouds like ladies from a Jane Austen novel floating over a dance floor. Other nights are black and bejewelled with millions of diamonds randomly scattered over a jet sky. Some days a light breeze licks at last ye [..] > read more

Anonymous publishing

Published on 2012-01-09 17:22:00

When we live in a country that encourages freedom of speech and it is second nature to say what we think, it is difficult to remember that in most places in the world it is hazardous to say the most innocent thing. Everything that is either written or spoken has to be carefully examined, diluted and often kept for another time which will most probably never come. There is a programme called ‘Click’ that this week, told of an interesting website that allegedly allows anonymous publishing � [..] > read more

I appear to be growing greenfly!

Published on 2012-01-08 17:48:00

I decided to venture out into the garden today because surely I had imagined the attack of the aphids for they don’t creep and crawl about in England in Winter and in early January, do they? Apparently, they do either that or I have a completely new plant that is growing greenfly!! If this keeps up I will need to find a mountain of ladybirds and ants to reclaim the roses back. > read more

Plodding the beat

Published on 2011-07-04 15:41:00

It’s amazing how many different pieces of information a person can acquire in day-to-day routine. Sometimes a person can obtain a useful piece of a puzzle to help solve a problem. Occasionally answers to unasked questions just hang in the air. Ever > read more

I spy sleepy July

Published on 2011-07-03 09:55:00

There is something slow, sleepy and narcotic about the month of July. Full of creeping, caressing plants that grow slowly as you watch them winding and binding themselves onto other plants, up trellis and trunks, up styles and gates. Pinning themselv > read more

Thirteen

Published on 2011-06-29 02:47:00

The cat has turned thirteen. She is doing remarkably well. We obtained her as a four month old kitten from an animal rescue centre and had been advised that she was the runt of the litter of a very young female cat of under a year old, who was hersel > read more

Pyramid selling

Published on 2011-06-27 08:45:00

I have been looking for quite a long time to see if I could find an addition to the little garden home that has brought me so much pleasure and entertainment since it was attached onto my small shed. I thought about having a go at reproducing my own > read more

24th, inexplicabilities

Published on 2011-06-24 09:20:00

Midsummer slowly gambols its way into the month of June. It is like a wraith, a ghost, a magical creature that swirls itself into every nook and cranny. It presents itself in unexpected places and as much as people have tried, over the centuries, to > read more

Lazy daisy

Published on 2011-06-21 13:48:00

A large proportion of flowers in the world are part of the daisy family. From early childhood, the daisy brings us something that is difficult to define other than perhaps a familiar, friendly reassurance with its bright, gay, smiling countenance. Th > read more

Strife

Published on 2011-06-20 02:42:00

There is nothing quite like tall, elegant border plants to attract the bees. I have had Purple Loosestrife in my garden for years but this year one plant has changed into a beautiful champagne pink … it began to toast the bees as soon as the flower > read more

Lunar

Published on 2011-06-16 02:38:00

Last night there was a lunar eclipse and in many areas of the world a deep red alien moon, peered down upon the Earth. Here in Worcestershire our sky was covered in cloud … our moon wasn’t even ‘tossed upon cloudy seas!’ It will be Decembe > read more

Potted ladybird

Published on 2011-06-15 02:46:00

Ladybirds are probably the only beetle that children instantly fall in love with. Avidly pursued on flowers and leaves and gently placing tips of fingers up to the fronts of this lovely spotted beetle to have it race up hands and onto arms. Feeling t > read more

Pigeon pie

Published on 2011-06-14 02:48:00

There is something of the majestic about the Wood Pigeon. Its feathers are always smoothed down, well groomed with an elegant soft sheen to them. It holds its head high with discrete awareness and has the look of a ‘dowager duchess about to perch a > read more

Weekend rains

Published on 2011-06-13 04:00:00

Spring has been very, very dry. The heavy clay soil of Worcestershire formed tiny crumbs, almost sand-like in appearance in places whilst parts of the garden borders separated into deep fissures and cracks. The leaves of soft stemmed plants have been > read more

Siamese poker

Published on 2011-06-12 15:03:00

The fiery red hot spice flowers of the ‘Red Hot Poker’ plants are now in full bloom. Magnificent, magical, bright and exotic in appearance – they have always been one of my most favourite of garden plants. Spikey, green, pointed leaves that fal > read more

Rosewater

Published on 2011-06-06 02:47:00

Splashing a shower of water over some new plants that I purchased the other day, left me with a pleasant surprise on an old favourite, my rose cutting. This has now formed into a most beautiful floribunda bush. Red rose floribunda produced from a > read more

Da Vinci code

Published on 2011-06-03 02:51:00

Leonardo Da Vinci was born illegitimately to a peasant woman called Caterina in a province of Florence, in Italy, called Vinci. His father, Piero Da Vinci, was trained in the law. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes of this humble background he deve > read more

Hawthorn–family Rosaceae

Published on 2011-06-01 09:55:00

There are several varieties of Hawthorn in England, all of which will happily cross-pollinate and create a large amount of variations of the parent plants. Midland hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) grows to no more than 10 metres in height, thus making > read more

Slim code of life

Published on 2011-05-31 03:06:00

Many years ago, I knew a lovely young woman. She was independent, happy and very slim. At the time it was very rare to see anyone obese but most women dieted from time-to-time to maintain a reasonable weight. One day we were discussing both weight an > read more

Cats’ whiskers

Published on 2011-05-29 10:01:00

Every animal has secrets. Probably one of the most intriguing of a cat are its whiskers. The purpose of a cat’s whiskers is for the cat to determine whether the rest of its body can safely climb through a space. However, this is only relevant if th > read more

A mite tiny

Published on 2011-05-25 03:00:00

Life is fascinating. The fact that we are built up of millions of cells, each having their own purpose and lifespan - and miraculously those cells are held together to form us … a unique individual, is magnificent. We in turn, are little planets th > read more

The sun daisy

Published on 2011-05-20 22:03:00

One of my most favourite of daisies is the Dandelion. Round, soft, golden yellow, a spit of petals that is in fact a composition of tiny flower heads, which eventually all create their own separate seed head and feathery parachute which forms a delig > read more

The haunting

Published on 2011-05-19 09:13:00

As a child, I lived in a hamlet. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, a hamlet is a small village, especially one without a church. Everyone in our hamlet without exception waved, smiled and greeted everyone else. We all had to be patient as d > read more

Lilac

Published on 2011-05-18 09:59:00

Lilac - Syringa vulgaris ‘Of all the flowers that I see, the sweetest is the lay-luck tree.’ Anon Usually pronounced lie-lc, lie-lek. The Lilac tree is both fragrant and is said to bring good luck to a household when it is planted i > read more

Cockchafer, May-bug or Melolontha melolontha

Published on 2011-05-15 13:50:00

The other night I came face-to-face with a Cockchafer. It is the first time that I have seen one of these large beetles. They are night time flyers and make quite a lot of noise during flight. They grow from between 20 mm to 30 mm and are easily reco > read more

Oxlip, cowslip, primrose and false oxlip

Published on 2011-05-09 09:52:00

A simple guide on how to tell the difference between the Spring primula family is as follows … The Primrose, Primula vulgaris – is the shortest of the plants with pale yellow flowers with slightly darker centres growing singularly on short stems > read more

Ingrowing toenails

Published on 2011-05-04 10:36:00

The most common cause of ingrowing toenails is damp feet. With trends of modern shoes being manufactured out of man-made materials, the foot especially around the toe area, often becomes over-heated and damp. When toenails are damp or wet they expand > read more

2011 and it’s May

Published on 2011-05-02 15:29:00

The end of April was hot and sunny with temperatures hitting 27°C. Rather than April it was more like August and Spring flowers began to wilt. May began with bright sunshine and blue skies but the temperature dropped to 16 °C with a cool breeze. Th > read more

MI Spy

Published on 2011-04-29 08:22:00

Magnificent insect spied in the garden. It is the very first hover-fly that I have seen this year. It is to be seen throughout April and on until the end of October and so is a useful pollinator to late Spring and Summer crops. Helophilus pendul > read more

Water wake

Published on 2011-04-25 20:34:00

It’s Easter holiday Monday, unexpectedly warm, dry and sunny. A blue, blue sky and a soft, ticklish breeze – unbelievably perfect – like a day in a dream. The frogspawn had hatched several days ago and so the ever curious tadpoles endlessly wri > read more

Land of Hope and Glory

Published on 2011-04-23 17:33:00

Land of Hope and Glory, Mother of the Free, How shall we extol thee, who are born of thee? Wider still, and wider, shall thy bounds be set; God, who made thee mighty, make thee mightier yet! Truth and Right and > read more

Strong nails

Published on 2011-04-23 14:52:00

Years ago a lovely lady told me that the one thing a woman should never run out of was brewer’s yeast tablets. I confess I was intrigued by her statement … she went on to tell me that a little while before she had been to see a specialist. I was > read more

Weekend flights

Published on 2011-04-17 10:48:00

I am doing a little bit of detective work at the moment … not the usual kind that you see glorified at the cinema or on the television. I am simply trying to establish where my bird containers are going to. This mystery began a few short weeks ago > read more

Moon

Published on 2011-04-12 09:18:00

The sun was shining and the sky embroidered with fluffy white clouds. Directly above in the blue, blue, sky was a watery moon. Although it seemed almost pointless I took a couple of photographs but when I looked at them more closely I am pleased that > read more

April eventually brings forth her showers

Published on 2011-04-11 20:20:00

After a parched March and a weekend of temperatures which have rivalled many of the more sunny climes we now have thirst quenching showers. How beautiful and refreshed everything looks … April showers showing Muscari which are also known as Grap > read more

It bloats and fattens …

Published on 2011-04-10 12:24:00

We have all read current reports on the main food items that are causing obesity, addiction, and depression in recent times: namely sugars, refined carbohydrates and processed foods. What is astonishing though, is what appears never to be mentioned. > read more

Wet look

Published on 2011-04-05 02:41:00

March was probably the driest we have ever had, at least on record. April nudged its way in with the ground parched. For once it was easy to mow the lawn and even that hadn’t grown with its usual burst of Springtime urgence. We need the April showe > read more

Slow, sloe, quick, quick, sloe

Published on 2011-03-28 08:58:00

Hedgerow lace and hedgerow elegance as it is embroidered with blackthorn white petal blossoms hides a dark, dark secret. Despite being first in line to adorn the earth with the promise of Spring, sometimes even as early as the end of January and begi > read more

Mineral maintenance, luxury laxative

Published on 2011-03-21 10:14:00

I have always read … mostly factual – and so, it feels that I have always known about the wonders of cocoa. Dark, dark, chocolate bars are worth consuming as they are a food source that is full of nourishment. It is not worth having light-weight > read more

Daffodil or Lent lily

Published on 2011-03-18 15:21:00

It will soon be the equinox, the time of equal day and night, and to celebrate the daffodils are all coming into bloom. The wonderful deep scented, soulful, smell that is often the magic extra ingredient to expensive perfumes, wafts its way in bursts > read more

Lambs tails, fur catkins

Published on 2011-03-15 14:28:00

So many of our trees produce catkin flowers and this year they have all appeared to be full-stretched a few weeks earlier than usual. The main varieties are Alder, Birch, Hornbeam and Hazel all of which have several varieties within their families. W > read more

Cardboard–recycled packaging health risks

Published on 2011-03-11 08:48:00

Warning The world is recycling more and more of its waste products which is only a good and right thing to do. It is only wise to look at what these recycled products contain and where they are best used. Apparently, this is being done – but only > read more

Good hiding

Published on 2011-03-10 02:16:00

As the bristles of cold begin to melt into Spring, the cat finds it much easier to fall deeper into heavier slumbers. For the first time she starts to roll onto her back in the wicker hide and not even the sound of her dinner being spooned onto her d > read more

Lake lustre

Published on 2011-03-09 02:34:00

The sun was still shining. The sky was distant, clear and blue. The late afternoon or early evening air had a cool punch to it. The weather was ideal for a stroll and somehow we ended up at the lake. The water birds noisily chatted amongst themselve > read more

Skeleton models

Published on 2011-03-02 11:45:00

Have I just opened my eyes? Have models always looked like a cross between a zombie and a skeleton? So very grey, so sadly thin, so drastically unhappy, so seriously ill? Are we all demented applauding the fashion industry for churning out clothes > read more

Hay fever?

Published on 2011-02-28 09:11:00

It is so early in the year and yet even though we are still in February the trees are pretty, powder puffs of pollen which is sent dancing in the wind to tickle our noses and bring on the sneezes. So if you haven’t already felt the tickle of tree p > read more

Penny-pinching

Published on 2011-02-22 11:20:00

I have noticed over recent years that bed linen appears to be shrinking … because no matter how many times I measure beds their size remains constant. I often wonder whether it has something to do with European measuring. For instance windows are > read more

After shock

Published on 2011-02-08 02:45:00

Not through an earthquake, landslide, tsunami or solar flare but the aftershock of the garden after the snow and ice have receded. I am still not absolutely sure of the amount of plants that have been lost due to the double minus figures of hot knife > read more

Tongue twister tale

Published on 2011-02-06 12:53:00

Timothy Tate turned the tollgate � Twenty-two times each Tuesday; Titania Teeton tossed her tuppence � Tiptoed pecking timid Tim's countenance! � � � � � > read more

I spy . . .

Published on 2011-02-03 09:49:00

February has arrived. The first day of the month has been lovely. A blue sky and soft watery clouds drifting up above. Time to look around the garden to see if anything is stirring. We have had such a cold Winter so far that it wouldn’t surprise an > read more

Dreams

Published on 2011-01-30 12:17:00

When I was a girl there was a saying that was both haunting and exciting … ‘Dream on a Saturday, told on a Sunday – come true on a Monday!’ Now this is all very well if the dream is good, desirable and happy but what if it is no > read more

Five a day– LIE (allegedly)

Published on 2011-01-26 10:47:00

The radio was on. It was station Radio Five Live with Parry and Graham. It is a sporting channel but these two often have a wide variety of topics in their banter mixed in with the sport. Suddenly my ears pricked up – like a prize racehorse await > read more

Pushy pus

Published on 2011-01-25 11:17:00

The cat has just discovered the oven! Where has she been these past twelve years? Suddenly, soon approaching her thirteenth birthday, she now gazes at the oven as a person might look at a piece of art. Appreciation lingers in her eyes as she sits and > read more

Frightening fact of the century …

Published on 2011-01-24 02:45:00

The population of the world is increasing at a rate of over FIVE MILLION per month. This means that within the next twenty years our requirement for FOOD, WATER, and FUEL will be around 50% more than we are currently using. Every country in the worl > read more

Easy loaf–quick dough–no yeast

Published on 2011-01-21 10:26:00

Here is a recipe that anyone can make whether they have experience in baking or have never cracked an egg in their life. It is for a simple and easy quick make and bake loaf of bread that tastes as good as any loaf that a master baker is able to prod > read more

Rabbit reactions

Published on 2011-01-19 12:02:00

During the last few years of my senior school the biology teacher arranged for the purchase of several rabbits, a hutch and a run. That year every child learnt much about rabbits. One of the many lessons taught was food and digestion and the knowledg > read more

January's journal

Published on 2011-01-17 09:29:00

This month has provided its usual challenge of Winter's offerings with ice, snow, rain and wind. At the moment, it is overcast but the plants are forever reaching into the new year. There are thick lustrous leaves on the bamboo, which although is not > read more

Hush! Once again twelfth night is upon us …

Published on 2011-01-06 10:53:00

The 5th January is the last party day of Christmas and time to eat up all of the remnants that have been left over from this period. All will need to be consumed from mince pies, iced fruit cake, bowels of any puddings, dates and nuts to boxes of cho > read more

New Year’s Resolution …

Published on 2011-01-01 17:13:00

I have come up with the best New Year’s resolution of all time, I think … this year I shall tell myself – “Just do it!” I think that about covers anything that I may fancy, don’t you? > read more