Monday, December 28, 2009

Resolutions

So. That's it. Christmas. Been. Gone. For 2009.

That just leaves New Year. We will more than likely end up doing what we do most years. We don't party, we watch dvds. Normally two in particular, probably the same two we watch every year. That is if we can keep our eyes open long enough, if not we work out which New Year to celebrate (Greek New Year is normally good), and head off to bed. Only to be woken by our New Year as everyone sets off fireworks (except for us, coz we've gone to bed).
That leaves the tradition of setting New Years resolutions. Normally I don't bother because I normally always forget them within 48 hours and end up breaking them. Plus they are normally always the same resolutions recycled each year - loose weight, blog more, get fitter etc.

This last year I did however make one resolution, and I have stuck to it throughout the year. We have too many books. Now although you can never have too many books, because books are good, storing too many books is always a hassle. This last year I resolved that I would only buy a new book if I had read one. This has worked very well, and I've stuck to it. It did however mean that I mostly only read the books that I bought during the year and not all those that are sitting unread on my bookshelf (and are still there).
So for 2010 I am going to continue with this resolution, and modify it slightly. For 2010 I can only buy a new book, if I have read a book and it was one that was in the house at the start of the year. I feel this will be tough, so we'll see how it goes. In the unlikely event that I read all of the books that were in the house (unread) at the start of the year, then I'll revert to the old version of the resolution.

I also intend to have the loose weight / get fitter resolution. I'm too heavy, probably unhealthily so. This is not good, and I really do need to do something about it. Now I'm not about to go joining a gym - aside from the expense I don't really have the time due to work commitments, but there are many positive things I can do, and I shall be trying.

I will also be trying to do something about my job, but I'm not sure what. I don't know if that means get a different job or simply approach the one I've got in a different way. I need to work that out. There are obviously dream jobs (indulging my love of nature), but I think I need to at least be a little realistic.

Finally I shall try and blog. Note I didn't say more.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Ghost Raptor

When I was out walking the dog yesterday I caught a glimpse of a raptor. 
 
My best guess would be a buzzard or a red kite, but at the distance that I was from what I sure I couldn't tell.  I did see the tree in which it had landed in so I made my way around to beneath that tree.  When I got there it was gone.  I can only assume that it had flown away when I was concentrating on the pathway, which was a little slippery as a result of the snow.
 
I didn't see the bird, but I did realise that I could do that all day long - beats being in an office any day.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

Starlings

Non-Allotment Update

Too cold for a proper allotment update today, so instead I bring you a quick vid from the garden

Monday, December 14, 2009

There's No Point In Having A Tidy Garden.....

I know this because I spent a good proportion of yesterday sweeping up leaves, pruning rose bushes, weeding and generally tidying our back garden.

Now I know it's generally accepted that sweeping up fallen leaves is a thankless task, as the minute you turn your back more arrive like unwanted relatives, and no matter how hard you try there will always be three that evade the broom (it's never one or two or more than three - always three). With Christmas approaching however bringing with it some wanted relatives, it seemed prudent to at least have a go at the garden.

I was quite impressed with my days toil, there were still three leaves out there but the rest where safely loaded into the compost bin to slowly turn into plant food to put back into the garden in time. It looked tidier too. That was until the birds arrived today. Obviously impressed that things had been disturbed a bit they spent the entire day hunting for insects, disturbing the once zen-like state of the newly tidied garden. I do not begrudge them this at all, not one little bit - I just wish they tidied up behind themselves a bit.

Saturday, December 12, 2009

Mid December Allotment Update

Recorded earlier this morning.



Friday, December 11, 2009

Day Off

Have a day off from work today, mainly to try and do some Christmas shopping this afternoon. I shot the video below earlier this morning, and have just finished editing it.

At the moment I'm sitting in our conservatory looking out into the garden watching the garden birds, seem to be lots out their this morning - probably due to the colder weather. As it gets colder more come in to stock up more easily and not expend lots of energy when food is readily available in the garden. This comes with a certain responsibility as it means we need to continue to put out food as some birds will have come to rely on what's in our garden.