It’s still grey, still cold and there’s not a lot to write home about

……..but seeing as how we think about you heaps, this is a good way to keep in touch. We recently visited Slimbridge, which is a World Wild Life bird preservation wetlands - a bit of a ‘birders’ paradise. Let me make it clear from the outset – we are not getting weird and into ‘birding’ - whatever it is they do! But we do “ohh and ahrrrr” over the odd bird. I can see why a lot of Brits do get into ‘bird watching’ because it is lovely to see the migratory birds marking the seasons. Also Britain does have some wonderful garden variety birds – robin red breasts, colourful finches, nut hatches, willy wagtails, blackbirds, tomtits, warblers, wrens, a lot of birds of prey – just to name a few. Anyway back to Slimbridge. One of the surprising things was that they have flocks of flamingoes to assist with breeding programmes around the world. They are wonderful and it is possible to get really up close and personal.
Around the reserve are masses of hides, where the serious birders take their gear and watch and do whatever they do for hours, it’s very serious with a lot of note taking! The equipment required for this kind of watching is phenomenal (and probably expensive!). I have a good camera, with a couple of good lenses, but I must say one could suffer seriously from “lens envy” if you were into size – fortunately I’m of the opinion that “size doesn’t matter”
A friend loaned us a pair of very good binoculars and this morning we walked the Thames path and got a really good look at a ‘buzzard’ which up until now we have only seen in the distance. Buzzards are making their way back into Britain, I don’t know where from??????? We also got a sighting of a flock of rare sky divers!!!! Why you would jump out of plane in this (or any other) weather unless it was absolutely necessary one can’t imagine??? Meanwhile, although it’s still freezing cold, with a dusting of snow on the ground, the days are getting longer and we are beginning to plan some trips to look forward to………miss you all very much …..still……xxx

The Big Chill………

 
 
 
 

………..we always get really excited when it snows – and until now it’s been brief and beautiful. The snow before Christmas was great – but didn’t stay long enough for a really ‘white Christmas’………so imagine our delight when we got “severe weather warnings” and consequently have had 8 inches of snow on the ground for a week!!!
The reality is still beautiful, but there are a few down sides….’elf and safety’ being one….you can’t get into town unless the roads have been ‘gritted’ – once in town slippery pavements are a nightmare. Lots of schools are closed and many of the contractors at the manor haven’t been able to get here. Also it doesn’t take long for the unblemished pristine whiteness to have footprints ‘messing it up’!!!!
Pippa – the dog, loves the snow, but after a while gets really cold and uncomfortable. We bought her a jacket and now are considering dog shoes…….can you believe it????
We’ve talked about building a snow man, but with daytime temperatures at around minus 5 degrees, we don’t have the commitment!!!
Ironically the cover (so that work can continue in The BIG HOLE over winter) is progressing painfully slowly in the current weather conditions and we wonder if it will be completed in time to be dismantled in May…..apparently only one other structure of it’s size and kind have been built in the UK – the other, in London was built on flat ground (not over a large hole) and so cherry pickers were able to be used to construct it. Also the London structure, although temporary is rather more permanent than the one here!!!!!! Most mind boggling………meanwhile we are grateful for our time here and enjoy our environment and with the snow have a visual awareness that we share the estate with many, many critters and creatures, foxes, deer, rabbits, hares, pheasants, wild mink all party at night and leave their footprints before they quietly and stealthily disappear back to where they hide from the human world…..wish you were here xxx

Exploring our own back-yard……..

 
 
 
 

……….has been interesting. Once we stopped ‘sulking’ about having to ‘stay put’ we decided to make the most of it – as you do when you are a ‘grown up’!!!! Leading up to Christmas was a bit tough….there were a few things happening and as well the Blue Cross dog we had taken on, had to be returned as her ‘issues’ were too much for a “Manor” dog…she had come a long way but in the end it just wasn’t far enough, she was too unreliable and unpredictable in this situation. The upside is we acquired a lovely Lurcher from a family in Yorkshire, who after 6 years, reluctantly had to let her go. We are thoroughly enjoying having a dog who is trustworthy, well socialized with no ‘issues’ and a load of fun.
Our local town is Cirencester, a very beautiful Cotswold town dating back to Roman times. The Bathurst Estate is a very integral part of the town and owns most of it. Having a well socialized dog means we can now walk in a public place and we have discovered the Bathurst Estate Park, where the public and their children and dogs are invited to walk or ride horseback…..lovely long, wide paths to promenade or you can go exploring the woods and paddocks, it’s wonderful.
Christmas at the Manor was a very quiet affair, but we drank good champagne chilled in the ice of the fountain and indulged in a home movie festival.
Work continues on the temporary cover over the big hole. Various local ‘drinks parties’ we’ve been invited to over the holiday period have been an exercise in ‘question and answer’………work for everyone in the UK resumes tomorrow and we think of you enjoying the grand Kiwi summer holidays……we expect more snow next week………miss you xxxx