This last Sunday The Times' magazine carried its annual review of the year...which is odd given that there was still 8% of the year to go. One of my pleasures in years gone by was to sit and read these things in those timeless days between Christmas and the New Year. It seems so odd that now, newspapers just cannot wait....it would be wonderful is something amazing happened in the next three weeks which completely re-shapes our view of the year...perhaps that would teach the media to just wait a little.
One of the many highlights of the summer for me were the Wenlock and Mandeville sculptures which were displayed around London. They were decorated by artists, and it was fun following the trails around the city to find them...we managed a few, but were a long way from seeing them all. Since the Games finished , the sculptures have been sold off along with much other Olympics memorabilia here. The money is going to charity. We've hummed and haahed as I've really wanted to get one, but the prices some have gone for is unbelievable...some of that Olympic tickets madness still prevails. But on Friday there were still a few up for grabs, and the prices had remained low. There was one I really fancied....a red cycling Mandeville. Finger at the ready, I clicked away as the auction was coming to a close. The price rose rapidly, and in the heat of the moment, encouraged by The Cat's Mother, I kept bidding. Auction madness had set in. Then just as I thought I'd made a winning bid, the site told me the auction had closed and I'd been outbid. For a moment I was distraught. Then the adrenaline went and I realised what a lucky escape I'd had....but don't be surprised if I weaken should more become available...
Enough is enough. For months now I have battled with the squirrels stealing the birds food....in the warmer days, they gave up when we switched over to dried mealworms, presumably because they didn't like them, whilst the birds adore them. But now it's turned cold, there's no holding them back, they're like locusts. Putting vaseline on the pole doesn't seem to make a difference as they have found a way round that. Worse still, they have taken to chucking the big glass dome that covers the food off the pole...sooner or later it will smash. I've had enough and have started chucking heavy objects at them. Next thing I'll be buying a gun...and that from someone who can come over all Budhist about killing creatures.
And I've come to the very firm conclusion that Rog was right by suggesting it was a waxwing in this post
