Easter and a few days away

Gosh it has been a long time since I blogged hasn’t it dear readers. But I’m back. Good Friday I went off to Barnet to see the mighty AFC Bournemouth play. Though they weren’t so mighty and lost 1-0. Still got some spotting in and it’s a new ground for me. So far I’ve watched matches at 18 football grounds.

Had most of last week off as it was Sue’s birthday. Went and stayed in a Travelodge near Eastbourne. On route we stopped off at a Nature Reserve to see if we could see a rare bird that had been spotted there. Only info I had was that it was sighted near the car park. However and 10-15 bird watchers had set up their scopes/cameras near by and were all looking in one direction. This did make it easy for me. However it was 45 mins until the White Throated Sparrow made an appearance. Nice one. One to add to my life list and in some ways more importantly, it added to my Hampshire list. Whilst waiting for the sparrow also made a blackcap and a marsh tit. Nice one.

Stopped off at Midhurst on route to Eastbourne area and a look at someone’s garden that they had opened as part of the National Garden Scheme. Always nice to look at good looking gardens. Poke around their potting sheds and compost heaps. See how other people do it and I always leave with ideas.

Next day (Thursday) did a little driving tour of Sussex villages. Stopped off to look at five historic churches, one of which was locked (boo), saw the Long Man of Wilmington and the Litlington White Horse.. Both hillside chalk figures. Then the evening spend near a reservoir, just sat taking in the evening sun, watching the birds and the fisherman out on the water. Lovely.

Next day it was a bit rainy, so at Sue’s insistence (well she suggested it) we went to the Bluebell railway. Managed to get on the footplate of two steam locos, whilst they were in steam. A first for me. Really nice of them to allow people up on the footplate. Lovely railway. Would recommend a visit if you are ever down that way.

Back home on the Saturday via Shoreham airport. Which seems to have improved its viewing facilities. Which some airports would take note. Then home. Spend the rest of the weekend in the garden. Really bust at this time of year. I feel that we’ve had the last of the frosts, I hope, so was planting out in Ernest. Spuds, lettuce, onions, spring onions, cabbage, parsnips, runner beans, peas etc. More stuff in the green house. By Sunday evening I was pooped. But really glad that the growing season is finally here. We’ve even started to harvest some of the items as Sue made a lovely omelette with chives from the garden. Nice.

Monday morning now, and back on the train to work. Most of the regulars on board but I notice that one or two are missing. Wonder if any of them notice when I’m not around..

John's Mum

As some of you may know, amongst my many hobbies one is consecutive number pate spotting. Check out this link if you don’t know what it is. I’ve been wanting 54 for ages, month and months. I had 55,56 and 57 all lined up as they park between home and the train station and home. Well this morning I finally saw a 54 this morning by Bournemouth Station. Nice one. The others were parked where they should be tonight on the walk home from the station , So now I’m on 57. Four in one day, Brill.

Other than that nothing much happening today. Spent time tonight sorting through photographs. Whenever I’m out on my travels and I come across an old Church I’ll take a photo or two of it. Well last September I took photos of the church at Wickham. I always take a photo of the notice board as well, or something that has the name of the church on it, so I can refer to it later. Looking at the picture of the notice board on this one and I noticed that the Vicar is a Rev Shirley Henderson…. Oh my!!! That’s Johns mum, a guy I used to work with, was in a band with and still in contact. Well Well. Small world.

Just before going to bed I watch a commotion outside. Our next door but one neighbour, Ali has a cat and it got in a fight with a ginger cat. We've only just started noticing the ginger cat around. We think that it was one of the kittens born last year in a house up the road. Anyway, Ali and the rest of her family charged out of the house to break up the fight. Ginger cat ran off but only a couple of houses away. Ali then decided that wasn't far enough as chased it up the road swinging a mop at it. Trust me, it looked funny at the time.