Talking Cats!

The first cat in this video is doing a very good imitation of our Ginger cat who has been known to howl "hello" now and then. This video, discovered while browsing through flickr, comes from a cool site called YouTube. I've just signed up. Soon I hope to upload some video clips of my own. Maybe I'll be able to broadcast Hello from Ginger some day.

Bxs&*%jykcwlk!!!

The boiler is still not fixed. The part that was ordered on Thursday afternoon for overnight delivery was sent to York today by mistake. The repairman is supposed to be here tomorrow afternoon with the part. I'm not holding my breath.

Dry Wit, Wet Weather

CROCUSES ON THE STRAY

Today we sprang forward. I always hate turning the clock ahead every spring. Hate losing that hour. But, must admit, enjoy the extra hour of daylight. In the U.S. we call this "Daylight Saving Time" but the British call it "British Summer Time". Oh, the British and their dry wit. It only barely feels like spring time yet. It was a bit cooler today than yesterday and rather wet. I took a walk along the Stray and the ground is thoroughly waterlogged. The crocuses are doing okay. Even though the temps are a bit milder -- we got into double digits (celsius) this weekend -- it is still freezing cold in the house. That house seems to generate cold! Tomorrow the repairman is due to fix the boiler. Can't wait to take a nice long hot steaming bath.

Birds, Rocks and Henges

NOSTERFIELD NATURE RESERVE

I went on another RSPB outing today. The weather was agreeable for a change with nearly balmy temperatures, though a bit windy. I didn't even wear my winter coat and at one point during the day only needed my fleece jacket. I caught a ride with Philip, an avid birder who doesn't mind driving and knows the area fairly well.

We went to Nosterfield Nature Reserve, located between Ripon and Masham. The reserve had originally been a sand and gravel quarry. Once the quarrying was done the area was developed into a water habitat to attract birds. The site itself is not very attractive but a handsome little sod-roofed stone observation building had been erected for viewing the birds in inclement weather. In addition to the observation building there are a couple of outdoor hides. We spent all morning at the Reserve then drove about a mile down the road to the Nosterfield Quarry Vistor Centre.

This is an active quarry but all was quiet as it was a Saturday. The Visitor Centre is a square brick building, formerly a power substation, but seemingly created with birders in mind. Inside were all the creature comforts (loo, kettle, tea bags, coffee, powdered milk, sugar) and some extras (lots of brochures of places of interest, plenty of literature about Tarmac -- the company that works the quarry, photos of birds seen in the area, a list of recently sighted birds). It seems that Tarmac, and apparently other companies, are taking great pains to be environmentally-friendly and community-minded with their quarrying sites. We ate our packed lunch at the Visitor Centre, finished off with some freshly brewed tea (but the powdered milk was a bit odd) then were led on a walk around the site by one of Tarmac's employees, Chris Pennock. Chris was incredibly knowledgeable, not only about the quarrying business, but about the surrounding natural habitat, bird behavior and history of the area. We spent the afternoon listening to Chris' entertaining anecdotes, walking the footpaths that have been created by Tarmac and stopping now and then to view birds.

We left Nosterfield Quarry around 3:30 p.m. (I noted with glee that it was still light out. Yes! spring is on the way.) Nosterfield is near Thornborough Henges, aka the Stonehenge of the North. That's somewhat of a misnomer. The henges are not made of stone but are rather modest earthworks. They are actually quite difficult to see when at ground level. An aerial photo would show you that there are three circular henges arranged in a straight line. Some say they are a bit skewed and possibly mimic the position of the stars in Orion's Belt.

There is a bit of a standoff going on between Tarmac and the "Friends of Thornorough Henges". Tarmac wants to quarry near the henges and insist they will not disturb the historical site. The Friends don't believe a word of it. Tarmac complains that they must comply with more stringent regulations than those governing development near Stone Henge. The Friends bemoan the fact that quarrying is even being considered near the Thornborough Henges, "the most important prehistoric site between Stonehenge and the Orkneys."

We were told the henges are all situated on private property, but there are footpaths leading up to them and people walk around them anyhow. Philip and I were interested in taking a look and drove around to a spot near the central henge. It was getting too late to walk over to the henge, so we just looked at it from the road. Basically, all I saw was a piece of land that was a bit taller than the surrounding landscape. I couldn't see any features much less tell that it was in the shape of a circle. Someday I hope to return and get a closer look.

I didn't keep a running list of the bird species we saw, but these are the species I can remember seeing today:
oystercatcher
wigeon
curlew
red shank
pochard
great crested grebe
tufted duck
lapwing
black-headed gull
common gull
snipe
greylag goose
Canada goose
shelduck
mallard
gadwall
goldeneye
pintail
coot
moorhen
pied wagtail
reed bunting
tree sparrow
yellowhammer
robin

Roughing It

Simply dreadful weather today. Raining most of the day though not too cold. Then the fog set in. It was bad in the afternoon and worse yet as the day dragged on. It's a real pea-souper out there right now.

I'm coming up with ways of dealing with a cold house with no hot water. I've been boiling water to wash up with. I use a big stainless steel bowl to hold my water in and mug to ladle it out with. Just like you see in those cowboy movies where they've got a big ceramic bowl and jug. I've discovered the lower ground floor is a lot warmer than the ground floor. We have a gas fireplace on each level but the room with fireplace on the ground floor is huge and the heat from the fire dissipates quickly. The fireplace on the lower ground floor is in the dining room. It's a smaller room and I can close it off partially with a door and draw the curtains across the windows. So, I've basically been living on the lower ground floor. It's got everything I need except a bed. And I'll do just as I did last night -- pile on the covers, grab the kitty and nuzzle under. After a while it gets warm under the covers and I'm able to get some good sleep.

I need to get to bed now too. Tomorrow we have a bird outing. By we I mean the Harrogate RSPB Local Group. But I wonder how in the world we'll be able to see any birds if this fog persists.

Out Cold

PACKHORSE BRIDGE


EWE AND SOME STURDY-LOOKING LAMBS

This morning I called the repairman, he couldn't come out till 4 pm. So, I said fine, and continued getting ready for my hike with my hiking group. Incredibly enough, there was just enough warm water to take a shower. It was another nice day. Not as fine as yesterday, but sunshiny and dry. We did the Dacre Walls Walk -- an invigorating walk that concentrates on historical features of drystone walls.

The repairman showed up at 4 p.m. just as promised. Diagnosis: dead fan. The new fan can't get here any sooner than Monday so I'll have to go without heat and hot water till Monday. Arrrghhh!

Rude Awakening

This morning I was dragged out of sleep by a curious groaning straining whizzing buzzing noise. I was groggy and first thought the sound was in my dreams, then slowly I realized the noise was real and I'd better figure out what it was. I hauled myself out of bed and discovered our boiler was the cause of the racket. I didn't have a clue what was going on. Eventually the noise stopped. The heat was still working. I had plenty of hot water for a shower. I went about my business and forgot about the groaning boiler. It was a pretty day, one like we haven't had for awhile. Brilliant sunshine. Blue skies. It was damn cold in the shade but it felt oh so nice in the sun. I've been working on the computer all evening. Time to head upstairs to bed.

Egads, it's icy cold in the bedroom. OMG -- the boiler! There really was something wrong with it. Those groans I'd heard this morning were its funeral dirge. It has given up the ghost. The radiators are ice cold. It's too late to call a repairman. Guess I'll pile the covers on and curl up with Ginger for warmth.

At the Book Fair

I went to a book fair at the Crown Hotel yesterday and spent a good hour or so rummaging through the books, maps and prints on offer. I came across a first edition of JRR Tolkien's Hobbit with an asking price of £350! There were several copies of Mrs. Beetons book on household management to be had, as well as first editions of the Tale of Tom Kitten and The Tale of Squirrel Nutkin. Several vendors carried an assortment of Observer's books and I added two guide books (Farm Animals and Golf) to my collection. I first noticed these pocket-sized hard back books at a charity shop. I picked up the one on Cats to send to my sister in the States. I remember chuckling over the naivete of the writing and classification; I believe they listed black cats as a breed in America. Anyhow, these little books kept cropping up here and there at charity shops, church jumble sales and car boot sales. I began to realize the Observer's books are highly collectable. The first Observer's book was British Birds and was published in 1937. The prices vendors charge for them vary according to age, condition and rarity. There were a few at the fair with a price tag of £15 and higher. Until yesterday I haven't spent more than £5 on a book and consequently my collection is quite a modest one of 15 books. There are at least a hundred in the series. I forked out £7 a piece for my latest acquisitions and had to bargain for them. They were titles I really wanted and are somewhat rare. Since we'll be moving from the UK this summer, I figure my browsing days are limited and I'd better snatch them up now while I can.

Hocus Crocus

Every year, I am heartened by the appearance of crocuses on the Stray. Oh this means spring is nearly here, right? Every year, I take my camera out and try to capture the beauty of the wonderful sprays of color across the grassy green of Harrogate. Every year, there is a late snowfall and we are treated to the contrast of delicate blooms in powdery snow. This year, winter seems to've saved its worst for the month of March. The sky has been gray, the winds wet and raw, and the inevitable late snowfall has been laced with sleet. Today was another day of arctic temperatures with nasty blasts of wind, but the sun managed to pierce the clouds now and then, giving the day a bit of warmth and the flowers a motive for opening up. Little flowers, please work your magic and let spring in!

You Say Tickle, I Say Tittle

There was an interesting item this evening on our local BBC news program, Look North. It seems there is a railway underpass in Castleford, West Yorkshire, called Tickle Cock Bridge. In an effort to revitalize Castleford, the name was changed to something a little more discreet: Tittle Cott Bridge. I laughed out loud at that one. At any rate, the PC powers that be were ultimately foiled, as the name Tickle Cock Bridge has been reinstated under the strident demands of the locals. Reminds me of when we were all instructed to take the emphasis off the second syllable and pronounce Uranus with a short "a" rather than a long one. I think the jury's still out on that one.

Winter's Icy Grip

Winter does not want to give up the ghost in Harrogate. This year's crop of crocuses have been making a brave attempt to bloom in spite of the dreadful weather. This photo shows the snow we received on Sunday. The weathermen are calling for more snow, sleet and ice tomorrow. This news seems all the more chilling when I get word from my sister that today's forecast temperature back home in the US is 85°F.

Nightmare

I dreamt last night that I went to Rome and forgot to bring my camera with me. I was terribly distraught. In my dream I was on a foreign study course with some of my hiking/mah jongg friends. I began racking my brain trying to figure out a way I could get my hands on a camera during my stay in Rome. I could go back and get it (remember, this is a dream!). No. that would take too long and cost too much money. I also couldn't afford to buy a digital camera, but perhaps, I could buy one of those cheapo disposal cameras. No, that just wouldn't do. I am too addicted to digital now. There were some real photo aficionados in my study course. Perhaps one of them had brought more than one digital camera and I could borrow one? No. First it was unlikely there was anyone there with a camera to spare. And I just didn't want to sponge off someone else. Then I got a brilliant idea! All I needed to do was start making some calls...in Italian... I can't believe i got the brilliant idea before I woke up. this could be my one great money-making brainstorm. You know, one of those ideas that when you hear about it, you think, "Now why didn't I come up with that!?"

Media Circus in Harrogate

BETTYS CAFE ON A SNOWY DAY IN HARROGATE


PHIL WILLIS AND SIR MENZIES CAMPBELL IN HARROGATE

It snowed yesterday and I slept in a bit too late this morning to get very many photos of the snow. The sun was shining brightly and the snow was melting quickly. I took the photo of Bettys shortly before running into a minor media mob in the center of Harrogate. Phil Willis, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate was accompanying Sir Menzies (pronounced "Mingus") Campbell on his first walkabout as leader of the Liberal Democrat Party. The Liberal Democrats opened their spring conference in Harrogate this weekend. Every time the two politicians moved, the mob that completely surrounded them moved. It was like watching a multi-legged creature with strange antennae make its way down Cambridge Street. I managed to grab a few shots and avoided being trampled by the media beast...but just barely.

Baby It's Cold Outside

The Hills in Winter
Originally uploaded by AJK aka Max.

This shot by a fellow flickerite helps show how cold it's been here lately. We were warned that this would be one of Britain's coldest winters in many years. It took a while, but the cold has set in. Tomorrow morning at 6 am the temperature is predicted to be -5C (23F) with a wind chill of -9C (15F). The high will only get to 3C (37F). At least we are predicted to get lots of sunshine and relatively light winds. We are lucky compared to other parts of the UK. Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and southwest England are expecting more snow showers. It looks like the east Yorkshire coast will be getting a break from the snow they've had the last couple of days.

Fittingly, I just finished watching a BBC documentary, The Icberg That Sank The Titanic. I didn't think I could bear to watch another TV show dealing with the story of the Titanic but the stunning photography and the story of the snowflake that grew up to sink the world's most celebrated ocean liner was mesmerizing. But it made me shiver even more. This house is not very well insulated, the windows are not double glazed and cold air seeps in with abandon. I've been piling the wool blankets on to keep warm. Even Ginger has been crawling under the covers with me to keep warm.

We both miss Brad very much. And not just because it's cold.