Hello and Welcome Fellow Ramblers: 'Flutter' and Feathers!

A ‘Flutter’ of Butterflies

At last! The ‘flutter’ of butterflies which I dreaded not materialising after the long, hard winter, arrived on Sunday 25^th July! (Our first ‘proper’ summer’s day for weeks!!) Red Admirals, Small Tortoiseshells, Peacocks (pic opposite!), Cabbage Whites and Orange Tips to name the most obvious, silently floated in by the dozen, like scraps of delicately painted chiffon, their destination, the buddleia bushes. They arrived en masse as though their lives depended on it! And, let’s face it, they probably did!

Buzz! Buzz!

The butterflies’ noisy associates, which comprised bees, bumble and otherwise, wasps, flies and hoverflies buzzed merrily amongst the heavily scented purple and white blooms gathering up the ‘goodies’, flitting from flower to flower in a greedy and desperate attempt to prolong life as they know it!

Lepidoptera and Patience!

What a beautiful sight! Then it was out with the camera! What a challenge that was! Loads of pretty winged Lepidoptera, a new camera, a sunny day, but will the subjects stay still long enough to get a decent shot? The simple answer to that is ‘NO’! Not being endowed with the largest amount of patience, I soon gave up and sat back in the chair and consigned the spectacle to memory which in my case is not the best or most reliable of places to keep anything, important or otherwise!

Chiff Chaffs or Willow Warblers?

A pair of tiny birds, which I suspect may be ‘willow warblers’ or ‘chiff chaffs’ flit about amongst the leaves, picking off unsuspecting insects. (The birds don’t stay in the open, or still, long enough for me to get a good look at them, but are greeny-browny in colour (that definitely narrows it down!), about the size of a wren and produce a distinctive ‘sweet, sweet’ call as they dart about!)

What Killed Cock Robin?

The usual array of sparrows, chaffinches, greenfinches, great and blue tits, etc., feeding on and around the bird platform have been joined this week by a single juvenile starling and a tree creeper. And the most unfortunate occurrence was finding a dead robin beside the garage door after we heard a severe ‘clonk’ !

Robins inspire superstitions! (The robin can also be referred to as Bob and Bobbit! Or if you’re feeling particularly educated, Erithacus rubecula.)

· The robin’s red breast is attributed to the crucifixion where the unfortunate bird was sprinkled with Christ’s blood.

· The thieves of robins’ eggs from the nest will result in getting their legs broken! (Powerful robin!!)

· If a robin should die in your hand that hand will shake forever!

· It is unlucky to kill a robin even by accident!

· A robin under the roof will bring misfortune!

· The robin, friendly by day, was said to tap on the ‘sickroom’ window three times by night to warn of imminent death!

· And in certain parts of the country if anyone sees a robin before 12 noon on Christmas day they will be in for a profitable and lucky year! (Ah! So that’s where I’ve been going wrong! Wonder how long before noon counts?!)

Thanks for your time! Speak soon!

The Bumpkin Rambler xx

Hello and Welcome Fellow Ramblers: Badgers and Bees!

Badgers and Bees

Well, so much for cats fighting! We have now accumulated evidence which points to something much worse and larger than cats in the garden! It seemed strange at the time that the nocturnal brawling cats didn’t flee after being shouted at, and the caterwauling was particularly fierce and blood curdling!

After finding a ‘run’ through the corner of the garden hedge, and the underneath of the garden shed had been excavated, we suspected badgers were on the prowl! Then, when the ‘red bummed’ bumblebees’ underground nest had been scraped out we were even more convinced that Brock (Old English word) was the culprit! Although a few bees appear to have survived, the nest is absolute devastation! (Above photo!) The little bees (they are a miniature variety) have been in residence for years and were a joy to watch as they hovered above the almost invisible hole in the lawn before popping in out of sight. (I have researched badger ‘noises’ and apparently they chitter and kecker , amongst other things! Neither of which describes accurately the noise which woke me up in a panic!!)

In this age of badger conservation, what of bees’ rights?!

Another UFO!

Thursday night, the sky again revealed another UFO! This time it was a dull orange constant light travelling at speed horizontally from east to west! It was there and gone before I had time to get out of bed for closer inspection! Obviously in a hurry to get back for breakfast, or the aliens equivalent! As seems usual with strange lights in the sky, there was no accompanying noise!

St Swithun

July 15^th is St Swithun’s (or Swithin) day! Folklore has it that if it rains on that day it will rain for forty days and forty nights. Records have it that it doesn’t appear to make much difference whether it rains or not, as the wettest ’40 days and nights’ in the mid 19^th cent. were in years when the 15^th of July was a dry one!

St Swithun was the Bishop of Winchester in the 9^th cent. He died in 862 and was buried according to his wishes ‘where passers-by might tread on his grave, and rain from the eaves might fall on it’.

A century later he was canonised. On the 15^th July 971 his bones were exhumed and reburied, by the monks, in a shrine inside the cathedral. Heavy rains caused massive flooding, several drownings and famine!

Local Weather

Talking of rain... Weather-wise, this week, we have actually had a couple of sunny days! (Short lived, as today it is back to rain and cool winds!) But, we did manage humid conditions, what my dear old dad would have called ‘down on ya’ or ‘clammy’! I would describe it as a sponge being squeezed of all its liquid! It did drizzle intermittently on the 15^th, so watch this space for watery updates!

Buddleias and Butterflies

The buddleias (butterfly bush) are in full bloom, but as yet I haven’t been treated to the usual abundance of colourful butterflies, only the occasional ‘small tortoiseshell’! I hope the severe winter weather hasn’t killed them all off!

Thanks for your time! Speak soon!

The Bumpkin Rambler xx

Hello and Welcome Fellow Ramblers: Car Rally!

Sleep Deprivation!

For the second night in a week my sleep has been disturbed due to circumstances and events beyond my control. Earlier in the week I was awakened by cats ‘cat’erwauling outside my bedroom window on the lawn! The noise was unusually prolonged and ferocious. My LTA took some persuading from his nocturnal snorings, but eventually, under protest, shouted through the open window! (I think it was aimed at the cats!!)

Feline Fisticuffs!

Usually when reprimanded feline fisticuffs end abruptly with adversaries scuttling off into the blackness to repair bald patches, bleeding ears and battered egos! But not these two! (I presume there were only two, or maybe it was a ‘feline fisticuffs fest’!!) The screaming lasted for what seemed like minutes. And how is one supposed to reclaim sleep when the heart is pounding scared? Da dum, da dum da dum!!

Car Rallying!

Last night heard the third car rally this year ripping up the darkness past our humble abode! Headlights lit up the sky, and the roar of souped up engines battled for superiority as they sped towards the Long Mynd! Tyres were thinned on the narrow lanes as they hurtled noisily along, skidding perilously around bends which normally only see the slow pace of country life! Of course, we’re issued with the obligatory letter warning us of the coming event and giving us the option to complain! But, as long as me and mine are off the road, and the cats are ‘home’ then I say ‘live and let rally’!

The Mini Car

It took me back to the 1960s when the Austin and Morris Minis ruled supreme in the world of rallying! (And for day to day living!) What amazing little cars they were! Me and the LTA were proud owners of a selection of Minis. Not all at once, you understand, but over the years. The first one was a black and blue mini van, then a blue car, and at some point we owned a Mini Traveller (or Clubman)! I think they were about 850 cc! As you can probably tell I’m about as far from a ‘petrol head’ as you’re likely to get! As long as a car stops and starts on cue that suits me! Years ago I could distinguish one car from another, just. The Morris Traveller and Morris Thousand were easily picked out from the crowd, together with Austin A40, and I remember a weird Renault, which my late mother-in-law in all her wisdom acquired. It had the most complicated gear ‘stick’, which protruded from somewhere on the dash, if my memory serves me correctly! These days all cars look alike to me! Sorry advertisers, it’s all wasted on me!!

Mini Cooper and Cooper S

In the 60s we had a Mini Cooper and Mini Cooper S (1275 cc) ‘living’ next door to us! These flighty little cars resembled huge bees as they cut through the quiet of the countryside! In one particularly snowy winter I was treated to an excursion in the Cooper S to ‘shop’! An experience to remember! Although last night’s rally passed off without incident, a few years ago one car decided on an alternative route and ended up balancing on top of our neighbour’s garden hedge!

Weather

The weather has again been a mixture of March winds, April showers and some days, and nights, have been positively cool! Our Simpson skies, which are supposed to predict ‘fair weather’, are failing slightly! Although I did read a quote (not attributed to anyone in particular), which said, ‘Ne’er trust a July sky – it often lies’! So, there you go!!

Flat Peaches?!

And guess what I saw whilst out shopping yesterday! Flat peaches!! Whatever next! You’ll notice I said ‘saw’ not ‘tasted’!! Far too expensive!! And I also saw a man sampling the grapes off the display! Is that a crime?

Sunday News!

Newswise, all we’ve heard about this week is a certain Sunday newspaper closing down, together with all its alleged associated secrets and lies! It begs the question, ‘Is there anyone left in public life who the common man can trust?’. I have long suspected not!!

Thanks for your time. Speak soon!

The Bumpkin Rambler xx

Hello and Welcome Fellow Ramblers: Simpson Clouds!

Simpson Clouds

Well, here we are three days into July, with half of 2011 gone, and still waiting for summer! Last Sunday and Monday were incredibly hot (to me) with temperatures reaching 30 degrees! Then it was back to the changeable ‘summer’ weather which we’ve become accustomed to! On Monday evening the sky went incredibly dark threatening thunder, which culminated in a few huge drops of rain, whilst a few miles away a downpour caused the guttering (which catches the water off the roof) to overflow! Luck of the draw! And for days we have been treated to exceptionally blue skies with what I call ‘Simpson’ clouds! More technically known as cumulus clouds, which usually predict ‘fair weather’ but can ‘grow’ into more hostile varieties! (Sounds like a few people I know!!)

The above photo is of the Lawley Hill!

My Feathered Friends

The bird platform is still inundated with birds, still flocking in throughout the day to partake of the mixed seed, peanuts and/or sunflower seeds. They’re costing me a small fortune, but I can’t really put a price on the pleasure of seeing the variety of feathered friends who swoop in for sustenance! Blue tits have been bringing their young, which delight in hanging upside down underneath the peanut feeder, and chaffinches have been administering to their offspring on the floor, hopefully when Scully (the cat!) is not in the vicinity! And the woodpecker still visits every morning, but I only see his streak of red brilliance briefly as he is very shy and undulates away at the first sign of the curtain twitching! (Is that why birdwatchers are called ‘twitchers’ I wonder?) And yesterday we were treated to a small flock of goldfinches (what my dad used to call ‘seven coloured linnets’) sitting on the telephone wires! Amazing!

Stretton Hills

On Friday I met up with my friend for coffee in Church Stretton, a small market town about four miles from where I live. It is a picturesque place set amongst the Stretton Hills. The surrounding area is a great attraction for walkers, mountain bikers, horse riders and those of us who love the outdoors in all its guises. Because of its hilly terrain Church Stetton is often referred to as ‘Little Switzerland’. From my windows I can see the Lawley (1240ft), the Caradoc (1509ft) and if I go outside and stand on tiptoe I can see the Long Mynd (1693ft) stretching away into the distance! And of course Church Stretton is probably best known for its beauty spot Carding Mill Valley. The Roman road Watling Street runs along the outskirts of the town.

Church Stretton

Many years ago Church Stretton was a thriving community, which even boasted a ‘picturehouse’ (the forerunner to the poshly named ‘cinema’), but as with most places locally, once a supermarket moves into town everything else struggles, and eventually disappears! Gone are all the small independent grocers, establishments where the aroma of freshly ground coffee greeted you on the threshold. The post office, which once was housed in a grand building, is now tucked away at the rear of the Spar shop (which was the picturehouse in its former life) where only the locals know of its existence! And the grocer’s shop where I worked when I left school (many years ago!!) is now a newsagent’s.

God’s Waiting Room

Church Stretton is an ideal and popular place for people to retire to, often irreverently referred to as ‘God’s waiting room’! Food for thought indeed! But it does occasionally have a bit of excitement! Recently a woman was stabbed!!

Thanks for your time! Speak soon!

The Bumpkin Rambler xx