Thunderbird 4

Thunderbird 4

https://youtu.be/SE0DFHim2-o


Here I am circling thunderbird 4 at Capernwray, still very much feeling my way but loving the journey.
Both Phil and myself qualified as open water divers on the 9th of August  2015 thus allowing us to dive with a buddy without an instructor to a depth of 18 metres.

Stu The Frog

Last year Phil and myself went to Mexico for the first time and decided to have a go at snorkelling and scuba. We went snorkelling first at Akumal beach with a local guide and it turned out to be the highlight of the trip, just brilliant Turtles galore and although a bit scary we shared a short time with a spotted eagle ray. On the other hand the scuba was not a pleasant comfortable experience at all. I had absolutely no experience and for me it was too soon to be diving to 6 metres then 13 metres based on 20 minutes in a swimming pool and a half hour talk. My ears were blocked for the whole of the holiday after the initial flight so I could not equalise the pressure when I descended, then I  got seasick. When we came back Phil suggested enrolling at a dive club to do things proper and the rest is history... Here's Phil with one of the instructors diving at a flooded quarry called Capernwray near Morecambe.

  

Wait a minute!

Wild Primrose

Is it me or does this little wild primrose flower  not look like it should. Leaf shape definitely different and not the lovely creamy yellow colour. I planted these last year and this is the first one to flower. Its nice but not what I expected, ever so slightly disappointed

On the other hand this mini daffodil is a stunner, simple but so cute. Bought for a minuscule 50p at B&Q

Bulb Bug

Not long to wait now. Last year I planted a bulb lasagne with a smoky coloured mix of tulips, white daffodil, crocus and possibly something else but I've forgotten. The colour of the tulips should really show off this large glazed pot that I've had for years in the back garden You can just see the first colour coming through on the crocus and if you look very close you can see the coppery coloured tulips sneaking a peak at an early spring morning. Last year I also fell in love with the giant snowflake so I purchased a few more to plant up in terracotta containers and each year I'll look forward to their brief but beautiful visit

More of Mexico

Mexico 2014

Handsome chappie

unfortunately i think this is dead coral but used in the construction of walls

Any ideas what this bird is called?

Mexican Wildlife

Mexico Riviera Del Maya Seaside suites

Pelicans circled and dived for fish all day long

Ctenosaura spinytail Iguana

We travelled to Mexico last month for two weeks with our friends Warren and Justine, it was a complete break from our usual destinations having never been abroad for the last fifteen years. I never wanted to go anywhere without my dog Harry so we always travelled to places in the UK and loved it. Not being a sun worshipper I  was a bit worried boredom would set in but it was a wonderful experience mainly due to the good company, food and of course the wildlife and fauna. This complete cultural change was just what I needed at a time when stress levels were pretty high and I was feeling at a low point. This trip has definitely spurred me on to do more travelling. On the down side my allotment was a right mess but I have plans and more energy to set that right. Justine those body massages were the business;-)

Snuggly Nest

The two bird boxes in my garden have been vacant since they were first put up many years ago, the birds preferring the bushes to artificial hospitality. Yesterday to my surprise I spotted this cosy little set up in the robin nest box. Who could it be? Have the little chicks fledged already and I've missed them? As you can see the wide rectangular opening to the nest box has been filled in with vegetation, no doubt from my scruffy over grown garden. Blackbirds have a nest in one of my bushes hope they have more luck than a pairing whose fledgling was attacked and brutally killed by a magpie in my front garden. I heard the usual blackbird alarm call followed by the call from the young female blackbird chick but I was too late to scare the magpie off it had already done its deadly work with its beak. Sadly the blackbirds kept returning all day long, quite upsetting really to see new life snuffed out like that.