Jim picked me up from work at The Old Forge yesterday and, as I loaded my tools into the car, told me that he'd almost driven over a sparrowhawk crouched on the lane leading up to the house. Luckily, he had braked in time and the bird flew away, as did an injured pigeon it … Continue reading The Sparrowhawk
Nature
A Postcard From Lindos, Rhodes
My holidays are often quite adventurous: cycling through the German countryside, hiking across British mountains, bobbing down the Zambezi in a barrel, play-wrestling polar bears on Svalbard - that sort of thing. But this year, Jim and I decided to plump for something a little more conventional, a lot more lazy. A few weeks ago … Continue reading A Postcard From Lindos, Rhodes
An End To March
I'm taking a short break from 'The Anxious Gardener' but meanwhile, and after months of winter drear, it seems a shame not to share some images from the last days of March. Daffodils aren't around for long but The Priory's brief show is hearty. I'm so used to their regular, faithful appearance that I don't … Continue reading An End To March
January Ice
We've had no snowfall yet at The Priory but we have had plenty of the next best thing: hard frosts under bright, blue skies. On one of those sharp, sunny mornings last week, I grabbed my camera and strolled about the garden. Here are a handful of images which might show why The Priory is … Continue reading January Ice
The Rhine Cycle Route: Mainz to Cologne
In 1979, with my best friend Colin, I cycled from Hook of Holland across the Netherlands and into Germany. We carried on pedalling to the Rhine near Koblenz and continued south along the river, past Mainz to Worms; where we camped for one night before heading for home via Luxembourg, Brussels and the port of Zeebrugge. In … Continue reading The Rhine Cycle Route: Mainz to Cologne
The Bedraggled Kestrel
Old, dilapidated and long overdue for renovation, The Priory garage and workshop is a magnet to birds seeking a home. Robins, blackbirds and wrens hop through holes in the rotten doors or missing window panes, to build a nest and raise chicks. A family of robins left in the past few days and I miss … Continue reading The Bedraggled Kestrel
Wildflowers On The South Downs
I'm not terribly fond of petrol mowers at the best of times but when they break-down repeatedly, I think them insufferable. If only they would listen to reason and I could patiently explain how simple their duties really are. At least a faulty mower induced forced-stop to mowing at The Old Forge gave me a … Continue reading Wildflowers On The South Downs
The Anxious Gardener 