Probably Not a Pterosaur

[poliphilo]

My mother's racehorse trainer came and took her out to lunch yesterday. My mother sees her as a sort of extra daughter. I like her well enough but horses are her life and the only thing she ever talks about.  I said something about Diana Dors and she looked startled and switched the conversation back to the hunting field. Ailz threatens to leave me to her in her will.

The money-grubbing RSPB says the blue tit has become the most commonly seen British bird. This accords with my own observations. Perhaps it's moving into the niche vacated by the house sparrow. Something enormous flew over yesterday and perched on a tree down by the Maidstone Road. It had a long snaky neck. By the time I'd fetched my binoculars it had moved on but I suppose it must have been a heron.

Ailz is reading about the Quakers. She tells me I'm a Quaker and I nod because I suppose I am in a sort of a way. I'll go to meeting with her if she likes but my days of joining things are over.

Ailz's wonderful godmother, Pat, who is 87, has just taken up hand bell ringing. 

Comments

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm a Quaker too so who am I to argue! :o)

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I have Quaker ancestry on my mother's side. I've always been proud of it.

[heleninwales.livejournal.com]

I can't understand why house sparrows are declining. When I was growing up in Manchester, we had 3 bird species: pigeons, house sparrows and (on the rubbish tips) gulls. How can it be that a bird that could thrive in dirty, smoky streets is dwindling in numbers now?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I don't understand it either.

We still get sparrows in Oldham but I don't think I've seen a single one down here in Kent.

[rosamicula.livejournal.com]

I am getting increasingly miffed with the RSPB. Wardy got me a gift subscription and gets bombarded with mailshots and crappy things like address labels in the hope he too, will join. Bleedin waste of paper.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

They've become very corporate and pushy. I don't suppose I'll stop dealing with them but they no longer have my love.

[w. lotus (from livejournal.com)]

I hope I am willing to take up new things at 87.

I took up hand bell ringing a few years ago and enjoy it. We're hosting an English handbell festival next Saturday. It'll be my second time participating.

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

Pat refuses to grow old. She sings in a choral society, does voluntary work in a hospital and- last time I checked- sat on the parish council. Oh, and she's also a condon bleu cook.