14 April 2008

April Showers be blowed!

April didn't bring showers - it simply chucked it down! Well, it did in Portugal for the last few days of our break. We are back in England now and Steve tells us that it even snowed on the island (as it did in my home town in England while we were away).

But, nevertheless, the birds were on time in Portugal, and Bardsey and I even heard that a Cuckoo arrived today (14 April) in Staffordshire, which is the normal arrival day for them. Who says our climate is changing? Home to fruit blossom, frosts forecast tonight (check greenhouse heater thermostat works as just put tomatoes in) and the starlings still trying to access my swift boxes, even though I have stuffed the holes with cloths with the intention of pulling them out in a couple of weeks time when the swifts return to our road.

Bev and Jim have returned from a week on the island after installing the new generator - now fully working and even running the microwave. The two Richards are doing fine and Bev Healey rewarded them for their help with the installation by cooking them a few meals whilst he was over. Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsey can't touch our Bev for cooking - I would back him against them any day.

I hear from Bev that young Porter is gripping them all off at the evening bird call. Wonderful! And not only with the birds he sees but he is also taking some great photographs to prove he has recorded them. Word is that Steve, the warden, is getting quite worried that his job is in jeopardy!

So get your booking in NOW. What more do you want? A warm and comfortable Observatory and away from the noise and bustle of civilisation for a week - you can't beat it.

Bardsey Crier

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