A COAL TIT AND SNIPPET DOWN A HOLE

Since we moved here over four years ago, I've been hoping to see coal tits. Where we lived in Chagford in the town, we had lots visiting the garden, but I've never seen them up here until a few days ago. Just the one, but that will do. They are so sweet. It's been very timid and comes VERY low in the pecking order; below even the blue tits. All the other peanut feeders eat the porridge too but this little character doesn't do so yet. Let's hope he or she is a regular visitor.

The rain is getting pretty depressing. I've never seen it quite so bad up here, with every inch of ground rushing with water. Trigger's field, despite me putting back divots on a daily basis and his lack of shoes, is turning into a mud bath. We should count ourselves lucky the water isn't yet entering the house. I pity anyone lower down the river as I don't see how flooding can be avoided. It's set to continue tomorrow so many people are going to be in trouble for Christmas.Here are two ponies trying desperately to shelter. The wind is pretty horrendous too.

A couple of days ago, when we had a dry day, Snippet and I walked over towards the delightful Fernworthy Forest where there is an abandoned badger set. I walked on while Snippet sniffed around and only looked back a couple of minutes later. He had disappeared. After some shouting and whistling to no avail, I ran back to find the tiniest tip of tail poking out of one of the holes. It took him some time to get himself out and I was worried I might have to traipse home for a shovel to dig him out. These three are from an earlier hole. I should have known not to leave him really.

Nearly gone!

What I think are Fieldfare. They look like big Thrush on the ground if you can get anywhere near them. They usually take off  as a flock and are gone in seconds, hence blurriness! The next two pictures are from the other herd, who seem to be gravitating to this area and mixing with our herd. The coloured pony is the one who was so friendly with me in the summer.

These two are of a misty lunchtime before more heavy rain!

Strange stripy dawn sky

And a few from the bird feeding area.....

The lovely pecker Nuthatch

Fabulous colours on the back of this Magpie's tail

The Sparrows waiting their turn for the porridge

Not the best looking Sparrow!

Nuthatch leaving the feeder at speed

We have a huge amount of military air traffic going over us what with the firing ranges being so close at Okehampton. The helicopters sometimes fly right over the house which is quite frightening if you don't see them coming. There are far fewer jets than there used to be due to base closures in Cornwall. When I was about 10 or 11, I thought I wanted to be a fighter pilot and would do meticulous drawings of the jets of the time. In those days, they didn't accept women and I really didn't understand the true implications of what the job would entail at that age! Now, despite the enormous misgivings about their role, I still get a thrill as they go over. If I had signed up, I would have been pensioned off pretty quickly with my type 1 diabetes that came on very late, and bone density issues. Not a very suitable candidate at all! I saw this helicopter the other day:

Origami Boy's party was a great success. Just the four of them but it's amazing the chaos four eight year old boys can cause. I splashed out on this little cardboard tree from Paperchase for the occasion. I think it's gorgeous and it will last for years.

Last Monday, I took my Mum to Carluccio's in Exeter after a stroll round the new John Lewis which opened last month. Having been brought up in North London, we spent a lot of time in Jones Brothers on the Holloway Road, now long gone, so John Lewis has a special place in my heart. Rarely actually buy anything but it's a childhood comfort thing. Carluccio's is a piece of mild sophistication that Exeter lacked until the last few years. It was a desert when we first got here, with nowhere to go to eat between chain places and the extremely expensive. We bought this gorgeous biscuit for Origami Boy. Stunning and delicious!

Only three more days to go before the true seediness of the Christmas tree bucket is revealed once the presents have gone. The tissue paper I've wrapped around it isn't going to cut it I'm afraid. Perhaps some strategically placed fruit might do the trick?......until next time, a wet Snippet hoping  for a place on the sofa. I don't think so!