Day 1 of #30DaysWild and I decided to start off my June with a visit to Minorca Woods.
It is looking very pretty right now as all the wildflowers are coming out.
Episode 1 of 'Invasion of the Dinosaurs' was just titled 'Invasion' to avoid spoiling its shock T-Rex cliffhanger.
But...
"...swinging London has been invaded by something from even further back in time - prehistoric monsters!" - Radio Times, 12-19 Jan 1974 edition. #doctorwho
I notice the chill of the breeze more keenly than before, no longer bracing and envigorating, but mocking and cruel as it pecks at my exposed flesh.
A sturdy cane supports my failing gait. I'm walking on three legs as evening gathers, and my stride has noticeably shortened.
I no longer hurry towards what lies ahead, but instead weigh each step with care; upon the walk, and through the days.
My eyes, that were never sharp, have further dulled with the passing years, yet it seems I see more clearly now than ever I could in my younger days.
The rebellious impatience of youth has yielded to calm reasoning, and that insistent need to be heard above all others has been replaced by a quieter wish to listen and deliberate.
I seek now to please no one but myself and, above that, those I hold most dear.
I embrace only what I know to be true, and no longer accommodate falsehood from any quarter.
I have established my boundaries. I'll stand my ground.
This was my first birdwatch of the year.
It is the first of many in 2026, as I am taking up the Big200 challenge! I am excited to find out what birds this year will bring.
There has been a noticeable rise on patriotism of late, with English raising their national flag as well the Union Flag (Jack). Embracing our culture, history, community and what I find most heartening, our national religion - Christianity.
All this has made me think of a short but rousing quote from my 1866 Quiver annual (I have included a photo below):
"Cling, clang ! cling, clang ! and the merry sounds ring out like a hymn of labour. And a nobler subject for a hymn to God never warmed an English heart! There are the two genii of the lamp of England's glory - grim, and swart, and hard, yet submissive and pliant to the hand of toil - IRON and COAL. Men of England, let us bless God who gave us - not the olive and the vine of Southern Europe, nor the diamonds of Golconda, not the pearls of Arabia, nor the goldfields of Australia; but the ironstone and the coalfield - precious gifts, by which the brain of Science and the hand of Art have wrought out a nation's wealth and power."
God gave us the resources and wisdom to do great things; and yes, we as a nation have fallen short at times, but that is why we need our Lord God.
The Quiver annuals were published by the Christian Thomas Cassell to be Sunday reading for the family; he wanted (among other things) to address the readers intellect while being full of gushing feeling to address the heart. Something I hope Cassell achieved with you through this quote.
100 years ago today… the mighty Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast was given to the National Trust following public subscription (the public raised the money to purchase and hand them over). An amazing place protected forever
Welcome to Super Seabird Sunday where we ask you to share photos, videos & artwork of seabirds to brighten up timelines. Here is a short clip attempting to show the vast numbers of Puffins on Isle of May #SuperSeabirdSunday