What fun

Here is another bird picture taken on the bow of our boat last week on the Broads, the Herons were so tame, we saw one on another boat, perched on the bow rail like this one, ride all the way across one of the broads, he must have been on there for at least 10 minutes, easier than flying I suppose?

Electioneering seems to be crawling to a minor crecendo here in rural Whaplode, the BNP were first into our letterbox, and also first into the rubbish bin, there is a real danger that they could make inroads this time. I do hope people are sensible and do not let the MP's expenses crisis, scandal though it is, tempt them to start voting outside the main three parties. Voting for the also rans who really do not have much of an idea about politics, but hey, sounds like fun, will simply waste votes and give the less than ideal mob a foothold. My opinion only, by the way!

Norfolk Broads

I have just returned from a week on the Norfolk Broads with friends Scott and Di, unfortunately Gill was not well enough to go, she had inherited the cold that had kept me off work for most of the previous week.

The weather was reasonably good, sunshine and showers, but never stopped us from doing what we wanted to do.

There was not as much wildlife as I had hoped, although we were lucky enough to see an otter, first I have ever seen, but did not manage to get a picture.

I did however, manage to get a picture of a coot with the strangest feet, he came and perched on the dinghy I guess they help him paddle faster!

Back to work this week, only 114 emails yesterday morning, so back to reality.

Mr P

Andrew Petcher has mentioned on his blog 'Have bag, will travel' how he nearly sideswiped a pheasant over the weekend, and asks the question how could anyone shoot such a magnificent bird?

This reminded me of January last year when for two or three weeks, when I went out to the car in the morning, this beautiful cock pheasant was waiting for me, he was so tame I could almost touch him. They really do have the most striking plumage, and I managed to get some close up pictures of him which I think you will agree, show him off at his best.

We called him Mr P, and he is still hanging around the garden now, but somewhere along the line last year he injured his leg, so he now hops along like Long John Silver without a crutch, but at least we know it is him! Click on the pictures to see a bigger image.