How are we all doing ?

Great to hear you are still ok. I have dropped out of this site because I couldn't cope with the site technical changes. Don't really know how I received your post but hope you pick up this reply. Ray has had a frustrating following his revised stoma a year ago and the problems are continuing which is such a shame as he recovered so well after the original op. Best wishes x

Hi Jenny,How lovely to hear from you though I’m sorry that Ray is still having problems.I have been wondering about you both.Love & best wishes Jane x

I regret the 'site updates' down the right hand side of the page as it appears on my pc says it all. Still having to scroll around all over the shop to actually reach 'latest'.....

best to all these muggy hot days [well here anyway] BTW please all do whatever you can if you aren't already to create more insect life in your gardens, parks etc-only 4 or 5 of the housemartins have made it back, less than half the ones we had here last year, and I haven't managed to see a single bat yet this year. These could be described as 'canary in the cage' ie warning indicators of eco crisis. Upside to cheer is that the frogs are benefiting from our shallow garden water containers and tadpoles growing bigger.

Denby

Morning Denby, sorry to hear about your house martins. The Exmoor swallows also seem fewer in numbers though I do have some nesting in my goat stables. I have seen a quite a few bats in the last couple of weeks. Our weather has certainly been odd this year, freezing and frost right through April, very very dry with flash gorse fires on the moorland, then non-stop rain through a cold May. Awful for planting. I'm afraid your canary analogy is correct. Let's hope this worrying message is getting through to those meeting in Cornwall. 

Good morning from an overcast but warm Walton Le Dale. Yes it has been a funny old year but we have had  a week of warm sunny weather. Not many bees , flies or other insects about at the moment but more sparrows and blackbirds. Possibly because the pesky magpies are not nesting this year. I have noticed a few swifts as usual flying and feeding airborne whilst playing golf. Beautiful sight. The garden however is looking a treat despite  local or possible national problems with the hydrangeas but they are now recovering nicely. Enjoy the summer everyone.Stay safe and well. Is Crusty Bladder ok? Garviv

We have a few bees and butterflies and bats here.There are plenty of birds,including my new tame robin who answers to Rowan.The remaining two fields near us are being dug ready for new housing.I’ve ordered some new garden paint so I can do up the two bird tables my uncle built a few years ago.The weather is good for these painting jobs though it’s supposed to be much hotter on Saturday.Love to all Jane xx

Lovely to hear you have wildlife in your garden and your little friendly Robin is great to see I bet xx we have a few visiting hedgehogs they are keeping me in and out of the house most nights as I love to see them ...I put out food and water for them .. hope you are keeping ok did you have your scan?? Weather really lovely over weekend so spent lots of time outdoors xx take care and keep enjoying your garden xx love Tina x 

Hi Tina,How are you ? I did have a scan but haven’t had any results.How lovely to have hedgehogs.We get them too though I haven’t seen any this year.I expect we will get more birds now the developers have cut down the trees.My next door neighbour has planted a wild flower meadow.I’m looking forward to seeing that.Enjoy the weather.It’s a bit too hot here today.Love Jane xx

Hello winkers60 and Hou,  hot here too Jane and my sheep are about to be set free from their heavy fleeces which fall in ringlets to below their knees. My girls are 10 years old so the farmer has been asked to be gentle with them. After shearing they look years younger and skip around the field like the lambs they once were. This pic is post-shearing about 8 years ago. They don't look so glamorous nowadays but they are still working as lawn mowers.  

Hi H,What lovely girls you have.We used to have sheep in the field nearby but now it is being developed.One year a flock escaped into our gardens and I had to round them up with my neighbour.That was a task,a few had got up onto the patio.They were all safely handed over to the farmer and not much damage was done.The escapee cows were a different story.There were 12 of them and they caused damage but luckily were not harmed themselves.I miss the herd that were in the field at the end of our garden.There is no much green space left in our town.Love Jane xx