Anne's Journal

 Wednesday December 20  We've had some spectacular sunsets and sunrises over the past week. Sara had forgotten both how long they last here, and how they change. Queensland's starts and ends are much shorter.She flew home on Sunday and we are managing fine. She left the house ready for us, fridges full of food etc. Sam did a lot of odd jobs yesterday as well as the regular cleaning. Both she and Adrian are coming again on Friday to make sure that we are set up for the weekend. We have had so many offers of help. Ruth next door even volunteered to bring us a plated meal on Christmas Day. Friend Kate brought a cake and a pudding. Pam is dressing every day and doing plenty of short walks around the house using her frame. The latter is very useful as it has a basket type thing which she uses to carry stuff about. Crutches have been in use today for the first time. Little steps........ To our delight, a male Brambling appeared on our feeders this morning, still around this afternoo...

 Thursday December 12 Pam has had her operation, but her hospital stay and recovery will take rather longer as they broke her femur. Not intentionally. My daughter Sara, is here from Australia and is being a real Trojan. Visiting Pam, looking after the house and me. I had my 8 stitches out on Monday, the biopsy result was already back - I'd been told 6-8 weeks, and it was clear. No cancer.  This year's Christmas card is not the best. I hve had my own printed by Vistaprint for the last few years. There was a special offer on (!!) and I was pushed for both time and a suitable photo. Corncrakes do not call at Christmas time, not in the UK anyway.    Last year I tried to get a December Moth to pose on a sprig of holly. That was an abject failure. I must try and get something suitable in 2024. Despite Adrian producing a pole with spikes up the sides and siting the large Martin, squirrelproof bird feeded further away from the trees.......Sara photographed a Grey Squirrel f...

 Friday December 1 After a busy morning spent preparing for Pam's operation on Monday, she suggested a Dec 1 look at the Ingham swans. Even though it was mid afternoon , they were still there, Bewick's, Whoopers, and Mute. Whilst having a grumble about the paucity of birds, we came upon an enormous flock of Pink-footed Geese on a roadside field shortly after passing Horsey Mill. More than a thousand peacefully feeding, pinking gently to each other in the late afternoon winter sun.   Winterton Church tower's golden stone supported pairs of noisy Jackdaws, booking their night-time roost.  Although well before 4 o'clock closing time, cars still parked, we were refused entry to Winterton Beach car park. The sun was setting low in the eastern sky, shades of pink and apricot highlighting the watery meadows. A lone Grey Heron flew low across a pool. The camera did not do justice to the beauty of a still winter evening,. The gritting lorry was out, our car was rat a tat tatted ...