Bits and Pieces

Monday went well and we got the perfect parking place. One of the people we saw was Dawn French’s doppelganger with her Corrrrrrnish accent which brightened the day. We were done by lunch time, so called at the super big nursery for lunch and bought some bulbs: 25 Crocus Ruby Giant, 12 Iris Pauline and 12 Crocus Striped Beauty - purple, striped lilac and deep blue. Hopefully next week I’ll have time to finish the pots and let Karen do the bulbs. I never seem to get them deep enough although these are quite small.

I also renewed our depleted fat balls – the birds seem to be shunning us – and had the delight of watching a cheeky shrew sitting atop of one - inside the feeder. He munched happily, waited till I had brought my camera from upstairs and then shot off before I could focus.

Today’s excitement is a visit from the Red Arrows over Minehead. For days it looked as if they wouldn’t make it – they were grounded when engineers detected a crack in the ejector seat of one of the planes based at RAF Valley on Anglesey. Now the MOD have confirmed they have been cleared to fly following safety checks. I believe the Red Devils – the official parachute display team of the Parachute Regiment will also appear.

I shall try to catch some of the action from the balcony but, although we overlook a deep bowl, there are many old tall trees around and I can’t spare the time to go down to the town today.

Acknowledged as one of the world’s premier aerobatic teams, The Red Arrows are the public face of the Royal Air Force. The Red Arrows exist to demonstrate the professional excellence of the RAF and promote recruitment to the RAF. Evidence shows that The Red Arrows have inspired a significant number of people to join the RAF, both as officers and airmen, and to all trades, not just aircrew.

The Team contributes to Defence Diplomacy, and supports wider British interests through the promotion of British industry overseas. The Hawk aircraft flown by the Team and most of its components are all British made. Thus during overseas tours The Red Arrows demonstrate both British skill and British technology to an enormous number of people each year.


An early start tomorrow for another trip to Taunton. I’ll try to work on the book I wanted to tell you about.