Little Yellow Bird

Over at Naomi's(side bar) I was admiring her fantastic photographs of a little yellow bird and was transported to 1945 when I saw 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and was horrified when the young innocent girl - played by Angela Lansbury - was done the dirty on by the evil Dorian. What an impression that made on a very young girl - it kept me on the sweet and narrow for quite a time. It's dated and a bit cheesy but listen to Angela sing - little knowing what was to come. Hissssssss!

Changing Attitudes.

I used to think how romantic to lie in the fragrant heather; now alas I wonder how many ticks are lurking ready to bite me in the bum and give me Lyles Disease. The heather on Exmoor on Saturday was bare and recently shorn and I was reminded of how we used to sweal – burn the heather to the ground - on Seat Naze, in the valley where I was born. A good swealing would do the moor a power of good I would have thought.

Sunday was bright and breezy so I set off up North Hill with just my pole, camera and phone (not working – flat battery). I told MTL I would walk for an hour and then turn back and come home. By the end of an hour I had just about reached the top of the hill which then continues for about four miles. I had stopped to take a photo or two but hadn’t spoken to a soul – unless you count the sheep, lambs, pigs and horses.

Next time we’ll drive up and MTL can drop me where I stopped, and then drive on to the end and I’ll walk until I meet him and we’ll have a picnic. The first time we had a picnic on North Hill my old friend Vanessa was with us and we drank rather a lot of wine. We walked down the other side to Selworthy to have tea at the famous café but it was closed and on the way back, up a stony track, I misjudged my footing fell and broke my leg – for the second time. After this I realised that I was drinking too wine etc which inhibits the absorption of calcium and I’ve been a good girl ever since.

I could hear the lambs but couldn’t see them until I went to look over a gate at two pigs and a whole menagerie came towards me, expecting to be fed. And then I saw the lambs. This lot of animals were a very bedraggled lot but I suspect they may be rare breeds. What do you think?

We have lots of secret little lanes here.

The horses were spooked by the clip clop of hooves on the road.

Just about the top - 12 noon and tie to turn round.

Grub's up!

Back up girls please

The gorse is bursting forth.

I'd love to stay and chat but I have to get to the top.

The pigs were very intelligent and when I asked them to move awa y fron the gate they complied. but they didn't quite get ' Face this way please.'

Look at those little lambs - and the colour!

They all seem to get on.

How sweet is that?

Exmoor - mean and moody



This is how it looked yesterday. Back in the car I realised I had lost my precious camera bag. We retraced our steps but no sign of the cover. A car had driven up meanwhile and an uncharitable thought crossed my mind. We continued on to Exford where we were to have lunch at The White Horse and feeling under my seat I found the bag. How ashamed was I?

Are you sitting comfortably?


Then I'll begin. This is a picture of a kookaburra. I know because our grandson sent it from Australia and he has one just like it in his garden. One of the more friendly examples of wildlife down under I think.