The Hospice Team

Hospice team cartoon

A big thank you to all the team at the Prince of Wales Hospice, Pontefract, who did so much for Barbara’s brother John and always made us welcome. We’re so grateful to them, although not SO grateful that we’d sign up to be dangled from a rope from the Cow and Calf Rocks in September (see link below if that appeals to you).

Of course, some teams are greater than others . . .

Hospice visitors

But John really did enjoy their visit.

Link

Ilkley Cow and Calf Tyrolean Traverse and Abseil Challenge
Challenge yourself and conquer The Cow and Calf Rocks by Tyrolean traverse and/or abseil
Date: 09 September 08:00 – 17:00

Saltholme and Hauxley

Saltholme sand martin wall

The Sand Martin Wall, RSPB Saltholme, 12.45 pm, Friday 21 April 2023

black-headed gulls

Our favourite coffee (and carrot and coriander soup) stop on our trips to Northumberland and today the view of the lagoon from the first-floor café is quite different to what it was on our autumn visits. Instead of exposed mudbanks and shallows for waders and dabbling ducks, water levels are now raised, creating what appear to be fox-proof islands for the breeding colony of black-headed gulls.

swan feather

Queen Elizabeth II Country Park, Ashington

This swan breast feather is almost transparent so that you can actually read large-print text through it. I drew it on a dark background as on white it fades into the background.

Hauxley lagoon

The new Willow Hide, Hauxley Northumberland Wildlife Trust nature reserve, 1.20 pm, Saturday 22 April, 2023, 15℃ 59℉ in the hide. Rain had passed over, grey skies, getting brighter.

There are thousands of dancing gnats in loose gatherings, especially in the shelter alongside hedges. On the window of the café I can see there’s a mix of hump-backed females and males with feathery antennae.

Teal are dabbling and twirling, picking up insects from the water surface.

Hauxley nature reserve

The Lookout Café, Hauxley Northumberland Wildlife Trust, 2.30 pm, Saturday 22 April, 2023.

Pea and mint soup with a cheese and beetroot scone, overlooking a corner of the lagoon with teal, gadwall, mallard and Canada goose. Oystercatchers and lesser black-backed gull go over. We see our first swallow, flying low over a field towards the reserve’s lagoon.

Published
Categorized as Drawing

Shelly Limestone

fossils

Jurassic fossil shells in the limestone of High Oaks Grange holiday cottages near Pickering.

fossils

Trees around Pickering

Trees around Pickering including High Oaks Grange holiday cottages on the road to Thornton-le-Dale. Guest artist Florence.

Remembering John

John Morrisey

Remembering John Morrisey, the lovely, larger-than-life neighbour of Barbara’s brother John, who died suddenly yesterday morning. Barbara’s brother John died early on Saturday morning, after 3 months in Pontefract Hospice that was expected, but the death of his neighbour John a few days later came as a shock.

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Categorized as People

Cat Chess

The all-feline chess set was looking as if it would be a sure-fire success until, in the opening move, the White Queen’s Bishop’s Pawn insisted on using QB4 as a litter tray.

Happy birthday to Alex.

Morrel

Surprised to see this morrel growing by the edge of the pavement not far from the entrance to Coxley Woods. It is edible but I think that I’ll give this one a miss.

Published
Categorized as Fungi Tagged