While not exactly 'gone viral' our last
contribution certainly had the Stats Rocketing.
Not since the halcyon days of distant travels have
the number of 'hits' for one day been so high, along
with a couple of E-mailed responses.
First from the Man Himself - Jim the Medic
Censored:- Oh flipping heck my Dear Friend - 2000 and Censored ‘flipping 4 !! Thought it was more like 3 or 4 years ago ? Were has the time gone matey.
You've been gone from the Buchan Alpha 8 years - a long weekend it seems.
Great times in Africa. I meant to mention about Joanna Lumley's train trip on the Tran Siberian Express to you. Some great video of her at the places we have been through Mongolia ! Ulaan Batur as well. Jesus that was 2001 if my memory serves me correct.
Were does the time go Mate... I tell you, we have to sink a large Single Malt before the year is out - don't worry your young whipper snapper will pay.
Me and Liz are doing fine Mate. Just look after yourself. The pictures of your Grankids and Lisa looked wonderful and I suppose Granddad was in his element eh? And a few quid lighter no doubt! Lovely!
Time for a cuppa. offshore till next Tuesday, so if you're lonely don't forget - the Samaritans phone number is in the yellow pages.
Otherwise give us a bell at home.
Love and kisses Me and Ere. xx
and from one of my old Run Ashore Opps and ex-Submariner
from our Sailor's Return days in Weymouth
from our Sailor's Return days in Weymouth
Hi Bagsy you Old Sea Dog
Well I hope this email finds you well and you remember the last time we spoke, outside the office of Portland Coastguard, I mentioned that when they closed us down a new life in South Africa awaited us!!!
Well that's exactly where we are, settled down in Reebok, Mossel Bay on the Indian Ocean, life's good, wild life amazing in particular bird variety to which despite golf addiction I've never lost my interest in our feathery friends. One could say a "Twitchers" paradise.
Great to see Blog going well, take care shipmate and keep in mind should you ever venture to our part of the world your most welcome to sling a hammock here.
Kind regards
John Braisher
So, if it keeps on raining apart from the Levee Breaking
I'm going to busy myself again with tales from
Distant Shores!
and while on the subject of correspondence from 'afar'
Jean Francois and Roong send an update from South America.
RINGED KINGFISHER
GREAT EGRET (as they call them over there) and ROONG
and while on the subject of correspondence from 'afar'
Jean Francois and Roong send an update from South America.
RINGED KINGFISHER
The diminutive and
unarguably beautiful
PURPLE-BORDERED GOLD
should be viewed from all angles.
SCALLOPED OAK
WHITE SATIN
BLACK ARCHES
YELLOW-TAIL
SCARCE FOOTMAN
SHARK
PURPLE CLAY
In the immediate vicinity of
Slight Return II
HEDGE BINDWEED
and
KNAPWEED
proliferate as do
HOUSE SPARROW
all across the property.
The best breeding year witnessed personally
has seen many 100's of young birds throughout, but
where such numbers exist
DANGER
is never too far away!
This male
SPARROWHAWK,
seen on the tennis ball netting,
is seen to take prey daily here while his mate is
never more than a couple of paces behind.
COLLARED DOVE
have also fared well particularly in the 'Harbins' Farm House Garden
and in the name of a little 'Eye Candy' as our US cousins might say
ALPACA
drinking from
Parley Pond.
GREEN LACEWING
also caught in the field
SPECKLED CRICKET
BEAUTIFUL
in all shapes and sizes
LINNET
NIPPLEWORT
SELFHEAL
TALL MELILOT
WOOD MALLOW
and the cultivar
YELLOW LOOSESTRIFE
ONCE AGAIN WE THANK OUR FRIEND JOHN GIFFORD
FOR HIS INVALUABLE IDENTIFICATION SKILLS
