When the Saints Go Marching In - Satchmo

Before we 'kick off' today's Post it should be made clear that I am not a Football Aficionado, my total knowledge of the game being that David Beckingham played in goal for Stenhousemuir and was sent off in the game against Raith Rovers - East Fife 4, Forefar 5 so far!
Arriving back at Harbins early morning Sunday to do the traps, I was met by Hugh clutching this piece of paper in his hand and chanting,

"Thought you might like to come to the game this afternoon Cap'n, I've booked a box"!
He was right and I did.

The day in fact was a little more than that, in fact it was a belated Christmas Present for Janet's dad with all those in the close family being invited.

It was the final game of the 2013 - 2014 Football Season and
what better way to end than to witness the home team face
Manchester United.

l to r Janet, Janet's mum Joyce, Hugh, John (Gramps), Sam partner of
youngest son Gavin, Cath fiancee of eldest son Daryl and special guests
Jim (who's surname I didn't get) who in days gone by played in goal for
Hull City then in the third and second divisions.

Oh yes and of course The Fat Lad!

My arrival did cause a bit of commotion with the paparazzi,

while we wined and dined
 
as the stadium filled.

The Teams take to the field,

the Man U fans, confined to this small section of the stand
started their chanting

while Soton settled for a bit of 'Man Hugging'.
Play started fast and furious

 

 as United Captain NEMANJA VIDIC witnessed with what must have been

a broken nose, with enough blood

to warrant a change of strip.

DANNY WELBECK

The Saints

dominated the first half and soon had one in the back of the net!

PATRICE EVRA
takes a throw-in.
The home team one up at half time and we returned

for more 'eats' and wine.
At the start of the second half

Temporary Manager (and Player)
RYAN GIGGS

was looking a little perplexed to say the least but didn't last for long

as his side quickly evened the score. 1 -1

with GIGGSY looking a little less troubled.

Don't know who's down but part of the most eminent audience are
ALAN LALLANA (20), RICKIE LAMBERT (7) and CHRIS SMALLING
who will all be on the flight to Brazil as part of the
England National Team playing for the World Cup.

RIO FERDINAND
 
FERDINAND and ADNAN JANUZAJ

ROBIN VAN PERSIE

is substituted,

and so is
ADAM LALLANA
replaced by
JAMES WARD-PROWSE

and talk about a 'Room with a View'
look a little closer

that's it mi duck just take it easy.

EVRA sees Yellow!

 
More 'goal mouth' action.

The Man U fans start a 'conga' with concerned looks from the
Security Staff, but all good, harmless fun they were left to their own devices.

They're at it again.

Over a Cheese Board and just a splash more wine

Southampton parade Players, Staff and Families

at the end of what has been seen as a Good Season.

A few more shots of the protagonists if I can remember who they are?

DAVID DE GEA
Manchester United Goalkeeper

DANNY WELBECK

CHRIS SMALLING

?

RIO FERDINAND

Soton Goalie
ARTUR BORUC

JOSE FONTE

?

JUAN MATA, LUKE SHAW and CHRIS SMALLING

?

?

? ROBIN van PERSIE

PATRICE EVRA

JACK CORK AND JUAN MATA

ROBIN van PERSIE AND VICTOR WANYAMA

A GREAT DAY WAS HAD BY ALL - THANK YOU!

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Now here's one right out of the blue'!  Moldova      10	I had the Great Pleasure of visiting this fine country back in 2011 so it's most pleasing to see you back in the 'Top Ten'

Eye Level - The Simon Park Orchestra

Given this bout of appalling mid-May weather, gale force westerly wind, long lasting heavy showers and still a chill in the air, it is not surprising there is little to report. Luckily we are still seeing a few Moths but otherwise it's left to a family of Shelduck, at an adjoining property, with c15 youngsters along with a few Grey Herons to makes the headline. * = New to the Property, # = New for the Year.

 COMMON SWIFT#

 (white morph)

GREEN CARPET

 OAK PUG

 SMALL SERAPHIM#

 A most acrobatic

 RUBY TIGER*

 BRIGHT-LINE BROWN-EYE*
The Farm (Macro) List now stands at 244 with 30 of those being added this year.
Finally a few shots from the other day when I visited my friend

(this image only ©) Lesley Brown

Her flat at Nottington is at Eye Level with a Heronry which holds both

LITTLE EGRET

and

GREY HERON

A young bird going through its paces.

almost hidden LITTLE EGRET nest.

In respect of the aircraft on our last Post, an E-mail from David McCune
 and a 'Comment' from MD tells us that it was in fact a

P-51D Mustang.
In addition MD endorses there is little wrong with my hearing
as the engine is a (Packard) MERLIN as suggested at the time!

An early Post as I have just been invited out to lunch, followed by a visit to the St Mary's Football Ground to watch Southampton play Manchester United in their final game of the current season.

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Lord of the Backstage - Marillion

With the Moth Traps still dotted around Parley Court Farm and burning brightly, there is reason to visit on a daily basis and be invited back to dinner on occasion. Having said that, it ain't all Beer 'n' Skittles as tomorrow I once again take the reins of Lord of the Manor as the Dampney's head off to enjoy themselves without me! Badminton Horse Trails tomorrow followed by Southampton FC's final game of the current football season as they host Manchester United at St Mary's, while all that time I will be keeping the dogs under control and seeing to the odd Airport Parker -It's Hell!

However, I too am getting a little help  at the traps these mornings

as this cheeky ROBIN pops down to steal the odd insect.
It seems to have no fear and does, from time to time, land inside
trap but so quick is the visit I have been unable to capture an
image of the event. Within, there have been

 OAK NYCTEOLINE

an unusually mark an fine example of this most variable 

Moth according to my peers!

 LEAST BLACK ARCHES*

 COMMON PUG*,
both new to the Property List,

 A much better example of

SANDY CARPET

and say it myself, a better image.

 BLOOD-VEIN#
a year Tick.

Clepsis spectrana
CYCLAMEN TORTRIX
which caused some consternation and finally being identified by the
County Entomologist Phil Sterling

Parley Pond has also seen some action since my departure with

c2 pairs of

TUFTED DUCK

looking every bit as though they intend breding here.
There was just a single sighting of a 'duckling' last year so young
it would not have been able to propel itself here.

and while my time here has been limited in recent days I had, thus far,

completely overlooked this 'sitting'

MUTE SWAN

The local predators, including Grey Heron, Carrion Crow, Pike and
Terrapin have taken their toll, a few

MALLARD DUCKLINGS survive.

FUNGI Sp?

SONG THRUSH
also nesting close by.

Patrolling the northern quarter of the Farm yesterday it was great
to see Greg's, the adjoining farmer, fine herd of

CHAROLAIS
What sounded every bit like a Merlin Engine could, it was thought,
only to be coming from a Spitfire or Hawker Hurricane, but on both
counts I was wrong. 

The very distant aircraft, against a leaden sky, also looked as if it could be either,

but processing and enlarging these images it proved to have origins
from the other side of The Pond - Livery of the US Airforce.
I have no idea of the aircraft's identity but I bet there's someone out
there who does - ay Roy?

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