Blue Moon - The Marcels

Our computer issues are by no means resolved, but there is at least an opportunity to use a machine elsewhere. It isn't my idea of fun lugging all that gear back and forth but when you have an appreciative audience in waiting the thirst must be slaked. Not exactly sure of the Gibbous at present, maybe waxing, but will be content to call yesterday's rise a

 FULL MOON

There are still a great number of images in the backlog, generated the lack of Internet,

which we hope to catch up with in the days to come, but with a dawn temperature here

hovering at a balmy +19C hopes were high for a bountiful haul from the Moth Traps.

 SWALLOWTAIL

 SMALL BLOOD-VEIN

 LEAST YELLOW UNDERWING

 and

DUSKY SALLOW

came into the mix.

In our continuing efforts to be able to recognise at least some

of the Micro Moths we took a stab at

HYPSOPYGIA GLAUCINALIS

and the far more distinctive

 LOZOTAENIODES FORMOSANA

but the most satisfying capture of them all came when this male

 BANDED DEMOISELLE

was plucked from the depths and in its relatively

 docile state was happy to perch on my figure.

At this time of year we record these on a daily basis, by what a privilege

to have one 'in the hand'!

A regular part of our daily doings is also to check the

MUTE SWAN FAMILY

on Parley Pond and to bring you an update image of their progress.

As can be seen there ate still c7.

 and talking of water levels, that at the Irrigation Pond has seen

something of a dramatic fall. Even though a bowser load is taken from here each day,

to quell the dust clouds at the Eco Recycling Works, there is much disappeared

au natural. This has the benefit of exposing the 'scraped' banks which is

hoped to attract more Waders than just

 LAPWING

but we'll settle for that in the meantime.

Onward to the Heath and the juvenile

 STONECHAT

 with some now having developed so much that it is possible to sex them

this a Male.

Before leaving and heading back to the tedium of photo editing, list compiling etc,

 there was to be a welcome surprise at the presence of the 'first'

 LITTE EGRET

 at the

 Balancing Pond

alongside Bournemouth International Airport

and we still predict much more to come from this location.

It was my approach which 'flushed' it in the first place,

but after a circuit of the hangers and hard-standings

it appeared content to return from whence it came!

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Happy Birthday - Stevie Wonder

Happy Birthday - Stevie Wonder 

After the exceptional celebrations of Friday evening it was GREAT to wake up at dawn to find myself a 'fully fledged' SEPTUAGENARIAN and what better way to mark the occasion than to embark on a Moth Fest! Dave had brought along his 3 traps so along with my own that was a total of 8 and combined with very good catching conditions it was close to noon before we completed the task.

MOI, PAUL HARRIS and DAVE FOOT
in a shady nook attempting to keep the Insects calm.
More of the catch will follow in the coming days, if computer conditions allow,
but they still remain totally unreliable.

All shown were Firsts for the Year starting with a most attractive

SCARLET TIGER
simply perched on the first trap and qualifying as the first
Moth of the Day. 

DARK UMBER

YELLOW SHELL

DINGY FOOTMAN

and even a

FIELD GRASSHOPPER

It's the Potting, Logging and Identification that takes the time, also
painstaking are the photographs but they would come later when back at
Slight Return II.

VAPOURER

V-PUG

and finally another personal favourite

BIRD'S WING
Just time for a quick tidy up and muster at 19:00 for the

BBQ

at

HARBINS FARMHOUSE

It is only left for me to THANK all of those who made such an effort
and make a FANTASTIC week-end of this auspicious occasion.
We are keeping our fingers crossed in
COMPUTERVILLE!

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I Can See Clearly Now (Lorraine [sic] Has Gone) - Jimmy Cliff

Firstly, and Most Important we apologies for our

absence over the past couple or 3 days and hope

that now is all 'set fair' to continue Daily Posts! 
Next, we have been forced to purchase a New Laptop
(any donation towards this will be gratefully accepted,
please post note and coins in the slot at the bottom of the page)
and should be back in full production in a couple of days at most. 

What a GREAT start to a

 VERY SPECIAL WEEKEND

Having never had any problems with regard my age and these days caring LITTLE or NOTHING about such insignificant things as birthdays, you simply 'live' what is meant for you and then 'fall off your perch'. The amusement comes when encountering individuals who stress that they dread to even think about getting OLD when really it's the alternative they should consider if they cannot live life without some sort of worry. What is important however is keeping such anniversaries as low profile as possible, but in this day and age of Inter Surf and Net Webbing Mr Mind Your Own Business is put firmly in his place. Under the disguise of holding a Moth Catching weekend 3 dear friends were initially invited to stay with us at Parley Court Farm for the weekend, and while memories of past 0 birthdays were to the fore, and ex-lady friend was also begged to attend. Without a mention of celebration my intent was to take them, along with Hugh and Janet of course, for dinner at one of my favourite restaurants and then spring a small surprise on them later. That was to involve enjoying a gift received on me for my 50th year on Earth and bestowed by the afore mentioned Ex.   

 Long before any of these lovely people arrived it was taken from the stowage
where it had lain for 20 years, carefully dusted off and then correctly prepared for
the upcoming event.

 LORRAINE
arrived in very good time so we were able to chat over old times together
and our first meeting which may be of interest to those of you who are not
Mr M Y O B also mentioned above.

It was just another of those fantastic parties we used to hold on frequent occasions at each others houses, this time at the home of P and T in Emsworth. Always alcohol fuel, it must have been in the wee small hours when I was given a sharp flick to the top of my arm and told in no uncertain terms "you can 'flipping well pack that in"! Certainly guilty of something there was a mild corntratont, the party fizzled out and all the guest returned from whence they came. Just 12 months later there was a telephone call from my Winger (P the host of the occasion)) asking if the incident of that night was remembered and the lady concerned. Even in a sober state there has always been a great difficulty in even remembering my own name so replying in the negative was intrigued to know why he was asking. Well, it seemed that the relationship between the 2 had faded and she was now asking for MY telephone number stating "I rather liked the cut of his jib"! That may have been what caused the kerfuffle in the first place not realising that she had ever seen my jib but, true to form and sticking to my chivalrous life style there was no way a Damsel was going to be left in Distress by me. A meeting was arranged and we shared lunch at Pierre Victoirs in Southampton and a relationship was forged and last a full 3 years until she found another Jib that was preferred to my own! During our time together we travelled to Zambia, Zimbabwe, China, Jordan, Botswana, sailed much of the Caribbean along with Egypt London, Paris and Rome, to name but a few. My favourite memory of those heady days was crossing the

Ponte la Notre Dame 

at midday on a bright sunny day in April, with the Business Brigade dashing here and there, and singing to Lorraine, in a loud voice, 'April in Paris' - she remains a firm and valued Friend and is the only person to have a complete chapter, with her name as title, in my memoir.

Perched on the northern bank of
The Solent,
gateway to both Southampton and Portsmouth Docks, stands the

PEBBLE BEACH RESTAURANT
with a view overlooking that Seaway, the Isle of Wight and Needles Rocks
and Lighthouse (you may have to squint).

In my view the outside facade could do with a little modernisation,
but within Food, Wine and Service are all of the very best.
The place was introduced to me initially by Hugh and Janet (front and centre)
who are seen around the table with Lorraine, Moi, Annie and Paul Harris and Dave Foot
with the latter 3 also being longstanding and like-minded friends.

Speaking for everyone, it would be fair to say "a good time was had by all"
but hopefully the best of the evening was still to come!
It was on my 50th birthday and at the very height of my passion for learning
as much as possible about the Fine Wines of the World that Lorraine presented me
with a (certified) bottle of

1990 CHATEAU d' YQUEM
which has lain in a cool cupboard ever since.

Now, where's that Bitter Lemon?

Wish me luck as I attempt to get the cork out.

Which end do you screw in?

There She Blows.

The Band of Gypsies
(Jimi Hendrix)

Ah yes, just like Lucozade

and not a bad finish either!

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