Where Do the Muntjac Deer Live?

There a so many of them. Often I have to pick up the dead ones when they have been hit by road vehicles. The whole area is surrounded by fields and I often see them in the distance. Obviously, they live in these fields, but they are exceptionally good at hiding. I'm writing about the Muntjac deer, like the one in the above photo. They are usually very skittish and zoom off at the merest sight of a human being. I suspect they like hedgerows or the ditches between the fields. For they seem quick to go to ground. Sometimes, I hear them outside of my house in the farm fields opposite. My wife has a telescope with night vision. We see them in abundance through the night vision scope because of the green glow of their body heat. They are always running about at night. I often see them very early in a morning, when going to work. But during the day, they go to ground.  

Then, the other afternoon, I parked the council van under a tree and on a bridle path just outside the town of Chatteris in the Fenland of England. I decided to have a few minutes break and a cup of tea. Then out of the hedge jumped the muntjac in the photo above. I was gobsmacked. The creature could not have realised I was so close and in the van because it would be off like lightning at the mere sight of me. Carefully, I pulled out my mobile and put it on the camera setting. I managed to get a few quick shots as the Muntjac walked along the verge. Then it sensed me and shot off into the thickets. Still, it was a little moment of delight during a minor working pit stop.

Shire Horses at Sandringham Game and Country Fair.

Today, my wife and I went to the Sandringham Game and Country Fair. It has been advertised for weeks on bill boards along country roads here, there and everywhere in the Fenland. It is only a short distance across the county border and in Norfolk. We missed it last year and Carole (my wife) has been going on and on that she did not want to miss it this year.

So, with a sense of purpose, we got our things together and trundled off in the car towards Sandringham. The event was grander than I expected. There were several arenas with Shire horses, pony and trap manoeuvres, horse drawn boarding events, Birds of Prey, sheep dog trials, clay pigeon shooting archery and many more things too.

There were well over 200 various stalls selling a variety of things from craft work, country clothing and so many more things too. I had dinner of rolled pork and chips while my wife went for some noodles. It was a most pleasant way to spend the Saturday afternoon. There was so much to see I have decided to break up the photos for several blogs.

The Shire horses were absolutely wonderful creatures. An absolute delight to see.

Sandringham Game and Country Fair - 1

Today, my wife and I went to the Sandringham Game and Country Fair. It has been advertised for weeks on bill boards along country roads here, there and everywhere in the Fenland. It is only a short distance across the county border and in Norfolk. We missed it last year and Carole (my wife) has been going on and on that she did not want to miss it this year.

So, with a sense of purpose, we got our things together and trundled off in the car towards Sandringham. The event was grander than I expected. There were several arenas with Shire horses, pony and trap manoeuvres, horse drawn boarding events, Birds of Prey, sheep dog trials, clay pigeon shooting archery and many more things too.

There were well over 200 various stalls selling a variety of things from craftwork, country clothing and so many more things too. I had dinner of rolled pork and chips while my wife went for some noodles. It was a most pleasant way to spend the Saturday afternoon. There was so much to see I have decided to break up the photos for several blogs.

My first flicker of interest came from the various steam engine vehicles that were on display. Some fabulous retro machines from the bygone days of steam.

When You Sense the Day will be Wonderful

I got up on the Tuesday of April 19th 2016. It was a glorious morning and as I looked out from my front drive across the fields, I decided that I should get a photo on the mobile camera. As one can see the morning mist on the Fen, there was a promise of a fine day because the dew is already rising. Or at least that is what I like to believe. Tuesdays are also wonderful days at work. We go out into these far flung fields and empty the bins. We make our way into two small villages right on the Lincolnshire boarder.

One hamlet is called Newton and the other is Tydd St Giles. Both are very tranquil English villages - quiet and modest nestled amid the farmlands of the Fens.

As the day went along it got better with the sun climbing towards the afternoon zenith. The birds were tweeting away and there was a light breeze. We loaded bins for about four hours following the lorry as it slowly moved along the country lanes. We stopped by an old church in Newton for a cup of tea and a sandwich. I walked around and took a few more shots on the mobile. 

Afterwards we worked our way along the country lanes where fields of rapeseed were brilliant yellow. Gradually we edged closer to the little village of Tydd St Giles. I had to stop here and take a few more shots of their old church too. We moved on and finally finished just outside of the village. The lorry was full and we took a last brake before returning to the town of March where the rubbish tip is.

Newton's Church

Tydd St Giles Church

Get Your Head Down and Do It. (Spring is Here in the Fenland)

Working through Newton on the Isle

Today was a very fine day indeed. It was one of those days that looked as though it might be difficult, but it turned out splendid - very good indeed.

As I sat in the canteen room before going out on our refuse clearing round, I got the news that my lorry driver (Alex) was off and also my bin loading companion (Dave.)

We got another driver to fill in for Alex. He was a retired worker called Dave (Another Dave.) He comes in now and then to help out. I've worked with him before and he comes from East London like me. We always have a lot to talk about, especially when East London is concerned. The next piece of news was not so good. Our governor told us that he could not get another loader so we had to approach the round with just a two man crew instead of a three man workforce. 

It is the first week of the summer rounds and all the work changes to fall in line with summer hours. Therefore, Dave and I were going out on a new round without prior knowledge of it. This is the first time for the rest of the summer round.

The weather was great and we decided to do the best we could on garden waste clearing. Our round took us out into the sticks amid all the farms and into two smashing villages. One was called Newton and the other was Tydd St Giles right on the border of Lincolnshire.

As we went about the round we found we were getting along with the work splendidly. The day was wonderful and the work was great. When the sun is shinning and I'm out in it, the work time seems to zoom by. We got into the villages very rapidly and by the afternoon we were well into the last village. We heard another smaller bin lorry driver call us over the radio - a troubleshooter vehicle that went where needed.

We managed to finish with time to spare. On the way back Dave and I were laughing on how smoothly it all went. Then we got onto topics pie mash with liqueur sauce, Jellied eels, cockles, crayfish and all. A great day because we got our heads down and got on with the job.

Driving about the Fens on a fine day is a great way of working

Small Farms scattered here and there beats the city