Dotty Dog Dotty and the Mad Cosmos Plant.

Every morning when we get up, our lovable little dog Dotty likes to go straight out into the garden. She runs out and does, what Carole and I call, Dotty patrol. She knows that field mice are about from the fields and she will go around the entire perimeter of the garden sniffing her way about.

Occasionally, she catches a mouse. Most of the time it's just a reconnoitre. 

I was looking at the various flowers when I got this wonderful little shot of Dotty Dog Dotty amid the mad Cosmos plant on Dotty patrol. 

Old Doctor Who Story Animation (MISSION TO THE UNKNOWN)

From YouTube

This single episode story was a prelude to THE DALEK MASTERPLAN. The Doctor was not in this introduction story, but what followed was a twelve episode story. Thirteen episodes if one includes this single introduction story.

Like 'Forget Me Nots' But They Are Not!

My wife, Carole, was pottering about in the garden this morning. I was surfing the web and doing twitter etc. After a while, I decided to go out and see her. She was deadheading many of the withered flowers and generally tidying up as I upset the ducks by daring to walk into their little domain. For some reason, they always start to get alarmed when I first set foot in the garden. After a short time, they calm down.

I was rather surprised to see that there were still a number of flowers in full bloom. I do like the look of all the grand flowers but I'm not too good on remembering their many names. I looked down at some small blue ones. They looked very striking. Because Carole knows more about them than me, I decided to ask.

"What are these flowers called?"

She looked over and frowned. "Oh err... They're like Forget Me Nots, but they're not," she answered.

"Oh," I replied. "Like Forget Me Nots But They're Not?" I knew flowers had some strange names but I was taking the mickey out of her.

We both laughed and I decided to get my camera and get a few autumn snaps of some of the remaining flowers. As we went out the front, I saw a vivid blue flower and a passing dog walker wandered in to talk with us about it. He did not know what it was either but agreed it was rather striking. Like a cornflower but not! :D

Nooks and Crannies of Downham Market.

Downham Market is full of odd little passageways and courtyards. They always look inviting and I can't resist going down them. I enjoy having a wander around the town. It is upon a hill and the little town centre looks as though it is captured in time. We were going to buy a house here when moving up from Essex. However, we settled upon the notion of moving to March in the end.

We still venture to Downham every now and then. Sometimes we do our grocery shopping there. It all makes for a nice afternoon out.

Red Mite Treatment For Chickens.

Red Mite is a blood sucking parasite. A flea that sucks the blood of chickens and can harm egg production. We bought an anti-Red Mite powder for our chickens and we had to clean the inside of the chicken hut with it a jet wash. We then doused it out with Jeyes fluid. This needs to be done every five to six weeks. I never realised how many things chickens are susceptible too.

Bob the Cat's New Best Friend is the Fridge.

Bob is a rather reserved and often, crafty cat. He sits by the fridge and just stares at me. He knows that is where the ham is kept. The place where his favourite meat gets lovingly chilled. He looks up at me on the laptop with his big blue eyes. He never responds to much chatter but will if he thinks there might be ham in it for him.

When there is a hint of ham, he suddenly becomes your best friend and he starts to purr and rub his fur aginst your leg or the cupboard. He is, indeed, a most cunning and mercenary cat.

In the picture above, my wife was about to get a good pose when my son Robbie opened the fridge. That was it. I could not contain the big lump. I took the phone and ran a short YouTube video below.

The Carp My Son Lloyd Knew was There.

I joined my son, Lloyd, on the Fishing Lake. I was to get my granddaughter's birthday present. I wanted to get a move on, but he kept saying, "Do you mind waiting for an extra five minutes?" 

He kept repeating that his bait would be taken and he could see the ghost carp, as he called it. He missed that one but hooked another. Suddenly his bite alarm went and as he struck, there was a huge splash by the reeds. 

He battled for about a couple of minutes when I had the sudden idea of putting it on the phone video.