The Unexpected Day Off.

The Unexpected Day Off.

I had to take an unexpected day off work today. It was quickly sorted out because I still had leave days from last year’s holiday allocation and the full set of this year's to do. After the problem was solved, my wife and I had the rest of the day to do what we desired. It was a very hot day in the upper eighties. So we decided to go to one of the many market towns about our area. We settled upon St Ives in Cambridgeshire. We had not been here for some time and we always like to walk the town square and then along the river to the church. It passed a few pleasant hours and we unwound a little before making our way home via the village of Ramsey.

We drove down all the country lanes, then on to Benwick as the flat Fens started and further on to the village of Doddington, Wimblington and eventually, our Fenland town of March. Here we stopped and bought a few more things for supper. I had Chinese and Carole went for a Vegetarian Biryani.

Then into the garden to enjoy the lovely summer evening in England's Fenland.

The Little Jenny Wren Bird

I spoke of the Goldfinches and their rescue after the House Sparrows attacked the nest. I was happy to blog about the Dunnock in the shrub with its nest of tiny turquoise blue eggs. Then this morning, when my wife went to the chicken and duck coops to gather eggs; she noticed the bird box we had put up. A little Jenny Wren flew inside carrying a feather for nest building.

I was pleasantly surprised because I had been speaking to Carole about moving the box where it might be hidden by the crawling plants on the trellis work further along the garden fence. I was thinking that the birds would like somewhere hidden and not exposed as this bird box is.

I’ll have to abandon that idea now because the little Jenny Wrens seem fine with the nest. I’m just worried that carrion birds might spot it. Especially the Jays. We’ll keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best.

Forty Winks Before I Go To Bed

One pint of Guinness too many. It was a very hot day and I got home from work deciding that a nicely chilled Guinness would go down a treat. In fact it went down so well, I decided upon another. Then another and... *#> How long is a piece of string. 

My little water feature was trickling away lending to the warm relaxation and the inner zen of my well being. Carole decided to capture it on camera. She said I slept for about 2 hours. Never mind it was a very fine day indeed. 

The Chatting Corner of our Fenland Home

There is a nice size garden to the rear of the house with seats and table but the side with the stony drive by the chicken and duck pen offers a view of the open fen to the front of the house. Carole and I spend many an hour here looking out at the fen. It is where I got the shots of the hawk or buzzard flying about, a few blogs back. Its a very nice spot and yesterday evening, after we took Sasha for a walk; we sat here until 22.20 and it was still light because it is the day before summer solstice. It dose not get dark until gone 22.30. The contrast in weather between the four seasons is more noticeable in the open Fens. Everywhere is alive with wild flowers and various birds and then in the winter everything dies and the landscape looks very bleak and haunting. Haunting of the the bygone summer and the peoples of the past. It is still compelling but in a morbid way. For now we are enjoying the summer.

Take a camera of course

A Dog Walk Along Creek Fen

including Scottish thistles

and all sorts of things are there

Swans love the rivers

birds love the summer evening

Poppies invade the wheat crop but cause little damage

Everything is peaceful

Lilly begins to flower

Then for some reason I'm reminded of an aunties living room wall.

The dead past lingers - void of use

evening song is abundant

and each one sounds different

with unique tweetering

It's getting calmer as the evening progresses.

every where is in slumber

except for the wild flowers

here there and every where

loving the summer evening in the Fens