No Boating Today

Technical faults! A broken cable put paid to our boat trip today. There we were, untied, family onboard ready for adventure on the Orwell and there were no gears! Luckily we hadn't drifted from the pontoon and I was able to jump onto it and secure a line.

So we had chips instead from a nearby bar and fed the swans with a few crusts from our sandwiches all the while listening to other craft 'locking in' and out on the radio. Our neighbours left for a couple of hours sailing as we packed up to come home. Maybe next time......

Cornwall is Great!

I knew we'd like it!

Such a beautiful county with so much to see. We just explored the south and only what could be done in a week so there's lots left for future visits.

Loved Mousehole and the Minack Theatre below.

So Sad!

I realised there'd been no activity near the nest for a while so I investigated. The chicks were dead! So sad, it brought home the delicacy of new life so easily snuffed out. I don't know what happened. There'll be no chaffinch fledglings hopping out of the nest now.

New Hatched Chaffinches!

After sitting for about two weeks the female chaffinch has hatched out at least three chicks. I've managed to photograph two of them through our dining room window.

If you look closely you can see two beaks open in the darkness beneath the ivy. In fact the chicks look to be all mouth.

I saw a third beak today but have not yet had time to try for another photo.

Oh, and Dad's shown up, I've seen him once.

Bird Watching

So sweet! A chaffinch has built a nest between the top of a concrete fence post and the fence on our drive. I managed to get some photos today through the dining room window. The nest seems to be made out of moss and is camouflaged by ivy. I park my car beside the fence but this has not deterred this lovely bird.

Messing About on the River

My very first boat trip down the Orwell and up the Stour - yesterday! After a night of dreams about disasters at sea (including strange explosions on the horizon - what did I eat before bed?) I had a wonderful day. Our little old boat felt safe and sturdy - such a relief that it showed no signs of sinking! The sun shone, the tide was particularly high so the mud flats were well-covered in water and the wind was not too strong. It was quite cool and I was glad I'd got a fleece. 

Where the Orwell and the Stour meet at Felixstowe the water became a little choppy but there was no need for a sick-bag (I had some bright green ones just in case). Having a go at driving was fun but not easy, our wheel turns the propellor and we have no rudder so the steering is heavy. 

It was exciting to see the buoys close up (it got very exciting at one point but we avoided a collision), I photographed quite a few. Watching the banks slide by from the middle of each river has given me a new perspective on my locality.  Being on such a small boat is a completely different experience from setting out from Harwich on the ferry. I felt very proud of our little craft. It's not a posh boat but it's ours and I think I'm a little bit in love with the 'Dutchman'.

December Already?

Where did autumn go? December's galloping away and I'm not ready!!! Give me twenty four months in a year please - then I might keep up.

At least the Christmas tree is up - a bit earlier than I'd like but it was fun involving my grand-daughter in the process of choosing the tree, bringing it home and decorating it.