Long-tailed tit

Last year it was a chaffinch - this year our utility room window is being attacked by a long-tailed tit. We (the nation) are apparently seeing many more of these delightful birds as they have just made it into the RSPB garden birdwatch top ten.

Evening of Homespun Entertainment

Under the Red Nose banner of "Do something funny for money",
a number of turns presented themselves on Saturday night.
A van de Graf generator was used at one point.
The vicar and his wife played "Mr & Mrs".
The Male Voice Choir sung about "Constabulary duties..."

Mum and Paula showed how Rosemary Conley's workout is really done.

And then there was the vicar of Dibley final joke (with Jayne)

Bletchley Park

The Computer Science department organised a day trip to Bletchley Park the home of the wartime codebreakers. This secret place was nearly lost forever and demolished to build a housing estate.
But thanks to some enthusiasts half of the property has been saved and it is gradually being 'restored' as a visitor attraction. So you know where to go to find out about the German coding machines (Enigma, Lorenz) and the British people (Turing, Flowers) and the machines that made (Bombe, Colossus) to crack the codes.

Mothering Sunday 2009

The mummy was very happy with her cards, flowers and 'doggy bag'.

Belton Road Playing Fields

The sunshine on Saturday encouraged me out and I was rewarded with early (too early?) views of tortoise shell butterflies and this pair obligingly posed for me.

There are two pairs of swans on the water together with coot, mallard, teal & tufted duck and, sorry no pictures, a pair of great crested grebe.

Nell @ 95

We travelled to Ipswich (and for the first time met someone who claimed that the w was silent) to be with Aunt Nell for her 95th birthday party. Instead of a cake she had 95 buns! Janet said the tortoises are awake too early and that she has 9 boys to 2 girls and wishes it was the other way round. Jacqui is currently in her 'fan' period w.r.t. card making. Jane was very helpful on the way down but was less than helpful on the way back (after midnight) when we found the A14 closed at one point.