My bell was rung by a copper (nice young one to) this morning - neighbour few doors down had had something nicked from his garden - which is the same army cyclist bloke who's mountain bike wheel I ran over in the pug the other day but that's another story - Took the bus into town to get some food from market - off for bimble now for an hour or two BBQ later
A bit depressed. The hedgehog was duly delivered yesterday by its rescuer and introduced to the home I had made for it, which was surrounded by a stout wire enclosure. It seemed pretty happy. Slept in the new house, ate its food, and then pulled bits of ivy into the house to add to the sawdust to make a bed more to its liking. I went to bed having checked that the hedgie was snuffling about its enclosure. This morning - no hedgehog. Gulp. Well, it either escaped and is asleep somewhere nearby in the undergrowth (though to escape from the enclosure would have required Houdini-like abilities, unless a hedgehog can climb a 50cm wire enclosure) or it was removed by something, without leaving a trace. Cats aren't interested, and a fox couldn't have got in (not that they are very interested anyway. So that leaves the mother of all owls (highly unlikely - it's a 500g hedgehog) or a stone marten. Could a stone marten have got in (yes) and then carried off the hedgehog, climbing up the enclosure with it? It doesn't seem that likely. But then this spring there was a large dead hedgehog near the house with its head bitten off, and I would suspect a stone marten if it has been attacked. It may show up this evening when we put food out for it (but disappearance of food with all the cats and martens around here is proof of nothing). Or it may never be seen again. I'd got quite attached to it after just a few hours. Going to have to lie through back teeth to the rescuer for a few weeks by the looks of things...
Sorry, but I have to laugh, a hedgehog as a pet?! Its bound to wander off somewhere...isnt that what they do
Not really a pet as such, no. It was orphaned in town and the rescuer knew it couldn't stay on her balcony indefinitely, so our garden got offered as a home. Yes, males do wander off, females apparently don't necessarily. I don't know enough about hedgehogs to know at what stage they start looking for a mate, but only a fortnight or so ago, it was wandering around with its mother, so it seemed a bit young for nookie. But what do I know? It did seem to like its house, but if it escaped, it probably couldn't get back in. May show up this evening. I'd have liked it to get accustomed to the countryside before it disappeared. Wasn't expecting it to go native quite so soon. So long as it's OK, I don't mind much. Just don't want it to get eaten (though there are no gypsies around here).
I admit I am a hopeless gardener with a tiny city garden, but I have just harvested a fine crop of delicious fresh, ripe strawberries. And eaten them with cream. So there.
All power to your elbow! Put some runners in a pots with a bamboo cane and see if you can't harvest them before the summer is out. You're not too late.
well after the last month of mucking about with my KTM project and tax and mot yesterday I took her round the tamar valley for a spin for 3 odd hours, im a bit rusty but loving it being back on the dirt and farmtracks and along the edges of the river tamar, was a wrench not to got for a blast on the duke with the sun out, but nice to be on the KTM in just motocross jersey nice and cool instead of hot leathers
Cracking weekend at a BBQ in Malvern, getting drunk as a lord with a bunch of like-minded souls, the host had a quality ensemble of Harris-framed specials. The Guzzi ran faultlessly, bar a slight weep of oil (which I kinda guessed would happen, need to replace an oil feed pipe), the weather better than perfect, and the company spot-on. Can't ask for much more than that...although I might wander out for couple more pints later...
We had a wonderful breakfast on the decking overlooking the stream, with friends that came to stay the weekend. Did some sunbathing, then watched the tennis. It's been a great weekend. Life is good. :smile:
8 mile walk withthe missus this morning in sorching sun around Bishops Waltham followed by BBQ and now watching BsB catch up...well its 848 Challenge at the mo...
Was out all day saturday with 4 other Monsters and a zx10r, today i've been round a mates to oggle his brand new BMW R1200R, then popped into work to change my rear BT-023 for a new one(7,500 miles out the old one), followed by a lazy 80 miles of country roads and A-roads. Having a BBQ now so time to chill out at last.
Came back from Didcot via Cirencester on the Multi 261 miles , Roads were great and loads of bikes about!
i was out for 3 hours on the Speed R this morning, got out nice and early before the traffic and the heat built up, it was heaven! i've spent the rest of the day relaxing in the sun, its been too hot to do much else. lets hope this continues for a good long time!
A visit to the Hollowell steam and heavy horse show this morning. Out on the Diavel all afternoon! Various A roads around Northants, Warwks, Worcs & Oxfordshire. Perfect conditions for a great ride. Now cooking tea and will then settle down with a bottle of red to reflect on a perfect day.
