This is just for you Cindy. This is the Little Owl. Not my photo, was taken by my good friend Mark Stannard who had allowed me to share for you.
Little Owl
Category: birds
Tough Times
Am not going into too many details as it hurts, I will when the time is right.
Here are some of my favourite pics I’ve taken again.
2022!!
Well, its February 2022 and Ive been quite lax in my writing, work has been so busy, which is great (wish I was paid per session!)
I havent been in the best of places, tured, health not great, dark mornings dark nighrs, not able to get out walking due to illness.
All sounds doom and gloom I know, but it isnt really, its reflecting on how shit things have been for us, losing all the pets exceot Macy and Nelson over the kast 18 months has been really tough and hard to come back from.
However, I have started ny treatment of EMDR for trauma (not ready to explain) and complex grief counselling to help process everything, so thats steps in the right direction.
The garden us starting to come back to life, although Storm Eustace is currently battering hell out of it!
Crocuses, primroses, snowdrops and lungwort are flowering, beautiful.
Ive started a couple of new hobbies… Needle felting and pyrography.
We had a major flood last week, it has totalled a lot of the flat and I discovered yesterday that my keyboard (musical) has drowned. I cried!
Here are a few photos from the last few weeks.
Oh, and I found a piece of mammoth skull at the beach, how cool is that? Millions of years old fossil!
Day 2
Wow wow wow! Its like a red kite AGM here in Berkshire and I love it! Sadly I made the decision to leave camera at home because of the weather so I make no apology for the shite photos! Taken on my mobile through a car windscreen and snow!
We went to Greys Court which is a small National Trust property with extensive grounds (to walk when the weather is better!!) its a tudor property with a lot of charm and has been used as a filming location…
The house appeared in a series 3 (2012) episode of Downton Abbey when Crawley family visit the property, known to them as Eryholme. The house was used by the Dowager Countess’ late husband as a hunting lodge. Robert, the Earl of Grantham, was considering moving there with his family as he was about to lose Downton to debt and taxes.
It also appeared in the ITV series Agatha Christie’s Poirot in 2013. In the adaptation of Elephants Can Remember it is used as the home of one of the people Ariadne Oliver visits while investigating the case. The episode was screened on 9 June 2013.
Greys Court also appeared for external shots as “Midsomer Priory” in the Midsomer Murders Series 14 episode entitled “A Sacred Trust – Taken from Wikipedia
We also took a drive upto Danesfield House which has a very chequered and varied history that would take me forever to write up. It is now a Hotel and Spa, however it played a huge part in WW2
In April 1941, an RAF photographic interpretation unit (PIU) moved to Danesfield House, Medmenham, as its previous location at Wembley was short of space,and was renamed the Central Interpretation Unit (CIU). Later that year the Bomber Command Damage Assessment Section was absorbed, and amalgamation was completed when the Night Photographic Interpretation Section of No 3 Photographic Reconnaissance Unit, RAF Oakington, was integrated with CIU in February 1942 and the base was assigned the motto Serve and Support.
During 1942 and 1943, the CIU gradually expanded and was involved in the planning stages of practically every operation of the war, and in every aspect of intelligence. In 1945, daily intake of material averaged 25,000 negatives and 60,000 prints. By VE-day, the print library, which documented and stored worldwide cover, held 5,000,000 prints from which 40,000 reports had been produced.
American personnel had for some time formed an increasing part of the CIU and on 1 May 1944 this was finally recognised by changing the title of the unit to the Allied Central Interpretation Unit (ACIU). There were then over 1,700 personnel on the unit’s strength. The title of the unit reverted to Central Interpretation Unit when the Americans returned home in August 1945. – taken from Wikipedia
We also took a drive through Marlow and Henley-on-Thames.
Oh, and I forgot to tell you yesterday that when we spoke to reception about the lack of cleanliness in the room, she said all the rooms were like it as they were short staffed!!!
It’s been a while
Its been a little while since I’ve put anything on here, haven’t really been myself to be honest. Its been tough losing 4 pets, and then losing a surrogate pet as well on top of that. Plus friends passing away and family members, didnt do much good for my mental health!
Am working on a piece so be patient with me. Until then here is my fundraising page and some of my pics
Sue’s Walking Home For Christmas Page
Anxiety
What is anxiety and why am I writing about it?
If you follow my blog then you have probably read what happened last Sunday at the beach. I’m not a shrinking violet and generally stand up for myself, however, even being me, I took a step back and didn’t. I am glad I made that decision and chose my fight wisely!
Depression and anxiety is something I have lived with many years, more so depression, until I lost my Mam suddenly 3 years ago, then anxiety properly kicked in.
I have kind of just got on with it over the years, had good times had bad times, like everyone really. Life was what it was. However after Mam died I ended up leaving a job I absolutely loved with a conservation charity that I adored, I sadly didn’t have the right support at the time I needed it, from who I needed it from, and it broke me (I had support from a lot who really mattered and meant a lot, but they couldn’t sort what needed sorting). But you know what, that was then, this is now and everything happens for a reason and I am now working in another job that I adore, working as a peer support worker in mental health, using my negative experiences to bring positivity to others that might be struggling. If I make a difference to just 1 person then I have done my job as a person right!
Anxiety can display itself in many guises and there is so much more than I realised, it’s not all just lumped into “anxiety”. I’m not going to go into all of them as Dr Google can answer that for you 😉 I myself have a level of social anxiety, general anxiety, and cptsd (complex post traumatic disorder) of which presents itself in different forms.
Anxiety also affects our physical wellbeing. It causes stress and tension, exacerbating physical ailments one may already have, for example I have arthritis and when my anxiety is bad my joints hurt so badly! My shoulders and neck tense and hurt, I can shake and shiver, I can’t string a sentence together, I can’t move sometimes, I cry with frustration and anger. The list is endless, and because we are all so different, it can present itself to us differently.
When I feel myself slipping from being well, such as last Sunday, I was back into my hyper vigilance, that I had beaten with therapy, so that made my anxiety worse, thinking I was going backwards, even though I knew I wasn’t. I became alert, I was pacing, I couldn’t relax incase he came back!
I have spent this week whilst working also, spending time doing things that make me happy.
What makes me happy… The beach… The sea… Painting… My pets (including those we have lost in the last year!)… Crafts… Nature… Walking and music!
I haven’t managed to get to my happy place due to work, but will at the weekend. Here are some pictures to show you what I love and what has kept me going. (All mine unless stated otherwise.)
Rspb Strumpshaw Fen
We arranged to meet up with two of our good friends, Mark and Rachel (not a couple!) today, but owing to a mix up of erm sites, we were in Norfolk and they were in Suffolk 😂😂
Lou and I had a lovely walk through half of the meadow, then a bit of sandy wall and into Fen Hide. Caught sight of a rather large grass snake (probably a good thing Mark wasn’t there!) as it lobbed itself into the undergrowth.
We were the only people in fen hide and we sat watching a gorgeous juvenile marsh harrier sitting in a nearby tree, and doing short flights calling to Mum! There was also a reed warbler darting about (when the marsh harrier wasnt up!).
After leaving fen hide, we headed back along sandy wall towards the River Yare and common lizards were basking themselves along the wood joists, it was lovely to see.
We sat and had a drink and ate our raspberries (we are off to Meales of Stalham to pick more tomorrow!) watching butterflies and dragonflies flying around, was so peaceful.
We then walked along the river towards the Pump House (on being restored), watching holiday makers sailing past, and watching more insects. We were treated to a few Roesel’s Crickets, Meadow Grasshoppers, various spiders, various butterflies, bees and a few random moths. Lovely!
When we reached the pump house we were treated to the Highland Cattle in the field opposite, truly beautiful cattle. Again, more butterflies, dragonflies, damselflies, hoverflies, bees, beetles and birds.
We sat on the new-ish owl watching seat for a while, and there was a poo underneath , Lou said she thought it was water vole, I think hedgehog. Didn’t take a picture for prosperity 😂 however, there was an owl pellet underneath too, so I guess the owls are using the owl watch point too 😂🦉
When we went into the woods, it was a smorgasbord of baby birds!! Spotted Flycatcher, treecreepers, nuthatch, marsh tit… To name but a few!
As you can see it was a good day for sightings really.
Birds – Marsh Harrier, wren, blackbird, robin, reed warbler, reed bunting, treecreepers, nuthatch, spotted flycatcher, grey heron, marsh tit, buzzard, plus some am probably forgetting!
Butterflies – silver washed fritillary, red admiral, gatekeepers, small white, large white, brimstone, meadow brown, ringlet, comma, painted lady, peacock, speckled wood… Think that’s them all!
Dragonflies and Damselflies – emperor, norfolk hawker, brown hawker, migrant hawker, blue tailed damsel, comman blue damsel, azure damsel, common darter, ruddy darter
Bees / wasps / beetles / flies – yellow loosestrife bee, common carder, all the bumbles, mason wasp, common wasp, hornet hoverfly, marmalade Hoverfly, the footballer Hoverfly, devil’s coach-horse beetle, scorpion fly plus so many more…
A very enjoyable day!
Bawdsey and Shingle Street (Saturday) West Runton (Sunday)
What a weekend! Most of it was lovely. Worth a 2.5 hour drive for Saturday.
Stopped at the Jet garage to fill up, I love to support a local business, plus I take my car there to get fixed.
Anyway, I followed this car in, into where there are 2 empty petrol pumps, the old boy stops at the first one, leaving me sitting.. So I asked him if it would be better if he moved forward so we can both get in. He was really grumpy and was having a go. I was really grumpy so retorted! He drove off! When I went in to pay, apparently he does it often! Tool!
We then pootled along to Bawdsey in deepest darkest Suffolk and OMG its stunning. Reminded us so much of Lepe and Calshot in the new forest. The only thing missing was Bills Ice Cream Van!!! Les, you gotta go to calshot and have an ice cream!!!
After Bawdsey we took a pootle along to Shingle Street, another place we have never been. There were Linnets, Meadow Pipits, butterflies, lots of people and skylarks.
We were also on the hunt for fossils. Enjoy the pics.
On Sunday we went to West Runton, was lovely. Its the kind of place you forget how much you love it until you’re there! We used to take Maisie our late Cavalier as she loved it there. We also got married there and had some pics taken on the beach. We decided we would sit on the dog side as we rather like it that side. Hope you like the photos 😊
Bit quiet
Hey peeps, sorry for my silence, have been ill, am currently on a no fat diet lol. Lost a stone in a week! Not the way I wanted to lose it, but not complaining!
Also, I have a camera, finally! I am the proud owner of a Nikon d3300 dslr. I am now saving for a 105mm macro lens! Here are a few pics taken lately. Some are shots of the viewfinder so you get the idea of the shots.
Much love x
I really must…
I keep meaning to sit and write a blog post but time seems to get away from me. Work is busy which is great, we have released 7 hedgehogs which is fantastic. We’ve been helping a neighbour who broke her knee plus other bits and pieces. Oh yeah, I was ill. I had immense pain in the lower part of the abdomen where my appendix is. It was that acute I found I couldn’t stand, it made me break out in a sweat and nearly fall over a few times. I went to the dr which I really don’t like doing, but needs must! They took blood, am waiting for an ultrasound, but the dr thinks its possibly an infection in my gall bladder!
I was told to go on a no fat diet, which I have and have lost 1 stone 2lbs so far (that I know of..)
I am controlling most of the pain with diet and dihydricodeine at the moment so all good. Have started going back out for walks after being off work for a week, here are a few pics x
Thats it for this episode lol. Hope you like the photos, feel free to leave a comment. Take care x
Wild Sue's Wilderness 