What a grey day...
 

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out
for lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said
she didn't think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice
everywhere. It was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so
it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly.
Tsk! ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

What a grey day...
 

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The whole
landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here and
there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out for lunch
today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said she didn't
think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice everywhere. It
was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so it looks like
another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly. Tsk! ;-)
--
Sacha


What a shame. Wall to wall sunshine here on the Isle of Wight :-))

--
Mike

The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association
www.rneba.org.uk
Luxury Self Catering on the Isle of Wight?
www.shanklinmanormews.co.uk

What a grey day...
 

On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:04:33 +0000, Sacha wrote:

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out
for lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said
she didn't think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice
everywhere. It was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so
it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly.
Tsk! ;-)

Dry and bight and sunny here in S.Wales.

Just like a day in June except somewhat colder outside the house.

--
(¯`·. ®óñ© © ²°¹° .·´¯)

What a grey day...
 

"®óñ© © ²°¹°-°¹" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:04:33 +0000, Sacha wrote:

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out
for lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said
she didn't think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice
everywhere. It was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so
it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly.
Tsk! ;-)

Dry and bight and sunny here in S.Wales.

Just like a day in June except somewhat colder outside the house.

--
(¯`·. ®óñ© © ²°¹° .·´¯)

Have to agree. What is your temperature? Ours was 46 about an hour ago.

Lovely day :-))

And isn't the blue sky a vivid blue?


--
Mike

The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association
www.rneba.org.uk
Luxury Self Catering on the Isle of Wight?
www.shanklinmanormews.co.uk

What a grey day...
 

Sacha writes
and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out
for lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said
she didn't think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice
everywhere. It was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so
it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly.
Tsk! ;-)

Beautiful here today at breakfast time. Complete covering of snow, sun
just above the horizon shining through the trees, big gentle snowflakes
dropping steadily. And a flock of goldfinches in the birch trees.

The snow has now stopped and we have blue skies. I probably won't go out
as I have work to do here, but I'm just about to walk around the garden.
--
Kay

What a grey day...
 

On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:04:33 +0000, Sacha wrote:

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit.

Up here in Cheshire the sky is clear and the sunshine is brilliant but
much too cold for gardening. Lots of birds are visiting for their
lunch.

Steve

--
Neural Planner Software Ltd www.NPSL1.com

Neural network applications, help and support.

What a grey day...
 

"Stephen Wolstenholme" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:04:33 +0000, Sacha wrote:

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit.

Up here in Cheshire the sky is clear and the sunshine is brilliant but
much too cold for gardening. Lots of birds are visiting for their
lunch.

Steve


Brilliant day in the Forest of Dean :-)

kate

What a grey day...
 

On 2010-01-03 11:49:52 +0000, ®óñ© © ²°¹°-°¹ said:

On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:04:33 +0000, Sacha wrote:

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out
for lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said
she didn't think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice
everywhere. It was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so
it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly.
Tsk! ;-)

Dry and bight and sunny here in S.Wales.

Just like a day in June except somewhat colder outside the house.

We had that for a couple of days last week, it was glorious. But it's
turned right round now and the wind is in the south, so rain and snow
will probably be on its way.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

What a grey day...
 

On 2010-01-03 12:19:20 +0000, "Kate Morgan" said:


"Stephen Wolstenholme" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:04:33 +0000, Sacha wrote:

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit.

Up here in Cheshire the sky is clear and the sunshine is brilliant but
much too cold for gardening. Lots of birds are visiting for their
lunch.

Steve


Brilliant day in the Forest of Dean :-)

kate

Humph. I blame Dartmoor. ;-))

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

What a grey day...
 

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 2010-01-03 12:19:20 +0000, "Kate Morgan"
said:


"Stephen Wolstenholme" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:04:33 +0000, Sacha wrote:

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit.

Up here in Cheshire the sky is clear and the sunshine is brilliant but
much too cold for gardening. Lots of birds are visiting for their
lunch.

Steve


Brilliant day in the Forest of Dean :-)

kate

Humph. I blame Dartmoor. ;-))

--
Sacha


I think one of those you have had a go at must have been a Weather Man :-((

--
Mike

The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association
www.rneba.org.uk
Luxury Self Catering on the Isle of Wight?
www.shanklinmanormews.co.uk

What a grey day...
 

In message , Kate
Morgan writes

"Stephen Wolstenholme" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:04:33 +0000, Sacha wrote:

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit.

Up here in Cheshire the sky is clear and the sunshine is brilliant but
much too cold for gardening. Lots of birds are visiting for their
lunch.

Steve


Brilliant day in the Forest of Dean :-)

kate
It's lovely here in north London.
--
June Hughes

What a grey day...
 

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The whole
landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here and
there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out for lunch
today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said she didn't
think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice everywhere. It
was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so it looks like
another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly. Tsk! ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

Mainly lovely here in sunny Felixstowe :-)

Every half hour or so a cloud passes over and dumps snow or hail, but then
it clears again.
Generally white around except where the sunshine has cleared patches.

Last time I looked the outside temperature was still below 2C.

Waiting for transport to arrive before we go out for a walk.

Cheers

Dave R

What a grey day...
 

In message , Stephen
Wolstenholme writes
On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:04:33 +0000, Sacha wrote:

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit.

Up here in Cheshire the sky is clear and the sunshine is brilliant but
much too cold for gardening. Lots of birds are visiting for their
lunch.

Steve

North Dorset - glorious sunshine with just a line of distant cloud to
the S & SW. Goldfinches, Redpolls and Siskins cramming the nyjer seed
feeders with the usual squabbling. Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Sparrows
polishing off the seed and sunflower hearts at amazing speed and Great,
Blue and Coal Tits mobbing the nut feeders. Diligently hoovering up at
ground level the woodpigeons and pheasants are ably assisted by the odd
dunnock and any sparrow and chaffy overflow. The bully boy starlings
appear to be observing a New Year resolution of better behaviour. And I
haven't seen so many male blackbirds for a long time - about 10 at any
one time; a few song thrushes are ferreting about in the various beds.
Everything is observed by a pair of male bullfinches which only rarely
visit the table. Lots of targets for the sparrowhawk!

A perfect winter's day.....
--
Gopher .... I know my place!

What a grey day...
 

snip interesting stuff :-)


A perfect winter's day.....
Gopher .... I know my place!


Our next door neighbor is cutting his lawn !

kate

What a grey day...
 

On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 12:19:20 -0000, "Kate Morgan"
wrote:


"Stephen Wolstenholme" wrote in message
.. .
On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:04:33 +0000, Sacha wrote:

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit.

Up here in Cheshire the sky is clear and the sunshine is brilliant but
much too cold for gardening. Lots of birds are visiting for their
lunch.

Steve


Brilliant day in the Forest of Dean :-)

Ditto here south of Bristol. No snow, hardly any frost this morning.



Pam in Bristol

What a grey day...
 

On 2010-01-03 12:52:03 +0000, "David WE Roberts" said:


"Sacha" wrote in message
...
and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out
for lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said
she didn't think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice
everywhere. It was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so
it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly.
Tsk! ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

Mainly lovely here in sunny Felixstowe :-)

Every half hour or so a cloud passes over and dumps snow or hail, but
then it clears again.
Generally white around except where the sunshine has cleared patches.

Last time I looked the outside temperature was still below 2C.

Waiting for transport to arrive before we go out for a walk.

Cheers

Dave R

You rotten lot! ;-)) Obviously, Landscove has been singled out for
'the treatment' today! Ah well, we had our glory when others were
being snowed and rained upon.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

What a grey day...
 

On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 13:14:31 -0000, "Kate Morgan"
wrote:

snip interesting stuff :-)


A perfect winter's day.....
Gopher .... I know my place!


Our next door neighbor is cutting his lawn !

I've done that in the past. If you've let the grass get a bit too
long, it's good to cut when the ground is frosted. You don't churn
the undersoil into a soggy mess and does the grass no harm in my
opinion.

--
(¯`·. ®óñ© © ²°¹° .·´¯)

What a grey day...
 

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 2010-01-03 12:52:03 +0000, "David WE Roberts" said:


"Sacha" wrote in message
...
and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The whole
landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here and
there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out for
lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said she
didn't think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice
everywhere. It was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so
it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly.
Tsk! ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

Mainly lovely here in sunny Felixstowe :-)

Every half hour or so a cloud passes over and dumps snow or hail, but
then it clears again.
Generally white around except where the sunshine has cleared patches.

Last time I looked the outside temperature was still below 2C.

Waiting for transport to arrive before we go out for a walk.

Cheers

Dave R

You rotten lot! ;-)) Obviously, Landscove has been singled out for 'the
treatment' today! Ah well, we had our glory when others were being snowed
and rained upon.
--
Sacha



I just guess that one of the men you have had a go at on here is a weather
man ;-)

Kindest regards from a sunny Isle of Wight

--
Mike

The Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association
www.rneba.org.uk
Luxury Self Catering on the Isle of Wight?
www.shanklinmanormews.co.uk

What a grey day...
 

In message , Sacha
writes
On 2010-01-03 12:52:03 +0000, "David WE Roberts" said:

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around
here and there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of
going out for lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest
it, she said she didn't think she or we would get through the lanes -
sheet ice everywhere. It was the same yesterday for a large part of
the day, so it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire and
the telly. Tsk! ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

Mainly lovely here in sunny Felixstowe :-)
Every half hour or so a cloud passes over and dumps snow or hail,
but then it clears again.
Generally white around except where the sunshine has cleared patches.
Last time I looked the outside temperature was still below 2C.
Waiting for transport to arrive before we go out for a walk.
Cheers
Dave R

You rotten lot! ;-)) Obviously, Landscove has been singled out for
'the treatment' today! Ah well, we had our glory when others were
being snowed and rained upon.
If it makes you feel better Sacha, we had a severe frost first thing
this morning.
--
June Hughes

What a grey day...
 

On 2010-01-03 13:54:10 +0000, June Hughes said:

In message , Sacha writes
On 2010-01-03 12:52:03 +0000, "David WE Roberts" said:

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out
for lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said
she didn't think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice
everywhere. It was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so
it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly.
Tsk! ;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

Mainly lovely here in sunny Felixstowe :-)
Every half hour or so a cloud passes over and dumps snow or hail, but
then it clears again.
Generally white around except where the sunshine has cleared patches.
Last time I looked the outside temperature was still below 2C.
Waiting for transport to arrive before we go out for a walk.
Cheers
Dave R

You rotten lot! ;-)) Obviously, Landscove has been singled out for
'the treatment' today! Ah well, we had our glory when others were
being snowed and rained upon.
If it makes you feel better Sacha, we had a severe frost first thing
this morning.

Oh, I don't want anyone else to suffer, honest! It's clearing a little
to the west now, so we have hopes of tomorrow being a bit more
cheerful. Ray has just watched the weather forecast and says they're
giving out -16C for the Highlands tonight. That makes our weather look
positively balmy. I don't mind the cold if it's dry but I do hate that
grey ceiling that sits just over our heads.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

What a grey day...
 

"Sacha" wrote...
and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The whole
landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here and
there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out for lunch
today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said she didn't
think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice everywhere. It
was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so it looks like
another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly. Tsk! ;-)

Beautiful sunshine here today, actually for the past few days. One black
cloud today just made it's way over but nothing came of it.
Cold though picking the sprouts for dinner, but at least they weren't frozen
on the stalk this time. Everything is still frozen where the sun hasn't been
and the remaining puddles at the sides of the roads are frozen solid too.
The roads have really suffered this time here (Surrey), virtually all have
sections breaking up and large potholes everywhere, beside all the drains
that have dropped or subsided.
The Gov't don't want people driving 4x4s, if they don't improve the roads
and spend serious money totally resurfacing them, we will all find them a
necessity just to get around.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

What a grey day...
 

Sacha - wrote:
-
....*Ray has just watched the weather forecast and says they're
giving out -16C for the Highlands tonight. *That makes our weather look
positively balmy. *I don't mind the cold if it's dry but I do hate that
grey ceiling that sits just over our heads.

That 'grey ceiling' kept any frost away last night (here anyway) and
by the time the forecasters on BBC 'Breakfast' were quoting a max of
3C for the South West, it had already exceeded that. We had a bit of
very light drizzle around 10.30 am, but since then we've had broken
cloud. I'll be very happy for thick cloud cover over night - it keeps
the freezing temperatures away, so no scraping ice off the windscreen
first thing in the morning.

What a grey day...
 

"Kate Morgan" wrote in message
o.uk...
snip interesting stuff :-)


A perfect winter's day.....
Gopher .... I know my place!


Our next door neighbor is cutting his lawn !


I wish! Mine desperately needs a hair cut, but it's buried under a layer of
snow and more is falling. What's the betting that David, 2 miles away in
Felixstowe proper, is snow free?

--
Kathy

What a grey day...
 

"David WE Roberts" wrote in message
...

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The whole
landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here and
there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out for
lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said she
didn't think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice
everywhere. It was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so
it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly. Tsk!
;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

Mainly lovely here in sunny Felixstowe :-)

Told You! What a difference 15 foot makes!

--
Kathy

What a grey day...
 

On 2010-01-03 15:07:06 +0000, Dave Poole said:

Sacha - wrote:
-
....*Ray has just watched the weather forecast and says they're
giving out -16C for the Highlands tonight. *That makes our weather look
positively balmy. *I don't mind the cold if it's dry but I do hate that
grey ceiling that sits just over our heads.

That 'grey ceiling' kept any frost away last night (here anyway) and
by the time the forecasters on BBC 'Breakfast' were quoting a max of
3C for the South West, it had already exceeded that. We had a bit of
very light drizzle around 10.30 am, but since then we've had broken
cloud. I'll be very happy for thick cloud cover over night - it keeps
the freezing temperatures away, so no scraping ice off the windscreen
first thing in the morning.

Unfortunately, we had the ice, too - or perhaps it just stayed
overnight. It's not as cold as it was, though.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

What a grey day...
 

Gopher writes

North Dorset - glorious sunshine with just a line of distant cloud to
the S & SW. Goldfinches, Redpolls and Siskins cramming the nyjer seed
feeders with the usual squabbling. Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Sparrows
polishing off the seed and sunflower hearts at amazing speed and Great,
Blue and Coal Tits mobbing the nut feeders.

We get long tailed tits on the fat feeders. They're very good value,
since they are a lot less worried about humans than other tits are.

Diligently hoovering up at ground level the woodpigeons and pheasants
are ably assisted by the odd dunnock and any sparrow and chaffy
overflow. The bully boy starlings appear to be observing a New Year
resolution of better behaviour. And I haven't seen so many male
blackbirds for a long time - about 10 at any one time;

Apparently we get a big winter influx of migrant blackbirds

--
Kay

What a grey day...
 

Bob Hobden writes
The Gov't don't want people driving 4x4s, if they don't improve the
roads and spend serious money totally resurfacing them, we will all
find them a necessity just to get around.

The Gov't are directly responsible only for the motorways and a few
trunk roads. All the rest are the responsibility of the local
authorities.
--
Kay

What a grey day...
 

"K" wrote ...
Bob Hobden writes
The Gov't don't want people driving 4x4s, if they don't improve the roads
and spend serious money totally resurfacing them, we will all find them a
necessity just to get around.

The Gov't are directly responsible only for the motorways and a few trunk
roads. All the rest are the responsibility of the local authorities.

If this thieving Govn't didn't divert the money that our Councils here are
supposed to get from the Tax Revenue then we might have the money to do
something about our roads. The situation here is so bad now that only
central government money will change the situation, virtually ever road in
Surrey needs complete resurfacing including ones that have only been
resurfaced in the last two years like Ashford (Middx) main road! The main
A30 between Staines and Bedfont is like a third world road.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

What a grey day...
 

On 2010-01-03 15:46:22 +0000, K said:

Gopher writes

North Dorset - glorious sunshine with just a line of distant cloud to
the S & SW. Goldfinches, Redpolls and Siskins cramming the nyjer seed
feeders with the usual squabbling. Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Sparrows
polishing off the seed and sunflower hearts at amazing speed and Great,
Blue and Coal Tits mobbing the nut feeders.

We get long tailed tits on the fat feeders. They're very good value,
since they are a lot less worried about humans than other tits are.

We saw those here for the first time last year. I'm so pleased even
though they're only occasional visitors. And whatever likes Niger
seeds isn't bothering with us much atm.

Diligently hoovering up at ground level the woodpigeons and pheasants
are ably assisted by the odd dunnock and any sparrow and chaffy
overflow. The bully boy starlings appear to be observing a New Year
resolution of better behaviour. And I haven't seen so many male
blackbirds for a long time - about 10 at any one time;

Apparently we get a big winter influx of migrant blackbirds

I've actually seen a pair thinking about courtship just this morning.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

What a grey day...
 

Sacha writes
On 2010-01-03 15:46:22 +0000, K said:

Gopher writes

North Dorset - glorious sunshine with just a line of distant cloud
to the S & SW. Goldfinches, Redpolls and Siskins cramming the nyjer
seed feeders with the usual squabbling. Chaffinches, Greenfinches,
Sparrows polishing off the seed and sunflower hearts at amazing
speed and Great, Blue and Coal Tits mobbing the nut feeders.
We get long tailed tits on the fat feeders. They're very good value,
since they are a lot less worried about humans than other tits are.

We saw those here for the first time last year. I'm so pleased even
though they're only occasional visitors.

That's interesting - sounds as if they're working from the north
downwards. We've had them in the area for years and in the garden for at
least 10 years. The seem so magical - you tend not to notice them until
suddenly you are in the middle of a flock of thirty, and there they are,
all around you, twittering away to each other, a matter of feet way from
you.

--
Kay

What a grey day...
 

"Martin" wrote...
K wrote:
Bob Hobden writes
The Gov't don't want people driving 4x4s, if they don't improve the
roads and spend serious money totally resurfacing them, we will all
find them a necessity just to get around.

The Gov't are directly responsible only for the motorways and a few
trunk roads. All the rest are the responsibility of the local
authorities.

The majority of which are not controlled by the Labour Party. The same
people
are responsible for high local taxation and over paid council officials.

The fact is this Gov't has been diverting some County Council's share of the
Tax Revenue to other Councils and projects, so in Surrey the roads suffer
because the money isn't there.
County don't get all their funds from local taxes they get an annual share
from the Treasury but this Govn't has tinkered with the share-out, I'm told,
favouring other areas of the country.

That said, the whole country's roads are in such a bad state the Annual
Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey states....

"The 2009 ALARM Survey is the 14th to be published and reports that £8.5
billion is now needed to bring the roads of England and Wales up to scratch.
Local authorities relate that they still only receive around half of the
road maintenance budgets they need, resulting in a backlog of up to 13
years."

http://www.asphaltindustryalliance.com/alarm.asp


--
Regards
Bob Hobden
W.of London. UK

What a grey day...
 

In message , K
writes
Sacha writes
On 2010-01-03 15:46:22 +0000, K said:

Gopher writes

North Dorset - glorious sunshine with just a line of distant cloud
to the S & SW. Goldfinches, Redpolls and Siskins cramming the nyjer
seed feeders with the usual squabbling. Chaffinches, Greenfinches,
Sparrows polishing off the seed and sunflower hearts at amazing
speed and Great, Blue and Coal Tits mobbing the nut feeders.
We get long tailed tits on the fat feeders. They're very good
value, since they are a lot less worried about humans than other tits


We saw those here for the first time last year. I'm so pleased even
though they're only occasional visitors.

That's interesting - sounds as if they're working from the north
downwards. We've had them in the area for years and in the garden for
at least 10 years. The seem so magical - you tend not to notice them
until suddenly you are in the middle of a flock of thirty, and there
they are, all around you, twittering away to each other, a matter of
feet way from you.

We get small groups of LTTs pretty often - but haven't spotted any
today. They do seem more prevalent these days than they used to be but
maybe that's my imagination; I don't know if BTO or RSPB stats support
this - perhaps Malcolm Ogilvie can advise. I feel very sorry for the
kingfishers in weather such as we are "enjoying" at present. While it's
beautiful and exhilarating, they say the cold spell could last for the
month; if this is correct I suspect the UK kingfisher population will
take a big hit. We have three ponds and they (kingfishers) give our
grandchildren (and us) great pleasure in spring and summer. Sorry - all
this ornithological prattle is rather OT .... but it is all related to
our garden so, I feel, can be justified :-))
--
Gopher .... I know my place!

What a grey day...
 

Gopher writes
In message , K

We get small groups of LTTs pretty often - but haven't spotted any
today. They do seem more prevalent these days than they used to be but
maybe that's my imagination;

No, it's true. They've benefited from recent mild winters. And they have
also learnt to exploit garden feeding station, so not only have they
increased in numbers, they are also easier to see.

I feel very sorry for the kingfishers in weather such as we are
"enjoying" at present. While it's beautiful and exhilarating, they say
the cold spell could last for the month; if this is correct I suspect
the UK kingfisher population will take a big hit.

Long tailed tits will too.

We have three ponds and they (kingfishers) give our grandchildren (and
us) great pleasure in spring and summer. Sorry - all this
ornithological prattle is rather OT .... but it is all related to our
garden so, I feel, can be justified :-))

BTO on long tailed tits:
http://www.bto.org/gbw/PUBLICATIONS/...BT42_8-9LR.pdf

and kingfisher:
http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/result...310.htm#Trends
--
Kay

What a grey day...
 

Bob Hobden writes

That said, the whole country's roads are in such a bad state the Annual
Local Authority Road Maintenance Survey states....

"The 2009 ALARM Survey is the 14th to be published and reports that
£8.5 billion is now needed to bring the roads of England and Wales up
to scratch. Local authorities relate that they still only receive
around half of the road maintenance budgets they need, resulting in a
backlog of up to 13 years."

http://www.asphaltindustryalliance.com/alarm.asp


"Up to scratch" is a rather subjective term. I wonder whether the
Asphalt Industry Alliance definition of "up to scratch" matches, for
example, my definition?
--
Kay

What a grey day...
 

On 2010-01-03 16:49:50 +0000, K said:

Sacha writes
On 2010-01-03 15:46:22 +0000, K said:

Gopher writes

North Dorset - glorious sunshine with just a line of distant cloud to
the S & SW. Goldfinches, Redpolls and Siskins cramming the nyjer seed
feeders with the usual squabbling. Chaffinches, Greenfinches, Sparrows
polishing off the seed and sunflower hearts at amazing speed and Great,
Blue and Coal Tits mobbing the nut feeders.
We get long tailed tits on the fat feeders. They're very good value,
since they are a lot less worried about humans than other tits are.

We saw those here for the first time last year. I'm so pleased even
though they're only occasional visitors.

That's interesting - sounds as if they're working from the north
downwards. We've had them in the area for years and in the garden for
at least 10 years. The seem so magical - you tend not to notice them
until suddenly you are in the middle of a flock of thirty, and there
they are, all around you, twittering away to each other, a matter of
feet way from you.

I think we've managed two pairs so far, so I won't start boasting yet.
;-) But I suddenly realised I was looking at something I hadn't seen
before and a closer look confirmed it. I'm very pleased. Our
woodpecker seems to have taken himself off altogether but the tawny
owls are still around and can be quite noisy at times. Lovely!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

What a grey day...
 

On 2010-01-03 18:09:53 +0000, Chris Hogg said:

On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:04:33 +0000, Sacha wrote:

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out
for lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said
she didn't think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice
everywhere. It was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so
it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly.
Tsk! ;-)

At least _I'll_ agree with you Sacha. Grey down here in west Cornwall,
with passing showers, and a cold biting wind.

A 'Grade A' grey day ;-(

Come to tea! Have a drink! Let me pass you some chocolates! I was
beginning to think we'd entered a parallel universe or something! ;-))
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

What a grey day...
 

On 3 Jan, 18:19, Sacha wrote:
On 2010-01-03 18:09:53 +0000, Chris Hogg said:

On Sun, 3 Jan 2010 11:04:33 +0000, Sacha wrote:

and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. *The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here
and there which cheers things up a bit. *We had thought of going out
for lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said
she didn't think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice
everywhere. * It was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so
it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly.
Tsk! *;-)

At least _I'll_ agree with you Sacha. Grey down here in west Cornwall,
with passing showers, and a cold biting wind.

A 'Grade A' grey day ;-(

Come to tea! *Have a drink! *Let me pass you some chocolates! *I was
beginning to think we'd entered a parallel universe or something! *;-))
--
Sachawww.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

Lovely sunny day here in South Wales, Temp with us went up to 43f, got
the tubers packed for the RHS trails, a couple of days late, but with
the snow and everything...........
We have had a colony of long tailed tits here now for the last 5 or 6
years, at times when I go out to the field they follow me along the
hedge calling away all the time, then they follow me back and stop at
the feeders, I love the way you can get to within about 6 ft of them
when they are feeding, if you go slowly
http://i240.photobucket.com/albums/f...4u2/Feeder.jpg
David Hill

What a grey day...
 

'Mike' wrote:
"Sacha" wrote in message
...
and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The
whole landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around
here and there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of
going out for lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest
it, she said she didn't think she or we would get through the lanes
- sheet ice everywhere. It was the same yesterday for a large part
of the day, so it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire
and the telly. Tsk! ;-) --
Sacha


What a shame. Wall to wall sunshine here on the Isle of Wight :-))

Likewise here Mike, although cold. My weather station is showing 0.8°C and
dropping. Snow symbol is flashing.
--
https://www.shop.helpforheroes.org.uk/

Pete C
London UK

What a grey day...
 

In message , K
writes
Gopher writes
In message , K

We get small groups of LTTs pretty often - but haven't spotted any
today. They do seem more prevalent these days than they used to be but
maybe that's my imagination;

No, it's true. They've benefited from recent mild winters. And they
have also learnt to exploit garden feeding station, so not only have
they increased in numbers, they are also easier to see.

I feel very sorry for the kingfishers in weather such as we are
"enjoying" at present. While it's beautiful and exhilarating, they say
the cold spell could last for the month; if this is correct I suspect
the UK kingfisher population will take a big hit.

Long tailed tits will too.

We have three ponds and they (kingfishers) give our grandchildren (and
us) great pleasure in spring and summer. Sorry - all this
ornithological prattle is rather OT .... but it is all related to our
garden so, I feel, can be justified :-))

BTO on long tailed tits:
http://www.bto.org/gbw/PUBLICATIONS/...BT42_8-9LR.pdf

and kingfisher:
http://blx1.bto.org/birdfacts/result...310.htm#Trends

Thanks Kay.
HNY :-))

--
Gopher .... I know my place!

What a grey day...
 

"David WE Roberts" wrote in message
...

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
and it really is, too - nothing but grey as far as I can see. The whole
landscape is very bleak but various birds are popping around here and
there which cheers things up a bit. We had thought of going out for
lunch today but when Ray rang his daughter to suggest it, she said she
didn't think she or we would get through the lanes - sheet ice
everywhere. It was the same yesterday for a large part of the day, so
it looks like another afternoon in front of the fire and the telly. Tsk!
;-)
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon

Mainly lovely here in sunny Felixstowe :-)

Every half hour or so a cloud passes over and dumps snow or hail, but then
it clears again.
Generally white around except where the sunshine has cleared patches.

Last time I looked the outside temperature was still below 2C.

Waiting for transport to arrive before we go out for a walk.

Went up to Sunbury to Captains Wood and had a wonderful snowy walk.
I can't remember the last time I walked in snow through the woods :-)

There is a herd of roe deer (about 50) and a few muntjack - they stand out
against the snow.
We also saw a barn owl hunting through the trees.
Plenty of pheasants seen (and heard).

The snow here is really wierd - it seems to be laid down in strips by
passing clouds, and some places are clear and others are white.
There is snow in Felixstowe and the current tremperature is allegedly -2.3C
The roads are like skating rinks, but the paths are deliciously crunchy.
Depending on what happens overnight Monday morning is going to be glorious
and/or chaos.

I wouldn't want to be a plant in this weather!

Cheers

Dave R