If I dont who will

Had a letter through yesterday, after eight months of study I have been awarded a qualification from Birmingham University, closest I will ever get to a university edumacation.

Part time study and I managed to get about half the funding paid from a european fund for those of us more mature folk about to be made redundant, that was back in March. Paid the rest from my redundancy. It was enjoyable to do and hopefully will help me get some work.

I ended up in some lovely places all Field Studies Council like Flatford Mill above and seeing some nice wildlife like Birds Nest Orchid below while at Kindrogan in Scotland.

That letter got me thinking. Been one heck of a year for me redundant from a place I loved and still do so its a shame to hear some of the stories I hear about it now. But thats someone elses problem now.

I have moved on, might not be much to some folk but after years of being employed by others I have gone self employed and built up a gardening round, I have got some paid storytelling work and I have done some ecological work. Still managing to fit in some voluntary work as well. If I have to go back to be employed at some stage in the future well so be it I am going to give this lot a go for now.

I might not be earning much but I am happier in myself and that means a lot. Yes its been slow these last few weeks but I have heard about some odd days work here and there I might go for next year. So the only way is up now as far as I can see, light at the end of tunnels comes to mind.

Its all in your life as the man said

The man was Dennis of Grunty Fen of course and if you have never heard of this famous! chap you have missed out on some of the best descriptions of lifes ups and downs imaginable.

Anyway its funny how your life changes and things happen as it were. There I was thinking of doing a bit of work in some gardens where I knew I would not damage the soil given the easing of the cole conditions. When out of the blue, well it was the phone actually, comes the words do you fancy a days work at *****, well naturally I said yes and to cut a short story long I took it and got three days work in the end. It was environmental work and involved a bit of fencing, and some surveying work with a bit of standing around for good measure. Got a bit muddy mind you but it has washed of.

Did get some gardening done on Thursday for a couple of my regulars, I say gardening as there were a few odd jobs thrown in for good measure such as cutting up firewood.

Thursday evening stands out though in my mind, it was the Cambridgeshire Mammal Group Christmas Social an event not to be missed I can assure you. Always good food and chat about mammals as well as a catch up with folk, but most importantly the Quiz of all quiz's. A spectacle of seriousness well some of the time, often though tis just banter and winding up the other team and the poor devil who put the quiz together, but lets not forget the plasticene. Thats right plasticine for making models with of course and in this case it was Otters at one fifth life size no less. There was a problem there was no brown or white for that matter but loads of yellow red and green with a smattering of orange. Still our designated modellers did sterling work and produced what can only be described as incredible replicas of Otters, ours was the best of course very lifelike in yellow! As for the other team well it looked more like a corrugated squirrel something we told them of course.

Whats this to do with anything , well Otters are spreading all over the fens is the thing, the Middle Level is now filling up with artificial otter holts with more to go in and they are being visited by Otters and there are some pictures to prove it some great closeups. Really good work and a credit to the middle level commissioners.

Then Friday and some more christmas shopping almost done I think? and almost ready.

Less than ten days to secure tree protection

---

Please read this and please act on the request, this is an easy way for you to act on behalf of the community, human and animal. Read the message, send of an email and have a look at the film it says so much about why we need trees live and dead.


Ancient and vulnerable trees need your help today
-------------------------------------------------

The Ancient Tree Forum and the Woodland Trust need your support to stop avoidable loss of Ancient Trees
and to help protect one of the most important habitats a tree can provide - dead wood.

The Tree Preservation Order (TPO) in England is currently being reviewed and we are concerned about
some proposed changes which would reduce, rather than improve, protection and could directly affect
beautiful and valuable ancient and veteran trees*.

The Department of Communities and Local Government proposes to continue to allow all dead trees,
however valuable, to be felled without consent. There is also a proposal to introduce a similar exception
for the removal of dead branches - vital habitats that naturally develop as trees age - on living trees.

Essentially this means that very old, historic and wildlife-rich dead trees and dead branches of living
veteran trees could be completely removed, rather than managed for stability.

Please help us prevent such a backward step in tree and habitat protection!

The Trust has set up an emergency campaign with the Ancient Tree Forum to feed directly into the public
consultation process.

Go straight to the live petition where you can add your own voice to ours**.
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/campaigning/our-views-and-policy/Pages/send-message.aspx

PLEASE, find 2 minutes today to feed directly into this consultation and pass it on to your friends and contacts. This consultation ends 20th December.

In haste,
Neville and Nikki

Neville Fay - chair, Ancient Tree Forum
Nikki Williams - head of campaigning, Woodland Trust

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This beautifully animated film illustrates some of the very special habitats created by deadwood:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=piCWcjm4W9k
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* Over the last 4 years the Trust's Ancient Tree Hunt (http://www.ancienttreehunt.org.uk) has
recorded approximately 80,000 trees that are of importance to people across the UK, including
192 ancient dead trees. A significant proportion of veteran trees have dead branches in their
crowns; this is not only a threatened habitat but is a fundamental part of their character and
visual appeal which can remain for decades and longer if carefully managed. If these changes are
passed there will be no protection for the values that make these trees special.

** Further information and the proposed joint response from the Ancient Tree Forum and Woodland Trust
can be found here:
http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/campaigning/our-views-and-policy/Pages/reject-tpo-exceptions.aspx

yippee a varied week

The one thing I really love about the work I do now is the varied nature of it, this week has been a good example.

Okay so it was really cold at the start but lovely because of the hoar frosts. And yes I have not earnt a lot this week just like last week. But theres more to life.

Tuesday morning went to Grange Farm the local RSPB farm for a catch up on whats happening there, it looked great see picture. Then told stories at a christmas get together Tuesday evening and got paid for it so a little coming in.

Wednesday was into Cambridge doing some shopping for that day.

Got some tidying up work done at two gardens Thursday where I could work without causing damage to the soil so a bit more earnt. Had a look at a one off bit of gardening work today in the village, despite the ladies interest in having the work done asap I will leave it a few days to let her think about the price I have given her.

Last but not least I need to mention the Smith and Busby Variety Show on Wednesday 8th at CB2 in Cambridge, I think we stunned the folk attending with our mixture of story and song which includes me warbling awway, a real delight, not sure if that was the right word to describe it mind.
Have a look at You Tube and type in
Andrew Malcolm December 2010

Recovered yet!

For more torture look at the pictures

http://picasaweb.google.com/cambridgestorytellers/AndrewMalcolmDecember2010#

Blimey did I really pull all those faces, obviously!

Have a lovely weekend.

did they find it

Being at a slack period in my new working world as I have mentioned already, I have been trawling tinternet as well as rehearsing for the Smith and Busby Variety Show this wednesday.

I came across an interesting snippet of news.

On the 06/12/1994 The Queen gave the go ahead for oil drilling to take place in the grounds of Windsor Castle. The move came after studies showed there could be up to £1bn of oil lying beneath the castle.

Now this throws up all sorts of queries, did they drill, if so what did they find, how much are they getting out and is it Royaloil!

Does anyone know.

One of them weeks

Well its been one of them weeks is about all you can say really I suppose, here in Cambridgeshire we have got off lighly as usual. Its been lovely to look at but I have not managed to earn much because of the cold and snow and frozen ground. Still did manage to catch up on a few bits and pieces so cant have been all bad.

Also got in a planned trip to Sutton Hoo near Woodbridge, which is where both of the pictures were taken yesterday, the 4th, the first of Tranmer House and the second of Mound 1. It was about lunchtime when they were taken and it was a tad dull as you can see but I couldnt resist them.

The thaw temporary as it might be had set in the precious night so the roads were not bad. Went down for a study day on the Anglo Saxons not my first and quite possibly not my last, very interesting period of English history.


Anyway the place looked lovely and brought back memories of when I was studying full time at Otley College and then working in Ipswich for the Borough Council more years ago than I care to remember. They were some good times though in Suffolk and I still keep in touch with some of the folks I met and worked with then.

Like my old boss Michael and Barry one of the arborists as well as a few of my old classmates like Simon and Andrew and Kevin, aahh happy days, beer and chips on the seafront at Southwold or a bit of bird watching along the coast trying not to freeze to death in the cold or fry in the heat. I can remember a Hen Harrier at Shingle Street one freezing sunday afternoon in oohh it must have been the winter of 88/89.

Anyway enough rambling I should get on theres a special coming up fast I am told cant think what!!!!!!

The depths to which we stoop hah.........

Well you have to do dont you eh, work that is even if as with this one its a free one you are taking part in. Whats he on about this time well look below and dont bother turning up saying you know me can you have a free seat for old times sake.

Much trunpeting and rolling of drums..................and action.

Had enough of Christmas shopping already need a bit of a laugh or a shiver to run down your spine!

You need Smith and Busby!!!!! the best medicine and remedy in the universe.

Well the thing is Jones is not available for this gig and come to think of it, its a different Smith as well.

But for the show to see in Cambridge in December 2010 get yourself to the cellar at the cafe/bistro CB2 in Norfolk Street Cambridge at 8pm on Wednesday 8 th December to see Andrew Smith and Malcolm Busby of Cambridge Storytellers.

With an exciting mixture of daring do, ghostly stories and traditional songs from the age of Victoria to the present day, can you really afford to miss this the event of the month.

So get your Wednesday evening Christmas shopping done and come along to be entertained for a couple of hours. Admission charge £5, concessions £3.

Delphinium

And there it stands in all this cold and frosty weather, a lovely blue Delphinium, it flowered earlier this year and has come again in the mild weather we have had this autumn, bit of a shock for it now I suspect but I cant talk Delphinium so cant ask it how it feels. Not the only thing still out though is it, anenome's, quite a few rose's too.

Been a fair week gardening, I have finished of a few oneoff bigger jobs as well as seeing some of my regulars. And still the gardening work goes on, odd jobs mainly now though and tidying up but work none the less, new gardens still coming forward too.

Looking back a few months and seeing how I have got on I am happy. The variety is good, gardens, stories and helping out an ecologist.

Talking of stories, finally getting a show sorted for early December, yes I know its a bit late but its not looking too bad so far, two of us both members of Cambridge Storytellers are going to entertain for an evening, whats planned is a mixture of story and song. Should scare and entertain I reckon.

Still digesting last weekends conifer course, my last module of the university certificate course I signed upto in April, it has been very interesting but hard in places, I am going to miss it all the modules have been good but the plant ones especially so. The module assessments were done at and coming back from Bedgebury Arboretum, where there are some spectacular trees. Especially Tsuga heterophylla and Cryptomeria japonica "Elegans", and the Cedrus and the Pseudotsuga. A brilliant place.

Still learning and Ceonothus

After more years than I care to remember working for other folk there is still much to learn about running your own business. I did go to a lot of the Business Direct courses and recommend them to anyone thinking about running a business.

The thing that got me recently is quoting for jobs, I usually charge by the hour. One of my regulars asked me to quote for a bigger job, I thought about it and looked at the job then gave a price. Thing is though its now obvious I should have put in a higher price for the amount of work and time it has taken.

Just goes to show we never stop learning and I dont mind admitting it. Note to self think a bit more and dont underestimate how long the job will take.

What was the job, clearing an area of mainly Ceonothus on a bank at the entrance to a small business park, that and a bit of crown raising on a small number of nearby trees. The Ceonothus plants are about fifteen years old and most were very overgrown but with epicormic growth on the main stems, some though had died whether of old age or what I dont know but I have worked on a few this year in the same states.

It was a good job to do though, kept me warm on these cold days and using some of my countryside skills breaking up scrub and getting in some exercise while working.

fenland tales

Told a couple of stories last night in Brandon Suffolk, told at the leisure centre with two other members of Cambridge Storytellers. A set called Fenland Stories in a short series of events being run in Brandon as part of an east anglian folk month.

Last week they had Ramsey Storytellers, next weekend Hugh Lupton telling The Mardling Acre and if you have not heard storytelling or think its for children go see Hugh he is an amazing teller.

Its good to see they are trying to raise the profile of storytelling and more importantly the gathering of local stories that contain the history of the area its characters and happenings.

pink footed geese

Got back last night from a few days away looking at birds and relaxing on the North Norfolk coast, yes thats right North Norfolk just up the road. Yes I even stayed in a B and B just up the road.



And why not it meant I could stay out later and get out earlier, oh yes and support business there and they need it like everyone else does, cos we are all in this together hah.... Getting back to the blog, it took me back years especially the pink footed geese and there behaviour.

Seeing tham in flocks feeding on newly emerged wheat , flying between feeding areas, and then the most spectacular flighting into there roosting grounds in the wash off Snettisham.



Went out two evenings to see them flighting in, its cold its darker than the pictures suggest and its magic. Thousands of geese coming in in waves, strings and lines. Flocks merging dividing and all the while calling as they go overhead and then out to land on the mudflats and still calling. With them other geese and ducks in smaller groups and flocks of waders also calling and flying around, the atmosphere is incredible and very pleasing for the soul.

a JR moment or three

Been a long time since I last posted and a lots happened.

Such as;

Did my Daubentons Bat Surveys for this year, the one at Stow cum Quy was very touching, there are a pair of Mute Swans near the site and the male was shot earlier this year, the female has persevered though and raised a number of cygnets to fledging point, very good to see that nature is more powerful than we are as a race. The police said they had DNA from the offender when the shooting happened but have not heard anymore about it.

Bat surveys went well reasonable numbers looking back over my figures for the last tenish years I have done them on the same two sites. Also did a couple of Nathusius Pipistrelle surveys at a place I know well, found them there last year and unless my hearing and mind have totally gone they are still using the site.

Changed my car for a newer version of the same make and model, I can work from it okay and use it for private use as well.

I have been lucky enough to get some wildlife work from an ecologist I first met over 20 years ago while working as a protected plant protection scheme warden. Been some interesting work one of the highlights being unearthing a mole on a site. Marvellous things and those front paws are so big, couldnt help think of Max Bygraves and that song, uuhhem "you need hands......."

And all the while we have life going on and cuts being made in all sorts of areas of public life. What concerns me a lot are the cuts in parks and green spaces whether in towns or the countryside and the hope that volunteers can pick up the slack or that someone else will run things instead of local councils or govt organisations. Guess what because of the cuts being made its going harder to for other groups to take these places on.

Enough for now.

lots been going on but

The big news is little brother has finished his Grand Cycle Tour of Scotland as the picture here shows.

Well done Robin Dad would be proud of you, and he probably is.

What a few days

Its has been one of those weeks and its not over yet workwise either. Hopefully though I might get a chance to relax something which I think I have earnt this week.

Whats happened then well two days gardening as per usual, then the last three have been a tad different but very enjoyable. I have been helping out a local ecologist on a development site in Norfolk, a bit of work with reptiles and good fun it was as well, common lizards and a grass snake. Been long days though with the travelling and fitting in a garden or a bat survey when I got home.

Did get a bit wet today but yes we do need the rain still, and after all trousers get dry eventually.

Little brother is still doing well although the rain he has had has been very heavy and unfriendly. The worst was from Tongue round to Ullapool steep roads not made very welcoming by heavy rain. The Tongue Hotel deserve a really big thank you from Robin, there hospitality was incredible and he is very grateful for all you did for him as someone raising money for Marie Curie.

He is now away on the islands again, he landed at Stornoway Wednesday evening after a rough boat trip and is looking forward to his cycling there as he knows it will be quiet with a bit of wild camping which he loves for good measure. New photos coming up.

there has to be a first time for everything

Well there does of course in this case my first tax return as a self employed personage.

Blimey I registered as self employed in late March and they want me to do a return for the little bit until the 5 th April 2010 for my 2009/10 return.

Never had to do one but the lovely folk at the Cambridge office helped me through it, so a wieght of the mind indeed. Lord knows how I will get on with 2010/11 but it might be easier I suppose if its all as self employed rather than this where it was mostly employed and a little bit of self employed.

So that was half of today what about the rest, gardening of course the bread and butter of my earnings. Two today and its good to see things changing expecially after that bit of rain, he does go on about rain dont he, Yes, by the way did you notice the bit today on the news about wheat prices going up a lot last week and of course bread will follow, why, crop failures and poor yields because of the dry weather. See you can see the world in your garden. Lots of wildlife too, loads of bumblebees today on my lavender still; Bombus lapidarius, Bombus pratorum, Bombus lucorum, Bombus pasqurum and good old Apis mellifera of course the honey bee.

Hows little brother doing, well really, moving on nicely really, another picture below.
















Then there next doors cat, my cat Herbert and this one dont get on or do they, cannot work it out, they posture they squabble and that one next door tries to nip in and scoff Herberts food, he got a surprise tonight. Herbert was in there when he popped his head in, he left quickly shall we say.

what have I got to feel sick about

I mean I might be feeling a bit uurrgghh at
the moment, bit cold like but no cold !
so could not work for a day, when little bro
is still cycling on and sounding and looking
as if he is doing well.









I had to cancel a couple of gardens because of feeling
sick so this morning I am going to fit one of them in
one of my nice ones to catch up, it will be the first bit
of a weekend I have worked since leaving the park
way back in March.

Anyway enough of me the pictures of little brother.
The first and second were taken by a Marie curie local
rep who met Robin at Kessock Bridge I think on the
A9 above or around Inverness. Thanks for the pictures Vonnie. The third I think is in the Cairngorms and
looks lovely.

Robin is in the Orkneys at the moment having a bit of a
rest up for the first time this week. So far all going more
or less to plan.





Back to the gardening work the rain these
last few days has been great and really needed,
to be honest I know we will not see the full
impact of this summer on trees in particular
for a couple of years then I fully expect to
see more thatn a few dying of because of
the stress this has put them under. Elsewhere
in gardens I think most perennials have
flowered earlier althopugh quite well again because of stress, they want to make sure they can set seed for the next generation in a tough year just in case they die.



I do worry about veggies though, unless you have been able to water and should we is the thing then seed germination in gardens has again been poorish. Carrots and Leeks have not done well in the soils Histon and Girton way which can be a bit heavy. The spuds have been a bit slow as well, driving past fields full of well grown spuds you have to wonder how much water has been put on and can we really afford to keep doing it. Will be interesting to see the price of English veggies this winter.

little brothers progress

It might not be about me but its about someone who matters to me.

Little brother is doing well and so far is on track coming up to the end of week one. Last night he was at Brora after a tricky day which led to him seeing more of the Black isle than he really wanted too. His spirits are good and physically he seems to be enjoying it or is it eating the two cooked breakfasts a day that he is enjoying.

Anyway got some pictures now sent from his mates at Nairn where he stayed Wednesday night. There are two above one is from the Forth Road Bridge , wheres the other one I dont know can you help????

I will post more later on.

well who would have thought it eh

Well who would have thought it eh.

Lots of gardening today, cutting back overhanging trees just like being back at the park and some serious weeding, very good for the soul I can tell you you have to relax. Might well have another couple of gardens as well. Then theres another bit of work which might be coming my way that will involve me wearing a hivis jacket, wont say anymore yet but it aint litter picking the central reservation.

Little brothers cycle trek goes on, dont forget http://www.justgiving.com/RobinsGrandTour

He is well on his way now past Carnoustie and Dundee and I think still recovering from crossing the tay bridge where you ride between two lanes of traffic going each way at a bit of a lick shall we say.

bard of suffolk

No I didnt win but I had a go which is the important thing. It was held at West Stow Anglo Saxon village and a great place to tell to a very appreciative audience.

Told a story about how Suffolk got its name from the Angles, took a lot of research but I reckon I can do more with the story and make it more than just Suffolk. Yes thats right stories with history from the flat bit.

Its all go well almost

Blimey I think we had at least what ten minutes rain this evening, got to write that down.

Been an odd day really I had to open my wallet and buy some more kit for work should be able to do a few more jobs now in peoples gardens.

Then there is little brother, Robin the wanderer, he is now in Scotland ready to start his 1000 mile cycle ride tomorrow morning. Been hard to get the local press to pick this up but there are a couple of Marie Curie ladies in Scotland who have been pushing hard, got him some warm showers some nights and evening meals. We will see how it goes. Robin had his picture taken today, thats it at the top, with a local patron of Marie Curie in Scotland Dame Barbara Kelly. So there is no backing out now for him especially as the sponsorship money is slowly going up. Have you sponsored him yet????

Such is life

So I dont know about anyone else but we could use some rain desperately, I am not on about short heavy storms, nice long gentle rain to soak in to the ground for hours on end.

If we dont get some soom I think the garden centres will be doing a good trade in the Autumn as folk try and replant whats died and that is a lot from what I have seen while working in folks gardens for a living.

Went to a day centre for the elderly earlier this week speaking to them about their recollections of Cambridge, very interesting information gathered and some interesting themes touched on. Cambridge Storytellers are aiming to put a performance together about what we get that we can use later in the year.

Been recording wildlife species again as I go round doing my gardens, good selection of bumblebees still going strong and then its interesting to see what common birds turn up, the reason being a lot of people dont bother to record those and record centres need information about the common birds as well as the more rare ones. Same goes for butterflies and amphibians of course.

What happend to it then

What happened to the rain, I could smell it the other day but did we get any in the bit of Histon I live in, nah.

So the gardening is slacking off, I mean you cant cut lawns when they are not growing and I wont cut a lawn and charge for doing it as things are, I might be mad but I cant take money of folk for cutting a lawn that does not need cutting. Mind I am hearing that some people are still pushing mowers over lawns throwing dust up all over the place and charging folk for doing it.

Anyway we have spent hours today sorting bits out for Robins Grand Tour of Scotland

It must be FATE

Just got back from a weekend party, a bit Electric Light Orchestra I know but one heck of a weekend at this years Festival at the Edge an annual storytelling festival held at Much Wenlock.

FATE 2010 was brilliant, great tellers, great stories and a really friendly atmosphere, what would you expect really I suppose we were all there for the stories and were not disapointed.

If you think stories are just for children you dont know what you are missing. All made possible of course by a multitude of people working hard for a cause they believe in. Have I heard something like that in the news today, hhmmnn.

My best wishes to all those who made it happen and roll on FATE2011.

Is it really a week

Time flies as they say, so do bumbebees from what I can see. The weather is sort of changing but still no good rain for the gardens. I have not cut a lawn in weeks now they all look as if a camel might appear and look at home.

Story work has been interesting and varied since last week, last saturday I did some work at a local festival, then on Sunday went into Norfolk to tell at another festival this time with a reenactment feel to it. Some great people at the do on sunday.

What about little brother and his cycle ride , well look at this website http://www.justgiving.com/RobinsGrandTour and think about donating or passing the link on.

Lets see what this weekend brings.

Little Brother and his Ideas

Little brother has this idea which has now got a life of its own as they do.

He is going to cycle 1000 miles around Scotland from the end of July to late August, 65 miles a day or thereabouts carrying all his food etc not a backup vehcle in sight.

He does this, a couple of years ago it was canoe across England from the Mersey to Lowestoft, again its going to be to raise money. This time for Marie Curie, one of their nurses stayed by our Dad last year after he came home from hospital until he died from cancer where he wanted to go, at home with mum.

So its getting him set up with Just Giving etc now so hopefully folks can make a donation if they wish.

An interesting Thursday

Live once redundant is nothing but variety.

In the morning a garden for three hours, one of my regulars and a good garden. mind you I have to say this we need rain something terrible down here, the ground is like concrete and the veggies and just not putting on any size thats if the seed germinated.

Then onto a library to tell some stories for free to a group of ladies on behalf of Cambridge Storytellers, the stories were from Cambridgeshire and they seemed happy with them, in fact they sparked some thoughts from them which is always good.

Finally a storytelling job with a difference, after going on a farm walk for yes you have guessed it some farmers looking at options for arable land and stewardship grants, I told them some Fen stories which again seemed to go down well.

Just got back from a weekend in Scotland looking at biological records.

Always loved the countryside and worked to protect it, never fully realised just how valuable records are to help do that.