digging andrena

I was working in a garden Thursday afternoon planting some shrubs. Got a hole dug and started noticing these rich reddy brown blobs starting to move about.

They were Tawny Mining Bees Andrena fulva and there was muggins digging a load up. They are a solitary bee which hopefully with the weather we are having will survive having come out of hibernation a bit sooner perhaps than they would have liked.  I had no idea that last year some females had all found that bit of garden and then used it for their brood tunnels. I was finding then up to 150mm deep in little chambers.

Thinking back afterwards about May/June I had seen a very tame female blackbird sitting in that area catching and eating some insects but did not go too close to her.

Heres hoping some survive they are lovely little bees and should be about soon.

baby boomers to blame

I have heard this suggestion a few times of late and find it laughable to blame the consumer, in this case baby boomers, for all the ills of society at this time.

In the first place none of us of who fit that description asked to be born then, our parents were even encouraged to have children to help rebuild the country after WW2 I seem to recall. What did that increasing population then see, an explosion of consumer products and services which we were all encouraged to enjoy and own to support the economy. The same goes for the health service we were led to expect more. Then we come to housing and the decision to allow tenents to buy council houses and not replace those sold with new ones. Could the problems have been foreseen, who knows but as we all know hindsight is a marvellous thing.

I might be over simplifying but it strikes me that some folk are just looking to blame someone, whether that be bankers, public sector staff and now baby boomers for the mess this country is now in. Something else that folk dont mention and which has occurred over the last fifty years is a decline in community spirit and a belief in us as a society, that has been coupled with a rigourously promoted rise in me and self. A return to the values of that bygone age might not be a complete solution to all the ills but it might help to make it easier to cope with.

I am not worthy or am I

I apologise for existing, getting in your way and holding you up this evening, to the driver of the metallic goldish large Ford saloon, it was a bit mucky so cant be precise about the colour or the registration number. 

What did he do, he overtook me this evening in Histon at about ten past five as I had just about stopped in the middle of the road and was about to turn right. 

I had  given my usual plenty of notice via my indicators that I was turning right as well and had seen the car wanting to turn right out of the road I turn into, I was going to let it go before I turned right.

For some reason I looked in my mirror again at the last moment after making sure nothing was coming towards me to see the Ford saloon coming up behind me deliberately swerve out, overtake me and just carry on. No flashing lights, no siren, no nothing.

What can you say.

I am just glad I stopped still and watched him go past. I am still here and uninjured. Those who look after me were obviously doing just that.

Take a look at this petition please

Now lots of folk watched the recent adaptation I am sure of Sherlock. An interesting set of adaptations.

Well Conan Doyles house needs saving which is where the link below will take you. Go on sign up a fuss needs to be caused and someone needs to be found to buy it.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/31207

observations on life

Mothers Day coming up so in T**** the other day I found a card and of I toddled to pay and go home. Back home of course I look for the envelope and yes you might have guessed it there was none. Why is it that some shops these days have cards and envelopes seperate and you have to rememebr to pick one of each up.

Talking about the T shop for weeks if you wanted a member of staff in my local one at Milton you have had to look for someone in their own clothes packing shelves and hoping they had a name badge on.

Am I becoming a grumpy old man, dont say yes.