Had to share this glove

I got a text message on my mobile phone last night from one of my brothers. He said he saw this and thought of me.

It was taken on a beach in Scotland, is that why its blue, or is it cold, whatever its having a nice wee relax from the look of things.

If you see a glove on your travels pass it on.

high speed snails and the guided busway

For years now I have been passing onto some of the groups I talk too the real reason that the guided busway in Cambridge exists. That reason is snails.

It is a little known fact that the university is conducting secret research into high speed snails that could be released into the fields of countries you want to undermine to decimate their crops and spread economic ruin.

These breeding trials are tested every evening on the four ribbons of the guided busway from Cambridge to St Ives with the fastest snails being used to sire the next batch. I never thought I would see one of these snails  but today as can be seen in the photo below I finally managed it.

This snail moved so fast up the tree trunk I could not focus on it. My long held convictions proved.

You heard it here first folks, the truth is out there.

so what did you do yesterday malcolm, newt fondling! well almost.

Well I got up to all sorts except liquorice but a good day none the less.

Best bit though was last night, what a night though looking for an finding ..............

What is it, well its a female Great Crested Newt I came across while carrying out a survey of a site bless her.

I think she could have been in the process of egg laying as that tail was well wrapped around the plant at times, if you dont know they lay eggs under leaves of plants such as water mint in this picture and then fold the leaf in half to protect the egg in a sort of leaf sandwich, clever eh.

Returning this morning some of the leaves were definitely folded over, but by her, dont know that bit. And yes you do need a license to work with Great Crested Newts and yes I do have one.

In the words of Stevie Wonder; "isn't she lovely".

spring has sprung embrace a zesty new look

An email just dropped into my inbox headed as the title of this says "Spring has sprung, embrace a zesty new look", HOW by becoming a lemon!

I see Boris might be looking for a safe seat

Oh yes indeedy they do say that Boris Johnson might stand in Cambridgeshire to be close to London so he can finish of his stint as Mayor and become an MP if he won which of course it is assumed he would.

The theory goes like this Andrew Lansley gets a post in Europe leaving the seat open for Boris.

All reminds me of a Euro MP I once worked for, she was a golden girl of the Tories we were told and rose through the ranks as quick as a greyhound from the traps. Only trouble was no seat to stand in as an MP so European MP is what she stood for and won, she was on telly last week and I see her in the local paper now and then, good morning Vicky bet you dont remember me from your days as a South Cambs councillor.

Back to Boris, well if he does stand in South Cambs he will not get my vote if for no other reason than I should be moving to another constituency area soon and dont get me started on the hassle they have had with getting a new Tory party approved candidate for MP.

so why should prince charles letters etc be published

Heard the bit on the news last night about Princess Anne and her views on badgers and eating horsemeat, brought back to me the court action where a newspaper is trying to get Prince Charles letters to MP's in the public domain which they say is only right and proper. There also some in the press who say he should stop interfering and having views at all, it isn't the done thing as he will become King one day.

WHY!!!!

Everyone has the right to write articles and post views surely, isn't that what journalists do every day peddling some very odd views as well from what I hear.

Everyone has the right to write letters and post them to their MP, I do it myself now and then but that is between me and my MP.

Whats so different for a royal or anyone else.

European Elections

I bet the title is enough to make most people say I'm not looking at this post.

I would like to make a plea though....

Please Please Please use your Vote....

I will even let you vote for any party you want to......... EXCEPT UKIP.

I get very worried about what else they believe in other than coming out of Europe which whatever anyonbe says we need to be in, Im not saying that it is perfect and yes some changes could be required BUT, we are a tiny island floating of the coast of Europe who once had power and some still think we do, we dont. We need to belong to Europe we are European.

When the UKIP candidate comes to call ask them about what they would do with the National Health Service, privatise more or....?

Ask them what they think of employees working conditions, length of paid holiday,  the protection of temp staff........

Ask them about how much Income Tax you would pay under them...

And finally ask them which wildlife protection they would do away with....

 Be happy with the answers because we could be better of with the devils we know which aint saying a lot but!

gorgeous morning for a survey

Just got back from a couple of hours surveying birds on a fenland farm. Highlights were a male Wheatear who obviously needed a rest while flying North, then a lovely pair of Grey Partridge who I saw before they saw me so good views were had of them as they fed and sunbathed.

Yes its the same farm as last year but it will be interesting to see what happens on the land that was flooded to control soil pests. Its an arable farm with the usual fenland crops and intensive salad, someone's lettuce for a month or so's time is under those sheets.

im not too glovely today

Saw this one this morning, heard it groaning on the track and from the look of things it was suffering a bit, bless it, aarrgghh......