a norfolk jolly

Popped down to the Norfolk coast yesterday for a bit of fresh air and a look at birds. Yes it was cold but it was lovely.

The best views of any bird had to be a Barn Owl which just kept flying around really close quartering the ground looking for food.

Mind you the Teal just outside a hide window came close second. Didn't get a picture of the Barn Owl I was too engrossed in watching it, but the Teal.........

They were sitting on the grass bank catching sun and dozing, but a quiz for you here, there are two Wigeon in the picture as well a male and a female, can you see them?

a bit of wassail

Its that time of year again , Old apple tree, we'll wassail thee.......

Got asked to be involved in a wassail at a local community orchard, would I tell as the Greenman with face paint and a wreath. How could I not do it even if for naught but thanks, its Wassail.

The result,

a priceless moment and a small world

I had a storytelling job this evening and after I had finished while having a chat with a lovely elderly lady called Audrey, she tells me she once lived in Earith, I go on to say one of my aunts was in service in a big house which is now a restaurant/hotel there in the 1930's. She talks about her husband and where she lived with her family.

A bit more chatting and it comes out she knew Mr Busby, my grandfather. He used to deliver the medicine for her mother on his rounds by bike from the chemist where he worked.

Yet again I am left there thinking oh what a small world.

after some work a nice stop

After the strong winds last night today started bright and very still in comparison. Worked in a couple of gardens Ely way. Finished work at 2 than thought where to stop for a bit of a rest and some sandwiches with perhaps the chance of a nice bird or two.

Beet lagoons I thought so off I went with the wind getting up again, parked up had my sandwiches and looked at the ducks bobbing around on the water. Then I noticed a larger bird flying in from the south, hang on I says I know what you are. Sure enough a Marsh Harrier working over the reed beds wheeling about in the wind almost playing with the wind, spinning and tumbling and turning to move back across the reeds scattering the ducks when it got too close. Then it dropped after again working the wind onto something in the reed bed, I am thinking that's it then for now when another shape and another Marsh Harrier caught my eye. I stayed a bit longer before thinking I better be off, only driving a little way along the road before seeing yet another rundown fen farm barn.

The fens are full of them, barns that have seen good service but are now just not needed and so sit there falling apart overt time, which to me is a real shame, its part of our farming heritage and an older less intensive farm life that's going.

Finally wondered what the view might be like towards Ely across the road and saw this, a lovely view of the Cathedral, the winter colours and sun are superb.

Rhubarb semaphore you just wouldn't understand....

Argh almost like the old days, a good book a funny one of course full of rhubarb semaphore, spam fritters and the loyal and ancient order of goat. You just wouldn't understand........

Over 60's rebadged as apprentices to cut down wage bills

That was the headline in the local paper this week in the article on the front of the Jobs section.

The interesting figures from the article are that the number of over 60's starting an apprenticeship between 2009/10 and 2013/14 increased by 520 per cent. 25 times more than the figure for under 25's which grew by 21 per cent in the came period. There is a suggestion that people in work are being rebadged as apprentices instead of trainees with a possible link to lower pay.

And there I was thinking apprentices were all under 25, or is there a fiddle in here somewhere me wonders..............

What is Sheltered Housing

On the 29th November 2013 the housing association that runs the scheme my mother is in said on its website;

All of our residents enjoy daily visits Monday to Friday from the scheme staff to make sure they have no general problems. We believe that the decision to move into sheltered accommodation should not be seen as a loss of independence, more like a move away from isolation and towards independent living with vital support available when necessary. - See more at: http://www.circle.org.uk/roddons/your-home/sheltered-housing#sthash.Gvi04Nmq.dpuf

All of our residents enjoy daily visits Monday to Friday from the scheme staff to make sure they have no general problems. We believe that the decision to move into sheltered accommodation should not be seen as a loss of independence, more like a move away from isolation and towards independent living with vital support available when necessary. 

Yesterday 9th January 2015 I was sitting with Mum when the warden told her that now she will only get a visit on Monday and Friday. Over the past few years that scheme together with many others has gone from having a resident warden to a mobile warden, from home visits to phone calls to check they are okay. And now to this two visits a week, only a week or so ago she was told it would be two visits and a phone call a week, that has changed again to this two visits a week and you have to wonder if they will go as well soon. 

Makes me wonder if sheltered now means you have a pull cord if anything happens.

All of our residents enjoy daily visits Monday to Friday from the scheme staff to make sure they have no general problems. We believe that the decision to move into sheltered accommodation should not be seen as a loss of independence, more like a move away from isolation and towards independent living with vital support available when necessary. - See more at: http://www.circle.org.uk/roddons/your-home/sheltered-housing#sthash.Gvi04Nmq.dpuf

All of our residents enjoy daily visits Monday to Friday from the scheme staff to make sure they have no general problems. We believe that the decision to move into sheltered accommodation should not be seen as a loss of independence, more like a move away from isolation and towards independent living with vital support available when necessary. - See more at: http://www.circle.org.uk/roddons/your-home/sheltered-housing#sthash.Gvi04Nmq.dpuf