Red Legged Partidges

http://www.rspb.org.uk/Images/redleggedpartridge_tcm9-18426.jpg?width=530&crop=(282,326,936,694)

The image above resides on the RSPB website and not on this blog. The image and link will be immediately removed if this infringes any copyright law or is otherwise a problem to its owner.

When we first moved to our bungalow (19 months ago) we saw 2 red legged partridges regularly in the road and in the garden.Then we saw 3 for a day. After that (for the last 6 months) there has just been 1. Now, today, we have just seen 2 again. I hope it is a male and a female and they stop around and have young!

The red legged partridge is an introduced species, but it is the commonest partridge with 82000 territories. It is a very good looking bird. The ones locally seem quite content.

See red legged partridge RSPB page .

Female models - smile!

Why do most female models look so unbelievably miserable? Almost without exception, the "look" seems to appear as miserable as possible and never smile.  Surely, if you want dresses to sell then wear a smile at least! I am sure models used to look nice and smile.

Terrrorists

As I see it, the greatest deterrent against extremism would be for suicidal terrorists to be told that it is very doubtful indeed that they will go to paradise when they die. Most Muslims believe that it a sin against God/Allah to kill.  Many are prepared to die because of an incorrect assumption. I wonder how many would be prepared to die if a hell awaited them? Not many I expect.

They should not assume what they do is "in the name of the prophet" as it is not.

The world would be such a nicer place if everyone could live in a state of mutual respect and fairness. We are all different but all deserve the right to freedom, happiness and peace. It is usually an accident of birth what religion (if any) we follow. Some Jews could just have easily been Muslims and vice versa.

Spring?

According to the Met Office, March 1st is the first day of spring. Others say it is in a few weeks. Either way, it feels more like spring. This winter has been pretty mild but wet. There is far more mud this year.

In a few weeks'  time the first sand martins will be landing, then house martins and swallows. I am checking the Devon wildlife sightings page to see when the first arrivals are. Up here near Cambridge it is usually a few weeks later, at least.

Russia and Mr Putin?

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-31669061 .

See http://www.aljazeera.com/ .

So what exactly is Mr Putin up to?

The best way to win friends around the world is to create a truly free and open society, to respect the views of all, to uphold the law created via a truly democratic process and not to pretend Russia is the USSR and in the 1950s.

The latest news from Moscow paints Russia as a nasty place. Whereas in the 1980s I wanted to see it, I have zero wish to go there now. It smacks of corruption and the KGB. Mr Putin, please join us and put the past behind you.

The world wants to be the friend of a free and open Russia.

New on-line shop - wonderful wire artwork

Some nice presents for your wife or partner?

From my French daughter-in-law:

Hi there,
I have finally come around to opening my shop on easy. Spread the word. Hope you like it. https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SurleWire?ref=hdr_shop_menu

Stroke - further update

Several people have indicated that it could be 2 years before I feel better. My brain bleed was Sept 2013.  At the present rate of progress, I think they may be right.

I have several serious issues still and progress seems to be slow. What I don't know is how well I shall be finally. I am still hopeful that I'll get back to very nearly the state I was before my cerebellum brain bleed but I am sure no-one really knows.