Friday, July 05, 2013
Happy Birthday NHS
Today is the 65th birthday of our beloved National Health Service.
Sadly, thanks to this government, it will struggle to make any further birthdays as anything other than a private business for the profit of the government's rich friends.
Wednesday, July 03, 2013
Tuesday, July 02, 2013
The Tough, the Cute and the Totally Squee
Today at the zoo I got a pretty good picture of the new male gorilla Kumbuka. I took several, but only one wasn't blurred by his movements.
Then there was the unusual sight of the tamandua out in daylight, feeding with the sloths. Apparently she's discovered she likes their food.
Finally, there is a new Malayan tapir calf. He is not yet allowed out while the public are on the premises, but ZSL has released a video of his first day out with mum. I hope this link works for everyone - I am currently unable to download videos and repost them for your enjoyment (thanks to RealPlayer, who took my money and ran).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dnVRI6YRJE&feature=youtu.be
If it doesn't work, just go to the ZSL London Zoo website and you're certain to find it. It's worth the effort.
For those in the UK, the programme The Zoo starts next Wednesday 10th July at 8pm on ITV1. They will be showing the introduction of Jae Jae and Melati.
Then there was the unusual sight of the tamandua out in daylight, feeding with the sloths. Apparently she's discovered she likes their food.
Finally, there is a new Malayan tapir calf. He is not yet allowed out while the public are on the premises, but ZSL has released a video of his first day out with mum. I hope this link works for everyone - I am currently unable to download videos and repost them for your enjoyment (thanks to RealPlayer, who took my money and ran).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dnVRI6YRJE&feature=youtu.be
If it doesn't work, just go to the ZSL London Zoo website and you're certain to find it. It's worth the effort.
For those in the UK, the programme The Zoo starts next Wednesday 10th July at 8pm on ITV1. They will be showing the introduction of Jae Jae and Melati.
Monday, July 01, 2013
Sunday, June 30, 2013
Saturday, June 29, 2013
Best Defence
Don't you just love those nonsensical anomalies between English and American? Defense/ License verbs in English, nouns in American, Defence/Licence the opposite.
We all agree about Bobby, though.
We all agree about Bobby, though.
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
Farewell, My Mitzi
On Saturday night I noticed my little Mitzi had a lump on the side of her face. It seemed quite hard, which made me very concerned. But I hoped for the best - a bad tooth, an abscess caused by a bite. I took her to the vet's today, and he kept her in for exploratory surgery.
Then came the call. Cancer was eating away at her jaw. She'd hidden her pain and discomfort for so long, there was really nothing he could do. I gave the go-ahead for him to euthanize her without waking her from the anaesthetic. I didn't get to say goodbye.
I went along to kiss her poor dead body farewell, then leave her to be taken for cremation. She was barely 15.
I adopted Mitzi when she was about a year old, along with one of her kittens. She had been rescued from a back garden, abandoned by owners who hadn't bothered to get her spayed, then left her to care for her babies.
Mitzi remained tiny, having used all her energy raising her babies. Her daughter Twiglet is gigantic.
It took a long time for her to settle in. Her first venture outside was nearly permanent. She just didn't come back. I leafleted the area, and locals located her and helped me put out a trap. It was six months before she was allowed out again.
Gradually she became strokeable, on her own terms. She enjoyed her garden and her home, and would climb on to my shoulder for a fuss. But she remained nervous and wary.
She was especially fond of the chicken coop, back when I had hens. She would sunbathe on top, or sneak inside for a nap. Once she even got herself locked inside when the hens went to bed, which gave all of us a shock.
I know she was happy. I just wish it had been for longer.
Then came the call. Cancer was eating away at her jaw. She'd hidden her pain and discomfort for so long, there was really nothing he could do. I gave the go-ahead for him to euthanize her without waking her from the anaesthetic. I didn't get to say goodbye.
I went along to kiss her poor dead body farewell, then leave her to be taken for cremation. She was barely 15.
I adopted Mitzi when she was about a year old, along with one of her kittens. She had been rescued from a back garden, abandoned by owners who hadn't bothered to get her spayed, then left her to care for her babies.
Mitzi remained tiny, having used all her energy raising her babies. Her daughter Twiglet is gigantic.
It took a long time for her to settle in. Her first venture outside was nearly permanent. She just didn't come back. I leafleted the area, and locals located her and helped me put out a trap. It was six months before she was allowed out again.
Gradually she became strokeable, on her own terms. She enjoyed her garden and her home, and would climb on to my shoulder for a fuss. But she remained nervous and wary.
She was especially fond of the chicken coop, back when I had hens. She would sunbathe on top, or sneak inside for a nap. Once she even got herself locked inside when the hens went to bed, which gave all of us a shock.
I know she was happy. I just wish it had been for longer.
Sunday, June 23, 2013
Friday, June 21, 2013
Riddle
What did the tiger...
...say to the okapi...
...about the tufted ducks?
Nothing, silly. They're in completely different parts of the zoo! But the ducklings managed to find a piece of sacking the gorillas had thrown into the pond and use it as a temporary island to rest on.
JaeJae was in full display-my-bits mode.
Melati was up a fake tree again.
The new okapi baby wouldn't leave its mum's side.
But the tufted ducklings did their habitual disappearing act under the water, while mum watched without concern. Tufties dive for so long, and travel such distances underwater, that you keep thinking they must have drowned!
Meanwhile a famous face was seen around the zoo. I was too proud to take a photo of that face, just snapping a rear view:
For those not good at identifying people from the back (and probably most of my non-British readers) here's a googled photo:
Yes, folks, it was Charles Dance.
...say to the okapi...
...about the tufted ducks?
Nothing, silly. They're in completely different parts of the zoo! But the ducklings managed to find a piece of sacking the gorillas had thrown into the pond and use it as a temporary island to rest on.
JaeJae was in full display-my-bits mode.
Melati was up a fake tree again.
The new okapi baby wouldn't leave its mum's side.
But the tufted ducklings did their habitual disappearing act under the water, while mum watched without concern. Tufties dive for so long, and travel such distances underwater, that you keep thinking they must have drowned!
Meanwhile a famous face was seen around the zoo. I was too proud to take a photo of that face, just snapping a rear view:
For those not good at identifying people from the back (and probably most of my non-British readers) here's a googled photo:
Yes, folks, it was Charles Dance.
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
Saturday, June 15, 2013
The neighbours may object but...
...by feeding the foxes they see as vermin, this is the kind of thing I see in my garden.
It's a female fox with two of her cubs, and I think they were suckling, though they are a bit big for that!
It's a female fox with two of her cubs, and I think they were suckling, though they are a bit big for that!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
Sunday, June 09, 2013
Whoops!
As a faithful supporter of the World Wildlife Fund, I was privileged a couple of weeks ago to receive an invitation to their London conference yesterday at ZSL (ie. London Zoo). I sent my acceptance, but heard no more, and forgot all about it till I checked my diary on Friday night.
Whoops indeed. If I'd realised a day sooner, I wouldn't have gone to the zoo on Friday, but would have done my weekend shop then, to leave me free for Saturday.
Well, I rushed the shopping, and managed (despite engineering works on the train lines delaying me) to get to the conference less that 40 minutes late.
It was about east Africa, both land and sea conservation projects. There was also a talk from Andy Hodge, a marine biologist who also happens to be a double Olympic gold medallist in rowing.
It was a joy to be among so many like-minded people. I even managed to ask a well-received and important question about the involvement of native women in their projects (every picture they showed was of men and boys). The reply reassured me that they are fully aware of the different roles of men and women in the various communities they deal with and make sure they approach the right people in the right way.
Part of the deal was free entry into the zoo, which of course I don't need, but it allowed me to nip in by the back door and capture a few more pictures of Melati posing on top of the giant climbing frame.
Showing off her bright orange back and stunning markings:
Displaying her fluffy chin:
Treating us to her beautiful profile:
All these poses struck within a couple of minutes.
Privileged indeed. Me, not her!
Whoops indeed. If I'd realised a day sooner, I wouldn't have gone to the zoo on Friday, but would have done my weekend shop then, to leave me free for Saturday.
Well, I rushed the shopping, and managed (despite engineering works on the train lines delaying me) to get to the conference less that 40 minutes late.
It was about east Africa, both land and sea conservation projects. There was also a talk from Andy Hodge, a marine biologist who also happens to be a double Olympic gold medallist in rowing.
It was a joy to be among so many like-minded people. I even managed to ask a well-received and important question about the involvement of native women in their projects (every picture they showed was of men and boys). The reply reassured me that they are fully aware of the different roles of men and women in the various communities they deal with and make sure they approach the right people in the right way.
Part of the deal was free entry into the zoo, which of course I don't need, but it allowed me to nip in by the back door and capture a few more pictures of Melati posing on top of the giant climbing frame.
Showing off her bright orange back and stunning markings:
Displaying her fluffy chin:
Treating us to her beautiful profile:
All these poses struck within a couple of minutes.
Privileged indeed. Me, not her!
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