Sunday 6 March 2016

Chilling in the Chill


You can tell it is almost Spring as the rain falls full of snow, slushy snow.  Today however it relented and saturated the world during the night leaving us a clear sunny day.  It didn't bother to turn up the sun however, 5C at most, and with a northern wind to cut through those daft enough to leave the fireplace.  
As I am daft and was becoming desperate to get out and about in the real world for a change I did this and wandered through the Gardens after they opened this morning to find a pair of Mallards who visited the pool.  The wife was dozing and the man looked half awake, very much the Sunday Morning expression from both of them.  Probably they flew by late yesterday and found the pool and thought it might feed them, a bit doubtful about this but the rivers are close by so they will by now have fed well.  Once they placed fish in this pond and wondered why they had vanished.  I never told anyone that I saw a Heron sitting on the edge of the pond one morning, I think that told the story.  They no longer stock the pond.


There has been a lot of work going on in the gardens and chopping down aged, sick or damaged trees is one of the things that has been done.  Here we see two that have been put to some use as seats.  A good idea as they don't like wasting things and the trees have done their bit for over a hundred years.  The kids will certainly like these.


From the delights of green grass, blue flowers, singing birdies and wide open spaces I returned to traffic hold ups right outside my door.  Not for the first time, but thankfully not on the busiest day, they are digging in the road and stopping vehicles outside my door, how nice of them.  During the week when they last did this I enjoyed a variety of appalling music played at enormous decibel levels sufficient to enlighten the men travelling to Mars what music the driver appreciated!  Today was less so but the base is something that requires sorting in some vehicles.  Where is my spade...?

 
For the past few weeks I have been constantly sipping those energy drinks from cheap plastic bottles, mostly Lucozade types, in an effort to keep myself alive.  Yesterday I bought this type for the simple reason it was cheaper, much cheaper. Late last night I saw why, I couldn't open it!  With previous bottles I just ignored the ludicrous 'teat' on the top (I prefer real ones) and twist the thing open.  This I could not do!  I struggled and swore and sweated and gripped harder and said rude words but it would not turn.  I was therefore forced to drink through the 'teat!'  However this meant removing the wee plastic guard on top and this I could not do!  I pressed it, I twisted it I pulled and even used my teeth on it but it would not come off.  Much later, desperately hauling away I got the blasted wee plastic bit to remove itself.  Then came the fight with the 'teat' itself.  That soon opened, and the stuff shot out everywhere, but I got my reward though my day was now over.
Today I picked up a second bottle and it twisted off straight away!
I hate them!




7 comments:

the fly in the web said...

Gorgeous photographs of those mallards...
Now just be careful you don't need to visit your dentist after your Samsonlike feats with your teeth on those bottles...

Lee said...

The mallards are beautiful. A family of wood ducks frequent this property upon which I dwell. The landlords have a couple of large, fish-filled ponds and the ducks believe the ponds are theirs to share, too. I love seeing them waddle by my cabin Mum and Dad Duck up front and the littlies coming up the rear.

I also love the park seats/benches made from the logs. It's a wonderful idea.

I've never drunk energy drinks...other than fresh fruit juices and smoothies I make myself. I think you'd be far better off doing similar, Mr. Ad-Man. Toss those preservative, chemically-enhanced, caffeine-overloaded drinks aside. They do you no good!

carol in cairns said...

That's not a real duck. It looks just like something in a picture.

Adullamite said...

Lee, a little wildlife helps the area.

Carol, I'll send you one of the eggs.

Unknown said...

Whoa, the beavers around there are really talented!

Adullamite said...

Fly, Opening bottles with teeth is a Scots trick.

Adullamite said...

Jerry, Everyone round here is clever, like me...