2015

Overall it was a quiet year - no holidays - just followed our daily and weekly routines with a few days out with camera at the ready as you will see as you scroll down.

At the end of July John discovered he had diabetes. Then followed a self imposed regime of weight reduction and being more selective of what we ate - reduction in fat content - avoidance of added sugar being the key aspects. Result was a drop from 16 stone 4 in June to 13 stone 11 on 24th December. Irene has lost some weight as well.

At the end of the year we were being told it was the warmest December in more than 100 years. Spring flowers were blooming in places! And rain returned in vengeance - especially in Cumbria where some places flooded for the third time in three weeks. We were also told it was the wettest December on record, again for over 100 years!

January

On the 15th we went to Slimbridge for the evening Swan feeding session.

Goose waiting for food - more geese than swans!

March

Solar Eclipse

The 20th was the day of the solar eclipse when the moon got between the Earth and the Sun. The day was cloudy and threatened to make the eclipse invisible. However, the clouds acted as a filter allowing us to view the eclipse without any need for the eye protection normally worn on such occasions.

Irene got some rather nice flowers on Mother's Day

April

Adorable knitting

Blood Moon

May

Malvern Well Dressing

What the best dressed wells are wearing this year ....

Lower Wyche

Belle Vue Terrace

Sir Edward Elgar

Malvern Link Common

Spring in the back yard

flowering time

Working (slaving) hard

and at Slimbridge ....

Cranes walking in pair

Beavers relaxing together

Mallard Family

Spring on our balcony

Lily's wearing small insects

July

Splash of Red - Barnards Green Bus Shelter
Now ... how do you actually fit the bus inside the shelter?

Irene's Coach Trip to Black & White Villages

Big Hoot Trail

The latter end of July saw the opening of the “Big Hoot Trail” in Birmingham and the surrounding area. This leaflet and map explains where they were and about the project. Whilst the publicity details the owls, it didn't mention the smaller owlets to be found indoors at a variety of venues. These pictures are but a small selection of the ones we took, and we certainly didn't see all the owls and owlets.

At the start of our day - Serenity and smiling Irene and words of wisdom