Thursday 5 May 2016

Hardly daring to breathe






look closely...

how many can  you see?






I'm still trying to fix the commenting problem I've got, where the email telling someone I've commented on their blog doesn't get through. I fiddled so much last night I lost the ability to comment completely and then I couldn't log in to my own blog. You know how late at night it can all be overwhelming? I was at the point of giving it all up and moving to Corfu to live a life free of technology (I caught the last half of the Gerald Durrell programme the other day).

Anyway, this morning I am at least back into my own blog and I think I can comment again, although the email thing still isn't fixed. But now I am too afraid to meddle. And still wondering about Corfu. The children are having all sorts of after school things at the moment. I don't remember the last time we ate tea at a sensible time. I spent all Tuesday evening watching cricket. I wore my double-thickness fur-lined winter coat and it was still freezing. I heard a rumour that warm weather is on the way. And the day's top news - I have a fully functioning washing machine. It plays a ridiculous tune when it's finished, but really, I'm just happy to be back in the land of the clean again. And if I was washing clothes all the live long day I'd want to blast out a bit of a fanfare from time to time as well.

Out at the wetlands place spring has arrived despite the cool temperatures. There are ducklings and goslings and all sorts of other birds are nesting. The swallows are flitting about and the swifts are starting to return. Mama duck was doing a sterling job with her nine littles. Does she keep counting them I wonder? Nine is a lot to keep together and feed. They were trying their best to find delicious things to eat. We watching one of them valiantly going at a petal. In the end it was all too much, and not tasty anyway, and he had to go "Phth, phth, phtthhh" and try and spit it out, although by that time it had stuck to his tongue a bit. It's a steep learning curve.

Sorry if this was a bit of a fraught moan at the start. The sun is shining, the washing is tumbling, there is rhubarb shortbread in the kitchen and I shall no doubt recover (discover?) my equilibrium before too much longer. Hoping all is well with you?

24 comments:

  1. Your new washing machine sounds like my new one (but maybe they're all musical these days). Lovely photos of blossom and duck/goslings. I do love seeing a mother duck and her brood. Cricket does muck up evening routines (I've a complicated logistical issue with clashing cricket and dance) but at least the weather is definitely warming up, so it should be nicer sitting outside. Corfu sounds mighty appealing, though. (Fingers crossed for the resolution of your technical issue.)Sam x

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  2. You can switch the musical tune off, or at least I managed too! Technical problems are spoiling my blogging experience too. I can no longer load new photos unless I upgrade and for months now the uploading has been completely random not to mention not being able to edit or preview posts. I regularly lose the dashboard and then weirdly access other Wordpress users' dashboards - scary. I think I'm going to go back to good old fountain pen and paper ... But isn't it glorious out there at the moment - my favourite time of year.

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  3. I am standing in the middle of a field reading this, beside an at least 600 year old hedge whose bottom is strewn with bluebells while whitethroats, song thrushes and skylarks sing and the sun shines down softly on the whole thing. The dogs are a bit bemused at the unusual wait, but never mind. I am popping a distilled version of all this into this comment to send you arms against irritating technology. On the other hand, I'd quite like a friend who lived in Corfu so I could visit. Love all the feathery children :-) xx

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  4. Technology can make me crazy sometimes too. Even when it's going well it can leave me feeling a bit edgy, but when it goes wrong I want to run for the hills. The whole email thing has made me reluctant to even leave comments on the blogs I read now. I feel like not only are they not being read, it also drives me crazy to keep getting the notices saying the email couldn't be delivered.

    I hope you get the predicted warm weather. And I think there's a way to turn off the music on your washing machine. At least there is on mine.

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  5. It's just like summer here at the moment - hope it is where you are too. Glad that the washing machine is fixed - our dishwasher broke yesterday and it was a real shock to the system having to wash all the dishes by hand. Fortunately, R managed to fix it last night, so it wasn't too bad. Love the ducklings and the rainbow photo. Technology ... Bah! xx

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  6. I'm sorry to see that you're still having problems, and hope that you do resolve it soon. Lovely pictures. Thanks, all is well with me I'm glad to say. Flighty xx

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  7. Stunning photographs, such a joy to see those babies I had to look for a few moments before I located them all. I am rubbish with technology, my solution is to phone my son-in-law. Take care.

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  8. Claire, I am getting emails telling me you've commented. :-) Sorry for the bruhaha.. I hate those things.. blogger stopped emailing me when I got comments.. so I changed email addresses and they started coming through. Silly internet. But don't move to Corfu! We'd miss you! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  9. Late night tech problems are the worst. You have my sympathy. Anything past 9 at night and my brain turns to mush. But a working washing machine and baby ducks cam compensate for a lot :)

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  10. I still haven't done the Wordpress updates that are hanging over me. And now there are nine. Oh dear. In the spirit of solidarity I shall ponder it again tomorrow and think of you. Great shots from Slimbridge. The eider seem very laid back. Must be all that "oooooOOOOooo"-ing. TIring work.

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  11. Hey CJ,
    My washing machine happily informs me when a load of laundry is finished. And then it tells me again. And again. And again... Perhaps on Corfu you could wash your smalls in the Aegean?
    Leanne xx

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  12. Glad that the washer is fixed even if the internet is not so happy. Hope that it gets sorted out soon!

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  13. Look at those babies! So sweet. I'm glad you got to see them and I appreciate that you shared them. I hope your weather warms up soon, it sounds brutal out there watching cricket. Glad to hear the washer is fixed; I'm sure you're loving being back to the laundry, ha. Hope you have a good weekend, CJ.

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  14. We have had one or two lovely days and are busily trying to play catch up on th plot,

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  15. oh! what beautiful pictures! an I can just imagine a little duckling going "ptht phtth" :-)
    enjoy those glorious spring blossoms for me!

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  16. Love 'The Durrells' !
    There is nothing quite like problems with the computer to give one a headache - where's the cyber mechanic when you need one.
    I'm so relieved you have your washing machine back - can't imagine what hideous pile you amassed with 3 (4) boys in the house. www.daffodilwild.wordpress.com

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  17. Woah there. Rhubarb shortbread????!!! Are you going to share?? Pleeease.

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  18. Love the fruit blossom photos. Glad I'm not the only one with computer issues. My PC works fine for so long and then refuses stops. Only solution switch off and on! Problem is the switching on takes about 30 minutes. Still summer seems to have arrived this week. What's a washing machine?

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  19. CJ, I've always wondered, what exactly/when exactly is tea time in England? Is it like an after school snack around 3/4pm before dinner? What a fun bird outing. I have never seen goslings in the wild.

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  20. You are so busy with that wonderful family of yours. Enjoy your time, it goes fast.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  21. oh that blossom. hope it helps you find your balance x

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  22. Ducklings, the cutest thing. Love the blossom pics, it's such a wonderful time of year. Happy weekend CJ. Jxx

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  23. It looks a wonderful time to visit the wetlands, those ducklings are so tiny! I could see you in Corfu sharing a house with animals that your sons have adopted! Sarah x

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  24. Ah yes, cricket. The game that never ends. We watched some at the weekend too but luckily it was warm(ish). Then Joe kept wandering onto the field and my friend's children started being painful so we went home. And missed the village team getting absolutely thrashed.
    Gorgeous pictures. I do love blossom. And those orange flowers against the golden stone.
    Glad you've got the washer sorted too.
    As for Corfu, it is a nice island (particularly the north-eastern bit which is quite posh). That's not the bit we stayed in.
    S x

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