Whinchats today at Toft Newton Reservoir

 

A cracking pair of whinchats today at Toft.  Fantastic birds !

Lincoln Steampunk Parade, August 2025

Left Simon watering the garden on a blisteringly hot August Bank Holiday Monday as I drove over to Lincoln to watch this year's Steampunk Parade. The crowds were huge but I managed a kerbside spot but afraid did battle with the sun and an opposite bagpipe player !

There did seem to be more in the parade this year and the work some had put into their outfits was on a whole new level, some were simply WOW ! But I did think there was quite a lot of comic con characters this year and plenty of trans.

I did miss Simon and his camera so just had to snap with my phone. Treated him to a small Tobermory whisky from the Whisky Shop which he said was lovely.  It was a flipping good morning out and looking forward to next year already. 

Is somebody playing a board of Jumanji ?

This was one of my favourites x

Curlew Sandpipers, RSPB Blacktoft Sands

 

Three from Singleton Hide, afraid never close. A few other waders to see which was nice.

and not forgetting the hornets in the toilet roof

Black-winged Pratincole, Ings Lane, Kirton Lindsey

 

A quick dash to Kirton on Saturday afternoon to see the pratincole. Viewing almost impossible through a 3 man gap in the hedge. Never close, very flighty and often sat down when it totally disappeared. 

A few from the garden

 

Stones and stones of tomatoes in the freezer this year, it's been a bumper harvest. We have them on toast with an egg for breakfast every day and they are delicious !

One bed of tomatoes with about 50 plants in it, just a few left to ripen now

We grew two beds of them this year and I have to admit, we have far too many. All the neighbors have had many punnets of them and we now have 2 freezers full of this years home grown veg. No complaints, it is all so tasty compared to supermarkets.

A new bed of spuds planted ready for Christmas

Little Pixi cat sleeping in her favourite place. She loves being in the warmth in the greenhouse especially near two pots of cat nip !

Elephant Hawk-moth crossing the garden path, stopping to have a poo !

 

The greenhouse thermometer reading a staggering 48 degrees but the highest this summer was a reading of 53 degrees......in northern Britain !

We have lots of frogs in our garden, one usually jumps out whenever you move a plant pot so recon we have quite a lot

Jamaica Dahlia, one of our favourites. The flowers are dinner plate size, stunning !

Simon has have a very good year growing sweetcorn, these are delicious and we are having them every day now for lunch, with lashings of butter !

Not too sure on these runner beans this year, the wind and rain have put paid to the flowers once this year but they seem to be in flower again and we are getting beans every day but never seen growth like it, its a 2 foot thick block of greenery !