Autumn shift

Green Woodpecker

We decided to check the early morning activities in Brandon Marsh. After sahur (pre-dawn meal), we drove down expecting to be the only car in the carpark. Guess others have the same idea. Before reaching the carpark, Kevin's observant eyes noticed this beautiful, colourful bird. It's a green woodpecker (Picus viridis) happily having a huge breakfast of ants. We just sat there observing this very shy bird enjoying its meal. A lovely start to a beautiful morning.

Along the way to the Carlton Hide at the furthest end, we were serenaded by chirping of various birds. We also stopped to photograph fungi scattered along the path. The kingfisher made a quick appearance and disappeared. We left when the hide started to be a bit overcrowded.

On the way back, we stopped at the hide overlooking the main lake. The autumn shift had arrived. The island was packed with terns, swans, pink-footed geese, Canadian geese, lapwings and the usual culprits, ducks, cormorants, moorhens, heron and coots. It was so noisy and looks like they're having oodles of fun.

Last Tuesday, went for my appointment at Walsgrave Hospital. More building works at the entrance. When is it going to be over??? At the entrance into the building, people smoking beside a 'No Smoking' sign. What a joke. And my biggest rant, £3 minimum parking charge for the first 2 hours. Sick people need to go to hospital. They don't have a choice. I was soo p----d, that I took the day off. I cooled down by going shopping (not a bad excuse, huh) and got myself a lovely yellow cardigan to warm me up in winter.

I've been using the stairs to reach my penthouse office on the 6th floor. For the first few days, I can barely walked but so far, so good. You never know, I might be able to shift some of my blubber. One of the lift have broken down cos it was never meant to be in constant use. To get to the main second floor, you've to walk to the 3rd floor, cross the extension building, and use the stairs to walk down to the 2nd floor. Lost??? Don't worry, you're not alone. Apart from that, books have moved around and the silent study area became a discussion room. Rules and regulations changed at the drop of a pin. Aargh!!!

Glad to hear that my mother-in-law is out of hospital. She was warded for suspected DVT. My uncle, RAAR, invited us to his son's wedding in Nov. in M'sia. Exchanged news with my former UITM colleague, CYH, and my 2nd cousin, AAAA, who's studying in York. Also innalilla wa inna lilla hirra jiun ( from Allah we came, to Allah we return) on the death of my great grand-aunt.