Spooktacular weekend

We went To Tesco behind our casa to get some shopping done and also last minute purchase of pumpkins. And guess what? They were all gone…boo-hoo. There were hundreds when we were here on Friday!!! I was soo looking forward to a pumpkin soup, stuffed pumpkin and a pumpkin pie. It’s the only time of the year I can have a menu of pumpkin-based recipes. Babe must sigh with relief.

I was very surprised that no kids were out dressing up and trick or treating. It was a shame actually. I’d a pumpkin-pail full of lollipops for them, if they come knocking. Perhaps the weather put them off. It rained late in the afternoon with a very gutsy Halloween wind stirring up the fallen leaves around the casa. Anyway I hoped your day was as hauntingly as ours.

When witches go riding,
and black cats are seen,
the moon laughs and whispers,
‘tis near Halloween.
~Author Unknown~

I started the day waking up a bit disoriented. I thought I’d slept for hours and it was only 7am. Hmm…I just realised that the clock had ‘fall backwards’. British summer time has ended and now it’s officially Autumn. So early mornings will be a little brighter but it will get darker earlier in the evening.

I went for my usual early morning walk around the block. It was freezing but I wrapped up warm. Still loads of fallen leaves in glorious colours on the pavement and off course I just had to mess them up. A few houses that I walked past had yellow tapes around them with “Enter at your own risks” or “Enter if you dare”. Hmm…someone’s got the spirit.

Later in the afternoon, Babe and I made a pit stop at our favourite playground. It was surprisingly quiet. I guess the wet, windy, freezing weather is a deterrent to most people. No birds greeted us at the overflow car-park too. Although we did see flocks doing a quick flyby.

As we walked in, we saw our first Redwing feeding on some berries along the path opposite Goose Pool. We were quite surprise to see it on its own cos usually they feed in flocks and would strip a bush in seconds. We then checked out Baldwin Hide where I saw my first adult female Golden Eye, a sure sign that winter’s on its way.

We continued towards East Marsh Pool and only the usual culprits were about. Where were the migrant waders??? At Teal Pool, we spotted the resident Green Sandpiper feeding on the mudbanks. We then walked through the forest where flocks of birds were feeding on the tree tops. But there were still too much foliage about.

I’m sure by now you have read about the death of the great stag, “Emperor of Exmoor”. Thought to be one of Britain's largest wild animals, he weighed 300lb and almost 9ft tall. For those of who live, work, farm, photograph or hunt on Exmoor, this must have been a very sad day. The stag has long been held as emblematic of the area. It was the symbol of the National Park. He was the latest victim of misguided regulations that surely have devastated Exmoor’s economy.

He roamed the wilds of Exmoor with no enemy but man. There were 3,000 other deer why target him!!! Why during the rutting season? Is there nothing beautiful on this earth that man will not destroy? May his spirit roam wild and free forever. This was not the Emperor. It was one of the handsome stag at Bradgate Park.

As usual, I tend to go for a brisk walk during my lunch break. As I walked towards the Piazza, the sound of fantastic drumming caught my attention. These guys were having fun and they were fantastic. The vinspired.com volunteering bus was parked by the Piazza. I didn’t check out any of the volunteering opportunities on offer cos they were for those between 16-25 and moi was ,let’s just say, a bit more than that :-).

Babe celebrated his 49th. birthday last Thursday.

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are

*Bruno Mars~Just the way you are*

With each year, I love you even more. Happy birthday, darling. I gave him a Next leather wallet, a tin of Holland and Barrett Chocolate Chip Cookies and a handmade card.

A birthday dinner date to a local Bengal restaurant was postponed to later but we did make a trip to Donna Nook Nature Reserve on Saturday. We’d a lovely day checking out the grey seals and it deserved its own entry. See you there…