After the Blowvember Storms

Britain battened down the hatches yesterday as 100mph gale-force winds and torrential rain hammered the country, especially the south coast. The atrocious weather moved north towards the Midlands in the early hours of the morning. From our casa, we could hear the strong winds and driving rain passing through and I’m so thankful that I’m warm and sheltered.

What a contrast to today. The sun came out and everything smelled fresh and clean. But not for long because tomorrow another battering is expected. Oh dear, better make hay when the sun is shining.

I guess that was what our lovely residential goldfinches were thinking too. They were busy feeding before the next storm approaches. I was never bored watching and photographing them. I bet they were so used to see me with my camera that I could practically stand below them while they were feeding and twittering.

We also took the opportunity to check out what the natives were up to at Brandon Marsh. Oops, we were not alone. The car park was nearly full. It was not even 10am on a Sunday morning!!!

We spotted this handsome Pied wagtail feeding on the roof. It was wonderful watching him interspersing dashes after insects with pauses to wag his tail.

From the hide, we spotted these cormorants making themselves at home on the terns nesting ground. I have never seen that many cormorants before. We also saw the Great Crested Grebe had lost its ornamental ruff and turning to its pale winter colours.

Babe commented that the reserve was void of geese. And guess what? From a distance we saw this flock of Greylags flying and landing in front of the hide. I just loved the concentration on their faces as they were about to crash onto the lake. Not as graceful as expected.

On Friday I took the day off cos I wanted to do my X’mas shopping. Huh??? X’mas shopping in mid-Nov??? Am I loco or what? It’s just that I like to get them out of the way as soon as possible. We planned to go to Touchwood in Solihull but we cancelled as the weather was turning for the worse.

We checked out a few shops locally like Sainsbury’s, Outdoors, Maplins, Aldi and Asda. Guess what??? I came out empty handed. Nothing catches my eye… a first I think. :-)

On Wednesday was Armistice Day. We held a service at work to observe a 2-minute silence for the “passing of a generation”, following the deaths of the 3 remaining WWW1 veterans. These words from a famous poem entitled ‘For the Fallen’ by Laurence Robert Binyon, sum it entirely

“At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them”

We must never forget these brave people. And we must also remember those who were left behind as widows and widowers, and especially those injured who returned, left to cope with their own injuries, care and a lifetime of private battle. To Rifleman Craig Wood, 18 years old, I salute you. And if looking at your beautiful, broken face breaks the nation up, then it is because you embodied that old line about the fighting men of WW1.

You know the one… Lions led by donkeys.

Prayers for my Aunt and cousins who are now in Mecca performing the Haj. May Allah welcome you with open arms. Have a safe journey. I dedicated this photograph of a Golden Eye taken by Babe to all Muslims performing the Haj. We are all equal in the eyes of Allah, men and women, side by side, all wanting to be blessed by Him. Amen…