Saturday night is always better when your football tem wins. Have to say it wasn’t a great game and the pitch wasn’t conducive to great football but hey!

It was a bitterly cold walk today but you have to do it!

Yesterday’s Quiz on Medicine

a) Edward Jenner of course discovered the Smallpox Vaccine. He is of course local to our area – I used to be able to see “Smallpox Hill” from the second floor of my old school.    b) MMR is Measles, Mumps and Rubella   c) Alexander Fleming discovered Penicillin   d) The Femur (thighbone) is the longest bone  e) The Sperm Whale has the largest brain it is about 8,000 cubic cms in size compared to ours at 1300 cubic cms!

Today’s Quiz is on Smiles and Faces (I am struggling to think of themes-well I was smiling!)

a) Which character in Alice of Wonderland is known for its smile   b) Which band sang Make Me Smile (Come Up and See Me )  c) Who painted the Mona Lisa?  d) Who’s face launched a 1,000 ships?   e) What boy actor (ML) with an innocent face played Oliver in the musical film?

Amazingly I had my jab today, I thought I might have to wait till March. Brilliant organisation with great volunteers almost tripping over themselves to help you! Shows just what happens when you allow public services to get on with things as opposed to how Track and Trace has operated!

Cold on the bike today a bitter wind and ice in places but good to get out!

Yesterday’s Quiz on Water

a) Mary Rose sank in 1545 and is well worth a visit to Portsmouth when we are allowed to see the exhibition.  b) Columbus sailed with the Santa Maria, Pinta and Nina   c) Mariana Trench is the deepest part of the Ocean   d) The Waikato River is the longest in New Zealand  e) The Ribble flows through Preston

A Sort of Medicine Quiz following my jab!!!!

a) Who discovered the Smallpox vaccination?    b) Which three diseases does the MMR vaccine protect you from?   c) Who is credited with the 1928 discovery of Penicillin?  d) Which is the longest bone in the body?  e) Which cetacean has the largest brain of any mammal?

More ice breaking duties today so the birds can get a drink! My goodness it was cold today especially with the wind chill. I was well wrapped up on the bike!

Apologies the blog is a short one today been on Zoom for a long time! I’m sorry but the pictures today are more birds! I saw many Redwings yesterday -picture at the bottom and also the Great Spotted Woodpecker on the feeder today  where the Blackcap was yesterday!

Yesterday’s Comedy Quiz answers

a) Connie Booth played the waitress in Fawlty Towers   b) Oxfordshire was the setting for The Vicar of Dibley   c) Holly was the computer in Red Dwarf  d) The Office was set in Slough  e) David Walliams and Matt Lucas created Little Britain

Today’s Quiz has a loose Water theme as I mentioned ice breaking!

a) What year did the Mary Rose sink?   b) What were the names of the three ships that sailed with Columbus on his first voyage?   c) The deepest part of any Ocean is an area of the Pacific at 36,161 feet what is it known as?  d) What is the longest river in New Zealand?   e) Which 75 mile long river flows through Preston?

Well not quite a gun fight more a dust up! I was watching a Blackcap this morning in the garden and decided to take a few photos. The Blackcap was in the feeder and I was just taking a picture when a Robin tried to get in. There was a real disagreement and I captured it in the first photo below as the Blackcap saw off the Robin. The Robin is more a blur but you get the picture!

One more photo of the Blackcap by our frozen pond. I was then sent out to break the ice for all the birds!

I’ve just come off our Book Club zoom where we discussed Cold Comfort Farm. There was much laughter and we all agreed it was just the right book for a pandemic! It was a funny satire and we all enjoyed it. We are optimistic that by June we might be able to at least meet outside.

Yesterday’s Bob Dylan Quiz

a) Dylan was waiting for the Aust Ferry (we did mention in our Two Severn Bores show on the River Severn)   b) Zimmerman was his surname   c) Dylan did the music for Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid – Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door was the hit released from the film  d) President Obama gave him the Presidential  Medal   e) It is thought Dylan was the Jester in American Pie although Don Mclean has never admitted that.

Following on from Cold Comfort Farm -Today’s Quiz is all on comedy more TV than Book!

a) In Fawlty Towers who plays the waitress?   b) In which English county is the Vicar of Dibley set?  c) What is the name of the ship’s computer in Red Dwarf?   d) Where is The Office set?   e)  Little Britain was created by which two comedians?

Have to start with England’s marvellous win over India in the cricket. If you read my comment yesterday – “What do I know?”   A superb all round performance and what an amazing  Jimmy Anderson’s over! You might think Bob Dylan’s song “Forever Young” was written about the Burnley Express! Great that it was terrestrial TV again.

I have started emailing one or two local schools offering some virtual Story Telling just to help out. We will see if the offer gets taken up.

As the cricket finished early I went for a decent ride. My goodness it was cold that wind was bitter. I changed my route because the weather looked threatening on the tops. Some might question my sanity! I did see quite a few birds while out including an enormous Raven close up. Saw many raptors out as well not sure if that was because of the weather or just luck!

Yesterday’s Quiz on India

a) Sikhism was founded by Guru Nanak   b) Assam was the state in NE India   c) Peacock is the national bird  d) Bindi is a red dot on the centre of the forehead  e) India is 5 and a half hours ahead of GMT

Today’s Quiz is as I mentioned him is connected to Bob Dylan

a) Where in the UK was Dylan waiting for a ferry in an iconic photo?   b) What is Dylan’s real surname?  c) Which 1973 “Western” film did Dylan write and play the music for and appear in ?   d) Which American  President bestowed “The Presidential medal of Freedom on Dylan?  e) How is Dylan indirectly referred to in Don Maclean’s “American Pie“-was it The King or The Jester or One of them “Two ole boys” or “The man at the sacred music store”?

I feel very proud that we have the NHS with such dedicated staff who have gone over and above the call of duty in these difficult times. It is a marvellous resource for all and makes you proud of our country. After the years of cuts and political interference (particularly from this government) you would hope we have learnt our lessons that will invest properly in this precious service. In fact you hope that all public services will resourced properly for too long they have suffered.

Slightly disappointed with England Cricket Team’s approach in the last session against India after such a good three and half days. Still fingers crossed for tomorrow!

Today’s Quiz inspired by the cricket is on India

a) What was founded in the 15th century by Guru Nanak in the Punjab?   b) Which state in Northeast India bordered by Bhutan is world famous for its tea and silk?   c) What type of bird is Pavo cristatus, the national bird of India?  d) In Indian culture, what is a bindi?  e) How many hours ahead of GMT is India (not difficult if you have been watching the cricket).

I’ll start with a photo for a change! Living where we do we are lucky to have a wonderful mix of wildlife on our doorstep. When I walk around the garden you often hear a mixed cacophony of Geese and Black-headed gulls especially at this time of year. We also often hear the distinctive threshing sound of Swans taking off and once airborne the rhythmic beating of the wings. Of course at different times of the year we hear other wonderful sounds, especially in the summer when we have screeching Common Terns flying over our house.The picture above I just managed to catch a Mute Swan in flight close to our home, You can easily  understand how they become tied up in myth and legend. They are such elegant birds both swimming serenely. I do tell a few stories with Swans in! I am actually playing with a few ideas for a story and gig (possibly as part of the Two Severn Bores) so watch this space (hoping that gigs might happen again sometime in late spring / early summer).

And yes it was cold out today in that wind! Not surprisingly most birds were seeking shelter today.

I mentioned previously our Book Club re discussing Cold Comfort Farm on Wednesday. I did enjoy reading it!

Yesterday’s Quiz with a Winter theme.

a)  A snowflake has six sides   b)  General Winter is Russia’s harsh climate as both Napoleon and the Nazis found out with their ill fated invasions   c) The “Roaring Game” is curling and sometimes called “Chess on ice”  d) Chamonix in France held the first Winter Olympics   e) Mukluks are Inuit boots.

No Quiz today it is Sunday!

The title refers to the weather forecast not Game of Thrones. It does sound like we are in for a cold spell. exercise might be slightly different. Ice on the road is one thing I don’t like on the bike don’t mind the cold.

Another early start to watch the cricket from India. I am enjoying watching old fashioned Test Cricket. Sadly disappointed watching the football this afternoon, it was a draw but it felt like a loss because the Hatters should of won.

Yesterday’s Quiz questions on Cricket.

a) Cricket Stumps are 28 inches tall.    b) Cricket bails are usually made from Ash   c) Don Bradman hit six sixes in his Test Career (he also hit two fives and 618 fours)   d) The first cricket radio broadcast was 1922 in Australia and 1927 in England  e)  WG was William Gilbert Grace

Today’s Quiz with a Winter theme!

a) How many sides do all snowflakes have?  b) “General Winter” often refers to the Winter Climate in which country?  c) Which Winter Sport is sometimes known as the “roaring game“?  d)  The first Winter Olympic Games were held in which country?  e) What are Mukluks ?

I thought I would share what is our ray of sunshine in these dark times that keeps us going! We get daily pictures of our smashing Grandson Owen, sometimes we get a video. Yesterday’s video was a delightful mix of those wonderful baby gurgles and smiles. I always find baby gurgles and joyful sounds make me smile of course when it is your own grandchild the heart sings!

How great it was this morning to watch Test Cricket from India on terrestrial television this morning – better late than never! Joe Root is a wonderful batsmen! Early start tomorrow!

Yesterday’s Quiz answers on Rivers

a) The Liffey flows through Dublin   b) The Tigris flows through Baghdad   c) The Tamar is the river between Devon and Cornwall   d) The Styx is the boundary between Earth and the Underworld  e) The Ganges has the biggest Delta in the world.

Today’s Quiz is on Cricket (but not quite what you expect!)

a) What is the length of a cricket stump in inches?  b) What wood are cricket bails commonly made from?    c) How many sixes did Sir Don Bradman hit in his career?   d) What year was live cricket first broadcast?  e) What do W.G, Grace’s initials  stand for?

Caught sight of the fastest animal in the world today. A Peregrine flew across the fields not far from our house today. I usually see them out near the River so a bit of a surprise where I saw it.

We won our quiz match tonight!!!!!!!!

Yesterday’s Quiz Answers on Books

a) Cold Comfort farm is in Sussex.   b) The Dursleys lived at 4 Privet Drive (Harry Potter)  c) Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha is set in Dublin   d) Midnight’s Children was mainly in Mumbai although it moved through different parts of India  e) The Wizard of Oz was in Emerald City

Today’s Quiz is on Rivers

a) What is the river that flows through Dublin?   b) Which river flows through Baghdad?  c) Which river separates Devon and Cornwall?  d) Where does the River Styx form a border between?  e) Which river has the largest delta?