The fine looking model above is sporting his Christmas presents from his eldest son. A wonderful crotchet helmet (it is like what  a medieval knight wore with a movable visor-you can’t really make out the crest on the top from this photo- perhaps I will take another one in the future and put it into the blog ) and a Napoleonic top both will be used for future Story Telling Gigs!

It has been a delightful few days enjoying being with our family especially the two grandchildren. I have done much crawling across the floor and carrying children everywhere. One of many special moments with Owen (my one year old grandson) was sharing a lovely board book of six birds that played their calls). He did recognise the Cuckoo later when I was reading Goodnight Owl later to him and we often watched the Woodpigeons in the garden.

Finally got a real soaking this morning doing our monthly bird survey out by the River Severn. The birds evidently didn’t enjoy the weather although one highlight was a Woodcock flying over-it was the first one we have seen in nearly 10 years of doing surveys.