Update

Can you believe it, the stove had to be lit...and it's nearly summer for God's sake. Feeling damp and chilly it was no fun to sit and endure the cold. And the rain....relentless for at least 24 hours. Sleep was disturbed by the incessant drumming on the cabin top and yesterday morning we had a mini flood right where we step off the boat. To drop the water levels in the basin both the top gate and bottom gate paddles had to be raised. The Nutbrook feeder watercourse, fed from the reservoir overflow at Moorgreen, certainly brought the basin levels right up. And to think not 5 days ago the back pump had to be switched on to raise the levels, that low we were on water.

So the reason for the post is just to say all is well on the Jameison front. Plans can now be made for us to take the Beast on a two-week trip once we have seen the Consultant in early July. But that's not all. We are off to Poland for our Daughter-in-Law's parents Golden wedding anniversary towards the end of July as well. And...and....(can you tell I'm excited) my twin brother is arriving from Australia at the end of this month for a very short visit. He has a job to do in Ireland first and will 'pop in' on his way back to Oz.

We have had a bit of drama here with the wildlife. Another duck produced 11 ducklings, lovely to see after the predation of all 19 ducklings earlier in the year. But unfortunately, all those went the same way as the first. I was blaming the Pike until I witnessed a Magpie snatching a baby when it was off the water. 

That's mum looking for her ducklings

That's one of the ducklings. This is the sad side of nature but we have to remember that the Magpie also has young to feed.

 Then the 'above lock' Swans had a right 'hows your father' with the 'below lock' Swans. Cygnets were the reason and thankfully the 'above locks' didn't venture to the  'below locks' to have a confrontation.  Blood would have been spilt if they had met!

There were calming moments to be had though. This Moorhen showed her tender side and real motherly love to the chick.

 And sheltering under a grass leaf this Cinnabar Moth.